“He Deserves It And He’ll Probably Get It’
February 14th, 2021
What is GM Jason Licht’s priority list? Expect it to stay behind the mask.
One of the most cerebral NFL analysts out there is a three-time Super Bowl winner who is off the radar of most Bucs fans.
Joe’s talking about former Broncos great receiver Ed McCaffrey.
First, Stanford grad McCaffrey gives solid, thoughtful analysis. If you’re looking for a “hot take,” he’s not your guy. Second, he’s interesting because the pays very close attention to the NFC South, where his son is a superstar for the Panthers.
McCaffrey spent a bunch of time this week on SiriusXM NFL Radio contradicting the parade chatter of general manger Jason Licht and Bucco Bruce Arians. They said the Bucs are in the financial position (salary cap) to bring back their roster. McCaffrey was adamant that the Bucs won’t be able to afford to do it.
In his mind, the free-agency money that will be flashed to Chris Godwin, Lavonte David and Shaq Barrett will be too much to leave those guys eager to give the Bucs a home-team discount they’ll need to return a long list of free agents.
All Joe can do is toss out hypotheticals. Suppose Urban Meyer, the new Jaguars head coach sitting on a ton of salary cap room, comes calling for Godwin with a monster deal and the lure of Trevor Lawrence, a 1,000-yard rusher and young stud receivers to complement him. Remember, Meyer was a receivers coach for more than a decade.
That’s just one of dozens of possibilities any fan could spitball.
What happens if Washington boss Ron Rivera, after years of coaching against Lavonte David, yearns for him to clean up behind his dynamic front-four? They’ve got a ton of cap room.
McCaffrey is a huge Shaq Barrett fan and projected on SiriusXM NFL Radio last week that Shaq will break the bank at 28 years old with relatively low mileage on his body and two Super Bowl rings.
“He deserves it and he’ll probably get it,” McCaffrey said of Shaq’s prospects of a massive deal. He got a first-hand look at Shaq during his years as a Broncos broadcaster. “Anyone who watched Broncos practices knew this guy was a dude,” McCaffrey said. “They loved him in Denver.”
Of course, the Bucs have one franchise tag to execute if they want to use it again. Shaq got slapped with it last season. The timetable for the franchise tag is Feb. 23 to March 9.
February 14th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
McCaffery is just playing Panthers head games with Bucs fans, and it is working.
All of the above will have agents, friends, families and fellow players telling them all to take the money and never think twice. They already know what the Bucs can offer and it doesn’t take a math wizard.
Such is the NFL , the fans are least prepared to handle it
February 14th, 2021 at 5:14 pm
Tbh I don’t think franchise tag would help much with Shaq. It goes up a certain amount of used a second year in a row. Believe I heard it would be $19 mil if used again. Gotta think he wouldn’t make that much more per year and if on a multi-year with a signing bonus his first year would definitely be lower than that
February 14th, 2021 at 5:17 pm
They have 0NE franchise tag… and that will be super expensive. Far more expensive than giving a small 2021 salary and a bacloaded deal with higher salaries in subsequent years and guaranteed escalator bonuses.
February 14th, 2021 at 5:20 pm
I just can’t imagine Lavonte leaving. He’s too important to this franchise to be nickeled and dimed over a couple million
February 14th, 2021 at 5:27 pm
Our Bucs are projected to have more 2022 cap space than any other team.
The Bucs can absolutely afford to keep everyone they want and add a few other pieces if they are creative with their contracts and move all the big cap hits to 2022.
If BA and Licht are serious about going back to back, I fully expect us to resign Shaq, Godwin, Lavonte, Suh, Gronk and add JJ Watt to replace Gholston which would easily give us the best front 7 in the NFL.
I’d say we can resign Fournette if we want to as well but I think having the 32nd pick would give us a great chance at getting an awesome prospect at RB like Travis Etienne or Javontae Williams.
February 14th, 2021 at 5:43 pm
He’s not a GM. His guess is about as good as everyone else’s on here. Although I do believe Godwin will be gone. I think we sign LD, Gronk, AB and franchise Shaq.
