Zuttah Heads To 1st Pro Bowl; Tampa Bay Next?
January 24th, 2017
Might the Bucs turn back the clock?
Among the bizarre moves of the new Jason Licht/Lovie Smith regime was the trading of 27-year-old starting center/guard Jeremy Zuttah to the Ravens for a fifth-round draft pick.
Joe’s initial reaction was, “Beware of screwing up big time when renowned general manager Ozzie Newsome wants your starting center.”
Joe’s second reaction was one of disgust and surprise. Zuttah was a good versatile offensive lineman, a good, intelligent guy, and warrior who had survived six years of Greg Schiano (four at Rutgers, two in Tampa). But Licht, Lovie and Jeff Tedford were set on signing Evan Dietrich-Smith in free agency to replace him.
Well, now it seems Zuttah has transitioned from good to great.
He was named to the Pro Bowl last night, his first, replacing Steelers’ center Maurkice Pouncey.
That’s a strong honor for Zuttah, who certainly didn’t get many fan votes. It must have been coaches and players around the league that got him in. Pro Bowl status is determined by the voting of fans, coaches and players, with each group getting equal weight.
What’s interesting is Zuttah has one year left of his contract and the Ravens have the most 30-and-older starters (10) in the NFL. Talk in Baltimore says the Ravens will make a bold moves to improve their salary cap situation and get younger.
Zuttah’s name is one being discussed as a guy who could get cut.
Last Joe checked, center is where the Bucs could use an upgrade on the O-line. Joe Hawley, 28, has battled knee injuries two of the past three years and is set to be an unrestricted free agent. Evan Smith, 30, is great depth but little more.
Joe’s not calling for the Bucs to pursue Zuttah, but he’s an especially interesting name if available.
January 24th, 2017 at 8:10 am
Getting rid of a good Olineman for a 4th round pick was dumb but Jason said picks are so valuable. Two picker for a kicker and jason says hey kickers are so valuable. Dumb.
January 24th, 2017 at 8:23 am
and I don’t think we got a 4 for j Z, I think it was a 5 or 6.
January 24th, 2017 at 8:36 am
Got rid of Penn (franchise left tackle), Joesph, Zuttah, 2/3 went on to have outstanding years outside of Tampa Bay. Hey, it led to Jameis Winston at least……lol
January 24th, 2017 at 8:38 am
Just another example of our previous stupidity. Lol, all you Raheem haters know what you can kiss now, since he is coaching in the Super Bowl, and you are sitting home watching.
January 24th, 2017 at 8:54 am
I didn’t dislike Lovie as much as a lot of other people on this site but the personnel decisions that I felt was his doing were atrocious.
January 24th, 2017 at 8:56 am
No comment from the (Buc Fan) gallery ‘cept for a snort of disgust!
January 24th, 2017 at 8:56 am
Zuttah would be a good addition, but the Ravens are not as dumb as the Bucs. They are not going to release a pro bowl center. They will let him walk in FA next year.
January 24th, 2017 at 8:59 am
Why not. Center is weak. He plays in a physical division
January 24th, 2017 at 9:01 am
Congrats Chris. The dumbest post I can ever recall. Because a position coach is the equivalent of being a head coach in the super bowl. Wow just wow. That’s like firing Alex Van Pelt and saying we’re so dumb look what he’s done with Aaron Rodgers. Please think before speaking
January 24th, 2017 at 9:26 am
Would be an expensive mistake to see Licht admit by signing Zuttah back but would ultimately be very praiseworthy and prove to us that he puts the Bucs above his inflated ego. Is he gonna do it?…heelll no!l
January 24th, 2017 at 9:29 am
Broy ..u have the dumb post … u don’t have a glue …assist head coach …
January 24th, 2017 at 9:41 am
Who the hell cares. He proved he’s not a head coach. Yeah I don’t have a clue cuz I don’t care if Raheem is an assistant head coach. Rather have a life and a clue
January 24th, 2017 at 10:04 am
Do it!!!
January 24th, 2017 at 10:31 am
When the Bucs traded Timmy Wright and a 4th round pick for Logan Mankins. And Timmy was cut by the Patriots,and the Bucs signed him off waivers.The local Sportswriters here was writing that Jason Licht got the best of Bill Bellichick. But Timmy Wright won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots. And the 4th round pick that the Patriots received was none other than Trey Flowers.
January 24th, 2017 at 10:46 am
Seriously the personnel decisions this team makes is comical, always trying to be the smartest guy in the room makes you look stupid, the faster you move on from a kicker that can’t kick over 43 yards the faster the fans can breathe easier, sign Nick Novak, Greg Zuerlein, or Steven Hauschka, all free agents, all are proven vets, easy upgrades over Agyohno
January 24th, 2017 at 11:01 am
Life is funny, ain’t it!
There were an awful lot of people who wanted the Bucs to purge for picks over the years. How’d that work out?! What did we get for that 5th rounder?!
I wouldn’t mind seeing Zuttah back, with one caveat, we still need to get younger at the position.
