Mark Dominik Has Added To Players’ Distrust
June 30th, 2010
Bucs general manager Mark Dominik has always impressed Joe as a cooperative, straight-shooter kind of a guy. Unlike his predecessor who considered the fourth estate a form of the Ebola virus, Dominik was and has been always friendly and forthcoming.
That seemed to change recently when Dominik told the Bucs press corps that he would fine Donald Penn for not showing up to OTAs. Problem was Dominik had no such authority to pull off a stunt like that and, later, through a team spokesman, claimed his proclamation was nothing more than a ruse to coerce Penn into signing.
Given the already testy relationship the NFLPA has with owners, FoxSports.com columnist Alex Marvez claims Dominik’s stunt has actually hurt negotiations between the owners and the NFLPA who are bargaining for a new CBA.
We’ve had the ugliness of other players who’ve already earned millions of dollars kvetching about not making more millions. Darrelle Revis is so unhappy with his deal that the cornerback removed himself from drills to protest at recent Jets practices. Tennessee running back Chris Johnson told The Tennessean he can’t play for $550,000 this season after a 2,000-yard rushing campaign in 2009.
Revis and Mankins believe they were misled by team officials who promised new contracts. Mark Dominik went one step further. Tampa Bay’s general manager told Donald Penn the left tackle could be fined for missing minicamp if he didn’t sign his restricted free-agent tender. Dominik was fibbing, which further adds to the growing mistrust between labor and management.
Joe was disappointed to learn of Dominik’s failed ploy on several levels, including the fact that Dominik did himself no favors in a number circles by trying to con Penn’s agent as well as conning the same people he may need some day to keep his job secure.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Good Lord! Upper management lying to employees!! I’ve never heard of that before!! Next thing, you’ll be saying we can’t trust our elected officials !!
It’s too bad the Players have to deal with a bunch of immoral, unscrupulous bastards like the NFL ta make their multimillions. If they were average citizens, like us, they could work for employers you can believe in! Like Enron, Adelphia, Global communications, BP,etc! You know, companies you can trust with your lifes work and savings! I really feel for’em
June 30th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Big mistake. He was seen as a stark contrast to Allen, which was a good thing. This sets him back a bit.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:41 am
@Capt.Tim…Right on Capt! A bunch of billionaires arguing with a bunch of millionaires. This is also just some dude writing his opinion, I am sure they already mistrusted each other. It is the job of the GM to put the best team on the field for the least amount of money, if you do not think that is true you are fooling yourself. There are a couple of exceptions in Dallas and Washington, but that has not really worked out that great for either of those groups lately. Sports agents are also notoriously unscrupulous; the players are played from both sides of the fence. Hopefully the sharks all come to an agreement, so we are not without football.
That being said I wish they would just sign Penn, so we can make sure Freeman is protected by the best possible player.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:48 am
It does set him back a bit on the trust level. However, always hearing how much of a ‘good guy’ Mark is, I think it shows he’s desperate in the Penn situation. Personally, I think Penn holds the leverage and the Bucs are going to have to cave. Penn is young, proven and comes with a home town discount – that’s everything the Glazers have stated in terms of building this franchise. Literally, there is no reason NOT to sign him other than not wanting him. Right now, there is no one available even remotely close to his talents.
June 30th, 2010 at 8:50 am
As I said before Dom has been solid so far and maybe great in the drafts but outside of the Winslow Trade he has shown that he is a New GM
June 30th, 2010 at 8:58 am
When the Glazer Boys decided to fire Chucky, i believe they told Bruce Allen to do it.
Bruce could have saved his own job at the expense of his friend, but chose to refuse, knowing it would cost him his own position.
That, IMO, is strong evidence of a “stand up guy”.
Dom is in “Starke contrast”………………..(exhibit 1. “money is not an issue with this organization”).
So, who is the real “stand up guy”?
June 30th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Alot of what you say (Capt. Tim) is true. That is why I always used to guffaw when the local hayseed media made so much of Gruden not being so allegegedly honest with his players. “Oh, a boss lied to me. I’m shocked.” As for Dom’s drafts, just because the media says he has done well doesn’t make it written in stone. Until those players prove it on the field, not in the local papers, will we be able to judge Dummynick”s drafting prowness. Except for Sammie Strughter, last year’s draft hasn’t proved a thing since the jury is still out on Freeman. Let’s remember Dummynick is just a couple million short of making a complete fool of himself on the Haynesworth pursuit. The best move he has made so far is stealing a number 2 from the Bears for Adams. If Price doesn’t pan out, then it will be a push.
