Brent Grimes Not With Bucs Not A Surprise
March 31st, 2013
Hey, Joe was like most Bucs fans when the free agent dinner bell rang not quite three weeks ago: Go get Brent Grimes!
Joe beat the drum as much as Bucs fans. The woeful collection of Bucs corners desperately needed an upgrade; even Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik noted this on SiriusXM NFL Radio. He wasn’t blind.
Hours sent by. Days turned to weeks. The clock continued to thump along. Yet the Bucs made no move towards Grimes, coming off an ugly Achilles heel injury.
Then Joe started to hear rumors. One that stuck in Joe’s head was that Grimes, who is but 5-9, was known for defending much taller receivers with his leaping ability. That skill apparently, Joe heard, was lost with his Achilles injury.
Joe wasn’t the only one hearing stories. eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune had traveled to the Valley of the Sun for the NFL owners meetings and while mingling with agents, coaches and fellow writers, gathered intelligence about Grimes as well, as he Twittered early last week.
@IKaufmanTBO: Some of the things I’m hearing about Brent Grimes suggest he wouldn’t make the grade as a Buccaneer Man for Greg Schiano. Scratch him
So when Joe learned yesterday that Grimes signed with the Dolphins, Kaufman’s words — and Joe’s source — proved to be prophetic.
As Joe has written countless times before, it is clear Dominik did/does not value what is out there on the market for free agent corners, certainly not what they were asking.
If the Darrelle Revis swap falls through, surely Dominik has a Plan-C. He’s not a foolish man. Joe’s pretty sure Dominik believes Eric Wright and two top-tier drafted cornerbacks are as valuable as the current free agents walking the sidewalks with resumes in hand.
March 31st, 2013 at 8:31 am
I think the Revis deal is going to happen. I am glad we passed on Grimes.
March 31st, 2013 at 8:42 am
Tough decision, but it sounds like the right one.
Grimes may not ever be the same player, but let’s just wait and see.
I hope we can get Revis.
March 31st, 2013 at 8:50 am
Hey, Joe was like most Bucs fans when the free agent dinner bell rang not quite three weeks ago: Go get Brent Grimes!
+++++++++++++++++++++
I think most of the intelligent Bucs fans knew that it’s hard to come back at 29 from an Achilles injury and weren’t all aboard on going after him.
I also think you don’t speak for MOST Bucs fans that want Revis. Most of the intelligent Bucs fans know the possibility that Revis’s injury, salary demands, and me-first attitude is not worth the 1st and 3rd trade demands. Like many Bucs fans, I don’t want him.
March 31st, 2013 at 8:59 am
Isn’t Revis also coming off an ACL injury? Won’t he have the same issues as Grimes? Am I missing something here? Our staff better take a close look at Mr. Revis before putting pen to paper. I’m still very worried about the “Me First” attitude from Revis and the locker room issues it may cause. Also take into account we will pay dearly and give up draft picks as well. To me that’s too many red flags here for Revis trade. Just does not feel right.
Happy Easter all me fellow Bucs fans!
March 31st, 2013 at 9:02 am
The Bucs never said that Grimes was “Plan B”. If they would have wanted him, they would have signed him.
March 31st, 2013 at 9:02 am
If he only got a 1 year deal, something is up with him. I hope the draft is another great one. Revis aside, I hope we can trade down with the 49ers or Vikings, pick up another premium pick and make another blast.
March 31st, 2013 at 9:05 am
I want revis as much as the next man. But although most fans do not like wright I think he serviceable and with either revis and 1 draft pick or 2draft picks it will be a major upgrade to what we had . The truth is if wright was around instead stunned from the stadium for 4 games we might have pulled off 1 or 2 wins more and maybe playoffs?
March 31st, 2013 at 9:10 am
Happy Easter Gents!
Barron,Martin,David,= our first three draft pics last year, all were captains of their team and all showed tons of leadership on and off the field.
Fact is, grimes isn’t that guy and shiano and dom don’t need another project after aqib talib, wrights adderall, and bowers bring his gun into an airport. Headache has been prevented before it started…
Enjoy your day with your families fans…
March 31st, 2013 at 9:11 am
The team to have watched in the Grimes FA was Atlanta. Atlanta was and probably still is on the cusp of the SB. They lost (or didn’t want) secondary in FA this year. They know Grimes and pre-injury what he was capable of. With Asante Samuel aging, they could use CB help.
Atlanta didn’t lose Grimes, they never tried to seriously re-sign him. After the release of several older, but expensive players, they had the necessary cap space to re-sign Grimes.
They have a savy and risk-taking GM in Dimitroff. Their position regarding Grimes was telling. I’m glad the Bucs stayed away too!
March 31st, 2013 at 9:29 am
Translation:
Getting this player would have required spending money, and the Bucs are dead set against spending much of the 27 million that they technically could (about to be 3 million after they cut Wright).
This franchise is an embarrassment, just as many of the beat writers that cover it (excluding Joe, of course).
March 31st, 2013 at 9:29 am
How many of these “oh we didn’t way this guy anyway” stories is Joe capable of writing? More importantly, how many can he write with a straight face?
March 31st, 2013 at 9:29 am
*35 million
March 31st, 2013 at 9:31 am
Robbie_G,
Has been reading the tea leaves. With the trade of Percy Harvin to Seattle, both the 49ers and the Vikings are hot after Tavon Austin. They have got to get ahead of the Rams to be in position to get him.
That puts the Bucs in great position to trade down and still get a Rhodes or Trufant now that Miami has taken Grimes. Not predicting, just speculating!
