Free Agency Countdown: 30 Days
February 12th, 2018
What a glorious time of year this is. The season of hope is in full swing with the free agency dinner bell just a mere 30 days away.
Teams can even start negotiating with unrestricted free agents on other rosters in just 28 days.
New Buccaneers are forthcoming. Thank the football heavens. The Bucs need a serious injection of change.
This post kicks off Joe’s 30-day countdown to unrestricted free agency. There will be one post a day, at least, on possibilities for the Bucs. And, of course, you can go back and read the mountain Joe already has written about possible 2018 targets and free agency happenings.
Of course, first comes the Bucs making decisions on their own free agents, key guys like cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Robert McClain (three interceptions and plenty of versatility), as well as bong-friendly safety T.J. Ward. And practice-unfriendly Chris Baker could become a free agent if the Bucs do the smart thing and cut him within the next 30 days.
There are others on defense, too, such as good-guy, Schiano-era safety Keith Tandy and defensive tackle Clinton McDonald (five sacks).
What do the Bucs do with restricted free agents and key contributors Adam Humphries and Cameron Brate? Plus Charles Sims will be unrestricted along with offensive linemen Kevin Pamphile and Evans Smith, among others.
For now, you can find just about everything Joe has written on 2018 free agency linked right here, neatly organized to get you up to speed.
February 12th, 2018 at 4:51 pm
I get the rules and enforcement but forgive me if I’m a little skeptical.
I suspect that “negotiating” is already underway. Whether it’s GMC at the Pro Bowl or other contacts through “intermediaries” I suspect teams and players are already starting their “romance” period. Of course NOTHING in public…but behind the scenes….I just don’t know.
February 12th, 2018 at 5:00 pm
Brent Grimes – he’s gone man.
Robert McClain – cut
T.J. Ward. – cut
Chris Baker – sign
Keith Tandy – sign
Clinton McDonald (five sacks).- sign and put a C on his chest
Adam Humphries – meh sign I guess or trade.
Cameron Brate – sign
Charles Sims – cut
Kevin Pamphile – meh sign I guess
Evans Smith – cut
Luv what say you?
February 12th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
I don’t see anything in this free agency class to get excited over. I see a bunch of mediocre players. Players that teams can’t wait to unload. Demarcus Lawrence is the cream of the crop, I doubt Dallas let him walk.
February 12th, 2018 at 5:21 pm
Why would anyone be the least bit excited about free agency given this team’s track record of late…..?????
February 12th, 2018 at 5:24 pm
I really don’t give a crap what this team does anymore. Yeah I want them to win and will watch the games but hope? No, there is no hope. The fact that the coaching staff has only been altered by firing the best coach on the staff and keeping the worst is all I need to know that this team will continue to miss the playoffs
February 12th, 2018 at 5:25 pm
lol Tom Edrington, that’s true
February 12th, 2018 at 5:25 pm
@Lakeland…I agree…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
February 12th, 2018 at 5:31 pm
DB55…Keep Baker? Hell no!
February 12th, 2018 at 5:34 pm
We need help in all areas of the team except LB….
….No one wants to talk about the Elephant in the room…..aka Jameis. …America’s Turn Over Machine. …. (ATM)
…..what if he goes down again or start sucking again???? We need a good backup QB that can win games too
February 12th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Joe, instead of cutting Baker, why not trade him? What about Martin? He could get us a 7th round pick. Maybe even trade Humphries since jameis always forces the ball to evans
No team is going to take on their salaries when they could get the same production from a CFL player.–Joe
February 12th, 2018 at 5:36 pm
Might I suggest this list:
John Abraham
Dwight Freeney
Julius Peppers
Simeon Rice
Howie Long
Carl Eller
Tmaxcon
February 12th, 2018 at 5:46 pm
I don’t know about LUV DB but when you said “Baker – Sign” I spit my beer everywhere. When did you start smoking crack bro?
February 12th, 2018 at 5:47 pm
LOL TBBF…….I see what you did there.
February 12th, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Hahahaha TBBF!!!
February 12th, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Hey………..at least Maxipad made TBBF’s list.
February 12th, 2018 at 6:20 pm
Baker can go pound sand up his well-inflated hind end.
February 12th, 2018 at 6:29 pm
Unfortunately for us bucs fans free agency is the most exciting time of year. Maybe this year they will raise their level of expectations and actually do something besides talking. Guess we have to have quiet expectations, wouldn’t want to make anyone in the front office cringe about being expected to win games convincingly or at least win consistently
February 12th, 2018 at 6:47 pm
SB
Fun fact Baker had his worse year last year since 2013. He’s not a bad player he’s just on a bad team and doesn’t have anyone around him to help.
