Why Are Bucs Fans Worried About Salary Cap?
March 6th, 2018
Folks need to worry about wins, not accounting.
Sometimes Joe just doesn’t get it.
It seems the Bucs have lost so much and so often in the post-Chucky era (you know, Cleveland South) that Bucs fans are scared of winning.
Throw out a name of a veteran player who produces but who is — GASP! — over the age of 30, and fans freak as if the Bucs are trying to sign Jim Brown to play running back.
(Frankly, the way Doug Martin ran the ball the past two seasons, an old man like Brown couldn’t have done much worse.)
Bucs fans seem petrified that AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht may “overpay” for a player on the wrong side of 30. Sadly, this is the corner the Bucs have painted themselves into. Few good players will want to play for a losing organization like the Bucs on a discount.
Where is this same outcry for overpaying for someone under 30 who is not producing? Doug Martin, Will Gholston and Ryan Smith spring to mind as some who frankly stunk out loud last year.
When Licht signed 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 former Bucs defensive tackle Swaggy Baker, he was under 30. How’d that turn out?
Brent Grimes was 32 when Licht signed him. How did that turn out?
Joe even got a Twitter saying the Bucs have too many good young players to pay down the road. In theory, this is correct. The thing is, the Bucs haven’t seen the playoffs with these good young players so just how good are they?
Another wrinkle about these good young players is, if the Bucs don’t start winning games in 2018, then it’s easy to envision a new administration and coaching staff in 2019. Those guys would have zero connections to these good young players, so these players’ Bucs futures will very much be in doubt. And to take it a step further, that may include America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
(No, Joe is not advocating in any way for the Bucs to give up on Jameis. Just being a pragmatist here.)
The Bucs need to focus on one thing and one thing only this offseason: improve, even if that means only modestly. If that means getting 38-year old Julius Peppers, so be it. If that means getting 36-year old Cam Wake, so be it. If that means getting 32-year old Michael Bennett, so be it.
The Bucs need to focus on production, not age. The Bucs need to focus on wins, not a sundial. The Bucs need better players at various positions, not a QuickBooks program.
Last week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Joe was talking with an NFL suit who told Joe that you get good players first and then you worry about a salary cap. The suit told Joe it is a helluva lot harder to find good players than it is to manage a cap.
After all, are the Bucs trying to make the playoffs, or win the Accountant’s Cup for best salary cap management?
March 6th, 2018 at 5:02 am
FEAR LOSING NOT THE SALARY CAP
March 6th, 2018 at 5:27 am
Well said Tmax.
There is no reason to worry about the salary cap. There are better teams in the league that have more talent to pay than the Bucs who are in a worse cap situation than the Bucs and those teams find ways to make it work (ie: Vikings going after Cousins).
March 6th, 2018 at 5:28 am
“The thing is, the Bucs haven’t seen the playoffs with these good young players so just how good are they?” Excellent point Joe. Individually, guys like Jameis, Kwon, Ali, Donovan all have talent & are competitors. But collectively they’re not getting it done. Too many holes in the talent level that’s surrounding them for one thing, plus even they seem to be mistake-prone. For another, this team lacks mature leadership in the mold of Logan Mankins. And for a third, coaching & management leaves something to be desired. Put it all together & it doesn’t spell Winner right now. The desire is there, but it’s not a complete package … yet.
March 6th, 2018 at 5:45 am
Knowing our luck we will go over the cap and still lose!
March 6th, 2018 at 5:48 am
I know a real easy way to save 12,500,000.00 that will dramatically help this team
March 6th, 2018 at 5:56 am
What’s going on with Cameron brate did we put a second-round tender on him? Any news on Humphreys?
March 6th, 2018 at 6:15 am
Brate and hump are sligty above minimum wage role players hardly salary cap concerns. No one over values mediocrity like bucfan.
March 6th, 2018 at 6:21 am
I dont get it either Joe. Everywhere I look about the quinn non trade there are buc “fans” who want to talk about how it was a good thing, because of his salary. No clue as to why. If theyd have gotten quinn theyd still be top 10 in cap room. This team needs 2 big money DEs. Well besides Ayers and Gholston. DEs make the big bucks if they produce. I dont wana put my belief in a couple rookies. Looking like I might have to tho.
March 6th, 2018 at 6:47 am
Also funny how just because a player is available fans think the Bucs are in the running. First thing teams try to do is make sure they do not face this player down the road. Best chance in this happening is by trading out of conference. Then also I am sure the player has some say as well.
