Too Much Bile Under The Bridge
January 31st, 2019
BY IRA KAUFMAN
He’s got to go.
DeSean Jackson can still play in this league. In fact, he can still play at a high level at the age of 32.
But he shouldn’t be on this roster when the Bucs break camp in preparation for the 2019 season. He needs to go, and it won’t take long before Bruce Arians realizes Jackson is not a good fit for his football team.
There’s too much bile under the bridge for Jackson to return for the third and final season of his Buc contract. Send him off on his way and wish him godspeed, but don’t make the mistake of thinking this new coaching staff can repair the fractured relationship between Jackson and Jameis Winston.
Jackson may be changing agents, but he can’t change the fact he and Winston have built no rapport through two seasons.
Not on the same page? Heck, they’re not even on the same playbook.
There’s plenty of blame to go around in this mess.
Winston has found chemistry with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Adam Humphries, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, but he simply cannot connect consistently with one of the premier deep threats of the modern era.
Some Winston supporters say Jackson does not give his all when No. 3 is under center, suggesting he plays harder and fights more for the football when Ryan Fitzpatrick is in the game.
What can’t be disputed is the fact Jackson was an unhappy camper in 2018. That negative vibe was felt throughout the locker room and the Bucs can’t afford to chance that happening again.
A True Patriot
Tampa Bay should re-sign Humphries and move on without Jackson, who is already angling to attract a new suitor.
This guy can still be a force.
His average of 18.9 yards per reception was best in the NFL for anyone with more than 27 catches. Only six players, including Mike Evans, topped Jackson’s total of five catches for 40 yards or more.
Thirty-one of his 41 receptions went for first downs.
Yes, he remains one of the league’s fastest players, a legitimate field stretcher who wouldn’t look bad in a New England uniform, catching bombs and slants from Tom Brady next fall.
But the Patriots have the kind of mature locker room that can handle a DeSean Jackson. The Bucs don’t.
Arians will do everything in his power to ensure Winston takes the next step forward in his development. The Bucs will upgrade the offensive line in free agency and the draft in hopes of giving Winston a complementary ground game.
Jackson has had his chance. Now, it’s time to say goodbye.
Besides, he doesn’t want to be here — even if he won’t say the words publicly. If the Bucs keep Jackson, Winston will feel a need to keep him satisfied. He’ll feel pressure to force balls to No.11, and that’s a disaster for all concerned.
If Arians is determined to change the culture at One Buc Place, he should start with DeSean Jackson. Give him his freedom and don’t look back.
And if Jackson is hugging Brady after next year’s Super Bowl, so be it. This is all about putting Winston in the best position to flourish. If that happens, the Bucs will have a successful season.
Good luck, DeSean.
Ira Kaufman began covering the NFL as a New York Giants beat writer in 1979. He arrived on the Buccaneers beat in 1985. The corporate leash was removed from his neck when he joined JoeBucsFan.com in July 2016. The award-winning Ira Kaufman Podcast fires twice per week, and Ira’s columns appear every couple of days, except when he’s on special assignment. Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter also is a popular guest on various national radio and on local TV.
February 1st, 2019 at 12:50 am
Amen Ira. He’s got to go.
Prayers for you and the family over the health concern. Glad to hear it’s still going to be your speech. Your research and knowledge will be what finally puts Lynch in
February 1st, 2019 at 1:02 am
Don’t send him to NE, LA, Eagles, or any other contender. You send his whiny a$$ to the frigid air of Buffalo to be with a Yound QB and an underwhelming roster. Show people you can’t walk over the Bucs anymore.
Send Buffalo Jackson and 2 7th rounders for Buffalo’s 7th rounder. Yes, pay the Bills to take this little diva girl.
Have some balls Licht.
February 1st, 2019 at 1:35 am
^^^My thoughts exactly
February 1st, 2019 at 1:52 am
Welp another DJax storyline smh….
February 1st, 2019 at 3:45 am
Hump Godwin bobo Wilson and Watson can all cost us about the same or less than DJax without the headache n get the same if not more production. Godwin n bobo can stretch the field too maybe not as fast as Djax but the four of them would cost us the same or even 2 to 3 million less than DJax alone n that’s if we have to pay hump 7mil to keep him
February 1st, 2019 at 4:55 am
You da man Ira! Too much ‘bile’ under the bridge for sure. But the bigger issue is MONEY. Bucs simply can’t afford all the ‘weapons’ that we’ve got on the roster right now. The way Licht has structured this roster (to date) is ludicrous (BA will ‘fix’ that, just watch). Looking at our 2019 salary CAP situation for ‘weapons’ under contract as of today (and QB is also a ‘weapon’ IMO):
o Jameis … $20,922,000
o ME13 … $20,000,000
o DJax … $10,000,000
o OJ Howard … $3,025,870
o Godwin … $875,041
o Auclair … $651,668
o Ronald Jones … $1,607,256
o Wilson … $573,333
o Watson … $645,434
o Bailey … $495,333
That alone totals out to $58,795,935 ‘weapons under contract’. But wait, there’s more. In terms of positions for 2019, we still NEED to sign:
o #3 WR (Slot?): $7,000,000?
o #3 TE
o Barber (# 1 RB?)
o #2 RB
o #2 QB
No idea at this point how much those additional weapons will cost, but one thing is clear: we’re ALREADY feeding too many mouths. We NEED to cut DJax to free up that $10 mil to pay for our other NEEDS.
