Outrage In Denver Over T.J. Ward Release; Buccaneers Pounce

September 3rd, 2017

Broncos players are unhappy.

As Joe detailed earlier, credible reports claim three-time Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward, who was just cut by Denver, is your newest Buccaneer.

So Joe sought reaction in Denver — and it made Joe smile.

Ward wasn’t a 30-year-old castoff expected to be released.

On the contrary, a fan poll on DenverPost.com shows 55 percent of Broncos fans “hate” the decision to cut Ward.

But more important, Broncos players expressed their disgust publicly.

News that the Broncos were considering trading or releasing Ward left the locker room in disbelief last week, with many players still hoping it was untrue even as reality set in.

“It was shocking just to come out of nowhere toward the end of camp,” Parks said. “But at the end of the day it’s a business. He’s been through it once already, so I’m pretty sure he knows how to handle it.”

Von Miller argued for Ward to stay:

“I don’t think he should be going,” he said. “That’s a cornerstone of the No Fly Zone.”

Safety Darian Stewart did, too:

“I don’t know if they are going to listen to us, but I think it is going to impact a lot,” he said. “He is the key leader and a good teammate.”

Elway understood how the players felt, and he knew the decision wouldn’t be fully embraced, at least initially.

“It’s always hard. I will tell you I was in that locker room and I didn’t agree with every move that management made,” Elway said. “You create those relationships in that locker room and it’s important. T.J. was a big part of that, but I can tell you how many friends and people I had cut over my career and didn’t agree with all of them but that’s part of it. I think that they understand, at least I hope they understand, we had to do what we believe is best for the Denver Broncos. … When you make tough ones like this, they’re not always going to be popular. But I think the young guys will step up and play well and fill those shoes very well.”

There’s much more via the link above. Ward even says he was coming off his best NFL season.

Joe is fired up to see the urgency in general manager Jason Licht. Mike Smith must be drooling this morning.

86 Responses to “Outrage In Denver Over T.J. Ward Release; Buccaneers Pounce”

  1. PRBucFan Says:

    woooooohoooooo

    I love me some Licht

  2. tnew Says:

    So maybe he can come in and pull a Lynch here.

  3. Mike Evans GOAT Says:

    I don’t get the hype. Him and JJ Wilcox are basically the same player. Thumpers who struggle in coverage.

  4. PRBucFan Says:

    Same player my fat ass, his weakness in his game may lie in coverage but all other aspects of his game are MARGINALLY better than Wilcox. Which is why my prediction is bubye JJ

  5. darin Says:

    Im not gona pretend i watched alot of tj ward last year but!!! Id be pissed too if my team released him and signed brock lossweiler. Ouch. Go Bucs

  6. Billy Buc N Brazil Says:

    Love waking up to this news!!! Go Bucs!!!!

  7. MadMax Says:

    Awesome!!!!!

    He’ll be a great, much needed addition!

  8. OneBucPerson Says:

    Josina Anderson reported that Ward is gonna be signed to a 1 year deal worth 5 million, thoughts?

  9. Tnew Says:

    My thought is they are hoping he is a bridge for Evans.

  10. Easy Denman Says:

    Wilcox will be released now and he should be a solid rotational player with Tandy and Conte

  11. K_bassuka Says:

    I think Ward it’s better than all other safeties on the roster. Great move! Now let’s get pass rushing help, and a back up QB (throw out the garbage).

  12. darin Says:

    Everyone see he is recovering from a hamstring injury and did not play in any preseason games??? So my thoughts are a bjt of UH OH. Hamstrings can linger. Lets hope for a quick recovery cuz 5 mil over 16 games means he is gona get about 315,000 per game. Good work if u can get it. Go Bucs

  13. The Buc Realist Says:

    They must have graded and thought exactly what The Buc Realist was thinking!!! And operation bench conte is now in full effect!!!! Good move by NFL GM Licht as we upgrade the much needed Safety position!!!!!!!

