“Dominik Knows His Job Is On The Line”
February 16th, 2013
The paywall is down. The paywall is down.
PewterReport.com spiritual leader and Bucs beat writer Scott Reynolds removed the pay-per-read feature from his regular “Fab 5” column yesterday. In that edition, Reynolds claimed to know an innermost thought of rockstar general manager Mark Dominik when it comes to his job security. And Reynolds was emphatic that Dominik’s job is in jeopardy without a standout Bucs season in 2013.
FAB 1. Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik knows his job is on the line. In order for him to maintain job security in 2014 and beyond, Tampa Bay likely has to make the playoffs in 2013. At least that’s what he thinks.
Reynolds goes on to speculate about the impact of new director of college scouting Eric Stokes. If the Bucs draft BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah in the first round, Reynolds believes, then it could be some sort of statement on Dominik’s mindset and future.
It will be interesting to see what happens if Ansah is still on the board by the time Tampa Bay picks at No. 13. If he becomes a Buccaneer it will speak volumes about how much influence Stokes now has in the war room, and how much comfort level Dominik has about his future at One Buccaneer Place.
Frankly, Joe would be surprised if Dominik told any media that he thinks his job is in jeopardy if the Bucs don’t make the playoffs in 2013. It’s possible, Joe’s not claiming funny business from Reynolds, but Joe doesn’t know why Dominik would say such a thing.
As for evaluating a GM, it’s a challenging process with a lot more layers to it when compared to grading a head coach, but it does ultimately come down to wins and losses. However, if Dominik drafts another Rookie of the Year candidate and belts a couple of home runs in free agency, it’s hard to imagine he gets canned under any circumstances after next season.
February 16th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
He doesn’t have any direct quotes from Dom. Some juicy info like that he woulda used…maybe just an urgent tone in the way Dominik suggested the Bucs offseason will be approached. Either way I like the way Bucs management, writers, and fans all seems to agree the 2013 season is going to determine the next 5 years of the Bucs
February 16th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
I think you’re right Joe, if Dominik has another stellar draft but the team struggles again, I don’t see the Glazers canning him. For one thing, Dominik is very well liked by Joel and that means a lot. Joel’s no fool either, he sees Dominiks accomplishments as well. So far his tenure as GM has been mediocre at best but his resurgence last year and with a well played out strategy this offseason could definitely endear him for many more season to come. Schiano is more on the hot seat than Dominik.
February 16th, 2013 at 3:56 pm
No way they show Dominik the door next year. He has shown immense talent at spotting stars in the draft any way you look at it. What we do next year will depend completely upon Freeman. Even if he tanks, I hope the Glazers look past that one bad draft pick and let Dominik continue to lead this team. If we clean house on our GM next year, what would that mean for the coaches? I do not want to see this franchise turn into the Cleveland Browns, where we clean house every 3-4 years and never have a general direction. Dominik should stay, regardless of what Freeman or Schiano give us next year.
February 16th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Ansah shouldn’t be there when we pick, but if he is it would be tough to let him pass by. This should probably be a year to grab a Tackle if there’s one on the board viewed to be franchise caliber. Start him out on the right side and in a couple years switch him with Penn. It’s still way too early to be speculating the draft anyway, as far as what position to target especially, because with over $30 million in cap space our needs could change drastically.
As far as Dominik and his job security goes, I think he has stuck to a plan that was agreed upon by himself and ownership from the very start. I think Raheem was forced on him. He hasn’t drafted a 1st round bust yet, I know some will argue that though. Overall I think he’s graded out pretty well with his drafts and trades. His management of the salary cap has been great, which shouldn’t go overlooked. He’s batting about .500 right now on FA signings, hopefully that percentage goes up this offseason. Talent wise and money wise this organization is in great shape, which is really all you can ask from the GM in my opinion. Schiano and Dominik are married now though, so if Schiano falls, so too will Dominik.
February 16th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
LOVE ME SOME ZIGGY!!! Ansah! Get him if he’s still there. Especially if we lose Bennett in FA….even if we retain Bennett, can you imagine that rotation of Bennett, Bowers, Clayborn, Ansah? Trade back into the 1st for Kawann Short to sit at NT beside McCoy? After addressing CB depth in FA, then get a CB and FS (Swearinger in the 3rd). Pass rush fixed, secondary fixed! BOOM!
