Report: Bucs Have Called Norman
April 20th, 2016
Bucs already kicking the tires.
Bucs fans who got a jolt of free caffeine this afternoon when they learned the Stinking Panthers pulled their franchise tag off the table, making Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman an immediate unrestricted free agent, well, Joe has news that will keep them up half the night short of doing shots to calm down.
The Bucs are one of nine teams that have reached out to Josh Norman’s representatives to talk turkey about obtaining Norman’s services. That’s the word from Panthers beat writer Joe Person.
Niners, with a ton of cap space, among teams that called about Josh Norman, per source. Others incl. Bucs, Steelers, Dolphins.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) April 21, 2016
Person did not list the other five teams that his source claimed called Norman’s agent (and Norman’s agent is the odds on favorite as Person’s source).
For those concerned, the Bucs, per OvertheCap.com, have $15,720,430 of cap space. If this makes you paranoid, the Bucs have two guys who finished the season on the bench, Alterraun Verner and Evan Smith, who are scheduled to make roughly a combined $9 million this season, per Rotoworld.com.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:20 pm
DO IT! We need to win now! If we can get at least 3-5 good years from this guy why not?!
April 20th, 2016 at 10:20 pm
Yeahhhh buddy!
April 20th, 2016 at 10:26 pm
Don’t forget Sackless! That’s another 2 million
April 20th, 2016 at 10:28 pm
What a giant opportunity to stick it to the Panthers.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:29 pm
Sign Norman trade back from 9 to 15 select Coleman the baylor wr then with your multiple second round pics from the titans you select Spence, then Either the Florida gator safety or the west Virginia safety and that my friends is how you make noise in the playoffs “DROPS MIC AND WALKS OFF”
April 20th, 2016 at 10:33 pm
Bucnasty
I think your ideas make a lot of sense
April 20th, 2016 at 10:34 pm
Peek thru the windows, kick the tires then look at the price tag and and realize it’s not worth it. 1 good season out of how many years in the league?
April 20th, 2016 at 10:35 pm
nah, sign Norman, draft Rankins 1, Shepard 2, Cash 3
April 20th, 2016 at 10:36 pm
I’m not getting my hopes up yet…Apparently the 49ers have the best chance of getting him and they have more cap space than the Bucs.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:36 pm
Drafting Wr and safety early is the crappiest way to get in the playoffs, Spence is a ok proposition, I rather get Emmanuel Ogbah dude if he’s there
April 20th, 2016 at 10:38 pm
Jax I think are going to get him..No state tax and they’ve got plenty of money..
April 20th, 2016 at 10:39 pm
BucNasty if we got all that done I would be so fing excited. Prefer Karl Joseph over the guy from Florida but haven’t watched enough tape on him to give a true judgement.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:43 pm
The guy’s a jerk off
April 20th, 2016 at 10:45 pm
Sign Norman, draft Rankins @9, Take Spence in 2nd. Trade our 3rd plus MG8 for a mid 2nd and get Shepherd.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Everybody is somewhat missing the point……unless he goes to the Falcons or Saints……he’s out of our division…..even if we don’t get him, it helps us.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:59 pm
TBBF, that was the first thought I had too! Then came the thoughts of us getting him! Lol
April 20th, 2016 at 11:04 pm
Cut vjax $12 million verner $6.5 Johnson $2 sign roddy to replace vjax for $2 million give Norman $46 million guaranteed 5 year deal all the guaranteed money the 1st 3 years, he’s off the books once JW is due for the extension that would greatly improve our defense plus he can stick it to the hello kitty’s 2 a year
April 20th, 2016 at 11:09 pm
Buc nasty :
I said the other day trade back with the titans and grab
Corey Coleman
Then with the 1st 2nd rd
Grab Noah Spence
Then the 2nd 2nd rd
Karl Joesph
Then trade your 3rd and 5th to go bavk in the botton 2nd and grab
Nick Martin.
