Ownership Call
February 19th, 2018
Quick fix in 23 days
It’s time for Team Glazer to put on its big-boy pads.
Trash bags full of Team Glazer loot has been flushed on worn out and bad old football players in recent years. Josh McCown and Vincent Jackson spring to mind quickly.
So perhaps it’s time to invest in, you know, a great old player?
Everyone who understands free agency knows the game is simply about picking the right guys. The real “value” is in the production, not on the spreadsheet of the team accountant. (See Chris Baker vs Calais Campbell. See Darrelle Revis vs. Alterraun Verner and friends.)
Future Hall of Fame defensive end Julius Peppers has long been that value guy. The Bucs should have signed him eight years ago when he was on the free agent market, or at least in 2014. But no, the Bucs opted to roll with Stylez White and Michael “Ghost” Johnson in those respective seasons.
Peppers, now 38 years old, is coming off an 11-sack season for the Panthers and he hasn’t missed a game since 2007.
That 10-year streak is not a typo.
Fresh word out of Charlotte, via ProFootballTalk.com, says Peppers is leaning toward returning for his 17th NFL season but likely wants more than the few million the Panthers underpaid him last year.
Joe absolutely thinks it is time for Team Glazer to order general manager Jason Licht to call Peppers’ agent and make sure the agent knows the Bucs are ready to pay Peppers up to $10 million next season the minute the free agent bell rings in 23 short days.
That’s what Joe calls a no-brainer — for a team that spent $19 million last year on Robert Ayers, Will Gholston and Chris Baker.
Peppers makes tons of sense for a win-now team that has made little sense with its defensive line decisions since Simeon Rice left the building.
February 19th, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Exactly how many of those sacks did he get in our division? That’s when it’s really going to count.
February 19th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Ah welcome to Tampa, the dumpster of the NFC South. Once you finish your prime with our rival, come ride off into the sunset in Tampa and enjoy a nice paycheck as you spend your final unproductive years in Tampa Bay!
In all seriousness, we need to become a place people want to come in their primes, not a place where they come as a last-gasp effort to make a buck before they retire.
February 19th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Put the money toward new uniforms.
February 19th, 2018 at 5:09 pm
Joe
All do respect you have simply lost your mind. Stop with all the injury prone players and has beens, that recipe never works. Time for you to accept that theer is ZERO hope under current owners. If they have not figured it out in a decade plus they sure thge hell are not going to figure it out now.
4-12
February 19th, 2018 at 5:13 pm
peppers…Bennett…talib….GMC….grimes
that would make us the oldest defense in the league!!!!!…
then the excuse would be: we’re too old….we need to get young….our top needs would be DE…DT…CB……looks a lot like our needs this year…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2018 at 5:15 pm
I thought the number 1 reason nobody wanted Jon.G back was because he brings in old veterans!! About every article I see is about bringing in old veterans to play for the team.
February 19th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Hey I wonder if the Joes realize that he just had surgery on his shoulder? Not sure how that’s a good signing at 38
February 19th, 2018 at 5:33 pm
Love this! Would make a difference right away!
February 19th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Head in hands. Florio states this afternoon the Bucs have no free agents worthy of applying the franchise tag. The only other team?…You guessed it, the Browns.
February 19th, 2018 at 5:40 pm
Pass..
February 19th, 2018 at 5:48 pm
Stop it Joe….
February 19th, 2018 at 5:49 pm
What is Wally Chambers up to these days….
February 19th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Glazers laughing their butts off at that one! I wouldn’t look for them to spend much (if any) money on FA until the coaches and or the core players Winston, Evans, Kwon, David, Howard, etc… can have success in the win loss column. All the veterans you mention are complimentary players only. They will help a good team be better or even great. They WILL NOT make a below average team good!
February 19th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Was JOE or anyone aware of this?
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/02/08/julius-peppers-had-shoulder-surgery-thursday/
Looks more like a gamble to me.
February 19th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
How about some glazer loot to sign Sheldon Richardson and Ezekiel Ansah,?
February 19th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
I would bid for him. Even if you don’t get him you can inflate the deal if he stays with Carolina.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:07 pm
@GhostofSchiano
I like that idea. Richardson has the potential to be a game changer if they can keep him focused.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:12 pm
I am beginning to agree with Tmaxcon that we will never have a winner here in Tampa, with our current ownership.
It really sucks, to always suck, and we suck right now.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:15 pm
Offer Peppers vet minimum $1,015,000 for a 10yr+ vet for 2018 plus $50k per tackle and $500,000 per sack. He would earn $8,1650,000 if he has the same production as he did in 2017.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Yeah the old Chucky band aide it up and win the division is looking pretty sweet right about now.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:25 pm
What is it with you guys and trying to get 35+ year old free agents? Just stop. We all understand what the team needs, but aging guys 5 years past their prime isn’t close to an answer. I’d honestly move on from Grimes as well. Give Seattle a 3rd for Sherman. And you always bring up Bennett, he was an undated free agent after all. Point is, a name is just a name. Stop trying to reach.
