Jeff Faine All But Punched His Ticket Out
February 18th, 2011
Joe’s had a rough few hours and it has nothing to do with too many beers but everything to do with alleged Bucs team captain Jeff Faine and his selfish words.
In light of Faine mocking his teammates for wanting to do whatever it takes to stay on top of their game during the expected lockout (as opposed to mouthing off on radio or selling shirts, perhaps), Joe believes Faine pretty much punched his ticket out of Tampa Bay with his comments Joe documented yesterday.
Let Joe tell you a story, in case you have missed it. Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has told this often on Sirius NFL Radio and to Joe’s good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620.
Joe’s going to paraphrase here but the words are pretty much verbatim as Joe has heard Dominik recite the story more than a few times.
It was last winter, a cold morning by Tampa Bay standards. But for front office employees, One Buc Palace was virtually empty. From his office, Dominik was on the phone speaking with Bucs president Joel Glazer about team matters when Dominik glanced out his window and saw Josh Freeman working on passes on the practice fields.
Dominik interrupted his conversation with Glazer, saying, “I just thought you’d like to know that your first round draft pick of a quarterback is out here on his own time trying to get better.”
Glazer, with the ugly memory of the Bucs’ three-win season fresh in his mind, retorts, “Well, shouldn’t they all be?” Dominik responds, “Well, yeah, they should be… “
Then fast-forward to Faine’s scoffing of Freeman trying to get his teammates together for workouts at local high schools since One Buc Palace will be off limits.
Just about every man (we all know the only people who do not have the NFL Network are those who visit an OB-GYN clinic) who has watched the “America’s Game” segment on the 1982 Redskins knows that the Redskins were so successful that year, in large part, because quarterback Joe Theismann gathered the Redskins together during the 1982 strike to practice daily. It wasn’t just a few offensive players, it was the team.
Not one player on that team suggests they didn’t have a leg up on the rest of the NFL because they were ready to roll once the strike was over.
Five years later there was another labor stoppage. Guess which team continued to work out on its own? Guess which team won the Super Bowl?
Yup, the Redskins.
So Faine mouthing off at his teammates wanting to better themselves in an effort to perhaps make a playoff run when there is a new CBA in place smacks Joe squarely in the face — a selfish player who is more concerned about a payday than his team’s success.
Not exactly the expected behavior of a respected team captain.
Given the fact the Bucs fared very well without Faine when Jeremy Zuttah played center, and that Faine has missed significant chunks of each of the past two seasons due to injury, as well as Faine getting sort of long-in-the-tooth for an NFL center, Joe’s going to guess it’s very likely we have seen the last of Faine in a Bucs uniform.
Now do not mistake this as some sort of agenda against Faine. Joe thinks he’s a good guy and has nothing against Faine. But given how surprised/unsettled Glazer was that the Bucs were not putting in extra hours to improve after one of the most dismal seasons in recent memory, Faine getting up in years, and now his damning words of his teammates efforts, in effect trying to Pearl Harbor any real momentum the team can generate in the labor stoppage by all but pleading with his teammates not to work out on their own, Joe would be shocked if Team Glazer brought him back for another season.
Let’s just say if it is up to Team Glazer, Faine will have plenty of time to devote to selling clothes at his Orlando haberdashery.
February 18th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Over paid and not needed.
February 18th, 2011 at 11:12 am
I liked faine and hoped we resigned him… until he said that. what a idiot.
February 18th, 2011 at 11:16 am
Im not so sure I would put the words and “Josh Freeman” and “Impossible” in the same sentence from what we have seen so far!!!
Anyone think we could get a 7th round pick for Faine ??
Maybe we could turn it into another Biggers, Grimm or a Watson
7th round picks from here forward will have such high expectations lol
February 18th, 2011 at 11:21 am
I really don’t think Faine was dissing the fact that Freeman would get some guys together and work out at highschools once players are locked out. I think what he was dissing was an organized-practice like setting where you have 5-6 WR’s going against 4-5 DB’s at an area practice field.
I would be shocked if Freeman wasn’t able to get a couple of each and do some casual stuff, and no doubt Freeman himself will do everything it takes to improve. But to get something formally organized – without any coaching – on a larger scale than that, I think Faine was just being a realist.
I HIGHLY doubt he was trying to hate on the franchise QB’s efforts, just trying to curb some of the perceptions out there that Freeman would be running practices at a highschool near you this summer.
February 18th, 2011 at 11:28 am
i almost guarantee bruce allen would give up a mid to late round pick for faine.
