Are The Bucs Now Thinking Short-Term?
March 31st, 2012
One of the more interesting quotes in recent Bucs history came from Team Glazer back in 2010.
Per the then St. Pete Times, Team Glazer issued an edict to Mark Dominik and Raheem Morris as to how, in part, they would be evaluated on building and growing the Bucs.
“We’ve had long talks about this. And really, the general message is: You think long-term, we think long-term. It’s plain and simple. You start thinking short-term, we start thinking short term,” Glazer said.
“Everyone buys into this plan. I always ask, “Does everyone have the stomach for this because there’s a lot you’ve got to endure early on.”
While Joe has not talked to Joel Glazer over a pastrami sandwich about the deepest meanings of this quote, Joe’s always enjoyed envisioning the message being delivered to young Raheem and young Dominik in a Vito Corleone-like manner.
So this brings Joe to 2012. Are the Bucs — Glazer and/or Dominik — now “thinking short-term” after huge free agent signings, having a quarterback entering his fourth season with a lot to prove, plus many talented young players entering what should be defining seasons in their careers?
It’s impossible to get a read on the Bucs’ plan without seeing what the Bucs do with the rest of their offseason. Clearly, drafting Morris Claiborne is the safer pick (long-term), versus drafting Trent Richardson (short-term). The shelf lives of top cornerbacks might be double that of top running backs. The Bucs have long-term vs. short-term options in the second-round, as well. And more free agents (London Fletcher?) will have to be signed.
Despite Greg Schiano’s shiny new five-year contract, surely the Bucs are at a bit of a crossroads, and Schiano’s window to win is much smaller than the length of his contract.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:05 am
London Fletcher ? Really? C’mon man,are you just throwing name out to get the “Gotta Get A Backer Now Group” to start foaming at the mouth? I’d rather have Sam Mills,Hacksaw Reynolds or Dick Butkus since they’re all old(oops,I wanted to say experienced,wink wink)too.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:11 am
Joe here,
@mister V — Sorry sir, Fletcher is a better MLB than anyone the Bucs have now. Not disputable.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:21 am
Joe, maybe the idea is to win now (short term) and continue to win each year (long term). Now this is a thought I have not seen in anyone’s comments, so think very good team now and for a long time. How many years has Payton Manning been a great QB, longer than four.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:24 am
I think they are thinking ticket sales and the imminent 2013 salary cap floor minimums (89% of the cap in cash). While the 2013 floor is not a hard floor meaning they can average the floor over a 4 year period, they would still be required by CBA law to spend way more money than they ever did before.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:25 am
Joe, I think they are thinking “shorter term” than they were before…but maybe not “short term”.
Although I could easily see why they would be thinking short term considering the public relations hits they’ve taken in the past few years…so may you are right.
Side Note: By “shorter term” I meant more than a year away.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:26 am
I think Macabee nailed it.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:30 am
Just sign a run stopping linebacker and put my mind as ease. PLEASE. In terms of the draft I wouldn’t be upset with Claiborne or T-Rich. The need at corner is obvious, but how nice would it be to have a workhorse running back you feel comfortable giving any assignment to.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:31 am
“Many” talented young players? Really? Many?
How about a few talented young players? Free (is he considered young now entering year 4?), Clayborn, Bowers, Price, mike Will, I guess Softy Gerald ( has yet to materialize talent), Blount.
Thats a short list on a 53 man roster.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:40 am
Heck, I’ve got an idea. Let’s just draft a punter in every round – after all, they have long careers too, no?
Me thinks Joe needs to stop his obsessive, pointless and ever-present drum beating of Claiborn over Richardson, it’s really making him look like bad.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:46 am
Richardson will make no one look bad.
Trent Richardson is the closest thing out there to Chuck Norris.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:47 am
Me agrees with Thomas,
Softy has not shown “consistent talent”.
He needs to stay healthy this year, or get the hell outta Dodge.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:48 am
think long term till you humiliate yourself with a ten game losing streak.
then a little fools gold looks good.
pretty obvious.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:54 am
Joe: You don’t get it, do you? Trent Richardson will not be “short-term” because Blount is backing him up. Getting Richardson doubles “life” of both him and Blount.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:56 am
btw, every team in the nfl “believes” they have some young players who are talented and will develop. Even the worst team has some of the best football players on the planet.
