Ali Marpet Retirement Is A Blessing In Disguise
February 27th, 2022
“It’ll work out just right, Mr. Glazer.”
This may sound harsh, but if Pro Bowl guard Ali Marpet was thinking of retiring at 28 years old like he did today, then it’s clear that his heart was no longer in the game for whatever the reason.
Joe is not knocking Marpet for wanting out. Heck, he made a Pro Bowl, won a Super Bowl, banked tens of millions of dollars, and was the highest-drafted Division III football player ever. That a full and glorious career right there.
Marpet had a concussion that cost him three games last season, and he logged more than 100 starts. Perhaps he just wanted to leave the game in one piece and at the top of his game. Joe wouldn’t wag a finger at any guy for that.
However, if Marpet wanted out, then it’s a great time for the Bucs to lose a highly-paid guy who lost his fire for football. The Bucs need the salary cap room and Joe would rather see that cash go to men hungry to play with their hair on fire.
As Joe wrote earlier, if the Bucs could afford to lose a stud player, it was on the O-line.
If the Bucs now let Ryan Jensen walk and roll with second-year man Robert Hainsey at center, they can re-sign guards Aaron Stinnie and Alex Cappa, as well as sign a veteran interior lineman to compete. That would help the Bucs retain nearly all their other big, healthy free agent names after restructuring a few current contracts.
Joe will miss Marpet, but if he wanted out, then it’s likely for the best in the short and long term.
February 27th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
best way to look at it
he was concerned about concussions
good luck to him
sign Cappa sign Steenie let Hainey play
use the cash for Godwin
February 27th, 2022 at 5:56 pm
I do not see losing a pro bowl guard as a blessing in disguise. But call it what you want its your Blog.
February 27th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
And the descent back into the doldrums continues
Welp, we got a ring out of it at least!
February 27th, 2022 at 6:01 pm
One of my favorite BUCS he will be missed. According to overthecap.com the BUCS will carry a little over 7 million in dead money for marpet this year and a little over 5 and half million in cap space will be created by his retirement. There also is a scenario where the BUCS renegotiate his salary and keep him on the roster past June 2nd which would create 10 million in cap space. Thank you for 7 great years Ali.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
7 awesome years of a great player that changed multiple positions without any b!tching, just showed up and dominated. You will be missed.
Wasn’t he our team rep for the nflpa?
February 27th, 2022 at 6:14 pm
Stinnie and cappa want money. Throw ali marpet salary at both. Lose one gain 2. Jensen , Jpp. imo pass. Great players. Leaders. But there on the other side of 30 and banged up.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:16 pm
Marpet says money ain’t everything. Got even more respect for him now.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
Will he get in the Ring of honor one day
February 27th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
He has nothing else to prove. Protected The GOAT. Won a SB. Won NFC South. Pro Bowler. Go out on top while the team still has respect. Why chance becoming a loser again? Enjoy the rest of your life and good luck to you.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:32 pm
I hope this article gets Durable Donnie to do some soul searching too.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:35 pm
It just keeps getting better and better but I am being facetious.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Blessing in disguise.
IS this Pravda?
Wth?
Horrible loss and guarantees no Brady if there ever was a shot.
Good lawd.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
2 average players do not equal 1 all-pro player.
There’s no blessing here.
This is like Licht signing Beau Allen and Mitch Unrein instead of getting Calais Campbell. But hey, you get 2 players for the cost of 1…
February 27th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Sad news. However who could NOT respect his decision? Made Millions, worried about his future health, decided what he thinks is best for him.
Respect!
Thanks Ali for all you did for us! Wish you the best man!
February 27th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
I remember Mike Webster, considered the best center to play the game. He had so much brain damage he ended up living out of a pick up truck and had to borrow $ from former teammates just to get by
Frontal lobe damage is untreatable.
I know the helmets are better now and the league has its protocols and such. But you only get one brain.
Wise Choice IMO.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Marpet, Gronk, Jensen & Godwin, all starring in 80 for Brady, new careers.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Blessing is not a word I would agree with. You cannot replace a guy like Marpet but when it comes to filling the hole we are in good hands with our proven track record………Not even with just the guys we have drafted but look at all the guys we brought in, Haeg, Shipley, Stinnie ect………all quality players.
This team is really good at finding interior OL. And yes, the money is a good silver lining in a year where we got tough CAP decisions.
Dont think the Bucs will have a problem at all finding a solid player to fill the hole.
February 27th, 2022 at 6:55 pm
Adrnagy … ‘Stinnie and cappa want money. Throw ali marpet salary at both. Lose one gain 2. Jensen , Jpp. imo pass. Great players. Leaders. But there on the other side of 30 and banged up.’
So right now from last season’s great OLine we have … oh ya, Dominant Donnie & the youngest of our OLinemen, Wirfs under contract. You’re right Adrnagy, BOTH Stinnie AND Cappa will want to be paid. And BOTH know that they have the Bucs over a barrel, and if we don’t pony up there are lots of other teams who will. What’s freed up by Marpet retiring won’t pay anything close to what each of them will make this year.
Also seems to me that OLine LEADERSHIP is being passed over as not being a big deal. Au contraire, it’s everything IMO. Getting 5 horses to pull in the same direction (actually 6-7 if you include the TE & RB in the protection packages) probably isn’t as easy as many seem to think. Our OLine improved markedly when Jensen came onboard (also when we traded for Mankins). I’m convinced it’s because of better coaching and better Field Leadership. Jensen is a LOT more valuable to that OLine than many seem to believe.
February 27th, 2022 at 7:01 pm
A blessing? Only if the retirement means that Ali can live out his retirement free from pain or problems from CTE. He’s always been one of my favorite players, he plays smart and tough. This is a big loss, the Bucs might lose 3 of their 5 starting O Linemen. An O Line needs chemistry as they function together as a unit, this is a huge loss.
