Veteran Safeties On The Table
June 15th, 2020
The Bucs have dabbled quite a bit in veteran safeties in recent years: T.J. Ward (2017) and Darian Stewart (2019) come to Joe’s mind first.
The former Pro Bowlers were one-and-done with Tampa Bay, meaning they each played a season and then were completely out of football.
There have been others, and today Joe is wondering who is next. The Bucs secondary is very inexperienced and it feels a little thin, though the latter is to be determined.
Antoine Bethea played for Bucco Bruce Arians in Indianapolis and in Arizona. He’s made 200 career starts, but his durable old body is raring to go, so he explained on SiriusXM NFL Radio last week. Bethea, 35, cranked out 100 solo tackles for the Cardinals two seasons ago and started every game for the Giants last year. The three-time Pro Bowler has a ring.
Would he be willing to come to Tampa and compete on the cheap?
Another former Pro Bowler, Eric Reid, is out there as well. He’s in his prime and is just coming off setting the Panthers franchise record for tackles by a safety. But he’d probably cost too much.
Yeah, the Bucs appear committed to going super young in the secondary and hoping most guys step up in their second season under Todd Bowles. But Joe wouldn’t bet on the powers at One Buc Palace holding firm on that, especially with less time to evaluate the young players in an all-in-with-Brady season.
June 15th, 2020 at 10:19 am
Who you gonna’ cut, Joe?…..You asked me that when I suggested taking care of Godwin……bring in Clay Matthews……who you gonna’ cut?
June 15th, 2020 at 10:45 am
We used a high second round pick on a safety, again! There were a lot of good players available when we picked Winfield Jr., positions of need to boot. Joe, we’re going to sink, or swim with what we got. The time to pick up a vet safety has passed. That would’ve been done before the draft if we really wanted one. The Bucs obviously believe they drafted a stud in Winfield. Time will tell.
June 15th, 2020 at 10:47 am
We need vet DB,RB, some depth @ Oline/dline
June 15th, 2020 at 10:48 am
Cutting Justin Evans would be a start. I do believe Clay Matthews would be a great addition. Cut Beckwith.
June 15th, 2020 at 10:49 am
Any people added need to add more than a history and experience. They have to be good teammates who will lead young players to succeed in games.
We do not need political activists who will use their status as pro football players to make political statements during or immediately before games. Evans started to go down that path several years ago. Add Reid and this will put gas on the fire.
This team needs to focus during practice and games on football and use their other time for any political advocacy.
June 15th, 2020 at 10:59 am
A lot of these “vets” will sit until injuries hit. Teams are going to stay cheap with the lost revenue in clear sight from Covid19. I would anticipate more and more quality players hitting the streets soon. Its a business and that’s the reality. I believe those “vets” have guaranteed contracts if they are on the opening day roster, just seems they will be sitting for a bit….or it may just be over.
June 15th, 2020 at 11:00 am
Hey did you guys see the PFF tribe has Tyler Johnson as the highest rated rookie WR?
June 15th, 2020 at 11:15 am
Agree that settling the Beckwith and Evans status should happen soon. We can’t afford much new. Got to sign the rookies soon.
June 15th, 2020 at 11:41 am
Those safties would have balled out had it not been prevent defense every snap
June 15th, 2020 at 12:45 pm
No money due to the horrible gm that has mismanaged the cap!!!!!!!!! It will take years to dig out of the whole that licht bulb continues to create!!!!!!!!!! With all the poor drafts and bad and desperate free-agents that will leave even larger holes on the poor roster!!!!!!!!!!! The good news sheep, is that the digging should start next season!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 15th, 2020 at 2:05 pm
Clay Matthews is nearly 35
June 15th, 2020 at 6:23 pm
Everyone else figured it out that they got it wrong before except for Kenmodhair. If he spoke out against prayer or banning any non football related speech on the sidelines during or before games his stance would be just as ridiculous but at least he’d be less of a privileged hypocrite.
June 15th, 2020 at 7:47 pm
reid would be a good pick up.
June 15th, 2020 at 8:31 pm
To be honest, Stankglassman, I don’t want a prayer or the National Anthem, either. They’ve been abused by phonies and become politicized.
June 15th, 2020 at 8:56 pm
Players will kneel during the anthem. Get used to it, get with the program or simply get over it. Your choice but its going to happen whether you like it or not. Even the nfl has stated they got it wrong 4 years ago so theres that too.
June 15th, 2020 at 9:04 pm
Those past free agent signing would have been great had they not been playing prevent defense 98 % of the snaps.Every last.one of them hated the dact they played here under lovie and smitty
June 16th, 2020 at 7:38 am
TOM says, “Cutting Justin Evans would be a start. I do believe Clay Matthews would be a great addition. Cut Beckwith.”
No point – we can just add them to IR.
June 16th, 2020 at 9:42 am
Sorry. Like drugs, follow Nancy Reagan’s advice, and just say “no” to old Safeties. Please. I want, with all my heart, to believe Justin can come back and play at his former level. I just can’t see it. I’m hoping I’m wrong. Give the Kids a chance at Safety. Bowles will see it through. Not having much of an off season program is going to lead to some plays early in the season where you’ll want burn all your Bucs gear. Growing pains are going to be ugly at times. It’s the downside of having a run D that is so good, nobody even bothers to run the ball (it’s why I could care less about the Falcons signing Gurley). Coverage on that back end is going to have issues for a bit.
June 16th, 2020 at 10:42 am
Super young? Edwards is hitting his second year and Whitehead his third. Evans possibly is a factor, and Winfield Jr. growing up around his father is essentially a second year player already. Hell no to banged up and slow guys taking away from the young talent playing.
June 16th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
F’ that anthem kneeling Eric Reed
June 16th, 2020 at 1:25 pm
Nooooooooo. Just trade for jamal adams and we set
June 16th, 2020 at 10:46 pm
We need fast safeties. Reid and Bethea are tacklers. Cant cover anymore.
Mike Edwards was hurt all year. Whitehead was servicable. Adams was too slow.
If Justin Evans comes back strong,
Whitehead, Winfield, Edwards, Evans.
Nice!!