“He’s Not Here For Voluntary Work”

May 27th, 2014

carl nicks 0107Joe can’t really translate body language reliably, but Joe’s pretty confident Lovie Smith was frustrated by the absence of Carl Nicks today.

Joe asked Lovie about Nicks’ absence today — and at last Tuesday’s OTA session open to media.

Lovie told Joe there was “no update” and “he’s not here for voluntary work.” And then Lovie moved on to the next question.

Ouch.

Yes, the work is voluntary, but in reality it’s not. So it’s fair to read negatively into a player’s absence, unless his team offers an explanation.

Joe’s unsure why Nicks has passed on the chance to get the “mental reps” he talked about with media in early April.

After Lovie’s response today, Joe would say there’s slim odds Nicks plays in the NFL again. Nearly his entire contract is guaranteed for injury this season.

46 Responses to ““He’s Not Here For Voluntary Work””

  1. Waterboy Says:

    Nicks made out like a bandit (or Albert Haynesworth) with the contract that he got! He hasn’t done anything at all to earn his contract in Tampa.

  2. Couch Fan Says:

    I think its time now that we have to move on. He had practically 2 seasons to recover and he still can’t even practice without pads. Sad but Nicks looks hopeless. New coach, new scheme, new playbook and no reps.. not good.

  3. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    Has there been a worst Big Free agent signing for the Bucs than nicks?? I don’t think so. Thanks a lot popstar!

  4. Snook Says:

    Huge busts on 2 of those FA signings from 2012.

    Classic Dom.

  5. alstott400 Says:

    This guy has never been a Buccaneer! Guarantee he gets cut and then gets re-signed by the team he loves and never stopped loving, The Saints. Watch, suddenly he’ll be all better and be a team man again.

  6. SteveK Says:

    Nicks not being there for voluntary work means that he can’t go (health wise).

    Sucks, but I don’t expect to get Nicks back at all, ever.

    Prove us wrong Carl!

  7. pick6 Says:

    carl nicks will retire a wealthy man with a very disgusting looking toe a year from now. at this point i think he is just going to do what he is contractually obligated to do until the bucs move on. after the last 2 years of freak injuries and massive paychecks, if i were him i would come to the conclusion that the universe is telling me to start looking into what i’m going to do with the next 50 years of my life

  8. pick6 Says:

    i don’t begrudge nicks the money, and i don’t fault the front office for jumping on him as soon as he was available. it’s not like he got lazy. 2 very unusual and long-term injuries put him in a position where he was completely unable to do his job no matter how badly he wanted to.

  9. Scotty in Fat Antonio Says:

    Any bets that he comes back to sue the Bucs for the whole MRSA fiasco?

  10. lightningbuc Says:

    Call him “THE TWENTY MILLION DOLLAR TOE”

  11. Bucsfanman Says:

    You can kind of see the writing on the wall here. This is a sad situation between the toe, MRSA, and the Bucs actually really needing him.

  12. pablo Says:

    We need to sign Davin Joseph to the vet mininum. Well, at least that’s what Pablo would do if Pablo was the GM. .

  13. JBuc Says:

    This is certainly bad news although I never had much faith he was returning. I can only think he must know he has no intention of joining the team. If he is, then he is a bum that they don’t need in the future. New coach with new scheme and new players means you better be at every possible practice.

  14. Back, from Davie Jones Locker Says:

    The reason New Orleans didn’t sign him, was they were concerned about his motivation- once he scored the big “payday!”.
    They said that Publicly, right after we signed him.
    Sour grapes in the league isn’t uncommon, but I thought that was pretty bold on them at the Time.

    I can’t say how bad his toe is, medically speaking.
    But it sure appears that the team believes he can go- or at least try.
    It would appear that Nicks has decided that sitting home is a better option than playing- especially since it’s the same money! No incentive to perform whatsoever.
    If you have the slightest concern about a players motivation, you throw performance incentives in the contract.
    But not Dom
    So now, the human Armoire, has become the human couch.

    I said last year. I don’t ever expect him to play again. I think he’s gonna ride the big Toe all the way thru this contract- then off into the Sunset.

    Thanks again, Dom

  15. Back, from Davie Jones Locker Says:

    Pablow.
    Then obviously you didn’t watch any games over the last three years. (4?5?)
    Joseph is a great guy. But he has been a weak spot for years.
    He has nothing left. No one has tried to work a deal with him. I doubt anyone will.
    All things end. For Joseph, it has.

