Did Ndamukong Suh Drop A Hint As Well?
February 26th, 2021
Interesting words.
Joe likes how the Super Bowl champion Bucs are all over the place talking on this show, chatting on that pod, doing this appearance and that. They are everywhere. And they deserve the respect.
You know, champions.
Two nights ago, Bucs foot-rubbing, car-littering free agent tight end Rob Gronkowski sure seemed to drop a hint that he’s returning to the Bucs.
Now Gronk being Gronk, you cannot take what he says too seriously until he actually says flat out “I’m coming back to play for the Bucs.” Gronk only said he was returning to the grind for the next Super Bowl and added, “Go Bucs!”
Last night the folks behind Shannon Sharpe’s podcast began dropping clips of an hour-long interview Sharpe had with Bucs defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. There, too, Suh hinted he is coming back.
In previous interviews, Suh had acknowledged talking to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht about returning but without details. Suh only explained he told Licht he was interested in returning and said the feeling was mutual from Licht.
Money, or course, is the issue.
Well, in Sharpe’s podcast, “Club Shay Shay,” Suh said what a great person and player Jason Pierre-Paul is and seemed to let the cat out of the bag.
“I’m excited to be able to have an opportunity to play with him again and hopefully go get another chance to win,” Suh said.
Also in the podcast Suh repeated that he wants to stay with the Bucs.
Joe is going to guess/hope that Licht’s biggest goals are bringing back Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett, receiver Chris Godwin and kicker Ryan Succop
Whatever Team Glazer loot is left over, then he can decide how to deal that out between Lavonte David, Gronk, Suh and Playoff Lenny.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:06 am
IMO, the Barrett/David/Godwin situation has to be resolved before the other FA’s can be addressed.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:12 am
I think that Brown and Fournette are the two we put at the end of the list. Lots of good running backs in the draft. Brown is 33 and I think adding him caused Scotty and Tyler to get a fewer touches and they need to develop as young receivers.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:17 am
I think Brown is insurance should Godwin leave but there is no doubt Brady has chemistry with him. Playoff Lenny, well, I see a Rojo/James White tandem next year.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:18 am
I’m with you Cobraboy. I do think the Bucs have a high probability Barrett, David and Godwin are back.
The rest
Fournette 20%
Suh 80%
Brown 51%
Gronk 100%
February 26th, 2021 at 9:19 am
Shaq>Lavonte>Succup>Suh>Godwin>Fornette
February 26th, 2021 at 9:22 am
Joe, can you apply the franchise tag after free agency opens?
February 26th, 2021 at 9:27 am
Good article in the Athletic yesterday on the ability to restructure contracts and be able to bring virtually everyone back, keeping this window open but pushing misery down the line. I’d be up for that. I don’t want a dynasty, I want a solid three year run!
February 26th, 2021 at 9:54 am
Is there anyone who doesn’t want to come back?…..I don’t think so.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:54 am
8 heavy briefcases at dennys should get it done 🙂
February 26th, 2021 at 10:09 am
If the Bucs are ok with hero to zero in year 2023 then restructure. Somewhere along the line need to address QB. Though it appears Brady is now playing the lead role in the movie Cocoon, he isn’t going to play forever. If a dynasty of 2-3 years top is the goal then get ready for the fallout. No doubt if contract magic happens getting to the SB is a strong possibility especially with next years weak schedule and NO QB issue. Already Rams are stronger, if GB signs Watt their D is stronger and who knows what’s going to happen with Watson. Keep them together, this is a fun team to watch.
February 26th, 2021 at 10:22 am
Succop & Suh are almost certainly Bucs again for this year. Their contracts are actually the simplest (and least costly) of all the ‘key’ FAs. Both were critical to our 2020 success & both are still at the top of their game. I personally wouldn’t be at all surprised to see their deals be done first, with Succop getting a 4-yr deal & Suh getting a 2-yr deal.
LVD & Shaq are the next in line IMO, and both will get long-term deals, probably in the area of 4-yr contracts, with big signing bonuses/guaranteed money. Just in those 4 (Succop, Suh, LVD & Shaq), with some ‘creative’ contracts, we’ll have AT LEAST $35-$40 mil tied up in 2021.
