Verner’s Cut Reawakens Horrors
February 24th, 2017
Disaster of 2014 nearly done.
Even though Joe knew it was coming, the fact Alterraun Verner got cut yesterday saddened Joe.
Why? Because there may not be a kinder gentleman on an NFL roster than Verner. Always polite, always kind, even if he had a horrible game or got benched or the team got blown out.
That’s not to say Verner enjoyed losing. Hardly.
But he took and answered sometimes very difficult questions in uncomfortable moments, and he always had thoughtful, intelligent answers.
Verner’s departure all but closes the book on the garish free agent signings and idiotic transactions during the too-long, two-year reign of terror by one Lovie Smith. In fact, Verner’s departure rekindled the nightmares of March 2014.
It wasn’t like the cupboard was bare when Lovie arrived. But he was hellbent on putting his stamp on the roster from the cursed day he walked through the doors at One Buc Palace.
A Hall of Fame cornerback, for whom the team one year prior traded a first round pick, was thrown out the door like the classic old red jerseys.
Donald Penn, cemented at left tackle, he got the boot too. Real swift. Joe swears a drunk in a bar wouldn’t have been that dumb.
Then the spending spree for free agents that Lovie — in full charge of football operations — both tacitly approved of and encouraged signing. Ghost Johnson, Anthony Collins, Stewart McClown and Verner.
There isn’t enough beer at Hooters for Joe to get drunk enough to make so many gargantuan personnel mishaps in a handful of days. “Mind-boggling” doesn’t begin to describe it.
That quartet will forever be known as a very special Bucs’ version of March Madness.
February 24th, 2017 at 5:32 am
Why not keep him through camp? He would be a handy body if VH OR BG goes down. He would cost the same zero dollars in August that he costs now.
February 24th, 2017 at 5:33 am
Licht deserves at least 50% of all the credit/blame for the poor talent evaluation and decision-making that took place turning over half the roster in 2014. That is unless you are willing to tell me his main job responsibilities while holding the title of General Manager in large part included fetching coffee for incompetent Lovie Smith and grabbing takeout daily for the coaching staff?
More of the same deflection of responsibility and running cover for a man who’s likeness is embazened across your very own beer flavor and for which I’m sure there is absolutely NO conflict of interest. None. I am saying that I am certain there is NO conflict of interest! At all.
And Licht is not actually responsible for any poor talent evaluation and decision-making as it relates to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Only the good stuff and we should only focus on that stuff anyway because it is positive and that’s all the “real fans” care about.
February 24th, 2017 at 5:35 am
Trooper- he is probably not part of the roster plans going forward and they are just releasing him early out of professional courtesy. I know what you mean though.
February 24th, 2017 at 5:46 am
Probably tried to rework his deal and it didn’t happen- can’t keep paying a BU starter money when our nucleus is about to get major bank –
February 24th, 2017 at 5:58 am
BucTrooper, personally thought it was both a smart thing and the right thing to do on Licht’s part. Bucs freed up $6 mil and it gives Verner a chance to hook up with another team prior to the FA feeding frenzy starting. Whether Bucs tried to renegotiate his deal is anyone’s guess. Verner knew though that he wasn’t going to be starting unless someone got hurt, so he’d probably rather move on anyways.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:01 am
I am so sick of the whining over Revis. He sucked while here, and he did very little after leaving.
Hall of Famer? Riiiight. I highly doubt that.
As to Alterraun Verner, the fact that they cut him could signal that they either needed more money for a big name signing coming up, or that they wanted to do the fair thing and release him now so he can get offers.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:04 am
DallasBuc Says
“Licht deserves at least 50% of all the credit/blame for the poor talent evaluation and decision-making that took place turning over half the roster in 2014. That is unless you are willing to tell me his main job responsibilities while holding the title of General Manager in large part included fetching coffee for incompetent Lovie Smith and grabbing takeout daily for the coaching staff?”
Thank you! I have been practically screaming this ever since, but everyone wanted all the blame to go on Lovie. It had to be a joint effort. Shared responsibility.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:08 am
I suspect that with Verner cut, fans are going to start looking at CBs in the draft. Remember, we’re talking about a backup, so I am putting a name out there:
CB Adoreé Jackson. Could probably get him somewhere in rounds 4 to 6, and he is a top-notch returner…and a so-so CB (needs development).
February 24th, 2017 at 6:20 am
Lovie said he wanted to draft Verner when he was in Chicago. Didn’t Lovie have say in personnel when he got here.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:34 am
Canadianbucsfan Says
“Lovie said he wanted to draft Verner when he was in Chicago. Didn’t Lovie have say in personnel when he got here.”
