Bucs Won’t “Roll Over,” Says Verner
December 25th, 2014
Bucs fans are jumping up and down as if Santa got them Rachel Watson for Christmas morning. Joe sure would be!
But what gets Bucs players jumping up and down is fans thinking they should lay down so the Bucs secure the overall No. 1 pick in April’s draft. It doesn’t go over so well in the locker room.
Guys are playing for jobs next year. They are updating video resumes, of sort, for prospective teams. Bet a lot of them won’t be around next year.
Then there are the players at the crossroads of their careers. Guys who may or may not be with the Bucs next year, like Mason Foster (who may not play Sunday due to a bum Achilles) and Da’Quan Bowers, to name a couple. Those guys are going to want to play at a high level to showcase themselves. So if the Bucs wave bye-bye, a bank clerk job won’t be atop their wish list.
Then there are the veterans, the quality starters who, barring a terrible injury, surely will be back. For Alterraun Verner, pride is key. He understands what the Bucs gain from losing, but fans are just going to have to suck it up if he has any say.
“Way too much pride,” Verner said. “I mean, if we win, what are we going to drop, one or two spots anyway? It’s not if we win we drop to pick-eight. So I don’t think there is going to be too much difference in the spots. Yeah, there is way too much pride to roll over and play dead so we can get the No. 1 pick. Like, no. We are going to try to win it.”
Verner has a fair point. No. 2 isn’t so bad, but as Joe has pointed out before, what if Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota blow out a knee in their next two games (yes, one of the two will play two more college games). Then at No. 2, you are likely picking your nose instead of picking the quarterback you need worse than Joe needs a cold beer on a steamy July Friday afternoon.
Let’s just hope Saints players need to put out good tape just as badly as some Bucs players do.
December 25th, 2014 at 6:09 am
uh oh! here comes the “True Fan” slinging label crowd!
Just do what you’ve been doing best L&L, ….LOSE, especially THIS LAST ONE!!!!
December 25th, 2014 at 6:27 am
(Guys are playing for jobs next year)? so those other 14 games up until now didn’t mean anything? I just can’t make myself believe this one single last game is enough of an audition to say OK these guys all played well, lets bring them back next year. Bull _hit! The only PRIDE for fans is that #1 draft pick, Lovie will probably find a way to screw that up! GO Bucs! I mean Saints!
December 25th, 2014 at 7:03 am
It’s simple. Play hard. Start starters and then bring in the second team guys and they will play hard just not well since a lot of our starters are “good and terrible”. Lovie at press conference just states we were looking at guys potential to play on this team next year who didn’t get as many snaps like a preseason to a preseason. They need and deserve that 1st pick. Just got this sick feeling that they will do something stupid and win.
December 25th, 2014 at 7:50 am
So because we want the Bucs to lay down this Sunday so the fans can have the #1 pick in April? This doesn’t go down well in the locker room? Tell the boys that the current players got us to an astounding 2-13 this year… And this doesn’t go down well with us….. We need to improve our personnel! We need to draft high!
December 25th, 2014 at 8:13 am
Sorry to change the topic Joe….but I just read that the Bucs, if the draft were held today no longer have the 1st pick??? We lost it by .003 in SOS??? Say it isn’t so Joe!
December 25th, 2014 at 8:44 am
@P’cola The last game secures it for us because the Titans play the Colts and the Bucs play the Saints who are turrble and they count twice for us.
December 25th, 2014 at 8:51 am
@ Luther
Thanks….not sure if the post season counts too. Do you know?
December 25th, 2014 at 8:56 am
I suggest they don’t rollover….merely continue to stay on their backs….
December 25th, 2014 at 8:56 am
Football goes not start until week 16.. Merry christmas everybody..
December 25th, 2014 at 9:29 am
The issue is not of some of these dogs “rolling over”. The issue is that most of these dogs can not hunt!
Can not wait to watch the Bucs become the off season champs once again. It is the most exciting time for buc fans!
December 25th, 2014 at 9:47 am
Just drop 250$ for the game hope they gonna show up at lease !