    Joe asked what was the motovation???? Maybe NFL GM Licht saw the same thing as The Realist once again!!!!!!!!!! OMG its the “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The Buc Realist Says:
    August 18th, 2017 at 8:34 am
    If truth be told!!! Conte had another bad game, Some (and they are in the media as well) that will try to tell you he had a good game!!!!! That they saw him make a tackle in run support or he broke up a pass when he was 1 on 1!!! But there were several instances of when Conte was suppose to be covering “over” and had very late recognition and left people with the under coverage left out to dry!!!!! The guy makes 1 good play and then gives 2 bad ones!!!!!!! There is a reason free agents and high draft picks were brought in this year!!!!!! And I cannot wait to see them start!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. tnew Says:

    Evans is really the fly in the ointment here. He has really good athleticism and promise but he is so green and his instincts in the run game are really poor. This is the reason why the “practice squad” system in the NFL is kind of broken. Teams have to sacrifice so much to develop a player. Especially with so many third year players coming out. I wish there was a “rookie exemption” to the practice squad so that rookies couldn’t be poached. Then in year two the standard practice squad system could be established. Sort of like a short term “team control” option in baseball. They could put a clause in that once they dressed for a game or a certain number of games, “team control” was then waived and standard practice squad rules applied.

  15. Defense Rules Says:

    Great idea tnew; I agree 100%. Players like Justin Evans will probably be inactive for all 16 games, and yet that’s the only way to really protect them in today’s NFL.

  16. RayJameisStadium Says:

    2 Legit 2 Quit…..Go Licht!!!! He is on fiaaaaaa!!!! lol

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiyYozeOoKs

  17. Bird Says:

    Had to do it ! Will see who is let go.

  18. ARGH_M8E Says:

    We got ward 1 year 5mil

  19. Carlos Danger Says:

    Easy Denman Says:
    September 3rd, 2017 at 5:59 am
    Wilcox will be released now and he should be a solid rotational player with Tandy and Conte
    ————————————————
    Lol Insulting to TJ Ward – Tandy and Conte will never sniff a pro bowl for one, and Ward was a cog in one of the more dominant one yr Super Bowl defensive runs in recent memory. He’s gonna be on the field a lot more than JJ freaking Wilcox would have been

  20. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    a.500 on licht now big whiff not gettin wilkerson but bucs back end is garbage this at least gets a guy they have been missing since dashon goldson got run out the league for being a football player

  21. Eric Says:

    It’s a bad sign IMO,

    Smacks of desperation.

    Elway doesn’t want the guy but he is our answer? Seems very unlikely.

  22. CautiousOptimism Says:

    Drooling? Come on. Sounds like a band aid approach to covering up a nonexistent pass rush. Mike Smith would be drooling to have at least one halfway decent DE and instead he is stuck with likes of Mr Yeasting Ayers. Bet the whole building is worried about the liability that the Dline poses.

  23. CautiousOptimism Says:

    “Dusthty Rhothdes Says:
    September 3rd, 2017 at 7:40 am
    a.500 on licht now big whiff not gettin wilkerson but bucs back end is garbage this at least gets a guy they have been missing since dashon goldson got run out the league for being a football player”
    Hah! So true

  24. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Yup

    This is a desperation signing. …….so JL won’t look like he didn’t try to do anything for the secondary.

    No team right before the season would dump a good player

    This signing smells like a “lovie smith” special and stinks just as bad.

  25. Jolly Bucs Fan Says:

    RB Matt Jones Cut (3rd rd pick 2015. averaged 4.6 ypc last year)

    Bucs should make a move quick

  26. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    sorry stick carriers i know you hold licht in high regards but he is a below .500 gm and until he is gone the bucs will be a .500 squad… OL/DL is how you win in december

  27. Easy Denman Says:

    I don’t mind the signing for only 5 million bucks but damn we need some pass rushers!

  28. Kobe Faker Says:

    LOL the sheep here keeps on posting Mike Smith is drooling

    Smitty is drooling when we signed Wilcox

    Smitty is drooling when we drafted matador Evans in the 2nd round

    …drooling again

    “We should have listened to NOS and drafted Dalvin Cook”

    Jameis Winston

  29. TeddyTB Says:

    I’m so glad they did this. He’s played at a higher level than any of the safeties we have on the team so I can’t find any issue with this. I was hoping it would happen since this unit has been one of my biggest concerns since last season ended. And who cares about the money the team is already set for the year.

