An Inexpensive, High-Reward Gamble?
March 6th, 2013
Just six days from free agency, everyone who bleeds pewter and red is now dialed in to what the Bucs might do to fix the worst stable of cornerbacks in history.
One name off the radar is Chris Gamble, who is expected to be cut by the Panthers because of his $10 million and change salary cap hit for 2013.
Gamble churned out an somewhat impressive nine-year career in Carolina as a starter, before missing most of last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery.
His strong cover skills are well documented, and he turns 30 this season.
For Joe, this is a guy the Bucs likely could get darn cheap and have him compete for a starting gig and provide depth. If he can regain his health, he could be a steal, plus he knows the division and could provide veteran mentorship in the locker room.
Unlike the Adderall Twins, Aqib Talib and Eric Wright, Gamble appears to have a squeaky clean history.
March 6th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
I’m all for it! He propbably had to cover Steve Smith inpractie all the time!
Joe, what do you know about Darius Butler? He seems like a nother low risk, high reward guy.
March 6th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Gamble and Cox, Smith and Cox, as long as we get two corners one named Cox I will be happy. I think Derrick Cox would be a great fit on this team.
March 6th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Rashean Mathis over Gamble IMO.
March 6th, 2013 at 3:34 pm
If we sign Gamble, he would need to be the 2nd CB we sign, too much risk to expect him to come in and be the top corner.
March 6th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
T in Orlando
Agreed. He’s a #2 at best CB. Still need a #1(Keenan Lewis)
March 6th, 2013 at 3:55 pm
Gamble or Mathis or Jammer should all be looked at if they can be picked up for cheap. We need veterans to teach our young guys and know how to play right now. Get one veteran, sign Cox and draft 2 maybe even 3 corners. That is what we are forced to do. What ever you do Dom, please DONT resign Biggers, we know what we have in him, someone who can’t stay within 3 feet of a pass catcher.
March 6th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
The only corners on our roster that are worth taking into training camp right now are Johnson, Gaitor, Gorrer and maybe Wright if we dont cut him for cap reasons. And all of those players have a max of playing the #3 corner in the slot. All of our players are good corners to have as depth, but we need to add legit starters here.
March 6th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
100% For this!! Think it’s a great idea and I don’t think he will be super expensive. Hope Dom is focusing some attention on him.
March 6th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Gorrer was promising. Think he just needed more snaps. He should be a keeper. Gaitor sucks can’t stay healthy.
March 6th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
I know its ESPN and Todd McShay…but his newest mock draft has us taking Kenny Vaccaro with our 1st round pick. He would pair up exceptionally well with Mark Barron! He can play deep and allow Barron to be inside the box more. I’m a big fan of this pick. I know back to back years of drafting a Safety in the 1st round is a little unconventional. But our Secondary is the issue. Not our DLine. If we had better coverage it would allow our DL to get more coverage sacks and QB pressures.
The more I think about this pick, the more I like it. That is assuming we sign some CB’s in FA. And use our 2nd rounder on Trufant or Amerson. The possibilities are almost endless to how they can improve our team!!
March 6th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Gaitor and Johnson will be on this team next year. Gorrer will stick just for depth and his limited experience here. That said Wright will be released, he hasnt lived up to his contract and we can now release him and get out of that deal. With his money we can go out and sign a #1 corner. Then we need to find a second tier type corner to come in and compete for the #2 spot. Biggers will probably return, he will be inexpensive and provide us depth. We then can use our second or third round pick on another corner. This draft class is very deep at corner but really has no stud corners. Millner from Alabama is the only corner with a true 1st round grade, but do to the lack of corner talent in the NFL he will be a top 10 pick. Leaving us reaching for a guy or taking the best player on the board.
March 6th, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Take D.J. Fluker in the 1st he’s the best RT in the draft and most CB’s aren’t far apart from eachothers, Could get a Banks/2nd, Amerson/3rd, or a Tharold Simon LSU CB/4th.
March 6th, 2013 at 4:44 pm
People keep assuming that Wright being cut is a done deal. Is nobody legitimately concerned that he is still on the roster after all the veteran purging around the league? I want his bloated contract gone as much as the next person but I fear that he is here to stay. When is the last day they can opt out of his contract without paying him?
The only reason I think they would be holding on to him for now would be to make a smokescreen to keep people off their tracks for what they plan to do in FA/draft.
He is not gone yet…
March 6th, 2013 at 4:50 pm
@ WCBuc
I believe that none of Wright’s salary is guaranteed at this point, and would not be guaranteed until he’s on the opening day roster. The Bucs may be holding off on cutting him until they get at least one other corner, maybe two, and maybe after the draft.
It makes sense to wait until at least after the 1st week of FA before cutting him loose, because right now he is the best corner on this team.
March 6th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
@T in Orlando
That’s a good point. Also, I realize now that all the veteran purging is for cap space, something we have PLENTY of. In which case, I agree that he is still very likely to be cut/restructured.
March 6th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
We have a bunch of nickel and dime corners already on the roster. Gaitor does not suck like someone said. Biggers is good as a nickel, not a starter. The depth is already there we just need 2 starting caliber corners.
March 6th, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Gimme Gamble & 3 more Corners…..then we’ll call it a night
March 6th, 2013 at 9:29 pm
Completely unrelated, but I just saw the Chiefs released Eric Winston, we should be all over that for a replacement for Trueblood. He would be an immediate upgrade, and shouldn’t be too expensive ($4-$5 mil a year).
Also, this can he can be signed prior to the 12th, go make it happen Dom.
March 6th, 2013 at 10:24 pm
@T
Winston would be a huge upgrade over Trueblood. I would love that move!