When Bucs middle linebacker Kwon Alexander fell to turf clutching his knee after pressuring Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield last fall at Raymond James Stadium, a collective gasp was released by the fans in attendance, those watching on television and the Tampa Bay front office staff who were watching from their perch in their suite above the field.

But maybe the biggest gasp was from Alexander’s agent Drew Rosenhaus who saw the dollar signs flying out of the stadium as Alexander’s teammates came over to shake his hand and pray around him as he laid on the field in agony. Soon a torn ACL was the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the future began for Alexander, his agent and his family.

Bucs MLB Kwon Alexander, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, CB Carlton Davis and LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Sports are a tough business. A player like Alexander comes into the league, immediately becomes a starter and sacrifices his long-term future health all to play a game on Sunday afternoons. For four years Alexander put his heart – and body – on the line to entertain fans and help line the pockets of owners with billion dollar television deals, ticket and parking revenue and every way they can squeeze another dollar from the consumer.

And for his work and sacrifice, Alexander made $3,843,899 over his first four years in the league. Most of us reading this article will be hard pressed to make that in our lifetime, much less in just four years. Of course few of use can run a 4.5 40-time, hit like a freight train and were just blessed with a God-given talent to be an athlete.

But athletes like Alexander prepare to be in this position most of their lives. From the day they strapped on a probably oversized helmet and stumbled out onto their Pee Wee football practice field for the first time, the dream was to make it to the NFL. And not just make it to the league, but to secure their financial future and maybe even that of their children with a lucrative second contract.

Alexander was close. Really close.

But the turf monster had other plans for his knee that late October afternoon and now as free agency approaches, Alexander is wondering what’s next?

Bucs MLB Kwon Alexander – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

The Bucs have no contractual obligation to sign Alexander, who becomes an unrestricted free agent in March. They can choose to let him walk, and draft or sign his replacement – a player who isn’t coming off of a major injury.

But is there a loyalty obligation?

A drafted and developed player who is well-liked, voted a defensive captain and who has been the heartbeat on defense?

Can you watch him fall to the turf with a mangled knee and then just shake his hand and say, ‘Thanks for your four years, good luck elsewhere, Kwon?'”

And who can forget seeing Alexander walk out on to the field at Atlanta in 2015, just two days after his younger brother was shot and killed. To even have the ability to play – much less dominate – with 11 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and interception in a 23–20 victory. Hollywood would reject that script for being too unbelievable.

Alexander isn’t the best player on Tampa Bay’s defense. Most would give that title to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who led the team with 12.5 sacks last year.

And Alexander might not even be the best linebacker in the team. Many would argue Lavonte David is the better of the two. And there are some in the organization who believe Kendell Beckwith is a better middle linebacker that Alexander. So from a business perspective, the team has every right to move on from Alexander if it chooses to.

But that sends a terrible message to the other players inside the locker room. It says their four years of service, fours years as a starter, the Pro Bowl selection, the 380 tackles, seven sacks and two interceptions means little. And it tell the other guys on the team that they better not get hurt in a contract year, or it might just be adios.

But even taking away the loyalty standpoint, the football side of things says to me that Alexander deserves to come back. Alexander has been the leader – or close to the leader – in tackles for this team since he was drafted out of LSU in the fourth round in 2015. Alexander has been the vocal leader of a defense that has struggled to find a voice over the last few years. Alexander is one of those players that loves to practice as much as the games, a guy who is an encourager, but also a guy who holds other accountable.

Is he Dick Butkus? Or even Hardy Nickerson? No, but he is a “dawg” – something this team has been lacking. And an opportunity to play in an aggressive Todd Bowles defense could really help Alexander take an even bigger leap.

Bucs MLB Kwon Alexander – Photo by: Getty Images

Maybe Rosenhaus and Alexander are going to demand crazy money in free agency. And perhaps the team isn’t satisfied he will come back from his injury as the same player he was before it took place. And maybe at 225 pounds the new Bucs coaching staff doesn’t think he fits well in a 3-4 scheme. There are a ton of variables to play out before free agency officially kicks off next month.

But if all things are equal, Alexander deserves to be a Buccaneer in 2019 – and maybe even longer. Alexander and Rosenhaus may have to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal. But load it with incentives and if Alexander is the player he was before, then reward him. And then sign him to a long-term deal next offseason.

While there is no moral obligation, there are 52 other guys in the Tampa Bay locker room who are watching how it plays out.