Bucs Might Be Finished In Top-Tier Free Agency
March 14th, 2012
The Bucs landed three huge fish in free agency over the past 24 hours, and rockstar general manager Mark Dominik seemed to imply that the big-game hunting is over.
Asked about what might be next in free agency for the Bucs to close the introductory news conference of Eric Wright, Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks, Dominik said, “as an organization, our eye is toward the NFL Draft.”
Of course, the Bucs will sign more free agents to fill the roster and add depth, and Dominik’s comment could be a bit of a negotiating ploy with other agents in players.
But Dominik could very seriously be closing the vault on landing bigger free agent names, which would make some fans cry. Hell, the Bucs just added about 25 million in payroll for next year. So that wouldn’t be a huge surpise.
Dominik didn’t dismiss that other players could be signed but added, “We are just about at the tail end” of chasing after players.
Dominik said that the new addition to the foundation — Jackson, Nicks and Wright –would likely be it until the draft.
Dominik also stated that the signing of Wright has zero bearing on whether Ronde Barber returns.
“All [Wright’s signing] means is that Ronde will have a new teammate if he decides to come back,” Dominik said.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
still hoping they geta LB. im gettin greedy
March 14th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
I am perfectly satisfied with what they have signed.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
I would like to see a good linebacker as well.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Let us sign Curtis Lofton before we call it quits in FA!
March 14th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Is that Schiano on with the Commish?
March 14th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Sounds like Lofton negotiated his way out of a contract.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
We aren’t done imo, but we’re close. We’ll add some depth, and MAYBE one more topish tier guy if the price is right. I wonder if they’re using this to get Lofton to come way down from the rumored $9m a year he was asking.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
i guess we gonna see black and hayes start again this year.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
But I don’t see how any Buc’s fan could cry about this haul. We completely owned free agency this year.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
If we were gonna start Hayes we would have already signed him. I’m expecting a new linebacker in the draft, round 2 or 3. And I’m expecting that whether we pick up a FA linebacker or not.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@Meh “But I don’t see how any Buc’s fan could cry about this haul. We completely owned free agency this year.”
I’m sure a few will find a way.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Yeah, people…don’t forget…there is still a draft this year, lol.
1010 is going to have one of the new bucs on in a minute.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Lofton/Tulloch and TOlbert and call it a day.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
I expect Black to play given the size of his contract. Hayes might not be a Buc anymore.
Watson deserves a shot.
This whole team deserves the new coaching staff.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
It’s about time we owned free agency after years of sitting back proclaiming a youth movement. Bucs signaled and internal belief that we are not rebuilding, but firming up a strong foundation.
Big question is whether the existing veterans will warm up nicely to the big dollar free agents or will it be divisive in the locker room.
Regardless, I don’t feel we went all ‘Dan Schneider” in free agency. He overpaid for douchebags on the downside (like the old Devil rays would do). We have people in their prime and only guaranteed them money for the remainder of their statistical prime.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
David Hawthorne please
March 14th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
well im super xcited about our free agents, V-Jax is a beast and our O-Line just got a hell of alot better and our secondary snagged a hidden gem imo. if we cld get Lofton signed thats great but if someone pays him his $9mil a year then sooo b it. remember some players will be cut and we might wanna wait and see who they are and keep sum $$$ just in case. super happy with the move! thank you to the Glaizer family and the management for makin these moves happen! Buc It Im Out!!
March 14th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@Sinsible I could totally be on board with that.
March 14th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Sorry *Sensible*
March 14th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
I am excited too … But I am the only one that felt LB was the biggest weakness on the entire team ??
March 14th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
@Jvato Me too.
March 14th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Donald Penn – 6’5″ 310 lbs
Carl Nicks – 6’5″ 340 lbs.
Zuttah – 6’4″ 305 lbs.
Davin – 6’4″ 315 lbs.
Trueblood – 6’8″ 320
LMAO
March 14th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Donald Penn is closer to 400 pounds. For Real
March 14th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
I would like tolbert too, need more backs…We have 1.
March 14th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
@Sensible that is a huge bunch of guys….. Imagine a dinner bill with them!!!
March 14th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Miami now has 4 picks in Top 73 spots. I still think they are going to make a deal with us to trade down with them for some of those picks…;)
March 14th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Eh, I love the moves made!! The Glazer’s give a crap and now i can believe it. The only other unproven element is whether they know what they’re doing. I feel the move made on Defense could spell us grabbing T Richardson; and we know Schiano loves RBs. My only critique is the Wright move. I think it was a lot of $ and I think sitting pretty at the 5 spot is Mo Claiborne. As I’m an advocate for drafting best available over need, I think both would be accomplished in selecting MC. I would have given wright’s money to lofton (I believe he’ll come down to earth on his $ request) or even Landry. I just don’t like the Wright move n think he was overpaid.. But hell ya to VJAX (to not seeing $16 mil/ year) and Nicks!
March 14th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
If you noticed, this was a crappy year for free agent LB’s.
March 14th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
@sensible no WAY Penn is 310….. more like 350 and I heard he was pushing 400 in 2010
March 14th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
I think he takes a shot at tolbert, lofton, Landry
March 14th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Kryq: …They have to
March 14th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Joseph is 6’3 but still a beast
March 14th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Don’t forget the possibility of a trade taking place to get a LB. They already tried to deal Winslow. There’s a possibility we could give up a draft pick for a decent MLB. I wouldn’t look for it but it is a possibility. More than likely we are going to draft our MLB if we can’t get Lofton.
March 14th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
They gave Finnegan and Lofton a run and both didn’t pan out. They got Wright as a plan B and landed 2 pro-bowlers for the offense.
Looks like the defense will be heavy in the draft along with a couple more free agents of the lower tiers.
Some might complain… to which I say….. REALLY? This is a great 24 hour free agency signing period. NOTHING to complain about.
March 14th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
JOE: Whatever happened with the rumor that they were interested in Martellus Bennett (sp?) TE from Dallas?
Either they are on the sly about it or nothing ever materialized with it or it was all false to begin with.
Seemed like a good move and the thought I had was they could offer up K2 for a 4th rounder.
March 14th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Bucs wont win any more games if they go into the season with that defense. That run defense was getting totally annihilated last year. Do you guys remember that Texans game at all? Holy cow! How can Dom ignore such a glaring weakness?
March 14th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
JERRY
He didn’t ignore it. He tried to land Finnegan at Cb and had to go to plan B and get Wright (a good tackling FAST CB).
He tried for Lofton at MLB, but it has not panned out.
I really think they will add a DT as depth still
I also think they belieive with the coaching changes and the DTs coming back healthy and Clayborn and Bowers entering year 2, that the defense is going to improve alot as the D-Line matures.
They still need to draft a DB and another LB and HOPEFULLY try to sign a MLB in free agency, but that might not happen.
Either way, they had a helluva day!
March 14th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
If we can trade down with miami maybe land a few more picks.. we can go after the alabama cb.. maybe get zach brown in the 2nd round.. would be huge!
March 14th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
maybe we cut Faine….. trade Winslow……Sign Lofton and Tolbert….. makes for a nice FA class which then opens up many options besides Clayborn, Richardson and Blackmon in the draft at #5 or trading up for more picks!!!!!
March 14th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
If Lofton were worth what he was asking he’d be signed already. I think the market brings him down to half what he wanted all said- we may get him yet. Remember Schiano wants to run the ball and he apparently sold Nicks on that- I think we get an interesting RB prospect when the dust settles. I’d like Tolbert back there. In any case, our run game took a big step up in the last 24 hours.