Buccaneers Release G Carl Nicks With Settlement

Update:

The Buccaneers and G Carl Nicks have mutually agreed to part ways.

— Buccaneers PR (@BuccaneersPR) July 25, 2014

————-

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports is reporting that the Buccaneers are releasing Pro Bowl G Carl Nicks with a amicable settlement.

• Glazer adds that Nicks returning to New Orleans is “not happening” as Nicks is still not where he wants to be physically.

Statement from Nicks:

“I’d like to thank the Buccaneers organization for working with me as I have attempted to get myself back on the football field. However, after careful consideration, I have made the decision to step away from the game. This was by no means an easy decision, but I believe that it is what is best for me and my family as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.“

Statement from GM Jason Licht:

“I know this has been a difficult time for Carl and his family, but we respect his decision and thank him for his effort in trying to get back on the football field. Carl is a very prideful athlete and has been an elite level guard in the league. We are all disappointed that he will not be a part of this new chapter of Buccaneers football.”

It’s worth mentioning that Nicks hasn’t formally retired from the NFL, but that’s not to say it won’t happen at some point in the near future.

Nicks, 29, was one of a number of big-name signings the Buccaneers made a few years ago. Tampa Bay signed him to a five-year, $47.5 million contract that included $31 million guaranteed back in 2012, but Nicks wound up only playing nine games for the Buccaneers over the course of two seasons.

• The Buccaneers owned Nicks a $7 million base salary for the 2014 season and included $6 million guaranteed for injury with no offset language, according to Brian McIntyre.
• According to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, Nicks will count $2.357 million against their cap in 2014 and another $4.714 million in 2015.
• Tampa Bay wound up paying Nicks $25 million in total for nine games, according to Mike Florio.

Nicks unfortunately struggled with a toe injury and an MRSA infection that required surgery and cost him most of the 2013 season.

During his four years with the Saints, Nicks never missed a single game, so it was surprising to see the issues he dealt with in Tampa Bay.