“The Fear Is More Powerful Than The Hope”
May 8th, 2019
Grim update.
This sounds just awful.
Yesterday afternoon, NFL insider Dan Graziano of BSPN had sort of an update to the Jason Pierre-Paul situation; it is feared JPP will need surgery on a fractured neck that will put his season if not career in peril. The injury was suffered last week in a one-car crash in South Florida.
Graziano’s information is dark and it sounds as if the Bucs’ biggest concern (and frankly, correctly) is JPP’s well-being first and foremost.
The Bucs “are hopeful, but I think if it sounds like — the fear is more powerful than the hope,” said Graziano on NFL Live. “The expectation is that they won’t get the good news. Hopefully, they do. [JPP] is probably in line to miss the season.
“Neck injuries, when teams deal with neck injuries, it is different than other kinds of injuries in terms of — if somebody tears an ACL, there is a surgery for it. There is a rehab plan for it. With neck injuries, so many things can go wrong with such potentially disastrous consequences. Very few teams and very few players are interested in putting the player back on the field when there is something with the neck.
“So [the Bucs] will be extra, extra, extra careful and then maybe one more extra before they talk about a possible timetable for a return.”
This is just grim. And since we are wallowing in bad news, here is something else to ponder:
There really isn’t any special 34 edge rushers walking the street. Injured Ziggy Ansah springs to mind but he’s a 43-type of defensive end. So if the Bucs go shopping for an edge rusher, teams know they have the Bucs over a barrel. So the Bucs would likely have to pay top-shelf price as in (at least) a future second-round pick.
Sadly, the best hope now is that somehow, some way, the Bucs can resurrect the career of Noah Spence.
May 8th, 2019 at 10:34 am
Its time for the famous flash poll from Joe!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Joe
Which option would “history” more favorably look back on licht weight’s tenure!!!!!
1.) should he just resign this week and disappear for failing the Buc’s organization in every facet???????
2.) Or should he declare the offseason a total disaster and hold a fire sale on the roster, then declare a full rebuild for the upcoming 2020 season!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 8th, 2019 at 10:37 am
Well, with this dumpster of a roster, we will at least get clear of WinSTUNNED too and have a REAL fresh start next year…
May 8th, 2019 at 10:37 am
It amazed me that, with no information about the injury, so many talking heads have what they think is information. That includes this forum.
May 8th, 2019 at 10:38 am
It’s a bucs life.
Figures lol.
Won 5 games with him. Can’t get much worse.
May 8th, 2019 at 10:39 am
Where do you think they are getting their information from? (Joe knows who.) Let’s just say the source(s) isn’t a guy bagging groceries at Publix on Gandy in South Tampa.
May 8th, 2019 at 10:41 am
Sounds awful? Maybe….True, definitely. 2019 Bucs are screwed royally
Thank you, Jason Licht
May 8th, 2019 at 10:42 am
TramaMurse years ago they told the world Magic was HIV positive. If I sent you a recent picture of him donating blood would you believe it???
May 8th, 2019 at 10:45 am
Joe then why not post what the injury is other than a vague description? I promise the first one who knows will post it. Otherwise its guys and gals reading each others twitters and recycling information.
Unless, of course, you know more than the others and are willing to post…
May 8th, 2019 at 10:47 am
What is the chance that Bruce Arians starts having Urban Meyer chest pains and just bows out from this team before July?
May 8th, 2019 at 10:47 am
Oh and Joe this defense isn’t in need of a special edge rusher,coach Rapone told you on 3rd downs they’ll be 6 or 7 DBs in the secondary. That will normally make for 3 down linemen. JPP and 93 were never actually in the plans for 2019. Now had they simply cut him you folks would have went into an uproar talking bout 12.5 sacks last season. Silly rabbits tricks are for kids. Just like this stunt. Which in the end will work out in the best interest for both sides.
May 8th, 2019 at 10:51 am
Time to retire and move on. The neck is nothing to fool with. I thought A-train was crazy for trying to come back from his neck injury. Manning too.
One door closes, another opens.
May 8th, 2019 at 10:51 am
If you can get your mitts on the hospital report (which would likely be an illegal act unless JPP himself handed it to you), Joe would be happy to release some details of it.
Off the record of course.
May 8th, 2019 at 10:53 am
@Realist
Guessing it’ll be “2019 better not be another flop or we blow this all up” approach.
If the defense is worst in the league again, Winston doesn’t improve much, and we win 4-6 games then yeah it’s all getting blown up or should be at least.
If the defense is semi-average, Winston improves, and we have a winning record then Licht weight will stay IMO regardless of his incompetent BS.
Interesting how the 2014-2015 Bucs sucking a4ss was all on Lovie Smith, but hte 2016-2018 Bucs sucking a4ss is somehow all on Jason Licht.
