How much would it cost Tristan Wirfs to hold out of Buccaneers' mandatory minicamp?
Tristan Wirfs made headlines when he refused to show up to voluntary OTAs a couple of weeks ago. It makes sense, considering he doesn't want to risk injury as he continues his path toward a record-setting contract. Right now, there is zero reason to worry about his availability for the upcoming season. Voluntary OTAs, are voluntary […]
Tristan Wirfs made headlines when he refused to show up to voluntary OTAs a couple of weeks ago. It makes sense, considering he doesn't want to risk injury as he continues his path toward a record-setting contract.
Right now, there is zero reason to worry about his availability for the upcoming season. Voluntary OTAs, are voluntary for a reason. Case in point: Star wideout and franchise legend, Mike Evans, just showed up for the first time on June 4.
Either way, mandatory minicamp presents the first real milestone in a potential Wirfs holdout. If he doesn't show next week, then yes, it's time to start wondering if the holdout bleeds into training camp.
Let me point out the key word in that last paragraph, though. It'll be time to wonder, not worry.
And this is why: Wirfs stands to accrue more than $100k in fines if he holds out of mandatory camp. If Wirfs is willing to take that hit, then he's likely to "hold-in" during training camp in order to avoid those fines that cannot be waived. Granted, the team can waive those fines since he's playing on his fifth-year option, but still, that's a nice chunk of change to just throw away, even if the three-time Pro Bowler has made more than $16 million over the course of his career, thus far.
Here are how the fines break down for the 2024 season:
- Day 1: $16,953
- Day 2: $33,908
- Day 3: $50,855
- Total: $101,716
It's doubtful Wirfs holds out of mandatory minicamp
Wirfs has been the ultimate teammate since he first arrived in Tampa Bay and it's obvious he's bought in to what the franchise and the coaching staff are trying to do. So far, there's been zero pattern of behavior to suggest he'd go as far to hold of mandatory minicamp, much less training camp.
"Our situations are different, because he is playing under the fifth-year option. So there's a difference there, where it was free agency with mine," Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters on Tuesday. "When it comes down to Tristan, everybody knows he's a team guy. At a certain point, does he deserve to be paid? Absolutely. The guy's a stud. He took the transition from right to left [tackle] with ease, did it better than I think he thought he was going to…
"… I know he's probably more eager to get back here and get the deal done than anybody else… Tristan is still around. We're not holding out on the friendship even though he's holding out on us."
The holdout makes all the sense in the world, especially in the voluntary context. Personally, I wouldn't even mind too much if he skipped camp. The only reason he needs to be there is to gel with his new teammates in a new offense. He can obviously handle the learning curve that comes with a new offense, evidenced by his switch from right to left tackle, last year, and the fact that this is his third offense in as many years. The key with camp would be to bond and lay the groundwork for camp.
But even then, the offensive line is gelling just fine, without him. That in no way is saying the unit is better off without him – we know that is completely false. So, the Bucs are still getting positive developments even with the absence.
"When they're coming off the ball, they're in-sync early-on," Bucs head coach Todd Bowles told reporters when asked about the offensive line. "This is real early for them to be in-sync, for me. I thought that would take a little bit of doing but [offensive line coaches] Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci have done a great job of getting those guys ready. Obviously, we're out of pads, right now, but the chemistry is coming in pretty good. And that's what I like about it."
It'll be interesting to see what happens next week, but if I were a betting man, I'd say expect Wirfs to be there when minicamp kicks off on Tuesday, June 11.
