Various Free Agents Now Up For Grabs

March 5th, 2012
As expected, San Diego wide receiver Vincent Jackson was not tagged, and is free to negotiate with anyone.

With the deadline for tagging players with a franchise tag now come and gone (the deadline was 4 p.m. today), there are now some players that Bucs fans have keen interest in available for shopping.

First, Kansas City franchised wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. That means that coveted cornerback Brandon Carr is free to barter with other teams when the free agency bell rings on March 13. The Bucs are in dire need of secondary help.

Speaking of secondary help, Tennessee slapped the franchise tag on safety Michael Griffin, which means Courtland Finnegan is hanging out there for someone to pick.

Farther west in San Diego, no player was tagged, thus, wide receiver Vincent Jackson is up for grabs and the Bucs certainly could use a No. 1 wide receiver.

(Oh, and the Bucs hit kicker Connor Barth with the franchise tag.)

Additionally, if Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is so inclined, Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace can be had for the No. 5 overall pick.

OK Bucs fans, ready, set… go!

85 Responses to “Various Free Agents Now Up For Grabs”

  1. bucfanjeff Says:

    No to Wallace, but here’s what I see:
    VJax, Finnegan, Carr, Nicks – it’s doubtful we sign all of these players, BUT failure to sign Nicks and Carr or Finnegan would be failure – to me.
    Not landing any of these and the Bucs will have a PR nightmare on their hands. You can’t do nothing and have the most cap room of any team.

    Time to put their money where their mouth is.

    Bucs, you say you want to win?

    Prove it.

  2. Bryant Says:

    BUCS need Vincent. Mike Wallace might b better but steelers may ask for too much. We need to draft CLAYBORN. Add CB from titans and draft to solidified our D

  3. deminion Says:

    Nicks/ Grubbs and Carr plz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. deminion Says:

    oh yea and eddie Royal and Garcon!!!!!

  5. BucFan20 Says:

    The Bucs can throw all the money at any FA they want to. But if they all pull a Haynesworth what else does eneyone expect them to do??

  6. BKNYfootballhead Says:

    Mario Williams, Cortland Finnegan, Carl Nicks, Mike Tolbert
    Pretty please.

  7. raphael Says:

    I bet they end up with at least 2 out of 4 Bucfanjeff

  8. thomas 2.2 Says:

    Joe says:

    “Additionally, if Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is so inclined, Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace can be had for the No. 5 overall pick.”

    Great idea Joe: your rock star in the 2009 draft took Roy Miller in the 3rd round with Mike Wallace still on the board – only to be drafted by Pitt 4 picks later.

    Now you posit trading your coveted #5 overall first round gem pick (earned by going 4-12) for a player that you could have had 3 years ago for very little but instead wasted a pick on a bad defensive tackle.

    If you don’t think that he is bad: How is this for evidence, the genius (TIC) GM drafted 2 more DTs in the first and second round the very next year. BTW – all 3 have been very disappointing. And you all wonder why we are talent depleted in other areas?

    This is the guy who you stubbornely continue to call “rock star.”

  9. jvato24 Says:

    How in the world can nobody mention Curtis Lofton or Tulloch at MLB ??!?

    We had the worst LB core in the league last year and maybe the worst Bucs LB core ever ?? And no mention of a MLB ??

  10. jvato24 Says:

    All the teams passed up on Mike Wallace nearly 3 times you damn dope

  11. jb Says:

    I hope none of you are holding your breath until we sign one of these top tier free agents like Nicks, Jackson, Carr or Finnegan. I’ll believe it when I see a deal done.

  12. Dave Says:

    Personally I would like to see:

    CB Carr
    LG Nicks
    WR V. Jackson
    AND a pretty decent LB

    then

    draft Claiborne at CB
    a speedy RB
    a LB
    another WR and o_line depth

  13. K1ngAdroc Says:

    The last line of this post should have been:

    OK Bucs OWNERSHIP, ready, set… go!

  14. deminion Says:

    @jvato

    my bad Lofton plz!!!!!!!!!!!