February 18th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Honestly, if he was trying to just curb some of the perceptions, he went about it entirely the wrong way. The way his statement came off was that his TEAM did not have the character and want to go out and practice with Freeman to make sure they are on top of their game when the lockout ceases. He might have been just saying those words because he is on the comittee, but the words came out in a really bad way.
I have read some of the posts that Joe has put on here, where he has taken the words of someone from the bucs and looked at them like they could have an alternate meaning, but this one I have to agree with Joe on. When I read these comments earlier today, I was pretty furious that someone, especially on of the team captains, would say something like this.
February 18th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Faine’s timeline goes a little something like this…
2 years ago super important
1 year ago key offensive lineman
today a turd
Zuttah outplayed Faine when he played center no doubt about it. Mocking the team leader’s efforts to make himself and the team better punched his ticket to free agency. Deuces Faine you were once good and welcome here, not anymore.
February 18th, 2011 at 11:40 am
Is that a mountain or a mole hill?
February 18th, 2011 at 11:44 am
Personally, I think JOE might be making more of or reading into his comments a little too much. They did not seem that bad to me. Maybe I’m just being naive, but I took at as Faine jsut thinking it would be hard to get all the guys need (WRs & DBs) together on a weekend to work out. Doesn’t mean some will not. Part of it is players live all over the country in the offseason. Back in the 1980’s players mostly moved to the city they played for.
Anyway, I think he should come back for the depth issue and I still think he is better than Zuttah at center.
What is his contract status?
February 18th, 2011 at 11:52 am
I think we’d be stupid not to keep Faine on our team, personally.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Dave .. this guy is the supposed team captain .. In What way did he lead or encourage his teams play with his dumb a** words ..
Why not just come out on the Race to ten and say .. “Its cute but not gonna happen”
If this is so tough .. Then why was Freeman able to pull it off last offseason ??
I saw Freeman throwing to Stovall, Stroughter, Stevens, Clayton and some others who was the bulk of the WRs at that point ….
Talib and some other DBs were there .. But the offseason is more about timing and getting in throws and routes for the receivers
Peyton Manning spent many of offseasons just working with Marvin Harrison .. and eventually Wayne joined in and others now .. But the point is they just worked at it
I get the feeling if Freeman calls a receiver .. AND they are healthy .. they will be where he says when he wants them there .. Just my opinion
February 18th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
He’ll be back.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
I’ve got a couple of thoughts on this….First Faine went about it completely the wrong way. No tact to it at all….no concern about how it would “play” with the TB fans.
But he’s the player rep for the team. As the players enter negotiations, if the owners know or believe that the players are going to go out and practice and do all the things they would be doing without a lockout then where is the motivation to get a deal done? As a matter of fact, it’s a major chip being taken off the table for the players.
Second is injuries. Again, not as a Buc player but as a player rep entering negotiations with the owners, Faine would have a point here. Heaven forbid you have a Robert Edwards type injury on a high school field while the players are locked out and not under contract. What would be an injured players recourse in that scenario if they were to sustain a serious injury? Again, I think it would take a major chip off the table for the players.
Personally, right now I’m on the players side but only because the owners refuse to open their books. If they do open their books and can prove that they are losing money or that their ROI is negligible then I’ll probably switch sides and say it’s time for the players to give a little. But in my opinion the owners need to be able to justify their demands for an extra billion and thus far they have not.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Wow, Joe I gotta say I agree with Dave and Leighroy here. I think you’re just inciting a lot of people over very little. I think he could have worded it better (and coming from ND I’m surprised he didn’t) but I read that point as being more related to the fact that despite Freeman’s plans to work and gather his offense in the off-season, you just can’t compensate for losing reps during OTA days and minicamps. It’s kind of like how in practice there’s a limit to how much you can gain from just doing a skeleton drill, as opposed to going against a full team. I don’t think he was mocking so much as trying to point out, that the extra work only helps so much and they need the full compliment of off-season work to really get to their goals.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
jvato24
Again, not saying some won’t work out, I just think Faine’s comments are overblowm. I could be wrong, hope I am not. We’ll see over time
February 18th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
CreamsiclePasties
Please. Dominik and Raheem have openly talked about the Bucs practicing offsite during the lockout. This is not some dark KGB secret. Hell, Raheem is even giving the players a syllabus of sorts on what to do during the lockout so they can be as best prepared as they can when play resumes.
