Scared Of Johnny Football?
January 20th, 2014
Are the Bucs scared of Johnny?
There’s nothing like starting the morning with a good ol’ jolt of ornery Alan Dell of the Bradenton Herald. The outspoken, spear-throwing columnist is not one to hold back his provocative opinions.
This time, Dell suggests the Bucs may be gun-shy in drafting Johnny Football, not so much for his partying ways, but because of former Bucs quarterback, leaky Rip Van Freeman.
Dell suggests the nightmare Team Glazer just went through with Freeman’s antics, drama and allergies to alarm clocks, that short of the availability of a choir boy at quarterback, Team Glazer won’t want to jump back into the QB pool on the first day of the draft this May.
The latest charge leveled against sleepy Freeman is that he is the reason the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t take quarterback Johnny Manziel in this spring’s NFL Draft.
Now you can blame Freeman for earthquakes, hurricanes and Lake Okeechobee going dry. But if the disgraced former Bucs quarterback is responsible for the team passing on Johnny Football, he will be Tampa Bay’s Benedict Arnold.
Even Freeman can’t sleep through that.
Of course, what scares Joe about Johnny Football is not his devil-may-care quarterbacking, legendary skirt-chasing (what red-blooded American male short of John Stamos isn’t a bit jealous?) or his beer-chugging ways, it is Johnny’s agent, the notorious Erik Burkhardt, who is also sleepy Freeman’s agent, the same guy who helped orchestrate Freeman’s escape from the Bucs.
Still, the Bucs need a quarterback desperately, and Manziel is such a potential star who would drive interest in the team to a level not seen around these parts since Chucky arrived If Joe were Team Glazer, he would swallow the warm Miller Lite and take Johnny.
The positives greatly outnumber the negatives.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:29 am
“The positives greatly outnumber the negatives.”
Or, easily, the converse.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:50 am
Certainly seems like a lot of speculation and angst over a guy who most likely won’t even be available at #7, proving there’s more than enough teams and experts who won’t abide by this line of worry.
… Or he’s the smokescreen guy that personnel guys all over the league are driving up in hopes someone will take him ahead of “their guy”
January 20th, 2014 at 7:51 am
Keep ignoring the obvious. They’re drafting Derek Carr.
Good thing we have about 3.5 months to figure that out.
January 20th, 2014 at 7:59 am
The Bucs should be moving up to the #1 or #2 pick to draft Johnny Football. He’s not only the best player draft but he plays the position we need most. We’re going to have a hard time winning our division if we don’t get a playmaker at quarterback.
January 20th, 2014 at 8:02 am
None of the people that make that decision were even involved with Freebow. That shows how out of touch this Dell guy is.
January 20th, 2014 at 8:05 am
Watching Russell Wilson scramble around behind the line of scrimmage yesterday, until a receiver opened up and then Wilson threw a 61 yard catch flashes me with thoughts about what Manziel can bring to the NFL, but at an even higher level.
PLEASE DON’T PASS UP THE CHANCE to win games with heroics.
January 20th, 2014 at 8:23 am
Whose word can you believe these days? But I’m not making this up. The Browns are saying they will move up from #4 to get Manziel. Lots will be said and lots to be learned between now and the draft!
January 20th, 2014 at 8:28 am
@BFF
I wonder how many Bucs fans saw that play last night with Wilson scrambling and connecting on that 61 yard throw and thought the same thing. I know I did…. that would be like Manziel in in Pewter and Red! How absolutely exciting it would be to be a Bucs fan with a bonafide franchise QB for the next 15 years
January 20th, 2014 at 8:44 am
We have a few other more urgent needs (DE & OL) but the former can be resolved in FA and I’m optimistic we won’t be getting a top 10 pick next season anyway so now is the time to go get our quarterback.
I’m really hoping we trade up for Blake Bortles. He’s Florida born, has the perfect blend in being a dual threat QB and has the biggest upside. Teddy is the most NFL ready right now, Johnny F is exciting to think about and I wouldn’t complain if we did draft him, but I think Bortles has the stability, the bigger potential and would probably be more prepared to sit out a few games to begin with and see how Glennon handled things.