One of the most telling charts I’ve found on the internet is the OverTheCap positional spending chart … https://overthecap.com/positional-spending. Covers all 32 teams & what they have under contract per position group. Hint: Bucs are screwed.
February 1st, 2019 at 6:03 am
DJAX is virtually a free agent. We won’t be sending him anywhere.
The entire league knows what IRA just correctly posted. They also know every other team’s salary cap issues. No way we can eat ten million.
TBBF made a valid point that if a team was desperate for him perhaps they want to keep him off the open market and Joe also made a good point that it only takes one fool…see Licht.
There is NO way we got ten million worth of value out of him the past two seasons and why they never had him returning punts is beyond me. Perhaps he went all Brent Grimes and said you don’t pay me enough…who knows.
Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord. I get the sentiment but I’m not going to waste my time worrying about DJAX getting his and ending up with Buffalo. That’s not going to happen.
Two teams make great sense for DJAX…the one he mentioned his hometown..the Rams…and the Pats…I don’t know KC’s needs and perhaps he could go there. He clearly wants to play for a SB contender and who can blame him at his age.
DJAX has earned 70 million over his illustrious and largely successful career. He doesn’t need the money. I think the Rams get him for less than ten million.
But I do agree with everybody else here. It’s the down time and we have less actual stuff to talk about but we are all sick of DJAX…fair or not. He has clearly worn out his welcome in Tampa.
February 1st, 2019 at 6:23 am
Yet another Jason mistake
Does he have comprising pics of the glazers?
February 1st, 2019 at 6:42 am
Forget about any off field stuff for a moment. Just his on field performance does not warrant a spot on this team. Let’s see he’s doesn’t run crisp routes, he doesn’t fight for the ball, he shy’s away from contact with the ball in his hands, he drops the ball if there is ANY chance he gets hit, and in the run game he is useless as he can’t/won’t block at all. And oh yeah he is great at returning punts but also would not do that. But he is great at running really fast and catching the ball when all alone.
Please anyone tell me that is a player you want on this team regardless of his trash attitude and personality. If you notice the people that claim to want him to start are, for the most part, Jameis haters so it’s just something they can use to defend their moronic beliefs.
February 1st, 2019 at 6:51 am
IMO the lack of a conection between Jameis and DJAX is o shared responsibility.
But Jackson has proved he is a very bad teammate. But if he wants out we should not just let him go Deal him to the highest bidder not named the Rams.
February 1st, 2019 at 7:15 am
We are now being double-teamed by Joe & Ira on Djax articles…….we simply just can’t get a break………Please give us at least one day Djax holiday.
February 1st, 2019 at 7:45 am
Man I hope we trade him to the Jets or Bills! Show him who makes the decisions when your under contract!
February 1st, 2019 at 7:52 am
Well, at least Ira displays some balance…
February 1st, 2019 at 7:56 am
I’m not sure Jameis has found chemistry with any of our receivers. Leads them out of bounds more times than not. How many times has he almost gotten Brate killed with his passes. Wasn’t Brate injured most of last year?
February 1st, 2019 at 8:33 am
I agree 100% …it’s too bad, he did help ME13 by attracting defensive attention even if he didn’t always get the ball. But we don’t need a player who doesn’t want to be here. Time to go. Let’s see if Godwin or Watson can do the job.
February 1st, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Bucs vs Pats next year in the Superbowl. Bucs win and Winston gives Jackson the finger. Goodbye, Djax
February 1st, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Is Tonald Jones really making 1.6M??!! That needs to be changed one way or another!
February 1st, 2019 at 1:45 pm
Yes, some fans said this months ago after what he said during the season. He was on social media agreeing with people that he shouldn’t be here. What else did anyone need to see? It is over. Holding onto him the rest of the year out of sheer greed was toxic and it showed in the final result in the fractured locker room. The cost to keep him far outweighed what they will get in return. A total loss.
February 1st, 2019 at 2:42 pm
I have felt all season that Desean Jackson was actively trying to sabotage Winston. I just didn’t know why.
Until yesterday.
Jameis caused Jackson’s agent to dump him.
That explains why DJax laid down for Jameis and played hard for Fitz.
February 1st, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Send him to the Raiders.
Jon will deactivate him within a year.
February 1st, 2019 at 2:51 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“But wait, there’s more. In terms of positions for 2019, we still NEED to sign:
o #3 WR (Slot?): $7,000,000?
o #3 TE
o Barber (# 1 RB?)
o #2 RB
o #2 QB”
TE and QB will be low cost. We’ll probably draft a RB and QB. Small chance of trading for a RB.
But you forget the Defensive upgrades and such.
Also, multiple contracts come off the books this year.
February 1st, 2019 at 2:56 pm
@Bonzai … “Also, multiple contracts come off the books this year.” Bonzai, those contracts (like Donovan Smith, Adam Humphries, etc) are already off the books.
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:49 am
Thank yu ndog
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:50 am
Scottyandfatantonio you are right