The Bucs’ Simmering Pile Of Cash
April 22nd, 2015
“As a general rule, you know there’s a reason why there is a salary cap. And we want to use all of our resources to get as many good football players in here. It’s kind of as simple as that. We want to be right up; we don’t want to have a lot of money in reserves. No one does. I mean you want to use money to get as many good football players. And it takes money to get good football players in here. So that’s our approach.” — Lovie Smith, January 2014
After signing restricted free agent defensive end George Johnson, the Bucs are sitting about $20 million under the 2015 salary cap. If you read the Lovie quote above, then you can assume that pile of money isn’t sitting well with the head coach, aka the Bucs’ overlord of football operations.
Joe’s already written about how Tampa Bay trading the No. 1 overall draft pick for Phillip Rivers and his giant salary is extremely unlikely and not exactly wise. Swinging a deal for Adrian Peterson ($13 million per year) is a lot more realistic, though still unlikely.
Peterson has plenty of upside. He’d take a lot of pressure of Jameis Winston and the Bucs’ receiving corps, which should accelerate the rookie’s development. Peterson is one of the few guys in the NFL that could rise above a lousy offensive line, and he should also come at a reasonable price.
If the Bucs want to deal Doug Martin and a 2016 third-round pick to the Vikings for Peterson, Joe could live with that.
Draft Winston and a couple of beastly offensive linemen next week, and put Peterson in the backfield. Joe suspects that would wipe out the Den of Depression nickname in a hurry.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:03 pm
You mean to tell me Charles Simms isn’t the future? #JK
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Ticket office phones would ring off the hook for days….
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Peterson is to old.
They are going to use the money to resign lavonte David
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Yes they would Buc1987 yes they would. One thing to keep in mind Lovie Smith has a deep fondness for Texas born football players. Their might be more to this than the organization is letting on.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:10 pm
If the Bucs want to deal Doug Martin and a 2016 third-round pick to the Vikings for Peterson, Joe could live with that.
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Except the Vikings won’t. It’s gonna cost at the minimum two 2nd round picks. Vikes have zero incentive to trade him for less than full value. So Martin, a 2nd and a 3rd, maybe yeah. But what a debacle that would be for the Bucs to give up that much. Which of course means Lovie and Licht will probably do it.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Waiting to see what they’re gonna do w that extra $$… Back massagers on the stadium seats? We’re gonna need em
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:11 pm
I would throw in James if I had to.
Ray Ray you on fire today brother.
87 good day to your sir.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:20 pm
I’m good with that!! Forget Rivers though…
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Doug martin anda 6-7 rnd. He’s a quick fix, lets not burn our high rnd picks please
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:21 pm
There may be a WR cap casualty…..we desperately need a 3rd WR with exceptional speed…….perhaps a Joey Galloway type situation.
There are several positons that we could still improve on with a FA & we may be one of the few teams to afford one.
If we don’t spend the $$$ on additional players then perhaps we can restructure and frontload GMC and others…..thus giving us a better cap future.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Money’s gonna go to Lavonte, draft picks and cuts that we pick up on waiver i believe.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:23 pm
sounds too easy and good joe, hence, it wont happen.
Bucs are bucs, they will bumble their way through administrative processes. Look at what happened with george johnson. Tried to sign him, and then had to give up a pick.
