Keeping DeSean Jackson?
January 13th, 2019
Return?
Joe was pretty convinced we had seen the last of malcontent wide receiver DeSean Jackson in a Bucs uniform before yesterday.
Then, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport came out with the story that new Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians was trying to stroke Jackson enough to win over the speedy deep-ball threat and get him to stay in Tampa Bay.
Oddly enough earlier last week, Greg Auman of The Athletic fielded a question from a Bucs fan about the possibility of Jackson staying under the Arians regime.
CurtB
Does the change in staff improve the chances of DJax sticking around?Greg Auman
You could argue that Arians liked downfield passing and going deep enough to lend more value to a speed threat like DeSean Jackson. It’s still a lot of money to pay to a receiver who only had one TD in the final 12 games of the season. I would be surprised if he’s back, given the cap constraints the Bucs are under and how much flexibility they’ll want to have to add key new players, especially on defense. They have to decide how much they’re willing to pay to keep Adam Humphries as well.
Frankly, this has a similar scent to when inept Lovie Smith took over the Bucs and praised Darrelle Revis only to throw him overboard at the earliest possible moment.
Now Arians being the smart football guy that he is likely reached out to Jackson to determine his grievances and to see if there is any reasonable way to smooth out hurt feelings to keep Jackson aboard the pirate ship.
That’s a lot of massaging right there. And the first rubdown will be getting Jackson to come to grips that not only is Jameis Winston is going nowhere this year, but he will be the starting quarterback whether Jackson likes it or not.
The more Joe thinks about it, the more Joe thinks Jackson could be the most overrated NFL wide receiver. It’s like some fans think only Jackson can catch balls deep and that only Jackson is a home-run-hitting wide receiver.
Joe sees strong passing offenses and deep balls thrown each week of the NFL season and Jackson is not on any of those teams’ rosters.
Let’s not act as if Jackson is invaluable and losing him will cause the Bucs to crumble.
Is Jackson dangerous? Yes.
Is he irreplaceable rendering a team worthless and impotent in his absence? No.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:07 am
Merely a PR make over…”Yeah I’ll really wish I wasn’t selling my boat…I love it “….
January 13th, 2019 at 9:07 am
Joe you asked the question, Is Jackson dangerous? But the answer should have been Yes but to his own team.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:16 am
BA trying to increase value in DJ before they trade him.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:20 am
Why keep a malcontent. He has had a negative attitude everywhere he has played.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:21 am
Revis was a man to man press coverage lock down corner. He was far too expensive to have him mostly play cover 2 all game, so it made sense to let him go
Bruce Arians on the other hand needs a guy like djax because he likes throwing deep balls and hopefully djax can return more punts
Only other receiver that can do what djax can is tyreek hill. We should keep djax for the same reason we are keeping Jamies, because there is no one better available
January 13th, 2019 at 9:27 am
I’d rather have the 10mil. Buh bye. And take some of the other expensive slugs with you on your way out.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:27 am
God I hope not. Dude only wants to stay here to stir up more chit! It’s very easy to tell he genuinely doesn’t like Jameis and wants to do everything he can to make sure he don’t succeed.
Like that deep ball Jameis threw to Godwin for a TD vs the Falcons, you think Desean extends to make that catch? No. He would not have. I’ve seen it on numerous occasions. Desean wide open, Jameis throws him the ball, it’s within reach, and then Jackson don’t even attempt to reach out and make the catch let alone lay out for it.
Malcontents have no business in this locker room.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Cut Jackson
Cut McCoy
Sign Bell.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Jax is a premadonna, but ALL the wr’s with his skills are.
If he’s gone it’s only because he and crabman don’t like each other
He has every reason not to like crabman. Fits showed him that.
