Bucs Prepping To Eat Tom Brady’s $35 Million Cap Pain While Chasing Jimmy Garoppolo
February 12th, 2023
GM Jason Licht
The chess game is in full swing at One Buc Palace.
That was the message on NFL Network today from one of their top reporters.
Mike Garafolo was on a Super Bowl gameday set today talking about how the Bucs’ priority is to “get their books in order.” As fans know, Tampa Bay is roughly $50 million over the salary cap for 2023, even with a bunch of big-name free agents getting ready to hit the open market: Lavonte David, Logan Ryan, Jamel Dean and more.
Among that $50 million deficit is a $35 million cap charge for Tom Brady, who will not be playing this season.
Garafolo says the Bucs will not try to maneuver with Brady to get out of the cap hit for 2023.
“This has been the plan for a couple of years,” Garafolo said, pay three seasons of debt to the salary cap piper but still compete for a Super Bowl.
“They will be in the veteran quarterback market,” Garafolo said of the Bucs. “Jimmy Garoppolo is one of the players that they like but they just may not have the finances to get it done.”
Man, Joe wants no part of perpetually injured and relatively immobile Garoppolo at 32 years old with the Bucs having a weak running game.
February 12th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
Agree!
February 12th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
Agreed! Trask time! Keep the core and let’s try to maintain NFC South crown!
Go Bucs!
February 12th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Absolutely agree with Joe. Garoppolo isnt even a good qb when healthy let alone the fact that he cant stay healthy. The 49ers had a GREAT running game and defense. The Bucs will have neither. Why give millions we cant afford to a guy who may not be better than Trask.
February 12th, 2023 at 2:59 pm
At his best Garappolo is an addition to a good run game. He would look horrid here. Let’s see if Trask can surprise us.
February 12th, 2023 at 2:59 pm
So in other words. He asked someone if they like him and they said yes. So now this. Next it will be he asked someone if they liked Carr and it will be yes. So what’s new? Anything with these guys to generate a story with a team looking for a player.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Let Trask have his shot!
February 12th, 2023 at 3:10 pm
This just click bait. Got to keep people coming back with season over. Stay tuned for the next episode of “The Days of Bucs Lives”….
February 12th, 2023 at 3:11 pm
The Bucs are not going to tell these clowns what their plans are. Just more BS to shut them up and get them to go away. If you owned a team would you?
February 12th, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Last year Joe was beating the drum hard for Jimmy Garbage during the brief Brady retirement. Glad to see it will not be the same this Brady retirement time around.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:13 pm
Hard pass! Much rather see what Trask can do and be able to re-sign some guys. Garrapolo will get hurt and all his cap space will be wasted. Look at the Eagles. In the Super Bowl with a QB on a rookie contract
February 12th, 2023 at 3:13 pm
I would vote carr or trask. I don’t think anyone else available will be worth the cost (garoppolo, lamar, baker, darnold, jones, geno). Carr can fit this team imo.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:15 pm
With Colts expected to hire Eagles OC for the their HC. Bucs lost the opp to hire Brian Johnson for their OC.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Glass Joe. Some stupid team will pay Jimmy G. Though. Hope the hell it ain’t us. Not even sure the guy loves football, but the dollars that come with it. He’ll go to the highest bidder. Probably the morons running the commanders. Perfect fit.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:20 pm
Carr or roll with Trask!
February 12th, 2023 at 3:22 pm
Lamar will be franchised. If he signs it or not is the question. He maybe done with the ravens. In that case the bucs don’t have the fire power to aquire him. He’ll command multiple first rounder’s via sign and trade. I want nothing to do with carr either. Trask is what we’ll get. They must at least attempt to justify the pick. Clean the books and shoot for spending in 24.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Please NO Jimmy G!!!!
That is all.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:26 pm
I say leave for Trask or Gabbert. I would like to see Trask be amazing but you have to give him a shot.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
Why in the world would you actually want Garoppolo? Carr is not a good QB, but even he’s better than Garoppolo.
