Kirwan: Bucs Should Sign Ray Rice
July 28th, 2015
A respected national NFL radio voice lobbies the Bucs to sign Ray Rice.
Joe knows Bucs fans are chewing nails in anticipation of the new season.
It isn’t so much that fans think the team can make a Super Bowl run, but the new season will purge from memories the shatfest that was 2-14.
Oh, and “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, brings new hope.
Of course, one man who isn’t seeing a lot of hope is former Bucs front office guy, Jets linebacker coach and Jets player personnel director, Pat Kirwan. The co-host of arguably the best football radio show in the world, “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, is rather down on the Bucs, based largely on the rotten performance last year.
Sure, Jameis brings hope, but Kirwan, like most NFL types, isn’t banking on any rookie quarterback lighting up the league. Kirwan also sees a lot of holes on the roster, which is understandable given the team is mere months from posting the worst record in the league.
Kirwan thinks the running backs position with the Bucs is weak, and took to Twitter and made a case for the Bucs to go out and sign running back Ray Rice.
I talk w/fans everyday on Sirius-time for RayRice to return-his career4.3 ave&369rec are assets-Jax,NE,Oak,and most of allTB could use him
— Pat Kirwan (@PatKirwanCBS) July 27, 2015
This is interesting. Yes, Rice earned his suspension from the NFL for dropping his soon-to-be-wife with a right hook, caught on video. It was disgusting, outrageous and unacceptable on every level.
However, Rice has paid his penance. America is a forgiving nation. Look, Michael Vick did heinous things with dogs, served time, paid his penance, admitted his wrongs and returned to be a productive NFL player.
(No, Joe is not equating torturing dogs to blasting women. Stop!)
If Rice would agree to work regularly with a local agency that aids battered women, and go on a public service binge to raise awareness for abused women and openly confesses his dire wrongs, then Joe would have no problem at all bringing in Rice.
While on the subject of villains, Joe would be absolutely floored, shocked, if the Bucs sign this Junior Galette.
This character has major, major, major issues. It is bad enough to watch that disgusting video of Galette belt-whipping women at the beach. Then, after getting released by the Saints, in part because he is a locker room cancer, he goes on a slanderous Twitter rant claiming Sean Payton is, among other things, a drug-abuser and an adulterer.
You really think Lovie Smith wants that mental patient on his roster?
July 28th, 2015 at 5:30 am
Ray Rice could really help Jameis with a good screen pass target out of the backfield.
July 28th, 2015 at 5:42 am
Rice’s ypc average would have been in serious trouble if he played in Tampa last season…I like Rice alot but Imho we just dont need another RB…Dallas would be a nice landing spot for him though…
July 28th, 2015 at 6:30 am
His best days are behind him. Look at his numbers before he got suspended, and it is not pretty
July 28th, 2015 at 6:33 am
Thy Shall not invite anymore domestic violence in Tampa.
July 28th, 2015 at 7:24 am
Running back is a whole?…..or hole…
July 28th, 2015 at 7:27 am
There is a reason Pat Kirwan is no longer a player personnel director for any NFL team and this proposal for Ray Rice is an example!!!
As the father of three daughters, I say NO to Ray Rice and HELL NO to Junior Galette!!!!!!!!!!
July 28th, 2015 at 7:35 am
We’ve got enough of a perception problem with Winston on the team. Why add to it by signing Rice?
July 28th, 2015 at 7:36 am
This would be wasted money. Our stable of backs is strong. Ray rice has been the product of excellent blocking and good play calling. We havent had either of those individually or comvined for quite some time. Ray Rice is a good running back…but our backs should be able to get the job done. Im still on the Mike James train
July 28th, 2015 at 7:37 am
Nah bro.
July 28th, 2015 at 7:43 am
Bowers is back!
Now we are going to the SB!!!
July 28th, 2015 at 7:45 am
“I say NO to Ray Rice and HELL NO to Junior Galette!!!!!!!!!!”
I agree!
July 28th, 2015 at 7:52 am
Really, Ray Rice’s relationship with his then Girlfriend is not any of our Business.
Not saying it is “OK” to hit a woman, but remember, she married him.
If she has forgiven him, then why can’t we ?
I totally agree with this – If Rice would agree to work regularly with a local agency that aids battered women, and go on a public service binge to raise awareness for abused women and openly confesses his dire wrongs, then Joe would have no problem at all bringing in Rice.
July 28th, 2015 at 8:04 am
“Kirwan thinks running back is a whole”…
bunch of suck?
group of underachievers?
lot of guys victimized by a crappy o-line?
July 28th, 2015 at 8:20 am
I agree with the above comments. Ray Rice has served his time and I hope he rebounds and finds a good landing place, but Tampa doesn’t need another running back, especially one on the downside of his career.
And NO NO NO to Junior Galette. Let’s work through this year with our current group of DE’s and use the waiver priority and next year’s draft if we need to.
July 28th, 2015 at 8:30 am
In this particular incident Kirwin is an Idiot.
July 28th, 2015 at 8:34 am
Why would we listen to someone not competent enough to continue to be able to evaluate talent on an NFL team as some use that word against our coach ? With a real OC our blocking schemes will be better and Dougie is healthy and Bobby Rainey is a good back up. We will be alright.
July 28th, 2015 at 8:38 am
We don’t need any other running back{s} we need AN O-line that can get the ones we have past the line of scrimmage and to the second level
July 28th, 2015 at 8:39 am
I agree with Kirwan, imagine an eager to prove himself to 31 other teams Ray Rice. This guy is itching for another opportunity and with Doug in a contract year he will be playing his heart out as well. I mean with a somewhat average o-line we could swap one out for the other with no drop off and wear the heck out of some defenses. What is there to lose? Even the anti domestic violence organization has his back helping him get another team. Get errrr done JL.
