Barrett Ruud Is Gone
July 30th, 2011
Barrett Ruud, a middle linebacker who led the Bucs in tackles the past four seasons, is gone.
Jim Wyatt, a Tennessee Titans beat reporter for The Tennessean, Twittered earlier that Ruud signed a one-year deal with Tennessee today.
Just talked to LB Barrett Ruud. He said he has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Titans … Ruud has the reputation for being a very smart, and instinctive player. He’s regarded as a very good tackler.
As Wyatt later stated, this means Titans middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch isn’t just a free agent himself, but won’t return to the Titans.
Ruud, who was treated by too many — some with loud voices — in the area as if he had scurvy, will be one helluva hole to fill for Raheem Morris.
As Out House Network’s Drew Fellios Twittered tonight, “You are not the Bucs leading tackler for 4 years and University of Nebraska’s all-time leading tackler if you can’t play football.”
July 30th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
I’ve never been a supporter of Barrett Ruud, but I do think we lose out on a great deal of locker room leadership. There’s a lot to be said for a guy who’s teammates respect and listen when he speaks. Although I think it’s telling that he received only a 1 year deal. Either Ruud bit his nose off to spite his face and took his first ticket out of town after succumbing to the public pressure or the Bucs never made him an offer…
Either way, I wish him well. I’ll be the first to say I was wrong if he succeeds. If you’re gonna bag on guys like Talib, you should tip your cap to a professional football player who respects the game and walks the straight and narrow path. For every Talib in the NFL there are 5 Barrett Ruuds.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
You know you’re not losing much when the “loss” settles for a 1-year deal. Big hole to fill…yeah you’re right Ruud dug us a huge hole at the MLB position, and he dug it by having ballcarriers drag him across a field.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
PLEASE dont rely on Mckenzie or Foster this year, sign a good young MLB, foster can play the other linebacker positons.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
I swear I can hear angels singing right now. Halleluja!
July 30th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
lol Shayne. There aren’t any “good young LBers” out there to sign. If they want young they’ll stick with what they got. If they want someone proven they will go out and get a Barnett or a Crowder.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
Bite the bullet and put one if the young guys in. Gotta happen sooner or later. They won’t learn anything by sitting behind a Channing Crowder, Nick Barnett, or Stephen Tulloch. Sooner they learn the position the better off the defense will be in the long run.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
One year deal! Thats code for you are a washed up bum veteran but we are desperate to fill a hole so we will tolerate you for one season until we can draft you replacement next offseason. My namesake Ian is somewhere having a well deserved last laugh right now.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
I’m surprised the Bucs didn’t match the 1 year offer and keep him. I would have been a big fan of that route. I also wonder if Tennessee was his first offer or his only offer thus far… it tells you a lot about his market value.
Oh well. Raheem will spit out the “rosetta stone” of coaching they have to get Tyrone ready to start day 1. I’ll cross my fingers it all works out
July 30th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Why is this necessarily good news? We have McKenzie, who was just on the practice squad a year ago, and a 3rd round rookie as our middle linebackers. If you guys think our defense will be any better next year, it won’t. Our D line got even younger and now we’ll have a rookie in the middle of the defense.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
I really wished we wouldve gone after Amobi Okoye. The kid is 24. He’s played in the league 4 years. He had 5.5 sacks his rookie year while running in the 4-3, then they switched to the 3-4 and he had a 1,1, 4(I think on that 4). Wouldn’t he fit perfectly with this team?? He only got a 1-year deal from the Bears. I think that was a missed opportunity.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
lol @bonesmahoney. No good young linebackers? so you’re saying Tulloch is old and hes bad.. naw. Theres other solid young linebackers out there to but Tulloch would my choice.
@Tommy Boy
How would they not learn something behind a guy that has more experience then them? a Guy like Tulloch for Barnett could definetely help out really young linebackers like Foster and Mckenzie..