March 6th, 2018 at 6:49 am
IMO signing older veterans is not a bad idea,as long you have someone waiting
in the wings developing to step up when the wheels fall off. The team just hasn’t had the right combination of developing players ready to step up when the
veteran players start to decline. VJAX is a good example.
Also I think Licht has to balance the roster better.We seem to have stockpiled WR’s and LB’s while pressing needs at RB and DE were not addressed.
March 6th, 2018 at 6:52 am
Mike Evans
Jameis Winston
Ali Marpet
Kwon Alexander
Noah Spence
Chris Godwin
Donovan Smith
All these guys are most likely getting PAID in the next couple years.
March 6th, 2018 at 6:52 am
Now that we’ve become the “Clevelandneers”, even if we did spend the money, where is the hope that talent can be properly evaluated by…well, I guess their talent evaluators?
Spending money does not mean we will bring in quality, helpful, good talent in FA.
Ex: see all FA’s brought in except for Grimes.
March 6th, 2018 at 6:57 am
I do agree that it is more important to get a player that produces than what you pay for him. Licht has done a good job with cap-friendly contracts…..the only problem with paying high salaries to FAs is that it makes it a bit more difficult to negotiate current contracts with existing players.
We should offer Peppers a ton of money to come here on a one year contract….we have nothing to lose except the embarrassment if he turns us down. And, it may force Carolina to pony-up more than they planned.
I don’t think exceptional players that produce big numbers all of the sudden decline because of age. I believe it is more gradual.
March 6th, 2018 at 7:33 am
The Bucs salary cap formula is simple…..The salary cap requirement/floor is teams must spend on AVG 89% of the salary cap over a set of years or face a fine of the difference paid to the NFLPA. The Bucs hover around 91%, my guess is this has been the game plan since the Glazier boys took over. OF THE SIXTEEN TEAMS THAT SPENT THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF THE SALARY CAP……ELEVEN MADE THE PLAYOFFS.
The Bucs are consistently ranked in the top 5 for having the most salary cap space. So folks wonder why we keep signing middle of the road retreads…..Its the cap management strategy in play. I’ve been saying this, Licht is a value first GM….he fits the style needed to maintain the budget while trying to field a competitive team. Only problem, he’s not fielding a competitive team. Bucs rarely go after proven coaches or GMs…..their too expensive…..A million extra here….a million extra there for staff….it all adds up and takes away from the Glazier boys pockets. Malcolm Glazier had made his money, he was set and nearing the end of his life. He was determined to win at all costs. His wealth got divided by the family….now all of them are trying to build for their families. Winning is just a pipedream they sell, every offseason is new hope with free agents/draft picks…..every few years its new hope with new coaches/GM…..but the results never change because to win you must commit to spending and they simply wont.
March 6th, 2018 at 7:34 am
“No risk it – no biscuit”.
Its a great philosophy when you pick the right guys.
Aside from Aguayo and ASJ being head cases and mis-evaluating VH3’s draft “value” – Licht has done an excellent job in the draft of taking some calculated risks that proved to be astute. Moving up to snag good young players like Marpet, Kwon, Beckwith etc.
Sticking to the big board and choosing the best football players available – thus re-building this team the right way while ignoring the flack from the all the “positional need” advocates WILL pay long term dividends. Just keep doing what you have been doing with prospects Jason because it is working.
Free Agency has been another story though. Too many misses and not enough hits. Its OK to sign a player over 30 to a big deal for 2-3 years to fill a need until it can be addressed in the draft – it just has to be the right guy.
Gotta find the right guys in FA this year Mr Licht. I’m pretty sure your job depends on it. I know for sure that the fate of the Buccaneers entire coaching staff depends heavily on you signing the right free agents this year. No pressure though… LOL
March 6th, 2018 at 7:45 am
The Salary Cap of each team is something that fans worry about!!!1 Its a huge part of the franchise!!!!! And some have as much fan with being mini-GM’s as they would game planning on a sunday!!!!! Its just another game within the game!!!!! Those that say don’t worry and spend it all, are the same as on defensive planning say, “Jam the wr’s and blitz every play”!!!!!!!!!!! And that is fine to if some don’t understand the “game” and just clap and cheer when a touchdown is scored or the team wins!!!!!!!!
