What Kind Of Teammate Is Alterraun Verner?
April 23rd, 2014
New Bucs Pro Bowl, big-money cornerback Alterraun Verner spent his first four seasons in Tennessee, and Joe, like many Bucs fans, doesn’t watch much Titans football.
So yesterday Joe set out to ask new Bucs wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins (a three-year teammate of Verner) just what Verner is like to play with. The “S” word came out, as it usually does when you talk to those familiar with Verner.
“Verner, man, smart guy,” Hawkins said. “Very athletic. Patient. He’s smart. Verner picks up on like any little thing that you do. The things that we tried to hide in practice [in Tennessee] Verner would pick up on. You know he’s definitely a competitive, smart guy. Great teammate, just a guy you could always come to as a receiver to learn from. To aks him, “Verner, how did you pick that off. Explain what you did?” A great all-around, approachable guy.”
Perhaps Verner’s smarts are why Bucs cornerbacks coach was teaching Verner so passionately yesterday on Day 1 of practice?
Maybe it was also to show the other cornerbacks that everyone, even Pro Bowlers, will be taught and held to the highest standards?? (If you missed Joe’s look at Verner getting coached up yesterday, you can click here.)
April 23rd, 2014 at 8:38 am
Steal of the offseason.
April 23rd, 2014 at 9:15 am
We know Verner can play. Banks and Jenkins too. My question is whether Melvin, Carr and Gorer can show something.
April 23rd, 2014 at 9:19 am
I agree he’s a steal. I like other Bucs fan didn’t watch him, but I watch enough football to hear his name again and again as an up and coming CB. When we got him I knew we got somebody good because his name was often talked about with the best CB’s in the league. He hasn’t been in the league that long, so again we got younger and better. Him and J.Banks should be a good tandem with the other CB’s we got. We still need more, but were getting better.
April 23rd, 2014 at 9:43 am
Hmm, he says the ‘S’ word but then never says what that word is… Lots of words start with ‘S’…
I think there can only be ONE word for this situation however… it HAS to be Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious! Alterraun Verner IS Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious!!!
Pretty clear that the “S” word is “Smart.”–Joe
April 23rd, 2014 at 10:03 am
“To aks him…”
That’s GOTTA be a typo, right Joe?
April 23rd, 2014 at 11:02 am
Not necessarily, “aks” is in the American urban vernacular. In place of the word “ask”. Ii can be used in a sentence. “Bruh, I need ta aks you sumpin.”
April 23rd, 2014 at 11:16 am
He’s going to be heavily scrutinized because he’s replacing a HOF’er. If he’s as good as advertised, we’ll be in good shape.
April 23rd, 2014 at 11:23 am
Thomas is obviously not associated with the “S” word today.
April 23rd, 2014 at 11:52 am
He’s better than the post-acl version of Revis and much less expensive.
April 23rd, 2014 at 11:57 am
@Brandon LOL!
April 23rd, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Aks him if he uses Ask Body Spray.
April 23rd, 2014 at 1:33 pm
I hope the S word is not SLOW
April 23rd, 2014 at 2:10 pm
@Brandon: Thanks, Captain Obvious.
Most publications, JBF included, typically “clean up” interviews when transcribing them for publication.
So, which is it, Joe? Were you merely being faithful to what was said, or did you start with the Bushmills early today?
April 23rd, 2014 at 4:49 pm
It would be great if Verner ends up being a consistent pro bowl corner year in year out. Then it would make getting rid of Revis look BRILLIANT!!!!! To me it already does
April 23rd, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Majored in Math at UCLA!! SMART!
April 23rd, 2014 at 7:54 pm
Remember when he said in his introductory press conference that hewanted to be paid well but not too much money so that we can sign more great playerz. Man, when i heard thatvi iimmediately became a fan. Looking at the other FA CBs’ contracts, did we get a deal or what? I figured Verner would get 9-10m per. We rented Revis to coach up Jonathan Banks and if weren’t for his enormous salary soaking up our cap last year we would have all that money tied up in mid level overpaid players. It all worked out. Banks will thrive in this defense.
Im psyched. This is going to be an entertaining team.