Dominik Claims Bucs Have Spent Nearly $60 Million In Cap Space

In his recent radio appearance on WQYK in Tampa, Buccaneers G.M. Mark Dominik made a stunning claim regarding the team’s offseason spending in 2009. “We started free agency with over $80 million in cap room,” Dominik said. “And we’ve spent almost $60 million.” Um, really? For starters, the notion that the Bucs had $80 million in 2009 cap space far exceeds all estimates and reports of their actual spending room. The suggestion that the team has spent $60 million this year seems flat-out incredible. As in not credible. As in not true. But if they spent $60 million in 2009 cap space, who have they spent it on? Also, if our math is correct, the Bucs now have $20 million in cap space left. As of May 15, we reported that they had $37 million in cap room. So how have they spent $17 million in roughly six weeks? According to the team’s transaction page, they haven’t done much. Specifically, the Bucs have inked a fourth-round pick, a fifth-round pick, and two seventh-round picks. But even if Dominik’s accounting somehow is accurate, there’s still that $20 million to spend. With 2010 poised to proceed without a salary cap, there’s no benefit to be derived from carrying money over. In January, former G.M. Bruce Allen vowed publicly that the team would spend it all. Then again, maybe that’s one of the reasons he got fired.