Chris Godwin And America’s Health
June 24th, 2020
“Lavonte, can the Glazers afford both of us next year?”
From time to time, oh, maybe twice a week, Joe will get a response in the comments on this here site wondering why the Bucs have yet to extend wide receiver Chris Godwin.
Fourth-year Godwin, now in the final season of his rookie contract, may be the best young receiver in the game after his breakout campaign last year. Add to that Godwin may be the most standup guy off the field you will ever meet; there frankly is no reason not to like Godwin and think he will be a long-time Bucs player.
However, this offseason is like none anyone can remember. When Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, threw his pick-six against Atlanta in the Den of Depression to end last season, who at that time envisioned not only the 2020 season being in jeopardy, but that the NFL is expected to see revenues drop?
(If you did foresee this, you should quit your job and move to Vegas or head to the Caymans and become a day trader. And don’t forget your crystal ball.)
The NFL salary cap is based on total league revenue, and with revenues projected to drop thanks to “The Sickness,” the unthinkable may very well happen: The salary cap may be cut.
This is bad news for the Bucs and bad news for Godwin. The Bucs are up against the cap. With Godwin wanting and expecting top-shelf money that he would easily get on the open market, the Bucs are in a jam. To keep Godwin, the Bucs may have to say goodbye to very good players (with pricy salaries) in order to make room.
Well, Godwin has company, if he is wondering where his extension is. Albert Breer of SI.com detailed why many guys looking for a new contract like Godwin are stuck in neutral by their teams.
With Jamal Adams’s contract situation in the news, it’s certainly worth looking into how slow the pace of veteran extensions has been in general this offseason. Digging through it, I could find just three examples of guys getting big-time extensions with years left on their deals since America went into lockdown, without a trade being part of it (DeForest Buckner and Darius Slay got paid as part of trades). One was Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey, another was Texans OT Laremy Tunsil and a third was Bills S Jordan Poyer (whose deal was done before things went really crazy). Meanwhile, contract-year stars like Joey Bosa, Jalen Ramsey, Ronnie Stanley, Ryan Kelly, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Chris Godwin, George Kittle, Keenan Allen, Patrick Peterson, Von Miller, and, yes, Adams are waiting for theirs. So the natural question: Is this COVID-related? And the answer is yes. The looming revenue shortfall doesn’t just make cash an issue for some teams, it also makes projecting the cap a problem. If there are big losses in 2020, that means the league and union will have to borrow from future years to keep the 2021 cap level to this year, which could mean ramifications reaching into 2022 and ’23. You may remember back in 2010 and early ’11, teams were hesitant do long-term deals for guys because of salary cap uncertainty. Same thing, to a degree, this year. Which might mean a lot of guys waiting a while for deals. And that could add an interesting twist to the seasons of some teams.
So if the revenues do drop, and the salary cap does drop, what does that mean for Godwin in Tampa? It could mean his salary offer from the Bucs is lower than expected.
You can be sure Godwin’s agent won’t like that and likely will take Godwin shopping behind the scenes and tease other teams.
So how could the Bucs afford him? Well, Joe just has a hunch this is Ndamukong Suh’s final season with the Bucs. That cash could get funneled to Godwin.
And there is also a look at tight ends. O.J. Howard is due a massive raise next season if the Bucs execute his fifth-year option. And if Rob Gronkowski gets beat to hell, would he throw in the towel for good after the 2020 season? This is the last year of his contract, too.
Another angle to look for is Lavonte David, a Bucs icon. He will be 31 in January and he is in the last year of his contract. Already with achy knees, you have to wonder how much he has left?
If nothing else, next offseason should be fascinating watching what Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht does with the budget of Team Glazer loot.
June 24th, 2020 at 5:40 am
You may come to find that a lot of players just want to be working. Money may not be the most important factor this year and next. Go BUCS!!
June 24th, 2020 at 6:11 am
You are talking about a potentially loaded Hall of Fame team. Potentially the best of all time. If the team dominates, do you think they will want to split up? No, not in this group. The talk about the sacrifice of Suh really sucks because he is an awesome Buccaneer. Over the years I hadn’t caught many smiles from Suh but you know what? Magically, In Tampa Bay, He smiled, he looked happy to be playing the game. Sure he didn’t get all the flashy stats while others did but that is because of him in large part. He get’s so much attention that holes are everywhere from breakdowns trying to contain him. Now here you guys come along. Showing no gratitude for his effort at all. Making it look like he is worth nothing. Do you guys think some players might read these posts?
