McCoy Makes Worst Contract List
July 1st, 2012
After leaving NFL.com and NFL Network for CBS Sports, it seems one of Jason La Canfora’s first orders of business was to bust out contract figures for various players and identify the steals and deals and wastes of money around the league.
Regrettably, La Canfora has pegged Gerald McCoy among his “11 worst contracts.” (The figure below is the cash GMC will earn in 2012.)
Gerald McCoy, Bucs, DT, $6.85M: McCoy has yet to find his way in the NFL, with injuries derailing the 2009 first-round pick. The quick emergence of Ndamukong Suh didn’t help much, either, and this given that McCoy is set to make roughly $20M in salary between 2013-2014, and his $11M average per year makes him the fourth-highest paid DT in the NFL, it’s fair to say the Bucs need much more out of him.
If he can produce anything remotely close to Suh’s rookie season and display more of an ability to explode into the backfield and collapse the pocket, then that changes everything. But he’s being paid as one of the very best at what he does — again, the fatal flaw of the compensation of the top eight picks or so under the old CBA — and another lost season and people will start throwing around that B-word.
It’s tough to argue with the take. McCoy, as stated here, is the fourth-highest paid defensive tackle in the league. He has to produce. Period.
July 1st, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Hey Joe you might want to do something about this…http://i.imgur.com/JwaVz.jpg
Joe is aware and working on it, but you should feel safe on the site. –Joe
July 1st, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Nfl Changes blackout rule. Instead of 100% sell out needed to avoid a blackout it has been reduced to 85% of attendance to avoid a blackout.woohoo. just thought you guys would like to know.
July 1st, 2012 at 7:16 pm
we should be seeing alot more games now.
July 1st, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Joe here,
@Andrew – Joe’s aware and is doing more research on the rule change and will have info. and a story in the a.m.
July 1st, 2012 at 7:19 pm
@Joe
cool, i should probably let you do the reporting. my bad.
July 1st, 2012 at 8:06 pm
My question is why the heck do we care about his contract??? It’s not like it’s coming out of our pockets! You can say the fans pay for it through ticket sales, merchandise, etc., but the truth is the about 50% of NFL revenue comes from TV contracts and that money comes from advertising. Also, the NFL is a revenue sharing business, in which teams are awarded equal money from such contracts which exceed the salary cap each year. The Bucs could pay GMC without a single fan attending a game or buying a jersey, and just with NFL shared money. So, who cares whether his contract is good or bad? Let’s just see if he can play when healthy and if he can STAY healthy.
If GMC can stay healthy (both injuries are not career threatening or typically reoccurring), then we have to see if he can consistently produce on the field. He’s been disruptive and shown flashes of good things when healthy. All the fans should care about is production and health. He hasn’t been Sabby Piscatelli bad, nor has he been Warren Sapp good. He hasn’t had a Caddy-like career threatening injury. I don’t care when he was selected in the draft, nor what his contract is. I don’t care if he’s religious or not, or what he Tweets, or what kind of underwear he wears.
If he were my employee, and were constantly out sick or not picking up the job intricacies well enough, he’d be fired after adequate time to determine that. I don’t believe we’ve seen adequate time yet. The injuries weren’t severe or disabling, and he has shown enough when healthy to warrant more time. Has he been a beast on the field? No. Has he been a complete waste? No. He has shown some potential that warrants a further look.
July 1st, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Not like or Jason can do anything about it…………… but Que Thomas.
July 1st, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Thomas must be busy!!! Hey Thomas let me fill in for you……. Geraldine is an over paid weak dick with a weaker mind. Also for the record Raheem Morris is still a JOKE and wouldnt make a pimple on a head coaches arse Thank You…
July 1st, 2012 at 10:41 pm
How many people follow him on Twitter but don’t like it that he tweets so much? How can you say he has big mouth? You obviously don’t watch games if you don’t know hes the best Dline man and the rest of the D will benefit from his pressures.
July 1st, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Bam Bam,
We care about McCoy’s contract when it comes to effecting the salary cap. GMC’s cap figure is 10% of our league mandate cap.
10% of player resources is not being utilized to it’s potential.
I hope he can just stay healthy. He will earn that pay dynand make our D better.
This is GMC’s biggest season of his life.
July 1st, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Wonder how many and who would say to his face they think he is over paid or that he is a Christian hiprocrit ?
