Bucs Not “Front-Runners” For Josh Norman

April 21st, 2016

JameisleftDejection is setting in at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters.

Per NFL Network super insider Ian Rapoport, the Buccaneers are not among the emerging “front-runners” for the services of free agent superstar cornerback Josh Norman.

Rapoport took to Twitter to deliver the gloom.

@RapSheet – The #49ers and the #Redskins have emerged as the front-runners for the services of free agent CB Josh Norman, source said.

Rapoport went on to Twitter that Norman will at Redskins headquarters tomorrow. But Rapoport also added many teams remain interested.

Joe hasn’t lost all hope, but it’s fading fast.

Somebody give America’s Quarterback Norman’s cell number.

76 Responses to “Bucs Not “Front-Runners” For Josh Norman”

  1. finishers Says:

    I hope we pass to much $$$$$$$$

  2. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Hopes were never very high for me. It would be really nice to have him, but i knew we would not be “front runners” tampa isnt that accomplished yet to get the big names.

  3. ndog Says:

    Trubucfan22 but the 9ers and skins are?

  4. Max Says:

    He’s not worth the money he’s asking for.

  5. mark2001 Says:

    Would have been nice…but Licht has a plan and will stick to it. The price on him could have blown up the plan. In the first place, I think he is interested, as is Koetter, to find out what we really have on Defense…as it has been so poorly schemed and coached the last couple years.

  6. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Skins made the playoffs last season. 9ers are 1 yr removed from being perennial playoff contenders. So yes, they have more recent accomplishments than the Bucs.

    I think the Bucs are clearly on the rise, and a sleeper team, that will surprise many people. But a decade of losing is not appealing to top elite talent like Norman. A man of talents should be demanding to be on a Super Bowl ready team, too bad he is greedy and only looking for money. So he will go to a crap team and be irrelevant until he retires.

  7. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Note: The Redskins sit just $11,682,340 under the cap, according to OvertheCap.com. They can’t match the Niners on the immediate-cash front, but General Manager Scot McCloughan could creatively structure a long-term deal to entice Norman’s camp(Sounds Familiar). The Redskins weren’t considered a major candidate out of the gate, but Washington appears determined to make a run at one of last year’s most impressive players.

  8. Bigbucs1 Says:

    Luvmybucs- you and your damn numbers lol- why would we care if they can afford it- thats their problem – thing is that he wants all that money- just like all those Seattle CBs that left for more money and either return to the system or bust- good thing the bucs were looking at his services but he is not worth 16mil at all- so who cares what the market says- some teams don’t value him that much and neither should the bucs.

  9. MikeJohnson Says:

    I hope our Bucs quit bring in these Retreads and build solidly thru the draft.
    Stop trying to make an instant winner materialize. We built offensively via the draft. Lets do the same thing Defensively.

  10. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Following another 6-10 season
    2x Super Bowl Champion GM Jerry Reese-
    Made the following Key moves = $207.5 Million

    DE Olivier Vernon (25yrs old)
    • Signed a 5 year $85 million contract with New York (NYG)

    NT Damon Harrison(27yrs old)
    • Signed a 5 year $46.25 million contract with New York (NYG)

    Janoris Jenkins(27yrs old)
    • Signed a 5 year $62.5 million contract with New York (NYG)

    *Pretty Aggressive – But All Good Young Prospects

    Vs.

    Robert Ayers (30yrs old) Ex-Giant
    • Signed a 3 year $19.5 million contract with Tampa Bay (TB)

    Brent Grimes (32)
    • Signed a 2 year $13.5 million contract with Tampa Bay (TB)

    J.R. Sweezy(27)
    • Signed a 5 year $32.5 million contract with Tampa Bay (TB)

    *Bargain Bin – But Solid Prospects

    Big spenders in March- doesn’t necessarily correlate to winning in January.
    But this one will be interesting to compare.

  11. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    I’m glad we are out of the running.

  12. CL Bucs Says:

    Now is the time to pull the trigger on a trade up to get Ramsey. The time is now.

  13. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Bigbucs1

    Lol, Man I do this every offseason just for sh!tz and giggles.
    I LUVMYBUCS, and just wanna see us win.

