September Return Predicted For Penn
July 25th, 2010
The other day Joe scoffed at those who are so sure Donald Penn will be at training camp this week and ready for opening day.
Now uber columnist Gary Shelton, of the St. Pete Times, has joined the ranks of those who believe Penn’s once inflated now shrunken stomach has enough strength left to skip the preseason.
Shelton opined about Vegas odds and the Bucs today, and he tossed in his own over-under line on Penn arriving at One Buc Palace.
Bodog wouldn’t put a line on it, but I think Donald Penn reports to camp Sept. 3.
Sept. 3 is the day after the Bucs final exhibition game in Houston.
Joe hopes Freeman’s ready to run for his life during the preseason.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Looks like preseason will be good practice for Dotson.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
I think skipping would be an unnecessarily risky and dumb move for Penn. Right now he has ZERO competition at LT. If he comes in, shows just how good/committed he is to the Org, I think they get long term deal done by mid-season. If he doesn’t come it on time and either Dotson plays well or they bring in a vet FA who plays well, his value within the Organization diminishes and he risks being labelled a malcontent.
Smart money is still on him showing up on time for Camp.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
From a Penn perspective, 9/3 makes sense. Why should he subject himself to injury during the preseason. The players don’t start getting paid until the regular season anyway. I can be called an optimistic fan, but it is stupid for the Bucs to playing this game with an above average LT. Considering they plan on playing Freeman a decent amount during the preseason, it makes sense to protect his blind side as much as possible.
I have no problem with Penn trying to avoid injury during the preseason. The Bucs need to step up and protect the blind side of their franchise Qb.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I’m glad to hear that Penn will likely be returning.
Still, I can’t believe Raheem is crazy enough to consider starting Dotson at LT if Penn weren’t to show up. Having Dotson as his replacement is a death sentence for this offense. If Dotson is our second string LT, hell, I don’t even want to hear who our 3rd string is. Remember, Raheem rules out free agency for everything, so if Penn didn’t show, he would start Dotson over someone in FA.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
If he holds out can we say trouble
July 25th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Has Donald signed his tender yet?
July 25th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
If Penn has NOT signed it would be silly of him to show up, get injured and get screwed.
My question is this:
If Penn doesn’t sign his tender will the Bucs just say…”sorry Donald but you’ve got to stay away until it’s signed…liability issue.”
July 25th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
@ Mr. Lucky
Nope.
July 25th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
@ Mr. Lucky
“If Penn has NOT signed it would be silly of him to show up, get injured and get screwed.”
Right. To me, he only shows up if/when he’s gonna sign the tender.
“If Penn doesn’t sign his tender will the Bucs just say…”sorry Donald but you’ve got to stay away until it’s signed…liability issue.”
Good question! He’s a restricted free agent but hasn’t signed his RFA tender…does that mean the Bucs are contractually liable to him at all? Does he have a current deal or is there no deal and the Bucs merely hold his rights for another year…interesting.
July 25th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
JimBuc has fallen strangely silent on this one……
July 25th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Penn in shape — Pro Bowl Amazing.
Penn at the end of last year — Below Average.
Honestly if a guy can’t stay in shape during a contract year, I’d be a bit hesitant to pay him too. I’m not saying Dotson is a better option, but I think paying the guy for one year is certainly reasonable. I also hate to use the Clayton comparison, but Dom already failed once when giving a guy one more chance to prove he can shape up. Obviously, Penn has shown he CAN play a lot better, unlike Clayton, but the problem has to be shown to have gone away before he earns a long term contract.
July 25th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I could see another option. Dom could sign and then trade him for a precious third rounder.
That likely would have to occur prior to camps opening though.
July 25th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
That would require a trade partner. That would also do nothing for us this year, but from that I guess you’re just being sarcastic. While it’d be great if Dotson turns out to be the guy Faine thinks he is, I feel that we’ll likely just be drafting one of the top OTs in the draft next year.
July 25th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
@CharlieB
There is absolutely no comparison between Penn and Clayton. NONE. Dom was a f***ing moron for signing Clayton last year! His ugly as hell stats tell you everything. He should’ve walked. I mean, were you surprised when Clayton didn’t do crap last year??? I wasn’t. I knew he would suck, just as he had from 2005 to the 2008 season. If Penn got a contract, I’d feel pretty confident about him.