Thats why they all participate in what is commonly called the NFL draft.
The measuring stick typically is whether your talented bunch can beat the oppositions talented bunch.
Not so often so far.
But, were high on the feel good list if not the standings.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:00 am
Joe,
Your “short term” vs. “long term” arguement is weak sauce.
Best Damn Player @ #5.
You do what is best for the IMMEDIATE SUCCESS of your Franchise.
Richardson is world’s better than Mo.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:01 am
Richardson’s addition helps us compete SOONER.
The goal is to win the next game on your schedule.
Leave all that speculating crap to the talking heads, I want a winner out there for the “now”.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:04 am
Gotta b a lasting contender, i dont wanna go back to the Allen and Gruden era patching up holes on a sinking ship ,think Long term
March 31st, 2012 at 11:07 am
Richardson will help Freeman Now and in the long term. He will also aid Blount.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:14 am
As a player and Coach your job is to: win, baby, win!
As a front office: keep the team in a “good standing for now and years to come”
“We’ve had long talks about this. And really, the general message is: You think long-term, we think long-term. It’s plain and simple. You start thinking short-term, we start thinking short term,” Glazer said.
The whole “Long Term” talk translates to, “We don’t want to spend money on this team, we are OK with being sh!tty”.
And that is the truth. There is no DAMN REASON why the Glazers couldn’t have spent some more salary cap in hopes to be competitive. (past 2 seasons).
Rah Rah was inept, but I believe the Glazers hired him to take the fall for them. They knew their malls wer sucking, and the rich want to get richer. So, they didn’t spend.
IMO, Cowboys and Skins should call out the Glazers for abstaining to vote on the “over the cap in the uncapped year dispute”.
Glazer’s abstained from voting bc they thought it would cost money to vote…. IGNORANT DUMB ARSSES, can’t BS the BSing Fans!
March 31st, 2012 at 11:19 am
Joe,
Let me start by saying that since discovering your website six months ago I have been a loyal reader/habitual daily refresher.
It surprises me that after Dominik and the Glazers have revealed that they approach drafts with the following year’s stock in mind that more attention hasn’t been paid to how the best and brightest of the 2013 class might factor in to the Bucs plans. I don’t follow college football very much aside from the clips provided around draft time and I am aware that I am offering a problem without a solution, much to what would be my father’s dismay, but for those who do know who the junior and senior talent are in next year’s draft I would be interested to know how you think that might play in to the claiborne v richardson debate.
Thank you Joe for putting together a quality site that keeps remote fans in the loop with team happenings beyond the afterthought given to us by espn.
While I have your ear, assuming all posts are read by the admins, I had a thought that might be of use to you. Should your agreement with hooters go awry or you start looking for more content to add during a slow news day I thought it might be nice to either replace or supplement the Morning Cup of Joe feature with one showcasing some of the local ladies in the area. Something like “Good morning, you have beautiful women living all around you. Here’s one of them.” Sounds like a great way to start the day to me but it’s just a thought. Either way, the bucs news is spot on. Keep it up.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:23 am
How long is ‘long term’, and when does long term show up in now results? When that moment is close it’s time to pull the trigger on some ‘put you over the top’ free agents. They’re doing that now. It appears the long term plan is now turning into the short term triggers to get those now results.
It looks to me that they are closely following the plan laid out three years ago. Morris had an opportunity to be part of that whole picture but wasn’t up to the task. So he’s gone and Shiano’s up next. Now is on the short-term horizon. Competitive Buc football is here. Playing for championships – divisional, conference and superbowl – are starting to line up. The next few years are going to be fun.
