Cousins Free-Agency Call Will Be Telling
February 23rd, 2015
Is Oneil Cousins love just hot air?
Don’t laugh, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaches have shared all kinds of love for the work ethic, effort and professionalism of versatile offensive lineman Oneil Cousins.
(No, “versatile” doesn’t mean dreadful at multiple positions).
Offensive line coach George Warhop somehow retained his job and earned direct praise from general manager Jason Licht after last season. And remember, it was Warhop who called Cousins “fabulous” in November. A month later, without being asked, Lovie Smith raved about the practice efforts of Cousins being a model to the entire team.
Even Cousins’ harshest critic softened on him by midseason.
Cousins’ contract is in its final days and he could be gone when the free agency dinner bell rings March 10, if the Bucs don’t re-sign him before that.
Don’t get confused. Joe’s not lobbying for Cousins here. He’s a 30-year-old, subpar journeyman whose ineptitude in preseason forced the Logan Mankins trade.
However, Joe finds it worth nothing that the regime has praised Cousins as a good backup, and a good effort guy. But that would prove to be a steaming pile of hot air if the Bucs don’t try to bring Cousins back. It sure won’t cost much, and the Bucs are in no position to ditch guys they at least consider halfway decent offensive linemen.
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:06 am
Oh, I can’t wait for Oneil Cousins to come back!
Said no one, ever.
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:07 am
cousins sounds like an ideal backup. experienced at multiple positions and busts his behind in practice and preparation. great guy to set an example monday through saturday, but if he’s seeing the field regularly on sundays next year, it’d mean the front office has failed to stock the OL to NFL standard once again
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:08 am
Repeating the same mistakes, and expecting a new result is the definition of insanity…
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:13 am
Cousins is terrible. I would rather see someone lifted from another teams practice squad than this guy.
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:17 am
30 years old? so slow and sorry yea he better be gone….tired of dealing with OK players, good backups and average players. it’s time to strike it rich in the draft and if the bucs want to be a dominant team that’s what it’s going to take, teams don’t let the top players walk in free agency unless that cant afford them. the draft brought seattle to the level of dominance they are at now not free agency because truth is very few of their free agents worked out. percy harvin and matt Flynn come to mind
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:17 am
Our offensive line last year was dreadful. It needs to be completely rebuilt from the center out. This process will take a couple of years, at least. The only kind of QB that will have success behind a line like this will be one with 4.5 speed who can scramble and throw accurately on the run. If only there was a young QB at the top of the draft that had that 4.5 speed!
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:30 am
Oneil Cousins is just plain awful. I think it was the horrible play of his fellow free-agent line-mates (Anthony Collins and Evan Dietrich-Smith) that made his awful performances look, in Steve White’s words, “pretty good.”
The Bucs have one legitimate starter in Demar Dotson and one mediocre player in what’s left of Logan Mankins. The other 3 starters and 4 backups should be flushed away and replaced with new blood from free agency and the draft. The Bucs couldn’t do worse with a slew of undrafted players.
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:31 am
it doesn’t take 2 years to build an offensive line anymore, it takes a good draft and development, we drafted offensive lineman last year and trying to develop rookies in that train wreck is impossible. the book isn’t out on our draft picks from last year and they are still developing. If demar is the left tackle of the future that is the hardest position to fill. the problem is people expect instant success or draft picks are failures and that’s not reality, now free agents should be instant impacts but often times are not. with a new offensive scheme and stability of coaching in the offense I expect this team to be better…top 10 or 15 no but better
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:42 am
Cousins is taking a roster slot for one of our Olinemen in development or one that is soon to be drafted……He’s 30 and is good as he is going to get…..not good at all.
Can him and go with Edwards/Pamphile & 2 more 2015 draft picks.
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:49 am
This guy was better then Anthony Collins. It’s not saying much but oniel was an ok backup tackle last year. Anthony Collins played worse then him tho.
God I remember the Vikings game were griffen just kept whooping his ass. I’ve never seen an ol picked up off his feet before like a baby and as he’s thrown backwards. Collins got called for holding on the play btw.
February 23rd, 2015 at 11:59 am
Bring him back for depth. Bring Orlando Franklin in to start. We do need that elusive LT though.
February 23rd, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Bring Cousins back….he will be blocking for Winston!!
Well….at least he will be blocking for him until he re-offends and endes up on the NFL Exempt List!
Greg Schiano
February 23rd, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Can’t wait for 5 more years of excuses for Winston (just like with Josh Freeman).
This is going to be a comical ride.
When will Joe turn on Jameis?
February 23rd, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Fcking guy is beyond terrible but I bet he’s a nice guy n outstanding citizen so there must be a spot for him on the team. Smh.
February 23rd, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Can anyone honestly say that retaining Warhop makes any sense? I could say maybe for some continuity but hopefully not continuity of sucking.
February 23rd, 2015 at 12:31 pm
With this o-line who ever we pick jameis or mariota doesn’t matter because they will both be running for their lives lol.
February 23rd, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Bucs Fan #237 Says:
February 23rd, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Can’t wait for 5 more years of excuses for Winston (just like with Josh Freeman).
This is going to be a comical ride.
When will Joe turn on Jameis?
freeman has done more in this league than glennon has. we had even less talent than we do now, same d line with no pass rush talent and GMC on injured reserve and he still managed a 10-6 records with who as his receivers? still comparing glennon to freeman because of completion percentage? glennon has a career 60% completion percentage lol that is pathetic. glennons third offseason and it’ll be third year he’ll be coming off the bench…the writing was on the wall ever since game 4 of the preseason in his rookie year
February 23rd, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Let’s not confuse activity with results.
BTW, when coaches heap praise on a players work ethic it is often the kiss of death.
February 23rd, 2015 at 1:48 pm
Those things were said when they were playing him I think. They’re ot going to say bad things about him during a season.
I say dump him.
A backup should be someone who is under development. At 30, Cousins is at that age when incomplete seasons become a regular thing. You need someone young and healthy there…and there are plenty out there after the draft.
February 23rd, 2015 at 1:54 pm
@rayjay1122
I agree with you, but the only reasons I could see justifying keeping him are the play calling sucked last year, and that effects oline…and he can only do so much with the talent he was given. If he was given scrubs (he was) then you can expect him to make it work.
We all knew we needed oline last year. Yet…how much was it addressed in the draft? Should have been in round 3, but we took Sims instead.
February 23rd, 2015 at 1:56 pm
TbDEPRESSEDFAN Says
“With this o-line who ever we pick jameis or mariota doesn’t matter because they will both be running for their lives lol.”
If that’s the case, then the pick is obvious.
February 23rd, 2015 at 2:21 pm
If that’s the case, then the pick is obvious.
for once I agree with you Bonzi. The pick is obvious. It’s Winston…. Mariota will get killed just like RGIII when he tries to run. Mariota has a injury history and he is not built for durability but for speed. Jameis is going to be much more durable and he has PROVEN he can stand in the pocket and delivery where Mariota has NOT proven that. While Mariota is getting sacked and fumbling, Winston will be standing tall in the pocket delivering strikes then absorbing the hit…
Maritoa will do fine with the Jets. order up the winston jerseys
February 23rd, 2015 at 2:52 pm
Exactly, Joe. He is a known quantity and fits a backup role.
February 23rd, 2015 at 3:25 pm
Seriously hell no get them big boys that Winston played with draft those beasts
February 23rd, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Re-sign Cousins? Um – No Thanks. Maybe we should keep Gilkey too just in case… SMH.