Johnson, Herron Gone
September 1st, 2015
Bucs CB Leonard Johnson, a Largo High product, pictured in happier times. He was among the Bucs cuts this morning.
Tampa Bay made more roster moves this morning and the Bucs’ careers of Leonard Johnson and Robert Herron likely have come to an end.
Also cut were Josh Allen, who made the most memorable non-block Joe has ever seen in the NFL, and of course Michael Koenen got the boot, literally and figuratively.
Johnson, originally from Clearwater and a star for Largo High School, was an undrafted free agent pick up in 2012 and had five picks.
Herron, in his second year, was largely known for dropping passes, not exactly the way to get job security unless your name is Michael Clayton.
Johnson, Allen and Herron were what’s called “waived/injured.” Joe will let Buccaneers.com explain:
Allen’s biggest, um, contribution was last year in the final game against the Saints when he was drilled so hard by a defensive tackle, he fell backwards, swinging his arms in the air in an attempt to keep his balance and not fall over. If was the very first time Joe ever saw an NFL offensive lineman pull a Curly Howard on the field (Nah… ah… ah) he was blown off the line so badly.
In addition, defensive tackle Akeem Spence was placed on the PUP list. He can return in Week 9, if healthy.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:38 am
Leonard “I got burned again coach” Johnson. It’s bout dam time! Yet someone on JBF argued a while back that the only thing holding Leonard back was his speed. I’m not going to say their name. But…. #whatadumbass
September 1st, 2015 at 11:39 am
Finally
September 1st, 2015 at 11:39 am
Leonard could not overcome his lack of speed as well as Herron could not overcome his Michael Clayton like hands. No suprises here.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:42 am
When they fly by you and leave you in the dust that’s a problem but yeah definitely not his only problem.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:43 am
bing bang hammer with my hammer, jingo jango cutting with my saw. chop chop cast aside. nice try fellas. Good Luck
September 1st, 2015 at 11:46 am
I thought both would at least make it to final cuts, but these aren’t huge losses.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:49 am
I was hoping Herron might become the speedy slot guy, but….catching matters.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:50 am
I am so glad Leonard Johnson was cut…but I bet he’ll be brought back later. I don’t know why, but that guy is like teflon. In more ways than one.
Herron, if he clears waivers, may be signed to the practice squad.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:50 am
It’s refreshing to see the Bucs front office making the moves that it takes to make the team better. Most of those moves involve letting go failed experiments. GM’s and coaches end up staying loyal to their draft pick to the detriment of the team. Sometimes you have to man up and admit that your draft pick didn’t pan out ahem, Robert Herron, ahem. My prediction is Charles Sims will be in this boat next year. I see absolutely nothing from that guy and I think it is a damn shame that he is higher on the depth chart than Mike James who consistently squeezes off roughly five yards each carry. I know I’m in the minority but I’m tooting the Adam Humphries horn loudly. I think the guy will be a special teams ace and a threat in the slot as a 4th or 5th wr. I have a shimmering hope now that Herron is gone.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:50 am
Does this set us at the limit? Or do we need to clear another for Tim Jennings?
September 1st, 2015 at 11:52 am
I don’t thing Mike James is long for the team either…though he might skate through by the skin of his teeth. His YPR are good, but his totals are not.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:57 am
2 players gone that I wanted gone Koenen and Johnson.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:00 pm
I think this is a wake up call to K bell
September 1st, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Is Bowers next?
September 1st, 2015 at 12:01 pm
@ Bonzai,
He had a 4.9 YPC average in 2013. Last year we all know he was injured and in the small sample of time that he played, he was injured. I would rather have a guy like James back up Dougie and Rainey then even have Sims in the same zip code. Injury concerns with James are legit though and that could be his undoing. I like Martin as the #1, Rainey as 3rd down back and James backing up. I think we end up keeping all the RB’s mentioned but Iosefa is on the bubble.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:06 pm
cmurda Ioesfa is already gone
September 1st, 2015 at 12:06 pm
@cmurda
I actually like Mike James…and you are right about him. Those injury concerns are an issue though.
I feel he’s better suited to FB/HB, but the injury issue makes me question his durability for it.
Wish we could find the reincarnation of Lorenzo Neal. Having someone like that as lead blocker would help a lot.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Leonard’s nickname should have been “The Oven Mitt” because whatever receiver he latched on to got hot.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:09 pm
James should be the backup to dougie, he runs hard every time…kind of reminds me a little of erick rhett the way he runs so hard and its a very small sample size compared to rhetts but, i think james would help us on the return game too….but we will be stuck with the draft messup of charles simms
September 1st, 2015 at 12:26 pm
@Joe- Is EDS being traded??