February 16th, 2013 at 5:01 pm
I tend to agree with 4everBucsFan, Dom ain’t going nowhere, unless he just blows the next draft badly. I think Tampa is well on their way to a playoff team, but it will take a few years. I think both Schiano and Dom stay in Tampa another year, no matter what. But Freeman may be gone, unless he delivers the goods this year. If not, he will be the scapegoat, not Dom or Schiano.
February 16th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
You guys are crazy, they call him the rockstar and i am still trying to find his 1 hit!
1.) his cap mangement. it better be low when you finish 4th, 3rd, 4th and 4th in your division.
1.) his drafts, his 1st rounders are at least still with the team, of the first 4 2nd rounders none really played with the team last year.
also Dominick has spent incredible resources to get a pass rush for the Bucs. And what do we need. A PASS RUSH! you can say a secondary but it was just as bad with Talib and Wright back there.
3.) Great he signed VJ. shall we go thru all the miss sighnings from past years. Great names like Nuggent, Mcown, and Angelo Crowell who did not even play for the team, yet got big signing bonuses.
February 16th, 2013 at 5:58 pm
@the_buc_realist…..
Lavonte David
Doug Martin
Gerald McCoy
Mike Williams
Mark Barron
Mason Foster
Carl Nicks
Vincent Jackson
Adrian Clayborn
Josh Freeman
Da’Quan Bowers
All players that Dom has brought to Tampa. Has he had some misses? Sure…but he grades out higher than anybody else in the NFC South and probably higher than most in the NFL period. If everybody you drafted was a pro bowler there wouldn’t be room on any rosters for draft picks each year. Bottom line is that most draft picks don’t pan out. I think Dom has a very good track record so far. I look for 2013 to be the breakout year. I predict playoffs this year.
February 16th, 2013 at 8:15 pm
@Bobby
Grades out higher than anyone else in the NFC South??? Thats because he always is drafting ahead of everyone else.
February 16th, 2013 at 9:27 pm
When it comes to evaluating UNPROVEN TALENT he has been awful. When judging proven free agents he’s been “ok.”
GMs are judged by how they judge the unproven.
February 16th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Just wanted to say as a bucs fan in Baltimore… If Tavon Austin is there in round 2 and we pass… It will be a huge mistake. He’ll be better then Randall Cobb. He is a Monster that will address the slot receiver position, return games also.
February 16th, 2013 at 10:38 pm
If We draft a QB early, then you know Dom’s seat is hot.
Hope for Dom’s sake he’s not married to Freeman.
February 16th, 2013 at 10:45 pm
If the Rock Star can survive the house cleaning of 2011, he can survive anything. He’s not going anywhere.
February 16th, 2013 at 11:00 pm
@ Adam
By your statement then I would have to assume that you think Doug Martin, Lavonte David, Gerald McCoy, Mike Williams, Adrian Clayborn, Michael Bennett, LeGarrette Blount, and DaQuan Bowers are all awful football players.
If anything he has misjudged PROVEN free agents.
Find me a GM that doesn’t miss in the draft or in free agency. They don’t exist.
If Dominik loses his job it will be because he misjudged on one player, Josh Freeman. Every coach and GM in the history of the NFL sinks or swims because of a QB. Obviously the jury is still out on that subject. I’m hoping Dominik keeps his job, because if he does that means Freeman has finally reached his potential and is leading us to the playoffs every year.
February 16th, 2013 at 11:07 pm
I think Dom has earned an extended stay here- unless he again fails to fix our horrible secondary. This team was talentless and had zero depth when he got it. It is definitely much improved now
But if we don’t greatly improve our secondary- this offseason!!!!- ill be screaming for his head
CB is deep this draft.
Anytime you have a top 15 pick- a great DE, OT, Or DT should always be a possibility. And if one falls to you- it is never a mistake to draft one. Those Three spots usually require a top 15 to get one.
