Manningham “Fits The Description”
February 7th, 2012
Joe’s not so sure Arrelious Benn isn’t a stretch-the-field deep threat, but merely a victim of a maddening, subpar offensive coordinator.
That written, loads of Bucs observers believe the team needs a burner in the receiving corps to open up the field. Even Donald Penn playing general manager wants the Bucs to score a speedster on the flanks.
One wide reciever coming to the free agent market is 25-year-old Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham, and Tampa Tribune beat writer Roy Cummings says Manningham “fits the description” of the deep, vertical threat the Bucs need to finish off their receiving corps.
“If Manningham can be that, then the Bucs have to have some interest in him,” Cummings said Monday on Primetime on WHBO-AM 1040. “If he’s on the market, they’ll have a lot of interest, I think. Yes, he’s the kind of guy that they would like to have. But you know there’s probably a dozen of those guys out there.”
One thing certain about Manningham is that he’ll be overpriced leaving the Giants following his Super Bowl heroics. There’s a lot to be said for performing under the game’s greatest pressure, but Manningham is hardly a Pro Bowl receiver.
If Joe had to choose, Joe would rather see the Bucs invest their free agent dollars on the defensive side of the ball and use the draft to focus on the offense.
Without immediate, established help and leadership arriving for their defensive front-7, Joe might go into convulsions. The thought of another season of getting gashed up the gut in the running game would be too much to bear.
February 6th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
The Giants won’t mind losing him, they have his replacement on IR who claims to be a mentor to all of the Giants WR’s anyways in Michael Clayton…:)
February 7th, 2012 at 9:08 am
Noooooo!!! We have plenty of #2 and #3 WR we need a true #1! True #1 Vincent Jackson…that is all!!!
February 7th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Can we get some defense first?
February 7th, 2012 at 9:16 am
@Joe
Are Roy and Woody related?
Roy Cummings has made plenty of worse suggestions and comments, but I don’t like this one either.
The WR pool is deep in free agency this year. We could land a #1 for less than this guy will cost.
Sure…we have lots of money to spent…but we have a lot of holes to fill. Not to mention if we spend it all this year we’ll place ourselves into cap hell in no time.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:20 am
What does the new staff think? Oh, wait…
February 7th, 2012 at 9:26 am
“If Joe had to choose, Joe would rather see the Bucs invest their free agent dollars on the defensive side of the ball and use the draft to focus on the offense.”
Does that make Joe a Richardson/Blackburn fan?
February 7th, 2012 at 9:26 am
*blackmon
February 7th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Here’s what will happen:
Manningham will hit free agency.
The Giants will overpay him.
Bucs fans will call the Glazers cheap for not signing him — even though the guy has no interest in ever coming here.
Hit “REPEAT” for most of the free agents this off-season.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:36 am
I like him, however we need a true number 1 as HolyBuc says. Sometimes I think Mike Williams is still that guy, and maybe he could be, however after last season, we would be crazy not to at least go out and get a 1A to Mike Williams. Manningham is best fit as a slot WR not a number one.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:37 am
It doesn’t make sense to focus on FA until franchise tags are given. It kills the pool every year.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:43 am
This will be classic Bucs. FINALLY make a move in free agency and over spend on the 3rd best wr from another team. Build him up into something he’s not and use it as an excuse for not spending money for the following 5 years. Reminds me of another Giants player that just so happen to hit the market at the right time (Derrick Ward) and do NOTHING. I love the Bucs but man do they know how to mismanage free agency.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Please get a legit, proven #1 WR. Manningham isnt that guy. Dewayne Bowe, Vincent Jackson, etc.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:57 am
I’m all for Blackmon, Richardson, and Clairborne – in that order.
Free Agency might actually be exciting this year? I’ll believe it when I see it.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Manningham has bust free agent written all over him. He had a good game/season but that doesn’t make him worth top dollar.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:08 am
what qualifies Mannigham as a “burner”…the knock on him coming out of Michigan was his lack of speed. In fact, it was a big surprise when he posted a slow time in the 40 at the combine. No doubt he is a good big play receiver, but burner i really do not think so. If Bucs want burner and the Eagles let the headcase that is Desean Jackson go then it may be worth the pick up.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Ya some Coaches would help too!! Cmon man!!
February 7th, 2012 at 10:11 am
So many of you are so utterly negative and filled with doom & gloom.
Some of you are already bashing the Bucs for a “hypothetical Manningham signing”.
It really is unbelievable. No wonder owners want to move the hell out of cities some times.
Try to remember these owners, as a family, have done nothing wrong except raising prices too much in the 2000s – which the entire NFL did just about – and making a bad debt ridden deal for Man U.
That purchase has hinderd them, regardless of their claims, but the youth movement and draft build is still the right way to go.
It is definately time to step up and get a safety or CB and LB in free agency though. They HAVE to start spending money and I can not beleive they would be stu[id enough to wait until next year to spend it all. That would lead to overpaying for average talent and bad contracts.
My guess is a LB, DB, WR, OL, and DT will be signed. Only 1 or 2 will have a little wow factor but the rest will be for depth ande ven fighting for starting spots.
If they do that and then still target a DB, LB, WR and RB in the draft, they could be right back on their way.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:15 am
It really is a no win situation. There were no “splash” name coaches out there. So if they went out and hired a bunch of people very quickly, most here would be crushing them for it.
They said from day one they would take their time.
Yes, I wish they had coaches in place, but it has not hindered anything at this point.
They have not “lost out” on any great coach or coordinator.
