Salary Cap Watch List
January 4th, 2018
Days numbered.
If there are no changes to the defensive side of the coaching staff, you damned better bet there will be changes to personnel.
Last offseason, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter noted that roughly 30 percent of NFL rosters change from year to year. That’s why Koetter was clearly bittersweet at his season wrap-up press conference earlier this week. He knows full well many of the guys who sweat for him, who sometimes bled for him, and who worked their tails off for him this past year won’t ever step foot in One Buc Palace again.
How many and who? That is yet to be determined.
One guy Joe believes should already have his access card deactivated is the same guy Jenna Laine of ESPN believes is also in grave danger of being unemployed. That would be offsides-jumping, belly shirt-wearing, practice-hating, kicker-heckling, tree-grinding , non-contact-football-loving, chicken-wings-grilling, playing-time-squawking, TV-cooking-star, half-sack Swaggy Baker and his bloated 2018 salary.
DT Chris Baker is unlikely to return at $4.875 million. His first year in Tampa was a flop. In 14 starts, he contributed half of a sack. Things reached a boiling point in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers, when Baker was confronted by several teammates in the locker room who weren’t happy with his attitude leaving the field after he jumped offside, setting up Cam Newton’s game-winning touchdown in a 22-19 loss.
Short of crazy Jim Irsay or Chucky, no one is paying this clown $4 million next year. If Swaggy plays anywhere next year, Joe is going to assume it will be in the Midwest or the Northeast (or Canada) as to not be distracted or coerced by a palm tree.
Aside from sparking a near-riot in the locker room for copping a ‘tude after a loss, and being just short of gutless — you can’t say that about Swaggy — all you need to know is one of the jewels of the free agency signing period for the Bucs played a grand total of nine snaps in the Bucs’ win over the Saints on Sunday. This, despite last appearing on a Bucs team injury report on Nov. 2.
If anyone is looking for a few extra bucks for beer money, maybe Swaggy might be looking for an additional hand in moving this week?
No truth to the rumors Team Glazer filed a larceny complaint with the Tampa police.
January 4th, 2018 at 5:06 am
Yet the idiot that signed this guy and Jackson gets a free pass!
January 4th, 2018 at 5:42 am
@Dom that’s why the “idiot” that signed him only guaranteed him 1yr!I would love to see him go. That’s $4.875mil we can add to the offer to Brent Grimes or to Michael Bennet. Guys that actually deserve and are worth the money they make.
January 4th, 2018 at 7:22 am
He’s the punching bag for everyone and it sucks. The guy wasn’t used to his strengths as a player. He’s a one gap 3 technique and we used him as a power playing nose tackle. Truth is his game is closer to GMC and GMC would fail also as a nose tackle.His failures show me the ineptitude of Mike Smith by misusing Baker.
January 4th, 2018 at 7:34 am
Funny thing is that after training camp and preseason, I was telling everyone this guy was a wasted signing and everyone on here was saying the opposite. It’s bad enough you heard from people in the redskins organization saying he was a loafer……
all I’m gonna say now is:
BYE TUBBY!!!!!!
January 4th, 2018 at 8:00 am
Fan in NC- Are you Baker’s agent?! Perhaps he was misused, but he still should’ve produced. Blaming Smith for Baker?! Man, that’s a stretch! It’s the defensive line. How complicated can it be?! McDonald had 5 sacks in the same position, and in limited playing time.
All I can say is that signing Baker was a HUUUUUGE mistake!
January 4th, 2018 at 8:19 am
Chris Baker just showed up for the pre-game meals.
January 4th, 2018 at 8:47 am
Maybe Doug will stay too! I wouldn’t doubt it. Maybe he’ll rotate him with Rodgers they’ll probably get rid of Barber for making them look stupid.
January 4th, 2018 at 8:55 am
No Swaggy and Clinton McDonald, Sealver Siliga not signed yet. Leaves just GMC and Stevie T? DL is thin. Real thin.
January 4th, 2018 at 9:00 am
I remember being pissed we didn’t sign Campbell and tons of people started shoving bakers stats down my throat…..lol….
