Extending Tom Brady?
February 22nd, 2021
Make sure he stays longer?
The Bucs are in a pinch with the salary cap if they want to keep the Big 8 free agents around for another Super Bowl push. But there are ways to free up cash.
One way to shake extra cash loose would be to extend some players’ contracts (so long as the players in question want to do that). Donovan Smith is a no-brainer candidate — provided he agrees.
Smith is entering the final year of his contract. The way Smith dominated at left tackle down the stretch and through the postseason, only Smith’s most devout haters still can’t see the light.
Now Joe had previously thought, ‘Hey, the way park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, trophy-throwing Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady played at 43, why not extend him a year?” Brady, like Smith, will be entering the final year of his contract in 2021.
Unless or until Brady looks like he is shot, he is still an elite quarterback. So why not extend him through 2022 and perhaps preserve salary cap room?
It seems Jeremy Fowler of BSPN believes it’s not a silly idea to extend Brady. Even with Brady entering 2021 as a 44-year old signal-caller.
Extending Tom Brady or left tackle Donovan Smith, who enter the final years of their deals at cap hits of $25 million and $14.25 million, can aid the “Go for 2” cause with immediate cap relief.
No one has told Joe this, it’s just a hunch. But Joe sort of thinks Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians might stay in coaching with the Bucs as long as Brady is here.
Recently, when Arians said he will certainly come back for 2021, he was very non-committal for 2022. Maybe a reason for that is he knew Brady’s contract expired after the 2021 season?
Hey, Brady said he wanted to play until he’s 45. Why not make that happen in a Bucs uniform?
February 22nd, 2021 at 3:35 pm
ESPN usually is wrong about everything, but I actually agree with this.
February 22nd, 2021 at 3:36 pm
If it were anyone else I would say no way….but he’s Tom -It the f**kin Catalina Wine Mixer- Brady we’re talking about. Who knows when this guy will be done. I wouldn’t sign him longer though. maybe as a coach.
February 22nd, 2021 at 3:37 pm
go for 3 and talk about the lost 2023 season when the bill becomes due with $50 million in dead cap, but a salary cap that is $240 million and a QB on a rookie deal.
February 22nd, 2021 at 3:41 pm
Brady and Byron Leftwich*
February 22nd, 2021 at 3:43 pm
Is Brady really in it for the money? No, he wants to win championships.
February 22nd, 2021 at 3:45 pm
The way i see it the Bucs have two options.
1) Extend Brady, extend D.Smith. restucture mike, restructure other. Backload a bunch of contracts……….Bring everybody back and go for 2!!
2) Bring back most but lose some so you can keep a good core and CAP situation and have a great future plan.
Only one option makes sense and it obvious which one. As Bucs fans would should all know how rare these opporyunities are………Shoot for the moon as Sapp once said.
February 22nd, 2021 at 3:53 pm
Brady, Smith, Evans….possibly JPP….There’s a ton of money in our o-line, one would think there’s money that can be shuffled around. If the Saints and Steelers can pull it off to the tune of tens of millions over the cap, i would think with us sitting below the cap and having carry over, we could make it happen.
February 22nd, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Brady and the Bucs will be Superbowl contenders for the next 2 years for 2021 and 2022.
Id have to imagine that the wheels would start to fall off in 2023 but people also said Brady would be falling off 5 years ago so I wouldn’t bet on it.
February 22nd, 2021 at 4:03 pm
Brady, Jensen, JPP, Smith can all be resigned to longer term deals for immediate cap relief. I would love to see them all extended even cap room aside. JPP should get extended to retire a buc anyways.
February 22nd, 2021 at 4:11 pm
If Brady did it right now, I assume everyone except Shaq and Godwin to restructure terms or the older vets coming back on a one to two year deals might be buying for less. Not to the mention the Brady FA gravity affect.
February 22nd, 2021 at 4:22 pm
YES absolutely I would say extend him 2 years! Who cares if the last year he is not all there. He already gave us one and may give us another so I say we would be very lucky to have TB12 for four seasons. The Bucs should aim for Brady to retire wearing pewter and red.
February 22nd, 2021 at 4:30 pm
Hire Giselle as a PR director……and cut Tom’s salary accordingly.
February 22nd, 2021 at 4:33 pm
I think if we have a good season, will be BA’s last and he hands off to Bowles
February 22nd, 2021 at 4:36 pm
Oh, hell, why not? Have Brady inducted in the HoF in Pewter and Red.