  14. Bigbucs1 Says:

    That’s why I say that- I don’t comment often but there’s gotta be smart spending – we pay this guy – we dk how much guarantee he wants and can jeopardize the future

  15. BUC IT Says:

    No reason we shouldn’t be pushing hard for him. No reason

  16. Todd Says:

    Why does this not surprise me at all
    It’s the cheap bucs looking forward to another 5 or 6 win season again

  17. The Buc Realist Says:

    Come on LuvmyBucs, you know that it is all funny money, In less than 3 hrs NFL GM Bruce Allen could come up with 40 million easy,,, maybe even cash!!! He is the original salary cap gangster!!!!!!!!

  18. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    I enjoy LUVMYBUCS’s posts, even if I do not always agree. At times, he convinces me to change my thinking too.

    However, that won’t happen this time. Norman is not a player we will want here at high cost. That will be obvious next year, when he does poorly for the team that signs him.

  19. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Bigbucs1

    We’ve got way too much future cap – to be worried about cap purgatory.
    Sometimes you gotta spend some money to make some money. Ya Dig!

    Having two good corners, with another solid draft.
    An we could be on our way to the playoffs this year.

    Let me also give you the main reason why I posted that about General Manager Scot McCloughan. Remember this is the same guy – that Build two NFL rosters into Championship caliber teams (Ref: SF & SEA). Now he’s got Washington in the playoff hunt. He very savvy, aggressive GM. So when hear that he’s 1st in line to make his pitch. I stop in listen.

  20. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    BuccaneerBonzai

    Lol

    Its all good brotha.

  21. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    The Buc Realist

    Lol – Yes Sirr

  22. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    @Todd

    If anything, you should be happy Jason Licht is not making the same mistakes in free agency as he has year after year.

    (well…this time. I’m still not convinced on a couple signings this year)

  23. Waterboy Says:

    Great news hopefully they’ll sign the 1 year wonder tonight so that we can get back focused on getting a pass rush.

  24. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    *He’s a very savvy, aggressive GM.
    So when hear that he’s 1st in line to make his pitch. I stop in listen.

  25. salish_seamonster Says:

    BFD. Let some other fools blow their wad on Norman. I like what we have now, for a reasonable cap impact, and we’ll draft another. Buy low. Sell high.

  26. Couch Fan Says:

    Of course Bucs arent a front runner. We have an intelligent GM who isnt going to waste money on a player with only one good year on his resume. LMAO. Ghost Johnson ring a bell? You would think people would learn from past mistakes but not Joe.

  27. gotbbucs Says:

    BIG NAME THAT I RECOGNIZE…BIG NAME THAT I RECOGNIZE….MUST SIGN…MUST SIGN NOW.

    Signed:
    Many Bucs Fans

  28. salish_seamonster Says:

    Todd Says:
    April 21st, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    Why does this not surprise me at all
    It’s the cheap bucs looking forward to another 5 or 6 win season again

    Ignorant. The Bucs of the last 5 years are very far from being cheap.

    But, if not paying one overhyped jackass 10% of your salary cap makes you cheap, then I’ll take cheap every day of the week. The guys they should be paying are the ones who have earned it for this team, like McCoy and David, eventually Evans, Winston.

  29. Bucnut Says:

    I am hoping we pass. Carolina knows something the rest of us don’t. You don’t withdraw offers to pro bowl corners on a whim. I don’t care how tough Gentleman is. There is something off here. Let’s pass!

  30. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    gotbbucs

    C’mon brotha – By now you should know -most of the Ole’ faithful.
    Can run off prospects most folks – have never heard of.
    So rambling about a 5th round prospect – from a HSBC.
    That’ made his way in league – (looking for fair compensation) – ain’t nothing off the rip.

    This kid could improve our secondary- no doubt.