Just use 2023 to clean up the cap and gear up to be competitive in 2024. The last thing the Bucs need is to get Garoppolo, then be locked into this guy for years. Yes, Jimmy G can be a very boring game manager and win if we had the 2002 Bucs defense, but we don’t have the 2002 defense, not even the 2020 defense. We have a defense that is about to fall off a cliff, and the solution is to add a QB who can’t move the ball or score points?
I’ll take my chances with Trask, who I don’t think is any good, but at least you got something to look forward (hopefully the #1 pick in the 2024 draft).
February 12th, 2023 at 3:30 pm
NO!!!!!!!!
February 12th, 2023 at 3:33 pm
# Crumble 4 Caleb!
February 12th, 2023 at 3:34 pm
So the new OC will have no say in the Qb he’s calling plays for, sounds like a good plan. I doubt this is true and just media speculation. However, if Garrapollo is the qb then you can tan expect a complete rebuild next offseason starting with Licht
February 12th, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Sorry, but I want to keep as many of our players as possible. Jimmy G signing
would make holes somewhere else on the team.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
If we had a losing season with Tom Brady coupled with a miserable blowout playoff game…..what makes anyone think we will do better with Jimmy G?
Save the money, get our damn house in order….go with Trask and hope for the best.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:37 pm
Jimmy G is Perfect!
With we can be assured a 2-15 season!
He fits the Bowels plan Perfectly!
February 12th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
Speaking of boring… why do I have zero interest in this Super Bowl? I think it’s because we know the Eagles are a joke. This is the same team the Bucs destroyed in the playoffs last year, and we know the NFC is incredibly weak (beating a 3rd and 4th string QB, including one who literally couldn’t throw the ball is not impressive). Then on the other side, I think the Chiefs are pretty good, but with Mahomes nowhere near 100%, and a defense that isn’t all that good, you just assume the stupid Eagles will win this pretty easily, and they’d be one of the worst teams ever to win a SB.
It’s sickening we have such garbage coaches, because the Bucs could be playing today if Arians had stuck around. The only team that would have beaten the Bucs would have been the 49ers, but when you’re down to playing Josh Freeman’s backup, and even he is knocked out, I think the Bucs can handle that team (well an Arians coached Bucs, a Bowles and Leftwich coached Bucs would lose by 30).
Last year, after the Bucs destroyed the Eagles, I had a ton of fun listening to Eagles sports talk radio and podcasts, all those same morons today saying Hurts got robbed and should have been MVP, last year were saying the Eagles would never win with him and he needed to be cut. Now these idiots are going to get a SB because everyone they play keeps getting hurt.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Time to start getting younger at key positions. Try out Trask and grab Hooker. Get an OC with the promise that if he can show he is good than he gets the keys to build next year.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Vlad The Impaler Says:
February 12th, 2023 at 3:37 pm
Jimmy G is Perfect!
With we can be assured a 2-15 season!
He fits the Bowels plan Perfectly!
————
That’s the downside, is that the Bucs would be more like a 6-11 team. So now you’re not getting a top QB in the draft, you’re back to drafting a safety or corner and then stuck with Jimmy G for another year, where you’re doomed to go 6-11 again.
That’s why you go with Trask. If he stinks, great, he gets you the top pick in 2024. If he’s great, then fantastic, you got a QB of the future. Meanwhile there is absolutely no upside with Jimmy G.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:46 pm
I think we go Mayfield, Trask and draft another QB to compete. We need three QBs and any guy taken in the mid/late rds will come cheap.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:47 pm
I also want to give Trask a shot and would like to hire the eagles QB coach as OC (Trask’s former OC). However it looks like the Colts are going to hire the eagles OC as their next HC so we may have to compete with the eagles for The QB coach Johnson. I think for him if he has a chance to be the eagles OC he will take it unless team Glazer pays him more.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:51 pm
LOLOL @ Mayfield
That’s even better than Jimmy G:
We could hopefully run the table backwards w Mayfield and Bowels as a duo!!
0-17
February 12th, 2023 at 3:52 pm
@Rod
Very interesting take and probably true
(although I don’t think the iggles are that bad. They’re very good.)
February 12th, 2023 at 3:53 pm
Nooooooo to Jimmy G.
That is all.
