It’s no secret that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t spending much money. In January, former G.M. Bruce Allen talked about the huge salary cap bubble the team had created for 2009, and Allen vowed that the team would spend it all in 2009, the last year with a cap under the current labor deal.
“The reason we have cap room is we’ve been able to carry over cap room
from the 2006 season to the 2007 season,” Allen said, “and
from the 2007 season to the 2008 season, and we are going to that again
this year for the 2009 season. We did that because our intention is to spend the cap room. We never want it to go to waste and we are allowed to do that according to the collective bargaining agreement.”
And, within a matter of days, Allen was fired.
Since then, the Bucs haven’t done much to spend money. Beyond running back Derrick Ward, who hardly received a jaw-dropping contract, and quarterback Josh McCown, who received a $2.5 million signing bonus only to be later traded, the Buccaneers’ new player contracts did not entail significant up-front money.
Off the field, rumors have persisted that the Bucs are trying hard to cut costs. Near the conclusion of the offseason workouts, we reported that there was no security presence for the sessions held at One Buc Place.
It wouldn’t bother us as much if the Bucs weren’t trotting out key team employees for a bumbling P.R. effort aimed at persuading folks that the franchise isn’t as cheap as it now seems to be.
Previously, G.M. Mark Dominik tried to make the case, inexplicably claiming that the team had spent $60 million in cap space.
In London for Sunday’s Cornell-Hofstra slaughter against the Patiots, coach Raheem Morris pulled the short straw.
“[L]ook at the money we spent,” Morris said. (Thanks to JoeBucsFan.com for pointing it out.) “Kevin Winslow has given us a
boost. It’s all about smart spending. In football it’s really not about
how much you can buy a person for, it’s about the best team you can put
together. We like to think we’re spending smart. Fans never really
understand it.”
[Editor's note: Morris surely didn't say "Kevin" Winslow. The U.K. reporter apparently screwed it up.]
Well, Coach, it becomes harder for the fans to understand that when the Bucs are riding a 10-game losing streak. But, hey, those six losses this year would have been a lot worst but for Winslow’s 47 yards receiving per game.
The Bucs can’t have it both ways on this one. Either spend the money and thump your chests that you’re spending money, or don’t spend money — and don’t try to convince those of us with an IQ above 50 that you are.
Florida has two more football teams than they need…
God I hope they move to LA so I won’t have to deal with them and their pathetic fanbase anymore
Make some calls, Florio, and make it happen!
KEVIN Winslow? If you were going to mess that up, at least go with Carl Winslow.
Kevin Winslow? I believe he prefers either Kellen or soldier!
Did he really say Kevin Winslow?
they are gearing up for a move. LA Bucs. Stick them in nfc west and put st louis in nfc south.
Did he really call him Kevin Winslow?
Cute that Bucs fans are using the same excuse as Browns fans, that the team owner likes soccer more than football.
” quarterback Josh McCown, who received a $2.5 million signing bonus only to be later traded”
All this time I thought it was his brother Luke McCown on the Buccaneers. Thanks for clearing this up Florio and not perpetuating confusion through an obvious lack of research.
With the possibility of an uncapped year next year I don’t see why they would rush out and spend money. There will be no minimum next year and they can fill the roster with players making league minimum without a salary cap penalty.
Here in Gooberville (Tampa), a team like the Bucs can get away with being cheap. The local media are a bunch of pansies. If a Northeast Corridor team tried to do this, the media and fan base would roast them.
Wow, we’re paying for Josh McCown too? I thought we were only paying Luke. Ah, I’m just tree splitting Florio…fact is..there really isn’t a difference between them huh?
But they are spending the money…
on their self.
The Bucs will continue to lose. They have to be a primary candidate for the Los Angeles deal…
This is the WORST team in football.
No coach, no talent, no chance for anyone else to get April’s #1 pick!
Kevin, Kellen, who cares? He’s such punk he’s smeared his father’s name, too. Go away, Kevin. Go have brunch w/ that asshole dad of yours. No one’s gonna miss yout 47 yards.
Kevin does sound better than Kellen, you gotta admit. Out.
Those that comment that the Bucs should be leaving Tampa are completely ignorant of the facts of the situation in Tampa. Better yet, they are morons.
The Bucs have been one of the premier franchises in the NFL (especially the NFC) since 1997. Since 1997 they have made the playoffs 7 times. They have finished the season with a losing record only twice. They have sold out EVERY home game since 1998. They won the Super Bowl only 7 years ago. They have one of the best stadiums in the NFL and have brand new state-of-the-art training facilities. Why would they move?
Sure, they stink now. But if being a bad team was a reason to move the Redskins would be moving, too. Or the Packers would have left after last season and the Dolphins would have skipped town with Nick Saban a couple of years ago. The Bears would have abandoned Chicago nearly every season since Ditka was canned and Smith came to town (don’t even go there with Dick Jauron). The Patriots would hace left in the early 90′s and the late 90′s and the Cowboys would have been run out of town during or after Jimmy Johnson’s disastrous 1-15 first season.
But just as ridiculous as it would be for those teams to leave their cities, why would the Bucs leave Tampa when they’ve been far more successful on the field than every team mentioned other than the Patriots? It’s called stupid people writing stupid things because they don’t understand how the even the simplest things work. The Bucs aren’t going anywhere no matter how bad they are now.
Due The British Girlymanball leages have a salary cap?
I really think there are teams worse of in the league than Tampa that will be higher on the list for relocation. Teams that can’t sell out their stadiums, jax, arizona, Oakland, st louis, etc. Sure the cap number would be right and the glazers may be looking to sell but I am pretty sure the franchise has a standing contract with the city of Tampa for a long time.