Bucs Let Bryant Walk Because Team Stinks
April 2nd, 2010
Joe has written on more than a few occasions that Joe understands where Bucs general manager Mark Dominik is coming from in his effort to rebuild the Bucs.
What Joe doesn’t understand, and has been critical of, is the team’s philosophy — or lack thereof — in regards to the wide receiver position.
As it currently stands, the Bucs wide receiver corps is woeful, very likely the worst in the league. Joe hears all the talk about how the Bucs want to develop quarterback Josh Freeman but those words are painfully hollow when the Bucs let a guy like Antonio Bryant walk away.
Joe’s heard all kinds of excuses from the One Buc Palace crowd about why Bryant left, from being a pain in the posterior to freelancing too much to being injury-prone, among others.
Well, now Joe has learned another excuse coming from One Buc Palace dealing with the departure of Bryant and in comes via Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
Cummings has learned that one reason the Bucs let Bryant escape to Cincinnati is because management has given up on trying to make the playoffs in 2010, Cummings writes in so many words in a TBO.com Bucs question-and-answer format.
Q: I was scratching my head over the letting go of Antonio Bryant. However, I believe I now understand. The Bengals had no problem quickly signing him for the long term, because they believe with him and a few others they can reach the playoffs next year. The Bucs, on the other hand, like they have said all along intend to rebuild, meaning they don’t expect to win next year, making AB expendable, or the signing of any other quality veteran for that matter.
They have been telling us they are going to build through the draft, meaning rebuilding will take place over the next couple of years, not next year. However, as fans we are in denial and don’t want to throw away next season. Well, watching A.B. leave to a playoff-bound team is really a dose of reality as far as next season goes. As for Brandon Marshall that’s another mater of denial. The fans are dreaming; it’s never going to happen. On the other hand, that’s about all that is left for next year. Anybody see it differently?
David Kilmer, San Jose, CA
A: You have absolutely nailed it. Not even the Bucs have put their plans for last year, this year or next in such succinct fashion. No, it may not be what fans want to hear, but what you have laid out is the reality of the situation. They are gutting the team and starting over. Every team in every pro sport does it at some point. This is the Bucs’ turn. We can only hope it works.
— Woody Cummings
And there you have it. The draft hasn’t taken place yet and the 2010 season is already dismissed. The only point it seems in watching the Bucs this fall will be for comic relief.
And on that solemn note, Joe would like to acknowledge those observing Good Friday. Lost in the Scriptures about the details of Christ’s death is that Judas Iscariot did not hand over Christ to the Romans simply for 30 pieces of silver, but that Judas also moonlighted for the arrogant local cable TV monopoly, Out House Networks.
Seems the Romans were beginning to get irritated with Christ as he began to travel throughout what is now known as the Holy Land, preaching the good word of the NFL Network and how the network’s superior programming can wipe out disease and famine.
The Romans believed that the littles should be satisfied with their meager cable TV channels, which offered low-rent series’ such as Christians Today: How Many Lions Will It Take? and Jerusalem Shore.
In a failed effort to keep Christ under wraps, the Romans, with their vapid cable news channel Red Sea Sludge 9, went so far as to hire Mary Magdalene to read repetitive weather reports and chariot traffic updates on the local interstates every 10 minutes.
In short, Christ was crucified so that humanity could enjoy the NFL Network.
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:33 am
And apparently Steve Duemig (be nice Finerdetailz — Joe) has inside scoop on the situation too. When he said he believes this regime should stay intact even if we repeat last years great win total of 3. It seems keeping chemistry no matter how bad is more important than winning games. What a great plan and philsophy. IMO next years attendance will start bad and only get worse forcing the Glazers to realize a change is crucial to the organization. Unless this team makes the playoffs this fan base will never ever support this goofball gm and dumbass coach. We are actually less talented than a year ago which makes zero sense.
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:41 am
Finerdetailz:
It’s an interesting take, and sort of a pick-your-poison option. Joe’s written about it before.
If, say, Team Glazer gets rid of Raheem the Dream, which Joel Glazer said publically last week isn’t likely to happen, then Josh Freeman is looking at this third offensive coordinator and third quarterback coach in three years. That’s not good. Look at what that has done for guys like Alex Smith and Jason Campbell.
If Team Glazer gets rid of Raheem the Dream, your eight-figure investment is likely to blow up.
This is the corner the Bucs painted themselves into by getting rid of Jeff Jagodzinski. Or hiring him in the first place.
Joe’s not saying if the Bucs are rancid this year Raheem the Dream shouldn’t be on the hot seat, but there are serious ramifications for pulling the trigger.
Of course, one could argue the Bucs aren’t helping Freeman out as it is by not beefing up the receivers.
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 am
why fire jon gruden and still have greg olsen using his playbook this team is full or retards from top to bottom
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:59 am
Exactly Justin F.
You build the team for a pounding, running attack and before the season gets warmed up you revert to the Chucky-and-duck playbook.
Oh, KAY!
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:00 am
I get that they are building etc. What I don’t get is how not having a go to receiver is going to help the development of Freeman?
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:01 am
Scott:
It makes absolutely no sense to Joe. In short, not having a go-to receiver is setting the stage for Freeman to melt down.
