Good News On Free Agent Rumor Mill
March 25th, 2023
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Joe was hoping the initial rumors were just barroom chatter and sports radio filler. Apparently, thankfully, that’s all they were.
Shortly after he was released by the Cowboys, rumors swirled around Tampa Bay that free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott and the Bucs might be a thing.
Folks tried to point to how Elliott’s old position coach in Dallas is the new Bucs running back coach, Skip Peete. Joe feared love for Elliott at One Buc Palace when he came out in the draft might still linger (then again, Elliott was the fourth pick in the 2016 draft, who didn’t love him?).
Alas, per uber NFL insider Adam Schefter of BSPN, Elliott has narrowed his choice of new destinations, none of which is the Bucs.
Signing Elliott just didn’t make sense to Joe. He allegedly cannot run outside any longer and at 27, if you lost your legs as a running back in the NFL, you are toast. Next month’s draft is loaded with running backs and the Bucs likely can find a decent back much cheaper than Elliott outside the firsr round.
The three teams Elliott has whittled his list down to, per Schefter, include the Bengals, Eagles and Jets.
March 25th, 2023 at 12:04 am
Well that’s a relief. Its a good thing the cap blocks that signing or else the Bucs would have been all over that.
March 25th, 2023 at 12:22 am
I’m doing my own private happy dance about this news. Time to get on the Devin Achane train (he’s my college choice, 3rd round, runs fast. catches blocks returns plays special teams).
And time for K Vaughn to step forward, man the dude is from Vandy so he’s not an eggplant – he should be able to grow?
Oh, yes. I forgot.
Bloweszo.
March 25th, 2023 at 12:30 am
Younger, cheaper, faster. Elliot doesn’t fit… plus, he’s kind of a d0uche.
March 25th, 2023 at 1:31 am
Elliott is only 27? I couldn’t even imagine losing my get up and go with my hair on fire at 27…. ooof.
And Goat farmers right about Vaughan. It’s now or never for him. And people KEEP bringing up the name Achane. I’m going to have to check this guy out. The thing is though, if so many here are raving about him it seems others around the league must have noticed as well. Which tells me he’ll go far sooner than we’d like.
If he’s as special as many are saying then we’ll have to be aggressive to get him.
March 25th, 2023 at 1:33 am
Btw, why is my comments always in moderation? Wth? CLEARLY I’m a real bad apple!
I guess.
March 25th, 2023 at 2:11 am
That was never real, just some out of market media people writing football Fan Fiction to make a deadline. EE and Playoff Lenny are basically the same dude. If you actually follow the Bucs it’s clear they’re making moves to get younger.
March 25th, 2023 at 2:12 am
Whatever we do we should not spend much more than the veteran minimum on a running back or draft one.
March 25th, 2023 at 2:33 am
Pretty silly chasing unfounded rumors like this.
March 25th, 2023 at 2:49 am
Obv — goatfarmer jr brought this man to my attention, his bud went to T A&M and we don’t like them at all — and still, this dude made us fall in love with him. So, yeah, maybe gone and anyway trenches trenches trenches — but if he’s there and he fits with the board, would be fun.
March 25th, 2023 at 3:27 am
Elliot is toast. If the Bengals sign him, they will be making an expensive mistake. Even Ronald Jones would have been a better signing at this point. Bucs need to be building in the trenches and finding a decent veteran kicker.
March 25th, 2023 at 5:59 am
We were very slow last year. Adding Elliot would make us slower. I agree we should draft an RB who has really great speed. None of the guys on the roster are really fast and it would be great to see some 20 yard gains again.
March 25th, 2023 at 6:27 am
Eliot might be out of football.
March 25th, 2023 at 6:28 am
He got a few good paydays. Hope he saved his money
March 25th, 2023 at 6:46 am
I don’t get the love affair a lot of these players have with the Jets. Seems like a crappy team in a city that is not nearly as cool as it once was and the relentless media scrutiny. I dunno.
March 25th, 2023 at 6:51 am
Good news. I was having Charlie Garner flashbacks.
March 25th, 2023 at 6:56 am
Until we fix the O-line, I don’t even want to think of any RB or other O positions! Fix the darn line!
March 25th, 2023 at 7:03 am
Forget running backs Packers want a first round pick for Karen Rodgers pick up the phone Licht jets don’t want to give up a 1st round nail free agency to hell with the toad. #19 for Rodgers we are relevant again!
