Will Dominik Respond To Joseph’s Hints?
July 6th, 2011
At various times and in various forms recently, Davin Joseph has told the media he wants to see the Bucs re-sign his pal Jeremy Trueblood and Barrett Ruud so Joseph himself can feel good about re-signing with Tampa Bay.
For Joe, Joseph’s comments come off as a calculated, public squeeze play attempt on Mark Dominik. This doesn’t sit well with Joe.
Perhaps Joseph is just being honest. But are we really to believe he’s going to thumb his nose at a fat contract from the Bucs — a team he claims to love — because, say, the Bucs consider Trueblood replaceable?
Here’s Joseph’s latest, via Anwar Richardson of TBO.com.
“I love the coaches here, I love the players, love the community, but at the end of the day, it’s a business,” Joseph said. “That’s the heartbreaking part about it. There are some guys that you’ve trained next to for five years and now you have to say goodbye because at the end of the day it’s a business.
“Hopefully, everything makes sense with me getting back here in Tampa, bringing my buddy Blood (Trueblood) back and making sure things work out well for the team and making sure everything is going forward because after having such a great year last year, I would hate to think we would make too many changes.”
Joseph’s comment about things “going forward” might hold some water if the Bucs were 6-10 last year and not 10-6 with a young roster. Again, for Joe’s taste, Joseph seems far too concerned with playing GM.
Just take the forthcoming offfer, assuming it’s fair, appreciate that you’ve got talent behind you and around you, and flatten everyone in front of you.
July 6th, 2011 at 10:21 am
Sounds like what he is implying is that he will go to the highest bidder and he doesn’t believe that will be the Bucs.
July 6th, 2011 at 10:34 am
In the world of trash talk, what Joseph is doing is called “selling wolf tickets”. He’s standing up for his bud which is commendable. But he knows he can’t go anywhere else and take Trueblood with him. So he’s puffing himself up before negotiations to look fierce and intimidating ie, selling wolf tickets, knowing full well that Dominik will consider Trueblood on his own merits, not Joseph’s loyalty to a friend.
July 6th, 2011 at 11:02 am
“….at the end of the day it’s a business…”
This is negotiation in the media… simple and straight forward.
I have no problem with Davin making his desires known.
July 6th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Joe – I was thinking the same thing. This is not the first time he has mentioned this. We’ll see how much it means to him when a big fat pay raise is staring him in the face with a chance to win a championship. Still necessary that Blood signs with you? If the answer is yes, let him go to the the highest bidder along with Blood to a struggling franchise and we’ll let our Rock Star GM find his replacement.
July 6th, 2011 at 11:18 am
In the end, it’s none of Davin’s business who the Buccaneers decide to sign other than himself. If he thinks he can hold this “request” over the head of Mark Dominik, he is sadly mistaken IMO.
Dominik > Joseph, Trueblood or any other individual player with the possible exception of Josh Freeman.
July 6th, 2011 at 11:36 am
Wonder..if he’s willing to give up part of his salary to make it happen…
July 6th, 2011 at 11:41 am
i’m not reading too much into these comments. i think he just said exactly what was on his mind without any secret agenda.
July 6th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
He’s looking out for his buddy, who he knows is on the bubble
I’ve got absolutely zero problem with this…..at the end of the day, the Bucs will make an offer to Joseph and Trueblood’s status will have no impact on Josheph’s decision to stay or go
July 6th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
CreamsicleBananaHammock
I agree.
Not sure if he is just being honest or trying to influence negotiations and I don’t really think it matters because there is no doubt in my mind that the give him a long term deal that he accepts.
July 6th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@Joe
I love that line, lol.
As far as Joseph and his comments…I take this as a good sign. If he is increasingly making comments aobut contracts, that must means he thinks the lockout will end very soon.
The rest is just posturing.
July 6th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
if were not in a lockout then this isnt news because we would have him locked down by now. theres nothin to see here, but i gota agree that if his loyalty to Trueblood is greater than to the team who pays him then maybe we need to move on. i love Davin and hes a MAJOR part of the team and i dont wana lose him but at the end of the day “its a business”! LETS GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!
July 6th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
I have liked Davin, but he has not lived up to his 1’st round billing. He has had good games, but he’s had bad ones too. I’ve watched him a lot and believe he takes plays off. He can be mean and nasty but he lacks consistency. I would think a player would care more about winning than who he plays next to. If Davin leaves, I don’t think the Bucs will miss a beat. The young guards playing now have all done a better job. I would like to keep Trueblood as a backup, but for the money Davin probably wants, show him the door. We don’t need him, sign Nnamdi, a player that will make a difference. Of all of the Buc free agents, I hope they can keep Cadi, Hayward, and I’d like to see another year of Black. I think if Gruden had to do it over again he would not pick Davin Joseph. Great guy, probably was an excellent wrestler but he gets beat way too often for me.