March 31st, 2013 at 9:36 am
Was thinkin the same thing…if we lose out on Revis, how long will it be before we get the story that we didnt really want Revis anyway, you know, the bad knee and the “me-first” instead of team first. Way to much compensation….Laughable
March 31st, 2013 at 9:38 am
There is a huge difference in an ACL and an Achilles. I am.on.board with the Revis move it.is a risk but one worth taking, remember this guy is the best player at his position in the league and many players come back from ACL surgery just fine. I am concerned they will work out a long term deal.which he won’t like in 2-3 yrs and then holdout, but I think it is worth the risk IF they can use next year’s pick which hopefully will be in the high 20’s. I would love to see a dt at #13 then trade up for trufant and grab tyron Mathieu in the 3rd. then even if their is a contract issue we still have the young studs.
March 31st, 2013 at 9:40 am
Again, better coaching, maturation, and preparation will help the secondary. I’m not all in Revis because of the opportunity costs and compensation versus the future.
You still have many young players that have to be resigned and remember we are not one player away. I wouldn’t mind nnamdi at this point in a majority man scheme. However, compromising the future is just not wise.
I’m not sure what will happen in the draft but I would support drafting for value instead of need. In other words, a great player or game breaker at 13 beats reaching for someone out of desperation.
I like Eifert, Tavon Austin, DE or DT, CB (elite) only with our first pick.
March 31st, 2013 at 9:51 am
in reality we need 3 drafts were we hit on nearly every pic to get to where we need to go as a team. With a GM who dosent have an eye for talent its kinda asking a bit much. you cant build a team by over paying for free agents every year.
March 31st, 2013 at 10:06 am
Hey Sean, Happy Easter buddy. Yep, an achilles injury for a CB is a bigger deal. Dont get me wrong, ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL are crucial when injured too, but not as bad as the achilles.
Im just ready for the draft to get here. The backfield will be fine. And we’ll land Revis next year (hopefully healthy). If we draft Eifert 1st, thats the crucial 3rd option we’ve been missing in our Offense and will really open it up. Hopefully Wright is healthy and playing hard, we have Goldson, we’ll pick a CB or 2 in the draft (need Mathieu), and with Eifert our O can outscore the other teams (long as the bad Freeman stays away).
March 31st, 2013 at 10:12 am
That “Buccaneer Man” excuse is a huge get-out-jail-free card. It is completely arbitrary and vague. The Bucs brass and the media can latch on to it whenever they like and it’s perfectly acceptable. “He’s just not a Buccaneer Man.” Oh… Well… That makes sense! Carry on, Fine Sir.
March 31st, 2013 at 10:52 am
According to Rick Stroud, the Bucs have visited with Trufant and you guessed it – the Honey Badger.
March 31st, 2013 at 11:01 am
“Most intelligent Buc fans”
Get the hell out of hear with that nonsense.
Unless you are Ms.Cleo the truth is that nobody can say that Grimes won’t come back to be the dominant CB he was who made Freeman’s life a living hell for so long. So many people acting like the guy is 50 yrs old is laughable or that there is no such thing as a process called healing lol. I’m going to be watching Grimes intently to see whether or not we struck out on this one like IMO I think we did.
March 31st, 2013 at 11:13 am
“They” say, The hardest pass to complete is a pass to a WIDE OPEN receiver down field. Looks like BUCS have embraced that Philosophy and are willing to Allow opponent QBs to have mental trauma trying to decide which Wide Open receiver to lob the pigskin. May the Target Rich Buc secondary will make QBs get greedy and toss passes to the 2 guys Bucs have back there!
Oh yeah.. Honey Badger! Maybe “Marky D” should pull Rutger Greg’s shirt tail tuh brief him on that guy he immediatly cut upon his hiring last season “Hippy Lettuce” Jackson! Bucs (Been there, done that, got a T-Shirt). Bongs & Bucs don’t Mix
March 31st, 2013 at 11:20 am
“The buccaneer man” is out philosophy right now.shiano has proved that traded Talib and price kicked off the team.deal with it or get over it.
March 31st, 2013 at 11:21 am
*our not out
March 31st, 2013 at 11:36 am
Good thing the “intelligent fans” in MN did not get to say the fate of Peterson…Just saying, the docs on the team may have evaluated Grimes and were not happy, along with 30 other teams not willing to take the risk. A one year deal shows Miami sees a risk, but is willing to see it out. The same goes with Revis, no fan, even the so called “intelligent” ones know what is going to happen with his knee. PR is correct.
Also, Joe has been cautious about the Revis trade from day one…he is always writing about the risk due to injury. I personally am all for Revis, and I could not care less how much money the team gives him.
March 31st, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Whew!! Another CB FA bullet dodged by The Pop Star. This guy is destined for greatness.
March 31st, 2013 at 6:29 pm
People really love to talk out of their arse. Comparing an Achilles injury to an ACL? Really? If you don’t know what you are talking about, just don’t say anything, because anything further you say just goes ignored.
And when has Revis ever been accused of having a me first attitude? He’s one of the most liked and respected players on the Jets by both teammates and coaches, yet idiots on JBF like to pop off at the mouth without any knowledge. There’s a lot I’m capable of doing, but I can’t fix stupidity and ignorance. Get a clue people!
March 31st, 2013 at 6:31 pm
I’d be willing to bet the same ones complaining that Revis wants too much money are the same ones complaining for a raise at their job.
March 31st, 2013 at 8:44 pm
The Saints took a risk when they signed Drew Brees the first time.
It paid off.