“Upper Hand?”
June 8th, 2015
Whether Demar Dotson is staging some sort of contract protest/holdout is unclear. Bucs fans truly will find out when mandatory minicamp starts in eight days.
But the notion that Dotson has a strong case to play hardball with the Bucs has Joe laughing hysterically.
Pat Yasinskas, ESPN Bucs beat blogger, penned a piece today suggesting Dotson has the “upper hand” in a drive for a reworked contract. Dotson is set to earn $2.5 million this year, and just under $2 million plus incentives in 2016.
Dotson is the constant on the NFL’s worst performing offensive line over the past two seasons. He’s an almost average right tackle who turns 30 in October. That’s not the resumé to demand a new deal. Joe thinks $2.5 million is a fair piece of change for a guy like Dotson.
What’s Dotson going to do? Pass up a paycheck and paint himself as a malcontent for the rest of the league?
Joe likes Dotson and isn’t railing against the guy. Dotson may not even be “holding out,” as some have suggested. But Joe has to be real. The Bucs should feel no pressure to make a new deal with Dotson, not this offseason.
June 8th, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Agreed Joe – however, the very last thing the Bucs need right now is to have to find a RT. He may not be a great RT – but he IS a RT and decent offensive linemen are not deep on this team. I think I read that somewhere once or twice.
June 8th, 2015 at 3:39 pm
tell him to get in line behind #54. nuff said!
June 8th, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Let’s face it, NOBODY with any connection to the Bucs 2014 OL should be asking for anything other than the chance to redeem themselves this year.
That includes EVERY player and Warhop as well. People associated with the Bucs OL should heed Former Lightning Coach John Tortarella’s great advice. “Shut yer yap!”.
June 8th, 2015 at 4:00 pm
Dotson has 2 years left on his contract and is mediocre at best. I would almost bet that their will be 2nd wave preseason roster cut OT’s who become available from teams with a lot of OL talent, that could perform about as well as Dotson. Albeit, they would be behind the 8 ball on the playbook.
June 8th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Demar Dotson gotta have the dumbest agent in sports,why would his agent even consider a contract with those numbers? When I read the numbers of the contact a few years ago, I thought it was a misprint , his deal is far less than a rookie deal. But one thing is in Dotson favor, he was the 5th ranked Right Tackle on Bleacher Report top 50 right tackles, also it is VOLUNTARY.
June 8th, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Restructure him from 2 years to 4 with more $$ this year & next than the current contract….but keeping it reasonable in years 3 & 4….that should get the deal done.
June 8th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Like it or not, Dotson would be hard to replace right now. He’s not a great tackle, he’s not a bad one. But he’s better than any guy roaming the streets right now and I’d rather not have the Bucs shell out another awful Tim Wright deal to replace him. The Bucs can’t afford to not give Winston decent protection, it could ruin his career. I heard that Dotson is underpaid as a RT, and as much as I abhor athletes that holdout for more money, it wouldn’t be too much to give him a slightly better deal. $2 mil is chump change.
June 8th, 2015 at 4:27 pm
cut him
June 8th, 2015 at 4:28 pm
I completely disagree Joe. I don’t care if he is an average player. In the country of sightless men, the man with one eye is king.
You are correct when you say he is the one constant. If the Bucs don’t pay the man they have zero “constants.”
I don’t blame him for holding out. It’s actually a smart move.
June 8th, 2015 at 4:47 pm
i get why he’s mad – anthony collins probably topped his career earnings in one awful season\contract that he was unqorthy of…but that doesn’t oblige the bucs to pay another guy over his market value. “I was better than Anthony Collins” is not an adequate negotiating position.
June 8th, 2015 at 4:55 pm
Other than mankins, he is the only starting caliber o lineman we have. The rookies will obviously play a big role this season but Dotson does have some leverage. Do you really think the bucks o line would be better without Dotson? He doesn’t deserve a lot of money, but a slight increase and 2 more years should be appropriate. Imo the timing for him is perfect. He knows they will be looking to replace him in the near future. So he’s trying to cash in while he can. Can’t fault him for that. He’s worried about his future, and he should be.
