“They’re Sitting At $63.8 Million”

June 24th, 2011

The mountain of cash the Bucs would have to spend to reach the salary cap floor mandated by a new labor agreement is just fiction/fantasy at this point, as the asinine lockout continues. But more and more it looks like Mark Dominik will be under pressure to dish out huge checks.

That would be interesting and unprecedented pressure for the general manager considering the Bucs don’t exactly have much cash committed for 2011 player salaries.

NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas, of BSPN.com, tapped into his team of statistical gremlins and coughed up figures yesterday. Yasinskas writes that numbers floating around the rumor mill say the Bucs might have to spend $50 million+ more in 2011 to meet league rules.

So let’s take a look at some salary-cap figures as we look forward to free agency. Some of the reports about the possible deal have pegged that 2011 salary cap right about $120 million.

In terms of money already committed toward a 2011 cap (rookie contracts aren’t a factor yet because teams haven’t even been allowed to negotiate with draft picks), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the lowest figure in the league. They’re sitting at $63.8 million. In recent years, the Bucs spent well below the cap and had the league’s lowest payroll in the uncapped 2010 season.

Joe’s intrigued by the potential pressure on Dominik. What if Davin Joseph or Barrett Ruud leave town? That’s means one less guy the Bucs might have paid big money won’t be around. What if guys who could command mid-level free agent money, like Cadillac Williams and Jeremy Trueblood, opt to move on?

What if there’s a rookie salary scale? That means less money for the draft picks.

As Joe reported the other day, ProFootballTalk.com creator and guru Mike Florio says the Bucs won’t dive into free agency and will opt to pour money into seemingly creative contract extensions for young players by midseason to meet new spending demands.

Talk about massive incentive for a young team if Dominik goes that route. Imagine it’s October and everyone knows Dominik is sitting on a pile of cash he’ll all but have to soon spend on current players.

35 Responses to ““They’re Sitting At $63.8 Million””

  1. Dave Says:

    “Talk about massive incentive for a young team if Dominik goes that route. Imagine it’s October and everyone knows Dominik is sitting on a pile of cash he’ll all but have to soon spend on current players.”

    Great point. I can not believe they would let Joseph go and, strictly because of depth, Trueblood. I firmly believe both will be back.

    I have also been saying this:

    JOE

    Any chance the NFL lets teams way under the cap have two years… say hit 80% in year 1 and the 90-93% in year 2?

  2. Achetti523 Says:

    I read somewhere that they say you have to meet the floor on a 3 year average so if you spen 80% one year you have to make up for it year 2 and 3

  3. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    These owners are horrible. What they fail to recognize is if you invest money in stars you will make it up by filling seats. If you operate on a shoestring the community is not excited by a bunch of unproven kids – led by a no name/never-done-anything but coach D backs head coach.

    I am thrilled that their fellow owners are legislating against the cheap-a– business model of the post-Super Bowl Glazers.

    Boy I miss Malcolm calling the shots. Apparently, the apples fell very far from the tree in the Glazer family.

  4. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    Joe, Considering you last comment in repsonse to mine this article is hilarious.

    Even William Bidwill outspends the Glazers, Apparently, if you think Bidwill is cheap then, what do you think the Glazers who spend less on talent are? Dirt Cheap? LOL

  5. Ravelston Says:

    This seems about right. I’m thinking it’ll take $40m+ to resign our free agents. Leaves around $20m to sign the draftees and rework some contracts for the young players. Might even be enough left over for a low level FA (or two).

  6. flmike Says:

    Thomas once again, you’re a putz. We are developing our own stars, we don’t want or need anyone’s cast off ego trip divas. This is the same thing NE did when Belicheat took over, he built that team with home grown young talent then added fading vets on the cheap, remember they weren’t even supposed to be in that 1st SB against the Rams, it (should have been the Raiders) any way that team was built on youth and cheap ass vets. I would be way more willing to pay to see Josh Freeman throwing to Benn and Williams than to say TO and Ocho-Stinko.

  7. Joe Says:

    Even William Bidwill outspends the Glazers, Apparently, if you think Bidwill is cheap then, what do you think the Glazers who spend less on talent are? Dirt Cheap? LOL

    Not only would Bill Bidwill never pay a coach $5 million a year, he’d die of a stroke to pay a coach $15 million to get out of the building. 🙂

    Whenever anyone claims Team Glazer is cheap, feel free to explain the bank vaults of cash they threw away by kicking Bruce Almighty and Chucky out the door while each had three years left on their contracts.

