Jeff Faine, Jeremy Trueblood Will Return
March 5th, 2012
Joe has noticed over the past three-plus years he’s had this here spot on the interwebs that Bucs fans must have someone to hate.
First it was Michael Clayton, then it was Barrett Ruud and then it was now-jettisoned coach Raheem Morris.
It seems the early favorite for the favorite hate of 2012 with Bucs fans is Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik. What might be surprising after Joe’s cursory checking of comments, the next three names behind Dominik are — in no particular order — Jeremy Trueblood, Jeff Faine and Quincy Black.
Now Joe can understand why bartenders throughout the Tampa Bay area are upset that whenever someone mentions Black’s name, a near-fracas nearly breaks out. Joe doesn’t exactly get the hate over Faine and Trueblood.
Regardless, Bucs fans likely will have to learn to quash their attitudes over the two Bucs offensive linemen, as Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune is of the belief both will return to the starting lineup when the 2012 season kicks off.
Q: How likely do you think it is that Jeff Faine and Jeremy Trueblood are in Bucs uniforms next year?
Jesse DeGennaro, Fowler, Co.
A: I think it’s very likely both will be back. First off, the Bucs need them. Second, their salaries are not a burden the Bucs can’t handle. Look for both to be there when training camp opens. Beyond that depends on who comes along in free agency and the draft and who steps up in training camp, but even as backups, they have value.
– Woody Cummings
Now Joe can understand why Bucs fans were irritated at Trueblood in 2010. He turned into a turnstile at right tackle on pass plays and was eventually benched for James Lee.
But last year Joe thought Trueblood improved his pass blocking somewhat. His run blocking has never been an issue.
Now last year Joe was ready if Faine was sent packing, only because in 2009 and 2010 Faine missed significant chucks of both seasons with injuries. Faine isn’t exactly a spring chicken and Joe was of the belief he was on the downside of his career.
For the most part last season, Faine stayed healthy, and when he is on the field he plays steady football.
Of all the players to loathe, Faine and Trueblood are not the type that springs to mind.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:10 am
Don’t “loathe” either player, but definitely think competition should be brought in through either FA or the draft at both C and OT. There are some quality guys available at both positions in the draft. With Schiano emphasizing guys “competing” for their spots, curious to see how the team addresses the OL depth this offseason. A great start would be to add Nicks to solidify OG spot.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:14 am
I don’t ‘hate’ any of them. Faine isn’t all-pro but does a descent job, same for Trueblood – who I actually thought improved. Black is soft for a LB and could be replaced…should be replaced if he can’t be coached up.
If we signed Zuttah and sign Nicks, Faine is expendable.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:17 am
The “burden” isn’t their salaries, it is their piss poor play. One of the two linemen needs to be replaced this year. The other needs to be replaced next year. Black should just be straight up cut after stealing that contract then tackling like a 4 year old. I don’t think he will be – we are too thin at LB – but he should be.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Get rid of both of them, save 12 million, sign carl nicks, draft a RT in the 2nd round and call it a day.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Jones,lewis,black,are the 3 that really need to go
March 5th, 2012 at 9:26 am
My list of expendebles would be LBs and DBs…. except for Foster
March 5th, 2012 at 9:36 am
Cohesiveness on the OLine is paramount. Keeping them both is ideal – both are good although not great at their positions.
As for Quincy Black, he was just flat terrible. Pop star was not the ire of most of us until the propaganda machine tried to sell a false and ridiculous premise: that dom is a “rock star” gm who deserves only 15% of the responsibility for the debacle that this franchise was/is since he took over as GM.
Saying that he should not be fired bc Rah was a joke is one thing, acting like he is a rock star who has done an excellent job is another absurd thing completely.
Blogs are great for counter-balancing spin.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:37 am
I get Trueblood. You hopefully draft or sign a guy to come in and compete with him, but you can’t just cut him when you have nobody else to play RT. Ideally someone will take his starting role and he will provide depth this year.
