Faine Was “Told He’s In Their Plans”
March 7th, 2012
Highly-paid, injury-prone, almost 31-year-old Jeff Faine might be feeling pretty good about his job security right now.
Engaging with TampaBay.com readers this afternoon in a live chat, Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud answered a question about Faine’s future and says Faine has been given a thumbs up from Bucs management.
Rick Stroud: As of right now, Jeff Faine expects to return for 2012 to the Bucs. He has asked and been told he’s in their plans. Zuttah can also start at guard. Faine will count about $7.9-million against the salary cap, and at 30, that’s a factor. Anything can change, but right now at least, I think he will be back.
Joe’s already on record saying the Bucs should chase monster free agent, All-Pro left guard Carl Nicks and move Zuttah to center. Young All-Pros don’t hit the market too often.
That aside, Faine is OK. And if the Bucs can nail down more depth on the offensive line, Faine lining up on opening day is the least of the Bucs’ worries.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
They must not have looked at his film yet.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
If we keep Faine and dont go for Grubbs or Nicks .. I call BS on being a tough Physical running team !!!!
I dont think we go for Nicks or Grubbs with Faine on the team.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Maybe it was just a “Yes … your in our plans … until we get Nicks that is … MuahAHAHhAHAH .. hahah AHAH Ah hHaa ha ha)”
March 7th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
^ Hopefully.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Maybe they are just waiting to see if they can grab a top tier guy before they cut him
March 7th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
In my best Schwarzeneggar voice – “Bad Idea”!
March 7th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
you mean “Big mistake”?
March 7th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
He would have to restructure..7.9 WOW
March 7th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
What a horrible mistake it would be to keep Faine while rebuilding this team. His play, that is when he’s healthy, has not been good and he has been the weak link in the line. The Bucs were even better when they had Zuttah at center and Larson at guard. I hope the coaches go spend lots of time in the film room and see that you cant be a power running football team with a center that keeps getting pushed backward into the backfield. Move Zuttah to center and go bid for Nicks or Grubbs, or draft one of those young, mean guards from Wisconson or Stanford and let Blount run the ball up and down the field.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
You don’t cut Faine and then sign one of the beast guards, you sign one then cut Faine in case it does not work out.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Rebuilding?
I thought we were talented?
March 7th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Eric, look to the right side of the screen. The ad for Dolman Law group, he handles brain injuries.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
You people are blind, lol. Look back at the film again and see tacklers coming from the outside most of the time. Right past BOTH tackles. Only a few times did defenders get pass Faine…and if you look closely, it was because he was trying to stop someone that got past a tackle or guard.
Put Nicks on that line and you will see a HUGE difference because Faine can trust that side.
On the other hand…I just switched dre and the new one is named Grubbs…a sign? 🙂
March 7th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
It is hard being right so often, and humble at the same time!
March 7th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Competition breeds success. Keep him. Sign (hopefully) Nicks and have Faine and Zuttah battle it out. We haven’t had a legit competition for spots on this team for years.
March 7th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Jeff Faine = Oldgry
March 7th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Pete’s Dr is named Grubbs … ITS A SIGN !!! Someone call madame Cleo !!!
March 7th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Pete, check the team you were watching because it wasn’t the Bucs. Faine was a turnstile.
March 7th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Sure he’s in their plans… he’s in their “plans” to be cut.
March 7th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
This gets better and better everyday. Trueblood is no good. No the TE can’t block. No better yet Blount can’t run or block. No wait it was bad coaching. Oh I remember. Everyone just had a bad year. Ok Let’s just blame it on Faine.
Next Excuse Please!!
March 7th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Cutting Faine will do as much good as not re-signing Ruud.
Lets cut anybody with any experience and we can go 0-16 and match the 1976-77 26 game losing streak.
BTW if the geniuses dont get a back up for Freeman, and he gets hurt, that could actually happen.
March 7th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
So eric…you’re saying that signing Nicks, moving Zuttah to center and cutting Faine is a downgrade??
March 7th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Faine being here one more year is the wise thing to do. Depth, Experience, etc.
Carl Nicks should be a Buc and the FO needs to do everything in their power to sign this man.
March 7th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
@bobby
Nope, that would be a move id strongly endorse.
March 7th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Im not holding my breath on Nicks … Madame Cleo told me we are getting Grubbs.
March 7th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
I wouldn’t mind paying a very good center(think Matt Birk) $8 million at the age of 30 as many very good Centers play well into their thirties. Problem is, Faine is not very good.
March 7th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Almost time for the dominik statement that they are “waiting until the second tier”.
March 7th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
When they signed Faine, I was pretty excited. He just hasn’t played at the level I expected him to play at. He’s certainly not bad. I just don’t know that his play is equal to the huge contract.
In fact, Faine was signed by the Bucs to the largest center contract in NFL history. Sound familiar?
Winslow was signed the the largest TE contract in NFL history.
Have either of these guys approached the level of play that warranted the largest contracts in history at their positions?
March 7th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Renegotiate his contract and extend him a few years at less than starting salary. Otherwise, say goodbye.
March 7th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
BKNY – hit the nail on the head. Moving on?
March 7th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Well let’s see. Who’s opinion do you want to trust? The new coaching staff who have a demonstrated ability to recognize talent, or a bunch of knee jerk fantasy footballers who are demonstratively clueless. It’s a no-brainer on the no brainers.
