Nicks Is A No-Show For Training Camp
July 24th, 2014
Lovie Smith says Carl Nicks is excused for personal reasons today, the start of Bucs training camp. Things come up in life, said the head coach. “It doesn’t concern me,” Lovie said.
This surely comes as a surprise.
Last night, Bucs general manager Jason Licht told Joe and assembled media that he expected every Buccaneer to report for training camp this morning and be ready to participate. He specifically mentioned Nicks.
So what happened? Joe doesn’t want to speculate. But it’s a darn bad sign, for either Nicks’ Bucs future, or for something in Nicks’ personal life.
Joe learned last month that Nicks lives full-time in Tampa with his family. So Joe doubts this was any case of a missed flight or a bizarre transportation issue.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
Fudge!!!!!!!!! That is a bad sign! I am afraid since he is getting paid no matter what, his playing days are over.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
Just cut the guy already him and bowers its time to move on I know there grade a talent but they just dont have foootball skin….
July 24th, 2014 at 12:29 pm
The first day is always like a circus so they probably agreed to let him off realizing the media blitz that would swallow him up on his first day of camp. Bet he sneaks in tomorrow.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Yesterday Rick stroud tweeted that Carl nicks had been running at one buc place and was cleared to practice. Maybe something came up with his newborn. Family first in all situations!
July 24th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
Maybe his hotel room wasn’t large enough for his toe.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
So what is going on today Joe? ..Is it all walkthroughs and classes? Does the media have access today?
July 24th, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Not a good sign at all. If I remember correctly the last time a player was excused for personal reasons around this time, Price had a family tragedy. Hopefully it’s nothing that serious and he’ll be back in soon.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Neither. Physicals and other stuff like that relating to reporting to training camp, which begins tomorrow.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Sgt. Hulka, aka: The Big Toe, needed another day off.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:40 pm
Benefit of the doubt. We will find out eventually anyway.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
I’m guessing Nicks will get in for a few plays a game in regular season. Or that could be too optimistic. This had to be an old injury known to NO, dumped on Tampa, it figures.
July 24th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
Why wouldn’t Nicks live in Tampa? Loves fishing and The Big Toe does too.
Basically, Dominik funded Nicks’ retirement so why not live down here, great climate, good fishing, no state income tax and great view from the skyboxes.
July 24th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Joe
I don’t know if Carl Nicks has a family with young kids, but if he does, something could have happened with them that caused this. Since we don’t know the reason yet, we should not guess at what it could be. More important to me is that Lovie said he was excused for personal reasons. If Lovie is a straight shooter, than I believe him.
thanks again for taking us through the desert of no NFL football again. You and all the Joes do it so well.
July 24th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
Since the end of last season Nicks has been saying he’s going to be ready for training camp.
Well????
July 24th, 2014 at 1:16 pm
So he has been seen running? Carl Nicks sightings are starting to be like Bigfoot sightings (no pun intended).
July 24th, 2014 at 1:26 pm
From Rick Stroud on Twitter:
#Bucs G Carl Nicks has been running at One Buc Place and cleared to practice to this point. Has to pass physical Wed and needs conditioning
Don’t (yet) despair Buc fans!
July 24th, 2014 at 1:29 pm
i agree with SAMCRO. You’ll see him there tomorrow.
July 24th, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Does anyone here realistically expect this to turn out well?
July 24th, 2014 at 1:48 pm
We’ve waited this long already… what’s the big deal at this point?
July 24th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Obviously it could be nothing, but I’m having a really hard time making myself believe that. It just seems like it’s one thing after another. There’s no way we can count on him – better make some alternate plans, and quickly.
July 24th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Must not have been pay day at One Buc, cuz you can damn sure bet Nicks would have been there if it were.
July 24th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
The REAL TRUTH ON CARL NICKS:
Gerald McCoy got his bathrobe and Nicks had nothing to wear to camp.
He’ll be in tomorrow when McCoy sends the bathrobe back.
July 24th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
I’m sorry, but what are the press doing down in Tampa? One of the biggest mysteries for this preseason (Nicks) is excused for “personal reasons”, and NO ONE in the press follows up with a specific question to understand if the absence is: 1) family related; 2) physical in nature; 3) Other?
That’s pathetic. Everyone must be kissing up to the new regime. That is the obvious question to ask, which can and should be answered with general descriptions so as not to reveal anything more than necessary.
Pretty sure everyone is worried it is #2. Would have liked reassurances that it is not.
July 24th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Give Carl time! You have any idea how much time it takes to change a tire on a big rig?
July 24th, 2014 at 2:41 pm
Great Job Tampa media. Are you kidding me? NO ONE in the room thought of or had the guts to follow up with a question asking for something more specific than “personal reasons” for being excused? Was it injury related? Was it family related? Other general reason?
Kind of an important thing to know given it’s Nicks.
Weak sauce Tampa media.
July 24th, 2014 at 2:47 pm
Personal reasons = retirement plan. At least they’d be off the hook for that 8 million dollar guarantee this year.
July 24th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
BC:
It is family related.
July 24th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
Maybe he left for L.A. last week and Obamas motorcade wouldn’t let him leave town.
July 24th, 2014 at 4:16 pm
@BC,
If you watch the press conference, it was very obvious Lovie wasn’t going to give any further info. He actually said something to the effect of he didn’t know exactly what was going on. Do you really want the Tampa media to be like the New York media and badger a coach to death? Lovie isn’t going to give up the reason no matter what, so all they are going to do is piss him off.
By watching the press conference, I certainly get the sense that Lovie has had just about enough of this. I could be reading the situation wrong, but that’s just my take from his body language and tone. I can’t imagine any scenario where he’s happy with Nicks being absent. If this truly is a family issue that requires him to be there, then I’m all for him taking care of his family. I’ve been supportive of Nicks all along, but it’s about time he starts showing up – regardless of whether he is physically able to practice or not.
July 24th, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Enough Already! Nicks…. Come to work or Quit! I know they say you have a “reason.” Guess what! There is a reason why the sky is blue. There is a reason for EVERYTHING! Having a reason is no big deal. What is a BIG DEAL is once again…… You didn’t show up for work!
July 25th, 2014 at 12:55 am
Lets jus get over the fact that he’s never gonna play again.
July 25th, 2014 at 1:45 am
Might be time to see what San Fran wants for Boone. As usual us Bucs fans are waiting to see if we have a competent QB, going to be harder if the O line is a revolving door. Go Bucs…and Beer!!!!!
July 25th, 2014 at 9:32 am
And (drum roll)… Rick Stroud tweeted this morning that (wait for it)… “Don’t be surprised if Carl Nicks is excused from training camp again today for personal reasons”.
If it happens, and nothing more specific is given from the Bucs that it is family related or non – injury related, then we can all move on from Carl. Over.
July 25th, 2014 at 9:40 am
That’s how I feel.