Bucs Add Mike Jenkins
March 20th, 2014
Updated: 4:29 p.m.: It sure looks like Lovie Smith has no desire to relive the horror of the 2012 Buccaneers secondary. Anything resembling the fearsome foursome, “E.J., Leonard, Danny and LeQuan” is unlikely to see the field on Lovie’s watch.
Today, per NFL Network, the Bucs signed former Pro Bowler Mike Jenkins, the former 2008 first-round pick out of the University of South Florida.
Jenkins spent 2013 in NFL hell: Oakland, where he started 15 games and had 65 tackles and two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Joe didn’t watch much of the Raiders and doesn’t know what Jenkins has left in his tank, but cornerback depth is critical. Joe surely trusts former stud cornerback and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, as well as former defensive backs coach Lovie Smith. It’ll be interesting to see the terms of Jenkins’ contract. That might give a clue as to what the Bucs really think of Jenkins right now.
Lovie did recently say he doesn’t typically pursue backups in free agency, so perhaps Jenkins is here to compete for the No. 2 job.
Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports says Jenkins bagged $1.5 million plus $500,000 in incentives.
March 20th, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Woo hoo. USF son! Im so juiced up right now.
March 20th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
We lost Hester though. Just signed with Atlanta. Guess we will see him twice a year now ;(
March 20th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Bradenton Stand Up!!!
March 20th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Much needed depth at cb position.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Roster overhaul, hopefully he returns to probowl form in the Lovie/Leslie system
March 20th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Joe: Nickel is basically a starter. Maybe or maybe not better than banks, but certainly better than everyone else.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:01 pm
Joe:
1 year; $1.5M
March 20th, 2014 at 4:01 pm
Also, 1.5 million with another 500k in incentives. Per FPT.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, the deal is worth $1.5 million.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Seahawks getting Jared Allen is ridiculous. I don’t see them losing more than 3 games next year. What a behemoth of a defense they’ll have.
As to Jenkins, he can’t be worse than the scrubs already back there. I think he’s got a decent chance to start opposite Verner, Banks was pretty unimpressive last year.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Sounds like $1.5M/year with an additional $500k in incentives. Sounds like nickel CB w/ the opportunity to compete for #2 CB money to me. Which also makes me feel so much more comfortable should the injury bug hit and we need our nickel to step up and start. Last few years I would cringe if a DB limped or got a concussion, because i knew there was nobody worth anything behind him to step up. Now we have 3, and I can live with that.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Now sign DE Robert Ayers!! (5.5 sacks 2013) Value Pick!
March 20th, 2014 at 4:07 pm
S Chris Clemons would be another Value Picks at this point
March 20th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
good for depth, we just need him because we only got so few draft picks. usually, just like coach lovie smith said, you go for starters/starter rotation guys in FA first, because they demand much more money than a rookie. With draft picks, you get your star players in the first two rounds if u are lucky, and depth and situational guys in the later ones.. I am sad Bucs couldn´t get a Cromartie to play here the 2nd CB or competing with Verner for the 1st CB spot.. but Jenkins is okay on that kind of contract..
March 20th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Definitely your new starting nickel CB. No way was Jenkins brought in here to be the starting second CB. Banks has the potential to become an elite CB and I believe he will flourish in Lovie’s system. I could very well see Verner and Banks in the pro-bowl together at one point. However, very good signing indeed. This is going to be a very dangerous defense next year and will be one best in the league in the turnover department. Top-5/top-10 defense, mark my words.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
I like this signing. When Dallas got him instead of Tampa, I was a bit steamed, but let’s face it. He may he been ruined by the coaches we had.
At 28 he may have 507 years left in the tank. He should be entering his prime years right now, and if he’s trained right he can do well.
At worse, he is solid CB depth, which we really, really need.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
They should have taken him instead of Talib anyway.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Bradentucky! Even though it’s Southeast, not Manatee. 🙂 Hope he can resurrect his play.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:16 pm
lion Says
“Definitely your new starting nickel CB. No way was Jenkins brought in here to be the starting second CB.”
Um, don’t fool yourself. Jenkins is not starting caliber. Lovie may be able to turn things around for him, but he’s only had 1 in 6 good years.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:19 pm
Maybe Jenkins will be the nickel corner. It’s practically a starting position in todays NFL.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:21 pm
i have hope for Banks (considering CB is one of the toughest transition positions in the NFL for rookies). He looked decent last year and i love his length (nohomo).
