Releasing Guard Carl Nicks Is a Lose-Lose Scenario for the Tampa Bay BuccaneersBy Leo Howell - Jan 7th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Jul 25, 2013; Tampa, FL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Carl Nicks (77) and center Jeremy Zuttah (76) practice during training camp at One Buccaneer Place. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 4-12 for a myriad of reasons, but two notable causes for the miserable season for the Bucs was a lack of run blocking and pass protection by interior offensive linemen, and injuries to key players on offense. In the case of Carl Nicks, his prolonged absence due to a MRSA infection falls into both category. As such, it should come as little surprise that many fans of the Buccaneers would like to see Nicks gone this offseason, as his two-year tenure with the team has been nothing but injury-filled disappointment. The truth is, releasing Carl Nicks wouldn’t help the team at all. According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, Carl Nicks has $6 million of his $7 million in guaranteed money guaranteed against injury, meaning the Buccaneers would free up more space by releasing punter Michael Koenen than they would by releasing Nicks. The reason for that is guaranteed money becomes dead money against the salary cap when a player is released. So while it’s certainly a “waste of money” to keep Nicks on the roster, that’s the Glazers money and not salary cap money, and it shouldn’t matter to any fans. The salary cap is the key number to keep in mind, and releasing Nicks doesn’t help in that regard. Furthermore, releasing Nicks would mean a talented guard would be on the free agent market, and the Buccaneers would need a new left guard. Nicks’ career is in doubt due to his injury, but if he does return to even 80% of his former self, he’s still one of the best guards in the league. The chance that Nicks returns and can play football in 2014 is not worth gaining a couple million dollars worth of cap space for a team that can easily have 20 million to spend this offseason with a couple of small moves. Holding onto Nicks and waiting to see if he’ll return to health, or at least allowing him time to see if he wants to continue his career or retire, is a wiser and more logical choice. http://thepewterplank.com/2014/01/07/releasing-guard-carl-nicks-lose-lose-scenario-tampa-bay-buccaneers/
Keep on milking it Carl. How smart was his agent to build that into the contract and how stupid were the Bucs for not seeing that this guys toe was already screwed up before Schiano infected him with MRSA. What a disaster signing that was....almost as bad as the Revis signing.
According to overthecap.com, Nicks counts for $9.3 mill on the cap. If he would be released, it would create $7,071,000.00 in dead cap space and a cap savings of $2,286,000.00. His number balloons to over $10 mill in 2015, but the hit drops to $4.7 mill and creates over $5 mill in cap space. Interestingly, Only Nicks, McCoy and Vincent Jackson have large cap penalties in 2015 - the rest of the team under contract for that year are all under a mill. So who can be cut this year?Revis frees up $16 mill no cap hitDonald Penn $7 mill, $667,000 cap hitDavid Joseph $6 mill, 0 cap hitZuttah $4 mill, 0 cap hitMichael Koenen $3.2 mill, 0 cap hitConnor Barth $2 mill, 0 Cap hitSo nearly 38.2 million in cap savings with only $667,000 cap hit. Of course, you're cutting six starters (one a Pro Bowl player this year).
According to overthecap.com, Nicks counts for $9.3 mill on the cap. If he would be released, it would create $7,071,000.00 in dead cap space and a cap savings of $2,286,000.00. His number balloons to over $10 mill in 2015, but the hit drops to $4.7 mill and creates over $5 mill in cap space. Interestingly, Only Nicks, McCoy and Vincent Jackson have large cap penalties in 2015 - the rest of the team under contract for that year are all under a mill. So who can be cut this year?Revis frees up $16 mill no cap hitDonald Penn $7 mill, $667,000 cap hitDavid Joseph $6 mill, 0 cap hitZuttah $4 mill, 0 cap hitMichael Koenen $3.2 mill, 0 cap hitConnor Barth $2 mill, 0 Cap hitSo nearly 38.2 million in cap savings with only $667,000 cap hit. Of course, you're cutting six starters (one a Pro Bowl player this year).
I really wish you guys would stop with the "cutting Revis" nonsense. Its not going to happen on shear principle alone, let alone the fact he is going to the pro bowl.