  15. Brian W Says:

    Realistically, we will only get 1, maybe 2 marquee guys. Most likely a $10m+ corner, a cheap WR (royal) or mid (manningham). Add a medium high paid MLB ($7-9). Get Tolbert for $3-4m. That’s it, if we even spend that much. Nicks highly unlikely because we’re not that desperate. Garcon turned down $7m per from colts so he’s unlikely. Vjax is highly unlikely, $10 or 11 per already the parameters in SD, why would he come here, and why get him instead of corner?

    We don’t have enough cap space to sign all these guys in reality, even midlevel free agents, basically average starters are getting $5-7m per on extensions signed so far! We will need to leave $10 – 20 mil space for future re-signings as well. If…. big IF we get crazy, we can front load some contracts for FA this year , splashing $50-60 mil cash in bonuses (does that seem likely?) and have room later, but thats risky and not the way any NFL team has done business since the cap first came out.

  16. CreamsicleBananaHammock Says:

    Guys- there are NO real LB’s available. Tulloch is an upgrade but nothing great.

    And Lofton? Really? That guy stinks. We’d be blasting Dominik for signing him by week 3.

  17. Brian W Says:

    I’m not saying the Glazers are cheap, just that we will most likely not spend up to the cap, it just doesn’t make long term sense to get tied down to all these new guys and be handcuffed to 30 year olds a few years from now, while we risk losing DL and Freeman and WR’s when they come due for big money.

  18. Jim Says:

    @bucfan2o, you hit the nail on the head, it all depends on the player wanting to play here.
    Some may take less money to play for a better team/franchise.

  19. stevek Says:

    Nicks/ Grubbs; Carr and Finnegan…

    Signem Bucs….

    Honna have to spend the unspent cap by this time next year, why not invest a year earl and snag some YOUNG and TALENTED PLAYMAKERS.

  20. Theodore Says:

    With no salary floor in place, I doubt the Bucs sign any of these top FAs.

  21. Mr. Patrick Says:

    Alright Bucs, time to put your money where your mouth is, and not with just old-has-beens and young-never-will-be players. Personally, based on recent history, I’ll beleive it when I see it. PLEASE prove me wrong!

  22. Daniel Says:

    No dreaming the bucs need to make this a realilty. sign V Jax, Finnegan or Carr, Tulloch or Lofton maybe Nicks and then in the draft get cb,rb,rt,lb. I think if we can land 3 to 4 of these guys we will be headed in the right direction. Maybe another dt in fa also. I think those 3 or 4 guys will make everyone better from Freeman to T. Jackson. With 60+ million available, I think we could get V jax,Finnegan,Tulloch, easiley IF there willing to come to tampa we have the funds to get it done.

  23. Mr. Patrick Says:

    Oh, and please dont take other teams’ #2’s and #3’s and make them our #1’s.

  24. Bobby Says:

    @jvato….LOL! “All the teams passed up on Mike Wallace nearly 3 times you damn dope”

    That was EXACTLY what I thought when I read Thomas’ post. He is soooooo lame it’s painful.

  25. Northend Says:

    Bucs will go after alot of big names,we will only get a couple.i can see lofton,finnegan,maybe a run at the “hulk” laron landry and sime help along d line.hawthorne and henderson may make good depth 2nd tier fa,and garcon at wr.grubbs/nicks would b nice but a signing of williams would b beastly

  26. BigMacAttack Says:

    Nicks 1
    Carr 2
    V Jackson 3
    Finnegan 4
    Tulloch 5
    …..and I’d be elated with that!

    It would be nice to get Cadi back (for 3’rd downs)

  27. J 2.0 Says:

    The Bucs WILL NOT sign Nicks. That is all.

  28. BigMacAttack Says:

    Bowe would also be great and the Bucs can afford to pay all of them top dollar.

  29. BigMacAttack Says:

    @Thomas,

    LOL, you should take your act on the road.

  30. Daniel Says:

    BigMac Bowe got tagged today so he is off the market.

  31. BigMacAttack Says:

    Sorry didn’t see Bowe got tagged. VJ will do fine. Bust out the Checkbook!!!

