Report: Bucs’ “Inside Track” On Vincent Jackson
March 12th, 2012
Outside of the Peyton Manning circus, the most expensive guy in free agency likely will be Vincent Jackson, the soon-to-be former Chargers receiver who is a true No. 1 receiver/deep threat in his prime.
The Bucs could use a guy like that.
Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has said in various ways that the Bucs need to do more for Josh Freeman. Of course, those could have been references to coaching and playcalling, but it also could mean buying Freeman a proven weapon. And the latter is on the way if you believe a report last night in the Chicago Sun Times.
Reporter Sean Jensen has a source telling him the Bucs are ready to blitz Jackson with what surely will be a longterm, $10 million+ annual deal with lots of guarantees.
The Bears, Bucs and Redskins are thought to be the most aggressive bidders for two-time Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson. According to a league source, the Bucs have the inside track to land Jackson, with the Bears among the serious suitors who might come up short.
What makes this so intriguing is the Bucs potentially battling the Redskins and Danny Snyder in a spending showdown — Team Glazer vs. Snyder, Bruce Allen vs. Dominik.
The Bucs’ salary-cap well is deeper, and one would think Freeman would be a more attractive quarterback than any rookie the Redskins will trot out there next season.
If Jackson actually visits Washington, Joe wonders if Team Snyder will let Raheem Morris have a little talk to Jackson about Tampa Bay.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:54 am
This would be a great move for our offense. It would help free up Benn and Williams too.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:57 am
V Jax is nice, but at his age, i would rather have Pierre Garcon or maybe Ted Ginn, and Defensive help….Someone is going to overpay for vincent jackson, let it be washington, again.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:58 am
1 more DWI and he is suspended for 1 year. Great talent but concerns are there. hopefully we would have a clause in his contract. I bet we end up with Manningham, and that would be fine with me. No way would I pay 12 to 15 mil. on a player who could be suspended with 1 wrong move..
March 12th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Ted Ginn over V Jax?
That’s pure poppycock
March 12th, 2012 at 11:59 am
You know…after having 6-8 weeks of mulling over game film (which don’t lie) I would love to hear Coach Schinao’s take on free agency. Unfortunately I don’t think that is going to happen. Obviously, this week’s free agent frenzy might and probably will disappoint us diehard Bucs fans.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
“but it also could mean buying Freeman a proven weapon”
PROVEN is the operative word. The fact of the matter is that we don’t have one single top 5 elite player outside of Connor Barth (lol). We can keep playing the “potential” game like we have for 3 years or we can stop farting around and go get a bonafide weapon.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
VJax is the only #1 receiver on the market. We either need to get him or nobody imo. We don’t need more #2 receivers, we have like 4 of them already.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
@ Buddhaboy,
There’s no way a team would want Ted Ginn at league minimum over VJax at $12 mil / yr. Ginn has done nothing as WR, and at best, would be our #3.
I can see an argument for Garcon, as he’s younger than Jackson, faster, has great experience, and will likely will come in at the $4 – $6 mil a yr range. He wouldn’t be a clear cut #1, but he would definitely add the “vertical threat” that is otherwise missing from this team.
I’m all for the Bucs going all-in on Jackson. If they can do that, bring in Carr or Finnegan, then Lofton or Tulloch, then it would be one heck of a FA period.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I like how all the PFT people are already anointing RG3 as the next great QB. The NFL is a whole different game and nobody is a guaranteed anything in the NFL.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
2 day old breaking news. Way to stay on top of it
March 12th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Don’t believe it, people. Smoke and mirrors.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Those who can remember back to Brandon Marshall…V. Jax isn’t him, but I’m saying risk v. reward. In my mind the Bucs need to set the bar. In a lot of their rooms. “This is what an NFL competitor looks like.” I don’t need the best, or the most morel. Just someone to challenge the skills of (what Dom calls) the core of this team. Break the ice now, split hairs later. Make sense?
March 12th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
hmmn what to do when your top FA is suspended for a year? 12 million ? really?
March 12th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
I love the idea of Vjax but he might break the bank. I’d rather get someone younger and cheaper like Garcon and be able to add good depth in other areas.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
If the Bucs get V-Jax then that would open up the defense for a classic Benn’d around!!!!!! They would never see it coming…. right?
March 12th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Not a good choice in my opinion. Let him go to Washington.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
mjmoody Says:
March 12th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
…or the most morel.
___________________________________
That is nothing like the Buccaneer Way Schiano has spoken about.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Don’t worry people, the Bucs will never really have a chance to sign V-Jax. This talk is just his agent getting the best deal from the team that V-Jax really wants to play for. Even if the Bucs offer more.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
@ raphael
He’s got 12 million reasons per year to keep his nose clean. A concern but not a big one for me.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
@ sensiblebuc he is the best WR FA this year ,no doubt. Should be interesting.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
It could be flares to throw off the missles while we stay on track for Garcon.
Just a thought.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I guess in a few hours/days I’ll know if I’m right – That the Glazers won’t spend until the salary floor is back in place.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
One of the top five deep threats in the NFL. Would instantly make our offense better. Why not?
