Eric Wright Suspended Four Games
November 26th, 2012
Wait a minute. Last week Eric Wright said he had no idea why he might not be available to play for the Bucs this season.
Well, it seems Wright either was in need of an Adderall or a shot of espresso when he commented on his availability before Joe and Woody Cummings of The Tampa Tribune. Or Wright just wasn’t up to speed on the happenings at Roger Goodell’s New York palace.
Today the Bucs announced that Wright will be suspended for four games. It’s presumably for violating the NFL substance abuse policy. Jay Glazer of FOX reported several weeks ago that Wright would be suspended for testing positive for the stimulant without league permission for using the drug.
Joe actually wouldn’t be surprised if Wright was somewhat clueless on his pending trouble with the NFL. Joe’s known plenty of southern California types like Wright that are so laid back they don’t care about what’s going on if it’s not right in front of them.
November 26th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Honestly it doesn’t seem to really matter. This secondary was playing the same with or without Talib, and also with or without Wright. I don’t see this being a problem because of that. They are going to remain last in the league and give up 300-400 yards to every above average QB. Just the way it is this year, unfortunately.
November 26th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
yea this a guy qualifies as a “Buccaneer Man” right. my ass. we get rid of the headache Talib only to bring in another headache in Wright. great.
November 26th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Joe – As a fan, I’m annoyed with this suspension in light of last week’s media discussion with Wright. Thank you for your piece on the press conference, a piece that foreshadowed today’s bad news.
(A) I don’t get why Wright and the Buccaneers PR staff member (it was unclear who it actually was conducting the media session) were so dismissive of the suspension questions. I HIGHLY doubt that Wright didn’t know this was coming. And the presence of the PR staff member created the impression that the organization approved the message that Wright delivered (that there was no reason Wright would be suspended). IMO, at a minimum, the organization was negligent in tacitly misleading the media and the fans.
(B) I’m an optimist, and I’m very proud of what the Bucs have accomplished this season, playoffs or no playoffs. That said, the suspension dramatically dampers the Bucs’ playoff chances. Assuming that Wright comes back for the Atlanta game (and too bad the suspension didn’t come last week ), we will need to beat one of the two most prolific offenses in the NFL (Denver or New Orleans) with our second string secondary. And thats also assuming that we beat Philly St. Louis and Atlanta. Tough task!
November 26th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
I just read Wright’s exit speech…..did Jesse Jackson Jr. write that?????????
November 26th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Boo on Wright!
C’mon man, if take PED’s, then you should be playing really well.
November 26th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Standard part of any NFL contract should be that the team has the right to terminate the contract and pay if the player is found to have abused the drug policy. Guess what happens if I show up at work on the sauce or on dope? No union is going to save my stupid ass. That would make the situation a whole lot more tangible for these young millionaires.
November 26th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Friggin liar.
November 26th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
I thought this was all cleared up already. Imagine that. Stellar job done by the local media on this one.
November 26th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Seattle took a huge blow today Sherman and Browner were suspended 4 games as well. That a huge blow for them and is good for us because there probably the team that were going to have to pass to get the 2nd wildcard
November 26th, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Is Stanford Routt THAT bad that we haven’t at least brought him in for a tryout to see what he can do? a 5 (possibly more) week rental to see where his head is at should definitely help our horrible secondary.
i mean, he HAS to be better than Myron Lewis and Danny Gorrer…. right?
November 26th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Do the Bucs re-sign Brandon MacDonald or is he another one of the Adderall players?
Last week I mentioned how rudely the Bucs treat the local sports media and I was dressed down. I don’t think it is professional to just out right lie to the press that helps promote the product.
If I was treated this unprofessionally, as a writer, I would complain to the NFL’s main office.
Is this truly the last suspension?
November 26th, 2012 at 8:44 pm
The best thing to come of this is that the Bucs are no longer on the hook for his guaranteed slary next year. He already hs 2 strikes even though one was dropped. I say cut or losses after the season and use the extra cap to target another corner…7.75 mil or so due next year, no longer an issue. I don’t see a drop off in play between Wright and our rookies so why keep him around at that price…just sayin.