If I was a player I would want to see positive posts about the team.
When a player straps on a Buccaneer helmet he becomes a part of a very exclusive fraternity. Give the late Vets good lengthy deals that have outs incase of injury and let these guys retire as Buccaneers in the HOF! Go BUCS!!!
June 24th, 2020 at 6:48 am
I have nothing against Gronk and I’m glad we got him but the $10 mil we paid for him was likely partly headed Godwin’s way……Is there anyone here that thinks we needed a high-priced TE?
And we are continually presented players who would cost us substantially. Just yesterday on Ira’s podcast, Joe suggested he would be in favor of trading Antoine Winfield for Jamal Adams……
By restructuring a couple of players, perhaps we can find some additional money this year for Godwin allowing us some savings next year.
We will need to draft a replacement for Suh & perhaps D. Smith….move Wirfs to LT…..save some $$$.
June 24th, 2020 at 6:55 am
Don’t forget Shaq Barrett.
I bet a lot of guys would be willing to pro-rate their contracts to the % drop in cap, to help keep a winning team together.
June 24th, 2020 at 7:10 am
Please pay Godwin. Restructure some contracts and pay him now. He will only cost more next year. We can afford 2 high price Wr. A couple of years we had Evans ans Jackson.
June 24th, 2020 at 7:26 am
Moderating the Dr
June 24th, 2020 at 7:44 am
Do not low ball Godwin. He is worth his weight in gold and irreplaceable.
June 24th, 2020 at 7:49 am
Smart, on the part of the Bucs organization. No one knows how the responses will eventually effect everything from the overall economy and stock market to the family restaurant. Most of us science believers are all holding our breath right now, regarding how this season will progress. My philosophy is to do all we can from a preventative standpoint, and hope…and pray if you feel so inclined, that we develop better treatments for the present and a vaccine by the end of the year, beginning in 2021. If we have a efficacious proven vaccine in the wings, it would go along way in giving us confidence to move forward faster with a more certain resolution, particularly as this season progresses.
June 24th, 2020 at 8:46 am
While we have mainly focused on what Covid will do on the field…it’s actually off the field where decisions will get really hairy and it’s just beginning.
First of course is the season itself. Will we actually have one? If we do will there be any adjustments in how personnel are managed. What if…one team has an outbreak and loses a dozen players? What about competitive balance? What about money to pay them this year?
I’m certainly NOT predicting that teams will have outbreaks…merely questioning in terms of preparation? Just as I do not predict an outbreak I absolutely do not bet on teams getting through the season clean.
But the issue in this story will be the major issue. Now we’re going to rapidly get lost in the CBA and CAP weeds. Bottom line…there is going to be less money coming into the league where do the cuts come from.
It would seem logical to me that the NFLPA simply bargains for a continued similar %. If half represented one number prior to disease…it’s obviously going to represent a LOT less afterwards.
Now for some perspective…NFL players average close to three million a year but that’s a very skewed average…the top salaries drive it much higher…many lower tier players make less than a million. If they lose half their salaries that’s still and average of 1.3 million…think they’ll starve?
June 24th, 2020 at 8:55 am
NFL players are no different than others affected financially by the sickness….
How about the actors in Brodway Plays?……..Rock stars without their concerts….TV & Movie Stars who’s shows are cancelled or postponed?
I’m sure the teams will absorb a great deal but some of the losses have to be on the players.
I think there should be some provision for expanded rosters in case the sickness hits a team…….more flexibility with larger practice squads.
June 24th, 2020 at 9:07 am
Lot of doom and gloom in this article Joe. Can’t we wait until mid-season to discuss extensions? The Bucs are out of money due to off season moves anyway.
June 24th, 2020 at 9:22 am
Certainly, the plandemic will have a material financial impact on the NFL, but keep in mind the other elephant in the room: the kneeling protests.
Kneeling had a large financial effect a couple of years ago when it was a relatively minor issue. Now that the NFL—and NCAA—has fully embraced protest kneeling, do not be surprised if a huge # of football fans will find other ways to spend precious time and treasure.
As the cliche in business school went: it is easier to gain a new customer than reacquire an old, disgruntled customer.
I understand many fans of kneeling will say “don’t let the door hit you on thre ass as you leave”, and that sounds all righteous and all. But unfortunately, as a business who needs all $$$, there is no replacing that large % of fans who will do *their* protesting with a closed wallet.