I’d say keep him but I doubt they can hug it out. Just means we’ll have to spend huge again on an unknown. So crabman cost us another player… ah well
And don’t even mention that bum that quit on Pittsburgh
January 13th, 2019 at 9:30 am
Jax never had to lay out for Fitz
So, y’all say he should risk life and limb for one Qi and smile about it, while Jax knows damn well another one can hit him in stride. Gtfo
January 13th, 2019 at 9:37 am
Of course the Bucs are going to leak they want to try and keep Djax. If they want to try and trade him they have to make it seem they aren’t going to cut him…. C’mon.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:40 am
They keep saying there needs to be a culture change–if that’s true then D-Jax has to go. By all accounts, he turned into a cancer. He argued with coaches, ran out of the building after wins when he didn’t get the ball enough, and he made disparaging remarks about the team on social media AFTER A WIN.
He’s gotta go. They don’t need him.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:44 am
we dont need him not for 10 million– if humps decides to test free agency and go somewhere else we could get a guy like john brown who played for arians in arizona way cheaper than d.jax and hed be the slot guy and evans and godwin our no. 1 and 2– i would bring him back if hes willing to structure a new deal but i dont think he will take less than 10 mil my guess is hes gone we try to keep humps who stays our slot WR also dont we still have justin watson on the roster or at least the PS??? i thought he looked really good in pre-season and in limited action during the season wonder what happened to him
January 13th, 2019 at 9:45 am
There are many WR in the league as fast or faster than MeJax they would be much cheaper as well. I don’t care how talented the player is we need to get rid of all cancers starting with the grandmaster himself MeJax.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:46 am
Why would Djax want to stay if Winston is not accurate enough to connect with him ,,or bring Fitz back
January 13th, 2019 at 9:48 am
Trade Jackson and either cut or significantly reduce Vinny Curry’s pay and you can afford LeVeon Bell. And I want GMC back, but at closer to 7 mill a year. D-Jax needs to go. I like his ability, but not his 10¢ head.
January 13th, 2019 at 9:53 am
TRADE D-JAX. You heard ARIANS, all it takes is for one person to not have the same agenda and the whole thing falls apart
Where does D-Jax stack on Trust, Loyalty, and Respect? This is a wise play by ARIANS to get a healthy kidney in exchange for Cancer.
January 13th, 2019 at 10:09 am
Joe why do you keep saying BA has to stroke, or sweet talk Jax into staying? He’s not a FA, and is under contract with the Bucs. BA doesn’t sound like the type of man who would sweet talk any player who’s not sure they want to be part of the team. Please clarify your statements.
January 13th, 2019 at 10:14 am
Robert the Troll man you risk “ life and limb” because every other teammate you have is risking “life and limb “ . This is the NFL buddy nothing is perfect. You obviously have never played sports and understand the brotherhood that comes with it. Go join a coed softball team for a season and you’ll understand the team concept. Today D Jax’s problem is Winston can’t hit me in stride and tomorrow it will be something else. That’s how it goes with guys like him and apparently you.
January 13th, 2019 at 10:38 am
Was dysfunction in the Bucs locker room due to Koetter being a bad head coach? Yes
January 13th, 2019 at 10:43 am
I am wondering if BA doesn’t ask ME to play the position that Fitz played in AZ, kinda a slot/block for the end run and get quick hitters and the deep seem. I think ME would destroy DE/LB in the run game and that would give us an outside edge. I am looking forward to how BA is going to expand this offense and bring our Defense back into a power. LET’S GO BUCS!!!
January 13th, 2019 at 10:46 am
Kobe Faker and BA honeymoon is over
Warts coming out
Peeps here know my record of deciphering deep personality and character issues in people
Just like there are great and commendable personality traits of BA…those exact traits can go extreme
Ying and yang…yang and ying…(Kobe is now getting hungry for some chinese food)
Where was I? …Djax
BA likes to fix things that others have attempted and failed
Developing JW, fixing the Oline , secondary…these are where BAs total attention should be but…..
BA, has the “im smarter than anyone in the room itis” character flae
JUST LET IT GO. MOVE ON
Let this punk Djax out of our sight and future”
Kobe “is watching you” Faker
January 13th, 2019 at 10:55 am
I think with Arians we may finally be moving in the direction of winning with a balanced team, as opposed to winning with the world’s number one quarterback. So yes, Winston is our QB, but other needs are addressed, like a speedy long receiver. Look at Goff last night, a so-so performance with a solid team, especially RB, OLine and Defense.
