CB Ronde Barber likely to be cut

GumboBC · 03-01-2005, 05:41 PM

Buccaneers' cap limbo will be costly; more veterans dumped

Pro Football Weekly asks Jeff Reynolds for this thoughts on the NFL's hottest topics.

GM Allen, Bucs continue robbing Peter to pay Paul

A few Buccaneers, including Super Bowl winning QB Brad Johnson, already have been thrown overboard as Tampa Bay, for the third consecutive season, is forced to release higher-salary players and other veterans to reach compliance with the NFL's salary cap. General manager Bruce Allen spent a good deal of time at the Scouting Combine working with player agents to reduce and re-work contracts that alleviate some of the $18 million excess. Signing QB Brian Griese and releasing Johnson will reduce that number to around $11.8 million. Tougher cuts lie ahead.

PFW: What will be the most difficult cut for the Buccaneers to make?

Reynolds: Fortunately for Allen, who had to release S John Lynch last offseason, the team was able to spare Derrick Brooks, whose ties with the community are deep-rooted. But, according to one Buccaneers official, you can expect a great deal of backlash to come this week with the release of Pro Bowl CB Ronde Barber. Barber twice refused cuts, the Bucs say, and he will pay with his job.

There is a standing history in Tampa Bay of even the most respected veterans making salary concessions. Barber, perhaps seeing this as his last best chance to sign a big contract, wanted no part of a pay reduction. The Buccaneers are hoping to make one last-ditch effort to Barber before tonight's midnight deadline. Other key personnel, including FB Mike Alstott and DT Booger McFarland, fresh off a $32 million extension last offseason, have been negotiating restructured contracts.

If the pieces fall as Allen predicted in free-agency meetings, there will be at least four other veterans to hit the pavement in addition to Johnson and Barber. "The bad thing," said the source, "is we have to cut some people who can play football. Our challenge then is to find players who can fill those spots, but we may have no choice but to do so in this draft (rather than) free agency."

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03-01-2005, 05:41 PM	#1
GumboBC Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,616	CB Ronde Barber likely to be cut Buccaneers' cap limbo will be costly; more veterans dumped Pro Football Weekly asks Jeff Reynolds for this thoughts on the NFL's hottest topics. GM Allen, Bucs continue robbing Peter to pay Paul A few Buccaneers, including Super Bowl winning QB Brad Johnson, already have been thrown overboard as Tampa Bay, for the third consecutive season, is forced to release higher-salary players and other veterans to reach compliance with the NFL's salary cap. General manager Bruce Allen spent a good deal of time at the Scouting Combine working with player agents to reduce and re-work contracts that alleviate some of the $18 million excess. Signing QB Brian Griese and releasing Johnson will reduce that number to around $11.8 million. Tougher cuts lie ahead. PFW: What will be the most difficult cut for the Buccaneers to make? Reynolds: Fortunately for Allen, who had to release S John Lynch last offseason, the team was able to spare Derrick Brooks, whose ties with the community are deep-rooted. But, according to one Buccaneers official, you can expect a great deal of backlash to come this week with the release of Pro Bowl CB Ronde Barber. Barber twice refused cuts, the Bucs say, and he will pay with his job. There is a standing history in Tampa Bay of even the most respected veterans making salary concessions. Barber, perhaps seeing this as his last best chance to sign a big contract, wanted no part of a pay reduction. The Buccaneers are hoping to make one last-ditch effort to Barber before tonight's midnight deadline. Other key personnel, including FB Mike Alstott and DT Booger McFarland, fresh off a $32 million extension last offseason, have been negotiating restructured contracts. If the pieces fall as Allen predicted in free-agency meetings, there will be at least four other veterans to hit the pavement in addition to Johnson and Barber. "The bad thing," said the source, "is we have to cut some people who can play football. Our challenge then is to find players who can fill those spots, but we may have no choice but to do so in this draft (rather than) free agency." link
GumboBC Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,616