Marrying 'The Plan' and Free Agency for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by Sander on Feb 4, 2012 12:21 PM EST
in Free Agency
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PrintFor the past three seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a plan, supposedly. They wanted to build a team through the draft, re-signing their own drafted players and largely steering away from free agency. The results so far have been mixed. There is talent on the team, but there are some major deficiencies too - and the success of a lot of recent draft picks is still in doubt because of injuries and inconsistent play.
It's not surprising, then, that three years into the plan the Bucs seem to be pushing for a change. The Bucs will be 'involved' in free agency, and they have been making it quietly and subtly known that they will spend some money this offseason. Of course, part of the plan has always been to add a few free agents when necessary.
But what kind of free agent will the Bucs pursue?
Tampa Bay isn't the team to just add free agents willy-nilly. They've always been burned when they do that. What's been successful for this team has been adding free agents who are still relatively young and have some of their best years ahead of them. The free agency route was successful for Tampa Bay when they stuck to that formula: Keyshawn Johnson in trade, Simeon Rice and Brad Johnson in free agency: those were successful additions.
But when they went with the real veterans, the 32-year-old proven free agents - the Derrick Deeses, the Todd Steussies, the Charlie Garners - that's when they failed. That's not exactly surprising: those free agency additions are very rarely successful around the NFL, as older players are more injury-prone and usually have significantly declined by the time they hit the market.
So, don't expect the Bucs to go after the 'proven', multi-year veterans. They'll be active in free agency, to an extent, but they'll go after the younger players as much as they can. Players like Cortland Finnegan, Stevie Johnson, Curtis Lofton, Marshawn Lynch and Carl Nicks are a lot more likely to be Buccaneers next season than Reggie Wayne, Robert Mathis or London Fletcher.
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Cortland finnegan and Meachem!
Draft Claiborne and trade talib if he isn’t in jail.
Zach brown, Lovante David, or any other Skilled LB in the second.
Lamicheal James in the third.
(A tight end and O line would be good too.)
by bucswillwin on Feb 4, 2012 12:31 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Why does everyone wanna get rid of Aqib??
If the guy is found not guilty you should keep him then draft Claiborne and form one of the best CB tandems in the NFL and hands down the best in the division. Unfortuantely I strongly believe Zach Brown will make it out the 1st round. He gonna kill the Combine and there are far too many teams on the backend looking for LB’s, athletic LB’s at that.
He has become an underachiever
and as of the past 2 seasons has been injury prone, not to mention adding that to his admitted past of blunders and the guy is slowly but surely not worth what he sometimes brings to the field.
I say we trade back and draft Dre Kirkpatrick, add Courtland Finnegan in FA and move on.
everybody underachieved under raheem, maybe we should wait and see what happens
by bucfanlostiniowa on Feb 4, 2012 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
Descent Point I guess
But he was getting into trouble before Raheem, and Raheem had nothing to do with how much time he missed with injuries the past 2 years.
I just say if we have a valid opportunity to move on that we should cut bait. Im done sticking up for players who clearly are having trouble sticking up for themselves.
You're right
Adding Cortland “I Cant Keep My Hands To Myself” Finnegan would be a better character upgrade anyways
Are you seriously comparing the ONFIELD fights
that Courtland gets into with Aqib’s assault of a Taxi Cab driver, cursing at a Referee after a game, getting a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the most critical point of the Bears game.
Not to mention his potential involvement with another assault and a gun. That we have hanging over our heads until goodness knows when????
Bucfan727 you have to be smarter than that.
Im not saying dump him, I wouldnt miss him if we were able to get quality talent to take his place.
Tomato... Tomata
On field issues is on field issues either way you cut it. Before the drafting of Suh Finnegan was long crowned the NFL’s dirtiest player for taking cheap shots and doing bonehead things at inopportune moments of the games. Finnegan is a talented CB dont get me wrong I would like to have him as a Buc but he gets just as many personal fouls as Aqib on the field and can lose his temper (see: Andre Johnson). Again I repeat though if his case comes back “not guilty”, why get rid of him? To far of a talent to just release or trade. Not making a comaprison but Tom Brady or any other extremely talented player could have have the same record and would still be standing on the sidelines so what make Aqib any different?
seriously?