All i’m saying is we have a roster with young talent and we can make a playoff run this year, but I would be more confident in making the playoffs this year with an experienced Linebacker, not Mckenzie or Foster. Not saying there bad football players because I think they both have very bright futures for the bucs, but not reliable enough to start next year.
July 30th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Yes Shayne, we’ll just go out and sign a good young LB because everybody knows they grow on trees. Have a little freaking faith.
Look at the guys the Bucs have cut loose recently and how no other teams cared to pick them up. In 2009, only Cato June got a contract. In 2010, Clayton didn’t get a contract until the season started. These guys get cut and don’t catch on with somebody for a reason-they can’t play (Clayton, J. Stevens) or they don’t have anything left (Brooks, K. Carter, J. Phillips)
July 30th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
1 year? Desperation to leave the bucs for sure. Hope he stays healthy this year, and can get a more secure contract later. He was the qb of the defense, but at times looked like a qb backing up from contact.
Hardy clone anywhere? Put Barber in the middle, he was covering LB’s asses all last season.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
good luck ruud but its time to move on and trust in both, mckenzie and foster, if something i learned this couple of seasons is trust in rah and dom, look at freeman, all the rookies last season, im waiting and hoping just the best!!!!
July 30th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
I doubt that Ruud would have been much of a “leader” this season with guys knowing that he’s just here short term.
Lets let those young guys fight it out and may the nastiest, roughest, hard hitting LB win that spot. We may be in for a few high scoring games this season, but it’ll all work out in the long term.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
“Sooner they learn the position the better off the defense will be in the long run.”
Tell me…..how much longer are we always going to be thinking about “the long run”? We’re now in year 3 of the Morris-Dom rebuilding era and after going 10-6 last year, I’m thinking this team would want to try to make a serious push for the playoffs next year. We could EASILY do it if added a couple of key free agent pieces. I thought that’s how it was supposed to be. Build your core thru the draft then pile on some free agents.
This team really could be so much better right now. So much potential to go far next year if they just did a little extra and SPENT a little more. Don’t be so sure the Bucs will make the playoffs next year, cause I’m not completely confident they will. The schedule is much harder, and yes it’s a fact the schedule had something to do with the 10-6 record last year.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
And the Foster Era begins! Now we can start seeing some running backs getting smacked the moment they touch the football. Not five plus yards latter. Let’s get this season started
July 30th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
I’m not having palpitations because Ruud is leaving and I fully expect for him to do just fine at the Titans. And likewise, the Bucs are going to make the necessary adjustments and continue in it’s quest to rebuild their team, and I expect them to play very well without him. This is football, happens every season, and this season is exceptional. Practically every team is restructuring in one way or another. It’s exciting!! The Bucs will have some growing pains, but they were going to have those whether Ruud left or stayed. I think we are going to be pleasantly surprised at how well our young team performs this year. I’m looking forward to it!!
July 30th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
1 year, 4 million. If we wouldn’t match that, then I think that says it all of what the team actually thought of Ruud’s talents.
Raheem was quoted as saying T-Mack is a “thumper” in his day-1 press conference. We’re all going to get what we want now anyway!! Couldn’t be better news to have this over and done with.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
i dont understand why tulloch would help us, if we think we can do better than ruud then why go get a guy who the titans clearly think is not as good as ruud?
July 30th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Unrelated topic…
Good to see the bucs presenting this kid with a free trip to Hawaii. ABC news just showed footage of Aqib Talib and Raheem presenting the kid with his “golden ticket.” Nice PR move right there I guess, having Talib front and center in a feel good story.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
@Brandon
I do have faith.. in Foster and Mckenzie both, but not enough faith for them to lead the defense this year.. Why not add a football player that can contribute to a team? we’ve signed one fkn FA and it was a punter, upgrade our MLB with a FA.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
If things don’t work out with this current crop of Mike’s…Let the VONTAZE BURFICT SWEEPSTAKES BEGIN!!!!. A good friend of mine that’s in area scout in the southwest. Told me come watch in ASU game. All I can tell you is I’ve never seen anything like this kid before. He is an all out BEAST. Don’t get me wrong the kid has his faults. Acts a bit immature at times. And he gets lost on zone coverage at times. But I’ve Never seen a kid plant his feet and pop like this young man. He’s a sideline to sideline nightmare! Youtube the kid if you dont’ believe me. He destroys the biggest of running backs.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
He’s a Junior at Arizona St. this year.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:39 pm
I didn’t see the $ value of the one year. I have heard that the bucs offered more but Barrett decided to take the Titans offer bc he felt that he was treated poorly by the org. He fell in that Penn, Vincent Jackson window where he had 6 restricted years and felt that the bucs owed him, based on verbal exchanges, bc he did not hold out.
