Blaine Gabbert Signing To Continue Offseason Theme
March 25th, 2019
Jason Licht explains
Much like departed Dirk Koetter, new head coach Bucco Bruce Arians likes his guys.
It’s part of one of Arians’ three core beliefs: trust.
Joe hopes it’s tied to one of Arians’ other core beliefs: respect.
One of the worst kept secrets here at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix is that the Bucs are hoping to sign free agent quarterback Blaine Gabbert to be their backup quarterback, allegedly competing with Ryan Griffin.
Griffin has never thrown a pass. Gabbert has 13 career wins. Both guys are 29.
Ironically, Gabbert was trained by Koetter in Jacksonville. Most observers thought Gabbert was forced into a starting role way to soon as a first-round pick and he never recovered. He bounced to San Francisco and then to Arians in Arizona before a stop in Tennessee last season.
Joe asked Jason Licht today whether there’s a common denominator between all the lower tier free agents he’s signed this month.
“I would say with, obviously, with Earl [Watford], Bruce and I have a history with him. I was there when we drafted him. With Deone Buccanon, it’s somebody that our coaching staff has a lot of confidence in. When he played for Todd [Bowles], he had him playing starting linebacker. It was kind of moving him from safety to linebacker. It was kind a unique situation at that point but got him to play very well.
“So this year, some of those signings, you wanna, for lack of a better phrase, minimize risk. We know what they are and we know what they can do. So I would say that would be a bit of a common thread.”
Add Gabbert to that list.
Joe’s heard a similar song before — in 2015. Henry Melton, Chris Conte, Bruce Carter were the Lovie-friendly and cap-friendly additions.
Still, Joe gets it. Arians isn’t just trying to win games; he’s trying to build a program and hit the ground running. Familiar, trusted faces around can help get that done.
March 25th, 2019 at 6:08 pm
yikes
March 25th, 2019 at 6:38 pm
There is no way we need to carry three QBs…….pick up an UDFA and place him on the PS…..
March 25th, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Just FTW. Seriously. Dear God why. Unless he’s the waterboy, why?
March 25th, 2019 at 6:59 pm
This is starting to feel like the Lovie Smith regime the way Arians and Co. are just handing out jobs to friends and family. I mean, Byron Leftwich is our Offensive Coordinator for goodness sake…Blaine Gabbert throws the ball with his eyes closed, but I guess Winston cant see on the field either so what’s the difference?
I want to be positive, I really do, but this doesn’t have a good feel so far to me. The potential Arians hired worried me since the reports started saying he would be interested in the job.
March 25th, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Hopefully all we are giving him is a box of chocolates.
March 25th, 2019 at 7:09 pm
I understand the rationale. You don’t want a back-up QB to have to play a game, but you do want a back-up QB that has played a game. And it’s a plus if he already knows your system. Go Bucs!
March 25th, 2019 at 7:36 pm
Blaine Gabbert is a now-proven vet who has shown he can get the job done. The fact that the Bucs wanna bring him in as competition to a dude who has never thrown an NFL pass can infuriate this fanbase speaks volumes
March 25th, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Thank God we found a backup QB who’s not “intimidating” to Jameis Winston!
I feel better already.
March 25th, 2019 at 7:44 pm
Where does TEAM GLAZER shop?? Dollar Tree they have to be the cheapest Billionaires ever
March 25th, 2019 at 8:00 pm
I won’t have an opinion before I find out if his contract is performance-based. If he’s on a guaranteed contract, then it’s not for “competition.” It’s for “bye-bye Ryan Griffin.”
March 25th, 2019 at 8:05 pm
Let’s draft a kicker at #5 and a few more Women coaches! That will get us to a super bowl lol
March 25th, 2019 at 8:08 pm
Can’t the Bucs just pay a card board cutout vet minimum as a backup QB???????? We would have the same level of confidence in the card board cutout!!!! And it would be funny because someone would have to carry it out to the sidelines at the beginning of games and half time!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 25th, 2019 at 8:13 pm
It’s logical to bring in your guys to ease the transition in implementing your system. Whether it be coaches or players. I understand why some of us are not moved by these signings, we were all traumatized by the Lovie Smith era. But this is how it goes down with every new hire, these coaches bring in guys they are familiar with.
So let’s just chill, watch Arians do his thing and see how it all plays out.
