Happy Jameis
August 29th, 2017
“Matt Stafford signed for how much?”
There is a 23-year old living in the greater Tampa Bay area who probably can’t sleep tonight because he is too excited.
And no, that’s not because this young man is geeked for football season to begin.
The young man would be America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. So why would Jameis be so happy on an otherwise mundane Monday night? Because in two years, provided he stays healthy, young Jameis is going to hit the Powerball lottery.
You see, earlier this evening, Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford signed a $135 million contract for five years, per the Associated Press.
After the 2019 season, Jameis’ current contract expires and it’s fair to suggest Jameis is equal to or better than Stafford.
So in two years Jameis is going to be one wealthy SOB. Consider Joe last winter was told by an NFL type that Jameis is looking at “Andrew Luck money” when he signs his next contract. Luck makes an average of $24 million a year. Well, the bar has been raised with Stafford who will average of $27 million a year.
Even if Jameis (specifically, his representatives) decided not to jam Team Glazer for Stafford’s rate, Jameis could take a discount like Luck’s contract and still be filthy rich.
And this is why Joe has been harping that a wide-open window to make a run at a Super Bowl won’t last for the Bucs. Once Jameis (and a few others) get paid, there will be minimal room under the cap to go get difference-makers in free agency. It won’t be long before the Bucs could have to make unpleasant decisions with regards to cap casualties.
Meanwhile, one can almost hear the champagne bottles being uncorked in Jameis’ house right now.
August 29th, 2017 at 1:08 am
My opinion Winston is much better than Stafford! I’d like to see him get paid when his time comes and he’s locked in as a Buccaneer for many years beyond his current deal. Definitely can see a strong nucleus of young players growing old together once again finally!!! GO BUCS
August 29th, 2017 at 1:31 am
I just read this headline and thot to come here lol. Winston is easily the 150 to 170 milion dollar man easily. It’s time to start to making realistic cap decisions next couple of years or Winston will be tested for sure. This will be another reason to motivate him even more. What helps is not spending money on a true pass rusher cuz Smith never developed a true pass rusher in his career.
August 29th, 2017 at 1:33 am
I just read this headline and thot to come here lol. Winston is the 150 to 170 milion dollar man easily. It’s time to start to making realistic cap decisions next couple of years or Winston will be tested for sure. This will be another reason to motivate him even more. What helps is not spending money on a true pass rusher cuz Smith never developed a true pass rusher in his caree
August 29th, 2017 at 1:59 am
*hear the champagne 😉
Maybe I’m naive but Jameis seems like the kinda guy who would not try to squeeZe out every last penny if he thought it could help team win. He just wants to win that badly.
August 29th, 2017 at 2:32 am
I don’t believe in the window closing theory. If your team manages the cap intelligently, drafts well, and develops young players every year, and you have an elite QB, you have a very big window. If paying your QB meant the window closing, then noone would pay their QB.
August 29th, 2017 at 2:35 am
It’s basically a guarantee that when Jameis signs his extension he will become the highest paid player in NFL history … unless he purposely gives Tampa a hometown discount but I’m sure his agent, mom, dad and everyone in his inner circle will request he not do that as this is his life and there is no reason he should leave money on the table!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All players should get the maximum $$$$ they can on every contract, especially in a sport as short, dangerous and cut-throat as football!
August 29th, 2017 at 4:43 am
@Joe … “It won’t be long before the Bucs are going to have to make some unpleasant decisions with regards to cap casualties.” Sounds like you & I see the same ‘unpleasant decisions’ in the Bucs’ future Joe, but that’s part of today’s NFL. GMC, David, DJax, Sweezy & Martin have already hit the lottery. Jameis, Mike Evans, Ali Marpet, Donovan Smith are right around the corner followed by Kwon, Brate & Humphries, then OJ & several others. Even with the CAP increasing each year, we’ll still have some very tough decisions ahead.
bucs_365 hit the nail on the head IMO about how to stay competitive year after year. Problem is there’s only a small handful of teams who’ve been able to make that equation work (Pats, Seattle, etc). To me the keys are (1) a strong GM; (2) a strong HC & staff; and (3) a franchise QB. Teams like the Pats & Seahawks have had all three. Teams like the Bucs & Titans are on the cusp of having all three. Even though there’ll be bumps in the road, our future is bright IMO.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:11 am
As long as we invest wisely the window should stay open. Big contracts for QBs are the norm. Building a balanced team and not investing in players that make marginal impacts versus replacements is the key. Case in point. GMC. I have been a huge proponent of his but having that much money sunk into a DT is not great business. You have to pay for players that put up stats. The DT position does not traditionally put up big stats, so if he’s your top payed player you have to give up a player at a skill spot that puts up numbers. I always wished he would play some at DE. Some of what he does reminds me of a poor man’s Reggie White. GMC is very valuable to the team no doubt, but you can’t pay that position big money because of the impact differential versus others who play the position, but to have a difference maker at DE, you must be prepared to pay to either buy or keep one. Also, chasing stats at DT actually weakens the line.
