6 Weeks Of Playing Time For JPP?

August 22nd, 2019

Back on June 1, Bucco Bruce Arians told a national television audience that Jason Pierre-Paul might need six months to return to playing football.

That was the last significant and official update on JPP and his broken neck that Joe is aware of. Anything else has just been speculation, including amateur neurologists and orthopedists trying to interpret JPP’s Instagram photos.

Enter NFL Network super insider Ian Rapoport. A noted friend of Arians, he spent time at One Buc Palace early in training camp and told WDAE-AM yesterday that he had a good visit. Asked for his insight on JPP’s return, Rapoport said maybe JPP ends up healthy enough to play six games if the Bucs are in a playoff chase.

That seemed to be the best case JPP scenario Rapoport proposed.

“To me, if you get him on the field this year and he looks like himself a little bit, then that is a pretty good outccome of an unbelievably scary situation,” Rapoport explained.

Joe would bet more than a few bucks that’s exactly what Rapoport was told by Bucs officials.

Joe knows legions of Bucs fans think JPP is magically going to return in October, and contribute, but that would be downright stunning and that scenario has always felt completely unrealistic.

59 Responses to “6 Weeks Of Playing Time For JPP?”

  1. AKickInTheBucNuts Says:

    Forget about’m.

    Broken neck, returning in October?

    Don’t think I see too many paraplegics playing in the NFL.

  2. BucEmUp Says:

    thanks jpp, first fireworks then crashing your Ferrari at 4 in the morning. Never a football injury

  3. buc up Says:

    JPP – Thank you for the great season last year. Time for Bucs to cut their losses. Not going to the SB. JPP hang it up and enjoy your life. Wish you good health!

  4. Bob in Valrico Says:

    Hard to justify the value, if JPP’s availability is reduced to 6 games. If Jameis is franchised or extended it also be hard to fit salaries under the cap next year.

  5. macabee Says:

    The Bucs have a little over 4mil in cap space. Move JPP from Active/NFI to Reserve/NFI. Use the roster spot and the 7mil (now 11mil) to add an impact player on the offensive line. JPP has shown no interest in even visiting OBP during camp and I don’t see him dropping into coverage as an OLB with no practice. Great player/unfortunate accident, but the Bucs fortunes will be determined in the first half of the season, not the last half. Do what must be done. Go Bucs!

  6. Pittsshore Says:

    Cut him.

  7. Todd Says:

    As JA knows, I have some inside baseball when it comes to JPP. There’s a strong likelihood his career is over. Won’t say more…and I hope it’s not the case. However, don’t be surprised if we find $7.5MM in cap room in the not-too-distant future.

    JPP “has” done a nice job while injured creating a lovely man-scaped back yard. Time to tighten up those expenses, though. The proverbial income tree doesn’t grow to the sky. Want what you have at this point. Want what you have.

  8. Clw JB Says:

    BA is hoping we are sitting at 5-5 with 6 games to go and JPP gives us the push for a strong finish and a winning record year 1…best case scenario, highly unlikely

    Not sure how we justify holding his salary with age, injury, and “bad luck” history with huge holes in our depth on both lines

  9. Pelbuc61 Says:

    Putting way too much hope on JPP playing this year. Heck, he was healthy last year and Bucs went 5-11. Need to save the 7 million and sign an OL or DL.

  10. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    He may never play another down. Ever.

  11. George Rauh Says:

    I agree with macabee move JPP from Active/NFI to Reserve/NFI. Use the roster spot and the 7mil. Then see where he is next year.

  12. Bruce Blahak Says:

    age, neck injury = goodbye…good player but won’t be part of the long haul to be a super bowl team

  13. El_Buc941 Says:

    And theres the reason none of us are chiropractors Joe. For all we know the defenition of a “Broken Neck” could be given to a variable of things. A literal broken neck where you can move it at all, or a fractured vertabrae that may have a hairline crack (dont get me wrong a hairline fracture is not a walk in the park). 6 games this year? Shoot I’ll take it over no games even if he doesnt play how he did last year the offense will still guard him just because of what they know hes capable of. Im willing to bet all JPP has a is a hairline fracture on a vertabrae with consistent swelling.

  14. 813bucboi Says:

    MACABEE

    I agree….

    GO BUCS!!!!

