Joe Haeg Gone
March 20th, 2021
Ex-Bucs lineman.
Rarely does an offensive lineman get a chance to catch a touchdown. Even rarer does an offensive lineman get a chance to catch a touchdown in a Super Bowl.
Joe Haeg blew that chance in the Bucs’ Super Bowl last month. Now, Haeg will likely never catch any sort of pass again. The free agent offensive lineman has signed with the Steelers, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Haeg, who often played as a sixth offensive lineman (tight end) in packages throughout the season, had a gadget play designed specifically for him in the second quarter with the Bucs deep in Chiefs territory.
Haeg was hit in the hands by park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady, but he had the ball stripped before he could secure it.
The Bucs never scored on the drive. They went for it on fourth-and-goal at the goal line and failed. At the time, it was still a close game and Haeg’s drop seemed potentially catastrophic.
Good thing the Bucs bailed him out. If the Bucs would have lost by one possession, Haeg would have become the next Jackie Smith and instantly the most hated man in Tampa Bay — even more than Joe is hated!
#Steelers are signing G/T Joe Haeg, source says. Was with the #Buccaneers last season.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 20, 2021
March 20th, 2021 at 3:52 pm
Yeah terrible play call dont blame it on Haeg. Then ball was knocked out right as it got there. Lefty wizhes he had that one back. Little too cute there. Run the effing ball they couldn’t stop ya.
March 20th, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Joe!! What are you talking about man?? We love you!!!
March 20th, 2021 at 3:56 pm
Will have to draft O-line
March 20th, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Yup regardless of how the rest of Free agency goes I think online/dline/edge is the way to go. Prob grab a RB somewhere in there
March 20th, 2021 at 4:00 pm
That “drop” was a tough pass as I recall. But Haeg is replaceable.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:03 pm
He was more valuable as a blocking TE in jumbo packages than anything.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:04 pm
Haeg was terrible in spot duty as an actual back up. So no big loss here.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Joe Haeg looked ridiculous as a starting LG against the Saints. He was below average (even for a backup) and I’m glad he went elsewhere. Good luck…
March 20th, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Darin… I’ve seen that play a half dozen times. You are wrong. It hit his hands and then his facemask, before the defender hit it. I’d assume he should have a very strong grip, being an O lineman and not a kicker. He just didn’t grab it with his hands…plain and simple. Water under the bridge..but let’s not rewrite history.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
That “drop” was a tough pass as I recall.
I believe it hit him in the face mask lol not a bad pass when that happens.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:17 pm
And games before Stinnie came in and did a great job subbing for Cappa, I seem to remember Haeg getting a start on the line. And he had an epic failure. Good luck to him, but I suspect there was little desire to retain him.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:17 pm
Yeah Haeg’s only value was as a non pass-cathing threat blocking TE and that’s it. He was garbage as a backup O-lineman. He’s just not a strong guy…at all
March 20th, 2021 at 4:26 pm
No loss and easily replaceable.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:26 pm
Not sure what the Steelers saw on tape in 2020 that impressed them but best wishes…
March 20th, 2021 at 4:29 pm
Former 2020 Titan 1st round tackle Isaiah Wilson is out there…has been a complete disaster so far ( Dolphins traded for him…then cut him 3 days later )…could The Brady Effect fix him at league minimum? Kid my be too far gone/beyond damaged goods.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:34 pm
Needs in draft, oline, dline, corner, linebacker in my opinion
March 20th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
We don’t hate Joe, we just hate the way he overuses unfunny nicknames for players.
March 20th, 2021 at 4:57 pm
Isaiah Wilson needs psychiatric treatment before he should be signed to another team. I imagine the bucs will find a replacement. There is plenty of time.
March 20th, 2021 at 5:01 pm
Versatile linemen.
Goodluck to him.
But we cant keep everyone, and I imagine we will be drafting a tackle in one of the first 3 rounds
March 20th, 2021 at 5:10 pm
I’ll tell you what the Steelers saw in him. He has a ring.
March 20th, 2021 at 5:12 pm
I did not think he played very well for the Bucs. I’m not sure the Bucs would have offered him the minimum.
March 20th, 2021 at 5:36 pm
Darin – a terrible play call??? Really??? He was wide open and the pass was perfect. You know they do practice and I’m sure he made the play in practice otherwise they wouldn’t have thrown it to him. It was a great playcall. Haeg just did latch on to the ball.
March 20th, 2021 at 5:37 pm
As far as that pass goes, it hit him in the hands but he’s not a receiver. A receiver would have pulled that ball into himself, like AB on his touchdown catch.Mice try though.
March 20th, 2021 at 5:38 pm
Oh and the Bucs were stuffed trying to run it on both 3rd and 4th down so you’re wrong anyway.
March 20th, 2021 at 5:38 pm
From inside the 2 yard line
March 20th, 2021 at 5:42 pm
Eddie this isn’t sandlot football. They practice these things and I’m sure he was coached up. This wasn’t some random play they came up with in game. I am also sure he made the catches in practice. Getting a player wide open in the end zone when you are deep in the red zone is difficult. It was a great trick play the Haeg messed up.
March 20th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
he wasn’t a great fit here…it didn’t really flow and work as expected…it’s ok to say goodbye…
i’d lock in josh wells tho…
and find a another versatile joe haeg (son of sid haig) type player
March 20th, 2021 at 5:47 pm
what if:
what if joe haeg did catch that superbowl touchdown…???
would his life be a little different?
and would he still be here in tampa under a new contract???
March 20th, 2021 at 5:58 pm
WillyG. Amen brother. I’m so sick of the dumb nicknames.