February 14th, 2021 at 6:09 pm
Dingle B – Hope you are right about the cap space. Sure would be good to have almost all of those guys back. D (with Shaq & David) probably takes priority. I like Fournette and AB more than most – but we’ll see.
February 14th, 2021 at 6:18 pm
Ed McCaffery was on my first fantasy football team along with Elway. yes I’m a fossil and have been playing fantasy football longer than some of you have been alive.
February 14th, 2021 at 6:32 pm
Licht has proven to know what he’s doing when it comes to resigning guys and knowing when their asking price greatly exceeds their production/skills and can be replaced by someone else at a cheaper price. It’s not always about replacing player A with player B at the same position who’s equally as good. Sometimes a slight downgrade in a position for a significantly cheaper player allows the team to have more money to upgrade in other areas. It’s all about fielding the best overall team from year to year.
February 14th, 2021 at 6:33 pm
Ed Mc was a tough tough WR , back in the days when they had “Jacked Up!” Highlights from the previous Sunday games leading up to MNF
February 14th, 2021 at 7:01 pm
Ed McCaffrey was like Joe Jerevicious. Dewey, I hope you had the joints rolled and the beer cold for the Super Bowl. I did!
I don’t see how we pay Godwin. WR is a position of strength for us. Sign AB for a ton less. Brady will keep him in line again.
February 14th, 2021 at 7:03 pm
Idk Chris Godwin’s recent tweet makes it seem like he’s planning on taking the biggest contract he can get. Hope we franchise him.
February 14th, 2021 at 7:25 pm
Alvin- how long will we keep AB tho? 1 year? 2? And thats given brady can keep him in line. You cant let a #1 wr you drafted leave in their prime with only getting a 3rd back in compensation. That is a setup for failure, both now and later. IMO it sends a bad message to all the young guys.
February 14th, 2021 at 7:40 pm
I have to agree –
Godwin will be just too damn expensive, especially given our deep WR room.
David at his current 10mil may not want to uproot his family unless its to go to his hometown, Miami
Barrett will be tagged again and hopefully work out a lomg term deal. Edge rushers are too hard to find.
Brate & Gholston can go – the savings gives you back AB and Suh.
Fournette will find out that there isn’t much of a market for him and his moodiness.
If all we lose are Godwin, David, Brate and Gholston, I would call that a successful post-Super Bowl off season
February 14th, 2021 at 7:41 pm
This is a joke and so annoying to the point I wish there was no off-season
Your trying to tell me after all the losing lavonte David has endured losing in Tampa and all the money he’s made up to this point will leave the team that has drafted him now they it is a high profile team and float back into nothingness for a couple million more than the Bucs would play? He no longer cares about winning and playoffs so he’ll go to the jags with a rookie coach and quarterback or to Washington who has no quarterback just because they have a good defense not better than ours really?
Stop with the Godwin talk, if we franchise him there is nothing that he can do about it and the franchise tag is less than he would get if resigned to a contract.
Shaq is the only unknown as he came here with a ring. I’m so sick of non gm’s who don’t even know what the “projected “ salary cap is going to be telling us we won’t be able to sign anyone as if we woke up the day after the Super Bowl and said oops we have no money STFU you irrelevant nobody who will be silent and not have to answer when your wrong
February 14th, 2021 at 7:48 pm
I’m loving these problems. Can’t wait to see what free agents will want to come here with a chance to win a Super Bowl.
I want to keep everyone if possible, but I also trust this organization to find good fits to execute and be a Buccaneer.
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
February 14th, 2021 at 7:58 pm
Dingleberry … Not sure where you’re getting your info, but Spotrac disagrees with you. For 2022 they project the Bucs to have $169 mil CAP space (#5 in the NFL) but that’s based on only having 18 players signed (the lowest number of all the NFL teams BTW). Bottom line: it’s meaningless as all git-out.
