Don’t Do It
February 19th, 2021
Playoff Lenny.
The Bucs have a bunch of big-name free agents to try to keep and only so much stash left in the kitty.
One national NFL typist believes the Bucs should be very careful with their wallets when trying to retain one of them.
Playoff Lenny lived up to his name. And he was one of five Bucs players not named “Ryan Jensen” who touched the ball on every scoring play in the Super Bowl who was not with the Bucs in 2019.
Despite how well he played in the playoffs, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes the pool of cash the Bucs have to spend on free agents is better spent than giving Playoff Lenny a big raise.
Fournette should be considered the most expendable. Yes, he is a Super Bowl hero, finishing with more than 130 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. However, Fournette also plays running back, a position that teams have found easy to fill through the draft.
Finding a rotational back in the draft should be less of a challenge than finding a Pro Bowl wideout like Godwin or an edge-rusher like 2019 sack leader Barrett. Plus, the Buccaneers will have Ronald Jones II in the final year of his rookie contract. He rushed for 978 yards during the regular season, so it’s not like the position would be one of glaring need anyway.
Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to pay Fournette like a top-tier back in free agency. If Fournette is willing to come back on a team-friendly contract, great. If he’s not, then Tampa should be inclined to utilize its cap space elsewhere.
There is nothing that Knox typed that Joe can argue with. Would Joe like to have Playoff Lenny back? Sure, but not at the expense of Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett, Chris Godwin or Ryan Succop.
Once again in Joe’s eyes, the priorities in free agency should be: No. 1A Shaq, No. 1B Godwin, No. 2 Succop and No. 3, foot-rubbing, car-littering tight end Rob Gronkowski.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:19 pm
That rotational back mentioned by Mr. Knox, may already be on the roster. Last years draft pick, K. Vaughan. The kid has a nice burst and doesn’t go down at first contact…now – about those fumbles..
February 19th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Let Lenny walk!
February 19th, 2021 at 1:28 pm
Gronk ain’t playing anywhere else. He will only play with Brady. Maybe Brady can buy him a nice boat or something lol. 😂
February 19th, 2021 at 1:29 pm
He could be considered a luxury. It’s also puzzled me why he played so much better in the playoffs than he did during the season. It’s hard not to conclude he wasn’t expending maximum effort until money/fame was on the line
February 19th, 2021 at 1:29 pm
Brady has proven many times over the years that a back like Fournette isn’t a necessity for him to thrive. Fournette was a much better receiver then Rojo but Fournette had his share of drops as well….I think you get a pretty similar product in Adrian Peterson who would likely play for a vet minimum…..or White. With this offseason and cap situation, who knows what backs will be available. The fact Fournette was nearly cut, tells me he was a head case behind the scenes. Arians made it work but I would anticipate the team moves on.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:30 pm
Gronk and Succop are locks. Barrett is close to a lock. I don’t see how the Bucs can commit to a $100M ish deal for Godwin, too much money in two wide receivers. You could have Suh, Gronk and AB for about $20 Mil a year total I would think, pretty solid use of funds in a tight cap year.
Fournette will not be a Buc next season.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:31 pm
LVD (to keep LB core intact)
Godwin
Succop
Suh
Gronk
Those are our priorities in THAT order… sorry gang Shaq is gone but this should be a good draft to replace. Also we may get a vet ringing chasing on a cheap deal say [Von Miller] whose already been laid and may prioritize a Ring over $$
February 19th, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Damn Joe I’m not feeling Lavonte David anymore
February 19th, 2021 at 1:32 pm
*paid
But I’m sure he’s been laid as well lol
February 19th, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Sure, but the Bucs are not trying to win a Super Bowl in three years. They are trying to repeat.