January 24th, 2017 at 11:26 am
Yes, Bring Mr. Zuttah back, our C position needs to be improved. Mr. Zuttah is a good veteran player we should have never let go of. For whatever reason he went away, we may have a chance to bring him back. Will Mr. Zuttah want to return? I hope he does.
January 24th, 2017 at 11:38 am
Guzzie i know u are as well as I am extreme bucs fans that want to root for a perrenisl playoff and superbowl team but licht has continually screwed up nearly every personnel move, the bucs needed safeties, he drafts a K cmon man…. d smith a non factor…vh3 cant cover….dont forget the raiders all time offensive game happened this year in tampa.. and amari cooper killed vh3 just like back at bama
January 24th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Ugh…
Imagine the Bucs with Zuttah and Penn starting the past few years (especially last year). This is a huge problem area for the Bucs historically – identifying and developing elite offensive lineman. There’s only so many years we can keep touting Paul Gruber as an example before it starts to get sad.
When Licht said earlier this offseason that he felt the Bucs were set internally at offensive line, I just hung and shook my head. None of the year in and year out elite teams EVER say things like that or act in that fashion. The Bucs need to add another mauler to the group and start the hunt for an improvement at LT (moving Smith to RT or inside) – accomplish that and the sky is literally the limit for Jameis and the team.
It’s up to the Bucs – do they want to win a Super Bowl or simply spend the next several years trying to prove themselves right with what they already have?
January 24th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
He won’t ever be a Buccaneer again.
January 24th, 2017 at 1:09 pm
you are asking for everything you just complained about.
Solid 28 year old centre … resign him, let him continue to develop in the system with the same guys around him.
January 24th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
We get rid of a lot of good guys. Can someone remind me why Blount was not good enough for the Bucs?
January 24th, 2017 at 5:11 pm
Imagine ….
Penn LT
Pamphile RG
Zuttah C
Ali Marpet RG
Donovan Smith RT
I never harp on players who left or were let go, but damn, Penn and Zuttah on this team would have been fantastic.
January 24th, 2017 at 5:28 pm
I can’t say inwas ever a big fan of zuttah. He was a solid player never anything great from what i could tell. I dont know if he would be an upgrade over Joe Hawley or Evan Smith tbh. I never say zuttah as a dominant player. Not someone you go and replace a younger and cheaper player for.
January 24th, 2017 at 6:01 pm
Bucsfanman Says:
What did we get for that 5th rounder?!
Pamphile if I’m not mistaken
Zuttah was not all that great when he played for the Bucs. Versatility was always his best attribute. He’s basically the same player as Evan Smith – perhaps a slight talent upgrade – but also more expensive which is why he was traded in the 1st place. Just like every other member of the 2013 Oline – what he put on tape his last year here was not very good.
January 24th, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Was/is Evan Smith a pro bowler? No, he is a bearded Twinkie that rides the pine unless someone gets hurt then he comes in for 5 plays before he gets his own little ouchie. Another giant waste of Buccaneer resources by the dimmest Licht in the room.
January 24th, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Dallas – you aren’t exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer nor the brightest crayon in the box yourself.
Anyone who thinks that GMC is a liability and that Jason Licht is a bad GM doesn’t have much to add to any discussion… Except negativity – I’ll concede that you are very good at that.
January 24th, 2017 at 6:56 pm
JZ was a holding call waiting to happen- he isn’t as good as stated and not someone we should be considering. He is more athletic thank Evan and bigger than Hawley – but really not much better than either – draft a center and bulk up the kid from USF
Mid round pick makes most sense here –
January 24th, 2017 at 8:33 pm
Pickgrin
OUCH!
January 24th, 2017 at 8:36 pm
Sometimes the truth hurts SPBF
January 24th, 2017 at 9:54 pm
JJ cause he punched a white guy in college! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! No just joking but he was white. Blount didn’t have the right attitude for sChiano. Plus sChiano was and idiot. Freeman went 10-6 for Raheem but sChiano got here and he hit the tank but everybody up here wants to put the full blame on Frees shoulders. sChiano drove him out and his frail manhood couldn’t handle it.
January 25th, 2017 at 4:19 am
Lichtenstein has a lot of making up to do
January 25th, 2017 at 8:44 am
Shtgrin- I guess you think soft EDS was an upgrade over the highly versatile pro bowler Zuttah that WE drafted. And somehow this makes you the smart guy? Look you football wizard I don’t want burst your bubble but perhaps a little self reflection on this might illuminate the naked hypocrisy and sweet irony in your statements. Maybe you and your positivity queen/zcar StPete can get a room together and share all of your disgust over my opinions because they differ from yours and share all of your positive feelings for the Bucs and each other!
January 25th, 2017 at 8:54 am
StPeteLackey- why don’t you try coming up with your own takes and attacks instead of riding the coat tails of others? It’s because you are a little btch that only wants the approval of JBF and your new boyfriends that have the nerve to come at me. Get your lips off their aas and your hands off their crank.
January 25th, 2017 at 7:40 pm
Zutah would make a good center for us if available. He is very smart and should never have been traded. We have to get more power in the center of our line so we can punch it in at the goal line and also get us short yardage first downs! Glad he made All Pro.