Leonard Fournette Wants Derrick Henry Cash
March 22nd, 2022
Free agent RB Playoff Lenny.
So yesterday came and went and Playoff Lenny is still unsigned.
Playoff Lenny visited the Belicheats yesterday, but the Belicheats have a deep roster of running backs so trying to squeeze Bill Belicheat for top dollar seems like an odd choice.
Playoff Lenny recently Twittered he wants top-five running back cash based on his production with the Bucs. Joe ran the numbers and he’s not offbase.
Now the creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk and famed author of the popular “Playmakers,” the great Mike Florio, claims Playoff Lenny is looking for $12 million a year. Per Spotrac.com, that $12 million would put Playoff Lenny as the third-highest paid running back behind Aaron Jones and Nick Chubb and right above Derrick Henry.
So is Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht playing a game of chicken? He said he would love to have Playoff Lenny back yesterday.
The drama mounts.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:08 am
12 million dollars ha ha ha next!!!!!!
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:10 am
The Bucs are not paying him 12M/year. LOL. We literally grinded him into being a better back. Without Brady’s expectations and attention to detail, Lenny would still be pouting on the sidelines somewhere.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:13 am
I don’t blame him for going for the bag. I’ll be clear about that. But, when winning is not your first priority, you’re no longer a fit for the Bucs. We have a limited window and a high chance to win it all, if you’re with the program.
His shelf life may just be clashing with our QBs shelf life, unfortunately.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:27 am
Good luck. Get back to us when you’re ready to accept 40% of that.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:37 am
This is his one and only pay day post rookie deal so he has to be very careful on his decision as it will likely be his final 2-3y in NFL and final 10-20m he earns.
The 30y old RB get next to nothing for money if they still play. So this is it for him, so I understand, he should for lower total salary but high guarantees, as with RB it’s a season by season. The big deal 30m/y 3y may only actually pay your 10m if you last 1.5y.
So a 2y 15m fully guaranteed would be fair 7.5m/y
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:41 am
He’s got the SB ring.
Now he wants the payday.
That won’t be with the Bucs, but I understand his mentality.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:45 am
I’m guessing Licht has a maxed out offer of about $13M for 2 years on the table.
So if Lenny wants to play for the Bucs in 2022 and have the best chance of earning another Super Bowl ring – he will have to lower his expectations substantially…. I’m guessing the “market” will do that for him.
Fournette may get some team to pay him $8M or so a year (likely a non contender for a SB)) – but $12M? Dude – you are good – but you ain’t THAT good.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:47 am
He’s pricing himself out of the Bucs.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:47 am
Hate to see him go, but we have other needs. Defense needs to be addressed and we can’t do that if we’re paying top dollar for a running back.
Isn’t the draft running back heavy this year?
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:49 am
12/2 years is ok Lenny.
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:11 am
$12 million? Are you serious? Obviously why he hasn’t been picked up. Love to have you back Lenny, but take a step back into reality. We’re trying to put something special together down here
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:22 am
12 million for him to keep gaining weight and stutter stepping?
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:26 am
Any team would gladly pay Derrick Henry cash if he produced Derrick Henry results. Unfortunately he produces Lenny results. Thus, a significant discount. Or better yet, pass. For one of the many better backs available.
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:30 am
Licht is doing exactly what he should be doing, nothing. As much as I want Lenny back on the roster, it can’t be for more than 5–6 mil a year.
He is not going to get an offer of more than 7-8 from a team and at that point he may resign with the Buccaneers for 6 instead. So, Licht waits.
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:11 am
Rojo is also still unsigned by any team. If Lenny walks it’ll be interesting to see what the Bucs do at RB. Gio Bernard is due barely over $1 million this season, then there’s Vaughn.
The telling thing is, if Brady wanted Lenny back badly, he’d had been signed.
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:33 am
I think Lenny is great and did when he was with Jags. Don’t see Bucs paying that kind of $$ to him and now wonder if he might have attitude if he ends ups signing for much less than he is wanting.
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:48 am
Yikes! I could do up to 8 mil max… Maybe 9. He’s earned it, but lest we forget… He was one foot out of the league (possible hyperbole) before BA smacked some sense into him. He had a bad narrative out of Jax and was seemingly proving it with us. He gave us 2 magical seasons and I’m forever grateful for him. That being said we can find help elsewhere (I hope). I believe in Sneak and maybe we can draft a guy or sign a vet. Unless he’s willing to take a paycut, which I doubt. Good luck Lenny.
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:53 am
The Jags cut him two years ago, and then he very nearly quit the Bucs when he wasn’t just handed the startling job. Good luck in your future endeavors elsewhere. Replace him with someone who wants to play for the Bucs.
