Ruud Feels For Penn; Focuses On 2010
June 28th, 2010
Much to the chagrin of JoeBucsFan.com commenter JimBuc, Bucs left tackle Donald Penn has yet to sign and the whole mess shows no end in sight.
One of the current Bucs fully understands what Penn is going through. Last year, Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud, like Penn this year, tried to force the Bucs hand in order to get a new contract.
He’s still waiting for one and, like Penn, this appears to be his last season wearing Pewter and Red unless a contract is reached.
With Penn sitting out, Ruud spoke last week with Tom Balog of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and voiced his solidarity with his brother in pads.
Meanwhile, Ruud noted he cannot worry about what he cannot control.
Ruud, of course, also wants a long-term contract extension like the one Penn stayed away from offseason voluntary workouts and this week’s mandatory mini-camp, in an attempt to get from the unyielding Buccaneers.
But unlike the hard-line offensive tackle, Ruud decided against holding out of offseason workouts or missing the mini-camp, to force the issue with team management.
“I’ve come to the point where it will (happen) or it won’t,” Ruud said. “For me, personally, the best thing to do was to be here and be with everybody else,” Ruud said. “And go through OTA’s and learn the defense. I thought that was the best situation. The best thing to do is have a great year. If you have a great year, something good is going to happen for you. That’s kind of my focus right now.”
With the Donald Penn mess first and foremost in Bucs fans minds as the team prepares for training camp in roughly a month, most have forgotten Ruud also is in the same boat as Penn.
How Penn plays this year, and more specifically, how the Bucs defense plays, may go a long way toward Ruud returning to the Bucs for the following season, whether that is in 2011 or 2012.
June 28th, 2010 at 8:42 am
I think Ruud is a smart guy. He knows what he needs to do to cash in on being a UFA. Teams look for team leaders to not only lead, but to change the course of games. Derrick Brooks, Hardy Nickerson, Sapp, Lynch etc… were game changers! When the team needed a play they were always there. They were vocal leaders as well as leading by example. This is what has been missing from Ruud’s game. Sure he makes tackles, but that is a misleading stat. You can be getting your A$$ handed to you and make 20 tackles a game because you can’t stop anybody. I know; I’ve never played on a good team, but I always racked up tackles. We got beat 38-7, but I made 15 tackles. Very misleading stat!! The important stats are the splash plays. The sacks, passes defensed, interceptions, tackles behind the line, fumbles caused, fumbles recovered, intimidating hits, etc..etc…If Ruud can somehow be a game changer; then he will hit paydirt come free agency. My arguement up until now has been that he is not a vocal leader (Which the team needs) and he has yet to make splash plays that change the course of games.
June 28th, 2010 at 9:05 am
When Ruud leaves, blame no one but the Bucs poorly ran organization.
Bucs management lost out on Antonio Bryant, and they will lose out on Ruud and Penn. In less than 6 months, the Buccaneers will have lost all short-sighted leverage they think they have currently.
Go off in peace Ruud and Penn…. enjoy a better run organization while not missing this farm team.
June 28th, 2010 at 9:21 am
The Bucs know the history and personality of Antonio Bryant. They think he will slack off now that he has the big contract. Watch the Bengals this year and see. He is NOT a team player, by all accounts. Penn and Ruud are just stuck in a bad spot. Big contracts heal all wounds. We’ll see if the Bucs really want them or not next year.
June 28th, 2010 at 9:23 am
As the “QB of the Defense” Ruud has made the right choice.
Penn, not so much. Not many average performers in the league are getting big deals this offseason.
Penn should be in there for TC. (IMO – he will…)
June 28th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Wow JimBuc, a specific mention of you in the post? Your becoming famous on here!
June 28th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Antonio Bryant? Career numbers: Average 800 Yrds, 53 rec, and 4 TD’s per season over 7 years. Good receiver with attitude problems and a history of injury problems. Made 9 Million for nothing last season!
Penn and Ruud still need to show they are elite players because neither one is there yet. Geno Hayes had better run stop percentage the Barrett Ruud! Trueblood for as bad as people bash him for his penalties had twice the number of pancake blocks as Penn did. This is important when you are talking about player value.
