Former Todd Bowles’ OLB Released
April 17th, 2021
Pointing to a reunion?
Joe understands this likely flew under many Bucs fans’ radars yesterday because, hey, it was Friday and there was cold Big Storm Beer to drink.
A guy who played outside linebacker for Todd Bowles and Kacy Rodgers when the two Bucs assistants were the Jets’ head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively, was released yesterday.
With the Browns signing Jadeveon Clowney this week, room had to be made for Clowney to fit under the cap. So overboard went defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.
Now Joe is just connecting dots here. Who knows if Richardson, 30, has anything left in the tank? But some of the best football that Richardson racked up (numbers-wise) was when he played for Bowles and Rodgers. Also, arguably his worst season in the NFL was with Bowles and Rodgers.
The reason Joe brings up Richardson is the guy is damn versatile and dependable. No, he wouldn’t start for Tampa Bay. But damn if he couldn’t bring additional depth and eat up snaps to help keep starters fresh. He can play outside linebacker or tackle, and there are not a lot of those types of players wgi are walking the sidewalk.
In his first four Jets seasons, Richardson played defensive end and outside linebacker. Since, he’s been a tackle. Richardson has only missed four starts in the past five seasons, damn good for any lineman.
Joe wouldn’t expect Richardson to sign with the Bucs immediately. But if the Bucs are interested, and Richardson wants to chase a ring, this could happen after the draft.
This is something to look out for. Again, provided the Bucs are still seeking quality, versatile depth, few teams will have as good of intel on Richardson than Bowles and the Bucs will.
April 17th, 2021 at 10:06 am
I would like this signing. He could replace anyone on the line. Additional depth on a 17 game season could be key, especially on the d line.
April 17th, 2021 at 10:06 am
Two damns in one article. Joe, you need to wash your mouth out with soap.
April 17th, 2021 at 10:10 am
Definately worth kicking the tires on Richsrdson. It is always good to have solid depth on the D Line and O line. Lol it is good to have solid depth at any position. GO BUCS!!!!
April 17th, 2021 at 10:17 am
OLB?
April 17th, 2021 at 10:27 am
Only on the cheap.
April 17th, 2021 at 10:51 am
The guy isn’t gonna want to sit 45 minutes a game
April 17th, 2021 at 10:53 am
This would bring the Revis trade full circle. Richardson was the pick that the Bucs traded to the Jets as part of the Revis deal!
April 17th, 2021 at 11:12 am
8/76 Buc is correct.
April 17th, 2021 at 11:15 am
He’ll want too much. Been a few years since he was truly productive seems like. I see the attraction, but I say “pass”
April 17th, 2021 at 11:21 am
Joe
it’s my understanding they have nothing left to spend on any free agents. Their focus now is to sign their upcoming draft picks.
Do we have any idea where the cap stands ?
I get it’s all about winning now, and I have been all for it, but at this point I do not want to mortgage any more of the future for a back up that’s no better than what they have or what could be drafted
April 17th, 2021 at 11:24 am
This team is already stacked. Adding that kind of depth would be unfair to the rest of the league.
April 17th, 2021 at 11:26 am
If there are no big trades on draft day the Bucs will only need 2 million to sign all of their draft picks. I am thinking Sheldon will want too much money but the bucs sure could at least kick the tires and offer another $970,000 deal.
April 17th, 2021 at 11:27 am
I like it, Joe, but I don’t think he’s ready to be a backup. He makes more than Suh. He could, however, replace Suh in case of retirement next year. For now, to afford him, he might have to replace Gholston, saving $5.5 M–they’ll both be 30 when the season starts and he would be an upgrade. I’m not sure Cleveland got better–but Clowney’s cheaper!
April 17th, 2021 at 11:27 am
He was a cancer in the Jets LR,!huge feud with Brandon Marshall. He would be great depth if he can contain his bad behavior.
April 17th, 2021 at 11:36 am
Get your point @David, but the Bucs don’t have any DL backups that have started 118 games over the last 7 seasons (including 2 playoff games) and been named DROY and made the Pro Bowl. He’s far more versatile and skilled than Gholston, Nelson, or O’Connor, the question just comes down to money. With only about $1M available right now, they’re going to need to make additional moves to clear cap space for the draft picks, backup QB’s and filling out the roster along with a cushion for mid-season additions. The amount they free up will likely dictate what they do re: Richardson.
April 17th, 2021 at 11:40 am
I love having versatile backups on my team. Playing all three DT, DE and Edge this would be a great signing and would upgrade our depth on the entire DL.
April 17th, 2021 at 11:50 am
Sign him if we can. Unfair to the rest of the league lmaooo after all those crappy years we had to endure???? Man rack up the wins while we can.
