Is Nate Burleson Back In Play?
April 4th, 2014
Seven weeks ago the Bucs and veteran free agent wide receiver Nate Burleson were linked via a Detroit Free-Press story.
Things were quiet for Burleson when free agency heated up in March, but that’s changed now. Often, movement will come late on a quality veteran who won’t play for peanuts, and after the market settles, and as teams want all their key acquisitions to arrive before the team players report for duty in April.
The Miami Herald reported Burleson was visiting the Dolphins today. Other reports have him heading to Cleveland soon.
Burleson, 32, is the same guy who returned from eight weeks off following a pizza-induced injury to catch seven balls (one touchdown) against the Buccaneers last season. Detroit cut him because he was due about $5 million this year. Burleson earned that money following successful years in Minnesota and Seattle, and as a fan favorite in Detroit.
Given the sorry depth currently in the Bucs’ receiving corps, Joe thinks Burleson’s 457 career catches look pretty good, and he caught 39 balls in half a season last year. That’s not too shabby.
Joe hopes the Bucs are exploring Burleson. Why not? Lovie Smith insists the Bucs should spend to the max, and there’s surely plenty of money laying around to sign Burleson if they like what they see.
Longtime NFL scout Chris Landry was very high on Burleson while speaking on WDAE-AM 620 this afternoon.
As for Lavelle Hawkins, a possible new Bucs receiver, Landry pegged him to be at best a “No. 4” receiver in the NFL. Burleson is better than that, though he may not represent a good fit in Jeff Tedford’s mysterious offense.
April 4th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
…sigh…
April 4th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
This the Lovie and Licht show part deux!
April 4th, 2014 at 5:40 pm
Burleson has had one complete season in the last 6 seasons. Suuuure, “up tempo”.
I see why Lovie isn’t talking about the offense. Its because there isn’t one.
April 4th, 2014 at 5:42 pm
So we passed up on Gilden Tate in the draft, and once again pass up on him in free agency…. ummmm okay.
April 4th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Heck no pass!!!! Deep Draft
April 4th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Here we go again;…he may not represent a good fit in Jeff Tedford’s mysterious offsense.
Aren’t these people capable of drawing up something to fit the talent. I mean to say he’s just another college coach as per Schiano until he proves himself capable.
Any Rutgers players left on the roster besides that proposed TE, Wright?
Big time house cleaning if I ever saw one.
April 4th, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Bucs signed major
April 4th, 2014 at 6:03 pm
Major Wright. A solid 3rd stringer.
But aren’t they all?
April 4th, 2014 at 6:06 pm
It hurts to see a championship team torn apart like this.
April 4th, 2014 at 6:07 pm
All this FA spending spree….
….and we have zero offensive weapons.
Bears fans warned us…Lovie ignores offense.
April 4th, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Man, Lovie’s giving Tedford a lot to work with.
April 4th, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai, I suspect Lovie doesn’t want anyone knowing what his offense will look like as part of the pre-draft Liar’s Poker game.
Everyone knows what his D will look like. The less other teams can figure out, the better L&L’s draft strategery can be implemented.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a heavy Offense draft.
April 4th, 2014 at 6:44 pm
Last time I checked next game is August!! Praise Love train for tossing out the trash for people the community can be proud of. Wait and see after the draft!! Love the direction this team is headed on.
April 4th, 2014 at 6:50 pm
He will be lovies Keenan Mcardell
April 4th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
32? Don’t know if we need another thirty-something vet in our receiver corpse.
April 4th, 2014 at 7:10 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a heavy Offense draft.
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thanks for putting that together for us.
April 4th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
I’d prefer Santonio Holmes or Miles Austin
April 4th, 2014 at 8:01 pm
If they go after him he would represent a stop gap like McCown and I certainly wouldn’t pay him a lot of money. Would rather we get some good young talent in the draft than sign an oft injured old vet on the downside of career.
April 4th, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Eric…what “championship team”? Is someone dismantling SF, Seattle, Denver, or Green Bay? You can’t be talking about our 4-12 team.
April 4th, 2014 at 8:48 pm
I’d take Burleson and Earl Bennett if we could get sign them to reasonable contracts.
April 4th, 2014 at 9:33 pm
bring him in for depth
April 4th, 2014 at 11:18 pm
What a good year to need receiver help. I would also like to get Miles Austin. V-Jax is healthy, though; and I think he can give us one more great year before he really starts to decline.
April 5th, 2014 at 12:01 am
I see that if the Bucs don’t pick up a WR free agent soon. Joe will be linking every F.A. WR to the Bucs until draft night. This site will be linking Burleson to Micheal Clayton to the Bucs. In hopes that the Bucs draft Johnny Manziel.
April 5th, 2014 at 12:36 am
@mark2001,
I don’t think you caught the incredibly hilarious sarcasm that Eric laid on pretty thick there. Read it one more time and I’m pretty sure you’ll get it.
April 5th, 2014 at 1:28 am
With these recent moves. I see us trading back in the first a few slots and grabbing Eric Ebron. Then sit and wait or move up in the second round (possibly bottom of the 1st) for a falling WR ( any of the top 12 should be starters in this league) and could easily be a #2 on our team.
Getting Ebron would allow us to move Tim Wright back to the WR position who now with TE experience can be the slot running route making the tough catches between the hashes. With strong hands and good route running he is a good fit there.
With this scenario we can really turn this offense into a strength come August. Don’t give up hope just yet my fellow fans. We can still fix this.
April 5th, 2014 at 2:02 am
So is Burleson from Texas? Or did he ever play for Lovie or Tedford. If not Lovie needs to tell Licht to get a younger proven WR that will be a good fit for Tedford’s offense. Burleson’s best days are behind him. We don’t want to have to replace two key starting WRs next year or the year after at the same time!
April 5th, 2014 at 7:59 am
Burleson >>> Hawkins.
It’s risky to sign him now though. We might overpay since there will be the second wave of FA WR’s post draft.
It is imperative that the Bucs draft 1-2 long term starting WR’s in this year. We’ll spend a high pick to mitigate risk, but we also need to mine a gem from the later rounds.