June 30th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Eric,
Nice Lil fantasy you concocted there! But not a shrewd of truth. They were both fired for failure to develop young talent/depth, and horrible drafting/ coaching of young talent! A failure which resulting in average starting talent(at best!!!), and NO depth! Some of you while about “draft picks still on roster”, but I don’t see any All Pros running around Tampa stadium! When they took over this team, we had MULTIPLE All Pros every year, but they just ate up this teams talent base like Cancer! And Each of them offered ta stay and be part of the rebuilding process, if the other was fired! And in an act of Genius, both offers were declined
June 30th, 2010 at 9:41 am
I really really doubt that this was a case of Dominick fibbing in an attempt to get Donald Penn to sign. To believe that, you have to believe that Dominick didn’t think Penn’s agent was capable of looking up the rules. Plus, to blatantly lie to the media like that is asking for trouble.
My guess is… at the time Dominick said what he said, he believed it. Then later when he he found out that wasn’t correct he had a choice to make…
“should I appear to be incompetent or a liar.”… I believe he went with the lesser of two evils and chose liar. It’s not like at this point you could put that past him… he’s already admitted to being a liar.
June 30th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Eric,
Um, you don’t sit around, fantasizing about Allen and Gruden like that alot, do you? Because there are, uh, like “help Groups” that could , you know, um, meybe help you talk some of those issues out! I’m just saying, it doesn’t seem, um, natural! You know what I mean?
June 30th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Capt Tim,
I believe my version has been reported right here on JoeBucsfan.com. By at least one of the available Joes.
Pretty good source, unless i misunderstood what was said.
BTW, do you consider the Vince Lombardi trophy a “fantasy”. Im pretty sure there is film footage of that event. (along with two Division Titles and three winning seasons the last four years of Gruden/Allen).
Perhaps you can articulate the on the field successes of Dom/Rah.
Now that WOULD be pure fantasy.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:07 am
Even if Dom did not know that Penn could not be fined it does not mean he is “incompetent”. I have worked with contracts over the years, and it is impossible to know everything about a contract at the drop of a hat during an interview. The same is true for a huge document like the CBA. If he was not sure he should have not said anything until he looked it up, but this is a nit picking way of criticizing the guy. He has worked his way up through the organization, which all of the veteran GMs had to do as well.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:13 am
At some point the Buccaneers youth movement is going to be recognized as the “immature movement”. The way things have been handled over the past two years are a far cry from professional. I am starting to believe the Glazer’s simply do not care anymore. At some point a true vet in the front office needs to call out the baby like games this team is playing…. Are their even any vets on staff anymore?
June 30th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Dominik is an idiot. This proves he’s either a liar or incompetent. And the media sucked down his kool-aid hook, line and sinker.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Capt Tim, “we had MULTIPLE All Pros every year, but they just ate up this teams talent base like Cancer!” Really? Come on, now that’s shrewd! Let’s see Alstott neck injuries(Buc til retired), Lynch neck injuries(turned out he still could play in limited play w Denver), Dunn went on to more money w Atlanta(but they brought him back), Dexter Jackson(SB MVP) went on to more money w Ariz(but they brought him back), Simeon Rice shoulder injuries, Sapp blame Kiffin(Kiffin thought Bugger could replace him, HA), Keyshawn well he’s Me-shawn, Brad fizzled out, Keenan McCardel held out to his dimise, Brooks/Quarles/Barber stayed til they retired(well former forced and latter probally will retire a Buc). So is that the “cancer” that causes injuries or(and) the desire for more pay? So please let me know which players they “ate up like a cancer”?
June 30th, 2010 at 10:21 am
@eric, I remember reading the same thing. I found it pretty funny at the time that the Glazerhouse’s wanted someone else to do their dirty-work.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:26 am
@oar Lynch was let go, period. Dunn was let go, period. Sapp was let go, period. Rice was let go, period. Everyone of the guys you named was either let go due to the Glazer’s being cheap or the coaching staff not wanting dramatic players….
On the other hand the Glazer’s brought in Rice, Keyshawn, and McCardell so they did fork up the money to buy a winning team and once the team won the big game it was time to cash the checks and clean house.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:29 am
@oar So basically they made the SB team just as fast as they ate it up like cancer.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@Mauha Deeb, Dunn left in free agency in 2002. Gruden tried to get him to stay. Had he stayed he would have had a Superbowl ring.