I wish Barrett well. Foster will not equal Ruud in 2011. maybe someday, but not for a while. I hate the Glazers.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:44 pm
All you t Mac lovers need to relax. Bellichick knows talent and determined that t Mac, mostly due to injuries, couldn’t play in the NFL. If the bucs thought that t Mac was the solution, they would not have jumped on foster, and mark d wouldn’t have slobbered on foster and nit t Mac at the news conference.
Foster is the guy.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
The value of the one year deal is irrelevant. One year deals are given to players who a team has little faith in or if they are returning from an injury or something that makes them an unknown quantity. The Titans know exactly what they are getting with Ruud and they aren’t in love with it. Its a one year stop-gap deal for a guy they are surely going to look to upgrade from in the draft next year, as the Bucs did this year. The next step after a vet starts getting one year deals is to be out of the league entirely and Ruud is clearly not going to be one those guys who plays well into his 30’s or else he wouldn’t be getting stiffed with a one year deal IN HIS FIRST FREE AGENCY. Good players get multi-year deals when they first hit the free agent market. The market doesn’t consider Ruud a good player. Period. End of story. You can have your fan opinion but the personnel men of the NFL have spoken and they apparently don’t think diddly squat of gentleman Ruud.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
I have “heard” I don’t think your own head counts as a news source. If Ruud wanted to be here he would have came to Freeman and McKenzie’s mini-camp. That’s your new leader on defense a “thumper” in the mike. Next year Foster will be playing Will he won’t be able to take the mike from McKenzie.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Why hate the Glazers? They didn’t make this decision, Dominik did. He had the opportunity to keep Ruud at whatever salary and chose not to. It was a talent-based decision for the Bucs…not a financial one. Ruud was not the future so why prolong the inevitable?
Just like with Freeman, you have to let them learn and best to let them take their licks sooner rather than later. You’ll see a rookie in Foster or a near-rookie in McKenzie start at MLB. So be it. I’m looking forward to it.
July 30th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
So now it is either Black calling the audibles from the Sam spot, or it is McKenzie starting at MLB…. Or it is the Bucs washing this season for the hopes at a run next. Either way it is exciting to see what we are going to do with these young guys. It work well last year.
July 31st, 2011 at 12:01 am
ruud knew he wasnt coming back and his actions paint that clearly in retrospect it was the suits not the coaches or players he had beef with.
that is why him and (i believe it was mckenzie) went over gametape and playbooks up where ruud lives. Because ruud didnt want to give the finger to his team, just the organization. he still cares for the team but knew early on he was not coming back
it seems apparent in retrospect. Ruud is a classy guy proud but classy
July 31st, 2011 at 12:01 am
at least we wont be seeing ivory rum him over like he did in the final game against the Saints. For a reminder check the 9 minute mark in the first quarter. All you hear Billick say is “uhh he is a good tackler”
July 31st, 2011 at 12:07 am
Wow, I sure didn’t see this one coming. I can’t believe they Just let Ruud go.
Who’s gonna call the plays?
No pain, no gain.
July 31st, 2011 at 12:14 am
Titans: there’s a sucker born every minute!
July 31st, 2011 at 12:16 am
@Thomas I’m sure you hate our own shadow. Then again, you loathe so bad about everyone else and it probably has a lot to do with an inferiority complex.
