Playing For Jobs, Careers
December 29th, 2013
Will No. 94 be dangled in the trade market?
Former NFL players and coaches will tell you there are a lots of jobs and careers on the line for the guys wearing Bucs colors today. That’s the nature of the business on a struggling football team with a head coach also fighting for his job.
Donovan McNabb, speaking on NBC Sports Radio yesterday, noted he believes that could be a huge factor in today’s Bucs-Saints game.
McNabb said the Bucs aren’t only in that boat, but also have a load of talent unlike many teams in their situation. Joe agrees. The Bucs defense can dominate in spurts, and the Bucs are a competitive football team when their offensive line wakes up, which has happened in about a one-third of this season
Regardless, this will be the last game in pewter and red for many Bucs. Joe looks at some possibilities among the guys you’ll see today:
Gone in 2014?
Davin Joseph: He’s 30, has a long history of injury, has a contract for $6 million next season, and he had a bad 2013. That screams that Joseph will need to restructure his contract if he wants to stay in Tampa.
Donald Penn: It’s rare to get rid of a productive player who stays healthy. Penn hasn’t missed a start since getting the left tackle job in 2007. But Penn, 30, does make Joseph money.
Demar Dotson: He doesn’t earn much, and it wouldn’t surprise Joe if the Bucs seek some competition for him.
Erik Lorig: The solid fullback and valuable special teams player will be an unrestricted free agent. He’ll have options in free agency. Joe always wonders whether a true California guy like Lorig will want to play closer to home.
Tiquan Underwood: The New Schiano Order cut him in consecutive seasons and he didn’t catch on with another team. His play has fallen off of late.
Chris Owusu: Another disappointment who also was exposed on the practice squad but wasn’t gobbled up.
Adrian Clayborn: Joe wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs sign a top defensive end in free agency and look to trade Clayborn, who hasn’t put up numbers worthy of his draft status while playing alongside Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy. Clearly, the New Schiano Order doesn’t have faith in Clayborn’s ability to beat offensive tackles off the edge.
Dekoda Watson: Like Lorig, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent and will have suitors. Young, somewhat versatile and a strong special teams player, Watson would be wise to retain.
Rian Lindell: Connor Barth is already healthy, kicking 50-yarders in practice and signed.
December 29th, 2013 at 10:56 am
With so many possibilities you have to assume the talent level was not @ what everyone thought before the season.
December 29th, 2013 at 11:06 am
*Cut
-Donald Penn-$7,066,665
-Davin Joseph-6,000,000
-Jeremy Zuttah-4,000,000
-Michael Koenen-3,250,000
-Derek Landri-1,500,000
-Luke Stocker-763,172
-Anthony Gaitor-658,404
December 29th, 2013 at 11:18 am
Very first cut should be Schiano
December 29th, 2013 at 11:18 am
Get rid of Joesph
December 29th, 2013 at 11:27 am
There are some overpaid, overrated and over hyped players on this roster, and the talent level isn’t what people think. And who is responsible for that? Clayborn was mis-used all year. The O-Line needs a total rebuild. The two areas that need to be rebuilt first are the front office and coaching staff
December 29th, 2013 at 11:32 am
Trade Clayborn?? One of the highest motors on the team that had 2 sacks erased because he hit the qb in the chest?? He is also a monster against the run, this reminds me of the statements made by all the fans on GMC when he didn’t have a lot of sacks. DE is a #1 need, but Clayborn should be affordable and is a hell of a role player, much like Greg Spires.
First, Clayborn’s personal foul on Drew Brees in Week 2 that negated a turnover was still credited as a sack. Second, if he’s a monster against the run, then why is the run defense gone so far south with his return this season? Where’s the weak link that dropped us from No. 1 to middle of the pack? Clayborn’s job is to get sacks. He has five sacks in his last 20 games. That shouldn’t give him a job guarantee. –Joe
December 29th, 2013 at 11:36 am
IMHO-Draft Penn’s Replacement
1st Round Pick:(Options)
-LT Greg Robinson Auburn 6-5 320 (Kid can block out the sun)
-LT Taylor Lewan
Sign Josephs Replacement(FA-Options)
-Jon Asamoah
-Willie Colon
Sign Zuttah’s Replacement (FA-Options)
-Alex Mack
-Brian De La Puente
-Evan Dietrich-Smith
-Sign Koenen Replacement (FA-Options)
-Pat McAfee
Sign Landri’s Replacement (FA-Options)
-Jason Hatcher
-Tony McDaniel
-Linval Joseph
-Sign Stocker’s Replacement (FA-Options)
-Jimmy Graham
-Brandon Pettigrew
-Scott Chandler
-Garrett Graham
-Jim Dray
December 29th, 2013 at 11:37 am
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/29/report-penn-state-to-push-for-greg-schiano/
December 29th, 2013 at 11:39 am
Also whoever thought Clayborn was some edge rusher extraordinaire when we drafted him needs to slow down on the cough medicine, he was drafted as a versatile lineman with high motor and toughness, He is basically that.
December 29th, 2013 at 11:49 am
How about trading Revis?
-For the price of ONE GUY (16 million in cap space) We can sign 3 good corners
(two outside guys + one slot guy).
R Corner /L Corner (FA Options)
-Alterraun Verner
-Nolan Carroll (luv this kid)
-Vontae Davis
-Antoine Cason
-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Slot Corner (FA Options)
-Captain Munnerlyn
-Walter Thurmond
-Josh Wilson
December 29th, 2013 at 11:50 am
@Mr. Patrick
Dom 1st?