    Cheap people don’t pay employees insane amounts of cash to stay out of the building.

  8. MOBucs Says:

    Exactly right Joe! Agenda-driven Thomas has a short memory. The Bucs built the Superbowl team through the draft then added a couple necessary FAs when needed to put them over the hump. The Bucs’ cap will be on par with the league as soon as we re-sign these young studs to their next contracts.

  9. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    The teams with the highest payrolls over the past decade have had only mediocre results. The Glazers are smart in adopting a new strategy of value. Best bang for the buck. That’s not cheap, it’s just good business. Fans who don’t like it are in for a long, rough ride because this will be the status quo for many years to come.

    I for one respect the Glazers far more than the Snyders and Joneses of the world. Keep up the good work.

  10. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    Joe, you can easily waste 15 million on a coach when you are saving 30 million on players. Also, the Glazers were betting that Gru would sign elsewhere letting them off the hook, they lost that bet.

    To hedge their bet they hired rah for nothing. Bidwill isnt 32nd in player salary, and I bet Whisenhunt makes more than rah rah and they were in a S B a year and a half ago. Ill take Bidwill all day and twice ob Sundays.

  11. Capt.Tim Says:

    The Glazers didn’t spend much money, on a team stripped of talent. Makes sense. Now, they have the most money to spend, on the deepest FA class ever- wow, looks like a great plan!! And Raheem said they are gonna sign Free agents, just like we did before the SuperBowl. And sOmewhere someone doesn’t see this as a great Master Plan?? I’ve said for months, the Bucs are gonna sign some talented Free agents. In about a week and a half, its gonna get pretty exciting at one Buc Place!

  12. Joe Says:

    Ill take Bidwill all day and twice ob Sundays.

    LOL.

    Feel free to do a modicum of research and look at home many postseason wins the Bucs have in their history and compare that to how many Bidwill’s teams have had since Hiroshima was turned to rumble.

    Then, you will rethink your position. 🙂

  13. BucFan941 Says:

    oh tom tom your a funny kid…..

  14. BucFan941 Says:

    you guys know tom tom is messing with u guys right?…..he gets a kick out of it…

  15. HFXBUC Says:

    I’m assuming Thomas 2.2 post that message last year using his dial up connection on his Comodore 64. He does know that that stupid cheap ass strategy produced a 10-6 record…he’s right SMRT.

  16. OAR Says:

    Thomas is why we need to away kids bike helmets away and hand them lit fireworks taped to a dodge ball! That stuff usually weeded out all the slow witted dumb asses!
    I bet the rope swing was his natural predator!

  17. OAR Says:

    oops ‘to take away”

  18. BigMacAttack Says:

    It’s too bad the rope swing didn’t get caught around his neck…. or maybe it did.

    The funny thing to me is that Thumb is so dead serious about what he posts. I mean he actually believes that crap. He’s like a cross between Denis the Menace and Bart Simpson, with a sprinkle of Robert Gibbs for good measure.

    Great Job Thomas, you’re the bomb. Please detonate now.

  19. McBuc Says:

    flboyindallas…I agree and have stated the same thing many times. It is best to ignore T2…it is like talking to a stop sign. I try to run my department as inexpensive as possible, and the people above me do the same. It is the way of business, put out the best product at the best price.

  20. Brad Says:

    I don’t think having tons of cash puts any pressure on Dominick. I believe it makes his job easier. Pressure would be trying to get all the players you want signed for only 68 million.

  21. Captain Stagger Says:

    Just like the Rays…..if we can win on half the budget…..Props! And to be honest Freeman, Williams, Benn, and Blount are far more fun to route for than Brad Johnson, Pittman, Keyshawn, and McCardel…….

  22. passthebuc Says:

    can we use it to upgrade the cheerleaders pay

  23. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    I think you guys hurt Thomas’s feelings. I’m sure that in his self-proclaimed successful law career, he loves to go out and spend money just to spend it. He probably pays his secretary 250K a year, even though he had a better qualified secretary willing to work for only 35K. Because Thomas has got business figured out, and he knows how to run a successful one. If only we could get him to buy the Bucs, I’m sure we would be dominate the league and they would rename the trophy the Thomass Tropy. It would appropriately be only 2.2″ in length.

