Wright Might Not Fold His Hand Quickly
April 5th, 2013
It’s obvious that Greg Schiano and rockstar general manager Mark Dominik get some sort of bizarre comfort from having Eric Wright on the roster, kind of like Joe knowing a pudgy-yet-cute babe is easily accessible during the wee hours of a Saturday morning.
Nobody can convince Joe that Wright is reliable, durable, fast, hard-hitting or irreplaceable. Joe will give Wright versatile and overpaid. That’s about it. But the New Schiano Order seemingly wants to keep Wright around and get him to remain a Buccaneer at a reduced price — way under the $7.75 million due him in 2013.
One would think the Bucs hold all the cards on Wright, since they could cut him just before the season starts and only have had to pay him 2013 workout and attendance bonuses, and miniscule cash for preseason games. So it’s easy to assume Wright might jump at a chance to take a restructured contract from the Bucs. However, various media reported Wright was in Tampa this week to meet with the Bucs brass but left without a new contract.
That got Joe thinking of Wright’s interview on the former 1010AM with JP Peterson, shortly after Wright signed with the Bucs a year ago.
Peterson asked Wright about what he would do with his new giant payday, and Wright laughed and said he and his wife are very conservative with their money and would put the cash in the bank and live off interest. Wright said he had nothing to purchase. Jumping ahead a year, in a recent blog post, Wright explained that his offseason has just been about hanging out with his wife and living a simple life waiting for their first child’s birth.
So this got Joe thinking that Wright is hardly desperate to make a deal with the Bucs at a reduced price. He’s not hurting for cash after banking $5 million or so last year (after suspension), and six NFL seasons.
The longer Wright waits, the more desperate the Bucs might become to restructure his contract in a way that benefits Wright, or, if Wright won’t restructure and forces the Bucs to cut him or trade him, then he’s got to know there are strong odds he’ll find work with a team that lost a cornerback to a preseason injury and/or is flat out desperate.
After all, the Bucs seemingly have scouted Wright to be a top cornerback, given the fact they passed on every free agent CB to date and paid Wright a king’s ransom in 2012. Perhaps, Wright, believes he’s a valuable commodity, as well.
April 5th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
A deal would not have been done anyway. Negotiations are handled by his agent.
The meeting was more of an exploratory meeting to lay out what the Bucs are thinking vs what Wright is thinking.
April 5th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Wright does want to play for the Bucs though, especially with his buddy here now. But he is not talking about whether he’s willing to take a pay got if he stays.
Truth be told, Wright does have more power than people think. The Bucs options are:
– Give up the farm for Revis (not going to happen)
– Draft multiple starting CBs and have no vets, cut Wright
– Or keep Wright and draft a starting CB and a potential starter, keep all picks.
My question is this…if the Bucs, who have plenty of cap space this year, decide to keep him at his current salary, will they be able to cut him next year to save cap space?
Because if so, I’m thinking he’ll get one more chance.
April 5th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
lots of suppositions there, joe
April 5th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
This seems kind of weenie on the part of the Bucs. They went all-in on a guy they shouldn’t have, and are now trying to weasel their way out of a dumb move. Buyer’s remorse.
He took Adderall yes, but it’s not like he was caught crucifying puppies or something. Lots of people take this medicine and in fact he might need it medically were it not for football.
They either need to accept him with the deal they had, or cut the guy. Humiliating him with a renegotiated contract will only breed insurrection.
April 5th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Look – Im not the biggest Wright fan (if that) but I will say he is not the scrap heap of the CBs in the league. After all he did get an INT for a TD versus the Giants (hell of a play too). But paired with Revis (potentially) and the best safety tandem in football there is no reason to think we cannot have a better secondary with keeping him.
Reduce his pay and keep him onboard and hopefully with better coaching, more time in the system, and better players we can be successful.
April 5th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
@ zam
So you believe he “only” took Adderall??? You know he could say whatever he wanted. The NFL won’t release what he actually was caught with in his system. The players aren’t stupid. People like you will take it easy on them if they come out and claim Adderall instead of, for instance, steroids. I can’t take his word for it. It could be anything.
April 5th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
I said this at the beginning. Wright does not have to agree to a salary cut. He could make the Bucs pay him his current salary or get cut and walk away.