Do you ever wonder why so many people dislike you? Isn’t it even more upsetting that they don’t even really know you? That has got to suck! You are disliked by people who don’t even know you. I mean, to be despised by so many while you think you are just misunderstood….. I’m sorry for you, Thomas. I just hope, for your sake, some happiness enters your life. Because as of now, your life expectancy is not as long as the rest of us happy people.
I know someday it will click and that bug up your hoohah will recede and you will finally be able to live a happy fulfilling life. Until then, know that I love you. I wish the best for you and I want nothing but happiness for you. I just plead you will stop trying to upset the lives of others with your aimed attacks purposefully meant to promote hatred and angst.
You could be a good guy. It is in you. All you need to do is let go of the anger and embrace the happiness.Just live happy, my brother. Live happy.
July 31st, 2011 at 12:40 am
^ Ruud is that you?
July 31st, 2011 at 12:52 am
Morris already said that Foster will NOT be calling the plays. So it’s TM or QB. Or a vet, if the bring one in. But it doesn’t look like that is going to happen.
July 31st, 2011 at 12:53 am
dont whine if we dont get a better mlb we all asked for this lets hope mark knows something we dont…and thomas your an idiot dude…go away, far away!! if you had life i would tell you to get one!!!
July 31st, 2011 at 1:00 am
@bucswin I posted this earlier “So now it is either Black calling the audibles from the Sam spot, or it is McKenzie starting at MLB…. Or it is the Bucs washing this season for the hopes at a run next. Either way it is exciting to see what we are going to do with these young guys. It work well last year.”
That “wash” line implied Foster calling the plays.
Brooks called the plays for a long time from the Will spot. There is nothing that says our team can’t have someone calling the plays from the Sam spot. If Foster is the starter, Foster is not the play caller. If McKenzie is the starter, I’m not even sure he is the play caller but he would be a better play caller than Foster. Unless Foster shows a crazy unheard of learning curve, I don’t see him the “leader/play caller” of the defense. Morris isn’t anywhere near that dumb to give a player the reigns who can’t handle it… And lets not compare that portion to Freeman. Totally different situation.
July 31st, 2011 at 1:04 am
@fridgebob What does Ruud have to do with anything I posted?
July 31st, 2011 at 1:06 am
And bucswin, I wasn’t arguing anything you wrote. Only clarifying it. You were right on cue.
July 31st, 2011 at 1:19 am
I look forward to seeing whomever the Bucs decide on play MLB. Foster? McKenzie? It all depends who plays well during the course of the next few weeks. The Buccaneers obviously were as disappointed in Ruud as many fans were. So be it, let’s wait and see what happens. For all we know we’ll bring in a stop gap guy for a year or two but it will not be for much money. That money will be needed to sign our own young stars before too long.
Educated Buccaneer fans already know that but I’m typing it in hopes the Madden crowd can grow up and pay attention………ducking….LOL
July 31st, 2011 at 1:38 am
Thomas the Glazers cannot muscle a mediocre into signing a contract. Do you really want a player that feelings are hurt because I as a fan rips him for his weak play? Uh, no. That goes against every principle that this team is trying to establish as a mentally tough and physically tough hard-nosed football team. Don’t worry the long term success will make you forget about Ruud before long. He can’t even hold the jock straps of his predecessors. I don’t care of it’s Foster or McKenzie, train them and let them make mistakes as long as they’re growing and playing the position naturally. Goodbye Ruud, it has been so good watching you make a mockery of those who played before you.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:01 am
One year 4 Million? That wasn’t the first ship; that was the only ship to come in with any interest in Ruud. No player would EVER sign a one year deal unless they had no other options. What happened to the Giants and the mutiple Pro Bowls Ruud was going to recieve? Didn’t someone promise to take a hike for a month? Ian Beckles actually had the balls to say what everyone else in the world was thinking. That is except for the select few who thought he was a superstar pro bowl player.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:10 am
I say bring in Tulloch. I like him better than Ruud, but the fact that Titans don’t is curious.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:43 am
1 year just shows everyone in the NFL sees what we saw
July 31st, 2011 at 8:55 am
Well be prepared to lose to the titans its a known fact when a player is released and they get a stellar opportunity to beat his former team the bucs lose that match up 90% of the time. RUUD gone yall can’t seriously think its ok.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:59 am
@tj no its called they offered he bit because he had a premonition that we was going crudd on contract negotiations..he’ll get another contract they just wanna see if he’ll fit in with there scheme.