But our needs are CB and TE. If we don’t draft those in the first round, we better address it in the next couple rounds
February 16th, 2013 at 11:14 pm
@capt tim
well this will be the 3rd time that the pop-star is selecting within the top 15
February 17th, 2013 at 1:40 am
Lets face it guys, we need to make the playoffs this year. That’s what Dom will be drafting toward and who he will try to get in Free Agency. Unfortunately, making the playoffs rest primarily on Freaky Freeman. Which will we have this year, good Josh or bad Josh?
February 17th, 2013 at 2:05 am
@the_buc_realist
From 2009 – 2011 Dominik was restricted financially by the owners. In his first 2 years he was charged by ownership to begin releasing costly veterans and start to build strictly through the draft on a minimal budget. Remember The Glazers and Manchester United? That’s also why we weren’t active in FA. After the abysmal 2011 campaign and on the cusp of a new CBA rule saying all teams must spend 90% of their adjusted salary cap in 2013, So in the beginning of last year, 2012, The Glazers (with a brilliant PR move) decided to play Santa Clause a year earlier than they were being forced too. They opened up their purse strings and gave Dominik the resources to put together a strong team and last year he did real well, and now this year he has another golden opportunity to make a big splash. So considering the handcuffs Dominik had to wear, he has built a working foundation. And as far as Freeman goes, yes Dominik drafted him, but I almost bet that was more about Raheem Morris.
February 17th, 2013 at 8:44 am
He isn’t going anywhere. You guys think he has more control than he really does. He will stay where he is because the Glazers like him and aren’t looking forward to bringing in someone new to handle their money.
How can some of you blame him on cap spending when that is clearly coming from the Glazers. During Raheem’s tenure, we were extremely frugal, I believe, because of Man. U. I don’t think Dominik has anything to do with Manchester United, so I can’t judge him on anything but last year.
This year, It seems Schiano wanted personnel decisions to himself.
February 17th, 2013 at 9:36 am
@gotbbucs
Anyone can find talent at the top of the draft. That’s the easy part. Wow. Doug Martin – a high draft pick – worked out. Doesn’t excuse the fact he wasted a top 7 pick on a safety when the team DESPERATELY needed a corner.
A GMs money is made in the late rounds. He left the Bucs thin at CB, thin at RB. Thin at Lb. There’s no alternative to freeman so the Bucs are stuck with him. McCoy had one good season. David- one good season. Claiborne – one good season. Blount – one good season and is looking like a forgotten man. The guy isn’t exactly Ron Wolfe just yet. You know who else had one good season? MICHAEL CLAYTON. He’s one win better than Scott Pioli who got fired and Pioli had a team full of pro-bowlers.
February 17th, 2013 at 10:48 am
Adam, you talk like Mark Dominik picked our draft for us and HC just got what he was given. I truly believe that Dominik’s only role is structuring contracts and working with Glazers on spending. HC has a lot of power with personnel decisions here. Also, Blount was a FA pick up and a power buy at that.
February 17th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Buc-Realist
Oh,I hear you! His time isn’t endless. I think that he has a couple more years, only due to the fact that he started with nothing. Other than Ronde and Davin- don’t think there are too many holdovers from the last Gruden years.
Still waiting to see how some of his picks will develop
Unless the team has a total meltdown( and I don’t expect that at all), I think Dominick as a couple years of job security at this point.
Just to see how Clayborn, Bowers, etc pan out.
February 17th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Adam- Lmao!
“Anyone can find talent in the first round”
You might wanna review our drafts during the Gruden years!!
That will change your opinion
Or this franchise history in general. After John McKay,We could not draft talent in the first round for the first 20 years of this franchise. Totally sucked until Rich McKay. Then sucked horribly again until Mark Dominick.
Dom isn’t perfect- but he has already proven better than 25 years of his predecessors .
Still needs for alot of his picks to come thru, to secure his posistion
February 17th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Everyone has an excuse for Dominik. Now he’s not picking the players (which is BS, he is). The players don’t perform, he’s not picking them. Not spending money on Free agents? The Glazers are cheap. Josh Freeman is a bust? It takes time to develop.
When is someone going to held accountable??