With Faine you have Zuttah ready to start at center and it IS an upgrade. Behind Zuttah you have Ted Larsen as depth. There is no reason to keep Jeff Faine and his bloated $6.5M salary. He sucks. He hikes the ball too low almost every time, he gets ran over by linebackers, and he is always hurt. On top of that he is a an asshat that complains and whines and says stupid things that don’t help the team. He should be cut and Nicks should be signed. Period.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:53 am
its amazing that Trueblood had some of his worst years as soon as Winslow came to the team. Most Tightends will chip block if not full out block a DE every once in a while. And what ever happen to putting a wide receiver in motion and do a crack back block on a DE. I have not seen that since I saw Gruden on the sideline. Having our tackles go straight up against the other teams Defensive ends all game long is a recipe for failure. And this is what we have been doing the last 3 years. hopefully amateur hour is over.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:57 am
So something doesn’t make sense. The Bucs presumably will be giving Zuttah starting money. If they keep Faine then I highly doubt we Target Nicks or Grubbs. Why would we pay Zuttah to be a back up.
I think Faines fate lay in what guard we target and could still be a trade candidate or be released.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Trueblood is horrible, he may not have given up many sacks but he gave up more than 50 pressures, that is just atrocious. I know stats do not mean everything, however every time I see a writer rank OT Trueblood is near the bottom. Yes he does have experience, which is why I don’t believe we should cut him. However, if we could bring in someone to compete with him who could actually win the starting job, I think it would be an excellent idea. As for Faine, I say wait and see. We just resigned Zuttah, if we can land a good LG ( Nicks or Grubbs). We should cut Faine in an instance. Zuttah is better, and with Faine on the team Zuttah will simply be used as depth and back up everyone on the interior. Is that a good thing to have depth? yes, however Zuttah is far better than Faine and no way the bucs make him take a back seat to Zuttah.
March 5th, 2012 at 10:03 am
“Blogs are great for counter-balancing spin” And you should know all about that Thomas…..
Where was your discouragement on the 7 years of drafts that happened under Gruden/McKay/Allen’s watch… sure they got Joseph, Talib, who have played okay so far, but where oh where is the multitude of “stars” they drafted? Or signed as FA….
Yeah Blogs are great for counter-balancing spin… or just typing your opinions to the masses… Not saying your not correct Thomas, but I am going back to the previous Staff/GM’s. I just do not read any post from you criticizing them? Mckay left us in cap hell and Allen had to purge that, McKay did a good job drafting and signing FA talent before Gruden’s show came to town, what happened to those comments, counter-balancing spin….
March 5th, 2012 at 10:05 am
From what I gather Faine is an 8 mill cap hit this year and a 9 mill cap hit next year. Why not cut him and sign Nicks or Grubbs for basically 2-4 mill per season once we cut Faines cap??
March 5th, 2012 at 10:05 am
They probably will be back if only for concerns about depth. On Trueblood, I think the Bucs have spoken – they tried to replace him last year with Doug Free. I assume Dominik was part of that decision. I don’t have a problem with Faine, if he can stay on the field. He hasn’t for the last two years. If you’re not on the field, you can’t help. I think both positions are up for grabs during camp this year and both will be gone next year!
March 5th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Slowly but surely, all of the big name free agents are being signed by their respective teams. Either taking them off the market or allowing the team to franchise tag another big name free agent. Foster signing makes room for Houston to tag Mario Willliams, etc.
Don’t see many big name free agents being available come March 13th… and when the Bucs don’t sign a big name (because there aren’t any) will their dumb fans still call the Glazers cheap?
I expect Nicks to be re-signed by New Orleans, by the way.
Free agency is a myth these days. All the hype builds up for it, only to be nothing much left when it actually opens.