February 27th, 2022 at 7:03 pm
Thank you for helping us win the championship in ’20. My the rest of your endeavors be a success Ali
February 27th, 2022 at 7:11 pm
Marpet will be missed. But I believe he lost games the last 2 seasons due to injury (concussions) so it makes sense for him to try and repeat and then when it didn’t happen, hang it up. He’s a D3 legend and a beloved Buc forever. God Bless you Ali, you’ve been great for the team!
February 27th, 2022 at 7:28 pm
Marpet will be missed. But I believe he lost games the last 2 seasons due to injury (concussions) so it makes sense for him to try and repeat and then when it didn’t happen, hang it up. He’s a D3 legend and a beloved Buc forever. God Bless you Ali, you’ve been great for the team!
February 27th, 2022 at 7:31 pm
Licht needs to start making some moves for sure.
You got the bengals , jaguars looking for young , exp oline to protect their young qb.
Or you have the raiders , patriots , colts looking for a stud wr to help their qb / offense take the next step.
February 27th, 2022 at 7:42 pm
Start Trask, its rebuild time
February 27th, 2022 at 8:15 pm
A blessing? Looks to me like the rats are abandoning the ship.
February 27th, 2022 at 8:26 pm
Good grief, guys. The blessing is in that you don’t want somebody playing (and starting) the game when they no longer have the desire. Joe’s not saying it’s a blessing to lose a Super Bowl/Pro Bowl guard. Crimeny!
February 27th, 2022 at 8:39 pm
I don’t think this is a blessing at all. I am not sure why Marpet retired but do you think if he felt like next years team has a chance of getting to the Super Bowl that he would retire in his prime? He may already have an idea of some of the free agents who are probably not going to be a Buc next year, did the math and pulled the plug. I am sure he didn’t want to spend the next few years in the middle of a rebuild.
February 27th, 2022 at 8:46 pm
This is outrageous, not a blessing!! The fans deserve a better explanation than what has been published. Plus, he’s got a dead-cap hit for the next 4 years, 7 mil this year alone, if I’m reading Spotrac correctly.
February 27th, 2022 at 8:47 pm
may we please have a moment of silence for the ole ron burgundy coat
February 27th, 2022 at 9:47 pm
In a way I am glad for Mr. Marpet. He is getting out before the NFL destroyed him.
On the other hand I am sorry for his decision. He was a rock that held our line together, the beginning of a run game for this model of the team.
His loss is in no way a blessing in disguise, It is a sign that the Bucs of 2020 and 2021 need to rebuild. There is not going to be enough of the 2020-2021 Bucs left to say anything else.
I will miss Marpet, he was the epitome of an underdog who didn’t believe the social media crap and did his thing with excellence.
February 27th, 2022 at 9:59 pm
Maybe we are all F’d? Have a beer.
February 27th, 2022 at 10:27 pm
My guess is he has other ambitions, he made the pro bowl, he got a ring, and maybe three weeks of a bad concussion and all the CTE stuff scared him so he decided it’s time to walk. I don’t blame him one bit. I wish him all the best. Absolutely love the guy, he’s from Hobart, which is in my neck of the woods where I was originally from.
Still, it absolutely sucks.
They need to sign Jensen and one of the guards or both guards and use Hainsey at center… Pretty quickly…. so they can still point to a good O line to entice a quarterback to get here
February 27th, 2022 at 10:57 pm
Boy,
Brutal off season thus far. Qb options seem to be – Gabbert, Trask,
Bridgewater, or winston. Best case scenario godwin, kappa, and Davis
Resign. Maybe whitehead. Struggle to stay mediocre through a tough 2022 season. Go 8 – 9 possibly. Being in the clear cut worst division 8 wins may win the division. Lose in the wildcard round. A far cry from the glory days but I think reality is starting to set in for most of us.
February 27th, 2022 at 11:02 pm
A few years back I met Matt Blair, one of the best linebackers ever for the Vikings. We had a long chat about the NFL concerns about repeated concussions, etc. He was about to go have a complete evaluation at the Boston hospital that heads up the NFL support program for players suffering from football head injuries. He was a super nice guy and was eager to discuss his participation in the head injury program the NFL was sponsoring. We kept in touch online off and on for a year or two but the last time I emailed him his wife replied how sorry she was to tell me that Matt was no longer able to make contact with friends or family. Later that year I found out that he had passed away. Matt was still a huge physically fit guy when we met but was suffering from the effects of repeated head injuries that killed him while still in great physical shape aside from the brain injuries. In person he was a very big, intelligent guy who was friendly, courteous and pleasant. I can understand completely why Marpet decided to retire young. Money and fame are not that great if you die way too young.
February 28th, 2022 at 12:36 am
Man….I was shocked hearing this… He is one of my favorites on the team😔 hell the show goes on! Go BUCS..This is going to be a super interesting season.
February 28th, 2022 at 6:27 am
I remember when he missed games in 2020 due to lingering effects from a concussion that it was a bit odd. Hopefully long term he’s okay. He’ll go down as an all time great for the Bucs.
February 28th, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Thank you Ali, you’ve set a standard for others on the OL to follow. Stay well and enjoy your retirement.
February 28th, 2022 at 1:05 pm
A blessing?
The only way its a blessing, is if you want cheaper tickets and Bucs Merchandise.
Its all becoming less valuable by the day.
February 28th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
It sucks but I give him props for the decision. Concussions are no joke. Now he can play his yukele on the beach and sip a few mai tais and just enjoy life. As for the Bucs, it gives them options cap wise that they didn’t have, so they can keep a decent O-line together and perhaps spend money on resigning Godwin. Licht will have to make it work.