March 22nd, 2022 at 3:01 am
Pass, get runningback in the first or second round and call it done, meanwhile pay Gholston and Suh
March 22nd, 2022 at 3:31 am
We won’t pay anything near that number, and I think Lenny knows it. If he’d play for 6 per year for two years,.. he may still end up with the BUCS!
March 22nd, 2022 at 3:41 am
Skills I’ve aqcuired over a long career. I WILL F8ND YOU………hey Lenny GOOD LUCK
March 22nd, 2022 at 4:04 am
For me?
We would have beaten the Rams if we had used Lenny more.
If our #3 WR, Gage, is worth 10 million, our #1 RB is worth 10 million.
March 22nd, 2022 at 4:34 am
Patterson is not a true running back. More like a gadget rb
Anyway. He just got 2 years 10.5 mil. Very similar production numbers. That seems more in line what bucs want to pay lenny. He wont get that big money anywhere. Heck He prolly wont get 7 per year anywhere as most teams have their guy already. Rbs have really been devalued recently for obvious reasons. For every derrick henry, you have multiple maccafrey/ kid from giants etc etc
March 22nd, 2022 at 4:41 am
one would think lenny should be worth near what gage got…
right now he’s just price shopping – and getting it out there that he wants big dough…
he’s more like a 3 years 24 mil type signing imho…
actually i was more at 3 years 22 mil, but after seeing he’s looking at like 3 years 36 mil, i bumped it up a drop…
i hope we keep him, but sounds like the numbers are waaaaay far apart as of now…
we shall see
March 22nd, 2022 at 4:58 am
Mike Florio stated Lenny’s dilemma well in that article you referenced Joe when he noted older running backs ‘either not getting very much or not getting enough to justify continuing to subject themselves to the physical pounding that goes with the position they play’.
Can’t see Fournette getting $12 mil a year from the Bucs or anyone else. RB value to a team is all about productivity & that relates closely to time on the field & touches. Lenny’s not in the same category as the heavy-hitters like Derrick Henry. Even if you factor in his 3 yrs in Jacksonville, he’s only averaged 12.6 games/year, 189 rushes/yr & 61 targets/yr on his career.
That’s roughly 20 TOTAL touches/game played. Derrick Henry was averaging 30 touches/game played last year … until he got badly injured in Game 8, then spent the next 9 games on IR. Lenny’s been averaging 29 offensive snaps/game with us over these past 2 years, but not touches. Henry has averaged 44 snaps/game over those same 2 years.
In his 2 yrs with us, Lenny produced 1866 total yds (rushing & receiving) or 69.1 yds/game average (in his 27 games). Henry produced 3232 total yds or 134.7 yds/game average (in his 24 games). That’s almost TWICE AS MUCH PRODUCTIVITY (in almost 50% more time on the field) for Derrick.
Sorry Lenny, you won’t be getting Derrick Henry money, despite what your agent tells you. But I still think that Lenny’s worth roughly $7 mil a year on a 3-year contract TO US, because he fits our RB needs very nicely.
March 22nd, 2022 at 5:07 am
The golden grill got 15 a year
A guy rebuiding his knee got 20 a year
And a third tier receiver from free agency got 10 a year.
This is the lense I look thru.
And Lenny is in his prime.
Really good running backs are few and far between, and this lesson is looking like it’s about to get learned by the buc faithful.
‘Don’t it seem to go you don’t know what you got till it’s gone’
March 22nd, 2022 at 5:14 am
Brian Robinson.
March 22nd, 2022 at 5:30 am
Running back just doesn’t pay much anymore. He needs to learn left tackle, WR….. edge rusher or corner. Or QB. Even that idiot at N.O. is making $10 million
March 22nd, 2022 at 5:34 am
He’s right. Top RBs need to sit out if they want to get paid right, otherwise they’ll keep getting paid like they don’t matter all that much.
Lenny is a baller. Good for him.
March 22nd, 2022 at 6:24 am
Sony Michel welcome to the Bucs!!!!
Let Lenny stay in cloud 9.
March 22nd, 2022 at 6:27 am
I rather pay Suh the big one-year offer.
March 22nd, 2022 at 6:55 am
Every team that pays that kind of money to a RB ends up over paying for the performance that follows. The back is aging, taking on more wear and tear, its only natural the production begins to fall off. The league has changed so much in favor of passing which doesn’t help their cause. I think in Fournette’s case, he’s failing to recognize Brady opens up so much space for him to be successful. Without a Brady, Fournette’s production falls back to around 1,000 yd rusher….if that.
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:16 am
Saying you understand Fournette going for the “bag” (as jit kids like to say) is missing the point a bit. Nick Chubb, Derrick Henry etc he is not. Not even close. But the overriding point is that we aren’t paying him no damn 12 mil a yr even if he WAS a top tier back. Tampa simply has bigger needs. Love Lenny, but rb is the most fungible position on team, he gone.