February 12th, 2018 at 6:58 pm
Want to see us resign Grimes, McClain, Brate, Hump, Sims, Pamphile, Evan Smith, McDonald and give Sweezy one more year and bring back Fitz
I won’t mind seeing Baker get retained because the only way that happens is if we go to 3-4 base.
Let Ward, Tandy, Russel, and Martin go. Trade DJax if you can get good value.
February 12th, 2018 at 7:05 pm
Trade DJax for Bennett. Yes or no?
February 12th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
Yayyy lets get ready to over pay for players that will forget how to play when they sign here.
I’m so excited for 6-10 next year.
Nothing to be hopeful about. This is why all you fans get so bent outta shape because you get all excited for the team and then they go out and suck.
Hope you all are prepared for a terrible 2018 season.
February 12th, 2018 at 7:20 pm
Even if the Bucs are able to have a A+ Free Agency, and have a A+ 2018 NFL Draft, it’ll be blind to my eyes. I and many others bought a seat into the 11-5 train last year and we as Bucs Fans were given a polar opposite 5-11 season. The main point of this comment is that there’s nothing the Bucs can do to generate any serious expectations this season. It’s probably gonna be a long time till Opening Day in September this year.
February 12th, 2018 at 7:32 pm
Univeristy your right, until they turn it on and play really.good football nobody is buying the b.s anymore
February 12th, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Joe a quick reminder… just how you celebrate the count down to free agency remember Brent Grimes hasn’t been sign along with Humphries and not to mention the cut the DLine coordinator alot faster than Doug Martin which reminds me is still.on the roster.
February 12th, 2018 at 7:46 pm
I have never been this underwhelmed to be this disappointed….
February 12th, 2018 at 7:51 pm
If anyone gets excited over this team and hype and knows the team history. That let down is what you brought on yourself. Never believe any hype about this team. It is and always will be a show me team.
February 12th, 2018 at 8:02 pm
JimmyJack F#CK Bennett!!
February 12th, 2018 at 8:02 pm
Wow i hopen the Bucs front office reads this site as if these comments don’t piss them off then nothing will.
February 12th, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Ahhh you guys are just still bitter about the letdown of 2017.
We got some nice pieces on this team. We got the talent to play they just come on flat too often. I’m not sure if they can find the answer this offseason but when this team gets it’s youll know when you see it.
No reason to bury them before their dead. Haven’t us Buc fans been through enough losing to know how to handle it?
At some point you’ll be ready and excited to see how this team can perform. No use dwelling on a losing season, teams can get turned around fast in this league and if they didn’t think this FO was the answer they would be long gone. The track record provokes at least that much.
February 12th, 2018 at 8:08 pm
ZK…..Bennett makes plays. You can’t say that for any end on our roster. Why exactly wouldn’t you want a playmaker at our worst position?
February 12th, 2018 at 8:15 pm
The funniest thing to me is last year at this time you guys were gushing and falling all over yourselves about how good we were and how we were set to contend for decades and talking about fictional Super Bowls.
Not all but some of y’all can’t handle a losing season and you can’t handle a winning one either.
Last year we were Super Bowl winner now we are a dumpster fire hahahahaha. The truth probably lies right in the meaty middle and if we have a good offseason and this staff has a clue we will probably look much improved.
February 12th, 2018 at 8:17 pm
If we make bad decisions this offseason and this staff don’t know what their doing we get a new staff in. But at least in that scenario we have a decent young core that could be turned around quickly with the right decision makers at the top.
February 12th, 2018 at 8:29 pm
A blind man can rebuild this secondary with three pro bowl caliber corners for about 17 mil and have Hardgraves as 4 or 5
Maybe cheaper as lil as 13 mil but Licht will sign one and play some dumb ass gambling game that he alway does with a position or two , put another 15 mil in the d line and bam you have a top ten D
There will be crazy great opportunity to do this and yes I would be willing to dump a six and seventh round pick if I can identify two players that fit better than others ………… Carlos Hyde is a no brainer at 6 or 7 mil, he is better than Martin ever was and he can catch a football
February 12th, 2018 at 8:34 pm
FLATboyant leaders like GMC needs to be reconsidered. Along with:
Baker
Ayers
Bond
Grimes
Conte
Ward and his wit’s ends
Tandy
Djx
Esmith
Sweezy
Jrogers
Dm
Ryan smith
Fitzpatrick
All these players need the boot.