Lynn and Sapp were let go while they still had gas in the tank (Rice never played again). Kiffin had a lot to do with those players being released. Kiffin had full control of the defense and decisions like that would not have been made without his blessings.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:41 am
@Louie Dunn was let go because they didn’t want to pay. Rice still had gas in the tank for the Bucs but we didn’t want to pay a drama queen(Just like Keyshawn and Sapp) I am still confused on the Lynch situation.
I do agree with the Kiffen comment, however. That man had clout beyond Dungy and Gruden.
Like I said: “they made the SB team just as fast as they ate it up like cancer”
June 30th, 2010 at 10:44 am
@Louie Rice did play for 2 more years but didn’t amount to squat without Sapp by his side.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:44 am
…plus, why would Gruden get rid of veterans??? Aren’t you kool-aid drinkers always saying Gruden liked veterans and didn’t want to develop young players? …Even though he did go with youth (Caddy, Joseph, Trueblood, Penn, Sears, Clayton and Simm among others).
June 30th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Why the “kool-aid” comment? Get back on track, Louie. Don’t change the subject in anger, partner. We are all Bucs fans here.
BTW don’t give Gruden credit for Penn. That credit goes to Dominic.
You can however give credit to Gruden for riding the Simms/Gradkowski wave into crap.
June 30th, 2010 at 10:53 am
@Mauha Deeb, my bad. Yes, he did “play” in 8 games over the next 2 years and had 1 sack and less than 10 tackles. Rice had 2 years of double-digit sacks after Sapp left, so he did amount to squat without Sapp.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:00 am
@Mauha Deeb: “kook-aid comment”? I’m not the one trying to give Dominik credit for Penn. If I were to use your logic, then McKay (or whoever scouted him) should get “credit” for Simms.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:00 am
@Louie Now you get it. Thanks for playing. Please join in next week when the stakes are doubled in the “Bucs or Die” round.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@Louie What? Dominic was very vocal about bringing Penn in. This is common knowledge. It isn’t so much about logic as it is about fact. Dominic brought Penn in from Minnesota and bragged about it before and after.
Did McKay do that about Simms?
June 30th, 2010 at 11:09 am
You know what? This has turned into something completely different from what my first post was about. I am tired of your runarounds and tired of arguing about things that are inconsequential. Have a good night, Louie. GO BUCS!!!!!!
June 30th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Captain Tim must be lost at sea………………………..catfish got your tongue?
June 30th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Dominic screwed up big time. He misspoke. Claiming he did it intentially is just covering up his mistake.
No person in there right mind would lie about what he did…. Penn has an Agent…. hs agent would do his due dilligence….. I mean it is BS that Dom purposely did this.
June 30th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Dominik is a total idiot!!! Him and Raheem are always effing up constantly!!
Not only is Dominik an idiot, but he also has no class. He treats all of his players like crap (see: Derrick Brooks, Donald Penn, etc…).
June 30th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Oh, I get it! Players move on or retire! Geez, didn’t realize that, you knotheads are friggin geniuses! See, I thought when your All Pro players started getting old, you drafted and Coached other players to take there place! I didn’t realize that you just kept wringing yer damn hands, wishing you had some players that were worth a sh**!! I thought teams hired coached and GMs to keep new talent on the field, and that fact that were have nothing meant some losers weren’t doing there damn Job! But I guess I was wrong, guess the fact that don’t have an impact player anywhere ISVs sign that the last regime was Rocking!
Buncha morons
June 30th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
@Patrick…look around the NFL. Vets are cut the same way, and there are a bunch of proven players sitting at home right now. This is not just the Bucs and Dom, it is the way of this type of big money business. Sad but true.
June 30th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Capt Tim, I’m not a mOARon! Still waiting on a real answer and/or reply? It was you who said they “we had MULTIPLE All Pros every year, but they just ate up this teams talent base like Cancer!” Hmmm, you do use the words “talent base”. I assume, that’s what is already there, correct? Your post had nothing about drafts or replacements. Besides, maybe had they not given up on the Tampa-2 last year(for Bates scheme) and lost more than 2/3 of time learning and then playing in new scheme(not to mention gaining unwarranted weight) the team might have better “all-pros”(as you say) running around this year. Meaning they lost out on real development time in the Tampa-2. Instead they must make up that time this year, but hay Raheem did said they were 3 years ahead of schedule, so go figure!
