Usually when a defender gets asked to cover the opposing team's top receiver, it's a badge of honor. It's a chance to prove oneself worthy of getting a larger contract as well as an extension to remain on the team. But Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes didn't quite see it that way.
Appearing on his wife's most recent podcast, iHeartMiko, Grimes broke down his 2018 season with the Bucs. The cornerback missed the first two games with an injury and returned in Week 3 to face the Steelers. Tampa Bay asked him to shadow Antonio Brown (cover him all game), but Grimes was upset by that because he wasn't getting paid enough to do that.
Grimes explained he signed a $7 million contract (plus incentives) on a one-year deal to play left corner. Then he was surprised when Tampa asked him to contribute more.
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"We get to the Steelers and then they start asking me to follow people," Grimes said. "And I just was tired of, every year of my career I don't get any type of respect for what I do and then y'all hit me with the [$7 million contract] and then we get to a game with Antonio Brown and it's, 'Follow receivers,' and I couldn't agree with it, 'cause it's just disrespectful. Because people who follow receivers all the time, unless they're on a rookie contract or trying to get paid, are usually making $13 million, $15 million a year."
Grimes continued by saying, "It just f—ed up my vibe for the whole year, to be honest. I felt disrespected."
He also explained how the following week against the Bears he was benched at halftime because he was on his phone. He claims "nobody knows what happened" in the organization because he asked defensive coordinator Mike Smith about it and he didn't know. Grimes said secondary coach Jon Hoke is the one who told him he was benched.
Grimes' frustration with Hoke continued all year as he revealed on the podcast he told coaches he wanted to sit out the final game of the season because of him. Hoke, according to Grimes, apologized and the cornerback ended up playing in Week 17.
However, considering Grimes signed a one-year deal and is a free agent this offseason, we don't expect he'll be returning to play in Tampa Bay after these comments and the season he had.
