A.J. Hawk On Bucs Signing Akiem Hicks: “I Think This Is Cool”
June 6th, 2022
Bucs DL Akiem Hicks.
A co-host on one of the most popular sports radio shows in the free world,o played linebacker for the Packers, is of the mind a former Bears defensive lineman signing with the Bucs is just about a perfect move.
That co-host/NFL alum would be former Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk. While he doesn’t say a whole lot because he is too often busy puffing on a cigar while on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Hawk said last week of the Bucs’ acquiring Hicks was a very savvy move.
“I think this is cool,” Hawk said when McAfee screamed how this was breaking news at the time McAfee’s show aired. “That dude [Hicks] energized the whole squad [in Chicago],” Hawk said. “I think that will be a great little jolt of energy down in Tampa.”
McAfee added his two cents, agreeing with Hawk this was a smart signing. And McAfee added he fully expects Bucs’ AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to add another veteran free agent before training camp.
“Good for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” McAfee said. “They will sign someone else two weeks from now and then someone will try to tell us the salary cap is real. It’s not. It’s fake. It’s bullsh!t.”
Hawk fully agreed with McAfee that Licht, despite a tight salary cap, isn’t finished. In fact, Hawk put a name on it. Hawk believes that once the season begins, Licht will sign Odell Beckham.
There were rumors last year that Beckham wanted to play for the Bucs because he is tight with Tom Brady. Instead, he was traded to the Rams where he won a Super Bowl but blew his knee out in the win over the Bengals. Beckham is currently rehabbing that knee.
The only fly in the ointment Joe can see with signing Beckham is that he likely won’t be ready until October at the earliest. The Bucs already have a stud receiver, Chris Godwin, on the shelf rehabbing a knee into the fall. That would be a lot of Team Glazer loot to pay two stud receivers who won’t make an impact for weeks.
You can see the full segment of Hawk and McAfee talking about the Bucs below.
BREAKING: Akiem Hicks has signed a 1-year $10M deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers#PMSLive #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/H6ox5roF8g
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 31, 2022
June 6th, 2022 at 5:57 am
know I’m get crucified but I say resign antonio brown and blame it on Bruce..say brady Mended the fences n ride him till godwin is back.. he won’t get many offers..let’s be real he got emotional with his coach n showed his a$$ leaving the field…butttttttt I say but his production and experience with brady plus his price tag should allow us to fix it.
I know I’m look dumb to some…but I’m imagining this team with brown evans godwin n gage Jr ..gronk brate rookie mauler.. fournette Vaughn white… special skill set / speedsters… Miller perriman Darden Graydon or whatever his name is….Johnson 3rd down receiver pretty much a godwin knock off…
Brown shouldn’t be crossed of due to a super bowl win.
Brady can make it happen and should.
I see him being excited for 3 million and chance to right a wrong.
June 6th, 2022 at 6:11 am
I also think we should still keep conversations open with suh..
If not him the someone else to being some extra pressure to let these big cb get more physical..
I feel like the secondary will preform well this year with the 2 new additions.
Still be nice to add competition for the 2nd spot.
The bucs should explore all option for trades to secure the pass rush n secondary…offense will score n will fight to keep us in games.
Would be great if we can. Establish a run game..it’ll go well to keeping brady standing up and defenses rested.
The screen..the play action..the bubble passes..the hard nose running to the right has to be a viable option this year…left just needs to be able to pass protect.
D Smith needs to get weathered for speedy rushers..footwork n focus…
The guy beside him has big shoes to fill I’m curious how this lg plays out..
Bradys quick release n pre snap reads can help big time but against the goodbteans we need a sold cog to help smith play smart.
Mortgage the future use picks..find the right guys..sign the cap cut players..find bradys type of guys..we could use depth at lb but camp will determine some things for us and plus free angency players price tags
Will be determined.
We must start treating this like it’s the last super bowl chance we got.
June 6th, 2022 at 6:17 am
I’m saying this is and will be the only way we get back to the Super Bowl this season! ….All In means All In and that means AB!
