Welcome Back, Jacquies Smith!
March 7th, 2017
Tendered
It was a crushing blow when defensive end Jacquies Smith, coming off two strong seasons rushing the passer, blew out his knee on opening day in Atlanta — on special teams.
One could argue having him on special teams was a foolish move, but that’s an argument for another day.
Today, Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud Twitters that the Bucs have slapped a restricted free agent tender on Smith. It’s a low one for $1.8 million in 2017. So Bucs get right of first refusal if Smith gets a better offer.
Joe heard Smith chatting on WTAN-AM 1340 back in December. He was very encouraged by his rehabilitation. And it seems the Bucs are, too.
Smith, 26, is banged up a lot, but he has produced when available (13.5 sacks in 27 games in 204 and 2015). Given the commodity that pass rushers are across the NFL, this is no surprise.
Now sackless George Johnson still on the roster? That’s a surprise, though one that probably won’t exist in September.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:24 pm
I hope he comes back stronger, he seems to have potential.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
At $1.8 million he’s a bargain, especially if he returns healthy and hungry. It’s hard to get excited about it though because he’s always injured.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
Love this move. Back to my fantasies of 3rd down d-line… Spence/McCoy/Ayers/Smith. Gotdamn!
March 7th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
The great George Johnson! Another free agency coup by Licht. Didn’t he actually end up costing us a 5th round pick in addition to the multi-million dollar contract? What a homerun! Can’t wait to see who is the Michael Johnson or IR Sneezy of this FA class.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Would just love to see what he could do with one fully healthy season.
Hell; at that price he’s worth it if he can just give us like 6-8 games lol.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:29 pm
@Dallas
The sign and then trade for Johnson has the stench or Lovie all over it.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
@LC- LOL, that was my thought as well!
March 7th, 2017 at 2:38 pm
What you see, and what you focus on, positive or negative, that’s your reality.
You strike me as a negative nancy there PhallusBuc.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Exactly
Every team has hits and misses. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Dallas seems to focus on the negativity while simultaneously making our front office look bad.
Just so you know, Licht has done more good than bad.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Tread lightly Blake. Dallas a bad boy when prevoked.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:56 pm
Blake and Eric- I totally agree that there are hits and misses but all the misses are swept under the rug or blame shifted to incompetent Lovie Smith while all the successes are way overblown. All I am trying to do is highlight the poor decision making and talent evaluations to balance the picture out. Otherwise what we see here is that Licht gets credit for all the perceived good and none of the blame for the perceived bad. Truth.
March 7th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
Also, I like keeping Jaquis Smith. Good depth move
March 7th, 2017 at 2:59 pm
Why is George Johnson still on the roster taking up $3-mil in cap space? Also I’d assume someone will give Smith more than the Bucs offer, even if it’s only a lottery ticket they’re buying, in a land where 2-down non-pass rushing DE’s are making $7.5mil, you have to figure a pass rush specialist like Smith will get at least a one year offer at double what the Bucs are offering. Unless he gets an insane offer I think the Bucs would be wise to keep Smith around since as it’s been said, you can never have too many pass rushers. If Smith can just stay healthy, and it’s a big if, he can sneak into being a double digit sack guy – and if that happens he’s the best value in all of football.
March 7th, 2017 at 3:05 pm
I hope we can get a full season of Jack Smith!
March 7th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Whether you are right or wrong Dallas it’s about to change. The fingerprint of Lovie will soon be gone and Licht will have to shoulder the burden of his moves. I think for the most part Licht has made good moves. Either way you can’t argue we are in better shape now than we have been in many seasons. If J Smith can stay healthy and plays up to his potential we are a much better team. Fingers crossed it works out and two fingers crossed for Sweezy. With a little luck this offseason we could become a really good team.
March 7th, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Gotta grade GMs on a scale vs other GMs. It’s the only objective way to do it
Easy to point out failures for every GM when it comes to both draft & FA. The key is how many failures to successes vs other GMs. Light is at worst an average GM in that regard; while Dominik was probably bottom 5 or at best a bottom 1/3 GM
March 7th, 2017 at 3:24 pm
Confused on Jack’s Tweet today on the issue. Can anyone decipher it? It’s a smiley face with a zipper across the mouth..
March 7th, 2017 at 3:25 pm
Health in the NFL is largely luck. Is JJ Watt any less great because he finally had an injury plagued season last year? Was it his fault?
It’s a rough sport and guys get hurt and a lot of the time it is simple luck. We have had a rough run of injury luck and I refuse to believe it’s because of our practice habits or our training staff…as Jeff…er Forrest Gump once said…”sht happens”. We’re due for a good run. Let’s hope it’s this year. If Sweezy and Jack Smith returned to their potential this team would instantly get significantly better!
March 7th, 2017 at 3:58 pm
@StPete- Right or wrong you get labeled “soft” if injured more than once.
March 7th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
gets way too hurt and gets murdered on the run. Great situational guy though.
March 7th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Smith, Spence (Noah obviously), Ayers and GMC on passing downs with legit pass rushing threats at linebacker in Alexander and David also…Imagine the possibilities.
March 7th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
Jac Smith is too unreliable to get excited about.
March 7th, 2017 at 6:03 pm
more excited for this year than in a decade that D looked as good the 2nd half of the season as it did in at least that long.
March 7th, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Hope he can stay healthy. I would love to see what he could do in a full 16 game season. I had hopes he would be our first 10 sack guy last season. Get healthy and stay that way, Mr. Smith!
March 7th, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Hopefully we can keep him, I did read on a Cowboys article that they should target Smith because of the cheap price. He also was in Dallas just the other day.
March 7th, 2017 at 9:47 pm
We need to put him on the field for one job and one job only. Get to the damn quarterback. Period. That’s what he does. Add Poe and draft a DR and watch out boys and girls.
March 8th, 2017 at 3:26 am
WTAN-1340 am is a hidden gem on Saturdays from 3-5pm for good Tampa sports radio. I listen on 106.1 fm. You can listen at tantalk1340.com if you are not in Clearwater or Tampa. The show is called the sports web. Very entertaining and funny.
March 8th, 2017 at 4:54 am
NJBucsfan: you still holding on to them balls. Let it go and concentrate on BUILDING A WALL ….But not in Mexico …dumb a$$!!