“All I Did Was Try My Best”
February 10th, 2020
Will the Bucs bring back Jason Pierre-Paul in 2020?
That’s unclear, but it’s clear to Joe that JPP will want to be paid a market-value contract for a pass rusher with 21 sacks in his last 26 games.
It’s a safe bet that just-turned-31-year-old JPP will want at least$25 million in guaranteed cash over the next two seasons.
Remember, about 20 edge rushers around the NFL will earn $10 million+ in 2020 (many a lot more). Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, for example, who is not the not the player JPP is, is in the middle of a contract averaging $13 million annually.
“All I did was try my best,” JPP posted on Instagram yesterday with a picture of himself in a Bucs uniform. Interpret that cryptic message how you wish. JPP seems to like to post that kind of thing.
The Bucs could sign Shaq Barrett to a multiyear deal (wise), and then slap a franchise tag on JPP. But that likely might piss off JPP, must like he was bitter when the Giants franchised him in 2015. The Giants franchised him again in 2017. After that tag, JPP signed a long-term contract a month later.
As Joe has written previously, the Dolphins have an absolute ton of salary cap room and plan to use it. JPP lives in South Florida and Joe would expect the Dolphins to be in the mix. Their top sack-man last season was Taco Charlton with five sacks.
February 10th, 2020 at 9:53 am
GET HIM SIGNED.
He is a LEADER in that locker room, and he is still performing at a very high level.
February 10th, 2020 at 9:59 am
They’ve got the cap space, and JPP is a force multiplier. Hands-down choice at team captain. Sets the example. All play better when he is in the game. They can’t afford NOT to bring him back.
February 10th, 2020 at 9:59 am
As I said before, if the Bucs let any of their defensive studs walk because they need the cap space or cash to sign Winston, it would be absolutely ignorant and ludicrous
February 10th, 2020 at 10:04 am
JPP is the heart beat of our defense, Licht needs to make sure this man plays out his career as a Buc.
February 10th, 2020 at 10:05 am
personally i think jpp is more important to this team than shaq…
shaq brings the new blood…
and the excitement of posibilities, etc…
but jpp is plain and simple…the man…
in fact, shaq needs jpp…
jpp is so good, the giants might swoop in and sign him back after their huge mistake
February 10th, 2020 at 10:05 am
dam those red color rush unis are bad…
a pewter color rush would be the move
February 10th, 2020 at 10:06 am
PAY.THE.MAN.
February 10th, 2020 at 10:07 am
To me he is the number one piece that needs to be signed. He is the key to that defensive line. Sign the man!!!
February 10th, 2020 at 10:09 am
Like I said several times, if the Bucs let any of their defensive pieces leave because of needing the cap space to bring back Winston it would just be moronic
February 10th, 2020 at 10:13 am
I would say he has done more in his 2 years here than McCoy has in his 10 years, Leadership and play wise. Pay the man.
February 10th, 2020 at 10:15 am
Mr. Reality Says:
“They can’t afford NOT to bring him back.”
~~~~~~~~~
Agreed 100%
He holds the guys accountable in the locker room, on the field, on the sidelines. He is a fiery competitor, and the BUCS NEED THAT.
February 10th, 2020 at 10:16 am
Tampa Bay Demon totally agree. This is one of Jason Licht’s best off season moves in acquiring JPP for just a 3.I have zero problem paying him. He is a constant top performer and a leader. He should retire a buc. We searched for how long looking for 10+ sack guys? We can’t let him walk out of here thinking we will just draft someone. By now we all know how hard that is, it simply doesn’t always work out as simply just drafting someone.
February 10th, 2020 at 10:38 am
$25 mil for 2 seasons? Get it done! JPP is totally worth that IMO.
February 10th, 2020 at 10:49 am
Bucs can afford to pay JPP $13 mil for each season. Since he’s ‘only’ 31, it’d be reasonable for us to do a 3-4 year deal at $13 mil per season with 2 years guaranteed. That pretty much guarantees that he’s retire as a Buc. Now if JPP’s looking for more than that, at his age, I’d probably look around a bit before paying much more than that for his services.