March 12th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
#1 The Bucs have the inside track why ??? Because the Bucs have the most Cap space of those 3 teams.
#2 15 mill per season is the rumored area he is going to be ??? 1 V-Jax or Garcon and Carl Nicks ??
#3 How pissed would Buc Nation be if he got popped for another DUI ??Hell he would be 31 by the time he took another snap.
Joe, you wrote an article about Cortland FInnegans ON-Field issues. I think its only fair V-Jax gets a mention for his OFF-Field issues.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I would rather have Nicks and Garcon/Manningham…
March 12th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
I like how everyone complains about the glazers being cheap. Then everyone starts the offseason as saying we need Vincent Jackson. Now there is a story just floating the idea out there and everyone wants to complain.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I never said they were cheap…. who exactly is everybody?
March 12th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
V.Jax would be good, But I would also take Garcon. Well I guess we’re getting Finnegan too. Herd they were a two for one sale lol. It seems like the Bucs are taking the right approach keep it up.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
If I could only have two FA’s, Nicks and Carr.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
@jvato Finnegan got a DUI too.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Whispers Faine will be released today !!
March 12th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
No way would I give him 15 mil. I’d much rather have Garcon and Nicks for that price.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Damn Drunks !!! lol
March 12th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
If they release Faine then Nicks may actually be coming here or at least they plan on trying to get him. We’ll see. They’ll still need depth at center.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Just read a good article by the commish about V-Jax.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
@ jvato24
“#2 15 mill per season is the rumored area he is going to be ??? 1 V-Jax or Garcon and Carl Nicks ??”
V Jax. While all of our offensive weapons are “good” we don’t have any elite pieces. Just like last year, nobody in the League will fear our weapons even if we bring in Garcon.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Now that we’re at the bar, I’m starting to get the jitters. Washington has said they are willing to “break the bank” for him. I’m not sure I want to be in a bidding war with Daniel Snyder. Couple that with the risk of another DWI – When we are already carrying a policy on Talib and Tanard Jackson, thats a lot of risk insurance for me.
Then if we have to go deep for Jackson, I think that eliminates Nicks and a couple of other people that could help. So if I could get Garcon and Nicks for a little more than just V-Jax, I’m starting to stutter when it’s my time to bid.
It should be obvious that I would love to have Jackson, but I’m trying to talk myself out of it! Ok. So bottom line – Chicago also wants Mario Williams and we have so many other needs – I think the Skins win this one!
March 12th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Cutting Faine relieves us of $8 mil on the cap. Sounds good to me.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
All these people who keep saying the Buc’s have a bunch of #2’s and no #’s yada yada. I guess everyone forgot about Mike Williams, and the rookie year he had.
They don’t seem to realize that everyone on the Buc’s offense had a bad year last year. The coaching was terrible and there was no sort of offseason, but I would agree we need to bring in a receiver in FA. Preferably one with some burners.
But I’m not so quick to throw Mike Williams under the bus as some of these short term memory Buc fans around here. When he has shown the flashes of a #1, and with the right coaching staff (Fleck, Sullivan) why is that so hard to believe he won’t be?
March 12th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
If we’re doing predictions, let’s do names:
1. At LB, think they’ll add two out of Lofton, Tulloch, Hawthorne, Connor, Mays, Wheeler, Woodyard, Sims, Henderson, Dunbar, Casillas , McIntosh and Lawson. Think they’ll aso address this position in the first 4 RDS of the draft.
2. At WR, think they’ll add one out of Jackson, Garcon, Robinson, Meacham, Ginn Jr., or Royal.
3. At CB, think they’ll add one or two out of Finnegan, Carr, Thomas, Porter, Jennings, Ross, Wright, Gay or Samuel (see below). Think they’ll also address this position in the first 3 RDS of the draft.
4. At DL, think they’ll add one out of Jones, Bunkley, Hill, Thomas and Okoye.
5. At OL, think they’ll add one or two out of Nicks, Grubbs, Lichtensteiger, Legursky, Kemoeatu, McKenzie, Goldberg, Satele, or Cousins. Think they’ll also address this position in the first 4 RDS of the draft.
6. At QB, think they’ll add one out of Campbell, Orton, Carr, Stanton, Grossman, Henne, Orlovsky, Painter, Quinn, or Redman.
7. At RB, think they’ll add one out of Addai, Tolbert, Jacobs, Forsett, Green-Ellis, Redman, Smith, or Grant. Think they’ll also address this position in the first 4 RDS of the draft.
8. Also think the team will look to sign Martellus Bennett, who would add a much needed size factor to the receiving corp. If they do, Winslow is traded (while he still has value), maybe to the Eagles in a package for Samuel.
Probably way off on this, but it’s fun to research and speculate. DEFINITELY do not think Dominik will sit on his hands this year, unlike some other posters above. Feel free to blast away, or add names I may have missed.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
In case some haven’t noticed, Freeman isn’t and probably never will be the most accurate passer. 6’5″ can reach alot further than 6’1″.
