“I Like Taking Jobs”
May 2nd, 2019
There’s a new energy at One Buc Palace.
And while much of that comes from the Bucco Bruce Arians’ army of coaches, some of the juice is from Arians’ handpicked players.
Joe’s referring to the guys who played for Arians previously. Linebacker/moneybacker/safety Deone Bucannon, he’s one of those guys. Arians has said he knows Bucannon will work and set a tone.
Joe assumes this tone will be different than the one that came along with the Dirk Koetter/Mike Smith men brought to Tampa, such as Bernard Reedy, Jacquizz Rodgers, Cecil Shorts, Robert McClain and Brent Grimes. Yes, Joe Hawley had an Arians-man kind of edge for a while until his body broke down.
One new Arians-friendly soldier is versatile offensive lineman Earl Watford. In a league desperate for O-line talent, Watford quickly was signed by the Jaguars and O-line guru Doug Marrone in free agency back in 2017. But he didn’t make it until opening day; the Jags waved goodbye to Watford and the signing bonus they gave him.
A month later, Arians went to the streets and brought back Watford to the Cardinals. He made nine starts but the new Cardinals regime didn’t want him back for 2018. Last year, Watford sat in free agency for a few weeks before the Bears came calling. They cut him in August and Cleveland picked him up.
When the free agency dinner bell rang this year, the Bucs signed Watford quickly for $870,000 and more than half of that was guaranteed, per Spotrac.com. Joe’s not surprised Watford jumped all over that guaranteed cash.
Anyway, Watford, 28, is talking a great game on Twitter. Joe loves when players engage with fans. And Watford was doing just that Monday, making it clear he’s not here to make friends.
there is a reason why I’m here. It’d be a waste of time to sign me if I wasn’t going to work and do the job I’m paid to do at the highest level. Could’ve drafted or signed 10 guys. Competition is fun and I like taking jobs.
— Earl Watford (@EWatts78) April 30, 2019
Joe loves the mindset.
Hopefully, Watford stays healthy and has a good summer. Maybe, just maybe, he’s the kind of guy who will get in the faces of line mates he sees loafing. Better yet, hopefully the loafing is over thanks to Arians’ policy for addressing effort.
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:01 am
Joe, I would’ve so much rather have heard Watford end with “I love WINNING starting jobs”. You know, the ‘proving everyone wrong’, chip on your shoulder attitude. Not making it through camps with Arizona, Jacksonville, Chicago & Cleveland is concerning, BUT … every day is a new day. He’s a good size for a Guard (6’3″ & 300 lbs) and was one of BA’s 4th Rnd picks in 2013 (same year BA drafted Minter, Ellington, Okafor & Honey Badger … so we now have 3 of that draft class on the Bucs).
Bucs desperately NEED a RG. Would love to see Earl kiss ass & take names … and WIN a starting job because of superior play.
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:03 am
OK, spell-correct screwed up again. Was supposed to be KICK ass & take names.
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:17 am
Love the attitude! We’ve been missing that for a while now. It’s what a football player is SUPPOSED to sound like!
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:20 am
Arians is one loyal SOB…….He has an interesting but effective management style…..here’s hoping he turns things around here…..would love to see him bring on even more players.
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:26 am
Joe – Any article coming on Justin Evans.
I am thinking under reported is a nugget from yesterdays news conferences by the safety coach that Evans is still not ready to practice. Did I hear that wrong?
A guy with a toe injury that has not healed in 6 months. That seems to be a guy that could have reoccurring toe problems throughout his career.
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:41 am
Like what I’ve bin hearing. Really excited for this season. Let’s go Bucs
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:53 am
Is he trying to fool the fans??? or himself????????
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 6:57 am
Defense—
Cracked up at the “kiss ass and take names” concept.
Reminded me of the Peter Graves character (Price) in the old move, “Stalag 17.”
BTW—great movie! Before my time but a timeless endeavor, well worth watching today …
May 2nd, 2019 at 7:07 am
Talk is cheap………performance talks, Bulsh&t walks……this guy will be walking
May 2nd, 2019 at 7:30 am
I like his attitude !
May 2nd, 2019 at 7:30 am
@JA
I’ll take your word for it. Just purchased the DVD off Amazon. Looking forward to watching an oldie but a goody!
May 2nd, 2019 at 7:39 am
JA … It REALLY was a spell-check screw-up (normally I catch those, but I’m getting old I guess). And yes, some of those ‘old movies’ are well worth watching. just like some of the ‘old books’ are well worth reading.
#1bucsfan … I agree with Tom’s sentiment that PERFORMANCE is what REALLY counts, BUT … I’m excited for this season too. No Super Bowl aspirations, but I’m really anticipating IMPROVEMENT. Maybe not in our W-L record, but definitely in our play on the field. And especially on DEFENSE.
And what has me more excited than anything is this coaching staff. Yes, ‘talk is cheap’ as many have already said, but spend some time getting familiar with BA’s assistant coaches & I can almost guarantee you’ll come away impressed. They’ve been doing quite a few ‘Get To Know Them’ videos along those lines on the Bucs site.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:34 am
I know there isn’t much going on right now but I will not celebrate a journey man who has been cut by the browns, jags, bears and twice by the cardinals. Good thing he is not here to make friends, sounds like he doesn’t stay with a team long enough to make any.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:03 am
Nice pic Joe. Looks like the o line is staring in disbelief at the play of our defense. HA
Not a sheep
May 2nd, 2019 at 10:28 am
Refreshing. Hope he rubs off on the rest. I like this guy. Hope he can “walk the walk.”
May 2nd, 2019 at 10:52 am
sounds nice…..
GO BUCS!!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:16 am
All sounds good on paper. Now walk the walk. By the way Stalag 17 great movie from the fifties.
May 2nd, 2019 at 1:54 pm
Wait, let me get this straight. The guy who bounced around and couldn’t make it past the 53 man cut on numerous attempts is talking about taking jobs?
That’s funny.