I am fine going all-in. These opportunities don’t come around every day. I will gladly sacrifice some future for winning again. Or three times.
February 22nd, 2021 at 5:04 pm
For the next couple seasons we have REALLY good chances of winning Super Bowls. We can KEEP this crew together, as long a s everyone understands it will cover crashing down in a few years. (The cap situation) That’s pretty much what’s happening to Bellicheat now
February 22nd, 2021 at 5:08 pm
Give Brady the Mahomes deal right now!!!!!!
Just playing don’t kill me people but seriously I think he got 2-3 good years left.
February 22nd, 2021 at 5:15 pm
I wouldn’t resign Smith. Move Wirfs to LT and sign a good RT who will command a lot less money.
The only reason slow Donnie played up to par was Wirf’s pushing him. If Wirf’s gets hurt the Bucs will be down 2 positions.
Cut bait
February 22nd, 2021 at 5:23 pm
Bucs can’t afford Giselle. She’s worth at least $100 million MORE than our boy Tom.
February 22nd, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Two problems I see with this if by some SLIM chance the team goes 8-9 next year or a one and done in PO’s, do you really think these veterans will return?
2nd if NO funds cap space and signs Watson, could be problems for Tampa.
Other than that acrew it, why not? Rebuild in 3 yrs.
February 22nd, 2021 at 6:02 pm
The way Brady looks, I’d extend him for 5 years. Or more.
February 22nd, 2021 at 6:42 pm
Ryan Jensen and OJ Howard are also extension candidates!! We can keep damn near everyone if Licht is creative enough!
February 22nd, 2021 at 6:48 pm
They don’t need Arians …lol…..wouldnt hurt then to.lose Brown or even Goodwin.they could draft a good wr and sign a fa …..use Miller and Johnson more too
February 22nd, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Im giving Brady a 2 year extension, lower his cap number for 2021 to 10 million and use the 15 million savings for Gronk, Suh and make AB an offer filled with incentives
Give Brady some guaranteed cash that is back loaded into 2023 where we are in cap hell after a great 3 year Super Bowl run
Brady gets his $$$, retires and we reloaded with a rookie QB and build it back up again
Apply same logic to extending Donavan Smith to bring back Godwin, Shaq, Succop and David
We’re in a Super Bowl window, the point is to win now and pay for it with cap hell later
February 22nd, 2021 at 7:44 pm
LISTNFRMAFAR … “2nd if NO funds cap space and signs Watson, could be problems for Tampa.”
Saints are the worst off of all 32 NFL teams right now in terms of salary CAP. They went all-in for several years to try to win with Drew Brees and now it’s time to pay the piper. They have 58 players under contract right now, including many big names with many big contracts (13 players with 2021 salaries of $10 mil or more). Their 2021 salary CAP hit is currently $257.9 mil (a in almost $70 mil OVER the projected CAP?)..
Deshaun Watson is owed $15.9 for this year but has a Dead CAP of $67.1 mil. All that has to be accounted for in any trades. Somehow I doubt that Deshaun will be playing for New Orleans this season.
February 22nd, 2021 at 7:46 pm
Brady last to go back to back. In 2003 and 2004 Brady had bone crushing running back Corey Dillon and superb slot receiver Troy Brown. Hate to see Godwin franchised but please do it. If you look at Playoff Lenny> he made
bone crushing plays. Keep Lenny. Stinnie keep for minimum.
*****The key will be attrition> if you stay generally healthy with Brady all season> YOU ARE LOOKING AT MOST LIKELY A REPEAT!!! N.O. always
matched up well against your Bucs. Matter of fact N.0. up 20 to 13 going for another score BUT ANTOINE STRIPPED THE TIGHT END AND Devin picked up the fumble. If N.O. even got a field goal with 4 minutes left in 3rd quarter. N.O. would have been up 10. Thank you Antoine. You all have such a great secondary. PLEASE DO YOUR BEST YO KEEP THAT 4 MAN PASS RUSH. I am a converted Bucs Fan because of Brady Gronk and your young, talented physical team. You have so much depth too.
STRIKE THE IRON WHILE IT’S HOT. THROW EVERYTHING YOU CAN INTO THE MEATGRINDER!
Do you Bucs fans realize what you have?! N.O 65 million OVER Salary CAP.
NFC GB and other NFC Teams weaker this coming year compared to Bucs!