Tom Brady is one of the greatest all time. Talib isn’t even close to comparable to Brady. And if Brady were charged with assault with a deadly weapon, Belichik would dump him. Yes, in aware I spelled his name wrong. At least I think I did.
by Bucsfan123 on Feb 4, 2012 1:23 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Comaprable is a synonym for comaprison
For which I said I wasn’t making, simply stating a great player. I find that hard to believe Belichik would dumo him given the fact that he himself was caught “cheating” and Kraft didnt even have the gonads to cut his own coach. So you expect me to beleive he would part ways with a player who defined his career? And again unless you have the world’s greatest sources; no one knows the outcome to this trial for Aqib.
Never said Talib was guilty
Only saying his talent does in no way justify his off the field trouble. And no, Bill may not dump Brady just for a conviction, for that I’ll admit I was mistaken. But if Brady were guilty, he’d dump him in a heart beat. But that isn’t the problem. Talib has be left off the hook on numerous occasions and has not justified his being kept. He has not had a stand out season. Yes, he makes great plays, but he also let’s huge passes go just as often. In my opinion, he isn’t worth keeping.
by Bucsfan123 on Feb 4, 2012 2:57 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Understood
But its not like the guy is in the Sunday newspapr every weekend. Mistakes are made by all and if this comes out as a situation as him just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, why crucify him? Underachiever? Far from it the guy performs at a higher level than most CB’s though his gambling ways do tend to lend to big plays from time to time. Even the greatest CB’s of all time suffer from this, its the nature of the beast.
Thats odd
Given the fact last time any significant article abut him is one month away from being a year old. Its not my fault the media molds you to think a certain way about a certain player. Im 200% certain he isnt the only player getting 15yd penalties or cursing at refs but since its Aqib they are gonna blow it up x5
I agree, if talib is not convicted, he stays...
Pairing him with claiborne, if we get him, would be awesome.
I want the bucs to be active in FA, but do not want them going all willy nilly just to say they were active. Bring in players who can produce and help this team. Thats if they can find some who want to be here.
East Coast Fan
by Bucfan on Feb 4, 2012 1:11 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'm done defending this turd
but I agree, IF he isn’t convicted I’d support his return only because his chief enabler is no longer around. I hope Schiano can be the impetus for some maturity to take root in this guy. I know, I’m a dreamer but hope springs eternal.
... and the CB plot thickens
I found this earlier this AM:
Misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession against Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick were dismissed in a Florida court on Monday. A projected top-25 pick in this year’s draft, Kirkpatrick’s stock is unlikely to be affected after the dismissal. Arrested on January 17 in Manatee County, Kirkpatrick was allegedly found to have 7.9 grams (0.28 ounces) of pot in his possession. The arrest occurred just five days after Kirkpatrick, a third-year junior, declared for the draft. Kirkpatrick claimed he did not know the marijuana was in friend Chris Rogers’ car, and Rogers accepted the blame.
Now we have another option atCB
I agree I just don't think schiano will keep him..
With Claiborne and talib (assuming he has more games like the one in green bay) are secondary would be great.
I just don’t see his personality lasting very long here.
by bucswillwin on Feb 4, 2012 1:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think he will if he is not guilty
BUT he will be on a very short leash. Defensively Aqib fits into what Schiano likes do on defense so I dooubt he would just part ways
Schiano's message was that he would bring accountability and structure to the team
He also talked about doing things the right way, providing a team the community can be proud of and other similar things.
Getting rid of Aqib Talib would immediately send that message
Absolutely!
It’s a shame because he’s got talent on the field but sometimes the BIG picture has to be looked at and Schiano seems more mindful of that than Raheem was.
