“Cancer” Wilkerson Should Not Be Touched
March 1st, 2018
Bad news.
Joe understands the Bucs are beyond desperate for a pass rush, but a move like this very easily could put Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht out on a plank of rotted wood with a school of sharks circling below.
Yesterday, the J-E-T-S… Jets… Jets… Jets released defensive lineman Muhammad “Cancer” Wilkerson. The versatile seven-year vet has worlds of talent and has double-digit sacks to his name, but the guy is a quitter.
He basically quit on the Jets after inking a five-year, $86,000,000 contract. In other words, once he got paid, Wilkerson went into full-blown Operation Shutdown mode.
This Wilkerson blows off team functions, chronically shows up late to meetings if not practices, and he’s been suspended and disciplined by the Jets several times over the past couple of years.
In other words, he’s a tool.
Think about this: Licht just got burned by loading up the checking account of 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, who likely cost himself $10 million by being lazy. You know, just like Wilkerson.
Say Licht signs this Wilkerson and Wilkerson is, well, who we thought he was. Joe is pretty confident that would be the final straw for Team Glazer. Licht signing Wilkerson is very much a boom-or-bust move and recent history suggests that would be a bust for Licht’s days as Bucs general manager.
The absolute only way Licht should sign this character is if new defensive line coach Brentson Buckner says he can turn him around and the contract Wilkerson signs would have to be heavily one-sided in favor of the Bucs.
Think about it: If Swaggy was such poison to the Bucs’ locker room, then why the hell would anyone think for an instant that bringing in Wilkerson is a good idea?
For Licht to do that, it would clearly be a panic move.
March 1st, 2018 at 12:18 am
Yeah, HARD PASS on MUHAMMAD!
March 1st, 2018 at 12:18 am
I wouldn’t sign Muhammad Wilkerson or Sheldon Richardson. When Brandon Marshall is begging for his release to get away from them. They have some serious issues.
March 1st, 2018 at 12:19 am
Joe’s. I think He’s worse then Baker.
He is Albert haynesworth 2.0
March 1st, 2018 at 12:31 am
He may be worth the risk as long as it’s an incentive based contract and they don’t give him a lot of guaranteed money. If he performs great if not cut him.
March 1st, 2018 at 12:33 am
His attitude may be worse than Baker but Baker is no where close on a talent scale. As long as you make him earn his big money thru incentives it should be a low risk gamble.
March 1st, 2018 at 12:34 am
Good one Bird!
March 1st, 2018 at 12:47 am
Like I said before If Buckner could motivate:
Major Headcases like:
–Darnell Dockett <–Clashed w/Headcoaches
–John Abraham
–Tommy Kelly
He'll have no problem w/Wilkerson.
Once again this youngman doesn't have nowhere near the baggage as Marcell Dareus had in Buffalo. Yet Straight Laced, No Nonsense, Tuck-In your Jersey – Jaguars Team President Tom Coughlin; traded for him & his big contract anyway. Why? Cause he needed – stockpile his defensive line w/talent.
March 1st, 2018 at 12:50 am
This is definitely the guy you take a chance on. Two double sack seasons which this blog is always talking about…..double digit sacks. Wilkerson is a pro bowler. 46 sacks and 28, 29 yrs old. He has not played the last 2 years in the system where he shined. He has no major injuries and he has been very productive. You have a new dline coach. Let buckner earn his money and coach wilkerson and mccoy on the same line. Then draft settles out of virgina tech.
March 1st, 2018 at 12:53 am
LUVMYBUCS
What did Brentson Buckner do with Robert Nkemdiche?
March 1st, 2018 at 12:56 am
U gotta think about the different type of Mentality – we have now – at Defensive Line Coach.
Jay Hayes though highly respected – had more of laid personality.
Goes to church on Sunday w/the wife & kids.
Buckner aint no punk.
He’s the Kick U – In the Nuts & Spit on your grave type.
March 1st, 2018 at 12:57 am
LakeLand
Robert Nkemdiche – Overrated.
March 1st, 2018 at 1:01 am
Muhammad Wilkerson got his money and quit on Todd Bowles. Brandon Marshall called the whole team out. He was especially talking about Wilkerson and Richardson. There’s no way I would sign a quitter, I wouldn’t even entertain the thought.
March 1st, 2018 at 1:05 am
We gotta right the ship men – and It aint gonna be all sunshine & roses.
March 1st, 2018 at 1:07 am
LakeLand
Yet when Richardson was traded to Seattle he turned over a new leaf.