Rarely do rookie pass rushers make a dent in the NFL.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:35 pm
K. Vaughan reminds me of W. Dunn.
I don’t see a problem with him long term so long as he holds onto the ball.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:39 pm
if you’re trying to keep the “soul” of this team together, you don’t let David and Godwin walk. Fournette and AB are the last to be considered on any list. Team players? Fournette was almost cut and AB is still AB…baggage
February 19th, 2021 at 1:40 pm
Shaq (tag again)
LVD 3 year max
Suh 1 year
Succop 1 year
Gronk 1 Year
Fournette
Godwin is expendable. We’re deep at the rcvr position.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:40 pm
cant believe in your list you dont have David. David is 1b not Godwin
February 19th, 2021 at 1:44 pm
The first thing we’ll see are a bunch of current player contracts amended.
I suspect Godwin gets franchised and David and Barrett get longer deals. Suh Gronk & Succup get short deals.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:50 pm
Totally agree with Joe on Lenny.
For Christ’s sake, Vaughn caught 5 swing/screen passes and dropped 3. Lousy.
Draft a partner for RoJo.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:51 pm
should be easy to fill????????????? how long have the bucs been crying for a RB?
love Rojo, but he has bricks for hands!!!!!
Lenny is a risk. nut no SB without him being TB’s outlet and he hit the corners well etc. I just don’t know why everyone wants him out of town, when he is our ONLY dual threat RB… and we have WR’s out the wazoo. this guy is nuts!
February 19th, 2021 at 1:51 pm
He is looking to go and be the starter so I would not be shocked if he looked at going to Pittsburgh or Seattle to be the number 1 back. Only problem is Jacksonville years look bad because he was consider a headache in the organization. So that is why if he resigns with Tampa it will be on a cheap deal. So I want be shocked if David, Godwin, and Lenny walk in FA to get a big payday. Everyone keeps saying Lavonte will take a team friendly deal but don’t let the GM from Tennessee see him on the open market. He is good as gone.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:51 pm
Let Lenny walk, we have better backs that don’t play hard only when they feel like it
LVD (beta) can be replaced in the draft with an Alpha for a lot less $$$ 2-3 good ones available at spot 32
Godwin, I love ya but we can’t afford ya and you deserve $$$ and we’re overloaded at WR
Let OJ go, too brittle, underwhelming and $$$ soon
Restructure Brate and Gronk.
Resign Suh for what he wants
Franchise Shaq
And of course, restructure Durable Donnie for a 10 year $250,000,000 contract
Because face it…… he’s the best LT in the game.
Nobody goes backwards quite like DD!
February 19th, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Fournette definitely showed up in the postseason but ultimately, was a non-factor for pretty much the entire regular season. It was nice having him, but Fournette is probably the least priority of our Free Agents-to-be, seeing as his replacement is already on the roster and was better than him over the course of the season. I wouldn’t sweat losing him very much.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:54 pm
I don’t think CG is gonna command as much money on the market as we think.
Look at what Breshad Perriman got (6m) for nearly the same production as CG. Granted CG had way more Targets and Opportunity than BP.
They really are the same type of player within this offence. I say offer CG a 4 year deal at 50-60m (just to be nice to him) and see what he says. If another team wants to go over the top. I am sad to see him go.
On the flipside, bring Perriman back on the cheap after his flop with the NYJ.
If CG bites we get to keep the entire D intact. Assuming Shaq takes a similar type deal. Both guys are STUDs. But are note cornerstone pieces. We need to keep money available for Vea, White, Davis and Whitehead in the Post Brady era.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:57 pm
Sorry id put Lavonte above Shaq. But not by much. You will oddly enough have a few EDGE players hit free agency. Don’t forget he literally disappeared for half the season.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:58 pm
what you guys are saying is draft a 3rd down back……so every time he comes in they know he can’t run, probably can’t block either. so, on 1st down it will be nack to 1-2 yards for Rojo and some breakouts. Lenny offered runs, hitting the corner, blocking and catching. Granted he was benched, as Rojo had the hot hand….but W/O Lenny the offense is again predictable!!!!!!!!!