Also, it’s hard to tell what Shaq will command in today’s market. The franchise tag for an OLB would pay him $16.3 mil (according to Over-theCap). But if he’s tagged as a DE, that’d rise by $3 mil to $19.3 mil for 2020. Shaq MAY insist on that if the Bucs decide to tag him, although I doubt it IF we do a long-term deal instead of tagging him. That’s the more likely scenario IMO, and certainly the most beneficial for BOTH parties.
Suh is the one who everyone undervalues IMO, and he & Vea are the engine for this whole pass rush thingie. Without BOTH of them, this pass rush won’t be nearly as effective IMO. Really hope that the Bucs value Suh accordingly … I’d say $10 mil a year for 2 years is fair in his case. Folks need to remember that we also NEED to replace TWO OTHER DTs on the line … Allen & Nunez-Roches (besides Suh).
Nassib might be 4th in the priority list, but he’s extremely valuable (so is Will Gholston BTW). I’m guessing that it’ll take at least $6 mil, and probably closer to $7 mil, to re-sign Carl, hopefully on a 2-4 year long-term contract.
Don’t fix what’s not broke. Re-sign those 4 ($45-$50 mil total most likely).
February 10th, 2020 at 10:57 am
Do what you have to do to get him signed. Priority 1 is shaq, Priority 2 is Jpp. Priority 3 in Winston, Priority 4 is Suh.
Any other order would be a failure. We have the worst luck at Pass Rushers and QB’s which is why we have been absolute garbage. We have 2 sure fire pass rushers who compliment each other well. You cant let them go.
Jury is still out on Winston. He has talent but has work to do. If he is the sacrificial lamb or the franchise tag then what has to be done needs to be done.
February 10th, 2020 at 11:06 am
^^ 100% agreed, Defense Rules.
We need to re-sign all of the above.
If we can do that, with LaVonte & young Devin roaming the middle of the field, and with those young ballhawks at CB……. and of course, with Bowles leading the charge…
I think we might REALLY have something!!
February 10th, 2020 at 11:34 am
Defense Rules – I think he is to short to be considered a D-end at 6’2″. I think thats why people questioned if JPP would be effective in this defense at 6’5″ the more traditional D-End height. People werent sure how he would be as an OLB.
February 10th, 2020 at 11:49 am
Bucs need to sign JPP and maintain a dominant defense, everybody on defense is automatically better by a large degree with JPP on the field!
February 10th, 2020 at 11:52 am
Whoever said a 3-4 year deal at $13 million with the first 2 years guaranteed is right on the money.
February 10th, 2020 at 12:09 pm
Sleepy903 … Not saying that I’d consider him to be a DE, just that a number of reports have indicated that his agent thinks he should be PAID like one (they average about $3 mil more than DEs it appears).
Shaq is definitely an OLB in a 3-4 defense. But if you look at the total numbers he put up last year, he out-produced every DE in the league in most categories … 19.5 sacks, 37 QB Hits, 19 TFL, 2 PD & 58 tackles. Can see his agent’s point, but that doesn’t mean the Bucs or anyone else would be willing to pay him like a DE.
February 10th, 2020 at 3:06 pm
They need to sign both JPP and Shaq. Save the franchise for Jameis.
February 10th, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Singing Shaq Barrett to a MULTIYEAR deal is wise? Off of arguably the biggest outlier season in NFL history? Thank God you write for a living Joe. First, Shaq was extremely durable in Denver, as well as season. Second, he’s 27 years old and giving him 2 years guaranteed as part of a larger deal is a relatively safe bet. Third, if you weigh Shaq’s opportunities/snaps in Denver, his 2019 is less of an outlier. Fourth, so let’s say Shaq ends up with $34 million for 2 years guaranteed and it turns out he only was worth $22 million based on productivity in 2020 and 2021. That’s hardly a terrible salary screwup in the NFL. Like JPP’s game, but he is four years older with legit injury concerns. –Joe
Reverse the order. Franchise Shaq, give JPP a 2-3 year deal. Transition tag Jameis while you’re at it.
