Bucs Could Change Approach To Bennett
February 19th, 2013
Superagent Drew Rosenhaus told Joe he’s not talking about Michael Bennett’s contract negotiations
Joe talked to oily yet very cordial superagent Drew Rosenhaus this morning, but Rosenhaus said he won’t comment on Michael Bennett’s contract negotiations with the Bucs, or anything related to Bennett. So that leaves Joe to speculate.
Given the fresh legal troubles of Da’Quan Bowers, who could get sacked big time by New York City courts, it’s reasonable to wonder whether that situation will affect the Bucs’ approach to re-signing Bennett. He’ll be on the open market in 21 days if the Bucs don’t ink him to a new deal or tag him as a franchise player before the March 4 franchise deadline.
Joe has to think Bowers’ gun shenanigans won’t radically change the Bucs’ plans but will at least make them a little more likely to franchise Bennett. They simply can’t afford to lose Bennett for 2013. Per BSPN, Bennett played a stunning 84 percent of defensive snaps, and every Bucs fan knows he played well. The Bucs aren’t good enough or deep enough to wave goodbye to Bennett. Plus, they have the cash to spend.
While the franchise tag would cost the Bucs in the neighborhood of $10.5 million for 2013 — and inflated rate for Bennett — it at least lets them avoid guaranteeing Bennett $20 million over, say, three years, which is likely what he’d be seeking in a new contract.
Joe has no clue how this might shake out, and Joe couldn’t press Rosenhaus into any hints.
February 19th, 2013 at 11:28 am
SHOW ME THE MONNNEEEYYYYY!!!!!!!!
all this could be a blessing in disguise, as Bennett leaves to play with his brother on a playoff team. It leave our defense in shambles. We can then select a REAL franchise QB in the 2014 Draft.
all hail the pop-star and his 6 year rebuild and counting!
February 19th, 2013 at 11:40 am
Nope Bennetts gone quit dreaming!!
February 19th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Wow “Buc Realist” way to be positive. You seem to be pretty damn confident that our quarterback of the future would be all but locked up if we managed to secure a top 10 pick in next years draft…Here I’ll mention a few names for you…Jamarcus Russell, Mark Sanchez, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker…
February 19th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Slap him with the Franchise Tag. Negotiate a trade with a potential buyer.
*Sign a bigger, cheaper affective option in DE Matt Shaughnessy
*Sign another rotational Player in DE/DT Desmond Bryant
Now that we have an additional pick:
1st round picks
DE Ezekiel Ansah
2nd pick in the 1st round
Xavier Rhodes
Go Bucs!!!
February 19th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
We could even trade back into the 1st round and pick up RT/RG *D.J. Fluker.
February 19th, 2013 at 12:58 pm
The Bucs need to franchise Bennett. How can you feel comfotable giving a player a huge longterm contract when he’s really only had one great year. He got lucky and did it in a contract year…he’s a solid def end but he’s asking for elite def end money.
February 19th, 2013 at 1:02 pm
The NE Patriots have Franchise and traded several Franchised players over that past 10yrs. The only problem is they haven’t drafted well. With the addition of Eric Stokes, and a more efficient scouting dept. We should suffer the same fate. This is an extremely important offseason.
February 19th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
correction* we shouldn’t suffer the same fate
February 19th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
C,mon Michael, give us a home team discount. One for DaQuan Bowers!
February 19th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
I’m thinking he’ll get tagged because that will buy the Bucs another year to assess injury concerns\stability with Claiborne and Bowers while not locking them in long term. Then next off-season they will collectively look at the DE’s.
February 19th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Let Bennett walk, and sign Anthony Spencer… He is a better player.
6 year rebuild and counting, GO DOM!
Not Dom’s fault, then who or what is the culprite?
February 19th, 2013 at 4:22 pm
I rather have michael Johnson for the bengals a tru pass rusher
February 19th, 2013 at 8:24 pm
Bennett is not worth 10 million a year. No way. He’s had one good year, actually solid year. He’s underrated now, but when he gets paid the big bucks, will quickly see he is not elite DE.
Let him walk and draft Enzekial Ansah.
February 20th, 2013 at 5:00 am
Why doesn’t anyone realize Bennett’s been putting in work since we picked him in, and to be quite honest he’s the only defensive player we’ve had to stay healthy and consistently improve in his time as a Buc. You guys throw out theses random DE names and say their better but fail to look at how Bennett is one of the only Top-10 DE’s run AND pass in the league.
Gerald McCoy has been making a killing against our cap since his rookie season while Bowers & Clayborn haven’t even amassed the collective snaps to rival Bennett these past 2 seasons. PLUS Bennett recorded as many sacks this season as GMC has in his career. If Dom’s job is really on the line, retaining Bennett would be a smart move because he’s the prime example of the success we can have grabbing young talent and making it work.
February 20th, 2013 at 6:09 pm
@BadNewsBucs
Exactly.
Michael Bennet was at the top of the NFL in TFL plus 9 sacks.
He has BUILT himself up from and UFA to a prime free agent.
I think it is wise to let him test the market, and draft his replacement. Although, a vet like him is not really replaceable. It would just save us a lot of money. I just doubt that we can match what he will get offered.
I wil miss Michael alot! He is sooooo cool.
I wish we would franchise him. Give him his big retirement payday. Give us more flexibility for the future, and give us the chance to monitor Adrian and DaQuan and see if they are healthy enough for the next 2 years.
Personally, I want 6 badass dlineman.
I want to sign Michael AND draft the best DE we can.
And even perhaps draft a DT in the third.
D-Line depth is Everything!
We won the Super Bowl because we could pressure the QB, and stop the pass!
Right now, we cant do either!
I LOVE Dominiiks approach to drafting D lineman.
Sadly, we just havent been lucky with injuries.