March 5th, 2012 at 10:37 am
Faine is a good guy
Trueblood= Kenyatta Walker
Quincy Black give the money back. I would have rather Mark embezzled the 26 million and put it in an offshore account than to have given it to Quincy
March 5th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Faine isn’t worth his salary and he would not be a loss to the team. Cut him loose. Truebonehead would make a decent backup but should be phased out or replaced at RT. Zuttah needs to be the number 1 center. Faine sucks IMO. Black sucks. Jones Sucks. Hayes Sucks. Lumpkin Sucks. Biggers is very questionable and should be a back up. The jury is out on Grimm with 2 injured seasons. T Jax should get one last chance and if he still can’t tackle, cut him. Talib has never lived up to his potential or 1’st round picking. So many holes to fill that just about anything or anyone would be an improvement in most cases. I do love our D line and think they will be solid if not on their way to greatness.
March 5th, 2012 at 10:41 am
I am on record as saying they need to bring in AT LEAST 2 LBs and 2 new DBs.
What I do not get is those calling for Faine and Trueblood to be ousted why. Makes no sense. If They got a new OG and Zuttah took over at Center, I would still want these guys because of depth. It is not like they are Sean Jones and Quincy Black out there.
What I am saying is, they have value and add depth. Some of the Dbs and LBs do not.
For a team that has few areas of actual depth (WRs, O-Line, DE), why do so many want to deplete one of them?
March 5th, 2012 at 10:42 am
It would be a colossal failure if the Bucs can’t find a way to sign Carl Nicks. Tamper if you have to early, and get the job done. Front end load his contract giving him the majority of his money this year and taper it down. A big payday early should make him happy.
But after Goodell gets done with the Saints, they may have more Cap Space than every other team.
March 5th, 2012 at 10:52 am
I don’t care if they keep them both. But Trueblood has been terrible. There needs to be a real competition for these positions. My guess is that if any real competition was brought in. Both Faine and Trueblood would be riding the pine.
March 5th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Again … If we cut Faine and slide Zuttah to center … Even with 24 Mill over the first 2 seasons to someone like Nicks .. Faine is scheduled to take up about 17-18 Mill Cap over the next 2 seasons …
Would or would we not be able to sign Nicks or Grubbs for about 2 – 4 Mill extra per season ???
March 5th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Faine is scheduled to take up about 17-18 Mill Cap over the next 2 seasons …
I though he was about 7 million per year? Plus, if they cut him, they do not get ALL of it back against the cap most likely. basically, if they sign someone like Nicks and cut Faine they would be paying Nicks and probably half of Faine’s salary too.
I am just guessing though.
Also, for the record, I do not care what it costs them. They have not spent a thing the last few years and have a ton of space to startsigning Free Agents and their own. PLUS, all we hear about is protecting Freeman and giving him weapons.
WELL, can’t do much better than signing Nicks and sliding Zuttah to center.
Do that and draft another OT in the later rounds and I would be absolutely fine with the o_line
March 5th, 2012 at 11:18 am
Tell you the truth .. I read it somewhere that his cap a bit more than his salary. And I have no clue if we cut him or WHEN we cut him if it releases all cap. Would be interesting to know, because if thats the case we could have a Big time guard for just a few Mill more per season.
March 5th, 2012 at 11:21 am
You cant be a power running football team with a glaring weakness in the center of your offensive line. Faine continually got blown up and pushed into the backfield last year which disrupted a lot of the Bucs plays. He needs to be released and either move Zuttah to center or grab one of the younger, bigger free agent centers that are available. Trueblood actually had a better year last year and is a good run blocker. And if you cant dump Black because of his contract then make him special teams captain, but get him off of the defense. You can only turn over so much of your roster in one off-season.
March 5th, 2012 at 11:33 am
@ BigMac
How is is a failure if we do not get Nicks, every team in the league will be after him if he makes it free agency, who says he wants to be a Buc. Especially after seeing a division rival lose 10 games in a row why would he even want to come to Tampa.
March 5th, 2012 at 11:47 am
“It would be a colossal failure if the Bucs can’t find a way to sign Carl Nicks.”