  15. Defense Rules Says:

    macabee … Still can’t figure out why so many want to cut him when we’re under no real obigation to pay him the remaining $7.5 mil of his contract if we move him to the Reserve/NFI list. JPP won’t squawk at that. He’s already made $7.5 mil this year for doing absolutely nothing (nice job if you can get it) and has a year left on his contract IF he manages to make it back healthy. I’m really hoping that he does exactly that, but not this year. Could surely use another OLineman … or two.

  16. Sarasot Garey Says:

    So, why is he still on the team?

  17. Zzbuc Says:

    I love everything about JPP, but I am more in love with the bucs… We need that money for OL and probabalu a RB…… Just release him!!! Doesnt make any sense. Well what else would you expect from this joker of GM

  18. Brandon Says:

    AKickInTheBucNuts Says:
    August 22nd, 2019 at 6:28 am
    Forget about’m.

    Broken neck, returning in October?

    Don’t think I see too many paraplegics playing in the NFL.
    ————————-

    Guaranteed stupidest comment that will be seen all day. You do realize that he broke a bone in his neck, not the entire thing. Ohio St’s Jay Burson once broke a bone in his neck during a basketball game and finished the game strong only to be discovered that he had a break. Former boxing champ Vinny Pazienza broke his neck in a car accident and was told he would never walk again. He not only walked again but he boxed and won a few more championships.

    Not all breaks are the same, and not all breaks cause any paralysis whatsoever. Obviously, JPP’s break is not life or even career threatening, not sure where you got paraplegic comment from. You’re either greatly misinformed or stupid.

  19. OneBuc55 Says:

    Been saying this since the accident, cut him…

    First of all, he never chose to be a Buc so how much is he really committed to this franchise…Secondly, as someone stated earlier, he hasn’t even made any attempt to come to Tampa (to my knowledge) and at least visit his teammates or the coaching staff through mini camps or training camps…

    So he supposed to just show up with 6 weeks left to play in the regular season ready to go?
    It’s just dumb to assume he’s gonna show up in football shape…Not to mention sign an extension next season…Imho, it’s a no brainier; cut’em and use the money for something else… Besides whether it was very mini camp or not if we would have cared enough to be in Tampa with his teammates instead of down in South Florida tricking in the wee hours of the morning he wouldn’t be in this situation…just my 2 cents on the JPP fiasco…time to move on…

  20. Buc'n Enough Says:

    Sarasot Garey:
    “So, why is he on the team?”

    Two words for you:

    Jason Gump

    That’s why he is still on the team…

  21. OneBuc55 Says:

    Sorry for the typos…

  22. Brandon Says:

    Zzbuc Says:
    August 22nd, 2019 at 8:19 am
    I love everything about JPP, but I am more in love with the bucs… We need that money for OL and probabalu a RB…… Just release him!!! Doesnt make any sense. Well what else would you expect from this joker of GM
    ——————————

    Say we release JPP and clear $7.5 mil off the books… for what? Are there players worth $7.5 available as free agents? Doesn’t make any sense that the best use of that money is to spend it on the guy that could play close to half the season and be our best player on D for the 2nd season in a row… plus he’s under contract after this season. There’s NOBODY that is worth HALF of $7.5 a season available as a free agent.

  23. Ghost of Darrell Henderson Says:

    Stick a fork in him!

    He will never play NFL football again at a high level.

    Mayne he can do some kind of publicity stunt for the Vipers.

    Hey Joe, if you want to do a Viper site, I’ve got a great name.

    Viper Room.

  24. Ghost of Darrell Henderson Says:

    ^^maybe^^

  25. Bucsfan951 Says:

    I have zero faith in licht so I’m sure he’ll screw this up and pay JPP his entire salary for this season.

  26. Hodad Says:

    It won’t be the first time we pay full salary for nothing, Grimes, Baker come to mind. Grimes last year was a spectator on the field last season. He had the best seat on the field, and was paid 10 million to watch the action from as far away from it as he could. I knew Licht was this stupid, but I didn’t think B.A. was. Arains gets on players who won’t suit up with a bad hammy yet he’s OK with JPP sitting home making 14.5 million? Doesn’t make any sense.

  27. miken Says:

    @brandon… clear the money for a trade if we can swing it

  28. Sarasot Garey Says:

    7.5 mil plus cam brate equals Trent Williams

  29. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Excuse me, but when exactly did they say he broke his neck?

    I don’t recall seeing that anywhere but here.

    Regardless, if he is placed on IR/NFR he will not count against the cap, and even if he returns late in the season, only a portion will.

