Money Changes Things
June 29th, 2020
A legendary Buccaneer got candid about how he let money affect his game.
As the Bucs currently consider offering contract extensions to Shaq Barrett and others, there’s always a benefit to keeping “a carrot” in front of players seeking a pay day, assuming the guy hasn’t already proven to be Doug Martin an unreliable and poor performer.
Joe brings this up today because Warren Sapp just appeared on The Helliepad podcast and talked about how he wasn’t himself during the 1998 season and it showed on the field.
“I’m out of shape,” Sapp said of entering the ’98 campaign. “I got a brand new $36 million contract. I had a wonderful summer. You find everything to do with that kind of money, boy — $8 million, boy, you find everything else to do but go work out at the job. But I came back the next two years with a vengeance … That’s the lesson that you learn; you know what I’m saying?”
Yes, the Bucs have had plenty of guys in recent years who got big money and didn’t let the cash distract them from being focused on all things football. Mike Evans and Lavonte David are great examples. Gerald McCoy earned more than $100 million in a Bucs uniform and didn’t keep his foot off the gas, even with Father Time catching up to him.
The Bucs also have paid players who were happy to smile and start their retirements early.
Joe wonders how much the power players at One Buc Palace want to see how Barrett plays on the franchise tag, his first taste of truly massive NFL money.
June 29th, 2020 at 12:05 pm
shocked to hear this from this guy who literally blew a dream gig in tv; that karma thing……GREAT on the field but there is more to life than playing great football
June 29th, 2020 at 12:42 pm
Although it is true there is more to life than just football. The football world is a world onto it’s own and holds us within time based off of how our team performs.
We tend to highlight the rough years and focus on the super years.
Right now, the Buccaneers have a deep team with adequate depth. That is the way a pro football team is supposed to be built.
RESULTS? ARIANS and COACHES GET AN A+
Players who are due big money should be chasing football accolades not
“look how big my paycheck is”. Players need to wake up and count their blessings that they get to play for the team. GO BUCS!! BAAAH!
June 29th, 2020 at 1:08 pm
Shaq, please don’t pull a boneheaded move like Melvin Gordon, we want you here but we don’t need one player to ruin this entire season. This is the most money you’ve ever made in your career maybe in your entire career and you deserve it, just don’t push it.
June 29th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
I don’t think Shaq is about the money. I think he sees a contract as affirmation of the team backing him up.
I think you could give him a a two year contract for less, per year, than the tag cost.
I have doubts that he will get another 19.5 sacks, but he will still get over ten and that is plenty for the money.
June 29th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
1998 was a missed opportunity after a 97 playoff win. 98and 2003, we had a shot a blew it but the 98 sluggishness probably helped the 99 run.
June 29th, 2020 at 1:43 pm
i think one stroke of the pen would more than double Shaq’s career earnings. He should be trying to secure a long term deal but he’s no dummy. not only is there alot of money on the table, there is a dream scenario for this season that rivals his super bowl squad in denver
June 29th, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Warren Sapp knew where each player should be on every defensive play. He could have been a very good coach after playing. Maybe he could still coach.
June 29th, 2020 at 3:13 pm
Too toxic. He tried coaching a couple of years ago in the Shrine Game and sponsors threatened to bolt. So he didn’t coach.
Besides, Sapp seems to enjoy fishing and diving too much. The coaching would just get in the way.
June 29th, 2020 at 4:08 pm
Ever notice how many great players make bad coaches and vice versa.
Great players like Sapp are used to just going out and getting it done. Hard for them to relate to guys with far fewer physical gifts who have to struggle to get up to speed.
Guys who had to work their careers because they lacked overwhelming talent…or at least physical dominance…like Pete Rose or Steve Kerr make better coaches.
June 29th, 2020 at 4:11 pm
Gerald McCoys’s foot on the gas? Bwaaaahaaaahahahaaaahahahaaaa.
He might have changed one game in his whole career so far. One. He held onto Matt Ryan’s ankle to assist with a 4th down incompletion to get a W.
One time.
No question Suh is the more game changing player and it’s a good thing Arians Bowles Licht and company recognized this and made the change.
June 29th, 2020 at 8:41 pm
Doug gets a lot more hate than he should with his last days as a Buc. He didn’t stand a chance with Koetter’s ridiculous run game. There was one play and he played it on every first and second down.I called it every time and I’m not an NFL coach. Up the gut with a sh!tty oline into a brick wall.
June 29th, 2020 at 8:49 pm
For Shaq to work we need a double team DE like JPP.
June 30th, 2020 at 10:18 am
Doug had some off-field issues that contributed to his issues. That said, Koetter did him no favors in the run game, I agree there. He got beat up a lot that year. Also way too much time dancing ion the hole. Not sure the money was to blame.