Nicks Not Forgotten
July 1st, 2013
There are big offensive linemen, and then there’s the human armoire, Bucs guard Carl Nicks, an All-World manbeast with the Saints before rockstar general manager Mark Dominik signed him to a fat deal a year ago.
Joe can only think of Andre The Giant when looking for one who compares to Nicks’ almost inhuman stature.
Nicks was superb for Tampa Bay while battling a heinous toe injury that cut his 2012 season short and sent him under a surgeon’s knife.
Though Nicks had been honored by his peers previously, Nicks did not appear on the recent Top-100 feature on NFL Network, a ranking of players based on fellow players’ votes. However, Nicks showed up this afternoon on a new ProFootballTalk.com Top-100 list voted on by 50+ NFL media types, including two Tampa-area locals, former Buccaneers Anthony Becht and Shaun King, one of three quarterbacks to lead the Bucs to the NFC title game.
Nos. 76 – 100 were released today.
76 Tony Romo, quarterback, Cowboys
77 Doug Martin, running back, Buccaneers
78 Frank Gore, running back, 49ers
79 Carl Nicks, guard, Buccaneers
80 Maurice Jones-Drew, running back, Jaguars
81 Vernon Davis, tight end, 49ers
82 Evan Mathis, guard, Eagles
83 Alfred Morris, running back, Redskins
84 Joe Haden, cornerback, Browns
85 C.J. Spiller, running back, Bills
86 Calais Campbell, defensive end, Cardinals
87 Matthew Stafford, quarterback, Lions
88 Antonio Cromartie, cornerback, Jets
89 Jason Peters, offensive tackle, Eagles
90 Jordan Gross, offensive tackle, Panthers
91 Mike Pouncey, center, Dolphins
92 Mike Wallace, receiver, Dolphins
93 Reggie Wayne, receiver, Colts
94 Ed Reed, safety, Ravens
95 Henry Melton, defensive tackle, Bears
96 Lance Briggs, linebacker, Bears
97 Steve Smith, receiver, Panthers
98 Antoine Winfield, cornerback, Seahawks
99 Max Unger, center, Seahawks
100 Matt Forte, running back, Bears
Joe’s glad Nicks was remembered. He deserves the accolade. And if he comes back to the Bucs healthy (Nicks did not participate in offseason practices), then Joe’s confident the Bucs will run the football more than most fans envision. And why not?
As for the rest of this list, Joe’s getting the feeling that the Bucs might not get a lot of love from the assembled media if Doug Martin is only ranked 77th. We’ll see. The next 25 are released July 8.
One name that Joe found interesting was Antoine Winfield. The former Vikings cornerback was a free agent for a month before signing with Seattle in April. That’s an awfully long time for someone ranked that highly to be NFL homeless. Apparently, the Bucs saw no use for Winfield’s stature and experience, preferring to rely on a rookie and Eric Wright.
July 1st, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Don’t get upset, everybody’s killing time with meaningless space fillers before training camp starts. Good example: Doug Martin is 77 on this list and was 57 on the NFL Network list. Which one carries more weight with you? My opinion, he should have been in the top 20.
Like I said, training camp will be here soon and we will all get some relief!
July 1st, 2013 at 4:12 pm
I have a bad feeling Jackson isn’t gonna be on the list due to Reggie Wayne’s ranking he has way more national love
July 1st, 2013 at 4:21 pm
I don’t expect the Bucs to be well represented on the list especially if Shaun King has an input.
“Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”
July 1st, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Who the hell needs relief, Macabee? Joe does a great job giving every day a little meaning. The long offseason is half our pleasure as NFL fans.
July 1st, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Any bets on which NFC South quarterback doesn’t make the list?
July 1st, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Vic, the long offseason is half our pleasure? You’ve got strange priorities as an NFL fan
July 1st, 2013 at 6:10 pm
what …… what …..shaun king . said what ?????? he the top buccaneers hate
July 1st, 2013 at 6:36 pm
This should be officially dubbed the “list season”. It takes place after the offseason and before the preseason. So many lists . . .
July 1st, 2013 at 6:38 pm
Vic,
I think what you’re attempting to do is defend Joe, who by the way needs no defense. Joe has a very successful product and has a unique niche because he understands what it means to be a true interactive blog and the fundamental principles of journalism like immediacy, content, and realism. When’s the last time you’ve seen Joe do a subjective top anything kind of list?
And as for my comment, I was specifically referring to the period of time between the end of OTAs (30 day or so) and the start of training camp. If you really wanted to thank Joe, you should be thankful that he takes the time to explain obvious and simple phrases which benefits a minority of readers who seem to have difficulty understanding a 5 sentence paragraph!
July 1st, 2013 at 6:39 pm
I don’t buy the Bucs not getting a whole lot of love from the media. Alfred Morris was ranked 83rd. Him and Martin had virtually identical seasons as rookies and plays in a larger market. I’d rather not encourage paranoia….
On another note even though Morris and Martin had similar seasons, I think Martin is FAR and away more dynamic and talented. Morris is more of a product Shannys system and teams also had to play more “honest” to account for RG3
July 1st, 2013 at 7:21 pm
On total Access just now
Andrew: “Who is your quarterback?”
Greg Schiano: “We’ve only got one, and that is Josh Freeman.”
July 1st, 2013 at 7:43 pm
Joe says
“Apparently, the Bucs saw no use for Winfield’s stature and experience, preferring to rely on a rookie and Eric Wright.”
I think it’s a worthy risk. Banks may take a year or two to get things down, but he may also pick things up quickly.
Wright supposedly played injured last year and was suspended for a few games, but to make up for it he redid his contract in such a was that he has to prove himself. He handled it well.
With Revis on board, the other CBs…I think we’re set for the year at CB. If things don’t work out…the Bucs fix it next year.
July 2nd, 2013 at 6:39 am
Badabibng! Nice one macabee; but I can just hear the “Huh?” as your retort wooshed over his head.