July 2nd, 2012 at 12:52 am
Stevek – Again…. who cares? Do we, the fans, control the salary cap? Do we have to budget players salaries to keep under the cap? No. That’s the GM’s job. Most of the fans are complaining because we’re still under the cap, even though we’re paying GMC this “horrible” deal, signed Nicks and Jackson to big deals, etc. We’ve got other players that will need extensions soon and have the cap room to pay them. If GMC doesn’t perform up to his contract, I’m figuring the GM will either renegotiate his deal or tell him to hit the road. Not the fans, the GM. What the fans want are wins. I couldn’t care less, as a fan, if they’re paying Donald Penn $10 and a case of Pop-Cicle’s to play a game. Heck, throw in a pack of Twinkies for goodness sakes. Not my job, or any fan’s. If the team puts a winning product on the field, GMC can take his payday to the bank. If he was a big enough part of the winning team, he’ll earn another big contract.
July 2nd, 2012 at 1:04 am
One more thing, and I can’t find verifiable info, so correct me if I’m wrong. His contract was for $63M with $35M guaranteed. I don’t think the $35M was a signing bonus, it was just “guaranteed”. That’s the way Dom’s been doing all the contracts. At the end of this year, he will have cashed in on about $34+M. If that’s the case, and he doesn’t play well this year, it would cost next to nothing to let him go. If he plays well, all his guaranteed money is paid up and it would be simple to extend the deal, add some more guaranteed money to it, extend the next two years salary in with the extra years and keep under the cap again. I’m not seeing the downside to this. Heck, Matthew Stafford barely saw the field his first two seasons due to injury, and he had a heck of a year last year. And his injuries were more serious considering they were shoulder injuries to a QB. Let it go with the “Bust” mantra, or the horrible contract schtick. Let the guy play this year and see what the team decides to do. It’s not our choice either way.
July 2nd, 2012 at 1:04 am
Agreed.
July 2nd, 2012 at 3:45 am
Seems to me some players can be labeled “injury prone”. Sometimes rightfully so. Cadillac Williams comes too mind. Between the back spasms, Turf Toe, and two knee injuries. Enough said about that. I am not ready to include GMC in that category. Maybe I’m in denial but he is about as close as it gets. Back to Back season ending injuries. As a Buc fan I want him to succeed. It’s hard for him to be successful when he can’t be on the field. I hope he doesn’t get the injury bug this year. Players coming off a season ending injury often injure something else for a number of reasons. Inactivty because of the original injury causing others. Like pulling a hamstring for example. Favoring to compensate for the original injury. Just playing scared for fear of injury. I’m not saying this was the cause of GMC’s injuries. If he doesn’t get injured this season that is an improvement. I would be happy with just that for starters. Looking forward to watching him play.
July 2nd, 2012 at 4:16 am
You really can’t judge GMC one way or the other yet. He’s missed a lot of games, so he really hasn’t had the opportunity to develop into a great player yet. He’s been effective when on the field. Not great, but effective. It is yet to be determined if he is worth the money he is getting paid. The same can be said about Freeman. This year will say a lot. One thing about GMC’s injuries that are positive is that they aren’t to his legs (knees, achilles, ankles, etc.). Leg injuries can effect him for the rest of his career. A torn bicep will not. I am much more concerned with the injury to Bowers than I am to the ones of GMC. If he tears it up this year (which I think is more likely than not), all will be great. He will be worth the money, and hopefully douches like Thomas and Dini’s Biceps will have to shut up.
July 2nd, 2012 at 6:06 am
Wait guys… our “rock star” general manger doesnt make mistakes. GMC will have a breakout year. He’s learning how to tackle for the first time in his career. We shouldn’t worry about him being a bust or his huge contract numbers, and his complete lack of production on the field. We shouldn’t even concern ourselves with the fact multiple teammates nfl veterans have said he seems more concerned about his post football broadcast career than his rehab. Our ” rock star” knows whats best for us. Have some faith in him. I know joe thinks he can do no wrong. So why shouldn’t we as well?
July 2nd, 2012 at 6:08 am
Oh and to answer your question I’d call him over paid to his face. I dont care about what he does in his personal life as far as kids out of wedlock. I only care what he does on the field or when he should be rehabbing to get back on the field.
July 2nd, 2012 at 8:15 am
“My question is why the heck do we care about his contract??? It’s not like it’s coming out of our pockets! You can say the fans pay for it through ticket sales, merchandise, etc., but the truth is the about 50% of NFL revenue comes from TV contracts and that money comes from advertising.”