Oh and like I been saying, heck no to Junior!!!! Locker room chemistry is a delicate situation and that dude is a bull in a china shop.
July 28th, 2015 at 8:43 am
Winston will set a new rookie record for passing yards and TDs. The RBs we have will be just fine, and an afterthought.
July 28th, 2015 at 8:56 am
I am all for anything that improves our RB situation. The heat has gone way down on RR. Sign him…
July 28th, 2015 at 9:47 am
Meh
July 28th, 2015 at 9:58 am
The only RB that would have a shot of being successful on the team is AP or Barry Sanders. Our OL is painful!
July 28th, 2015 at 9:59 am
No need for Rice. Martin is the same type of RB with very similar body style. As long as he stays healthy, Dougie will be just fine.
July 28th, 2015 at 10:01 am
Im with Buc-A-New…I usually like Kirwan, but not on this. We fix the OL, and any of our RB’s will look better than Rice did his last season. We have young RB’s with potential…they just need someone to block for them. If we have improved in this area, and most believe we have, there is no reason to bring in damaged goods. Let the 3 headed monster pound the rock (Sims, Martin, Rainey).
Im also super intrigued by this Undrafted FA out of Louisville, Dominique Brown. 6’2 241….. That size is scary!
July 28th, 2015 at 10:23 am
What a bunch of hypocrites you are.
I suggested this the moment he was cut and NO ONE wanted to bring him in but me. Now, suddenly, your moral values are out the window.
Irony.
I’m in favor of bringing him in. As I always have been. We’d get him cheaper than before this stuff, and he should have come to Tampa long ago.
July 28th, 2015 at 10:26 am
Anyone who thinks he wouldn’t be our best RB is insane. He could replace James and and we can let him and Martin compete. With Martin’s injury history, he’s uncertain.
I don’t personally wish to rely on Sims to get the job done…or Rainey.
But bring in Rice only is we can get him for 3 years at a good price.
July 28th, 2015 at 10:27 am
No to Junior Galette.
We may need help, but he wouldn’t be that.
July 28th, 2015 at 11:06 am
Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy, La’el Collins, Junior Galette – so many choices, so little time!
July 28th, 2015 at 11:24 am
We dont need a new running back. We need a passing game.
July 28th, 2015 at 11:30 am
Yes let’s let Junior G go somewhere else and shine. Tampa already has a great pass rush anyways.
July 28th, 2015 at 11:43 am
Some ppl would rather the bucs go after a player of position we dont need instead of a proven pass rusher which the bucs havent seen in about 10 years. Sure he has his issues but he would be going to a lovie smith team that wouldnt tolerate the bs. If mike vick can get another chance why cant junior? Thats laughable
July 28th, 2015 at 11:45 am
And JG would be able to get revenge on the saints twice a year
July 28th, 2015 at 12:28 pm
I always thought this Kirwan was a stupid fool, now he has confirmed it.
Rice ism”t bring black balled cause he punched his wife’s lights out, no one want him cause he is an over 30 RB on the downside of his career.
Everybody is gushing about how Frank Gore will be great for the Colts. I bet he runs for way less than 1k yards and the Colts will have the same problem with their run game like last year.
Mother Nature plays no favorites.
July 28th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Yes to both. Solid pickups if they can calm the f down a little. Oh and lmao Dolphins
July 28th, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Frank Gore looked pretty good the last four years. He is 32 and Rice is 28. I do think RR game dropped off before the suspension and he is a lot like Martin.
Why do people think JG revenge is going to give him an edge against the Saints when S. Patton and their entire team will want to neutralize him or worse when they see him.
July 28th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Yea try neutralizing him with GMC and Big Clinton on the field at the sametime @stanglassman are you serious??
July 28th, 2015 at 9:01 pm
This will shock WS99 and the others who are tired of me advocating for choir boys.
Yes I’m totally against Gallette because in addition to his off field problems he is apparently uncoachable if you believe Sean Payton. Although he sugar coated it by calling for “better communication”. Again WHY did the Saints just dump for no compensation, clear in the knowledge that he could very well show up on a division rival. Junior is either such a major head case or not as good as we believe if Payton is not afraid to face him twice year.
Ray Rice is totally different. drdneast is correct about age and the downside of his career. He surely would not be a long term solution. He may not be Mr. Right but he could be Mr. Right now.
He has fresh legs and might have a year or two left in the tank.
As for the off field stuff, yes it was horrible. Again I’m the survivor of a wife beating father. I loathe men that hit women. But Rice was apparently drunk, and made a horrible decision. But that was ONE time.
He seems to have gone out of his way with women’s groups and if he came to the Bucs and immediately looked up a group like CASA(Community Action Stops Abuse) in St. Pete (great org by the way and worth any help you can provide) he could be a force for good.
http://www.casa-stpete.org/
I’m not against giving Rice a chance and a no risk look in training camp and pre-season. We may have a decent RB in our current group but nobody really stands out.
July 29th, 2015 at 9:56 am
ray rice’s unemployment is 55% due to what he did to his now wife, and 45% because he was a shadow of his former production the last 2 years he actually suited up. as a team who just spent social capital getting some fans on board with the winston pick, this move would stain their motives and the production would likely fall short to boot.
with one player (winston), you can say “we always consider character, and his character is better than you realize”, but if you start chasing the likes of galette and ray rice AFTER being turned down by greg hardy, well, people will see that you’re chasing wins at the expense of signing players your fans and community can actually stomach rooting for.