Pending Physical, Carl Nicks Is A Buccaneer
March 14th, 2012
If the Bucs don’t have the best offensive line next year, Tampa Bay should have the most expensive.
The Bucs didn’t let Carl Nicks out of their grasp once he touched down at Tampa International Airport late last night and got their new left guard.
Nicks, per SiriusXM NFL Radio and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, will sign his contract with the Bucs today, once doctors give the thumbs-up on his physical this morning.
Beware the rubber glove, man.
On one hand Joe is sort of excited because the Bucs, barring injuries, should have zero excuse for not using their running backs. On the other hand, Nicks is a luxury. It wasn’t like the Bucs had a terrible offensive line last year.
The Bucs sorely need linebacker help, specifically in the middle. Now that Jeremy Zuttah will move to center and Jeff Faine’s contract will go bye-bye, could that money be used to lure a Curtis Lofton or a Stephen Tulloch to One Buc Place?
Surely, unless he restructures his contract, Faine has played his last snap for the Bucs.
SiriusXM NFL Radio is reporting Nicks will be the highest paid guard in the NFL in both guaranteed money and average cash per year. BSPN says it’s a five-year, $47.5 million deal. Co-host of The Opening Drive, former NFL defensive back Solomon Wilcots, believes the Bucs have evaluated their team and detertmined they can best help their porous defense by crafting a dominating running game.
Wilcots and Ross Tucker believe the table is now set to draft Trent Richardson.
For those unfamiliar with Nicks’ measurements, he checks in at 6-5, 343 pounds, complete with “sweet feet,” as the NFL Radio analysts have been raving about all month.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:18 am
so we signed carl nicks and eric wright and dav orvloski today great day
March 14th, 2012 at 10:19 am
BOOM! Time for the Glazers are cheap crowd to Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Enjoy it Bucs fans we are starting are way back to the top.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:21 am
Great moves so far keep it up bucs.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Were “going all Danny Snyder” and playing some “fantasy football” and “spending like drunken sailors”!
Totally unlike the Packers and Steelers!
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 14th, 2012 at 10:22 am
WOW !!!!! where the haters at?
I heard they are after LOFTEN next? ROCK STAR AIN’T PLAYIN
March 14th, 2012 at 10:23 am
This is just flat out silly!!
March 14th, 2012 at 10:23 am
They didn’t get this beast to pass block
March 14th, 2012 at 10:24 am
Yeah .. I undertsand what Schiano meant now …
“We will spend responsibly” = “We will only spend our money on Pro Bowlers” lol
March 14th, 2012 at 10:25 am
25% of our cap on our offensive line! LOL. It’s all about 5.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Dan Orlovsky…WHAT!!! Youve got to be kidding!! How embarrasing!!!
March 14th, 2012 at 10:26 am
*Faine not included
March 14th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Hold on now. I am elated with the signing. But, that doesn’t mean that they have not been cheap for years, until right now.
That would be like the government of Sudan finally feeding their starving people, then boasting about it.
It’s their fault that the team is so epically thin across all positions in the first place.
I hope the non cheapness continues on, year after year. Just stay in the middle tier of spending. No one ever expected the Redskins salaries.
As for Nicks, great way to improve the team and hurt the Saints.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:27 am
@ phenom……hope ur being funny
March 14th, 2012 at 10:29 am
@ raphael
“Multiple internet reports have the Bucs signing QB Dan Orlovsky, but neither the team nor the agent have confirmed the deal yet.”
-Roy Cummings
March 14th, 2012 at 10:30 am
Now I know how Skins fans feel. It’s great to be the March Champions.
Still think there’s a linebacker left, or they will double up there in the draft.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:30 am
Who’s eating crow? This guy. Great stuff.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Extremely happy can everyone please applaud our entire Buc Staff. They heard us and they delivered.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:33 am
“…and with the 5th selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select — Trent Richardson from the University of Alabama…”
🙂
March 14th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Didn’t QB Dan Orlovsky play pretty decent in 2 games last year for the colts?
March 14th, 2012 at 10:35 am
I suppose Faine will be released today as well.
@Joe
If you really think our oline played well last year you were watching the cheerleaders too much. It downright sucked.
We need competition at tackle still, or good blockers on the edges (TEs or FBs).
I LOVE THIS SIGNING!
Sullivan must be chomping at the bit right now.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Man, I am about to leave work and have a drink…at 9:30am!!!! I love it!
