Is There Enough Room In The Wallet?
March 4th, 2014
Yes, the Bucs have the bread to sign Jared Allen and other big names.
If Joe has learned but one thing since launching this here corner of the Interwebs nearly six years ago, it is Bucs fans just love names they recognize. Ah hell, just cut Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson, so the Bucs can have the gratification of signing Peanut Tillman and Jarius Byrd.
Joe still hasn’t read a reasonable reason why the Bucs would want to get rid of — at worst — the second-best cover corner in the game. And yes, Bucs coach Lovie Smith plays a lot of man coverage with his corners.
(Someone recently tried to tell Joe that Tillman could “mentor” Revis. WHAT?!)
Pat Yasinskas of ESPN tackled recently soothed star struck Bucs fans recently explaining the Bucs have enough cash under the dreaded salary cap to sign recognizable free agents .
The Bucs can keep Revis (and his $16 million cap figure) and still have plenty of room to target the two veteran free agents and others. At the moment, the Bucs have $114.2 million committed toward a cap that’s expected to be $133 million. And I think the cap position will only get better. I suspect you’ll see a few high-priced offensive linemen get released or have their contracts restructured.
Age should keep the price for Allen and Tillman relatively low. The Bucs don’t want to overhaul their team with veteran free agents, but Allen and Tillman are likely exceptions to the rule. The Bucs have needs at defensive end and cornerback. Allen has history with defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and Tillman played for coach Lovie Smith in Chicago.
Joe heard former Bucs scout, Jets player personnel director and current CBS Sports analyst and SiriusXM NFL Radio host Pat Kirwan talk about Allen. Kirwan believes, maybe, Allen has two years left in the tank. Allen, being such a driven, locker room guy, would be perfect to pair with Jadeveon Clowney.
Allen could show Clowney the ropes of professionalism and, if Clowney began taking off plays like he did at South Carolina, then Allen, in so many words, could threaten to shove a helmet up Clowney’s backside — sideways — if he didn’t put out on each play.
Yeah, Joe could only dream of having Allen and Clowney as bookends, even for two years. Would be nice.
March 4th, 2014 at 8:07 am
2 years left. Allen is 31 years old with no history of injuries. What is with people saying he only has a year or two left. Look at John Abraham he is 35 years old with multiple seasons with injuries and he just had a 10 plus sack season at 35 years old. Jared Allen is an extremely hard worker who had ) sacks in the month of December this past season. The guy has plenty left in the tank and playing alongside GMC will only make life easier for him. Go get him Lovie, lock him up for atleast 3-4 years at 6 or 7 million a season.
March 4th, 2014 at 8:11 am
If we could get allen and peppers that would be sick but there are too many other holes for that to happen,thats what seattle did getting both bennett and avril last year
March 4th, 2014 at 8:21 am
I hope someone made a budget in the wallet for GMC? And don’t forget that David’s contract will come up before you know it. Where is the Veteran QB in this wallet factor out. With our whopping 5 draft picks, there might be a couple of players. Cannot wait for Lovie and Licht to begin the roster shuffle!
March 4th, 2014 at 8:21 am
Does it really matter if the helmet is shoved up there sideways?
March 4th, 2014 at 8:28 am
I still can’t see the Bucs fans fascination with Tillman, he’s a 33 year old CB who’s coming off an injury, sign him for 2 seasons at the vet minimum and let him and Banks fight it out for the starting spot, that’ll tell us exactly what we have in both…
March 4th, 2014 at 8:32 am
Joe missed an opportunity to dream of McCown mentoring Johnny Football!….I’m surprised!!!
March 4th, 2014 at 8:43 am
Joe says
“…Bucs fans just love names they recognize…”
That they do. I heard a caller on the radio name 5 different big name vets we could bring in if we cut or trade Revis. All 5 of them.
Fans fail to realize that just because those players become available it doesn’t mean the Bucs can land them. It is not just a matter of throwing money at said player (besides, doing that would be just like what was done with Revis).
These are veteran players that want more than money. How many times did the Bucs offer more than anyone else only to be turned down? Albert Haynesworth comes to mind. He is a perfect example of how free agency can cripple a franchise.
Personally, I’m for keeeping Revis AND trying to bring in Tillman, but I think Allen should be the main target. Our defensive line needs a good veteran. I think bringing in Allen will help Clayborn turn things back onto the right path.
And Tillman could play slot, where teams are killing us right now.
But either way, we need to bring in a bunch of young CBs during and after the draft. New guys. And try to find one that can be developed to replace Revis next year or the year after.
And, for heavens sake, DO NOT redo his contract! Doing so would make the price in following years go up, possibly into the 20 millions. And we would lose the ability to cut him without dead money each year. Better to keep things as they are and find a repla ement that can be developed over time.
