Clarifying The Michael Johnson Fleecing
March 9th, 2015
Clarity emerges
Joe’s really getting a kick out of news tonight that the Cincinnati Bengals would want ghostly and ghastly Michael Johnson back, if the Buccaneers cut him and spare their fans another haunted season.
Mike Florio, of ProFootballTalk.com, dove deep into the Johnson files and explained exactly what has confused so many Bucs fans (not Joe) for months: if the Bucs don’t cut Johnson by Thursday, they owe him another $7 million dollars of cold Team Glazer cash.
UPDATE 8:00 p.m. ET: In the interests of clarity, $3 million of Johnson’s $5 million base salary for 2015 was fully guaranteed at signing. Also, a $4 million roster bonus due this year was fully guaranteed at signing in 2015. The final $2 million in 2015 base salary becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2015 league year. Likewise, $5 million in 2016 base salary becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2015 league year. In short, the Bucs already owe Johnson $7 million guaranteed for 2015 and they’ll owe him another $2 million guaranteed in 2015 and $5 million in 2016 if he’s not released or traded by the third day of the new league year, which starts Tuesday.
Joe can’t think of a good NFL team that would invest massive amounts of additional cash into a player who isn’t very good. Johnson even was slapped around by many observers last season for what appeared to be lack of effort. Joe doesn’t recall hearing the Bucs coaching staff refer to Johnson as a leader or a work ethic guy.
Heck, Johnson’s own agent threw him under the bus two months ago, saying he missed the Bengals and wasn’t a great pass rusher.
March 9th, 2015 at 8:55 pm
So he singed this deal, played like the ghost, and now will be cut with 16 large in his pocket? Then he will RUN back to CIN and tell everyone here he missed them. GO fly a kite #90
March 9th, 2015 at 8:57 pm
Character assassination
March 9th, 2015 at 9:05 pm
What a mess. Licht can’t afford to make another mistake like this. Rock Star part 2
March 9th, 2015 at 9:15 pm
Reminds you of Dominick’s extension deal with Clayton. Stinkeroo and then some. Just cut the guy, admit your mistake and move on!
March 9th, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Character assassination? Of who?
The only character damaged here is that of the incompetent Lovie Smith and his lame lapdog Licht.
March 9th, 2015 at 9:20 pm
Is that not tampering on Cincinnati? Officially he’s under contract with us and Cincinnati talking that they want him back if we cut him.
March 9th, 2015 at 9:22 pm
this was one of the DUMBEST contracts that I have heard of.
March 9th, 2015 at 9:24 pm
I just have to say that I am disappointed that we haven’t landed any free agents and we let the best guard resign without even trying to throw him money to convince him our way. to be honest I don’t think he would of came even if we throw the kitchen sink at him. Sh!t even TE Thomas is picking Jacksonville over us. Really Jacksonville. Have we fallen that much ?
March 9th, 2015 at 9:26 pm
Keep him and make him throw beads from the pirate ship…..at least we’d get something for our money!!!
March 9th, 2015 at 9:30 pm
And replace him with who? Larry English? Jaqius Smith? Will Gholston? Fatinikun? At this rate we may as well see what Teo-Neshim is up to these days.
March 9th, 2015 at 9:35 pm
Michael Johnson Signing Official
March 11th, 2014
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=108807
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There sure we’re quite a few likes on this signing joebucs wasn’t one of them
March 9th, 2015 at 9:36 pm
Reports say Bucs are talking with Derrick Morgan
March 9th, 2015 at 9:40 pm
I truly believe Licht doesn’t have a clue as GM. Time will tell.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:05 pm
Joe trying to keep up with who we will and won’t get. Can you do a story on our likely hood of getting remaining free agents?
March 9th, 2015 at 10:07 pm
I just want t know how much he count against our cap this year and next year. I guess there is no way we could even get a seventh round pick for this guy ala Mike Williams like we did last year.
Now that was a stroke of genius by Licht to get rid of that terrible rapper.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:08 pm
Man you guys really have no clue about football. It really is funny but sad at the same time. The league year doesn’t start until 4 p.m. tomorrow so quit complaining and let the chips fall where they may. I don’t know if you guys have been paying attention but everybody is getting overpaid right now. I’m glad we are quiet, no one wins anything in the offseason!!
March 9th, 2015 at 10:08 pm
The additional 5m in three days…didn’t know about that. It changes my opinion. Cut him. Who knows? It might cause another DE to be available at a lower cost.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
budnbeers Says
“I truly believe Licht doesn’t have a clue as GM. Time will tell.”
