Keep An Eye Out For Ramses Barden
March 1st, 2013
There has been chatter that the Bucs, who could benefit from an upgrade at the slot wide receiver position, may just make a run at Patriots’ Wes Welker.
This would be a good addition, but with the Patriots reworking various contracts, including that of quarterback Tom Brady, it appears the Pats are trying to clear cap space to keep Welker.
So, might Giants free agent tight end Ramses Barden be an easier, cheaper target?
The Giants seem to be washing their hands of him. A former third-round pick, he never could break into the starting lineup but was solid as a slot receiver. Nearly as important, he has no problem sticking his nose in the gut of a defender to help spring a ball carrier loose.
Barden was on SiriusXM NFL Radio Thursday and it seemed as if he wanted a chance to be a starter, not a slot guy, though that simply wouldn’t happen with Tampa Bay. But if Barden can be coerced into having an open mind, reuniting with his former Giants receivers coach Mike Sullivan might be a coup for the Bucs. He already is familiar with Sullivan’s offense.
And, in case Vincent Jackson and/or Mike Williams get dinged up, Barden could step into their roles.
Given Barden’s blocking, leadership, versatility, and his connection to Sullivan and his ability to be a productive slot man, Barden just may be on the Bucs’ short list of free agent targets, if Welker is locked up by Bill Belicheat.
March 1st, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Brian Hartline is the best FA WR on the market.
Hartline would give us three capable WR’s that could line up at wide out or in the slot.
Then imagine if we drafted Tyler Eifert at #13 and a solid RT in the 3rd/4th round.
Freeman would have the best offensive weapons in the NFL.
March 1st, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Plus, we’d have 4 capable guys with enormous radius’ that can catch Freeman’s often errant, off-target throws.
March 1st, 2013 at 1:32 pm
I wouldn’t want to sign this guy for more than $2.5 mil/yr, and it’s not a matter of does he deserve more, but rather could that money be spent better somewhere else?
Unless the player is also a decent kick/punt returner, I don’t think WR should be exceptionally high on the Bucs FA priority list.
March 1st, 2013 at 1:51 pm
There are going to be quite a few WRs in FA who can fit the bill for slot receiver
Brian Hartline, Danny Amendola, Brandon Lloyd, Julian Edelman, Mohamed Massaquoi, Wes Welker, etc…
Ramses Barden may be good, but they are not resigning him because of the salary cap. He didn’t cut the mustard. Do we need another Regis Benn?
March 1st, 2013 at 2:00 pm
The slot receiver has to be able to be the real deal in the return game unless he comes as a DB, return game only helped the offense once or twice all year. I don’t believe Bucs will spend big on a slot receiver in FA because of the contract of V-Jax and the upcoming one of M. Williams. Regis needs to step up and not let Kid n Play play better than him. I think he has the tools to be a slot guy and not afraid of ST
March 1st, 2013 at 2:04 pm
We do not want Wes Welker. He’s not a big enough target from Freeman to find.
March 1st, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Last time I checked, Wes Walker was a pretty effective slot receiver when he was hit in the numbers while in stride (short crossing route). We have yet to see Josh be a quarterback that can do either.
Now, if Wes Walker can stand there (after being stared down by our current QB) and fight for the ball once it is thrown in traffic, we may have something. Just not sure Wes Walker would be effective (and at a high $ cost) in that capacity.
March 1st, 2013 at 2:21 pm
@BKNYfootballhead
I’m taking Tavon Austin at #13 and move back into the 1st and get him before I takeTyler Eifert #13. In my opinion Austin is more of a splash player and We could get any one of the other 2 TE. Ertz or Escobar in the 2nd. Austin is a guy we use in WR and bubble Screens, Slot WR and Kick Return. He’s a Percy Harvin without the Headaches. The kid is a play maker. You can even put him in the shot gun beside Freeman and toss pitch it.
Ramses Barden could be Clarks replacement. Still like M.Williams TE Alabama 6th round step up from Stocker and Clark who can also Block like no other.
March 1st, 2013 at 2:31 pm
I would say no to Ramses Barton as a slot receiver or a tight end. Both positions require quickness, which he sorely lacks.
March 1st, 2013 at 2:45 pm
I would be surprised if Benn made the roster this year.
