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Helmet hair Mel Kiper, Bucs fan torturer Trent Dilfer and Chris Mortensen sit down to discuss Darrelle Revis in the BSPN video below.
Mortensen counters Dilfer’s heavy praise of Revis with the point that if Revis was such a healthy “gamewrecker” manbeast, he’d have more interest in the market place. The two also discuss whether the Jets are being “held hostage.”
Joe doesn’t hold many draft gurus in high esteem like he does Mike Mayock and Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski. But Russ Lande is a guy Joe likes to keep an eye on.
Lande actually worked in scouting for the Rams and Browns. He’s now in the media and pumps out lots of draft stuff for NationalFootballPost.com.
Lande’s latest first-round mock draft out today has the Bucs taking the first cornerback off the board.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama, Junior: Things did not go as well as planned when the Bucs signed CB Eric Wright a season ago, so now they make the move to upgrade at cornerback. Milliner is a strong, physical corner with the athleticism and speed to excel in man and zone coverage.
Interestingly, Lande has two defensive ends and two defensive tackles — potential Bucs targets in the first round — coming off the board before the Tampa Bay steps up for the 13th overall pick — Bjoern Werner (Jaguars, No. 2), Star Lotulelei (Eagles, No. 4), Ziggy Ansah (Lions, No. 5), Sharrif Floyd (Titans, No. 10).
Joe’s hardly sold that the Bucs draft Milliner, but Joe would hardly moan about that pick. Joe will only moan if the Bucs pick Milliner and Eric Wright is starting opposite him at the other cornerback position.
Hail (no) to the Redskins?
Monday night, Bucs icon Ronde Barber didn’t exactly slam the door on playing anywhere other than Tampa Bay this fall, he seemed to leave the door a wee bit cracked open, though his body language suggested the door will be bolted.
Given that he is still on the open market and he has ties to Redskins secondary coach Raheem Morris, some Redskins fans — desperate for corners like the Bucs — asked “The Professor,” John Clayton of ESPN, if Redskins chieftain Danny Snyder would swoop in and latch on to Barber.
Q: Given that there are some quality veterans that remain on the free-agent market, do you think the Redskins go after Ronde Barber or Charles Woodson? Woodson can still play in the league, and Barber is connected to Raheem Morris. The team currently lacks safety and corner depth with the loss of DeAngelo Hall, who played well down the stretch.
Matt in New York
A: I can’t see Barber playing anywhere but Tampa Bay. Plus, the Bucs have the cap room to pay him $3 million if he decides to continue playing. The Redskins don’t have that cap room. They would be able to offer him or Woodson a minimum benefits contract of around only $1.005 million, and that won’t entice Barber to go to another team. The Bucs have made it clear that they have a spot for Barber if he wants to come back. If Barber is playing football this year, I think he will be playing in Tampa Bay.
Now Joe knows exactly what Bucs fans are about to bang on their keyboard quicker than Joe inhales a cold beer on a hot summer afternoon: “Why can’t the Bucs get Woodson?”
Like Barber, Woodson’s days as a great corner are over. He’s a safety now. And if the Bucs bring back Barber, the team will have a glut of safeties. Besides, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is not inclined to sign outside free agents in the sunset of their careers.
It’s getting obvious that the Bucs covet Eric Wright more so than any free agent cornerback still on the market, such as DeAngelo Hall.
Joe knows Bucs fans repeatedly hit that F5 button while on JoeBucsFan.com because they yearn not just for Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to sign any warm body who plays cornerback but to consummate a trade with the Jets for Darrelle Revis.
Bucs fans may be in for a long wait, per Joe’s various research and sources. And eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune cautions Bucs fans clamoring for a quick fix.
Until the Bucs know whether Revis is theirs, they’re not going to be ultra-aggressive in signing free agent cornerbacks. This process could take awhile.
The evidence reinforces Kaufman’s point. It is clear by now that, more than two weeks after the free agent dinner bell rang, Dominik is not pursuing any free agent corners, at least not full throttle. And, yes, Dominik knows how awful his current crop of corners is. He has publicly stated the group needs an upgrade.
This tells Joe Dominik thinks he can get as good (for the price) or better corners in the draft than what is currently on the street.
This brings Joe to Eric Wright, who Bucs fans want Wright in line applying for unemployment more than they want Dominik to upgrade the corner position.
The fact Wright, after losing his grievance against the Bucs that allows Dominik to cut him and void the second year of his two-year contract, is still on the roster tells Joe Dominik thinks Wright is as good if not better than any corner currently on the free agent market.
