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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in good shape financially heading into the draft, free agent season and 2025.
But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be stingy with their money. Poor spending practices are a great way to spend yourself into trouble, regardless of what the outlook on the field is.
It's contracts like that of cornerback Jamel Dean that can get a team into trouble. The Bucs signed Dean to a big contract last offseason, based on his performance up to that time. But this is the NFL, and it's largely a "what have you done for me lately?" league.
That's the case with Dean. And that's why Bleacher Report's Moe Morton thinks the Bucs might be done with him one way or the other.
"In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Jamel Dean to a four-year, $52 million contract that included $24.5 million in guarantees. However, he has struggled to stay healthy and made few game-changing plays," Moton wrote. Over the last two years, the 28-year-old has missed nine contests because of injury and logged 11 pass breakups and one interception while allowing the highest passer rating rates (111 and 91.2) in his six-year career. The Buccaneers signed Dean to an extension in his prime, but his production has been minimal, and his recent injury history raises some concern."
"... If so, a team could acquire Dean in hopes that he will stay healthy. However, it could also cut him without any financial strings attached because his contract doesn't carry any guaranteed money into the new league year."
Dean hasn't been fully available for the Bucs last year, and what's worse, when he has been available, he hasn't played well. That's a recipe for disaster with a contract like his.
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Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Bruins' David Pastrnak Calls Out Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky: He Just Lacks Humility'
Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the most promising players in the NHL, but now he has been called out by David Pastrnak, who stated he lacks humility. After being picked No. 1 overall in 2022 NHL Draft, expectations were high in Montreal for young star Juraj Slafkovsky, and thus far, he's shown glimpses of being the elite level player many expected when he entered the National Hockey League. However, there are still some major steps to go, and in a recent interview, Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak pointed out perhaps one area where the 21-year old may need to improve moving forward. When asked about Slafkovsky and his potential, Pastrnak gave nothing but a glowing review of the young Canadiens star, but he did note that he believes Slafkovsky needs more humility. 'He's still a young player who is gaining experience in the NHL every year. This season it was already clear that he gave the team more than before...He just needs a little more humility, he should set an example for the young ones.' On the ice, there's no doubting that Slafkovsky has the presence, the size and the talent to be a true star, posting 101 total points over the past two seasons, but for whatever reason, it appears as though Pastrnak believes he needs to improve off the ice before he can take a major leap in Montreal. Ultimately, the talent is still there for Slafkovsky, and at 21-years old, he'll continue to learn off the ice, and if he can go anywhere close to living up to the potential that he's shown in his first three years at the NHL level, there's no doubt that he can be a big time star and help lead the Canadiens to significant post-season success.
Top moments from 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame inductions
The 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class had its day in Cooperstown on Sunday. This year's class included Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, who were elected by the eligible voters from the Baseball Writer's Association of America, and Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were elected by the Classic Baseball Era Committee. Here are some of the top highlights from Sunday's induction speeches. Dave Parker's son reads poem written by Hall of Fame father Parker's induction into the Hall of Fame was long overdue, and he sadly did not have the opportunity to enjoy the moment of seeing his name in the Hall of Fame as he died June 28. That left his speech in the hands of his son, Dave Parker II, who read a poem written by his dad. Parker spent the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he was an MVP winner, two-time batting champion and World Series champion with the 1979 "We Are Family" team. Dick Allen's wife remembers his kindness Allen was the other veterans committee inductee, and his widow, Willa Allen, spent the majority of her speech remember the kindness of Allen off the field as much as his ability on the field. Allen is going into the Hall of Fame as a Phillie but won the 1972 American League MVP with the Chicago White Sox. He led the league in OPS four times and was the 1964 National League Rookie of the Year. A reminder that Billy Wagner wasn't naturally left-handed Being left-handed is a huge advantage (and money-maker) for pitchers, and Wagner was one of the most dominant left-handed relief pitchers to ever step onto a mound in the big leagues. But he wasn't always left-handed. Wagner was a natural-born right-handed person but taught himself how to throw left-handed after fracturing his right arm twice as a kid. It led to quite a career. Wagner made a name for himself with the Houston Astros but also spent years with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. CC Sabathia takes playful dig at Ichiro Sabathia accomplished a ton in his 19-year big league career. He won 251 games, won the 2007 American League Cy Young Award, was the 2009 ALCS MVP and a World Series champion. He still has apparently not gotten over the one individual award he did not win — the 2001 American League Rookie of the Year Award, which went to fellow 2025 inductee Ichiro. Sabathia made sure to make a playful dig at that. Sabathia was the only American League rookie outside of Ichiro — who also won the American League MVP that year — to get a first-place vote. He received one. The others all went to Ichiro. Ichiro stole the show Ichiro stole 509 bases in his Hall of Fame career, and on Sunday, he added one more steal to his list of accomplishments by absolutely stealing the show at Cooperstown. He delivered two of the best lines of the day, first by calling out the one lone writer who did not vote for him, keeping him from being just the second unanimous Hall of Fame inductee ever (after Mariano Rivera). His best line of the day, however, might have been when he referenced his brief time as a member of the Miami Marlins toward the end of his career. Ichiro played 14 of his 19 seasons with the Seattle Mariners while also spending time with the Marlins and Yankees.
Red Sox's Top 1st Base Trade Target Becoming Crystal Clear
The Boston Red Sox's need at first base has been the story of the season, and the trade deadline is their last chance to address it. By Thursday, the Red Sox will have to find a replacement for the injured Triston Casas once and for all. The Abraham Toro/Romy Gonzalez platoon has done admirably for the last three months, but it's unwise to continue relying on it through the playoffs. But the Red Sox also don't seem to want a rental at the position. They seemingly weren't that close to trading for ex-Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor, and though there's been whispers about acquiring Ryan O'Hearn from the Baltimore Orioles, that's never seemed like anything close to a lock. The Tampa Bay Rays' losing streak has created another prospective option: Yandy Díaz, who is under team control for 2026 as well on a relatively cheap club option. And it sure seems like that's who the Red Sox are going the hardest after at this moment. On Sunday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive reaffirmed the Red Sox's interest in Díaz and named one reason in particular that they seem to be so intrigued: their concern about Casas' viability as the starting first baseman to begin next season. "Díaz intrigues the Red Sox for a few reasons," Cotillo wrote. "After Boston’s need on the right side of the infield increased earlier this week when Marcelo Mayer sprained his wrist, Díaz fits the roster perfectly as a clear upgrade over the Abraham Toro/Romy Gonzalez platoon at first base. "Especially intriguing to the Red Sox, according to a baseball source, is that Díaz is under control beyond 2025. Privately, the club is not guaranteeing that Triston Casas, who is rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury, will be the starter in 2026. Díaz is making $10 million this year (about $3.33 million in the final two months), then has a $12 million club option for 2026 and a vesting option for 2027 (based on plate appearances) that becomes a cheaper deal if he plays less." The 33-year-old Díaz has an impressive OPS of .820 this season. His Rays were swept by the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, dropping them 3 1/2 games back of the Red Sox in the Wild Card picture.
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