I can easily see Varner and Jenkins starting and Jenkins moving into the slot on passing downs to allow Banks to stay outside. It’ll give him some more time to come along slowly and be a solid #2 next year…
March 20th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Hopefully Jenkins will play hard for his hometown fans. We definately need the depth….and makes our draft less dependent on CB which was a need. This was a very good signing…
March 20th, 2014 at 4:28 pm
L&L are doing just fine.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Celly Says
“(nohomo)”
rofl!
March 20th, 2014 at 4:37 pm
We’re getting a lot of discarded players.
The Pats do it all the time and seem to get the best out of them. I hope Lovie does too.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:38 pm
It does seem like they are addressing defense mostly. I think they go offense in round 1 unless Clowney falls to us.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
I really like this signing. Low risk contract all the better!
March 20th, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Richie Incognito is a guard and we could use a pro bowler(2012) on OL……just sayin’. Lovie and our crew could keep him in line. Although I wouldn’t want to run into him out at the club…or anywhere really. But we could let him out on Sundays to do his thing.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Richie Incognito would come cheap too and play hard to squeeze a few more pay checks out of his football career.
March 20th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Wow, I’m so excited to hear Buc news, instead of speculation of the downfall of Glennon!
March 20th, 2014 at 5:03 pm
507 years left in his tank huh…
lolol
March 20th, 2014 at 5:04 pm
lol I’ll be damned if that bigoted troll joins our beloved Bucs.
No thanks to Richie
March 20th, 2014 at 5:08 pm
He’s worth the money simply because it pushes Leonard Johnson further down the depth chart and hopefully out of a uniform if we draft another corner
March 20th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
What about DJ Moore. I feel like everyone is forgetting about him. Didn’t he have 4 interceptions in 2012 his last year with lovie. Don’t be surprised if he wins the nickle job. We are set at corner with some very good depth.
March 20th, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Guess Taylor Lewan will fall in the draft
Charges with 3 with 3 misdemeanor offenses. smh
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000335707/article/star-ot-taylor-lewan-charged-with-3-misdemeanor-offenses
March 20th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
if he’s better than banks, we did a poor job scouting banks. rod marinelli & monte kiffin didn’t see much use in keeping him in dallas when they took over, a fellow 4-win team in oakland didn’t want him, and he signed with us for relatively low dollars. whatever his draft status was 6 years ago, if jenkins beats out our second round pick for playing time, he’s not much of a pick.
March 20th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
There are now 11 CB’s signed on the roster!! Banks better be lifting weights.
March 20th, 2014 at 6:06 pm
Big Ups!! to Dashon “The Hawk” Goldson for hiring tackling guru @BOBBYHOSEA (http://www.trainemupacademy.org)
March 20th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
Another decent depth signing on defense. BUT.. it looks like in the draft our choices will be either a QB that will not start a DE/LB (KAHLIL or MACK) that don’t fit our system or an OL. Nothing I can see on offense that will scare ANYONE. We needed Sanders to at least give us 3 receivers.
March 20th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
^^^^^^Who is Sanders?
March 20th, 2014 at 6:32 pm
I like this signing
March 20th, 2014 at 6:38 pm
We can only HOPE..the structure will do him good…..Dallas-Oakland
March 20th, 2014 at 6:42 pm
@ brandonbucfan
Or….WR……Sammy @ 7…..
March 20th, 2014 at 6:53 pm
Gil Byrd will have this guy in the pro bowl. Got the skills. Needs a Tampa2 coach and needs to avoid injury. Good pick up. Could become great pick up!
March 20th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
I’m not sure why the homers are hooting it up because we signed a USF product. I could care less, if Jenkins can still actually play then I’m happy. If he can’t, get his sorry butt out of here.
March 20th, 2014 at 7:19 pm
is there enough information to inform everyone how Dashon Goldson has hired a “Tackling” Coach”, this off season, so he can avoid all egregious fines and subsequent suspension that he was forced to endure last season?
March 20th, 2014 at 7:25 pm
20 posts telling us the salary – – when did twitter get merged into this?
March 20th, 2014 at 7:26 pm
@brandonbucfan
Don’t worry, this draft is deep with wide receivers with better value than sanders. We will draft one or two.
March 20th, 2014 at 7:30 pm
@Brandon I think maybe one post gave a hooray for USF, but if you know anything about Jenkins is that he’s a very capable cb, and I think most people posting are well aware of him being a really solid pickup, I’ve watched him quite a bit in the pros and have always came away very impressed, he’s got sufficient speed, is a good tackler with long arms, I feel he will get more value out of whatever time he has left in the NFL by being coached by Lovie,. and playing nickle could really prolong his career, GREAT signing!
March 20th, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Goldson is now trying to rehab his bad boy image? Good luck trying to impress the NFL hit Gestapo.
