Bucs No. 20
May 23rd, 2013
Joe doesn’t normally do power rankings, but he will take an exception today. Why? In the words of Bucs coach Greg Schiano, “It’s May. You have to write about something. There has to be some news.”
In his post-draft, pre-training camp power rankings, prickly Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com offers his take of all 32 NFL teams and he ranks the Bucs at No. 20.
Getting Darrelle Revis was a bold move. But why do I think the quarterback-coach situation could unnerve this team?
Prisco is one of those national writers absolutely convinced Schiano loathes Josh Freeman and can’t wait to hold the door for Freeman to exit One Buc Palace for good.
Naturally, Prisco cites no source on the record and it doesn’t seem to matter to him that Schiano and Freeman have adamantly stated (numerous times) on the record they get along quite well.
As long as these stories keep popping up, Joe is obligated to respond. It’s very simple about Freeman. His future is in his hands: Play well or guide the Bucs to the playoffs and he will, at worst, be franchised by Bucs general manager Mark Dominik. Or Freeman will hit the NFL lottery and be re-signed for multiple years, or if Freeman wilts, he will walk.
It really is that simple. No controversy whatsoever.
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:13 am
hmmmm…. someone predicted Freeman will fold like a lawn chair. sounds very fimilar. The formula to beat the bucs was out midway last year. Double VJ, put an 8 in the box, and Freeman wilts trying to read the D…
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:18 am
No sense in forcing the topic but it is noteworthy. However, this sort of exposure comes with inconsistency and external sources don’t make it better.
For Freeman sake, he’d better find some sort of mental toughness over the next 9 months because his critics are going come out in droves. If he struggles early the buzzards will start to circle during the season.
Again, the difference between being ranked 10 and 20 is having a quarterback. Bucs have one but will it be Michael imposter or will it be a tough and consistent QB?
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:22 am
Never knew who Prisco was until about 6 months ago. After reading his stuff (nicest term for it) since, I have come to the conclusion that he is irrevelant. Not going to go off and name call but he is one of those you want to ask “why does he have a job?”
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:29 am
Freeman better lead us to the “Top 12” <— Playoffs in 2013.
If Freeman is only able to lead the Bucs to the "20th best team", then he is GONE!
Too much talent in Tampa to waste it on hopes and prayers of a coin flip QB
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:35 am
Joe, as General Patton used to say, they don’t have to like me, they have to perform (cleaned up for this).
No matter what the job, if you are not learning or respect the person you are working for, you don’t belong there. You would know better than me, but I believe that Josh and the rest respect the Coach.
In the end performance and the score determines their destiny.
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:37 am
If Freeman can hit 60% of his passes, sustain drives regularly, then this team is an 11 win team, playoffs included.
Freeman has done some great things, but his inconsistency only leads to further head scratching.
Josh Freeman needs to finally build off of his 2010 campaign and take care of the dang ball!
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:50 am
Actually 18 up from 20…But just another opinion
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:58 am
Joe,
Very old picture, Freeman is much slimmer now. (sarcastically) But yes he is, my point is it doesn’t make any sense to have an old pic of Freeman up. Might as well put up pics of him at K-State.
May 23rd, 2013 at 10:58 am
Prisco is PO’d all the time because he has to look up to see over the curb….he has to take jabs anyone over the height of 5’4″, the Lollipop Guild rejected him because he was to short…
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:02 am
Joe, what does it cost to franchise your QB? If Free and McCoy have pro bowl years all that cap space will disappear on two contracts.
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:08 am
the_buc_realist nailed it on the head.
folds like a lawn chair. I just hopes Glennon gets MAJOR reps in preseason and maybe even splits reps with the 1st team in practice.
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:21 am
Im holding out hope that I’m wrong about Free and he is able to overcome his issues and take us to the playoffs (hopefully by winning the division). But I am gettin tired of talking about it. Nobody is going to change each others mind until he gets on the field. Little over 2 months now. COME on August, get here already!
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:28 am
Schiano can “say” all he wants, but if he was so “happy” with Freeman, Glennon would not be here!
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:29 am
TopDoggie Says:
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:02 am
“Joe, what does it cost to franchise your QB? If Free and McCoy have pro bowl years all that cap space will disappear on two contracts.”
I hope you are not suggesting we don’t have a franchise QB because the price is too high.
No team has extended success without a franchise QB. If Josh Freeman proves himself to be such a QB, then the Bucs need to keep him.
In two years, Revis can be rendered expendable if the Bucs draft another good CB next year. That will free up a ton of cash. McCoy is a team first guy…he’ll want money, but it will be structured to best help the team.
I think seeing these massive contracts given to guys like Rodgers, Romo and such have people cap-scared. Freeman would have to get us to at least the NFC Championship game to get a contract half that big. He’d have to get us to the Superbowl to get more than that.
