What’s The Sales Pitch?
February 26th, 2015
Just like the Bucs are in no position to get rid of productive players, Tampa Bay also shouldn’t waste another nickel — or valuable developmental snaps — on proven unproductive football players.
This is why Joe can’t grasp why the Bucs would keep defensive end Michael Johnson.
Yeah, the NFL is a business, and the Bucs guaranteed Johnson a bunch of money last offseason, and there is salary cap accounting to consider. But spreadsheet spin aside, if the Bucs cut Johnson, then Team Glazer saves $7 million of cold cash in 2015.
That’s real money in the real world. Johnson’s effort was questionable last season. Everybody saw it. Turn on the film, if you don’t believe Joe.
How would you like to be the guy responsible to make the sales pitch to Team Glazer on why the Bucs should keep Johnson?
Johnson has had two consecutive subpar seasons. His third should be somewhere else.
And stop with the “Johnson probably was hurt” excuse. When he was healthy, the effort and production still wasn’t there. Leslie Frazier said Johnson’s ankle was just fine in midseason. (Here’s the link.)
Lovie Smith and Jason Licht have acknowledged publicly they made too many mistakes in free agency last year. Johnson was a big part of that. There’s no reason to keep the mistake going.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Ah Jeeeez Joe, It makes no freaking Sense to trade Johnson. WAKE UP!
Where did Joe write “trade?” Joe didn’t. Wake up! –Joe
February 26th, 2015 at 10:07 am
It doesn’t “save” money when you’ve paid $18.0 million for 1 season of poor play. Pass rushers dont grow on trees and they almost have to play him just to try and get some return on their investment. Its not like Collins who got over paid for 1 season (when he’s released). You’re stuck with him for this season Joe. Just like we were stuck with Goldson for 2 seasons. Can you really say we got much more from Dashon in his 2 seasons here?
February 26th, 2015 at 10:08 am
Send Johnson and Bowers packing… Give Clayborn 1 more chance (que realist)..and grab a DE in 2 rd after picking Winston.
I know clayborn is injury prone and not an elite pass rusher but I have a soft spot for him kind of like the Glennon folks who don’t accept that 8 is useless and cry that 8 wasn’t given a fair chance. Life aint fair folks. nobody deserves anything free. Everything in live should be earned not given. At least Clayborn plays hard and has passion. That more than Bowers or Johnson have ever done.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:10 am
Why does ESPN say that if we cut Johnson we only clear 2 mil in cap space?
February 26th, 2015 at 10:28 am
“How would you like to be the guy responsible to make the sales pitch to Team Glazer on why the Bucs should keep Johnson?”
I do find it iteresting that Joe believes L&L would have to make a sales pitch to Glazer on this….that would mean they would really have to have their act together on Winston.
Joe….everywhere I read….Johnson has a $9m salary for next year with $7m guaranteed….when I do my math, I come up with only $2m saved…..where are you getting your figures?
February 26th, 2015 at 10:28 am
Lovie the gm might get lovie the coach fired if he isnt careful
February 26th, 2015 at 10:28 am
Johnson was a guy who decided a couple years ago to work just hard enough to score a big FA contract. Last year he got it and decided to coast along now that he’s making big money. Cut him and move on. A young guy trying to make a name for himself will be much better for us.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:29 am
2nd round pick take the kid out of UCLA at DE if the medical on his hips checks out. But I doubt he gets pass the cowboys and if they don’t take him the Seahawks will
February 26th, 2015 at 10:30 am
Joe, Johnson has 9m salary with 7m guaranteed. We would only save 2m if we cut him.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:34 am
Honestly, I don’t see what the benefit of cutting him this year is. The 2 mil you save by cutting him doesn’t bring in a guy that is going to do much. Gotta think that Johnson has more upside than anyone you are bringing in for 2 mil off the street. At least for one more year, then cut him and lose nothing next year if he stinks.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:35 am
@Knuckledragger
Had poker last night…..Packer, Bears, Redskins, Giants & 2 Panther fans. I put a Winston sales pitch on them and they all still thought we should stay away. All thought he was a good QB that would be too much of a gamble….especially after he gets the money!!!
February 26th, 2015 at 10:35 am
Unfortunately, they more than likely will have to keep Johnson and hope (somehow) he can start acting like he cares when he’s on the field. They really don’t save too much against the cap to release him and it is important to have DL depth as the season goes along. You can’t count on Clayborn or Bowers to stay healthy. Who knows if Jaquis (however you spell it) can continue his promising rise. We already have to get at least one more DE on this team as it is. If we release Johnson, we have to find at least 2. If anything give him one more year and cut him next year. It stinks that he didn’t work out. I was one of the idiots that thought he was going to be a good sign.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:40 am
@nate_tweetz
Completely agree.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:51 am
Jacquies Smith was by far the best DE Last year, he out preformed all in just 7 starts and limited game time. Now what does that tell you. If the Bucs are going to stick with Lovie, they need to find 2 NFL DE, and have Jacquies Smith 1st in rotation.
And it will start in 2 weeks. We will finally not have to talk about failed DE like AC that made a career in Tampa of late hits on QB’s and wearing dreads.
February 26th, 2015 at 10:56 am
@ Realist
I heard they were looking to sign Clayborne to a new long-term contract…
February 26th, 2015 at 11:03 am
@ Tampabaybucfan
You heard or are you wishing???
Believe me, it they do, I know a lot of people will stop being “nice” to Lovie, and that will include me!!!
