Media Fight: Stephen Holder Vs. Ian Beckles
April 14th, 2010
As Joe first reported Tuesday morning, former Bucs offensive lineman and current WDAE-AM 620 morning personality Ian Beckles was adamant that the Bucs would not spend the money it takes to sign a No. 3 overall pick, and thus would trade down not so much to stock up on picks but to save money.
“I’m telling you. They’re not going to do it. No way [the Bucs keep the No. 3 pick],” Beckles said.
It didn’t take long for St. Petersburg Times Bucs beat writer Stephen Holder to take issue with Beckles.
Moved to Twitter and later his blog on the Times’ Web site, Holder, careful not to name names (though quite clear who he was referring to) scoffed at this notion, writing that he was “hearing talk” the Bucs would trade down.
Making sure his point was clear, Holder later clarified his comments so they were not mistaken, and specifically wrote about how he heard this on radio, going so far as to write “radio jocks.” In other words, he heard Beckles.
Unlike Beckles, Holder is equally certain the Bucs will not trade down but will in fact keep the No. 3 overall pick.
I was merely attempting to bring some realism to the situation by reminding everyone that’s a very unlikely scenario, even if the Bucs wanted to trade out (I don’t believe they do, by the way).
What does Joe make of all of this? Aside from the fact it’s very entertaining, Joe is going to take Team Glazer at their word that money is not an obstacle, hence, they will keep the No. 3 overall pick.
Joe has stated all along it’s easy to want to trade down, but one has to have a partner to do so. Easier said than done, mainly because team’s don’t want to spend the extra cash a high first round pick will cost in salary, which is Holder’s premise.
That written, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs indeed do trade down if this draft is as deep as Mark Dominik and others claim it to be. The Bucs have many holes to fill and if Dominik can swing a trade where he can stock up additional high picks, pull the trigger.
We’ll all find out in about a week what will happen. In the meantime, Joe is really hoping Beckles steps to the plate later this morning to resume the war of words.
This is fun!
April 14th, 2010 at 12:10 am
I have to agree with Holder. If Suh or McCoy are there at #3 and they don’t take them, I’ll be shocked.
April 14th, 2010 at 12:20 am
Don’t underestimate Beckles, he had Gaines Adams pretty much pegged from day one.
I do wonder though if this draft isn’t way over hyped. I can see a couple of years from now everyone looking back and asking “why did everyone think the 2010 draft was going to be so great”. Could be much ado about nothing.
April 14th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Will also agree with Holder. I don’t think the Bucs will trade out of the #3 spot. When you have a chance to take a top notch player, you should take it. I personally don’t want them to trade down. Some teams get so obsessed with making trades that they forget to pick good players. The Pats are prime examples of this. Their last few drafts have been horse manure. They got so caught up with being cute, they missed on too many players. I don’t want the Bucs to fall into this trap of having to trade down a million times and accumulate picks.
April 14th, 2010 at 1:20 am
If Gerald McCoy(or Suh) is sitting there at 3 and the Bucs trade down out of that spot there will be riots…well there would be riots if the fan base wasn’t mostly composed of fair-weather fans who are more interested in how the Gators are doing with their offseason workouts (this area sure loves a winner!).
I wouldn’t be shocked by the Bucs trading down, it would basically be the eternal ‘F You Fans’ move by the Glazers who, at that point would would make their subordinates proclaim the “value” in the draft. The real “value” is paying a guy half the amount of guaranteed salary because he was picked 7 spots lower. Never mind the guy at 10 isn’t likely as good or in as needed a position. This class is loaded! (or so they’d say)
Maybe we could draft a Offensive Tackle at 10. That would be as stupid as trading out of getting a franchise 3-technique, so I guess if you are going to go, you might as well go all out.
That said, I still have faith that the team will hold firm at 3 and take the best available DT. Not to worry, I’m sure Beckles will claim amnesia when he’s proven wrong. Hey, at least he could make some excuse about concussions…
April 14th, 2010 at 6:40 am
I smell a poll coming a contest….
Maybe like predicting the postion of the Bucs 1st round pick and the player?
April 14th, 2010 at 7:05 am
It seems that all the experts agree that this is a very talent heavy draft & that 1st round talent can be had in the 2nd round. That being said,
Mark Dominik is quoted in this morns tbo as saying;
“I’ve had some success finding players in the pro (scouting) department, and that’s why I’m confident I can do it in the draft. Even on offense…….”
Dominik came from the Bucs scouting dept. The same scouting dept. that produced the players that Gruden/Allen get “blamed” for. And now Dominik is “supposedly” in charge. Because Dominik is simply a “no-talent” picking puppet for team Glazer, my money is on Ian Beckles. And their trade down excuse will be the talent laden lower rounds. So count me as one vote for Beckles!
April 14th, 2010 at 7:20 am
The spin doctors are busy at work at One Buc developing fresh new spin should the Glazer boys demand they trade down. Lets start with a little, we got a good player and picked up more premium picks in a talent laden draft, or we were concerned about Suh’s Knees and we had issues with McCoys upper body stregnth. Sure hope I am wrong, but with this group its hard not to see it coming.
April 14th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Brandon Marshall just traded to Dolphins per Adam Schecter for 2010 and 2011 2nd Rd picks.
April 14th, 2010 at 8:37 am
If SUh is gone, trade down.
The DT from UCLA is just as good as McCoy. McCoy is overrated as hell.
April 14th, 2010 at 10:24 am
The thing is, even if they trade won just a few spots and take … say CB Haden… and then land a WR, DT, and DE in round two, who is to say that is not a great move? Who is to say that was about money? If they do that and get a 3rd second round pick and an extra 4th, I would be all for it.
The more tha merrier in a deep draft. In round two they could still land a top DT (Price or odrick)
April 14th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Joe here,
Well said, Dave.