March 14th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Orlovsky, of running out of his own endzone fame, Orlovsky? Eh, could be worse, I suppose. Can’t spend it all everywhere. I guess that’s a good reason to load up on the line to keep Freeman healthy.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:37 am
$47 million…
…it was even more than we debated last night.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:37 am
He signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent on July 30, 2011. He was one of the final cuts as NFL teams trimmed their rosters to 53. The Colts later resigned Orlovsky on September 27, 2011. He was named the starter over the benched Curtis Painter on November 30, 2011. The next week, Orlovsky went on to complete 30 of 37 passes, with 353 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, for a total passer rating of 113.1 in his first start as a Colt against the New England Patriots, in a close 31-24 loss
March 14th, 2012 at 10:37 am
So, we’ve done a ton here in 2 days. What are everyone’s thoughts on maybe bringing in 1 more corner. The ‘boys just released Terence Newman. I know hes not a shutdown corner by any stretch, but adding him to a group of Talib, Wright, and possibly Barber….wouldnt that send our backs from a weakness to an absolute strength?
March 14th, 2012 at 10:38 am
Nighty night, Jeff Faine!!!
March 14th, 2012 at 10:38 am
I wouldn’t mind Orlovsky. He has experience and would be a backup QB. Save the money for other players. We also have Rudy Carpenter whom we gave good money to stay on the practice squad
March 14th, 2012 at 10:39 am
On December 18, 2011, Orlovsky and the Colts won their first game of the season (after starting 0-13) against the Titans. Coincidentally, the last time the Colts won was also against the Titans in January of the previous season. This was Orlovsky’s first official win as a starter in the NFL. On December 22, 2011, Orlovsky led the Colts on a 12 play, 78 yard drive in a comeback victory over the 10-4 Houston Texans with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:39 am
I love now the Richardson folks think he’s a done deal to come here. If anything I think we are more apt to draft Claiborne now more then ever. We’ll pick up a speed back Lamar Miller or the oregon kid in the 2nd or 3rd, now that we have a stud O-line. I could even see Dominik going Blackmon & trying to give Freeman an “elite” passing attack. Stay away from Richardson.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:39 am
LB and Safety would be nice.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:41 am
Thank you Jeff Faine for your services but I’m afraid its time to go.
No time to celebrate….Up next Mr. Lofton….come on down. We would love to have you.
B2 come on down. We would love to have you.
Mr. Carr come on down. One more corner. We would love to have you.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:42 am
Really impressive haul for the offense!
March 14th, 2012 at 10:42 am
………Phenom4498 is now swinging from the ceiling fan with the embarrasing new of the potential signing of Dan Orlovski
March 14th, 2012 at 10:42 am
Orlovsky is a fine back up..I heard it was a 1 year deal.He has won more games than Josh Johnson. say goodbye to Josh and Faine.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:44 am
Just say no to Trent Richardson.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:44 am
@phenom thats all you got? Orlovsky? no comments on Nicks or Jackson ?
March 14th, 2012 at 10:46 am
JasonLaCanfora: Eric Wright did well in TB. 5 yrs $37.5M w/$15.5M guaranteed fully for skill/injury/cap at the time of signing
March 14th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Im just going by what has been said on here…..frankly even the thought of it makes me wanna vomit
March 14th, 2012 at 10:46 am
We were cheap for years for a reason. We signed guys during the Gruden era who were 30 plus and not many of them worked out. Those that did did not last for long and those that didn’t put us in serious trouble with the cap. The Glazers had a plan when they hired Dom and Raheem, and Dom stuck to that plan. The plan was to gut the organization and start over again by drafting a young, core group of players. We now have that young core group of players in Freeman, Williams, Blount, Oline, Dline, Mason Foster, Talib Barth, Keonen, and a few others. Dom is simply complimenting this young core group of players, and he is going all out. Nicks solid ALL PRO not just pro bowl guard is going to be great. Jackson Proven playmaker and is exactly what we need. Wright, solid number 2 corner probably, nothing special but seems like he knows how to tackle with having 60 to 70 tackles every year of his career. Lets keep rolling and get us a linebacker, and some dline, safety depth and Rb depth.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:47 am
I’m so excited about this signing. It begins and ends in the trenches.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:47 am
So now we have an elite left guard, an above average left tackle, an above average center, an above average right guard, and one of the worst RTs. Looks like we will be running left a lot.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Wright gets 5 years, $37m…Dominick better start staggering the length of contracts.