And judging by the responses on this story, it seems the fans are just as cheap as they claim the owners to be. Get out of town with this saving money bull crap, you either want Freeman to suceed or you don’t I guess, and Garcon and Manningham aren’t going to sign for a lousy $4 million a year like some are hoping. They’re looking for “#1” money too, the big difference between those two and Jackson is, Jackson is a legit “#1” and has the film to prove it. Besides that, he instantly fixes our troubles in the redzone, the other two are really only going to be effective between the 20’s.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
It would be nice to upgrade Mike Williams OR LG. We have serviceable players in both positions. We’re “okay” with not upgrading either right now. As long as we address CB(Claiborne in the first round) and at least ONE of the solid LB in FA then this VJack/Nicks possible signing is just icing on the cake. Neither one is detrimental in moving fwd THIS season.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Vjax is a proven weapon and honestly I wouldn’t care if we got him or garcon alot of this information is leaked by agents anyways so take the “blank team has the inside track to sign blank player” with a grain of salt. Well know tomorrow what reports are true or not. All I got to say is Dom better have his wallet out and be ready to throw some money down on some of these players out there because our team needs some of these free agents. Idc if Dom has to take them to a dinner and a movie to get them to sign on the dot. If we come outta this fa with just a special teams ace gunner imma personally walk to obp and kick Dom in his nuts.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
…or Tebow. 😉
March 12th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
That was a joke by the way. No way we pull the trigger on Tebow if Manning ends up in Denver. We don’t need another 2nd string running QB… lol
March 12th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Here’s the bottom line really, the Bucs will make at least one monster signing at some position. I don’t know which it will be, but my money is someone on the offensive side of the ball. After all the hinting about being active in free agency this year and always talking about putting pieces around Freeman, plus the fact that Dominik is on his second and likely last Head Coaching hire, he needs to make a splash to at least show that he tried because really, there’s no more excuses for him now.
I think they’re going to sign their talent on offense and draft high their talent on defense from here on out.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@ Lion
I don’t think anybody on JBF is saying that Mike isn’t talented. He’s very talented and has #1 potential. However, you don’t NOT acquire a more talented wide receiver if you can get one. The Colts had Marvin Harrison and drafted Reggie Wayne. We can do the same with Mike once V Jax has gotten too old.
This team needs elite talent that’s ready to go now. Not in 2-3 years.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
According to PFT Faine is gone by tomorrow, Zuttah to play center
March 12th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
WR: Vjax or Garcon
CB: Finnegan or Carr and possibly Carlos Rogers
LB: Tulloch or another quality MLB
RB: I think they go draft for a speed guy in the 2-3 round but if they get Tolbert, I would be happy with that as well
Any combination of these along with a DT and O-Lineman for depth
AND THEN the draft…..
I would be ecstatic!!!!!!!! Things can turn around fairly quickly.
This is the first time in 3 years that I am really looking forward to Free Agency. All indicators are there that the Bucs are actually going to make some serious runs at some good quality players.
CAN NOT WAIT for this to get underway!
March 12th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
We could always sign Carr and Finnegan or Rogers and draft Blackmon. (big smile)
March 12th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Would be ironic if the team does release Faine, as he was just quoted the other day stating the team told him he was “in their plans” for this year. Evidently he missed the “to clear salary cap space” part of that sentence. lol He still has a few years left in him, sure he will be picked up somewhere.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
I do want to point out that building young through the draft is STILL the best way to go. now is the time (whether they won 4 or 10 games last year) to add pieces through free agency. So for those that are going to say “see, told ya”… I still think you are wrong. It is all about building a core from the draft and complementing through free agency.
Regardless, it is all opinion and we will see how it goes.
One thing I do know is St Louis is fantastic shape the next couple of years because RG3 moved up the boards so fast.
March 12th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
@gotbucs: bingo!
March 12th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
TJAX and Nicks and Richardson in the draft and I’m all in for season tickets. Try and stop that offense.
March 12th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Yeah Raheem can give him insider input on how sh!tty of a GM Dominick is.
March 12th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
buddah
PLEASE STOP THE NONSENSE.
No offense, but they would be idiotic to get Richardson at #5.
If they trade down, fine.
Otherwise, Claiborne or Blackmon will be the pick.
March 12th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
With you on the trading down Dave. If a team like Cincy wants to move up for Richardson and give up #17 & #21, I say do it. Gives the team more options and 3 of the top 36 players in the draft if they keep all the picks. Would also allow the team to trade their 2Rd for a first next year (ala Patriots) if a team falls in love with a player overnight and wants to grab him at #4 on Friday.
March 12th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Wow, looks like the Redskins just lost the majority of their cap space, if not all. Along with the Cowboys, Saints and Raiders. I love it and what a great Monday its turning out to be so far.
March 12th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
well i think washington is officially out for v jax. there getting penalized 36 million for overspending in the uncapped year. the fine will be split up between the next two years. wow. this could be great for the bucs signing v jax as the only other real team thats been heard of is the bears. otential great news here
March 12th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
oh and add another 1 plus million in cap space given to the bucs as a result of this. i heart bruce allen !!