Yeah true about the accountability
But I also beleive he would want to get his own “whiff” of Aqib so to speak. Make up his on mind on him as a player and even more as a man. Cutting/trading him would garner cheers from but anger and confusion from other due to the fact that you basically judged a book by the cover because you never know Schiano might just be the type of coach Aqib needs to get him on the straight and narrow
I don't get this reasoning
Of course Schiano will talk to and investigate Talib before deciding on him. That should be really, really obvious. But that doesn’t change anything about the likely outcome.
Likewise
So basically you are saying he is gonna talk to him, see for his self if he checks out in his book and even he does he is gonna release/trade him just because… My reasoning made alot more sense and was very logical. Any coach is gonna wanna see for themselves how a player is not be manipulated into thinking something that the media had you to think.
I don't know about "want to"
But I think it’s exceedingly likely he’s gone regardless of the outcome of his trial.
Truth is
He is likely going to prison for a LONG time. But otherwise we would keep him. He is a shut down corner and would help our defense. But again his off field actions have made it unlikely for him to be a buccaneer or in the NFL for that matter.
Time to sign his replacement...
hopefully BEFORE the draft. Still need a second CB, but that would solve one problem at least.
by Cracker Ball on Feb 6, 2012 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
Grimes..
Someone else had mentioned he will want too much from Atlanta, he sure would look good in our backfield if you ask me.
Tolbert would look good in pewter too…
Not only would he look good in pewter
Freeman’s interception rate would automatically go down.
lol
Check out my skate video, where I break my face: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmfM5XZaFR0&feature=related
Marshawn Lynch!
Combined with Blount we would have “Blount Force” and his side kick " The Beast" would be a tough 1-2 punch!
Nice idea I must admit
Wishful Thinking: Imagine Lynch, Blount, Richardson backfield…. I would hate to play us… Earth Wind & Fire who?
That wouldn't be earth, wind and fire.
That would be earth, earth and fire. No wind there.
by Bucsfan123 on Feb 4, 2012 1:26 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Earth wind and fire would be Lynch, Blount, Lumpkin
Lumpkin could be wind, he blows…
by flash_kiley on Feb 4, 2012 2:02 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Seahawks labeled Lynch a priority to re-sign
He’s staying in SEA.
by InfamousHp on Feb 4, 2012 2:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Well played, sir.
A woman who knows her sports.
by Bucs-RaysChick on Feb 4, 2012 2:14 PM EST reply actions
And u guys hated on me sooo hard
when i suggested we pick up marshawn lynch when buffalo made him available. we could have had him so much cheaper then too. “too much depth at running back” i believe was the reason lol just saying :p
BUCS fan from CANADA
Regarding CB
I’d pass on Finnegan and Grimes. Finnegan is dirty, Grimes is small. I’d say to get the younger Brandon Carr from the Chiefs. Maybe not as flashy as the other two, but solid. If Talib gets out of trouble, they would pair together favorably. If not, Carr could take over #1 and we can draft Claiborne or Kirkpatrick (which I would suggest we do regardless of Talib’s situation). Brandon Carr looks like this year’s Jonathon Joseph. Last year, Nnamdi Asomugha was the premiere, headline CB available that everyone was drooling over. Joseph quietly went to the Texans and had a brilliant year. Let the other teams fight over Finnegan or Grimes, let’s sneak in and grab Carr.
On another note, I don’t see Nicks leaving the Saints, so I think LG is going to be difficult to address in FA. However, Jared Gaither may be available to be our RT. If his back issues are over (and it seems they may be) then he’d be a huge upgrade at RT. Another guy I think we should go get.
I think we’ll need a LB in FA as well. We don’t have enough draft choices to fill all the holes. Here is where I think they’ll need to make the splash, if anywhere. I’d love to see Tulloch grabbed here. If not, D’Qwell Jackson would be the next best. Move Mason Foster outside and we’d have 2 of 3 LB spots improved.