Was Wright worth $37m? The devil is in the details.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:48 am
I am under the impression that they appeared cheap because of all the money they owed Chucky and Bruce Allen. Now that they are paid up, that money is free to go after quality players.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:50 am
Not impressed with that Wright contract at all, I think that was a mistake. I’m happy enough with Jackson and Nicks though, that’s for damn sure.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:50 am
@ Matthew
” If anything I think we are more apt to draft Claiborne now more then ever.”
Quite the contrary Matthew. Before the Wright signing, it was more like 70/30 Claiborne over Richardson because we needed at least 1 CB. Now that need has been lessened so we can focus more on getting the best player available so it’s more 50/50 as to whom we will draft.
“We’ll pick up a speed back Lamar Miller or the oregon kid in the 2nd or 3rd, now that we have a stud O-line.”
Or we could pick up any one of the 1st round graded corners at the top of the 2nd round with the 37th overall pick while still upgrading our rushing attack with an explosive and potentially elite back in T-Rich.
“I could even see Dominik going Blackmon & trying to give Freeman an “elite” passing attack.”
That’s possibly the silliest thing I’ve ever read! Good one lol
March 14th, 2012 at 10:50 am
Per BSPN
“Jackson was perhaps the top receiver in free agency. But Nicks is pretty much the unquestioned best guard in the NFL.
He’s going to give Freeman plenty of time to find targets downfield. Nicks is dominating as a pass blocker. He’s also dominant as a run blocker – the Saints averaged more than six yards per carry when running to Nicks’ side last season.
With Nicks and Davin Joseph the Bucs now have two of the NFC’s Pro Bowl guards from last season. “
March 14th, 2012 at 10:50 am
Wow. At first glabce that seems like a huge reach for Wright given his inconsistent production……. cough, cough, Quincy Black, cough cough.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Bucsfan47-
In the grand scheme of things the money owed to Gruden was miniscule.
I think the Glazers, like any good business men, were skittish about spending freely before the new CBA was signed and the rules of engagement became clear. Just my theory
March 14th, 2012 at 10:51 am
You know, one benefit of this spending is the Pro Bowl…which is a popularity contest. Both Nicks and Jackson will have people at least considering the Bucs more.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:53 am
I don’t think this means we are going after Trent Richardson at all. I think this means we are going CB in the first round and possibly in the second round also. We will pick up either Doug Martin or LaMichael James for a 2nd RB and we will probably keep Madu and Lumpkin as backup. I’m not ruling out Richardson if Claiborne is off of the board but if Claiborne is there at #5 I’m betting we take him over Richardson.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:54 am
I still think that whomever wins the Manning sweepstakes will want a toy for him to throw too. Who better than Blackmon? That same team will deal with us (for quite the booty) for the #5 pic.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:54 am
Pro Bowls are popularity contests for fans first and foremost. They are not by any means a quality mark of production.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:57 am
With a name like “sensible” you’d think you’d make more sense. Laughing at taking Blackmon is just absurd. Two dynamic WRs (ala NYGs, GB, NO) ect. one being on the Rookie scale, if this is laughable to you then I don’t know if you understand football.
We need speed at RB not another 25 carries pounding RB. I don’t like the Richardson pick but I’d never call it “laughable.”
Get a clue or watch a game.
The pick is still Claiborne because we don’t have a true #1 CB, Wright is a starter/depth. However, Blackmon isn’t a crazy idea & would be a really interesting scenario forcing teams to choose who they single cover Vjax or Blackmon, with Benn/Williams/Briscoe/Parker all competing for the slot WR position/playing time.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:58 am
@Have A Nice…yeah but when was the last time you saw a player that sucked during the season play in the Pro Bowl? Popularity contest or not the game is played by some of the best in the league at the time.
March 14th, 2012 at 10:58 am
I am under the impression that Nicks(the best pass blocking guard in the NFL) and Jackson(arguably the best deep threat in the NFL) is a stamp that the Bucs will be a deep passing team. Makes me think less and less that Richardson will be drafted.
On the other hand, one could easily make the argument that with all the investment in the offensive line, the Bucs want to become an offense first team that runs as well. This might lead some to think of drafting Richardson but the NFL is moving away from run first teams. I just don’t see this being the case with the way the game is played now and after the investment of a top WR and top pass blocking guard..
March 14th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Id say the Chucky free agents worked swimmingly well in 2002, and a few after also. Dont get the Chucky hatred four years removed.
But, to say this was the “plan” all along is rewriting history.
Surely a ten game losing streak wasnt the point to sign FA to “get us over the top”.