SHARED accountability. Of course he had say, but so did Jason Licht, who was actually in charge of assembling the roster.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:38 am
Although I suffered through the Lovie regime like everyone else, I never piled on him before. I’ll only say this, and it doesn’t only apply to Lovie. Good coaches, like I believe we have now, adapt to the strengths of their players. Bad coaches, i.e. Lovie, try to force players to conform to their “system”, usually with poor results.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:43 am
Sign me up for Adoree Jackson round 4-6. Doubt he makes it past bottom of the first top of the second round.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:43 am
Bonzai thats simply not true.
Licht as hired BY Lovie. Jason’s duties were to scout players, and to paraphrase Licht, lovie basically gave him free reign over the Draft.
But Lovie had final say over the 53 man roster. Hence guys like Mike Jenkins and Tim Jennings actually being starters when they couldn’t make it as back ups elsewhere.
February 24th, 2017 at 6:44 am
DallasBuc is 100% Right…
Licht has not proven a thing yet…yet everyone states “In Licht I trust “..
I don’t trust him yet…50/50 so far
Sweezy
2 BLOWN 2nd round draft choices
Martin Contract
Etc…
This will be a telling year…if he blows the FA signings and the draft…
Can him…move on……
February 24th, 2017 at 7:03 am
Joe makes America Great! lol
Joe is considerate of all Bucs fans.
Sorry, Joe…. Verner reminds me of the best game of 2016 vs Seattle.
But you just remind us of the fire that lit the umbrella club. lol
February 24th, 2017 at 7:04 am
So many clueless fans…Licht had no say on those pics…lovie was
Driving that ship…100 %. Dallas Buc fan – if I send you $100 will you go away forever from this site cause you are not a bucs fan. Just a troll to irritate people and get them fired up!
February 24th, 2017 at 7:19 am
Licht was in the room sure, But with supreme incompetent lovie and his hand pick OC Jeff Tedford and throw in they still had most of the pop-star’s old staff!!!!! How could they ever succeed!!!!! Its shocking that they somehow found even 2 good draft picks!!!!!!
So glad those dumpster fire days are gone!!!! Watching the Bucs getting out coached for 2 years was beyond embarrassing!!!! And to think, some wanted to see a third year of it!!!!!! SMDH!!!!!!!!!!!
February 24th, 2017 at 7:22 am
LOVIE era got us Jameis so thank you for being epically horrible at your job sir
February 24th, 2017 at 7:37 am
Enough with the “Donald Penn, cemented at left tackle, he got the boot too. Real swift. Joe swears a drunk in a bar wouldn’t have been that dumb.”
Do we all not remember how many sacks that Mr. Penn gave up in 2013, 12 his run game prowess never his strong suit anyway
February 24th, 2017 at 7:53 am
Rusty- that last year under Schiano was statistically bad for everyone on the team. That was simply a horrible year for everyone involved. Not incompetent Lovie Smith horrible but atrocious nonetheless.
February 24th, 2017 at 7:57 am
Enough with the “Donald Penn, cemented at left tackle, he got the boot too. Real swift. Joe swears a drunk in a bar wouldn’t have been that dumb.”
Do we all not remember how many sacks that Mr. Penn gave up in 2013, 12. While his run game prowess never his strong suit anyway was sub par. Yet we keep hearing how it was such a huge loss. And how foolish it was to let him go.
At the time how old was he? Was his career going up or leveling off and tampering downwards? Oh yes he has been great with the Raiders, but when he got cut he put the chip back on his shoulder and worked his butt off to get in better shape and stay slimed down. It obviously worked as he as been a top LT in his time with the Raiders always meeting or being under his weight limits. Why did he not put that effort in for the Buccanners, hard to say. Do not get me wrong great LT for us most of his career here. But his lack of wanting and being in his best LT shape in his last few seasons where not shown in Tampa Bay. Yeah I get it he was a good player we brought in off a practice squad who showed what he could do with an opportunity.
Yes, Coach L. Smith cut him and brought in a way worse LT, but I find it difficult to think that Mr. Penn would have dedicated himself to getting into his best shape if we had kept him. Hats off to Mr. Penn for busting his arse getting himself in great shape and being a better LT in 14 and beyond for the Raiders, than he was for the Buccanners in 2013. Good luck with the Raiders Mr. Penn.
Go Bucs!