Another part of the salaries tells of the team prestige, to they get the “hometown discount” or do they have to pay an extra 25-30% to attract free-agents????????
Go Bucs!!!!!!
March 6th, 2018 at 7:47 am
The word potential just means it hasn’t happened yet.
Salary cap went up by 10mil it would of covered Quinn’s contact without even dipping into the abundance of 79million that is flopping in the wind.
Now reports say Bucs will be conservative in free agency well okay sure some of our free agents have been duds no doubt but you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
March 6th, 2018 at 7:52 am
@aussieBucfan
After a while, too many band-aids have been applied and none will stick!!!!!! And if so many think that we have so many holes on a roster, then you do not trade draft picks for older players!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 6th, 2018 at 8:05 am
There is also the fact that licht is horrible in Free Agency and has been horrible in building this team, with ZERO direction or plan, there is no rhyme or reason for what licht is doing, hope the bucs just sign the core players and get their 4-12 in 2018 and let the new regime plan for the next 3-5 years
March 6th, 2018 at 8:16 am
Here’s why: http://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/blog/2017/free-agency-overspending-begets-losing
March 6th, 2018 at 8:17 am
I would love to see Peppers in a Bucs uniform. Maybe Buckner can recruit him over here.
March 6th, 2018 at 8:26 am
Spend money or don’t spend money, the bottom line is that we need to win some damn ball games.
In theory FAs could bolster our lineup.
As long as we can draft BPA, it’s all good. As soon as the lack of affordable trades/FA dictates the Buccaneers drafting based on need, then we have a huge problem.
March 6th, 2018 at 8:28 am
@Pickgrin … “Just keep doing what you have been doing with prospects Jason because it is working.” Pickgrin, I can’t believe that you of all people wrote that. IT’S NOT WORKING, that’s the problem. Licht’s following a bankrupt strategy that’s incapable of filling a balanced 53-man roster that can win consistently.
A classic example is one that Joe used yesterday: drafting OJ last year with our #19 pick when what we REALLY needed (instead of a TE) was a go-to RB and/or a stud DE. And it came back to bite us in the proverbial butt. OJ did great IMO (hey, I’m a Bama fan), but our lack of a real RB & DEs submarined our season.
And Licht will do it again this year I’m convinced. If the LG Nelson is there, he’ll grab him, and lots of JBFers will go ‘Wow, what a steal. Surely we now have the missing piece. Now we can put up 30-35 points a game and WIN, despite having a horrible defense.’ Saints tried that (repeatedly) … didn’t work (and they REALLY DID put up 30-plus points a game, history says we won’t). Fix the OLine in FA, then fix the DLine in the draft.
March 6th, 2018 at 8:33 am
Joe still misses the boat on this. Most any player available as UFA is considered not worth it by their own team in most cases. Sometimes, with a team that has a high expense QB like the Saints, a good guy becomes available or if a team has a lot of depth and expense at a position. If they are good players, they gravitate to “win-now” places with a an experienced good team in place. Joe is right in that it, it is not about cap but it is about can they still play for what they will cost?
March 6th, 2018 at 8:35 am
^ Always draft BPA! Anything less is setting up for failure.
Why didn’t we sign Calais Campbell last year, and cut Doug Martin. We could’ve signed a FA RB last year too.
Always draft BPA. OJ Howard was the 6th rated prospect last year, a no brainer.
We can’t let holes on the roster dictate drafting a lesser talent win our pick. Our GM needs to make more FA/trades to bolster obvious holes, so we can draft the BPA.
If Quentin Nelson is there at 7, and Saquon Barkley and Bradley Chubb are not, the it’s a no brainer.
March 6th, 2018 at 8:42 am
Steve K, I am with you on the Nelson pick because he is according to some neck and neck with barkley as the best player in the draft, I would really like the bucs to trade with the bills and get their 2 picks as they are in the market for a QB, it really sucks the bucs won that meaningless game at the end of the year against the saints, the bucs would have been in a winning spot in terms of the draft this year to either stay put or be in high demand for a trade
March 6th, 2018 at 9:01 am
The reason why the Bucs are always in the top 5 in cap space.
No one want to playing in Tampa
March 6th, 2018 at 9:02 am
****no one want to play in Tampa****
March 6th, 2018 at 9:19 am
Some fans actually have business acumen.
A guy named Dick McKay put the Bucs in such salary cap hell that it doomed the franchise and cost Gruden his job. Sustainable success is what the goal is. One winning season out of every five sucks. Breaking the bank for one season doesn’t make any sense, especially with all the holes the Bucs have . (See Dumb Markominik’s last season).
March 6th, 2018 at 9:22 am
The secret to not having salary cap issues later is to limit Guarantees to the first year only.
Also…I want to address an elephant in the room. Anyone claiming the Glazers do not want to spend money and are cheap? It shows how little you know, because the league has had rules forcing the spending of cap money for years now. The Glazers can’t be cheap and under spend now.
Stop living in the past.
March 6th, 2018 at 9:26 am
Let’s say the Bucs sign Bennett for $30m over 3 years, and Blount for $15m over 3 years.
On the surface, that looks like a lot of money. But with only the first year guaranteed, they could release them after the rookies get a year or so behind them, freeing up cash to re-sign Mike Evans and others.
March 6th, 2018 at 9:27 am
Bonzai,
You’re right!
The salary cap floor was implemented last CBA, by and large bc the Glazers were not spending money to field a talented team. Our payroll. Prior to the CBA directly reflected our talent and win/loss record.
Now that we have to spend, I hope we do it wisely.
March 6th, 2018 at 9:28 am
@Buc Bonzai
Just to help you out, don’t tell people to “stop living in the past” then bring up two old free agents from the past!!!!!!!!!
Draft a good DE and Running back then you have to cut band-aids for poor production!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
March 6th, 2018 at 9:29 am
The old adage spend $ to make $ applies here- if we don’t land several premium upgrades via FA and nail the draft, RayJay will be a ghost town. Yeah, I know most of the cash today is from TV, but an empty stadium and lousy merchandise revenue are bad looks. We’re closer than most think to having folks go back to wearing paper bags over their heads. This team has stunk for a decade now. There’s nothing to get exciting about right now. Apathy is abound. Time for a splash. Time to spend cash.
March 6th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Bonzai,
Resign players next year in 2020. What about 2019? Does this next season not matter bc of upcoming contracts expiring?
We need to strike a balance of trying to win our next game vs being set up for future success.
I ask you, my friend, how do we get a successful team next year bc Licht/Koetter don’t have the luxury of building for two or three years down the road?
March 6th, 2018 at 9:57 am
People can say whatever they want….but if Licht were as good of a draft guru as folks pretend he is…..we wouldn’t be sitting 5-11 with holes to fill all over the roster. He had one solid draft, that’s really been it.
Unless Licht is willing to be bold and trade away Lavonte or Alexander….trade Jackson, whats the point of drafting talent to sit on the bench. Teams routinely draft QBs with the hope of finding a gem to play or trade for additional draft capital…..DEs are the next most valuable position, yet we’re drafting everything but that, even in the later rounds where it would make waaaaaaaaay more sense to swing big on a position. Instead we’re rolling the dice on converting guys like Ryan Smith to safety…..then switching him back….then realizing he’s simply not going to make it. Why not draft a DE….and let him play DE. If he busts, thats the statistical norm anyways. but if we hit big, you’ve got a game changer on the roster for next to nothing.
March 6th, 2018 at 9:58 am
I don’t get it either. We could spend $30-40 mill in FA contracts this year and be fine with the cap even signing ALL of the players i keep seeing mentioned. That’s 2 elite players or 3-4 starters we can add. There’s no reason not to add as much talent as possible.
The talent needs to fit of course.
But regarding the cap –
Older players will get cut and the cap will continue to rise. That alone is a factor most seem to not consider. McCoy/Djax cuts in 2 years = Jameis Winston deal if we wanted for example.
We also tend to front load deals so we could walk in 2-3 years if it doesn’t work.
There’s literally no reason at all to worry about the cap right now when it comes to our approach to FA. I’m more worried about giving a big contract to a guy who doesn’t care about winning than anything.
March 6th, 2018 at 10:01 am
Because Joe unlike you begging to win now this fan base knows the future is close. I guarantee you this team is not going to win unless those past few players that we been drafting over the past four or five years gets paid and there’s a lot of them Joe. There’s at least 15 players on this roster who are about to command big contracts in the next three years
Mike Evans: $15-$20 mil
Jameis Winston: $20-$25 mil
Ali Marpet: $12-$18 mil
Kwon Alexander: $13-$16 mil
Noah Spence : $12-$16 mil
Vernon Hargreaves: $12-16 mil
OJ Howard:$10-12 mil.
That’s why fans are concerned about the salary cap. They honestly need to trade some future first round picks if we are close. There’s no way they will have enough cash to pay all these stud first rounders they been drafting. They do not need to invest anymore in free agency. There getting 7 wins already off the draft. Go ahead and trade future draft picks for picks this season and get all the needs you have in the first three rounds and trade off some of those bad contracts like Sweezy for a third rounder next year to receive a third round pick this year from someone.
March 6th, 2018 at 10:02 am
We’ve been over this a few times before Defense Rules.
Of course Licht is doing the right thing by drafting the best players the draft gives him – especially in the 1st rd. If he did what you are advocating and drafted for need in the 1st rd last year – we would have Taco Charlton instead of OJ Howard – SMH
Look at what happened in 2016 when Licht did what you seem to want. Reaching for Hargreaves because of the desperate “need” at CB – bypassing better OL and DL talent in Tunsil and Rankins. Then he reached for a kicker because of the “need” instead of spending those 3rd and 4th rd picks to bolster the DL in a draft that was heavy with good DL players. Lesson learned hopefully. Those type of decisions have a negative domino effect because now we STILL need high end CB help and a better kicker in addition to at least 5 new OL and DL players – coming into a draft year that is lacking quality OTs and DEs.
Bucs have been in total rebuild mode since Jason got here – thanks to Dom drafting exactly 2 good players in 5 years and Bruce Allen being just as inept at drafting the 5 previous years.
You build a good team by drafting well. Drafting well means lots of hits and few misses. Valuing BPA over “need”. Jason Licht has done that for the most part and within 2 years, this team will be close to fully stocked and in great shape moving forward with tons of young talent all over the field.
Chubb is our guy – but if he’s off the board at 7 (which is highly likely) – then Nelson would be an easy choice for anyone who can see the forest despite all the trees.
March 6th, 2018 at 10:20 am
Disagree Joe.
I hate the idea of signing older players and could care less about the cap.
I wanted the Bucs to go get young studs Peters and Quinn and their big salaries.
I want the Bucs to make Norwell the highest paid guard in league history.
Grimes did not work out in the big picture.
He simply did not
Why? Zero playoff appearances and one of the worst ranked defenses in the league. And now…
The Bucs still have a gaping need at CB and have to address it all over again.
How would plugging in the pricey but only 25 years old Peters – a superior talent – have helped the Bucs DB situation?
The Bucs blew two rare opportunities this offseason. Smart Bucs fans realize this and know Licht most likely sealed his fate by missing out.
Fix it. Get Norwell. Draft Nelson.
Then go all out with remaining picks and free agency to bring in a hoard of new faces to compete on the Dline.
FIX THE TRENCHES FIX THE BUCS!!
March 6th, 2018 at 10:22 am
players like peppers and wake are looking for 1 last big pay day……signing them would put us in this same position next year…..we’ll be looking for their replacements…..
licht needs to show a sense of urgency!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 6th, 2018 at 10:24 am
Man..the shere Horror of supporting..wanting..a losing team to win. Bucs could make, Get Out 2…..and have all the supporting cast they would need.
March 6th, 2018 at 10:32 am
Have to believe Aquayo was not a reach in Jason Licht’s eyes. We did have a servicable kicker in Conner Barth on the roster in 2015, although his kickoffs were short..Licht raved about a Aguayo and have to wonder why , his FG % decreased in his final year at FSU.
March 6th, 2018 at 10:33 am
Were 5-11 and haven’t sniffed a playoff game in ten years, but suddenly we got a penumbra of superstars that we have to sign in the future so we cant get any free agents.
Hogwash.
Check any team in the league and they are confronted with similar problems, yet some manage to do stuff like win the division, make the playoffs, etc. – in part because they sign key free agents.
Everyone is in same league, under same rules, yet our team sucks – and this group has had plenty of time to succeed.
Playoffs or total house cleaning IMO, all the way down the line to the equipment guy.
March 6th, 2018 at 10:59 am
SteveK Says
“Bonzai,
Resign players next year in 2020. What about 2019?”
I think you got your years mixed up. Next year is 2019.
March 6th, 2018 at 11:07 am
Bonzai,
I meant we can resign players after the next season, and spend our salary cap to make the team more competitive.
I don’t see how saving money for two years from now keeps us competitive next year.