Bumbling bucs
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:26 pm
also, i prolly see them moving on Matt Forte before AP. just sayin
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:28 pm
ok id offer a second rounder and Leonard Johnson throw in Doug Martin too and we got a deal
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:29 pm
@Joe
NFLPA League Cap Report: (This Report is generated daily)<-Most Accurate
Buccaneers:
$25,443,468
Non Guaranteed Contract:
Logan Mankins:$7,000,000
Michael Koenen:$3,250,000
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:37 pm
AP excited about going from one non contender to another at age 30….don’t see him being all that motivated to go anywhere except a contender otherwise might as well play where he is
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:38 pm
Per NFLPA
https://www.nflpa.com/public-salary-cap-report
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:48 pm
I agree with TBBF, a chunk is going to FA’s once all these draft picks settle into teams. We should pick up some good, cheap, mature players as final cuts materialize. Another thing I always look foreward too this time of year is the crop of UDFA’s that will be available. Remember Penn, Beneii, and I believe Dotson.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:48 pm
I like Joe’s line of thinking with trade value but as previous poster said I am afraid it wont be enough. The most I would give is Martin and a 3rd rounder in 2015 and 2016, in return for AP and their 2015 4th round pick.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Titans, Bucs, Browns, Jags, Raiders have the most cap room.
What do these teams have in common? They all suck.
Hmmm…one could almost assume that teams that don’t
spend money on players and up sucking ass.
The jags are the worst team in the league year-after-year.
Their owner is an megalomaniac yacht-cruising jackass.
He needs to stay 28 million under the cap every year
to pay for that badass yacht.
Yep.
Greedy, Culverhouse type money grubbing owners
stay as far under the cap as they can and they could
really care less whether the team wins or not.
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Many of you are forgetting that AP’s good friend in Leslie Frazier is with the Bucs. I think this is going to happen
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:57 pm
I’m sure that the Bucs have a plan for that money/space that they haven’t went public with yet
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:05 pm
So swinging a deal for a 30 year old RB with almost a $12M salary makes more sense than swinging a deal for a 33 year old proven franchise QB for almost $16M? How many times have we read here “QB is the most important position”, or is that only when applied to drafting rookie crapshoot QB’s like Manziel or Winston? Personally I don’t really like the idea of adding either of them at this point in their careers, but if I’m the Glazers I certainly am more apt to pony up an extra $4M for a proven franchise QB with (barring injury) at least two or three good years left vs. a RB with maybe one or two years of elite performance left.
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:08 pm
AP isn’t going to cost you the number 1 overall pick
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:28 pm
How about rivers and peterson with 3 first round picks joe?
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:32 pm
It would not at all surprise me for the Bucs to swing a deal for somebody like AP with that cap space. The Bucs know that if they draft Winston that they will lose more fans than they will gain. So they may consider a deal like that to counter-balance that pick by bringing in somebody that would excite fans and be somebody that they would want to see play
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Wonder if we could package our number two plus Glennon and Martin to move up to snag Gurley.
Superstar in the waiting.
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Winston and Peterson??? No way that happens but if it does…instant playoffs for sure.
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Luther
Would still need the O-Line makeover though
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Im feeling it….AP will be a Buc!
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Peterson just took an unplanned season off to rest that body and it didn’t take any hits or punishment. I would not mind seeing that deal happen if the total trade package was fair.
Bucs have been holding onto that cap space for something
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I think the O-line gets addressed in the draft. We would still need more pieces but that give us a great headstart at all the skilled positions.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Acquiring AP for Doug Martin and a 2016 3rd would go a long way toward sweetening my sour opinion of this incompetent leadership. Wouldn’t do jack to improve the oline or pass rush but would be a lot of fun and help me forget about the bozos in charge and 2-14.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Rivers and Peterson! Now that’s what I’m talking about!!! Instant Playoffs!!!
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:23 pm
While I would welcome having A.P, I think the Vikes would ask for too much in return. Nothing to do with cap space.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:25 pm
If you are going to run a lot of play-action, then why not have the NFL’s best RB?
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:47 pm
I don’t want Rivers. He only has a few years left anyway. QB is totally different that RB. Why would anyone at the top of the draft make that trade? History shows that the trade is always bad for the team trading out…even St Louis has not done well in the trade for RG3.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Peterson is to old.
That is simply untrue!!! I posted yesterday that there is a link if you wish to google that shows 15 great backs who had great seasons after the age of 30!
Many of those players go back before modern training techniques and medicine.