February 17th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
capt tim – actually, mckay only had a couple good drafts himself…the brooks\sapp draft was wyche. i heard a stat last week that really stung – the davin joseph contract was the first drafted player that the bucs felt was worthy of a second contract since about the 1998 draft class. we went almost a decade without drafting a guy worth keeping beyond his rookie deal! so, wherever dom stands, he is already way ahead of bruce allen draft-wise and will soon have a better draft legacy than rich mckay
February 17th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Major mistake if he goes next year, he’s hitting his stride now that he’s actually aloud to do his job without restrictions from the Glazers.
February 17th, 2013 at 7:34 pm
Skp- what a terrible history! It’s enough to make you nauseous! At least things have improved from that lengthy history of futility
Adam? People do hold him accountable! He’s had some great hits, and some bad misses. Overall- he’s had more success than failures.
It always amazes me how people act like other people shold be held to such incredibly perfect standards. What do you do for a living, Adam? Are you incredibly successful? Is everything you do perfect?
Thought not.
February 17th, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Now he’s not picking the players (which is BS, he is)- no, Schiano is.
Not spending money on Free agents? um..we do?
Josh Freeman is a bust? can’t honestly say, but even though, it’s Raheem’s choice. (more proof HC has personnel say with the Bucs)
When is someone going to held accountable?? – *see coaching staff purge from last year
February 17th, 2013 at 8:26 pm
No one’s calling for my job. That’s good enough for you and the rest of the Dominik apologists.
So now we grade MD on a curve, courtesy of Capt. Tim. He’s successful just not INCREDIBLY successful and to deflect we start asking me about my job. You know who does the same thing? Obama apologists.
Dominik’s had one good draft. He’s found NO ONE to fill depth in the later rounds. His 2nd round picks are largely busts. Price, Benn, Moore, Myron Lewis, he traded UP for STOCKER! A real quality GM makes his bones in rounds 4,5 and 6. He hasn’t done that.
I’ll tell you a true story: I met Mark Dominik before Raheem’s first season and I asked him to his face why he doesn’t get a Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin to surround Freeman with talent and make his transition easier (they were the two best FAs at the time). He told me the plan was to draft a group like the 90s Cowboys or the 00’s Colts and let them all grow together. Nice plan. One problem- he’s a lousy drafter. Guess what he’s doing the past two seasons? He’s listening to my advice. It’s a good plan if you are a BRILLIANT + LUCKY GM. and he not EITHER of those.
So lets stop with the excuses. This isn’t his underlings. This is him. And he’s just not that good at his job.
February 17th, 2013 at 11:06 pm
You would have done NO BETTER under the same circumstances and the same restrictions/handicap the Glazers placed on him.
Shackles taken off and the results immediately got better
Sit back and watch, this offseason is going to be another display of great GM’ing.
February 17th, 2013 at 11:23 pm
Well, no one is calling for your job, which means I will still be able to get my Big Mac as usual!
Can’t judge your fry master skills- but can judge you harshly as a poster.
Yer bad. Not very articulate. No idea how reality differs from yer fantasies. You really think Bolden or Marshal would have came here?? New staff, rookie QB, rookie coach???? Those guys were looking for playoff teams!!
Too many daydreams at the deep fryer ,there buddy
This isn’t Madden- as so many clueless posters think. Players aren’t cards- they are real people. They have their own thoughts about who they want to play for, and play with.
A free agent has to WANT to play here. Not much playoff money being earned here. Bolden wouldn’t have a Superbowl ring if he had signed here
So No Adam, meybe it’s your lack of understanding of how reality differs from fantasy football , that makes you so critical of Dom. You think you can just stick out Money, and force players to come here.
Which explains why you are still probably mastering yer spatula skills!
February 18th, 2013 at 1:00 am
I want to know how in the heck Dom grades out higher then Dimitroff from Atlanta…
Sean Weatherspoon, Julio Jones, traded pick for Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White (late first early second rd pick), and Matty Ice constantly beat up on Dom’s guys.
February 18th, 2013 at 1:07 am
Bomb:
Go ahead and check the archives. When Dominik traded for K2, Joe stated he could have traded a second round pick for Anthony Gonzalez.