June 28th, 2010 at 10:03 am
LMAO. JimBuc is the only person on this website (well, add on BamBam) that is not totally freaking out about Penn.
Much ado about NADA! The sky is not falling.
June 28th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Let’s take a step in JimBuc’s world:
1) Kitchen is on fire. JimBuc’s reaction? Eh, throw warm beer from the bottle on it. It’ll burn itself out.
2) Hurricane is on the way and the county is ordered evacuated. JimBucs’s reaction? Eh, thunderstorms aren’t shiite.
3) Needle on the gas gauge is below E and the car is sputtering. JimBucs’s reaction? Eh, piece of machinery. I know better.
The fact JimBuc claims this is a non-story proves he doesn’t know a down marker from a goal post and JimBuc is nothing but a guy trying to stir up trouble on this site.
Joe doesn’t take kindly to troublemakers.
In other words, knock if off JimBuc. Joe’s in a nasty mood this morning.
June 28th, 2010 at 10:23 am
For all the wrong reasons.
June 28th, 2010 at 10:45 am
@Bucnjim
“Antonio Bryant? Career numbers: Average 800 Yrds, 53 rec, and 4 TD’s per season over 7 years. Good receiver with attitude problems and a history of injury problems. Made 9 Million for nothing last season!”
The thing about Antonio Bryant having attitude problems and complaining too much was the biggest BS roaming around One Buc Place and still is! AB really didn’t complain. He made maybe one or two little comments during the year that were nothing! In fact, in the interview with AB that most refer back to, he was being asked about his role in the offense and how K2 had become the go to guy. He said he understood how K2 was the new go to guy and that he was fine with it. Maybe he didn’t “sound” all that happy about, but I never recalled him blasting Radio and Dominick out in public or anyone on his team for that matter.
Like this was SUCH a big deal. AB’s little comments were SO detrimental to the team! Give me a break. The guy is not a damn TO or Ocho Cinco. Antonio Bryant was one of the biggest free agents on the market this offseason. When teams were trying to aquire him, did you ever hear anything in the media on ESPN, NFL Network, etc, about his “complaining” and “attitude” crap?? No, because it was nothing and only the Buccaneers and the fans make such a big deal out of something that’s not even an issue.
June 28th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Joe must have had too many Caybrews last night. 🙂
As I stated previously, I agree it is a story when a team’s starting LT is holding out. But, as regards the Bucs and Penn it is a story with the ending all but written, save what Joe himself (himselves?) referred to as craziness by Penn. I don’t think Penn is crazy or stupid.
Now, I have to go so I can get back to preparing for the end of the world. As you know, aliens are going to land on the planet at any moment.
June 28th, 2010 at 11:02 am
AB was let go because he was not part of the long-term solution (he was arguably part of the current problem), he wanted a lot of money, he had a recurring knee problem etc. Add to that that the Bucs will likely get a third rounder as a compensatory pick and it should not be hard to see why he is gone.
June 28th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Not quite. 🙂 Stayed up too late watching the Band of Brothers marathon on Spike. Not smart to go to bed at 1 a.m. when you have to get up at 5 a.m.
June 28th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Hey JimBuc, if it is such a non-story, then why do you comment on it?
Time and time again you troll practically every story, trying to set an undermining tone against Joe’s articles, only to then turn around and bach other commentators… and you admittingly claim you do it because you are bored.
This coupled with your non-stop attention weilding replies, it is crystal clear that you are a TROLL.
JimTroll, everyone has had enough of you bud. And here is a wind for your sorrows ;-(
June 28th, 2010 at 11:28 am
If I could edit I could fix my misspellings! Ha ha… maybe I should use FireFox.
June 28th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Pay Penn.
June 28th, 2010 at 11:38 am
If I am not mistaken, the Bucs have the opportunity to shut down Antonio Bryant in the regular season.
Should be most interesting.
Personally, I am focusing on the Brandon Marshall 100 catch count. Of course, we are countering with a guy with 16 catches for the 09 season plus Brown, Sammie, and a couple of rookies.
But, who the hell needs players when you got the Dream?
June 28th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Whoops, how can I forget the great Mo Stovall?
