Won’t “Overspend For A Dominant Pass Rusher”
January 11th, 2011_rdax_676x380.jpg)
A manbeast of a free agent defensive end coming to the Bucs next season would pump some serious juice into the Bucs defense and a team of defensive ends that had just 10 1/2 sacks for the 2010 season.
Will it happen? Ronde Barber doesn’t think so.
Speaking on 1010 AM to J.P. Peterson last week, Barber gave his take on the Bucs’ philosophy in free agency after watching Tampa Bay operate the past 14 years.
“Just based on how we’ve always built teams, I think they like young guys, guys they can mold into who they want them to be,” Barber said. “People want to say Simeon [Rice] was a free agent. Simeon came here for $1 million and went out and proved it and earned his contract that next year. That’s kind of how we’ve approached free agency over the years. And I think that’s how they’ll always approach it.”
“Our owners, our management have always done a good job not doing the right thing all the time but doing the smart thing. Doing the smart thing for the team that’s going to help us sustain over a period of time. …They’re not going to go overspend for a dominant pass rusher, especially a guy that’s hitting the market and his team doesn’t want him back. I don’t think that’s what we do.
“I would imagine we’ll continue to build through the draft. We’ll find the guys that we need through the bottom of the roster and guys that come to us via college this next season.”
Joe suspects Barber is on the money. But count Joe among those who believe free agency is about picking the right guy — whether he’s making $13 million a season or $1.3 million.
This is the same organization that pursued Brett Favre and Albert Haynesworth in consecutive offseasons, so it’s not like Team Glazer is averse to taking a shot.
January 11th, 2011 at 11:36 am
the only one of FA who deserves a shot is osi umenyiora
January 11th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Ronde is absolutely correct.
Everyone wants to use Simeon Rice as the example of why free agency works but no one remembers that he was basically here on a one year try out. I’m sure if Dom could get a deal like that he’d jump all over it but he’s not going to pay top dollar for any free agents.
January 11th, 2011 at 11:43 am
I’d love to see them make a run at Nandi, pair him with Talib and we’d have the best corner tandem in the league. What side would an OC scheme his passing game to?
January 11th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Joe,
“This is the same organization that pursued Brett Favre and Albert Haynesworth in consecutive offseasons, so it’s not like Team Glazer is averse to taking a shot.”
This is in no way the same organization that went after Brett Farve. That was all Gruden and Allen. Which by the way would have been a good fit for that particular team. But would be awful for a team like we have now.
As for the Albert Haynesworth example you are proving their point for them. That would have been a horrible signing and I think the realize that now. Isn’t it possible that they learned a lesson from their attempt to get Haynesworth?
January 11th, 2011 at 11:57 am
While I dont think they should break the bank for a FA either I would be very happy if they signed Ray Edwards to a deal especially if Dunbar came here.
January 11th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I almost forgot the ” Make me Rich McKay Contracts” days. Man could that guy spend money and give away 1st round draft picks.
January 11th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Read the title.
“GM Speak” has begun.
Got to loooove me some offseason.
January 11th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Ray Edwards would be a great pickup, but J.Johnson to the 49ers makes a lot of sense with Harbaugh there, the same 49ers that hold a 7th overall this draft and a chance at Ayers??
January 11th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
I agree that building throught the draft is the best policy, but if the Bucs persue one guy, I hope that its Charles Johnson. Dude had 11.5 sacks I think being the only good player on Carolina this past year and he is only 24. Seems like he would be a good fit.
January 11th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
There is noooooo way that Rivera lets Johnson go… Brown/Johnson/the other guy has that position set for years.
and yeah, they don’t want to pay for a coach, but they’ll pay for talent – especially defensive talent in this case.
Franchise Khalil, sign Brown… that’s what I’d do if I were running the kitties.
January 11th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
The best part of that article is Barber’s liberal use of the word “we.” Makes me optimistic about a return.
January 11th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
I would take a look at some of the teams in the league that run a 3-4 defense and may have drafted a really good college DE and miscast him as a Rush OLB. Guys like Vernon Gohlston and Aaron Maybin that will possibly be released this offseason. Or try throwing a 4th round pick to the Broncos for Robert Ayers. Obviously none of these guys have done a damn thing so far in the NFL, but they may just not be able to make the transition to OLB. All of them were very productive in college when they had thier hand on the ground.
January 11th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Actually I think Robert Ayers had like 7 CAREER Sacks at Tenessee .. Not what I would call extremely productive
January 11th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Richard Seymour, Ray Edwards, and Osi Umenyiora will all be available DE’s in free agency. Seymour is older at 30 or 31 i believe, but he’s still too good of a player to not consider. Ray Edwards is probably our best option as he’s still very young at 26.
We really need to be active in free agency. I don’t think asking for one big signing or two is a lot, considering that we have a lot of money available to spend and that doing that could really push us over the top.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:26 am
i think Ray Edwards is fools gold, Seymour cost 2 much and Gholston, Maybin and Ayers should look into tha UFL.