Will Bucs Move On Their Own Free Agents?
January 18th, 2011
With literally hundreds more free agents than usual on the market this offseason, and a possible long delay of unrestricted free agency because of a player lockout in March, it’s nearly impossible to predict how free agency will play out in 2011.
Instead of signing guys in March, teams could be scrambling in August or September to interview and sign players in a super small time window.
Players could end up jumping at offers faster for fear of missing out, and teams might be throwing mad money around if there’s a higher salary cap, a rookie pay scale and massive time pressure to build a roster.
Crazy fun times are coming, for sure.
But before that happens and players and owners reach some sort of new labor agreement, NFL clubs can re-sign their own players before the expected March lockout.
Gregg Rosenthal, of ProFootballTalk.com, notes that the Seahawks already have re-signed two receivers.
NFL teams can hide behind waiting for a labor agreement before making plans for 2011, but it’s ultimately a copout. The Seahawks are proof. They’ve already re-signed receivers Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu to long-term deals this month.
During a postseason interview on WDAE-AM 620, Mark Dominik acknowledged that locking up some free-agent-to-be Bucs before a lockout was being considered.
Logistically, one would think the Bucs would be wise to try. Why run the risk of losing key players in the wild frenzy of what will be 2011 free agency? Per the Tampa Tribune, the Bucs have 13 unrestricted free agents and more that are restricted. What a challenge it would be to negotiate with all those agents and check out players on other teams in a very tight timetable.
Joe wouldn’t be shocked at all if the Bucs make a play this winter on the guys they absolutely want back. Joe would think Cadillac Williams and Micheal Spurlock would be on the short list.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
If we can re-sign them now, there is no reason to wait. The new CBA should not stop good faith efforts to sign our own.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
The Glazers will only allow the signing of their own FA’s early if it is at a HUGE discount.
The bucs FA’s should not do that b/c there will be organizations out there willing to pay market value now even with the CBA uncertainty.
I will be surprised maybe shocked if any Buc FA gets a BUC FA deal at market value.
But since around here we believe in build through the draft who needs FA’s anyway? Most are in their late 20’s which is ancient around here.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
I would think that no FA would want to sign now. If they really believe the cap is going up, I would wanna wait to see how much more money was thrown in the kitty.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Joe,
Can you or someone else please supply a list of our free agents to be? Thanks.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Unrestricted free agents
Player is free to negotiate with any team
CB Ronde Barber – Can continue playing if he desires
LB Quincy Black – Solid player, but market determines fate
DL Tim Crowder – Made $545,000 in 2010; gets paid in 2011
TE John Gilmore – Hard to beat his stability and dedication
LB Adam Hayward – Key special teams performer, solid backup
G Davin Joseph – Pro Bowl-caliber right guard
LB Niko Koutouvides – Solid special teams contributor
LB Barrett Ruud – Underappreciated or overrated?
WR Micheal Spurlock – Well-rounded and emerging threat
WR Maurice Stovall – Never made impact in passing game
T Jeremy Trueblood – Lost starting job during season
DE Stylez G. White – Bucs will be looking for upgrade
RB Cadillac Williams – Plans to test the market
Restricted free agents
Bucs can match any offer or receive compensation
LB Michael Bennett – Bucs love his upside
RB Kareem Huggins – Lightning to Blount’s thunder
S Corey Lynch – Solid backup, but Bucs have options
CB Elbert Mack – A favorite of Coach Raheem Morris
Exclusive-rights free agents
Player can sign only with the Bucs if offer is made
QB Rudy Carpenter – Will be back with Tampa
OL Demar Dotson – Provides offensive line depth
OL James Lee – Likely starter at right tackle
January 18th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Just announced Ronde will return
January 18th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Good to see Ronde is returning. Assuming we pay what he thinks he is worth. I also read this which makes me wonder if Steve White could be offered the defensive quality control coaching. That’s an entry level position.
“Morris said that linebackers coach Joe Baker will return. Defensive line coach Todd Wash will not. Morris said he is looking for Wash’s replacement, as well as a defensive quality control coach to assist at another position. He said he doesn’t anticipate any other staff changes.”
January 18th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Go Ronde!
What’s interesting is that not only did he say he’d be back, but that’d he would unequivocally START.
