$10 Million Contract = Starter
August 11th, 2011
This Stroudnostication is from Sunday but still interesting regardless.
Esteemed St. Pete Times beat writer Rick Stroud believes Jeremy Trueblood is the anointed starter at right tackle because of his new contract — $10 million over two years.
Other predictions: Jeremy Trueblood will be the starting right tackle over James Lee. You don’t re-sign someone for $10 million over two years to be a backup.
And rookies Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers will be the starting defensive ends.
Joe’s not buying into Strouds’ logic.
First, it’s unknown how much of Trueblood’s deal is guaranteed money, which is the only number that’s relevant. What is known is that James Lee signed a tender worth about $2 million for 2010.
But if Trueblood is earning $3 million more than Lee this year, is that really enough for the Bucs to put their egos first and potentially play a guy charged with protecting Josh Freeman simply because he makes more money?
Golly, it was Joel Glazer himself who said “Money will never be an issue” when building the Bucs. Does Stroud think the owner is a liar?
Lee, however, might fall into Jeremy Zuttah territory, meaning the Bucs see his greatest value as a backup. Lee has played left tackle and probably is the guy the Bucs throw in the fire if Donald Penn went down.
Regardless, Joe hopes there’s a fair battle at right tackle.
August 11th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Best player will start. To believe otherwise is just silly.
August 11th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Byron Leftwich cosigns Meh…
August 11th, 2011 at 10:50 am
When was the last time Stroud was correct about anything?
August 11th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Really way off in regards to Bowers. They are going to be careful with him.
I suspect they will play him sparingly till they see how the knee holds up.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Trueblood was justed signed to Davin wouldn’t bitch
August 11th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
gah, gotta love auto-correct
August 11th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I think Stroud’s logic is reasonable — if Bucs’ management is willing to pay Trueblood $10mm over 2 years, the Bucs must think he’s top quality. And if they think that, then they’ve got be expecting him to start.
Thing is, I just don’t see what management sees. To me it looked like the Bucs got worse every time Trueblood stepped on the field.
In any case, I trust the coaches will go with the players that give the best chance to win, regardless of the analyses made during the offseason.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
More important than Trueblood’s contract is Morris and Dom’s contracts. If they want to stay employed, they have to win. The best player will start.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
I doubt he had much in the way of a signing bonus… much like the other players the Bucs re-signed. It is likely that the Bucs could cut him before this season or after and be let off the hook.
I’d like to know what’s going on with Demar Dotson. He’s huge, athletic, has a great frame, and can play either OT position.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
HolyBuc Says:
August 11th, 2011 at 10:50 am
When was the last time Stroud was correct about anything?
Stroud has been way off base lately but he predicted the Freeman pick in 09′, the GMC pick in 10′, and the Clayborne pick this year. I was wrong on all 3. I picked Percy Harvin, Eric Berry & Bowers, shows what I know, nothing.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
My understanding is that Dotson is Penn’s backup right now on the left side.
August 11th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
I almost never agree with Stroud, but in this case he is right.
I think people, including you, Joe, are allowing your personal opinions get in the way of predicting what the Buccaneers will actually do.
In this case, Stroud is using probability to make a prediction. Usually this makes him end up with pie in his face. But this time I think he managed to guess right.
For those wondering what the Bucs see in Trueblood…intimidation. He’s a big man with a mean attitude on the field. This is a key element in a offensive line.
So I agree with Stroud (can’t believe I’m say this). I think the only two ways Trueblood does not start is if he plays himself out of the job (he would have to start first to do that) or if he gets injured.
August 11th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Well. if Trueblood regains the form he had under Bill Muir then he is the better player. But I hesitate to assume that the the new o-line coach will automatically round Joseph and Trueblood into their pre-2009 forms.
August 11th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Pete, I don’t think it matters which one starts the season because in this war of attrition they will all get their shot. Look at last season, and really every season for the past 10 years it seems like they always have at least 10+ players on IR. Injuries ruined Chucky. He had a few really good teams decimated, but that’s all part of it. Next man up, right?