Bucs Cut Luke Stocker, Darryl Tapp
November 28th, 2017
Released.
It’s an end of an era, the Luke Stocker era. One of the Bucs’ best blockers for years is no longer on the team.
And it comes at a very odd time.
One of the remaining prides of the rockstar general manager Mark Dominik era, a 2011 fourth-round pick, Stocker received hearty praise from winning head coach Dirk Koetter for being a locker room “glue” guy as recently as Friday on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
And now he’s gone. Stocker was inactive Sunday.
No Bucs tight end had more snaps last year than Stocker, but with O.J. Howard taking most of his blocking reps this season, and the Bucs rarely using a fullback, Stocker apparently became expendable.
Joe knows Stocker was far from a popular player with fans and Joe assumes there will be some rejoicing at this news. The fact he played for two general managers and four coaches says something about what the football folks at One Buc Palace thought of him.
Though he had a knock for being oft-injured, only in three seasons had Stocker not played in at least 12 games. One of those seasons was this season when he played in nine games.
Stocker is a good dude, from Kentucky but played at Tennessee. Outside of possibly linebacker, no position on the Bucs was deeper than tight end.
Defensive end Darryl Tapp, who was signed earlier this month, also got the boot. Hopefully the Bucs have their eyes on some promising practice squad players from other teams.
Joe wishes Stocker the best.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Alan Cross better be one of them! That guy is getting screwed, he can block and he can catch- H back and FB
November 28th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
About time! When does Alan Cross report back to camp?
November 28th, 2017 at 4:23 pm
I will not be rejoicing. He was a very good blocking TE and I completely agree that playing for so long with the Bucs says a lot.
I think the move makes sense but I’m not sure about the timing. They have Howard and Brate. They also have Auclair who has more upside at this point. Plus, who knows who else they have on the practice squad. He seems to be the odd man out.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:26 pm
DB55
Took the words right out of my mouth.
We’ve been begging for this for years.
But then again WTFDWK?
November 28th, 2017 at 4:27 pm
Since the season is pretty much over why not use an I-Formation with Cross at FB and Barber at RB? Use every 5-6 downs.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Wish U the Best though Luke.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:29 pm
“I will keep the name alive!”
OJ STOCKER
November 28th, 2017 at 4:31 pm
stocker should’ve stayed and we cut will Clarke and tapp….as it has been mentioned, he’s a great locker room guy and true professional….you keep guys like that so the young guys learn the right way from the right people….
but as @DB55 famously says, WTFDIK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
November 28th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Stocker is a solid player……does the dirty work….nothing flashy…..best of luck to you Luke!!!
November 28th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Luke was a very solid TE for us IMO. Good dude. Bucs are now officially conducting interviews for the 2018 team. Totally agree with you Joe … I also hope they have their eyes on several promising players from other teams practice squads.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Luv
I wish him the best as well.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
DB55
When U get a chance…
—>Checkout: Marcus Davenport | Texas-San Antonio, DE
November 28th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
Luv
Must be a bad game cuz I don’t see jack on this tape. Plus, is he really 190? What’s he gonna do at 190? Run out and get ic cones when we run out? Be the designated Uber driver?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MTr5h0wDnQA
November 28th, 2017 at 4:50 pm
Spandau Ballet-lovin’ ex-GM Mark Dominik’s legacy is now complete. And speaking of Tennessee, Coach Schiano (another one of Dominik’s genius decisions) was booted before getting the job.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
All the dumb chit the dumb chit this org does and Ben Whackadoo is like hey TB hold my beer.
Meanwhile Coughlin is like who’s old now beaches.
Everybody wants to win but not everybody wants to do what it takes to win and that’s outwork and outthink your opponents.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
DB55
O know doubt he’s a developmental project.
He soaks up coaching.
Checkout this footage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFr6liAV_Os
November 28th, 2017 at 5:00 pm
@REALIST
don’t show up and vote “TOTALLY CONFIDENT” AFTER ANOTHER BLOW OUT!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
November 28th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
Are they making space for Eli Manning? lol
November 28th, 2017 at 5:05 pm
O *No Doubt
We’ve gotta double down on DE’s this offseason.
–DeMarcus Lawrence (DE, 25)
–Ezekiel Ansah (DE, 28)
But there’s some after the 1st Round (example)
–Duke Ejiofor | Wake Forest
–Jaylon Ferguson | Louisiana Tech
–Marcell Frazier | Missouri
November 28th, 2017 at 5:06 pm
O.J. is a beast
Give him more reps
Hadn’t the pleasure of meeting him today he is a class act
November 28th, 2017 at 5:06 pm
We NEED a fullback! Free Alan Cross!
November 28th, 2017 at 5:13 pm
Time for Auclair to get some snaps – also bring Cross up from the PS along with Bobo Wilson and Joe Dirt and get these young guys some playing time.
November 28th, 2017 at 5:20 pm
Auclair was in the game on 4&1 running a skinny post from the outside flanker position. Think about that…. not at fb but at flanker.
