Bucs Offering Antonio Brown “Prove-It-Type Situation”
March 23rd, 2021
Old receivers not as good as Antonio Brown, guys like Emmanuel Sanders and A.J. Green, have scored $6 million salaries in recent days.
It seems Brown’s pending civil rape trial and his former-bad-teammate baggage are weighing him down and costing him millions.
Per NFL Network insider reporter Ian Rapoport, the market is so down on Brown that he may only be left with a small contract — with big performance/behavior incentives from the Bucs.
Last year, the Seattle Seahawks were sniffing Brown in free agency, as he was working out with Russell Wilson during the virus lockdown. Rumors persist that Seattle remains interested, but it’s just a maybe.
“If Antonio Brown is going to get a real legit deal from the Seahawks, then he might have to go because his deal with Tampa Bay I think is going to be a little bit of a prove-it-type situation,” Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show. And if Seattle is going to say, ‘We believe [in] you. We trust you. We’re going to give you real money, not like incentive-laden.’ Then maybe he goes. But Tampa wants him back; Brady wants him there. That means a lot. So my guess is he ends up back in Tampa.”
Brown turns 33 in July and maybe, just maybe, he realizes that he needs another season (this time a full season) of good behavior to make himself more attractive to NFL teams.
If that’s the case and the Bucs can get him cheap again, Joe can’t imagine Bucs officials passing on the opportunity.
Brown at $3 million plus incentives could end up being the best value in the league.
March 23rd, 2021 at 6:56 am
Make this happen Jason! I think this puts the Bucs over the top. Brees retires – Jaymiss the human turnover machine possibly starting in Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina basically toothless…can you say NFC south champs.
March 23rd, 2021 at 6:56 am
Not worried about Brown more worried about Suh or his replacement!
March 23rd, 2021 at 7:22 am
@Allbucedup I completely agree, AB would be nice at a bargain, but Suh is definitely the priority.
March 23rd, 2021 at 7:43 am
How do incentives work with the Salary cap?
March 23rd, 2021 at 7:43 am
Get Suh back….that would bring back our entire defense…..then work on Brown & Lenny….
March 23rd, 2021 at 7:49 am
gbobucsfan-
if an incentive is likely-to-be-earned, meaning the player had that stat the previous season, then it counts against this years salary cap if the player earns it.
If the incentive is unlikely-to-be-earned, meaning they didn’t make it last season, then it counts against next years salary cap if the player earns it.
March 23rd, 2021 at 7:51 am
Thanks -bucfanforever
March 23rd, 2021 at 8:15 am
Hot air balloons are expensive! I think he’s proven some and shouldn’t pe paid dirt cheap. I’d walk if I were him and offered more….that is if he knows he can keep it together without the support he has here.
March 23rd, 2021 at 8:27 am
We have no one to replace Suh with. I hope some wizardry is at play and both of them are signed.
March 23rd, 2021 at 8:34 am
Suh will be next to sign. GM JL and staff are working on it now!
March 23rd, 2021 at 8:52 am
imo suh has told the team make me the last piece…bring everyone back and i’ll sign last…
i think a 2nd SB ring is more important than 8mil…
AB will sign next followed by SUH…
GO BUCS!!!!
March 23rd, 2021 at 9:11 am
I love “prove it” contracts.
March 23rd, 2021 at 9:18 am
AB should not be worried about proving it. He’ll be in game shape all season; knows teh playbook; is comfortable with the QB. Go for the ring, AB…the rest will follow.
March 23rd, 2021 at 9:52 am
AB was a huge part of Bucs getting and winning SB. Incentives are good if the player has motivational issues, he clearly does not. Incentives hurt this offense, Brady likes to spread the ball around, if AB is incentive driven then at some point he will force it to AB like Atlanta game. Give him a decent contract so he is not disgruntled and let this guy rip it up. At one point Brady and Gronk had incentive driven contracts (crazy incentives they had to achieve), turned out not the brightest move on New Englands part. If AB goes to Seattle, AB & Metcalf will be the best WR tandom in the NFL. Without AB, Bucs don’t repeat!
March 23rd, 2021 at 10:06 am
@Listn
AB & Metcalf > ME13 and Godwin??
I’ll take ours over ANY combo!
GO Bucs!
March 23rd, 2021 at 10:11 am
I am not ruling out AB going to Seattle, because Seattle wants to keep their QB, and they want to keep him happy.
What better way to keep him happy then to give him another great receiver, to play with Metcalf ?
March 23rd, 2021 at 10:24 am
Bucs are going to lose AB lowballing him. He sucked it up and balled out. I would not blame him for leaving. bad move by JL not having him signed already IMO.
March 23rd, 2021 at 10:25 am
Bucman, seriously? When Evan’s and or Godwin get to 7 probowls let me know. Sorry to burst your bubble but AB is signed, he will be your #1 receiver this season. No disrespect to Evan’s and Godwin but he is better and Metcalf is to. Let him go to Seattle and you’ll see. Wilson wasn’t requesting trade for Evans or sign Godwin, he is asking for AB. Let him go and Rams and Seattle are new favorites in NFC.
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:22 am
Tom made sure AB got his 45 catches and maxed his contract last year –$2.5 M for 8 games, so I think he’ll be able to make up to $5 M with incentives this year.
Seattle has to restructure Russell to pay a WR3 and nobody will give AB a lot of guaranteed money after he epically burned three teams in six months, so I don’t think they give him big money no matter how much Russell wants him.
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:32 am
Barring injury and if AB signs with the Bucs, he is going to easily “Prove It” with a huge year with the Brady Bunch. He had 45 receptions in 8 games, that translates to 90 for 16 games, so AB will have a great year in 2021. The Court date is the only unknown, because he will prove it and then some on the field. GO BUCS!!!!
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:38 am
Whose to say none of the other receivers could get hurt as they did last season? Sign him back immediately because that insurance policy paid well last season!
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:51 am
Wow . Sounds like they don’t want to pay AB what he is worth to the team. If Evans or Godwin go down again we are in trouble without AB.
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:54 am
AB and LeVeon really screwed themselves ! Geez, how much money have they not earned and they both are turning in mediocre stats. It’s a good lesson , both for taking a contract that may not break the bank and don’t F with great team chemistry. AB feuded with Big Ben but he certainly hasn’t produced the numbers since his melt down. LeVeon went to the Jets for a payday, enough said there .
March 23rd, 2021 at 11:55 am
Had they stayed with the Steelers AB would have higher earnings, LeVeon perhaps a bit less, but they would have been beloved greats in one of the best football cities.
March 23rd, 2021 at 12:28 pm
You can’t have enough receivers!!!! It’s like pitchers in baseball, someone always gets hurt. At 33 he’s still a top 15 receiver. I think it all comes down to the civil rape trial. If he’s found not responsible he’ll be back
March 25th, 2021 at 8:31 pm
The way this dude Writes this article is a TOOL!! I mean damn man they way u describe A.B AN Brady is GETTIN OLD!! Over an over i mean come with something NEW for Crist SAKE! BICYCLE THROWING BLAH BLAH BLAH!! U sound DUMB bud.I think this an i just recently came accross ur articles on the Bucs.