Godwin is odd-man-out UNLESS Bucs trade Mike Evans. Personally don’t see that happening, BUT we simply can’t afford to pay TWO #1 WRs PLUS a franchise QB PLUS a high-dollar OLine to protect him. Simply too many high-cost mouths to feed there. Just 6 of them (Brady, ME-13, Godwin, Jensen, Marpet & Smith) would be costing us $100 mil almost exactly (assuming Godwin signs for $19 mil). Best case is that’s HALF of this year’s salary CAP ($198 mil if CAP same as last year) … with 47 more players to sign (some of whom are also very expensive). The numbers simply don’t work, and ‘JL working magic’ won’t make them work.
February 26th, 2021 at 10:34 am
And again I share the same thoughts as DR. I’d hate it but I fear we just can’t afford CG and I wouldn’t be surprised if Shaq breaks the bank with another franchise.
February 26th, 2021 at 11:31 am
Fournette is the least important to re-sign. Would love to have him back but we would not miss him much, if at all, in my opinion.
February 26th, 2021 at 11:32 am
Just thinking outside the box, but does anyone here know how the salary cap numbers would be impacted if we could get a few of our upcoming free agents to accept partial Bitcoin deals like Russel Okung did with Carolina? Just wondering if the salary cap can be “gamed” if our upcoming FA’s accept lower dollar value deals (staying cap friendly on the books) but get paid a portion of the guaranteed money in Bitcoin at today’s value? It’s been on a rip, so the player could end up making more in the end if it keeps going up (or lose a portion of cash if it crashes). Risk-reward and all, but just wondering if it allows GM’s a way around the salary cap?
February 26th, 2021 at 11:49 am
ToesOnTheLine!!! … Credit where credit is due; that is certainly thinking OUTSIDE THE BOX. Actually, I think you just invented a whole NEW BOX with that line of thinking. Something tells me that Roger Goodell would frown on TWO boxes however. But hey, if you can get away with it, go for it.
February 26th, 2021 at 1:20 pm
Like I said 2 weeks ago…
Godwin is gone….Shaq is tagged and then they work from there.
Go Bucs!!!
February 26th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Other than SB Lenny it’s starting to sound like all the FA’s actually want to come back. How refreshing
February 26th, 2021 at 2:47 pm
ToesOnTheLine, Suh did talk some about Bitcoin on Club Shay Shay.
February 26th, 2021 at 3:34 pm
Godwin is not gone most likely he is tagged signed to a long term deal when the cap is raised after next season
February 26th, 2021 at 7:37 pm
One more year for Suh, get a kid on the roster to watch and learn, and I’m totally good with that. Suh gives us a chance for a nasty rotation option to pound other team’s OL.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:11 pm
@ ToesOnTheLine What difference would that make? The cash value of the contract would remain unchanged and whatever amount of Bitcoin that would be purchased with the agreed upon contract would be purchased and transferred to Suh. It would not make any difference at all in the actual numbers or amount of money/cap.
@D Rules I agree with your breakdown. Originally, I balked at the thought of moving the pain train down the line and deal with cap problems 3 or so years from now. I now am perfectly fine with it. You only get one shot at a team this good and you just got to try to extend the time the band stays together. Even with that, it’s going to take a lot of restructured contracts and wiggling to bring back the majority of the party. Shaq and Godwin and I suppose LVD are the costliest FA’s. I see LVD getting locked up. That man deserves to retire a Buccaneer. The big question seems to be who is the greatest priority between Godwin and Shaq. That’s a big debate. I argue that Godwin comes first but I have a tough time disagreeing with folks that feel Shaq is. It’s kind of a six of one a half dozen of other type of decision.
February 27th, 2021 at 12:41 pm
One thought I had the other day…
So it’s been reported that the franchise tag will likely be used on Godwin, obviously not finalized and probably just noise. But I have also been paying close attention to what Shaq could make on the open market and reports are saying around 26 milly as the 2nd highest pass rusher. So considering that shaq could make that much, would you then considered using the tag on shaq again even at 120% of last year’s tag? I think Godwin is an unselfish player and seems to be more vocal about returning. Perhaps it might be more successful to try to get a long term deal now with Godwin. I dont think 16 or 17 milly would be scoffed at, structure it so that more comes out next year. Thoughts?
February 28th, 2021 at 12:01 pm
@ cmurda
I’m not sure how that would all work, but it looks like Okung’s deal was $13M on the books with half paid in BTC. To me that might mean his cap hit to Carolina was $13M, BUT when BTC shot up in value the half paid in BTC became worth more than his full $13M salary. It’s a volatile asset, but I’m curious if the cap hit is what the value is at time of the player signing his deal? That deal could end up being worth far more (or far less!) to the player depending on future market value of BTC? Hey I just want the Bucs to do whatever they can to “keep the band together”, even if they have to go into some grey areas.