Depending on how the season goes in 2018, we may look back at May 3rd as a turning point for the Tampa Bay Bucs and Chicago Bears. A pretty significant trade was accomplished between the two teams. Odell Beckham Jr. was sent from Tampa to Chicago. In return, Tampa received a 2.03 and 2019 1st (CHI).

Let’s see what the two GMs have to say…Let’s start with Tampa!

What state of mind were you in when you began trade negotiations with Chicago? Were you surprised when you received that offer?

“I got out of a fantastic meeting that afternoon and started drinking heavily. I was drinking this fancy gin I bought at the high end liquor store downtown and I was feeling it! Anyway, I started sending offers left and right to GMs for their best players. I sent Nic one for 4Net and he countered with OBJ for the 2.03 and 2019 1st. I was surprised when he offered it. Almost always there’s a back and forth during trade negotiations, especially of a trade this size. I can say for sure that Nic was surprised after I hit accept.”

Do you believe the trade benefits or hurts you for 2018?

“It 1000% helps me. The reason being is flexibility. The trade provides me the ability to build a competent defense. (I’m not there yet.) The $31 million cap savings will go to various players in the draft, FA and opens up the potential for bringing in big contacts in trades. This is not how I value OBJ, as I believe he’s worth much more, but I feel the opportunity cost of the $31 million is going to pay dividends before the season starts.”

Does this trade remind you of the 1st IFL season when you traded Julio and AB?

“I think it shows where we are at as a league. We will rarely, if ever, see deals like that go down for a wide receiver with a fat contract again. We value draft picks quite a bit more than back then. Other than I dealt a stud wide receiver, it doesn’t remind me of these deals.”

What do you intend to do with the extra $31m in cap space?

“Again, it’s about flexibility for the off-season. Generally, I let the league dictate what I do in the off-season with trades, bids, etc. Every year has been very different with how the league evaluates players. The last couple of years we’ve seen the value of wide receivers crash and this off-season I think we see the spike in egregious contracts in free agency.”

How does this trade set you up to compete against Carolina, New Orleans, and Atlanta?

“It’s beyond my scope of caring. They are low-level GMs compared to my greatness. Fucking milquetoast, feckless waif owners I play twice a year have nothing on my talent evaluation, savviness in roster building, waiver wire acquisitions, draft records, win total and OF COURSE they don’t have the division title! So they can all jerk themselves off in a ditch when they say I’m going down to funky town in 2018, cause baby my success in IFL is just getting started. :)”

Now, let’s see what the NFC South GMs have to say…

What were your thoughts after you saw the trade between Tampa and Chicago?

• “Luke has bent the knee to the King of the North, the Bastard Nic, reborn as the Eternal Manatee and the King of Dorn, Flod, first of his name, masher of butter.” – NFC South GM
• “I was a little shocked to see Luke deal OBJ to someone who is already a contender for not only the NFC, but the IFL championship again this year. He is a direct threat to Luke and to give him an impact player for such a little amount is interesting. Luke needed cap space and can now add some people in FA.” – NFC South GM
• ”I though that, as usual, Luke does not have a  plan. Just going wherever the wind takes him.” – NFC South GM

Do you believe this benefits or hurts TB for 2018?

• “Luke has a plan, but I only think it hurts him if he doesn’t spend the cap wisely. Which he probably will spend it well.” – NFC South GM
• “It definitely hurts TB, there is no Odell in the draft.” – NFC South GM
• “This depends on what Luke’s plan is. Luke was a top 2 team in the NFC in my eyes, even with his holes on defense. Now, he has a lot more work to do. It’s unsure if Luke has truly bent the knee, but if It’s eerily reminiscent of a certain trade from the realm we do not speak that saw The Boomin One traded to the Viper, Carlos. Also brings up memories of Lucas moving said Booming One and Sir Julio prior to the inaugural IFL season. If Luke is planning on winning this year, the only way I see this trade working in his favor is if he had an equally ash shocking move in the works that required him to move Odell.” – NFC South GM

What do you think TB will do with the extra $31m in cap space?

