Full Recovery Expected For Chris Godwin
January 4th, 2022
Surgery.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has been awfully busy chasing Bucs stories the past day or two.
This time it has nothing to do with furniture-tossing, bicycle-winging, tantrum-tossing quitter Antonio Brown. But it had to do with a guy who shared the wide receivers room with Brown.
That would be Bucs soon-to-be free agent receiver Chris Godwin. It seems Godwin had surgery yesterday on his messed up knee. And Rapoport reports that his sources tell him Godwin has received the best diagnosis.
#Bucs star WR Chris Godwin underwent successful surgery to repair his ACL and MCL, a procedure performed by noted expert Dr. James Andrews in Florida today, source said. There was no meniscus damage for the pending top free agent, who will make a full recovery.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 4, 2022
The way Joe looks at it, the Bucs absolutely should bring Godwin back — with some safety net in the contract to give the Bucs an out if Godwin doesn’t happen to recover to his previous high-level status.
Give him his old salary back, give him some of O.J. Howard’s $6 million salary (which means Howard goes bye-bye — and would the Bucs even miss him?) and that should come to right around $19 million a year.
Joe would be surprised if anyone offered Godwin more than that because of his injury but if so, then the Bucs could sweeten the pot with Brown’s cash.
January 4th, 2022 at 12:14 am
Must keep Godwin.
Lots of cap challenges, but he has to be a top priority. JPP and Suh are done, but then the OL needs to be extended as does the secondary. Licht will earn his now well-polished reputation if he can field a division winner again in 2022-3.
January 4th, 2022 at 12:16 am
God speed Mr. Godwin! Pray for a speedy and full recovery. You will always be a Buc. We all want you back! Go Bucs!
January 4th, 2022 at 12:23 am
How long of a recovery period are they talking?
They absolutely should sign him to a 4-6-year deal. Lock him up
January 4th, 2022 at 12:29 am
Godwin is loved in Tampa. We want him back and he is a class act. Team first guy. He is also the most talented WR on this team and deserves a new deal.
January 4th, 2022 at 12:31 am
Last Joe heard was *maybe* he could first hit the practice field during preseason.
January 4th, 2022 at 12:42 am
They have no choice but to resign godwin. Gonna be interesting to see if they lose carlton davis. They might have to draft a corner.
January 4th, 2022 at 12:46 am
Thanks Joe!
January 4th, 2022 at 12:57 am
Excellent, thank you Joe.
Guzman
I don’t think they’ll let Davis walk. He is by far the best cornerback and salary cap space should take a major jump up.
January 4th, 2022 at 12:57 am
Chris has missed games three years in a row and is on the fragile side, but he was so good this year before his injury. I’m kinda torn, but if we have a safety net in his contract like Joe suggested, I’m cool with it so long as he’s not looking to reset the market or wanting DeAndre Hopkins loot.
January 4th, 2022 at 1:10 am
Heck yeah we want Godwin back.
January 4th, 2022 at 1:11 am
Gotta sign Godwin, Davis, and Whitehead.
January 4th, 2022 at 1:16 am
@Im not tired anymore we Super Bowl Champs!!:
To which god should we be praying? We humans have created so many!
…smh
January 4th, 2022 at 1:45 am
having gone thru the same surgery following a downhill ski accident; CG is in for 9-12 months recovery & rehab program . He’s young ,in great shape, a dedicated ,determined guy who can contribute tothe Bucs for many years to come..
They should truly value him & sign him Very soon after the playoffs
January 4th, 2022 at 1:51 am
yes agree all the way, he is essential to this offense, he wants to be a Buc and needs a decent salary–give him OJ and Browns money plus his salary
January 4th, 2022 at 2:12 am
pay this man!
January 4th, 2022 at 2:16 am
I don’t understand why you are saying we can somehow take a players salary this year (O.J. Howard) and put it towards Godwin or any other free agent next year when Howard doesn’t count for anything against the cap next year. The BUCS are projected to have 33 million in cap space if the salary cap rises to 208 million which is widely being reported, that would mean the BUCS have roughly 175 million worth of salary on their book for next season and Howard’s 6 million salary this year has nothing to do with those figures. Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying? Or perhaps I am mistaken but I just don’t see how Howard’s 6 million salary this year has anything to do with next year’s cap when is contractual obligation to the BUCS is over
January 4th, 2022 at 2:37 am
I suppose it depends some if Brady comes back next year in determination of godwins future to buc franchise if one thinks with head in this matter… Godwin was a favorite brady receiver. how many torn acl receivers are playing in the nfl? Again idk.
Torn acl usually is at least 1 year healing process from my very limited understanding. Damn shame for sure.
January 4th, 2022 at 6:35 am
This is the business side of the NFL. Chris has yet to play an entire season, BUT, has been a productive WR when healthy. Consistent? Yes.
Is he worth $19 million?
Can that money be used elsewhere to shore up the defense? DBs? DT?
As much as we love Chris, the decision is not as easy as it seems.
January 4th, 2022 at 6:56 am
Mike Pizzoli … You’re not misunderstanding at all Mike; you’re 100% correct. OJ’s not under contract for next year, and he has no ‘Dead CAP’ associated with his contract. Thus he’s a UFA & his ‘salary cost’ for 2022 is $0 unless we re-sign him.
