“Best Christmas Ever”
December 26th, 2014
Louis Murphy’s Bucs highlight to date: A 41-yard catch in the final seconds at Pittsburgh to set up a game-winning score.
Joe guesses fans read about the Christmas present wide receiver Louis Murphy found under his tree.
It was a three-year contract offer to remain with the Bucs. Tentatively, terms undisclosed (Joe wonders if there’s guaranteed money?).
“Best Christmas ever,” Murphy beamed just moments after putting pen to ink. Prior to Christmas, Murphy admitted he was going to shop his wares around the NFL.
“My agent and I were talking and thought about the free agency market,” Murphy said. “I’m kind of glad it is over with. Glad it is over with and got the deal done.”
Murphy confessed the main reason he wanted to stay with the Bucs, other than it’s awfully easy to commute from his hometown of St. Petersburg, is his faith in Lovie Smith.
“I believe in this team,” Murphy said. “I believe in Coach Lovie. I believe in the organization, Jason [Licht], our receivers coach, all the guys in the locker room. Regardless of what the record says, I believe we will be contenders in the future. I want to be part of it. I want to be part of the turnaround.”
The interesting dichotomy at work here that, if one remembers, Murphy was cut by the Bucs prior to Week 1 and brought back in late September. Anyone remember the last guy Lovie cut, only to be signed later and hailed as a valuable asset? That would be one Josh McCown.
December 26th, 2014 at 3:17 pm
So this was a well deserved contract. The guy came right off the street to make that huge catch against Pittsburgh. He definitely earned his way back on our roster. Glad to see someone deserving gets paid by the Bucs since so many undeserving have been getting paid this year.
December 26th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
Murphy is a great guy to have on the team. I’d call him a very versatile #4.
Yeah he plays the slot but he’s the kind of guy who has enough veteran experience he can play any of the receiver positions in a pinch. Meanwhile we have Mke Evans…VJAX…ASF…and our biggest need at receiver…a burner like Joey Galloway who can lineup and make the back side of defense show a little respect or else get burned!
Murphy provides great depth and a solid veteran presence.
December 26th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
didn’t the L&L cut him a couple of times ?…now he’s good enough ?
December 26th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
I’m glad to see the Bucs are keeping this guy… I’m going to consider this our first off season roster move and I like it…
We also need to extend Lemon, Lansanah and J. Smith…
December 26th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
Murphy is a great sign for a last place team with no intentions on competing. Simple as that. 380 yards really? That’s worth a 3 year contract? Lovie is schooling me on how “real fb” is played and managed.
This gives me the same feeling I got when Lovie cut our entire oline. That “oh chit” this isn’t going to end well. There has to be a young kid out there with great hands and 4.3 spwe’d. Our scouts need to step up, they better be checking out track and field come spring time. That’s all I’m saying.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:12 pm
Joe
How much is that contract for?
December 26th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Goodbye VJAX
December 26th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
@joe
He got cut bc his back was hurt!!
Not cause he cant ball.
As we have all seen.
Louis Murphy is the best #3 WR I have seen in Tampa in a long time.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:59 pm
” Regardless of what the record says, I believe we will be contenders in the future.”
—————————————
Louis is one of the “Verge Mob”?
December 26th, 2014 at 6:27 pm
I got on here and called it. Bucs would keep Murphy. That means no Randall Cobb or any other legitimate slot guy/speedy deep threat. Now just get VJax out of town and you’ll have your team Lovie…..IDIOT!!!!
I don’t dislike Murphy, I think he would be a great depth guy. But he’s not a game changer. How about a Randall Cobb or Jordan Mathews. Someone to make it hard for defenses who have to worry about our big receivers…If jackson stays. Whatever, you suck Lovie…
December 26th, 2014 at 6:50 pm
DB55 – your constant and consistent snarky criticism really gets old and says quite a bit about the type of person you are….
BTW Joe and others who posted dumb comments about it – Murphy was injured and was not going to be available for a # of weeks which is why he was cut in the beginning of the year – not because he wasn’t good enough to make the 53 man roster originally.
December 26th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
The guy has some game.’would like to see 94’get a small tight deal something like 4’years 12 million 3 mill guaranteed
December 26th, 2014 at 8:44 pm
Kevin Schmidt Says:
December 26th, 2014 at 6:27 pm
I got on here and called it. Bucs would keep Murphy. That means no Randall Cobb or any other legitimate slot guy/speedy deep threat. Now just get VJax out of town and you’ll have your team Lovie…..IDIOT!!!!
I don’t dislike Murphy, I think he would be a great depth guy. But he’s not a game changer. How about a Randall Cobb or Jordan Mathews. Someone to make it hard for defenses who have to worry about our big receivers…If jackson stays. Whatever, you suck Lovie…
—————–
Wow, you should be a GM, you know so much. So you probably knew that at 6’3, Jordan Matthews is a big receiver…he’s also not a game changer, he’s a possession guy, always has been, always will be. He’s also a rookie so it would be hard to sign him as a free agent if that’s what you’re suggesting.
Relax about Murphy. He signed for 3 years, probably for the vet’s minimum and a small bonus. His signing is definitely not a significant blow to our chances of upgrading the position. Look at the Redskins signing DeSean Jackson AFTER signing Andre Roberts.
