“It’s A Major Setback”
May 9th, 2019
Explains Bucs’ salary cap mess.
Even if Jason Pierre-Paul can find an witchdoctor orthopedist to tell him he doesn’t need surgery on his injured neck, he still may not make the team.
That’s the word from former Jets pro player personnel director and Bucs scout Pat Kirwan. Speaking on his dynamite radio show “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Kirwan said the Bucs are so messed up on the salary cap, that JPP could still be a salary cap casualty regardless of his health. Further, Kirwan added even shaving JPP’s salary may not be enough to get under the cap.
Kirwan correctly noted that to play it safe, teams generally squirrel away $3-4 million dollars in case someone gets hurt and they have to go out and sign replacements during the season as guys on the injured reserve list still have their salaries count against the salary cap.
Kirwan noted that there currently is no way the Bucs can go out and sign a decent edge rusher to replace JPP and still keep Gerald McCoy and his $13 million.
“It’s a major setback,” Kirwan said of JPP’s potential loss.
You can hear Kirwan explain how badly the Bucs are boxed in with the salary cap in the audio below courtesy of SiriusXM NFL Radio.
.@PatKirwan_NFL breaks down the Bucs cap space, the potential injury to JPP and why trading Gerald McCoy makes sense from a financial aspect.
🔽 Audio 🔽 pic.twitter.com/MQtezD5Ysg
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) May 8, 2019
May 9th, 2019 at 8:10 am
This team is a joke, no way Arians sticks around for the full 3 years
May 9th, 2019 at 8:10 am
It’s all about JPP’s contract. Since this is a NFIR, we may be able to avoid any guarantee. Hate to even write those words because we’re talking about such an amazing pass rusher, but if we have to replace him, business is business.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:11 am
Trading Gerald McCoy makes sense from a winning games aspect.
You got your edge rushers in the 4th and 7th round. Smh. Could have gotten arguably the best pass rusher in the draft but you’re the Bucs and instead drafted an ilb who can’t tackle or read plays.
While you’re clearing up space send Dotson to the old folks home too.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:13 am
What a mess!!!!!!! What a disaster this is!!!!!!!!!! I knew this year would be a train wreck!!!!!!! But still amazed that it turned into the circus that it is just 4 short months after hiring retired coach stale biscuit!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really makes wonder just how much the last coaching staff was the dam that held back the circus and buffoonery from licht weight and all his poor choices and incompetent loser lovie leftovers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The answers to fix this mess will not be pretty!!!!!!! And it needs to start now!!!!!!!!! The only good that can come from this disaster, is that it will be undeniable of the rebuild that needs to happen!!!!!!!!!!!! The answer is full rebuild!!!!!!! With no less of two full losing seasons with the only goal is acquiring draft picks!!!!! No free-agent signings!!!!!! let anyone over pay for the poor talent leaving for any comp pick!!!!!!! trade any over 26 years old for any draft picks!!!!!!! Have a GM and coaches for the full 4 year plan rebuild!!!!!!!!!! This is the only way out of the hole of mismanagement that has been longer than a decade at One Buc!!!!!! Its time to pay the piper and the owner need to see the truth and tell the fans the plan of a full multi year rebuild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 9th, 2019 at 8:21 am
Kirwan makes a good case … “guys on the injured reserve list still have their salaries count against the salary cap”. Although I understand why the rules are written that way, it still stinks for teams like the Bucs who seem to consistently have lots of guys on the IR list … for whatever reason (Florida heat, bad coaching, selecting players with injury histories, etc). What seems to especially hurt is that our depth is always meh (at best) and so we end up grabbing guys off the street as the season wears along. Not exactly a strategy for winning in December or making the playoffs.
In JPP’s case though, Kirwan is jumping the gun. He has no more idea what JPP’s medical situation is than the average JBFer does, and we’re still all in the dark. First game is still 4 months away & LOTS can (and will) happen between now & then.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:23 am
The kid from Iowa May surprise a lot of people.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:24 am
Seems that there is someone to blame for this bad situation the bucs are currently in as of today. Maybe there is a beer drinking pool jumper that got into too much chlorine and should never have been an nfl gm and has built one of the worst teams in the nfl and reminds many of ol gump.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:27 am
@defense: cmon man you got to understand that Tampa is where vets come to pick up checks at the end of their career. Ownership knows this as well, they turn their head the other way knowing the mostly ignorant hillbillies from Tampa will buy season tickets because they sign a big name. This will not change as long as EVERYONE is making money. It’s a business.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:31 am
The problem with this injury may be a matter of timing……it may be one of those injuries that linger or never really heal well enough for the Doctors to clear JPP….
