Tristan Wirfs Skipping OTAs
May 21st, 2024
Tristan Wirfs
Buccaneers All-World left tackle Tristan Wirfs is not attending OTAs this spring until things change.
That’s the word from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, via his X account.
Fowler said Wirfs doesn’t want to risk injury as he negotiates a contract extenstion. Fowler has had great Bucs information lately, including breaking that Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean were on the trade block.
Meanwhile, Wirfs is guaranteed $21 million this season. Yeah, Joe knows spring practices are voluntary. Wirfs has been working out inside the walls of One Buc Palace but don’t expect him at practice.
Head coach Todd Bowles said after today that he’s talked to Wirfs about the situation, and Bowles didn’t seem the tiniest bit concerned.
Yesterday, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said he hopes to “finish off” Wirfs’ contract soon.
May 21st, 2024 at 12:59 pm
Veteran player & new father not shocked he’s skipping OTAs in yr 5 of his career to stay fresh, maintain the bag, and probably spend time with his family before the mandated grind begins.
May 21st, 2024 at 1:01 pm
Well said, Dude
May 21st, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Don’t blame him
May 21st, 2024 at 1:05 pm
Agreed. Rest up and enjoy his family.
May 21st, 2024 at 1:06 pm
It’s a ‘no-brainer’ decision. Don’t blame him. Neither would I if I were in his shoes.
May 21st, 2024 at 1:22 pm
This guy should be signed and is good- if we don’t sign him someone will for certain- but I think he read too much of his early press. He lost his edge and is not as good as he was. Should have never moved him from RT
May 21st, 2024 at 1:28 pm
“maintain the bag.” Fart noise. If only I had cool lingo like a gen z, no telling what I could achieve in life
May 21st, 2024 at 1:28 pm
This isn’t good. Why is everyone just brushing this off as nothing??
May 21st, 2024 at 1:32 pm
Makes sense. Imagine if he got injured in OTAs and it cost him a contract.
May 21st, 2024 at 1:37 pm
@Derek, because it is nothing, it’s VOLUNTARY. Can’t blame him either he’s probably worried Hall will crash into his knee and ruin his career too.
Also heard Evans, David and a few others weren’t there as well because it’s VOLUNTARY
May 21st, 2024 at 1:38 pm
no, it’s not good.
love the guy, but he did not look all pro last year
May 21st, 2024 at 1:40 pm
How crazy would it be if the Bucs had the HIGHEST paid DB in the league and HIGHEST paid OL in the League
But…
Have one of the worst run games in the league (AGAIN) and one of the worst pass defenses in the league (AGAIN)
#It’sABucsLIFE
May 21st, 2024 at 1:47 pm
After what happened to Ryan Jensen on the very first day of training camp 2 years ago, I think it’s understandable that a superstar like Tristan Wirfs would be reluctant to put his career at risk in voluntary team workouts. He’s got a LOT at stake (as I’m sure his agent has told him many times).
The downside from a team perspective is that I’d expect Wirfs to become the leader of our OLine this year, and it’s hard to lead when you’re not there. Still, I’m sure that all the other guys know full well what he’s got at stake, and support him.
May 21st, 2024 at 1:53 pm
NP
May 21st, 2024 at 2:12 pm
@Gofortheface30
“So Wirfs can maintain his leverage and enjoy time with his newborn child whilst negotiating the particulars for a new contract”
Is the Cronkite/Dan Rather enough for you?
May 21st, 2024 at 2:15 pm
If Logan Hall was there I’d skip it too
May 21st, 2024 at 2:15 pm
Wirfs shouldn’t be allowed to sit at the same table, or anywhere near, Logan “The Oaf” Hall. Not only does he totally suck, Hall is a danger to his teammates. He probably accidentally bashed into Todd’s knee hence Todd’s surgery
May 21st, 2024 at 2:55 pm
Licht said the deal is almost done. Wirfs doesn’t want to mess it up when the finish line is so close. I get it. I’m sure Licht and Wirfs are on the same page.