Joe has asked this before:
Can anyone at One Buc Palace look in the mirror and say with a straight face both the Bucs and Freeman are better off with the current crop of receivers than they were with Antonio Bryant, really?
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:02 am
If they were so concerned with Freeman’s development he wouldn’t be playing catch with the blocking icon.
Can someone please ask the Dream what he meant by “helping five”.
Continuity is one thing. Maintaining what was a farce to begin with is another.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:04 am
Eric:
That’s factually inaccurate. How can Freeman play “catch” with someone when the other guy can’t catch? That’s like playing catch with a blocking sled.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:17 am
Speaking of the blocking icon, I was shocked to read this in Henderson’s column this morning; …”Everybody works hard in the NFL – or is supposed to – and dedication alone doesn’t guarantee that Michael Clayton will catch even the best-thrown pass”… Joe Henderson. TBO writers are notorious for making excuses for the Glazers. And that is the closest to the truth that Henderson has been about the blocking icon. Freeman will be a fine Quarterback. But team Glazer, the 3 Scrooges, sure are Hampering Freeman’s chance to develop with good NFL caliber receivers. But the 3 Scrooges certainly want us to purchase tickets!
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:17 am
Reading Cummings take on the Bucs is about as nauseating to me as a McDonalds Big Mac. May taste good to some but at the end of the day its a load of crap. The Glazers have taken rebuilding to the extreme. It does not need to be this way. Yes it is possible to rebuild in the modern NFL and compete at the same time. Of course, that requires the expenditure of some money and the acquisition of at least some players that have are past the diaper stage. Give me a break. What a joke!
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:22 am
Antonio Bryant is not worth the 30 million it would have cost to resign him.If he’s so great,why has he been with 5 different teams?He had one big year with the bucs because he had something to prove and opposing teams were commiting 8 men to stop the run.The bucs will address WR position in the draft and Brandon Marshell could still be in play.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:33 am
@Jake
You mean like the Falcons?
Didn’t they make the playoffs with a Rookie QB coming off a disastrous season?
But, they did stupid stuff like bringing in Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:38 am
Marshall may be a pipe dream, but shouldn’t be. He’s young and can grow with the team. No reason it shouldn’t be a viable option. Especially if you only give up a 2nd this year (and picks next year) – I mean, what undrafted WR is currently better than Marshall right now? Nobody.
Marshall for a 2nd this year, and 2 mid-late picks next year.
Make it happen Mark.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:39 am
Antonio Bryant made 10 million last year and made “Circus Act” catches on the sidelines. Michael Clayton was resigned to a 25 million dollar contract last year and made 16 catches while dropping ten times that many. Including those right in his chest in the end-zone. Not to mention the fumbles after catch. The easter bunny will be here on Suday too. He is bringing Marshall and a pro bowl defense with him!
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:41 am
This is the biggest bunch of bull$hit I’ve ever heard!!! People keep throwing out reasons why AB was let go hoping one will stick. What a load of crap! That’s like saying “we suck, so why bother trying”. AB was let go because of money. Money is the primary factor in every decision this team has made in the last year+.
This Bucs organization (or lack of) is a complete joke.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 am
I know Chucky is keeping his mouth shut because he wants to get another coaching gig someday.
But, I would love to hear what he really thinks of all this.
The unedited R-rated version of course.
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:05 am
The real reason is that they know they will lose this year. So it is the old, ” we can lose without you.” The Bucs should spend one of their top 4 picks on a punter. Because we will be punting alot, ( unless we break the record for throwing int )
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:14 am
I always wondered why Morris never hired Herm Edwards being the fact he gave him his internship, I t is cuase he did not want to hear Herm say We play to win the game hello !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:21 am
ah its the old “draft a young QB and give him absolutely no one to throw to other than the tight end trick”
Maxwell Smart
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:25 am
“Not ‘craw’ — ‘CRAW!'”
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:37 am
I have to take Morris’s side on this one I think he does want to help 5 I think it is Domminick and the Glazers that have him on a tight string. Last year on Si.com they said the front office and coaches were not on the same page, I agree. They dont want to get old but they try to depend there Wr season on to old has beens like Clayton and Brown. Morris is being put in a bad positon if they are going to go young and try to compete they need a vetran coach not one still trying to learn on the job
April 2nd, 2010 at 11:00 am
When exactly did the Glazer boys come to the erroneous conclusion that they know diddley-squat about professional football?
I keep hearing about the “Glazer’s plan”. How do they have any cred to even formulate a “plan”.
Are they under the impression that they turned the Bucs around before!
That was Tony Dungy and Rich McKay you jerks (with help from Sam Wyche actually) And Dungy hated playing rookies too!
How come the local rags never call these idiots out? Totally disgusting.
April 2nd, 2010 at 11:03 am
Who the hell would admit to being on the same page as Jim Bates?
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 pm
I thought the breaking down of the team happened last year. It is amazing it looks like they are doing it again this season. It seems like this season, they should be taking giant steps to make the team much better. This situation is total crap.
