Why Are Bucs Looking At DeMarco Murray?
March 10th, 2015
Joe is not big on spending high draft picks or big money on running backs.
History reveals running backs just get the hell beat out of them and teams can be just as fortunate finding decent running backs later in the draft, or even off the street, rather than breaking the bank in free agency or with a first-round pick.
Apparently, per the fingers of Woody Cummings of The Tampa Tribune, Bucs overlord of football operations Lovie Smith isn’t in that camp. Cummings explains why the Bucs are more than a little interested in Demarco Murray, 27.
First, Bucs coach Lovie Smith is a bit old-fashioned in that he likes to run the ball more than throw it, and Murray would certainly help the Bucs achieve that objective.
Second, the Bucs are almost certain to start the season with a young quarterback under center, perhaps even a rookie such as Florida State’s Jameis Winston.
If that’s the case, the Bucs will want to do their best to take pressure off the quarterback, and the best way to do that is to develop a sound running attack. Finally, the Bucs still aren’t quite sure what they have in Martin, who had a couple of nice games late last season but hasn’t consistently played to his Pro Bowl form in three years.
For reasons Joe cannot figure out, Lovie soured on Bobby Rainey. Yeah, he had dropsies early, but he never fumbled after September. Martin was hurt early in the year, as he told Joe after the final game of the season. When he was healthy, he was a far different running back.
Mike James currently resides in the penthouse of Lovie’s doghouse. And, sorry, Charles Sims did not impress Joe last year.
Joe understands a running back is needed to take heat off of Jameis Winston, but with all the holes on the Bucs roster, running back, especially with the Bucs’ depth, is not a position Joe would make a priority to fill today.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Murray is going to be in for a rude awakening if we don’t fix our OL. We are a far cry away from Dallas.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
I think my head will explode if they sign a running back as expensive as Murray without signing a single offensive lineman. He had a great year, but can he sustain the production after that heavy load? Not worth the investment.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Minus his contract year – wasnt he hurt every year?
March 10th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
I don’t think Murray is all that special. He ran behind a great O-line. He doesn’t impress me with power, speed, or quickness. Whoever signs him will pay him way more than he’s worth and will regret it. I mean, he’s not in the same class as Adrian Peterson.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Overpriced and injury prone. No thanks. More pressing needs to focus on.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
This sounds like nothing but speculation from Mr. Cummings. Rappoport says they are interested “maybe” and everyone runs with it like it’s a done deal.
For all we know, that “maybe” could just mean Murray’s agent left a voicemail with the Bucs and they haven’t responded yet.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
I’m not sure why the Bucs would spend big on a RB either. Of course this is the same brain trust that cut Penn and traded Zuttah. Anything is possible with Lovie and Licht, including decisions that don’t make sense and ultimately don’t pan out. Why not go all in and make a play for Peterson if they want a RB that bad?
March 10th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
it must be agent speak to drive up Murray’s price. Murray has been ran into the ground, and last year was the first time all year he played the entire season (with a broke arm towards the end). We have RB’s…this makes absolutely no sense, unless we’re trying to make a trade or recruit other FA’s to come here!!!!!!!!
March 10th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
AIN’T NOBODY COMING TO TAMPA. As a die hard Bucs fan I’m seeing player after player go elsewhere, but do you blame them? I’m picking Indy for next year’s Super Bowl.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Signing Murray would be a pretty good sign our front office/coach are in over their heads. I literally can’t think of a position the Bucs need less than running back. And I can’t think of a position in NFL less valuable than a running back. This would be a disaster.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Sometime in October…..Buc fans will be asking….”What happened to Murry….he was a great running back?”…….fix our Oline please….we have good backs….
March 10th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
four running backs not enough? these guys L&L are idiots! here we go. what next. wtf
March 10th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
If we get Murray, I’ll jump fully on board of the “Lovie is stuck in the past” Bandwagon. I literally can not think of a dumber more short sighted move to make for this team.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
^^ Before bashing them as idiots because of rumors about Murray, maybe remember these are rumors that probably have no basis in fact.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:19 pm
I’m gonna laugh so hard when we draft Mariota. These subtle little Winston comments everyone throws into there articles, it’s gonna be glorious when Mariota is drafted by the Bucs. Can’t wait.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
I like Murray a lot as a player, but I don’t know that he would be so effective with the awful offensive line we have. Don’t we have a lot of other priorities to fix?