It’s like taking anger management class after beating your dog.
March 20th, 2014 at 7:40 pm
@biff 10 years ago he wouldn’t have a bad boy image. The game is getting soft, but I since it’s not 2002 I agree with you. I like to hear that he is trying to adjust. Hope that he can find some sort of balance so it doesn’t affect his play like it did this past year.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:07 pm
this is a good signing… my jury is still out on Banks.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:29 pm
taylor lewan faces 3 charges of assault of varying degress.
uh-oh.
March 20th, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Good hire!
March 20th, 2014 at 9:29 pm
Great to the Bucs pick up a home grown player (941). He will resurrect his career in Tampa. Jenkins can ball. This new regime has added some good players.
March 20th, 2014 at 9:55 pm
Great, a washed up never was…
March 20th, 2014 at 10:00 pm
He will at least give us depth @Burg stop hating the product from the 941!!! Now we need to get a warm body at WR and then draft best player available. So happy I re-upped my season tickets!
March 20th, 2014 at 10:09 pm
Here is who is left at WR, http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/freeagency/?year=2014&position=1&status=1&type=-1
Maybe Jacoby Ford?
March 20th, 2014 at 10:15 pm
Nah, Earl Bennett!
March 20th, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Don’t know how much he has left in the tank? Come in Joe, he’s only 28. Same age as Revis.
March 20th, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Folks Jenkins already knows how to play Tampa Two because he played it at USF and got picked in the draft in the first round based on that production. However, he is no shutdown corner and didn’t look spectacular in other systems, but I predict he will outplay Banks in this system because he is much faster than Banks, also has length like Banks, is a better tackler than Banks, and has a lot more NFL experience than Banks. They both have the same number of interceptions, but Jenkins already knows this system and Banks doesn’t.
Jenkins may start at nickel and with his speed should continue covering the slot on third downs all the time, but don’t be surprised if he also stays on the field as the number two CB for first and second down and Banks or Johnson plays the number 2 CB on 3d down. Banks has better length than Johnson but Johnson is the better playmaker and the better tackler than Banks. Don’t sell Johnson short in cover two. His problem is he is not fast but neither was Rhonde, but he can shine in this system like Rhonde did. Johnson is physical and plays with a lot of heart and determination just like Rhonde played to build his legend.
March 20th, 2014 at 11:03 pm
*Ronde Barber
*Mike Jenkins
Good post owlykat.
March 20th, 2014 at 11:18 pm
Joe this site is worse then a porn website. I have 2-3 pop ups on my iPhone before I can even read anything in about done with this sight. Advertising on the side is fine but pop ups really. Only site I have ever had this happen on my iPhone. Please fix this or I’m sure I want be the last to stray away from this bucs/Manziel website
March 20th, 2014 at 11:22 pm
@ bonzai
Never said he was going to be a starting cb, on the contrary. I said he will be the nickel corner, which essentially is often utilized.
March 20th, 2014 at 11:29 pm
In today’s NFL, the Nickel corner is a starter. So, stop with the whether he’s a starter or not. This is a low risk prove it contract with a guy that can set himself up to get paid. Nothing better than having a hungry player looking for one last solid contract. Plus, he played at USF! What what!
March 20th, 2014 at 11:30 pm
Joe, the pop-ups that I’ve been getting from the mobile site are getting out of control! I’m one of you multiple-visits-per-day readers, and there were literally 7 of the same popups on this post alone. Never had a single one until a few months back. Candy crush deluge since then. Might just be me, but just FYI. Keep up the GREAT work otherwise.
Definitely happy with the Jenkins signing. This USF grad is pleased.
March 21st, 2014 at 12:15 am
Wes:
Joe gets them too. Just hit the back button when they pop up and they vanish. Sadly, Joe has no control over national ads, which is the culprit.
March 21st, 2014 at 12:36 am
Joe Says:
Joe gets them too. Just hit the back button when they pop up and they vanish. Sadly, Joe has no control over national ads, which is the culprit.
HMMM. That’s the man watching us.
March 21st, 2014 at 1:26 am
sadly, some of y’all need watchin’.
March 21st, 2014 at 1:35 am
sadly, some of y’all need watchin’
says “Lurker”.
Hmmmm
March 21st, 2014 at 3:22 am
ironical ain’t it 😉
March 21st, 2014 at 6:23 am
I view this site on a notebook…..I get ZERO popup ads.
Wait and see with Jenkins…..I hope he goes crazy.
How many All-Pro secondary players did the team need to win it all in 2002??
Think that would be O N E …..
March 21st, 2014 at 7:21 am
I think Banks is going to improve this year.