It’ll also be fun to watch the whiners continue to try and make the worst out of everything that comes from OBP.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:27 am
Everyone is talking so much smack about Blount not being able to hold onto the ball and not they need a RB. ? Blount is a beast and it sounds like everyone is trying to put this bad season last year all on him. We need help in the secondary. Get Morris Claibourn with our first pick then get someone to compliment Blount in the back field. If the bucs let Blount go he will come back to haunt the team for years to come.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:35 am
Please say no to the ‘Chuck Norris’ (haha!) RB who just came off knee surgery.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:36 am
Isnt the question what in this draft will help out the team as a whole the quickest? Although TRich is a Beast who could give us a dynamic one two punch in the run game,it will force us to not address the BIGGEST problem on the team LB and Corner. If we push those picks to later rounds the quality is falling off.If we take Claiborne with the 1,David with 2 and Pead/James with 3 we are much better off short and long term then if we goTRich 1,best corner available 2(gilmore,jenkins gone so ur talking robinson or dennard,boykin)and lb like carter in the 3rd.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:48 am
@Joe, LF may be better than a rookie lb playing a new position for the first time in the nfl. Is that Lf ringing endorsement ? Now, was he better than experience jon vilma,pat willis or even an average gray brackett, in my opinion that’s a big fat NO! It’s easy to point to a rookie vs a fossil.
March 31st, 2012 at 12:16 pm
@stevek didn’t we just spend $140 million plus on 3 FA? And the glazers dont want to spend money?!? Really?!
March 31st, 2012 at 12:43 pm
@Clayburn:
Just bc the Glazers did spend some $ doesnt mean that they wanted to. They did, this offseason, bc they had to while abandoning their desired “long term” rebuild (low budget) plan bc they realized that the fanbase knew Rah was a cheap fraud of a coach which made fans jump ship by the thousands.
Having been exposed as cheap, they were forced to try and buy back the fans and get rid of the most obvious sign of a cheap minor league franchise – rah.
Ask anyone to name you one obvious long term solution player drafted in the last 3 years? Just one? Objectively there isn’t one.
So why add free agents now?
March 31st, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Can’t we just fast forward to the draft finally!!
March 31st, 2012 at 1:14 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t being forced to spend money. The teams were told not to dump salaries in an uncapped year, which is collusion. The Redskins and Cowboys were punished severely for doing just that, again collusion. The Glazerhouse family was probably forced by the commissioner and the other team owners to pony up just like all of the other teams.
When the Falcons come to a half empty Tampa Stadium they leave with only half of the money they should receive, when the Bucs travel to Atlanta, they receive a full share of the gate. This gets old real quick.
Th Bucs claim that they need to stay under the cap because of the upcoming draft and the new player’s salaries. This is misleading because for every player added to the team another is cut. It’s a zero sum game. When they signed the new free agent guard, Nicks, they cut Faines, who was making $5 million a year.
For whatever reason, I applaud the loosening of the purse strings, and am looking forward to the upcoming draft. I believe the Dolphins will panic at the last second and offer a king’s ransom to move up to grab Tannehill. This will reshape the draft for Tampa Bay. It will possibly drop Kalil into our laps or we can swap picks with Miami and till get a great player at #8. It will also give us an additional 2nd round and maybe a 4th round pick.
With Kalil at right tackle, Penn will suddenly discover salads in his diet, or will lose his job. Add in our new guard and center and Moses Madu will become the next Arian Foster and Blount might gain 2,000 yards. Freeman will break Brees’ record as the most prolific passer in the NFL. I’ve got my fingers crossed.
March 31st, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Hopefully the long term will always be a priority but the need for short term
improvement was obvious.
We still have CAP room and can continue to do both.
The draft men, the draft.
March 31st, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Hopefully, the priority will be to get Schiano a defense that can compete in the NFL. Raheem did not have that last year. Coach Schiano does not have that now. We have aquired the missing pieces on Offense.
But the Defense – the worst part of the team- has been ignored.
No-Eric Wright isn’t a starting CB . He’s better than what we have , but don’t kid yourself
He’s bad
We need a vet, and a talented young player at LB. we need 2 CBs.
If Tanard shakes the rust, at skips the weed, we still need another safety.
Then, depth at all of the above!
That’s a lot. And those are pretty immediate needs
Offense needs depth at RB( pretty easy to find)
And I think, though not a nessessity- that we still need a another vet WR.