Coaches & Players LUV the dude in there.
And now the Jets want him back. lol
March 1st, 2018 at 1:12 am
Coaches & Players LUV the dude there
March 1st, 2018 at 1:17 am
Huge NO! on Mo and good riddance to baker too
March 1st, 2018 at 1:29 am
We got plenty of cancer already.
March 1st, 2018 at 2:45 am
He has talent no way bucs would consider him.
March 1st, 2018 at 2:50 am
Sign him.
Look if the league knows he is a possible cancer his best bet is going to be sign a 1 year deal, ball out, and get paid.
It seems like the Bucs always search for “safe” and “value” guys in FA. What they end up with is the injured and incapable.
I dont think the Bucs will do this as it’s not their M.O. but I think it would be smart to sign a.player that has proven his talent and who will be motivated to make another check.
March 1st, 2018 at 3:25 am
Quit calling players cancers…nobody really knows the whole story, sign him to a Total Buc Friendly Contract, let him know he gotta work for it…or his ass will be gone sooner than later…that’s if he wants it!
March 1st, 2018 at 3:40 am
Sheldon Richardson went to Seattle and changed his attitude and career around why not MW? Not to mention we are in panic mode when it comes to the past rush. Give him an incentive laden contract boom problem solved.
March 1st, 2018 at 4:18 am
Maybe Mo just needs a change of scenery. A fresh start.
Wouldn’t hurt for Light to talk to the man would it? Maybe offer an incentive laden deal with few guarantees if the talk goes really well. We ARE literally desperate for talent at DL in case no one noticed. This dude can play if he gets his head straight.
March 1st, 2018 at 5:39 am
On the flip side Joe, if Licht doesnt consider him and he goes somewhere else and turns it around he will be the 2018 version of Calais Campbell to fans.
Wilkerson may be boom or bust for Licht, but then again the entire season is boom or bust for Licht. He should swing for the fences.
March 1st, 2018 at 6:05 am
Wow, this is a toughie. Bucs are desperate for DLine help & the ‘Good Wilkerson’ could surely help. Unfortunately, if the ‘Bad Wilkerson’ shows up, he could blow up not only the opposing OLine but also the entire Bucs team.
Chances are slim IMO that he’d sign with the Bucs unless we offered him a BIG contract (lots of other teams could also use his talent & surely would be willing to offer him ‘incentives’ contracts). If we sign him & he turns it around, that’d certainly help us turn it around defensively. If not, we’d be screwed, unless we leave ourselves options by drafting another DT high this year (like Vea or Payne).
Agree with Pickgrin … “Wouldn’t hurt for Light to talk to the man.” But Licht should let Coach Buckner would have a HUGE say in the final decision.
March 1st, 2018 at 6:27 am
Stop it got get Wilkerson and while you’re at it go get Sheldon Richardson also and let Buckner work his magic. Wilkerson Richardson McCoy Spence and go hunting for some QB’s.
March 1st, 2018 at 6:37 am
We could definitely use him if Buckner could motivate him, Need to get our heads out of the sand and try for him (as has been said) with Buckner’s imput. Sure he will cost so we will probably just watch and lose another man we need. Fix the trenches first.
March 1st, 2018 at 6:47 am
There are 30 teams that shouldnt touch him. Bucs arent one of them. I wouldnt call it a panic move, I’d call it desperation. Thats about where he is. If wilkerson actually wants to play then it wouldnt be a bad thing. He will be fairly cheap. Gota take chances to find rewards. In a normal year I’d say no way. After watching Smittys D for 2 years theres almost no way they cant bring in 2 or more DE’s.
March 1st, 2018 at 6:51 am
Screw it bring him in we are desperate.
March 1st, 2018 at 7:02 am
Wow guy was late 4 times for meetings in 3 YEARS and we should pass??. I wonder where JBF gets their facts from? I believe Swaggy had similar issues in DC but he was good enough. He is not the first player to dislike his team and front office so much that he shows it.
Regardless of the poor analysis on JBF, he is definitely a player to target if Buck thinks he can connect with him to motivate. This guy had no issues and 12 sacks when Coach Ryan was leading the Jets….so it sounds more like he didnt like the new regime (Bowles).
These are not reasons big enough to not look at him with this team so desperate for an edge rush. You cant have all character guys…was Sapp a character guy? I think/KNOW not.
March 1st, 2018 at 7:06 am
He’s going to New England.
