“We Could Use Some Key Pieces In Free Agency”
January 13th, 2012
Bucs offensive linemen love to play general manager.
First it was Donald Penn giving an analytical call for free agents, specifically a need for rosterwide competition and a burner at wide receiver.
Now Davin Joseph has stepped to the plate to say the Bucs are ready to move to Phase 2 of the build-through-the-draft plan, so he outlined on Primetime on WHBO-AM 1040 this week.
“I really think we are at the time right now where we could definitely use some pieces,” Joseph said. “You know, we’ve gone about building our team through the draft and we have a lot of great young players that still haven’t had a chance to really develop. And so we’re excited for that. But right now we could use some key pieces in free agency to bring some guys here that can play some serious football.
“With the new CBA, of course, the strategy behind that was to encourage owners to spend money. And with them not having much of a choice now, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of guys they go get.”
Joe wonders how many other Bucs players want to see the Bucs become serious players in free agency?
During the interview, Joseph also talked about grabbing a cornerback, safety or linebacker high in the 2012 NFL draft, or a big, physical receiver. Overall, Joseph said he’d like to see the Bucs draft the best available player. The Pro Bowl guard added the Bucs are missing a “big playmaker” on special teams.
Joe suspects some fans wouldn’t mind Joseph and Penn actually taking over general manager duties, but Joe’s just fine with rockstar GM Mark Dominik.
January 13th, 2012 at 9:07 am
I love your last statement Joe. Stick with it through the thick and then man.
January 13th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Some key pieces, how about at least:
2 Corners – I’ll take 2 of these 3 C. Finnigan, Terrell Thomas, Brent Grimes, Brandon Carr
2 LB’s – 2 of these Stephen Tulloch, D’Qwell Jackson, Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorn
1 Safety – Laron Landry, Mike Griffen, Tyvon Branch
1 #1 WR – V. Jackson, D. Jackson, B. Lloyd
I count a minimum of 6 places where we need key FA’s
January 13th, 2012 at 9:29 am
The weaknesses on this team is obvious to everybody. Spend some $$$$ and get FA’s and draft well and we will be competitive again. Key here is spending $$$. We shall see, but past history isn’t looking to promising.
January 13th, 2012 at 9:49 am
are obvious
January 13th, 2012 at 9:51 am
@joe.. You are in the minority..
January 13th, 2012 at 10:07 am
Open to dom getting second chance unless he introduces Sherman as head coach. Or chilly.
As Vito said “then I will not forgive and I will start blaming some of the people in this room. But for now I will not be the one to break the peace”
Show us something please.
January 13th, 2012 at 10:37 am
LOL eric, are you suggesting Joel Glazer is Don Vito Corleone? LOL
January 13th, 2012 at 11:14 am
Carl Nicks is a 2 time pro bowl LG with the Saints. He is a FA this year. A year ago, the Saints had to give their pro bowl RG, Jahri Evans a huge contract. This year they have to address the Dree Brees contract. They are at or near the salary cap. NFL analysts believe they cannot address both Brees and Nicks with competitive offers. This is an opportunity for the Bucs to move both Zuttah and Larsen to compete at C and put another pro bowler at the other guard position. This would be a pretty good O-Line until 2013 when we may want to replace Penn and TrueBlood, maybe Trueblood this year. Another alternative is to draft big nasty Kelechi Osemele 6-6, 347 from Iowa State in the 2nd round. I would prefer we go hard after Nicks because we have so many needs and so few draft picks!
January 13th, 2012 at 11:21 am
So funny when FA rolls around … Everyone starts making a pitch for all the best FAs …
1st thing that happens … 75% of FAs fall out of the market from re-signings and Franchise Tags
2nd Thing is every banters for the remaining few … It doesnt happen … We get a punter … And thats that for FA
This Year I hope for 1 Key FA …. ANd will just be giddy if the Bucs got 2
#1 FA IMO that would influence Bucs the most is DQwell Jackson from Cleveland … This dude is a seargent on the field, hits, tackles and is a great ILB. Mason Foster needs to go to his natural Spot.
January 13th, 2012 at 11:37 am
jvato24, I agree with your first paragraph. But doesn’t your last paragraph make your first paragraph oxymoronic? You commit the very sin that amuses you!
January 13th, 2012 at 11:41 am
Who WANTS to come to the bucs though? I mean if this were Madden, we could get anyone and everyone we want. But who wants to come to a new (or retread) coach on a team that quit all over the place, which will be an unknown commodity how successful they will be in Tampa, vs given the option of going to a contender? Charles Woodson ring a bell anyone?
Some will sure, but my point is just get anyone who helps. Most of the best guys that we fans want, won’t show up, but just show me a commitment to putting your money where your mouth is Glazers.
January 13th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Macabee … I know … Just figured I would get the FA hype train started
January 13th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Just because we likely won’t get any FA’s doesn’t mean we can’t dream damn it!
January 13th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Any bets on news today ????
My money is still on 1/19/12 next Thursday 5:30PM EST
January 13th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
“If u build it, they will come” but we will have to over pay and that’s what we earned…open the check book and say little. Get out of the way Dominik and let’s experience take its course.
January 13th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Miss#40, dont forget a stud te like jermichael finnely,or lewis and add carlos rodgers to the db list,and mario williams to the lb list
January 13th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
@Big Picture.. Bucs can have up to $150 million this year to spend (heard on 620), not many teams have the money to blow due to the cap. If we have to outspend some teams to get targeted free agents then so be it.
We never had issues in the late 90’s through 04 getting free agents.. grass field, warm weather, no state taxes.. not to tough of a sell.
January 13th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Vontaze Burfict @ ASU. He has the attitude the Bucs need and is a bad @ss. It would be a good pick at LB
January 13th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
yes some FA’s plz LaRon Landry and DeSean Jackson and some type of LB im with u 911bucs Vontaze Burfict is an animal!!!
January 13th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Kuechly is a better pick at LB. Burfict reminds me too much of Talib….
If we did want Burfict we could trade down and still get him. I think if Claiborne is there we will pick him at #5. If he’s gone I hope Blackmon is there.
January 13th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@ Big Picture
Woodson to GB was an absolute lucky shot in the dark. Dude had zero offers from other teams. It was GB or bust:
““Nobody wanted to take a shot at me,” he admits. “There was talk about my game declining and not being the player that I was and that I had lost a step. All of that came into play when it came to finding another team…We called a bunch of other teams and every team we tried to contact either wasn’t interested or said they didn’t need a corner,” Woodson recalls. “For some reason Green Bay kept calling (my agent). I kept trying to blow it off, blow it off. Finally, I took a visit.”
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Green-Bay-Packers-Charles-Woodson-an-unlikely-match-made-in-heaven-020411
I think true “free” free agents will want to come here if we get a well-respected coach to come in and give some legitimacy to our embattled front office & ownership group.
Tampa is still a great place to live, no state income tax, the team is on the way up and is absolutely starving for somebody who wants to come in and be a leader and a winner.