  30. webster Says:

    Are idiots still asking for cook? You drafted oj howard. Deal with it. Licht is doing a great job of building this team. Why cant you people just enjoy the ride without all this b!tching and moaning. You all are like little 10 year old girls complaining about what you dont have instead of being thankful for what you do have. You think seattle fans are crying about not drafting dalvin cook? Tampa fans are jokes (some to many).

  31. webster Says:

    I have never seen a fan base turn their nose up at a team signing a 30 year old pro bowler at a position that didnt have a pro bowler. Some of you are really a embarrasment.

  32. NJBucsFan Says:

    I wonder who will be going. We could drag it out by placing Ryan Griffin on the IR to free up a spot. We will need to make a move to bring back a LS.

    I’m excited about this move!

  33. BUCLUV55 Says:

    Holy F*#*k some of you are some real cry baby (b) itches. Half wit faker and dusty leading the way. Why even watch, read or pay attention if you’re just going to piss and moan about everything? Team is clearly on the way up, but only negativity from you mouth breathing idiots. Amazing NFL front offices aren’t chasing you down to offer you total team control with all that wisdom you think you possess. Get outta here with that garabage before you make the rest of us dumber by reading another one of your posts.

  34. USFBUC Says:

    Kobe we should have gone all in on this draft to get the missing pieces. Teams were obviously willing to make deals in this draft. Trading up just a few spots could have landed us Mixon. Another guy I loved Eddie Jackson is looking to be the starter day one in Chicago and was taken in the fifth round.

  35. NJBucsFan Says:

    Just imagine the head games when Cam lines up twice this year and sees Ward…one of the men that so easily ruined his Super Bowl chances.

  36. SCBucsFan Says:

    Webster some here would see fault in signing Brady. Fault in signing David Johnson. Still call for Cook and Von Miller to be drafted. Losing for years will make your fan base miserable.

  37. Eric Says:

    “Fools gold”

    Who is more likely to be right, our people or super bowl champ building Elway?

    No brainier.

  38. Pat Says:

    @Eric
    You never know: The one time super Bowl winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut John Lynch who was then picked up by the Denver Broncos and is now in their ring of honor.

  39. Kobe Faker Says:

    **people here wanted licht to move up in the 2nd round to pick up a falling DCook because safety evans was a wasted 2nd round pick

    Signing safety ward days before kickoff confirms this

  40. webster Says:

    @ eric

    Dont be that clueless guy. Just because elway cut him, it doesnt mean he cant play. It means he has a cheaper alternative he feels can play. The bucs do not have a cheaper alternative. Its not as simple as he cant play anymore.

  41. SCBucsFan Says:

    Webster please stop with the logic it confuses some on here

  42. Supersam Says:

    Hey joe any chance this is our new starting nickel corner?

  43. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Who gets cut……I suspect Cameron Lynch…..and unless we plan on going with 5 safeties…..we will try to trade one of them.
    Our safeties appear to have guaranteed contracts so the $5 mil is added to that.
    Unfortunately, the most tradeable IMO is Keith Tandy

    And, all this whining about Dalvin Cook…..vs Justin Evans….how about letting things play out a bit….the jury is certainly still out for Evans as it is for Cook.

  44. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    i think ward is an upgrade at a D level area on the bucs but licht is a poor GM and neglects OL/DL….d jax n howard great moves, then go get an edge guy and starting RB, he gets a safety that will be cut next year and an RB that may be cut this year

  45. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    So just because you guys (brain washed ESPN/NFL Network) lemmings can read “three pro bowls” and stat sheets…….you think he’s a good fit for this team??

    USE YOUR BRAIN AND COMMON SENSE FOR ONCE………..

    NO TEAM will dump a good player right before the beginning of the season if he’s “so good”.

    There’s obviously issues here….maybe lingering injuries issues that will limit him for awhile or has permanently made he an average player at best.

    You guys really think he’s going to be this amazing player coming in here and he doesn’t even know the defense of Mike Smith????????…….GTFOH!!!!!

    He’s a depth signing at best……nothing more for right now.