July 25th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
As I said, I hate using the comparison. However, Penn now has an issue that potentially turns a franchise left tackle into a liability. Why would you lock up someone like that long term without proof that the issue won’t come back? Dom made the mistake of trusting a turn around with Clayton and it backfired. He likely won’t do the same with Penn, and I can’t really blame him.
Is it possible to put a weight clause in the contract? If he goes over a certain weight, the Bucs could release him at the end of the season without paying any additional guaranteed money. If that’s possible, there is no reason not to sign him. When he’s in shape he’s a dominant player that we can trust to protect Freeman.
July 25th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Problem is this – Penn is human.
Penn is pissed at not getting what his agent has been whispering into his ear.
If Penn signs anything at all he won’t do it before the 1st pre-season game at the earliest because there is no way Penn is going to return to the Bucs in 2011 and beyond – he’s too pissed about how he feels he’s been treated – I know I would.
So the question is this – will Penn’s backup do well enough to start at LT?
Remember if Penn doesn’t sign the Bucs are off the hook for 3+ million.
If Dotson (or whomever it is) does fine in camp I could see the Bucs simply telling Penn…sorry but we don’t like your attitude and make an example of Donald and hence all NFL players for the 2011 CBA lock-out/strike.
Dangerous game Penn is involved in…dangerous indeed.
July 25th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Dotson sucks , Lucky, he is no where near ready to start.
July 25th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Donald Penn has about 30 Million good reasons to show up on time and in shape. He has zero good reasons not to! (unless pride over money) All he has to do is impress this year and he writes his own ticket. Not to mention the fact that his RFA deal is much sweeter than some more elite LT’s! His actions this season will directly affect his contract for the future. Whether it be the Bucs or not; it is in his best interest not to hold out for more than a couple of preseason games. Get into camp and bust your butt and you’ll get all the money you deserve. Mess around and you’ll be taken a huge risk.
July 25th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Bucnjim – you might want to keep that inflation figure in check – 3 million not 30 million reasons!
Unfortunately Penn’s already lost 600K by not accepting the first tender the Bucs offered him, now all the Bucs are required to offer is the 3.1 million. (I don’t know the specifics)
I can say that since Penn is playing “hardball” they Bucs can do the same thing and lockout Penn…on principle.
Plus that gives them another excuse for losing…well Penn didn’t play so we had to use a backup…
July 25th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Joe here,
Mr. Lucky – You’ve got the inflation thing going, too. 😉
Penn “lost” about $100K for not taking the tender deal earlier.
July 25th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
30 Million in future money gained or lost by his actions. I’m well aware his RFA contract is 3.8 Million and substantially more then some very talented LT’s.
July 25th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I for one hope that Penn comes in on the first day of camp (with his tender or a long term contract) keeps his mouth closed, and lets his action’s on the field do his talking.
When Penn is in shape he is a different player like any NFL player. After all this is a game, but for the men who are on the fields this is a business, lets not forget that…
July 25th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
I’m sorry, but gaining 40 pounds during the season is inexcusable. He made his bed and now he needs to lay in it for another year. He may be a good pass blocker but we’re not running a spread offense here. If his agent had half a brain he would have looked up the history of how holding out on this organization works and would hae seen that it doesn’t. Hell, he doesn’t have to look too far back, just ask Barrett Ruud how it worked for him.
July 25th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Wait, I thought Penn was a lock to holdout? Now people think he will play? What changed? 🙂
July 25th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Everyone forgets Dotson played in 6 games last season, and played well. I thought he might be starting at Right tackle. Moving him to left tackle is really amazing, and says alot about his potential. Penn is a very good Left tackle. He just might not be the only very good left tackle on the roster.
July 26th, 2010 at 9:10 am
Who is Penn’s agent, and what is his history with holdouts? I hope its not Rosenhaus or Parker.
Donald, enough with this BS. Stop listening to your agent and come in. Play well and you will be paid. We need you.
July 26th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
I bet Dom is glad you buy the overweight crap hook line and sinker. With that extra 40 pounds on his rear he still was a top ten LT.
July 26th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
even if the weight didnt affect him, which it did, it still gave the org. an excuse to hold off on a long term deal. it shows a lack of dicsipline in a contract year.