Jason Pierre-Paul Admits His Future Is Uncertain
February 15th, 2022
Free agent Jason Pierre-Paul.
Look, there may not be a guy on the Bucs roster that Joe respects more than Jason Pierre-Paul. In his time with the Bucs, the outside linebacker/pass rusher has demonstrated he’s the ultimate warrior with the heart of a lion.
Give Joe 11 guys on defense that have JPP’s drive, attitude and perseverance, and Joe will win ballgames.
The Bucs have to start counting nickels this year as big-time free agents are due for massive raises. You could almost see the handwriting on the wall when the Bucs drafted Joe Tryon-Shoyinka last spring. A pass rusher/outside linebacker, he was seen as JPP’s successor.
Last year JPP was robbed of his talents with a torn rotator cuff. He was a shell of himself and on pass-rushing downs, JPP was pretty much invisible. JPP had just a half-sack in his last nine games, including two in the playoffs.
JTS (4) finished with a half-sack more than JPP last season (3.5) but JPP only played in 14 games total, including the playoffs.
JPP, 33, has played 12 seasons. That’s senior citizen territory for any lineman/pass rusher. So Joe wonders if the Bucs are going to play hardball with JPP this winter? You know, we want you back but at a below-market price.
Given his age and injuries the past two seasons, Joe has no idea if JPP will be highly sought-after when the free agency dinner bell rings on March 16.
JPP has no idea about his future either, it seems. He took to Instagram after the Super Bowl on Sunday night and put out on his stories account that he has no idea where he will be playing in 2022.
Joe would love to have JPP back because you cannot find a warrior like him easily. But at the end of the day, the NFL, as former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter once said, is a production business. You must produce.
JPP did not last year. And he’s been injured. And he’s on the wrong side of 30. Bad combination.
Bring JPP back at an inexpensive price. If JPP wants big money, well, Joe thinks JPP may have played his last game in a Bucs uniform. And that would be a locker room loss.
February 15th, 2022 at 6:45 am
Well, this day was coming. Not just for JPP, but a lot of guys. TB retiring. AB flaming out. All of these free agents. How to stay competitive within the cap. Looks like most coaches are coming back. Looks like there’s a way to sign most free agents. Cappa or Jensen? JPP or Suh? Godwin or Davis? Stick with Trask and hope TB changes heart or go after Murray or Wilson?
Just don’t bring in locker room killers like Watson. Don’t throw away draft picks with an ancient relic who will not be around in a few years.
February 15th, 2022 at 7:10 am
He’s not worth bringing back at any price. Why waste the roster spot, if he’s a back up he’ll need to play teams like Nelson does. It’s a young man’s game. We need players who can practice all week, not have to be put together with spit, and glue just to make it to Sunday. JPP is like an old boxer who doesn’t know when to hang it up. Never ends pretty. Bucs need to just throw in the towel.
February 15th, 2022 at 7:32 am
JPP killed it just one year prior, isn’t unreasonable to assume the rotator cuff was the cause. Anyhow, they can resign him at a lower cost, if it looks like he isn’t coming back to form, they encourage him to retire, so he doesn’t have to suffer being cut
February 15th, 2022 at 7:51 am
Roster spots aren’t the real problem with teams like the Bucs and Rams. We had a number of guys on our roster last year who contributed very little, and so did the Rams. Teams like ours play their starters & key rotational players a whole bunch, but they pay them well also. And I think because of that, we’re competitive with our starting lineups BUT at the same time can’t afford a whole bunch of high quality depth.
How many remember Deon Yelder? Yup, one of our TEs who played in 5 games. Actually had a perfect 100% catch rate last year … 1 target, 1 catch … with a grand total of 14 offensive snaps & 14 S/Ts snaps. Or Blidi Wreh-Wilson? A CB who was on our roster for a whole 1 game; got to play in 15 S/Ts plays. Probably not the future though: he’s a 32- year-old journeyman.
I love JPP’s fire & leadership, and his on-field production prior to 2021 was awesome. Rotator cuffs can be fixed, and he MIGHT come back even stronger than before despite being 33. Used more sparingly AND at the right price (with incentives), JPP could be a tremendous asset on a team that has to get younger in our defensive front.
February 15th, 2022 at 8:03 am
That line has to have JPP back or a solid replacement……without another productive end, our entire defensive scheme is trash.
February 15th, 2022 at 8:10 am
Need to get a little younger on the D line, and I think JPP will be gone.