You’re exactly right also that the NFL has told clubs the PROJECTED 2022 Salary CAP will be $208.2 mil. According to Spotrac, when you add roll-over ‘adjustments’ the Bucs SHOULD have $210.6 mil adjusted CAP available for 2022. Beyond that though, it gets REALLY UGLY because we went all in for 2021 to repeat, renegotiated a bunch of contracts to free-up salary CAP space for this year, and defrayed the ‘bills’ until 2022 & beyond (we’re not the only ones who have done that BTW).
Bucs have 33 players under contract for 2022, of whom half are offensive starters/key rotational players this year (5 offense, 9 defense plus our kicker & punter). In addition, we still owe Gronk & Suh money from 2021 ($13 mil) even though they’re apparently not under contract (didn’t know you could do that). Those players CURRENTLY are projected to account for $178.8 mil, leaving us with $31.8 mil to play with for 2022. But things will change tremendously before all is said & done (when the ‘sh1t hits the fan’ as they say?). In the meantime, we all need to enjoy the 2021 ride … and hope that it lasts all the way to another SB championship.
January 4th, 2022 at 7:00 am
Godwin is probably the most versatile receiver in the league. He is a cornerstone of this offense. He blocks well, runs well after the catch, on screens and end around plays. And by the way, his current injury was because he had no chance to protect himself after the catch. Fragile, I don’t think so.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:07 am
Godwin is a chain mover and one of the hardest working WRs in the NFL. He does all the dirty work. I would hope that when he returns the OC changes his role and lets him work outside more as he takes too many shots catching the ball over the middle and isn’t one of those guys that can avoid the hits. You never see him slide down after a catch, he’s always fighting for YACs.
If you want to preserve his career you need to move him around and not have so many targets where he is catching the ball in between a safety and linebacker.
I love him and want him to be a Buc for a long time but he has a shelf life and even though Arians says he is like Hines Ward, he isn’t a big as Ward nor does he have the strength of Ward to shed off hits.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:25 am
I love his style of play but always worried about the way he was constantly used in heavy traffic over the middle often for short gains. That is tight end territory for bigger stronger players. Give him a decent offer with lots of incentives based on performance. Who knows for sure when or how long he will be available next season. He was certainly due a big pay raise next year from somebody. One of my favorite players and I hope things go well for him regardless of whether he remains a Buc or not.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:43 am
Godwin can play underneath and stretch the field, he runs good corner routes and was gelling as Brady’s #1 target. CaptSmith, said 9 to 12 mos, keep in mind Capt, no one was probably invested in your future as much as Bucs are Godwin so he has most likely far more dedicated rehab staff and services at his disposal. Edlemans rehab took 8 mos and his ACL injury was more severe. I do agree Brady could be a main factor in his decision but I can also see him wanting to play with Mahomes, Wilson and possibly Allen or Burroughs.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:52 am
Now is the time to sign him to a longer-term deal.
I have *zero* doubt Godwin will attack rehab with a vengeance, and come back 100%
January 4th, 2022 at 9:31 am
Agree with Ed. There aren’t enough out and dig routes in this offense where receivers have a better chance to protect themselves. Protect your players by
not being so repetitive on the crossing routes. Believe Wes Welker received
five or six concussions running this type route.
t
January 4th, 2022 at 10:49 am
Agree with Joe and Cobra.
I would add another benefit to signing CG. We just had a VERY VIVID example of what a locker room cancer is capable of wreaking. We’ve seen this before. We have taken players like ME13 and CG14 for granted. They are the exceptions not the rule.
There is plenty of talent at WR in the NFL. There are also plenty of divas. I wasn’t thrilled with gossip of Odell coming here even though I totally respect his talent.
We have a team of rarities right now. Super talented guys who are able to sublimate their egos to the greater cause of team. CG is perhaps the PRIME example of that. That attitude must be rewarded.
January 4th, 2022 at 10:52 am
BTW You can bet BA is in Licht’s ear lobbying for CG. He possesses something BA absolutely VALUES in WR’s…a guy who will block and play physical.
CG14 completes a trifecta of great blocking/receiving/athletic receivers for BA.
First he had Hines Ward…then Larry..now CG14.
January 4th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
There shouldn’t be any question. Sign Chris Godwin he is the best receiver on the team. If you want to consistently be in the playoffs you must pay for the talent,and talented he is!!
January 4th, 2022 at 3:09 pm
I feel for him. To get franchise tagged and then have an ACL and MCL in the same year is a huge blow. He’s definitely gonna get a lot less than he deserves in his next contract, with or without us.
January 5th, 2022 at 3:31 am
Ed has been hitting the sauce early today huh? Chris Godwin is a whole inch taller than Hines ward and the same weight. And blocks just as well. And I love Hines.
January 5th, 2022 at 6:39 am
They need to find Brady’s replacement… otherwise, what’s the point
January 5th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
Love Chris Godwin
January 5th, 2022 at 3:22 pm
He will get paid by the bucs absolutely no doubt about it you can’t let a player like that get away from your team too valuable when you have the two best receivers in the NFL you never want to lose one of them go bucks
January 5th, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Defense Rules – Well said !
January 5th, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Goody ain’t fragile, that Saint DB went right after his knee- he knew what he was doing and did it intentionally. Can’t wait to get some retribution on that bush league cheap shot sob…