Bucs Finalizing Deal For Safety Chris Conte
March 11th, 2015
Lovie Smith is reuniting the band.
The former not-so-dynamic safety duo of Chris Conte and Major Wright will soon be wearing the same jerseys again — Bucs jerseys.
Per ESPN, Conte is finalizing a deal with the Bucs this evening.
Conte, 26, was a Lovie third-round pick in 2011, and he’s known for his warrior mentality, except he’s often been a wounded warrior, including multiple concussion issues.
In 2012, Conte and Wright started all but one game together in Chicago, when the Bears had the fifth-ranked defense.
In 2013, Conte had three interceptions and 73 tackles. Last year, he returned from offseason shoulder surgery to record three picks — Lovie loves ball hawks — while battling various ailments. He missed four full games due to injury.
Conte made headlines late last year when he said he had no problem living a significantly shorter life in exchange for playing in the NFL.
The Bucs are loaded with bodies at safety now. They still have emerging Bradley McDougald, along with Schiano-era holdover Keith Tandy, who is a special teams standout earning peanuts. There’s also overpaid Dashon “Hawk” Goldson still in the nest. Joe’s having trouble believing Hawk will fly another year in Tampa.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:31 pm
bears south
March 11th, 2015 at 6:32 pm
Why is Goldson still here?
March 11th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
You mean the guy who was invisible on every play in Chicago.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
No hurry to get rid of Goldson, Bucs don’t owe him anything like they did Johnson, do the JOE?
March 11th, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Hmmm
March 11th, 2015 at 6:41 pm
Good for Lovie, if he is going to go down, do not go down with Dominick’s garbage roster!!!
March 11th, 2015 at 6:45 pm
“You mean the guy who was invisible on every play in Chicago.”
——
He wasn’t invisible on at least three plays last year, no? And I’m not great at math, but I believe that’s 3 more plays than the Hawk made.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:46 pm
LOL @ Realist….the hits keep on coming.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
I posted this on the last article but it is Conte specific so….
Here is one of the more favorable comments I have found for him. This guy writes Bears article for the same site Im at.
MIBearFan moderatorjust now
He plays hard. He blows assignments in coverage, and he looks like a child when he doesn’t commit to a tackle. He can lay some lumber, and when he’s in position, he has good ball skills. He thinks too much.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
He’s a backup….to hopefully someone else.
Wheres the O line free agents?
March 11th, 2015 at 6:52 pm
@MadMax
We are waiting until it is too late
March 11th, 2015 at 6:57 pm
@The Buc Realist
I think your being a little too kind with the word “Garbage”….
March 11th, 2015 at 6:58 pm
Always hated playing madden with Conte starting for the bears. So I immediately sub him out. His play is even worse in real life.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Hmm… is this gonna be like when Steve Spurrier coached the Redskins? He got all his Florida boys together, and they sucked. I think he even got our old boy Jacquez Green!
So long as we get the #1 pick right (www.anyoneButTheCrabTheif.com) and we don’t completely self-destruct, we SHOULD win a few games this year.
I still don’t like Lovie as a long-term solution. He has proven is ineptitude. All the more reason (unless the scouts and GM deem him absolutely positively in no way shape or form the guy) to go with Mariota and hire Chip Kelly in 2 years.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
this is another waste of time player like Jenkins.
Nice job with Carter but this signing is pointless.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Chris Conte is the worst player on any roster in the league…seriously, this guy is terrible. If he sees the field as anything other than an emergency special teamer then we are in trouble
Think Sabby Piscatelli’s tackling prowess mixed with Tim Wansley’s coverage acumen
March 11th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Sheard just signed with Pats… 2 years
March 11th, 2015 at 7:06 pm
I think we are all in agreement that this move is horrible
March 11th, 2015 at 7:11 pm
lovie the gm better be careful
March 11th, 2015 at 7:12 pm
iamkingsu
i don’t know if it’s a horrible move….it’s just completely insignificant. If they expect Conte to actually get on the field and play meaningful snaps, then it’s a horrible move…if they’re bringing him in as camp fodder or as a special teams player, then who cares?
What has two thumbs and is shrugging his shoulders at this move? This guy
March 11th, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Sorry guys. I don’t like to be a downer and criticize men who get paid to evaluate athletes but I am getting Major Flack on my site for us signing Conte. These NFCN guys basically laughed me off the site for a while cause Im tired of the relentless torment they are dishing out.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:14 pm
Him and Major Wright were the starting Safeties his final season in 12 and that was a top 5 Def. Not sure how this pans out but it’s something to think about.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:14 pm
just read a article on nfl.com the bucs had a trade worked out for Michael Johnson but the piece of crap would not restructure his contract. what a ahole. so he screwed the bucs twice!
