Sweezy Saga Drags On
August 14th, 2016
“Pppsssttt… Jason, how many zeros are in this guy’s contract?”
The drama and secrecy surrounding left guard J.R. Sweezy continues.
Yesterday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times Twittered it is a real possibility that Sweezy, who allegedly has a bad back, very well could start the 2016 season on the PUP list, which means he would miss the first five games.
Woody Cummings of WDAE-AM 620 spoke with Sweezy, who refused to offer a specific timetable for his return.
When Joe approached Sweezy yesterday (very briefly), the big-money winter free agent signee said he was taking things “day by day.” Sweezy sort of said the same thing to Joe prior to visiting a specialist in California for a second opinion, again, believed to be about his back.
Joe had a chance to chat with someone with real knowledge of the situation who dismissed any dire talk of Sweezy’s mysterious issue.
So when or if Sweezy suits up for the Bucs this season is a complete unknown. Still.
August 14th, 2016 at 6:38 am
Read that (JR to PUP list) in the paper this morning Joe, but didn’t see any real inside information in there, just more speculation it looked like. Not sure it’s a real big deal at this point. Back issues take time to heal properly (been there, done that). Pamphile’s doing pretty good it looks like, and at this point he may very well be a better pass blocker than Sweezy anyways. Fully expect that if JR does go on PUP, that the Bucs will pick up another veteran OLineman once other teams start cutting down, probably one with the flexibility to play both guard and tackle.
August 14th, 2016 at 7:18 am
Evan dietrich smith may get a shot also.I like pamphile but, I am not sure what the Bucs long term plans are for him.As for SWeezy, I hope Rick Stroud is wrong. The Bucs can’t afford another high priced rehab assignment.
August 14th, 2016 at 7:49 am
I’m a huge Licht fan but this signing does not look good.
Hopefully Pamphile is ready.
August 14th, 2016 at 8:36 am
Would not be surprised to learn the back was from a weightlifting incident.
August 14th, 2016 at 8:52 am
What a drag. Can we get Mankins to come back, 1 more time pls?
August 14th, 2016 at 9:02 am
Tampa Bay Rehab-aneers? This is starting to really stink up the joint/One Buc Place…
August 14th, 2016 at 9:28 am
Ya I have a bad feeling about this one, your back is not something that heals over night, those tend to linger wich is not a welcoming sign if your a bucs fan. I’m starting to get Carl Nicks flashbacks. Pray it doesn’t go down like that. Hopefully it’s something minor and the bucs want it to heal all the way up b4 they put him on the field, wich I totally agree with. We need this guy for the future so a few games really don’t matter to me if it means long term jevity.
August 14th, 2016 at 9:30 am
Under HIPAA, this guy has every right to shut his mouth about his medical condition. The reality is that this guy signed a lucrative contract, is not practicing, and is not talking about it. The optics of this is really bad because the easy thing to do would be to say “Look, I injured my back in the off-season (lifting, running, etc.) and I’m trying to get back ASAP…”
The fact that he’s not doing this has the prosecutor in me smelling a rat. A rat in the sense of:
A. This was a pre-signing injury that he withheld on the post-trade physical; or
B. He hurt his back post-signing doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing per his contract.
Both scenarios could cost him money which could be why he’s giving the silent treatment. As Watergate taught us: “Always follow the money.”
August 14th, 2016 at 10:07 am
Pamphile and EDS are the next guys up. I’m looking at the team without Sweezy. IF Sweezy plays in a Bucs uni it will be a bonus. I’m not planning on it that’s for sure.
August 14th, 2016 at 10:12 am
Maybe Sweezy should consult with the “genius in his field” whose TV ads run nonstop, He a back surgeon up in Hudson Fla. I went there 30 years ago with herniated discs, he wanted to cut and snip something. No way! I just don’t over exert and live with it. I can’t guess the extent of Sweezy’s problem either, but it doesn’t sound good to me.
August 14th, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Easy (money) Sweezy Will collect 2 yrs of free Buc Salary having maybe played a total of 9 or 10 games. Then ride off into the sunset with a..S..t eating grin on his face. I knew this guy was bust from the moment we selected him.
August 14th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
I wish they would at least tell us if it is non-football related or not. At least then we would know it isn’t a left over injury from his prior team.
Frankly, I think the Bucs should bail out of the contract if he cannot start opening day. There has to be a clause that negates the contract if he doesn’t make the final roster.
OR…
…Maybe Mankins can fill in for him for 5 weeks?
August 14th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
This is looking too much like another overpaid LG from a Super Bowl winning team… Ahem, Carl Nix, cough! I personally don’t think JR. Sneezy will ever sweat and bleed in a pewter and red jersey.
August 14th, 2016 at 4:48 pm
At least Carl Nicks was widely regarded as a great player prior to signing with the Bucs for big money. Can’t say the same thing about Sweezy.
August 15th, 2016 at 1:56 am
I wish we could have 2 GMs:
– Keep Licht on for the draft
– Have a second on staff for FAs