June 8th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
Dotson knows that the Bucs are not going to leave it to chance that a rookie on the left side and a second year no experience guy on the right side to protect Jameis is not a chance the Bucs are betting on, he is in agood position, anybody else they brought in would be off the bottom heap somewhere, also remember Winston was recruiting Collins from LSU. Then of course this coincides with Bleacher Report listing Dotson as the 5th best RT. pay him but don’t overpay him, it’s his right to make them finances over the latter part of his career
June 8th, 2015 at 5:07 pm
All we hear about is the Bucs want high character guys on this team. Mr. Dotson has been that and then some. Work with the man and lets get this season going !!!!!!! GO BUCS !!!!!!!
June 8th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
I think we could do OK with Donovan Smith at LT and Pamphile at RT. Depth becomes a question though. Maybe they should just pay him something close to market value for a capable starting RT and get it over with.
June 8th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
I’m still trying to figure out why Garrett Gilkey is playing Guard and Center, who ever heard of a 6’6 center? he’s too tall to play center or guard, he played LT in college. He should be a tackle in the NFL,Cleveland converted him into a guard because of the injuries,the Bucs should move him back to Tackle, Left or Right.
June 8th, 2015 at 5:59 pm
He played LT the last part of the year and got no added compensation for it. He deserves a better contract. We need his flexibiliy available.
30 is not that old for an OL. Check out the ages on the Eagles OL now.
June 8th, 2015 at 6:16 pm
It’s not like the Bucs are dealing with cap issues, so whu not give the guy a little more security? We watched a versatile guy who was at least average by NFL standards (Zuttah) walk, and look how that worked out. Dotson is probably somewhere around below average to average, which sadly makes him one of the best OL men currently on the Buc’s roster.
June 8th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
I say sign the guy after this season’s over if he performs as he has the last couple of years. But first please bucs sing Lavonte David already. What the hell are you waiting for.
June 8th, 2015 at 7:16 pm
Being this team has PLENTY of cash laying around and dotson was the best on our line last season and being that he is being underpaid dollar for dollar as an average starting tavkle in this league. If lovie and jason are smart you give the man a little extra. Not much but what he is worth.
Face it if he had a better surrounding casr and some continuiity and even throw in some coaching on the offensive side that we didnt have last year that we now do you can expect everyone to perform better. Being there is a good chance there could be a rookie back there throwing at the qb position it may not hurt to dish out another mil to make the man feel a little better about starting on this line again. I think it would be a small amount of money for this team to spend to show appreciation for his effort and character.
June 8th, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Im sure Kevin Pamhile can fill his role
June 8th, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Pro Football Focus has this to say – Demar Dotson put up one amazing season in 2013 followed by just an impressive 2014. Dotson has developed into a PFF Pro-Bowler, he’s Tampa Bay’s PFF Secret Superstar. At 6-foot-9 and 315 pounds, Dotson is as fluid an athlete with as quick a pair of feet you’ll find at that size. He’s tremendous in space and even made the switch to left tackle last year. The elite tackles in this league have the unique ability to perform consistently and limit their bad games. Joe Thomas had only one negatively-graded game this past season while Jordan Gross’ lowest graded game was just -0.6. After playing every snap of the 2013 season, Dotson joined their company with just three negatively-graded games and low pass blocking grade of -0.7. His +23.0 overall grade was good enough for third among right tackles and 13th among all tackles in 2013.
In 2014 PFF highest-grading right tackle, Sebastian Vollmer, tied for third along with the Buccaneers Demar Dotson. Dotson was the only right tackle on this list to also start on the left, playing the final three games there and giving up one sack, two hits and four hurries in the process. Without that stint at left tackle, Dotson’s PBE sat at 96.6, tying for the lead with Wagner.
One of the reasons Tampa Bay was able to sign all that talent in FA in 2014 was due to the contract they gave to Dotson last offseason. Coming off of his first year as a starter, the right tackle received a three-year, $4.5m extension that will keep him on the roster through the 2016 season. As the 23rd–highest paid right tackle, Dotson is far and away one of the best values at the position and a deserving Secret Superstar.
Demar Dotson is an elite right tackle ranking 3rd best right tackle in 2013 and again 3rd best right tackle in the NFL in 2014. The Bucs can pay him now or the Bucs will pay him later.
June 8th, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Dotson has the Bucs by the Balls. The Bucs need him and he knows it. Good for him.