***THROW IT ALL IN THE POT> ALL SYSTEMS GO! Get a couple solid draft picks and TAMPA BAY ALL THE WAY FOR REPEAT!!!
***If Bucs keep Brady upright and Bucs stay relatively healthy. It just may
be TOM VERSUS PATRICK AGAIN! SB 56> BUCS REPEAT!!!!!
February 22nd, 2021 at 8:01 pm
dapostman
Agreed. I want to know if we can be able to have a lock down LT on the back side for 10+ years. Draft a RT in the first or second.
February 22nd, 2021 at 8:03 pm
TB12 for ’21 and ’22…. and then bring him in the organization… hopefully coaching…
the rest will come along….
February 22nd, 2021 at 8:07 pm
He’s got 2 more yrs in him.
February 22nd, 2021 at 8:34 pm
There has never been a team that won three straight titles in the Super Bowl era.
Lets do this in Tampa.
February 22nd, 2021 at 8:49 pm
Brady 2 years
Smith 4 years
Extending the two of them can probably save 10 million against the cap. And all the Smith haters out there can just – shut up already – he’s a top 10 left tackle and worth signing.
February 22nd, 2021 at 8:58 pm
DefRules, that’s good news about NO, I knew they were up against it but what extent I wasn’t sure, don’t normally follow team cap restraints. I did hear Carolina has strong interest but not sure if they have the weapons and I doubt Watson has the leadership attitude like a Brady to make an immediate winning change.
.
February 22nd, 2021 at 9:30 pm
I don’t want Watson in our division. Hopefully the Texans can’t stand the thought of being without him and hangs on. Same with Wilson.
February 22nd, 2021 at 9:35 pm
I don’t understand nfl contracts like you but why would brady commit to another year until he has a better idea of what the team will look like. I dont think he will play till age 45 for the sake of doing it unless he feels the team has a real shot at winning it.
February 22nd, 2021 at 9:56 pm
🤔
February 22nd, 2021 at 10:14 pm
D Smith’s best ability has been his availability. Dude plays on Sundays. Very wise to keep him around until you find someone better for cheaper, which I dont think is likely. Wirfs is arguably the best RT in the league- Leave him there. Extend the GOAT. Every bit of savings is going to help this season.
February 22nd, 2021 at 10:23 pm
Oxycondoms, I think The BUCS will want to keep Brady. For that, they will try to give him what he will ask for. And from his past with NE, we can see that Brady is not a fool. He will have demands the team can afford.
The reconstruction is already on the way. BUCS will have a lot of new players, from FA, and in the draft. The core will stay, but many players will go. It’s the NFL. You don’t have a long dynasty with the ”we spend everything this year” and we finished in 2 years with almost nothing.
I’m not worry, the guy who mount this fabulous BUCS 2020 team is able to mount another fabulous team.
Our dynasty is already started. It’s the BUCS time!
YES!! GO BUCS!!
February 22nd, 2021 at 11:51 pm
20 Year Patriot’s Fan…Hello bro, that is a pretty sound State of the union address for the Bucs. It is definitely time to strike, and the Bucs are in position to repeat with the state of the other teams like NO and GB. GO BUCS!!!
February 23rd, 2021 at 12:01 am
lol, Pats fan, Amendment 1, prioritize Pass Rush= Shaq, WR is not as high of priority as a feared Pass Rusher that is not a mystery concerning whether they fit your teams system, like so many Free Agents are. lol I missed the part about Tagging Godwin lol. Anyways GO BUCS!!!!
February 23rd, 2021 at 1:29 am
I would much rather extend Jensen. Smith if you can get a deal close to where u are now, but that’s doubtful coming off his season and his age.
Could also just let OJ walk in that option year to free up $.
February 23rd, 2021 at 8:57 am
d.smith played his @$$ off…gotta keep him…
imo, licht gets it done and bring everyone back….
GO BUCS!!!!
February 23rd, 2021 at 10:47 am
Keep Brady until he says he’s ready to retire. I can’t see him staying when he knows his skills are declining. Whenever that will be.
February 23rd, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Lazy as Smith played good for one season. The rest he played up to his potential when he felt like it. It was the same way in college. As far as Howard the Bucs should try and trade him. He’s not as good as everyone thinks plus he’s injured. Brate is going no where in spite of what Ledyard thinks. Brady has special chemistry with him just like Gronk. Sign AB for insurance in case they lose Godwin.
February 24th, 2021 at 12:05 am
It is so hard to repeat. But the way the team bonded and went all in to win out was truly special. I say do what it takes to bring all the starters and best reserves back. Whatever it takes.