AP

The Buccaneers apparently want to give Demar Dotson a new contract, but they want to see him first.

According to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, the Bucs were negotiating with Dotson, but his refusal to show for voluntary workouts has thrown a kink in the hose of money flowing his way.

The reports says “negotiations with Dotson were nearly complete,” but the Bucs have a policy that prohibits negotiating with players who aren’t on hand.

That’s a fairly clear application of leverage/coercion from the team side, while Dotson is using his version of it by not making himself available.

“He’s not here, and it doesn’t really matter why he’s not here,’’ Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “There’s an opportunity for him to be here and he’s chosen not to be. I don’t get into guessing what guys are going to do. I would assume that everybody will be here next week. . . .

“We would like everybody to be here every time we have an opportunity to, but if a guy chooses not to, for whatever reason, that’s on them. Next week everything is mandatory. I’ll be concerned if someone doesn’t show up for mandatory work.”

The Bucs hold their mandatory minicamp next week for all players under contract. Dotson still is, for another two years, and the $4.5 million he’s scheduled to make is far below his value. He’s become one bit of stability for the Bucs, starting 47 of the last 48 games.