This is exactly why fan support no longer matters in professional sports. They want you to think it does. Look at the Marlins, they have a brand new stadium that is less than half full each game, is ownership complaining about fan support? Of course not….They got their new stadium/playpen…It increases their profitibillity when the sell the team…They don’t care about attendance…
July 2nd, 2012 at 9:14 am
@ Dini’s Biceps…. I didn’t realize you were without sin so you could throw the first stone. McCoy doesn’t claim to be perfect. Being a Christian doesn’t make you perfect, it just means you trust in someone who was to forgive you when you mess up (which we all do). Check the link below and maybe you’ll actually know a little bit more about McCoy because you appear to be very ignorant.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/printerfriendlystory.aspx?articleid=20091125_92_B1_TulsaW319766
July 2nd, 2012 at 9:57 am
None of us know if he has been paid in full for the past two seasons. Guaranteed money does not mean completely guaranteed. It is possible that this contract was not fully guaranteed for injury during those seasons, so complaining of his earnings is pointless as none of us know. Looking at base salary for the whole story of a players/teams finance situation is like looking at sack stats to find out who is the best DE in the league: there is far more to it than one simple number.
July 2nd, 2012 at 9:58 am
On another note, is anyone else getting malware notifications from google chrome every time you open a new JBF page?
July 2nd, 2012 at 9:59 am
Bam Bam,
I only “care” about GMC’s 10% cap figure, if and only if it prevents us from signing someone more “worthy” of the money.
I want the Bucs to win the Super Bowl, and we can’t be paying “Sapp Money” to someone not earning “Sappy Money”…
July 2nd, 2012 at 11:58 am
I’m glad to hear that GMC has women problems. That means he’s not playing for the other team, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I believe that guaranteed money is guaranteed.
Stevek is right about the 10% of the cap. Bellicheat and the Pats are successful because they correctly manage and utilize all of their cap money.
When you make a major error like GMC, it takes years to rectify the problem. Remember Trent Dilfer, Gaines Adams, Booker Reese and Bo Jackson. Right now, I would classify Dini as the biggest bust in Buc history because with Gaines Adams at least we got a 2nd round pick when he left. Nobody in their right minds would give us anything for GMC after this year because they would have to assume his contract.
There is no evidence that Gerald will suddenly smarten up and become a great football player this year. I’ll wager that he’s gotten weaker, slower and less motivated than when he was getting out of college.
July 2nd, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Gerald is going to be laughing at all of you doubters after this year. Same way Stafford laughed at all the ones who called him a bust. Being injured doesn’t make you a bust. Now, if he continues to be plagued by injuries then I will agree that he was a bust simply because he never got to the field long enough to be anything else. I doubt that is going to happen. His injuries were related to his biceps and they are repaired and stronger than before. I wouldn’t anticipate any more issues. When healthy McCoy is one of the best DT’s in the league as you will see this year.
July 2nd, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Bobby,
Suh is one of the best D-Tackles in the league.
I am not greedy, I don’t expect GMC to be “one of the best DT’s in the NFL”, but he is paid to be the 4th best DT in the NFL.
I just want him healthy for 16 games, and the rest will take care of itself.
If he gets hurt/ doesn’t play well enough to earn the cap figure, then cut bait and look to better utilize 10% of the salary cap towards a MLB, or DE.
July 2nd, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Disagree about GMC, when healthy he put up very weak numbers. He is as disruptive as Gaines Adams was.
Offensive coordinators and linemen are a lot smarter than you would think. Dini always takes the path of least resistance even if it means abandoning his gap. Although he is continually schooled by the opponents, he stubbornly takes himself out of almost every play.
He needs to learn how to read blocks and follow the path of greatest resistance and control his gap. Again I allude to the analogy of the bullfighter and the cape. The bull keeps charging that darn cape but somehow doesn’t cause any damage at all to the bullfighter and ends up losing in the end.
July 2nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Suh was ‘average’ last year. I don’t want McCoy to be Suh. I want him to be better. McCoy will be a Pro Bowler if he stays healthy and I expect that he will. You guys just don’t know how to evaluate talent. McCoy is a beast. He just needs to be on the field.
July 2nd, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Miguel….please post about something you know about. Go to http://www.cannabis.com and I’m sure you could find a conversation there. You know absolutely nothing about football. I’ve watched every game McCoy was in and he is extremely disruptive and allows everyone around him to reap the benefits. Just watch and learn this year kid.
July 2nd, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Bobby,
“McCoy is better than Suh”… “you guys don’t know how to evaluate talent.”
LOL, come on man! Suh> McCoy (all day every day, and there is a reason Suh was drafted #2, and McCoy #3).
I think GMC can be a good player, but to remain a Buc after this year he will need to be a pro bowler.
Paid like a pro bowler, play like a pro bowler.
July 2nd, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Bobby,
Staffor threw for 50 TD’s last year, is it fair to equate “50 TD passes” = “10 Sacks”.
Let’s wait and see…
July 2nd, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Miguel, If you knew anything you would know DT is not about big stats and numbers but getting pressure and disruption. If you watched any game with McCoy of the games that he wasn’t in for that matter you’d see he did exactly that. Disrupted rerouted and made pressure.