For 2021 Bucs have $27.78 mil of CAP space (#12 in the NFL) based on having 44 players signed (2nd lowest number under contract behind Falcons who have only 42). But again, IMO that’s fairly meaningless also, because many of those under contract will almost surely NOT make the team come Game 1. Plus no one even knows at this point what the REAL salary CAP will be for 2021.
I’m convinced that the Bucs will re-sign LVD, Shaq, Suh, Gronk but not necessarily Godwin. TWO high-$$$ long-term contracts for WRs (ME13 AND Godwin) would eat up $35-$40 mil of our salary CAP (like 20% for just 2 guys who play the SAME position?). We’ve got LOTS of other mouths to feed. And BTW, Will Gholston is a beast & is under contract for $5.5 mil this year. Do you honestly think that JJ Watt will play for that? And besides, Will gave us 16 games this year with 3 sacks, 20 QB Hits & 8 TFLs. JJ also had 16 games this year, with 5 sacks, 17 QB Hits & 14 TFLs … all for only $15.5 mil in salary ($10 mil MORE than Gholston made). Do the math then tell me that signing JJ Watt for Will Gholston is worth the money.
February 14th, 2021 at 8:00 pm
Pewter … Godwin made $2m in 2020. The 2021 WR tag is $16m. All things remaining the same, thats $14m more that we have to find.
Its going to be tough to justify that kind of money for a #2 WR, when AB would take half that and give us no drop off in production.
February 14th, 2021 at 8:37 pm
It wouldn’t shock Joe if it is more than a couple of million.
February 14th, 2021 at 8:44 pm
@Joe. Agreed. Not to mention this is Lavontes last chance at a big payday. Gotta think about your family first.
February 14th, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Defense Rules…
Well I was watching the PR podcast the other day and they had a guy on who works with overthecap and I heard him say the bucs had the most cap space going into 2022, but I suppose he was mistaken.
As for JJ Watt vs Gholston, Watt was by far the most double teamed edge rusher in the league last year and still had a top 10 pass rush win rate, and was still an elite run defender. Gholston isnt even close to being in the same league as Watt. And if JJ is serious about chasing a ring, I’d imagine we could probably sign him for about $10 million per season.
February 14th, 2021 at 9:12 pm
Players have to decide the value of another ring over making millions more. The value of staying in the same community. The value of your kids having the same friends. Everyone decides what is important to them.
February 14th, 2021 at 9:28 pm
Keep the defensive front 7 in tact, they are the foundation of the success of the World Champion Bucs. Franchise Shaq and work out the rest of the contracts from there. I like Godwin but as far as importance, I would prioritize keeping the front 7 in tact. GO BUCS!!!!!
February 14th, 2021 at 9:56 pm
The “Secret Sauce” is being able to pressure with 4 and preventing the opposing OL to get to the FAST LB’s so they can flow.
The Bucs are in good shape for FREE AGENCY.
Will they be able to keep the entire 2020 roster? No.
But we have a very good chance of being able to replace players we lose with others with similar or better caliber except for Barret, IMHO he is a rare talent.
Free Agents will look at Tampa and automatically think “I have a chance at a ring” and those players are more valuable than a player just looking for a fatter check. How many times do we see players get that fat check and then their productivity drops the following season?
Jason and his staff when they make their Free Agency phone calls should simply say these few key points:
Who wants to get a Super Bowl with Tom Brady?
Who wants to be immortalized with the GOAT?
Who wants to work in a state with no state income tax?
Who wants to party hardy when we win it again?
February 14th, 2021 at 10:05 pm
lol
February 14th, 2021 at 10:08 pm
I agree, I don’t see how we keep Chris Godwin. WR is a position of strength for us. We can sign AB for a ton less. Brady will keep him toeing the line again.
I really hope we can keep both Shaq and David, but other teams have a ton of money too and may make them offers they just can’t refuse.