  32. Rrsrq Says:

    When you think Bucs free agent signing and big names, think Chris Hovan, Keenan McCardell, Hardy Nickerson, Luke Pettigoat, Brad Johnson, Michael Pittman. None of these guys were at the top of the free agent list, but were serviceable pick ups, that trend will probably continue. They did get Simeon Rice but that was when they knew they were ready to go over the top, don’t forget he took a pay cut ( some funny contract with deferred money) to come here.

  33. Meh Says:

    Hoping for 2 big hits: Finnegan and Lofton. I’d be alright with any 2 big hits though. Thrilled with 3. Then add some lower tier depth.

  34. fernando Says:

    Cut Faine, move Zuttah to center
    Sign Nicks & Jackson
    draft Claiborne and RB james

  35. Thomas 2.2.. Says:

    Jvato, Bobby etc:

    Only one GM passed up on Mike Wallace in the 3rd round to instead draft Roy Miller. That same offseason he gave Mike Clayton a 20plus million dollar contract.

    Both brilliant decisions. Lol

  36. Capt.Tim Says:

    Brian W( danger- glazer alert- Glazer Alert)
    WHAT?? No, really! WHAT??

    We are 32nd in payroll. DEAD . . LAST. .
    And you are concerned we might ” overspend ” on 30 year olds, and run out of money?

    31 teams spend more than us, every year, for the past 7 years.
    Most of them spend ALOT more than this cheapass team.

    I think we will survive, iF they spend any money- which I doubt!!!

    Is that Brian W. Glazer? Jus wondering

  37. Thomas 2.2.. Says:

    And then drafted 2 more dts the next year in the first 2 rounds, all 3 busts so far.

  38. Big Picture Guy Says:

    Thomas, your posts don’t get smarter, the more often u post them.

  39. Big Picture Guy Says:

    I almost guarantee we will get no marquee free agents. **Newsflash** we aren’t the only ones with money! But, we are one of the few teams with a crap record over the last few years going back to Gruden, and an unproven current head coach.

    If you’re a FA and you want to win a superbowl, your DEFINITELY NOT signing in Tampa Bay.

  40. jvato24 Says:

    Thomas … I am not saying Dominik is GM of the year … just that looking back at the draft is woulda shoulda coulda … Dominik was and I believe still may be the youngest GM on the league and has been pretty good at drafting … I like the fact he wants to focus on the D-Line and have a power running game.

    He needs help with FAs, but appears to be a step better at getting coaches, Atleast the HC with Schiano.

    This year is make or break for DOminik and I believe the first time he has had an opportunity to spend.

  41. jvato24 Says:

    Mike Tolbert would be a GREAT pickup … under the radar … But I guarantee he will be on the radar of the Defenses he is plowing over for the next few years.

  42. Bucfasho Says:

    They to go get Nicks , Mario Williams and Jackson Then draft Claiborne

  43. J 2.0 Says:

    For everyone wanting Nicks. Not going to happen, we just signed Zuttah and rest assured Faine will not be released. For everyone wanting Mario Williams. Not going to happen, we already have Clayborn, Bowers, and Bennett. We aren’t breaking the bank there. For everyone wanting Vincent Jackson. Not going to happen, the Bucs truly belive Mike Williams is a #1 wideout and will look to compliment him with a solid #3. I sure hope I am wrong on Jackson.

  44. Phenom4498 Says:

    Nicks and VJax will cost ALOT…..too much, I do agree with Nicks because it is a position that can be productive the majority of the time. However in the case of VJax, who is to say he will be as productive in Tampa as he was in SD, spending big money (which both players will want because they know we have the cap space) is a huge risk and signing them both could cost us major cap issues if we spend too much right now. Many of my fellow Buc fans are talking crazy with wanting to sign the top names in FA cause we have the cap space. Remember we have “our own” players to re-sign in the near future. I agree with those who say that signing the affordable players would be better to fill in the holes and give us some leadership and depth.

