Congratulations J.R. Sweezy & Bradley McDougald
December 19th, 2018
“Mr. Licht, Mr. Glazer, thanks for paying me to get healthy. Pete Carroll and I are grateful.”
NFL fans didn’t make guard J.R. Sweezy and safety Bradley McDougald top vote-getters during the recent Pro Bowl election process.
However, the combined votes of NFL players and coaches made those two ex-Bucs official Pro Bowl alternates for the annual January game in Orlando.
Joe would like to congratulate these men on their accomplishments after getting booted from the losing culture in Tampa.
Sweezy, 29, and McDougald, 28, have bright futures in Seattle. McDougald’s stat line this season sits at three interceptions, three forced fumbles, nine passes defended and 69 tackles. Sweezy has been a rock for the NFL’s No. 1-ranked rushing offense at left guard.
The Bucs launched Sweezy after last season, one in which he missed the final two games with a leg injury after a ho-hum season at right guard. Seattle picked him up off the street for about $2 million, and he now stands to cash in as an unrestricted free agent after the season.
This is not a good luck for the power players at One Buc Palace.
Sweezy was a big Bucs free agent signing before the 2016 season, one he sat out after a mysterious back surgery/ailment. McDougald was not re-signed after the ’16 campaign, despite starting every game for the NFL’s top-ranked, third-down defense.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
They switched sweezy to defensive guard?
December 19th, 2018 at 4:09 pm
Wow that is so unusual (Jameis) to see the Bucs cut talent (Jameis). And then to see that talent (Jameis). Thrive in another environment (Jameis). We are lucky our talent evaluators (Jameis). Doesn’t let that happen all the time (Jameis)….
December 19th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
👋🎄
December 19th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Joe had over 20 articles ripping Sweezy in the past. Although this blog does not say, Joe is not saying that Sweezy was good this year either.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Said all along that Sweezy shouldn’t be let go – they already front paid him most of his money and remaining contract wasn’t that much. Anyways you go into camp with Sweezy still there and let him win or lose a job, but in any case, he’s better than Evan Smith, who isn’t all that much cheaper. Typical Licht move, which is why he’ll be unemployed soon.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
No current Buc player made the Pro Bowl
No former Buc made the Pro Bowl
It was a clean sweep
December 19th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
Nope it’s like we’ve been saying the failure is Koetter who’s not able to get anything out of veterans and rookies. I don’t blame Licht for cutting the guy based on his production here but the issue is clearly the coaching staff and not his health which was the joes excuse. Blame McDougald for trying to make Licht overpay. Can not wait until Black Monday, I may even take the day off but then again there is no reason for Koetter to do the end game press conference unless he’s announcing he’s fired. No more exit interviews just get these coaches outta here
December 19th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Sweezy signed for the money. He was only here to collect a big wad of Glazer loot, enjoy the sunshine, avoid the state income tax and then fly the coop just like Collins, Johnson, Baker and so many others.
I am sure the word is out among the players in the league, take a Florida career vacation, pocket massive coin for just showing up and breathing.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Maybe we’d have an effective running game, a balanced offense, and way less turnovers if Sweezy made his pro bowl here…
But maybe if we fire the coach that will fix the talent!
December 19th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
The whole Sweezy Swindle stiinks to high heavens. McDougald was a whiff in that he could have been re-signed on the cheap but the likes of Conte were preferred. Licht’s Out, por favor.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:27 pm
I cut and paste this from an article in a Washington paper –
Sweezy said the Seahawks approached him immediately after he was released, and that while he had interest from a handful of other teams, he “knew in my heart” he wanted to go back to the Seahawks. He laughed that he “learned a lot about the heat” in Tampa Bay.
“I guess nobody’s expecting to be released,” Sweezy said. “I was a little taken aback, if you will. But it is what it is, it’s the NFL. I’m just blessed to be out here where I started and continue my career.
he “Knew in his heart”…… Must be a new status symbol among some players if you are able to swindle a large amount of Glazer loot.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Stunning!
I listened to the Ira Kaufman Podcast this morning and I was very surprised to hear Joe (the rational one, LOL) absolutely blast Dirk Koetter as being a terrible coach. I don’t think I’ve heard either of the Joe’s use such adjectives when describing Koetter over the past couple of years.
