Bucs Could Be Changing Free Agent Philosophy
March 27th, 2011
In large part thanks to the disaster of signing Kardashian-chasing Derrick Ward, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik may not be as likely to splurge on free agents.
In recent years, since Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik got burned by free agency (and nearly roasted out of a job when he almost landed Facestomper Haynesworth), Dominik has seen the light and has pretty much avoided free agency like a breakout of the hives.
And why go after high-priced, often over-the-hill free agents? The Steelers have built a dynasty doing without them. Packers general manager Ted Thompson loathes free agents. Seems as though the Packers have done OK.
But in a recent chat with Raheem Morris, Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times believes the Bucs may be eyeing free agents in the not too distant future.
But after a 10-6 season in which the Bucs narrowly missed the playoffs, and given the production of young stars such as Josh Freeman, Mike Williams and LeGarrette Blount, coach Raheem Morris says it could be time to add free-agent pieces to push Tampa Bay back over the top, especially with about 500 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents when the lockout ends.
“We wanted to accumulate talent throughout the draft, and it was no different in 2002 and 2001, when our ownership went out and got a Simeon Rice, a Brad Johnson or a Keenan McCardell (in free agency) in order to push that team over the top and help the draft classes of Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Ronde Barber,” Morris said at the owners meetings last week in New Orleans. “We may be nearing that plateau. As soon as the free agency season is able to be open, some of those discussions will be more realistic. You’re talking about adding components, getting the right guy, a good fit.”
After Dominik’s first foray into free agency in his first few months on the job (Mike Nugent, anyone?) Joe believes Dominik won’t go after top-flight, cost-heavy players. Instead, he will look at second tier guys to bolster roster depth and be serviceable starters, not unlike a Sean Jones.
March 27th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
We’ll go after Charles Johnson or Ray Edwards to pair with Ryan Kerrigan.
March 27th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Justin Durant would make sense to come in and start at MLB if we let Ruud walk.
March 27th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
They will be looking at 3-5 STARTERS. Both outside LB, a Safety, a DE, and possibly a LG. Also looking for a starting Caliber TE to go with Winslow. And this isn’t a change of policy at all. It’s like we’ve said all along. They are following the same format as our last SuperBowl team. Good core, then squire FA’s to fill in the missing pieces. They have said this all along. It’s no coincidence that Mark Dominick has the most money to spend, with the best ever FA class about to be available. The guy is always one step ahead.
Haynesworth wouldn’t have been that bad with us. The contract was extremely incentive laden. If he didn’t produce, he didn’t get the big money. That’s why he signed a lesser contract, that didn’t punish Jim for being a lazy slacker. With lazy players, you make them produce to get the money- and alot of them are! Even Ward’s contract wasn’t guaranteed, so he only stole from us for a Lil over a year.
March 27th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
The glazers wont spend anything significant for any player unless the players fold and inflate unexpected cash into their bottom line.
The strategy last time was a rich mckay, dungy and gruden strategy – fyi – they are all gone. Dom was brought in during the great reidel anthony, quez green, marcus jones and kenyatta walker drafts. His fa signings in 09 all stunk. The men who built the 97-2006 bucs are all gone.
March 27th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Thomas, it will be a wonderful day when you are gone too.
How miserable can one person be?
Give your parents a break after 40 years and move out.
March 27th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
We also don’t really have the core in place, thats all an illusion based upon the super lucky 2010 season.
Time has a funny way of exposing reality. And incompetence.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
So you must be used to that huh eric? Your 2-14 record prediction which was followed by your disappearance from the site during the season shows that youre the one who was proven wrong.
I looked at a lot of boards from other teams this past season and whenever we beat a team, a lot of the other fans were wishing they were building a team like the Bucs……..Washington fans specifically. Were not there yet, but for a few clueless people, everyone can see that we are in the process of making something great.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
“something great”
bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
March 28th, 2011 at 3:55 am
Thomas, Kellen Winslow was a 2009 FA signing.
He hasn’t worked out??
and Eric,
come on, nobody wins 10 games on luck. I respect you enough to know that…
March 28th, 2011 at 3:56 am
I’m sorry, but if you can’t give Raheem credit for winning 10 games in his second season, then you can’t blame him for only winning 3 in his first season.
You’d have to be a woman to argue against that logic…
March 28th, 2011 at 7:57 am
Once again, two idiots are thread killers. It’s getting old. . .
March 28th, 2011 at 8:20 am
Well, if 2 wins was your prediction last year you douchebag and since you believe we still suck at 10 wins…
Then you believe we are somewhere in the middle.. so lets say 6 wins.
Man up and put your money where your mouth is! If we win more than 6 games this year, you either leave and never come back or admit you have been wrong the whole time.
I await your sarcastic reply (cause we all know you dont have the balls to back up anything you say).
March 28th, 2011 at 8:31 am
Kellen Winslow wasn’t a free agent signing, he was acquired with a trade for a 2nd round pick
March 28th, 2011 at 8:42 am
I said it before, and I’ll say it again…
The Bucs actions in this years free ageny will be governed by the results of their draft.
If the right holes are filled in the draft, then they might plug the remaining ones. I believe this is what Raheem and Dominick has been eluding to.
If they do not plug enough holes in the draft, then we will likely see very little movement in free agency.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, this year is a unique opportunity for the Bucs. The almost ALWAYS wait until after the draft to delve into Free Agency. This year, it will work to their advantage, because there will actually be good players there to choose from.
But it won’t happen unless we have a productive draft. Mark my words.
March 28th, 2011 at 8:49 am
@Cat. Tim
I’m sorry to contradict you, Tim, but there is absolutely no way the Bucs will sign 3-5 starting Free Agents. No way at all.
Now, if they fill 3 of those holes in the draft, I could see them going after 2 starting Free Agents at best.
But to do what you suggest in Free Agency would be a complete turnaround from what Dominick and Raheem have been saying…that they will build through the draft.