July 2nd, 2012 at 3:05 pm
The accuracy of the above is so undeniable that no comment is necessary.
Only a biased fanatic would ever disagree with the only reasonable conclusion: that Gerald has been a HUGE and expensive disappointment. Period.
The only thing disruptive about Gerald has been the size of the cap space that his “worst” contract occupies.
July 2nd, 2012 at 3:06 pm
“”We do a tackling circuit before every practice, and I’ve never done anything like that before,” McCoy said. “I realize now that, before, I was just playing football. Now, I’m really learning how to tackle and I think it’s going to help me a lot.”
Apparently, Gerald McCoy agrees with me.
“Disagree about GMC, when healthy he put up very weak numbers. He is as disruptive as Gaines Adams was.”
July 2nd, 2012 at 3:12 pm
GMC is so good, we had to take an insurance claim on Albert Haynesworth last year.
That move still sickens me, and picking up Haynesworth is “quitting” by our GM.
Quincy Black, Sean Jones, etc… may have been “quitting on Defense”, but Dom picking up Haynesworth is no doubt “quitting” on winning.
I wish we could flush 2011 down the toilet… wasted year, and I am excited to see the Bucs this year.
Go Bucs!
July 2nd, 2012 at 3:53 pm
I’d take a healthy McCoy over Suh…. Problem is, McCoy hasn’t been healthy. So yeah, I’d rather have had Suh the last two years because when Suh is on the team, Suh plays. So far when McCoy is on the team, Roy Miller plays.
July 2nd, 2012 at 4:25 pm
@Stevek…I never said McCoy was better than Suh asshole. I said Suh had an average year and I wanted McCoy to be better than Suh. Get some reading skills moron.
July 2nd, 2012 at 4:27 pm
You would take a healthy Gerald over Suh? Huh?
Thank the good lord that your job is not evaluating football talent.
Just pour over their respective film from 09 (both Big 12 programs) and 10 (both nfc last place schedules) which is the last 2 full seasons where both played substantially all games – there is an embarrassing gap between Suh’s dominance and Gerald’s invisibility.
The only flaw that Suh has is that he is too aggressive, Gerald certainly can’t be accused of that.
July 2nd, 2012 at 4:32 pm
How was Suh ‘dominant’ last year little Tommy????????
July 2nd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Now I know why Bobby’s takes are absurd.
Last year was not 09 or 10. Suh did not dominate last year, due to some dumb decisions off and on the field that led to attention from refs and a suspension, also offenses totally schemed to him. Suh took a step backward.
However, even after Suh took a step backward he is still miles ahead of Gerald as a force from the UT position.
Guys, Gerald has been a pure gap jumper – he times the snap and if he gets it perfectly (which happens 6-10 per season) he will penetrate. He has had no other game thus far. I hope he gets it but to date – he is a gap jumper.
Suh penetrates, uses pass rush moves, power run game moves, gap fills and occasionally goes through doubles – he is Ngata with more athleticism and speed.
July 2nd, 2012 at 6:05 pm
LMAO “he is Ngata with more athleticism and speed.”
The crazy is strong in this one.
July 2nd, 2012 at 7:40 pm
I didn’t say it was ’09 or ’10. I just noticed that you conveniently left off 2011. My question to you was how was he dominant in 2011 since you seem to think he is a dominant DT. He had a typical sophomore year which usually happens once they have film on you. Maybe he’ll improve…maybe he won’t. He’s a good player but the league is full of good players. He’ll have to work hard to get double digit sacks. I don’t know if he’s got that kind of work ethic or not.
July 3rd, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Bobby,
Suh had an “ok” year last year: 36 Tackles, 0 forced fumbles, 4 sacks…
GMC Career stats: 39 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 4 sacks….
GMC has been paid almost $1,000,000.00 per tackle so far…..
Suh > McCoy (Respective to: Draft Status, Stats, ability, attitude, overall play making ability).
July 3rd, 2012 at 2:16 pm
So Bobby,
Furthermore, in your perspective: “Suh was not dominant in 2011”, ok I second that, but his “Not dominant” production still matches that of GMC’s career….
What gives? Homerism exposed.
July 3rd, 2012 at 4:09 pm
@Stevek….Suh simply stayed healthy. Doesn’t make him a better player, just means he was able to play. Same way Stafford wasn’t a worse QB than Joe Flacco just because he was injured for two years running. You can’t evaluate talent until you actually have a chance to see it for a season. I like what I saw from McCoy when he was healthy and I look forward to a full season from him. If he stays healthy he will be dominant.
July 3rd, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Good point Bobby.