Pass Rushers Looking For Work
February 26th, 2018
“Mark, can you ever imagine the day when the Bucs can actually find a defensive end who can sack a quarterback five times in a season?”
Two guys who have a recent history of making quarterbacks eat dirt have landed on the street this afternoon unemployed. And here are the Bucs standing at an intersection like a fireman with a boot asking every driver if he or she can sack a quarterback.
Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears have already started whittling salaries and one casualty happens to be outside linebacker/pass rusher Pernell McPhee, who had four sacks last year.
Now why does Joe bring up this guy’s name? Well, his production had dropped because of injuries and he only played in five games last year. Still, four sacks in five games is not shabby at all.
The way Biggs described McPhee, this guy is Jacquies Smith reincarnated, which means he likely has the attention of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
Also, within the division, the Stinking Panthers let go of defensive end Charles Johnson, per David Newton of BSPN. Like McPhee, Johnson’s production has dropped off, partially because he was popped in an NFL whiz quiz and sat out four games. Johnson was also suspended for Carolina’s playoff game this past January that is still cloaked in mystery. If a dude was benched for a playoff game, that’s a red flag for Joe.
Remember that two years ago when Johnson was last a free agent, Licht made a run at him but he chose to stay with the Stinking Panthers for half the cash.
From 2010-2014 Johnson had no less than 8.5 sacks a season and three times in that same timeframe had double-digit sacks.
Maybe Brentson Buckner can light a fire under this guy?
The Bucs are beggars when it comes to rushing the passer. They cannot be choosers. Unless Julius Peppers gets loose, there isn’t likely to be any decent pass rusher available in free agency.
And you know what, an agent of any halfway decent defensive end who is a salary cap cut knows how desperate the Bucs are for a pass rush, and how much Team Glazer loot Licht has to play with next month.
Joe would be willing to bet Licht has already heard from both Johnson’s agent as well as McPhee’s.
February 26th, 2018 at 4:59 pm
McPhee is intriguing moreso than Johnson. He at least has production recently (8 sacks in last 22 games played vs 5 sacks in the last 34 games for Johnson with none last year despite 12 appearances).
It is what it is. McPhee is an instant upgrade as sad as that is lol. Hell Johnson is probably an upgrade and we shouldn’t even want that guy
February 26th, 2018 at 5:07 pm
Do we need pass rushers? Absolutely. They cant get desperate tho. McPhee was just playing 34 OLB for the Bears wasnt he?
If what Joe(s) says is correct and Licht should go all out to save his job, does it make sense to rely on converting a 34 OLB to a 43 DE?
The draft is going to have to be the way to go for pass rushers. If they can take care of LG, CB, and RB in FA (which is possible) then I would want to see our first 3 picks used on the D-line. A DT and 2 DEs.
February 26th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
GO AFTER DE ROBERT QUINN, CAN’T SHOUT IT LOUD ENOUGH!! The Rams were trying to involve him in the Peters trade but the Chiefs don’t have the cap room, but the Bucs do, then sign David Irving to a front loaded contract cause the Cowboys can’t match it, heck trade Evans for Irving and 2nd or 3rd, then sign Sammy Watkins for 8 mil a year, lot less than what Evans is asking for
February 26th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Watkins DJAX OJ Godwin and Quinn and Irving plus an extra high pick, game on
February 26th, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Trying to unload Mike Evans? You’re insane. No.
February 26th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
I’m cool with Robert Quinn but none of that other nonsense
February 26th, 2018 at 6:00 pm
The photo that accompanies this article contains the men at the helm for the past decade with a combined .333 ( give or take ) winning percentage. Wow.