March 25th, 2019 at 8:15 pm
So no real Qb backing Jameis up so his ego is ok
#mentalmidgetqb
March 25th, 2019 at 8:28 pm
I do not like this signing. If I’m the Glazers and just hired the QB wisperer I am wanting to make the most out of Bruce and have him develope a QB behind Winston.
Gabbert doesn’t seem to fit that plan. Maybe Bruce wants to work with Griffen and Gabbert is just insurance?
If we are not planning to develope a QB we aren’t getting full potential from the staff.
March 25th, 2019 at 8:39 pm
We sure wouldn’t want Rah Rah to have any real competition that might upset his fragile psyche now, would we? Garbage signing. Let’s draft another qb, just in case this whole Rah Rah experiment blows up in our face…again. Go Bucs!
March 25th, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Bucsfaninchina … “Blaine Gabbert is a now-proven vet who has shown he can get the job done.” Seriously? A proven vet? In his 8-year career, Gabbert is 13-35 with a 56% completion rate. He played for Arizona for exactly ONE YEAR (2017), and had a losing record that year under BA. Personally I’d MUCH rather have Ryan Griffin as our backup.
This is really starting to look like shopping at Dollar Tree like Buddy noted. Every FA is a Buc (1-year contracts for $1 works for BA & Licht apparently).
March 25th, 2019 at 8:49 pm
Buddy is an idiot
March 25th, 2019 at 8:52 pm
They have spent every last dollar possible including a massive coaching staff. Unreal
March 25th, 2019 at 8:53 pm
Settle down. Griff is the backup. The world already knows that Gabbert blows. He would be here to help Winston and Griffin learn the playbook while protecting the clipboard from an ant invasion.
March 25th, 2019 at 9:01 pm
Well if you liked Ryan Fitz then you’ll love Blaine Gabbret!!! I’m guessing mike Glennon wasn’t available.
March 25th, 2019 at 9:16 pm
Just more smoke…for the QB pick @ 5….
March 25th, 2019 at 9:52 pm
I see nothing wrong with this. Blaine Gabbert is a pretty good BACKUP quarterback.
Certainly better than Ryan Griffin who the only reason some Bucs fans think he’s good is because he never plays.
Gabbert has valuable recent expirance and is a 1 td 1 int guy which is what most backups are.
March 25th, 2019 at 11:03 pm
buddy Says
“Where does TEAM GLAZER shop?? Dollar Tree they have to be the cheapest Billionaires ever”
The Glazers have absolutely nothing to do with this.
Really…as much as I wish we were getting some good players for a change, I kind of feel relieved that Licht has evolved his Free Agent methods.
And I am exceedingly joyful that Ryan Griffin will not be our backup.
March 25th, 2019 at 11:07 pm
JimmyJack Says
“If I’m the Glazers and just hired the QB whisperer I am wanting to make the most out of Bruce and have him develop a QB behind Winston.”
The problem with that is Winston’s age. Most QBs they could draft would be about the same age as him at this point, so it’s a little too soon.
And if Winston does well this year, it would be a wasted pick…at least if taken in hte first round.
March 26th, 2019 at 12:42 am
Not sure how this would affect our comp. picks but if we waste one to sign Blaine freakin Gabbert…
March 26th, 2019 at 6:52 am
Glennon signed with the Raiders, DB55!
People were all up in arms when we signed Fitzy too. He’s a backup people!
March 26th, 2019 at 7:10 am
Hey DB55 No Glennon is not available he was signed by the Raiders last week. How about that Gruden wanted him, must be some secret knowledge Gruden/Mayock have on him right?
Go! Bucs!!!!
March 26th, 2019 at 10:08 am
AleteredEgo Says:
“Just more smoke…for the QB pick @ 5….”
—————
I will personally pay you 1 million dollars if that happens.
We don’t NEED a fricking starting QB.
And spell your name right.
March 26th, 2019 at 12:27 pm
Gabbert will help you get interceptions and sacks.
If he becomes the backup, Bucs better have a damn good running game
March 26th, 2019 at 2:27 pm
Licht can’t even be BA’s stooge, because he screwed up the salary cap so bad unbelievable.
March 26th, 2019 at 8:43 pm
BA has to have a QB to teach his system with our young players getting separate reps with our rookies and young players while BA works with our starters. Gabbert is a help to our new development program and BA trusts him. That is OK by me.
March 26th, 2019 at 10:15 pm
JW better start looking over your shoulder.