Even if Zutah would take over the starting position at center, who better than a proven veteran backup like Faine to step in if needed?
March 7th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Cant have a backup counting 7.9 million against the cap.
March 7th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Agree with BKNY restructure or take your Humpty Dumpty attitude someplace else. Remember who the Oline men not at Freemans volunteer camps last year? Until he was begged to show up. yeah and with a large C on his jersey…. You lead from the front, not the rear.
@ snook LOL right on!
March 7th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
I can’t believe it. Wait, I guess I can. Same Crap, different season. Faine is overpaid and over the hill. They should cut him and spend the mmoney on Nicks. I somehow new they were going go cheap again, stick with their cheap stupid in house ways. Our sucky players can get it done. They just had a bad season. They’ll do better this time, and then its too late. Same old Glazer Cheapass Cheapy Cheapness.
I’m on record. Jeff Faine Sucks Out Loud!!!
If they don’t get Nicks or make a concerted effort, I’ll be so pi$$ed. I’m just sick of giving them my hard earned money to have them bank it and spend nothing. But yet I’m stupid because I continue to do so as I did this year again. I must be a glutton for punishment, but I’d really rather have someone just punch me in the face, than the Bucs ripping out my heart every year.
Please don’t screw up a golden opportunity again, you D-Bag Owners and Boy “Pinch-A-Penny” Wonder.
“Hey Mark, you dropped a penny, better dive on it quick, you cheap Bastard.”
I’ve gone from Homer to Home-wrecker and only spending can change it.
March 7th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
I dont’ care what anybody says, this is an unproven coaching staff, and even more so than the last one. I hope they can get it done, but again they went cheap and inexperienced again. I like Sullivan probably the beat out of the box, but he’s never been an OC. Butch Davis isn’t even a coach, and he had some bad seasons when he was. I just don’t know about this whole thing and the reports coming out.
March 7th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
This free agency class is better than last years .. hands down
March 7th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
BigMac … Chill Man …
Anything can change, but right now at least, I think he will be back.
Thats the quote … Do you really believe the Bucs would tell Faine he is toast when they dont have the depth to do so ???
Lets wait and see what happens … They wouldnt dump him unless we get some depth … Grubbs will be the one to watch.
March 7th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
hope somethin happens cuz as i looked at the games pressure was comin up the gut
March 7th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
If they keep Faine then look for them to draft a center somewhere because they are going to need to replace him soon. If not in FA then it has to be in the draft. I agree that you can’t keep him at his current contract to be a depth player but we will need depth if we get Nicks and move Zuttah to center.
March 7th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Story on 1st round tender on Bennett coming?
March 7th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
The best part of this whole thing is the fact that Faine felt like he needed to ask if he was going to be brought back. If you feel the need to ask, don’t let the door hit you in the rear. Even Faine knows he’s not worth what he is getting paid. As soon as they have a better at LG…BYE! BYE!!!
March 7th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
BigMac-yup you are spot on.” hello- Jeff Fisher? Hi, it’s the Glazers, we are shopping for a new head coach . . .WHAT?? 4.5 MIllion!!! That’s damn near the entire team Payroll!!!!- ok Jeff, nice talking to you–CLICK!” lol
If they wanted to win- sign Nicks, Zuttah to center, renegociate Faine to a reasonable contract- and keep him for depth and experience. NFL linemen frequently don’t play all 16 games. If Faine is getting a lil to old to play all the time- then don’t make him! Let him play less, and he’ll perform better!
Eric- lol! We have been waiting for that ” second tier” of free agency for damn near 3 years now!! How like does it take that wave to hit shore!!
Unless you count the Punter, washing ashore.
Championship kicking team- with 6 holders( Fulltime!!!)
March 7th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
BigMac- cheap was the key word
Can you say “Bobby Petrino?”
March 7th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Hey jVato, ju need to cheeel maan. The problem is paying a backup center like Faine (who sucks) $7 Mill when you have Larson that can play the position about as well as Fainey. I have watched Faine so many plays in slow mo on the DVR, backwards and forwards, and the dude gets beat more than Quincy Black. The guy is injury prone and his heart just isn’t in it, you can tell by his play or lack there of. There ain’t no way in Hell I’m chillin until this new experiment produces results.
Really guys, how many times in the past 5 years have the Glazers let us down??? I need a computer to count because there aren’t enough fingers and toes on this blog.
Prove it! Prove it! Prove it!
I’m with Thomas right about now on “Rockstar my Arse!”
March 7th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of Rum…
March 7th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Bobby Says: March 7th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
If they keep Faine then look for them to draft a center somewhere because they are going to need to replace him soon
———————
Gee…that sounds familiar. LOL
This is exactly what I’ve been say should happen. Zuttah is best in his current role. Get a quality young center in here this year and prep him to replace Faine in a year or so. If the guy does really well, have him start sooner.
Having Zuttah as a floater is important. Not many teams have that luxury…and injuries are a huge thing for the Bucs.
March 7th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Pete’s new Dr. Is named Grubbs. But it’s his proctologist!!
What sign or foreboding does that conjure for our poor , lost lil band of Baby Pirates???
It can’t be good! . .