  31. Coopsxx Says:

    You all should listen to McCoy and Louis Murphy arguing over this at the end of Donovan Smith video on his Twitter. Guess they forgot it was live and going out

    https://www.periscope.tv/w/aefKFzFvUEtMYUdST0pqZG58MU1ZeE5ERHJsTVZHd_MIrdrJjHfqN9RwM21kl66wp1SWRdvvOEJEl_u3HlkT

  32. LargoSamIM Says:

    I agree that Norman’s performance last year was exceptional. Hard to find fault. Two things strike me though… #1 Licht/Koetter both seem like straight shooters (Yea ! its qbout time… been since Dungy since we’ve had that !) Now, it seems that Koetter is very communicative with hus players… I heard that he called the DBs after geting Grimes to discuss what it will mean to them…particularly Verner and Banks.. now that is truly commendable and leads me to believe that he will not “sacrifice” his integrity (especially to Verner) by simply “outing” him based on cap or roster restrictions imposed by signing Norman. My opinion. of course.
    #2: I think that Normn mde a statement by NOT signing his tender and NOT planning to join the Panthers for their full training camp….it may not hurt him financially, but i\I think it was a statement that he would be there only one more year unless they paid him what he was asking (long term). I don’t like that attitude and don’t blame Gettleman for not liking it either… its kinda like saying…”look I’m not going to report, and there is nothing you can do about it !”

  33. Tampa Tony Says:

    Never thought he’d come here anyway

  34. Rush Says:

    …bummed. Hope this isnt a sign of things to come in the draft. (5 10 cb who was embarrassed in the SEC Championship)

  35. Pat Says:

    Anyways, thanks JN for exiting the NFC South. C’est la vie!

  36. Pat Says:

    And good luck playing w/o the vaunted Front 7.

  37. Rod Munch Says:

    Who are these people saying “pass too much money”? The Bucs have the 2nd most cap space next year, what exactly do you want a bunch of empty cap space for if it’s not signing top flight talent when they become available? The Bucs had to get a bunch of 2nd tier FA’s because people don’t want to play here after Gruden ran the team into the ground, if the Bucs can go out and get a big catch in Norman they should do everything they can to make it happen. The team has plenty of cap space going forward, they can give him huge money and using the way they do contracts they can cut him in 2 years if he looks washed up or isn’t worth the money. In the meantime you just have empty cap space sitting there which I guess these fans would rather have than actually have good players on the team. This year the team could easily pay for this by just cutting VJ who is on his last legs and Verner, then they can cut George Johnson just for the principle of it and they’d have even more cap space than they have now so people can feel all comfy having empty cap space that isn’t spent. It makes zero sense.

  38. Pat Says:

    Right, I see deja vu…Revis went right back to da j e t s.

  39. Couch Fan Says:

    So we have “all this empty cap space” but then you go on and say we need to cut V-Jax to sign him. Hmm… Clearly we dont have that much cap space. And btw what doesnt make sense is how YOU are willing to give up a HUGE part of our offense(V-Jax), leaving us another hole to fill just to sign this overpaid headcase…

  40. JMN Says:

    If a team out of the NFC south picks him up, it is still a win for the Bucs. Don’t have to face him 2x a season. He is commanding a lot of $$ and the this years draft seems to be CB heavy. I think JL is on the right track to draft a stud corner in the draft.

  41. Kevin Says:

    Still a huge positive that even though he wont be coming to tampa we still wont have to face him twive a season anymore

  42. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Let’s also not for get this kid was in the running for DPOY

    2016 Defensive Player of Year voting
    *Player | Position | No. of votes
    • J.J. Watt, Houston Texans – DE | 37
    • Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams – DT | 7
    • Luke Kuechly, New England Patriots – LB | 4
    • Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers – CB | *2

    When last time that – we had a CORNER on that list – or any defensive player??

  43. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    *He beat out the following players in votes:
    • Patrick Peterson, CB, Cardinals
    • Chris Harris, CB, Broncos
    • Tyrann Mathieu, DB, Cardinals
    • Kawann Short, DT, Panthers

  44. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    *For a corner – to even make the Top – 5.
    He has to be playing on another level.

  45. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    I’m not sure telling #3 is the way to get Norman. #3 may not wish to engage in 8 straight practices with nasty trash talk that culminates in that 8th practice with the infamous fight. Think #3 wants to deal with that?

    Someone earlier said that we can have our opinions but not our own facts and that Newton started it. It had gone on for 8 freaking practices. Not opinion but fact as the Panther paper of record the Charlotte Observer reported.

