Is Benn a Has Been?

Before everyone jumps all over this, Arrelious Benn is far from finished.  He's recovering from major knee surgery after a partial rookie year and still has a ways to go to get back to full speed.  Benn was an unpolished, raw talent when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him in 2010.  His learning curve was steeper than Mike Williams or other receivers as Benn needed to learn how to be more than a physical presence that relied on his tools.  He had to learn how to be an NFL wide receiver, proper cuts, route depth, cutting off routes based on coverage and such.  This is still an ongoing process, but an unexpected wrench may have been thrown in.

That wrench is Dezmon Briscoe.

Briscoe is a transplant from the Bengal's practice squad last year.  He caused minor controversy when the Bucs offered a larger than normal contract for a practice squad player to lure him here, causing Marvin Lewis to question Morris and companies tactics.  Briscoe had/has the tools but needed an opportunity.  Tampa didn't seem to be that place with Williams, Benn, Parker, and Strougher all in the fold.  But injury for one creates opportunity for another and Tampa's once young and thin receiving corp received (no pun intended) a boost from Briscoe.  As it turns out Briscoe contributed a bit during the 2010 NFL season and appears ready to do more in the 2011 season.  Benn's absence, someone had to take a shot at the #2 WR spot for the Bucs.  Briscoe appears ready to do just that, giving Tampa a nice Williams/Briscoe/Stroughter/Winslow punch in 3 WR sets. 

Of course, Benn will still be leaned on to contribute this year, but there is no need to rush him back if Briscoe turns out to be what we hope he is.