March 6th, 2018 at 11:09 am
I am not saying don’t build for the future. I actually prefer building thru the draft. Here’s the thing…
We have Gerald McCoy. He has had no one on that line with him worth even spitting at. He’s 30 (?) now. If we want to make use of him, we must get him help that can contribute right away, and rookies uncommonly do that.
So the right Bridge players are important. I’m not saying to fill every hole with a free agent. I’m saying bring in three good ones…
Michael Bennett (for at most a 4th)
Blount (he’s never even made $3m in a year…offer him $5m for a year, or $15m for 3 but make it so we can cut him next year without penalty)
Cody Parkey (Kicker) He’s better than our current kicker. Much better.
Then, in the draft, take DT Vita Vea in first round
Take a DE in the second round
Take a CB in the third round
With one of the remaining picks, take a RB. If he turns out to be useless, no big deal, we have Blount for the year and can get a good one in the next draft.
Why Blount?
Everywhere he goes, his team wins a superbowl. He produces consistently. He;s healthy. He’s cheap. He is close to the end of his career, and in this case, that is a good thing, because he would be a bridge player.
March 6th, 2018 at 11:11 am
And I personally think the Bucs should hang onto Ayers another year. If we can get better players along the line, his contribution will improve…and he’s got the fire we need in the defensive line group.
Back to work I go. Got a book to make press ready. Later!
March 6th, 2018 at 11:18 am
I predict the Glazers (tightwad – tight fisted-Misers) will allow Licht to spend less than 30% of the available cap. We are doomed until they put us all out of our misery and sell the team hopefully to an owner that wants to win and win now. (See Eagles – Jags for a perfect example)
March 6th, 2018 at 11:40 am
So was this team closer to the 9-7 of 2016 or the 5-11 of 2017.
Well if you subtract a franchise QB who is still learning btw from three games and have his arm effect at least as many where he did play that could make a difference.
I think we improve this year. But if Jameis misses six games…if Spence misses another season and if LVD..Kwon and Ayers can only play 3/4’s of a season we’ll have problems again this year.
We ARE getting better but we do not have the kind of depth required to address the rash of injuries we had last year. If we lose all those players again…we lose the season. I do not see how #3 misses 4 or 6 at the start without the season being pretty well tanked. Hopefully nobody has to miss games.
March 6th, 2018 at 11:54 am
“Mike Evans: $15-$20 mil
Jameis Winston: $20-$25 mil
Ali Marpet: $12-$18 mil
Kwon Alexander: $13-$16 mil
Noah Spence : $12-$16 mil
Vernon Hargreaves: $12-16 mil
OJ Howard:$10-12 mil.”
Whoa whoa whoa this is crazy.
ME/Winston #’s about right – WInston probably $30 mill.
The highest paid Cs are not making $12-18 mill range. More like $10ish. LBs like Kwon don’t get $13-16 mill either. More like $10.
VHIII might not get a 2nd deal and he was just drafted in 2016. We can keep him through 2021 on his rookie deal. OJ Howard was just drafted last year. Keep him through 2022. It’s 2018 lol.
Mike Evans
Donavon Smith
Ali Marpet
Kwon
Jameis
Those are the contracts coming up but we have flexibility with all of them. Smith/Marpet haven’t made a pro bowl or all pro at anything so no reason to project topping the market with their new contracts until they do.
Gerald McCoy, Desean Jackson, Demar Dotson, and others will all be off the books in a few years.
We aren’t some insanely stacked roster of people needing new contracts lol. We need to be using every resource we can to add to the talent here
March 6th, 2018 at 11:54 am
The salary CAP is a reality. The reason some of us care about it is because of the upcoming reality of the Buccaneers signing their FIRST (unbelievable, isn’t it?) starting QB to a second contract when those contracts are upwards of 25 million a year. Add the reality of trying to sign Evans, Kwon, Donovan Smith, Marpet and Brate along with the reality of signing free agent help and the draft this April?
Yes. The CAP matters and smart fans had better be aware of it’s ramifications. Trading aways draft picks for a team in need of at least two more solid drafts is foolish IMO.
Yes, I’m aware my opinion is pissing off a lot of Buccaneer fans but at least it IS my opinion and I want to win as much as anyone.
