Ross Tucker Has A Hunch Why Ndamukong Suh Is Not Signed
May 24th, 2022
Free agent strategy.
One of the best pure football podcasts is the “Ross Tucker Football Podcast.” Tucker, a former Tom Brady teammate and a Princeton graduate who was a teammate there of NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt, played seven years in the NFL at offensive line.
He parlayed that into a nice broadcasting career working national NFL games for NBC Sports Radio and CBS Sports Network, and Eagles preseason TV broadcasts and gigs on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Tucker also hosts a very popular weekday podcast he records from his garage in Paxtonia, Penn.
He often has Greg Cosell of NFL Films as a guest along with handicapper Warren Sharp, BSPN uber insider Adam Schefter and former NFL suit Andrew Brandt.
Last week with Schefter as a guest, the two began speaking about all the free agents still out there. Tucker asked Schefter for his input and Schefter jokingly said, “What do you think, you are a smart guy?”
Tucker gave his take on the status of Ndamukong Suh. Tucker suggested his asking price, if he is still on the street come late July, may actually go up.
“I think Suh — a lot of these guys don’t want to sign until training camp,” Tucker said. “I think they like their offseason flexibility. Some of these guys might be waiting on someone to get hurt and then the team needs [to fill a hole].”
Schefter liked that analysis.
“And then the price might go up, right?” Schefter said.
It’s an interesting outlook. If a good team sees a defensive lineman go down, crafty Suh could tell Team-X he will fill that hole and they won’t find anyone more durable. And he’ll demand his price. Deal?
Joe knows Suh isn’t what he used to be. But he had 717 snaps last year, more than anyone else on the Bucs defensive line if you don’t count outside linebackers as linemen. Suh has never missed a game due to an injury since being drafted in 2010, which is remarkable.
Joe would feel a whole lot better about the Bucs’ defensive line if Suh came back.
May 24th, 2022 at 5:23 am
I’d be curious to know how many different defensive schemes Suh has played in. If he’s a cerebral as it’s been reported, it wouldn’t be hard for him to learn a new playbook in short time. And teams definitely get desperate for d line. I’d be content with Suh coming back but Licht has a cap to manage. If we have a rash of injuries at corner or wide recuse, we’ll need money.
May 24th, 2022 at 5:42 am
‘Joe would feel a whole lot better about the Bucs’ defensive line if Suh came back.’
Yea verily. And I’m convinced that Suh WILL be back as a Buc this season. It’s just a question of WHEN and for HOW MUCH.
From the Bucs’ perspective, Todd Bowles knows Suh’s value to this defense better than any of us; he won’t let him get away. Besides, we don’t even have the money, yet, to sign Gronk, Suh, and to still fill 1 or 2 other needs. No rush; it’s only May.
From Suh’s perspective, he’s got absolutely no reason to rush. Tucker’s right, no need for Suh to sign until training camp in late July, at the earliest. But from what I’ve read in a number of sources, I do believe that Tampa Bay has become ‘home’ for the Suh family, and this is where he wants to finish out his excellent career with one more crack at another SB ring. He’s a Buc.
May 24th, 2022 at 6:04 am
Oh so you mean Tucker regurgitated my take on the Suh situation from yesterdays Suh article??
May 24th, 2022 at 6:11 am
A hunch lol sounds typical for a journalist
May 24th, 2022 at 6:32 am
I don’t know about Suh, I really hope they sign him. As for Gronk, he and Goff were in phote shoots with their SI swim suit girlfriends last Saturday and Gronk looked like he had man boobs. Starting to question his return.
May 24th, 2022 at 7:38 am
Suh will sign next month as for Gronk the Bucs should start planning on a trade or sign a FA tight end.
May 24th, 2022 at 8:10 am
No question that Suh is a man’s man.
A true generational talent.
Both on the field, and in the business world.
He’s a friend of warren buffett.
The Bucs are lucky to have the opportunity to sign him, and I hope they don’t squander their window of opportunity.
May 24th, 2022 at 8:40 am
Suh has a history of waiting to sign.
May 24th, 2022 at 8:48 am
It’s ALL about the bang for the buck and don’t know how much banging Suh brings for the bucks he commands.
May 24th, 2022 at 8:52 am
@Stone Crab
Suh is a friend of Warren Buffett?
Not a big deal. Vita Vea friends with any buffet.
May 24th, 2022 at 9:09 am
Bucs Fan 76, yes I’m sure Ross Tucker reads every article on JBF to steal your takes for his podcast.
May 24th, 2022 at 9:12 am
Bucs Fan 76, you nailed it. I’m sure Ross Tucker reads every article on JBF to steal your takes for his podcast.
May 24th, 2022 at 11:07 am
I be a great NFL analyst. Could of told you that a month ago.
May 24th, 2022 at 11:52 am
Listnfrmafar Says:
May 24th, 2022 at 6:32 am
I don’t know about Suh, I really hope they sign him. As for Gronk, he and Goff were in phote shoots with their SI swim suit girlfriends last Saturday and Gronk looked like he had man boobs.
I didn’t see this but maybe because in the picture I saw his boobs looked tiny compared to MJ Acosta-Ruiz and Joy Taylor.
May 24th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
That’s why I don’t watch movies like Aquaman.
I hate movies when the actor has a larger breast size than the actress.
May 24th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Florida has the right mix for a vet: 1) Florida taxes, 2) Good weather during the winter months, 3) Familiarity.
I’d bet Suh will sign with Tampa, Miami, or Jax.
May 24th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
Ross Tucker is also one of my favorites, and not just because he is a Tucker, like me!
He presents an interesting theory on why Suh has not signed yet. A theory I haven’t considered before, but it does make sense!
Like one of the Joe’s, I too will feel better if Suh returns. The combination of him and Vea makes it dam near impossible to run on us, plus he is nearly bullet proof, as far as injuries go.
A professional football player’s career is short, so they must make all the money possible, in a short period of time.
May 24th, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Listening comprehension matters.
At about the 11-minute mark, Ross starts to talk about remaining free agents and there are maybe more of them than normal
…When Schefter specifically asks Ross what his theory on why there are so many free agents, Ross mentions a lot of names i.e. Clowney, Suh, others and how some might want to skip the offseason, others are injured, etc.
Schefter says that he has no explanation and that right before camp or right after camp a lot of guys might sign.
Ross is asked his theory on why guys are out there.
Sequence
Clowney “despises training camp”
Beckham “hurt”
On Suh, just as Joe quoted. “I think Suh — a lot of these guys don’t want to sign until training camp,” Tucker said. “I think they like their offseason flexibility.”
But then the next sentence from Tucker was:
“some of these guys I don’t know how much of a market there might be for them. some of them like Fisher or Trettor might be waiting for someone to get injured”
That is when Schefter then makes the declaration (as to Trettor and Fisher) that “And then the price might go up, right?”
My listening comprehension suggests that the price goes up was to Trettor and Fisher and not Suh. Listen to it yourself and make a decision.
May 24th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
suh’s numbers were down last year for sure but he almost won the game against the rams with his relentless assault on stafford.
May 24th, 2022 at 5:03 pm
I sincerely hope that Licht and Bowles have every free agent DT and edge on speed dial. Any of the better ones who want a job right now, get them signed and get this over with, please.
Clowney and Jerry Hughes signed the other day, gone. Too bad.
May 24th, 2022 at 8:22 pm
I’m starting to think it won’t just be Gronkowski, I think SUH will be showing up sometime later in the year as well