So unless Revis lands at One Buc Palace, Joe isn’t seeing Dominik signing a corner before the draft, which is just under a month away.
As Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com wrote yesterday, “It’s really not hard to find a cornerback this year. It’s hard to find a really good one.”
Joe’s not a big numbers guy. Numbers don’t make tackles, run over defenders, pop Adderrall, or roll around big cities packing heat. In short, numbers are boring, unless they involve Rachel Watson’s phone number or Joe’s bank account.
But Joe does understand many fans get off on fantasy football stats and salary cap room.
So with that in mind, Joe hereby delivers the latest from BSPN on how much dough the Bucs can spend in 2013. It’s a lot.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to hold a commanding lead on the rest of the NFC South when it comes to cap space. They’re $27 million under and that could grow by $7.75 million if the team releases cornerback Eric Wright.
Yes, the Bucs still must pay their draft picks, potentially pay Darrelle Revis $6 million or so for 2013, re-sign Ronde Barber and, one would hope, add more depth in free agency along their offensive and defensive lines at least. Plus, some pundits expect the Bucs to extend Mike Williams’ contract and push some of that cash onto this season’s books. And then there’s the whole concept of the Bucs “rolling” extra salary cap room to next season in order to have more flexibility in 2014.
Regardless, the Bucs are free to spend recklessly and/or wisely.
Joe’s getting a real kick out of this waiting game Ronde Barber is playing. Yeah, like Joe’s supposed to believe Barber doesn’t know yet whether he wants to play in his 17th NFL season.
Speaking on NFL Network last night (here’s part of the video), Barber left virtually every door open for himself — including joining a team outside of Tampa — as he takes his sweet time deciding on the contract offer presented to him by the Bucs early this month.
So what’s Barber waiting for?
Joe has to believe Barber wants to know whether the Bucs will guarantee him a starting cornerback job. After all, every decent free agent cornerback is all but guaranteed a starting job before signing on the dotted line. Eric Wright would be an example of that last season. Why wouldn’t Barber, a durable veteran who can still make plays, want the same assurance?
Barber made it quite clear that the Bucs brass advised him they’d be active on the open market trying to upgrade the secondary but they wanted him back regardless.
Joe can’t blame Barber for wanting to see what the regime’s real intentions are before committing, though Joe is a bit surprised Barber’s ego hasn’t already driven him to sign the contract and be confident he can win a starting job.
And that brings Joe to Barber’s motivation. If Barber’s looking to be embraced with a starting gig, perhaps he would actually consider playing for a contender like Atlanta, New Orleans or San Francisco, strong teams in need of cornerback help. That would be a travesty.
After Ronde Barber fielded questions about his future or non-future with the Bucs last night on NFL Network, a pair of stud defensive backs, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and Pro Bowler Ryan Clark, debated the merits of the Bucs coughing up a first- and a second-round pick for Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis in this NFL Network video.
You may be surprised to hear what they have to say and why. Both agree but for far different reasons.
When asked whether any Buccaneers swayed his decision to play in Tampa, new Bucs All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson fingered Mason Foster as a fellow Washington Huskies alumnus he turned to for feedback on the Bucs.
But hold on! Eric Wright wants Bucs fans to know he, too, had a hand in recruiting his “close” friend Goldson. Wright was busy on his website yesterday sucking up to Bucs management sharing his hopes and dreams and feelings on his favorite team.
Things are still very much in the air in regard to my situation with the Bucs. I would like to be back, especially with Dashon Goldson coming in and signing. I want to play with somebody that I consider a brother. I’ve known him for a very long time, and we’re close.
I told him about Tampa. It’s not to say that Tampa didn’t do their job as far as going out and getting him and paying him, and all that stuff. But of course, when he’s going over his options, he’s going to ask me about Tampa. I told him it would be a great place for him to continue his career and continue his success as a football player. And obviously, it would help the team.
Wright went on to say he’s training with Goldson in California, and Wright explains to Bucs fans that he’s been an injured superstar and fans just haven’t seen all he can do yet.
The difference in this game is millimeters and milliseconds. So when you have those little things, nagging injuries, things change and you have to make different decisions. This year I expect to play with a lot more bounce, a lot more energy, look a lot more youthful.
That’s what they brought me in for, and frankly, that’s what I know I can do. They brought me in because they know I can do it, and I hope they still have that confidence in me. I would like to be back, and will continue to express that until something happens where I’m not a Buccaneer.