Maybe AP or someone else, but not vaughn. he’s too small
February 19th, 2021 at 2:00 pm
Everyone says Godwin is expendable because of e are deep at wr. If brown is found guilty, we are down to Evans and Johnson. I think if Brown comes back it has to be on a very friendly contract. It’s scary how quickly our deep pool of receivers becomes thin.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:07 pm
Thisisouryear, I don’t think it so much that he is expendable as it is we need to be able to keep the core of the team together. To which he is a part of the core but his production is replaceable FOR THE RIGHT MONEY.
Playoff Lenny is expendable based on his position and our young guys behind him.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:09 pm
If shaq is signed yes CG is gone. David is gone.
In a positive notes. Adam humphries might get cut. We can pick him up for cheap. Lol
Thisisouryear!! Says:
February 19th, 2021 at 2:11 pm
Robert, I think AP would be a perfect candidate to replace Lenny. That said, don’t sleep on Vaughn. Dude has tremendous talent and will be our starter if ROJO dosent get resigned after next year.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
Harris from Alabama or Etienne from Clemson are two running backs that would look great in our backfield at pick 32 if one of them is still around.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:15 pm
With the 1st rd pick
It’s either a center or pass rusher.
Adrian Peterson will come over
February 19th, 2021 at 2:37 pm
Agree 100%. Plus of all the Stars on this team, the one play that may let his ego get in the way of the Team is Fourenett. Is anyone really surprised to hear that he was almost cut in December??
February 19th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Not a fan of Adrian Peterson as a fit for us.
It has been 6 years since he was a viable pass catching back. What makes us think that he is going to be good at receiving next year. Plus even when he caught passes he was never that good at pass protection. I would skip.
Mike Davis would be an upgrade actually but I do not think he would come cheap – so he is probably priced himself out of Tampa. If we are looking for a cheap option pass catching option maybe David Johnson after he gets cut by Houston’s new regime. His value would not be that high but he certainly can catch the rock better than ROJO.
I could see David Johnson having a similar type of year as Fournette. Kinda ehh during the season but that skill set making a come back at playoff time.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:45 pm
I love Lenny but he is going to get a big offer somewhere else. Gronk is going to be back at a lower rate.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:51 pm
Bye Lenny go sulk somewhere else thx for your contributions.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:56 pm
Seems like some players will be in a great position to negotiate the terms of their next contract (like Shaq, Suh, LVD, Succop & potentially several others) because, quite frankly, we NEED them. But most of our other FAs will probably be quite flexible, and could be replaced if need be (not desirable however). Hard to know at this point how this whole thing will flesh out.
February 19th, 2021 at 3:22 pm
“Playoff Lenny lived up to his name. And he was one of five Bucs players not named “Ryan Jensen” who touched the ball on every scoring play in the Super Bowl who was not with the Bucs in 2019.”
IF he touched the ball on every scoring Play that would indicate that he scored Every point. Right? or No?
February 19th, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Timmy Smith was a super bowl hero too
February 19th, 2021 at 3:53 pm
We need a running back who can catch passes like James White. That is the missing part of our offense. Lenny and Rojo have not gotten it done receiving.
February 19th, 2021 at 4:11 pm
I’m sure Godwin is coming back. Shaq is a different story if he does leave Hassan Riddick from AZ drafted by Bruce and the boys looked pretty good rushing the passer this year and would only need a 1/3 of what Shaq will ask for!
February 19th, 2021 at 4:27 pm
Let him walk, there are always more RB’s to come.
February 19th, 2021 at 4:32 pm
KEEP EVERYONE
GOAL IS REPEAT SB AGAINST KC
THEN GO GET PAID AND COAST SOMEWHERE ELSE
February 19th, 2021 at 4:34 pm
Best team wins…. not best paid player, so divide the loot like brothers and stay together.
February 19th, 2021 at 4:46 pm
I have always maintained that Lenny is the odd man out. Yes, he played brilliantly in the postseason, but of all the positions to fill, his is the easiest.
February 19th, 2021 at 6:13 pm
How about David?
February 19th, 2021 at 7:05 pm
SB,
IF he touched the ball on every scoring Play that would indicate that he scored Every point. Right? or No?
__________
What?
You didn’t see all of those laterals?