Koetter failed at many aspects of his job.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
SOMETHING IS VERY VERY WRONG IN TAMPA ,AND IF NO ONE CAN FIX IT , THE BUC’S WILL BE HURTING FOR A LONG LONG TIME AND FAN’S TOO…
December 19th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
Haha remember when the losers couldn’t get Sweezy out of here fast enough?
This is while we’ll never be a successful team, as soon as our players struggle, we want them on the first bus out of town. The clowns don’t learn…
December 19th, 2018 at 4:34 pm
Just another reason the Bucs are the laughingstock of the league.
Thanks to the Glazer boys, Koetter, and Licht for that designation.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Who thinks players come to Tampa to get “free” money from the Glazers? What is that based on other than just some bore on the radio saying it? Tampa doesn’t pay guys signing bonuses, they do front load deals, but if you’re just going to try to get a big payday and get cut, you go to a place where you get a big signing bonus and then dog it in camp and try to get cut since you’ve literally already been paid. Yes, the Bucs give out guaranteed deals in year one and two, but you have to wait longer to get the money, and a signing bonus is a lot easier and better way to do stuff if you have no intention of sticking around.
Ugh. I hate the bores that just repeat what they heard someone else say over and over and over again and never actually put even 2 seconds of thought into what they’re saying. What is the logic of what they’re saying, what is it based on? Nothing. It’s just bumper stick talk.
Put some effort into what you’re saying people. Feel free to put the effort into insults, or into refuting a point, but stop being so lazy when posting when you’re literally calling other people lazy.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:40 pm
JR Sweezy is only an alternate like ME and JPP. The Bucs are notorious for getting players in the Pro Bowl as alternates.
It don’t surprise me that Sweezy and McDougald is alternates
They are former Bucs, this is as good as it get
But no current Buc or former Buc was picked for the Pro Bowl
Now that says a lot
December 19th, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Who are we supposed to flip flop on this week?
December 19th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
If these former Buc players were so great
The Bucs would be getting compensatory draft picks every year
They were role players in Tampa on a bad team
Now they are role players on a good team
That’s the major difference
And they will never be more than a role player
These are not superstar players aka franchise players
December 19th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
once again it proves it was/is coaching and scheme and not talent and players…..lol….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
December 19th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
#RunJameisRun
December 19th, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Screw Sweezy and screw the pro bowl, it’s a sham.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:52 pm
That’s winning coach Koetter, right Joe? LoL.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:57 pm
Letting Bradley go and keeping Conte was always a head scratcher to me! But hell what am I? I just a uneducated fan.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:58 pm
QUEUE THE JAMEIS HOMERS, RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.
“Oh, No! The Bucs can’t get rid of Winston or the same thing will happen!!!!!”
Once Winston goes to another team he’ll suddenly stop turning the ball over, develop deep ball accuracy, make better decisions, and have a higher completion percentage.
YEAH, RIGHT.
December 19th, 2018 at 5:12 pm
When I was shouting…
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!!
I begged for the Bucs to not cut Sweezy and to keep him as a great depth piece and possible starter.
I’ve been a big Licht supporter… but even I think it’s time for a change
December 19th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Warhop has sucked since getting fired from Cleveland. Only the Bucs would keep him this long.
December 19th, 2018 at 6:14 pm
I was going to type up a take but at 47 yrs old (Bucs fan my entire life) I think I Finally don’t care anymore. I’ve slowly stopped watching the Bucs and just watch the redzone channel. Of course I’ll always be a Bucs fan – but I’m done with optimism. They need to do it first than I’ll start believing – until then…we are the new Cleveland Browns.
December 19th, 2018 at 6:23 pm
we should, like, sign sweezy for $6 mil a year. what do you guys think?
free agency has worked out roughly 5 times for the bucs since it first began a quarter century ago
December 19th, 2018 at 6:35 pm
pick6
Free agency normally work out for establish teams looking for one or two pieces to fill a void. The problem with the Bucs, they usually are looking for a lot of pieces. And that’s because of their failure to build through the draft. You can plug average players like McDougald and Sweezy on a good football team. But on a below average football team, they will suck along with the rest of the team.
December 19th, 2018 at 6:36 pm
I was never for letting Sweezy go, and like Rod Munch said, we could have kept him very very cheaply.