  45. BigMacAttack Says:

    I disagree with the premise that any of these top 5 or 6 FA’s will cost too much. The Bucs can sign them all and still have cap space. They also structure the contracts to spend the cap fully this year and pay them less in the following years to free up future cap space to re-sign their own draft picks and free agents like freeman. These are mostly all proven players that can turn this francheese back into a real franchise. And no way that was Brian Glazer posting because he is way smarter than that dude.

  46. BigMacAttack Says:

    It is also foolish to knock players when they turn 30 if they are studs that can play. Ray Lewis is good example of a player like Ronde that knows how to protect himself and take care of his body. I remember a few years ago when Ray Ray was a FA for the Ravens and no one would sign him, but the Ravens finally reached a deal with him for less. I wanted Chucky & Brucy to sign Ray in the worst way to play next to Derrick Brooks but the Bucs wouldn’t even take a whiff. Ray has been nothing but productive since that time and he is still the Poo.

  47. BigMacAttack Says:

    The Bucs can also get rid of their dead weight and easily free another $20Mill or so in cap space. The Cap in no way applies to what the Bucs need to do or what they are willing to do. It is just a matter of if they continue their CHEAP WAYS or if the pony up and finally put their FANS’ hard earned money where their mouths are. The cheap crap is really getting old and if they don’t spend big the fans will further defect from the CITS.

    Besides, we have excellent OTHER options. The Rays will be strong this year and I’m no baseball fan but I have started watching them. How can you not? And the Lightning are bouncing back and building for the future the right way. So we have many other options to spend our money if the Glazers are STUPID!!!!!!!

  48. BigMacAttack Says:

    Whatever. They haven’t even done anything yet and I’m getting p.o’d all over again, because of their past cheap ways. And this new coaching staff still needs to prove their worth before they get a vote of confidence.

  49. K1ngAdroc Says:

    K2 can’t block and can’t get much separation – hard to believe he would be part of the new run first and take shots mentality.

    Faine’s arguably a leader, helps with protections and his cap hit is lower this yr vs. last yr. ( I think it’s 3.8M) which is why he will be here next yr.

    I would like to see in FA pickup:

    1. CB – Carr / Finnagan – we don’t really have a choice and either of these guys are no brainers. If we don’t get one of these guys our ownership is jerking all of the Bucs fans chains.

    2. LB – Lofton or Tulloch are both proven run stopping fiery leaders. Lofton can cover on 3 downs… remember, we always have Q

    3. WR – Vincent Jackson – we have to get more playmakers and I think this pickup would make all of our receivers better (drawing double teams, speed and possession) – If we can’t get him we shouldn’t waste money on a #2,3

    We have money to spend and there are multiple guys at our needed positions that are proven playmakers. Time to put up

  50. Jim Says:

    Butch Davis, next GM???

  51. Big Marlon B Says:

    for everyone begging to get Mario Williams….

    i understand teams like to rotate d-linemen, but we already have 3 very solid d ends with a ton of upside. if u throw a ton of $ at Mario Williams, how will u get each of the 4 in for enough snaps to remain effective?? listen, i love Mario Williams and think he is one of the top defensive players in the game. but it is simply a stupid idea to sign him. d end might be the ONLY position group on the team that can be considered deep, or a strength. this team needs to throw $ at OTHER positions to strengthen and balance the ENTIRE team. just because he is a big name doesn’t make it a good signing.

  52. AMART Says:

    Cant we trade our second and a fifth for the giants 32nd pick and use that 1st round pick to get Wallace or is that illegal, otherwise he might be worth it!????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  53. BKNYfootballhead Says:

    @J 2.0
    Mario Williams is an upgrade for any defense in the league. He’s twice the price, but even more the man than any Buccaneer.
    He’s capable in a two point stance. A leader in the locker room. Hell, in his prime.
    The money’s there.
    Sorry, need a better reason to say why we don’t need Mario Williams, other than just naming our 3 best defensive ends. Bennett looked capable at Tackle, too.
    Maybe the Giants don’t need his services?

