One of the biggest challenges any championship team faces in the offseason is keeping the team happy and focused on the next season. This commonly involves paying key components more money and filling in the gaps produced from departures or retirement. With some of the large salaries adding up and some big names with expiring contracts, Pirate GM Jason Enright had his work cut out for him.
One of the easiest decisions, however, was applying the franchise tag to captain and QB Tom Brady. Brady led all offensive players in scoring, and finished behind only JJ Watt in overall scoring. Even with the tag, Brady is only the 3rd highest paid QB.
“He’s a competitor, through and through,” Enright said. “We had talked last season about the prospect of a contract extension, but Tom said he’d be willing to take the tag and less money, to allow us to make some moves and get him more weapons. Thats just the type of player he is.”
And make moves Marshfield did. They shipped Top 12 wideouts Vincent Jackson and Andre Johnson, coupled with LB NaVarro Bowman and backups TE Jared Cook and RB Jaquizz Rodgers (and two Round 1 picks) for TE Jimmy Graham and LB Luke Kuechly. Jackson and Bowman’s contracts were expiring anyway and with the franchise of Brady, would be difficult to keep. While that is obviously a lot of talent leaving Marshfield, both Graham and Kuechly are predicted to be the top players at their respective positions.
Immediately upon arrival, both Graham and current Pirate TE Jason Witten agreed to 2 year contract extensions, which will keep each of them in Marshfield through 2016. No one was more excited than Brady, who thrives in 2 TE sets.
“Having Jason as a target was nice enough, but now having Jimmy on the other side … its awesome. Defenses wont be able to stop us.”
But perhaps the most important move in Marshfield was the restructuring of LeSean McCoy‘s contract. After struggling through a nagging injury the first 11 weeks of the season, McCoy was still the #7 ranked RB. However, he only played in 2 more games that season and finished as the #19 RB. Set to make well over $60 this season, McCoy agreed to a salary of $46.12 to stay in Marshfield for 2 extra seasons.
“I know I have a lot to prove this season,” McCoy said. “After what happened last season, I’m willing to do what it takes and I think that means taking a bit less money. And if that money can be used to make us better, I’m all for it. I can guarantee you it will motivate me. It already has.”
© 2013, Jason Enright. All rights reserved.
Thanks for writing this. I really do enjoy reading other people’s stuff. You got a lot more value for your expiring contracts than I did getting rid of Alfred Morris.
LeSean McCoy is pretty remarkable. Most players on championship teams want more money, not less.
Looks like it paid off!
Your team is going down in a fiery crash you son of a bitch………good article tho