• “I do not know what they will do with these 31M, and I bet neither does Luke. Probably overpay some mediocre WR in free agency.”  – NFC South GM
• “Hopefully he will use the extra coin to barter for some new mercenaries. He could bring in AJ, Campbell and Delanie from Transition, but if he is going that route I don’t see why he wouldn’t just keep Odell. The one position with depth in the NFC auction is DE, and AJ plus Delanie does not equal Odell in any sense. If Luke truly has began to focus on the future over the now, then why wait until this point? Why trade for Odell only to extend him and move him a few months later? He could have used that cap to work toward loading up on draft picks earlier, surely some opportunities have passed him by. It really feels as though Luke was bored and made a trade, because if he does plan to compete, why trade one of the top WR assets to the already heavy favorite in the NFC. I am baffled. Truly!” – NFC South GM
• “The FA pool isn’t too deep in the NFC so I’m not sure what he is going to do with the cap. He may try to make a run a a TT player with that extra cap.” – NFC South GM

Now, over to Chicago…

What prompted you to send over that trade offer to TB? Were you surprised the trade was accepted?

“He sent me an offer that included his dead weight TEs. I shot this back within 60 seconds and he accepted. I was totally shocked. I know he wanted to clear cap, and now he has it!

Do you believe you took advantage of TB?

“I couldn’t say that I took advantage of him, because he initiated this and he’s as savvy as any owner we have.  If I don’t make the playoffs he’s probably sitting on the 2019 1.01.”

How does the acquisition of Odell Beckham Jr. set you up for 2018?

“This was a huge acquisition for us.  I have some remaining needs, but a stud WR was an absolute MUST.  I was planning on bidding on AJ Green. I’m much happier to have ODB. It not only sets me up for 2018, but for 2019 and likely beyond.  Good chance he gets FT in 2020 and maybe I get my 1st Rnd back!”

If you DON’T win the North, how disappointed will you be? Does GB, DET, or MIN have a shot against you this season?

“I’m winning the North.  It’s not even worth considering.  The only way that doesn’t happen is if the Fantasy Gods really have it in for me. GB is fading. Minnesota is broke. Detroit is still suffering from 2 years of poor decisions. No threats within my division – and I can’t think of another roster that can currently contend.”

Now, let’s see what the NFC North GMs have to say…

What were your thoughts after you saw the trade between TB and CHI?

• “I have a hypothesis. If you are a nice and friendly GM, then you get discount offers. Last year Nils wouldn’t give me Brady unless I gave up a 1st. A week later and Nic gets a discount on Brady.  I think Nic also got a great deal on Odell that some GM’s wouldn’t have received. How the fuck do you trade with someone who just beat you in the conference finals? Why would you want to improve that team, when you can deal Odell anywhere?” – Barry
• “My thoughts after seeing the trade is Luke must have been drunk, he offered me up OBJ and what he was asking in return was ridiculous, not even 5 minutes later the trade was revoked and Luke got gaped by Nic.” – NFC North GM
• “Dafuq? I had an offer on OBJ in my inbox for way more.” – NFC North GM

Do you believe CHI took advantage of TB?

• “Clearly the old Manatee shook his speedo ass for that trade.” – NFC North GM
• “I think Luke let himself be taken advantage of, due to alcohol and some sticky icky.” – Barry
• “You can’t take advantage of the willing, not entirely sure of Luke’s end game here, but the Manatee has a spell over him or something.” – NFC North GM

Do you believe you have a shot against CHI in 2018?

• “Bears are prey, just wait until the injuries start rolling in.” – NFC North GM
• “Hell yes I have a shot, still lots of off-season to go. Though if Luke keeps gifting him players it definitely becomes more difficult.” – NFC North GM
• “I make playoffs every year, of course I have a shot.” – Barry

How soul crushing will it be for Nic if he doesn’t win the North?

• “Total!” – NFC North GM
• “I wouldn’t put it past him, dude gave me a 1st for Joseph Randle.” – Barry
• “If Nic doesn’t win the NFC North he should have the SBMOF named after him. If he doesn’t win the North it’ll always be the team with potential who shit the bed, as nic’s teams have a history of doing I suppose.” – NFC North GM

 

I hope you all enjoyed the recap. Thanks to everyone who contributed to keeping this trade in our memories!!!