Click through above for the rest of the comedy show.
Joe’s no fan of Wright. He let down his team in multiple ways. If Wright returns, Joe will be dumbfounded. There’s just no way the Bucs’ intense evaluation and scrutiny of the cornerbacks market could lead them back to Wright.
The favorite topic among Bucs fans is Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Will he or won’t he? To be more accurate, will Jets general manager John Idzik succumb to pressure from Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik or will he waffle and not get anything for Revis?
The second favorite subject is, of course, Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman. Joe’s good friend “The Commish,” Justin Pawlowski of WHFS-FM 98.7, told Joe how he read a text on-air from a listener about trading Freeman for a first-round pick and the station phone banks lit up full the rest of the show, and “The Commish” never once gave his opinion on the matter.
Freeman’s name came up with Bucs great Ronde Barber during Monday night’s broadcast of “Total Access” seen on NFL Network, as documented by Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.
“I think Coach (Greg Schiano) wants to find out if Josh is the guy because Josh shows moments of complete brilliance,” Barber said. “Yet he gives you the moments where you’re scratching your head as well. It’s kind of reflective of our season and as a whole last year.
“Coach Schiano did not draft him, even though (general manager) Mark (Dominik)’s married to him because he was with him when (former Bucs coach) Raheem (Morris) drafted him. But you have to believe that Josh Freeman is our franchise quarterback. He fits the build. He has the arm. He understands the mechanics of the game. Like I said, when he’s good, he’s really, really good. We just need him to be that player with more consistency.”
Will Freeman play for his job next season? “I would imagine so,” Barber replied. “That’s just the nature of football. (When) you have a new coach, which we had last year, you’re proving yourself to him, and Josh has to do that.”
Interesting that Barber talks about Freeman much like others do outside the organization. There are times when Freeman absolutely makes your jaw drop. The end of the Carolina game at Charlotte and the final game of the season at Atlanta spring to mind.
But then there are the bad games. The four picks against the NFL’s worst defense (New Orleans) and the epic meltdowns at Jacksonville and Atlanta in 2011. Then there are the mostly erratic short throws.
Looking ahead to September, Bucs fans would not be wrong to call 2013 “The Year Of Freeman.” If he has a fantastic season like in 2010, he’s here for another big contract. If he struggles again, who knows what happens?
Many Bucs fans are just slightly less angered than a hornet whose nest was destroyed at the thought of the Bucs not upgrading the cornerback slot prior to the draft.
Yes, the Bucs may or may not trade for Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Yes, the Bucs may or may not draft a cornerback in the first or second round. This doesn’t matter to hyper, frustrated if not impatient Bucs fans who demanding Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik sign someone, anyone, even though they may not be an upgrade in any way to current projected starters Danny Gorrer and Eric Wright.
These same fans want a signing like yesterday.
But it likely won’t be Brent Grimes, claims Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. It seems Dominik (and thus far, 31 other teams) have turned their nose up on Grimes.
@NFLSTROUD: Doesn’t look as though CB Brent Grimes is going to be a Buccaneer, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. Miami or Cleve?
Based on why Dominik let sack leader Michael Bennett walk (he’s damaged goods), Joe believes there is a reason Dominik hasn’t made a move for a corner yet. Given there are so many corners walking the streets right now begging for a contract, it seems to reinforce whatever motivation (or lack thereof) Dominik has to signing a corner.
If Jets general manager John Idzik doesn’t get off his throne, Dominik’s liable to draft a corner in the first and second rounds and his laughing at Idzik would be heard all the way to Bradenton.
Ronde Barber spoke about his future live on NFL Network Monday evening.
Bucs great Ronde Barber appeared live in studio tonight as a guest analyst for “Total Access” on NFL Network, and while the soon-to-be 38-year old noted (as if anyone didn’t know) that he met with Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and coach Greg Schiano, Barber admits he has yet to make up his mind on a return to the Bucs.
Andrew Siciliano: Let’s talk about you.
Ronde Barber: What about me?
Siciliano: You are going to be 38.
Barber: I’m going to be a young 38 like I told you earlier.
Sicilians: Will you be back for a 17th season?
Barber: (Smiles) Perhaps.
Siciliano: Maybe?
Barber: I have not made a decision yet.
Siciliano: Why not?
Barber: [The Bucs] have allowed me not to rush the decision, so I’m not going to rush it.
Siciliano: When is it going to come?
Barber: I wish I could tell you.
Siciliano: Will you play for someone other than the Buccaneers?