They include names like Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown and most notably Walter Payton. Payton had 9 1000 yard rushing seasons in his 12 year career and three of them came after the age of 30.
A.P. is a generational back. We saw how he defied odds with a record setting season after major knee surgery. He had last year off because of the suspension, his legs will be very fresh. And he is one highly motivated dude.
We’d be truly stupid if we didn’t try and grab him! If he matched Payton’s three years after 30 he’d be worth it!!!
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Because Rivers for the next 5-6 years would be much better than any QB in this draft and would make the Bucs contend much quicker. And you know VJ would love to hook back up with his old buddy
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:53 pm
I see no point in trading for a player like Adrian Peterson when we can get Ray Rice (if we even need a RB) without a trade. Makes no sense to me.
I mean, both have off field issues. One doesn’t command a huge salary.
Personally, unless the Vikings will trade AP for Martin AND they pay half his salary, I’m not interested.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:54 pm
St. Pete
Like when the Colts thought that Marshall Faulk was done, and how did he do with the Greatest Show On Turf? LOL
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:55 pm
Luther Says:
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:47 pm
I don’t want Rivers. He only has a few years left anyway. QB is totally different that RB. Why would anyone at the top of the draft make that trade? History shows that the trade is always bad for the team trading out…even St Louis has not done well in the trade for RG3.
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Yeah trading 6 starters for an egotistical bust QB is really not doing well. You can say they have won anything since the trade, which is fair. But they made one of the most lopsided trades ever in their favour. They did exceptionally well in that trade.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:56 pm
5-6 is one contract. The Bucs need a 10-15 year solution at QB. This is their chance to get that position squared away. Haven’t we been reading articles about never having a QB reach a second contract and here we have fans who want to do that voluntarily.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:56 pm
Rivers in a Heartbeat
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Love the Title
If the Bucs actually do make the horrible mistake of drafting JaMarcus Winston, they will continue to be a Simmering Pile
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Luther
Because neither one of these top 2 QB’s is a 2 contract guy. May not even making it out of the first one. Rivers is a sure thing. Neither one of the other 2 guys are
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:08 pm
@Bogey you assume that neither of these guys make it. I’m pretty sure that Rivers only has one more contract in him. I’ll take my chances with Winston and if he doesn’t work out, you draft another guy. That’s how it works. Limping along like Gruden did for years is how you end up with the 10-15 draft slot every year. You have to take the chance when opportunity presents itself. Draft Winston and hope he is the one.
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:14 pm
MarshallU
I don’t agree with you very often, but having Rivers and Peterson would just be dynamic. The playoffs would be made and the stadium would be full. Bucs would have immediate prominence
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:19 pm
Luther
Having Rivers would not be “limping along” lol. However, I think that’s what it would be or get to with either Winston or Mariota. Why not have a proven winner for 5-6 years instead of taking a gamble on an unknown quantity?
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:22 pm
@Bogey All I can say is that I’m glad you aren’t making the decision. Lovie and Licht want to be here for a long time and the best way to do that is draft a QB. It may be luck (Not the real Luck) but it ain’t rocket science.
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Luther
If Lovie and Licht want to stay around for a while, the best way to do that is WIN. Rivers would give them the much better chance at that. It’s not rocket science. Take a proven winner over a risk
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Philip Rivers Stats
Pass Completion %: Career 64.7% (7)
Passer Rating: Career 95.7 (6)
Passing Yds/Game: Career 246.0 (10)
• Yds/Pass Att: Career 7.8 (10)
• Passing Yds/Game: Career 246.0 (10)
Passing Yds: Active 36655 (6)
• Passing TD: Active 252 (5)
• Passing TD %: Active 5.4% (5)
Game-Winning Drives: Active 23 (10)
Comebacks: Active 20 (7)
A Proven Commodity!!