Thenk trade Glennon to Denver for their 3rd and grab
Jaylen Smith
April 20th, 2016 at 11:15 pm
The people playing GM in here are awful at it, no wonder Licht has a job – even if he has really been awful at signing FA’s. The Bucs are a 3rd tier NFL team thanks to Gruden running them into the ground and making them completely irrelevant, there’s a reason our big signings recently have all been 2nd tier (at best) FA’s that we’ve had to overpay. Norman is an elite player, this is the reason you save up all that cap room. The Bucs have the 2nd most cap room of any team next year – there is zero reason money should keep the Bucs from getting this done, it’s a huge need position regardless of what Miko thinks, and it would open the Bucs to getting a WR early which would be a must since obviously VJ would be on the outs to free up cap room.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:16 pm
I Love Smokescreen Season!!!
April 20th, 2016 at 11:22 pm
I think if we got Norman, got Rankins at 9, then found a way to move back into the first or move up a few spots in the 2nd (if need be) to get Spence or Ogbah, that would be golden. Of course this would take some good money and draft management
April 20th, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Josh Norman not gonna mix well with Chip Kelly–neither of them will go there
April 20th, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Bucs are the only team named that is in the NFC South. Please come to us and make the Panthers regret they let you go, Josh.
Sincerely,
fellow Coastal Carolina alum.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:29 pm
SCBucs..
Aren’t we the only team in the NFC south with cap room??
Can someone correct me if I am wrong?
April 20th, 2016 at 11:30 pm
I am sorry and not trying to be disrespectful but ANY of you that think Norman is worth $1 mil per game have bumped your head somewhere. That dude is not worth that on a Bad Defense much less the second best in the NFL.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Please review the opinions of several defensive coordinators/Gm’s
2016 Shutdown Corners (NFL network)
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-hq/0ap3000000649130/Why-aren-t-there-any-shutdown-corners
April 20th, 2016 at 11:31 pm
1ne buc …..touche’ brother we should have a beer you seam like a wise man …..or woman either way you might kno a thing or two….. Aristotle you’ve got to be trolling you clearly saw if your a true fan how stagnant the offense was with the wr injury so drafting a speed wr which we haven’t had since Galloway can’t b a bad thing o did I mention we need a return guy also thanks forgot about that one plus drafting a high sfaty when there is a need that barron nor major right and Conte could fill should b frowned apon because God forbid we try to upgrade positions and for the trifecta Spence has more and better pass rush moves. NOW TROLL SOMEONE ELSE AS I DROP THE MIC AND WALK OFF AGAIN
April 20th, 2016 at 11:32 pm
Cut Verner, not Evan smith. He is a solid veteran for the o line. Even on the bench he can come in when someone gets knicked up, and the offense won’t miss a beat. He is still a valued member. If we got Norman, then Verner is dead weight. As much as it pains me to say it. V jax should also be on the chopping block before Evan smith. And I love Vincent. But his salary is too big, and Norman is too great to pass up.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:34 pm
Before I go to sleep I must say that I have talked to 8 Panthers fans tonight and not 1 of them wants to keep him at a mil a yr.
Have fun with that guys.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:36 pm
Sign him. Trade up for Bosa. Or trade down get a WR and get spence in the 2nd and then Carl Nassib.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:37 pm
Sorry……..a mil a game.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:38 pm
I’m not going to get my hopes up I see him going to the 49ers
April 20th, 2016 at 11:39 pm
And I agree that Norman is worth 1 mill per game. And some of u guys were complaining about Revis. Wow
April 20th, 2016 at 11:39 pm
Is not*
April 20th, 2016 at 11:40 pm
arealbucsfan: you REALLY think Norman is worth a mil a game???’
Are you for Real???
April 20th, 2016 at 11:40 pm
BETTER NOT CUT OUR GLUE IN VJAX. HE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE TO THE YOUNG GUYS HOW TO BE A TRUE PROFESSIONAL .
April 20th, 2016 at 11:42 pm
OK…….i see the addendum areal. Sorry
April 20th, 2016 at 11:45 pm
@Sb with Jameis says. Lol it’s cool. I believe he’s a good player but for a mill per game. Hell no. U have to be a great talent for that $$
April 20th, 2016 at 11:50 pm
Second thought, Norman is not worth a million per game and having to cut VJax. Still would like to like to get Rankins at 9 and Spence/Ogbah in one or two
April 20th, 2016 at 11:56 pm
Think you meant Lovie.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:58 pm
He’s not going anywhere soon.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:59 pm
@ arealbucs……….I don’t think there is a player in this League that is worth a mil a game to a promising young team that is trying to build a contender. Can’t allocate 10% of your payroll to very many individuals and still pay everyone else. LVD has Forever been a better LB than Keuchley but alas…..the pundits say different cause of Carolina’s defensive balance.