Ima wait and see what the actual implementation of that policy is before making my annual financial decision. I will say this: my heart has grown cold enough that after a lifetime of playing, coaching and fandom, I have fully come to grips that Jameis Christ’s season-ending INT will be the last Buc play I will ever see. I hope not, but it is what it is.
Cold Turkey, just like leaving Facebook, Twitter and other social media where I once hung out.
Do not make the fundamental mistake of thinking my view is a tiny minority. There is a huge # of fans who will say nothing lest being ripped to shreds by The Mob (as I am sure this post will endure.) I have within my large circle of friends, almost all football fans and many current or former Buc season ticket holders, the majority who feel the same way.
Look back in history. The reason the NFL came out with the “stand for the anthem” policy is that they took a big financial hit because of the unrestrained kneeling and needed the fans back and the league reputation restored with their main target monied audience. Recall the empty stadiums. Recall the pandering to the patriotic *after* the stand edict was implemented. That can happen again, even after CV19.
“Get Woke, Go Broke.”
IMO, that is the far greater threat to the future of the league than this nasty flu-bug is.
June 24th, 2020 at 9:23 am
Bucs can franchise him again.
June 24th, 2020 at 9:30 am
I think what was meant by Shaq was to restructure him with a longer term contract and less money this year…..say 3 years @ $30 mil….
June 24th, 2020 at 9:49 am
The virus is short-term. Alienating fans for non-virus reasons is vastly longer term.
About the last business I’d want to be in right now is professional sports.
June 24th, 2020 at 9:52 am
The Bucs, whether you like or not, are smart to wait on the deal. Right now they are getting a steal for another season, salary-wise. Godwin will get PAID eventually and likely by the Bucs. Especially if this a big season for the team and he doesn’t get hurt or suffer some weird slump. This one is a no-brainer. The hard part is that with national exposure, Lavonte finally goes from being the forgotten LB, like Susan Lucci not winning soap opera Emmy for like 20 years, and gets his Pro Bowl spot (LOOOONG overdue!!). He’ll need paying.
June 24th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Kneeling…wearing hats during the anthem, drinking, talking,etc….it all bothers me. Though I understand the kneeling isn’t really about the flag or anthem, rather about another issue. But will I stop watching or going to games because of it? No. I didn’t when it was just the hats, talking and people having a beer during the anthem, and won’t due to the kneeling.
June 24th, 2020 at 9:55 am
The silver lining is the salary cap affects every team. Tough decisions will be made and players will get cut. They will look at production first, then how much they make relative to their potential replacement on the market.
Could be a wild offseason – all of the sudden a $30M QB contract could be on the chopping block. Can you imagine JW getting $30m a year when he went for just over $1m. I’m glad Mike Johnson and Clean House aren’t in charge, bra wise they would’ve paid in the name of potential.
Daaayyyuuummm!!!!
In BA I Trust!
June 24th, 2020 at 10:00 am
This virus may or may not be short term. Hope it is, but there are studies saying the immunity may not last too long, and reinfection is a distinct possibility. I think we will develop ways to control it, but that may take years. So prevention and mitigation seems like the best course for me… until we have those measures. In the meantime, people will unfortunately suffer,…some dying, and some having long term issues due to the damage of the disease. And I hope and pray those numbers and effects will be minimal.
June 24th, 2020 at 10:21 am
“Godwin has no worries
He will get $18-20 milll per year from any team.
DHop is going to reset the market this year
#1 receivers in high demand the supply is limited
teams draft receivers in the 1st round and the success hit rate is absolutely abysmal”
Kobe Faker
June 24th, 2020 at 10:55 am
I knew I shouldn’t have ordered that Godwin jersey. I’m a jinx waiting to happen. Every time I get a jersey, the player slumps or leaves the team. For example, I bought a Josh Freeman jersey the year when he put up great numbers and looked like he was ready to explode. Well he exploded all right, but not the way I envisioned. Let’s hope the Bucs find a way not to let Godwin slip fall off the pirate ship.
