Loving Robert Ayers Signing
March 18th, 2016
National publication applauds.
Joe is long on record stating defensive end Robert Ayers was a third-tier free agent.
Color Joe suspicious of a guy who by far had his best season in a contract year at age 30.
One man not suspicious is SI.com’s Greg Bedard. He absolutely loves the signing. So much so he gave the Bucs an “A” grade for inking Ayers.
Buccaneers sign DE Robert Ayers
Details: Three-year, $21 million deal. The Bucs are desperate for any pass rush at defensive end—and I mean desperate. The money is smart, and Ayers fills a big need and makes the team better. It’s an added bonus that Ayers, the last good pass rusher in free agency, can kick inside in subpackages. Love it. Grade: A
The only way Joe will be doing jumping jacks is if Ayers actually breaks the streak of the Scroll of Shame. If he can match Michael Bennett’s nine sacks from 2012, then it will at least put a smile on Joe’s face.
Just the thought of Bennett walking out the door for no good reason makes Joe just want to fastball his coffee mug against the wall. Never, ever let a productive defensive end go for no good reason. EVER!
March 18th, 2016 at 7:18 am
This has been an excellent FA period. Precision targetting without breaking the bank. Replace Mankins..probably a lateral move..Mankins better player but Sweezy just now hitting his prime…Mankins was showing his age. Overall could actually be an improvement.
Brent Grimes and Ayers are important pieces but they are not our “franchise” players. This is why I think these are great signings as complimentary pieces and mentor to the “franchise” pieces we hopefully find at DE and DB in the draft.
The players that Licht has resigned have also been excellent signings beginning of course with Martin…but again even the final pieces like Conte are resigned.
March 18th, 2016 at 7:24 am
Based on projected production to value – have to agree with Bedard.
The key to the premise is a team “desperate” for pass rush help and they didn’t pay JJ Watt plus money to someone that’s simply not JJ Watt.
Not to mention the draft and other avenues available to upgrade the DL. You can’t help but be excited if you are looking at the big picture.
March 18th, 2016 at 8:10 am
The best signings on this team in the off-season thus far have been Mike Smith and Jay Hayes…..Miko Grimes comes in close third.
March 18th, 2016 at 8:35 am
Well the Pats let Chandler Jones go but got a 2nd and OG
March 18th, 2016 at 10:06 am
we need to see some wins before we start saying how great each signing is….GO BUCS!!!
March 18th, 2016 at 10:34 am
Personally, I see Ayers signing as the best outside free agent the Bucs have acquired.
He was absolutely dominant at the end of last year (7.5 sacks last 5 games) and looking at the career his production has largely increased from his ineffective rookie campaign. It looks like he finally “gets it” and is a late bloomer who, at 30 years of age has been in the league long enough to know what a good work ethic is and what isn’t.
March 18th, 2016 at 10:34 am
Hope he does well, I’m optimistic on him.
Legitimately LOL’d at the Scroll of Shame title, well done.
March 18th, 2016 at 10:49 am
Ayers looks like a smart signing, fills the need without breaking the bank.
The existing defense was much better than what showed in the way Lovie/Leslie used it.
This defense got better the day Lovie left the building.
March 18th, 2016 at 11:01 am
Agree with Tampabaybucfan on that comment. Those coaches appear to be a major upgrade.
March 18th, 2016 at 11:02 am
Good possibility he will open things up for McCoy,and gholston
March 18th, 2016 at 11:49 am
How many starting caliber DE’s did we have before Robert Ayers? None. Jacquies Smith should be a rotational player as all the others on this team are. Ayers is also known as a hard-worker who is serious about his craft. He’s a good locker-room presence. Ayers brings a veteran presence and is automatically our best DE. Now lets go out and get a defensive end in the draft. You can bet the farm we are going to draft Sheldon Rankins in the first round to combine with Ayers and McCoy. The second and third round picks are going to be the money picks based on who is available. I have a feeling Jason Licht could try to move up with our second round pick. What if Robert Nkemdiche, Kevin Dodd or Emmanuel Ogbah fall to the start of round two? I would like to see round two used for a WR if none of those three DE’s fall. We could target Shawn Oakman, Kyler Fackrell or Jordan Jenkins in the later rounds.
March 18th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
He’s the best FA DE that wasn’t overpaid. Now that the dust has settled a bit, I think people are starting to see that. He’s half the cost of Vernon with a very comparable 2015 season. He doesn’t offer the longevity of Vernon, but that’s only bad if Vernon pans out. In a year where we had a “ton” of cap room to start, this year should remind us just how quickly it disappears. What are we down to now?
March 18th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
smh
Please show some wagescale released by the NFLPA that details what contracts players are allowed to sign.
No one is “overpaid” if they produce. What is “overpaid” today is underpaid in three years. Salaries do not decrease.
Not just Joe who believes this. So too does Bill Polian.
March 18th, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Didn’t the Bucs let Bennett go due to a bum shoulder. Though the Bucs knew knees at that time, maybe they didn’t know about shoulders. Would be a good question to ask Dominick on his next BSBN spot.
March 18th, 2016 at 12:29 pm
The NFL has an “injury settlement” clause where they pay off a guy (at a greatly reduced rate) who can’t pass a physical. While the team may have been spooked about Bennett’s shoulder, given that the team needed an edge rusher and he was the only guy who provided any edge rush, the Bucs were covered if they kept him and his shoulder never responded.
March 18th, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Overpaid was Michael johnson, vernon and malik jackson. Jj watt they are not.
March 19th, 2016 at 5:05 am
Trash McCown, Anthony Collins, Michael Johnson and the artist formerly known as EDS were all inarguably overpaid by incompetent Lovie Smith and his lapdog GM Jason Licht.