Defensive End Market Stabilizing
March 10th, 2014
Word from Seattle media says former Bucs sackmaster turned Seahawks sacks leader Michael Bennett served his team up a hometown discount.
Bennett’s contract is said to be for $28.5 million over four seasons, with $16 million guaranteed. That’s good news for the Bucs, especially after the Vikings served up bigger cash for production-challenged Everson Griffen.
NBC Sports reported Bennett had two larger offers but chose to stay put. (Damn, and to think the Bucs could have had Bennett this time last year for at least 20 percent less.)
Could free agent defensive end Jared Allen or Michael Johnson, the two remaining premier targets, really expect to see more cash than the versatile, young, proven Bennett? Joe doesn’t think so. There could always be a bidding war, but Joe suspects $8.5 million a season is the likely ceiling.
That’s good news. Joe was concerned the Bucs might have to shell out $10 million to get the proven edge rusher Lovie Smith says he needs ASAP.
Of course, there’s no guarantee the Bucs get what they want, but Joe still sees Tampa as a perfect fit for Allen, if not the Bucs. Allen, like any player, wants to get in the Hall of Fame. And finishing his stellar career alongside Gerald McCoy in a system that will value and feature him has to be ideal.
Allen isn’t perfect, but he should have a couple of good years left. And that’s about how much time Lovie has to get the Bucs in the playoffs.
March 10th, 2014 at 6:39 pm
I AM PUMPED FOR TOMORROW lol
Can’t wait to see who we being in.
March 10th, 2014 at 6:42 pm
that picture of Lovie always reminds me of the Neil Tyson Degrasse meme
http://www.troll.me/images/asdasdasdasdasdasd/watch-out-guys-we-got-a-badass-over-here.jpg
March 10th, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Me too Pr Buc.
So here’s an idea Joe. I like the way you think and I like the way Lovie thinks.
You can never have too many defensive ends. Let’s get Johnson and Jared and immediately vault our d line to one of the best.
I’m not a member of the Glennon mob. But folks who think Lovie is going to win with a flashy offense are probably going to be disappointed. At least NOT until the team has a championship caliber defense.
March 10th, 2014 at 6:53 pm
Jared’s not coming here. He’s been pretty specific on wanting to play for a contender, and although like every year we all have high hopes for our bucs….I think he’ll probably end up somewhere else. Look, Joe isn’t saying Allen will come here, but “contender” is defined a lot of different ways. Don’t believe everything you hear. And on NFL Radio last week, Allen was clear that he’s not pigeonholing himself. –Joe
With that said, I would rather see us draft some pass rushers rather than over pay for someone who has potential. Now all this talk of trading Revis….maybe we get a pass rusher that way, who knows. I’m willing to bet we get a new offensive weapon and some Offensive linemen tomorrow before we get a pass rusher. What real proven pass rushers are going to come here without demanding more than seattle gave bennett???
March 10th, 2014 at 6:53 pm
There have been NO rumors of Allen coming here. It’s all been about Michael Johnson. Allen wants a legit contender, which, even the most optimistic fan would have to grant, is a stretch for the Bucs this year.
March 10th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
This is excellent news for the Bucs!
March 10th, 2014 at 7:09 pm
I hate to break it to people, but Clayborn is better than Johnson. Just compare their first 3 years, which is all Clayborn has been in the league.
Lovie will want to work with Clayborn.
Allen would be good, or if Johnson plays opposite Clayborn.
Don’t expect a replacement for Spence either.
March 10th, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Hypothetical: do you think that if the Bucs had re-signed Michael Bennett that he’d have been enough to put them over the top in a couple of really close games at the beginning of the season that they lost, changing the record from 4-12 to 6-10. In that event, would Schiano and Rock Star have gotten fired?
Maybe losing Michael Bennett was something that needed to happen in a karmic sense to get rid of the dictator.
March 10th, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Jared Allen has said hours before you posted this he wasn’t coming to Tampa… No, actually, that’s a rumor on the Internet. Big difference. –Joe
March 10th, 2014 at 7:32 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
March 10th, 2014 at 7:09 pm
I hate to break it to people, but Clayborn is better than Johnson. Just compare their first 3 years, which is all Clayborn has been in the league.
Lovie will want to work with Clayborn.
Allen would be good, or if Johnson plays opposite Clayborn.
Don’t expect a replacement for Spence either.
+++++++++++++
Yeah, you’re out of your mind. Clayborn is a prototype LDE that can only play RDE. He lacks burst, can’t run the arc, and can’t get to the QB. Newsflash! Jared Allen can’t/won’t play the run, never has…he’s getting long in the tooth and his best days are behind him.
The Bucs need a dominant force at RDE, a guy that can explode off the ball, run the arc, and get to the QB. Clayborn is a bull-rushing handfighter, that DOES NOT fit with the T-2 that requires the RDE to line up in wide 9 most of the time, run the arc and force the QB to step up into the pocket into the interior rush. Clayborn CAN’T do that…never could. His get-off was never very good and he was a wasted draft pick from day 1. His best fit would be as a RDE in the 3-4.
March 10th, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Mccluster and Johnson will be be BUCS tommorow this time, but I sure would love #69 in Tampa
March 10th, 2014 at 8:22 pm
me too PR, would love to see a slot receiver or DE. Then hopefully in May Christmas comes again and Santa brings us a real franchise QB
March 10th, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Well said Brandon…. And what’s with the McCluster talk? Return man? They already resigned Rainey.
March 10th, 2014 at 8:34 pm
Hey Joe, What are the chances Lovie brings in Peppers? Lovie should know better than anyone what Peppers does or doesn’t have left in the tank and the bears are shopping him.
March 10th, 2014 at 8:35 pm
We need to move up in the draft.. and draft clowney.. none of those defensive ends have speed.. we need speed or it will be cam newton running by all our players all over again.. lovieeven said we need more speed.. its the only soultion this year..
March 10th, 2014 at 8:36 pm
It would be nice for Allen to come here I just don’t think it will happen. I am very interested to see the same line that finished the year as starters performing with real coaches. I do think we need some more bodies in here for pass rush….but not over paying someone that is no more talented than who we already have on the cheap. Like I said a while back, it’s hard for Claiborne to get sacks when he’s covering rbi’s in coverage and when Schaino has got them all dancing around like the nutcracker christmas play. I think they use draft picks on pass rushers and get some OL’s and Dexter McCluster tomorrow. We’ll see why happens.
March 10th, 2014 at 8:36 pm
Highly doubt Allen signs with the Bucs. Sure it would be great but he wants a superbowl. Bucs are not likely to be in the mix anytime soon. Michael Johnson is probably the better bet to wear pweter and ummm, whatever the new Bucs colors are supposed to be these days
March 10th, 2014 at 8:49 pm
I like Bennett but can you really call him a “sack master”?
March 10th, 2014 at 8:58 pm
Johnson > Allen (at this point in their respective careers)