Let’s hope for the best but lets hope even more for a timely answer so we can do what is necessary to compensate for the loss.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:37 am
@Pittsshore, what kind of fools refers to “hillbillies from Tampa.” Think much?That term doesn’t make sense. Look around. DR’s post is well-thought and does make sense. Your stuff, on the other hand, is typical of the pasty-white smellies that come down here and stink up our venues by trying to have tailgate parties–without realizing a shower doesn’t last all day. Get real. Here’s a fun fact for you: any team signing a big name can draw a crowd. Even from the socialist north.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:38 am
The most frustrating thing is that the Bucs have just as much money to spend as a perennial winner. The big market teams have no advantage like in baseball.
It all comes down to management and the Bucs have none except for the Gumpster fire.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:43 am
Yeah…another seemingly radical idea of mine….the last was pre draft …trade every 2010 draft pick for a corresponding or higher pick in the 2020 draft…
.
.
.
so here is my newest…
cut JPP and McCoy and use the cap $$$$’s on younger players
the front office is desperately clinging….not a good look or projection of strength
May 9th, 2019 at 8:47 am
Gee Pat
………….tell all of us bucs fans something WE DON’T KNOW
May 9th, 2019 at 8:48 am
If JPP can’t play and GMC won’t budge on a restructured contract, the Bucs need to cut both and admit this year is a rebuilding year. I’m ok with building a team around younger players on the D-line. Gump also needs to go.
May 9th, 2019 at 8:55 am
Good article Joe. JPP’s injury surely helps GMC’s bargaining position if he wants to stay in Tampa. I think he could restructure his $13M and re-add it up to $20M or so over three years with less up front if he plays it right. Dom used to love the up front money of course, but the Bucs and Licht (thanks to his own poor doing) don’t have such luxury. I’m not an advocate of paying GMC to stay (and while I like him, thought it was time to move on swiftly), but think it’s one option to look at given how thin the Bucs are now at the D line. Sadly, Licht has to be mentally putting JPP’s injury in his secret job retention excuse assets column to explain why the Bucs D looks so bad this year–when they stink again. That is, JPP being out allows Jason to deflect blame in the fact they spent basically no effort to shore up the D line in the offseason. To me, this highlights Licht’s failures past and puts Arians and Bowles on notice. Yeah, same old story. In two years with Arians gone and Licht fired, Bowles will say he always wanted to draft D line here but they wouldn’t let him. Joe just may write an article titled HC “Bowles outs Licht, Arians.” Hope I’m wrong…but as I’ve said: This team needed to rebuild, starting with the GM, but we can’t afford to rebuild…so this now is a bridge to rebuilding…or worst, further decline to rebuilding. as Lovie showed, they CAN still get worse. This seaon ticket holder hopes he’s wrong.
May 9th, 2019 at 9:06 am
Everyone is ready to write the season off already.
JPP is good, but he didn’t save season last year.
Bucs coaches have been bad so long, everyone always looking for the next “savior “ free agent to make a difference.
Funny how Patriots just keep chugging along with different roster every year.
Give these new coaches a chance to prove that disciplined, effective coaching and schemes will work- Bucs may or may not make playoffs, but I bet their performances won’t be disgraceful as in past.
May 9th, 2019 at 9:17 am
Alanbucsfan — Someone agree.. But no staff is the Patriots thats not even a remotely fair comparison. I do want to see the new 3-4 scheme and how our players do. When you attack as much as Bowles will pass rushers like JPP may not be as critical at times because you are generating scheme blitzes. IF we were still a 4-3 without a DE pass rush we were done without a doubt.
Although people keep complaining about the White pick he and LVD both will still be blitzing heavily so its not like they won’t assist with the pass rush. Curious to see who the OLB’s will be in this scheme. Barrett, Spence ????
May 9th, 2019 at 9:29 am
To all the negative contributors, WHY are you even in here?!
You feign being a fan, but all you are is a bunch of non-fans with (obviously) absolutely no life. I bet not a one of you has ever played or coached football on an elite level. Madden doesn’t count.
Get a life, losers.
May 9th, 2019 at 9:30 am
@DB55,
White can’t tackle? Have you watched any of his tape? Like even one?
His reaction to plays is only less than stellar on PA pass. Otherwise this guy will run down C-Mac and Kamara any day. The guy can bring the wood and will be great at rushing the QB.
Your assessment are the similar to things that were said about the REAL DB55 coming out of college. Think about that.
