Unwanted
April 1st, 2016
“Hire me, please.”
This is no April Fools’ joke. In fact, Joe would like to chainwhip the arseholes who pull these pranks. Only the lowest of the low websites would ever post false stories.
(If a site knowingly posts false information, what else are they publishing that is fake or at least misleading?)
We are 27 days removed from the ring of the free agency dinner bell. So basically, free agent season is over. Guys that are available now likely will be available in a week or two or maybe even a month from now. Guys available still out there now are essentially NFL panhandlers.
Which brings Joe to the Bucs. When the free agency dinner bell rang, the Bucs had 10 unrestricted free agents, including two starters on defense (Sterling Moore and Danny Lansanah). As of this writing, per BSPN’s free agency tracker, the Bucs are the only team left without one player signed to another team in free agency.
Folks, that’s pretty miserable and speaks to why they are unemployed.
For those scoring at home (bravo!) here is a list of the unwanted:
Guitar-playing Da’Quan Bowers, Larry English, Olatunji Fatinikun, Toast Jenkins, Jorvorskie Lane, Tony McDaniel, Henry Melton, Bobby Rainey, Lansanah and Moore.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:49 pm
Rainey will get picked up by time the season starts, you can bet on that.
Can’t really fault Javorskie Lane, that ankle injury was gruesome.
Rest of those guys are straight scrubs, and with the exception of Moore (and possibly Melton), none of them have any business being starters.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:50 pm
Well, if the NCAA changes their minds about eligibility, these guys can all get scholarships for Lovie.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:55 pm
You forgot Carter although he visited some teams in the last few days he hasn’t been signed either.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Nope. Bruce Carter was released. He is not an unrestricted free agent. He’s just plain unemployed.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:58 pm
For what it’s worth, I thought Sterling Moore did a pretty good job for us.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:58 pm
I’ll give Jorvorskie Lane a pass he had a brutal injury but the rest are scrubs…
April 1st, 2016 at 1:00 pm
moore is average to below average corner who is very inconsistent. obviously he has some other issues since he’s been ran from 3 teams that are CB needy.
April 1st, 2016 at 1:01 pm
Mike “I can cover him coach” Jenkins was just hired by Illinois to be their secondary coach.
April 1st, 2016 at 1:01 pm
Lol, well I stand corrected. Apparently he still sucks though …
April 1st, 2016 at 1:03 pm
@Ray
He can’t be any worse than Mikal Smith. Lol
April 1st, 2016 at 1:07 pm
@bucsfan…I agree he was our best cb by far last year…now go get some talent on the defensive side of the ball….GO BUCS!!!
April 1st, 2016 at 1:42 pm
I would seriously consider re-signing Rainey and Moore if the price is right. If any starting RB or CB gets injured – both could fill in aptly.
Melton should also be a consideration – He’s a solid back up Dline player, but he likely wants more $ than he is worth to us. Just like last year but we signed him for $4.5M anyway. He as a tenured vet is worth maybe $1.5-2M to us. Someone else will pay him more than that most likely.
I have no idea what Lane’s recovery status is or what Koetter’s plans for FB are.
April 1st, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Matt Miller’s B/R NFL 1000 Top 101 CBs: Barimah 99, Banks 79, Grimes 76, Verner 60. Roberts, Robinson, Ross – not rated.
Former Bucs Mike Jenkins 92, Sterling Moore 83.
#notgood
April 1st, 2016 at 1:51 pm
Moore was the best fit for Lovies D last season. With our new system he wouldn’t of worked out. Moore has average talents and Lovies Tampa 2 didn’t require versatile corners. Mike Smith wants talented corners with play making ability, why I think Vh3 is high target for the Bucs.
April 1st, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Jorvorskie Lane is doing really good with his healing…This is one that the Bucs should never let go of.
April 1st, 2016 at 1:56 pm
A fullback pushing 30 with a broken ankle, well, the odds aren’t too good of a successful comeback. Wasn’t like he was the second coming of Mike Alstott.
Hope Lane is able to bounce back though.
April 1st, 2016 at 2:02 pm
The rest of the NFL knows how to evaluate talent…
Lovie Smith not so much!
April 1st, 2016 at 2:12 pm
Wow. It sure speaks to the lack of talent around these parts the last decade or so. I remember very few if any compensatory picks. I believe that formula is based on players leaving vs players acquired in free agency.
