Ndamukong Suh A “50/50” Return?
March 8th, 2021
Status.
On the field, he may be the most underrated starter on the Bucs’ front-seven.
Off the field his value skyrockets. And that would be defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh.
Some background: Joe remembers Suh first coming to the Bucs and seeing him at Will Gholston’s side all the time, with then-27-year-old Gholston steadily talking to him. And you could see Suh gesturing often to Gholston on how to pull off a move, how to use his hands, etc. Suh basically was like an assistant coach. Gholston has had probably his two best seasons with Suh as a teammate.
Then last year when Vita Vea broke his ankle in Week 5, Suh kept Vea’s spirits up saying if he worked @ss off he may get back for the Super Bowl. Suh told him that Aqib Talib, Suh’s Rams teammate in 2018, had a similar injury that appeared season-ending and Talib came back for the Super Bowl.
Suh also hooked up Vea with his nutritionist to make sure Vea didn’t gain weight so his injury would heal quicker. It worked!
So Suh is more valuable than just stats. This probably why Jenna Laine of ESPN thinks Suh has a 50/50 chance of re-signing as a free agent for 2021.
[The Bucs would] like to have Suh back after two consecutive one-year deals, first making $10 million in 2019 and $8.5 million in 2020, which is reasonable considering his experience, durability and leadership. (Vea credited Suh for hooking him up with his nutritionist to keep his weight down while he recovered from a fractured ankle, allowing him to heal in time for the NFC Championship.) It looks to be about 50/50 on a return.
What makes the Bucs so special to Joe, including the free agents, is that there doesn’t appear to be a jack@ss among them. They are good players, good people and most of all good teammates. (With the possible exception of one).
This is why Joe believes if somehow the Bucs can keep their band together, we will get another season of sweet music.
March 8th, 2021 at 8:22 am
You keep posting stories about how we are going to re-sign these players, yet we don’t have the cap space to do so. If we don’t have several big contracts extended or “restructured” then we won’t be signing but maybe one big name player.
March 8th, 2021 at 8:26 am
Suh’s a beast. Still playing at a high level. Great teammate; great leader. Wants to return as a Buc. Kinda sounds like a no-brainer to me.
March 8th, 2021 at 8:29 am
Brown has been a stellar teammate as a Buc.
March 8th, 2021 at 8:30 am
Don’t be negative, friend. Our cap situation is no where near the worst in the league. We might not re sign all our big name free agents but I bet we get most of them.
March 8th, 2021 at 8:32 am
Yes, 50/50. Either he will or he won’t.
March 8th, 2021 at 8:56 am
Good thing that other #93 wasn’t here feeding Vita ice cream and showing Gholston Batman comics and dance moves.
March 8th, 2021 at 9:01 am
Isn’t it 50/50 for all the FA’s depending on $$$
March 8th, 2021 at 9:08 am
Huh? His last contract was a single year at $8 million. He wants $10 million in an offseason where there is less team cap money for everyone?
March 8th, 2021 at 9:18 am
Misread the quote… I’d like to keep Suh around, but for something closer to $6 million or so. He’s still pretty good, but money is very tight.
March 8th, 2021 at 10:05 am
Don’t pay him. He’s got his ring, now move on. I guarantee he won’t take 6 million. For the vast majority of his career, suh has been an overpaid and underwhelming. This is the guy who famously said he signed in Miami for the money. Go play in Cleveland, those jags love to overpay.
March 8th, 2021 at 10:09 am
I personally think Suh is one of the big 3. I think we need him, Shaq and Lavonte. We really need Succop too. Then we draft quality rotation future replacements for JPP and Suh. I would love to keep CG but got to keep the defense together.
March 8th, 2021 at 11:41 am
I totally agree This r Year…..Keep the Defensive front 7 intact, and yes Succop too. This is about playing for a Championship in 2021, very cut and dry. GO BUCS!!!!
March 8th, 2021 at 11:44 am
Agreed that Suh is much more important than stats. Please leave AB alone. He paid the price. He has a new start. You are condemning him for the possibility that he might do something. This is extremely bad – I have tuned out the fake news from the MSM because of it. STOP IT, or maybe we’ll start accusing you of things you might do.