Barber: I have had that option a couple of times before. I have been a free agent the past couple of years. We’ve had an understanding that I would always be back in Tampa.
Siciliano: So that is a “no?”
Barber: That’s basically a “no.”
Siciliano: So that’s definitely a “no?”
Barber: It’s basically a “no.”
Siciliano: Well, they signed Dashon Goldson.
Barber: He’s a pretty good player.
Siciliano: He plays your position.
Barber: He does.
Siciliano: OK, does that affect your position?
Barber: No. When I met with Mark and Coach Schiano and we had this discussion. I knew they were going to be active in free agency. This is the same discussion I had with them last year when they told me they were going to go out and get a corner in free agency which may necessitate a position change or a role change for me. I had a similar conversation [with Dominik and Schiano] this year.
Siciliano: Would you accept less playing time because you can assume if they are giving Dashon Goldson all of that money you would be playing less?
Barber: That was addressed as well.
Siciliano: OK…
Barber: Those are the types of things [the Bucs] are allowing me to weigh.
Siciliano: So what will it come down to?
Barber: Probably gut feeling and that’s what it was last year. I’m pretty non-committal, aren’t I?
Siciliano: You did a good job.
Former Bucs tight end Kellen Winslow may have been up Josh Freeman’s ass demanding the football, but he clearly isn’t as passionate about telling his wife they’re hiring a moving company.
Back in 2009, Winslow was a late arrival to the his new Bucs teammates because he was too busy fiddling with bubble-wrap, packing tape and Styrofoam peanuts. This morning, Winslow explained to NFL Network that he quit the Patriots after one game last season, in part, because he was too busy moving again.
In the interview (linked above), Winslow also explains his extreme passion for playing techno DJ, something that was more important to him than putting his “toes on the line” under the New Schiano Order.
The Raiders, Browns and Panthers, Winslow revealed, have all shown interest in his services for 2013.
It’s interesting that Oakland, with Benn’d around architect Greg Olson as their new offensive coordinator, is sniffing Winslow, but Joe would love to see Winslow land with Carolina. The thought of Winslow in the sights of Dashon Goldson or Mark Barron is making Joe’s day.
Though the tone has died down a bit since it was learned why Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik let last year’s Bucs sacks leader Michael Bennett walk away, Bucs fans are still irritated Dominik hasn’t pulled a federal government and gone wild with Team Glazer’s American Express card.
Specifially, Bucs fans are angered Dominik hasn’t signed a cornerback — any cornerback with a pulse — who fans believe would be a significant improvement over projected starters Danny Gorrer and Eric Wright.
Even Joe’s good friend “The Commish,” Justin Pawlowski, of WHFS-FM 98.7 can feel the tension in the air.
Yes, the Bucs made a big splash with the signing of Dashon Goldson at safety, but Bucs fans want more.
Sure, the Bucs made under-the-radar signings of Kevin Ogletree as a slot receiver, Tom Crabtree at tight end, and Jonathan Casillas at outside linebacker, but Bucs fans still want more…and why shouldn’t they?
The Buccaneers still have holes at the biggest need areas on their team even after 2 weeks of free agency. While we’ve mentioned cornerback, the Bucs defensive line lacks any depth, they have no right tackle, and a threat across the middle of the field on offense is still uncertain.
Joe will have more tomorrow on why Dominik possibly has been quiet of late, but let’s look at the obvious, shall we?
Yes, Joe knows Dominik hasn’t signed Brent Grimes, although there are/were rumors Dominik might be interested. Please note that 31 other teams seem to be looking the other way on Grimes, including his former team looking to return to the NFC Championship, the Dixie Chicks.
If Grimes is still a valuable commodity, like he was before he blew his Achilles tendon, wouldn’t the Dixie Chicks have already locked him up? As the old (?) NFL saying goes, “If they want you, they’ll find a way to keep you.”
While Joe wouldn’t mind the Bucs taking a stab at Grimes — hell, Lakewood High School’s cornerbacks might be an upgrade — there seems to be a reason why he’s still looking for work.
Who needs Nostradamus when popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve Peter King is in the house?
King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, has penned today in his weekly must-read Monday Morning Quarterback column that he’s confident Bucs-cornerback-in-waiting Darrelle Revis lands with Tampa Bay before the NFL Draft kicks off only one month from today.
3. I think I still wouldn’t trade Darrelle Revis if I were the Jets. And I think New York GM John Idzik will try to find a way to not trade Revis. But in the end, I believe he’ll go to Tampa Bay for two high draft choices sometime before draft day.