March 11th, 2015 at 7:15 pm
We continue to try to replace Myron Lewis on the Bucs roster….we will keep trying until we find someone worse….
That being said…let’s give him an opportunity to fail as a Buc before we crucify him.
Who knows…..he might end up being the Bears’ Michael Bennett!!!
March 11th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
they would have at least got a draft pick for the piece of crap!
March 11th, 2015 at 7:20 pm
Everyone on here is bashing the guy for his play in 2013 and 2014. 2012 was the year him and wright played for Lovie. If you you go off of 2013-2014 the ENTIRE DEFENSE sucked. 2012 they both started and did pretty damn good. Treshman WRECKED that defense as soon as he walked in the door. Im judging this from when Lovie was running things.
We do however need a pass rush badly for this to work. But I’m not going to judge these guys from the past two years under that coaching. Nobody did well
March 11th, 2015 at 7:20 pm
Well now conte and Leonard will bond together on the bench they both play alike
March 11th, 2015 at 7:25 pm
This may be the fork that gets stuck into the Hawks career with the Bucs. Especially if we are in the running for DeMarco.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:31 pm
Where is the lineman?
March 11th, 2015 at 7:31 pm
He cant be any worse than Goldson, in fact he might be an upgrade. At least he can catch the damn ball!! Goldson catches that interception against the rams week 2 we win that game.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:31 pm
@bucs4lyfe
Lol. Something close to that was going to be in my next comment. You beat me to it
March 11th, 2015 at 7:34 pm
I hate to tell you Demarco Murray guy that Everything Im getting says they have had only one phone conversation with Tampa.
Don’t think its gonna happen.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Conte and Sabby’s names seem to come up a lot together. Also concussions. I’m not expecting much other than depth here.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:35 pm
@5599
I have no problem with lovie I just hate this move.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:37 pm
*guys
March 11th, 2015 at 7:38 pm
I like the new name 5599
March 11th, 2015 at 7:39 pm
Who we really missed out on was Iupati. SHIIIIIITE man!
March 11th, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Goldson just got waived per Rotoworld.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:46 pm
@Mariota>Winston Says:
March 11th, 2015 at 7:45 pm
NO ISH???
March 11th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
Yall relax with the lineman talk this draft is deep with lineman. All we need is 2 stud lineman to fill in with mankins, EDS, and Dotson to form a solid line. I hope youll not trying to bring in a whole new line again are you? We can find replacements for the 3 I mentioned above next off season. One year at a time!
March 11th, 2015 at 7:49 pm
LOL my comment above is awaiting you know what because I posted the rotoworld link
Sorry Joes
March 11th, 2015 at 7:50 pm
[…] « Bucs Finalizing Deal For Safety Chris Conte […]
March 11th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
GM Jason Licht expected to attend Oregon pro day tomorrow to watch QB Marcus Mariota & the Ducks work out.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Called it! Now go sign Wiz and Pot Roast.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Second time today I have heard “Pot Roast”
Who is that China?
March 11th, 2015 at 8:03 pm
Mariota>Winston,
That is the GREATEST moniker of the off-season. Nice job!!
And I definitely Mariota will end up being our new QB.
#MariotascomingtoTampa #CuetheWinstonWhackadoos
March 11th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
This guy blows. he gets beat deep way too often
March 11th, 2015 at 8:10 pm
SABBY PART 2.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:13 pm
In my best internet Lucile Ball voice………….
“Lovie!…………You got some replacing to do!!!!”
March 11th, 2015 at 8:16 pm
The commitment to negativity among JBF posters is special.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:27 pm
salish_seamonster …you won’t find as much negativity on any other site related to any other NFL team more than you will on this here site amongst it’s posters.
Take some time getting used to.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Lol 87. Sad but true. I woulda loved to see how some of you guys woulda felt in 77 at our 26th loss. I was there. I was also there the next yr when we won the div and two yrs later with another playoffs, and Leroy Selmon knocking some diks in the dirt. I was also there in the 80s when it was even more dismal than the first few years watching Scott Brantley knocking peoples helmets off and making NFL highlight films. Unfortunately I was overseas on duty for our SB but I still got to see it on TV.
I bleed Bucs. I build stuff. Other people get paid to pick the players on my team.
Simple stuff if you look at it closely
March 11th, 2015 at 8:44 pm
87 bucgtr salish
NY Jets fans before yesterday were 10 times worse. And cowboys fans before week 2 of last season were even worse than jets fans. It just happens when your favorite teams breed a culture of losing
March 11th, 2015 at 8:48 pm
Yeah I get the point king.