March 1st, 2018 at 7:56 am
Buckner’s the key here because I had ZERO confidence in this coaching staff prior. In truth, it’s hanging by a fingernail. Good coaches do NOT shy away from players with “issues”. If he has talent and the price is right, go get him.
If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!
March 1st, 2018 at 7:59 am
The worst part about the Baker situation was not that he was signed. That was bad, but it was worse that the Bucs didn’t take the opportunity to send a message to the rest of the roster by releasing him when it became clear he was a loafer, a malcontent, and a bad influence on the rest of the team. You can’t build a winning culture by letting problems fester. ASJ, DMartin, and Baker were all allowed to stay beyond their welcome. By making an example out of any of them by releasing them when they ran off the tracks (for ASJ, the day he got kicked off the practice field, for Martin, the second suspension (of not the first), and for Baker, the Carolina game), the Bucs could have sent a message to the team about accountability that would have had far more significant impact than any of these guys had on the field. The fact that they were high pick/high dollar players only makes the message that much stronger.
I’m all for bringing in Wilkerson, but only if you are prepared (and able) to send him packing if he gets out of line.
People talk about the strength of a locker room. There’s only so much the players can police. The rest is up to the coaches/FO. Ours has missed too many opportunities to strengthen the culture by “deliberate subtraction.”
March 1st, 2018 at 8:16 am
Okay, I didn’t know these were his transgressions. I’d have to pass after reading about him. Darn it. One great DE…is that too much to ask????
March 1st, 2018 at 8:27 am
Its simple offer him a good contract, BUT put like 1,000 clauses in his contract and if he doesn’t take it move on. This really is not that hard.
March 1st, 2018 at 8:27 am
The article linked to does seem a little ‘talk radio’ biased though.
Not to make excuses, but playing for the Jets is a lot different than playing for the Buccaneers. I love the state of New York (was born there), but I would not want to play any sports there (if that were remotely possible).
And the worst franchise in New York is the Jets. The fanbase is absolutely horrid. You are talking about a fanbase whose biggest claim to fame is the booing at every draft pick. Classy.
So I can see Mo wanting to get kicked off the team and so being late to team meetings. And that is honestly what it read like between the lines. The thing is…he waited until after he got paid.
Things would be different in Tampa. Why? It’s a family atmosphere. While many trolls will scoff at this statement, the truth of the matter is that most of the players on this team love coming to work (outside of Baker, who is thankfully gone). That, combined with Buckner being aggressive (the coaching version of Warren Sapp, I’ve heard), might turn things around.
So it would be easy to convince myself he is worth the risk…except for two words.
Chris Baker.
We all heard the rumors about him before he came and after he came, we learned how understated they were.
To bring in Mo would mean a hugely incentive-driven contract that included production standards, being at meetings on time or being fined, and more.
And still, if it did not work out? We could not complain…because it was buyer beware from the start.
March 1st, 2018 at 8:31 am
Bculaw Says
“The worst part about the Baker situation was not that he was signed. That was bad, but it was worse that the Bucs didn’t take the opportunity to send a message to the rest of the roster by releasing him when it became clear he was a loafer, a malcontent, and a bad influence on the rest of the team.”
My guess on that is two-fold. First, there were so many injuries, they probably did not have the option to cut him. Second, maybe they were hoping the leaders on the team would deal with it first. Doing so would have been a big step toward maturation.
Yes, it took until the end of the season for that to happen, but the team atmosphere was probably partly to blame for that. Kwon, for example, might have been hesitant to possibly ruin it, especially with the record being what it was. But at the end of the season, there was no point in holding back.
Best of all, It revealed Baker as a problem to the rest of the NFL. More so than at his last stop.
March 1st, 2018 at 8:36 am
The big difference between Wilkerson and Baker is Baker was never that great before coming to Tampa.
March 1st, 2018 at 9:28 am
More grasping at straws. Could work for a year though. Wilkerson may wish to show up the Jets with a career year…hopefully we only need him for 2018.
March 1st, 2018 at 9:54 am
SIGN BIG MO!!!!!!
we have too many nice guys on this team!!!!!!…..get some a-holes on defense that play with swag and a attitude!!!!!!
big mo will be motivated to prove the jets were wrong in releasing him…..sign him and Sheldon Richardson!!!!!!….we need 2 proven dlineman!!!!!!……beggars cant be choosers!!!!!
if they cant produce next to GMC then no one could!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 1st, 2018 at 10:47 am
You can’t complain about the trenches all year long and then have a hard No on a talent like Big Mo. We have to at least bring the conversation to the table. However, I completely agree with it being a heavily Buccaneer favored contract ie One Year guarantee, with multiple incentives. But you gotta bring this guy in and have a sit down with him Man to Man!!!