How about Mark Dominik, Raheem Morris, Greg Schiano, Lovie Smith, Jason Licht, & Dirk Koetter + Mike Smith were all terrible hires in general?
How about the Glazers are the worst owners in the NFL when it comes to personnel management and team building?
May 8th, 2019 at 10:54 am
That’s my point… no one knows the severity or location of the injury other than “the neck”. But I promise if I had it I’d give it to you… despite the disagreements, I am a loyal reader 🙂
May 8th, 2019 at 10:55 am
Should have traded GMC when we could and likely JPP as LUV suggested as soon as the offseason was over to a 4-3 team that needed him.
Then again Licht probably drafts more safeties or a WR instead of addressing the trenches even with more picks
May 8th, 2019 at 10:57 am
The Texans have said they would be open to trading Clowney due to them being far apart on a new contract. Cutting Mccoy and JPP would free up around 20 million or so to pay him. A 3-4 end in the prime of his career might not be a bad option. We’d probably have to make some more cuts to make it work though.
May 8th, 2019 at 10:59 am
@lord of corn
gotta love when the truth starts to dawn on the sheep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its the much requested “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
February 20th, 2018 at 10:55 am
Trade GMC for picks!!!! Don’t need the phony captain crying about playing out of position in a 3-4 holding the whole defense back!!!!!!!!!
Draft
1st Mount Vea
2nd Harold Landry
If the Bucs commit fully to switching to a 3-4 front defense, then the “real” fans will give this regime 2 years to get the roster and scheme installed!!!!!! 2 year extension to all coaches!!!!!!
Make the best choice and switch to the 3-4!!!!!!!
If the defense was starting from scratch, then they would have traded GMC this past offseason!!!!!! I don’t think bringing D-line players in their 9th years and backup free agents and salary cut casualties is starting from scatch!!!!! It looks more of a major patch job!!!!!! Even if everything works out ( and historically it does not) JPP and GMC will have to be replaced sooner rather than later!!!!!! I see the Dline as a work in progress that will need attention next year as well!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
May 8th, 2019 at 11:03 am
Wow Matt, best idea I’ve heard in a while!
I love clowns.
May 8th, 2019 at 11:06 am
Jason Licht will pull a mystery trade. Just like the jpp. Can’t wait wait to head to Tampa to watch my bucs. White and David blitzing and shutting down RB!
May 8th, 2019 at 11:13 am
Bucs need to cut JPP and McCoy for cap relief right away
Just hope all the young drafted defenders can be ok with better coaching
May 8th, 2019 at 11:15 am
@matt
terrible take!!!!!!!! you want to trade high value draft picks to over pay Clowney so the Bucs can maybe win 5 games instead of 3 and ruin an extremely higher draft pick???????? you know licht weight would get fleeced in the deal!!!!!!! Its better to recognize the full rebuild now, and not another patch to fool the sheep that they are in a “win now mode” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 8th, 2019 at 11:20 am
What bothers me is that Licht, Arians, and Bowles had no insight. The fact that we were thin at DE while entering a draft that was loaded at the top with pass rushers, they ignored the position for an ILB and more DB’s. It was staring them right in the face. Yes, they couldn’t predict that this would happen but the fact remained, beside having JPP, there was no depth at all. What? Spence and Gholston? …whatever smfh
May 8th, 2019 at 11:21 am
This season was lost anyway. Cut/release JPP and GMC and try to get Dline help when the roster cuts occur. Then pick QB and Dline in next year’s draft. Most important, fire Licht first!
May 8th, 2019 at 11:30 am
Another Bucs roster disaster…3rd round pick for 1 year rental…ugh, a bucs life
May 8th, 2019 at 11:33 am
Let me know in the midway point of the season if the Bucs are over .500 and i will attend a game.
Untill then ,im over being associated with whats been happening since Gruden left.
Draft after draft after coach.
Playing .500 ball isnt asking much from a lifelong suffering fan base.
Let us up for some air.
May 8th, 2019 at 11:36 am
I suggest they go out and find a former power forward that could not make it in the NBA.
May 8th, 2019 at 11:37 am
pelbuc: Took the words right out of my mouth. Couldn’t have said it any better. On to 2020.
May 8th, 2019 at 11:42 am
People still advocating to cut McCoy are not real fans. We lose jpp an ppl still want to off McCoy that’s doesn’t make sense that’s to starters who do you replace with but then if you do replace then injuries happen always
May 8th, 2019 at 11:43 am
Just give me an 8 win team. I’m not asking for much. Just a 50/50 shot every Sunday that our team will have a win.
May 8th, 2019 at 11:45 am
I agree with Graziano.
My career ended with a neck injury, but not a fracture. I opted to not have surgery and it took 10 years to become “normal” again.