March 10th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
damn you guys are so sad and pathetic…..it’s just ONE signing just one, it does not mean it’s the only damn signing it means it’s one of the bigger names that’s it, are you really that simpleminded to think that you can’t improve the o line and running back position before training camp? take your valium people my goodness, your not in the media or working for the bucs who the hell cares if it’s not your money or it doesn’t prevent them from signing other free agents considering the bucs have to spend to the cap anyway…..like a bunch of old ladies complaining because you ran out of ben gay
March 10th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
The only player a really wanted was mccourty. Now the he resigned, all of the other player seem lame or a bad scheme fit. Honestly I’d like to resign foster for depth.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Imagine Mariota and Murray in the same Backfield…
March 10th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
We can keep Rainey for much less and have a potential kick returner. Murray would be a nice talent but with out any upgrades to our oline, he’d be pointless.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Bucs4lyfe you are badly missing the point: Name one position we have less of a need than besides running back. It is undeniably the least important position of need for the Bucs, every position is more needed and some places (OLine) need at least 3 upgrades. So to spend heavy money (and Murray isn’t coming for any less than $7 million a season) on the least valuable position in the NFL? Spend $7 million on a punter, its more worth it than $7 million on Murray.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
This is SO F’ING RIDICULOUS…Murray was who he was in Dallas because he ran behind an offensive line made up of all 1st round picks if im not mistaken…Martin, Rainey, and James REALLY DON’T HAVE ENUF TAPE OUT THERE L&L..REALLY?? When they were running behind our previous offensive line, the guys L&L all saw fit to cut lose, I remember them all running pretty dam well….If we sign Murray without doing something MAJOR to address our O-line misery, I’ll be hanging up my Bucs gear until Lovie is run outta town…speaking as someone whose majority of family resides in Chicago, Lovie was INFAMOUS for stubbornly sticking behind losers like Adam Archuleta, Rex Grossman, and Jamar Williams just to name a few, while running off players who were actually worth a dam or burying them on the depth chart behind said exampled losers… (Jenkins over Banks anyone?) How bout Collins, Cousins, and EDS over Penn, Zuttah, and Joseph?? If he’s up to his same old crap, I hope we post a losing record so he can be the next Schiano…hate to wish something like that for my team, but Lovie’s got a well established track record of doing exactly that and he’s NEVER shown that he learns from his mistakes…HOPEFULLY that’s where Licht comes in and overrides his arrogance.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Adrian Peterson would make more sense.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Lol bucs4lyfe. Your half baked opinions are almost as entertaining as the articles .
March 10th, 2015 at 1:41 pm
Murray is a bonafide stud but I still don’t want him because of the cap hit it will take. I hope someone else signs besides the cowboys so their fans can go back to living miserable lives again.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Its possible they trade (or cut) martin and have Murray and Sims. I would be ok with that.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Dallas O line is top notch. No way Murray is the back here in TB that he was in Dallas. In fact, every running back on TB roster could of been as productive as Murray behind that O line in Dallas.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
We are actually on Adrian Peterson’s short list of trade destinations. I don’t want him either because he would cost more than Murray plus a draft pick
March 10th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
@joe
You want more hits for your site? There is an article floating out there about AP’s trade destinations and the Bucs are on it. I’ve been waiting for you to post about it
March 10th, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Blah blah. Blah blah blah.
BLah blah.
They aren’t looking at Murray. Idiots treat rumors as if they’re based on facts. 90% of what we hear this time of year is made-up garbage.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
I still don’t buy it, Joe. Sorry.
If it’s true, then Lovie and Licht are making the same mistakes as last year…going after one year wonders.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Say no to Murray. If we get a RB, it better be a big bruiser that can make his own holes, as at present our oline can’t make any.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
bucrightoff
bucrightoff Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Bucs4lyfe you are badly missing the point: Name one position we have less of a need than besides running back. It is undeniably the least important position of need for the Bucs, every position is more needed and some places (OLine) need at least 3 upgrades. So to spend heavy money (and Murray isn’t coming for any less than $7 million a season) on the least valuable position in the NFL? Spend $7 million on a punter, its more worth it than $7 million on Murray.
———————————————————————————-
Spend $7 million on a punter, its more worth it than $7 million on Murray.
lol now we have soccer fans getting in on the action….you have like 30 mil to spend and we cant add a veteran running back for 7 mil even though we have it, you were probably the same idiots
March 10th, 2015 at 2:11 pm
bucrightoff is the same one that wanted to sign suh as if pass rush wasn’t the most pressing need, you’d give him 60 mil guaranteed but wont spend 7 mil on accomplished running back hmmm weird
March 10th, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Uhhh I was strongly against signing Suh, like very strongly against it, so please try again. You only have to go back a few days for that one. But thanks for playing.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:16 pm
And $7 million is the low end for Murray. If Gore is getting $4 million per, Murray likely gets $9-10. So spend 1/3 of our available cap space on the lowest value, least needed position on the team? Sounds like pure idiocy to sane people.
And elite punters are more valuable than elite RBs. AP and Jamaal Charles sure have made huge differences in the uh….1 playoff win they have the last 10 years….
