Raheem Mentions The “T” Word
December 21st, 2010
Reading between the lines here, Joe thinks it’s significant that Raheem Morris briefly mentioned the prospect of Tanard Jackson returning in 2011.
Speaking on The Raheem Morris Show on WDAE-AM 620 on Monday, Raheem talked about how exciting the future is with young players returning next year who didn’t get to show everything they had this year. He included the possibility of Jackson’s return, lumping him in with Gerald McCoy, Aqib Talib, Brian Price and Cody Grimm.
Raheem talked about players returning healthy and “in the right state of mind.”
Jackson, as Bucs fans know, allegedly hookah piped his way out of the league. He was suspended for the 2010 season under the league’s substance abuse policy.
One might think the Bucs would write him off after proving he can’t be counted on. But Joe suspects they’ll give Jackson another shot if they think his head’s on straight.
Raheem was secondary coach when Jackson was a rare rookie starter on Tampa Bay’s defense in 2007. Surely, there’s a deep bond.
Jackson will come cheap, and Joe is of the understanding that he’ll automatically be under contract. Joe would be happy to have him back. Hopefully, the Bucs won’t make the mistake of counting on him contributing.
December 21st, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Stand by for moral outrage…
December 21st, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Warren Sapp was Arrested in ’97 for possesion of marijuana with intent to distribute. I’m pretty sure he went to the pro bowl that year and father Dungy was in charge of his fate. Everybody needs to get off of their soapbox! By the way, He was nabbed again early this year for beatin’ up his girlfriend but because he’s “Warren Sapp” we can overlook this. Now these young players have a few lapses in judgement and we’re ready to burn them and their coach at the stake! I love Warren, but I love these young Bucs too and I will stand behind them the way that we stood behind the young Bucs of yesteryear. Go Bucs!
December 21st, 2010 at 10:50 pm
I would not start Tanard right away. He needs counseling and he needs to earn the trust of the organization and the fans. I am not judging Tanard but look at the position that he put the team in and ultimately his departure has costs us some games. Megatron would not have had his way with the Bucs with the right CB and Safety helping him and the run fits by the safeties would have been better with 8 men in the box against the lowly Lions. I am all for a second chance but this is strike 2 for him and he’s gonna need to be brought back gradually because what he cost the team has hurt us tremendously. Coaching and makeup some weaknesses but ultimately talent wins in this league over the course of a season. Don’t use the Bengals as a bar.
December 21st, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Oh and still take a safety in the mid-rounds for depth and potential because Grimm is a beast in the making, Lynch is depth, Jones is worth another year as a solid veteran. Adding another fast cover safety will tremendously help out the defense.
December 21st, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Moral outrage? Hardly.
Betrayal of your teammates and the fans – THAT’S what pisses me off more.
December 21st, 2010 at 11:22 pm
This to me is the toughest call of the offseason for the team. They really need to do their homework on his recovery and see if it is for real or if he’s going to fall back into the same thing. No matter what, you just never know. He will always be at risk for the rest of his career and life. I know that on the field, I like our team a lot better with him than without. For a talent like him, I personally think it is worth the risk to give him another chance, but it is a HUGE risk, and he certainly cannot be counted on. Every day I will dread looking on JBF and finding another Tanard suspended article!
December 21st, 2010 at 11:26 pm
I think Tanard is rather low risk in coming back. Grimm will be one starter with Asante and Jones battling for the other spot. Lynch will still be on the roster for special teams. Hopefully Tanard will come back a changed man because if not his career is definitely done.
December 21st, 2010 at 11:38 pm
I see very little risk here other than the risk of him possibly being suspended again, which we found out this year isn’t the kiss of death that everybody thought it would be. He’s still going to be playing on his 4th round pick rookie contract so financially it doesn’t really matter. We were able to see that Grimm is a potential long term starter, most likely a SS ultimately. I think Jones signed a 2 year deal so he’ll still be here, and we picked up Asante as a developmental player. I don’t think I would waste anything more than a late round pick again on a Safety, and posibly not even use a pick at all based on what they may see in Asante moving forward. DE, LB, and OL all need to be addressed far before Safety does.
December 21st, 2010 at 11:38 pm
I definitely want Tanard back. Man, I know he’s got serious issues but he’s such a great talent on the defense. It’d be a damn shame to see him go.
If he’s able to come back next year all good with his head on straight, imagine how good our safety corps will be with him, Grimm, Jones, and maybe another addition through FA or the draft. It’ll be fun to watch!
December 21st, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Definitely can’t count on this guy coming back and staying back. This is Tanards first time losing anything significant due to his addiction and even if he’s been staying clean so far relapse almost is guaranteed. Maybe he makes it back on the team next year but how many games will they get out of this guy before he is suspended yet again? If he did kick the habit then OMG could this secondary be something special next year with Talib, Tanard back at FS and Grimm moved to SS. Too bad its probably just a pipe dream.