I have been to over 160 Bucs games in person and I have NEVER missed one via TV. Most of those games I saw in person were losses. I know what it is like to support a losing team.
March 11th, 2015 at 9:05 pm
Many of you posting have not seen this man play. He can play safety. He’s darn good at it. Re-read Joe’s story explaining that he and Major Wright formed the safety tandem responsible for the 5th ranked defense in Chicago. His problem has been injury issues. It’s a good signing for half of Goldson’s price. The Bucs still have more than enough space to make one or two more splash. Henry Melton, Wisniewski?
March 11th, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Cmurda,
Cmon bro. I’ve seen this guy play a lot and he’s terrible. History of concussions, extremely slow, and takes bad angles… A lot. Look at posts by Bears fans in other sites. They are thrilled he’s gone. I read similar posts last year when we backed the truck for Collins and Johnson. Bengal fans were baffled at the amount of money we overspent on those two. I didn’t want to believe it, but now… I do. Before you go praising the worst safety in the league as the next coming of Lynch do your homework. Chicago had a top five D in 2012 because of their front seven, like Briggs, Urelacher, Melton, Washington. Conte was a liability on that team.
March 11th, 2015 at 9:28 pm
Sabby????
March 11th, 2015 at 10:13 pm
@Bucnnole,
Relax dude. I never said Conte is the next coming of Lynch. You’re adding content that I never spoke of. I said Conte was good at what he does, not stellar, not Hall of Fame worthy. J Lynch is Hall of Fame worthy. He may not get in but he deserves to. However, Conte is much better than you are giving him credit for. Bad angles is B.S. Slow? He’s not the fastest. We both agree that he has injury and concussion concerns but he’s also relatively young and sound in his technique. He also has a good feel for getting to the spot of the play. I like the signing and it is impossible for him to be worse than Goldson.
March 11th, 2015 at 10:41 pm
Remember when Aaron Rodgers hit Randall Cobb with a 48-yard last minute TD pass on fourth down in Week 17 of the 2013 season vs. da Bears at Soldier Field? That play won the game for the Packers as they won the NFC North. If the Bears hold on, they win the NFC North title. And it was Chris Conte who blew the safety coverage on that play and Cobb was wide open. And it wasn’t just that play. Conte is a liability in coverage overall.
March 11th, 2015 at 10:52 pm
Conte’s concussion issues are a problem. All it takes is one more and he could be done. I hope he stays healthy for the sake of his long term health and his success as a Buc. Lovie needs to stop living in the past and find new players to groom instead of going back to the Chicago days.
March 11th, 2015 at 11:46 pm
according to Bears fans from sites I’ve been reading for the past few seasons, Conte is terrible.
March 12th, 2015 at 12:02 am
If you talk to Bears fans, they will tell you everybody is terrible on that team. Also, it’s really easy to say good riddance when someone stinks. There still is nothing official on Conte anyway. He’s serviceable and he’s definitely better than Goldson and less than half the price. I still expect the Bucs to draft a safety but in the later rounds. Conte is just a stop gap but a pretty good one.
@Bob Fox, Are you sure about that? I just watched the play and I don’t see Conte on the field at all during the play.
March 12th, 2015 at 12:13 am
Good. He knows the defense. He can mentor Mcdougald. And he has rapport with Lovie and Major Wright.
March 12th, 2015 at 2:34 am
Nooooo, this guy is the worst safety in the NFL! They hate him in Chicago too – “you can have him” is what they’re saying.
March 12th, 2015 at 6:56 am
Trusting your teammates to be where they’re supposed to be is very important when playing a Cover 2 defensive scheme. I believe it was 54 who attributed the improved play of the Bucs defense in the second half of last season to the players being more trusting of each to be in the correct position. Conte and Wright have already established that trust. I think this move improves the defense. I like this signing.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:45 am
no matter how bad an evaluator we think lovie is, you have to have a reason for signing a Safety who played multiple seasons under you, and there had to be a reason he was starting most of that time…especially when your own son coaches DBs. alot of negative comments about his tackling…maybe he makes his bones in pass coverage?
that said, the takes from bears fans sound like the ghost of sabby P. so hopefully he is a film room and practice field warrior who is beat out for the starting gig and rarely sees the field outside of special teams
March 12th, 2015 at 11:16 am
cmurda, take another look. Conte thought that Cobb was going to run a short pattern for the first down as it was 4th and 8. Conte tried to jump the route at about 10 yards and Cobb flew right by him and was wide open.