May 21st, 2024 at 3:15 pm
@Dewey Selmon
Well then we’re gonna need Barton to skip as many as possible as long as Logan is there. Or at least play another position as long as Logan is there. Don’t need Logan jinxing him either.
May 21st, 2024 at 3:21 pm
Not a big deal. He just needs to be there for training camp so the new pieces of the offensive line can gel and get on the same page.
May 21st, 2024 at 3:36 pm
Yep, Wirfs had nightmares about Logan Hall falling on Jensen leg in early TC.
Wants to make sure his family is set.
Don’t blame him one bit….
Licht will get this contract wrapped up here soon..:
May 21st, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Wirfs has lost a step?? Please. He switched to the toughest, highest paying position on the line. You don’t think he’ll be better in year 2 and dominate? Glass half empty Bro.
May 21st, 2024 at 4:34 pm
Tony. I’d rather lose Barton than Wirfs.
May 21st, 2024 at 4:37 pm
As long as he’s making it to meetings. New offensive coordinator and all. I’m sure when the season starts Wirfs will be ready to go.
May 21st, 2024 at 5:01 pm
Guy says he never should have moved from RT lmfao
Like Pro Bowl LTs are so easy to find on your own roster
May 21st, 2024 at 7:05 pm
Boss….. only you would make that kinda trash comment lol
May 21st, 2024 at 10:05 pm
Watch a video of Tristan jumping out of waist deep water from the bottom of a swimming pool, then ask yourself does this guy really need voluntary OTAs? I think not!
May 21st, 2024 at 10:35 pm
Mike C – Boss is a pretend Bucs fan . He does it all the time. Fake fans all over this site.
May 21st, 2024 at 10:36 pm
Dewey Selmon – That was an epic comment ! Well done
May 22nd, 2024 at 2:53 am
those of you dogging wirfs are clueless.
May 22nd, 2024 at 6:22 am
Not one of y’all giving wirfs shizz would do anything differently he’d be a fool to go to voluntary nonsense
May 22nd, 2024 at 6:48 am
Ryan Jensen is fresh in his mind. Smart move imo, gotta look out for #1
May 22nd, 2024 at 9:18 am
Honestly. I would not pay him as the best LT in the game…Until he proves it.
Let him play out the 5th yr of his rookie deal & see if he’s rated as a top 3 LT before committing that coin.
Yeah, he was an awesome RT & looked legit on the Left side in 2023…But you don’t pay a premium unless it’s a proven commodity. So, let Wirfs prove he’s the best to get paid the best.
(I also fully believe Licht over paid Winfield Jr by ~$2M+ yr & don’t want to see another $2-3M a yr wasted, when that money = losing 2-5 quality depth pieces a yr on the 53 man roster!)
May 22nd, 2024 at 10:48 am
Trade Logan Hall to the Lions so the Bucs can get by them in the layoffs after Logan Hall takes out their QB and a few of their linemen.
May 22nd, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Catcard. If they did that assuming Wirfs would play this year at all and that’s not a given the Bucs would run the chance of letting him hit free agency. The Bucs would pay more and could lose him to another team. That’s just a bad idea. I think the Bucs have seen enough to make him the highest paid OL. He was a rookie All-pro.
May 22nd, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Not worried about that one bit.
I bet the contract is done before training camp
May 23rd, 2024 at 3:23 pm
@ Derek
Your worries is 100% fandom speaking. Wirfs doesnt need to be there. He is a pro. He is an all-pro. He has worked his tail off to get where hes at. He is also a new father and spending time with his new born child is more important than underwear football in May that is VOLUNTARY. He has the playbook. He knows what he needs to do. He has been at One Buc Place working out, as usual. So yes, we are brushing it off as 100% nothing.
May 23rd, 2024 at 3:25 pm
@Catcard
And that is exactly why you are not a GM of an NFL team.