December 22nd, 2010 at 1:32 am
I would like for Tanard to come back. The Bucs don’t have anything to lose in doing so.
It’s worth a shot.
December 22nd, 2010 at 1:36 am
Guys don’t forget RB/KR – Noel Devine in the 3rd would add a sweet element to our offense if Greg Olsen could learn how to stay aggressive…sub 4.2 speed, GAMEBREAKER and can catch the ball, good element to add and also keep Caddy.
December 22nd, 2010 at 2:15 am
Actually they do Gatorbuc15. If Jackson comes back and is given the starting job again, and he gets busted again, that’s basically like suffering a career-ending injury and the Bucs are back to square-one. Might as well wash hands of the guy and get someone in here who you can bank on.
December 22nd, 2010 at 2:59 am
“Imma get you high today, cuz itz Friday, you aint got no job, and you aint got sh*t to do!”
December 22nd, 2010 at 3:03 am
All jokes aside, I hope Tenard makes a full recovery from the disease and can be productive in life, and contribute to the success of our team.
December 22nd, 2010 at 3:51 am
Have we ever found out what it is he’s addicted to?
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:44 am
where the hell is buccobill getting his info on Mr. Buccaneer aka W. Sapp? Can’t find that alleged 97 bust for weed (this would be something most buc fans would remember…can you?) and it was never proved that he beat his oldlady. The charges were dropped and he never had to appear. If I’m wrong than slap me and call me Jenn Sterger. As for T. Jack…it would be nice to see him line up with grimm, but the guy is just an idiot.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:49 am
From what i recall (could be wrong) I believe TJ was smoking pot!
On a PERSONAL level I really don’t care. I don’t do it myself and never have but for me potheads aren’t the end of the world.
Honestly I belive that heavy alcohol drinking is WORSE than pot-heads but with TJ is isn’t about what is better/worse. With TJ it comes down to this – can he follow directions?
Obviously not since he’s been busted 3 times. (In college to get into the program, in 2009 to miss 4 games and in 2010 to miss the season).
will he change and give the stuff up until he stops playing? Probably not, most potheads don’t. I like Sean Jones and the Grimm Reaper back there.
The Biggest area that needs to be address on defense is …welll….the DE and LB’s and CB.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:52 am
We’re talking weed, there are people in the league that have killed other people. I really could not care less about a guy sparking up after work. It does however show his incredible bad judgment, he had to know it would cost millions to get caught and he did it anyway.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:21 am
Scott, Couldnt agree any more.
Gtrlvr, “to bad its probably just a pipe dream” hahaha nice one…..Pipe Dream, perfect!
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:17 am
Realistically, he won’t be ready to play (or allowed to play) until after the season starts (full year suspension.) That means he can’t come to camp, OTA’s or … If they do bring him back, he’ll be playing in October, earliest.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:17 am
If he has spent this time off working on kicking the habit nad doing the rehab and all that than I have no prob with him coming back. Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to wake someone up and hopefully this was his floor.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:27 am
I’m for giving him a last chance as a backup with minimal salary.
If his head is on straight, then earn the starting job, THEN earn a contract.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:09 am
I’de like to see Tanard come back as FS and lets see how Grimm adopts to the Strong safety role. I Like Sean Jones but he doesnt seem to make the impact that Cody did at FS….Some guys just have “it”.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:44 am
Joe Says: December 22nd, 2010 at 2:15 am
I would like for Tanard to come back. The Bucs don’t have anything to lose in doing so.
Actually they do Gatorbuc15. If Jackson comes back and is given the starting job again, and he gets busted again, that’s basically like suffering a career-ending injury and the Bucs are back to square-one. Might as well wash hands of the guy and get someone in here who you can bank on.
I have to disagree Joe, This is as much of a risk as bringing Antonio Bryant to the Bucs originally. He was out of football for some time, If he had attitude problems we cut him.
The Bucs have shown they can maintain without him and just need to put more emphasis on depth which it looks they already have with Grimm and Asante may open some eyes.
The upside of this 26 yr old is far too high if he doesnt get High. We would kick ourselves for a while if we cut him and he went to play at a Pro Bowl level for the next 6-8 years.
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:57 am
THC jax is about as reliable as a sabby piscitelli open field tackle or raheem morris coherent press conference.
It would epitomize idiocy to include this chronic, pun intended, drug offender in your core future plans.
I will admit a stoned t jax is better than most on this porous d.
December 22nd, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I most look forward to the Codeman coming back, but I’d take TJax in a heartbeat. He just needs to spend some quality time with the Reverend Cleophus James, and get straight.
December 22nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Tanard and Cody starting would be awesome. Sean Jones is ok but he’d make a better backup/rotational guy than a starter.
If Tanard is able to come back and we have that dream combo of him and Cody, we still need to sign a safety from FA to provide depth. Let’s get a veteran so in case one of them gets injured we don’t have to let some rookie/practice squad guy ruin our playoff hopes.