March 1st, 2018 at 11:32 am
Would he play DT then? He’s over 300 Lbs
Either way I’d be down. If we really wanted to go 3-4 we could sign him / retain McDonald/ and draft Vea at 7 and a 3-4 OLB rusher like Landry or Key or whoever
DE-Wilkerson/Ayers
NT-Vea/Stevie T
DE-McCoy/McDonald
OLB-Noah Spence/Kendall Beckwith
ILB-Kwon
ILB-Lavonte
OLB-Harold Landry/?
Or would Lavonte be a 3-4 OLB vs Beckwith lol? It’s weird placing our LBs in a 3-4 for me because only Beckwith really has any actual pass rushing experience (vs just a LB or CB or S blitzing)
March 1st, 2018 at 12:10 pm
ridiculous! Bucs have the worst DL in the NFL and have a chance to get one of the most talented DLs on the market and bucs fans don’t want him because he’s not a choirboy in their eyes…
March 1st, 2018 at 12:14 pm
LC
I think 34 is out of the question…..I don’t think smitty has coached 34 since his jax days…..
when the defense struggled in 2016 it was because of “communication” issues…..in 2017 GMC says “lack of execution”…..others thing it was “talent”…..
if we switch to 34 I cant hear the excuses now……lack of communication….lack of execution…..not enough players to run 34…..
plus GMC has already voiced his displeasures about playing in a 34…..if smitty does make the switch I can see GMC moping around which would rub off on others……
teaching players like gholston, GMC, kwon, LVD, McDonald and others who have been playing 43 all their life a new position/techniques would take all of TC and 10weeks….lol…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 1st, 2018 at 12:20 pm
I say get big mo and Sheldon Richardson and continue to run 43…..big mo and GMC in the middle with Richardson at LDE and whoever at RDE…..
IMO, switching to 34 would be like dirk switching to spread RPO offense with Winston…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 1st, 2018 at 12:30 pm
813 agree I don’t see it happening / hope it doesn’t so there’s #noexcuses lol
March 1st, 2018 at 12:31 pm
LC
U can put this brotha all across the line.
I’ve watched put them paws on RT’s,LT’s, G’s, and C’s.
If U recall Jets had Defensive End a couple years ago by the name of Shaun Ellis.
He was a big 6’4 290+ 4-3 DE.
Regardless I’m sure “if” we did pursue him – they would ask him to drop 10 pounds
#39: Muhammad Wilkerson (DE, Jets) | Top 100 NFL Players of 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_Pp5DjpZuY
Note: In WK17 of the 2016 He broke His Leg. Missed “ALL” of training camp.
Naturally, started the 2017 season out of shape. Breaks his big toe – played most of season on it – before the team sat’em down.
So much the narrative that he was quitter.
Quitter don’t play with broken appendages. Warriors Do
March 1st, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Jan 6, 2016
2016 Season was a wash – recovering from the injury
Nov 8, 2017
March 1st, 2018 at 1:04 pm
LUV
GOOD SH!T!!!!!!!!
when I read “quitter” I almost fell over!!!….lol….I knew about his broken leg but had no idea he played with and thru a broken big toe!!!!…..
those are the type of players we need……players that don’t make excuses!!!!….now if we can just get the coaches, GM and other players to follow suite we’d be ok……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 1st, 2018 at 1:32 pm
813bucboi
Amen brotha
March 1st, 2018 at 3:36 pm
First off NY Jets media loves a good whichunt so this could likely be getting blown out of proportion(I don’t know the details).
But there is no way this monster of a DE should not at least get a call and take a visit to Tampa.
One thing that bothers me about this city is that ownership seems to cave to media pressure easily…….The media wanted Dirk to stay and so it be done. They were against Lovie and he got canned. They hung freaking billboards to get Schiano out(should be ashamed of yourselves).
These f***ing media guys don’t know what they are talking about half the time. They are not freaking football guys…..Such a joke that ownership caves to these idiots, and yes that’s just an assumption. But one that pans out time after time.
They never support bringing in bad or dirty players and we always wind up missing out…….I wish they would just shut their pinholes let the team do the right thing and get the most talented pass rusher available then let the coaches do their jobs and lay down the law with Mo. If it don’t work out you move on and try again…….It’s a much more proven method of success then taking scrub level players off the streets who are nice guys and hoping they transform their games.