February 26th, 2018 at 6:21 pm
5-11 with Evans, barely had over a 1000 last year, plus he’s going to command $16 million a year on his next contract, get a 2nd rounder plus David Irving (8 sacks in 7 games), turn around and sign Watkins for 8 million a year over 5 years, Watkins is better than Evans anyways, he was stuck in Buffalo with no qbs, the Rams has so many weapons but still has 8 tds, he’s only 24 and won’t command top dollar like Evsns
February 26th, 2018 at 6:24 pm
And it’s offseason time to dream, at least my dreams aren’t about a bunch of old guys looking for that last paycheck like Joe constantly writes about lol
February 26th, 2018 at 6:26 pm
DJax for Quinn
February 26th, 2018 at 7:33 pm
NO & NO….old ageing DL on the decline are not needed. We need to gut the DL and start over with young players. Give up a draft pick for David Irving to the Cowboys, the guy is a beast 6’7″ tall and weighs 290 pounds. Remember 2 years ago when he single handedly go 2 sacks against the Bucs to clinch a Cowboy victory. Get Beasts not has bins
February 26th, 2018 at 7:35 pm
Guzzie
I like the thought process. Quinn and Irving would be game on. Quinn is there for the taking. Of course we like Irving after he torched the bucs on monday night. You lost me on the getting rid of evans but the team is only going as far as the Dline takes them. If the bucs were anywhere near the cap I’d bite on the evans deal. This McPhee guy is definitely worth a look. Licht better get a bunch of guys in here. Dline dline dline.
February 26th, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Carolina cut Charles Johnson and Kirk Coleman. I wouldn’t even consider Charles Johnson. But I would sign Kurt Coleman, the team need a experienced Safety like Coleman.
February 26th, 2018 at 8:01 pm
This picture of Jason Licht talking to Mark Dominik look funny. I wonder what they are talking about.
Jason Licht: Mark, how much did you take these suckers for?
Mark Dominik: I took them for 7 or 8 mil
Jason Licht: That’s all you took them for, I gotta get at least 12 from them
Mark Dominik: Go for it man
February 26th, 2018 at 8:03 pm
That caption under the picture of Licht and Dominik is classic Joe.
Truly hilarious.
February 26th, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Pernell McPhee has not been healthy for three years. PASS!
Charles Johnson also has not been healthy for three years! PASS!!!!
Licht going after these injury prone players is exactly why we’re in the mess we are in. He keeps hoping to get lucky.
Forget luck. Go after the obviously good players to sign.
February 26th, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Why is it some teams will aggressively go after top tier FA players that have consistently performed at an elite level when we wait for the last minute during FA period to pick up left overs? We desperately need a few DE n as usual we focus on 3rd tier one hit wonders/one trick ponies. Over the past 10 yrs, has the problem been our coach, GM or Owners? I remember a time when we had an opportunity to get a player such as Freeney, Abraham, Peppers,n others before they got up in age but we reneged n decided to bring in players such as MJohnson, GJohnson,Larry English, JacSmith, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, Henry Melton n others not to name. When was the last time we selected an elite FA at DE…Simeon Rice. The other aforementioned have been wishful thinking. U wanna win then not only do u play aggressive u draft n recruit aggresively.
February 26th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
And, btw, Licht should not go ‘all out to save his job’.
He should go ‘all out to make better free agent signings’.
Don’t play not to lose, play to win.
February 26th, 2018 at 8:59 pm
Did that fool just say trade Evans as in Mike Evans? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
February 26th, 2018 at 9:12 pm
Willing to bet the current administration and coaching staff do not have the luxury of losing with young players in 2018.
February 26th, 2018 at 9:13 pm
Thanks Eric! 🙂
February 27th, 2018 at 8:37 am
GO AFTER DE ROBERT QUINN, CAN’T SHOUT IT LOUD ENOUGH!! The Rams were trying to involve him in the Peters trade but the Chiefs don’t have the cap room, but the Bucs do, then sign David Irving to a front loaded contract cause the Cowboys can’t match it, heck trade Evans for Irving and 2nd or 3rd, then sign Sammy Watkins for 8 mil a year, lot less than what Evans is asking for
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Not enough cap room? Huh. Derrick Brooks: “if a team really wants you, they’ll find a way to keep you.”
February 27th, 2018 at 10:37 am
There is no Rush to get a pass Rush in Tampa. Hell, your DC is not Rusing to get down from the pressbox to lead his troops. He hired a sidekick to yell becayse he..no longer can do it. Wonder what will accompany the binoculars this year…A fresh new pair of sun glasses?
February 27th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Quinn and McPhee 👍🏽