February 24th, 2017 at 8:00 am
Bird- so you are in the camp that believes the Glazers were paying Jason Licht NFL GM money for those two years to give charities OneBuc tours and rub Uncle Lovie’s feet with coconut oil in between naps? And we’re the clueless ones?
To answer your question, I make my own honest living and don’t need any from you for any reason and now that I know just how irritated my well-reasoned takes make you feel I will be thinking of you as I ramp up the frequency of my contribution to these fun conversations!
February 24th, 2017 at 8:03 am
Joe you keep bring up Darrelle Revis like he has been great these past couple seasons. We would be paying 16 million for a not even 10 corner. I agree about the Penn boot though. Can’t understand that move at all.
February 24th, 2017 at 8:17 am
Lee makes America Great! lol
February 24th, 2017 at 8:50 am
Dallas Buc- “well reasoned takes and fun conversations are obviously not you”.
Clown fodder is more like it!
Troller
February 24th, 2017 at 8:53 am
Licht gets the pass around these parts for some reason. At least McCown, Ghost, Collins, and Verner actually played and produced while they were on the Bucs roster. Can’t say the same for J.R. Sweezy and Roberto Aguayo.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:02 am
This is likely to move Ryan Smith up on roster. This pleases me.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:06 am
Six million reasons.
February 24th, 2017 at 9:29 am
Not much of the blame can go to Licht for 2014 since Lovie had a stipulation of having a considerable amount of control over the roster if not complete control if they hired him as the HC. I do however give him a little more blame for AV since he let him play in 2016. Kudos for them making AV walk now for the many reasons you state Joe and more.
February 24th, 2017 at 10:19 am
I am so sick of the whining over Revis. He sucked while here, and he did very little after leaving.
………………..
I know right? We paid him $8,000,000 per interception and Joe acts like we let Casey Hayward get away.
February 24th, 2017 at 10:21 am
Seriously.. Saddened? How warpled your mind has become? Is he going to have trouble feeding himself? Staying in his home? Feeding his kids? Working stiffs lose their jobs every day!! And Sports writers want us to feel bad or care how a player was treated by a team… Sports Players FAIL most of the time yet are paid rediculous amounts of money. They are entertainers, that’s all. I am never saddened, or dissapointed, or concerned when a player is cut, released, forced to rework a deal etc..
February 24th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Dallas.
That is unless you are willing to tell me his main job responsibilities while holding the title of General Manager in large part included fetching coffee for incompetent Lovie Smith and grabbing takeout daily for the coaching staff?
———————–
Panera and Starbucks to be exact.
February 24th, 2017 at 10:49 am
If Lovie gets the blame for all the free agent mistakes then no one is allowed to claim that Licht hit a grand slam in 2015, or drafted Mike Evans in 2014
February 24th, 2017 at 11:25 am
Any pick or free agency signing that worked in 2014 or 2015 was all Jason Licht. Anything that didn’t work is Lovie’s fault. Simple as that.
Mike Evans: Great pick by Licht.
ASJ: Lovie’s fault.
Charles Sims: Lovie’s fault.
Kevin Pamphile: Great pick by Licht.
February 24th, 2017 at 11:49 am
Bird- so all the agreement this morning is just clowns and trolls, huh? Maybe you should conjure some original thought instead of reflexively calling people troll when they disagree with you or have unpopular opinions? Or not! You’ve motivated me to participate more out of sheer spite to irritate!!!
February 24th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Yes let’s fire this horrible GM that has our team sitting at 9-7 to close out 2016. Maybe we can find ourselves another Dom and go back to 4-12’s again.
February 24th, 2017 at 1:32 pm
I only judge Jason Licht for 2016, and it’s my opinion that he did an Awful job in 2016.
February 24th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
I swear you have amnesia about all the weight articles that were posted about Penn here lol
February 24th, 2017 at 1:53 pm
Team Licht
February 24th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Horror only re-awakened because you choose to go there, Joe. I’m over it.
February 24th, 2017 at 7:41 pm
Licht has done a terrific job. Way better than what we have done in the past. I am not too sure what transpired in the personnel department when lovie was here. Nor do we know what Lichts role was in the roster at that point. But he does deserve some blame in the Johnson McCown debacle. However; he has brought in great coaching staff. Made some phenomenal draft selections; albeit the kicker sucks for the time being. Licht has done a great job. He does need to get some quality FA’s in. The potential is there, we just need to unload the cash. The verner cut to me imo, shows that the franchise is about to do just that. With the right moves this offseason, I anticipate that we will be 11-5 or 12-4. Jameis needs to be more accurate and protect the ball.