For what it’s worth in the year we drafted Sapp if we had a higher pick, where he was expected to go, the media would have been against him too because of his issues coming out. That’s a near guarantee. We would have been the idiots selecting Mike Mamula most likely. Thank God Sapp wasn’t figured to fall to us so Tampa media couldn’t peddle their anti bad boy propaganda.
**END RANT**
March 1st, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Yeah let’s pass on him because he missed some meetings. But let’s glorify jameis who stole from a grocery store. Was accused of raping a girl. And who is under league investigation for groping a women. Sounds about righht we need all the help we can get. Sign him to a deal with low risk where if he is a disruptive person and doesn’t click on the locker room we can send a message and send his butt home like we did Keyshawn. But like someone said above we won’t sign him. And he will go to New England and have 13 sacks. Change of scenery might be good for him he was born in New Jersey played at temple in New Jersey and then spent his career in New York. Maybe coming to Tampa will let him focus solely on football and not have friends and influences to distract him. If we just pass on a player of his caliber because of the risk it is horrible decision. You are only bringing up one side. What if he comes here finds a new love for football and goes off. You never know until he is in the building. He was a veteran and probably allowed to get away with stuff and was enabled. Chances of being a new guy in a new city are slim he will do the same. He will want to come in and prove himself. And show out for his new teammates.
March 1st, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Yeah the comparisons to Bakery are kinda pointless because anybody who watched him in Washington knew he wasn’t gonna bring anything to the team. Licht has been tying to play free agency mastermind looking for cheap diamonds in the rough type guys instead of keeping it simple and picking proven commodities. He really hasn’t had a single quality FA signing besides Grimes that I can think of off the top of my head. You can’t win off the draft alone so if Licht doesn’t kill FA this year it will be his last!
March 1st, 2018 at 4:25 pm
The comment by LOVMYBUCS says a lot about why Muhammad Wilkerson had issues the past two years. Wilkerson played great the second half of last years season, showing he still has the talent of an All-Pro. Lets run this up the flag pole..just released Swaggy which frees up $6,000,000. Problem is that Wilkerson’s contract was worth $17,200,000. That is a lot of “green backs”. Considering taking away Swaggy’s six million would mean somewhere in the eleven million range is what it would probably cost the Bucs. The other issue is that there is not a whole lot of talent in the FA market for DT/DE. Sheldon Richardson of course but I bet he stays with the Hawks. Star Lotulelei would be nice but he probably stays with the Panthers? If your team has a shot at signing a very good chance of an All-Pro this year, you do it. This team is not that far away from being a 10 to 12 win team. We just need a strong draft and two or three signings in FA. If Licht was to pull of a Wilkerson deal along with a CB Morris Claiborne and OG, then draft a RB/DE/CB and maybe a Safety, just watch what this team produces.
March 1st, 2018 at 4:34 pm
Any way you look at it some team out there is going to take a chance on this dude. The only reason it shouldn’t be the Bucs is because they are too scared.
They say they want a badass team….Yeah yeah talk is cheap. You want a badasss team you go get a badass player. You’re too scared to try him? That makes you a pu**y in my book. The furthest thing from a badass.
March 1st, 2018 at 4:41 pm
Signing Mo is a winners move. Yeah, sure maybe you bring him in and he runs his mouth or something during the interview so you tell him to git.
But maybe he tells you he just had to get out of that dump in N.Jersey and he’s hungry to go full tilt.
Winners want to sign this guy because they breed winning players, they know how to do their jobs. Winners don’t care what the public thinks and they don’t care if the guy doesn’t work out. They still know it was the right move. Winners will take a gamble every time because they have confidence.
March 1st, 2018 at 7:27 pm
I agree JJ. Its get it done or bust for K&L
Bring in Mo and hire Coach Sapp as a defensive line specialist. Bring in Brooks as CEO to keep Sapp/team in check and motivate.
Can you imagine the DL film room on Monday with Sapp and Buck going over film? I do realize those 2 egos probably wont fit in any room at 1 Buc and Sapp does not want to coach but this team needs culture change. The current culture is poor and not in touch with the players.
March 1st, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Vote: Yay!
-Desperate
But if he wanted out of the Jets north, why would he come to the Jets south?
March 2nd, 2018 at 6:21 am
if Gerald McCoy & Kwon Alexander are on twitter asking him to come play with them… what the joes or anyone else thinks is irrelevant… they dont seem to believe he’s a “cancer” and are the ones that would actually have to deal with him anyways…