I would not take T Austin in the first. He is not Percy Jargon. He reminds me of a more fragile Demean Jackson. Plus, we don’t have athletic lineman to pull on Wide receiver screens.
March 1st, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Percy harvin, desean jackson
Autospell errors
March 1st, 2013 at 3:01 pm
@astrobuc
Nicks and Zuttah looked pretty athletic running down field to block in the Viking Games on that Screen play to Martin for a TD.
March 1st, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Yea Joe, jump off the Welker wagon! Freeman cannot hit a receiver in stride.
March 1st, 2013 at 5:01 pm
@ the_buc_realist
according to your lame comment, we shouldn’t have any receivers.
March 1st, 2013 at 5:13 pm
As a native New Yorker, I’m also a Giants fan. I have watched every single Giants game since before he was drafted. I can tell you first hand this guy is a bum. For the last 4 seasons Giants fans have been waiting to see something, ANYTHING out of this guy. He is always banged up so he is hardly even active. When he IS active, he barely sees the field. The only productive game he has had thus far in his career was this past season when Hakeem Nicks was down….he had a great game, but it was also during a stretch where Eli Manning made Domenik Hixon and Rueben Randle look like absolute studs as well over the course of a few games. Even if anyone wants to consider him a red zone threat, he still has yet to score a TD in his 4 seasons….that is pretty indicative of how much faith the team had in this 6’6″ waste of a roster spot. Despite his total lack of speed, quickness, or route running ability, some team will take a chance on him based solely on his size. I just hope that team isn’t the Bucs. No thanks to Mr. Barden.
March 1st, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Joe he is not at all versatile, and he has never shown the ability to be productive anywhere on the field…let alone in the slot, where quickness, awareness, and route running are crucial (and he has never shown he has any of these skills). In 4 seasons he has played 3 games, then 6, then 8, then 12. Not all of those missed games are due to injuries either. He was just inactive for quite a few.
With all due respect, I have no idea where you pulled that last paragraph from.
March 1st, 2013 at 5:25 pm
realist:
Was never on a “Welker wagon.”
March 1st, 2013 at 5:33 pm
i still don’t want to give up on Benn. I’d like to think he will finally come into his own this season baring injury that is. first and foremost he needs to stay healthy. when he was drafted, I believe that one of the knocks was that he was a slow learner. Not sure if it’s a learning disability which I would never poke fun at. I am just trying to say maybe he will surprise everyone this year. I like his physical skills and is a much bigger target than welker which 5 needs. anyhow, if it’s a learning curve issue Benn deserves some patients. go ahead and blow me up but one could hope he turns around
March 1st, 2013 at 5:37 pm
@ SirustheVirus – I love Tavon Austin, but I don’t think Freeman is accurate enough to hit him over the middle. His return skills are freaking amazing, but he’s bound to be just another Josh Cribbs if he doesn’t have an elite QB throwing to him. I think Eifert can, and will be an elite TE in the NFL. He’s worthy of #13.
@ Big Marlon – I’ve seen too many NY games, too. How do you feel about Dustin Keller? I love the guy, myself. Hope Dom gets him. If not, then TE should be priority in draft.
March 1st, 2013 at 6:24 pm
If the only way to rid the Bucs offense of that wretched Benn’d Around play is to cut Benn, then so be it.
March 1st, 2013 at 7:30 pm
@BKNYfootballhead
To be honest, I don’t watch all that many Jets games….I find them to be a bit boring, and I have for a few years now. But I do watch occasionally, and I think Keller is a legitimate threat. A good friend of mine is a Jets fan and he’s a football junkie, so I trust his opinion. He says Keller has consistently improved and he is BY FAR the best offensive player they have (Santonio Holmes included). He also said Keller has improved as a blocker….will never be dominant, but not as much of a liability as people think.
I would be happy with either of the former NY tight ends, I was pretty impressed withat ellus Bennett this year. He had a pretty solid all around game….blocking, making plays in the middle of the field (from the slot as well as traditional TE)
March 1st, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Sorry, trying to type from my phone so my post got scrambled and cut off. Bennett made plays all over….downfield, in the middle, red zone, from the slot, flexed out, in line TE. I would be happy with either Keller or Bennett.
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Benn was a horrible waste of a 2nd round pick, exactly what impact has the guy made since he was drafted?