“Not Really Looking Forward To That”
September 16th, 2014
The Bucs had — and still have — plenty of money under the 2014 salary cap available.
But one of Lovie Smith’s favorite NFL players, a guy he doesn’t want to face Thursday in Atlanta, plays for the Falcons.
Legendary Bears returner Devin Hester signed a three-year, $9 million deal with the Falcons in free agency this past offseason.
Lovie talked about facing Hester with the Atlanta media today, via the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He’s not eager to do it.
Q: How strange will it be for you facing Devin Hester?
A: I’m not really looking forward to that in one sense. I went and worked out Devin Hester at the University of Miami personally. I knew what we were going to get from him. He’s a lifetime friend. I feel like he’s going to be a part of my family forever. He’s only the greatest returner of all time. When you’re on the opposing sideline, you’re not real happy about that. It’s been great that he’s gotten an opportunity to really play wide receiver. He’s just a special player with his hands on the ball.
The Bucs not signing Hester (and not pursuing?) this offseason was somewhat surprising. Lovie clearly wasn’t sold in Eric Page, the former incumbent kick and punt returner, and Lovie always has been enamored with what Hester can do as a receiver, which drove many Bears fans nuts.
Joe figured the Bucs were stockpiling available money to restructure Gerald McCoy’s contract. But that didn’t get done.
So far in this young season, Hester has most impressed as a receiver, with six catches for 101 yards.
September 16th, 2014 at 7:28 pm
And what a surprisingly great deep threat he has been so far.
September 16th, 2014 at 8:08 pm
Weren’t we told they were going to spend all available cap money?
September 16th, 2014 at 8:41 pm
Thursday night, the Buccs finally get there time in prime time… It is unfortunate that it comes at a time they are playing at such a horrible level… That is a Bucs life these days!
September 16th, 2014 at 8:43 pm
They don’t have “plenty” of cap money. Stop it with that nonsense.
September 16th, 2014 at 8:55 pm
They have a buffer to get them through the season, not a lot more… It’s so predictable – I knew as soon as Lovie said they were going to spend all available cap money, that some morons on JBF, including the Joes, would be sitting there saying, “Well they’re still 3 million under the cap. Why aren’t they spending it?” So f*cking stupid.
September 16th, 2014 at 9:00 pm
Mudge that’s not nice. Ha lol
September 16th, 2014 at 9:19 pm
Cmon mr. sludge thats a little tough, not everybody is a football guru like you, I am sure they will not ask anything anymore you set them strait but you could school us in the matter so we could be as smart as you, “us morons on JBF, including the Joes”.
September 16th, 2014 at 9:25 pm
This isn’t football guru kind of information.
September 16th, 2014 at 9:34 pm
OK but it was just a question they asked.. I ask dumb questions sometimes, I don’t mean to piss people off when I do it.. And cc did not mean any harm..
September 16th, 2014 at 9:36 pm
So, let’s just suppose a Super Bowl contender contacts Gerald McCoy’s agent and wonders if GMAC might grow tired of getting the tar beat out of him weekly with the old Buccos, and just suppose, a real contender were to step up and offer said GMC the same or more money than said Buccaneers?
Now there’s some food for thought.
September 16th, 2014 at 10:32 pm
@mudge
Believe they have way more than $3 million but you know it all…. Smh … You hate on this site so much but yet your b!tch @$$ still comes back and complains about everything… Do us all a favor and just stfu
September 16th, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Sorry Joe for the language… But I literally said what 95% of people on here have wanted to say to that kid for awhile now…
September 16th, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Sup Joe,
BIG MISTAKE! 3 months ago I said it was a mistake to let Hester go, much less, to a division rival. 3 million a year for the best return man in the game. We needed receivers and a returner. Plus, Spc teams is just so important. I remember way back when we were good, starters used to play on spc teams. Now, I think I only see Russell Shepard out there, ha! One of many bad decisions.
September 17th, 2014 at 6:31 am
Lovie is insane, he’s a lifetime friend, he knows what a great player the guy is but you sign mcclown and not Hester so basically he’s saying his friend could go and play for a division rival because his skills aren’t worth 3 mil a year…. Whatever lovie, you know when coaches lie and say stupid things like he has that they are tanking for a high draft pick. If not they’ll have the same issue next year. Where are you gonna get a quarterback from other than drafting. Lovie is trying to lose
September 17th, 2014 at 6:48 am
Don’t know where that $3 mil number came from but they have just over $9 mil in cap space left, that’s a little more than operating expenses…
September 17th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Devin is saving his steam to run against the Bears when the Bears visit the Falcons in mid-October–stay tuned.