I think Dom is thinking really short time. This lack of talent and experience on the team, after 3 years- is all on his head.
If he doesn’t get some NFL caliber player on this team, I think he is short time
I think Schiano gets a pass this year- no matter what.
He’s stuck with a team that has more poor attitude than talent. It has entire units that shouldn’t be on an NFL team. Plus he’s in for a huge transition period.
I will be happy if he gets them looking professional, and takes out the trash.
Dominick ,on the other hand- this should be his last year, if he doesn’t get his job done. He’s on year 4
March 31st, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Come on Tim:
Rockstars dont get fired after just 4 years! LMAO. Even if they have are losing record, no playoffs and havent drafted a single pro bowl player.
March 31st, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Miguel, I like how you think and I want whatever you are smoking.
March 31st, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Seems like for some of you everything is about Trent Richardson. SMDH
We’re in a pass-happy division and have serious issues with cornerback. With Barber still here it makes loads of sense drafting Claiborne and let him learn from Barber, Wright and, hopefully, Talib. Those guys all have great work ethics. Claiborne can return kicks and get his share of reps and start next season.
The Bucs need a speed back in the second or third round and a veteran third down back and E. Graham if he’s healthy. And they’re good back there.
March 31st, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Joe here,
@Macabee – As Joe wrote the other day, https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=64034 Team Glazer is not acting like they’ve changed course to sell tickets. You don’t sign a guard and a corner that might not even start to giant contracts if you’re looking to spend money to sell tickets.
March 31st, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Come on Joe – we know that you are the ultimate apologist. Even you cant be so naive to think that these signings werent both a change of plan and due to market pressure.
Do you really believe that Schiano or Kelly would have been interested without a commitment to spend?
They didnt just sign a guard. They signed the nost expensive skill position player not named Payton and over-paid for a good corner and guard. Not to mention they fell on the sword, admitted the fraud, and fired their 2nd coach in 3 years – sure that was all a calculated plan concocted back in late 2008. Lol
March 31st, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Some of you people just don’t get it on so many levels it’s hard to figure out where to start. Let’s go with an easy one:
Actually, if Richardson is drafted, they will not be splitting carries. Contrary to what many here think Schiano will do, he won’t have a split running attack. He’s a feature back kind of coach.
That means Richardson will get the carries, Blount will be abandoned as a backup.
They have not “abandoned” the long term plan. They have entered the second part of it. The offense was ready for Free Agents because it was closest to completion.
And as to Wright…Dominick knows he can’t fill all the holes needed on defense in one draft. Talib is toast after the draft, which means they needed a replacement #2 CB. Clearly, Dominick does not want to double-dip this year. Wright is Talib’s replacement as #2 CB. Mo or Dre will be the #1.
–
@Capt. Tim
Going into the draft we need 1 CB, 1 LB (they will be keeping Black one more year, whether we want him replaced or not) and a safety…and maybe a defensive tackle.
Personally, I would love a replacement for Black as well.
As far as a vet LB…which teams are also looking for young LBs? Could they be releasing a decent vet after the draft? It could be Dominick foresees a vet LB being released after the draft…or maybe sees us trading down and getting an extra #2.
I just hope he doesn’t trade up.
March 31st, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@Thomas 2.2
Okay…you map it out. If you plan to build through the draft and later free agency…how many years into the drafting would you start signing free agents?
3? 4?
That’s right on schedule.
March 31st, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Raheem’s defense was terrible all his years, not just last. All of the young talent we drafted the last 2 years and he couldn’t develop them for jack squat. The talent is still there for the most part, we just need the right coaches and scheme to get the best of our talented young players on defense.
March 31st, 2012 at 3:40 pm
@ Pete Dutcher:
You say to Thomas, “They have not “abandoned” the long term plan. They have entered the second part of it. The offense was ready for Free Agents because it was closest to completion.”
WTF, man? They simply didn’t put enough revenue into their salary cap.
10 straight losses could have be avoided something more than a damn punter.
March 31st, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Another thing, can the damn punter take a pay cut? $20 mil? Sure he’s good, but he’ a punter!
And sign Fletcher! Who’s gives a damn about his age, he’s better than anyone we have now. Can’t hurt us at all!
