Lavonte David Says He’s Sure Ndamukong Suh And Jason Pierre-Paul Want To Return
April 12th, 2022
Free agent edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul.
How much of everyone’s favorite band will get back together in 2022?
Today, iconic Bucs linebacker Lavonte David was asked about the Bucs futures of Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh. Both are free agents and the Bucs are very tight against the salary cap, especially if Rob Gronkowski returns.
David said he would feel odd as the old dog in the locker room if JPP and Suh move on.
“It would be weird. It would be awkward. Because those are like my older guys,” David said.
JPP, 33, and David, 32, were junior college teammates and are close. Suh, 35, went to Nebraska, as did David. So they have that college bond, in addition to being teammates for the past three seasons.
David said he talks to JPP often and has spoken with Suh since the season ended. He said both are enjoying family time and make that a priority. What piqued Joe’s interest is when David said, “I’m sure they want to be back here.”
Maybe, just maybe, the Bucs can get JPP back on a very cheap contract after his repaired torn rotator cuff heals. Suh? Well, that might be an interesting game of chicken decided after the NFL Draft.
April 12th, 2022 at 12:57 pm
I wonder if JPP would be a backup?
If yes, I would bring him back. It would help develop JTS and preserve JPP.
As for Suh, no brainer. The Bucs should draft a DT and rotate him in for Suh and Gholston like JTS did for JPP as a rookie.
April 12th, 2022 at 12:59 pm
I think if the objective was top dollar, they would have signed by now somewhere else.
April 12th, 2022 at 1:11 pm
We need that veteran leadership. JTS hasn’t proven sh!t to me
April 12th, 2022 at 1:44 pm
Agree 100% SlyPirate. BOTH Suh AND JPP surely have 1 more good year left in them (assuming that JPP’s shoulder properly heals up of course). BOTH have been used to playing lots of snaps for lots of dollars (the two go together), and that’s simply not gonna happen here this year.
Bucs NEED to get younger on the DLine, and that means we’ll have to probably draft replacements for both Suh & JPP this year. But even if we use our Rnd 1 & Rnd 2 picks on a DT & DE/OLB, I seriously doubt those replacements will be anywhere near as talented as Suh & JPP (we’re picking too low down the food chain). Best we can hope for is that Suh & JPP give us about 50% snaps, and their replacements give us about the same. Learning on-the-job under Suh & JPP would be the best training program any newbie could hope for.
April 12th, 2022 at 1:53 pm
At the end of the day is a matter of how much……Love them both dearly, but I wouldn´t brake the bank for neither of both……..Maybe Suh….But not JPP….
And both willl like to be payed, probably more that what everybody thinks……
Different case is Gronk, that he will liked to be payed, and deserves every dime, because is proven gold……Not sure about Suh, and very sure JPP is not……
April 12th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
JPP probably thinks he still deserves $ 12.5 M–after 2.5 sacks. Impasse.
April 12th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
I still remember when the Bucs let DL Michael Bennett and OT Donald Penn leave to go on to Pro Bowls with other teams. I hated seeing that.
JPP and Suh may not be headed to Pro Bowls, but there is too much upside to let them walk away. Pay Suh, and offer JPP a lesser contract loaded with incentives; JPP seems like a guy who will bring it all to hit incentives if he possibly can.
April 12th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
If JPP was a horse, they’d shoot him. It was over for him last year. Forget the shoulder, his legs are dead. The speed, power, and burst are gone. He wasn’t just losing the battle from the waste up, he was getting stoned from the waste down. He’s not worth bringing back at any price. As a back up he’d have to play teams, you think that’s going to happen?
April 12th, 2022 at 2:41 pm
I thought for sure JPP was gone and SUH would probably sign but now I’m not so sure. The money just is not there for SUH. JPP, on the other hand, will probably be available for a cheap deal. I would definitely bring him back in a smaller rotational role if they feel he is healthy enough. I would love SUH back as well but still think they need to draft DT
April 12th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
I think JPP is done. I’m just not sure the ROI makes sense for us at this point if it means having to push out dead cap space for a few years to get it done. If he wants to come back on the vet minimum, okay.
Suh is still a well above average starter who never gets hurt. Arguably, a one year player impacting the cap for a few extra years is a bad idea in general… but Suh is a better bet than JPP at this point. I’d be shocked if both came back.
If the draft goes well, we should be starting a rookie DL, and then Suh’s snaps go down even more. If the draft goes really well (2 premium DL), we should not be spending money on Suh.
April 12th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
When Seattle had the top defense in the league for a few years everyone talked about the legion of boom. Nobody ever talks about how bad a$$ the dline was and how many good players they rotated to stay fresh and alway getting to the QB. This is what Tampa needs to do… keep picking up lineman, including outside LB, and rotate them in and out all the time to stay fresh.
April 12th, 2022 at 3:09 pm
@Miller5252
Bowles does that already, in fact two rotational guys in Gholston & Nelson accounted for a 1/5th of the entire defenses’ sack production. Our defense needs to be better at consistently getting off the field on 3rd down and not generating the ill-timed penalties.
April 12th, 2022 at 3:42 pm
Those both need to be on our team
April 12th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
JPP, Suh and Gronk are all waiting for a number from Licht.
Nothing is going to happen until after the draft and obligatiry post draft shake out.
Its been a really wonderful off season so far. What is to be will be.
Simple as that.
April 12th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Biff Barker Says:
April 12th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Gronk hasn’t even decided he wants to play. He’s not waiting on a number. Once he decides, they’ll make room for him.
JPP can wait until summer when his shoulder is ready, then maybe we put a number out there (like vet minimum). No other team is beating down his door right now.
Suh has probably received a low-ball offer and is waiting for the Bucs to get closer to his demand. It remains to be seen. If we draft 2 DL, then we may not budge.
April 12th, 2022 at 5:50 pm
I’d sign JPP because every time he gets hurt he has a great year after. Even if we draft another guy we need the depth. Can never have too many horses in the stable
April 12th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
I don’t think JPP is coming back. Listening to Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s press conference he thinks or has been told he is the starter. He talked about off season training getting him ready to be the starter this year.
April 12th, 2022 at 8:21 pm
You would hope on the cheap, but that’s not JPP style.
April 12th, 2022 at 8:35 pm
One more year: Suh👍…….JPP👎
April 12th, 2022 at 9:54 pm
Both Suh and JPP are generational talents, warriors and true professionals on their way to Canton. The Bucs should squeeze every last drop out of both players and allow them to retire as Bucs and hopefully 2 time Super Bowl winners as Buccaneers.
April 12th, 2022 at 10:23 pm
@Hodad. That was harsh
April 13th, 2022 at 7:24 pm
We need both back for sure,that front office needs to work it out and keep that defense together,you know the one that won Superbowl 55.!!!!!
April 13th, 2022 at 8:55 pm
Gotta move on either through the draft or free agency. Get guys that are physical and like the contract. GOBUCS!
April 14th, 2022 at 10:13 am
All you fools doubting JPP are crazy. My man had neck surgery, barely missed any time and was crazy productive. But go off just so he can prove you wrong again. Talking about shooting the old horse.