June 6th, 2022 at 7:12 am
No to Brown. He cost us another Lombardi. Let’s get one without him. No more turds in the punch bowl.
June 6th, 2022 at 7:18 am
Buc king you are forgetting that there’s more to football than just football . I for one say get AB back . Why not ? Strictly football it’s a great move . When you get into fans , and feelings , and image and character , that’s when it’s a hell 2 da naw naw . As far as suh , Luv the guy ! I think dude shows up when needed and always plays hard but hicks when healthy can most definitely be a monster . I think even with this schedule , we r gonna see some dogs fighting for thier lives to get deep into the playoffs . May the best and luckiest team win !
June 6th, 2022 at 7:26 am
Go with the feeling, Buc king.
June 6th, 2022 at 7:30 am
Agree with Buc King; ‘Keep conversations open with Suh’. Personally I still think there’s something going on behind the scenes & that Suh will end his career here this year as a Buc. And IF that’s the case, our run defense AND pass rush could dominate.
June 6th, 2022 at 7:33 am
“They will sign someone else two weeks from now and then someone will try to tell us the salary cap is real. It’s not. It’s fake. It’s bullsh!t.”
If that were true, Tank Top Mac, high priced players wouldn’t be cut as cap casualties, Gronk would be signed for 20 million, Suh for another 20, Hill would still be a Chief, Miller a Ram and the NFL would become … MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!
MLB—where championships are bought and small market teams, who are lucky enough to draft a superstar, will lose him after five years.
If Green Bay had a MLB franchise they’d be the new Kansas City Royals.
True, the cap can be manipulated, but the piper must always be paid. Therefore, the cap is real!
June 6th, 2022 at 7:35 am
Gronk
June 6th, 2022 at 8:16 am
Antonio Brown isn’t coming back. He needs ankle surgery, and given the persistent problems that ankle gave him last season, I cannot imagine the recovery time will be anything less than many months.
He’s still an idiot. While that’s hardly newsworthy, think about it: The fool showed up the team with a lame (no pun intended) excuse and selfish, distracting display in the endzone when he was tossed. All during a game.
I’m not letting Arians off the hook either. While Brown flamed-on, Arians was the accelerant to the flame. Two egos went unchecked, and that was the prelude to the Buc postseason disappointment.
June 6th, 2022 at 8:19 am
Trey Flowers is still out there. He’s far superior to JTS, who I think needs time to develop. Sign him and rotate his snaps with JTS.
June 6th, 2022 at 8:43 am
AB, like Passing Thru said needs ankle surgery. After what he did, can’t have him back. Regardless of who’s fault it was, what he did was inexcusable. I’d rather have OBJ, cuz he would want to be here and Brady probably would like to work with him… If we sign a WR. I’d love to have Suh back, he’d basically be McClendon at this point. I’m sure who we sign will be good. Although maybe in hindsight, Licht shouldn’t have cut that Khalil Davis kid from Nebraska last year. His depth is missed for sure.
June 6th, 2022 at 8:53 am
The NFL has a very soft cap that is easily manipulated because of it’s consistently expanding nature. The pandemic provided a blip that shows how much more “real” the cap becomes when it stops expanding and actually stagnates or shrinks. As long as $1 in this seasons cap is tangibly more valuable than $1 in the next seasons cap, it makes business sense to spend that $1 now. You get more “bang” for that cap $ and having the same $ value in “dead” money that next season is less of the total cap % in the next seasons higher cap total. So “kicking the can” actually benefits the team. The “can” actually shrinks as you kick it further. The real limiting factor is how much a given ownership is willing yo spend above their peers over a given timeframe. The current “soft” cap that’s consistently expanding above inflation only really stops extraordinary spending. Which I’m all for given our ownership’s recent willingness to spend real money above their peers.
June 6th, 2022 at 8:54 am
Pat McAffee is like state-run television for the Colts & almost like a 3rd party Aaron Rodgers PR firm lol
June 6th, 2022 at 9:10 am
Would rather have another pass rusher than OBJ
June 6th, 2022 at 9:39 am
PassingThru Says:
June 6th, 2022 at 8:19 am
Trey Flowers is still out there. He’s far superior to JTS, who I think needs time to develop. Sign him and rotate his snaps with JTS.