    SPARTANBURG
    What started as back-and-forth jawing during the first practice of training camp boiled over Monday morning into a fight between Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman and Cam Newton, the franchise’s $103 million quarterback.
    The two came to blows after Norman intercepted Newton during team drills, then stiff-armed Newton as he approached the end zone. Newton grabbed Norman’s helmet and started yelling at him, and Norman responded by knocking Newton’s helmet off.
    The two ended up on ground as about a dozen teammates ran toward the end zone and eventually separated them.
    “Hit me like that again, I know something!” Newton screamed at Norman.
    The two kept it up even as backup quarterback Derek Anderson took over the offense.
    “I bet you won’t do it again,” Newton hollered back as he went to the sideline.
    Norman and Newton exchanged words several times during the first eight training camp sessions, most recently Sunday after Norman laid out to intercept a long bomb by Newton.

    Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article30598728.html#storylink=cpy

  46. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    BTW If fisticuffs broke out do we think #3 is the favorite or will he go the way of Geno Smith? I’ll take JW if Norman really pissses him off like he did Newton,

  47. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    StPeteBucsFan

    Brotha that’s nothing – Please go back and research when Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders – Use to Jaw Jack & tumble all the time. But they also won the Championship that year.

    O’ funny how Carolina made it to the ship – this year after such a scandal.

  48. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Big Ben & Jerry Porter … The list goes on and on.

  49. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Big Ben & Joey Porter

  50. salish_seamonster Says:

    The fact that Norman started a fight with Cam Newton almost makes me like him.

  51. The bucfan 88 Says:

    Hey if Norman wanna chase the huge cash in the skins and the 49ers go ahead he will retire with out a super bowl ring I promise that skinks sucks and the 49er were years behind with chip they are further behind see if josh wanted to win now his best bet was either Tampa or Carolina maybe Jacksonville Norman is going for the wrong thing some people gotta learn the hard way

  52. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    salish_seamonster

    Lol – See what I mean – “The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend.”

  53. SB with Jameis Says:

    I have been too busy watching the Lightning to see this late article. All I can say is “Wheeewh!!!”
    Now on to the draft.

  54. SB with Jameis Says:

    CL Bucs Says:
    April 21st, 2016 at 7:36 pm
    Now is the time to pull the trigger on a trade up to get Ramsey. The time is now.
    ……………………
    Name me the last time a Safety, and that is what he is best suited for, was worth a 5 overall pick???
    Especially to OUR team!!!
    FSU football is over man.

  55. SB with Jameis Says:

    LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  56. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    We can match Carolina player for player of defense.

    Gerald McCoy
    Lavonte David
    Kwon Alexander
    Brent Gimes
    Josh Norman

    Plus a few additions in the draft.
    A Unit that was Top 10 in Total Defensive yards. But terrible in the red zone – ranking 26th in points scored. Signs one of the best red zone corners in the league – and ya’ll don’t want him on the squad.

    C’mon Bruh.

    That “O don’t touch our delicate locker room, kumbaya-bullspit is for the birds.
    Our Franchise is 36-76 (since we released Da’ Coach) Because of our delicate locker room. Time to turn up the tempo.

  57. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    *We can match Carolina player for player on defense.

  58. Fsuking Says:

    @SB with Jameis.
    Oh yea? FSU football is over? That is the dumbest statement made on JBF.com in a long and storied history of dumb, ignorant statements. How foolish of you to make such a powerfully retarded statement on a website that has nothing to do with your uneducated opinion, if it can be called that. DeAndre Francosis is the future of college football!

  59. Couch Fan Says:

    If turning up the tempo means signing guys to record contracts that only have 1 good year on their resume, no thanks. Got to be smarter than that.

  60. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    GO BOLTS!!!!

    I love the Bolts and have had season tickets in the years leading up to the Cup.

    And I’m stoked to see us move on to the next round in just five games!

    But I’m also excited as a Bucs fan because the Bucs have the same feel as the Lightning of a few years back.

    Licht is not yet Yzerman but he is clearly a competent GM….our first since Rich McKay.

    Koetter is not yet Cooper but he shows promise.

    And just like Bishop is the rock…he freaking stole the win tonight the rest of the team played like poop….we now have #3. Gotta have a great goalie in hockey and a great QB in football…..it’s all lining up! SB in two years.