July 31st, 2011 at 9:07 am
Sorry, but that makes absolutely no sense at all!
July 31st, 2011 at 9:21 am
Shayne Says:
July 30th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
PLEASE dont rely on Mckenzie or Foster this year, sign a good young MLB, foster can play the other linebacker positons.
Shayne Says:
July 30th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
lol @bonesmahoney. No good young linebackers? so you’re saying Tulloch is old and hes bad.. naw. Theres other solid young linebackers out there to but Tulloch would my choice.
There are not any good young ones out there. Ruud replaces Tulloch for a reason.
But that’s not the main reason not to sign a young vet. Foster is the guy. Period. The talk about McKenzie is just talk. He might be okay, but he’s not going to be the heir to Ruud. Foster is.
If you bring in a young vet, how do you tell that young vet to step down when Foster is ready? Especially if he is doing an okay job.
Foster, hopefully, will do a great job.
July 31st, 2011 at 9:31 am
@Thomas 2.2 – You heard the Bucs offered more money and Ruud turned them down? I guess it’s never too early for false, revisionist history.
July 31st, 2011 at 9:44 am
I guess we will all find out if the inability to stop the run was Mr. Ruud’s fault.
July 31st, 2011 at 10:44 am
REALLY BUCSALLTHEWAY???? In case you didn’t know Legarrette BLount was cut by the Titans and he is actually an angry guy who looks to take revenge. I think he will be a little more motivated to prove the Titans what idiots they were for cutting him than Ruud will be at the Bucs. Knowing gentleman Ruud he will probably take his foot off the gas even more than normal not wanting to risk hurting one of his friends on the Bucs since apparently they all thought he was a great leader and wanted him back. Blount, on the other hand, will be out for blood. I won’t be shocked if ends up punching somebody and I won’t care either.
July 31st, 2011 at 10:49 am
Yes gentlemen, i believe that the bucs, at a minimum previously, offered better deals to ruud that he turned down believing that he was told that a big deal would be forthcoming back in 2009.
I do not know what, or if, the bucs offered him last week. I firmly believe that unless the bucs offered him what he believed he was promised, he was going to leave. Ruud was pissed at Dom for what Ruud believed was bad treatment. The team restricted him when he had peak value bc he happened to have a contract that expired right when the cba ended which eliminated his freedom. You would be pissed too, particularly if your boss said dont worry, we will take care of you. Players often take 1 year deals over longer term deals if the 1 year guarantee is close to the multi year guarantee.
Replacing Tulloch with Ruud suggests that Tenn believes that Ruud is on par, quite a compliment.
July 31st, 2011 at 11:20 am
Ruud, with his puny little whiny A$$, earned over $3 Mil last year for being average and defining mediocrity. I wish my boss would mistreat me like that.
Ruud may very well get cut in the next month or so when they see him getting towed down the field by RB’s. I said Dom would let him go, now I’m saying the Titans will do the same sooner rather than later.
July 31st, 2011 at 11:51 am
I doubt the Bucs offered Ruud a damn thing. I think the moment their turn came up in Rd.3 and Mason Foster was still on the board, Dominik wrote Ruud off for good.
July 31st, 2011 at 1:27 pm
@ HGO
u made an argument for why the Bucs should’ve tried to pick up Amobi Okoye. u said after his rookie year they switched to the 3-4 and that is why his production slipped. that isn’t true. they are switching to the 3-4 this year because they brought in Wade Phillips….they have used the 3-4 in the past, but they have been a 4-3 team every year Mario Williams has been in the league (which was before Okoye). just thought i should point that out to u.