I can point to the Phins from 2008. They were coming off a 1-15 season. They didn’t put their heads in the sand and give up on the next season. They went out and got Chad P. as QB and won the division. Not sure even in the best scenario the Bucs could do that this season, but I think it was worth a try or some effort to put a good product on the field.
Sometimes reading this stuff makes me mad. I may have to skip these stories to get the blood pressure down.
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Lakeland Bob you are drinking the koolaid if you think the bucs are going to go after Brandon Marshall. This ownership won’t pay a dime for this year wakeup and smell the coffee!!!!! You must be sleeping on a cot at one buc place or going to happy hour with the Glazers on their yacht or something. Joe THANK YOU for pointing out that the Glazers are throwing this coming year away and every fan should take any thought of attending a game and throw that away until the Bucs owners want to field a competitive team. It was inexcusable to let AB go and they are hindering the progress of Josh Freeman plain and simple. Does ANY Tampa beat writer dare ask Josh Freeman whether it was a good idea to let Antonio Bryant go????? I bet not.
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Eric S:
Or have a Caybrew (or two).
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:46 pm
For everyone that thinks we will be so much worse with out AB .. He was barely even there last year … His knee condition was not a typical problem and sounds like something that linger into 2010 or beyond .. Mark my words
Its not like Freeman ever got to play with 2008 AB that had over 1200 Yds .. AB was a nonfactor last year
Much like the Giants last year without Burress .. they had many rookies at WR but lets see where they are this year with young playmakers after 1 year of experience
There are some good WRs in the draft .. If the draft passes and we dont get a WR with some potential then we can get our pannies in a bunch!!
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:51 pm
jvato Antonio Bryant with one leg amputated is better than any wide receiver we have. You have to catch with your hands and our wide receivers have none. Antonio Bryant could catch almost anything thrown to him. The man was the only highlight reel for a wide receiver we have known since Kevin House. Yes I remember Kevin House you probably do not. Do you know of any receiver we have that fits into that category?
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:56 pm
So because Roy Cumguzzlings and some Jonny Lunchpail say it , that makes it so??
Hardly convincing .
I think it’s much simpler than that . Bucs’Management actually think they are doing the right thing to build a winner…they actually think they WILL be good next year. No one has enough job security to incorporate a 5 year plan in the NFL – especially these two jack-offs( Radio and Dumbinik)
Do not underestimate the stupidity of these two guys we have in charge….
April 2nd, 2010 at 3:00 pm
could not agree more with eric. Crazy thing about it they have a goood Gm in Parcells but the doplhins coach came from the cowboys he was there offensive line coach, he was not a cordinator just like morris but has a GM that knows what he is doing Parcells has his fingerprints on this team. Domminick has meseed up and messed up 3 punters 3 kickers , Mcnown ,Leftwitch, Clayton Big time deals. I have no ? that he had something to do with the cordinatoirs being hired. Bottom line the dolphins turned it around and they were worst then us
April 2nd, 2010 at 4:06 pm
TJ, Sparano was an assistant headcoach under Parcells in Dallas a couple of years, was their offensive play caller in 2006 and was headcoach of New Haven(college) for 4 years, back in the days pre-NFL. So, he isn’t like Raheem situation in experience.
April 2nd, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Good stuff OAR was trying to help Morris out you are right good stuff
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Raheem and Dominik never think about the upcoming season. They’re always thinking about the future!
We want to win right now! Yeah, I know about the so called “re-building” job the two of them are trying to do. But we shouldn’t have to wait 2 or 3 damn years for the team to be competitive again. That’s BS. It’s been shown that the worst teams can turn things around in a flash. Take the Saints for example. One season they were 3-13, the next year they were 10-6. Three years later they’re SB champs. The Miami Dolphins were 1-15 in 07, but went 11-5 the next year and won their division! So why the hell can’t we turn things around a little quicker?!?! Speaking of the Saints, just how will we compete with them next year?
Ever since the conclusion of our wonderful 3-13 season we’ve gotten worse! The reasons for letting Antonio Bryant go was a bunch of bullshit, and just excuses! Too much money? The Bengals gave him the same contract we gave clayton a year back. For AB, that’s reasonable. For Clayton that’s a fortune. Too injury prone? Hey people, everybody gets injured at times! Bryant didn’t match his 2008 season of course because he was out several games. Plus he had to play with a crappy team. Add all that together, and he still caught 4 TD’s for 600 yards. When he came back, he played great. Oh, and he’s too old? More BS. 28 is not old Raheem. You want to get young, but your pal Clayton is only one year younger than him.
The Bucs have just done nothing except piss me off for over a year now. Sitting out of free agency is inexcusable, considering that we’re as bad as the 08 Lions. He’s so delusional to where he thinks all his draft picks will work. Realistically, we’ll be lucky if we get 3 or 4 good starters out of this draft. That’s how it is with most teams at the very best. So that also means that there will only be maybe 3 different starters on the 3-13 Buccaneers. Subtract Antonio Bryant from the team and it’s like we have only 2 different starters. Does Raheem and co. care about being competitive next year? Or is it only 5 years from now that matters? By what i just discussed above, we will not be good next year. Sadly, we have to already know that.
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Annnnnnnd loving it!
Max