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:21 am
Licht is laying it on the table. Anyone else out there want to pay Lenny that kind of money and throw his career out the window from running him into the ground behind a horrible O line, in continual losing efforts, he can sign with them. I guess it is his choice. Maybe Lenny wants to play for a Jacksonville like team again like he did a few years ago… just for more money?
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:27 am
Nothing wrong with that. The guy gave his all for us and deserves his pay day. Hope we somehow find a way, but these guys put their bodies on the line for a limited time and pay for it their entire lives. Fournette is a BOSS and deserves to be paid like a top 5 RB for what he’s done. I trust Licht to either get it done or get us a top level replacement. There are a number of top RB’s that no one seems to want to pay
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:29 am
Later homie. I’d rather use that 12 for Calais Cambell and/or Za’Darius Smith. Draft Breece Hall and be done with this
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:45 am
Lenny no mas. Good luck.
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:50 am
People in Hell want Ice Water!
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:09 am
Lenny….Russell Gage got your money & it was only $10 mil……sorry….
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:14 am
I don’t blame him one bit. Professional football takes a major toll on the body and mind, and the shelf-lives of RBs tend to be the shortest. Fournette in particular had his value stripped when he was released by the Jags. This might be his best shot at making that one and only big contract.
I don’t think there’s a huge market for his services. Big dollar RB contracts tend to be a curse for teams. I hope he makes it back.
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:15 am
Lenny’s crazy–he gained 3810 yards in five years, Derrick Henry 6307 while missing most of last season with a broken foot.
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:18 am
I get Lenny’s point but not happening here nor should it. Still, his career is short, I don’t blame him for running toward the cash.
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:19 am
I really feel for him and the RB position (Rodney Dangerfield) in the NFL in this modern era.
The market is speaking loud and clear!
Mamma don’t let your sons grow up to be RB’s
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:30 am
Can’t blame him for looking for a BIG PAYDAY! But come on, not much chance he is going to get it. In this era of the NFL the running back position is not as valuable as it once was. Maybe $6 mill at most. Hope the Bucs can bring him back but if they can’t plenty of good RB’s in the draft this year in later rounds. But first got to rebuild the D-Line. A strong pass rush is needed with the 2022 season just around the corner. Look at all the great QB’S THAT WE WILL BE PLAYING!
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:32 am
Delusional.
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:43 am
Momma’s, don’t let your babie’s grow up to be running backs.
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:44 am
While I do not think we will go near 12 million/year, I am firmly in the camp that any replacement for Fournette is (initially at least) a step backwards. Fournette knows the offense and thrives in it. Again, it is literally all about winning it this year…. so I hope this gets worked out.
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:52 am
Not happenin Lenny. Appreciate all you’ve done here and I thank you for the effort you gave every day. Wish you the best man!!
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:53 am
3 years…. 21 million….. Done deal!!! Welcome back and I love it!!
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:54 am
Teacherman you’re dead right
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:54 am
Florio is the guru of bullspit. Spreading baseless rumors for clicks doesn’t make you a guru it makes you a liar. Don’t even get me started on the garbage that Simms spews. PFT is a trash.
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:56 am
Tom comes back and they resign him for 8 million a year. That money definitely could’ve gone elsewhere. I wouldn’t even mind if all of that went to Ronald Jones instead. Rojo was a better runner / is. I get they need to block and catch, but he did those things for years, not great, but has been improving while is playing time was diminishing. It’s interesting that the only year we won the Super Bowl with Tom Brady was the year that Ronald Jones started the entire season. He moved everyone up in the box on defense and gave Tom all of the deep and middle routes on play action. Like that was the thing with Ronald Jones in the game is that when we did a play action pass the defense actually thought we were running it. Because if we hand the ball off to Ronald Jones he gets 8 yards or 1 or 99. Too bad for Rojo. Hope he goes to the saints or something and runs all over tampa with Winston
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:58 am
Love to have Lenny back at 6 or 7 mil. tops.
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:59 am
“Silence invites speculation,” is just a way of saying, “I have no evidence of anything so I’m going to make stuff up.”
March 22nd, 2022 at 9:04 am
No way Jose…
3 years $20M – $12M guaranteed.
I like Sony Michel and lets draft a young pair of legs. Bring back G. Bernard or another cheap vet.
Let Lenny go play for the Jets.
March 22nd, 2022 at 9:06 am
LOL
Lenny just signed with the Bucs.
3 years $21M
I was pretty close…
March 22nd, 2022 at 9:09 am
Lol I’m sure Shady brady can come up with it all the money he has gotten u bucs fans out of lol
March 22nd, 2022 at 9:44 am
So basically the premise of this article was completely wrong. By the time it was written he’d already worked out a deal for about half of what was suggested he was looking for
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:57 pm
Lenny is no Derrick Henry. Not in college and not now.