No matter. As long as you have the QB, everything becomes easier. Yes, at some point players like LVD will need to be replaced rather than overpaying for them and that is fine. Running backs should be rookie or one year prove it deals. Pay the LT, pay the DE, the WR1. Pay the shut down corner. Safties, Guards, WR2, DT’s, NT’s LB’s must be rotated out with guys at the end playing on one year deals and rookie contracts. As far as TE’s, the only way Brate and OJ80 both get paid is if they start being red zone monsters.
I trust Licht but he must show that he has the ability to walk away from a player. The Bucs have been in rebuilding mode the entire time he has been here. Rebuilding and maintaining balance are two very different skillsets. Time will tell if Licht has both.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:13 am
Agree with Unbelievable.Jameis has said he will take less for the team.How much less we will have to see.
One obvious way to extend to the so called window is to keep an ever improving team growing through the draft.Careful evaluation of free agents that will take too much of the salary cap will be essential.You can’t afford high priced free agents
that don’t add anything to the team.Licht has generally picked some good players
on the cheap to help us.But we don’t need players that just come here nfor the money,such as Anthony Collins.Also hope Chris Baker is not one of them.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:17 am
Winston will get a 8 year 250 million dollar contract to become the highest paid player ever. Probably with over half of it guaranteed.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:24 am
Totally agreed tnew, the window is opening now but when your QB reaches that level it makes losing a few guys easier to handle because of his ability to win games. We will hate to see a few guys leave in a few years but the fact of matter is keeping them all isn’t realistic. The team has been assembled,it is imperative to get a chip out of these boys now during they’re rookie deals.
August 29th, 2017 at 7:27 am
A yo that was a fantastic post tnew.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:03 am
Please be Tom Brady and ease the blow Jameis!!! Take 25 mil a year for as long as humanly possible and let’s win some damn rings
August 29th, 2017 at 10:01 am
Agree with NOSBOS…that was fantastic post as usual Tnew
I do not question your thoughts about which positions can get the $$$ but I think GMC is actually a Buc’s success story. They locked him up early for about 13 million annually while Suh gets 20 million!!! The numbers just don’t bear out Suh’s value…GMC continually gets more sacks…Suh more tackles…but a run stuffing DT is simply not worth 20 million. Suh is not worth seven million more each year which is why I suspect the Lions let him walk.
I totally agree with your take pointing out the league is full of franchise QB’s and their teams seem to adjust. The Pats are the obvious example…but Green Bay and Pittsburgh also have QB’s with loads of experience, success and SB titles and they seem to make it work. It’s also a problem for all the teams in our division…Matty Ice…Cam and Brees are making some big bucks.
If Licht can keep drafting at his current pace we’ll be fine. Players like Ali…Beckwith…Godwin…are not YET expensive. We simply need to make sure our blend of veterans is balanced with enough players on their rookie contracts.
August 29th, 2017 at 10:33 am
Winston gets 200mil with a 100 million guaranteed….especially if he gets us to the promise land….GO BUCS!!!!
August 29th, 2017 at 11:37 am
In 3 years sweezy djax Martin won’t be on the team. Gmc maybe for 3 or 4 more. That’s a huge chunk in cap space we will clear up for those guys
August 29th, 2017 at 12:52 pm
Would prefer Jameis be more Brady like with his pay than Drew Brees and let the franchise be able to surround him with talent to win consistently.
I think Jameis has to also prove he’s worth the 25 million by taking this team to the playoffs and reducing the dumb decisions and turnovers. And please don’t cry about how Jameis has no weapons or a bad offensive line. Stafford hasn’t had a 100 yard rusher in a game since 2013 and still has got his team to the playoffs a few times.
No excuses for Jameis let’s hold our #1 overall pick to higher standards and get some W’s!!!
August 29th, 2017 at 2:07 pm
Jameis spoke very highly of Tom Brady a few weeks ago. Hope he takes a page out of his book and not cripple the Bucs for future seasons with a large contract. Especially because Mike Evans will get paid before him. That being said, I see him searching for fair money but also being cap-friendly. Hope the Bucs lock him up and he retires a Buc when it is all said and done.