June 24th, 2020 at 11:13 am
Cobraboy, “fans of kneeling” sounds a lot to me like “fans of abortion”. Let’s not mistake a “fan” of something, let’s use the Bucs as an example of something we can be a fan of, for support of something. As a man I don’t feel I have a right to dictate what a woman does with her own body. This does not make me a “fan” of abortion. And as the saying goes, if men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament. To this end I’m not a “fan” of kneeling. But I support the right of someone to do what they feel is necessary. And let’s not get all up in arms about “disrespecting the flag”. The flag is inanimate; it has no feelings. I’ve always thought that line of thinking was utter BS.
I agree with mark2001: I’m not going to stop watching my entertainment because people kneel. I’ve had season tickets since 1992. I’ve been there (standing) for every anthem. As mark2001 said, I can’t count the number of times others were milling about, talking, etc during the anthem. Frankly I couldn’t give a rats arse as I’m there to see football not some random display of patriotism that just happened to grab hold of the sport.
June 24th, 2020 at 11:18 am
No need to rush signing Godwin. This is a strange year with the Covid-19 and we are not the only team with high caliber players to sign. Licht is smart to wait and see what happens during the off season. Joe has already pointed out that Suh and Gronk’s contract will be up, and this will almost be enough money to pay for both Godwin and Barrett.
June 24th, 2020 at 11:22 am
I don’t see any way that we would allow Godwin to leave, but we’ve done dumba$$ things in the past, so who knows? I’m also finding a way to keep David at least as long as we keep Brady. Once Brady is gone, we are most likely looking at a painful rebuild.
June 24th, 2020 at 11:25 am
Cobraboy said:
“… my heart has grown cold enough that after a lifetime of playing, coaching and fandom, I have fully come to grips that Jameis Christ’s season-ending INT will be the last Buc play I will ever see.”
.
.
I believe that they (NFL) have fully sold out. Just like the MLB and NASCAR. They bent the knee. I believe that they have sold out fully on the planedemic, also.
The kneeling will go ahead, encouraged by the league. They will eventually stop doing the Anthem altogether, which has always (I believe) been the plan. The globalists hate our flag, and patriotism, and everything related. They have only pandered to us up until now. Hell, some teams allowed some minority (as in white) players be bullied into compliance with the kneeling last year. No more freedom of thought. Only assimilation. They’ll accept their losses.
The leagues are also going into partnership with the government on the social distancing and masks. Sporting events are a great place to teach us how to comply. We’ve already been trained for 20 years at airports, now we are going to the next level toward Chinese style movement control and censorship. Leagues and teams are now in full fledged fascist compliance with the technocrat leadership.
Welcome to “A Brave New World.”
June 24th, 2020 at 11:43 am
Steven007 Says:
“… if men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.”
.
.
It is already a sacrament. Unfortunately, most people have no idea they’ve been duped into performing a ritual sacrifice.
June 24th, 2020 at 11:43 am
@Steven007: That’s you. Many, many millions disagree with you.
The evidence is empty stadiums and cratering TV ratings a couple of years ago. If the NFL did not perceive a problem, if they did not take a hit in the wallet, they would not have mandated the “stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room” official policy.
We will see what official policy comes out of Owners and committee meetings. There are numerous options available. If they offer one that does not mix politics/SJW in the game experience, they $$$ hit may be minimal. If not, good luck to the NFL bean counters and TV network ad executives.
NASCAR may also have screwed the pooch. We shall see.
And contrary to your point there ARE “fans of kneeling” and “fans of abortions.” They tens to be the ones either rioting or enabling the rioters by their approval. Are you one? My money is on “seems so.”
My overall point, whether you approve of kneeling or not, is if the NFL decisions negatively affect revenues, then the cap goes down. The cap going down will have a monumental effect on NFL personnel decisions and a ripple effect throughout the league. It could even affect the gigantic coaching staff Arians has assembled.
It’s not about politics. It’s about factors that affect revenues in behavioral areas the team cannot control.
June 24th, 2020 at 11:53 am
Seems like a pretty good football coach once said that offense sells tickets but defense wins championships. The Bucs are finally putting together a decent defense … with some decent leadership and coaching … and now isn’t the time to take our foot off the accelerator. We’ve finally reached a respectable BALANCE IMO between offense and defense. No need to screw the pooch by replacing defensive leaders like Suh, Shaq and/or LVD (financially) with an offensive player like Godwin. If we’re gonna win anything, it won’t be with a second-tier defense.
This pandemic has ALL sports in limbo for the time being. Based on how some areas of the country are doing (yes Florida, that be us), it’s hard to envision what this Fall’s football season will look like, much less next year. All we can realistically do at this point is let it play out and deal with whatever turns up.