June 28th, 2010 at 11:45 am
@JimBuc
Bryant has great hands and gets good separation. You guys remember all those insane, impossible, catches he made on the field?? Bryant was hurt alot this year, because stupid management decided to have surgery on Bryant during training camp last year and hoped that it would heal in a month’s time before regular season, than management pushed Bryant too fast after surgery and we got what we had last year. Bryant is a top ten receiver in this league when healthy. And people, everyone gets injured in this league. It’s the NFL. AB is still the same receiver that he was in 2008.
June 28th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Eric… good point. Now we get to play against Leftwich and Bryant. And don’t think for a second that they don’t have something to prove.
I really hope that Gruden doesn’t go to the Panthers…… cause then it would be misery to have to get beat by our once Super Bowl winning coach.
June 28th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Funny, despite the ” knock it off comment”, the comment Nazi STILL can’t restrain himself. He just can’t stop patrolling the website, afraid one of us might not become enlightened!
June 28th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
There is a price to pay for having to replace Penn and Ruud:
1) High Draft Picks to aquire starting level replacements
2) Time… it takes time to replace the players… more growing pains
3) Free Agency? It will cost. And doesn’t it defeat the purpose of locking up young, home grown talent with older just as expensve free agents?
4) Losing.
BUT…. the Glazers will benefit by saving a few bucks on an already low 80 million dollar team salary allotment.
Great job Glazer Boys!
June 28th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Love when hatred clouds the thinking.
By not extending Ruud and Penn, the Bucs will get both players to play their very best this year (see Ruud’s comments above) and they will get an opportunity to see if Ruud’s problems last year related to the line and if Penn’s weight gain (in a contract year) was an anomaly and they will still maintain the first chance to sign either of them (including a franchise tag) and yet many here so hate the Glazers and so believe that the Glazers are cheap (notwithstanding the contract for AB, Ward, KW, Nugent etc) that they are crying about the sky falling (and calling for the messenger’s head – lol)
June 28th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
I think we are calling for the messengers head, because it’s hollow. And we need a piñata for the kickoff party!:)
June 28th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Capt. Tim — lots of shots, no facts.
June 28th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Every post you write is absolute proof that yer head, is in fact, Empty
June 28th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Would another 3-13 season confirm that the sky is, in fact, falling?
June 28th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Too many opinions and too much speculation. More people should try backing up these opinions with facts and numbers instead of arguing over what could be. Plenty of information out there; just look it up. No one knows what the Bucs record is going to be this year or how they are going to play. That is subject to one’s own opinion! If you are going to tell me who is good, bad or great then show me. There are stats out there to back up any arguement so try them out. Example: I gave the stat that Penn was the only player out of 30 RFA tackles not to sign his tender. Also the fact that his RFA tender is 1.5 Million more than any other Tackle in the NFL. Now it is only speculation that everyone else who signed their tender is right and he is wrong, but the odds are very much against him and his agent. This is an arguement that is backed with some facts…
June 28th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
@Bucnjim, the “fact” you stated (Penn only player out of 30 RFA tackles not to sign) is fine, but it doesn’t convey the total picture and is pretty meaningless by itself. Out of those 29 other tackles, did they only stand to lose $100K by not signing by June 15th? Did those other 29 players have a former basketball player with no experience backing them up? Were those other 29 players protecting the blind side of a 2nd year player whose development is key to being well protected? Finally, was the guard playing next to those other 29 players the weak link of their respective lines?
That’s a scary combination of variables that probably has Penn sitting in a little better position than the other 29 tackles who already signed their tender.
June 28th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Louie, that is exactly right. That is why Penn has gone as far as he has. BUT, finish the analysis. If he actually holds out, he loses more than $3 million and a year toward free agency and potentially another year’s pay if there is a lockout. On top of that, his upside is very very low because he is in the same position next year (if there is a next year)
June 29th, 2010 at 12:07 am
Jesus Christ, JimBuc! For the five thousandth time: NOBODY, including me, is saying Penn will sit out the year. Do effing read the comments???!!!
June 29th, 2010 at 12:17 am
So how many games will he sit out at more than $200,000 per game? None. He will show up in training camp.