June 30th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
BTW I never said the last regime was ROCKING??? You guys crack me up. Someone doesn’t agree and you put your own words in thier mouthes/posts.
June 30th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Eric — what was that you said earlier about NOT crying? 🙂
June 30th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
@jimbuc
Just the facts Jimbuc, just the facts………………….
June 30th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
You all need to stop fighting among yourselves… unless this is team Ari’s paid goobers trying to purposely distract from the current article.
Joe’s article talks to Dom lying to Penn… a bold face lie, a stupidly miscalculated (if calculated at all) lie.
But the biggest story is how did the national media get hold of this tid bit? Could Penn’s agent have complained to the union regarding this lie???
Could the union have complained through the media about the teams across the NFL, their unethical tactics, and how the Buccaneers and Dom are currently the national poster child for unethical behavior tarnishing the NFLs image? Shouldn’t Roger Goodale levy a fine on One Buc Place for this intentional misleading of a young, unknowing player???
June 30th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Oh yeah, the union is ethical!? HA! Dom most likely mispoke, and the PR guy tried to spin it. He should have just said “sorry, I was wrong , I misspoke, but of course you guys would bash the man for that as wel. I am sure you would say “he is a GM, he should have known”. There is no possible way to jknow everything, and chances are he did know this, he just misspoke. it is like Joe said, common sense says that an unsigned player can not be fined. I am sure Penn’s “super honest” agent laughed and told him not to worrie about that. These are educated men, at least they are sent to college to learn while they play football. Welcome to the business world boys.
July 1st, 2010 at 8:24 am
Damn Oar, this isn’t that complicated to figure out!! You’re ussually one of the smarter ones!! When Gruden inherited this team, we had perennial All Pros at each level if the Defense- Sapp, Brooks, Lynch! We had others that were occasionally selected, or at least near the team in voting- Barber, Alstott( near the end when Gruden got here), Rice, K. Johnson, Quarles. We had a Solid talent base. As these players aged/ injured, we did not draft or coach ANYONE to take their place! Instead, we refused to play young players, we brought in replacements that were released from their previous teams! Why were they released from their previous teams, one might ask? BECAUSE THEY WERE TO OLD, AND THEIR TEAMS WERE REPLACING THEM WITH YOUNG PLAYERS!!! See- Petitgout, Hillyard,Galloway,Garcia,Garner,etc,etc. Gruden doesn’t coach players to play football, he only wants to show his system to players someone else took the time ta teach. He is the guy he lives paycheck to paycheck,and always borrows money( is this instance, players) from someone else if they have a problem!! We all know a guy like that! He “borrowed” players frim everyone elses roster, so he wouldn’t have to do the hard work of teaching them himself!! Like a buddy borrowing money from me, cause he doesn’t wanna save any of his! It’s a damn Coach and GM’s job to keep a team competitive, and train replacements for your aging players. The lazy bum had a bunch of Allpros when he got here, how many did he leave us with?- NOT A DAMN ONE! And none “blooming” on the field. How was our depth when he left? IT SUCKED!! He used up every resource we had, replaced none, then left! The guy was a frikkin LOCUST!! Is any if that sinking in??? Do you NOW understand why the Glazers canned his ass, and why we are stuck having to Rebiuld/restock the whole damn team!! Do you get that you don’t replace an aging, 36 year old vet, WITH A 37 YEAR OLD AGING VET!! On a lighter note, that you Jon, for our SuperBowl, Dungy was so damn conservative in the playoffs,we never woulda won one. And despite your horribly, inexcusable lazy attitude about coaching young players, you are a good X and O guy! So thanks for that, but here’s the finger for running us out of talent! And OAR, if ya still don’t get my point, after all that, please meet Lighningbuc at the shoreline, and join him in a cerimonial head burying !!!!!
July 1st, 2010 at 8:28 am
Damn it! Having ta explain the obvious stuff to you guys is gonna end up giving me a Brain tumor!! At the very least, yer ruining my buzz, and bring back my hangover from yesterday!!
July 1st, 2010 at 8:30 am
Meybe later we’ll all gather around a pile a sticks, and I’ll teach ya ta make fire- ooo,aaaw! Yer killin me!
July 1st, 2010 at 8:31 am
But I still love ya
July 1st, 2010 at 9:42 am
CaptTim, Smarter ones? HA, fooled you again!