But back in The Day there were fewer legal options to pursue, no salary cap and a weak, feckless player’s union. So times have changed.
I feel badly for JPP and hope he gets better quickly. But I suspect we’re about to see how bidniz > compassion.
May 8th, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Ansah is more a 4-3 DE… like JPP… and Nassib. Neither of whom have played a snap at LB in the 3-4.
May 8th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
GOOD THING WE DIDN’T SPEND A PREMIUM PICK ON A DEFENSIVE END!
I mean, it’s just genius to go into the season with just TWO defensive ends and hope and pray they both stay healthy and productive for an entire season. Who needs depth?
Genius I tell ya.
Can’t wait to see the right side of our o-line either. By the way, do we even have a right guard?
May 8th, 2019 at 12:12 pm
We could of had dee Ford for a 2nd round pick…..
May 8th, 2019 at 12:14 pm
“How about the Glazers are the worst owners in the NFL when it comes to personnel management and team building?”
Lord Corn speaks the truth!
May 8th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
@Realist
I was for all those moves back then. Most fans have been on board with dumping GMC… Are they sheep? Are you a sheep too?
You are not alone in most the things you have predicted or wanted for the team. I’ve been slamming the table for rebuilding our defensive front 7 for years.
You’re just a big condescending look-at-me jack4ss about it IMO.
But it’s OK you’ve been here for years. Everyone is starting to know everyone’s schtick by now. You’re not changing lol. People can see through it
May 8th, 2019 at 1:14 pm
We did draft one DE, the kid from Iowa, he’ll need to grow up fast. Our defense just got a lot younger. Time to move on from both JPP, and McCoy. This is Whites defense now. Actually think we’re better off without both of them, and can use that 18 million in cap space cutting both would save us.
May 8th, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Cutting or releasing JPP may not be as simple as some have made it out to be, because of his injury & contract. Right now he’s in an injury status without a definitive diagnosis it appears.
According to NFL salary Cap rules … Once the season has started, all players – whether on the 53-man roster, Injured Reserve (IR), Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) or the Practice Squad (PS) – count against the team’s Salary Cap. JPP’s Cap hit this year is $14.9 mil, with a dead Cap of $7.5 mil. That’s a LOT of lettuce to pay IF he can’t play.
In JPP’s case, the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list has rules that closely adhere to those in the Active/PUP & Reserve/PUP, but they’re classified somewhat differently. One notable difference between the NFI and PUP lists is that the team has the right to not pay base salary to a player on the NFI list. The idea is that if a player suffered his injury outside the purview of the team, they should not be responsible for his salary. However, teams will often work out deals with NFI players to pay some or all of their salary when there is a common understanding about the injury.
In other words, at this moment in time none of us (nor the Bucs most likely) have a clue how this will play out. Once JPP’s diagnosis is clear & accepted by all, THEN potentially the path forward will also become clear. But right now, it’s all just SPECULATION.
May 8th, 2019 at 3:27 pm
I honestly don’t care, we need an average defense middle of the pack. I think with competent coaching we can get there w/o JPP. Jameis will win us a lot of games this season
May 8th, 2019 at 3:28 pm
this will get ugly, JPP’s people won’t just let the bucs throw him on NFI without a fight. his salary, his pension, and his reputation all improve if the team is forced to treat him as a player who is working his way back to play this year.
i have a feeling there will be at least a little bit of ugliness between team and player in the breakup before all is settled. hopefully it doesn’t stop them from clearing his cap space in time to reinforce the team.
@Matt, when you look at the $25+ saved this year without GMC and JPP, a move and long term deal for a guy like clowney suddenly looks very doable….the question is whether he’s looking for elite rusher money despite never hitting the 10 sack mark
May 8th, 2019 at 4:06 pm
realist
it doesnt matter what happens in 2019!!!!!!!!!!
the “real” fans will give BA and the staff a pass!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!!!!….its another realist repost!!!!!!!!
**************************************************************
The Buc Realist Says:
June 21st, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Huge pass to the coaching staff issued by the “real” Buc fans!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!
**************************************************************
so there you have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
huge pass to the coaching staff issued by the “REAL” fans!!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!
May 8th, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Licht and Jameis have no excuses
Now or never for those two.
May 8th, 2019 at 5:25 pm
We all spent hundreds of hours discussing quality draft choices.We all had 10 to 20 draft choices in our heads that we were sure would give us many wins and great glory this year.WHY DID WE BOTHER!!!!!!!!THANKS MR. LICHT—-HERES TO YOUR FAILURE——- AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
May 8th, 2019 at 6:56 pm
Devin White…
It’s official. The defense is yours.
Bring some serious magic.
Lord knows we need it.
It is INDEED… a Bucs F’ing Life.