    Come back and post this probowl/starter BS next year if he’s still on the team but don’t act like he’ll take over as a starter now.

  46. webster Says:

    Kobe

    One offseason without one nfl game played only confirms that evans was a wasted pick to the idiots. Those who allow players to develop sees it much differently. Those idiots who believe evans is a wasted pick would also cut ronde after his 1st offseason too. That would have been so smart to the idiots. Fyi……a one year deal is not a signal of a wasted pick.

  47. Pat Says:

    @KobeFaker
    You have a really nice little racket going with just about every response you give. As it appears If your always negative take on things turns out to be wrong then no one will remember because that means that the Bucs will have been successful. On the other hand, if your take on the Buccaneers is right then you get to tell everyone how you were right. That’s a pretty nice set up you got going there.

  48. shouldhavedraftedeifert Says:

    yaaaaaaaaaaaaass! The balls on this GM are massive.

  49. webster Says:

    @ bucanthem

    I have not seen one poster on here say that ward would be a pro bowler this year. You know why? Because the season has not started. But you need to use your head. Tell me again why is signing a 30 year old pro bowler who won a superbowl and a tremendous leader in his locker room a bad thing. Answer that

  50. PRBucFan Says:

    lol whiney bitches who will never be satisfied per the usual.

  51. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    I said from the beginning that JJ Wilson was not a starter.

    Love this signing. Ward will be able to contribute for at least 4-6 years.

  52. PRBucFan Says:

    Wilcox

    And he was never signed to be a starter.

  53. Kobe Faker Says:

    Web

    I believe 2nd rounders need to contribute the first year. 2nd rounders should not be projects

    *there was other teams like philly eagles that made a mistake for dcook to fall to them

  54. Jeagan1999 Says:

    I love it! Our defense just got better!

  55. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    webster Says:
    September 3rd, 2017 at 9:19 am
    @ bucanthem

    I have not seen one poster on here say that ward would be a pro bowler this year. You know why? Because the season has not started. But you need to use your head. Tell me again why is signing a 30 year old pro bowler who won a superbowl and a tremendous leader in his locker room a bad thing. Answer that
    —————————————————————————————–

    Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm ok,

    well if we go by your logic:

    * Trent Dilfer was a superbowl winner and leader and he was cut immediately after the superbowl

    * L. Blount won the superbowl this year and was cut he was a major contributor on short yardage

    …………………..so just because he was a contributor and superbowl winner and he’s a good guy, then we should sign him???????

    I don’t think so junior

  56. webster Says:

    Anthem

    Your scenarios are flawed. Dilfer was not a pro bowler for baltimore and he was not the leader on that team. blount was not released. He was a free agent. Also blount has never been a pro bowler or a leader. In ward you get all three while he still in his prime but i will let you continue to whine like a 10 year old girl.

  57. Broy34 Says:

    I absolutely despise half of this fan base. They complain about conte complain about Wilcox signing then when the hands down best cut of 2017 is cut because the broncos are half rebuilding and don’t have a qb AND have little cap space cut a 30 year old so young guys get reps they go nuts because we signed him. Newsflash to the people who know absolutely nothing about football—he’s going to be starting. It’s not your money so who cares. He’s 30 not 45. WOodson and several others played well into their 30’s at safety

  58. PRBucFan Says:

    Not to mention the entire broncos D is LIVID by his release lol

  59. PRBucFan Says:

    AMEN BROY! lolol truth

  60. Broy34 Says:

    Then you people act like you know what it takes to learn a defense—you have no clue. I don’t really know that well but I can tell you he’s a safety. You have zone coverages blitzes and man assignments. Preeeeeetty sure a 30 year old good locker room type guy can figure this out. Expect ward and Tandy against Miami. And the defense will absolutely be better. Period. Yes we drafted howard(and the fact people are still talking about Dalvin when nos isn’t even anymore 7 days before the season starts is baffling. I’ve been quite for so long about these loser haters that think they know more than scouts with New England backgrounds have gotten me to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore. Then they try to ruin the signing for those that enjoy reality and happiness. Can’t stand you all. Keep living with your head in the clouds and when we go 10-6,11-5 and possibly even just maybe upset New England- if I see you come on these sights and say (yeah but the patriots didn’t even have Edelman) I will call for joe to ban the negativity. It’s out of control.