March 6th, 2018 at 11:57 am
@ pickgrin
I agree with the bpa in the draft. I disagree that the bucs reached for vh3. He was considered the best true cornerback in the draft. He had the pedigree ie father is a coach, 1st team all american etc. The bucs had him rated higher than rankins. And lets be honest, its not like rankins is setting the world on fire. 2 sacks and 16 tackles last year would not have made the bucs a playoff team. Licht always draft bpa according to his board.
March 6th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
@ feelthepewterpower
Great article. The problem is most jbf posters will not read that article in order to educate themselves. The ones that do read it will find a way to minimize it eventhough the article is fact base. Yes Ive had debates with posters on here where i provided facts just like that and all they could respond with is their belief and opinion. Again great article. Too bad many buc fans on here will not read it or totally dismiss it.
March 6th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
“disagree that the bucs reached for vh3. He was considered the best true cornerback in the draft”
Yea – that was the buzz. But aside from Ramsey – it was obviously a bad year to be picking a CB in the top half of the 1st rd. Eli Apple and Hargreaves were both reaches going that high as evidenced by their lack of adjustment capability their 1st 2 years in the league. Lattimore was taken in the same range last year and had no problems standing out with great play as a rookie.
You pick a guy at #11 – he better be (at the very least) a capable starter by the end of his 2nd year. Vernon ain’t there yet. Fingers crossed that he improves substantially in year 3.
March 6th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Because it’s their money and they think they are gonna get a cut of what’s left over at the end of the season. Duh Joe c’mon!!
March 6th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Jacksonville, New England ,Philly, you know what they all had in common other than the fact they were in the playoffs last year? They ALL spent big money in free agency so yes you can win in free agency and win in the playoffs. The key is signing the right players to fit what you’re doing. So I’m sorry but that. FeelthePewterPower report is bullish!!
March 6th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
The Glazers have lowballed this team, since the SuperBowl year.
I wonder how hard they are laughing, at the Fans worried about the Glazers Money!!
The Patriots manage to pay Tom Brady- and still be active in the free Agency Market every year.
They even win A SuperBowl every couple of years. They have to pay a roster full of guys with Multiple Superbowl rings on their fingers!!
And yet there are guys posting here, worried about how the Bucs will pay a roster full of losers!!
Lmao
And no, Gruden did not get fired because of the salary cap. Clueless!!
He was fired because ge had the worst drafts in BUc History, and couldnt coach any young players when he had them. Especially young QBs.
The Glazers wanted him to develop a young QB for the Future- and Gruden couldnt. So they fired him.
I was laughing at all the posters- who freaked out, when I said we should of outbid the Dolphins for Quinn.
I said we should have given them a 2nd round pick- if thats what it took
People here went crazy!! Lol
The BEST POSSIBLE RESULTS FROM THE DRAFT WOULD BE- that we draft a Young DE in the second round. After several years of experience
March 6th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
I hear you pick but you have been watching the nfl for a while Im guessing. You know like I know that 50% of 1st round draft picks are bust regardless of where they are picked. You really cant blame licht. Its on vh3 to get it together at this point. He was picked around where all the scouts had him pegged. His college tape said so. Thats why the draft is a crap shoot. You never know how a player will translate. And yea, Ramsey was just the best player in the draft period. He could have played anywhere on the field.
March 6th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
– and coaching,
HE MIGHT BE AS GOOD AS QUINN IS RIGHT NOW!!!
We tried that, by the way. Recently drafted a DE in the second round. And we drafted a DT in the second round.
Daquan Bowers and Brian Price
After wasting 4 years of trying to develop him- Bowers never panned out, and they cut him. Price had a horrible injury in year one- and never played again.
Draft picks are always a gamble
Right Mike Williams, Arrelous Benn,Bowers, Price, Arroyyo. Hagreaves
Quinn is a Proven commodity. Hell ya a 2nd round pick!!
March 6th, 2018 at 12:51 pm
“Its on vh3 to get it together at this point.”
True that!
Tunsil should have been the pick though – gas mask bong picture and all. Sapp had “weed issues” coming and thus dropped to #12 – how did that pick work out?
March 6th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
coming out
March 6th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
@Pickgrin … “we would have Taco Charlton instead of OJ Howard.” No, not really. We would have drafted another need … most likely Dalvin Cook, although Kamara & Mixon were rated right behind him so who knows. Last year wasn’t a particularly strong year for DEs (beyond Myles Garrett), although a McKinley seems to be coming along OK too.