That being said, give the rockstar and Glazer Boys a cigar IMO, brilliant work this off season and it will pay big dividends.
Im thinking wild card game at least.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Richardson again? Yuck! With Nicks in and Faine gone, Blount will be great as will the rookie RB from round 2 (miller, martin, wilson, etc).
The stage is now set for the Bucs to move down in the draft and pick up their MLB for the next 10-15 years, Luke Kuechly. The QB of the defense is there for the taking.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Joe: On the other Hand, Nicks is a luxury
Deeps: Joe, did you watch the Bucs play last year? How bout the last three years? When you can’t even convert a third and one, it isn’t a luxury to go out and sign a guard who won’t get pushed back into the backfield. You win in the trenches. Nicks isn’t a luxury, he is a necessity if you want to play tough, smash-mouth football. Great job Team Glazer, Dominik, and Coach Schiano.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Hope Rockstar is saving room to resign Freeman to an extension now so his price is lower. If we wait til he gets to a Pro Bowl or wins in the playoffs his price will go up.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:07 am
@Scotty
That is a very good point, assuming the team that gets Manning has the picks to trade.
A pick and a Defensive player would be nice.
@Rest
I see zero chance that we go after WR at all in the draft now. Trent Richards…maybe a slightly higher chance than before, but Idoubt that too.
As I’ve been saying FOR MONTHS, free agency is for the oftenest, draft will go on defense.
The thought that free agency is used to add finishing touches is valid still. Our offense was closest to completion. Add a fullback and a blocking tightend and it’s done…behind this line, nearly any RB will be able to run. I say we go cheap free agent for RB depth, or maybe very late draft pick.
In the draft, CB and LB are still a priority…unless we get more defense in FA before then.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:07 am
@Chris FWC I have seen many pro bowl players that I would not consider at the top of the game. Davin Joseph for one. For 2012 alone off the top of my head, Cam Newton, Maurkice Pouncey, Suh, Woodson, Wilfork…. None of those guys were tops in anything this year yet they were in the probowl. Have they been good at other times in their careers? Some of them(Pouncey just isn’t that good). But not deserving of a relevant honor of performance. An honor in a popularity contest, absolutely!
March 14th, 2012 at 11:14 am
@ Matthew
Is Matthew really short for Matt Millen? How many receivers do you want bro LOL!
Our receiving corps is perfect right now as it is. We’ve already got size, speed, possession guys, etc. and you want to blow another 18-20 million on ANOTHER young receiver when we don’t even know what we have in our current crop?
Unlike running backs (who historically come in ready to contribute early) wide receivers take time to develop. Mike Will showed flashes of #1 potential. Benn is a physical specimen and a deep threat. Briscoe catches everything that comes his way. Parker and Stroughter are excellent #5 guys.
Furthermore, follow the money. We’ve got too much money (V Jax contract) and draft picks (2nd, 4th, 7th) already wrapped up in the receiver position. Nearly the same can be said for the cornerback position with Eric Wright receiving #1 cornerback money today. You know how much we have invested in the RB position? $540K lol
Looking like T-Rich to me 🙂
March 14th, 2012 at 11:16 am
“We were cheap for years for a reason.”
To pay off Man U.
“The Glazers had a plan when they hired Dom and Raheem, and Dom stuck to that plan. The plan was to gut the organization and start over again by drafting a young, core group of players”
So, that includes signing no knees Winslow to the largest TE contract in history? And resigning Black and the Clayton (two terrible players), or making offers to Haynesworth and Favre? Lumpkin? How were any of those moves or offers smart?
First five picks of 2009: Freeman, Roy Miller, Kyle Moore, Xavier Fulton, Biggers
First five picks of 2010: McCoy, Price, Benn, Lewis, Williams
Whether by play or injury, the only guy who has shown to have a great future from those drafts is Freeman, and he had a very shaky 2011. Williams is still debatable.
Nothing like revisionist history. I like the new signings, but, you can’t escape history. It is what it is. I hope today ends all those poor decisions.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:18 am
@Have a nice… Do you watch football? Wilfork single handedly made NE’s D play at a better level with him in there. Some games he was unblockable. Cam did great as a rook. Pouncey, when healthy, is one of the best at his position. Davin did a great job this year. I think he could of done better. I still think he played at a ‘pro bowl’ level.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:19 am
Boy oh boy what a way to wake up this am, Go BUCS!!!!!! So buys tickets this year,no do you about that…
March 14th, 2012 at 11:20 am
So buying tickets this year, no doubt about!