March 8th, 2021 at 12:05 pm
I’m 90/10 his 50/50 estimate just came out of his butt with no sources.
March 8th, 2021 at 12:33 pm
Don’t be negative about how we can’t afford everyone? Our cap # is only decent because star player contracts have expired. Something like 25 contracts overall if I remember Joe’s reporting correctly (questionable, admittedly).
Sure we’re not in as dire straights as the Saints, but it’s not all roses and sprinkles in Licht & Mike Greenberg’s offices. A dose of realism is not unwarranted.
March 8th, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Jenna Laine’s opinion is worthless… She’s too busy talking about Tom Brady to pay attention to anything else.
March 8th, 2021 at 1:45 pm
And that is EXACTLY what her employer wants her to do: Focus on the person the sports world cares about.
March 8th, 2021 at 3:28 pm
At just saying 👋👋 u hit it on the head with the gerald mccoy reference
March 8th, 2021 at 4:03 pm
I get it, but I listened to some of those pressers, and she was just obviously pressing the issue… They could’ve been talking about the Bucs’ DBs and Jenna would be like “Bruce, how does Tom Brady’s presence on this team affect our DBs.” Just ludicrous crap.
March 8th, 2021 at 5:08 pm
Windbaggery
I dont read or listen to her anymore. I heard an interview once where she clearly didnt know the difference between a fumble and an int that oj howard had. A day after the game she disagreed with the refs call of an int. She said it had to be a fumble. So for me that was it. No need for me to listen or read if i dont know it’s true.
March 8th, 2021 at 5:11 pm
I think the defense was spectacular in the Super Bowl and very important to the Bucs run. But this whole team was elevated to the elite level by Tom Brady. Gronk came out of retirement to play with his old QB. Brady has this incredible ability to elevate his team mates with his leadership skills. He’s a positive guy. Still plays at an elite level so few have in the NFL. The fact that he’s still doing this, mid 40’s is amazing. Congrats to all of you. From a long-suffering Lions fan
March 8th, 2021 at 5:40 pm
Suh is needed on defense for sure. Those veteran linebackers get ato enjoy a lot of free movement and easy sacks because of Suh and Veta.
I would not let Suh go. Like in basketball a great big man is hard to find. Look at the Rams without Suh. Mr. Aron Donald had a much harder time without his big co-worker Shu there. Plus Shu doesn’t get injured to much. No way I am letting Shu go. No way No how!!!!
March 8th, 2021 at 6:33 pm
May be, but just a little inside: When Brady signed with the Bucs, one of the BSPNers who covered Brady/Belicheats said to her, “You are our new Tom Brady beat writer!”
Nothing is “forced” in a press conference. And if you don’t get questions asked that your editor wants (Jenna is hardly the lone person who asks questions their editor wants answered), guess who you have to answer to? Not to the person who doesn’t want to listen to your question.
March 8th, 2021 at 8:28 pm
Like CG said , he doesn’t want to go somewhere else for a few momore $$$ and be miserable . These guys have a serious shot at another ring ! We’ll soon find out who’s greedy and who’s a true team player , and who wants another shot at another ring .
March 9th, 2021 at 1:23 am
Suh is leaving! Sorry Bucs but he has unfinished business elsewhere.
March 9th, 2021 at 10:54 am
Suh isnt undervalued by me!!
He was a rock. Still capable of collapsing a pocket.
Our Priority HAS TO BE the defensive front 7.
With Brady and our pass rush/ Run defense, We are hands down the Super bowl favorites.
And we have to Money to resign everyone, IF they are a little flexable.
Brady knows it. Thats why he has restructured/ extended his contract.
Cameron Brate will be next. Then Smith and Jensen.
Ta da!
Done.
And we’ll win a least 2 more Superbowls, before Brady retires- and we have to blow everything up.
For Cap strategies- see the New Orleans Saint.
Somehow, they always find a way
March 10th, 2021 at 10:52 am
Him and a healthy Vita Vea is an offensive coordinator’s nightmare.