LOL. What is with you guys who like to cling to the notion that younger is better? Have you seen the Bucs’ roster. Sherman turns 30 soon, by the way. Bennett is much better than his peers on the Bucs’ roster as it is comprised now. Last Joe checked, Peppers is better defensive end the Bucs have had since Bennett was here. Pick the right guys, regardless of age. Young dudes get hurt, too.–Joe
February 19th, 2018 at 6:31 pm
Chris that’s exactly what Tmax wants you to think. Don’t be a sheep.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:38 pm
The same people complaining about how bad the defense is are the same ones that want the Bucs to do nothing to solve it, not less a guy is under 25. Huh? Why do any of you dolts care if the Glazers pay $10m for a year from a guy? Where exactly do you get all these players from that are supposed to fix everything? Also look at Jacksonville, which you bandwagon riders were loving to say you were a fan of, how did they fix things? They brought in guys, including guys over 30, gave them much bigger contracts than anyone else was offering (since that was the only way they’d come there) and tah dah, they had a quick turnaround. But I guess signing guys who are 27 who have done nothing in their career is actually the answer, right? Dopes.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Peppers said he will only play for the Panthers if he comes back
February 19th, 2018 at 6:53 pm
Wow Joe! Vincent Jackson? I MHO, Vincent lived up to his $, and then some.
February 19th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
I heard Carl Eller is planning a comeback. (Facepalm, eyeroll)
February 19th, 2018 at 7:18 pm
“A win now team”? Good one joe.
February 19th, 2018 at 7:35 pm
Pass on peppers guys. He’ll take the money, and Sun on the clearwater beaches while giving minimum effort. Butt..Tampa is where legends come to collect last paychecks right?
February 19th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
C’mon Joe. He’s not going to waste his last year in the league with us. He’s got plenty of money. He wants a ring.
February 19th, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Wally Chambers ? You must be from Chicago.
February 19th, 2018 at 8:10 pm
No Wally Chambers was the first big name end of career vet the Bucs brought in….
February 19th, 2018 at 8:28 pm
I think Peppers will either get paid by the Panthers or retire as a Panther this year, which is why I think he wanted to go back there to start with.
February 19th, 2018 at 10:57 pm
I hope Team Glazer puts on their big-boy pads like Joe says..
….but Howard wants to know if they’ll take off their underwear and put their face on someone?
February 19th, 2018 at 11:32 pm
Nice Wally Chambers reference.
Guy had a bum knee but he did play a big roll in the 79 season. All the way to the championship game in year four, from nothing.
Hear that Licht????
February 20th, 2018 at 12:22 am
I like it Joe, I just think that he will play for less. It’s all about the numbers. Give him the opportunity to make $5 Mil, but incentives ladened and per game based.
Base $2,000,000 – ($500,000 of that at Signing)
Workout – $250,000
Per Game – $1,600,000 – Max ($100,000 Per Game)
At 6 Sacks – $200,000
At 8 Sacks – $400,000
At 10 Sacks – $750,000
Total Potential Contract – $5,200,000
If he hits those numbers, it would be worth every penny.
February 20th, 2018 at 12:42 am
First.
Vincent Jackson earned his money and then some! That was some BS Really? So after his injury-shortened 2015 season (two knee injuries) Jackson was worth bringing back for his final $11 million or so? Of course he wasn’t. –Joe
Second
The Bucs arent even close to a “Win Now” team. That is some more BS.
You wint win,if you cant rush the passer. Sorry, but the team and organizational mindset is win-now. Like it or not. –Joe
Agreed with signing Peppers 8 years ago. Not now.
We need to play our young DEs, And draft a couple more.
Meybe by the time the rookies have developed into Solid DEs(3-4 year), then Jameis will have learned to make good decisions with the Football.
This team was 5-11, because it is a 5 win team. We only have 3 solid positions on this team. Wr, Te, Lber. Offensive Tackle isnt bad.
Thats it. Every other position needs improved, and depth
Jameis can be great.
But, Jeff George coulda been great too.
If Jameis groped that Uber driver- I think we would be foolish to but our faith in him.
Trade him, draft a QB, if thats true
February 20th, 2018 at 5:05 am
Lol, sorry Joe
But the Bucs have been SAYING they are in a “win now” situation since 1976.
You ever heard team announce that they are in a “win later” position. Even teams that are obviously rebuilding, deny it.
Heard Lichts end of Season speech. Some BS I’ve heard for years and years.
If they were in a “win Now” situation, they would have addressed DE.
We’ve needed one for 10 years!!! Win now teams dont move Guards to Center- a position that he has NEVER played before.
They dont count on a RB, who has sucked every year but two. His first and his contract year.
If they were a win now team, they wouldnt retain a defensive staff, that brought us a league worst defense.
They can say they want to win, but their actions say otherwise
February 20th, 2018 at 5:43 am
As far as Vincent Jackson- it was worth it, to see If Jackson could return. He was our best reciever. Mike Evans was just starting to come on.
I never, NEVER worry about the Glazers Money.
Every year they sit on a fortune, while the team suffers for talent.
Yeah, Im glad Jackson got paid. Better his pocket than theirs. They have hoarded team money, since they took over from their father.
February 20th, 2018 at 5:48 am
And unlike this highly divided country- I can disagree with you, Joe, yet still respect you and your opinion.
The dying art, of civil debate.