Geno Hayes Signs With Bears

April 19th, 2012

The thin Bucs defense just got officially thinner today when what was expected for months came true.

Geno Hayes is an ex-Bucs player.

This morning, Hayes, who was a starting Bucs outside linebacker for three seasons, signed with the Bears, so reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

Hayes worked out at Halas Hall earlier this week and was among a group of experienced players the team brought in for a look. Hayes, 6-foot-1, 226 pounds, doesn’t turn 25 until August. He’s made 42 starts over the previous three seasons for the Bucs. He made 64 tackles with two forced fumbles and one interception last season.

The Bears could put Hayes in a position to compete with strong-side starter Nick Roach, who has performed well. Or they could have him in a reserve role. The team didn’t have much in the way of experienced backups last season and was fortunate to make it through the season without serious needs because of injuries.

Yeah, Joe understands the Bucs lost a starting linebacker, but as ghastly as this defense was last year, is that really a loss?

29 Responses to “Geno Hayes Signs With Bears”

  1. Jarret Says:

    Ill drink to that

  2. deminion Says:

    Good luck Geno

  3. raphael Says:

    GOOD ! make room for a certain lb name Zach from Bama !

  4. Bobby Says:

    Moving right along…..

  5. Fatmosh Says:

    @raphael Heh?

  6. Mr. Patrick Says:

    Addition by subtraction? More coming too I think.

  7. Karl Says:

    Good Luck Geno Taze !!!! (as in when the cops had to Taze him at a Tampa nite club).

  8. patrickbucs Says:

    think the kid still has some potential but glad to move on from him..

  9. 941-Bucs Says:

    Good Luck Geno. You are a great person out side of that uniform. Was a pleasure to meet you in person once.

    To: Levi Smith, Take care of our boy over there. He gives his heart out for the team.

  10. 941-Bucs Says:

    @Raphael

    …?

    I think you have 2 different linebackers combined into one. There isn’t a linebacker named Zach coming from Bama. the 2 (big time) LBS coming from Bama are Hightower and Upshaw.

    Zach Brown is another person who i think you might be referring to but he plays for North Carolina.

    And yes i would mess my pants if we some how walk away from this draft with BOTH Dont’a Hightower and Zach Brown. Even Lavonte David and Zach Brown

  11. George Says:

    This officially improves the team. One less underachieving loser.

  12. Eric Says:

    Thought it was all coaching?

  13. aj Says:

    He’s a talented guy, last year was a big step back for him. He is one of those guys that really needed the discipline. He overpursues too much and it gets him in trouble.

  14. raphael Says:

    whoopsey my bad …meant NC

  15. princespanky Says:

    Geno was a good dude to the fans and showed glimpses of promise. In the boxing day game against the Seahawks a couple of years ago (my first NFL game ever) he had a monster game. So did everybody but it was maybe his best ever in a Bucs uniform.

    Reality is he was just too damn inconsistent. He’d turn in a big game one week and then be loafing it up the next week. Even Rah Rah called him out for it a couple of times.

    Maybe he’ll find more people to play spades with in Chicago?

  16. OAR Says:

    Eric
    We’ll find out soon enough. I think it had A LOT to do with it!

  17. BigBear Says:

    No Zach Brown!! Watched as much as i could of him on the internet and he is a super athlete who can’t tackle. He might be good as tight end cover guy but god please dont think he can play against the run. he is a super athlete and may one day develop the ability to tackle but from what i saw he doesn’t have that skill as of yet. I like David and Hendricks in the second or third round. They can both play the game, hit, tackle, and have the measurables ( except height! but then again a guy by the name of Brooks was only 6 foot)

  18. Kujolw Says:

    Well we know he wont die at the bears he has no heart lol(R.I.P. Gaines Adams)

  19. bucbelevr Says:

    ?? How did the Bucs “become thinner” today, seeing as how Geno Hayes was a Free Agent, already????

    Draft, draft, draft…..then maybe some cuts from other teams after their drafts shape up, sign some Free Agents. Hopefully, we cut Black after draft, with his significant base salary/bonus in place, gone, anyway…..

    And, move Foster, back outside, either side, just not Middle.

  20. Orlandobucfan Says:

    Mark dominik talking about drafting a RB (richardson) in the first round
    “You have to look at all the angles of how a player can help you today versus over the long haul,” Dominik said. “I think that one thing that helps is the new structure for rookie contracts. Without the burden of the big signing bonus and making sure that player is going to be with you for five or six years because of the money, you can focus a little more on today.”
    I think more and more the bucs are leaning toward drafting Richardson if a big IF he’s available.
    I think coach schiano wants a back like ray rice that he had at rutgers, with a more disciplened Blount would be a awesome duo. As much as I think we still NEED Claiborne more.

  21. BonesMahoney Says:

    Agreed, BigBear. When I see Zach Brown I think of Quincy Black. Both great athletes but both were afraid of contact and couldn’t tackle coming out and obviously Quincy is still the same(coincidentally they are/were both 6’1 240 coming out). OLBs I do like, Lavonte David, Terrell Manning and Demario Davis. I’ve heard great things about all of them. David would have to be a 2nd rounder but the other 2 should be available in the 3rd or 4th.

    Draft day can’t come soon enough.

  22. bucbelevr Says:

    @OrlandoBucFan…

    100% agree, like the analysis.

  23. Rickster Says:

    Lb in round 2!

  24. Sensiblebuc Says:

    Big Bear speaks the truth.

    Zach Brown is an athlete who happens to play football. Look at his tape vs Lavonte David or Mychal Kendricks or even Ronnell Lewis. Night and day in terms of play recognition.

  25. Derek Says:

    I dunno why everyone is so down on hayes he was a 3 year starter at LB after being a 6th round pick. he wasnt a star LB and maybe hes not even a starting caliber LB but aside from foster he was probably the best we had and we could have at least kept him as a backup if not a starter like we should have done with ruud. but whatever you want have him or ruud to kick around anymore

  26. teacherman777 Says:

    Geno can fly. He would make a great nickel specialist.

  27. Bricen Says:

    …Geno Hayes wasn’t the worst of the 3 last season.

  28. knucknbuc Says:

    I always thought geno would probably make a better ss then he did lb. He has the athletic ability.

  29. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    I really don’t understand how some fans can be so negative towards players. Regardless of if he played well or not, I highly doubt he played poorly on purpose. Why people feel the need to criticize them is beyond me.