    I rest my case

  61. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    “webster Says: 
    September 3rd, 2017 at 9:40 am

    Anthem

    Your scenarios are flawed. Dilfer was not a pro bowler for baltimore and he was not the leader on that team. blount was not released. He was a free agent. Also blount has never been a pro bowler or a leader. In ward you get all three while he still in his prime but i will let you continue to whine like a 10 year old girl.”

    ————————-

    Ha ha ha ha………I never said Dilfer was a probowler

    And Blount wasn’t resigned …………regardless of what you think “cut”……..more like the team didn’t want him back…..so it’s like being cut in a sense. …..but not

    But you’re not smart enough to even comprehend different levels of thinking and logic

    All you do is read the news and stats from sorry ESPN and NFL network and try to impart your knowledge but yet you’re not looking at the OVERALL PICTURE of him being on the team

    So you can back and join the other lemmings and I won’t waste any word responding to your stupidity and logic junior.

    Have a good day sport.

  62. Buc1987 Says:

    Anthem…pretty sure Broy34 is talking about you. Most of us prolly think he’s right too.

  63. Eric Says:

    Of course teammates don’t like to see a guy cut who has been a big part of their team.

    Meaningless.

    As for Lynch that flowed FROM the bucs TO the Broncos. Big difference historically.

    Hope the dude plays great, but I have my doubts.

  64. PRBucFan Says:

    Anthem you sound like a complete tool

  65. Cobraboy Says:

    @tnew: an interesting proposition for rookie exemptions on the PS. Maybe two 1-year, one-time exemptions…

    Evans is a perfect example as to why.

  66. stpetebucsfan Says:

    TNEW As always an excellent idea. And as long as it didn’t impact salaries the union should sign off and as you correctly point out if would certainly benefit NFL owners and GM’s.

    band aid approach to covering up a nonexistent pass rush.

    Can we just stop with this meme? Really!!! This is the epitome of “fake news”.
    Unlike most things labeled “fake news” this is actually WRONG!!!

    Please read these stats and tell me what people are talking about!!! The Bucs tied for 9th in the league last year…a top ten team in sacks hardly has a non existent pass rush!!!! Why does this LIE keep getting repeated?

    Seriously…I do not care if we have a league leading DE in sacks or a guy who gets double digits….IF as a team we can break into the top five…we were already a TOP TEN team last year!

    https://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/team-sacks-and-sack-yards/2016/

  67. JAB83 Says:

    Excellent signing!!!!

    This should help improve our pass rush as much as our secondary.

    Added bonus of s proven vet to help the youngens take over in the years to come!?!?

  68. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    PRBucFan Says
    “Wilcox

    And he was never signed to be a starter.”

    Oops, sorry. Got a cold that has me loopy.

    According to most around here, when Wilcox was signed he was going to be the starter.

    You and I, along with a few others, knew the truth from the start.
    https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/03/bucs-will-sign-safety-j-j-wilcox-today/#comment-3788906

  69. JAB83 Says:

    And reading all the back and forth with trolls is something I wont do. So if someone already made those points it was likely ignored by those of us who ignore fools arguing with fools.

  70. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Credit where credit is due. tnew, that is an excellent idea!

    Adding another year of eligibility and increasing the numbers for the practice squad a little would help too.

  71. webster Says:

    Its official. Anthem is an idiot. He doesnt even know the difference between free agent and cut and yet he still tries to argue an idiotic point. He is a prime example of why tampa fans are laughed at. Thanks junior. You are an idiot.

  72. Mo_Downs Says:

    Looks like the Saftey Blitz is going to be our answer for a poor pass rush from the DL.

    Problem..??

    What Problem..??

  73. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    webster Says
    “He is a prime example of why tampa fans are laughed at.”

    I beg to differ. Not on your opinion of Anthem…that’s your business.

    But on the reason Tampa Fans are laughed at.