April 5th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Zam, Where do I start with that statement? No one knows if it was adderall or something else. Yes the Bucs screwed up giving him more money than he’s worth but this is a business and they found a way to correct a major mistake they made last offseason. No way they pay him the full 7.75. If the Bucs give him more than 3 million this year, Dominik is the worst negotiator I’ve ever seen.
April 5th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
@4everbucsfan
So if they cut Wright what do you think another team would offer him? Think about the cornerback market and the off field problems Wright has had. He would NEVER get more than 3 mil a year
April 5th, 2013 at 1:10 pm
I don’t get all the hate for Wright. Compared to this year’s (not so) stellar Free Agent Class of cornerbacks, he’s worth keeping. He’s not a pot head. He made a mistake. I’m willing to give him one. Teamed with Revis, he is more than serviceable.
April 5th, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Interesting article to say the least. Bottom line, who cares. I only care about a winning season and don’t care if it’s Snow White and one of the 7 Dwarfs playing CB to get them there.
April 5th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
@Zam
I think you are pretty close to being right on this. Most people on here want to punish Wright either by cutting him or drasticly reducing his pay. The problem is, that is cutting off your nose to spite your face. He is a decent corner, as good as any in FA this year. Even if he is overpaid, he is currently on the team and with him on the roster the CB talent deficit is a lot smaller. It makes sense for the Bucs to work with his agent and find an acceptable salary to both parties. Even if that is equal to last years aggreement without the bonus and let him compete another year. If new CBs we pick up in the draft can unseat him, then great, we are the better. Last I checked, us fans are not managing the checkbook but we are paying money to see the team play so I say if Eric Wright makes the team better, and allows us to focus on other needs, than by all means figure out a way to keep him.
April 5th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
I totally agree with so many of the comments above. All have merit. I think the Bucs can find an adequate replacement, whether it be an old vet with one or two more years in the tank or a draft pick (s) and play cornerback by committee. What I hate is to be held hostage by a player that was willing to seek legal action against his team. Give him an offer if he takes, fine, if no screw him and move on. There are a lot of players that would love to have his opportunity.
April 5th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
@BuccaneersBonzai – Amazing how you seem certain Wright met with the Bucs without his agent or an agent representative there in person, or on the phone.
April 5th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
No way Wright ‘banked’ 5 mil last year. After paying his agent fee and taxes, he’s lucky if he banked half that. That 2 to 3 mil he lost in suspension hurt.
My guess it they agree to a restructure for much lower guaranteed money and a good deal of incentives for more cash to help keep wright focused on a quality product. This can still work to the benefit of all.
April 5th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Believe or not wright has all the leverage right now . . . He should be smart to rework his contract now rather then force the bucs to find is replacement via the draft or trade and take what they are offering away . . . But on the side if revis falls thru and draft ends up with another Myron Lewis Dom is going to have to pay the man . . . Risk for both sides
April 5th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
Btw I read Milner is having a medical recheck any idea what is for . . . Also is his draft stock going to fall?
April 5th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Pay the man, trade next years #1 for Revis, draft a DT at 13 and we are on our way to the playoffs!
April 5th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Revis will be a Buc and we won’t be giving up the farm yo get him. We have the upper hand. The Jets have no choice but to accept what we are willing to offer or be stuck with nothing in return when he walks next season. As for Wright, he’ll end up restructuring soon enough. You’ll see.
April 5th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
We will keep Wright on the roster until the first regular season game(I think he doesn’t get that guaranteed money if we cut him before the season starts). This will give us time to see if we get Revis(which I believe we will) and if the CBs we draft our capable of jumping in and starting right away. Keeping him on the roster will also give us the chance that someone desperate wants to trade for him(Wright) do to injury before the season starts.
April 5th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
If both parties are interested in each other a deal will be struck before he is allowed to practice. This was just a first meeting to see what everybody is looking for. Eric and his agent knows the minute he restructures, he is instantly more tradable.
Robert Louis Stevenson said that “compromise is the best and cheapest lawyer”. It’s in the best interest of both parties to get something done. Will just take a little longer!
April 5th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Wright is a terrible cornerback. He was absolutely torched last year- worse than Biggers!