  61. Bigbucs1 Says:

    Man, just watch – this dude *will not* have the impact on team at all. He is going to go to the NFCE and battle Dez and OBJ twice a year – Just watch and see. He won’t have the type of pressure he did in Carolina, I’m just gonna make my bag of popcorn and enjoy. I don’t hate on the guy for wanting more money, after all, thats why you are in the league for, however, you must know your worth. He is just stubborn.
    We don’t need him, I take any of our CB’s verner, banks, grimes over this guy. Im not a homer just realistic – our guys getting burned last year had to do with scheme and lack of pressure.

  62. Couch Fan Says:

    Bishop reminded me of The Bulin Wall. He earned his money today, we had no business winning that game if it werent for him.

  63. DB55 Says:

    Coop

    Cool vid. Murphy saying “Mike Evans ain’t never did nothing against Josh Norman.” Sounds like GMC n JW feel like Ramsey the better player. Murphy is a total homer.

  64. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    Couch

    Agree completely! Bishop played the best game I’ve seen by a goalie since watching Haby in that 04 Cup run.

    This is why I”m so excited for the Bucs….the parallels are numerous.

    I listed…GM..Coach..star at most important position and I could have added how the Lightning have gotten great play this past few years from their young stars like Kucherov and Johnson…can you say Kwon…Marpet and Smith.

    I really believe the Bucs are on their way and pieces are falling into place.

  65. feelthepewterpower Says:

    looking like a deal is in place tonight, Joe. we’re going to have several guys if they keep performing well…(kwon, jameis, olineman, etc) looking for deals in the next few years…so not always prudent to break the bank for older rental type players. we could still trade up for ramsey…who is the best defensive player in the draft….but we need picks at this point. I wouldnt mind trading back a few spots and landing Ogbah. I’ve said it for a while…the guy is raw, but looks in the same vane as a simeon rice, but with more power and could end up being the best defensive player in the draft.

  66. feelthepewterpower Says:

    “in the same vein”, rather

  67. SB with Jameis Says:

    Fsuking Says:
    April 21st, 2016 at 9:53 pm
    @SB with Jameis.
    Oh yea? FSU football is over? That is the dumbest statement made on JBF.com in a long and storied history of dumb, ignorant statements. How foolish of you to make such a powerfully retarded statement on a website that has nothing to do with your uneducated opinion, if it can be called that. DeAndre Francosis is the future of college football!
    ……………………
    I will forgive you your ignorance Sir. When I said “FSU football is over” I was talking about the people that want us to move up to 3 to take Ramsey.
    I am sorry if reading comprehension challenges you though.
    Thank you for misreading my comment and calling me uneducated and such.

  68. SB with Jameis Says:

    You are a Bucs fan so I can forgive and forget.

  69. unbelievable Says:

    ^^LOL

    Great vid Coop.

    I was thinking the same thing DB. Jameis and McCoy know what’s up.

  70. Pawel Says:

    Wow , You made me install Periscope. Not bad at all.

  71. the real Bucobruce Says:

    Grimes is a better corner anyways.sign tebow for TE and rb.like I said before Tebow and Jameis together their tenacity aggressive demeanor will get this team fired up to beat any team Any Given Sunday

  72. SB with Jameis Says:

    And FSUking I really do not wish to be an adversary. We are BUCS fan first hopefully. I have been since 1976.

  73. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    Pawel..keep your Periscope app..almost everyday Donovan vids himself and all the Bucs..it’s pretty cool..

  74. Dave Says:

    Offer him money!!!

  75. Dave Says:

    Fans are absolutely crazy. The Bucs 2 glaring needs our defensive end and defensive back.
    Yet… There are a lot people on here screaming to draft an OT in a good DE draft class and… One of the top 3 CBs in the NFL is available and some of you don’t want him or are worried about the price. Why care about the price?!?? Not your money problem.
    Playoff team steps
    Get Norman
    1. Draft DE
    2. Draft WR
    3. Draft S

    Hopefully they get an extra 3rd round pick by trading glennon or trading back a little then
    3b. Draft another DE
    4 – 5. OL and CB
    6-7. Special team guys – LB

  76. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    “Dave Says:
    April 22nd, 2016 at 2:05 am

    Offer him money!!!”

    Wow, what a complex, sophisticated plan you’ve got there. I’m sure Jason Licht never considered the possibility of offering money to Josh Norman. I think you’ve discovered the secret to getting him signed.

    I can just see you ordering food at a drive-thru, yelling at the metal box with all the pretty pictures of food on it: “Give me food!!!”