February 14th, 2021 at 10:18 pm
Just watched mic d up on NFL network for super bowl
So awesome
I agree with last few comments. Defense comes first
It was confirmed :
Brady was least pressured qb in nfl history
Mahommes was most pressured in nfl history . It was like 60 percent of his drop backs
And just think. The bucs turned the ball over on the 1-2 yard line on downs. (You cant get one yard there. Geez. Brady should have qb sneaked it)
Snap over bradys head in second half going in for score
Tanner hudson clueless in endzone pass cause he is ehhhh
Bucs could have easily put up more. It was a beat down on both sides of ball
February 14th, 2021 at 10:26 pm
godwin is the guaranteed franchise tag guy for the 2021 season…
after that all bets are off…
if tyler johnson develops heavily next year, they could let godwin walk for 2022
February 14th, 2021 at 10:27 pm
It was good.
February 14th, 2021 at 10:32 pm
ONE THING that never even crossed my mind until now…
Godwin may want to leave the Bucs because no matter what he does he’ll always be considered the “#2” to Mike Evans.
All elite athletes arrive to be the best. No doubt Godwin will want to be known as the #1 WR, and can’t blame him for that.
More and more I think he’d want to chase a bigger contact playing for someone else. I think Chris loves the Bucs and he’s a great guy, but you can’t blame him for probably wanting to be out of Mike Evans’s shadow.
February 14th, 2021 at 10:45 pm
BEST MOVE the Bucs could make is to deal Sean Murphy-Bunting.
His stock is the highest it will ever be due to some good performances in the playoffs.
I still don’t think SMB (or Davis for that matter) are elite shutdown corners. I think the Bucs need to find a way to sign one / trade for one.
February 14th, 2021 at 11:11 pm
Hate me if you want, but our big $$ needs to be saved for Big V! We all see how Shaq and JPP’s game dropped w/o him and how much they improved once he came back.
I dont know. I want to keep Shaq AND LD54…but they got to work with us. If Shaq prices himself out (cant blame him, get that money bro), save the franchise tag for Godwin. He completes this dynamic offense we have and will be paid handsomely with the tag. I hate to say it but a high dollar Shaq vs. a low dollar JJ Watt….well, thats a no brainer.
Then hopefully Lavonte will work with us.
It really boils down to sides…D and O. We’re heavily talented on D and can afford to lose one piece, the most expensive piece (as much as it sucks) but we have to make room for others. And Godwin is a fixture in this offense, no doubt…no way we lose him!!!
We’re gunning for 2 in a row and the last one to do that was TB12! Keep his weapons!
February 14th, 2021 at 11:17 pm
McCaffrey is the enemy and I don’t expect him to be objective when it comes to our team. Even so, it’s unrealistic to think that we are bringing back all of our stars. Shaq, David, and Suh are must signs imho. I hate to beat a dead horse, but Godwin is just not worth the 20+ million that teams stupidly have given to lesser players like Amari and Keenan. Franchise him and if he stays healthy and kicks a$$, give him his $.
February 14th, 2021 at 11:23 pm
And yeah, the mic’d up version is on utube, i watched it earlier today and made some notes…
hill cant make the catch that hits his facemask and wouldve been a td
kc punter townsend is terrible
kelce drops a pass after we go 4th and out on the 1 yd line
clear holding on evans (many times throughout the game)
40yd fg attempt (good) at kc22 and kc offsides lined up in neutral zone, results in a 1st down, which pinned them deep when we didnt convert
pi on evans again, was tripped up on a long throw after coach tells brady lets set up for 3, brady looked at him like, na fk that, im going for a big gain…
+the matthieu holding call on evans before they scored with AB td, grabbed his sides with both hands after 5 yds, good call.
winfield jr interception while score is 28-9
52yd fg from succop
at 29:52 after mahomes does more houdini stuff spinning out of barrets grasp, hits the pylon…almost a TD
at 30:46, mahomes gets tripped, feet off the ground and still hits his guy in the face mask WOW, dude drops it
at 32:00 ME13 even said it, we’ll see yall next year
sandwich sack at 32:35
35:15 d. white interception seals it!