Huh? What if he doesn’t want to come here? If he signs elsewhere or re-signs with the Saints, its not necessarily the Bucs fault. He’d be leaving a 13-3 team with a HOF QB to go to a 4-12 team with a new coach and a lot of inexperience. I’d actually be SHOCKED if he came here.
Haynesworth got offered more money by the Bucs but chose to go elsewhere.
People forget that free agency is a two way street.
March 5th, 2012 at 11:49 am
Yeah a 4-12 team that has whooped their a**es once per season routinely!!
March 5th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Im surprised people dont realize that players … When not offered a contract or low-balled relish the chance to go to a division rival to play them twice per season.
It happens alot .. especially the AFC and NFC East. These guys have EGOs and when their team doesnt throw a big contract their way .. They lose loyalty pretty fast.
March 5th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
If you ask me trueblood, jones, black, and buggers should be cut as quickly as possible. And those positions should be what is on our draft board. Trueblood and black haven’t showed why they should be on the team since they got here. And the others just played horrible this season and can easily be replaced. And I’ll be very upset if they get a second chance other then legarrette or mike Williams.
March 5th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Personally, any player who underperformed over the past 3 seasons is getting a free pass from my household. Morris was such a horrible coach, he could not get juice from an orange.
March 5th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Of course you keep Faine and Trueblood, for depth. Neither are bad teammates, they just aren’t great players
It just disgust me. People hating these two guys, who both work hard- just aren’t great players. Both are ok,and work hard.
Yet not one person said to cut the rolling slime trail that is Talib. Played horrible, quit playing the run completely by week 8, and has done something stupid and embarrassing every year he’s been here!!
Faine and Trueblood are better linemen, than Talib is a CB. Plus they didn’t quit on their team. Schiano has actually called that out in Public.
To be that idiotically clueless. The posters hating the decent guys, and giving that jerkoff a Pass-should be forced to ram their fingers into their eye sockets, to prevent futher reading or writing of their opinions!
March 5th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Talib is the best corner we have. Faine and trueblood are hard workers but no where near the best so why keep them around because there hardworking and not producing? In the real world would you keep someone who is getting older and doing nothing but taking up space at your job or on your team? Or would you bring in some fresh new faces like I think we are doing and teach them how to win? Then you say cut some one who has been one of the bright spots since we started the rebuilding stage. Man gtf.
March 5th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Pop Quiz for all the Faine and Trueblood haters!!!
Who had the most penalties on the OL last year? If you answered either of the above, YOURE WRONG!
It’s everyone’s boy and new 4-year contract winner, Jeremy Zuttah!!
Faine had 3, Trueblood had 7 plus 1 declined and Zuttah had 9 with 1 declined.
Stats courtesy of ProFootballFocus, who does however have Trueblood ranked as one of the worst pass and run blockers in their ratings system, and who am I to argue with them. I still hate Trueblood as much as anyone else!
March 5th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Capt Tim, this team would have next to zero INT’s the last 3 years if not for Talib. You’re being to extreme. Talib may not be a pro-bowler yet, but he’s the best thing we got from a pure football standpoint, and the same cannot be said about Faine or Trueblood.
March 5th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Just out of curiosity. I’ve read somewhere that Zuttah played C in College. If that is true and Schiano was the coach there the whole time. Does that mean Zuttah will be getting a real heavy look/competition for the center starting job ? Or do the Bucs plan to have him at LG again ?
March 5th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
I am ok with the hate Black is getting. He deserves it.
As for Faine and Trueblood… Could both be upgraded. Yes most definetly, but they still work hard and can produce. They are just not STARS. But no team has a full line of STARS.
Now on to Biggers.
Those people hating on Biggers needs to quite now! He was injured his entire rookie year. Comes back in 2010 plays rather exceptional. Go look at the stats he was shutting down some of the better receivers in the league.
Last year he had a rough year and got burned a few times. But so did the ENTIRE team. He was only a second year player with NO offseason and a 7th round pick who was suppose to be a project. Cut him some Slack. He doesn’t need to be cut he is quality depth in a position we don’t have much of.
