Thinning Hope In The Thinned Cornerback Market
March 15th, 2013
Yes, the Bucs are trying to squeeze superstar Darrelle Revis out of the Jets.
Yes, the Bucs have a contract offer in front of still-effective Ronde Barber, but the Bucs icon apparently stares at it every morning and doesn’t know what to do.
Right now, Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik is gambling. The Bucs’ cornerbacks situation is in shambles and options are drifting away. A pile of corners have been signed during the first three days of free agency.
So who’s left?
Well, Brent Grimes is out there. The Falcons free agent is a stud but is coming off an Achilles tear in September and is 30 years old. Old Antoine Winfield (almost 36) is coming off a strong season with the Vikings. Helmet-wielding, cabbie-slugging, Adderrall-popping, coach-cussing, referee-charging, pistol-friendly, granny-hassling Aqib Talib is still unemployed. There’s also former crushes of Bucs fans, Nnamdi Asomugha and Stanford Routt, plus names like Quintin Jammer, Kyle Arrington, Mike Jenkins and Tracy Porter are floating around.
It’s pretty obvious to Joe that the Bucs aren’t high on Grimes, otherwise he’d be looking for a South Tampa condo right now.
Yeah, the Bucs can easily land a couple of flawed veteran starters and roll with a couple of rookies and Leonard Johnson and Danny Gorrer, but is that going to win the NFC South?
Joe’s confident there’s a plan in the bowels of One Buc Palace. Hopefully, it doesn’t involve Eric Wright.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:08 am
i am just as puzzled as joe is. I must trust there is a plan. I know today is the day for a big signing. I woke up to a kellen winslow total gym infomercial. Day can only get better.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:14 am
If they can add Revis and a low cost, short-term vet like Sheldon Brown or Jammer and a top rookie in rnd 1 or 2, the DB group should be much improved. There have been a TON of CB’s taken off the market that could’ve helped the team though. Like others, hoping there’s a plan in place.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:14 am
Dom just send a 2 and 4 for Revis this year and the conditions for next year: A 3rd if he plays 80% of the games, a 2nd if he plays all 16 games and a 1st if he plays all 16 games and we get to the playoffs… Just make it happen for Revis. There are no CBs left on Free agency that are worth big contracts (The minute after we get the news about Wright’s inquiry, get rid of him)…
March 15th, 2013 at 10:15 am
So many players are a product of the system they play in that teams have to be very careful to make sure they fit within their own system. There are only a handful of players who can adapt to any system.
On a side note: What happened to Nnamdi Asomugha? Take the money and run?
March 15th, 2013 at 10:19 am
WHAT THE HELL’S THE PLAN?!
March 15th, 2013 at 10:22 am
Golden, one step forward the rest of FA ?? 4 STEPS BACK (another non starting wr & and a non starting LB)! Regardless of the verbal waste the D line (with injuries) was number one against the run PERIOD END OF STORY…So why mess with it especially since it would take a low investment to retain the 2 fa’s involved.. The well advertised problem was the secondary. So all the eggs go into one bad knee basket that isn’t even a FA. Even if Smith and/or Cox stopped just 30 to 40 % of the scores with how close some of the games were last year it would have been enough to earn a playoff berth. Starting there ( somewhere in the middle quality wise) would have been smarter than trying to bring in just one ( questionable savior Beavis) over priced CB. As good as Golden is he can’t cover the whole friggin field. Now there isn’t a FA left worth turning on the computer for.
Still a Buc fanatic but WTF?
March 15th, 2013 at 10:29 am
You left out some real talent, Joe.
DJ Moore, Brice McCain, and AJ Jefferson are younger players that can come in and compete for jobs.