May 9th, 2019 at 9:30 am
Man I have never seen a fan base turn so quickly on a team. They haven’t even had a padded practice yet. We have no clue what this team will look like. Already saying we got a washed up coach. How is that because are best defensive lineman got hurt in a car wreck. We should have prepared for that. We drafted corners, safeties, and a linebacker in the first three rounds. Did you guys watch the same team as me last year. Wide receivers running wide open. We needed secondary help the most. Qbs completed over 70% of there passes against us and had over a 100 qb rating. And we were middle of the pack in sacks. Qbs are getting the ball out in under 2.5 seconds now. You need guys who can cover. What does bill bellicheck do every year. He spends money on secondary. He drafts secondary. And let’s every decent defensive end he has had walk in free agency or trade them before there final year. He doesn’t pay defensive ends big money. He believes if ihis secondary can cover and guys not be open the defensive line can then get sacks do to the quarterback having to hold the ball longer due to the receivers not being open. And you know what is far more valuable than a sack. An interception and what we had 5 last year and three were in one game. How do you know this guy from Iowa isn’t going to be a stud. It happens every year and later round defensive end ends up leading all rookies in sacks. And turns out better than most drafted in first two rounds. He is a long athletic end who may surprise some people. We are running a whole new defense. That most of us have no clue what it is even going to look like. And you are already saying we are going to suck. We can rework severa contracts right now and save 18 million in cap space. We can get 10 million from mike Evans just by converting his salary into a signing bonus. If we need cap to sign somebody which we will do now we can make the cap happen.
May 9th, 2019 at 9:40 am
Wow people are typing alot of stuff when all you have to say is “Bucs Suck!” and are cursed!!!
May 9th, 2019 at 9:58 am
We’ve been 5-11 for how many years and are now in salary cap hell. What explanation is necessary. Licht should have been let go.
May 9th, 2019 at 10:01 am
It’s only May and I’m already frustrated
May 9th, 2019 at 10:05 am
We are fu&$ed!
JPP was our only good player last year!
He brought it on every play!
We better our offense can be #1 in the NFL!
Watford at RG is the key.
Can he play like Logan Mankins?
May 9th, 2019 at 10:19 am
First off, nobody is going to trade for Gerald McCoy. His salary is too high and everyone knows we’re in Cap Hell. Teams are expecting us to cut McCoy, rework his contract, or keep him after cutting JPP. Most likely, JPP will be designated as NFI and even the guaranteed 7.5M will be up for debate. It’s more likely we keep McCoy and cut JPP.
Right about now, having Cam Brate, as much as I like him and his skillset, is a luxury we can’t afford. Does the cap situation, JPP injury, McCoy situation make Cam expendable? I know the Patriots would be on line 1.
May 9th, 2019 at 10:23 am
funny how @realist is wishing we fail just so its fits his narrative….
“real” fans give this coaching staff a huge pass for 2019….licht, not so much…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 9th, 2019 at 10:35 am
What’s my name?
May 9th, 2019 at 10:40 am
Chop
Yes, in addition to highlights I also watched the LSU vs Auburn game. Watched Auburn run the ball up the gut for a 21-10 lead at the half.
Even when he blitzes which is by far the best part of his game he’s out of control and tackles high, doesn’t wrap up.
What stood out most is that he hits 2 holes to find the ball carrier (he won’t have time to do that in the nfl) and he struggles to get off blocks and get to the ball carrier. Not to mention on a few snaps he didn’t have the defense ready either bc he didn’t know what def they were in or a delayed call from the sidelines.
When I saw his tape I saw Kwon Alexander (4th rnd pick) but wtfdik
I’ll watch some more tape though. Maybe he excelled against SW Louisiana or Chattanooga or something, let’s see. 🙄
May 9th, 2019 at 10:49 am
How the hell is Licht still employed. We are a 5-11 team that has cap problems and still need to sign our QB to second contract .(hopefully). How did Licht put us in such a mess and better question how does he still have a job?
May 9th, 2019 at 11:06 am
@DB55,
In 2017 against Auburn he had FIFTEEN tackles with two going for a loss and a sack. Maybe they had a game plan in 2018 against the best LB in the SEC?