April 21st, 2016 at 12:01 am
Joe Says:
April 20th, 2016 at 11:56 pm
The Bucs are a 3rd tier NFL team thanks to Gruden running them into the ground and making them completely irrelevant
Think you meant Lovie.
……………………
LOLOL…………I just screenshot this one!!!
So true even if so much of a setback!!!
April 21st, 2016 at 12:07 am
How many WRs are worth $12 million a year, Antonio Brown doesn’t make that, it’s pointless to pay a 33 year old declining player, especially when you have a Roddy White with equal skills available for 2 million, that’s $10 million we are wasting plus why is George Johnson and his $2 million still on the roster aren’t we drafting some DEs in the draft, Norman would make our team a lot better and we can afford him, maximize the rookie QB contract by getting better as quick as possible, that’s what Seattle did with Wilson now look at all the depth problems they have
April 21st, 2016 at 12:10 am
What’s the point even discussing signing Norman JAX has $55 million cap space left
April 21st, 2016 at 12:17 am
Holy S H ! T
This could change everything. SIGN HIM.
He is worth it.
Just do it!
They could have grimes, Norman, banks, Verner, Robinson
CB done.
They could focus completely on DE, a S and a WR in the first few rounds.
April 21st, 2016 at 12:20 am
Why would we get Norman at the salary he will command. Remember Licht came to Tampa and one of the first things he did was cut Revis because of his salary. If the Bucs called it was to get the price other teams will be paying for his services. It may somehow impact their draft board trying to figure out who can sign Normman. Go Bucs!
April 21st, 2016 at 12:21 am
You guys are crazy you do whatever you can to get Josh Norman cut Jackson and vernerif you have to it…
April 21st, 2016 at 12:22 am
Love when you people play GM and try to figure out if a player is worth X amount per year.
WHO CARES?!?
Just build a winner. Not my cash.
They have the cap space because they still need to maneuver some players.
Personally I think all sports should stop saying what players make. Why is that any of our business? My salary is not anyone’s business.
I just think it creates animosity and a divide between the fans and players.
April 21st, 2016 at 12:24 am
If verner needs to be cut or traded, so be it but I don’t think they need to cut VJax. He is too important to JW and ME. He should be there one more year for their development.
April 21st, 2016 at 12:36 am
Do it,do it. Hey do it.then move up and draft Bosa then move back into first and grab spence.draft probelly over im great with that.Tampaaaa.just so some who dont know verner wil be a pro bowler AGAIN,now that he can play in a present nfl d-fence.banks could be pretty damn good too.
April 21st, 2016 at 12:38 am
Norman,bosa, spence,rodmey white.super bowl
April 21st, 2016 at 12:44 am
No way Jason Licht will read this or listen to me but….if there is anyway that we can survive for 3 years of guaranteed money an sign this guy for Revis $ we definitely should! He is a lock down corner. I really believe he will add at least 2-3 regular season wins this year. This is what we need. We could stack the box if the rush wasn’t strong. We need to pay this guy if we can make it work and find a way to keep our other studs for the next few years. Have Jameis FaceTime Norman with his nice little smile and I think we will get this guy. We are instantly a playoff team with this guy and he will have a chip on his shoulder. He has length and will match up well with Julio and Benjamin. We need him. And we can focus on other aspects. If we can make this work financially…. SIGN HIM and then we load up on the DLINE and OLINE
April 21st, 2016 at 12:45 am
The Bucs only called lol…. They heard the price and said ok thanks (phone call ends)
April 21st, 2016 at 12:46 am
Cut verner and Johnson saves enough to get Norman and sign the draft picks
April 21st, 2016 at 12:47 am
Worth? Is he *worth* $1 million per game? It’s not like it’s *my* money I’m spending, so sure, he’s worth it.
Here’s the thing: What other moves are coming in the draft? Who’s picking who? Do we know? If we pick Hargraves, does he pan out? If we take a DE, does *he* pan out?
