Carlos Rogers Could Be A Bucs Target
March 12th, 2012
Bucs fans likely will have nightmares for years to come after watching the Bucs’ ghastly defense last season, specifically during the grotesque 10-game losing streak to end the season, resulting in Raheem Morris being jettisoned from One Buc Palace.
Just about any linebacker or any secondary player would be an upgrade for the Bucs, especially if Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib are not available.
This leads Bradenton Herald columnist Alan Dell to believe Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik will target a cornerback in free agency. Though the fans are pining for Cortland Finnegan of the Titans or perhaps Brandon Carr of the Chiefs, Dell believes Dominik may land another corner.
That would be Carlos Rogers of the 49ers.
There are plenty of top notch free agent cornerbacks available, including San Francisco 49ers Carlos Rogers who was passed over last year by the Bucs when he was on the market from Washington. He had perhaps the best year of his career last season and could provide instant relief for Tampa’s wounded secondary.
Rogers is 30 years old. His age might preclude teams from signing him to a long term deal, which should make him more appealing to Tampa, especially if Barber does not return. His six interceptions tied for third highest among CBs.
Now that is an angle Joe hadn’t considered: Rogers could be had for a short-term contract, thus lessens the blow if he is a bad signing.
Rogers, Finnegan, Carr, Joe doesn’t care at this point so long as one of the three suits up for the Bucs next season. Otherwise, Drew Brees, Matty Ice and Cam Newton should have field days racking up yards and touchdowns on the Bucs’ secondary.
Set your watches: the stampede for free agents begins at 4 p.m. sharp tomorrow.
March 12th, 2012 at 8:10 am
Rogers had a great year last year. However I think SF was just the place for him. I hope we pass on him and get Carr.
March 12th, 2012 at 8:28 am
I would still love to see Finnegan or Carr along with Claiborne…. BUT, if they sign 2 CBs and there is a possibility Talib stays on the shortest leash known to man…..
That would be pretty good and free them up to draft Blackmon if there or trade down if the possibility is there.
Regardless, they HAVE to get Finnegan OR Carr as far as I am concerned. Rogers, to me, would be a second CB signing.
I want to hear about the pursiot of Pierre Garcon or VJax and a MLB (Tulloch)
March 12th, 2012 at 8:34 am
I just hope Dominik has the balls to stand up to the big boys in FA. To prove his worth he’s going to have to compete with some tough GM’s. It would be nice to hear Dominik throw down the gauntlet. After hearing Washington say their going after Vincent Jackson it would great to have Dominik respond and get the fans excited to say we’re going after Jackson and won’t be denied. I just hope he doesn’t tuck his tail and run and hide. We may have to overspend but it will makeup for the underspending that’s been done around here for 10 years. I would hate to see the same teams target the top FA and just cause the Bucs don’t want to overspend they target the 2nd tier of FA. It’s time for Mark to put his big boy pants on and land some solid top FA’s. I don’t want to hear how many times he came in 2nd either.
March 12th, 2012 at 8:59 am
@Brad
Remember two things:
1) It’s all rumors right now
2) The Bucs ALWAYS keep it in house
We won’t hear anything until a deal is at least verbally struck…not anything accurate. These reporters with “inside sources” are really guessing as much as we are. Even if some DO have an inside source, nothing coming out of any team can be trusted right now.
I’ll bet you Flynn will be signed somewhere as soon as Free Agency starts…before Manning is…and the team that signs him was supposedly after Manning.
I suspect many Tampa fans will freak out as players start to get snatched and nothing is heard from One Buc Place. We won’t be getting Nicks…too obvious.
March 12th, 2012 at 9:08 am
Pete, When I read your last paragraph about Nicks, I remembered the wisdom of your first paragraph! Not taking a shot, just a little early morning humor!
March 12th, 2012 at 9:14 am
It’s Matt Ryan, Joe. He’s not Matty Ice until he wins a game that matters.
And I’m all for any of the CB’s mentioned, the Bucs need to land at least one of those guys, and should still target Claiborne in the draft.
March 12th, 2012 at 9:22 am
@Pete Dutcher
“I suspect many Tampa fans will freak out as players start to get snatched and nothing is heard from One Buc Place.”
I suspect they’d have ample reason.
March 12th, 2012 at 9:22 am
As long as Dom is smart, i don’t care who we get as long as we get some help. Rogers may be 30, if we go out and over pay on a long term deal for V Jax, I would prefer to get someone younger at corner than Rogers. However, if we get someone like Garcon or Manningham i would not mind Rogers. I believe Finnegan is the best fit for our defense. He is Barber esque, as in terms of playing in the slot and being a great tackler. Finnegan should be our number one priority heading into free agency, followed by a WR and LB tied for second.