  54. Brian W Says:

    Capt. Tim :

    Maybe I’m BrianGlazer…. probably not! However we both know how to do math better than most of the dreamers here thinking that we can sign more than 2 superstar contracts. I did say in my earlier post that we need a lot of help this FA period, and it won’t be cheap. I really think people generally underestimate exactly how much these marquee guys cost, even average FA’s too, that’s all.

    Our payroll is low because we are young. We’re young because the older guys are no good or gone, thanks to crappy Bruce Allen drafts.

    To everyone that thinks we are the cheapest team in the league, the Chiefs have more cap space! We are 2nd cheapest, bust out the champaigne!!! (Wait, make that sparkling wine in the box). Also, 2 or 3 teams are near us too.

    Who should we have spent money on last year, Ruud? He stunk in Tennessee and they don’t want him back. The year before, Antonio Bryant? He never played a down after we let him go. There was no one worth it last year because of lockout rules extending restricted FA term for players. If you don’t understand that, you’re not paying attention. So they saved for this year…..simple as that. They were overconfident in our young guys (coach too) and paid for it on the field.

  55. Bill Says:

    Amart, we would have to give up the pick that is originally ours. Thats why it makes so much sense for the Pats to go after Wallace. They would be giving up the 31st pick and still have another first rounder that is higher than the one they gave up.

  56. J 2.0 Says:

    @ Brian W
    Jonathan Joseph!!!!!!

  57. Northend Says:

    Laron Landry workout video. Dude is a beastttttt!!! Here is the link

    http://misterirrelevant.com/index.php/2012/03/02/laron-landry-shirtless-workout-video/

  58. BigMacAttack Says:

    Don’t forget Nnamdi last year,

    If you have $60Mill in cap space and can only sign 2 players, you’re an idiot, which obviously you are Brian. It actually equates to more than $60 Mill in player salaries, so you should really quit while you’re ahead because you have no clue, and you damn sure AIN”T Brian Glazer. So don’t act like it LaMont, you big Dummy!!!

  59. Brain Says:

    Finnegan is a must. Tulloch would also be nice. Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks are only good for the right price imo. Nicks is a stud but he wants to be paid like one…I just don’t know if we should commit that much cap space to an OG. Joseph is great but still not worthy of a 1st round pick…OGs just don;t impact the game that much. Jackson is good but he’s already 29 and may not fit in the locker room well.

    The Mario Williams talk is ridiculous. You don’t just buy a good football team. Williams is a beast but he’s coming off a major injury and we have THREE good young DEs (assuming Bennett is resigned). If we trade Clayborn then I’d approve of a Williams signing. Clayborn could get overvalued cause other teams don’t know how much he sucked against the run at times.

  60. js1506 Says:

    My dream pickups: Cb Carr, Lb Lofton and RbTorain… Maybe Vincent Jackson (Not sold on him completely)

  61. GenocideD Says:

    Mario Williams??? lol We’ll be super duper lucky to land two of the big named FAs and we’re certainly not going to bring in a 4th DE when we spent our first two picks on DEs last year. Crazytalk…

    I’d love Nicks but we won’t go after him and I agree with the above statement from somebody that Faine will remain and Zuttah will be at LG. I think we’ll land Finnegan and draft Richardson. I hope we don’t. I hope we draft Claiborne(and wish we landed Nicks). Finnegan and a #2 WR is going to be the best we see, IMO. I hope I’m wrong.

  62. Brian W Says:

    BigMacAttack, relax. I said all along we need 4 or 5 FA’s plus draft pick. 2 free agents maximum will be making $10m plus a year. That’s all we’ll do, although I said all along as well that we obviously could afford to sign more, but we won’t. IMO we’ll grab 2 $10 plus (if we can convince them to come), plus 2 or 3 guys making $4-7m each. What’s so hard to understand about that?

    I think it makes more sense to spend big at CB and MLB, spend middle range on FB, WR, and SS. Add draft picks and extend Williams, Freeman, Blount?, and Tjax? next year. Depending on performance of our own guys, you’ll be at the cap before you know it.

  63. Have A Nice Day Says:

    There are a lot of solid free agents this year. G, WR, and CB are thick. I’d take one of all three if I had the kind of money the Glazer’s have. And I’m not talking only three. I’m talking Finnegan type starters and Royal type depth.

