Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially sign Joseph, Trueblood, Black and Restricted Free Agents

by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 6:50 PM EDT

As 6 p.m. has passed, the free agency market is now officially open and unrestricted free agents can finally sign contracts. Quincy Black, Davin Joseph and Jeremy Trueblood all officially signed their contracts. Michael Koenen has not signed his contract yet, although that should not pose a problem.

These four veteran unrestricted free agents cannot practice with the team until the new CBA is ratified by the NFLPA, which should be done by August 4. Until that time, they'll have to wait and do nothing.

In addition, the Buccaneers reported that Connor Barth, Micheal Spurlock, Rudy Carpenter and Elbert Mack all signed their tenders, and they are expecting more players to sign their tenders soon. In addition to the four already named, the Buccaneers had extended tenders to restricted free agents Corey Lynch, James Lee and Frank Okam. They presumably also extended offers to exclusive-rights free agents Michael Bennett and Demar Dotson, as Rudy Carpenter was an exclusive-rights free agent.

Of these players, only James Lee, the projected starter at right tackle, is likely to earn a longer-term contract extension.

UPDATE: James Lee just tweeted he signed.

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Ruud

I wonder how Rudd feels now that he’s not receiving any attention as a Free Agent. Media hasn’t even mentioned him

by The_Waterboy_La on Jul 29, 2011 6:57 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

He'll be fine

He’ll go somewhere, get a good offer and play well

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

You think Mckenzie or Foster will start at MLB

by The_Waterboy_La on Jul 29, 2011 7:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I say Foster will be the eventual starter

Because draft picks have a leg up with coaches and front offices, and he has a lot of talent. But McKenzie is taking first team reps, and he could start early in the season if Foster doesn’t know the defense.

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Foster probably wont be the starter this season unless McKenzie is hurt or he just outperforms McKenzie. Foster will have to learn the defense and as the MLB he will have to know the whole playbook and make sure everyone is at since MLB is the leader of the defense.

by Gage Tyler Bain on Jul 29, 2011 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

Whats the deal with James Lee

Can another team snag him, and if so what happens if we lose him?

by aakks on Jul 29, 2011 7:35 PM EDT reply actions

Bucs get an option to match the contract, if they decline they get a second-round pick

No reason to believe that will happen, at all.

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah, looks like he just signed

So much for that.

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I should have waited 5 minutes on my question

haha

by aakks on Jul 29, 2011 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, you should have.

Am I going MAD, or did the word "think" escape your lips?

by Kilgore on Jul 29, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

why...

did our team have to make the dumbest signing in FA history? seriously a punter for 19.5million over 6 years? thats just… odsijfposidjpfoi

by Gage Tyler Bain on Jul 29, 2011 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

Perfectly reasonable

$3 million per year for a top-notch punter who will also handle kickoffs. Some other teams sign guys just to do kickoffs.

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

It may be slightly overpaid

But really, that doesn’t affect anything. It’s still nothing compared to what it takes in to bring in real guys. It doesn’t hurt the Bucs in any way.

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Seriously, I don't get all this overreaction to what amounts to a clear upgrade for the team on what is a deal that won't limit the Bucs in any way

Yeesh, guys

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

my main problem is...

look at where this guy ranks in the punting stats last season. 30th in avg, 28th in net average, though he did good at making the ball inside the 20 ranking 3rd. but still, the kick offs for any kicker should go a little in the endzone now with the kickoff being at the 35 now…. Barth was hitting goal line last year, he could make it at least half way in the endzone now for sure.

by Gage Tyler Bain on Jul 29, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Look at his career instead of just last season

He’s been excellent over his career.

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

And Barth was generally kicking it at the 5-10 yard line

Not at the goalline

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

i went to 2 games last season and he was hitting inside the 5 for most of the kickoffs. and a punter shouldnt be paid that much…. shane lechler is a way better punter and got a 16mil over 4 years deal. this guys shouldnt get close to that. just my opinion. but i guess we needed to fill in the cap somehow.

by Gage Tyler Bain on Jul 29, 2011 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Shane Lechler got equal money per year, and that was 3 years ago

As I’ve said elsewhere, contracts go up every year. $3 million per year is a lot for a punter, but it’s not ridiculous and it certainly isn’t going to affect the bottom line.

Connor Barth’s career average: 61.3. That’s the 9-yard line last year, the 4-yard line now. Koenen’s kickoff average: 65.9. That’s the 4-yard line last year and touchbacks now. Big difference.

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Last year Barth averaged 61.7 yards by the way

Koenen: 67.6

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

oh!

and also his career stats arent too appealing. his highest average was 43.5 back in 07…. while the best punter in the NFL right now has never averaged lower than 42.5 and career avgs 47.3

by Gage Tyler Bain on Jul 29, 2011 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

He's been incredibly consistent over his career

And average punt length is heavily influenced by offensive production. Poor offense = punts further away from goalline = no need to try to get it inside 20. Koenen’s been very good at inside 20. Plus, that stat ignores hangtime, which is a lot more important than length.

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Tennessee Titans after Barrett Ruud

http://ten.247sports.com/Article/The-Tennessee-Titans-are-looking-at-a-LB-Barrett-Ruud-33198

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by Sander on Jul 29, 2011 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

I hope we won't miss him too much

Hopefully Foster won’t crap his pants at anytime this season and Mckenzie can get him acquainted with his priorities on defense. I pray our team defense will be good enough to allow him to make his miscues and learn from them. Hopefully the front office knows what they’re doing letting Ruud go like this, I would’ve loved to see him play around this new talent easing the learning curve

by GoBuxGo on Jul 29, 2011 8:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions