Barber Takes A Pay Cut
March 31st, 2012
Aqib Talib is a better cornerback than Eric Wright. Ronde Barber is an icon and future Hall of Famer coming off a solid season. But Wright’s the guy who got a monster contract while Barber took a pay cut and will earn more than Talib.
Yeah, Joe understands the business of the NFL, but it’s still a wacky league.
Per ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas, Barber signed for 25 percent less than he earned in 2012.
This contract is very simple. Barber is scheduled to earn $3 million in base salary. He didn’t get any signing bonus and there are no other frills in the contract. He’ll count $3 million against this year’s salary cap.
Joe wonders whether Barber’s kicking himself for not demanding a two-year deal before 2011.
Yasinskas notes that after re-signing Demar Dotson the Bucs have about $15 million in salary cap room remaining.
Hopefully that’s enough to sign their draft picks, plus buy a safety, running back depth, a veteran linebacker that can lead, and a versatile veteran defensive tackle.
March 31st, 2012 at 8:36 am
Cutting Q.Black im sure would help free up some cap space.
March 31st, 2012 at 8:48 am
“Hopefully that’s enough to sign their draft picks, plus buy a safety, running back depth, a veteran linebacker that can lead, and a versatile veteran defensive tackle.”
Just put a “.” after “picks”, the positions you listed will be their draft and undrafted FA’s.
March 31st, 2012 at 9:01 am
Ok, I’m searching for the logic in this. We need the cap space….nah, we think you’re 25% less of a player than you were last year and he agreed……nah, we need the appearance of experience in the locker room and we’ll pay you 3mil to play the part…..more than you’ll get on a talk show……errrr……OK!
March 31st, 2012 at 9:12 am
There will be more cuts coming within the next month.
March 31st, 2012 at 9:24 am
Corey Brackett still sitting at home twiddling his thumbs
March 31st, 2012 at 9:29 am
You meant Gary Brackett?
March 31st, 2012 at 9:30 am
he’s injury prone…
March 31st, 2012 at 9:30 am
Pat is wrong. The salary cap room for the Bucs as of March 30th (yesterday) is $18.3 million ( http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/30/team-by-team-cap-room-as-of-march-30/ ).
My theory is that Barber has returned in more of a player/coach role this year…who will get some playing time but not as much as in the past.
Pete, why are you so sure it’s Pat that’s wrong? — Joe
March 31st, 2012 at 10:22 am
I don’t. That I freely admit. But I suppose it’s a matter of picking who to believe.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:23 am
Joe, what would happen if they cut Quincy Black, would that free up any cap space?
March 31st, 2012 at 10:37 am
Pete,
Perhaps a mathematical coincidence or one included Barber’s 3mil contract and the other did not.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:26 am
OB,
By all means get another opinion as this is not my area of expertise. Truth be told, I don’t have an area of expertise. But here goes.
The answer is yes and no! In 2011, Black signed a 5yr contract for 29mil with 11.5mil guaranteed – the sum of his 2011 and 2012 base salaries (5.5mil).
Yes! If another Nfl team picks him up at the remainder of his guarantee, the cap will increase by that amount. If only part of it, the Bucs are on the hook for the offset which would also increase the cap but not as much.
No! If no other team picks him up at all, the Bucs are on the hook for the remainder of his guarantee (roughly 6mil), therefore no cap relief.
The former is the more likely scenario.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:57 am
Pete, why are you so sure it’s Pat that’s wrong? — Joe
Because it’s Pat.
March 31st, 2012 at 12:02 pm
We’re #6 or 9 in cap space depending on what number you use. They could be holding out for a trade.
March 31st, 2012 at 1:59 pm
The LB could be Fletcher. At this point in Fletcher’s career, negotiating a cap-friendly number shouldn’t be hard for Rockstar. He hasn’t drawn crazy interest and he would fit right in. We would definitely need to draft a LB in round 2 or 3 still and hope Foster develops. Veteran DT depth is needed but our stock needs to be in Price and McCoy. They have been largely a disappointment despite the obvious talent they both possess and it’s do or die time for them. So that depth needs to be on the cheap. Safety is a big one. I really think we need to find something there now. Quality too. We have no depth or studs at safety. Tanard hasn’t gotten back to form and it’s questionable whether he ever will. Here’s hoping we have a gem in Ahmad Black. Running back depth is not a need for us in free agency. We are almost definitely slated to pick up an RB during the draft but we may need a FB depending on how Graham comes back.
March 31st, 2012 at 3:49 pm
trade/cut Quincy Black. that’d free up a couple of million.
March 31st, 2012 at 5:11 pm
It’s clear Barber is playing for the love of the game, not the money at this point in his career.
Also, cutting Black would be a retarded thing to do people. He is in the 2nd year of a contract with $11 million in guaranteed money. So cutting him would only make things worse. I really think he deserves another shot anyway, I am dying to see what our “real” new coaches and scheme can do with our underachieving players.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Wasn’t Black doing good prior to last years melt down?
April 1st, 2012 at 3:43 am
@TopDoggie: Meh. So-so.