April 1st, 2016 at 2:22 pm
Per Greg Auman, Bucs went all the way to North Dakota, changing planes 4 times, to work out LB-turned-FB Will Ratelle. 5-9, 251, ran 4.54, 36-inch vert & 36 reps at 225. Seems kinda interested!
April 1st, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Aren’t we actively trying to sign Preston Parker?
April 1st, 2016 at 3:07 pm
@dB55
I see rainey is still unemployed. Funny you were trying to sell me on the fact that sims is only slightly better than rainey. How completely wrong you are. If sims was free, he would be on a team.
April 1st, 2016 at 3:12 pm
I would like to sign Preston Parker but he was arrested today so that’s out. He was good on 3rd downs for us. Percy Harvins off field issues are overblown, he would be a great addition.
April 1st, 2016 at 3:22 pm
They can all blame Lovie Smith whose coaching and schemes made them look much inept.
April 1st, 2016 at 3:28 pm
@DB55: maybe it was a over all lack of talent, maybe the DB’s had a hard time picking up the system, or maybe it was just a lack of pressure on the QB, whatever the reason a new system will be installed and the DB’s have no choice but to master it!!!
April 1st, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Timmy
#’s don’t lie. 4.9 vs 4.3 = slightly
And he did it behind a worse oline.
April 1st, 2016 at 4:47 pm
4.9 and 4.3 is not slightly better. That is over a half yard per carry better. That is a huge difference.
A 4.9 career rushing average is a top 10 rb all time.
A 4.3 career rushing average barely gets you in the top 100 all time.
If we are talking about numbers just last season. Sims was the third highest ypc rb. 4.3 gets you 20th on the list. Bottom third of the league.
April 1st, 2016 at 4:54 pm
Tru22
The other day we were discussing how great sims is as a rb. I said he’s slightly better than Rainey. We were also comparing a 3 rnd pick vs a udfa. And that sims yac are virtually non existent.
I could really care less to be honest. Hopefully he becomes a great rb. Personally I think he’s a much better slot rcv than rb but obviously I don’t know fkn thing, so there’s that.
April 1st, 2016 at 4:56 pm
Lane and Fantikun are both injured… Wouldn’t be surprised if they both end up on our 90 man TC roster. Although Lane may not be able to recover.
April 1st, 2016 at 5:18 pm
I can’t agree with Tmax on Moore being between average and below average. He has been slowly but surely getting better in his career and is still young. I thought he played damn good last season and would say he’s average at worst.
I have to think he’s either demanding too much money (for now) or he is a locker room mental case. I would really love to know the details behind that one there.
April 1st, 2016 at 5:36 pm
@db55
If you make your assesment based off numbers, then i see why you are completely wrong. By your logic, stafford is a way better qb than wilson. News flash, numbers is not what makes the player, its ability and talent. There is a reason rainey was not drafted, a reason the bucs got him off the scrap heap. There is a reason he is on the scrap heap now. I don’t blame you for your ignorance on this topic. Like many buc fans, your knowledge on talent is severly lacking because the bucs have not help educate you. You are under the impression rainey is on the same level as sims because he put up descent numbers on a very bad team. Only fans like you would be fooled by that production. Again, if sims was free he would be on a team. Oh and it wouldnt be slightly. You are wrong.
April 1st, 2016 at 5:48 pm
@trubuc
We were not discussing how “great” sims is. I was telling db55 that licht deserved trust as it relates to his draft picks. I simply pointed out the draft moves licht made in which many on this board questioned at the time of the selections but they turned out to be great picks. Sims was one i pointed out. Db55 is somehow under the impression that sims sucks and he is only slightly better than rainey. Thats how that started. Its not about greatness, its about licht deserving the right to pick whomever he wants at 9 regardless of position because he has shown us he is on point with talent evaluation.
April 1st, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Tim
First, no need to be rude. Second, yes I think sims sucks as a rb. Third I have all the faith and confidence in Licht. Finally, I could be wrong but it’s highly unlikely.
April 1st, 2016 at 6:03 pm
@Trubucfan22
“A 4.3 career rushing average barely gets you in the top 100 all time.”
