Barrett Ruud No. 3
June 24th, 2011
Joe just had to laugh at this, not that he agrees or disagrees with it.
Short of troubled Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib, there is no Bucs player that draws anger and ire out of Bucs fans like Barrett Ruud, while NFL insiders heap praise on the linebacker at the same time.
The laudatory chorus of kudos continued on the Man’s Channel, the NFL Network, when former Bucs great and future Hall of Famer Warren Sapp joined former NFLer Brian Baldinger to discuss the most valuable defensive players available on the free agent market for players with four or more years of service.
When discussing his top five players, Baldinger rated Ruud No. 3, behind only cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins.
“He’s the quarterback of the Bucs defense,” Baldinger said.
Joe just chuckles. It’s near impossible to find an NFL insider who thinks Ruud is the feminine product so many Bucs fans believe him to be. But if Joe were to ask the average Bucs fan on the street about Ruud, the curse words would flow like ice cold beer from a bottle on a hot Friday afternoon.
Speaking of a cold beer on a hot Friday afternoon, Joe hears his siren song.
June 24th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
What did Sapp have to say about it. I wouldn’t go against the QBKilla but don’t give a crap what Baldinger says.
June 24th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Sapp doesn’t care for Ruud.
June 24th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Espo:
Sapp did not argue.
June 24th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
is the video on nfl.com somewhere?
June 24th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Espo beat me to it. I have to admit, even though by all accounts Sapp is a jerk, he is really good on TV. He’s one of the few former players that isn’t afraid to criticize current players (probably because he is such a jerk). I love what he was saying about Julio Jones and the Falcons anointing themselves already. There is no fluff from Warren Sapp.
June 24th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Dan:
That’s why Joe inserted the link.
June 24th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
I have to laugh my A$$ off because first of all Sapp says he likes his defensive players big and physical; then he goes on to give his top 5 and Ruud is nowhere to be found. Doesn’t talk bad about him, but he acts like he doesn’t exist either. Sapp has done a GREAT job on the NFL network! Keep up the good work!
June 24th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Ruud, was NOT on Sapp’s list… haha probably see’s too much of a drop off from brooks to ruud (which doesnt mean ruud isnt great, but when your used to steak, a whopper just doesnt cut it) and probably thinks brooks might have been dealt with unfairly, thats just my opinion,
i will say for a former offensive lineman to say a linebacker is good, doesnt sit well with the claims that he ‘can’t shed a block’
June 24th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Didn’t Black take over for Brooks at the Will???? I bet Rudd would look allot better with Derrick on the weak side……
Just sayin….
June 24th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
haha dang my bad , idont know why i have him branded as a middle linebacker in my mind, though he did play there some and evewn considered playing/adding depth at mike for the bears after he left us
June 24th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Ahhhh, but Ruud did make Sapp’s list. I saw it on the late running of Total Access. Ruud was # 1753 on Sapp’s list of the top 900 defensive players.
June 24th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
This is getting ridiculous. OMG. I started to blog on this but it’s not worth my time. I will be glad when this is over so we all can move on past this moot dialogue.
June 24th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
JOE:
Thanks, just saw your response, i appreciate it!
June 24th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
man im so sick of seeing posts about ruud and everyones jokes and negativity about him. you all need to just stfu and let him have a year with a half decent dl in front of him maybe and then see what hes made of… im not defending or bashing him im just sayin lets give him a fair shot
June 24th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
I can’t believe Baldy had Jenkis rated ahead of Ruud…
June 24th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
derek…I have to agree…I can’t stand watching Ruud constantly being taken for a ride on RB’s backs…BUT! every single NFL person loves him…I have to be wrong, right?! WTF I know my football acumen is not even close to Kirwan or any of these guys! so I’ll shut my mouth and give him enough rope..can’t wait to see what happens
June 24th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
We’ll know soon enough whether or not Dominik & Morris feel the same way. That’s all that really matters.
June 24th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Let’s see, he’s 28, been in the league going on 7 years, yeah he definitely needs more time to develop his game. Maybe work on his strength too. Most NFL defenders take at least 8 years to gain enough strength to tackle a running back solo. He just hasn’t been given a fair shot to this point.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Rude Ruud fact: 7 Forced Fumbles in 68 starts. Over the same amount of start, Brian Urlacher caused 3…
June 24th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
bigmac dont be an ass man. like I said before if he keeps up performing like he does with a good dl in front of him then ill agree he cant get it done but when the best dl youve had in your career is an aging kevin carter thats pretty piss poor support
June 25th, 2011 at 7:34 am
Hmm, guys. Derrick Brooks only played Wil( weakside) LB. Quincy Black has only played Sam( Strongside) LB. Barrett Ruud has only played Mike( middle) LB. Ever
Just trying to help. If you’re gonna bash Ruud, you should at least know what a LB is, and where they are at on the field.
But if you actually knew that, you wouldn’t be bashing him.
June 25th, 2011 at 8:38 am
Ruud can’t shed a block to save his life. Weaksauce. Bucs will never stop the run with Ruud unless Brooks makes a comeback to his old form.
June 25th, 2011 at 8:52 am
What does having a decent Defensive line have to do with making a play when it comes your way? Cody Grimm and Ronde Barber don’t have a problem making plays with the exact same D line. Both these guys stuffed runs at the line of scrimmage while taking on blockers. I suggest everyone check out the top 10 Buccaneers defensive plays for 2010 and see who the real leader of the defense was last year. I’m sure the pro bowl linebackes from the Steelers & Packers are just crying in their beer over the fact that that their lineman aren’t all pro’s.
June 25th, 2011 at 9:52 am
BucnJim- but we both know you can’t compare the effect Of defensive line play between 3-4 linebackers and 4-3 linebackers. 3-4 linebackers are much larger, and don’t depend on d-line as much.; 4-3 linebackers ate very dependent on the D-line.
June 25th, 2011 at 11:32 am
I hear what you’re saying Captain! There are some beasts that play in the 3-4. It’s not their size that I like as much as their aggressive style of play. Interesting though that the Top 100 NFL players list just came out (Players Choice) and Ruud is nowhere to be found. This list of players was decided by current NFL Players! Guess what middle LB’s were on that list? Vilma & Beason! So best case senario; we have the 3rd or 4th best middle linebacker in the NFC South.
June 25th, 2011 at 11:38 am
Atlanta Falcon’s Curtis Lofton: 160 tackles 2 forced fumbles & ranked third in rushing defense. That makes Ruud 4th in a four man battle for who’s the best MLB in the NFC South.
June 25th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Lets see…fans opinion versus experts opinions. Come on Joe. He is our best LB by far and we need to resign this guy!!
June 25th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Resign Ruud? I’d love to see his resignation on Raheem’s desk.
June 26th, 2011 at 12:24 am
The Captain’s virtually perfect prediction service, as a community device, will now utter forth another prediction for the future. As those of you who are long time readers know, I have never been wrong on a prediction
If Barrett Ruud is a buccaneer next season, we win 9-12 games.
If he leaves before the season, we win 7-9 games.
Write it down
June 26th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
what if we win 9 games?