  64. Capt.Tim Says:

    Brian W- well worded.nice response.
    But I got this.
    7 years ago, we weren’t young, we were one of the oldest teams! And still the cheapest payroll!!
    And this going young theory they keep using as their latest excuse to be cheap, – going young isn’t the goal. Oddly, WINNING FOOTBALL GAMES is the goal. If getting talented young players works- then lets do it!!

    But we’ve been the YOUNGEST team for three years- and, um, WE SUCK! Worst football I’ve seen in years last season.

    Before that- OLD GUYS that sucked

    Here’s my theory- call me crazy if ya like!
    I believe that {let it build!!} TALENTED PLAYERS win football games!
    Buuut, that’s the problem! They cost alot of money!
    And our ownership seems to want to win- but only if we can do it with the cheapest players and Coaching staff that money can avoid!

    Last year- yeah- signing Nnamandi or Joseph would have made a huge difference! Signing Ruud was the smart thing to do- we won 10 games with him, 4 without him( and Caddy) . That was only changes- unless you count the punter!! And the titans thought enough of him, to cut Stephen Tullockhenhouse we also needed. lots of great guards, Rts, Safeties, and the rare shut down corners!

    Yet our team cheaply avoided the best FA class in history- and wasted the season, due to horrible LBers and Secondary. Which they knew!

    And did nothing!

    No salary cap floor this year? Expect more nothing. They will convieniently say they ” barely lost out” on talented players. They may sign one good one- but mostly it’ll be scrubs. Theyll proclaim them heroes. But it’ll be scrubs

    And we will have the lowest payroll for players and coaches again
    Hope in wrong- bet I’m not

  65. Capt.Tim Says:

    ” Stephen Tullock, who we also needed!”
    Sometimes, iPhone “self correct “seems almost possessed!

  66. BKNYfootballhead Says:

    Ok, no Mario Williams.
    After all, the Bucs have so much money tied up at defensive end, and the line got to the quarterback so much last season. And the season before that.
    Right.
    It’s not lunacy.

  67. Brian W Says:

    I agree with you for the most part Capt.Tim. I do have to say that Ruud and Caddy are not any good anymore. Would they have been better than Lumpkin and Foster, obviously! Management screwed up big time last year, thinking that they could win cheap. Alas, it was too good to be true and 10-6 was a mirage. I hope that they can see the error of their ways and spend the money now.

    As far as last year’s FA class, it was the worst of the modern era. That is not my opinion of the talent, it a consensus now, and was at the time. 2 reasons, 1 was that the cap had gone up about $20 mil a year for 3 years in a row (allowing teams to resign anyone decent). 2nd reason, the end of the CBA pushed all the younger would be FA’s into restricted FA, meaning many were forced to re-sign at discount for a few years, keeping them off the market.

    Patience is tough to have, but it’s all led up to this FA period, this year, NEXT WEEK! As a lifelong fan, I hope they don’t let me down and go spend that sweeeeeeeet mullah!!

  68. 941Buc Says:

    [941: That was just a bit overboard, don’t you think? — Joe]

  69. Patrick Says:

    We need a good solid backup DT as well!

    McCoy and Price can’t stay healthy.

  70. Capt.Tim Says:

    Brian- on this we agree- I hope they don’t let us down. Despite my cynicism, I am a Bucs fan- and want this team to win!

    I hope they sign some great players- and restore faith to this fan base!
    That would be like Christmas in March.

  71. 941Buc Says:

    Come on Joe! I didn’t curse in my last post, unless asses is a curse. If it is u are a hypocrite by showing t and a every morning. Why did you delete my post? The Glazers care more about Man U than the Bucs and that is a fact. We are their cash cow. Can’t believe you censored that.

  72. 941Buc Says:

    So disappointed you removed that. They don’t spend money and until they do I wont spend a dime on the team. The Bucs are simply the cash roll for Man U. Plain and simple.

  73. Joe Says:

    941:

    They don’t spend money and until they do I wont spend a dime on the team.