    So all of these people saying to cut him to free up cap space are wrong. It cost the Bucs nothing in cap to keep him and see if he heals up.

  30. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Hodad, your numbers are exaggerated.

  31. Alanbucsfan Says:

    They might as well wait and see how he heals up.
    They’re not getting anyone else as good this year, and it would be fun ,if he can come back, to see how JPP, Vea and Suh DLine would fare.
    Bucs aren’t picking up any elite OLinemen with cap money this year-that’s dreaming,
    OLine should be addressed in draft next year, and they will probably draft another RB next year and a DLineman as well
    This year is about changing the culture…

  32. SCBucsFan Says:

    I love reading threads like this where people who have no information about an injury nor the mental capacity to understand that information SHOULD it be available making judgements. El Buc you sound reasonable, thank you. Most other get back to getting into your uniforms to go work the drive thru.

  33. bucnole Says:

    Hate to say it – but Im with most of you guys.
    We just need to cut our losses with JPP
    Great player but we need production – there is zero guarantee that he can come back and even less of a chance he would be in game shape
    While we are at it I would work a trade for Brate – Hudson looks like a keeper, Auclair is a nice prospect as well and Cam has good trade value,we could use the money from both moves to seriously upgrade this team. I know its a risk seeing as OJ hasn’t made it thru a full season yet
    no risk it no biscuit – just do it

  34. DB55 Says:

    You’d be amazed at what a few chicken bones and goat’s blood can do!

  35. Billy_45 Says:

    I’m in the crowd of using the money from the exemption for JPP with Brate for maybe Melvin Gordon etc.

    People counted Jamel Dean out too.
    Why cut him? Just stupid.

    If we can get a Melvin Gordon or someone that COULD actually WIN a game for the Bucs, By himself, do it. (Skill player)

    This team needs new excitement after bad news rolling in.

  36. tmaxcon Says:

    bucs are not going to the playoffs nor will their games matter in october….jpp is clearly one of the dumbest men to every walk the planet earth with his poor choices and inability stay out of bad situations…. it’s funny how local feel good story like jpp trumps being a dumbarse… any other player that pulls the stupid crap jpp has he’d get the swaggy treatment from the hypocrite choirboy police bucfan… you all pilled on swaggy but it was cancer93 and lvd causing losses and blowing leads they were your protected favorites regardless of them accumulating weekly worst of defensive records in nfl history. not to mention more blowouts than any captain duo in franchise history which says a lot for a franchise with 1 good and 1 great year out of 42… keeping jpp is stupid on every level do you people really want a proven dumbarse around these young kids just to possible get 2 or 3 meaningless on the way to another basement title. makes no sense when you have no chance anyway to have this fool around these young guys…

  37. Buc4evr Says:

    I followed the guy when he played at USF and as good as he is as a player, if he isn’t available we need to cut him and move on. The guy is a walking disaster and one can only ask what stupid thing he will do next. Not worth the liability to keep him.

  38. SCBucsFan Says:

    TPax I’m impressed that you still weave McCoy into every thread you one trick pony. Now hurry up Mommy has your grilled cheese ready.

  39. tmaxcon Says:

    SCBucsFan Says:
    August 22nd, 2019 at 10:39 am

    TPax I’m impressed that you still weave McCoy into every thread you one trick pony. Now hurry up Mommy has your grilled cheese ready.

    up your game pal… same tired responses…. don’t you have an alter boy to resuce

  40. Jeffbuc Says:

    Yes tmax he has to be the stupidest person ever. Becasue no ther person has ever lit fireworks in there hands and thrown them. And no one has ever drove there luxury sports car fast. I mean what was he thinking. How dare he push the gas pedal on a Ferrari. There have been people killed driving 35 in a Subaru.

  41. tmaxcon Says:

    jeffbuc

    yeah you are right he’s not the only one but he is the only buc and giant that let his team down because he is a mental midget and complete and total dumbarse…. i’d wager a decent penny that he is the ONLY nfl player in recent history to throw millions of dollars down the toilet over fireworks…. you can’t justify this fools ignorance…. your defense of this idiot and low standards are laughable…

    do you have 10 million dollars to flush down the drain so you can go do stupid $h!t… not sure anyone with an IQ over 4 would try and defend his pattern of bad choices…

  42. D-Rome Says:

    Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
    August 22nd, 2019 at 9:29 am

    Excuse me, but when exactly did they say he broke his neck?

    https://lmgtfy.com/?q=jason+pierre+paul+fractured+neck

  43. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    At this point, what do we gain if we cut him? There is no one else to pick up on the streets. Bucs are not liable to pay him for the games he misses due to his neck so there is no financial loss.