    I think it’s how quickly they give up on players or the team once the season starts. We see it year after year. The team could go 4-2 to start s season…but if the two losses are the first two games, most of the Tampa Fans freak out, and half of those stop watching the games.

  74. webster Says:

    @ bonzai

    I mean all the above. The fair weather nature, the lack of knowledge, the lack of reality etc. I can go on but the list of why we are laughed would go on forever and anthem is just one example. Your example is also included

  75. mark2001 Says:

    Ward was the first name mentioned among the thousand plus cut as a surprise and the guy out there that really had game. Based upon what I’ve heard, he also has some pass rush talent… and we can certainly use some help there. It is one year…and if we make a mistake, we live with it one year. This isn’t a three year contract. It kind of reminds me of the Brett Grimes signing. Oh Miko…Old Man….how dare we sign him. If we could just look at the posts on that Brett signing thread…. I bet it sounded pretty familiar?

  76. Buc1987 Says:

    Bonzai….for me though.

    I can’t think of ANY other team I’d rather be a fan of.

    You might be right. The home opener’s are usually loud as hell and then…

    Tough place to play for? Not hardly compared to other places I’m sure. Makes me wonder if players start to get the mindset of the fans. Which if so, then we as fans need to hold them accountable all 16 games. Sadly we don’t and perhaps most players just mail it in at some point, when the going gets rough. There’s too much analyzing that can be done on why the Bucs traditionally suck.

    I know I’m just as loud in that stadium whether the team is 0-4 or 4-0. I bring it. I do know that. Season’s upon us. Anyone going to the home opener? If so help make Glennon’s life a living hell that day and be effing LOUD!!

    Oh and Go Bucs!

  77. BucfanInCa Says:

    Anthem
    Please do your homework before you open your mouth and look more foolish than you already do.
    Blount was given a UFA tender by NE for $2.1 million. Philadelphia came to the table and offered him more money.

  78. mark2001 Says:

    1987…. we know why teams are good….Owners hire and retain good GM’s making good personnel choices in the draft and occasionally FA, writing good contracts to keep the salary cap in line, hiring and keeping a good HC who hires good coaches that implements a good Offensive Scheme, and a good Defensive Scheme. And those owners allow good GM’s and good coaches to do their jobs, and don’t over react when one or two years end up being disappointing. If all these things aren’t in place, the franchise is headed for rocky times.

    Of course, the trick is doing all those things. We did have a good coach and good GM when we won the SB…too bad they couldn’t coexist. Hiring Bruce Allen was a mistake, and ownership over reacted by firing Gruden, when we didn’t make the playoffs after a hot start. We needed a good talent evaluating GM rather than a salary cap administrative guy. Hopefully we have entered a winning phase again.

  79. unbelievable Says:

    Anthem looking like a complete fool as usual. Tnew, broy34 and st Pete preaching the right shizzle.

    I think ward starts with Tandy. Conte rotates in.

    People trying to say ward and Wilcox are the same person are absolutely clueless. Ward > Wilcox. All day. Every day. Simple as that.

  80. Bucamania Says:

    YES!! Love having a bada$$ safety back there, Tired of seeing Conte get trucked for a first down.

  81. BadgerW4 Says:

    They signed Lynch. They got Talib. They owe us. Glad he’s now on our side.

  82. Howard Cosell Says:

    Elway is genius?
    He’s the same “genius” who signed Brock O, right?

    Lets hope the release of Ward was an equally bad move.

    There’s no question that the Bucs just got better and that Licht is the true genius.

  83. Patbucfan87 Says:

    Brother I couldn’t have said it better! I have been getting so fed up lately reading what people are saying I’ve had to step in as well. This signing was huge for us. Some of us understand what changes are happening. Some are stuck in their loser ways.

  84. Patbucfan87 Says:

    Broy34*

  85. Pickgrin Says:

    Broy34 says:
    “I will call for joe to ban the negativity. It’s out of control.”

    LOL – you must be new here. This place has been Troll city for years. The Joe’s allow it when no other site will – so the negative nancys and those who just enjoy messing with others online that are also Bucs “fans”camp out and do what they do.

  86. Broy34 Says:

    Not new at all. It was a figure of speech I’ve been here so me before the freeman era