March 25th, 2023 at 7:20 am
Keshawn Vaughn hasn’t proved anything since being drafted. He don’t appear to be motivated. He tends to go into shut down mode when things don’t go well for him or he make a bad play. We need team players doing good n bad times n he don’t seem to fit that mode.
March 25th, 2023 at 7:23 am
Vaughn is just like Trask they are in the Bucs doghouse where there is no escape. Not enough reps!
March 25th, 2023 at 7:46 am
Murphy Bunting has signed with the Tennessee Titans. Good riddance chump.
March 25th, 2023 at 7:53 am
Pass on Elliott he is done
March 25th, 2023 at 7:56 am
RBs on Hand:
-Rachaad White
-Keshawn Vaughn
-Chase Edmonds
-Patrick “The Intern” Laird
Edmonds appears to be Gio Bernards replacement with a comparable skill set, but 5 years younger. Laird is a waiver wire pick up from last preseason. Vaugh has been a 3rd option since he was drafted and hasn’t played much. White is going into year 2 looking to build on his rookie season.
Don’t see us taking an RB earlier than day 2, but picking up a developmental RB like Rasheen Ali out of Marshall or Evan Hull from Northwestern would be solid additions to the RB room without passing on value at other positions w/less personnel(IDL/LB/TE) in an earlier round.
March 25th, 2023 at 8:22 am
Draft the rb from Kansas state he’s a Darren spelled clone. Gonna be electric
March 25th, 2023 at 8:47 am
Edmonds wasted sign cheap no production.
March 25th, 2023 at 9:10 am
Being an A&M fan, I would LOVE if Bucs got Achane in 2nd/3rd round as I feel he would be an amazing 1-2 punch with White AND he can be a dynamic kick returner…
March 25th, 2023 at 9:26 am
I am certain Zeke will never sign here. Why? We don’t have a big Salvation Army bucket for him to jump into. It’s simple, really. LOL.
March 25th, 2023 at 9:42 am
Stay the course Jason Licht. Sign no overhyped overpriced retreads. covet thy own players if warranted. After the draft, if a hole or two needs a plug it may happen but until then…NO.
March 25th, 2023 at 9:45 am
Allbuccedup where we getting 50 mil to pay Karen?
March 25th, 2023 at 10:03 am
I love that the Bucs are relevant again. It’s nice to follow a team where we as fans can believe that this is the year! The talent we have gives us a 10 year championship window that we can enjoy.
March 25th, 2023 at 10:31 am
R0n@Tampa Says:
March 25th, 2023 at 10:03 am
Put down the methpipe dude.You might wanna temper the enthusiasm a little and prepare for a challenging year. Join us on planet earth.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:01 am
few negative fans out there. Not real fans however, ignore the negativity. real fans believe in their team.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:53 am
I agree, build the trenches and find a Kicker
March 25th, 2023 at 4:57 pm
RUNNING BACK???? We have three on the roster. TRY OL …
OFFENSIVE LINE
LT – NONE
LG – NONE
RG – NONE
(Hainsey, Goedeke, Stinnie, Leverett are not starters. You can get away with one but not three)
Licht loves doubling up in the draft. I expect the Bucs to select 4xOL. Draft these boys and holes will be there for any running back.
Dawand Jones – R1
Steve Avila – R3
Andrew Vorhees – R5
Antonio Mafi – R6
That leaves 5 picks for OLB, S, CB, RB, WR
March 25th, 2023 at 7:11 pm
@SlyPirate,
Like it or not, Hainsey and Goedeke are starters this year. Sorry you’re impatient with young players. Unless they draft another guard on day 1 or 2, those guys are your starting guards. There’s no money for a free agent upgrade. They drafted those guys for a reason and all indications are that they view those guys as the future on the O-line.
March 25th, 2023 at 7:14 pm
R0n@Tampa Says:
March 25th, 2023 at 11:01 am
I’m not a negative fan. I’m an optimistic realist. I’m just not delusional and I have expectations that correspond to reality. You sound like you’re in 5th grade.
March 25th, 2023 at 10:22 pm
sign Ghoulston and Nassib and stop this insanity
March 25th, 2023 at 11:40 pm
you are a fake fan.Probably a aints fan. I am a real fan. My beliefs is shared by many Buc fans.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:55 pm
Personally, it’s the Super Bowl if Trask gets given the starting QB job. It’s last place if he doesn’t.
Trask to the Putrid!
March 26th, 2023 at 2:38 am
My crystal ball told me this was BS before Schefter’s did. Come on people a bit of sound reasoning and there you have it!