^^^^^^^
What makes you think Flowers is far superior to JTS? An average of 4.5 sacks in his 7 year career? JTS had 4 sacks in his rookie year, Flowers had zero in his rookie year.
June 6th, 2022 at 9:43 am
F AB he quits every team he’s ever been on and for some reason people want to still make excuses for that moron. The best predictor of future outcomes is past performance. If Brady wants Odell we will sign him.
June 6th, 2022 at 9:46 am
Natural Selection … Interesting analysis ref manipulating the present-day salary CAP, and largely I agree with you. But teams do in fact screw the pooch by getting overly aggressive in ‘kicking the can down the street’ and end up with a year or more of being in CAP he11. Just in our own NFC South, Panthers were there but have somewhat dug their way out in the past couple years. Atlanta is there, and is currently trying to dig its way out. Saints & the Bucs will be there starting next year.
I think the problem largely focuses on the older vets whose salaries were ‘deferred’ & yet their performance doesn’t justify keeping them for the salary that they’re making (see Matt Ryan). OR … maybe they retire & we still owe them deferred compensation (see Ali Marpet). OR … maybe that’s how we creatively wrote their contract (see Gronk & Suh). In all those instances, the player is no longer on our roster, BUT the Bucs still owe them big bucks (I think that’s what Dead CAP is all about).
Sooner or later you pay the piper; the players earned the money, and they will get paid under the CBA (although the CAP Hit doesn’t seem to reflect what the player actually got paid in a given year). Tom Brady is a classic example. His CAP hit this year is ‘only’ $11.9 mil, but his Dead CAP value sits at $47.0 mil. He’s not under contract for next year, but TB12’s CAP hit in 2023 will be $35.1 mil UNLESS he signs on for another year & they rework his contract. That just happens to be one-sixth of our projected 2023 salary CAP, for a player who most likely will be retired. Hard to be competitive in the NFL when you start with 1-hand tied behind your back.
June 6th, 2022 at 10:09 am
@Joe
There’s much more to being an OLB than sacks. There’s the awareness of situational football, and processing what’s happening on the field. And there’s maturity that comes with playing professional football.
Do you feel comfortable with JTS stopping the run? I don’t.
Do you feel comfortable with JTS dropping back in pass coverage? I don’t.
Do you feel comfortable with JTS not giving up on plays? I don’t.
He’s not there yet Joe.
June 6th, 2022 at 10:10 am
We still need to sign Gronk. which multi sources say Bucs are confident. Yeah waiting till OTA’s are done. But I agree. I would look into signing Suh. its never enough having good front line rotation. Knowing Hicks and Sue are up there in age, it would be wise to have them rotate in, Keeps them fresh during the game. That is where Chicago screwed up with Hicks. He is not an every down lineman.
June 6th, 2022 at 10:14 am
Joe can promise you that top-shelf outside linebackers are not being paid mega millions because of the finer points of the game outside of rushing the passer.
June 6th, 2022 at 10:18 am
@Joe
Sure, if you’re an elite pass rusher like Chandler Jones, who is far better as pass rusher than run stopper. But JTS isn’t Chandler Jones at either pass rushing (not even close) or stopping the run.
And Chandler Jones never gives up on plays.
June 6th, 2022 at 10:21 am
I expect Gronk back, and would not be the least bit surprised if Suh comes back for his curtain call.
If Suh comes back, (or even if he doesn’t) I expect to see Hall line up often at ROLB.
June 6th, 2022 at 10:45 am
Bucs won’t be in cap hell will they have to make some tough decisions sure but every franchise has to after every year. Ab refuses to get the ankle surgery until he is signed with a team so nope to that even if he didnt have to have surgery still a terrible idea to bring him back in what that would do to the locker room and though not impossible I highly doubt he gets signed again by any team think he has exhausted all his chances especially with all the wr talent that keeps coming out of the draft why would a team take the chance and time is definitely not on his side as he continues to age.
June 6th, 2022 at 11:52 am
PassingThru Says:
June 6th, 2022 at 10:09 am
@Joe
There’s much more to being an OLB than sacks. There’s the awareness of situational football, and processing what’s happening on the field. And there’s maturity that comes with playing professional football.
Do you feel comfortable with JTS stopping the run? I don’t.
Do you feel comfortable with JTS dropping back in pass coverage? I don’t.
Do you feel comfortable with JTS not giving up on plays? I don’t.
He’s not there yet Joe.
^^^^^^^^^^
All good points, I just don’t know how good Trey Flowers is. He was good with New England, but not with Detroit. So, unless he wants to sign for cheap, I’d rather have JTS and/or Anthony Nelson playing.
June 6th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Defense Rules: I think “cap hell” is relative and only comes about when ownership wants to stop spending real money or the cap actually stagnates (worse, constructs).
We could push $50 mil in dead money into 2023 and have that practically irrelevant for 2023 and beyond. Assuming a cap that increases at a higher rate than inflation. We could sign contracts next season that we could sign contracts that push 50 mil dead into 2024. Still using the “full” 2023 cap. Then that 50 mil actually becomes a smaller % of the 2024 cap than it was on the 2023 cap. On and on indefinitely with that same 50 mil dead money becoming less and less a % of the cap as it continues expanding yearly. Obviously the more seasons you continue spending “above” the cap, the higher % of future caps you (temporarily) tie up.
I agree teams practically need a “reset” point in theory. Which is easily accomplished during a pragmatic rebuild. Which often ties in with the goals of said rebuild. “Tank” a season with low salary by eating all the accumulated past spending and get higher drsdt assets for your rebuild. But there’s really no limit to keeping a given “window” open. At least not with current contract/cap rules and an expanding cap.
June 6th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
The cap is an illusion. When it was instituted, many teams didn’t have dedicated capologists. Teams did go to cap hell. Today, a teams financial department needs to be incredibly derelict for that to happen. Even if you’re dumb enough to get into cap trouble, it’s no more than a two year reset.
Every team needs to reset rosters now and again. That has very little to do with the cap. Teams don’t have cash flow problems like they did. Basically every team is a mini gold mine. For every team that uses the cap as an excuse, I’ll show you a cheap owner. These teams are run like any other business. It’s always about real dollars in and out. The bucs are not going to pay Suh millions more than he’s worth. Like BA says, bad bidness.
The NHL has a real cap. It’s not fungible. Teams must live and die with long, high priced deals.
June 6th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
Still think they need to bring in at least one more CB & maybe one more DE & S.
June 6th, 2022 at 1:28 pm
LOL, we need someone to energize our defense, since JPP is gone.
If Akeem can stay healthy, I think he will literally FEED here in Tampa.
June 6th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Cobraboy … ‘If Suh comes back, (or even if he doesn’t) I expect to see Hall line up often at ROLB.’
Same here Cobra. Also suspect that Bowles will do a lot of ‘experimenting’ with formations to get Vea, Gholston (or Suh), Hall, Shaq AND JTS all on the field at the same time.
June 6th, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Tony, I don’t think they’re done. I have my eyes on Derick Wolfe. The Ravens will more than likely cut him before June 1. I also believe a quality DB could shake loose.
June 6th, 2022 at 1:59 pm
GOB … ‘Even if you’re dumb enough to get into cap trouble, it’s no more than a two year reset.’
Two years reset seems about right IF you’re coming off a very successful year (because of lower draft picks). Panthers are a reasonable example. At the end of the 2020 season, the Panthers had 53 players under contract for $119.3 mil, 9 players on IR costing them $29.5 mil, and Dead CAP totaling $54.1 mil (covering a bunch of players); their total CAP ended up being $204.0 mil, leaving them $4.4 mil ‘extra’ (to carry over to 2021). Panthers record in 2020 was 5-11. Bummer.