March 10th, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Joe, of all the times you bring up fantasy footballers, this topic would have been the epitome case of fantasy footballers being hypnotized by stats. I’d bet most of the Murray fans had them on their fantasy team last year, and most likely won the championship in their league! It’s hard NOT to fall in love when that happens.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
I know your the trade down psycho
March 10th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
elite punters hahahaha we signed one of those remember and elite punters are getting cut too. 7 mil on a punter versus murray lol ok you win im out on this one. like it or love it whoever the bucs sign fans will be right here still rooting for them. no one will be wearing paper bags with Murray in the stands especially with our offensive coordinator
March 10th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Joe really needs IQ tests before posting on this site. That way sub-retardation level folks like Bucs4lyfe could go to Pewter Report instead.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
ya mama
March 10th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
Credit for spelling mama right I guess.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
some people go for need in the draft, some draft best available some like bucrightoff wanna draft leonard Williams even though we need a quarterback. people have their own opinions on needs and free agency and personally I could care less whether we get murray or not, it’s not a huge need no but still he’s an upgrade and if you have the money to spare which the bucs do I don’t understand why anyone would cry about upgrading since he is better than anything we have to date. murray would come here though because he knows lovie isn’t a back by committee guy
March 10th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
I think you are both acting like idiotic children.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
So glad Suh is off the market.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
We need at least 14 starters, not just a QB. And best available is Leonard Williams, he’s atop of literally every draft board now (and if you think this means mock drafts, this is why I insulted your intelligence). A lot saying he’s clearly the best player in this draft by a wide margin. We are devoid of talent. I don’t care who we draft, I just won’t throw a fit like most on here if they take Williams. We have a ton of holes on this team.
And thinking Murray will be an upgrade is part of your problem. You think he rushes for more than 700 yards last year behind the Bucs line? He led the NFL in yards BEFORE contact. He was often 5 yards downfield before he got touched. You think that’s his brilliant running, or maybe it’s the Cowboys awesome OLine? Our line still sucks and blowing 1/3 of the cap space available to not even fix the problem is exceptionally poor management.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
what the hell you idiot gaines adams was rated high on people’s draft board stfu moron stop trying to make yourself sound intelligent on a blog site where everyone is giving an opinion your too dumb to realize what your saying doesn’t even matter….your mother has been trying to get rid of you since the day you were hatched im sure of it, moron trying to say any one player is a slam dunk in the draft is like my trying to pinpoint why your so stupid and what part of your skull hit the floor first when your mother dropped you on purpose
March 10th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Joe…please, please give us a way to block the comments of certain people so we don’t have to see this drivel.
Actually on topic, I’m hoping for no signings today…unless its a punter.
March 10th, 2015 at 3:02 pm
When your O line Is like the hull of the Titanic does it really matter who the RB is?
March 10th, 2015 at 3:17 pm
bucs4lyfe Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
what the hell you idiot gaines adams was rated high on people’s draft board stfu moron stop trying to make yourself sound intelligent on a blog site where everyone is giving an opinion your too dumb to realize what your saying doesn’t even matter….your mother has been trying to get rid of you since the day you were hatched im sure of it, moron trying to say any one player is a slam dunk in the draft is like my trying to pinpoint why your so stupid and what part of your skull hit the floor first when your mother dropped you on purpose
______________________________________________________________
Grammar skills of a 3-year old, calls others stupid….
March 10th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Without a line the Hulk couldn’t run for the Bucs.
March 10th, 2015 at 3:59 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Joe…please, please give us a way to block the comments of certain people so we don’t have to see this drivel.
————————————————
This site and these comments threads would be 200% more enjoyable if Joe would implement such a feature.
How about some real features for your readers Joe? Those who make comments certainly give you a lot more clicks per reader than those who don’t. How about an actual user registration profile with the ability to edit your own comments. Thumbs up and thumbs down buttons. 10 to 1 thumbs down % automatically hides the post unless someone wants to click and read what the jerk had to say. C’mon Joe. Your content rocks – but upgrading the user experience, features and capabilities would really go a long ways towards having the best Bucs site possible. It would also draw more readers – some of whom currently boycott JBF for the most part – mainly because there are too many perpetually negative posters in the comments that it is more than sometimes hard to enjoy reading through the comments or want to participate in discussions. Features like these would allow readers to be more in charge of their experience and would almost certainly gain you many new daily site readers and participators
Just some suggestions Joe. Whenever you wind up rolling out a new site design or interface – please keep this kind of stuff in mind. Carry on and thanks for all the hard work you guys put in to continually banging out all the prolific and high quality Bucs info. Peace. Go Bucs!!!
March 10th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
No body is going to be able to run the ball without fixing the offensive line. I don’t know what Bucs don’t understand about that.
March 10th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Dallas had an incredible line last year. We need olineman and it obvious nobody wants to come here……
March 10th, 2015 at 6:59 pm
I am in complete disbelief that any sane individual would sign another RB without addressing the wretched OLine – I don’t care if Sweetness came back to life and donned the new uni, we’d be wasting him with the gaggle of nothing we have up front…the fact we have to “reminisce” about Jeremy Zuttah says it all.
Is it ever going to get better?
March 10th, 2015 at 8:46 pm
Looks like I’m late to the party, but joe I’m sure the reason the bucs are interested in Murray is because him and Winston are represented by the same agent– I heard that the other day on bleacher report
March 10th, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Triple threat!! Evans, Murray and winston! Not a bad start for are rebuild if it happens!
March 10th, 2015 at 10:33 pm
Wouldn’t be bad at all…