The Bucs are only interested, because they think he will sign dirt cheap- and that is( and has been)their major concern. They will sign a couple big names, everybody else is a minimum wage guy. It’s the” Culverhouse classic”- sign or draft a good QB. Don’t give him any line, RBs, or WRs. People will come to see him- yet you still pay league lowest payroll
Who said Wright did Adderall?? As another poster said- the league never reveals. Wright is just throwing out the least offensive. It is just as likely Cocaine or heroine. Don’t trust Wright- he’s the druggy!!!
April 5th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
yea like Wright is really going to tell you or anybody else what he has done with that 5 million or how he really spends his money. pshh. for all we know he could be a spendthrift. your over-thinking it Joe. you were right the first time when you said the bucs hold all the cards.
the premise that the bucs would be desperate to sign Wright would only be valid if the bucs had no other options other than Wright, and that clearly is not the case. theres Revis and CBs from the draft.
April 5th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Wright will force our hand, and I can’t blame him.
I was screaming for us to pick up a Free Agent CB- Sean Smith (Better and Cheaper).
The Buc’s brass have a plan in mind, and I am certain this scenario was planned/expected. I just hope we can make the most of the situation and get Wright at a discount.
Wright should be eager to “prove it” at a discount.
April 5th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Wright would be no big loss if it comes to that.
April 5th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
@Andrew1 – The Bucs can’t bank on the corners they want being there (in multiples especially) in the draft. Nobody knows whether and/or when there will be a run on cornerbacks. … Same goes for Revis. We’re talking about the unpredictable Jets here and, news flash, it’s still unknown whether Revis wants to play here long term. … Myron Lewis was a third-rounder in a deep draft, as well.
April 5th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
@ Joe
“The Bucs can’t bank on the corners they want being there”
and I say beggars cant be choosers. at some point there going to have to pickup CBs whether its the ones they like or not.
April 5th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
The players aren’t stupid. Well there goes the excuse for Bowers. Stupid mistake. Let’s call Wright a liar again (he proved you wrong once already)and say it was a stronger drug. So we have another player who broke the LAW and carried a firearm which he packed into an airport. So let’s hope the justice system works. Maybe he will get some time. Bowers was not Stupid.
April 5th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Thanks joe just drives home what I was saying . . . Also getting revis risk no qb next year what I have been saying since revis talk start up I think Dom will be married to free and hope Aj falls which I don’t see happening either way I think free will take us to playoffs with some holes filled in this year and a great daft again. .. Not sure on Super Bowl thru
April 5th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
On a side note Rutgers is going thru some stuff any word from Greg?
April 5th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
add-
chances are those same CBs are going to be better than Wright.
April 5th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Does he always have to be “rockstar” general manager?
April 5th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
I truly hope whoever we draft is better but it is not a shoe in , lets not forget last year when we picked wright everyone was pumped up his talent is great but now the same people are against him because he got popped for a banned substance that doesn’t change his talent level and he should be given a second chance I personally think he is talented and will play better this year
April 5th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Justin:
Yes.
April 5th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
@ Sunny
I agree. if we can keep him at a discount price Im all for it. but if he thinks he can hamstring us for more money because the bucs are desperate for a CBs or because he thinks he can get a better deal elsewhere, tell him to take a hike. the bucs are not going to be bullied into signing anyone. we will take are chances without him.
April 5th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
We are not resigning him just let him play out a year old contract
April 5th, 2013 at 3:45 pm
For me this offseason will be a big tell wether he has rockstar status the revis is a big tell and also if he can a great draft because that tells him he has learned for his mistakes . . . Also its not just getting revis but what we give up
April 5th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
The Bucs don’t want to scrap a guy they tried to get for two years and Wright knows the Bucs have done nothing to address the CB position. If the Bucs signed at least one free agent, Wright wouldn’t have any leverage. I would think there’s some animosity between the two sides considering the Bucs will scrap his contract and Wright tried and failed to have the contract upheld.
April 5th, 2013 at 5:32 pm
We need this guy but it might not be that cheap.Possibly 4-5M per for 2 years.
April 5th, 2013 at 10:13 pm
Joe, calling the other Joe a “pudgy yet cute babe” in front of everyone is not cool.