    If a trade or good pickup can be made at the 53 final cuts AND extra cap relief is needed, sure cut him, but no point in doing so if there is nothing to gain.

  44. Clean House Says:

    If he was smart he would take the year off

  45. tmaxcon Says:

    in all honesty what the bucs should do if they were a savvy respected organization they might be able to pull off a trade for next years services but since they are not savvy or respected their options are limited to trying to get a 6th or 7th round pick from that star struck knuckle head in Miami for jpp services for next year. that’s the only reason bucs should hang onto jpp for possible trade next year. you can’t count on this fool so gambling your season plus his salary hoping he does not do another bone head stunt is the type of gambles that keeps teams like bucs in the basement year after year. anyone wanting to keep jpp is basing it purely on emotion. emotional decisions are weak decisions.. no way that even this incompetent organization is counting on jpp this year for anything. counting on jpp would be a huge but very buc like mistake.

  46. Buccaroo Says:

    We have to approach this season believing we won’t have JPP at all, so if he comes back, it’s a bonus.

  47. tmaxcon Says:

    bottom line is jpp is a decent player that can’t be counted on… especially given the fact the bucs are young and attempting to reverse a well entrenched losing culture. the risk versus the reward of this guy no longer makes sense. it’s very simple when you take BS feelings and emotions out of it.

  48. JimmyJack Says:

    This is the scenario I see as most likely. If the Bucs get themselfs into a playoff chase JPP returns to push us over the top. If we are out of the race entirely he takes his rest til 2020.

  49. BucsFan727 Says:

    I would cut him. And trade for a impact player. Melvin Gordon. Javone Clowney or trade fot a stud Gaurd I bet Cappa could play RT.

  50. Rodney Says:

    Boy, I bet JPP wish he would have came to off season workouts. If he would have been at OTA, none of this probably would have happened.

  51. Bill1949 Says:

    JPP was a welcomed addition to the 31st ranked defense last year. Otherwise, we were dead last defensively. JPP is a good football player. He will be missed. It’s over for JPP. Save 7 million and cut bait now. Why wait? As long as were cutting overpaid players, we should do something about Cameron Brate. Anybody in the NFL need a TE?

  52. taylor Says:

    Dump him and get trent williams from redskins

  53. Buccaneerscotty Says:

    I’m just praying for him to have a somewhat normal life with as much mobility as possible 🙏🏻

  54. Sydney Says:

    Come on, it’s obvious. He’ll announce his retirement in October. This all posturing.

  55. cmurda Says:

    I bet Arians doesn’t feel the same way the majority of the posters here apparently do. Arians probably took one look at the Bucs ferocious D Lines of the past 2 or 3 years and said”Yeah, I’ll take even 2 or 3 games of JPP happily because the ability to get pressure on this team is disgusting”

    * Footnote: The term disgusting refers to the literal sense of the word. It is not to be thought of as great. For example, Ronald Acuna Jr is disgusting. Do you see this guy hitting bombs and stealing bases at a crazy pace. Instead, disgusting refers to the Bucs of the last 10 years. The Bucs are disgusting. This team couldn’t hit their way out of a wet paper bag. Yup, that’s the one there.

  56. JimbobBucsFan Says:

    I thought I saw a report somewhere that said players in JPP’s situation were not allowed to come to the facility and attend meetings or in other ways get “mental reps” with his team. I cannot find this anywhere now.

    Can someone please enlighten us as to JPP’s status and ability to participate in training in any manner.

    The way I understand things is that JPP will need to be put on the Reserve/PUP list for the first six weeks of the season. The NFL season officially starts on September 5th. Then they have another six weeks for for him to begin practicing after October 17th. Otherwise, he will be lost for the remainder of the season. In other words he will have to resume practicing by November 28th in order to be eligible to play this year.

    This would appear to be what is going on with the Buccaneers and their decision process.

  57. Mike Johnson Says:

    Another Sweeny saga for the Bucs.

  58. adam from ny Says:

    reality is some dawgs on another team are gonna slap that neck around something silly in the trenches – and it could damage him or immobilize him for the rest of his life…he’s probably one and done with the bucs

  59. adam from ny Says:

    we could be talking draft in mid october like some years…making fan acceptance of him retiring as an easy swallow…

    #GulpGulp