No one knows for sure even if there will be a lockout, though it’s very likely if not very possible there will be one. Who here knows for a fact how many games if any will be lost? No one.
Gathering the team to work out during the labor stoppage is making the best of a bad situation which Faine doesn’t seem interested in. It appears Faine is more concerned about selling shirts.
Joe has heard many team executives speak on Sirius NFL Radio and virtually each one points to the Redskins working out on their own during the previous labor stoppages and how they won a Super Bowl each time because the team was focused on bettering themselves instead of b!tching and griping about a CBA.
Joe will have a post about this later or perhaps tomorrow, but a very prominent, popular Bucs player from their glory days — without naming names — scoffed at Faine’s contention.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
wow Joe, you are really overblowing his comments..any time, someone says something that can be taken the wrong way, you assume the worst and immediately wanna run them out of town…take a chill pill, faine didnt diss anybody on the bucs, he’s our players Rep, he’s trying to help the players cause in the negotiations…we need DEPTH on our football team, not to get rid of everyone you dont like anymore
February 18th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
I dont think it would be as big of a deal if he wasnt a team captain .. Plus his # of games missed keeps increasing every offseason
My bet is the Bucs will sign Davin Joeph and ask Faine to take a cut .. He will say no and that will probably be the end of him in Tampa.
What he said isnt totally a big deal .. but it is negative and saying Freeman cant put it together .. Makes it worse
February 18th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Another failure of the Gru and Allen era.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Joe said: “Joe has heard many team executives speak on Sirius NFL Radio and virtually each one points to the Redskins working out on their own during the previous labor stoppages and how they won a Super Bowl each time because the team was focused on bettering themselves instead of b!tching and griping about a CBA.”
I’m sure they do all point to the Redskins putting in work, and one major reason why the owners will have the upper hand when all is said and done is because the players (for the most part) love the game and can’t stay away. The owners look at it as a business, as they should….but it takes away from the sense of urgency needed to get a deal done.
Put it this way— if the owners cared as much about the game as the players do they would have at least opened up their books to the union. They haven’t. The owners don’t care about the game, they care about lining their pockets. I’ve got no problem with that….many of these men invested hundreds of millions of dollars into their franchises. But Faine coming out and saying it isn’t likely isn’t a knock against Freeman…at least i didn’t take it that way. I think it’s Faine trying to send a message to the execs and owners that “if we don’t work this out then you’ll have a terrible product next year.” It’s posturing during a negotiation…nothing more.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Bucs4ever:
Pppfffttt. Right.
Was Joe Theismann Pearl Harboring the NFLPA by organizing practices? Joe is confident Russ Grimm, Darrell Green, Jeff Bostic et al can’t sleep at night for the damage their quarterback did to their cause.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
CreamsiclePasties:
If Faine is truly posturing, then Joe will expect to see Faine on a high school field with Freeman this spring/summer. Sorry, there’s just no way to spin in a credible way what Faine said. Sorry.
Look, Joe is on the players’ side in this squabble but that doesn’t mean Freeman’s teammates should thumb their nose up at Freeman getting the team together for workouts. If anything, that should be lauded.
As for the owners “opening their books,” well, speaking of posturing… does anyone really believe if the owners did this the books in question wouldn’t be cooked? The NFLPA would have to hire teams of forensic CPAs to confirm and document the information would be accurate and the NFLPA isn’t about to do that.
“Opening the books” is an empty threat if not a non-issue. Owners: Here are books. Players: We don’t believe you. Owners: Go to hell. Public: Back to square one.
“Opening the books” is a hollow publicity stunt. Norhing more, nothing less.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
This just adds to my position that we should draft Pouncey in the first round so Free has a young center to grow with. And then use free agency to upgrade the defensive end position. I’ve always thought Faine was overrated and injured too often.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Is this really a big deal? Seems way over-blown to me. Did he scoff at Freeman trying to get the guys together or did he say that the productivity, attendance etc won’t be the same? That seems obvious to me.
Faine is merely articulating his point that these negotiations need not be received as having no detriment if resolved just before training camp. Faine is concerned that these public comments by Rah, Dom and Free will leave an impression that there is no nurgency to March 4th.
I think that he is right about that. Before practice at one buc: they is a practice plan, taping, stretching, coaches to work with individuals, then position groups, than offense and defense then entire team work – all of which is filmed and studied. Add in sport specific weight training and conditioning, then therapy etc – you have a lot that you wont get at the high school. That is what Faine is pointing out.