In addition to the CBs you listed, Antoine Cason is very solid and still fairly young, Kyle Arrington is solid and had a boatload of INTs in 2011 (and is a former Buc). And then there is one name you might not have thought to mention. Former Raiders FS Michael Huff. He has CV athletic ability and has played there at times in the past. He has a ton of ability but was never instinctive enough to excel as a FS… CB is the perfect spot for him.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:35 am
No mention of antoine cason? Id take him over half the guys you just named
March 15th, 2013 at 10:36 am
There are still a number of CBs still available, that if they can be signed for less than $4 mil a year, for 2 or 3 years, could help out. None are top flight, but any are better than what we have currently:
Brent Grimes
Quienin Jammer
Antoine Cason
Sheldon Brown
Antoine Winfield
Kyle Arrington
Nate Clements
Mike Jenkins
Marcus Trufant (then draft Desmond, and have the brothers playing).
Admittedly none of these are long term option, and none should be expected to be better than the 2nd Corner on a team (maybe 3rd for some of these guys), however the drop off in talent from guys like Smith, Williams and Cox is not that steep (it’s there, but not as steep as say Revis to Smith, Williams or Cox).
Point is, the cupboard is not as bare as everyone is saying.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:37 am
My fellow Buc fans, free agancy is still in it’s early stages so why all the panic? You know there is a plan in place and Dom is working it. It may be a patient, wear you down plan or maybe they are watching some people that have yet to be released, who knows. I really think they just weren’t excited about any of the free agent corners, would have kept Bennett if they really wanted to, and have other needs to fill also. All we can do is sit back and see what unfolds. Just stop with the panic button already.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:40 am
Someone should Ask Dashon Goldson what the plan is. Surely as part of the recruiting process they told him what their plan was for the rest of the defensive backfield/Pass rush. Didn’t his agent state that requirement as part of the recruiting process? Surely he didn’t come just for the money
March 15th, 2013 at 10:50 am
Re: Grimes <—- According to Bill Polian, tendon injuries are always worse than ligament injuries (due to lack of bloodflow to the tendon). I'd be nervous about signing Grimes
March 15th, 2013 at 10:52 am
What are the chances Dumervil gets cut today at 1:59 pm and we sign him long term?
March 15th, 2013 at 10:56 am
ScottyinfatAntonio- Goldson left the Superbowl champion 49ers- to come here.
Yeah- it was the Money
For the last 3 years- I’ve been screaming about the secondary. This year, everyone realized what I was screaming about. We all agreed that CB was a disaster. Fortunately, there was a plethora of Young and talented Cornerbacks.
Finally, we would address the team’s most glaring weakness.
No, we didn’t
You can look at the Saints, Falcons, Patriots, 49ers, Seahawks.
You can see them making the intelligent moves, to both shore up weaknesses, and improve talent. There is no “secret plan”. You just look at the people they’ve signed and see clear improvement
There is a reason these organizations are always at the top. Fighting to be the best
And there is a reason we remain a cellar dweller- year in and year out.
It’s embarrassing
March 15th, 2013 at 11:01 am
Wouldn’t be surprised if we signed jake long, something ridiculous like that, and then draft a corner second round if we can’t trade for revis. Keep wright, move barber to nickel back.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:05 am
It concerns me that Atlanta has not re-signed Grimes yet. Dimitroff is a savy GM and he has the cap space to do it especially after the market has softened.
I’d be wary of the progress of his injury and more importantly the league is evolving and the trend now ala Seattle is to go for the lengthy CBs. Grimes is listed at 5-10 (actually 5092 official height) and todays hydrid TE/WR are 6-5 or better. You have to be an exceptional athlete to go up and contend with these guys.
There is some reason he has gotten no interest in this first wave of CBs!
March 15th, 2013 at 11:05 am
@Captain Tim
Quit crying dude, it’s day 4 of free agency.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:05 am
I very much agree with Capt Tim.
Unless we get Revis, and assuming he will still play like he once did, we are basically screwed.
We got no pass rush help, and no cornerbacks.
Plus, we let our Top pass rusher walk, when we are thin at that position.
OK, maybe we get help in the draft, but Revis is surely gonna cost us draft picks, this year or next.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:06 am
I don’t understand why they just don’t pair Grimes with Wright and call it a day. Then use that #13 to get another corner and let the three of them duke it out for starting jobs.