Have you seen how they had guards pulling specifically to block him? You don’t do that to players that aren’t impactful.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:28 am
@JeffBiuc…And do you think the Bucs will do a fraction of what you suggest? Will they do fraction of what others think? Maybe. Or not. No one as Bucs fans has “turned” on the team. Geeze, shut your hole. Folks are pointing out the obvious. Real fans are not lemming “yes men” who follow blindly just because it’s a new season, new coaches. Don’t be a fool and look at other teams. You are comparing apples to organges. The Bucs are NOT the Pats, FYI, and Brady is not our QB. Look at what you have. Particularly, look at the Bucs, their roster, their owners, their GM, their “new” coaches, their draft, and THINK.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:35 am
“Even from the socialist north”
Lol the stupidity of Bucs fans knows no bounds.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:38 am
To appease @Todd.
Wow, this is the best year EVER for the Bucs. I am especially happy at the LOAD of CBs drafted in the past two years. No doubt, VHIII leads, and Peyton Barber will kill it this year, which is why we don’t need a RB at all. Jones was just having a rookie year slump! Those UDAs show some real promise, and I’m looking forward to a playoff run! Jason has a proven record and not just any coach…like Bruce Arians, comes out of retirement to coach. His last two seaons in the NFL with an overall 15-16 record is less Love Smiths but I KNOW he’s the man. And the 17-40 of Todd Bowles doesn’t worry me a bit. Those were bad calls by the refs. Yessirree. This is awesome!!!!!!!!
Is that good @Todd?
May 9th, 2019 at 11:43 am
^^^^ Oh wait, I was wrong. The Bowles record si 24-40. Woohoo!!!!!
Wow, we are going to the SB!
May 9th, 2019 at 11:45 am
I think all offenses pull guards regardless of who the lb is. That’s like basic hs football 101. Whether or not your lb can read the pulling guard and beat him to the hole or shed his block is the key. I just didn’t see that.
May 9th, 2019 at 11:54 am
The Buc Realist Says:
June 21st, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Huge pass to the coaching staff issued by the “real” Buc fans!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!
****************************************************************
SAY NO MORE!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!
May 9th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Devin white is an arm tackler…. great here we go.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Please stop your whining Buc Realist. Go get a diaper change. All is not lost.
Time for Licht/Arians/Bowles to put their heads together and find us a DE. It can be done. Game one has not been played yet. If this were the Patriots, Rams or Saints ..all would not be lost. They would find somebody. Lets go front office and coaching staff.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
If JPP cannot play, he won’t count against the cap…so there will be no need to cut him. Duh.
Here’s what people are not considering…JPP was once told he would never be able to play football again because of his firework incident. But he is a determined man and proved he would.
So don’t count him out just yet.
May 9th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Mike Johnson Says:
“Time for Licht/Arians/Bowles to put their heads together and find us a DE…”
I agree, but it won’t be easy. It will have to be an undrafted free agent, or maybe a recent cut. Or a trade, and no team outside of the Raiders is dumb enough to let a good DE go.
May 9th, 2019 at 4:41 pm
firebrucerians.com
May 9th, 2019 at 5:15 pm
Got to love people who “break down” game film that have no idea what they’re looking at. And yes, it is abundantly clear that you don’t, DB55. Oh, wait, maybe we’re all wrong and you’re right. Everyone that had him as 1st round linebacker talent (that actually work in NFL) apparently missed all these red flags in his game that your high powered, ultra experienced tape watching expertise has picked up on. Carry on….
May 9th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
Upper management knew about this potentially disastrous problem heading into 2018 season.
Yet…
Before 2018 Season (Could’ve Moved)
-Kwon Alexander – 2nd Round Pick San Francisco
-DeSean Jackson – 3rd or 4th Round Pick
After 2018 (Before the league calendar year)
-Jason Pierre Paul – 2nd Round Pick
-Gerald McCoy – 4 or 5th Round Pick
Always a day late and a dollar short.
Can we finally get VP/GM that looks out for the “Bucs” best interest long term? Instead of fully catering to the coaches/players. Phuck!!
May 10th, 2019 at 4:04 am
Mayhem
This is what I can prove. Of the top ten lb’s in the league in terms of tackles only 2 are 1st round picks Luke Kuechly who placed 8th with 130 tackles and Leighton Vander Esch who was 3rd in tackles with 140. Vander Esch was the 19th overall pick and Kuechly the 9th overall.
Leonard from Colts was a second rnd pick and led the league with 163 tackles. Ironically, the Bucs could have a top ten lb in Mason Foster who placed in 7th with a 133 tackles (3rd rnd pick) but the “experts” over at obp and the media thought he wasn’t very good.
Therefore White would have to record 150 tackles this year to reach his potential as a #6 overall 1st round pick. I believe there are more 5th round picks on the top ten list than anyone else.