September 1st, 2015 at 12:29 pm
We seem to really have some problems with short yardage….and Mike James is the only player that almost always gets a yard or two….
September 1st, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Charles sims is actually a good back and worthy of a spot on our roster. Last year i remember he shook luke kuechly on a one on one scenario. Also this past game against the browns i think he had a couple nice runs. Had it been me callin the shots bobby rainey would be gone n iosefa would still be here. I didnt see enough of him to make a proper assessment but i really liked his college tape. Slow but powerful same as dominique brown. They had potential to be FBs.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Good luck LJ.
I’m not sure Johnson would have made the team anyway – but I believe its a good sign that the talent level of the team is continuing to rise and these players that aren’t really good enough to play in the NFL but had previously managed to find a roster spot with the Buccaneers are now getting cut. Gilkey may be next.
Apparently the moral of the story with these final cut downs to 75 is – DON’T get hurt if you are on the bubble.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:46 pm
@tdtb2015
Oh please…let it be so! I would not blame Licht for getting less than a 3rd for him!
September 1st, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Spence to PUP.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Suprised at herron, thought he had turned the corner.
also, at least i am able to post here. message boards seem to have banned me.
September 1st, 2015 at 1:02 pm
*sigh* There goes another potential pro bowler that fell victim to bad coaching… So Long Leonard!! I hope you catch on somewhere else and have success like Mark Barron did!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith aka “Now watch me whiiiip! Now watch me Nae Nae!!!”
September 1st, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Watching Leonard Johnson get burned by Julio Jones by about 20 yards which resulted in a touchdown a couple of seasons ago will haunt my nightmares forever.
September 1st, 2015 at 2:13 pm
JMN…correct because you just can’t forget stuff like that. Yet some Buc fans in here always seem to forget the bad stuff they’ve seen from certain players here and there. Not a lot of fans in here are like that, but they are here. So long Leonard as I have NO IDEA why you were still on this team. Yes he’s a local product, a good story, but he was slow and lacked skills to boot. If you go with a local kid, I was always more of a Larsen fan compared to Leonard. Even though Larsen wasn’t all that good, he did have some good moments here and there. I guess the same can be said for Johnson too though.
September 1st, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Leonard can go join EJ Biggers up in DC!
September 1st, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Onelove…
Leonard is a potential pro-bowler? Really? AND ….”have success like Mark Barron did…”.
Leonard is just bad…slow and out of position too often. I am sure he is a great person but not NFL player.
Do you watch the NFL on Sunday at all or just comment only in blogs?? Last time I checked…Mark Barron was not setting the world on fire 4 Rams and is on the bubble to make the team. Rams declined his 2016 options…I think that speaks volumes about Mr. Barron and his “greatness”.
Dont make me get Steve K on the line to blow up your comments again in 2 sentences or less. That was fabulous yesterday…I was too busy at work to reply and Steve K took care of the business. TY Steve K for interjecting normal NFL thoughts into the comment section.
Buckle up BUCS fans for a 5 win season…I keep writing it so it will be less of a shock when it does occur. I see us beating Panthers twice; Saints once, Atlanta once, and a mystery team maybe the Titans…thats 5.
September 1st, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Yes!!! Finally the end of Leonard Johnson! He is a roster bubble player on the worst team in the CFL and a solid backup in the AFL. He could probably start in some European League and be a pro bowler
September 1st, 2015 at 3:27 pm
This is my favorite move of the entire off-season, even surpassing the Raiders signing Trent Richardson for $600,000 in guaranteed money and then cutting him almost immediately. I loved that.
September 1st, 2015 at 3:39 pm
DoNUTS…yep I’m stuck on 5 wins too.
September 1st, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Finally Leonard is gone! Sometimes I believe more in fate than Licht + Lovie’s personnel moves. Now if only fate could have cut the fax line before we traded away Zuttah or for Mankins…
September 1st, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Im sure as hell not happy Leonard got cut. But its a business. Leonard just didnt have the speed to be an NFL corner. Its sad to be happy someone got cut. Unless theyre a jerk, which Johnson is not. I wish I was good enough to play in the NFL for three years. Yoy know, like some of you guys.
September 1st, 2015 at 6:39 pm
Hall > Herron
September 1st, 2015 at 6:56 pm
@Scott. I didn’t realize that. Thanks man.
September 1st, 2015 at 9:51 pm
Good luck to Johnson, say what you will, he came across as a good guy.