The Backup Decision
March 8th, 2019
Once upon a time in 2017, if you believe the many reports, general manager Jason Licht was prepared to make Mike Glennon the highest paid backup quarterback in the game — or darn close to it.
America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, and Glennon. It was a match made in football heaven.
Well, that plan was foiled when the Bears decided to guaranteed Glennon about $20 million to keep the seat warm for Mitch Trubisky. Glennon moved on last season to the bosom of quarterback guru Byron Leftwich in Arizona.
Instead, Jason Licht paid Ryan Fitzpatrick a few million per season and got what he paid for.
Now what?
History says Licht values the backup position. Reality says the Bucs don’t have much money and backup QB can’t be a priority. Bruce Arians has told stories before about how he’s not big on investing in a backup — practice reps or cash. But Arians relied on backups successfully at his last stop in Arizona, Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert. Both are under contract with other teams.
If the Bucs really see themselves as contenders, shouldn’t they have a backup that can win them a couple of games, like Fitzpatrick did in 2017 and 2018? And if Arians is the ultimate quarterback whisperer, then shouldn’t he have a very young QB in the mix to develop as a No. 3 who could compete for the No. 2 job?
Joe suspects cash will call the shots at backup QB this season. The Bucs probably will wait to see what veteran is aching for a gig come April or May, while they bring Ryan Griffin back as a beloved camp body.
Is Glennon on his way back? Joe certainly doesn’t rule that out. He’d actually be a good fit.
March 8th, 2019 at 10:42 am
Did I miss something? Did the Bucs drop Fitz??
He’ll be a free agent next week and Bucs officials have made it seem like he won’t return. –Joe
March 8th, 2019 at 10:50 am
No, we didn’t drop Fitz…..he became a FA along with 23 others…24 including Curry.
I hardly think you can describe Ryan Griffin as a “camp body”……he held a roster spot for 3 years…..a camp body is someone you bring in for practice purposes and they usually don’t even make the PS.
As far as backup QB……you are right….we don’t have the money for one and that would include Glennon.
Look for us to pick up a $2 mil journeyman at most…..and either a late round pick or a UDFA as our third.
With Winston’s big salary and some of the other big salaries…..the days of a high-priced backup QB are over.
March 8th, 2019 at 11:03 am
Fitz should be dropped.A 36 year old inconsistent journeyman QB does us no good.
Draft Will Grier and let him sit and learn for a few years.If Jameis doesnt step up for coach Ariens then plan B is in place.
Being a rookie shouldnt be a threat to Jameis but may nudge him for the better.
Mark it down! Will Grier will be a super bowl QB at some point.
So may Jameis but that remains to be seen.
March 8th, 2019 at 11:17 am
It would be nice to have a starter that can win them a couple of games as well.
March 8th, 2019 at 11:55 am
Go out and sign Le’Veon Bell. He’s a baller and would give us the best RB in the division.
Give Jameis the QB whisperer and 🔔, then see what he can do this year. It’s now or never, no excuses!
March 8th, 2019 at 12:28 pm
I could see the Bucs drafting a QB in the late rds.
March 8th, 2019 at 12:35 pm
WVa.’s QB would be great. Glennon would be a train wreck if ever needed. Just ask the Bears! Fritz at 36 can still play and we should resign him. Jameis won’t look over his shoulder if BA tells Jameis he will not pull him unless he is injured.
March 8th, 2019 at 12:37 pm
I think Koetter once described Griffin as the best ‘pure passer’ on the team. He’s played well in pre-season too. Why not give him a shot?
March 8th, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Griffin and a 7th round pick or UDFA rookie as backup QBs is basically our budget.
Would be nice to see Ryan Griffin earn the spot after the Bucs development investment of holding onto him and using up an extra roster spot for 3 full years has already been paid…
Not so sure about Griffin’s arm strength though….
March 8th, 2019 at 1:14 pm
How ironic it would be if Winston is franchise tagged this year and Glennon were to get signed as the Buccaneers backup QB! Wouldn’t that scenario make Mike Glennon the first QB drafted by the Buccaneers to receive/sign a second contract with the team?
March 8th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
(Re)Assemble the Glennon Mob!!! 🙂
March 8th, 2019 at 1:26 pm
How ironic would it be if the Bucs merely franchise Winston this year and bring Glennon back to serve as the backup QB. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but wouldn’t that scenario mean that technically Mike Glennon would go down in Bucs history as the first QB drafted by the Bucs to receive/sign a second contract with the team? Fire the cannons and (re)assemble the Glennon Mob! 🙂
March 8th, 2019 at 1:27 pm
Oops sorry for the near duplicate post…I got overly excited thinking about how p!ssed that would make some folks around here 😆
March 8th, 2019 at 2:33 pm
If any of you think you’re having bad luck or karma, consider the trials and tribulations of one, Mike Glennon.