January 13th, 2019 at 11:00 am
The problem with Desean is, you would think he’d be the perfect slot receiver but obviously, he doesn’t like playing in traffic (to soft in Imho)…
He only wants to play on the outside, but the problem with that is this hurts you in 50/50 ball situations…This guy imo is grossly overrated; yes, he’s really fast but the big problem is he literally doesn’t want to get dirty, he rarely will ever jump, fight, or even try to lay out for a pass…every pass must be perfectly thrown so he can pleasently run under it untouched and showboat his way into the endzone…And I won’t even mention his effort on running plays…
Desean apparently had the green light all year to return punts, which really could have helped us with field position; yet he would most likely get hit so he rarely if ever decided to do it…If he had a pair and wasn’t so afraid to get hit he could have been used more on quick screens/slants, reverses, drags routs etc…the only problem is he may get hit and dirty his uniform…
If he had Adam Humphreys heart he would worth the trouble; I personally don’t think we should even bother…That said, if Bruce can get him to buy in completely then good…If not, try to trade him to Oakland for a 3rd or a 4th round pick and use the pick to help the team in another way…
January 13th, 2019 at 11:16 am
Arians will go after John Brown in FA……he coached him for 3 years……he’s just as fast….he’s younger……and cheaper…..and without the baggage….
January 13th, 2019 at 11:23 am
That’s fair.
But remember a large number of players think Jameis is the most overrated quarterback
So there is that.
January 13th, 2019 at 11:24 am
Sounds like the Bruce Arians move was decided at the end of last season or early into this season. That’s the reason Koetters body language was the way it was because perhaps he was informed he wasn’t going to be back. Not trading DeShawn Jackson past year is also a sign that Arians told Licht not to trade him because he was going to be part of his plans.
January 13th, 2019 at 11:27 am
I agree with fans that think Jackson is overrated. There are quite a few little fast guys that can stretch the field (Marquise Goodwin, Travis Benjamin, Mike Wallace – although he’s getting up in age now, John Brown, etc) for less of a cap hit and they won’t be a team cancer.
January 13th, 2019 at 11:41 am
OneBuc55 is on point with eye-test of DJax in TB. Which is exactly why Humphries(Contract yr) is the perfect Bucs slot WR to invest in…when paired with Godwin & Watson in outside WR roles-opposite Evans, going forward.
The Bucs need to resign Humphries & make serious DEF moves in FA, but have only 20M to play with (before cuts) Since JW3 5th yr option increase = salary cap increase…DJax’s 10M will be one of 1st cuts, if the FO can’t find a trade partner.
January 13th, 2019 at 11:46 am
EA
It does look that way
At the very least performing an exit interview with a veteran player is a smart move. Massaging may be part of it, he is more likely using the opportunity to gain insights on fixing the players who will be on the roster next year. If he saves DJax, it will be on BA’s terms. If they don’t find common ground, they split amicably and we all move on.
January 13th, 2019 at 11:46 am
Draft name to consider.. Parris Campbell (tOSU)
January 13th, 2019 at 11:50 am
With all due respect EA I think your assignment of Dirk is slightly off…
I think it was made clear to Dirk after last season that he needed to win this year to save his job…If you noticed, after we started the season 2-0 he had his chest out proudly…As the season progressed and the loses began to mount, his whole body language changed because he knew he was a goner…
Ultimately, I think Dirk’s biggest mistake was not making the necessary changes within his staff after last seasons debacle (see Atlanta Falcons staff changes after this disappointing season for example)…Alot of the issues that should has been addressed with his staff carried over to this year resulting in another 5-11 season, hence the reason he’s gone…
Personally, I don’t see Dirk a HC material…He’s not a motivator, he’s not innovative, and he doesn’t adapt to change very well…He’s the classic continue to try to pound the square peg into the round hole type of guy… Instead of customizing a system the fits your personnel, he’s going to try to make the players fit his system…that strategy no longer works in the NFL…
January 13th, 2019 at 11:55 am
No thanks, dude is over-rated anyway.