February 26th, 2015 at 11:16 am
Trade Down and Grab A Bunch of Draft Picks
(Draft)
A-Bunch of offensive lineman
A-Middle Linebacker
A-Wide Out
(Free Agency)
-A Buch of Defensive lineman
-Linebacker
-Cornerback
-Cheap Safety
February 26th, 2015 at 11:22 am
They should let M. Johnson walk. No more excuses!! The guy didn’t produce. Jaquez Smith Should be one starter, and we can draft in the middle rounds another starter. We sign AC on a one year prove it contract. He can battle for starter, or be a rotational guy. The Bucs will be going DE somewhere in the draft. There is noway M.Johnson deserves that money or a second chance. Stop shelling out money for average vets. Release the Hawk, A. Collins, O. Cousins,and Johnson. Do some better drafting too. Now that L&L got rid of a bunch of previous regime players, now its your team. All eyes on you!!!
February 26th, 2015 at 11:25 am
video game like analysis….fans really think your going to find a guy in the second round that is comparable to the pass rushers on our roster now? hahahaha damn I seem to remember everybody saying the same thing about William gholdston a couple years ago. rookies are rookies and can easily be attacked by any average offense, you don’t get rid of Michael Johnson after one season and you don’t say Jacquies Smith is the best defensive end after one season either, I remember Adrian clayborn coming in getting 7.5 as a rookie end and everyone thought we were set at that position. oh well every year it’s the same thing, people thing after one year a rookie is a bust and think after one year a guy will man a position for the next 10 years lol whatever enjoy the roller coaster
February 26th, 2015 at 11:28 am
Joe. I disagree 100%…
I am as frustrated at Johnson’s play as you are… However, he has proven that he can be productive in this league… He already had an eleven sack season a few years ago and I’m sure he can do it again…
Johnson was INJURED all season in 2014… It was obvious to me the guy was hobbled and barely able to run on his high ankle sprain…
Let’s not be idiots for once… We cannot afford to pay him $7 million dollars and hold $9 million in cap for nothing… Plus who is your choice to replace him? A third round draft choice? A player that is 40 years young? Or some other “experiment” that we will have to pay big money to? Adrian Clayborn (barf)?
No, no, no… Keep Johnson… He couldn’t be any worse then he was last year and hopefully he will stay healthy and double his sacks from last year… There is nobody worth a dam in free agency… If so, who? I would like to know who you would choose to replace him…
February 26th, 2015 at 11:31 am
@Tampabaybucfan Says:
“I heard they were looking to sign Clayborne to a new long-term contract…”
When to spin Realist out of control, LMAO!! You would think he would be happy his son in law is staying employed! Lol
February 26th, 2015 at 11:33 am
“Tampa Bay also shouldn’t waste another nickel — or valuable developmental snaps — on proven unproductive football players”
Amen
February 26th, 2015 at 11:55 am
The Buccaneers will almost certainly improve, in other words, but by how much? The past three teams to pick first overall went from 2-14 the previous season to 9-7 or better in the next.
doesn’t matter which quarterback we pick both are better than glennon or mccown and neither one can will the team to a win, if Winston is that cocky then maybe he atleast thinks he can will us to a win no matter how delusional. mariotta talks as if he wants to keep expectations for himself low so no one is too disappointed, Winston is putting himself on front street I love it and the defense will certainly improve in year 2 gotta believe
February 26th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
The Bucs got to be the worst run organization in the league. All the way from top to bottom. IMO I think Dovie has the last say on anything they do. Licht is no more than Dovie’s puppet. With that being saidI venture to say that he will screw up the draft & free agency. This team is doomed.
February 26th, 2015 at 12:28 pm
If they can save 7 million, then it sounds like a good idea to dump Johnson, but if it’s only 2 million, then it probably makes more sense to keep him.I’m not sure if Joe’s number is right.
February 26th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
I think Raheem once said ” I will tolerate you until I can replace you”. Who are we going to replace him with Joe? Are we going to have the Greg Hardy Jameis Winston super duo?
February 26th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Did greg hardy get picked up? No one is talking about scooping him up like they were a couple a weeks ago. If we got hardy I would feel safer if we wanted to use #34 on a OL like C. Erving if he slides
February 26th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
MJ is staying and he will have 8+ sacks and 15+ TFLs this year. His ankle was never 100% and his game is solely based on speed. No way we cut him after one injury-marred season.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Joe how is it possible that if $7 M of his $9 M salary is fully guaranteed can the Glazers save $7 M if they cut him. That doesn’t even make sense. Also, how can you even say “when he was healthy he still didn’t even do anything”? Considering he sustained an ankle injury on what the second drive of the season? Didn’t Lovie even say his type of injury will linger the remainder of the season? You seriously can’t cut a player when $7m of the $9m salary is guaranteed, especially when injured the last season, twice at that. If he has another dud year then fine dump him next year, but otherwise it’s pure lunacy.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
SOEbuc:
Even though Hardy was cut I don’t believe he will become a free agent until everyone else does. Unlike McCown, he wasn’t a veteran player.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Michael Johnson has the size and the look of an elite pass rusher, but he lacks explosion off the line (and I hate the way he lined up so far off the line of scrimmage.) Long arms, power, and explosion are three physical attributes that contribute to an elite pass rusher. MJ has one of those, and I actually prefer explosion and power.
He is clearly overpaid but it’s a sunk cost, saving $2m isn’t worth releasing him. If you can get something decent for him definitely trade him, but I’ll take Gholston over Michael Johnson. They have similar builds and play style but I see more effort out of Gholston.