March 12th, 2012 at 9:47 am
My predictions in Free Agency for the Bucs, since we’re now a day away:
A) Curtis Lofton, MLB
The Bucs love going after division rival players, and Loftin has a competitive personality. He’ll want to make Atlanta regret letting him go and calling him a 2 down guy. He’s great against the run…which is key with the Bucs
B) No Jackson in Tampa
The Bucs will avoid the Vincent Jackson sweepstakes and go after a lesser hyper guy with a burst of speed…but that can also return kicks.
C) Nicks, sorry but no
As much as we would all like to see him, the Bucs have too many holes to spend it all on one position. With the cap being lower than expected, they’ll be looking for steals and deals. I can see the Bucs makking an offer, but not a serious one.
D) Cornerback
The Bucs will not go after a 30 year old guy. Ronde will resign one more time. Bucs will go after one of the top CBs in free agency…maybe two of them.
E) Offensive Line will be addressed
Bucs will add depth
F) Defensive Tackle will be addressed
Expect depth to be added, and we will see competition.
March 12th, 2012 at 9:48 am
The above predictions are of what I think the Bucs will actuallydo, not what I want to happen.
March 12th, 2012 at 9:50 am
On Jackson
“lesser hyped” guy
hate auto correct.
March 12th, 2012 at 9:56 am
You would have to think that with the new coach being a defensive minded guy that the team would go straight up D across the board. I think the motto for this off season will be to rebuild the defense.
The offense is actually serviceable if you are looking for ball control. (Dungy type) Whether you like Winslow or not; he is a top 10 TE and is good at getting first downs at least. We may not have a legit #1 WR, but we have 2 (Williams, Briscoe) who could be excellent possession receivers. If Benn is actaully used correctly; he could help spread the field. The O-line showed that in can run block well in the right scheme. So that would leave a third down back & a possible #1 receiver. I think the rest of the time the team concentrates on LB’s, Corners, & Safetys (which few are talking about)
March 12th, 2012 at 9:59 am
@pete.. Pray your dead wrong. Unless Dominik wants unemployment next year he better do more than your suggesting.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:06 am
Finnegan.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:07 am
Chicago Sun Times has the Bucs as having the inside track on signing Jackson.
Could be agent driven…could be the truth.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:07 am
In reality … We may have to find a way to get excited about 3rd tier FAs like Carlos ROgers.
The Bucs expected 65+ Million Cap is now around 42 Million and 2 other teams have more than us.
In order for the Bucs to land a few Big name players they would come close to filling 75-80% of the cap. DOnt see that happening. The reason I was optimistic initially was I thought the Bucs could sign a few and still have 30 Million left .. Just not the case anymore.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:18 am
I think we’ll get Car or Finnegan and a MLB and the rest will be depth players.
It makes no sense to break the bank on 4 marquee players and then have no depth in the case of injuries. Hardly anybody stays healthy for the whole season anymore.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:29 am
Will we get players or excuses?
March 12th, 2012 at 10:29 am
@jvato24
I saw that number at B/R, and frankly it doesn’t make sense. There are still outlets reporting $67 mil as the cap space for the Bucs as recently as this weekend.
I know they signed Zuttah, and tendered a few players, but there’s simply no way 25 million has been eaten up in the past week. Either the projection is wrong, or someone is not calculating the roll over cap space.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:32 am
@Brad
A good MLB.
A starting CB
depth to the O-Line and DT position
and a speedy WR
That is what Pete is saying and that is what everyone in every paper and every website is saying.
If you are expecting anything else, you are probably going to be very dissappointed.
Besides, what, exactly, do you expect?
In my opinion, if they get those things listed in free agency and then complement with the draft…. I would think they did outstanding.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:37 am
Finnegan/Carr/Rogers plus Jackson plus Tulloch/Lofton would be a huge win for us. It is certainly overly optimistic, but not out of reach either.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:39 am
V-Jax: $12-15 million per year (based on looking at Calvin Johnson’s current deal)
Cortland: $10 million per year (this is what he was asking the Titans for last year)
Tulloch: $5-8 million per year (the range of the top 5 paid linebackers for 2012)
30-33 million cap hit leaving us some wiggle room to sign depth. Plus, I’m sure we could engage in some funny math to stagger the amounts in different years so the hit isn’t so bad.
If the guys at OBP want to spend they can do it.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:43 am
If someone has a chance … Youtube Mike Tolbert … The guy is a freak because of how quick, agile and powerful he is for his size.
Mike Tolbert would be so Fun to watch with Blount.
Unless Moisses Madu is gonna keep Freeman clean all season.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:44 am
@Justafan…
how about that?…I was just saying the same stuff almost exactly as you, on that 42 million cap figure (on Garcon post/story). It struck me odd too, where did the 25 million go, with the little bit we’ve done since the 67 million figure came out. I think you’re right, where the cap figure could be one of the closest kept secrets within any front office, almost no way anyone but the GM and one or 2 at NFL leagure office would always know the rolling/overlapping cap figures of each team, difficult, always changing, misinformation out there.
What if, though, Finnegan really did recruit VJax to Tampa?..just saying, maybe the weather being similar to San Diego, friends, Freeman…maybe all points of attraction for Vjax..