And if he gets us to another Superbowl…he’d be well worth the investment.
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:31 am
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:28 am
“Schiano can “say” all he wants, but if he was so “happy” with Freeman, Glennon would not be here!”
Unless, of course…you are wrong and Glennon was always meant to be a backup.
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:36 am
@BB “Josh Freeman proves himself to be such a QB, then the Bucs need to keep him.”
Define “Prove Himself”.
1) Making the Playoffs with weak QB numbers
2) Making the Playoffs with strong QB numbers
3) Winning a playoff game playing like Shaun King
4) Winning a playoff game playing like Brad Johnson
5) Winning 2 play off games playing like Shaun King
6) Winning 2 play off games playig like Brad Johnson
For me, in order for him to get top 10 money, he needs to do #4-#6.
He can get top 10-15 QB money with #2
And wouldn’t be worth more than veteran 20-30 if he does #1 or #3.
May 23rd, 2013 at 11:45 am
Just for the record. Winning is all that matters regardless of play. If Shaun king won a super bowl playing like crap, most of yous would be riding his jock just like you do Freemans.
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:14 pm
@TopDoggie
Gerald McCoy is already paid very handsomely. I don’t foresee him getting a very big raise (if any raise at all) considering what he has been making up to this point. At worst we are looking at adding $2-3 million per year to the cap on top of his current salary and that is only if he becomes an elite, top two DT plus a deep playoff run. Freeman also is being paid something like $8 million per. If he has an “elite” year we are probably looking at $16 million per ($8 mil on top of his current salary) or, in the unlikely (but hopeful) event of a Super Bowl possibly $20+ million ($12 mil on top of his current salary), which would kind of suck. That’s possibly adding ~$15 million to the current cap between the two of them in possibly the worst (best?) case scenario. All speculation, but this season will play a large part in how our cap will be structured for the 2014 season on forward.
Here is a list of some of the highest paid defensive tackles in the league right now:
(These are their amount towards the 2013 cap)
Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy – $10,916,250
Patriots: Vince Wilfork – $10,600,000
Lions: Ndamukong Suh – $10,492,500
Dolphins: Randy Starks – $8,450,000
Highest quarterback salaries:
(These are their amount towards the 2013 cap)
Giants: Eli Manning – $20,850,000
Lions: Matt Stafford – $20,820,000
Broncos: Peyton Manning – $17,500,000
Saints: Drew Brees – $17,400,000
These lists aren’t the most up-to-date. I don’t think the Flacco, Romo, or Rodgers contracts are updated but this is close. Got them from this website:
http://www.overthecap.com/top-player-salaries-cap.php?Position=QB&Year=2013
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Freeman is already making almost 10 million a year so at best he would only account for roughly 5 million more. McCoy is already making almost 11 million from his rookie contract and will make 13 million next year. Even if he goes to the pro bowl this year and next he won’t be getting much more than he gets now. Mike Williams contract is going to hit our cap room more than either of the others IMO.
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:16 pm
Beat me to it WestCoastBucsFan lol
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:23 pm
@Jesse
lol, had to do it!
I think I found a website that is a little more up-to-date:
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/yearly/
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Prisco is the biggest clown. Hopefully he can be ignored long enough for CBS to make him go away.
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:30 pm
I can’t believe all the heat that Freeman takes here. Lets put things in perspective first.
How many QBs would you rather have over Freeman?
How many free agent QBs would you rather have over Freeman?
Which rookie over the last 3 years would you rather have over Freeman?
For those that say RGIII or Luck, just remember how terrible you have to be to get in line for those guys.
My point to all of this is, yes Freeman has been inconsistent but there are not a whole lot of options. Most of the QB merry go round is no better than what we have right now.
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:44 pm
@Luther
I have tried but you can only dig up that horse and continue to beat it for so long. Eventually it starts to smell. There are people convinced Freeman is doomed to fail. That it is physically impossible for Freeman to have a good year. There is nothing that anyone can say that will change how these people feel. (And, trust me, I have tried.) Unfortunately, we all have to wait for the season to get any definitive answers. I just do my best to avoid the “negative nancy’s” in the meantime. (Although, I haven’t been very successful to date.)
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:45 pm
@BIG SIR
Ain’t gonna happen, they love him here…
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:46 pm
@Bonzai
If Dominik surrendered a 1st and a 3rd for 2-3 years of service, I’ll vomit. That’s a waste of picks and I really hope that’s not the case. That’s why you can’t grade that trade until several years down the road.
Re: Glennon. It’s all speculation, but, I have never seen Schiano as the type to just say something, just for the sake of saying it. He’s not going to hype the crowd. He just doesn’t strike me as that type of person.