June 24th, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Cobraboy RE: me being a fan of kneeling and/or abortion – “Are you one? My money is on “seems so”. Reading context is important Cboy. In my very post that you’re apparently responding to I state explicitly “This does not make me a “fan” of abortion.” and then “To this end I’m not a “fan” of kneeling”, so asked and answered. I will still quibble with you regarding being a fan of something and supporting something. What does being a “fan of abortion” even mean? Hanging out at clinics and applauding the ladies after a procedure, perhaps a backslap for the doc after buying him a drink? Let’s get real man! That’s simply ludicrous. More to the main point, do you think Roger Goodell does not know about revenue streams? Of course he does. And with that knowledge he gave his vocal support to the players re: their choice of protest. It is most certainly about politics (why is there an anthem before a sporting event in the first place? There aren’t any before concerts or movies. It began as an offshoot of the militaries involvement in the game, an involvement I am just fine with by the way). And it’s also about the other elements you mentioned. There can be more than one motivation. As you mention it will be interesting to see how NASCAR deals with their decisions given their fan base which is less diversified than the NFL’s. You bring up good points, we just disagree on some of the points themselves.
June 24th, 2020 at 1:13 pm
D.R.
Glad to see you back. I agree with you about our defense of course and I’m also jumping on the bandwagon early for our OL.
As for the disease…I’m more worried about my fellow Americans than my loss of football…even though we all agree it couldn’t come at a WORSE time for Buc fans.
Right now in Yuma AZ and even worse in El Centro CA the front line nurses, docs, and respiratory therapists being interviewed remind me of guys I saw coming off line in Vietnam.
They are FREAKED!!! The debate here is meaningless to me when I see the look in these folks eyes and remember seeing that look 45 years ago. One of them talked about the PTSD she feels she is developing. What happens to all these folks lives when this is finally over?
BTW I remember you sharing that you have family out there on the front lines…EMT etc….best of luck and while I’m not religious I’m spiritual and I’ll keep them in my prayers.
June 24th, 2020 at 2:30 pm
@Steven007: No one knows what financial analysis the NFL, Goodell, or owners have performed.
They DO know in clear, concrete terms, the financial body shot they too last time kneelers infested the game.
But they ALSO know the damage, both physical and financial, The Woke Mob can cause.
So far Goodell is all words and smoke. There have been ZERO actual policies voted upon and distributed vis-a-vis game day protocols.
I DO know one thing: The Normals are beginning to rebel against The Woke Mob violence and extortion. WE have as much to say about the financial success of the NFL as anyone does because WE are the ones who financially support it. The Woke? Not so much. It ain’t pro hacky sack.
I will agree with one of your statements: yes, the anthem is in the strictest sense political, in the same sense that patriotism is. I hope the Woke Football League does away with the anthem in the spirit of separating politics from sport, or I hope a subsequent anthem can be played, maybe the Woke Anthem or some speech or tune complaining about the meanness of The Struggle and how bad ‘Murica is, so that The Normals can kneel in protest when played.
I mean, equal opportunity is a good thing, right?
So either NO anthem or two anthems so all can kneel to protest their version of butthurt and “Social Justice.”
June 24th, 2020 at 3:25 pm
StPete … Actually have all the family together right now up at Lake Lanier outside of Atlanta. Nice to get away from the Tampa Bay area for awhile and get to be with My kids & grandkids.
Football recently has seemed very unimportant, what with everything else that’s going on in our nation & around the world. Still love the game, but it’s hard to get very excited about mega-millionaires when so many Americans are really hurting right now. And that definitely includes most of the health care workers &first responders you mentioned. Right now seems like a good time to just keep on praying that better times lay ahead. Stay safe.
June 24th, 2020 at 6:39 pm
CDC now predicting between 135 and a 150 thousand total deaths in America during the next few weeks. And more young people as a percentage. Please folks…take precautions…this is serious.
June 24th, 2020 at 7:41 pm
You know, when I first came to this site, a lot of my friends thought I was nuts for thinking the Bucs would be the very best offense this season and the very best defense. A team you will not find again in a bazillion years.
One that has a perfect season. MULTIPLE Hall of Famers on the team
History will show this team as a TEMPLATE for all teams in comparison for centuries to come.
Most of you are blind and do not see the obvious headed your way.
GO BUCS!!!