March 12th, 2012 at 10:46 am
For everyone that wants Vincent Jackson …. He has 2 DUIs .. He gets one in Tampa and he dissapears for 16 games and is near 30.
I say go another direction.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:47 am
There is a report somewhere that it was due to escalators in Freemans and Gerald Mccoys contact that ate up an extra 10 Million or more.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:48 am
I really hope no one has their hopes too high going into tomorrow… Prepare to be under-whelmed yet again…
March 12th, 2012 at 10:51 am
@SensibleBuc,
Like it, 10:39 post, figures sound good, doable, and in my humble opinion, more the cash-rich signing bonus is for say Vjax, lower the base salary could be, in this year and years going forward..
March 12th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Asante Samuel is apparently also available via a trade from the Eagles. A 3rd round pick for a really solid starting CB would a big boost for the Bucs too. Depending upon how we approach FA we could trade for Samuel & sign another FA CB, then draft Blackmon at 5 or sign a FA WR & draft Claiborne at 5. I think the key is adding two starting CBs this offseason, regardless of Talib/Barber’s statuses. Then turn our attention to a burner type WR.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Losing a player for 1 full season at 15 Mill a year with 1 screw-up isnt worrisome ??
Vincent Jackson worries me … I would rather have Desean Jackson .. and hes a punk.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:25 am
I kinda hope Washington outbids us for Jackson. His chacter issues are a concern.Hopefully we would have a clause in his contract
March 12th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Jackson is the only #1 WR available in free agency. That is why we have to move on him.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:49 am
@Meh Not trying to disagree, just posting another view. Garcon had similar stats with a far less talented QB. Garcon and Jackson have similar stats according to their first four years. Garcon is 4 years younger. Why would you believe the two aren’t on a similar level? I understand they have large differences in yards per catch but I assume that has a lot to do with the system and a QB that just throws it up hoping the big guy comes down with it.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Garcon is not a #1, sorry. He is not in the same league as VJack. Garcon drops a LOT of balls. The last thing we need is another #2 receiver that drops balls. I’d rather fill a different position in FA than get Garcon, Manningham, Colston, Meachem, etc.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Let me sum it up: VJax or no receiver in free agency.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
TOLBERT would look good in Tampa, I like what you are saying Jvato. The thing with Contracts is that there are so many ways to structure a contract. The Bucs will probably bring in a few guys and give them huge signing bonuses therefore they don’t go against the cap. They need to do something, this fan base is dwindling and the team needs some new blood. Just everyone remember if we don’t get Jackson the world is not doomed. There are still guys like Garcon and Manningham, and we could always draft a WR in first or second round. I would take a Blackmon, Williams, Manningham, along with Finnegan or Carr and a Tulloch or Lofton, all day.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
I’m also okay with some combo of Rodgers/Finnergan or Rodgers/Carr via FA & our 5th pick for Mike Wallace (back up plan drafting Blackmon & making a FA run at Nicks with the saved money not spent on Wallace); if Vjax isn’t our target or not signed. If we sign Vjax then drafting Claiborne and signing Carr or Finnegan as the other CB or trading for Asante Samuel with Claiborne is acceptable.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
When you add the franchise tag on Barth, Zuttah’s contract and the fact that the salary cap (only announced yesterday) is lower than anticipated, it makes sense.
I suspect some good players will be cut from teams today.
By
March 12th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
@ Pete
I can’t directly link the website (Spotrac) but it lists our cap situation if you do some clicking. Subtract Zuttah and Barth’s cap hit ($4 mil & $3 mil) and Blount and Mike Bennett’s tenders (whatever they are $5 mil total tops) I doubt we’ve taken more than a $15 million cap hit.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Again…the cap is lower than expected. It was though to be around $135 million, it is $120 million instead. $15 mil less than expected. That makes up the difference.
Also, another though occurred to be…I know teams must set draft contract money aside as well.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
@Meh According to PFF, in 2011 ofall receivers with more than 89 targets(45 receivers total) Jackson had a drop rate of 11.76% – rank 14 and Garcon had a drop rate of 6.67% – rank 31. The higher the ranking = the higher drop rate. Garcon one of the best, Jackson one of the worst.
The info also shows in 2010 Garcon was one of the worst, and in 2009 Vincent was one of the best.
But from this info, Garcon put up his last bad drop season when he was 25 and has fixed his hands to have one of the best pair of hands this past season. Jackson had his last good catching season two years ago and is now dropping passes again at 29 for one of the worst pair of hands. So using drop passes as a primary reason of who to choose favors Garcon over Jackson.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
@ Pete
Zuttah – $4 mil
Barth – $2 mil
Blount – $540K
Parker – $540K
Bennett – $2.4 mil
Dotson – 1.26 mil (lmao)
$10 million dollar cap hit –
Faine – $8 mil (about to be cut)
$2 million dollar cap hit putting us at 58.5 mil in cap space.