For months, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been dogged by claims that they aren’t spending enough money on players. In January, former G.M. Bruce Allen vowed to use all of a gigantic salary-cap bulge fueled by years of carrying over excess space in past year.
And then he was fired.
Since then, the Bucs have continued to be frugal, in comparison to most other teams.
Now, a report has emerged that the owners of the Bucs might be tightening the player payroll for Manchester United, the high-profile English soccer team they own.
The perception traces to a debt of roughly $1.79 billion. According to the London Times, efforts to refinance the debt have failed to date, given the overall economic climate. Recently, a European soccer bigwig whose name rings no bells for us suggested that the Glazers bailed on a deal to sign a star Serbian youth because “maybe they are in financial crisis.”
The financial concerns arise from a large chunk of the debt that entails a North Jersey-style interest rate of 14.25 percent. Per the Times, the Glazers have been trying unsuccessfully to refinance that obligation.
Perhaps most significantly, the Times claims it has obtained documents reflecting that the terms of the loan place limits on the club’s expenditures.
The official response from the team and the Glazer family is that no problems exist. And that’s the usual refrain when rumors and reports of money troubles arise regarding the Glazers and/or the sports teams they own.
Plenty of folks believe otherwise. In the end, time will tell.
As to the Buccaneers, the proof will come in the coming offseason. With the salary cap apparently poised to go away (at least for a year) as of March 2010, the extent of the team’s spending on players will go a long way toward proving that the Glazers are serious about improving the quality of the team.
Or not.
Here’s the question I pose to the talking heads who suggest that the Glazers are refusing to spend money:
Why fire Gruden and Allen (costing them more money to pay new coaches and Gruden and Allen’s extensions)?
North Jersey?
Could also be South Jersey, Philly, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, Vegas or wherever the “boys” operate.
You’ve been watching too much Sopranos.
Never thought this was possible, but the Browns are actually in better shape than the bucs. At least Lerner will spend money, albeit on the wrong people, but at least one may pan out. The Bucs are screwed because of a billionaire that can’t manage money.
Apparently, someone followed the rainbow to Malcolm’s pot o’ gold.
One reason you have not heard of this supposed soccer bigwig is because Partizan Belgrade is not big whatsoever. He is the president of a club that would be the equivalent of a Sunbelt Conference team calling out someone in the NFL.
I am an avid soccer fan, it is my first choice sport, and can tell you that there is constant speculation of the Glazers financial situation, yet their club is still second in the Prem. They have enjoyed much more success than any other American owners and partial owners, with Stan Kroenke coming up second best.
My team Liverpool has done nothing to back their American owner, Hicks and Gilette, even going so far as one of the owners sons getting beaten up in a pub during a match.
Long story short, the continued success for Man Utd is due to the fact that they had the best manager in the game when the Glazers purchased the team, and they have retained him. With the Bucs however they have put their faith in an unproven coach, hoping to hit gold. The difference between the two teams is clearly in the difference of the head men, one is the top man in the game and the other is…. who again?
Think Jerry Jones thinks about soccer? EVER?
In the words of Jack Palance in City Slickers, “One thing”. Not two things. One thing.
I would say this up coming off-season the, “or not” would most likely be coming. The best hope for Buccaneers fans is that at some point someone else buys the team and puts people in place that know how to run a football team. Then with no bad or restrictive contracts on the books they’d be free to build a team quickly without having to manage dead money.
OK, this blows. Commercials starting automaticallywhen you click on a story. This HAS to GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
During a “match.” Gimme a good ole football games anytime. Soccer is a kid’s sport.
“My team Liverpool has done nothing to back their American owner, Hicks and Gilette, even going so far as one of the owners sons getting beaten up in a pub during a match. ”
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And they say Philly is a tough crowd!
During a “match.” Gimme a good ole football games anytime. Soccer is a kid’s sport.
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Actually it is the most popular sport in the world. One of the great ironies on this site is that so many are willing to bash players for a sense of entitlement and air of superiority, yet when it comes to other sports, especially concerning soccer in America, the public shares that same sense of entitlement and superiority. There is no American sense of humility and respect in sport, period. The majority of football fans honestly believe that the Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event in the world. Besides, some of the most famous athletes in the US played soccer during their lives, still play for fun, and give credit to making them who/what they are. Ochocinco, Olajuwon (sp?), Steve Nash, Kobe, Nedved, just to name a few.
It is known as football everywhere but in America. Can someone explain to me why we call it football when the ball is rarely touched by a foot during a 60 minute game?
Don’t get me wrong, I like the game, but it is nothing more than a drill and repetition game, where as soccer employs 11 players who must make “quarterbacking” decisions over the course of a game.
Stop sitting on your high horse and show respect for other sports, except baseball, Florio has it right on that one.
Malcolm Glazer kind of looks like a giant leprechaun.
You guys should listen to this stnmmc guy, he speaks the truth.
The fact is most of the teams at the top of the table in the EPL are running on budgets with operating losses year-in and year-out. They all try to out-Yankees each other in free agency by paying ridiculous amounts of money for any talent in the world they can get their paws on. They do this to keep competitive in the EPL. Manchester United, Aresnal, Liverpool, Chelsea – all operate under net losses.
There are some teams lower in the table, like Everton, which are on the verge of bankruptcy as a franchise. They might have to share a stadium with another squad if they wish to survive.
The point is, while the Glazers have a huge debt obligation, so do most teams – the only difference is Man U is currently ranked near the top of the table, in 2nd place, so the debts it operates under are seldom so scrutinized.