April 17th, 2021 at 11:54 am
Richardson could/should have been a Buccaneer the whole time if idiot Dom hadn’t bid against himself just to give away the farm for a broken down Reevis.
April 17th, 2021 at 12:05 pm
Good point!
David:
Can tell you *generally* a team wants to keep about $10 million to sign the rookie class and whoever they need to sign later on to plug a hole created by an injury.
As far as the cap goes, you can monitor this site which is what Joe relies on. Joe just knows the salary cap never stopped the Saints and the Crows.
April 17th, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Who’s counting? 🙂
April 17th, 2021 at 12:11 pm
Compared to many teams, Bucs have a Front 7 that’s getting somewhat long in the tooth.
o McLendon … 35
o Suh … 34
o JPP … 32
o LVD … 31
o Minter … 30
o Gholston … 29
o Barrett … 28
o Nunez-Roches … 27
Several additional Front-7 guys like Vea (26), Nelson (24), and White (22) obviously represent the future, and are solid as they come IMO. And I suspect that guys like Shaq, LVD, Minter, JPP and even Gholston & RNR have some good tread left on those tires.
Still, we need to be adding some new blood when & where possible. Improving our depth through quality draft picks is a ‘given’ IMO, but signing quality Front-7 guys to be key rotational players (for now) and to move up in case of injury or in the future seems like a smart move … as long as it doesn’t break the bank. In this case, Richardson (30) looks like a quality upgrade over McLendon (35). If the price is right, why not?
April 17th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
David
I think they are a few mil OVER the cap. So they will need to redo a contract or two
Bucs never do these kinda contracts. But these are not normal times
Plus cap will go up huge next year and bucs in better shape then
April 17th, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Ding… ding… ding!
April 17th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
maybe later in the season if guys get injured and we need to sign someone
April 17th, 2021 at 12:48 pm
Vet min? Hell yeah. Because he’ll push Gholston for a starting job.
April 17th, 2021 at 12:54 pm
Definitely bring him in, his stats are better than Bulletins.
April 17th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
Definitely bring him in his stats are better than Gholstons.
April 17th, 2021 at 1:53 pm
He can provide good depth behind marpet and cappa .. lol
April 17th, 2021 at 2:03 pm
I think it is more likely that we sign Hurst that was just cut by the Raiders. He’s still young and likely cheap. Probably a minimum salary guy.. Hurst would add to our thin DT depth and has the ability to rush the passer from the middle. He put up good pass rush numbers in his first 2 season but not so much last year.
April 17th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
This is supposed to be a bad year for DL. So if we trade this years first round pick for a first in 2022 plus a 3rd this year then we could use the money we were going to need for this years 1st (around 3 million), plus the money we were going to offer AB to sign Richardson. Then use that extra 3rd for a WR to replace AB. Back load the deal a bit since Suh will probably be retiring next year and let Richardson know we are planning on making him the starter next year if he earns it.
April 17th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
I’ve always suspected that half the people writing comments didn’t bother to read the article first much less the commits before them.
Example:
Bucshot Says:
April 17th, 2021 at 10:17 am
OLB?
As weak as this DT class is in this draft he would be a great option to have if the intel comes back positive.
April 17th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
A little bit of trivia for Bucs buffs…Richardson was chosen by the Jets with the 1st round pick the Bucs surrendered for the “Rehab Revis” one year experiment. One million dollars per game ( 16 mil…which is still the high end of the cb market nearly a decade later…that Dominik was a trendsetter/trailblazer! ) to rehab his knee before Lovie sent him packing after the season.
April 17th, 2021 at 2:45 pm
IMO the NFL kinda screwed teams with the 17 game schedule. If you are going to add a game you should add at Least 15 mil to the cap and expand the roster by at least 5 players. Many teams barely get through a 16 game season due to injury.
April 17th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Cleveland probably considers Malik Jackson the replacement–he signed for $3.75 M but only $1.85 M against the cap due to spread out bonus money–we could probably get Richardson for that.
I didn’t realize Gholston last year graded out by PFF as #7 for interior Pass Rush Productivity, way ahead of Suh, Richardson, and Jackson.
April 17th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Tampabay Allday – surely you caught my sarcasm. I want the Bucs to dominate the league this year!
April 17th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Take him over McCoy….if he plays decent he could take over for Suh or JPP after next year.
April 17th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
This guy?
Not gonna happen. QB at 32
April 17th, 2021 at 5:58 pm
I didn’t I thought you were serious lol my fault
April 17th, 2021 at 7:58 pm
He played excellent last season.No way we can afford him. Joe is underestimating this guy and the browns made a mistake taking clowney to cut him because clowney is always hurt
April 18th, 2021 at 12:38 am
For the right price yea bring him in. Help keep vea and suh fresher and maybe help with jpp. I think he would be good depth