But, would he go back and smooth it over if prompted by his boss? I think so. Just my opinion. Can’t wait for Fall.
May 23rd, 2013 at 12:58 pm
If the Bucs win a Super Bowl this year or next and Revis promptly retires the following year or is cut, or whatever; that trade was worth everything we gave up.
May 23rd, 2013 at 1:04 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai I was thinking sign him now while he is less expensive. If they decide not to keep him there are teams that would love to have him and come off a pick. I personally think he is worth an extension.
@WestCoastBucsFan Thanks for the detailed information.
May 23rd, 2013 at 1:09 pm
@TopDoggie
My guess would be that they tried to resign him now but couldn’t get his agent to agree to a deal to reflect his current value. He is most likely gambling away a big payday in 2013 to get a bigger payday in 2014. (Or possibly midway through the 2013 season depending on his play up to that point.) If this is the case, I like that Freeman and his agent are confident enough in him to wait for a better deal. This was the opposite with Sanchez not too long ago. Sanchez took the first extension the Jets threw at him because he knew he wouldn’t be around much longer.
May 23rd, 2013 at 1:16 pm
The 2012 stats indicate FREEMAN is better the Luck & RGIII
Freeman led the Bucs to a 10-6 season while defeating both Saints & Falcons. That record normally earns a Playoff birth. That Defense was middle of the road.
What we witnessed in 2012 was a defense that was THROW AT WILL and a Coaching staff that dialed up one ineffective Blitz after another. PLAYOFFS? (In my Jim Mora Voice)
Gents: Joshua Freeman is not what is holding the Bucs from NFL Relevence. Josh Freeman is what makes the Buccaneers Dangerous! He has mental toughness, he has all the tools, he has demonstrated the ability to bring his team back in dire situations, he has thrown for 25+ TDs in 3 1/2 seasons, He is also a mere 25yrs old. This Man only requires solid coaching and the Respect of his HEAD COACH to be allowed to use his abilities.
Josh Freeman has a Tremendous NFL FUTURE, but will he want to remain a Buccaneer? It is us as Buc Fans who should be on pins & needles as this Bonehead Coach alienates the Best QB in Buccaneer History!
(BTW – It is merely Freeman’s professionalism which makes him try to deflect controversy by “Saying the Right Things” Publicly). Put yourself in his position and you know YOU’d be Pissed at the hostile environment created by Schiano.
Freeman has other options than Tampa Bay in the NFL to be Top Dog, but can Schiano say the same?
May 23rd, 2013 at 1:31 pm
Can’t wait for the Bucs in the Super Bowl this year or next year. I should check the Vegas odds. Someone could get rich on that pick.
What the heck do those Vegas oddsmakers know anyway, right? 40/1!! Ravens were only 14/1 last year around this time. Here comes the BIG money!
May 23rd, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Apparently the word “if” has turned into a guarantee of sorts. Surprised that my comment was still legible after having my words twisted so badly.
In other words, IF we DON’T win a Super Bowl in the next two seasons AND Revis is no longer employed by the Buccaneers, yes, it was most likely a failed trade.
May 23rd, 2013 at 2:16 pm
From Wikipedia:
Freeman Buccaneers franchise records
Highest quarterback rating in a single season – 95.9 (2010) (in 16 starts)
Most 4th quarter comeback wins in a single season- 5 (2010) (tied with Doug Williams)
Most game winning drives in a single season- 5 (2010) (tied with Brad Johnson)
Most touchdown passes thrown in consecutive games (2010)
Fewest interceptions in a single season: 6 (2010) (in 16 starts)
Longest pass completion: 95 (vs New Orleans Saints) (2012)
Most passing yards in a single season – 4065 (2012)
Most passing touchdowns in a single season – 27 (2012)
Most passing touchdowns in a career – 78* (2009-)
May 23rd, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Bonzai:
Joe has to confess, he’s not a cap guy. But Joe does know the franchise tag costs change annually. Joe could guess, but doesn’t want to put out probably inaccurate info.
May 23rd, 2013 at 3:11 pm
And, yes, if TB were to win a SB in 14 or 15, it would be a great trade (ala Gruden from OAK). But that is considered quite the longshot right now.
I simply hope they get appropriate value for a 1st and 3rd. Especially if this team is expected to compete, thence, having much lower 1st rounders going forward.
Getting into and winning a playoff game is a great place to start.
May 23rd, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Quite the long shot for any team really. The difference between the best team and the worst team in the league is razor thin. Winning the Super Bowl is HIGHLY unlikely for every team but that is why it is the ultimate goal.
I agree with your post though. I was simply pointing out that there is a scenario where he could be gone in a year or two and the trade still be deemed a “success”.