June 29th, 2010 at 12:47 am
And why should Penn show up for training camp? He makes the exact same amount if he shows up before, during or after training camp. Favre has been playing that game for 3 years now.
June 29th, 2010 at 9:23 am
“Joe doesn’t take kindly to troublemakers”
Uh oh!
I’m (sob) gonna miss you guys:(
June 29th, 2010 at 9:25 am
You’re cool Capt.Tim.
June 29th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
He’ll miss at least the first day of training camp… that will be judgement day for the Bucs…. he then can miss more time… but this isn’t about a short term/short sighted 1 season, 6 month contract… it’s about when Penn leaves next year. The Bucs will NOT get compensated. Penn will leave. He will not be a restricted FA.
June 29th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Glad ta hear it. Cause the Capt sails pretty close ta the edge sometimes:)
June 29th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
RahDom — HOW will Penn leave next year?
June 29th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hopefully driving a steamroller, that will accidently run over a Certan poster I know! He initials are “Jim” “Buc”. Said poster will undoubtedly standing in the road, posting yet another never-ending blockheaded argument about something he doesn’t really understand, but wants to argue about ANYWAY! While it will be a tragic accident, it will finally reveal to science an object able to withstand the crushing weight of a 30 ton steamroller. That object, if course, being JimBuc’s super density head. Truly a marvel!
June 29th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Capt. Tim: Lots of shots, no facts. I love that even a question is out of bounds? LOL. Too funny
I asked RahDom HOW Penn would leave because RahDom said this:
“this isn’t about a short term/short sighted 1 season, 6 month contract… it’s about when Penn leaves next year. The Bucs will NOT get compensated. Penn will leave. He will not be a restricted FA.”
Unless there is a new CBA, Penn cannot go anywhere next year, right? If there is a new CBA we have no idea what it will look like, but pretty safe bet that Penn would be under contract or get franchised. That’s why he is in a tough spot, right?
Have another drink Captain. 🙂
June 29th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
@JimBuc: “…Penn would be under contract or get franchised.”
How is he going to be under contract if they force him to sign his 1 year RFA tender? That contract will expire after the season and he’ll be a UFA.
Do you really believe the Bucs will franchise Penn? I doubt it seriously. I’d be surprised if they use the franchise tag on anyone. Except for last year (AB), the Bucs haven’t used the franchise tag in a number of years. Besides, there will be 17 players who will be UFA’s and they’ve only got one franchise tag.
June 29th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
@JimBuc, I guess they can keep him from leaving by chaining him to the goal post. I didn’t think of that option.
June 29th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I person ally love an orhanization that takes ful advantage or employees who are in a “tough spot”.
Viva La Glazers!
June 29th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Louie — I meant under contract because they would sign him this year while he is playing under his tender. I don’t think the UFA thing is going to be as big a deal as it seems to be because all teams are in the same position. If it looks like there will be a new CBA this year, I would think the Bucs and all teams will start signing players. The current team always has the advantage over other teams.
June 29th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Eric — your favorite coach sat his favorite QB and kept him from a big bonus, didn’t he? You seem to have a enough “real” things to cry about. Why start making stuff up?
June 29th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
I hope Ruud has a good season, along with the rest of the defense. I personally think they will be very good. 17ppg defense. I think Buc Ball is coming back and Raheem knows he has a lot to prove. I’m glad Ruud didn’t pull the same crap as Penn. Ruud learned from what happened last year and I think he wants to win, because losing sucks. Money is great but not everything, and no one wants to be miserable. I think the Bucs were miserable through most of the season, lacking direction. This year should be much different.
June 29th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Why , thank you, JimBuc, I will!!
June 30th, 2010 at 8:22 am
Jimbuc,
I don’t cry. I simply state the true state of affairs, which makes others cry…………………………….
The truth often hurts, not my fault………………
June 30th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Eric, you cry and cry and cry. When waas the last time you cried about BM? Couple days ago? Don’t kid yourself.
I was just pointing out that even you lose credibility (what little you have) when you manufacture things to cry about.
June 30th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Not even one “lol” for the steamroller post! I swear my talents are still unappreciated !