Seattle was, and still is, a running team, and Sweezy, when healthy, is a real road grader of a Guard.
Another mistake by Licht!
December 19th, 2018 at 6:38 pm
This tells you everything that needs to be said. Whoever evaluated Benenoch as more valuable?ready to play versus Sweezy needs to be fired. Then add the head coach for not stepping in to veto. Then add the GM for actually filing the paper work releasing the player. Total systematic failure. It’s not just cutting Sweezy, it was doing it prior to camp, prior to preseason after watching Benenoch struggle at right tackle in Dotson’s absence. This was a tragic move just to save a few dollars with the roster bonus. Didn’t have to be made and shouldn’t have been made.
Also, screams to the lack of competence of our running game/blocking schemes created by Warhop and supported and publicly defended by Koetter.
December 19th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Can’t wait for this time next year when joe will add D-Jax to the list of players playing well after Tampa!!!!!!!!! We will hear how coaches held him back, instead of the truth of an inaccurate QB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 19th, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Chris
Sweezy strength is run blocking
But the problem with that, Koetter want a high octane passing game
He want pass protection, that’s Sweezy weakness
This is still a weakness of Sweezy in Seattle
Dirk Koetter offense isn’t a great fit for him
Seattle offense is the perfect fit for him
They run more than they pass, they utilize his strengths
December 19th, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Great point Lakeland. This is a big part of the Koetter scheme issue. Running is just a minor interest. December, Baltimore, Rain… You’d better be able to run the ball.
December 19th, 2018 at 6:52 pm
sweezy was a mauler and we got rid of a mauler…big mistake…he is a mean sob…problem was, it seems like he left his heart in seattle, or something like that…he didn’t really want to be here and work hard…sad…but he is a bad ass mofo – at full speed he would have made a nice piece of the OL
December 19th, 2018 at 7:12 pm
tnew
JR Sweezy was a DT in college at NC State. It was Seattle O-Line coach Tom Cable who converted him to OG. Cable taught him everything he know. What Cable and Pete Carrol wanted was a RG to block for Marshawn Lynch and the other backs. He excel in Seattle as a pulling guard.
The problem with him coming to the Bucs, they needed pass blockers for Jameis Winston. And Sweezy wasn’t that experienced at pass blocking.
December 19th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Uhmmm
That’s not a good look for George Warhop.
December 19th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
“@813
We could never hire Richard here now… LOL
He might bring back seattle JR Sweezey and we will be the laughingstock of all sports”
Kobe Faker
December 19th, 2018 at 7:18 pm
So isn’t this more of an indictment on the coaching staff then? versus Licht?
December 19th, 2018 at 7:21 pm
Kobe
Kris Richard is 39 years old
Why would he risk ruining his career becoming the HC of the Bucs?
None of this make sense
If he don’t win in 3 years, he’s toast and so is his career
And the chances of the Bucs winning in the next 3 years are
Slim and None
December 19th, 2018 at 7:36 pm
“Hey lake,
I just want a strong leader. Gump has to go and i think the glazers know a real compentent coach wouldnt want no connection with that wannabe stiff
Im hoping ron rivera is available.”
Kobe Faker
December 19th, 2018 at 7:58 pm
Another fine free agent pick up by Licht. Its amazing how 1 man could wreck a football program like Licht did. Please fire him immediately. That would be the best Christmas present ever.
December 19th, 2018 at 8:33 pm
Brainiac Bucs casual fans couldn’t wait to run Sweezy out of town.
December 19th, 2018 at 9:30 pm
More proof its these lousy coaches around here. Cmon Glazers. Get it right!
December 19th, 2018 at 10:00 pm
The same guy Joe said over and over and over that he wouldn’t play again.
Guys never recover from back injuries right???
December 20th, 2018 at 9:14 am
These two guys are just more in a long line of players who move on and do well elsewhere. Which only proves that the problem in Tampa isn’t the players.
Its the coach, the GM, the training staff, and the owners.
Same reason I never get excited about free agents we bring in. We don’t get the Philadelphia Vinny Curry. We get the doo-doo Tampa Vinny Curry. We don’t get the Seattle Sweezey. We get the doo-doo Tampa Sweezey.
And so on and so on…
December 20th, 2018 at 9:31 am
Anyone else notice the pattern of play big in
Contact year and turn into loafer after
money is in the bank!?