March 20th, 2021 at 6:04 pm
For the Steelers… Joe Haig =Taysom Hill…OL, DL, TE, HB, FB, QB and part-time coach. Hell…he’s a Swiss Army Knife and a steal at less than $140 million.
March 20th, 2021 at 6:22 pm
HomerSimpsonRocks,
I actually know 3 people who refuse to read anything on this site because of the stupid nicknames Joe uses. I told Joe, but they apparently don’t care.
March 20th, 2021 at 6:30 pm
I was unimpressed with Haeg long before his Super Bowl gaffe. This fish getting away does not hurt.
March 20th, 2021 at 6:32 pm
We don’t hate you Joe ♥️
March 20th, 2021 at 6:33 pm
I don’t think so! Haegg did everything right on the play. He did catch the football.. and would have secured it for a touchdown.. but, the defender gets paid to.. and he was good enough to also get his hands on the football and knock it out of his hands.
March 20th, 2021 at 6:42 pm
Haeg was a back up, but man, he was terrible! Reminds me of the days of Gilky and Oneil Cousins. Can’t say I’m sorry he’s gone.
March 20th, 2021 at 6:46 pm
More than the Super Bowl non-catch, to me it was the abysmal showing at Guard vs. the Saints, and a couple extra points being blocked that on the replay looked like Haeg allowing penetration. How about Spencer Brown (OT, Northern Iowa) as a mid round pick in the draft to replace Haeg?
March 20th, 2021 at 6:47 pm
Read the site for enough years and you learn to completely skip over the stupid monikers like they aren’t even there. Joe thinks it makes him seem less like an AP writer. He knows we all hate it, which only encourages him further.
Keep up the good work Joe, keep that skin nice and thick. I know you don’t excel at evaluating the draft, but by God, you continue to try. That’s all anyone can ask of you.
March 20th, 2021 at 7:02 pm
the simple and best nickname…
new nick name that is…
for tom brady…
is…
“tom gravy”
can’t fugg wit dat…it’s on point since day one of his arrival…
all other shantytown shenanigan nicknames should be put into joe haeg’s ratty suitcase for when he leaves town for steel city
March 20th, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Lol…so people won’t read the most up to date reporting on on beloved Bucs because they don’t like the monikers the Joes throw out there? Willing to be bet these are the same people who claimed the Joe’s couldn’t hit their big screen tv with a thrown tv remote during the lean years. SMH..
March 20th, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Gone, and already forgotten.
March 20th, 2021 at 7:52 pm
Súper replacable!!
March 20th, 2021 at 8:20 pm
Not a bad call at all he was wide open and it went right to his hands a touchdown all day ling he shoukd have caught it good call good pass terrible execution from haeg who would of cost us a game if it was closw especially in the superbowl…good creative play good bye to him and good luck
March 20th, 2021 at 8:23 pm
Don’t let the door hit ya homie. Peace.
March 20th, 2021 at 8:30 pm
Kgh4life: I was hoping to never be reminded of Garrett Gilkey and Oneil Cousins (it does make me wonder if Oneilbuc is actually Oneil Cousins, and still has an axe to grind with the Bucs). Fun fact about Onel Cousins is that he never played a down of NFL football after The 2014 season, same with Anthony Collins. Gilkey lasted one more year in Tampa.
March 20th, 2021 at 8:51 pm
NOBODY would have hated Haeg if we lost the SB by one score. Haeg ain’t a WR. It was a gadget play and those plays only look good when they work and they look head scratching when they don’t. It was a contested catch as well.
If you hate him for not catching it, something is wrong with your expectations and knowledge of football.
March 20th, 2021 at 9:01 pm
The real failure, if there was one on that drive was not handing the ball to Vea on a dive play. NOBODY would have stopped man beast.
March 20th, 2021 at 10:04 pm
If this last season told us anything. Draft the trenches and then draft the trenches again. Go Bucs!
March 20th, 2021 at 11:45 pm
It seems Stinnie can come in as that six lineman and they’ll draft another lineman
March 20th, 2021 at 11:54 pm
Joe, WTF! I understand people not agreeing with your opinions from time to time… But MOST hated is a far stretch! Actually, quite the opposite, you keep allot of us (out of Florida) in touch with what’s going on with the Bucs… We love you for that! Keep it coming! GO BUCS!
March 21st, 2021 at 1:30 am
joe…
i will miss saying…
“joe haeg, son of sid haig”
#SidHaegOfTheDevilsRejects #Rip
March 21st, 2021 at 1:30 am
and the funny thing is, he looks like he really could be his son
March 21st, 2021 at 8:59 am
No big deal, draft a lineman or pick up a back up free agent. We need to focus on our more important free agents.
March 21st, 2021 at 10:00 am
a 14 year old could catch that pass….adios amigo
March 21st, 2021 at 11:01 am
WillieG Says:
March 20th, 2021 at 6:22 pm
HomerSimpsonRocks,
I actually know 3 people who refuse to read anything on this site because of the stupid nicknames Joe uses. I told Joe, but they apparently don’t care.
I read every Bucs site there is, and THIS one is by far the most informative, Joe is a vacuum cleaner for all points info about our beloved team
March 21st, 2021 at 10:01 pm
Joe,
Thr nicknames are unique, amusing and entertaining no matter how often you use them. It gives a down home, unique feel to this Buc’s blog.
March 22nd, 2021 at 12:40 pm
I’m a newbie but I learned quick enough to skip over the nicknames LOL
March 22nd, 2021 at 12:45 pm
I think that was a good play call nobody was expecting that the defense just made a good play on it bottom line we still won