  24. K2theSoldier Says:

    LMAO @ Hawaiian Buc

  25. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    Comparing my business to an entertainment product is absurd. If you guys want to build my office, guarantee me profits from my own business and others that work out of my building, and generally have people invest significant money for season tickets under the assumption that every year our number one priority is to field the best team – if that were the case I would expect criticism for fielding a substandard team.

    WE ARE 32 out of 32 IN PAYROLL THIRTY PLUS MILLION UNDER THE FORMER CAP. One player in the top 100, and these idiots are taking games away from our community and you kiss their a–.

    Businessmen who fail to invest in their business and staff on par or better than their competitors have an inferior product. We are 13-19 in the last two years with the lowest payroll in the league, we have not made the playoffs, we are predicted third in the division again which will mean no playoffs.

  26. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    These guys, unlike your businesses, are guaranteed revenues in excess of the operating expenses from TV money alone. They are just choosing to pocket or redirect to MANU buc money.

    You guys think that this was a rebuild when it in actuality is a redistribution.

    If they miss the playoffs again you sheep will look like idiots for being passive about this fraud for three years.

  27. BigMacAttack Says:

    Thomas, that make believe 10’th grade business model you are running in Home Ec Class glass just netted you an “F” for F@#*ed up and Stupid. Kiddo, your argument is so weak and just doesn’t wash anymore. There are a lot of idiots on the TBO site, and you may find it more to your liking and or IQ. I’m sure there are an elite class of morons there that would agree with your every word. Many of us may have doubted the Glazers when they started down this road, but I for one was proved wrong. Spin it how you want, sit on it and spin, whatever, but the fact is that their business is model is working. Many teams are looking at the Bucs right now, hoping, praying, wishing for the same success. I guarantee at the Owners’ Mtgs the Glazer Boys are getting many props.

    T2, you should read some of Warren Buffett’s writings. It’s all about value, patience and spending wisely. The best part for me is that Raheem, a kid from the hood, has just blown past you in life, and left you eating his dust for eternity. You don’t equate to the gum on the bottom of his shoe. He has people skills that make yours look like a toddler. You never ever ever get your point across. Your communication skills are nil, non existent, juvenile at best. You probably started life with so much where as Raheem started with so little, yet here he is basking in the glory of the NFL, and there you are hiding inside the tank of a port-o-let trying to make the BTLS show.

  28. Ravelston Says:

    As it appears that the next cap will be in cash terms, the Bucs are no longer last in money committed – that would be the Panthers. Once you strip away the accounting fakery that was allowed under the last cap we’re ahead of the Panthers and pretty much tied with the Browns. And there’s about 20 other teams that are not too far ahead. We’re in a good position to resign our free agents, sign the rookies and rework some of the contracts for our young stars. Looks good actually.

  29. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    Thomas,
    What was our record last year??? 13-19 is a convenient excuse for a hater like you, but it shows the type of negative fool you are. And before you say it, I checked every site, and not one put an asterisk by our record for having an easy schedule or playing against crappy QB’s. I would say more, but you already got your arse handed to you on a platter by BigMac, so I’ll let you off the hook easy today. I actually feel kind of bad for you.

  30. K2theSoldier Says:

    I especially like the part of T2’s rant where he said being 3rd in the division means no playoffs. This is not the MLB my friend. It’s pretty sad how you can actually tell that this guy is rooting for his own team to fail just so his ridiculous point of view can be correct. Relax my man. I’m starting to think Malcolm or Joel stole your girl or something.

  31. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    I’m starting to think he was Joel’s girlfriend, then got left for someone else.

  32. K2theSoldier Says:

    Hahah that would make more sense I suppose.

  33. Capt.Tim Says:

    Thomas2.2 inches is hilarious, but dint let him take over the post. That’s what he lives for. Like the Geek at the circus, have a laugh, then move on.

  34. PWNASAURUS Says:

    Funny part is as soon as the Bucs get off to a fast start this season, 2.2 inches will disappear and prob start posting under a new name.

  35. BigMacAttack Says:

    I have to give the captain props for the original ( 2.2″ ) post. It is so befitting, almost as good as Taliban.