    This would be news to Mike Nugent, Connor Barth, Michael Clayton, Quincy Black, Gerald McCoy, Kellen Winslow among others who have received handsome paydays from Team Glazer in the past three years.

    That’s not even counting $20 million flushed down the toilet to pay Bruce Almighty and Chucky to fish and golf for a living.

  74. Joe Says:

    941:

    Come on Joe! I didn’t curse in my last post, unless asses is a curse.

    You got personal, which is a big difference than standard critique.

    You can be critical of Team Glazer all you want. But to go overboard like you did is not cool for a lot of reasons Joe hopes you would be able to recognize.

  75. tommy Says:

    thank you to joe, and thank you to all our true fans!!!! cant wait for 2012!!!

  76. GenocideD Says:

    BKNY, the focus right now isn’t whether our current starting Dline can get to the QB. It’s defending against the long bombs, LBs that can tackle and pass protect, and it’s figuring out how to find/develop WRs to get open and catch the balls thrown to them. I’m all for getting another DT in the later rounds of the draft for some depth(maybe even another DE) but we shouldn’t be dropping mad cash for something that isn’t a glaring need, ATM.

  77. Brian Says:

    Manchester United!!! We all might as well become fans because what’s good for them is good for the Bucs, right?

    We have to guess at the Bucs profit, but lets try. $120 cap, thats 50% of revenue. So team Glazer has $120m to pay coaches, staff, ticket salesman, marketing ect. They may take home more if they spend less on players though. Bucs are valued at $600m-800m.

    Manchester United takes in up to 50m british pounds (1.6 dollars each) every quarter, publicly reported, after debt payments. It fluctuates wildly as players are bought and sold as opposed to drafted. On field success increases revenue as well, by playing extra tournament games on TV. If they only make half of that 200m pounds it’s still more $ than the Bucs possibly could. Proof in the pudding is they are valued at $1.86Billion according to Forbes on CNBC.com today (more than twice the Bucs value). How are companies/entities valued?…….. by how much money they make year after year.

    Case closed, they’re separate and not equal. We are the minor league hobby team, they are the cash cow.

  78. Pete Dutcher Says:

    Brain
    Trade Clayborn?????? You need a transplant.

    BigMacAttack
    You really are a Ray of sunshine.

    It won’t happen, but Mario would be a smart move…a Simeon move.

    I hate to break it to you people, but just because a player is the best free agent at his position, it doesn’t mean he’s actually good. None of the CBs in this FA class are good (better than Biggers though).

    My list is a bit different than most:
    Nicks
    Colston
    Bush

    All offense. Address defense in the draft…except for a few mid-level guys or Mario.

    The problem here is that you guys are looking at the team overall instead of looking at the units. The offense is closest tocompletion, so it makes sense to spend on it.

  79. 941Buc Says:

    Joe the guys you listed are B level players. When is the last time we got a star in free agency?

  80. Pete Dutcher Says:

    Faine was an A+ when we first got him.

  81. Pete Dutcher Says:

    And actually, our punter last year.

  82. Patrick Says:

    Yeah they spend money…..but they waste it on sh!tty players! That doesn’t count!!

  83. Shmuckaneer Says:

    V Jax and Lofton are they most needed. I would love to see Finnegan or Carr, and I won’t complain if either come. But if they’re drafting Claiborne at #5 then CB is a less glaring hole. So spend the big FA dollars on V Jax and Lofton(or Tulloch) and use the remainder of the cap room to add depth and sign draft picks. That may not be the “sexy” thing to do, but IMO it’s the smart thing to do.

  84. Stevek Says:

    @ Brian W.

    Pretty please lock us down 2 “superstar contracts”.

    Lord have mercy, Tebowing right now:
    Carl Nicks and Mario Williams. That is 2 “Superstars”, and with a good draft could immediately get this thing back on track.

    Please trade back and acquire the “best player available” with each gained pick.

  85. Stevek Says:

    @ Dutch Boy,

    O’l Faine WAS a superior talent at the time of purchase.

    Time to part ways.