Carr is very underrated but he’s not on the level to be a #1 CB for a team yet (Assuming Talib is gone). Everybody wants to label Courtland dirty because of his physicality and a fight he had 2 seasons ago, he’s a proven hard nosed starter who makes WRs work at the LOS & pay for catching balls on him. I don’t trust Gaither’s health to sign him with a big contract (Ravens were trying to trade him 2yrs ago but he got injured before they could deal him), Tulloch is great at tackling/run support but average at best in coverage. D’Qwell is would work well for us but I think CLE trying to keep him at all cost. The Saints gotta re-sign a lot of people this off season (Including Brees & Colston) It’s a slim chance but I hope Nicks slips through the cracks.
by InfamousHp on Feb 4, 2012 3:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Forget Courtland Finnerann...
It’s almost a 100% guarantee that if he leaves Tennessee he’ll head straight for St. Louis and rejoin Jeff Fisher. I’d much rather Brandon Carr anyway; he’s pretty good cover corner and he still hasn’t reach his ceiling yet. On the flip side, Courtland IMO has plateaued.
by ctd1977 on Feb 4, 2012 4:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Repost...Bucs must be MAJOR players in Free Agency this year...
Although Dom wants to “build thru the draft” he learned this year that you still have to add quality FA’s to your roster if you want to compete in this league. I think unlike last year we must be “Major” players in Free Agency; bringing in Shiano alone will not win the fan base back. IMO we have to sign a couple big names in Free agency this year. A few guys I’d like us to strongly consider are: WR-Vincent Jackson, CB-Brandon Carr, SS-Tyvon Branch, MLB-Dan Conner, and G-Benn Grubbs; of course we cant sign all of these guys but these all these guys are still young and would be instant upgrades.
Come April, Draft (CB-LSU) Morris Claiborne in the 1st, (HB-Miami) Lamar Miller in the 2nd, (LB-FSU) Nigel Bradham in the 3rd, (HB/FB-Baylor) Terrence Ganaway in the 5th, (OL-S. Carolina) Rokevious Watkins in the 6th, and (WR-VTech) Danny Coale in the 7th. I beleive that if we can combine another good draft class with a couple quality Free Agents we can turn things aroung fairly quickly.
I agree
Which is why I’m not sure he’ll be available in the 2nd round. Especially if he weighs in at 215ish and runs as well as everyone expects him to. For our sake I hope he is available, but it might be wishful thinking. The only way I see that happening is if Trent Richardson falls for some inexplicable reason.
http://www.amazon.com/Terracotta-Soldiers-ebook/dp/B006O4XYQ8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1324580397&sr=8-3
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/116337
by GradSchoolNole on Feb 4, 2012 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
I agree...
Lamar may run the 40 in the 4.3 range. If Trent dosent run well things could get interesting in April. Remember in 99’ when everyone expected Rickey Williams to be the first back selected and the Colts took Edgerrin James instead? Crazy thing happen on draft day. I just went back and looked at a few mocks from the 2011 draft and outside of Cam going 1st and the Cowboys selecting OT Smith nobody was right on.
by ctd1977 on Feb 4, 2012 4:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I dont think he will be there
I believe Cinci or Clev will nab him
Yep, that could very well happen...
We’ve gotten lucky in the 2nd round 2 years in a row, let’s hope that happens again this year.
by ctd1977 on Feb 4, 2012 8:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I say we keep Talib, hes a really gud corner to me. when eva u can hold greg jennings da way he did day sunday ur a keeper in mi book. we juz need to go afta Finnegan,brent grimes, and draft trent if blackmon isnt dare
zed
"Zed's dead, baby, Zed's dead".
One of the best lines from Pulp Fiction. But seriously zed, invest some money in a dictionary.
I had to use my urban dictionary to figure out what he said...
by flash_kiley on Feb 5, 2012 11:04 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
I tried to use mine,
But it broke trying to figure out what Zed was talking about. It stopped trying to load, and just popped up a picture of someone rocking in the corner saying “Make it stop, make it stop.”
Hey... is that "Ebonics"?
Thanks Oakland Unified School District.
by Cracker Ball on Feb 6, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
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