Today, the Bucs made a big shift in the way they typically handle players under Licht. At least for now, the team known for re-upping guys early told two cornerstone players, Vea and Mayfield, to go pound sand. A lot might change with that over the short term, but they have already lost one thing Licht cultivated, which is their reputation for taking care of players early. This is from SI:
"There is also, of course, the optics of the Bucs waiting on Baker Mayfield, and the problem is expounded upon when you add Vea's contract into the equation.
Other players will be watching when a team like the Bucs doesn't give out extensions and plays the waiting game. The Bucs have been quite good at this in the past and rewarded their players, but this is a notable shift, and it's something that other players in free agency will likely take note of when Tampa Bay becomes an option among their destinations."
But the more critical element potentially, is what does it say about the actual expectations for this season? That perception usually drives the Glazers because perceptions of "success" mean ticket price increases and actual success a home playoff game worth millions and price increases that follow.
The Bucs are definitely NOT all in on 2026. Again, this is SI:
"Additionally, it makes one question how the Glazer family and Tampa Bay's front office feel about the team's chances. If they were sure they were going to be successful, extending Mayfield and Vea would be a no-brainer. But there could be some doubt there, especially given the flexibility the team would have with Mayfield if the year didn't go well and the coaching staff was cleaned out.
How confident are the Bucs that they'll compete in 2026? We'll wait to see for sure, but this could be an ominous sign."
These kind of player contract challenges are one factor that could have factored into keeping Bowles for 2026 because most good HC candidates probably would NOT want to be the new coach who ran all those legends out.
Maybe the Bucs actually see it all going south in 2026. They can say they gave Bowles every chance, pull the rip chord, start over? are the Glazers that Machiavellian? Save themselves million on Mayfield
Then again, maybe they redo both deals in the coming week . ..
The Bucs are definitely NOT all in on 2026. Again, this is SI:
"Additionally, it makes one question how the Glazer family and Tampa Bay's front office feel about the team's chances. If they were sure they were going to be successful, extending Mayfield and Vea would be a no-brainer. But there could be some doubt there, especially given the flexibility the team would have with Mayfield if the year didn't go well and the coaching staff was cleaned out.
yeah i mean just one of the many reasons i listed as to why there was no rush to extend Baker...particularly with him being level headed about the situation, it's not like we had a gun to our head to extend him.
One thing that Licht has to take into consideration that the pundits don't is the salary cap for both this year and 2027.
The salary cap is a non issue if you want a a player. The Bucs are lukewarm towards Vea and Baker if they don't extend them before they hit FA.
The salary cap is a non issue if you want a a player. The Bucs are lukewarm towards Vea and Baker if they don't extend them before they hit FA.
their concern with Baker is just what QB they are committing too. The 2024 guy would have been extended back in February. He would have gotten 5 years as well.
His regression last year made them question hence the low ball offer apparently that Bakers camp didn’t even respond too.
with Vea, it’s all about the age. If he is willing to accept a deal at 2 years added to current one, we should consider it. Otherwise tough to negotiate there
As I've been saying for years...
...we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Ultimately, it's been a bad head coach propped up by the worst division in football for the past several seasons.
Hope for an entertaining season, and seriously blow the whole thing up in January.
Front office and all.
Yes if they were truly confident about their chances over the next few seasons these two would be locked up. But there is real doubt. Should have been enough doubt to fire our hc now but our owners are idiots.
Shoudve kept Coen and jettisoned Bowles. Things would be very different IMHO.
Shoudve kept Coen and jettisoned Bowles. Things would be very different IMHO.
If only had a dollar anytime I or anyone else said this.
we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Makes no sense. Too much young talent already on the roster to be talking about “rebuild”.
we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Makes no sense. Too much young talent already on the roster to be talking about “rebuild”.
A lot depends on how they perform this season. The positive is that the pressure is on some of our most important players and people of the organization to perform. The young talent is a plus for the future but the super bowl bets probably aren't overflowing with buc picks.
...we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Or, like many teams, players age and players come in, and Tampa, because we have a starting QB and a great WR room, are as well positioned as they have ever been to make a run.
Fans who don’t want Baker to play with his future on the line, must wake up every day and hate themselves. This is going to be a blast.
...we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Or, like many teams, players age and players come in, and Tampa, because we have a starting QB and a great WR room, are as well positioned as they have ever been to make a run.
Fans who don’t want Baker to play with his future on the line, must wake up every day and hate themselves. This is going to be a blast.
Yeah Baker with a chip on his shoulder in a prove it year....get your popcorn ready....no complacency out of him without the extension, so hoping for 30 TD+ this year
in terms of contender? Depends how you define contender. This team has only been a serious SB contender in 3 years in the last quarter century (2002, 2020, 2021). Now we managed to win two Superbowls but just saying...any other year...we were either ass or a "pretender"
Our most successful year outside of those 3 seasons was back in 2023 when we were 4-7, rallied to go 9-8, and won a playoff game against a spiraling Eagles team. (Baker Mayfield baby!)
in terms of rebuild? i mean, we are slowly doing that already hopefully through draft but likely to see key vets like Vea, Godwin, etc. leave. You don't lose Evans and David, key leaders of the lockerroom and sides of the ball and think you have a shot at the Super Bowl. Bucs are likely in the 7-10 win category this year as they've been consistently under the Bowles Era.
Maybe they can muster up enough grit to win a playoff game but nobody is taking them seriously in 2026.
These kind of player contract challenges are one factor that could have factored into keeping Bowles for 2026 because most good HC candidates probably would NOT want to be the new coach who ran all those legends out.
Pat Kirwan (who is close with Bowles)
"So from the [NFL front office] world I came from, you know, the first suspicion I have and it’s pretty easy to have it is let’s not extend anybody in case we’re dumping our coach at the end of the season and we wanna give the new guy, not the hang up of all these fat contracts,” Kirwan said
we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Makes no sense. Too much young talent already on the roster to be talking about “rebuild”.
I thought you would want to rebuild with young talent. Would you rather rebuild with old talent?