If we sign Norman, we know what we’re getting. There’s enough cap room and moves to be made, we just need the team as a whole under cap and simultaneously successful. If a couple of random players in the mix are paid a bit more than “average”, it doesn’t really matter at that point. And yeah, I think Verner would go as a result.
If you have an opportunity to take a top-tier corner, you take it. Did we overpay for VJax? Absolutely. Has he been invaluable to the team? Absolutely. His individual paycheck doesn’t factor in as much at this point to me, because I’m fine overpaying for him again *this* year as well.
April 21st, 2016 at 12:52 am
Its all about guaranteed $… if we can sign him and his guaranteed years don’t interfere with Jameis $ or Evans $ then I say we do what we need to do to get this guy! Get it done!
April 21st, 2016 at 12:58 am
Don’t get your hopes up.
He wants to be there, and the Kitties want him. Long term. The difference is price.
He thinks he’s worth a LOT more than the non-exclusive franchise tag on him for a year. The Kitties disagree. The CB franchise tag is worth nearly $14 million.
So he’ll do what Doug Martin did: stick his toes into Free Agency to determine his actual value, and the Kitties may match that number.
Nobody wanted to talk with Norman under with the non-exclusive tag because it would have cost them TWO 1st round picks to sign if the Kitties refuse to match and let him walk.
I expect Norman to be a Kittie again.
That’s all this is. The franchise tag in today’s NFL is nothing more than a negotiating ploy.
April 21st, 2016 at 1:00 am
Itd be amazing if we could get Norman but at the same time im just excited he wont be with Carolina. If not with the bucs hes out of the nfc south. Wont be in Evens head as much lol
April 21st, 2016 at 1:11 am
Mike johnson get off here and go back to the falcons or wait the joesaintfan.com.
April 21st, 2016 at 1:13 am
That would make it 3 probowl cornees starting opening day wow.
April 21st, 2016 at 1:32 am
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Top 51 League Cap Report (2016)
*This Report is generated daily
Current Contracts: 72
Previous Year
Carryover: $7,987,748
Team Cap: $146,615,563
Cap Room: $14,522,803
*Only the Top 51 are counted in calculations
This Report is generated daily
April 21st, 2016 at 1:38 am
Joe/Guzzie – So you think the Bucs were viewed as a top tier team when Gruden was fired? When Morris was fired? When Schiano was fired? Wow, I know there are delusional fans out there, but you might be at the top of that list.
Anywho for those thinking he’s not worth a million a game? Again what are you saving the money for? The Bucs have the 2nd most cap space next year and the year after that and the year after that. What exactly is the point of having cap room if you’re never going to spend it? The Bucs do contracts in a way that they can cut people after a couple of years with no penalties. Sign the guy, CB is a huge need and it frees up a draft spot for a different position, not to mention he’s one of the top CB’s in the league. Who cares if the Bucs have tons of cap room every year if they’re just getting 2nd rate FA’s, the Bucs need to win to have a shot at getting top tier guys without having to overpay, but they can overpay now and should do so.
April 21st, 2016 at 1:52 am
Only issue I have with these predictions for our team is the Spence pick he didn’t even dominate at eastern Michigan he takes plays off disappears for long periods in the game no thanks to Spence
April 21st, 2016 at 2:21 am
Cap Reserved for Draft Compensation
*Based off Draft Selection 2015 Rookie Contracts
#9 – Annual: $3,597,930 || 4ys/ $14,391,719
#39 – Annual: $1,421,579 || 4yrs/ $5,686,314
#74 – Annual: $804,843 || 4yrs/ $3,219,372
#108 – Annual: $703,483 || 4yrs/ $2,813,930
#148 – Annual: $627,072 || 4yrs/ $2,508,288
#183 – Annual: $600,419 || 4yrs/ $2,401,677
#197 – Annual: $592,622 || $2,370,487
Total Reserved for Draft Compensation: $11,945,878
–
Cap Room: $14,522,803
*Total Cap Available: $2,576,925
April 21st, 2016 at 2:35 am
*Possible June 1st Release Candidates
• Gosder Cherilus – $4,500,000
• Evan Dietrich-Smith – $2,500,000
• George Johnson – $2,000,000
Total: $9,000,000
+ $2,576,925
Total Cap Available: $11,576,925
April 21st, 2016 at 2:50 am
Extension/Restructure Contracts
• Vincent Jackson $12,209,778 ( Convert $9,777,778 into signing bonus)
• Alterraun Verner $6,750,000 (Convert $ $4,750,000 into signing bonus)
Total Converted Into Signing Bonus: $14,527,778
+ $11,576,925
Total Cap Available: $26,104,703
Note: Signing Bonuses and Option Bonuses are prorated over the length of the player’s contract (or the remaining years of the players contract, in the case of an Option Bonus), up to a CBA-mandated maximum of 5 years.