About two weeks later, that’s exactly what the Dixie Chicks did.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Wow, Capt. Tim. A “McDonald’s job” joke. You’ve been watching Leno again haven’t you?
What’s wrong with a vet coming to play for a rookie coach? A GOOD GM could do that. A GOOD GM would tell a vet that their team needs veteran leadership. A GOOD GM would sell the vet on his leadership. Sure he might have to overpay a little bit, but this was 2009, right after a cap-purge. Joe Flacco and Freeman are a year apart and look at the relationship Boldin carved with him. THAT’S HIS JOB. SELLING THE TEAM TO A FREE AGENT. In your football world, you just gave up, because no FA wants to play for a rookie coach. Deion went and played for a rookie coach and won a Super Bowl!
Go on with the personal attacks; it just means you have nothing to back up what you’re saying. Show me where Dominik is doing a slam-bang job. Is it his success with second round draft picks? His ability to evaluate a franchise quarterback? What about the depth at CB and RB and LB?
This is the GM who gave Michael Clayton a 5 year, $25 million extension with $10 million guaranteed.
This is the GM who traded up for Luke Stocker.
This is the GM who kept Kregg Lumpkin over Cadillac Williams.
Maybe it’s all the 2nd round draft success he’s had: Brian Price, A. Benn, Da’Quan Bowers. Or Myron Lewis in the 3rd!
You said, “unless he again fails to fix our horrible secondary. This team was talentless and had zero depth when he got it. It is definitely much improved now.” “AGAIN???” You even ADMIT that he failed to do his job! HAD zero depth? Where’s the depth? WHAT DEPTH? What are you watching? There’s no CB depth, no LB depth, no QB depth, no RB depth. What do you see as a SLAM DUNK? He’s drafted legit, first ballot Pro-Bowler in FOUR YEARS. And he made one appearance.
And before you say “Doug Brian, LaVonte David,…” yes, they had good first years. So did Michael Clayton.
So ratchet up some more name calling. I’m actually surprised I didn’t read a “you want fries with that” reference.” You do realize that you’re calling an adult … actual NAMES. Seriously. That’s funny in and of itself. But I see the thought process. Attack the messenger to draw attention from the message. I’ll bet money you’re a liberal Democrat.
February 18th, 2013 at 11:31 am
Mmm, what was that? Sorry, I was bored, and wasn’t paying attention. Same old fantasy land daydreams, I’m sure
But I did hear you say something about fries! I love fries! Go ahead and super size me!
February 18th, 2013 at 1:02 pm
It’s easy to sit there and pick apart everything you don’t like and dismiss everything else he’s done notably.
Btw did you just criticize the Bowers pick?
Bowers will be dominant, genius move to take the chance on him.
We’ve already seen flashes of what he is capable of and that wasn’t even at 100%.
February 18th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
And if only Dom had the apparant psychic abilities you have to be able to get every pick right 100% of the time… Lol right
February 18th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
PRBucfan- Exactly!
Listen, you either think we are on the right track, or ya don’t.
Me, I think we are doing things the right way. Reminds me of the 49’ers- building talent, getting the right coaches/ systems. Soon, it will turn the corner in a big way.
If you don’t agree, that’s fine.
It’s the expectations of perfection,from others,that gets annoying. The ” if we don’t win the SuperBowl every year, the whole team sucks!” Club
February 18th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
You have nothing Capt. Tim. You’re a loser. Shut up and pretend to know what you talking about. Pwned
February 18th, 2013 at 6:18 pm
2nd round pick Da’Quan Bowers arrested for having a hand gun in a carry on bag. Nice pick, Dom. Drafting a guy who hasn’t been in an airport in 12 years.
February 18th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Aww! Some lil’Madden player needs a diaper change and a bottle.
It’s the ignorant, uneducated posters that really interupt the intelligent threads on this post.
We all get your opinion, Adam
Dom is horrible, because he hasn’t signed Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald, and Adrian Peterson!!
Dumb ass
February 18th, 2013 at 9:23 pm
@Adam
I’m sorry are you using your psychic abilities again to know the outcome of this case in what seems do be am honest mistake?
Dang dude, I wish I had your abilities…