January 13th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
there’s a spread between “deep threat” and “best deep threat in history” that gives you all you need for millions less. and you get a better attitude from the former
January 13th, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Arians might be propping him up to trade him later
January 13th, 2019 at 12:32 pm
F#ck that. I’m not paying some old, cry baby b!tch that runs straight off the field after the game cus he’s not getting his stats $10 million. We have Godwin we don’t need two #2 WR. That money needs to go to a young, hard working player like Hump.
January 13th, 2019 at 12:45 pm
Robert life and limb? Really? He did do the same thing to fitz after second game. How is it life and limb to put ur arms out for a catch when ur wide azz open nobody even near him. What the air or ground gonna kill him? SMMFH
January 13th, 2019 at 1:13 pm
You guys just think djax is overrated because Jamies is a chit quarterback
January 13th, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Totally agree Tampabaybucsfan.
It’s quite simple, trade D-Jax for as much as you can get.
Pick up John Brown in FA. Dude runs 4.3 forty, and was BA’s deep threat at Arizona. He won’t cost you a ton.
Funds left over to sign back Hump, WHO DESERVES IT!
We’d be stupid to let him go 🤦🏻♂️
January 13th, 2019 at 1:34 pm
First order ob business is to trade or let DeJack go. Licht knows he can’t pay him 10 mil or more. Plus he’s not worth anywhere near that. With that said when can teams start making trades?
January 13th, 2019 at 2:20 pm
Does anyone else get annoyed with mixing sports metaphors?
January 13th, 2019 at 2:44 pm
If you insist on having a cancer in the locker room, get Antonio Brown. He is only the best WR in the league. No to Bell!!!! He is RB old and a cancer in the locker room. Take a chance on Hunt- negotiate a 4-6 game suspension with the league and keep him and Barber, get rid of Rodger.
January 13th, 2019 at 3:30 pm
I’m telling, BA is in win now mode, so salary cap considerations, he will worry about that next year, remember the key words, reload not rebuild. If BA thinks DJax can help this team win now, he will want him in that huddle. Secondly, he said that Jameis will be coached better than ever before, what he was really saying, this team wasn’t coached well last year. ThTs about to change, DJax, are you on board
January 13th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
This is so made up about DJax having issues with Jameis being QB. He made the comment about staying with the hot hand and it morphed into some saying he hates Jameis. More media induced vomit drama.
January 13th, 2019 at 4:40 pm
If you’re going to try to trade D-Jax you don’t talk him down and drag down his value, you make people think you still want him around and they’re going to have to give up more than they want to get him. Jesus Christ people, it’s GM 101 stuff. There are a ton of teams where D-Jax would step right in at #1 or #2 on their depth chart, and that’s worth something, so there is no reason to destroy that just so the team and get a few likes on Twitter.
January 13th, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Jean Lafitte – Sounds like there was a lot more to it than that behind the scenes, but if true, if that’s the extent of things, then it’s a non-story. I’m a huge Winston backer and I too said stay with the hot hand while it’s hot, but also said it’s Fitz and he’ll turn into a pumpkin quickly, so have the umbrella ready to yank him off the stage.
January 13th, 2019 at 8:59 pm
It’s BA’s team. He can do whatever he wants as long as they win. I don’t care who plays here. But Jackson and a couple others make big money or are looking for big money, so choices must be made.
Just win baby!
January 13th, 2019 at 9:06 pm
I wish players and coaches both had contracts that were based on wins. Losses pay x and wins pay y. That would be a team merit based system. Determine base pay on .500 and winning teams get more and losers get less. Money isn’t really a motivator but can be a good incentive.
January 13th, 2019 at 11:53 pm
Fireeee Licht Fireee Arians!
January 13th, 2019 at 11:54 pm
Fireeee Bucs Fan #xxxx he’s terrible! Worse than Chris Conte
January 14th, 2019 at 3:41 am
Djax began the season with three 100-yard games over the first four contests and three touchdowns, but that was as a beneficiary of FitzMagic as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was at the helm in the early going. When Jameis Winston returned, Jackson’s numbers waned and he finished the campaign with 41 receptions for 774 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. – Ian Rapoport
In other words, Jamies is a chit quarterback
January 14th, 2019 at 12:24 pm
In other words Bucs fan is a troll