Winston and kwon should’ve beat his a$$ and sent him packing!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
January 4th, 2018 at 9:03 am
NC fan. Baker played nose tackle for Washington. Your reaching with the coaching thing. Players play and Coaches coach !
January 4th, 2018 at 9:11 am
Buc Fan in NC Says:
January 4th, 2018 at 7:22 am
His failures show me the ineptitude of Mike Smith by misusing Baker.
not saying that I agree with you regarding baker, but smitty misusing players I agree with you 1000%….
theres no reason:
kwon having 0 sacks
LVD having “0” sacks
VHG regressing after having a solid rookie season
Tandy not playing for whatever reason
j.elliott looked solid last year but cant see the field this year over mcclain
I already think last year was a fluke season but I honestly think the staff came back satisfied with what they did and made no attempt to adjust or figure out their weaknesses on the team and how they were going to overcome them…..GO BUCS!!!!
January 4th, 2018 at 9:19 am
Dom is gone Says
“Yet the idiot that signed this guy and Jackson gets a free pass!”
Unfortunately, when veterans hit free agency, there is no way to know if they just talk big for the money and then cruise once signed. They’ll lie through their teeth to get paid.
I imagine it cannot be easy seeing through the ones who are talking bull.
In Baker’s case, I thought it was pretty obvious. In Jackson’s case, not so sure. We all knew he was a diva, but he never caused any real problems for us off the field.
My only problem with Jackson is that he is such a bad route runner that when Jameis tried to force the ball to him, he wasn’t where he was supposed to be. As a result, the whole team suffered.
The offense has looked better the last few weeks because Jameis didn’t have to try to connect with Jackson.
January 4th, 2018 at 9:23 am
But Chucky would get him to play or ride his rear into the ground. Dirky will pout and ask him to play better.
January 4th, 2018 at 9:24 am
I think you may be mistaken on this. In Washington he was a NT.
January 4th, 2018 at 9:24 am
@813bucboi
In McClain’s case, didn’t Mike Smith bring him in off the street because he knew him?
(not saying that justifies anything)
January 4th, 2018 at 9:35 am
Another Albert Haynesworth =(
January 4th, 2018 at 9:37 am
I know…we need a disciplinarian. Chucky is gone, but I heard Schiano is available.
January 4th, 2018 at 9:40 am
James Walker Says
“Another Albert Haynesworth…”
Nowhere close to that situation. And we didn’t spend the fortune on Albert.
January 4th, 2018 at 9:45 am
Baker is a 300 plus pound dancing bear. Bucs need more guys with power and quickness, just like this guy. Unfortunately Baker was in terrible shape this past season. Maybe he will work on that this offseason.
January 4th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
January 4th, 2018 at 9:24 am
@813bucboi
In McClain’s case, didn’t Mike Smith bring him in off the street because he knew him?
(not saying that justifies anything)
yeah he brought him in once Elliott got hurt and he knew the system but Elliott played pretty well as an UDR last year….once he got healthy he never saw the field and it wasn’t like mcclain was playing lights out…..
why thing is, why not develop a younger player that showed promise vs playing a player that you already know what they can do and where there ceiling is….GO BUCS!!!!!
January 4th, 2018 at 10:22 am
GET RID OF BAKER!!!!!! HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ALL SEASON BUT COLLECT A PAYCHECK!!!!! HE IS A WASTE.. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL DISPOSE OF HIM ASAP!!!!
January 4th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Problem is you guys think he was supposed to take over games like an above average DE! The man okay DT….and he won’t get cut ….sorry!!
January 4th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
I don’t get it Joe please elaborate, why would Chucky keep this clown?
January 5th, 2018 at 4:34 am
Anyone disputing Baker’s misusage as an nose tackle go watch YouTube highlights of his days in Washington. His sacks come from being lined up in the 3 and sometimes 5 technique. He’s not a power playing nose tackle that we used him as. He’s a quick penetrating 1 gap Dt.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:48 am
GODWIN NEEDS TO BE OUR #2! But because we’re paying DJax $80 mil, that’s not going to happen. Could he play the slot? Could a trade be possible?