Joe can’t exactly take King’s prediction to the bank. As Joe’s written previously, there are financial incentives for the Jets to trade Revis after June 1, and a later trade date also would afford the Bucs a clearer medical picture of Revis. A better understanding of Revis’ recovery from his ACL surgery also would give the Jets more leverage and perhaps make the Bucs more eager to mortgage their future.
It’s just premature to expect the Revis soap opera to end before the 2013 draft. But it’s not premature to hope/pray/expect the Bucs to add quality bodies at cornerback before the draft.
But Joe’s now wondering whether Team Glazer will exercise executive powers and order rockstar general manager Mark Dominik to rid the Bucs of Wright because Wright is not the new breed of Buccaneer Man.
Speaking to Tampa Tribune veteran eye-RAH! Kaufman at the NFL owners meetings, Joel Glazer explained that the Bucs have little tolerance for those of questionable character.
Q: The Bucs have had their share of off-field incidents in recent years. With all the talk about character, does the franchise have to do even more due diligence in researching players?
A: That’s a tremendous focus for us and nothing disturbs us more than an incident with a player. It puts a bad shine on the organization. It’s not good for the player and our tolerance has definitely gotten shorter. We just can’t tolerate role models not upholding the highest character of our community.
Hmm, has Wright upheld the highest character of our community?
Look Joe’s not expecting a bunch of choir boys on the Bucs. Hell, DaQuan Bowers is a real-life choir boy, and he’s rolling around packing heat in the wrong places.
But Joe’s not feeling anything good from Wright. He’s overpaid, underperforming, banged up, and the Bucs have the chance to cut him without financial consequence and sign one of several other cornerbacks on the market. It should be an easy decision.
It appears the Bucs, as we currently stand on the final Monday of March 2013, are so devoid of talent at cornerback that fan favorite Myron Lewis will be granted yet another shot to produce.
Lewis, a third round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2010, more often than not finds himself on the inactive list due to some malady than he finds himself on a football field. Judging by his first three seasons in the NFL, that’s been a blessing in disguise for the Bucs.
Joe thought it was telling that the Bucs pulled in bank tellers and insurance salesmen and beer truck drivers to play at cornerback last year while Myron Lewis watched the parade of cornerbacks from the sidelines.
In an extraordinary detailed surgery of Lewis by Pewter Report honcho Scott Reynolds, he documents the many reasons why Bucs fans shake their heads when Lewis’ name is mentioned, and more importantly, why the Bucs are giving him yet another shot and has yet to be handed a pink slip.
There are several reasons. First, the Bucs are desperate at the cornerback position. They need to be adding young, talented cornerbacks – not losing them. Lewis is young (he’ll only turn 26 on November 24) and he has talent. What he appears to be lacking is toughness – mental and physical – and confidence. Lewis missing the 2011 season opener against Detroit with a mild ankle sprain – after missing two preseason games a few weeks earlier with a hamstring injury – is one instance that stands out.
The second reason why he’s still in Tampa Bay is Lewis’ size. Schiano and the front office like big cornerbacks and at 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, Lewis is blessed with length and great athleticism. There isn’t a cornerback with Lewis’ size in the 2013 draft aside from North Carolina State’s David Amerson, whom the Bucs aren’t considering drafting because of his bad character.
The final reason why Lewis is getting a final shot to live up to his draft billing in Tampa Bay is because he received poor coaching last year. Not just Lewis – every Bucs cornerback did. Schiano took a chance on former LSU secondary coach Ron Cooper and the move turned out to be a mistake as Cooper was often too quiet and not assertive enough, especially on the sidelines on game days when it came to coaching up technique and relaying adjustments to his defensive backs.
The article is damning to Lewis and Joe strongly recommends clicking the link.
Look, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is no different than any other general manager in an NFL front office, in that Dominik will give players he drafted plenty of opportunities to develop until said player proves to be more of an Albatross than the team can handle.
Thus far, as most Bucs fans know and as Reynolds documents, Lewis, with all the rope Dominik has granted him, has done his best to hang himself. Quickly, aside from two or three plays in a training camp practice, name a play that Lewis has made in his three years in the NFL. On the other hand, Joe can name several in which Lewis was roasted by opposing quarterbacks and receivers — badly.
Joe is going to guess that new cornerbacks coach Tony Oden won’t be granting Lewis any favors just because he was a third round draft pick.