April 21st, 2016 at 2:57 am
*Replaced Possible June 1st Release Candidates
w/ 2016 Draft Picks
• T Jack Conklin
• C Jack Allen
• DE Shilique Calhoun
April 21st, 2016 at 4:07 am
Norman’s all about the money, but Licht isn’t the type of GM to make it rain especially after having his arm twisted by Clueless Lovie into signing guys like Michael Johnson and Anthony Collins. That means it’s likely he signs with a team that’s known to overpay to make a big splash. Plus I don’t see the value in signing a guy who’s maybe the 10th-15th best CB in the league but who’s demanding Revis money. Norman is in for a big dose of reality as to his true market value.
April 21st, 2016 at 4:24 am
It would be great to see Josh Norman in a Bucs uniform. It would be even greater to see Josh Norman continue to produce at an all-pro level in a Bucs uniform. The greatest thing we can hope for is that Josh Norman plays in the last game of the NFL season next season – only this time in a Bucs uniform taking pictures with the Lombardi trophy.
But, while all those things are reasonable, I still found it hard to believe the defending NFC south and reigning NFC champion would let an asset like Josh Norman walk without any compensation, without trying to make some sort of pre-draft deal, or without at least waiting until the draft to include him in package to help them move up. Apparently I’m not the only one wondering. While most outlets have been reporting which teams have the best chance of acquiring the services of Mr. Norman, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora asks the question and theorizes why the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag (link below).
http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25561669/the-josh-norman-situation-leaves-us-with-more-questions-than-answers
I value the information I’ve picked up from many of you with respect to how Bucs management could/should posture itself financially to make this move. But does it make sense to make this move given the lack of information we have regarding why one of the best corners in the league was let go by the 2nd best team in the league?
1) You’re missing the point that it was Norman who passed on the Panthers by not signing the tag worth $15 million, rather he opted within his right to negotiate a contract.
2) They couldn’t trade him because they didn’t have him under contract.
3) They could be in line for a third-round or fourth-round compensatory pick if he signs with a new team before May 12–Joe
April 21st, 2016 at 6:00 am
[…] Josh Norman just as he was about to kick it, we learned the Bucs were one of the first teams to kick the tires on Norman last […]
April 21st, 2016 at 8:19 am
You guys talking about cutting Jackson smh, pretty sure he would take a pay cut to help bring him here
April 21st, 2016 at 9:05 am
Point taken, Joe. But I’m still concerned that that team made the decision to rescind the tag, essentially ending contract negotiations. Sure it was only one year, but his production last year was a significant contributing factor to their super bowl run. Guys like him don’t grow on those proverbial trees people speak of. So, again, and maybe I’m misguided, although I would LOVE to see Norman and grimes roaming in the secondary, I think Licht et al should kick the so-called tires a little harder and longer before putting a load of money (which I believe he deserves) in his lap.
April 21st, 2016 at 10:18 am
[…] Joe will continue to write about Norman as long as the Bucs remain in the hunt for this […]
April 21st, 2016 at 11:14 am
The Bucs could create a lot of cap room very quickly by cutting or restructuring aging veterans. The question is, would it be worth it? In the QB rich NFC South, corners and pass rushers are premium positions, so I would go for it.
April 21st, 2016 at 5:24 pm
To Rod Munch, “the Bucs are a 3rd tier team thanks to Gruden running them in the ground…” Gruden????? Are you kidding me? The guy won us a freakin Super Bowl dude. Please look at the coaches that followed Raheem Morris, Toes on the Line and then Lovey. Those are the guys you can blame for us being 3rd tier. Jon Gruden did a lot of things but he didn’t run us in the ground. If you want to blame Allen the GM at the time maybe but even then you can point at Dom for a ton of personnel mistakes.