December 25th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Lolz
🙁
December 25th, 2014 at 10:15 am
@Bucsrealist,
The real issue is some of these dogs came on the scene (M.Johnson, Collins, EDS) looking like pedigrees and turned out to be mangy mutts.
December 25th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Hate to say this but Lovie will most likely go after a Defensive player first, so with the first pick in the 2015 draft the Bucs select, from the university of Southern California, Defensive End Leonard Williams. Write it down.
December 25th, 2014 at 10:38 am
Where was their pride the rest of the year?
December 25th, 2014 at 11:40 am
We The Fans) had to suffer all year watching this crap product lose in ways never seen before! Honestly I think a big part of the problem was terrible coaching, but non the less they better not screw this up for us fans by winning! Suck for the damn duck guys! One more time!
December 25th, 2014 at 11:43 am
The #1 pick is no guarantee and not the answer to the Buc’s problems…unless Chip Kelly wants Mariotta so bad he’ll give up multiple #1’s like Washington did for RGIII. Winston and Mariotta are not Andrew Luck, but could definitely be RGIII or Johnny Manziel. Yes the Buc’s have huge QB issues but they also need an edge rusher, tackle, guard, center, MLB. Put Winston or Mariotta behind the current o-line and you’ll get interception machines and ruin their career’s like Houston did to Carr. Losing to get the pick just isn’t that BIG, unless you assume they can turn it into additional picks. Otherwise, they are going to draft high no matter what and they HAVE to make the picks count where they need the help most. We won a SuperBowl with Brad Johnson because the rest of the team was SOLID. Not sold that there is a Franchise QB in this draft, or a savior for the Buc’s woes. Get a solid draft, fill needs and hire a OC who can coach and wants to be here…
December 25th, 2014 at 11:44 am
Do we really think either of these QB’s are worthy of leading a franchise? All we have to do is look at Cleveland to see their mistake of reading into all the Hype.
December 25th, 2014 at 11:47 am
There is no suck for Luck…….The Bucs have no Luck!!!
December 25th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Nothing but love for Verner, but “F” what the players think. That’s where I’m at and countless other Bucs fans are also at. I apologize in advance but this is one of those uncomfortable times I will be rooting against a Bucs win. The team put me in this spot. Don’t hate, just effing lose.
December 25th, 2014 at 1:27 pm
@Buc’em. Good point and that could be good for the team. Multiple 1st and 2nd round picks or gamble on Winston / Marriotta?
December 25th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
How could an NFL team not win one game at home? Show us Bucs.
December 25th, 2014 at 2:44 pm
If the Bucs lose they get the No. 1 pick. No more complex than that.
If the Titans win, the Bucs get the No. 1 pick. No more complex than that.
If both teams win, the Bucs get the No. 1 pick. No more complex than that.
If both teams lose, the Bucs get the No. 1 pick. No more complex than that.
December 25th, 2014 at 2:46 pm
So, those “multiple” picks aren’t gambles? When did picking players later in the draft become more of a sure thing than the more talented players higher in the draft?
December 25th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
You gotta be a closet fan or a loser to be in favor of throwing a game. I want a winning record, a winner’s attitude and honest players on my team. Play to win or the whole team, owners, coaches, players and fair weather fans can head to New Orleans and play or cheer for/with bounty hunters or New England and the rule benders…I’ll keep my integrity and find the championship team the old fashion honest way.
December 25th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
Bucs Won’t “Roll Over,” Says Verner
SOMEONE NEEDS TO BUST HIM IN HIS KNEE!
December 25th, 2014 at 11:27 pm
Mr. H, best post I have seen in weeks. It is good to know there is another Buc fan with some fortitude and integrity.
December 25th, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Joe,
ALL picks carry some risk. My point is that more picks fills more weaknesses and plenty of pundits are not sold that there is a Franchise QB to be had at #1 or #2…So losing a game to get #1 instead of #2 is not a big deal in my eyes. The Buc’s would drop a slot…To coin your phrase, since whe did picking second in the draft mean you can’t get talented players? I just don’t buy into the “they must lose the game” stuff being posted here. The point about multiple picks is that if someone else wants to give up extra picks, the Buc’s could certainly use them with the holes they have. Stockpiling picks has worked well for teams building via the draft – say, like the Patriots.