If you ask me, the soccer fans have nothing else to complain about, so I guess they point to the team’s budget. I can’t imagine NFL fans ever looking at their team’s budget (even the Bucs) and making THIS big of a deal out of it. Crazy.
BFD! So what? Little Danny Snyder chose to blow $100,000,000 on Fat Albert. Owners make decisions. The taking heads – its just their opinion.
Facts, Mr. Florio! Facts!
Do you remember anything from the 1st semester of law school?
@stmmnc
“It is known as football everywhere but in America. Can someone explain to me why we call it football when the ball is rarely touched by a foot during a 60 minute game?
Don’t get me wrong, I like the game, but it is nothing more than a drill and repetition game, where as soccer employs 11 players who must make “quarterbacking” decisions over the course of a game.”
The name football dates back to the 1870′s when the game(s) began to branch away from Rugby. There were various forms of competition played among colleges in the Northeast of America and Canada, some highly resembling soccer some closer to Rugby. When Walter Camp created a set of rules to make it one sport, the only commonality was points could be scored by kicking the ball. Hence, Football. Obviously the game has dramatically evolved since then, but it still retains the name Football.
Now to your second statement, there is nowhere near the level of “quarterbacking decisions” in Soccer as in Football. Soccer is a free flowing sport with very brief and limited possession that features the most basic of athletic skills, endurance.
The reason it is the worlds most popular sport is because it takes the least amount of legistics to play. It also features the most common athletic build, tall and skinny.
Soccer doesn’t have the level of sophistication as football nor does it have same breed and diversity of athlete.
I personally am rarely entertained by soccer. I do not how ever dismiss it as a major form of athletic competion. But here in the US we have so much more options of sports to play, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Lacrosse and that’s not mentioning all the individual sports as well. Because of this, soccer tends to attract a lesser tier of athlete. Athletes not on par with the mental toughness of an English player, or the speed and coordination of a South American player. Soccer had it’s chance to take hold in this country after the 94 world cup, and look what that generation produced, the ’06 world cup embarrasment. Soccer just isn’t an American sport and never will be.
BTW Steve Nash is Canadian, Hakeem Olajuwon is Nigerian and Kobe spent his early childhood in Germany( a futbol obsessed country) where his father played professional basketball.
Very well written article Mike.
The Glazers won their championship and now is trying to curb your enthusiasm, ye old buc fans.
stnmmc, I used to play the sport as well so can appreciate a cracking kickball match as much as the next guy and so I can understand where you’re coming from. But, by and large the (non-Hispanic) population of this country just doesn’t fancy a ninety-minute chess match played on grass.
Quite honestly, the diving and faking of injuries and commonplace awful officiating are the main reasons I can’t watch it anymore, not the pace.
America, the public shares that same sense of entitlement and superiority. There is no American sense of humility and respect in sport, period. The majority of football fans honestly believe that the Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event in the world.
Whats the ad revenue of soccer commercials vs. that of the Super Bowl?
Thought so.
what movie trailers (that go out all over the world)
are played during any Premier Cup?
Thought so.
and some owners kid getting beat up ONLY HAPPENS IN EUROPE….said goons would be found shot the f%&k up in the States.
Enjoy soccer, er football – it is relevant ONLY in your world, not ours. And thats real…no arrogance.
Soccer and American Football are both equally challenging, I just personally don’t like the fact you can’t touch the ball with your hands.
That dictates skilled footwork, but one or two points on the scoreboard.
To me, I’ll take the thrill of Football anyday.
If it was a simple drill and repetition game, then why is it so rare for an athlete to excel on a professional level? Takes more than that.
I could argue, soccer players are dumb because they can’t score more than 1 goal a game, yet an average Quarterback can throw 2 TD’s fairly regularly, but it’s a different game.
Whats the ad revenue of soccer commercials vs. that of the Super Bowl?
Thought so.
This is a difficult one to answer, as there is no playoff at the end of the Premier league, he who has most points wins. The only comparable annual event would be the Champions League final which I could not find data on, yet the point you are making does not strengthen your position. Ad revenue is based on what advertisers are paying for the time, not the number of people watching.
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what movie trailers (that go out all over the world)
are played during any Premier Cup?
Thought so.
Again, this point is about the money that businesses pay for the time slot, and yes these movie ads do go out worldwide, but this again does nothing to strengthen the argument of # of people watching.
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@NightTrainNeckTie
I was aware of the origins of the three sports during the period of Muscular Christianity, I was just curious if anyone else out there may have any clue. I just feel that at some point the name would have evolved as the game did.
As for this….The reason it is the worlds most popular sport is because it takes the least amount of legistics to play.
I have to absolutely agree with your point on logistics, the equipment required to play is minimal and cheap, goals are easily made with tape on a wall. The second point I would have to argue against this.
I originally posted to offer some insight on the Belgrade pres who was running his mouth and saw this thing expand, I am done with this item, and appreciate comments from both sides. I will leave with one last item for you to ponder, aside from hockey what other major sport do we covet in our country that we did not invent? Basketball, football, and baseball all were american creations, and we really give no creedence to the “lesser sports” because we did not make them up.
A point I must conceed:
In reagrds to ad revenue, any numbers that can be thrown around are skewed as Soccer does not have TV timeouts or commercial breaks.
The ability to advertise ab nauseum during Football games is what motivates TV networks to promote football in the fashion they do.
Tatum32, that has to be one of the most stupid comments ever made in this website, none of your arguments made sense.
nice read florio
Thank you Mr. Florio. PFT is unable to offer coverage of the CFL and USFL, but it is now the place to turn for soccer news.
COVER THE CFL & USFL PLEASE!
Not soccer…
Glazers = Lame
Soccer Fans = Lame