December 26th, 2014 at 9:48 pm
Guess this means were drafting mariota….
December 26th, 2014 at 10:04 pm
don’t know why were extending contracts and we don’t even know what system were running next year….
December 26th, 2014 at 11:15 pm
Wth would we extend a 3rd stringer on IR?!! Murphy’s family is very religious, his father is a pastor, must be some kind of favor…. We are record setting bad on offense this year, no one deserves an extension.
December 27th, 2014 at 12:04 am
DB55 Says
“Murphy is a great sign for a last place team with no intentions on competing. Simple as that. 380 yards really?”
You’re right. Ike Hilliard had over 700 yards in 2007. It was his best year with the Bucs. That’s what a Number 3 does.
Ike didn’t do that good his other years, but 2007 gave Tampa a glimpse of what a true quality #3 does in the slot.
380 is a big difference from 722 in my book.
Murphy should not be getting more than a million, with no guarantee and contingent upon making the final roster.
December 27th, 2014 at 12:05 am
@Brandon
I disagree with the insinuation that a position receiver cannot be a game changer. MeShawn sure was.
December 27th, 2014 at 12:09 am
I don’t think he’s meant to be the #3 when I think about it though. Probably a depth signing. I just think they could have gotten him for less than $4.5m for 3 years. That’s $1.5m per year.
He was desperate for a full time job. They could have gotten him for $1m per year easy. It’s not JUST about what he deserves. It’s also about running a business wisely. 380 yards is not worth $1.5m per year.
December 27th, 2014 at 1:20 am
Sounds like another “keep Michael Clayton, let Antonio Bryant walk” type thing here. They’ll keep Murphy and let Jackson go. We all know that’s what the Bucs will do.
December 27th, 2014 at 1:55 am
Keep Jackson at a reduced rate, sign Cobb and Murphy makes a great 4th. Get ASJ healthy. Pick up Mariota and several OL with the higher draft picks. But unfortunately don’t believe that Lovie will do this. He’ll be gone after another crappy year.
December 27th, 2014 at 9:19 am
Come on Conner. Bucs signed Clayton but also kept Bryant for one year then let Bryant walk and cut Clayton. Know your history…Bryant went on to being out of the league quickly so that was smart and Clayton is an owner of a SB ring. Now…I dont think Murphy is worth much money at all and doubt he got much more than 100-200 bonus. Who else really wanted him at this point, no one so probably a very cheap deal.
December 27th, 2014 at 9:19 am
I like Murphy, and I’m glad they got a 3 year deal worked out. IMHO the WR position is not a worry and keeping Vjax is wise I feel.
FIX THE O-LINE ASAP! How awful is it when you see the Center roll the snap on the ground back to the QB. How is any play going to work if the most basic details are not executed properly.
December 27th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Some of you guys are too funny …
“Sign this guy, this guy and grab this guy and this guy.” But I’m sure Lovie is too stupid to do these things. Fire him!!
Okay so when Emanuel Sanders was offered a contract and decided to catch passes from Peyton Manning instead that was because “Lovie is stupid and we should fire him”?
This isn’t Madden or your Fantasy Football league.
All of these “go those guys” Free Agents have to want to come here.
But go on with your Madden GM selves. I like the laughs.
December 27th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
I swear, Fantasy Football is ruining America’s football IQ.
That’s why I can’t stand watching games near people who play that nonsense. It ruins loyalty and makes all of you clowns believe you know how to build a roster better than the professionals.
Sit back and let the pros play it out. Or simply apply with your best references from ESPN Fantasy Football Managers.
December 27th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
To say that fantasy football is ruining americas football IQ puzzles me. Playing fantasy football makes you pay attention to every area of the game….if your good at it. And when I see a team go 2-12….then yes, I could have put together a better season than that. Hell my sister could have done a better job.
Now I will say, I saw signs of Lovie tanking this season a long time ago, which is why I don’t really care at this point, and haven’t for a while. Not challenging plays that should be, challenging bad plays. Not calling timeouts when they should be or just wasting them. It was obvious 5 – 6 weeks into the season he was tanking. But there is a difference between a coach tanking and an entire team just sucking balls. The players have been trying but they get they’re asses kicked. If Lovie did tank this season then they have a shot next year. But if he wasn’t tanking, then we will suck for a long….LONG TIME!!!!!
December 27th, 2014 at 2:37 pm
I think it was announced that only 1 year of the contract is guaranteed. He can be cut anytime after 2015 without cap implications. If that’s the case it’s a great contract.
Some fans are terrible general managers…
December 28th, 2014 at 1:23 am
Kevin Schmidt Says:
December 27th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
To say that fantasy football is ruining americas football IQ puzzles me. Playing fantasy football makes you pay attention to every area of the game….if your good at it. And when I see a team go 2-12….then yes, I could have put together a better season than that. Hell my sister could have done a better job.
Yet your sister is happy for my 20% tip at the local dive bar while you are flipping pizzas at the local Chili’s with their new menu.
Yes you are right, at 2-13, you could do a better job.
If only you wouldn’t burn the bottom of my pizza I’d tip you more. Now that’s what you have control over. The other , just shut up.
Tell your sister I said hello