Former O-Linemen of Saints Super Bowl Era Near Their End

Show Me The Money

Jun 10, 2014; Tampa Bay, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Carl Nicks (77) during minicamp at One Buccaneer Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In 2012, guard Carl Nicks probably had one of the nastier and bitter breakups with the Saints that was headlined by a contract dispute, or more accurately what he felt he should be paid as an impending free agent to remain with the team.

This also came during a time when Brees was set to become a free agent, and looking to cash in as well with a big contract.

Nicks was considered at the time to be one of the best guards in the NFL; and a huge key to the Saints offensive success — and there was a slim chance that the Saints could keep both if during contract talks they both would “play ball” (pun intended).

However, both Nicks and Brees knew that they had the leverage; and the Saints had to make the choice to place the franchise tag on Brees to further the negotiations that lasted until early July.

Nicks appeared on local radio and his disgruntlement was evident especially towards the fanbase; the same fanbase that thought of him as being selfish in regards to knowing that the team was in a ‘pinch’ with the salary cap.

Less than a day into free agency, Nicks signed with the Saints division rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; for a 5-yr contract that was worth $47.5 million.

This only fueled the fire for Nicks-haters who now not only thought he was greedy, but signed with an opposing team within the division to boot.

Yet Nicks wouldn’t get to see that big contract out to it’s full fruition; as he was placed on injured reserve in October 2012 with a toe injury after only seven games and had to end up restructuring his contract to aid with cap space later in December.

To add to that, Nicks ended up contracting a serious MRSA(staph) infection in 2013 that limited him to just two games for that season.

After what seemed to be a snakebit two year tenure in Tampa Bay, Nicks and the Buccaneers mutually agreed to part ways in July of 2014 with Nicks saying he was going to “step away from the game”.

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