November 26th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Joe,
Colorado Buc is right! See the piece in PFT that Adam Schefter reports on the guaranteed portion of Wright’s contract for 2013. This is significant and new news. If true, my bet is we’ve seen the last of E Righteous!
November 26th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
The Rock Star laid an egg signing this dud. There seems to be no difference in the secondary with or with out him playing. Sack him and use his salary elsewhere.
Time to watch the stinking panthers fold in the 4th quarter again.
November 26th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
I can’t blame Schiano for Wright’s stupidity. I have a feeling Wright is done as a Buc and I would not blame them for dumping him. They don’t need Talib 2.0.
November 26th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
@Joe
I just read that Dominik put a clause in Wright’s contract that if suspended his contract is voided and they can cut him with no penalty. Is there any truth to it? If that is true Dominik is smarter than most people give him credit for.
November 26th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Tom, that would have to be part of the collective bargaining agreement, and the NFLPA will never agree to that, primarily because testing is still a science and mistakes occur, and the chance of someone losing their contract over a possible incorrect test is a huge liability.
Sure, it would be NICE if a team could jettison a player for taking illegal drugs, but common sense doesn’t always rule when lawyers get involved.
November 26th, 2012 at 10:02 pm
It seems like everyone who was or is a lion has issues!! Rocktar no more lions the orginization clearly doesnt no how to run a team
November 26th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Losing Wright and Talib don’t bother me from a talent standpoint. A good secondary is only as good as the front four getting after the QB. Let’s face it – if we had the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Steel Curtain up front, these guys in the secondary would be lauded as solid NFL players, and probably a couple of Pro Bowlers. If the team can pick up a couple more guys like Leonard Johnson in the draft and focus the high dollar picks on D-linemen, this secondary will turn around quickly, even with the Danny Gorrers on the team.
November 26th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
F**k this waste of space he hadn’t done crap all year so who needs him? Overpaid dumba**!
I just think its weird that the alleged adderall pills were taken before the season and neither Wright or Talib were suspended till almost halfway through and 10 games in? Why the delay?
Either way, put this chump back on the FA market or drastically reduce his contract for next year.
The Bucs need some big acquisitions in FA and the draft next year for the secondary and D-line.
Go Bucs!!!!
November 26th, 2012 at 11:30 pm
With the clause dom put in his contract we need to cut him. He sucks anyway. He is a “lion man”. Gooo Bucs!!!.
November 27th, 2012 at 12:18 am
celly:
There’s a reason the worst team in the NFL shoved him out the door.
November 27th, 2012 at 12:21 am
maybe we should look at michael coe just released by the giants….giants castoff may have potential…
November 27th, 2012 at 12:52 am
That pill could be the most expensive ever almost 9.5 million dollars worth. Renegotiate or Bye Bye
November 27th, 2012 at 1:18 am
Why we signed this bum in the first place is beyond me! This is the second distraction from this dumb ass already this year! He is a terrible corner who is wayyy over Paid! cut him asap and move on!
November 27th, 2012 at 3:45 am
Dear Glazers,
Great job w the 2012 offseason. The draft seems to have been a home run (although your top pick is having trouble w a full 16 NFL game season). Your coaching/regime change: A+, exactly what the doctor ordered. Free agency, I say B+. You wrapped up a lot of $ in 3 guys, but your investment in Vincent Jackson seems to have been a very wise one! You couldn’t have predicted the injury to Carl Nicks, but I liked his attitude, work ethic, and game film – so that gets a thumbs-up, pending his performance next season. Now, your third choice in Eric Wright appeared to be a goose-egg (albeit golden plated by the Buccaneer’s check books) at the time. The good news is my instincts were accurate! He played for far too many (BAD) teams in his young career, that the question must be asked “what came first, the chicken or the egg” – It seems to have been the egg. While he has yet to do (or even say) one thing to impress me since his signing, with the addition of his 4 game suspension, it seems clear… that yes, it’s true, he is a bust! But there’s still great news; his suspension COULD be a blessing-in-disguise. It means you are are no longer obligated to his $7+ million owed for next season; in addition to the $1.4 lost during the next 4 games. Very rarely do we get second chances – YOU HAVE ONE. If you trade/release him before Christmas, that day will be all the better for me!
Thank you,
michael