February 10th, 2020 at 4:50 pm
Wow that’s a lot of mental gymnastics to ignore the fact that in 5 years in the NFL with Denver Barrett played in 61 games with 15 starts, had 14 sacks, 151 combined tackles and in ONE season in Tampa, Barrett had 16 games, 16 starts, 19.5 sacks and 58 combined tackles.
If you think some advanced stat shows that Barrett was bound to go from a guy who was a part time player in Denver who received a one-year prove it deal to become the NFL’s sack leader in putting up the 13th highest sack totals of all time is somehow rational then give yourself a cookie and take a nap because you must be tired.
If Shaq Barrett can show that he’s become an All-Pro literally over night then by all means let him PROVE IT AGAIN under the franchise tag. Something tells me you won’t see 19.5 sacks this year.
February 10th, 2020 at 5:06 pm
^ Who cares if we don’t see 19.5 again, with all due respect. I will take 14.
February 10th, 2020 at 5:11 pm
Joe, you have covered sports for how many years, you know damn well that players have outlier years. This isn’t the first time someone flashed beyond their wildest dreams. In most cases the player reverts to their mean the next year. Maybe Shaq has 8 sack next year, which would still be his second best year of his 7 seasons in the NFL.
College names like Adrian Clayborne (11.5 sacks), Jamaal Anderson (13.5 sacks) were drafted in round 1 off of outlier college sack seasons.
Vic Beasley (15.5 sacks in 2016), Michael Johnson (11.5 sacks in 2012) and Derrick Burgess (16 sacks in 2005) are other examples of outlier seasons by NFL pass rushers. Want to lock yourself into a long term deal with the next Michael “Ghost” Johnson or Derrick Burgess without giving Barrett a chance to prove he can do it again? I don’t.
February 10th, 2020 at 5:12 pm
@Tampa Bay Demon, well since Barrett had 14 sacks in 5 seasons, 14 sacks next season will still be asking a lot. And by ALL MEANS let him prove he can get 14 sacks. Let’s see him show the Bucs he has that ability over more than one season and reward him.
February 10th, 2020 at 7:27 pm
I understand JPP is 31, but it’s really hard to replace that leadership. The defense responds when he’s in the lineup. To quote Teddy KGB, “Pay that man his money”
February 11th, 2020 at 9:31 am
letting him walk is a mistake
February 11th, 2020 at 11:08 am
On a previous post he plays a song that goes like this, not cryptic at all:
This where my head is (Listen)
I feel resentment from every direction
Even some homies be wearing expressions
I be discouraged from sharing my blessings
We used to share a connection
Now it just feels like it’s wearing and stretching
I’m getting real sick of taking advice
From people that never could stare at reflections
Somewhere in there is a lesson
Y’all ain’t evolvin’, it’s very depressing
I’m at the club with the basketball team
Me and the Cardinals are sharing a section
Gotta cherish the present
I’m drinking water and wearing protection
Got a career and I’m very invested
Some people call it a scary obsession
I like to call it a passion, I can’t be sitting relaxin’
February 11th, 2020 at 4:55 pm
The man proved what he can do as a full time starter, not only getting after the qb but also playing the run. Never taking plays off non stop motor. Even with Winston giving the ball away so much never stopped playing hard. Here had earned his payday. Shaq JPP and close 3rd is Suh needed for this defense. When JPP came back even out of football shape and we jettisoned some dead weight off our defense it improved considerably. JPP is only 31 and healthy now he deserves for us to give home one final contract.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:49 pm
Thats’ def a weird message, that doesn’t sound good.
Bring him back. Dude is a leader amongst men (and still a damn good player)