According to overthecap.com, Nicks counts for $9.3 mill on the cap. If he would be released, it would create $7,071,000.00 in dead cap space and a cap savings of $2,286,000.00. His number balloons to over $10 mill in 2015, but the hit drops to $4.7 mill and creates over $5 mill in cap space. Interestingly, Only Nicks, McCoy and Vincent Jackson have large cap penalties in 2015 - the rest of the team under contract for that year are all under a mill. So who can be cut this year?Revis frees up $16 mill no cap hitDonald Penn $7 mill, $667,000 cap hitDavid Joseph $6 mill, 0 cap hitZuttah $4 mill, 0 cap hitMichael Koenen $3.2 mill, 0 cap hitConnor Barth $2 mill, 0 Cap hitSo nearly 38.2 million in cap savings with only $667,000 cap hit. Of course, you're cutting six starters (one a Pro Bowl player this year).
I really wish you guys would stop with the "cutting Revis" nonsense. Its not going to happen on shear principle alone, let alone the fact he is going to the pro bowl.
+1 He will only ever be released if this team is in a tight cap situation, which they aren't at all. Even then he would be asked to restructure first.
I wonder if the Bucs are at risk of a lawsuit if they release Nicks.
There are a couple of things that, in the right situation, would get nicks kicked.Roster spot, mrsa infection can spread, and the few millions they would save.Me though? I'd like to see if he can come back and contribute first.
The reason Nicks would be cut would not be because of the infection.
I don't think you have to read between very many lines to assume that Carl Nicks does not want to play football in the NFL any longer. He very well may still be in significant pain in his daily life and looking at a seriously diminished quality of life moving forward as I've seen suggested. If he's in even a little bit of pain in his daily life (or hell, none at all for all I know/care) he has had a lengthy career, made some money, he may be ready to call it good. My assumption is dude's toe is fucked up and since he doesn't HAVE to play he is not interested in going through the meat grinder with a bad toe. 10 mil is 10 mil though, no matter how much you have in the bank. So there's a chance, but a very small one imo.
Good Lord! What a disgusting horrible thread. This thread is the epitome of the biggest danger for any successful football team.Should be pinned permanently at the top entitled: " THOSE THAT LISTEN TO THE FANS WILL SOON BE IN THE STANDS WITH THEM"... The OP point is well taken those that followed proved the point... Newflash! Quit pretending to be a GM or personnel director of the Bucs and their future! THANK GOD! none of those suggesting moves for the Bucs will ever be involved in the decision making for the franchise... SMH that such fans actually exist! :'( :-[ :o
So what is the cap situation if he can't play anymore?
Vs cap:$9 mil plus if he plays$7 mil plus if he's released.
According to overthecap.com, Nicks counts for $9.3 mill on the cap. If he would be released, it would create $7,071,000.00 in dead cap space and a cap savings of $2,286,000.00. His number balloons to over $10 mill in 2015, but the hit drops to $4.7 mill and creates over $5 mill in cap space. Interestingly, Only Nicks, McCoy and Vincent Jackson have large cap penalties in 2015 - the rest of the team under contract for that year are all under a mill. So who can be cut this year?Revis frees up $16 mill no cap hitDonald Penn $7 mill, $667,000 cap hitDavid Joseph $6 mill, 0 cap hitZuttah $4 mill, 0 cap hitMichael Koenen $3.2 mill, 0 cap hitConnor Barth $2 mill, 0 Cap hitSo nearly 38.2 million in cap savings with only $667,000 cap hit. Of course, you're cutting six starters (one a Pro Bowl player this year).
Joseph is the big one there. He counts for $7 million in 2014 and 2015 and $7.5 million in 2016. Drafting a stud guard and releasing Joseph would be wise. source: http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3614/davin-joseph Koenan could be on the block as well after an average year.Releasing Penn and Zuttah would be very risky IMO. Unless the plan is to sign free agents to take their place which takes us right down the same road again. Would rather upgrade both guard positions and see how those two perform in 2014. (Penn, Z)
Koenen is not worth the money. We could find a punter that gives the same results for much less. He's probably the one with the highest chance of being cut. You can't be spending 3.2 million on a punter if they aren't top 5 in the league. Joseph should be gone, but Lovie isn't a good talent evaluator. Joseph is a team captain, well liked by everyone and he has a reputation of being a good player. He's going to see that and keep him on.
Cut him.