ME13 threw his helmet to a fan after saying “you give the fans everything, i dont want nothing”….the most selfless player out there
And thats how we won….refs called a fair game. Im so tired of the crybabies say the refs gave it to us. Only butt hurt unintelligent people who know nothing about football will go there.
February 14th, 2021 at 11:33 pm
We need to keep Shaq and LVD, shooooot Godwin is my dude and I screamed to draft him in the 2nd, we were lucky he fell!!! I WENT FULL TROPIC THUNDER ROBERT DOWNEY JR FULL RE…….. when we got him in the 3rd (Licht ur a sick Mofo RESPECT!). I went NUTS!!!!!! Ran around tho house blah bla bla!!!! But…. we need to bring back Shaq and LVD, This is of the upmost importance!!!!! BOWLES AND KEEPING THE D INTACT IS THE KEY!!!!! We’ll sort out the O NP W TKILLYA TOM THE GOAT!!! Love ya TB12!!! Hope u come back Chris!!! Ur a boss
February 14th, 2021 at 11:38 pm
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!!!!!!!!! Man it’s fun to be a BUCS fan!!!!!! This is the reward of being a ride or die TRU fan…. enjoy my brothers and sisters!!!!! This is effing awesome AF!!!!
February 14th, 2021 at 11:59 pm
Franchise Shaq, and Keep the front 7 INTACT… With Brady all the other Offensive pieces are interchangeable. Let Chris G get a big payday from whoever is willing to flash the Cash. But again, franchise Shaq and work out everything from there. The Foundation of the World Champions is the Front 7 on Defense. GO BUCS!!!!!
February 15th, 2021 at 12:17 am
Oh im with you BUC CHEEKS…im off work tomorrow and still partying like we just won it…(had to work a lot last week)
Lets get on that draft board for some prospects if we dont trade up for Trevor (which i still think we should do)…but if we dont, Mac Jones, Jackson Carman, Darius Stills are still my top 3 (wishful thinking on Jones, might have to save that pick for Carman)
February 15th, 2021 at 1:34 am
We dont win a Superbowl without our dominant front 7.
Find a way to keep the front 7 even if it means letting Godwin explore free agency.
Try to keep both but Lichts priorities need to be #1 Shaq Barrett #2 LVD.
February 15th, 2021 at 1:55 am
If you tag Barrett again he could very well hold out. He wants a BIG long term guaranteed contract.
February 15th, 2021 at 2:44 am
Agree 1000%…. tbbucs3 Says:
February 15th, 2021 at 1:34 am
We dont win a Superbowl without our dominant front 7.
Find a way to keep the front 7 even if it means letting Godwin explore free agency.
Try to keep both but Lichts priorities need to be #1 Shaq Barrett #2 LVD.
Front 7 is the foundation for their World Championship, and going after another next season. GO BUCS!!!!!!
February 15th, 2021 at 8:40 am
Im not a GM
But some things are pretty simple.
Our team will be built around Tom Brady.
Anything else would be idiotic.
In his biggest game a a Buc- who did Brady lean on?
Gronk, Brate, Antonio Brown, and Fournette.
Any guess work should start there.
He showed us who he counts on.
I said a couple weeks ago, If we lose anyone- I think it’ll be Godwin.
Thats the lose that makes since. Cant pay YOUR numer 3, like a number one.
February 15th, 2021 at 8:45 am
Bucs have a 2 yr window. Kick some money down the road if you have to but get as many back as u can. If Miami comes after LVD it’s going to be hard to match them. Godwin could be offered close to 20m. Only hope is he doesn’t want to leave or franchise tag. LF is gone most likely. Can’t blame anyone who leaves as this is their chance to maximize cash potential. If the cap gets cut considerably it will be interesting to see who will offer big money though. James White.
February 15th, 2021 at 9:56 am
All of those offers sound great in theory. But the chance (high chance) to get another ring is worth what vs dollars? 🤔
February 16th, 2021 at 10:39 am
^ Bingo Rob
Chase those dollars after you win 2 in a row…..Sacrifice just one. more. time.
even if just to seal your name in the history books! FK money! Money cant buy that!!!