December 29th, 2013 at 11:51 am
McNabb missed the most important player….not playing for job…but playing for career….& that is Mike Glennon…
Glennon needs to put up a performance that might save Schiano…but if not would create a situation for himself that he is the starter going forward.
A mediocre or poor performance may result in him becoming a backup when….right now…he has a grip on the starting job!!!
December 29th, 2013 at 11:56 am
@Tampabaybucfan
Poor Kid needs someone to block for him; for starters
December 29th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
@LUVMYBUCS
Should be a group exit
December 29th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Good luck trading Clayborn he sucks! maybe you could get a 6th round pick big deal ! me personally i would keep Penn and trade Revis we never should have made that deal! were not one player away from winning it all and never were!!!! get a 1st round pick for him in this years draft and make some moves! there’s always FA cb, out there you could get three for what you pay Revis!
December 29th, 2013 at 12:24 pm
Adrian Clayborne
874 snaps at DRE (2011)=8 sacks
187 snaps at DRE (2012)=0 sacks
900 snaps at DRE (2013)=5 sacks
Kid obviously has talent. Just needs to be put in the right system.
December 29th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Lol, Keep Penn? Dude’s giving up 10 sacks so far this year. And 25 over the last 3yrs ; can use that $7mill so where else.
December 29th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
@Scotty
Your right on the Revis deal. People forget San Fran was stacked when they signed Prime; so was Dallas.
December 29th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
@LMB
Glennon is NOT the answer as a starting QB. I just don’t get what ppl see in him. A very good backup, yes. But Freeman was much more impressive in his beginning years and had even less talent around him. All WR in 2010: Briscoe, Parker, Spurlock, Stovall and Stroughter. Tim Wright and VJ blow that away. Yes, Glennon is getting sacked too much, but a LARGE part of that is his mobility – he will never be a franchise QB. Anyone who thinks so is on serious drugs.
December 29th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
we can use the 16million Revis makes somewhere eles and resign Penn to a cap friendly deal .
December 29th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Clayborn might fetch a 6th or 7th…might as well ride out his rookie contract…he’s decent.
December 29th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
still not sold on Clayborn! maybe with real choaching he could something? But that’s true for most of the bucs on this team they have never had good Pro coaching and never will if we keep this coaching staff!
December 29th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
@Harry
I hear you. I just feel we should sign a Veteran + Plus draft a lower round QB to compete next year. Because right now, this kid’s average time from snap to immediate pressure is insane.
December 29th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Jon Gruden & Wade Phillips 2014???
December 29th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Team needs most importantly in this order:
Quarterback
Offensive Linemen
Defensive End
Those are your draft and FA needs. I would look for those Oline guys in the draft. Find your DE in FA and find your QB in both.
If the Bucs can get their talent level up this offseason with a better front office staff they can move closer to 8-8 or 9-7 next year.
A proven NFL GM should be brought in and hire an offensive coordinator with power to run the offense similar to the Gruden-Kiffen system. I think Shiano ks over his head running an NFL offense but if you leash him with a powerful GM and force him to stay on the defensive side of the ball it could work out.
December 29th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
@Mr. Patrick Says
Hit it on the nail brotha
December 29th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
If Shiano takes the penn state job that would be absolutely fantastic
December 29th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Jay Gruden and Wade phillips 2014 !!!
December 29th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
@Joe
Maybe you should do a little more research because that leak is weak and you already know things don’t work that way
First of all demar doston doesn’t make much and was our most consistent lineman, should be getting a crack at starting left tackle but Schiano is busy trying to save his job which if it isn’t already decided bucs will become irrelevant in fans mind long before next season
You don’t just get rid of the starting tackle in the nfl just to make a point especially since we don’t draft tackles, your answer is what go get another high priced free agent with a short shelf life? Penn and joseph have done enough to earn the right to fight for their jobs and money
Dakota Watson has more talent than adam heyward, I’d rather see us move on from heyward, plus Watson has value on special teams
Trade AC? You lost your mind or bumped your head on a big rock….so trade the only serviceable defensive end we have is your idea, did you wrote this article after having some sort of seizure? Schiano gets credit for nothing cuz the players playing well either were already here, already established or came out of the draft as studs
It was obvious Schiano had no plan other than cleaning up the locker room which is stupid considering they brought in veterans finally…look at what we did in the off-season or should I say what we didn’t do….I’d bet my paycheck a new coaching staff could make this same roster a playoff team…..that’s what we need to dump before dumping any players….side note, is it me or does Keith tandy have better stats in a limited role than goldson
December 29th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Clayborne would tear it up as a 3-4 DE. He is a tweaner. A high motor tackler/warrior.
His job is not to get sacks. Thats why we need a smaller Freeney/Mathis type DE to sub for Clayborne on EVERY passing situation. Nickle defense DE.
Clayborne is a great for 1st and 2nd down. But he needs s replacement for third down.
Having two guys replace each other all game will keep both players healthy all season.
We MUST get a pash rushing DE specialist.
But Schiano wants 4 down DE’s. Which I think is unrealistic.
We all need
BRENT GRIMES!!!
December 29th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
@buc4lyfe – First, you might want to check your reading skills on what Joe wrote about Dotson. Comprehension is always appreciated.
Second, Clayborn is a huge disappointment as a first-round pick at a premier position.
Third, remember, Watson couldn’t beat out Hayward for the strongside job last year when Black went down. And Watson lost the starting gig this season to Casillas. Hayward is special teams captain for a reason.