Determining Value
March 7th, 2022
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians
Remember years ago when Team Glazer said they never let a free agent escape One Buc Palace if they wanted to keep him?
Well, keep those words in mind in the next two weeks when it seems just about a foregone conclusion there will be at least one Bucs starter who will leave.
Last week at the Indiana Convention Center, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians all but said the very same thing Team Glazer did long ago.
“Well, just assigning values,” Arians said of choosing which players will stay and which players will walk in free agency. “Knowing when to move on from a player, knowing when it’s time for ‘fresh blood.’
“But, at the same time, I don’t like to let really good players go if we can help it.”
If there was money Joe would bet on who will not be back this fall it would be outside linebacker/pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul. It’s not that the Bucs don’t like him — they love him. But being 33 and having surgery and coming off your worst season doesn’t make one marketable.
Of course, the Bucs may luck out and be able to bring JPP back on a discount, but Joe is just going to guess some team out there pays him more than the Bucs are willing to spend.
So with the words of Team Glazer saying they never lost a free agent they wanted to keep, and Arians saying he doesn’t like to lose good ballplayers, it will be clear how the Bucs grade various players in the coming weeks.
The free agency dinner bell rings a week from Wednesday.
March 7th, 2022 at 5:24 am
JPP would be a good value signing in the summer. Wouldn’t be surprised if he had a great year
March 7th, 2022 at 6:21 am
If Ryan Jensen wants another Ring, then he is not staying. And that goes for any free agent on the Bucs. If “the ring is the thing” then those free agents are gone. We will see what the Bucs “toss salad roster” looks like in a few weeks. But whatever, I love football and the Bucs are the I have followed since 1976, life goes on. So whatever happens, happens. Hopefully they are in better shape than a worst case scenario. But again, whatever it is sports, not real life for most. Just ask the Ukrainians what really is important, and it sure is not a pigskin filled with air that many millionaires are playing a game with.
GO Ukraine GO BUCS!!!!!
March 7th, 2022 at 6:38 am
🇺🇦
March 7th, 2022 at 6:48 am
But JPP is going to “kill sh1t” this year.
March 7th, 2022 at 6:59 am
Jensen will probably not return making Cappa & Stennie top priorities…..
Gholston will be resigned….he’ll retire a Buc
Davis will walk but Whitehead will be signed.
Suh will walk & we’ll draft a DT & CB…
JPP is a question mark…..I wouldn’t bet against him returning for a reduced contract.
March 7th, 2022 at 7:02 am
Bucs should lock up Stinnie before free agency. He’s a good starting caliber Guard and he will not have a big contract number. I’d also consider the franchise tag for Jensen. Locking him up for 1yr while developing a future Center
March 7th, 2022 at 7:10 am
If JPP came back cheap as a back up he’d have to play ST’s like Nelson does now. That’s not happening. JPP won’t be picked up by any team. There’s no sand left in that hour glass. Fact is, it was empty last season.
March 7th, 2022 at 8:48 am
JPP played with one arm last year. He will be back and much improved.
March 7th, 2022 at 9:06 am
Just like JPP, I suspect the Bucs will let Jensen walk, not because they do not want him, but simply they cannot afford him and sign other valuable players who are younger. As 33 this year, Jensen is nearing the age for injuries, especially as a lineman. Robert Hainsey was drafted in the 3rd round last year to replace him. I think he’ll do fine.
March 7th, 2022 at 9:11 am
Need to sign Jensen. Top priority. sign Stinnie. Let Cappa & Davis walk. JPP? Also sign Lenny. Lesser priority, Whitehead, Suh & Gholston. Gronk would also be nice to resign & Godwin.
March 7th, 2022 at 9:17 am
I agree about using the franchise tag on Jensen, if we have to.
March 7th, 2022 at 10:29 am
I would love nothing more than a healthy JPP back but I don’t know if he’ll ever be the same, shoulders never heal 100% correctly.
If he wants to finish out his last year or two in Tampa it needs to be at a discount
March 7th, 2022 at 12:25 pm
I’d love to keep Gholston, Chris, and Whitehead, but money, greed, or whatever ya want to call it rules the day this time of year. I’d much rather lose every one of our free agents than to overpay a single nickel for them. It’s automatically a rebuilding year when you lose the best player ever, so it’s better to take our medicine now than f up our future with overspending and cap games.
If our free agents rather take a few extra dollars to sign with Detroit, New England, Dallas, or some other pathetic franchise then adios MF’s!
March 7th, 2022 at 2:09 pm
More words of wisdom from BA stating the obvious. Freaking idiot.
March 7th, 2022 at 7:01 pm
Chris Godwin gets the tag,and Jenson stays, and then door #3 opens and everyone is happy in BucTown