Bucs, McCoy Now On Suh Watch
February 22nd, 2014
Forever linked as back-to-back selections in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Lions manbeast defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy have become perennial superstars.
They’re also eligible to become unrestricted free agents after this season. Suh, however, is about to get a massive new deal.
That’s the prevailing word out of the NFL Scouting Combine this week, where Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has been vocal in his desire to get Suh a shiny, new contract extension before the start of free agency in two weeks.
Suh has never missed a game, has three Pro Bowls under his belt and had a good season last year. He’s going to get a gargantuan contract. Think Darrelle Revis money.
What makes it interesting to Bucs fans is there’s little doubt McCoy will want his next contract to look like Suh’s. That’s just human nature, and surely Suh is not better than McCoy right now.
Joe suspects the Bucs will sit tight until the Suh contract is done. That will set the market.
It will be interesting to see how the Bucs respond. Will they look to give McCoy a new deal now, one that could give them more salary cap flexibility in the short term? Will they make him wait until after 2014, after he proves he can stay healthy for a third consecutive year?
This is an early strategic call for the new Bucs regime.
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Lock him up. We’re going nowhere without McCoy.
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:24 pm
They better lock him up now. I think LVD is an all around better player for his position but without a doubt McCoy is the most important player on the defense.
Message to the GM: Don’t wait around, just offer him a contract that will make his eyes “Licht” up
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:32 pm
I prefer to wait and see how Revis pans out this year, because if he doesn’t earn his million a game salary, we cut ties. That will open the purse to pay McCoy a million a game. Having two players on the hook for that kind of money that are not called QB’s is a lot of cash that can be used on depth.
If we kept both that would amount to 2 players, who are 3.7% of the team, consuming 25.6% of the 125 million dollar salary cap. ouch…
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:35 pm
sign him then LVD please !
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Tampa will most likely wait to see what Suh’s deal looks like, before they offer a deal to McCoy.
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:43 pm
If they want to keep him (happy), they will pay, one way or another.
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Lovie is on record saying that his defense will be built around GMC and that he will be here for a long time. With that said I don’t see how they don’t lock him up before the season starts, he has proven the past two seasons he now knows how not to arm tackle and tear his biceps on a regular basis.
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:54 pm
It is going to cost more to wait. Do it now and structure it to help the cap. Realize that neither Suh or McCoy would be worth big money to the three four defenses so you don’t need to offer Revis money either. Revis would be wanted by every other team in the NFL except Seattle.
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:55 pm
@samcro
Cap is $130 million and only going up with the new deals they are completing. If anything give Revis a deal that is more cap friendly down the line. I do not understand why people say cut one of the best corners in the league. Now that he has a real defensive mind again watch out.
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:15 pm
GMC is essential to our defense….he is elite and needs to be signed. I have no problem letting Suh lead the way…I think GMC wants to be a Buc….&…don’t forget….no state income tax!!!
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:23 pm
@Patrickbucs
I do not understand why people say cut one of the best corners in the league.
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I don’t understand how you don’t understand written english?
I said,
I prefer to wait and see how Revis pans out this year, because if he doesn’t earn his million a game salary, we cut ties.
That means if he is no longer the best corner of the game his salary is too much…. pretty simple …really
We’re supposed to pay players what they are worth based on current play, not based on what they did in the past. If Revis shows decline and he’s proven to be fallible, for whatever the reason, he no longer justifies his salary. Plus he’s on a prove it every year contract. If Revis plays well then we’ve got a tough decision to make on what they will compensate McCoy.
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:24 pm
Isn’t his cap number this year somewhere just north of 15 million anyway? It’s not like paying him would raise his number this year because he is already making bank and it’s accounted for. We can totally afford it. We don’t have a QB making 20 mill a year like a few of the good teams do. In this situation that’s actually very helpful.
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:26 pm
Well McCoys 2014 cap number is 15,627,253 so go figure
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:30 pm
The bucs have an option in his contract for 2015 that pays him around 5 mil, he made 11 mil last year
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:34 pm
He is the next sapp. The hardest piece to fine for the Tampa two. Pay him
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Your funny if you think they will simply cut ties with Revis for that reason.
On one leg he still is among the best.
If he doesn’t prove to be a 1 mil per game CB it will only mean a restructure.
He is massively important and desired by Lovie, expect to see him as a Buc for as long as Lovie is our coach.
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:09 pm
As far as McCoy
Same thing, Lovie will not let him leave.
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:27 pm
There is an old saying “He who hesitates is lost”, it applies to GMC twice, one he may get pissed that he is not appreciated and someone else offers him a ton of cash or he feels not appreciated.
Just like a lot of players, what they did more than two years ago doesn’t matter because they are older, GMC last two years – Pro Bowl, no brainer.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:03 pm
Joe, I thought Ndamukong Suh was suspended at one point for a dirty hit?
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:35 pm
BuccaneerBonzai,
Joe suspects the Bucs will sit tight until the Suh contract is done. That will set the market. Your thoughts please!
Just kidding BB, recalling our conversation from a few days ago. Again, I think it makes sense to do that. I know you disagree and I respect your opinion.
Perhaps we’ll get a chance to discuss it again after all is said and done. Either way we both agree that it should be done at whatever time.
February 23rd, 2014 at 12:10 am
How much money can the Lions afford to give Suh anyway? Don’t they have like 30% of their salary cap tied up just in Megatron and Fat Stafford?
February 23rd, 2014 at 1:49 am
Being Revis’ 2nd yr after the injury I expect to see some really special play from him as he returns to true form this year. But when his contract is up in five years I don’t expect to see it replicated. Also, it turns out that the time his contract runs out would be the absolute soonest we’d have to start paying a franchise type QB (hopefully Bridgewater) his large 2nd contract, so the tradeoff there is extremely favorable. As to the McCoy signing, my confidence is low that he is signed before Suh, but I think the Bucs could make a better deal were that to happen.