March 14th, 2012 at 11:33 am
It’s all coming together! Now we get a MLB and maybe some D-Line depth…then we add Claiborne in round #1 and Lamichael James in round #2…This team WILL be competitive in 2012!!
March 14th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Lofton about to be signed.
http://thepewterplank.com/2012/03/13/buccaneers-sign-curtis-lofton/
March 14th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Yeah, Newton played well, not tops.
Wilfork play well against the run but was god awful when rushing the passer. Wilfork rushed the passer 577 times and racked up only 22 total pressures. third worst in the league from the DT/NT spot.
Pouncey has never played as one of the best in any facet of his game. Certainly not this past season. Dude regularly gets beat against run stop and pass rush. Considering this season he was third in most pressure allowed and most sacks allowed from the Center position, I don’t know how anyone could say what you have.
Davin Joseph did fine against the pass the second half of the season, but was absolutely atrocious in the run all year and that got worse. Just watch the 1st quarter of the Jacksonville game for a solid summary of his run blocking skills this year. Beat on both the Bucs first run attempts which resulted in a fumble and a loss of 2 yards. This has been the case for him for a few years now. I place a lot of blame on Trueblood, but it doesn’t change the fact that he is not consistently run blocking well.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:36 am
@ALSTOTTSMART!…Look nobody has called you stupid yet for being such a negative jerk in the past and saying that the Glazers wouldn’t spend in FA…blah, blah, blah… You were wrong OK? It’s OK to just say “I was wrong” and move on.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:37 am
@Marques…That’s the false report from yesterday. Lofton isn’t signed yet.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:39 am
@Have a Nice Day….That was 98% Trueblood. Joseph was very good this year.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:43 am
My bad Bro
March 14th, 2012 at 11:45 am
well i think bringing in nicks makes it seem pretty obvious we are going with richardson in the draft. best way to beat the high powered offenses in the nfc is ball control and we will have that with blount, richardson 1-2 punch and an offensive line like this. KILL
March 14th, 2012 at 11:48 am
@Bobby I simply disagree. I don’t care what other fans ssays say. No one can show me consistent good play out of him. Everyone says it, but I have never seen it. I can name plenty of bad plays, but rarely is he dominant in the run game. He did have some awesome performances this past season in the pass though. Two games come to mind in which he didn’t allow any pressure at all on Freeman: Against the Bears and the following game against the Saints. He pass blocked amazingly in those two games. Other than that he was pretty average. He never did much good in the run game this past season. Certainly not enough to warrant saying he is one of the best run blocking guards in the NFL.
March 14th, 2012 at 11:50 am
@Bobby
Exactly, specifically, how was I wrong? I said, they have not spent since 2005. I hope they do. But, I’ll believe when I see it. That’s what I said.
Unless you want to go back and rewrite the history books (I’m sure you would love to), I never said anything incorrect. I backed up what I said with facts every single time. Do you do that?
The only thing I ever said that was incorrect was on the signing of Nugent. I said it was a draft pick. It was however, a wasted signing by Dominick.
Go ahead, show me what I said that wasn’t true. I’ll be refreshing in anticipation.
March 14th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Just saw Brandon Jacobs is a FA… He would be a Great signing! This Offense would certainly be feared! Also another Championship winning leader.
March 14th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
@Booby
So, no?
March 14th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
To all the folks saying we should trade down, thats great, but there has to be somebody willing to make that trade with us….the only player that may be moving up to draft is the QB Tannehill, dont know if a team will find him worthy at #5.
My two cents……Claiborne or Richardson at number #5, the thing we dont know is which player the Bucs have listed higher on their board. We are a young team that needs impact players across the board, if we reach for need instead of whoever we have rated higher, that would be a mistake.
I truly believe that Richardson is an instant upgrade over Blount, he does everything Blount does only better, plus, he does everything else that Blount doesnt do as well…win win.
Claiborne maybe the highest rated defensive player in the draft, he would also upgrade our defensive backfield, again, do the Bucs have him graded out higher then T Rich…I guess we will see, either way we will be getting an impact player.
Great job Bucs….youve put our team back on the map….get us a good quality LB now.
March 14th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Thank you! Mr. Wilcots , You see the light…Run the ball and run it at the best level in the NFL, use up the clock to keep the Defense off the field and rested. A rested D can more readily attack the Quarterback. Isn’t that really your best defense? Mr. Richardson, Mr. Blount just run the ball baby…