Myron Lewis on the other hand doesn’t deserve a roster spot.
I would be ok with cutting Black, Lewis and Jones. Everyone else i still see potential in being able to perform much better with better coaching and a full off season to work with.
March 5th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Oh yah and Limpkin. Please get him out our uniform. He disgraces it every time he puts it on.
March 5th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Answered even more cluelessly!!
Who keeps spreading rumors, among the dumb tribe, that Talib has any talent?? Why do you keep saying that??
Do you think every expert in the world is saying we need two CBs, because Talib is a good player??? Do you think we were last in passing TD defense because Talib is a decent CB??? Do you think his coach called him out, for quitting on Running plays- because he is a great CB??
Is it because of his ProBowl appearances? None!
ProBowl votes by nfl players, including his own teammates? Not one. Not ever.
Was it because they put Biggers on the opposing teams #1 wideout, the first eight games??
Great CBS don’t get many interceptions. BECAUSE ONLY IDIOTS THROW AT GREAT CBs!!
The reason Talib gets interceptions, is that he is the target on the field. Every QB in the league wants to light him up! Even Blaine Gabbert threw 2 TDs on him!
Talib was our third best CB last year. Behind Ronde and Biggers. If any of you try to defend any part of that back 7 from last year( except Ronde), you are clueless! Worse defense ive seen in years( probably since our new DC was DC for the giants that one season!!)
To defend any of them is nuts. To defend the two key quitters( Talib and Black), means you don’t know what you are looking at. It was obvious all season long, that those two were the weakest links
March 5th, 2012 at 7:16 pm
The fact that Trueblood still has a job with this franchise is absolutely baffling. He is atrocious and has been for the last 3-4 seasons. There is a reason that the Rays are now the area’s most popular franchise. They don’t sit on dead weight. The Bucs need to make major strides in self-evaluation.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
It’s funny how you could hate talib. Did he rape your mother or something outside of football. I mean it’s obvious he’s our best corner. And if you name a corner with more int’s at the beginning of their career you won’t get many. Now as for biggers yeah that one guy was kinda right but it still doesn’t change the fact that everytime a highlight came on biggers was on the wrong end recieving torture to the fullest. But faine yeah he works hard. But he is on the downslide of his career and hasn’t produced anything in 2seasons. Trueblood I can’t even believe you guys are defending the man who has gotten more buccaneer qb’s and rb’s killed then the bounties Williams issued over his career. Enough said faine doesn’t needta be replaced right now but true blood doesn’t and biggers shouldn’t start ever again if he didnt learn anything after last year. But talib if he avoids jail why would we cut him and let someone else have the talent he possesses? That’s stupid. So like I said earlier man gtf.
March 5th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
LOL, some Tampa players are going to Freak Out when they see what Coach Schiano expects from them, vs the Raheem regime.
One poster made an excellent point about Winslow that Steve White has remarked on several times. Winslow is not a good blocking tight end.
It is true, our line was better before Winslow got here, but then we also had Aaron Sears.
March 6th, 2012 at 8:04 am
I is amazing how many people change their tunes on the drop of a dime around here. I don’t agree with most on this issue, but at least a few are consistent.
Faine is staying at center. The only way Zuttah starts at center is through injury. The Bucs have stated they resigned Zuttah because of his versitility. THEY WILL NOT TAKE THAT AWAY BY STARTING HIM AT CENTER!
Even if Nicks is signed…Zuttah is a floater…And as such he plays an important role. It’s because of a floated that an oline can make it through the long tough games.
Those who think Zuttah should be center are that same ones that would be calling for his head a year later. He IS NOT better than Faine.
The smart way to handle this is to keep Faine one more year and draft/prepare a young true center, or determine if the others in camp will be good enough.
AND as far as not caring about costs, don’t be stupid. Do what you have to in order to Mamie the team better, but be smart about it so we don’t have to cut important players in 5 years in order to get under the cap.