Wright is perfectly serviceable, if he can stay on the field.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:17 am
i am against any plan that includes Wright. He is too unreliable and overpaid. axe his a$$…
If I am not mistaken Revis is due a bonus tomorrow. I am not sure if the dollar amount is enough to speed up the trade process.
Any updates on John Abraham has he visited the palace
March 15th, 2013 at 11:18 am
LOL! Same cry babies every year. “We have no plan!” No….YOU have no clue. That’s why you whine in March and then realize in September that a plan was in place. Remember how everyone was beating the Trent Richardson drum last year and I was beating the Doug Martin drum? Give Dom some credit. He knows what he’s doing. If we need a corner we can get one at #13 who can start for us.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:19 am
You are correct Macabee. I read a big long article about defending against these new NFL Offenses, and the long wingspan rangy types of Corners are now in style.
The shorter guys, who did well against a conventional offense, seem to be yesterdays news.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:27 am
Could it be that our DB coach lat year, Ron Cooper was THAT henious that the NSO thinks that are current stable of CBs (plus the ones that will be acquired over the next few months) aren’t that bad and that they can be (dare I say it) “COACHED UP”?
March 15th, 2013 at 11:30 am
Seriously though, i find it very difficult to beleive that the NSO does not have a plan in place to fix the DB situation. Shiano is way too smart and detailed oriented to put all of his eggs (Mons Revis…love that) in one basket.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:40 am
Trent Richardson drum? Most of us were banging the Claiborne drum even after picking up Wright. And we STILL need corners.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:41 am
While a bunch of corners have come off the market, there are also less teams left wanting to sign cornerbacks – especially expensive ones in tight cap space. So supply and demand are both getting reduced. I think the Jets have more to lose in not doing a deal than do the Bucs. They risk losing him in a year with no compensation. As we know, the fans and media would come unhinged if that happened.
Also, Eric Wright is still a Buc for the moment and may be forced into a restructured deal if he wants to stay. There are still some serviceable CB’s out there to hold down the position until a good rookie or two can get up to speed. Maybe there will be better coaching and defensive schemes this year to help cure the pass defense woes.
I don’t want to see Dom cripple the franchise over a bad deal – giving up this years 13 and/or paying out 15 million for years to come on a guy with a suspect knee.
Patience is called for here. Lets be calm and let this thing play out. There are far too many calling for Dom’s job on both sides of this potential signing.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:43 am
The plan is that Dominik update his resume. He sucks and needs fired immediately!
March 15th, 2013 at 11:47 am
@MikeinTampa2
What does that say for Bowers then?
March 15th, 2013 at 11:48 am
It’s starting to look like perhaps no one wants to come to Tampa, either that or Dom & Schiano really aren’t as on top of our roster as we’d like to think. To sit there and do absolutely NOTHING on the defensive line or at Cornerback is NUTS! You let Bennett walk for a 1 year $5mil contract? Unless the guys a drug test away from suspension, shame on them! I have a feeling Dom’s put all his eggs in the Revis basket, and he’s gonna end up giving the Jets everything they want, and in 2 years we’re gonna be in the same boat…with a lot less cap room. As happy as I was about the Goldson signing, but it looks like that may be all we get for our backfield, besides giving away the farm for Revis.
I so hope I’m wrong!!!
March 15th, 2013 at 11:51 am
what if…
Restructure wright contract, bring Elvis Dumervil (i know he will be axed sooner than later) make the push for revis and draft a quality CB in the 1st??
March 15th, 2013 at 11:54 am
Let Dom & coach do thier thing. Everybody remember this. It’s just bragging rights and recreation money gone for us if they are wrong, it’s thier jobs on the line. I think they are taking this seriously.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:59 am
Looks like Osumgha and Woodsen are going to the Niners. And we still have the worst pass D in the history of the NFL. Awesome.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Relax………..rockstar knows whats up.Huff,munnerlyn,Sammy Shields can all be had.Watch Dummervil…And the Revis trade is happening,Sit tight just knowing the names the media thriws out dosent mean they are great for us.its all good buc fans.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Screw revis . I’m sick of hearing about him . Trade the 13th pick for a middle 1st and another 2nd . Draft defensive tackle Sylvester Williams too pair up with McCoy . Then with your two 2nd rd picks take ertz & trufant . The third pick take the best player available . I would like too add butch Davis coached Williams at North Carolina and is a position the bucs need .