That is not to say, don’t practice during the lockout. Faine is just saying don’t publicize that you will be working hard during the lockout because it may reduce the public sense of urgency.
At the end of the day, the only way that these parties will agree on a new CBA is when they both recognize that they are doing more financial harm than good to themselves by not making concessions. The harm comes in the form of losing fans due to not having an actice product.
C’mon Joe, you know this.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
If Faine isn’t on the team next year, it won’t be because of these comments. This is being blown out of proportion.
February 18th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Joe said: “‘Opening the books’ is a hollow publicity stunt. Norhing more, nothing less.”
You could very well be correct about that but if I was negotiating a deal and one side said “we need you to accept less money because we’re hemmoraghing over on our side,” I’m going to say “fine, I have no problem with that but first I want you to show me how tough it is right now for you.” Anything other than that and you might as well just pull ur pants down and bend over for them.
If both sides want to get this done and want to negotiate in good faith then the owners would open their books (uncooked and raw baby), the players would take a look and work something out based on that info. But right now the owners want the players to negotiate in the dark. That is a bad way to negotiate.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
All-pro center….was nice having him around, but we can do better now. Plus it will free up money to go sign Bob Sanders!!!!!
February 18th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
I suspect Faine was giving some instruction on this from the players association. Perhaps they don’t want to lose leverage by engaging in organized practices.
The bucs have to tread lightly here. If they release Faine for this reason it is greivance city.
I am not sure I would engage in such practices. What if a player blows out a knee? Will he for sure get an inury settlement if the practice in unauthorized? That in itself would keep me away.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
It’s a mole hill!
February 18th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
“They might go out there and run some routes and throw. But you’re talking about getting an entire receiving corps together being able to work against an entire defensive backs corps. It’s just not going to happen.”
Thais what he said.
He is right.
The DBs won’t show up. The WRs won’t go full speed because of injury.
Overreaction Joe? why are you trashing this guy?
February 18th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I never really cared for Faine from the moment the Bucs first signed him. He spends too much time injured and just isn’t that impressive on the field. He is just another serviceable player like Barrett Ruud. Faine has to be the most overpaid player on the team. If you want to cut your payroll cost, Faine is a great place to start. He seems to be deeply involved in every kind of venture other than football. Seeya Jeff, enjoy watching the magic games.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Joe,
If you were a players agent would you advise your client to engage in these type workouts?
February 18th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
BigMac,
yea that’s just what we need, the lowest payroll in the league to shed more…smh dumbest statement ever
on a different note: any chance we take a shot at Bob Sanders? yes yes, he is injured alot, but he might come cheap, and it wouldnt hurt to try giving how we are lacking in the Safety department
February 18th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
eric:
Why not? Seriously. Joe cannot see how a team working out is going to undermine a union’s cause in any way. If anything being in quasi-football shape may prevent a career-ending injury. You know once the CBA is ready to go the owners are going to want to play games ASAP.
Again, did Joe Theismann organizing practices Pearl Harbor the NFLPA?
February 18th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Im with you Joe. Faine is more concerned with business interests than being an elite center on the field. His comments tell us all we need to know about where his head is at. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out Faine.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Faine simply stated that an informal gathering led by Josh Freeman is completely different than a training camp practice.
Isn’t he right?
February 18th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Joe here,
@Eric — Your question is a good one, but I can’t see why the agents would advise players not to run around in shorts and catch footballs with little to no contact. These guys are working out anyway doing all kinds of things. They can get hurt anywhere. …No reason to think this type of practice is more dangerous than anything else.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
But Joe,
What happens if Josh Freeman rips his rotator Cuff during an informal practice with no CBA in place at that time?
Would he be in the same posture as if it happened on the first day of training camp?
I dunno, but id dang sure find out.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Your probably right Joe, but if I had millions on the line id be damn careful.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
eric:
See what you are saying but this could be played out all the time. Demaryius Thomas blew a knee out a couple of weeks ago working out. You think his agent told him to stay out of shape?
These guys could blow out their knees playing basketball in a driveway.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Joe here,
@Eric — See above. …But Faine never used the words “training camp.” In OTAs in May the guys would normally be out there in shorts covering each other and running arond with no contact or pads (per union rules). …This would be the same thing.
Faine essentially saying that getting 8 guys and Freeman together to workout for 2 hours won’t happen. …And why the “F” not?
He cut the balls off the team leader with that comment. It didn’t serve anyone but the union cause.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Agree!