I really get sick of defending the Glazers, but so many of you are so negative it borders on a mental disorder.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:15 am
i think the opossite to you joe, we need Fa for josh freeman, proved weapons, and build the D though the draft
February 7th, 2012 at 10:17 am
Sorry for the rants….
As far as Manningham, he is okay but that makes Williams the number 1 and Benn and Mario as the 2 & 3. He does provide some deep help, but no better than Benn (if used right) in my eyes.
I would MUCH rather have them get a Justin Blackmon – a true number 1 who can run every route & stretch the field. Someone like that makes the entire WR corps better by alot.
Someone like Manningham (who is not a good route runner), does not.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:25 am
NOOOOOOO!!! That will be Alvin Harper all over again! Don’t get a number 2 receiver in free agency! We NEED a number 1 guy!
February 7th, 2012 at 10:28 am
Blackmon or Claiborne with #5. I almost lean towards Claiborne because of the punt return skills. Ask Arizona about Patrick Peterson. I don’t want Richardson. If he is an option to Dom, Dom better think this guy can lead the league in rushing. I dont.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Yeah, I seem to recall him running like a 4.6 at the combine. BURNER!
February 7th, 2012 at 10:38 am
Darn, eastsidebuc beat me to it. Two words – Alvin Harper!
Anyhow, just because Cummings writes a “what if” article does not make it so. I agree with those that say if the Bucs chase down a WR, let it be a legit number one. I think Shelton Quarles is smart enough as Pro Scout to know the differences between a flash in the pan and a gridiron warrior.
To quote Tom Petty: “The waiting is the hardest part”…
February 7th, 2012 at 10:47 am
NICK. I am with you on Richardson. I can not fathom taking a RB that high in the draft with so many holes to fill.
Richardson is a very nice RB but so is Blount. Blount’s blocking and receiving skills should be getting better.
As far as RB, I think they just need to complement Blount with a speed guy (LaMichael James) in round 3.
It really, REALLLY would be a waste of a pick to choose a RB at number 5.
Freeman needs a WR or a CB… that is what would help him most at pick 5.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:47 am
No thanks to Manningham.
How was the last Giant we signed in FA? Whoops!!
Go big or go home! Sign Bowe, V. Jackson, or D. Jackson
Draft Richardson, and get some solid FA DEF.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:49 am
Richardson is going to be the best available pick at # 5.
He is our guy.
Richardson/Blount will carry this team to the playoffs, if given the oppurtunity.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Why do you people want D Jackson he proved this year that in fact the concusions are effecting his play and he’s a quiter oh wait he will fit right in with this team.
February 7th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Apparently, the Packers have denied us permission to interview Ben McAdoo. Now, even I have to admit that it is getting ridiculous. Joe, you’ve asked many “experts” if we painted ourselves in a corner waiting so long to get our head coach. The answer is yes. Our options are so limited and the coordinators we hire will be vital to the success of our near future.
February 7th, 2012 at 11:07 am
What is with coaches being denied the chance to interview and further their careers by moving up the ladded?
February 7th, 2012 at 11:14 am
The fact that it is so late in the off season, teams dont want to allow their assistant coaches to intvw because then they have to find a replacement late in the offseason.
This absolutely is a problem and the BUCS will have to SETTLE for a few coaches this year. Expect 1 to 2 years before e start to assemble the asst coaches needed and truly wanted by Schiano.
February 7th, 2012 at 11:25 am
I think we’re going to be lucky as hell to have a full coaching staff in place before the Combine. I was pretty confident that a good portion of the staff was in place and they were just waiting for a couple stragglers to come along, but after seeing all these rumors of coaches being blocked and coaches turning down jobs I have serious doubts.
Usually where there’s smoke there has to at least be a little bit of fire if not a raging inferno. Nobody with a job wants to leave it at this point and nobody wants to be searching for employees if they give one up.
February 7th, 2012 at 11:30 am
Get Hue Jackson with a long term commitment.
February 7th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
You don’t know who we should get until we get an OC/DC to get the players to match the system. Period.
Also the Bucs must overpay to attract FA’s and coaches to change the perception.
February 7th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Goodness knows we have to protect against over paying.
Been such a huge problem for us.
February 7th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
I’ve watched nearly every Giants game for the last 2 years. Manningham is no more talented than any of the receivers we have. It’s a manner of getting them a good position coach and them showing the will to improve.
If we’re gonna get a receiver gimme Vincent Jackson.
February 7th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
FA is fun to talk about but I’ll believe it when I see it. Also, it wont matter unless we can form a good coaching core which is proving difficult because we took our time hiring Schiano. Like Ian said today:”The fat girls are telling us No at 3am.” Not only that, they are telling us NO and we have pizza at the house! FA is the same routine as coaching hire: take your time and you miss out. The situation looks really dire for the foreseeable future. One can’t have the mentality of a mathematician and run a football team. Cajones, making decisions, taking risks, inspiring people etc works.
February 7th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
A lot of people here don’t like Pat Yasinskas, but he generally has good knowledge and he claims that though, the Bucs will be active in free agency this year, don’t expect big splashes. They will fill needs wih role players. So think Harry Douglas type receivers if any.
February 7th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
We should try 2 get Mike Wallace from Pittsburgh. He’s a legit burner and a restricted free agent. He’s worth a 1st round tender.
February 7th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
IMHO:
You really believe the Steelers will let him walk?
February 7th, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Mario Manningham went to the University of Michigan. The Buccaneers have had 2 Michigan players in the past decade – Brian Greise and BJ Askew. The Glazers might be allergic to them. No way they pick up Manningham.