PS. No.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:53 pm
If Brady doesn’t re-do his contract to save cap space the bucs will be in bad shape this season. The money has already been paid to Brady it’s really just an accounting issue that can be fixed or spread out. The bucs will need to renegotiate a lot of contracts to get under the cap.
February 12th, 2023 at 3:54 pm
Agree that I’m beginning to accept the Trask idea
(after sadness, anger and denial)
February 12th, 2023 at 3:55 pm
Address last season and what the plan is going forward…. Isn’t that what leaders do?
Sean Payton has already made some noise in Denver
Zip from ANYONE at OBP
the owners…. Silence
The GM …Silence
The Head coach …. Silence
The most bizarre chapter in Buccaneers history is overflowing into the next
Take the BIG cap hit, trade ANY player who returns a comparable value in draft picks
This is going to be a very very painful year and this time next will be even worse
February 12th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
It’s amazing how these fools continue to say something without saying anything worth news. How do they know jimmy g is a target? Crickets there and if they are cap strapped like he says they can’t afford him. Duh who doesn’t know that?
February 12th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Joe is cool af 😂
February 12th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Mike Garafolo, lol.
Jason will leave no stone unturned, but Jimmy G will not be a Buc.
He actually IS a good QB…but as mentioned…injuries. Unless he signs for $5m, it ain’t happening.
I hope he is right about eating the 35m though.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
I’ll start I’m mobile.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:04 pm
Bro… we are not winning any Super Bowls with Jimmy Garoppolo 😂😂 That’s a complete waste of money. The 49ers literally made it to the NFC Championship game with their THIRD string starting quarterback! That means Jimmy Garoppolo is a system quarterback and if we had an OC as good as Kyle Shanahan then we wouldn’t need Jimmy Garoppolo
February 12th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Brady already earned all his cash by winning us another Super Bowl
Pay the man and work on fixing something else other than the QB position
February 12th, 2023 at 4:07 pm
Yeah. No reason to waste more cap space on Jimmy G.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:11 pm
Unless he comes in as a veteran back-up with a similar salary to Blaine Gabbert. No dice.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:12 pm
I mean. We say roll with Trask. But since our GM and possibly HC don’t see it that way, you have to wonder if they really believe he has what it takes. To me, this just says that there aren’t a lot of good choices in the situation.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
I’ll take Jimmy G over Trask any day.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
We have to eat the $35 million. Which should mean GQ is not within our budget. Licht needs hire Brian Johnson and we will see how Trask can do. It’s the only feasible option.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
I don’t mind starting trask – at least it will stop people pretending that he’s the answer.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:22 pm
If we are going for a veteran I’d go Mayfield he’s gives us a chance to go to the playoffs and still pay a minimal cost. If not go with Trask and see what we can make of it.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:27 pm
Gabbert.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:27 pm
Yes, listen to the local morons! Draft AR15 and let him and Trask fight it out! That way I can hate them like you all did Jameis.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Jason is right where he was when he went with the short term fix bringing in Bruce Arians and then Brady… he bought a lucky scratch off and he brought in another Lombardi
Jason is right where he was…
Yugo warranty has expired and he is upside down for the deal he made
February 12th, 2023 at 4:38 pm
Hey Tony, if you don’t like the content on here you do know you have the option of reading something else or you could just keep playing Candy Crush.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:55 pm
Vlad The Impaler Says:
February 12th, 2023 at 3:52 pm
@Rod
Very interesting take and probably true
(although I don’t think the iggles are that bad. They’re very good.)
—–
Well, I don’t think they’re bad – I think they’re a good team, but just not a SB caliber team, but they literally got every break possible to get this far. Hopefully the Chiefs can destroy them tonight, that would be awesome, but I know it isn’t going to happen.
February 12th, 2023 at 5:01 pm
They need to cut some salaries and cut some players… But not ME13 or LVD. They need to go with Trask and if they don’t truly believe in him, draft another QB. Don’t pay big money for a vet. Why? They’re not going to the Super Bowl the next two years.
Seriously, you’re going to bring in a vet that cost a ton of money and is a lesser quarterback than Tom Brady and put lesser talent around him and think it’s going to be better? Don’t waste the money.