March 4th, 2014 at 8:49 am
The_Buc_Realist
Neither GMC nor David has to be extended this year. McCoy is in a contract year. Let him play it out and work out a deal at the end of the season, or franchise him long enough to work out the deal.
David is not an issue at all, since by the time his contract expires we’ll be ready to move on from Revis. It is WAY too early to worry about David.
March 4th, 2014 at 8:55 am
In base T2 Joe, Foster playing Mike is not going to cut it dropping in to coverage. So yeah, as of now the Bucs have to address both slot and seam.
March 4th, 2014 at 8:57 am
Thibs5599…For some reason, well know Free Agents (except for VJ) that come here have a history of injuries either before they get here or once they get here, (knees or the dreaded hamstring) once they arrive.
March 4th, 2014 at 9:05 am
Right now the Bucs have $19 mil to play with and the will probably add an additional $5 to 10 mil after cutting and restructuring contracts. Keep our best players (Revis etc.) and build around them. The Bucs could be competitive again with the right FA’s and draft picks under THIS coaching staff.
March 4th, 2014 at 9:23 am
Scotty….That history can’t stop us from goin out and getting veterans though. If so we would never be able to better ourselves. That’s why I am for a cheaper guy like Allen than say if Orakpo hit the market. (Yes I know he got franchised).
BuccaneerBonzai….soooo your saying in 2 years when revis is 31 we are going to be ready to cut him and them resign David. McCoy will be resigned before the season starts and wouldn’t be surprised to see David get extended before the season is over. Revis is a Buc for the long haul and he won’t be going anywhere. All the people who want to get rid of him for some crazy unknown reason will be happy when they see what a healthy revis does paired with a coach who knows how to use him.
March 4th, 2014 at 10:37 am
I have been thinking about Dashon Goldson and I came to the conclusion that he is a strong safety who is trying to play free safety.
A strong safety usually drops into the box and tries to demolish the running back after the ball is handed to him.
The thing with Goldson is he hits WR like he does RBs so he ends up getting flagged for it.
March 4th, 2014 at 10:39 am
I’d try and restructure Revis’ deal long term along w/ LVD and GMC. We need to try and retain some value from the picks we traded. Unlikley that he will but it’s worth a shot.
March 4th, 2014 at 10:42 am
Healthy Revis for one more productive season also = More in Trade Value when you need to get rid of him in 2015 to eliminate his $16 Million from the Cap to resign GMC and David
March 4th, 2014 at 11:43 am
I can see them keeping Revis this year & trading him next year. After that I just don’t know. I would definitely consider trading Goldson now since imo he is way overpaid. Thanks again Dom.
March 4th, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Joe
What do your sources say about the possibility of Dallas releasing Demarcus Ware?
March 4th, 2014 at 12:04 pm
“then Allen, in so many words, could threaten to shove a helmet up Clowney’s backside — sideways – if he didn’t put out on each play.”
Yes but then he’d get suspended for bullying the poor lad! Seriously, I would love to see that too, Joe, but Clowney will never drop to 7 unless something comes up between now and May.
March 4th, 2014 at 12:50 pm
@everyone
Maybe you should listen to what LOVIE has said about what defense he wants to run… Base formation would be Tampa 2 and he wants to win or lose with MAN COVERAGE so why on earth would we give up the best man coverage CB in the NFL? Cap reasons? Cap is going up to 150 million next season or the season after that.. Draft picks? Thinking anyone is going to give us the draft picks we gave up to get him? You guys want to dump Revis and sign Tillman who couldn’t stay healthy last season and that is older? You also really think the 49ers would trade for the player they let leave last offseason when they could have re-signed him to that same contract? I also love the Madden GM style oh we just cut Penn Joseph and we can sign this guy and that guy… You have to sign the ones that fit our scheme(zone or man blocking)
The Bucs aren’t going to extend LVD now because he still has two seasons left on his rookie deal and that would be a setting a bad precedent for other players with more than one year left on their contract and extending them…(Revis CJ2K DeSean to name a few)
We probably won’t re-sign GMC till after the draft is over and probably not till after SUH signs his contract.
I might sound negative to most of you on here but that is realism more than anything and I am excited for free agency to start.
People I hope the BUCS sign.. DE – Wootton Griffen DT – Carrington Hood OLB – Mike Neal Casillas CB – Thomas Cook S – Wright WR – Sanders McCluster Roberts TE – Myers Graham Pettigrew(I gave options to most positions)
I left out O-line and ILB because I trust Licht and Stokes to bring in the best fit for our scheme. Also left out QB because I think Glennon would be a great back up 🙂 and sign a 3rd QB that has potential to be a Coach(Reich Garrett Van Pelt type)
March 4th, 2014 at 2:32 pm
Why draft someone that high hoping that a veteran could straighten him out? Players bust after they are drafted, it’s crazy to draft one that’s busting before.