February 18th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Plenty of injuries have come from non-contact OTAs in the past. McCown comes to mind, when he injured his knee his first year here. Injuries happen, not all are contact related!
February 18th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Joe
He did mention training camp in that interview/article;
“We need preseason. We need training camp. We need the offseason,” Faine said. “I’m sure (general manager) Mark Dominik knows we need it, but his hands are tied. I hope (the Bucs owners) the Glazers know we need it.”
During Super Bowl week, Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman said he planned to organize workouts with receivers at local high schools or college fields in Tampa. Faine hopes that happens but says the effort could be futile.
“You’re not going to see Josh Freeman and our receiving corps down at the University of Tampa soccer field,” Faine said. “They might go out there and run some routes and throw. But you’re talking about getting an entire receiving corps together being able to work against an entire defensive backs corps. It’s just not going to happen.”
February 18th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Gotta be careful, you can trip over those mole hills!
February 18th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
oar said: “Plenty of injuries have come from non-contact OTAs in the past. McCown comes to mind, when he injured his knee his first year here. Injuries happen, not all are contact related!”
But the point is, if the injury occurs at a time when they are locked out with no CBA in place are they going to be able to access the same benefits they would if there were a CBA in place?
February 18th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
What if worms had guns? Then robins wouldn’t screw with them! 🙂
February 18th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Unless, they are those dang North American Kevlar Robins!
February 18th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
I understand injuries happen, like if Josh fell off a treadmill or something. I am just wondering what happens if that type of injury occurs with no CBA in place.
I imagine the new agreement would have to cover such things and they would be obligated to give him an injury settlement.
Wonder what would happen if he and winslow crashed on his motorcycle?
Sorry, i am thinking like a lawyer, not a young superstar QB.
February 18th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Bucs4ever, funny you call me stupid for wanting to get rid of the dead weight which is costing quite a bit, and then in the next sentence you suggest signing Bob Sanders on the cheap. Just because you have the lowest payroll in the league doesn’t mean you should pi$$ big money away on a marginal player. I know it’s Friday but Happy Hour doesn’t start until 3PM.
February 18th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
That’s why Joe loves ya eric! 🙂
February 18th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Whats wrong with Bringing him to camp? If he gets beat out consider cutting him. At least the guy is good insurance in case the proposed replacement gets hurt.
What do you gain by releasing him before camp? Not like we got a salary cap problem.
February 18th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Joe, as someone who reads daily and generally loves your work, I think you’re making more of this than it is.
Regardless, to say Faine would be on his way out because of THIS is crazy. (If you want to suggest it because of his play, salary, or age, okay.)
The fact is Faine is still a good player, a good player rep, and is well-liked by his teammates. He also plays center, which helps make the line calls (which isn’t trivial, at times). You’re also suggesting he be replaced by a guy who was decent at center, a disaster at guard, and who is lauded for his ability to BACK UP multiple positions. So we should chance it and go with him without competition? Uhh, no.
February 18th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Matt:
Joe did just that. 🙂 This latest little incident likely didn’t buy him any insurance with Team Glazer and Dominik. If anything it may have greased the wheels.
February 18th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Agree with those saying players ned to be wary of injuries, but it isn’t like they will be hitting, just running routes and covering. Nothing more strenuous than what they should already be doing anyway.
I do think the fact that most of them are not making big $$ helps actually. It seems they would be more inclined to get out there and work with Freeman to get better, especially after seeing what it did for him and Williams last year.
February 18th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Most serious foot, ankle and knee injuries happen not as a result of direct impact. Players tear achilles tendons and knee ligaments by cutting, planting and tripping. Also as eric pointed out, qb shoulders etc can be subject to injury- particularly when other elements of training are implemented.
February 18th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
freeman would still be trying to bring the guys together to work on timing even if the new cba were in place. he did the same thing last year.
February 18th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
i believe dom can get a late 2nd to early 3rd round pick for faine ….believe it
February 18th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
gobbucs
key words: “CBA were in place.”
February 18th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Faine is an aging player who was hurt much of the year and mediocre when healthy. He isn’t likely to get any better or become more injury resistant next year. The one thing he really had going for him as a reason for the Bucs to keep him was his status as a veteran locker room leader and now he has damaged that credibility. Now Faine is not a free agent so its not a matter of resigning him. Its not like they really need to cut Faine to drop some payroll. The payroll is already low. However, cutting Faine might make them more inclined to give Davin Joseph a big pay day. Im all for that. Cut Faine, start Zuttah, resign Joseph and draft a replacement for Faine.