Marshall Faulk
Tony Dorsett
Shaun Alexander
LaDanian Tomlinson
Earl Campbell
4.3ypc is way better than you are making it out to be. That is pretty damn good considering that puts you in HOF company. Also, there are maybe 10-15 backs that averaged more than that all time…
April 1st, 2016 at 6:09 pm
No wait! You gotta read Tims comments on this post. Talk about ignorant and severely lacking? Come on man!
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2014/11/last-years-josh-mccown-showed-up/
Then he’s like don’t call me names. Oh man Timmy thanks for the laugh. It only took me 5 secs to find this gem.
April 1st, 2016 at 6:13 pm
Thunder
Ty. Like I said I am rarly if ever wrong.
April 1st, 2016 at 7:25 pm
@db55
Not sure what you are referencing as ignorant and severly lacking. All my comments from the post you reference are me calling for the drafting of winston and my defense of him to the morals police. Btw i was right. And i am totally not sure why you are talking about name calling. Me stating you have an ignorance as it relates to sims is not name calling. Its an observation as it relates to your knowledge on said player. Sorry that hurt your feelings. But that is your fault because you continue to say he sucks which just confirms my ignorance claim on your knowledge of sims the player. Thanks for the laugh though.
April 1st, 2016 at 8:07 pm
I never said 4.3 was garbage. But 4.3 to 4.9 is a huge difference, not a slight difference, like it was refered to. Anything over 4 is respectable. But 5 is elite company. Not to say sims is elite, but getting 4.9 for an entire hear is darn good, and should not be over looked.
Im not a huge fan of sims, i think his brain is faster than his feet. He is constantly tripping over himself. He is certainly not an every down back.
Rainey, is useless for the bucs team. He is terrible at returns, muffing nearly a quarter of his attempts. In the run game he has butter fingers and can’t hold on to the ball. He is quick and pretty shifty, but not at a high level. He will never be more than a third steing rb or special teamer. But with the poor performance he had last season, i doubt many teams come calling. They may tive him a shot in TC as camp meat. But a team would have to be pretty desperate to tive him a roster spot.
April 1st, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Tru
Im not a huge fan of sims, i think his brain is faster than his feet. He is constantly tripping over himself. He is certainly not an every down back.
—————–
Exactly! You said what I felt but in much more refined manner. I’d add that he doesn’t get much yardage after contact either. Not worth a 3 round pick in my most humble opinion.
April 1st, 2016 at 10:37 pm
Sims has improved since the 2014 season. If he can improve on last year he may have a big year coming up.
April 2nd, 2016 at 7:40 am
I agree Sims was probably not worth a 3rd rnd pick but to say that he sucks I’d ridiculous. He’s one of the better pass catching RBs in the league (the reason the bucs drafted him, not for running skills.) And just because he doesn’t break every tackle like the dougernat doesn’t mean he’s no good. I seen him break plenty of tackles by the way.
And not to mention he LED THE LEAGUE in yards per carry with 6.9!! While doug only had 4.87. Not only was that good enough to lead the league but it was the most by any RB in the last 3 years so do your math before saying sum dumb sh*t like that.
April 2nd, 2016 at 9:25 am
He did not have 6.9 yards per carry. That was yards per touch. Which included his pass catching. Please get your facts straight. Like i said above he was third in the league for RBs last season in yards per carry. Which is awesome. I give him a lot of credit for that feat. But like i said said, he isn’t the type of runner to get the ball every down. He is a nice compliment back to doug. He is much better than rainey though. Never was a fan of his.
April 2nd, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Sims either busts off a 20 yard run or gets stopped for -2 yards. He has no business running the football from traditional formations. Get him in space or throw him screens and slants. It’s kinda his thing
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:06 pm
Bruce Carter is now a Jet. Bucs have their first restricted free agent signed by another team.
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:11 pm
Macabee’s top 100 CB list is depressing. I can’t believe Brent Grimes is at 76? PFF has Grimes at 46 overall, which is more accurate to his performance. If Grimes is truly at the 76 ranking, we are in big trouble this year and should draft a CB in the first round. Bobby Rainey had a meeting with the Dolphins lined up and Bruce Carter with the Jets. If Javorskie Lane is recovering well we should consider signing him. Danny Lansanah is another for depth. How can Charles Sims not be worth a 3rd round pick? Do not re-sign Henry Melton. He can be replaced in the draft with a young better, more hungry player like Hassan Ridgeway in the 4th.