    A Former Pro guard, still young and full of bad attitude?
    Available at league minimum?
    Ritchie incognito is your man. He had a huge chip on his shoulder, and lots he wants to prove.
    As long as we don’t have any ” delicate Flowers” on the O-line! Lol

  16. biff barker Says:

    Is sign Ingognito in a heartbeat.

  17. SombreroBro Says:

    Another smokescreen.

  18. Bucfan#37 Says:

    If Nick’s big toe has’nt healed in this time off playing, then it’s likely never to heal. Forget about it and him, he will never get a toehold to play effectively again.

  19. Bucsfanman Says:

    C’mon DavieJones! You think he’s tanking it?! The incentive to perform is money, and lots more if he actually plays than if he sits.
    His situation is unfortunate, but it does happen with some regularity throughout the league. All we can do is move on…NEXT MAN UP!

  20. Bucsfanman Says:

    @biff- I’d take him too. This is football, you want your o-line to be nasty!

  21. sam Says:

    Cut his crippled overpaid ass already. That signing was a HUGE mistake. You could just tell he had no interest in this team. He wanted too get paid and he did. Now he’s done. Until he gos back too the saints for pennies and magically becomes healed.

  22. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    The_Buc_Realist Says
    “Has there been a worst Big Free agent signing for the Bucs than nicks?? I don’t think so.”

    You really have not been a Bucs fan long then. Not compared to some of us.

  23. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    sam Says
    “Cut his crippled overpaid ass already.”

    Do a little research before suggesting such things. Cutting Nicks this year gains nothing and costs a lot of money. Hold onto him since we have to pay him. If he can’t play it won’t count against the roster.

  24. Dan A Says:

    This just shows that Dominik was a hit or miss guy who missed a lot on top picks. Good riddance

  25. Dan A Says:

    and free agents….

  26. sam Says:

    @BuccaneerBonzai, its not that I don’t know my research, there just comes a point where u get so frustrated waiting on a player too become what u hoped he would be when u signed him too a mega contract, that you just want him gone. I understand the dollar side of things, so trade him too new orleans for a 7th and keg of beer. Maybe we can teach the keg too play gaurd after we tap it?

  27. PRBucFan Says:

    Oh my God ahahahahaha damn drama queens here.

    He misses one voluntary work out after being there 100% of the time not missing anything and that’s your conclusion?

    Ahahahahahha

  28. PRBucFan Says:

    Davie Jones link please?

    Never have I ever heard Nicks motivation questioned.

  29. Kevin Says:

    Dear Carl….your a bum. C’mon man you get that kind of money and can’t even show up. What a tool. Way to go Dom…for all the good decisions you made which there are some….there are two for everyone that made you a bust at GM.

  30. PRBucFan Says:

    Yes Kevin because you personally know the situation and the circumstance that took place right?

    We have some some dumb a$$ Buc fans.

    Never cease to amaze me lol

  31. Architek Says:

    Why would you sign a Guard that no one else is signing and his film clearly showed he’s no longer starter quality.

    Clearly most teams see the same on film. There are other options out there.

    That’s the nonsense statements I was alluding to with Pablo – just no thought at all.

  32. Chef Paul Says:

    According to these comments, we have new, dumb a$$ fans, that do no research, over dramatize things, and have no thought at all.

    Hmm. Sounds like your typical low information voter. 😉

  33. sam Says:

    excuse me Baker Paul but calling out an overpaid lineman who’s played less games then I can count on one hand is not dramatizing anything. Its the cold hard truth. sounds like we have some new dumb a$$ fans that are in denial

  34. Chef Paul Says:

    Samantha, Let me draw you a picture.

    Buccaneer Bonzai Says: You really have not been a Bucs fan long then

    Buccaneer Bonzai Says: Do a little research before suggesting such things

    PRBucFan Says:Oh my God ahahahahaha damn drama queens here.

    PRBucFan Says: We have some some dumb a$$ Buc fans.

    Architek Says: just no thought at all.

    Hence my joke. I’m sure they all appreciate you making all their points in only one post.

  35. Brandon Says:

    I don’t care how FREAKING great he was… he was a FREAKING guard!!! You don’t pay that kind of money to a GUARD!!! And yet we did it with him and Joseph…. STUPID!!!!

