New Season, But No New Contract For McCoy
September 6th, 2014
The Bucs are sitting with $6 million to $8 million in unused salary cap cash for 2014, depending on what source you reference.
That goes against the Lovie Smith philosophy of spend every nickel, but Joe was hoping the excess green would be used to restructure Gerald McCoy’s contract this summer.
No deal — despite general manager Jason Licht openly speaking about how the team eagerly is negotiating a new contract for McCoy. McCoy is an unrestricted free agent after this season.
After J.J. Watt’s enormous new contract, one can only imagine what McCoy will be seeking if he has another great year. Sporting News pumped out a great number-crunching piece on how Watt’s deal will change the marketplace.
As for how much, if any, of the Bucs’ available 2014 cash can be rolled over to next season is unclear. Joe is no capologist.
But what is clear is that McCoy’s contract talks and (hopefully) new deal will shape a lot of the Bucs’ roster-building going forward.
Thankfully, the Bucs have flexibility. Guys like Dashon Goldson, Mason Foster and Josh McCown will need strong seasons to stick around and get paid in 2015. The same goes for Vincent Jackson. There’s no way Licht and Lovie will keep him around at an eight-figure salary without elite production.
September 6th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Hope the Bucs don’t get too “clever”….
September 6th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
McCoy’s cap number is already huge. Giving him a new deal won’t change things all that much. It might even save cap space in the short term.
September 6th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
6-8 mil is standard operational cap during the season. Used to sign injury replacements, pay bonuses achieved, etc. Essentially, the team has spent every bit of available cap.
GMC’s contract is set for this season as of last Tuesday and wouldn’t “save” anything this year. Although I doubt a restructuring would have cost us much more either.
September 6th, 2014 at 3:04 pm
$6 million to $8 million is “standard”. Then why does most of the league have a lot less than that.
Signing GMC this year would have eased a burden and they could have loaded gotten creative now, when it might be harder later.
September 6th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
He’s leaving. I’m calling it.
September 6th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
For $16,000,000 or so a season, 20 sacks seems about a GOOD VALUE.
Enjoy Oakland McCoy.
September 6th, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Hey joe, they need that 6-8 million unused cap. McCoy has escalators along with other players having escalators that could eat that cap space.
September 6th, 2014 at 6:12 pm
Maybe they should have listened to you Joe, because JJ Watt just got a new, whopper of a contract.
September 6th, 2014 at 6:17 pm
Watt’s had more sacks (20) in one year than McCoy has had practically in his whole career. How can you possibly pay McCoy more, at least right now?
September 6th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Thank you, Christopher. Finally a voice of reason. Teams not only need to bring on injury replacements, but pay escalators (bonuses) players achieve. Not every team has the same amount available due to player contracts, and some teams get in trouble during the season not having room to replace injured players. Most reports state $5M working cap for the season average, but that varies by team depending on escalators.
September 6th, 2014 at 8:25 pm
Gotta save that money, to sign Joe’s BFF
– Ritchie Incognito
On Monday!
September 6th, 2014 at 9:01 pm
@Capt. Tim
I hope your right. That was my thinking too.
September 6th, 2014 at 11:15 pm
Those bonuses and escalators are already part of the cap number. They are part of contract so they are part of the cap. A player with 1m base salary and 5m in incentives has a cap hit of 6m. Correct me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure that’s how it works.
September 7th, 2014 at 12:18 am
McCoy?
The only person comparing JJ Watt to McCoy is McCoy’s agent.
One above average year does not make for a great anything.
Just ask Josh Freeman about his great season.
September 7th, 2014 at 10:19 am
Bucfanforever and Joseph mamma
I could explain the difference between DE and DT.
But if I have to, I’m wasting my time time with you
As I predicted first, after preseason game one- barring injury, Gerald McCoy is my favorite for Defensive player of the year.
Yeah, screw around and wait til he hangs that title over the mantle.
How expensive will THAT contract be!!