June 8th, 2015 at 8:58 pm
Stricktly business….Restructure him…..longer term…more money….Win, Win!!!
June 8th, 2015 at 9:17 pm
Howdy fellas. And to Tmaxcon. Renewed respect for you my friend. No I don’t get to go to games anymore and I play alot outdoors. I have still been to over 120 Bucs games back when I had teeth lol. Keep preachin and Go Bucs!!
June 8th, 2015 at 9:26 pm
Enter K. Pamphile
June 8th, 2015 at 9:58 pm
Handle the scandal, we need the beef!!!
June 8th, 2015 at 10:01 pm
Damar can’t have the upper hand in this one, they drafted four offensive lineman the last two drafts. Not saying they are better but four minus one and I think that adds up to a win for the Bucs
June 8th, 2015 at 10:13 pm
I’m sorry but this guy is a decent right tackle for a team with a horrid OLine. With the cap room we have I don’t get paying this guy. I definitely don’t get people trashing this guy for wanting more. He has played well on the cheap. Not his fault the rest of the team blows.
June 8th, 2015 at 10:15 pm
FUK that! If they were able to pay sorry a$$ Bowers, Johnson, Collins, McCown, etc… they should be able to pay Dotson. They don’t have to break the bank but a little pay raise won’t hurt. The last thing they need is to try out a new RT. They have enough to worry about in Smith and Big Brother Ali whom I believe will be a stud. #paydaman
June 8th, 2015 at 11:32 pm
Dotson is not “almost average”, he is a talented player has been a victim of constant coaching turnover and organizational chaos that has hurt his progress. That said, he needs a very good season to earn more money.
June 9th, 2015 at 12:34 am
Hey LakelandBuc. I grew up off of Live Oak and Hallam Dr. Go Bucs!!
June 9th, 2015 at 12:48 am
His signing a contract just last year is kinda going against him. He should have signed a bigger deal then if he wanted more money. Coming back 1 year after signing a 3 year deal is pretty stupid of him. I think he does deserve more money, but he should be blaming his agent for agreeing to such a low contract.
June 9th, 2015 at 1:49 am
Buc-A-New, I grew up at Lincoln Ave and West Crawford St.
June 9th, 2015 at 7:11 am
I think with what average right tackle makes in the NFL he has a very valid argument and just because the entire offensive line was bad doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get paid what he’s worth but having said that this would be a big gamble and he should have done this last year or something before they knew what kind of rookie lineman they drafted. what if those guys come in and make bucs forget all about Dotson? big gamble but I understand it, he’s 30 which is why he should be getting paid what he’s worth, he only has a few more years left to make that money baby
June 9th, 2015 at 7:23 am
Cmon Joe, you don’t build a competent line by scorning one of our two competent lineman. He’s underpaid. Pay him and let’s get him to work!
June 9th, 2015 at 8:35 am
I have watched DD since he was a UDFA with massive size and raw potential. He has worked his tail off to become the one piece of this woeful offensive line that can be trusted to do his damn job. He has beaten out the likes of Trueblood (2nd rounder) and Carimi (first rounder) all while keeping his mouth shut and taking sub par compensation. Pay the man!!! He deserves to be paid what he is worth. Quid pro quo, Clarice!
June 9th, 2015 at 8:43 am
Of course he has the upper hand. What are they gonna do? Start Smith and Pamphile? Can you even name who the backup tackle would be in that case? We have no options and lot’s of money…Dotson has the upper hand.
June 9th, 2015 at 11:19 am
I’m ok with giving him a new deal.
I wonder if players can pay off sites like PFF to pull stats together to make them look amazing lol?
June 10th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Joe,
I respect your opinion, even when we disagree. On this though, I gotta say a c’mon man! Dotson is easily worth 4 million/year, perhaps 5 on the open market. The Bucs have the upper hand in that he’s under contract, but they should be smart about this and restructure him to a Buc friendly extension that ups his yearly compensation to 4 mil. He’s been steadily improving and played pretty damn good at left tackle last year for final games. C’mon Joe rethink this one. Is 1.5 mil a year really worth it to us to have him hold out when we’re trying to build chemistry with a new OC and young offense? Lastly, best comment was from WalkdaPlank- Dotson’s agent, what an idiot.