And in 2016 I was strongly in favor of drafting Tunsil (wasn’t overly impressed then with our OLine; still not). Rankins was my next preference (Dline has been hurting for a long time IMO). Happen to be a big believer in only drafting CBs IF you’re positive they can start right away (like Ramsey … and yes, like Fitzpatrick as a CB). Much prefer to sign CBs after they’ve been ‘baptized by fire’ (on-field experience at someone else’s expense).
March 6th, 2018 at 1:40 pm
The Dinner bell rings in a few days. We shall see. But I’m not feelin our Bucs want to truly right this ship. Our Defense has to improve at least 50% to win close games. And I’m startin to think we are gonna get a rw DE who will be learnin the ropes his 1st yr. Bucs Defense needs 2 difference makers and they need them quick!
March 6th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Defense Rules,
Rookie DE Carl Lawson of the Bengals had a good season.
March 6th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
Accountant’s Cup for best salary cap management LOL this is my favorite article… need to make one for the “we need boy scouts & high character guys” whiners too
March 6th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
@ defense
Again you are talking about need. The bucs would not have drafted cook, kamara or mixon at 19 because they had a second round grade on cook. Cook would not have been the pick. Licht and the bucs had other players rated higher than cook and oj was one of them. And pick is right, it could have been taco charlton
March 6th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
@ Jason Mclaurin
“Vernon Hargreeves $12-16 million”??? Hahaha. Guy hasn’t played one good game of football. Put him on the inside and he shows up than sure. On the outside, he’s a total bust.
“Noah Spence $12-16 million”??? I think he can be really good but he has to be able to stay on the field.
March 6th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
@Lord Cornelius
“Smith/Marpet haven’t made a pro bowl or all pro at anything so no reason to project topping the market with their new contracts until they do.”
Ali is pro bowl and all pro material though. I’m sure players have voted Ali to the pro bowl while fans probably don’t even know we have a team in Tampa anymore. Other teams know how good he is so we’re gonna have to pay him to stay on this sh#tty team.
March 6th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
DR says
“We would have drafted another need … most likely Dalvin Cook”
LOL yea exactly my point – we could have had Dalvin Cook at #19 – who was not drafted for another 22 picks – and filled that “need” at the expense of losing 385 value points of draft equity. The equivalent of a mid 2nd rd pick.
Instead we drafted OJ Howard at #19 – who the Bucs had rated as roughly the 6th or 7th best player in the draft – thus GAINING over 600 value points of draft equity – the equivalent of a late 1st rd pick – just by doing the smart thing and taking a player who was by FAR the best player on the board – regardless of whether he plays a position of perceived “need” or not.
That’s about a 1000 point swing in draft equity just on that 1 pick. 1000 draft value points = the #16 pick in the 1st rd.
March 6th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
Might be some big trades instead of spending huge cap cash. Even though we’ve already passed up on a great deal for a great edge rush player in his prime for the biggest needed hole on our defense/team in Quinn. I’m down for big trades this year whether it be players or picks or both as long as we can get good proven players. Glazers realized they f-up big time by spending $80 million on one good player that didn’t do DJaxSh#t (lol) last year. Now they’re gonna switch it up.
March 6th, 2018 at 3:11 pm
And Taco was the next DE to come off the board after the Bucs picked so yea – if Licht were focusing on highest “need” in the 1st rd – it would have likely been either Taco or Dalvin. Both were bad value at #19.
March 6th, 2018 at 6:49 pm
Love the last sentence!
March 6th, 2018 at 7:08 pm
If you look at the moves or in our case no moves that have taken place so far, it’s becoming obvious that the Glazers have no interest in making this a winning franchise.
1. Keeping the whole coaching staff with the exception of Hayes.
2.Keeping same Gm
3.Missing out on Gruden [per Gruden there never were negotiations]
4.Not trying for M. Peters
5.Not landing Quinn
6.Actually not signing anyone worth a crap.
7. Koetter not even showing up to Senior Bowl
8.Licht cringing at expectations
9.Season ticket prices raised
C’mon guys I think it’s time we stop believing things will be better nect year. We are being played and I think it’s time we let our voices be heard. We can’t keep condoning this behavior, it’s like we are all a bunch of collaborators. Its all about the bottom line for them, they could care less if we spend money we dont have to watch their games. Its official BUCS=RAYS! There really is no difference. We are dang near 80 million under the cap and coming off 5-11 and this is the Master Plan? Sell the team Glazers!
We hate your Amish looking a$ses!