😀
#laterallenny
February 19th, 2021 at 7:12 pm
I concur.
Gamble on a low salary Gurley contract with James White at the vet minimum.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:32 pm
James White and a draft pick.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:32 pm
I disagree the offense got in rythm with 28. Important piece for play action and Brady ball. Can you replace him? sure but I think he could earn 6-8M, more than that clearly no. Let Godwin taste free agency. He earn it but I do not see the Bucs missing him that much. As for Shaq sure it’s a priority but if he wants to cash there are options that may be even better. With TB12 the Bucs have become a place for second chancers and it turn out spectacular. Guys want to cash in, good luck we have options people.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:42 pm
100% agree he is lowest priority.Doesnt mean he isnt wanted, I would welcome him back with open arms….the arms.of.lavonte, shaq and godwin…then lenny
February 19th, 2021 at 10:12 pm
Priority FAs in order
Succop – Can’t go back to kicking hell again under any circumstance
LVD – White can’t cover TEs
Shaq – Too tough to find a replacement at #32
Suh – Has to be team friendly deal
Gronk – He won’t play anywhere else
AB – Very team friendly deal, another WR heavy draft
Fournette – He’s going for the $, but I would love to keep him for 1 year and then decide Lenny or Rojo next year when both are FAs. Besides you can get a mid-rd RB
Godwin – Love this guy, but can’t afford him. Deep WR room in Tampa and draft class.
February 20th, 2021 at 12:26 am
Absolutely agree Joe. Rojo and Vaughn will be just fine as the tandem. I’m sure an off-season with Brady will have them blocking and running routes much better.
Except… After Shaq and Godwin, #3 is LVD. He’s got a few more years left.
4 year deal and he can retire a Buc
Gronk & Suh should not be a problem. It does not appear either one is looking to break the bank, they want rings
February 20th, 2021 at 2:25 am
I don’t see how they can pay both Shaq and Godwin. The smart choice is Shaq as Brady can win with less and has done so for 20 years. Brady, on the other hand, may push to keep all of his weapons. And Brady seems to have sway with the Bucs (he had no sway with the Pats).
It will be interesting to see who gets his way.
February 20th, 2021 at 6:27 am
here’s the thing with godwin:
if he gave his number to brady for free, he’s staying…
if he charged brady on the low, he’s so outta here…
think about it…
if he gave him his number, he’s a team guy and 5 years 75 mil will be cool…or 6 for 90…
but if he charged him, he’s all about the money…and will bolt to the highest bidder, and once again wear his #12…
think about it…
if he took money for his number he already knew he was kind of outta here…so he took the money grab from brady…then will take the money grab from highest bidder…
i think he’s gonna stay imho…
i don’t think it’s just about the money for him…
he does rock that ratty old pilled hat after every game in pressers…
so maybe he’s thinking long game and to be a buc lifer…
let’s hope he stays…
after all, different systems create different results…
and they’re all system players to some extent…
no one is bigger than the system they’re in
February 20th, 2021 at 6:33 am
sorry gang Shaq is gone but this should be a good draft to replace.
Sure, but the Bucs are not trying to win a Super Bowl in three years. They are trying to repeat.
Rarely do rookie pass rushers make a dent in the NFL.
Cmon Joe you’re not reading the whole story. Rarely do rookie pass rushers get one on ones every play either. Keep Vita healthy and happy and whoever’s in there will. Also rarely do backups signed for 3 mil get 19 sacks. Sometimes you see things you thought you wouldn’t. Gota open those eyes tho
February 20th, 2021 at 9:02 am
Fournette playing for the Bucs was always going to be a one and done situation. He accomplished his goals of getting a ring and proving he’s a great player and a team guy. I hope he stays but I don’t think it will happen. It just takes one team that sees him as the missing piece and he’s gone.
February 20th, 2021 at 1:55 pm
Let Lenny walk. It was said that he doesn’t want to split carries anymore and we need an RB to split carries and can catch.
Rex Burkhead and James White are free agents and had success with Brady and the Pats. I would sign either one of them over Lenny.