“It’s just a matter of deciding how much he’s worth and all that. But our starting right cornerback will be back. He’ll be our starting right corner as long as he keeps playing at a high level. “
January 18th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
G Davin Joseph – Pro Bowl-caliber right guard ~ Really where do you see this? I for one am not that impressed by Joseph, maybe it is that he has maxed out as a NFL player or he has not had stellar support form the RT position but I don’t see him as being of the Pro Bowl caliber RG. A good RG yeah but a Pro Bowl caliber RG no…. How long have we waited for him to “show”us how good he is? At his 5th season shouldn’t we have seen him blowing huge holes in opposing D-lines on a consistent level? IMO
January 18th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
RustyRhino- yup! Did anyone see any big fall off when he wasn’t playing? Faine? Trueblood? I sure didn’t. I actually commented that Run game and Pass protection improved as starters fell by the way side. Must be Chemistry or something, but that group was never as good as it’s parts seemed to dictate! I have always thought they were major underachievers. Really liked some of the young players though! IMO- Penn is the only “Great” lineman we have. And he is really unbelievably good. The rest- average except in salary!
January 18th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Say NO to Ruud
January 18th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Easy guys…jfgobucs just copuied and pasted the list from another site. I read the same list. The points after the name were written by one of the local news paper guys, I can not remember who. I also wonder why he thinks C Williams will test the pool.
January 18th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Just because the SEAHAWKS do something, doesn’t mean it’s a GOOD idea.
January 18th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
McBuc, pewter reports:
“I mean, I am a free agent so I’m going to explore my options,” said Williams. “The Bucs have been good to me. You know I love playing here. The fan base is awesome. We’ll see how things go.”
January 18th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
k1ngAdroc…Well, I guess you do not get much clearer than that…Thanks King, I am a member of PR but have not logged on in a while.
January 18th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Spurlock has a better chance 2 come back than Caddy does. We’re not gonna give him a pay raise 2 be a 3rd down back. He was paid 2.4 million this season. Spurlock makes less while playing on Special Teams and filling in at WR.
January 18th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
I really hope they resign Davin Joseph. He may not be an all pro guard but nobody should kid themselves into thinking Derek Hardman is better than him at this point. Im glad a guy like Hardman is on the team but he’s the kind of guy who be nice to have as depth and not as a starter. If they let Joseph go they HAVE to draft another guard HIGH. What is the point? Keep the guy you have. If they can’t even poney up enough money to sign Davin Joseph then I can’t believe they are serious about contending next year. I really hope they sign Gilmore and Hayward too. Gilmore is a reliable blocking tight end which is a big deal when your starter Kellen Winslow might be the worst blocking tight end in football. Hayward deserves a shot at a starting job. Spurlock is nice but isn’t so great a returner he’s worth overpaying for if the Chargers make a hard play for him. Everyone else on the list I wouldn’t cry over(im assuming Barber is already a foregone conclusion).
January 18th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Davin Joseph, if healthy, will have a pro bowl year. Watch.
January 19th, 2011 at 1:11 am
i have to say that i pretty much agree with the notes beside the players mentioned above.
Barber, Black, Crowder, gille, hayward, joseph, spurlock and TRUEBLOOD are all very valuable to this team and must be signed……… might get some flak for that but True is playing better with the Lee competition. I think he might be better off the bench, platooning.
Barrett – Under-appreciated or overrated??? a little bit of both. We need him locked up.(made a great play in NO game on the goal-line FF after getting caught with his pants on the ground and Jewuked out his cleats in the plays before….. I agree we draft a LB within 1-3 rounds.
Willis, Lewis, Urlocker, Timmons and Harrison, , Tatupu, Curry, a.j. Hawk and Clay Matthews, on and on and on
Let’s get hardy Nickerson again. when he got signed everyone know the center of the defense was going to be handled.
We need a linebacker that is going to set the tone in the run game and the short crossing patterns and underneath stuff. BANG! EVERYTIME SOMEONE IS IN THE LB ZONE they are gettin LIT UP.
Rudd can still function in this D. We can find a place.
Stylez – see ya
Keep Cadillac!!!
the rest are the organizations thumb and we can retain those as needed.