Michael Johnson All But Delivered?

March 11th, 2014
NFL insiders believe this is your newest Bucs edge rusher.

NFL insiders believe this is your newest Bucs edge rusher.

Could the Bucs be on their way to finally having an edge rusher who can breathe on an opposing quarterback? Strong rumors have only gotten hotter that the Bucs and Bengals free agent defensive end Michael Johnson’s aren’t just dancing, but are about to consummate their relationship in an intimate way.

What was strongly hinted as two sides having mutual goals, it seems Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports is putting aside the “rumors” and “sources” route and is telling Bucs fans they will hear an announcement later today that the Bucs do have their stud defensive end.

@JasonLaCanfora: When the Michael Johnson signing with the Bucs becomes official, I hear the deal will average $8.5M/year with around $24M guaranteed

Well, this will be one way to quell the outrage Bucs fans have that their team is doing their best to throw all-world cornerback into the nearest retention pond. Johnson better damn well be putting quarterbacks on the ground. Or, without Revis, Joe hopes Bucs fans have plenty of liquor available because here comes the 2012 sieve of a secondary again.

42 Responses to “Michael Johnson All But Delivered?”

  1. Bucfan40 Says:

    So half the Revis money is gone. Can’t wait to see Dexter McCluster and Josh McCown fill up the rest. Crown us!!!!!

  2. Mazz Says:

    I love the signing if it goes down. Michael Johnson is a guy who alaways can disrupt the QB and bat passes down. I would love this signing more if Revis stays. Today is tainted

  3. bucrightoff Says:

    Honestly at $8.5 million a year I’d much rather have Bennett. Johnson reads as much the same player, decent pass rusher (the stats with Geno Atkins are mighty frightening though), better against the run.

  4. bucrightoff Says:

    I mean stats without. As in he doesn’t have more than 6 sacks in any season without playing with Geno. Not that great obviously.

  5. Snook Says:

    Can’t we just move Revis to DE?

  6. Glennon Mob Says:

    FINALLYYYY getting players at potions that matter.

  7. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Joe says
    “Could the Bucs be on their way to finally having an edge rusher who can breathe on an opposing quarterback?”

    “Bucs fans they will hear an announcement later today that the Bucs do have their stud defensive end.”

    Based on what? His one good year two years ago? Or his 4 other years with less than 4 sacks each? Or his one year with 5.5 sacks?

    The man had one good year with a good line and could not manage to repeat it. I am NOT sold on Johnson being a “stud” at all. I do think he’s better than Bowers, but not better than Clayborn.

    Compare their first 3 years and Clayborn comes out ahead by one sack. And Clayborn missed 13 games, so if he had played them he would blow Johnson away.

    Clayborn is on the verge of taking a leap. Tampa fans have given up on him just like they did with McCoy.

  8. biff barker Says:

    So are we trying to trade Clayborn now?

  9. Left_Coast_Bucs_Fan Says:

    How is a guy that only had 3.5 sacks last year considered an edge rusher improvement when he was only the 5th best sacker on his own team?!?

    Ugh, using this signing as a measuring stick, mediocrity seems to be the theme of the new regime.

  10. biff barker Says:

    Clayborn on the “verge of taking a leap?”

    Off the Skyway maybe.

  11. Fan Since '76 Says:

    If they cut Revis Wednesday it’ll be because they don’t want to pay him the $1.5million roster bonus (or whatever it is). If they reach a deal that gives us some picks then fine, whatever. But if they don’t then pay him the bonus and keep working it until draft time. No reason to cut him now except to save money.

  12. Left_Coast_Bucs_Fan Says:

    What’s next? Oh yeah, that’s right, McCown for QB. Ugh, Ugh

  13. Hank Says:

    It’s a start…. Give me him, McCown, Tillman & a OLineman and it would be a nice day.

  14. Harry Says:

    We are going to dump an All Pro/All World potential future HOFer and get an average DE. Great moves so far…

  15. 1bucfan88 Says:

    If he pans out, great. But color me skeptical bc the guy only had double digit sacks in a contract year. A former 3rd round pick waiting for his 1st big multi-year deal, who’s basically built his reputation off his physical talent and spotty production? Sounds like one heck of a gamble to this poster.

  16. biff barker Says:

    Can’t rule out a QB draft just yet. Looks like the OL and DL may be stocked with FA talent.

  17. Orlandobucfan Says:

    Joe
    What are the chances the bucs can still get jared Allen?

  18. He Can't be 93.. Says:

    So what number will he be?! BIG QUESTIONS

  19. Barry Says:

    Nice

  20. Brandon Says:

    Anybody comparing Bennett to Johnson doesn’t get it. One is a LDE and the other a RDE. The RDE is one of the motors that make the T-2 go (the others being the 3-tech, Will LB, Mike LB, and SS). Michael Johnson has freakish ability. His ability to explode and turn the corner is among the best in the league, and considering he’s 6’7 and over 270 lbs, he’s not tiny either (38+ inch vertical jump too).

    Johnson is the perfect fit for the Bucs defense. I stated months ago that he would be my number one target in free agency, even over Greg Hardy (who plays with more power but less speed).