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Luther
I wish it were the real Luck, lol
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Luther
Actually I wish I would have been making the decisions last year as I would not have signed those high priced free agents, kept Zuttah and I would have come back up into the 1st round and drafted Teddy
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Philip Rivers -Record as a starting Quarterback in the NFL (*88-56-0)
His only had ONE losing season in 9yrs!!
In that was 7-9 in 2012
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:45 pm
Figure in the LD54 extension, and the draft class, and there’s not such a huge pile anymore, so spending that munny is no issue… but, of course, Joe would like to make an issue.
April 22nd, 2015 at 3:48 pm
He’s only had ONE losing season in 9yrs!!
April 22nd, 2015 at 4:03 pm
the bucs have had 3 visitor of importance at one buc place .dante fowler jr. the edge rusher from the gators, mariota and the crab leg thief all visited.
most likely the bucs will trade the pick. if they don’t they will take fowler or mariota.
April 22nd, 2015 at 4:15 pm
In the Modern Era of the NFL
Philip Rivers is a better Quarterback, that some of winners & losers of the Super Bowl
Won the Super Bowl
• 122. Doug Williams 16,998 1978-1989 2TM
• 28. Phil Simms 33,462 1979-1993 nyg
• 114. Jim McMahon 18,148 1982-1996 6TM
• 125. Jeff Hostetler 16,430 1985-1997 3TM
• 112. Mark Rypien 18,473 1988-2001 5TM
• 45. Brad Johnson 29,054 1994-2008 4TM
• 100. Trent Dilfer 20,518 1994-2007 5TM
• 15. Eli Manning 39,755 2004-2014 nyg
And all the ones that Lost
• 18. Boomer Esiason 37,920 1984-1997 3TM
• 46. Rich Gannon 28,743 1987-2004 4TM
• 49. Chris Chandler 28,484 1988-2004 7TM
• 121. Stan Humphries 17,191 1989-1997 2TM
• 91. Neil O’Donnell 21,690 1991-2003 4TM
• 23. Matt Hasselbeck 34,948 1999-2014 4TM
• 179. Rex Grossman 10,232 2003-2013 3TM
• 96. Jake Delhomme 20,975 1999-2011 4TM
Takes A Team to win it all.
April 22nd, 2015 at 4:17 pm
He’s a better QB than Eli
April 22nd, 2015 at 4:24 pm
LUVMYBUCS
Good stuff brother. Keep the realism coming
April 22nd, 2015 at 4:54 pm
@Bogeking
Thank U Brotha
April 22nd, 2015 at 5:30 pm
$8M for Rookie contracts + $12-15M to front load LVD’s new contract eats up most of the 2015 cap space still available.
Bucs are taking a big 1 year dead $ cap hit this year for Nicks, Barron, Johnson, Collins and Goldson.
Well more than $20M in additional $ will be available for use in 2016 once all that dead $ clears from the books after this year.
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Yep you right– before LVD gets an extension-Rookie contracts , Incentives and salary escalators + Rollovers for next year…
2016 Cap Space:
$67,032,318
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:30 pm
Bucs are likely to have more than $40M in available cap space to work with in 2016. And that doesn’t even include the $10M savings if they cut VJax lose or the $7M savings if they don’t think Mankins is worth it anymore.
That amount could net a couple major star players and still have plenty to work with for regular (non star) FAs.
Also next year’s Free Agency results could be different (better) than this year’s. Assuming Winston looks promising and the Bucs win a reasonable # of games in 2015 – next year’s best Free Agents may be a lot more willing to come play for an “up and coming” team than they were this year considering how bad the Bucs looked in 2014 and the 2-14 record indicated.
April 22nd, 2015 at 11:52 pm
@Luvmybucs, you’re on the ball man, I think they’re playing it safe this year, but next year is gonna be a different story. Free agency will draw at least 2 big stars
April 23rd, 2015 at 7:25 am
This is why I haven’t had season tickets (or cared) since about 2008.