Might keep Suh and Gholston though.
Team just looked kind of tired by Rams game. Rams were extremely physical with us and we couldn’t quite match it.
My priorities would be this, in order: Chris Godwin, Carlton Davis, Fournette, Jordan Whitehead, Ryan Jensen, Cappa, Ronald Jones
We probably only have enough money to comfortably keep the top 3
Even if we keep Carlton Davis, I would still draft a corner in the first 3 rounds. Jamel Dean and SMB need competition.
The good news though is the supply of decent QBs for the off-season is increasing with guys like Kyler Murray being unhappy (real leverage given baseball aspirations) and Carson Wentz likely being gone.
I’d take Wentz or Trubisky for a one year rental and see how it goes.
If TB really does want to go to 49ers, a 3 way trade with Packers and 49ers could be very interesting. Send TB to 49ers, Jimmy G and 2 first round picks (one from Tampa, and one from SF) and to GB, and Aaron Rodgers to Tampa.
February 15th, 2022 at 8:13 am
JPP is a BEAST!!! Loved that he played for the SB Champs in the great State of Flo Rida…
February 15th, 2022 at 8:29 am
He played right here at USF in College, but we ignored him.
If we can bring him back cheap enough, I say go for it.
February 15th, 2022 at 8:32 am
We don’t have the draft picks to fill our potential needs….
RB, WR, Oline, DT, OLB, CB
This is a time for the Bucs to get younger.
I think there’s a chance we keep JPP….but only if he’s healthy and affordable….like somewhere around $5 mil.
February 15th, 2022 at 8:35 am
Does JPP get to the Ring of Honor?
February 15th, 2022 at 8:47 am
Face it, folks.
Without the GOAT, the Bucs will not play in SB 57.
Given this fact, it is time to rebuild the defensive front seven.
It’s not just JPP. Suh and LVD and Gholston and Minter and McClendon are all past 30. And I would much rather spend what cap room we have on Godwin and Whitehead and Cappa – on guys who will still be around and good when we are ready to contend again.
February 15th, 2022 at 8:48 am
If James Wilder can’t…
February 15th, 2022 at 8:50 am
The gas tank indicator for JPP is on “E”
February 15th, 2022 at 9:13 am
Has he even had surgery yet?
February 15th, 2022 at 9:55 am
If he was truly thinking of his future as a player, he would already have the surgery.
February 15th, 2022 at 9:56 am
Jordan Says:
Agreed: physically and mentally, with just a few exceptions.
February 15th, 2022 at 10:39 am
I would love JPP back — healthy and at a discount. SImply because Licht can’t afford JPP at his likely requested number given all the other players he needs to try and keep.
If BRady comes back, easier to get JPP at a discount. If Goobert or Trashk are tossing picks and losing games, why would JPP or any free agent want to stick around?
February 15th, 2022 at 11:23 am
All heart, ty JPP.
February 15th, 2022 at 11:43 am
Bucs shoulda shut him down early. He’s probably severely damaged. Its one thing to play with pain. And quite another to be foolish about it. The salary is still the same.
February 15th, 2022 at 11:56 am
Reminds me of the Simeon Rice injury to his shoulder. He never was the same and soon out of the league. Doesn’t me he wasn’t a great buc but as we know Father Time is undefeated and JPP has had more then his fair share of injuries. The next time we see him with the buc organization is when we put his name in the ring of honour. He has more then earned it.
February 15th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
JPP should be retained if he is willing to take a backup role and reduced salary with a few incentive bonuses for sacks, games played, % of snaps played, etc…
If you keep his snap count @ 40% he won’t loaf as much as he did last year.
Seriously – watch JPP play… He takes too many plays off and barely jogs after running plays that are not directly coming his way.
I just don’t think he is an every down player anymore unless there is an injury to JTS or Barrett.
February 16th, 2022 at 2:21 am
I’m afraid JPP will ask for big $, so he’ll walk. Is he even too injured to merit a modest contract?
There are plenty of good edge on the market. Jerry Hughes, Justin Houston, Harold Landry, Melvin Ingram. Chandler Jones and Clowney are going to be expensive and highly coveted. Von, a guy I can’t stand, will do his best LeBron, and I’m guessing he stays put.
In the draft, a bunch of good ones. Arnold Ebiketie should be in range for the Bucs. Shaq Barrett 2.0.
February 16th, 2022 at 9:31 am
Love the guy but time and injuries take their toll. His physical problems left a huge decline in the Bucs pass rush.