February 18th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Thomas 2.2 Says:
February 18th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Most serious foot, ankle and knee injuries happen not as a result of direct impact. Players tear achilles tendons and knee ligaments by cutting, planting and tripping. Also as eric pointed out, qb shoulders etc can be subject to injury- particularly when other elements of training are implemented.
=======================================
Wow, you just pulled that out of your a** with zero basis to back up your point.
February 18th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Hey everyone should take it easy on Faine. I heard he was going to Wisconsin to protest with the teachers and other union thugs that are bitching and moaning because they actually have to contribute to their retirement and pay a portion of their healthcare….oh the shame of it all…the shame.
February 18th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Joe Says:
February 18th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
What if worms had guns? Then robins wouldn’t screw with them!
=========================================
Robin was playing with his worm again? What would Batman think? 😉
February 18th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
This injury ‘worry’ is a bunch of crap. You can get injured in a car wreck or walking on an uneven sidewalk….QB’s and their WR need one simple thing: TIMING.
That only happens with practice….practice and more practice….
February 18th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Who buys in and who doesn’t, it makes it easy if the players keep talking for the managment to make the right decisions. Who really wants a championship and to work for it, even when your back-up proves you weren’t missed all that much. I may have a man-crush on Freeman. I’m not too proud to say it. I want to see another Super Bowl win.
February 18th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Eric stop “thinking like a lawyer” that is what is wrong with our pc ball-less nation…ameba such as yourself has turned all commen sense into negotiable ego-centric bologna. By the way, I hate lawyers and think theyre everything wrong with America if you didn’t notice.
February 19th, 2011 at 12:18 am
@Joe: No, you didn’t say he’s gone b/c of age, injury, or play. Your title suggests he JUST punched his ticket. Which means he’s gone partially because of this. I’m saying, no, if he’s out it’s b/c if football issues, not b/c of his mouth.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:39 am
I’m curious but if Faine IS gone for the 2011 season would/could he [Faine] come back and claim unfair labor charges against the Bucs?
I mean he could use sites like JBF.com and in particular this post to say to the courts, “look I was let go/fired because of the things that I said to my fellow union teammates”. Just wondering…Eric?
February 19th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
WHY DOES THIS POST HAVE SO MANY MORE COMMENTS THAN JUSTIN”S MOCK DRAFT??????????? IS WORRYING ABOUT JEFF FREAKING FAINE MORE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE? IT SOMETIMES BOGGLES MY MIND WHAT JBF.COM POSTERS PREFER TO TALK ABOUT. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE MOCK DRAFT PEOPLE???? I THINK THE DRAFT IS A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW THAN THE FUTURE OF JEFF FAINE!!!!
February 19th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
WHO CARE WHO THE BUCS DRAFT THIS YEAR????? LETS ARGUE SOME MORE ABOUT THE MERITS OF JON GRUDEN AND JEFF FAINE- LMAO!!
February 19th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
And I would rather be talking about the draft but one more thing just occured to me– maybe Jeff Faine opened his fat mouth because he already realizes his injury guaranteed ass is out the door.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
gitarbro, I just don’t know what to say about it. There is just so much BS on here any more, and honestly I don’t know jack about this draft class. Very little anyway. I really liked Bama and think theyhave some studs, Ingram, Dareus and their TE, forgot his name. Gators sucked (oh hell blasphemy) FSU, Miami all marginal compared to most years past. I can’t stand Les Miles or LSU. I do like Spurrier and I wanted the Bucs to draft Benjarvis Greenellis a couple years ago. He was one of my favorite players that year. I loved Aaron Hernandez and Brandon Spikes. Belicheat took all my guys. I guess I wasn’t too far off he picked them. Last year Rolando McClain was my final pick after bouncing back and forth with Eric Berry, but now I’m glad we took GMC, but mcClain will be great. Maybe this Smith kid at DE is the guy for us. I sure hope so.
February 19th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Here’s my viewpoint:
I think Faine was saying it would be unlikely that the entire team of WRs and Secondary show up daily to practice. And I think he’s possibly right.
It’s easy to sit here and say it would be selfish not to show up, but without being covered by NFL medical, what if a career ending injury somehow occurs? That player would get no benefits as a result.
Add that they won’t get paid for practicing, there is a good chance more than one player will back out.
I don’t think that’s negative, I think it’s realistic. Yes, I think most will show up from time-to-time, but not for long.