February 12th, 2023 at 5:03 pm
They sold out to be competitive, and we got a Super Bowl out of it. We can’t argue with that. We have to take the lumps for the next two years while they get it in order.
February 12th, 2023 at 5:05 pm
After reading…Brian Johnson will be teh next eagles OC
He is a pipe dream.
Hes not coming here.
This franchise has such bad luck
February 12th, 2023 at 5:08 pm
The realistic veteran QB market for the Bucs includes Blaine Gabbert, Jacoby Brissett, Baker Mayfield, but not Jimmy G, who is always hurt and more expensive than the other options.
February 12th, 2023 at 5:14 pm
No, no, 1,000 times no to Garappolo! That would be a horrific waste of money. Let’s see what Trask has. If he’s great, we have our QB for the next ten years. If he stinks, we’re primed for a great QB in the 2024 draft and please fire Bowels!
February 12th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
David… true it’s lumps time
I am willing to break the mold that has always been used , try and muddle through the rebuild with a mix of old fan favorites that are waisting their talent helping a rebuild team that ain’t gonna to the postseason. I just don’t see that formula working ever!
Example Tristan Wrifs is not going to be a waisted talent on this team but could be something special for a team ready to challenge next year . Same with ME . Get something for the Bucs future for him.
Put together a younger team that can play and grow together, so in 3 years from now the Bucs roster could be set up for a multi year run.
February 12th, 2023 at 5:29 pm
Jimmy G is good for 6 games before he goes on his annual IR vacation. Simply not worth it. Terrible waste of money especially in light of the Bucs horrible Cap situation.
February 12th, 2023 at 5:32 pm
1st Magnitude Bowles Blunder incoming. HAHAHA!
February 12th, 2023 at 5:38 pm
They are tanking the year and letting Bowles go down with the ship.
February 12th, 2023 at 5:41 pm
As long as our Bucs have Evans and Godwin , they can make Kyle Trask a good QB . Oline will be healthy , and hopefully we can get a good OC . We’re still the best team in the South. Go Bucs
February 12th, 2023 at 5:50 pm
The Puppy Bowl is friggin’ epic this year. Did you see that Jack Russell score that TD? Or how about Deion Doberman snaggin’ his third pick-six of the game?
Puppy Bowl is what’s up. Oh, there’s actual football today? I’ll tune in to the SB after I see who won the Puppy Bowl.
February 12th, 2023 at 6:19 pm
Joe says: Man, Joe wants no part of perpetually injured and relatively immobile Garoppolo at 32 years old with the Bucs having a weak running game.
February 12th, 2023 at 6:19 pm
oops meant to say I agree with Joe completely on this no garopolo
February 12th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
I am trying to think of a Super Bowl that I cared less about. I can’t think of any.
I hope the ratings tank.
Speaking of tanking, Jimmy G is the master of it. If the Bucs are serious about him, you will get a game manager who gets you through half of the season before something breaking on his glass structure. In big games, get ready for panic pick 6s and Steph Curry set shots out of the pocket while in the grasp of sackers.
I much prefer Jimmy GQ to Derek Loser Carr. But that is not saying much. There are many other options in FA better than both.
February 12th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Anybody can win a SB in this era of crap teams including the Eagles and Chiefs. The Bucs D is top 10-15 and would have been statistically better if the offense had scored at least 23 points. Jimmy G can win here.
February 12th, 2023 at 6:25 pm
How do you geniuses know it wasn’t Shanahan’s scheme that was getting QB’s injured?
February 12th, 2023 at 6:45 pm
At halftime of the Puppy Bowl, team Fluff was tied with Team Ruff all knotted up at 35 apiece. But in the second half, team Fluff ended up victorious in this highly-contested centerpiece, winning by a score of 87-83.
Deion “Prime Time Sanders” Doberman was the MVP, with an astonishing 5 pick-sixes to account for half of team Fluff’s scoring explosion.
February 12th, 2023 at 7:35 pm
I would rather them just go with Trask and take care of the cap to make a push either next year or the year after gonna have to nail the draft Jason.