Drafted in the third round by the Buccaneers to be the backup to Josh Freeman, who subsequently implodes, thrusting Glennon into the starting role for 13 games in 2013 as a rookie. His coach, Greg Schiano was impressed enough to name him the probable starter going forward, however Schiano gets fired, and new coach, Lovie Smith, gets Josh McCown as a free agent and promptly anoints him as the starter, even before a single pass in OTA’s or training camp. McCown and the Bucs are so bad they actually earn the 1st pick in the draft, and take Jameis Winston #1 overall. Glennon again bided his time as a backup, but then is signed as a free agent by Chicago, who name him as the starter, and invite him to their draft night party, only to move up in the draft and select Mitch Trubisky at #2 overall. His first game is vs. the NFC champion Falcons, and in a close game has the Bears inside the 10 yd. line and has Jordan Howard drop a game-winning pass at the 1 yard line, and the Bears lose their opener. It is downhill from there, and he is backup once again. Then signs with the Cardinals, who then move up in the draft to pick Rosen in the 1st round, dropping him to third string this time. Now, there is talk that the Cards may draft Murray at #1 overall.
Now, you may hate Mike Glennon, and never want him to see the field for a single play, but has there ever been a QB who has had 4 separate QBs (Winston,Trubisky, Rosen, ?Murray) drafted in the 1st round to replace that player. Talk about bad karma????
tickrdr
March 8th, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Bad karma for Glennon? He has made a pile of money for doing very little. He will continue to make more as a back up as well. If anything…I think he has outkicked his coverage considerably in life…and for that…I say good for him.
March 8th, 2019 at 3:41 pm
tickrdr,
I see where you’re going with your post on Glennon. When a coach or GM believes in a player, they’ll do anything to make sure that player gets ample opportunities to succeed. When it comes to Glennon the narrative has been, “Well, he didn’t make the most of his few opportunities. Competition is good.” For Jay-Miss, the narrative is different. Ryan Fitzpatrick was/is the competition on the roster but all of the sudden that’s a bad thing. For some reason the Bucs cannot have Jay-Miss looking over his shoulder and having the backup be a threat to take his job.
March 8th, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Griffen might have been playing the third string spot in preseason last year, but his accuracy finally looked really good. He might not have a strong arm but you also compare that to Jameis having too strong of an arm when he overthrows guys. If BA was what sounds like to specifically help Jameis because he’s good with QB’s, he should be able to improve all the QBs. And BA not being interested in paying or drafting a good back up is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Peep Jameis’ suspension’s (I do think he’s done with that stuff) and his busted shoulder (can thank a guy that just got $41 million richer for that) BA.
March 8th, 2019 at 4:31 pm
BRING BACK SIMMS!!! lol. He’s a damn good analyst now a days. My favorite.
March 8th, 2019 at 4:38 pm
*”BRING BACK SIMMS!!! lol. He’s a damn good analyst now a days. My favorite.”
And it’s a rule of mine that whenever I mention Chris I have to put out I’m a die hard Longhorns fan and met him and his smokin hot wife and their kids in the line for Dairy Joy when he was with us. Has nothing to do with my opinion of him as an analyst, though.
March 8th, 2019 at 5:02 pm
@ tickdr – that is what happens when you suck. Anyone really paying attention to the Bucs and understands football knew he sucked. That is why they didn’t even consider not drafting a better QB asap. Chicago was the fool who overpaid, apparently before reviewing the tape, and immediately drafted his replacement. Now he is all the way down to 3rd string and probably on his way out of the league. This is happening because he sucks, not bad karma. I said at the time he would be wise to stay in Tampa as a back up and maybe be hidden enough to have very lengthy an lucrative career as a back up. He got paid but it looks like the jig is up now and everyone knows what a shtty QB he is.
March 8th, 2019 at 6:08 pm
Just pickup some cheap slug. We wouldn’t want Jameis looking over his shoulder or losing his job to someone of equal or better talent, would we Joe’s?
March 8th, 2019 at 6:20 pm
Bring back Glennon – I think worst case he could start for a couple of games if something happened to Winston. He should be quite cheap and I’d trust him a lot more than someone like Griffin. As for a young guy, why? Either Winston is the future or the team is blown up and you start over, no reason to have an unproven young guy as the backup in that scenario.
March 8th, 2019 at 6:22 pm
SOEbuc – I’d certainly bring back Charles Sims. No idea why he wasn’t brought back after he was healed up, unless he wasn’t healed up. The guy was one of the best 3rd down receiving backs in the game and a good pass blocker. If Hump is gone then certainly they should bring him back since they both sort of played the same role at catching a lot of passes around the LOS and having sure hands.
March 8th, 2019 at 7:18 pm
#3 we believe in you! We believe in you so much that we are going to ditch Fitz and sign a completely incapable back-up who shouldn’t be in the league and won’t be in two more years. We will make him promise not to hurt your feelings and we will have it written into his contract that he MUST turn the ball over more than you do (if humanly possible)! …Pincky Promise schnookums!? Okay?
March 9th, 2019 at 9:07 am
i would like to see blake bortles as jameis winstons backup. i know he,s had his ups and downs. but he has alot more starting experience than mike glennon and he,s never had the type of recieving core that the bucs have in evans, jackson, godwin, and howard. thats where i would go with that if the price fits. just my opinion
March 9th, 2019 at 11:12 am
Steve –Not a bad suggestion. Bortles.