  36. Brandon Says:

    pablo Says:
    May 27th, 2014 at 1:44 pm
    We need to sign Davin Joseph to the vet mininum. Well, at least that’s what Pablo would do if Pablo was the GM. .
    =============

    Luckily, the team no longer engages in the hiring of dumbasses so we won’t have to worry about that.

  37. PRBucFan Says:

    Clearly Chef Paul you aren’t well acquainted with that Drama Queen fan base that is our Bucs fan base.

    But it’s ok, the truth often hurts 😉

    And no they aren’t new at all lol.

    I should of expected your feelings to be hurt though ahahaha.

    My point was clear, the second they hear he missed 1 voluntary workout after him being on point and rehabbing diligently for the last God knows how long the sky suddenly begins to crumble and he’s a “bust” and a “bum” lol.

    Please spare me the pointless convo, I’ll go ahead and skip it. After all, I don’t care much for your approval lol… clearly 😉

  38. Back, from Davie Jones Locker Says:

    Bucsfanman- normally you are right, but not this time. Dom didn’t load any incentives. He gets the same money if he plays or not. Or even if we cut him.

    Same money to sit in AC, or run wind sprints in 100′ temperatures?

    Pass the chips, and flip to Oprah. And pray the team makes the playoffs- cause he will still get his cut of that money, too!

    Thanks Dom.

    PrBucFan- um, would love to spend hour searching for link. But I’m terrible at that. Hopefully someone here- who is far more proficient at such things, will find it. It exsist.
    Me?- I’m hitting the tequila, and catching up on boxing/UFC recordings
    Not a research kinda guy

  39. Kevin Says:

    Damn you people are so sensitive. Seriously if someone makes a comment that you disagree with…instead of disagreeing you sound like my 3 and six year old daughters that cartoon time is over and it’s time for dinner or bed or homework. Really it’s an opinion. People have them and if you don’t agree than that’s fine, but you people really get all worked up over others input. Never understood it. Everyday some one gets bashed on here for they’re opinion…..interestingly enough it’s usually the writer of all the articles that we all enjoy reading everyday. That is what never ceases to amaze me. Never fails.

  40. Destinjohnny Says:

    His toe had issues before he signed. our superstar gm at the time gave him a pile of guaranteed coin

  41. Kaptain Morgan Says:

    Willing to give the guy some latitude here…we simply don’t know anything yet. Not ready to jump to conclusions after one day. He could have family business to attend to for all we know…wouldn’t be a bit surprised to hear something along the lines of how he and his wife just had a baby or some other family issue and he is spending an extra day or so at home. We’ll find out soon enough what his intentions are.

  42. stanglassman Says:

    Just a few things I learned reading these JBF comments.
    1. Nicks would have signed any FA contract full of play intensives. I thought he could have signed with anyone so he could demand a favorable contact structured how he wanted.
    2. Saints knew he would be lazy after a big pay day. I never heard this before and can’t find any proof of this anywhere.
    3. Dom somehow knew Nicks would get injured prior to signing him. Thanks Nostra-DOM-ass!
    4. Toe injuries are no big deal and if Nicks was only tougher he could play but he just never was a team player and in is just lazy. Toe injuries did retire Deion Sanders, Jonathan Ogden, and Jack Lambert but facts don’t matter to these JBF commenter(s).

  43. Bucsfanman Says:

    @DavieJones- In that case, it’s a shame. Normally the injury buyout/payout is worth less than the contract as a whole.
    I still have a hard time believing he’s tanking it though.

    Yesterday everyone got all over Pablo for suggesting signing Joseph. As it turns out the Rams felt good enough about him to sign him to a one-year deal. Maybe Pablo’s smarter than some of you think.

  44. BoJim Says:

    Carl Nicks = Grant Hill

  45. pick6 Says:

    @stanglassman, on the internet one must never let facts get in the way of a proper ignorant rant

  46. pick6 Says:

    @bucsfanman, i’m not sure what is proven by a fellow last-place team signing joseph to a one-year deal with no guaranteed money 3 months after free agency began. it certainly doesn’t prove anything about the intelligence of the rams or a certain inane poster\troll. Davin is one of only 2 guards available to sign who has meaningful experience as a starter. the other is incognito who comes with loads of baggage and was already run out of St Louis once if i’m not mistaken