Optimism Surrounding Carl Nicks
March 14th, 2014
Yes, the Bucs re-signed guard Jamon Meredith, who played great starting on the right side for departed Davin Joseph in 2012, but Meredith wasn’t special when he started the half of 2013 for the human armoire, left guard Carl Nicks.
Versatile Jeremy Zuttah remains on the roster, but it’s worth noting that so far the Bucs haven’t moved to replace Nicks.
General manager Jason Licht expressed optimism for Nicks yesterday, explaining vaguely that Nicks is working daily on rehab and the team is encouraged. What Nicks is actually capable of physically performing right now is a mystery.
Nicks has post-surgery foot issues that will never go away. Those are from his first surgery (2012) in a Bucs uniform. The lingering damages/challenges surrounding his fall MRSA surgery on his foot are unknown.
The Bucs owe Nicks a pile of cash this season and nearly all of it is guaranteed if he’s injured, which he is.
At least there’s optimism surrounding Nicks. A close friend of Nicks told Joe in October that Nicks was doing very well and definitely was expected back on the field in November. That never happened.
Joe expects the Bucs to sit tight and see where Nicks’ body is in a couple of months. It’s easy to forget, but Nicks is a punishing, All-Pro presence, and he’s still young. He’s worth waiting for, assuming there’s legitimate hope for his 2014 performance.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:12 am
This would be a small miracle if Nicks can play again. He brings the mauling attitude that this line lacked last season.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:14 am
2nd round draft pock will be a guard. We can’t rely on “encouraging progress”
March 14th, 2014 at 8:23 am
Don’t know how accurate it is but listening to Booger yesterday (sorry joe was flipping back and forth to Steve) heard that Carl’s toe looked like a baseball was inside of it. Hope that’s wrong and he can play again for us.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:26 am
Big Carl get well soon!
I hope he can get healthy and return. He could potentially make a difference.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:30 am
BucsQCity, agree we need a guard. You could also draft a center (BPA) and use Zuttah or Meredith at guard. FA’s will be available after the draft too.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:34 am
Good news to hear that Carl may be able to play. However if he can’t, he won’t be cut now. If Carl is cut before June 1st, the Bucs are obligated to pay the 6mil injury settlement and all of the dead money (7.071mil) from the 2012 restructure comes due raising the cap hit to 13.071mil in place of the current cap number (9.357mil) thereby reducing the cap by 3.714mil (13.071 – 9.357mil).
The alternative is the June 1st option allowed under the 2011 CBA. If the Bucs cut Carl after June 1st, they could pay the injury settlement (6mil), absorb the 2014 dead money (6mil +2.357mil) and put 1mil back into 2014 cap space (9.357mil – 8.357mil). They cannot avoid the dead money from the 2012 restructure under any scenario. By using the June 1st option they are allowed to delay the remainder of the dead money (4.714mil) and absorb it under the 2015 cap since the cap is expected to increase another 10mil for 2015. It’s kind of kicking the can down the road but it does save needed 2014 cap space!
March 14th, 2014 at 8:35 am
Joe, I feel bad for the guy, I don’t see him back. We keep hearing how this injury will effect him for the rest of his life, maybe the big man just might have to hang it up. Of course AFTER he tries to get it together this year, and get his money.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:35 am
I’m hoping and praying he’s available because he’s just next level.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:41 am
We need this guy back in the lineup BAD.
I just don’t see it happening.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:42 am
Nothing against Nicks because he was a very good guard and he did not plan on injury and infection. That being said, it is too bad cutting him would hurt our cap space worse than keeping him. If he returns to the field, he will not be what he was before the injury. Taking up a roster spot. I hope he proves me wrong.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:48 am
defense wins championships we’re gonna draft ryan shazier….because mason foster will be a back up at best….
March 14th, 2014 at 8:49 am
Anything from Nicks would be a huge unexpected bonus….encouraging news is far better than discouraging news…but we’ve been down this path before with big Carl…
March 14th, 2014 at 8:49 am
mason foster i dont think will flourish in the cover 2 system.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:49 am
I’m pretty sure we saw lots of stories about optimism about Carl before last year too. Unfortunately this seems like an injury that will always linger in some form or another. I don’t think he’ll ever be 100% again, which is disappointing.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:56 am
if anyone is optimistic about him at this point they need their head checked.
March 14th, 2014 at 8:57 am
If he gets on the field that would be a pleasant surprise.
March 14th, 2014 at 9:00 am
Anyone know if Bucs still after that center from Green Bay ?
March 14th, 2014 at 9:03 am
Even if he can come back and play, it doesn’t mean that he can play at a high level like before. I hope the best for him
March 14th, 2014 at 9:04 am
@pewter lou i know him and tillman was in the facility the paast two days but i dont know how close they are to an agreement…like lovie said its pretty hard luring and convincing guys to come play in there system and what demands they have for certain postions he decribed the process as very difficult….. abd licht said it looks easier than the process really is…
March 14th, 2014 at 9:07 am
Meredith wasn’t great. lol. He’s a bottom of the bench guard. My how low our standard are around here these days.
March 14th, 2014 at 9:16 am
i know we’re still shopping for (wr,cb,ol) trynna fill needs before the draft because lovie said he doesnt wanna enter the draft in dire need to be commited to certain postions….so i hope we sign dietrich from green bay and land charles tillman so we could trade up if needed to get watkins if we dont land emmanuel sanders.
March 14th, 2014 at 9:33 am
@bucsalltheway,appreciate it,getting Sanders would be nice. I would love Watkins, but what I would love more is an lb corp of David,Foster and Mack
March 14th, 2014 at 9:33 am
Haven’t seen anyone discussing what we are doing to fill the void left by Joseph
March 14th, 2014 at 10:49 am
Licht and Lovie have talked a lot about getting the front line set on each side of the ball. Considering how expensive O-lineman are in Free agency, I would look for us to grab a starter-quality OL in the draft. For the price of Zuttah (4.5), the Bucs could have added Justin Tuck (5.5). This tells me that the Bucs are probably more concerned with OL depth.
March 14th, 2014 at 10:50 am
Can’t make the Club in the Tub.
March 14th, 2014 at 10:50 am
Meredith is a starter until they sign someone else. I think Mack or Moseley is the target in the first. Then guard, receiver and cb. They will try to trade down in a deep draft. Should be two or three bargain additions next week. Love the rebuilding on the fly!!
March 14th, 2014 at 11:16 am
bucsalltheway Says
“mason foster i dont think will flourish in the cover 2 system.”
Mason will be fine. With the guys we had at MLB during the Dungy era, he fits. Lovie will turn him into a beast MLB or move him outside and bring in a MLB.
March 14th, 2014 at 12:05 pm
Yo Carl just Cut off the big toe !
March 14th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
even if he’s healthy, this is likely his last season due to revis logic. it’s alot harder to retain a stable of 6-8 disruptive d-linemen and eventually pay a very good RB and future stars like lavonte david and GMC when you are paying LT money to a guard.
March 14th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Some people are speaking as if they themselves were Nicks M.D. lol, as if they had examined him and written his medical charts and determined he’ll never step on the field, that it would be a miracle to see him return.
Look, if he’s still there, and there is optimism I’ll take it and run with it until we are told otherwise.
If it didn’t look like Nicks would be able to return by now you better bet we would have moved to resolve that issue by now and he would no longer be in these facilities.