March 15th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Dom got too many things on his plate that he let any quality FA’s slip away. We now have to draft RT, TE, DT, CB, QB and DE.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:24 pm
Dustin Keller to TE.
If there is a plan involved, I am fascinated with what it is. I see few holes getting filled, and players getting signed to other teams left and right.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Sorry, Keller to MIA
March 15th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Don’t you see it ODB? Luke Stocker is going to get some burst and not run routes like an offensive lineman all of the sudden.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:41 pm
That’s right, I forgot that jump third year tight ends make. I guess no one told Gronk that. lol.
March 15th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
Joe, our priority this offseason should have been getting 3 corners. Yes Dashon Goldson will help our defense a lot. But even if we get Revis, Matt Ryan will just throw it to who ever else Revis is not covering. Our secondary is in need of a complete makeover, and if we let Grimes resign with the Falcons we let a good one slip. We need Revis and Grimes out there, we need real talent in our secondary, not the joke Fearsome Foursome we put out on the field last year.
March 15th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
I’m not a fan of most of the players listed by Joe for a variety of reasons; age (Winfield, Nnamdi, Jammer) ability (Jenkins, Routt), character concerns (Talib). I like Porter and I’d roll the dice on Grimes.
I’m of course hoping we trade for Revis, but even if that happens, we’ll need another corner or two. If Revis is acquired, I’d be happy to bring back Biggers and maybe see if a deal can be worked out for Grimes, Porter, Arrington or another guy not on the list. This would allow us to focus on defensive end/tackle in the first round of the draft, and assuming a Revis trade costs the Bucs a 2nd round pick this year, we could always look at CB or TE with the 3rd round pick (unless Dom trades up).
Having typed all that, the reality is this; I would take ANYONE on the list to help shore up our secondary, even a scrub like Mike Jenkins. We need to get a few bodies on this team ASAP, so I’m hoping something happens soon.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
The amateur GM has no plan just like after the lockout.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
What for the draft. Use second round and a forth to move back to the first and draft Leon Sandcastle.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Walter/Bobby. Wish I could be part of the ” eternal Sunshine club”, standing around singing ” everything is beautiful”
Unfortunately, what I see is a team that had the worst Cbs in the league, damn near in History- do nothing about it.
Last year- we had horrible Cbs- And we drafted a safety. And signed another horrible CB
This year, the entire league knew had the worst Cbs. Damn near in History. And we sign another Safety!!!
The 14 young, talented Cbs are gone. Now we have left old guys, head cases, and damaged goods.
I know you guys are happy. It’s all good. But me, I noticed we are on the bottom of our division . We haven’t been a playoff time in a decade. We lost depth and talent this off season.
Atlanta and New Orleans got stronger. We didn’t.
But keep singing, guys. Wish I could
March 15th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
I really hope we don’t get Revis unless Dominick pulls off another miracle and gets him for far less than expected. I actually want our draft picks.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
Lol it’s been 5 years since we’ve been in the post season Timmy. Not a decade. And no one is saying to be a flower child, all I’m saying is the offseason is far from over, so there’s no reason to panic yet. Just chill out.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
We stuffed ourselves chasing the proverbial “pot o gold” Revis at the end of the rainbow, which ends in a pasture. But we found he was a mirage, and instead of a “pot o gold”, Dom found a “pile of cow manure”. Nice job in working the FA period, guys.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
I’d rather see the bucs pass on Revis and get some average cb. It would be an upgrade from what we had. Then spend the money shoring up decent back up replacements for various positions.
March 15th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Walter- what’s wrong with being a flower child? Lol