Anyways, your first post and my comment to it, was not about why Gruden got canned or lack of replaced talent. You are agruing/explaining about other things all together. You stated, he was a cancer and chewed thru our talent base. I disagree. Injuries and money, caused that talent base to be chewed thru, not Gruden. Did he replace that talent base? Maybe not to the same level, but again hard not to do, without (2) 1st rnds and (2) 2nd rnd picks. You can’t always count on lower picks to turn out.
I guess your point would have come across better, if posted differently. You should have just said, Gruden/Allen/Kiffin (I put Kiffin in there cause, I’m sure all the defensive picks were his) didn’t draft well, in replacing players. I think the team does have talent with some of the remaining draft picks. They are on the team, right? Also the players on the team, especially on defense lost a whole year of development under Raheem and his Bates scheme fiasco. I know. I know, he’s the savior that went back to what they should never have left to begin with the Tampa-2.
BTW ruining your buzz at 8:30 in the morning? You might want to see someone about that?
July 1st, 2010 at 9:47 am
CaptHangover, I get that we are rebuilding(now that they have some high picks) and I understand it and agree. Where I don’t agree, is with who they chose to do said rebuilding. He proved that last year. Jury still out for his coaching this year and lets wait and see if his drafts pan out also. His rebuilding/draft picks might be just the same as the last regime.
July 1st, 2010 at 9:53 am
This Capt Tim is a real clown.
You feel better now that you got your hatred for Gruden out of your system???
How many seasons will you use him as your excuse to reinforce your moronic support of Raheem?
July 1st, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Oar, I also am on the “wait and see” fence about Raheem. I am willing to give him a chance. I talked to my assistant about that “personal” issue that you were concerned about. She said yo were right! Way to early for martinis! So see quiches me ta this nice Lil champagne and Oj concoction, feel a let healthier- thanks!:)
RahDom- you have a man crush on anyone who’s been fired, hate everyone that’s actually here, and continue annoying Pittman on his facebook site. You’re a troubled Lil fella, ain’t cha?
July 1st, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Oar, ok, the picks for guden set us back -2 YEARS. What about the other 4 years ” The Locust” was here- and don’t even THINK about lying, or giving me ” still on roster” B.S! His drafts sucked, and he and Allen were the final say . Monte Kiffin loved it here. Left because he didn’t have a say in Draft picks, so the oppurtunity to work with Lane was enough for him to leave. And did you notice, the week Kiffin announced he was leavingand was no longer held accountable for the team, the Bucs lost EVERY remaining game! Not much Chucky love on the team,was there!
July 1st, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Now , OAR, head ta the beach- no excuses! And don’t forget yer shovel! I’ll be meeting you there, as burying my head seems like a good idea also! Hope we find a spot that’s not oily! 🙂
July 1st, 2010 at 2:04 pm
CaptHangover, Yeah I know all about it’s the head coach’s and GM’s picks ultimately, crap. I’m sorry, but I’d bet money 2nd rnd pick DeWayne White(our first pick that 2003 year), Barret Ruud(2nd rnd), Gaines Adams(1st rnd), Sabby(2nd rnd) and Aquib Talib(1st rnd) were not Gruden’s choices. So, yeah the other four years saw us drafting 4 high pick defensive players; (2) 1st rnd picks and (2) 2nd rnd picks, which again I’d bet money weren’t Gruden’s choices. If Kiffin, the MAN behind the defense, wasn’t part of those decisions I’d be dumbfounded!
July 1st, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I watch the NFL draft live every year. Each year they do live broadcast from each teams ” war room”. Every year Gruden stated , ” that while we discuss our options with the whole staff leading up to draft day, on draft day, it’s only Bruce (Allen) and I that are in the room, making the decisions”. Yeah Oar, I know we all thought he was a good guy. I was estatic when he came here. But first he alienated Rich McKay, then eventually the players and the coaching staff. And Bruce Allen alienated the Media! Not who we thoughtthey were
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:09 am
CaptTim, You have to be kidding me? You honestly think they were his choices? Sure, the decisions were made, but his choices I’m sure would have been offense players. I read Gruden wanted(his choice) Calvin Johnson, but obviously they couldn’t get him. His choice, not Adams. I put them more on the GM than coach. Look at Chris Simms, that was a McKay choice and pick.
But whatever, old news. You have yours and I have mine. I’ll take mine! Thanks, anyways! No biggie, right? See you at the beach! Don’t forget the Pom Pom Dom!