Cool To Be A Fool
September 2nd, 2017
All about Sundays.
Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter made it clear yesterday:
It is OK to goof off so long as you get your work done and show up on Sundays.
Koetter’s response was to a question about practice-hating, kicker-heckling, tree-grinding Swaggy Baker and his off-field antics.
(To date, Baker doesn’t have any on-field antics or results.)
Baker, who likes to mug for the camera, take practice siestas and be an overall team clown, has apparently developed enough of a reputation in his short time with the Bucs to not just be outed by rookies, but to provoke questions to Koetter about whether Baker is too over-the-top.
Koetter seems cool with it, so long as players make plays.
“I believe in guys being loose, as long as they show up on Sunday and compete,” Koetter said. “When we looked at Chris’ film last year – I didn’t know much about his personality – we saw a guy that was a good football player on Sundays. I don’t mind guys with personality.
“Robert Ayers brought a different personality when he came. DeSean Jackson brings a different personality. O.J. [Howard] brings a different personality. We have some big personalities already [and] we have some other guys that are content to lay in the background and do their job. That’s every team. How it meshes together – we’re going to start finding out.”
Joe sort of has the same mindset. Baker’s stunts are OK so long as he gets production during the regular season.
Still, Joe has to wonder how Baker and his routines would sit with someone like Warren Sapp. Look, Sapp freaked out when an established star like Keyshawn Johnson didn’t want to practice. Baker is no where near the type of NFL stud that Johnson was.
Joe is all good with whatever Swaggy wants to do so long as he gets the job done. If he doesn’t, then he’s the biggest clown to hit Tampa Bay since Dan Sileo.
September 2nd, 2017 at 8:08 am
Dan Sileo and Lamar Thomas….bwhahahahaa
September 2nd, 2017 at 8:10 am
The way he jokes around for the camera actually reminds me of how athletes used to be in the early 80’s when it was still newer. I don’t really care about that. All I care about is him producing on Sunday, cuz so far he hasn’t shown me sh!t.
September 2nd, 2017 at 8:15 am
He can always work at chic-fil-a if he wants sundays off
September 2nd, 2017 at 8:46 am
If he doesnt show on Sundays in the first 6 weeks and this team goes 2-4, cut him. I never liked talkers…I think some of his behavior is cancerous.
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:05 am
Stop sippin’ on that haterade Joe
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:12 am
If Baker plays up to his pay grade (22nd among all DTs) we will be in good shape with McCoy providing top 5 level play as he pretty consistently does right next to him. McDonald is quite capable of playing in this top 20 type of range as well.
Injury concerns about the group aside – this is easily among the best trios of DTs in the league – if not the best.
When GMC, McDonald, Ayers and Spence were all healthy last year – we had pretty good front 4 pressure – excellent in fact (Seattle game in particular).
Add Baker to the mix and hopefully he clogs up the middle on run plays so our excellent LBers can better do their jobs – and provides some extra push up the middle on pass plays while helping to keep GMC and McD fresher and healthier this year.
A good signing and it didn’t break the bank.
Swaggy can act a fool all he wants – as long as he gives it all he’s got on game day and his results are up to par with expectations.
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:20 am
Good one @Darin….we have beaten this horse all pre-season.
Rest assured if this guy doesn’t produce he will be riding the pine and looking like an idiot.
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:24 am
I think every team needs a player that loosens up practice and the locker room, maybe even two. If he’s over the top or not, that’s for the players and coaches to decide, not us. If it weren’t for Hard Knocks all we would know is how he plays and in week one we shall see. Personally, I’m optimistic about his production this year.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:00 am
I find him funny and entertaining. The kind of guy that guys like to hang out with. Keeping guys loose during the dog days of camp seems like a good thing. Don’t see a problem with it at all as long as he shows up on Sunday.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:20 am
Keyshawn Johnson didn’t weigh 330 either.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:27 am
True dat Batman…but so far Baker hasn’t been seen screaming at his coach on the sidelines. If he goes there then I’m done with him.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:31 am
Just give it all out on Sunday!!!!
I could careless about your personality beyond game day. But please don’t complain about your knees or refs because its irrelevant. Its part of the experience and we don’t want to here it!
Solid performance by our d-line during the winning streak. I don’t see them going backwards.
These are not your old Bucs!!!!
Expect Different!!!!
Go Bucs!!!
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:38 am
Those 330 lbs will create havoc on Sundays. No more successful runs up the middle for opposing offenses. The highway up the middle just became a dirt road. Come at your own risk.
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:39 am
In Baker’s highlight film, he actually looks and plays more like Sapp than anyone I’ve seen since Sapp… Only other person that I’ve seen who looked alot like Sapp on film was Brian Price’s college highlights.
Swaggy better be a beast on sundays
September 2nd, 2017 at 10:52 am
LOL! Quality blast!
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:28 am
@Pickgrin
WELL SAID. Most intelligent post on Baker in a while. People think because he was a FA signing that we over paid him. When we signed him all the talking heads said it was the STEAL OF FA! U all just need to temper expectations. He’s not McCoy, but he will create pressure and free up our other d lineman.
September 2nd, 2017 at 11:44 am
Man..Baker talks a lotta smack!! Players say he’s as strong as an Ox though.
Ans evidently, the coaches see he can produce when the lights are on. But we shall see. If you checked him out with the Skins in the past, you can see he comes to play on Sundays/ Stay tuned.
September 2nd, 2017 at 9:25 pm
Baker is a fatass and needs to step up his game. Looked weak when he was in there. I sure hope he was sandbagging and shows up in Miami.