    The T-2 is predicated on getting the RDE to run the arc and force the QB to step up into the pressure that should be created by 3 technique (McCoy). That’s how it works. The RDE keeps the QB in the pocket, the under tackle collapses the pocket, wash, rinse, repeat. If we get Johnson, then we get the absolute best addition to our team that was available.

  21. Architek Says:

    I love this signing – I say will still sign another DE.

  22. bucrightoff Says:

    Signing McCown would be one of the most confusing signings ever. McCown is a guy who, at 34, you sign as a win-now move. The Bucs cut Revis, the exact opposite of a win-now move. It’d be sending mixed messages if nothing else.

  23. Barry Says:

    McCown is a below avg NFL QB. Sign him and pay him backup money only.

  24. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Contract isn’t so bad. No bidding war. Lovie being here probably attributed to that.

    Good take on Justin’s show.

    Word is they plan on rotating Johnson and Clayborn from side to side, as both can play both left and right.

  25. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Brandon Says
    “Anybody comparing Bennett to Johnson doesn’t get it. One is a LDE and the other a RDE.”

    Actually, Michael Johnson plays both sides.

  26. ManzielMadness Says:

    Rumored that the deal is “a five-year contract worth $43.75 million with $24 million in guaranteed money” from ESPN reporter Josina Anderson.

  27. deminion Says:

    Atkins got injured that’s Wht his prod dropped

  28. kh Says:

    A quarter of the NFL chase Michael Johnson, Bucs need DE and land him, Bucs fans complain. Good to know we have so many scouts in the comments section that base their entire opinion on his sacks alone. For god sakes, we complain we dont have a 10+ sack guy and haven’t for years and now we have one we complain it wasn’t last year. Nevermind the posts from others showing he was near the top of the NFL on QB hurries and knockdowns, etc., only look at one stat to form your opinion people!

  29. bucrightoff Says:

    kh Says:
    March 11th, 2014 at 11:15 am
    A quarter of the NFL chase Michael Johnson, Bucs need DE and land him, Bucs fans complain. Good to know we have so many scouts in the comments section that base their entire opinion on his sacks alone. For god sakes, we complain we dont have a 10+ sack guy and haven’t for years and now we have one we complain it wasn’t last year. Nevermind the posts from others showing he was near the top of the NFL on QB hurries and knockdowns, etc., only look at one stat to form your opinion people!
    _______________________________________________________________

    He has 1 above 10 sack season and four sub-6 sack seasons. Excuse some of us for not assuming we just got an elite pass rusher. We got a solid pass rusher as far as we can tell. But someone already pointed it out that Adrian Clayborn’s first three season are better than Johnson’s. It’s not some massive signing, we got a potentially good pass rusher, nothing more, nothing less.

  30. cbell96825 Says:

    How can anyone be mad at this deal its not your money stop crying. We needed a pass rusher so we went and got one. Its free agency teams overpay or have you just started watching football? @ 1bucfan88

  31. Bucsfanman Says:

    Physically, he does remind me of Simeon. Production-wise no comparison. It’s an interesting signing. I hope it pans out because if/when they let go of Revis, somebody had better be putting QBs in the ground.
    Welcome to Tampa Bay Michael!(theoretically!)

  32. lightningbuc Says:

    This isn’t official until his jersey is for sale on buccaneers.com.

  33. ander Says:

    overpaying for this guy smhh i dont wanna be negative but wow this guy is not even great. and after we this we will release revis to pick up some average players. im not happy with this moves at all, this years free agency is so weak is not even worth overpaying for none of these guys

  34. Broy3434 Says:

    A. He might as well be wearing the alarm clock uni. He’s signed. Now secondly, if u complain about this sign seriously to root for New England. This guy is graded as an A free agent by Polian and considered the top defensive free agent on NFL network. Stop trolling and leave. Come back when they use what they get for Revis to grab Bridgewater

  35. Broy3434 Says:

    Go root **

  36. kh Says:

    He has one more 10+ sack season then anyone on the Bucs roster has had in the last 5 years.

    The pass rush numbers dropped in 2013 (3.5 sacks), but it’€™s also important to note that he had 40 quarterback hurries and 16 quarterback hits in 2013 and was tied for the NFL league in batted passes.

    Its nonsensical to view pressure through sacks alone.

  37. Richard Says:

    Anybody comparing him to Bennett ignores the fact that Bennett wasn’t coming back here.

  38. Jason Says:

    Putting him next to McCoy will be ridiculous. These guys dont play in a vacuum..

  39. bucrightoff Says:

    Richard, we know. Its just with some foresight, the Bucs could (and should_ have signed Bennett last year. I betcha they could have done so for 6 years and $40 million. Horrific decision to let him go, just like it will be to let Revis go

  40. Berdj Joseph Rassam Says:

    In his 5 seasons in the NFL, Michael Johnson has averaged 5+ sacks a season – I don’t know about you, but that is not a “stud” DE.

  41. BoJim Says:

    bucrightoff Said:

    “Its just with some foresight, the Bucs could (and should_ have signed Bennett last year. I betcha they could have done so for 6 years and $40 million.”

    HE’S GONE FOREVER. OK?

  42. Ian P. Says:

    The question is: Are they still going to target Clowney, Mack, or Barr in the draft or does this free them up to choose the best available QB?
    Most analysts had us taking Mack or Barr.