February 12th, 2023 at 7:37 pm
I want all the parts of Jimmy G. Nothing to lose, a lot to gain. Can say what you want about the guy but he’s a proven winner.
February 12th, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Jimmy G won’t last pass 6 games !!
February 12th, 2023 at 8:17 pm
Oneil, have you spoken with Winston lately?
Ask him if he’d consider a return to Tampa.
What do you think?
#PatheticDesperation
February 12th, 2023 at 8:23 pm
Jameis is considered wash up
I sports vernacular
February 12th, 2023 at 8:42 pm
Chasing Jimmy G? The same Jimmy G that’s missed 43 games combined the last 6 seasons? That MFer Jimmy G, the only SB appearance he’s ever played significant time in and threw an INT in crunch time Jimmy G? Jimmy G that is the prime example of the irrational credit *some* QBs get for being on teams with championship caliber defenses and plenty of weapons on offense? I’m usually pro-Jason Licht, but Jimmy G is mall kiosk gold.
February 12th, 2023 at 9:02 pm
mark2001 Says
“I mean. We say roll with Trask. But since our GM and possibly HC don’t see it that way…”
What makes you think they do not agree?
Surely you are not taking the word of a media guy, are you?
February 12th, 2023 at 9:03 pm
It’s bull, people. Seriously…lol…
February 12th, 2023 at 9:25 pm
Damn call it what it is a rebuild. Get younger start Trask and fix the cap.
February 12th, 2023 at 9:43 pm
these super bowl qbs are mobile. Trask and G are statues.
February 12th, 2023 at 10:31 pm
Eat the cap and roll with Mayfield and Trask. As long as Bowles is the coach it’s a lost season. BTW, the refs just gifted KC a SB trophy.
February 12th, 2023 at 10:39 pm
suh
February 12th, 2023 at 11:00 pm
I’d take Gabbert before Garrapolo at this point.
February 12th, 2023 at 11:03 pm
1st pic in draft in 24-25-26
February 12th, 2023 at 11:19 pm
Bucs new Super Bowl plan: wait until Mahomes turns 43 and sign him in free agency.
February 12th, 2023 at 11:24 pm
Some of you should not call yourselves Bucs fans, lol.
February 13th, 2023 at 6:27 am
I think given the opportunity Trask can be a good qb. He will need a running game to take the pressure off of him and a good defense wouldn’t hurt either.
February 13th, 2023 at 7:55 am
Garrapolo is not the athletic quarterback everybody seems to want. Doesn’t have a great arm, but what he does do is he wins football games. He has one of the highest winning percentages among NFL quarterbacks
February 13th, 2023 at 7:18 pm
I just don’t understand how they say they will eat 35 million and still be competitive next year? Can’t trust Todd to coach up a weak roster and you can’t trust Jason to draft well.
February 13th, 2023 at 9:45 pm
If we’re going to suck, at least be interesting…Trask didn’t even dress for the games last season and would be a bore to watch.
At least sign a name that would spark interest outside of gator fans
February 15th, 2023 at 3:47 am
The amount of people ripping on Jimmy is hilarious and proof you let the media do the thinking for you. He may not have the best arm, which requires him to throw under the middle a lot. In 2019 he was firet in YPA, 4th qtr comebacks, and 3rd down efficiency, #4 in completion percentage, and tied for 5th in TDs. In 2022 he was the third highest rated passer. Has s good run game add defense? So did Joe Montana and Steve Young. Not a crime. But the times he did have to put the team in his back and drop back he was incredibly efficient. You are basing your entire opinion of him on what you sew in two games and the rest on what other people who saw him in two games have said. What he lacks as a passer he makes up for in leadership. He was mentored by the best, after all, and is the ONLY person Belichick was willing to give starting QB money to ride the bench.
February 15th, 2023 at 3:55 am
I’ve seen countless people say ANYONE can win with the weapons the Niners have, yet only two have proven capable and only one who has adequate game film to prepare for. Richard Sherman know QBs, and he almost never praised Russ. This season we learned he was right. He never has a bad thing to say about Jimmy, and constantly praises him, and you think you know better because you saw a few bad plays? You could do a lot worse than Jimmy G. I’m pissed we are letting him walk.