November 28th, 2017 at 5:29 pm
ADding to the legacy of pass catchers who can block but not catch. Such a freaking cop out. “Well he can BLOCK!”
WHO. CARES?
November 28th, 2017 at 5:30 pm
FYI… I wasn’t a fan of the OJ Howard pick but he matched Stocker’s LIFETIME TD numbers in a single game.
November 28th, 2017 at 5:42 pm
He’ll be a patriot by tomorrow and win a ring. Stocker is a valuable blocker.
November 28th, 2017 at 5:58 pm
Now just sit back and watch..A goodcoach much like..Bellacheat will pick Stocker up and make him an all Pro!! Decent players leave the Bucs and mostly..always do better than they did with our Bucs.Why..is that? Good Luck Luke. A lot of us are pulling for yas!
November 28th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Id like to take this bellicheat bet please.
November 28th, 2017 at 6:27 pm
He must’ve Benny a helluva locker room guy to survive for this long.
November 28th, 2017 at 6:29 pm
Thank you for your service and veteran leadership Mr. Stocker. You were a class act and I will not smear your name now that you are gone.
However, I am very happy to see Auclair and Cross get more reps. I am excited to see the younger players with far more upside get playing time and practice reps.
November 28th, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Later Luke. God bless you, man!!!
November 28th, 2017 at 8:42 pm
Was on this roster way to long because ge could ” block” come on….we got a roster full off guys that should be cut…. got 4 d line men in our rotation that are just as average as our blocking TE…. pewter colored glasses making us fans think we’re are better than we actually are … looks like it’s time for another roster overhaul … can’t blame Dom this time !!
November 28th, 2017 at 8:46 pm
He will be a pro bowler somewhere next season
November 28th, 2017 at 8:52 pm
I heard bobo got promoted? Now this is a player. A gamer. Bobo should be taking jobs here shortly
November 28th, 2017 at 8:53 pm
He will get picked up by the Saints or some other team we lay this year and score a TD
November 28th, 2017 at 8:53 pm
Can’t make pro bowl by blocking as a TE ! … if he does make Pro bowl everyone on the offensive staff should be fired . If that doesn’t happen this year ! Also the GM if we drafted a TE When we had pro bowler on the roster already.
November 28th, 2017 at 9:37 pm
Maybe he’ll coach at Tennessee.
November 28th, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Let’s get back to Peyton Barber allowing the Bucs to score two rushing tds,hasn’t happened often. Let’s not overreact to this but this literally allowed Dirk to call a more comfortable game near the goal line and he forgot that on the last drive.i don’t want to hear about the Avg this is more about Dirk calling a lil diff game with Barber and that just says Tons !!
November 28th, 2017 at 11:50 pm
Ive posted for two weeks.
Antony Auclair has been taking Stockers snaps.
Auclair is a looking as good as a blocker- and will soon be a part of the passing game.
Bg strong young guy with great hands.
Good luck Luke Stocker, thanks for the years in the trenches.
Suprised how quickly they soured on Tapp. Like Joe said- hopefully they have their eyes on someone
Dont get the Will Clark hatred. Hes young- but showing signs of improvement.
Hes starting to get all the snaps on passing downs. At least ge is forcing teams to keep a OT on him. Occasionally even needs a RB to help
Our other DEs get blown up by TEs and RBs- which is pathetic
November 29th, 2017 at 12:13 am
Holy moly. DB55 is killing it. I’m lmao ova hee. All facts too.
November 29th, 2017 at 2:50 am
Aren’t they worried some team will pick him up to learn their Offensive secrets.
LOL!!!
At least he has a chance to get picked up by a better team.
November 29th, 2017 at 3:51 am
Auclair has played 60 snaps in the last 2 weeks, 15 of them at FB. It’s pretty clear Stocker and Cross were replaced weeks ago.
November 29th, 2017 at 9:36 am
He is probably saying thank you for the opportunity to go anywhere they play football.
November 29th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Yet another example of how terrible the Bucs GM is. The Glazers will clean house again after two years of mediocrity. Gruden will come in as GM and Head Football Coach in an attempt to restore some sort of decency. Although, the current GM’s moves will put him way behind the 8 ball. I wonder how he will handle the situation with the starting QB, knowing that he will have a 6 game suspension next season. Let’s get Eli down here before Coughlin snags him for the Jax starting QB.
November 29th, 2017 at 11:00 am
Better yet…..trade Winston for E Manning prior to the draft. We may even get a draft pick out of the deal. I just wonder if the Giants ownership would take a chance with Winston. ON a positive note…cabs rule NYC and I highly doubt that he would grope one of those drivers.
November 29th, 2017 at 11:27 am
they did stocker a favor. the bucs and teams like them won’t clear roster space to snap up a 7th year role player TE at this juncture of the season. he will get picked up by a good team and be a solid special teamer + reserve TE who has a shot of playing into January for the first time in his NFL life
November 30th, 2017 at 8:21 am
Just saw this story while looking for the Tuesday Ira Podcast!
I have been wanting Stocker cut for years. Always injured.
Addition by subtraction!