Rebuild and put up some serious talent. With that money after cutting them get a 8 man rotation on dline with decent talent. Not a 6 time pro bowl player who can’t hold his own and need to break the bank even more to get special talent to help GMC. GMC needs “special elite players” around him. GMC has proven he can’t do it with proven talents like Baker,Ayers, Michael Johnson or drafting a whole line Clayborn, Price, and Bowers. But it’s a sin not getting him talent tho?????
So let’s approach free agency different and do things like other successful teams do. At worst u send a message to your players and fan base that wins matter. Pat’s dont OVERVALUE players outside Brady. And Brady almost got traded which looks like it should of happened. 8 Superbowls.
But I expect the same ol Bucs. Just get new players around the same players for same results. No playoffs
February 12th, 2018 at 8:48 pm
Lamarcus…..Thats a bit much. What is wrong with Fitzpatrick, Conte, Grimes, E. Smith, R. Smith?
The others I could see you make a case for but I think your taking it overboard.
Agreed GMC is not capable of leadin* this team and not replacing him with a true leader has been a big wife for this team since he got here.
February 12th, 2018 at 8:50 pm
Wiff***
February 12th, 2018 at 9:02 pm
That my free agency fantasy only. U can’t take me serious cuz reality says it’s not gonna happen. I’m just a die hard fan and when I play GM those said players would be gone. I will be on a mission to aquire a “Bad ass team” every year until I get it. For every Bucs fan.
Build a winner please.
February 12th, 2018 at 9:05 pm
If it takes cutting star players so be it. Look at me13. I don’t think he resigns after 5th year. U will lose franchise players with this same route. Makes sense why me13 falls after catches. He is not sacrificing his body for the team.
February 12th, 2018 at 9:10 pm
DB55
Why would we keep cancerous, lazy, loudmouth Chris Baker and cut TJ Ward who was a key member of the dominant Broncos Super Bowl Defense not too long ago? Chris Baker sucks.
February 12th, 2018 at 9:23 pm
I don’t get the Conte haters that guy had a very solid year and made some big hits and tackles .
February 12th, 2018 at 9:59 pm
Conte is garbage. He gets trucked every game
February 12th, 2018 at 10:00 pm
Tbbucs
The baker answer is up top addressed to SB. As for Ward if he was still good he would have taken Contes job but he didn’t and from what I saw he kinda sucked last yr.
February 12th, 2018 at 10:52 pm
Brent Grimes – SIGN give him a hell of an offer
Robert McClain – SIGN
T.J. Ward. – cut
Chris Baker – sign
Keith Tandy – sign for modest amount.
Clinton McDonald (five sacks).- sign
Adam Humphries – sign
Cameron Brate – sign
Charles Sims – sign
Kevin Pamphile – sign
Evans Smith – sign for depth
February 12th, 2018 at 10:55 pm
oh crap, I meant cut Baker
February 13th, 2018 at 2:11 am
Gholston has zero sacks with his big payday but cut the half a sack Baker and Couple of sacks Ayers? Out Only returning D-linemen should be Spence McCoy and McDonald.
February 13th, 2018 at 2:12 am
Our only*
February 13th, 2018 at 4:33 am
Trumaine Johnson the cream of the crop
February 13th, 2018 at 6:24 am
we can only hope we have a quiet free agency. Majority of free agents under licht regime have been a huge bust.
February 13th, 2018 at 7:36 am
Conte is good in coverage however his run fits are suspect. Watching the all 22 he follows the LBs into the primary hole often. Seems fixable but this guy is a vet. Might be just who he is. So many times I would just be like, “can’t he see Alexander (or Beckwith) in that gap. But so many times, he just followed right into it. This was Sabby’s downfall
February 13th, 2018 at 7:37 am
But.. there is a place for Conte on this team. Solid depth Safety.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
I really wish you people would get off GMC. I have an 85 year old, blind grandfather that can see McCoy is nowhere near being an issue for this team. I’m glad you idiots don’t run this team. “Easiest path to a super bowl is to cut your best players” is something that no one with any intelligence has ever said. Find someone else (baker, ward, etc.) To complain about. Please.
February 13th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
AGbuc
This team can barely win 5 games much less go to the SB. And we’re the idiots okay bro lmao