Buccaneers DB Brent Grimes Blames $7 Million Contract for Subpar 2018

Grimes complained about his salary while speaking with his wife on her "iHeart Miko" podcast.

The Buccaneers finished 2018 with the league's No. 31 scoring defense and allowed 29 points per game en route to a last place finish in the NFC South. While most would point to a schematic issue or talent deficiency to explain Tampa's struggles, Bucs corner Brent Grimes provded an alternative theory while appearing on his wife Miko's podcast, "iHeart Miko."

Grimes contends the trouble started in Week 3, when the 2–0 Bucs asked Grimes to shadow Steelers wideout Antonio Brown on Monday Night Football. But the 12-year veteran contends that task isn't suited for a player with his $7 million salary, claiming those who shadow elite receivers like Brown typically, "earn $13 to $15 million." 

"That just f---ed up my whole vibe for the whole year to be completely honest," Grimes told his wife Miko. 

So Brent Grimes said on his wife’s podcast he didn’t want to play because they asked him to shadow Antonio Brown and other top WRs and he only made $7-million while CBs who shadow make $14M. And you wonder why #GoBucs lost? Not one coach/GM held him accountable.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 4, 2019

The salary complaints were not Grimes' only incident in 2018. He was benched for the second half of Tampa Bay's loss to Chicago in Week 4 after using his phone at halftime. 

"They said [I was benched because] I was on my phone at halftime, which is true because I’m on my phone [at halftime] every game of my career," Grimes said.

The Buccaneers fired head coach Dirk Koetter following a Week 17 loss to the Falcons. Grimes is a free agent heading into 2019.