I have been saying this since last off season. Terrible hire. I realize Dominick sucked at talent evaluation, but one most other areas he nailed it. Especially how to do good trades. Getting a 2nd for Gaines Adams was genius, and how many draft day trades did he manage? NEVER overpaid in trades.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:14 pm
I think I got it, $7 million if we keep him or not. $5 million next year. Hopefully Carl Nicks will be off the books by then. I say keep Clayborn.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Can’t Lovie and company pick a winner player out of the FA offerings? Slim pickings? Nobody wants to come here? It’s called bottoming out with Lovie.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:19 pm
Expecting Michael J to be a dominant pass rusher was a mistake. But we signed him anyway and now we have to live with him. Lets take him for what he is. He’s decent against the run and can disrupt plays in the backfield when healthy. Playing him at RDE in Lovie’s defense puts him a little more wide than he’s used to. Perhaps putting him at LDE will reduce the learning curve. Put Jacquies Smith in on third and/or passing situations.
Meanwhile bring in a young, day two free agent type to hold down RDE maybe bring back Clayborn to compete for snaps (maybe) or even a mid round rookie could compete.
Yea it’s disapointing. Paying Johnson that kind of money was a mistake hopefully a learning experience for Licht. But there’s no point b!tching and finger pointing every chance we get. Other wise we’re no better than the trolling scum on the BSBN comment section 😉
March 9th, 2015 at 10:20 pm
Oh yea, Dummynick was great in everything else but talent evaluation.
Love those big contracts he handed out to Michael Clayton, Mike Williams and Quincy Black. All nominal performers who were vastly overpaid. Also we’re stll eating $5 million of Carl Nicks contract who was probably already injured when he got here.
Oh yea. Great, super, wonderful.
I’ll bet you $20 to your $1 Dummynick never gets a GM position again.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:31 pm
“if the Bucs don’t cut Johnson by Thursday, they owe him another $7 million dollars of cold Team Glazer cash.”
The $7 million is already owed as part of the guaranteed portion of the deal, even if he’s cut before Thursday. Another $2 million is owed if he’s on the roster after Thursday. It’s a question of if the Bucs can admit the signing was a big mistake or pay him another $2 million and hope he has a much better year.
March 9th, 2015 at 11:09 pm
I see licht going light this year in FA, then there’s nothing to answer to next year if they underperform. BUT, if he has another horrible FA class this year, I don’t know how much longer he can stay here.
March 9th, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Well if Florio says it AGAIN – then it must be true – LOL.
If these are indeed the facts – then Bucs need to just move on from this guy because if we keep him this year – then we are somewhat obligated to keep him in 2016 as well with the additional $5M already guaranteed. Its a tough spot to be in when he sucked so royally his 1st year. There’s your 1 major mulligan Licht. Don’t EVER structure a contract like that again. If a future Free Agent you want demands that kind of unwarranted guarantee – then he’s not your guy.
March 9th, 2015 at 11:23 pm
But were a 4-12 team. Oh wait, we got worse and now were a 2-14 team. Let’s resign our own back ups who would be backing up back ups on contending teams.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:23 am
@BucinNC
and appearantly let a capable starting LB walk for nothing..
March 10th, 2015 at 6:21 am
It was a HUGE disappointment. I like every single one of u other guys thought gerald McCoy plus Johnson plus our young des like clayton means n gholston who showed promise 2 years back believed that a speed guy who put ten plus sacks in a season would improve our dline. johnson did it once in his career n he probably sold his interview really good. I don’t believe in a ‘one hit season’ johnson NEEDS to go but I doubt he will. Ron parker needs to play in tampa as a nb/safety bye goldson. I like jameis I like mariota either guy would make me happy but I think we go winston because he is more experienced in the pro. Mariota makes reads tho don’t let people make opinions for u gotta read them safeties!! His dropback might be uncomfortable looking but I think he could be a great qb given some time to develop. Qb play to me relies on relaxation reaction n instinct, u cant read the defense correctly 100% of the time but if u catch a guy outta position be it coverage or a guy rushing u can make a play as qb. Mike glennon made steps last year tho I like what I’ve seen. Lets go spread phuk the run lol
March 10th, 2015 at 6:28 am
I think Licht is a bottom-10 GM in this league. Lovie is probably a bottom-5 head coach as well. What does that say about the Glazers?
March 10th, 2015 at 7:34 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
Keep him and make him throw beads from the pirate ship…..at least we’d get something for our money!!!
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As a member of the pirate ship crew, we don’t want him either!
March 10th, 2015 at 9:30 am
Clueless bucs fans….. Some of you are simple football fans….. You’re actually down on licht for the signing which is fine but he structured the contact in a way that it could allow them a way out. He’s bill polian compared to Dominick that’s how bad he was. Dominick had a capologist working for him as well so honestly what did the guy really do?