March 31st, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Pete:
Dont take my plan, take their previous stated plan and prior history.
Theoretically, when you are ready to win a super bowl after the young players havd arrived you add key free agents. This team, especially defense, was worse to end 2011 than it was when 08 ended. It makes no sense to do it now.
In 02, the team was annually making the playoffs due to a developed core and addes Gru, Pittman, Brad Johnson, Keenan, McDaniel, Dilger, Simeon to push them over the top.
This team is 4-12 with not a single defensive stalwort, and really just DJ a legit proven player on offense.
I am thrilled that they added those free agents, they need more. But this is a brand new plan – dont fool yourself.
March 31st, 2012 at 3:55 pm
It makes no sense “under their old plan” errrrr budget. To be clear
March 31st, 2012 at 4:08 pm
I don’t blame them too much for not spending much last year, face it free agency talent last year was weak at best. If we spend last year we would have over spent for mediocrity. Though we should have brought in some veteran leadership that’s for sure. But this year was the year to spend money, with the quality and depth of talent in this years free agency.
March 31st, 2012 at 5:13 pm
To me it seemed like a 5-7 year plan. Should have have been first 2 years are rough. By the 3rd year they should be growing into their roles and start making play off runs.
3 years ago it was all about the Long term. Now 3 years into the rebuilding, it’s time for some results. So yes it is time to start thinking a bit more short term.
We need some wins NOW and badly. For the teams confidence and for the Fan passion. It’s been 10 years since our Sb appearance and 5 since our last playoff game. Change is needed, Thankfully it looks to be heading in the right direction.
March 31st, 2012 at 6:14 pm
Lmao- when you read these post, it becomes more and more apparent how little some of these guys know about football
They trash our leading Reciever(Winslow), all Pro Lt(Penn),
And 10000 yard rushing RB( Blount), who averages over 5 yards a carry
Intelligent people( no, not most of you) would pick those 3, and about 4 others, as the talent core on this team
The best Bucs
And then you have people defending the worst
Talib- who has set records for worst secondary in history, 2 of his 3 years.
No, dummies- when you are the starting Cb, and the secondary sucks- its the Cbs. The CBs
Black and Hayes( I’m only leaving the horrible Foster off, because I don’t think he was given a fair chance, and was outa position- but he was horrible too). Those two idiots not only couldn’t stop the run- in an unbelievable act- they both refused to try!!
When you have people attacking the best players, and defending players who just quit playing( Talib- as called out by Schiano)
Then you realize that you aren’t gonna get thru to the ones that are that clueless. I don’t think they even watch the game
Oh, then there’ s the ones that wanna draft a RB!
LOL – it doesn’t get more confused than thst
March 31st, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Capt Tim, I think you shouldn’t comment after happy hour starts. How is Winslow our leading receiver? 2nd in yardage, 3rd in TDs, 6th in yards per catch, 4th in longest catch, 2nd in yards per game, 1st in fumbles, 3rd in yards gained after catch and 2nd in 1st down receptions. He’s ok, but not our leading receiver.
Donald Penn did not go to Hawaii and the Pro Bowl last year. 10,000 yard rushing RB (Blount) averaging 5 yards per carry would need over 2,000 carries or 125 carries per game.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
March 31st, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Miguel:
Capt Tim doesnt know what he is talking about. He keeps spouting this leading receiver business – which hasnt been true since 2009.
For the last 2 years, Winslow has averaged about 4 catches and 45 yards per game. Earthshattering I know!
Nobody has any problem with Penn when he manages his weight. Blount is one dimensional anc careless with the football so he is not the core.
March 31st, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Btw – penn was never AllPro – he made the pro bowl as an alternate in 2010, huge difference.
Blount did not rush for 1,000 yards in 2011, that was 2010.
You have to keep an eye on Tim’s stats.
March 31st, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Blount averaged 4.2 yards per carry in 2011, and 4.6 for his career.
He does not average 5 yards per carry.
March 31st, 2012 at 7:23 pm
To put Blount’s career average in perspective:
Earnest Graham averages 4.3 for his career.