Their situation improved (very little) in 2021 (reduced CAP that year). At the end of the 2021 season, the Panthers had 53 players under contract for only $96.7 mil, and a Dead CAP totaling $54.0 (same as previous year); their total CAP ended up being $118.8 mil, leaving them $4.7 mil ‘extra’ (to carry over to 2022). Panthers record in 2021 was 5-12. Bummer again.
This season Panthers’ CAP situation has improved to the degree that their Dead CAP expense has fallen to $23.5 mil (thus far; could end up being more depending on who they cut). It’s taken them 2 years to get out of a very deep hole, but at least now they have an opportunity to start improving their roster with quality talent.
June 6th, 2022 at 1:59 pm
I knew saying bring back ab wasn’t going to be a popular idea..to behonest I didn’t he put off the surgery so that alone would be a red flag for me as well I guess I’m assuming a healthy ab would be a familiar target for brady and another point about brown is that he’s a hard worker in practice set the energy for practices and is a go to 1st down guy which with godwin future playing in question would really help the first 5 games..
I’m not his fan or love the guy at all he’s a diva by all means and can be a cancer like most top revievers…not named Mike evans or godwin..but when looking at current free agent wide receiver pool I see julio odb Jr antonio brown idk if julio is 2/3 his self I would definitely kick tires on him.
I’m willing to forgive brown and say f it…we won 1 with him and lost one cause of him to a degree…
I ask the wide receiver room how they feel about having him back…if Mike godwin n brady say yes..you give him 3 or 4 mill with some incentives to play nice and run it…
If he’s injured n can’t play then scratch him out the convo.
I just think if you could have Jerry Rice or dion sanders type players..
Which we all know brown has that ability to be a number 1 then you cross the bridge and figure it out…
We play to win the game..it’s why we let the psycho here in the first place…
We’re not recruiting model citizens to play a football game..
We want the sapps of the world ..yes we love the brooks Dunn barber and lynch of the world but it’s ok to have a wild card on the team.
The essential Charlie day from sunny in Philly to just rejuvenate the offense when it’s stale.
Yes he’s old
Yes he’s crazy
Yes he’s toxic
Yes their bad blood
But if brady said get him back would you say no?
I honestly feel the ab fall out pissed him off more then ba changing scripted gane plans because brady can audible so playbook is what he dials up individually.
Brady should get whatever he wants..not that he has said wants him..just throwing firewood on the 🔥 here.
June 6th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
GOB … Dyslexia set in again apparently. Make the Panthers 2021 CAP $181.8 mil (instead of $118.8 mil).
June 6th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
I hope suh comes back for one more championship run. It would be like the fearsome foursome, purple people eaters, or the the steel curtain getting after it👍
I vaguely remember the last time the Bucs played the bears, vea and hicks exchanged jersey’s after the game by the goal line.
It stuck out because vea had a really hard time getting his Jersey off at that time…😂
Mutual admiration I suppose…
June 6th, 2022 at 3:24 pm
Not sure I agree Cobraboy and DR about Hall playing often at ROLB; Unless often at ROLB is 33% or less of the time.
Maybe Hall will line up mostly at ROLB position. But that is not what the Bucs have been saying or what Hall did in college.
Also, Joe has had at least 2 articles from guys that said that Hall was the best 3 technique guy all of last year in college.
PFF shows that Hall played 75% of his snaps last year at the 3 technique. So I am not sure that they move him to a guy that will be playing 5, 7 or 9 techniques in the Buc’s hybrid 3-4 defense.
I am sure he has some capabilities there but I like him inside more and I think that the Bucs do as well.
June 6th, 2022 at 3:53 pm
If they’re gonna sign someone else, make it Robert Quinn.
Do. It. Now.
June 6th, 2022 at 9:34 pm
Lol, homeboy is drinking a beer while doing his podcast. I know our world seems to be going to hell, but that’s pretty cool.
June 7th, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Big no to Antonio Brown coming back. I like the Hicks signing, but I think barring unforeseen injury that it closes the door on a Suh return. IDK about 10 million a year for him or Gage, but if cap isn’t an issue, I don’t care what anybody gets paid.