I can see us drafting Derek Carr though but would prefer Garoppolo. Bortles reminds me of a poor mans Luck, Garoppolo reminds me of a poor mans Brady.
I strongly believe its going to be between Khalil Mack, Watkins & Carr in the first for us, with one of those positions getting covered in the 2nd also.
#draftbortles
January 20th, 2014 at 8:49 am
Pipe dream.
As much as I love JBF.com I’m considering taking a break until after the draft.
The constant beating of the drum for a player that there is no chance this team will draft is getting old.
Love the website but the daily Johnny Football posts are ridiculous. The Bucs will never trade up to draft him with so many other needs and he will not be there at #7.
Talk to me when you post something regarding a player that the Bucs might actually pick.
January 20th, 2014 at 9:08 am
If Johnny Football is there at 7, and I don’t think he will be, there is no way the Glazers keep their new coaches from picking him. It wouldn’t matter if his agent was Bernie Madoff or any other dispicable character. I don’t think the Glazers are heavily involved with the draft.
January 20th, 2014 at 9:14 am
Glennon’s your QB in 2014. Bucs will know this year if Glennon is their QB of the future; opposed to drafting a bust QB at 7. They simply can’t take that risk. Plus the historic numbers Glennon put up as a rookie , he’s earned the opportunity. IMO.
January 20th, 2014 at 9:24 am
The Browns will give up their extra 1st rd pick plus more to St.L to get Johnny Football at #2 end of story. Bucs have no chance on getting Johnny Football other than giving up the bank which is not worth it and highly unlikely.
January 20th, 2014 at 9:27 am
Trade to get ahead of the browns and then ask a ransom for Manziel like their 2 first rounds. We need more than a QB. Looking at dominant defense like 49ers and seahawks made me realize we are more than a piece or 2 away from having a dominnt defense..
January 20th, 2014 at 9:50 am
d-money is right on. This Johnny Lush talk is old and tired!
Bucs fans are always free to not read stories that involves Johnny Football. Joe does a good job letting you know when Johnny’s involved. Sorry, but there is a chance the Bucs get a shot at Johnny. There’s a long way to go, and Johnny will have plenty of opportunities to raise and/or lower his draft stock. Joe, of course, has written about other QBs and will continue to do so.–Joe
January 20th, 2014 at 9:50 am
Manzeil the turnover machine no thanks
January 20th, 2014 at 9:51 am
Considering the Browns might be interested in J.F., and they possess more overall draft picks to barter with, it might not be likely we are in contention to get the #2 slot.
January 20th, 2014 at 9:53 am
Take the Best Player available and please let this
disturbing display of Maziel-love die a semi-dignified death.
Find a target parking lot, take your Maziel centerfold and
get it out of your system.
go Bucs!
January 20th, 2014 at 10:05 am
Jimmy Garoppolo really jumped in the overall rankings after the East-West game. Now a solid round 2 pick. The draft is several months off and many things will change, but I think he is worth a look. Also playing in Senior Bowl this weekend. I AM not a big fan of Carr, and I agree Manziel will go before the 7th pic. Would love to see the Bucs land Josh Mc Cowan in FA.
January 20th, 2014 at 10:07 am
He’s a big play making TD throwing machine…….”instant offense” to coin a phrase.
I suspect he will be the consensus number one after the combine as his skill set is way above the rest.
So, we would have to deal with the Texans, which I would suggest do what it takes.
Keep up the excellent coverage Joe.
January 20th, 2014 at 10:22 am
Alot more needs than QB! this is just Johnny football love fest on this site lately and it really doesn’t make any sense to talk about it unless we had one of the top 2 picks..JOE do you really believe that we would trade away picks/players/$ to go get him? Or do you think he will still be there at 7?
January 20th, 2014 at 10:59 am
NFL teams look past a players issues if they think the player can help them win, to a certain extent. If the players issues negatively effect the team dynamic and give the organization a bad public image, the team usually gives up on the player. Fans want Manziel because of the playmaking ability he has and the spark he could give an offense. Teams will want him for the same reason. The problem is, Manziel happens to play the most scrutinized, visible position in sports. Starting NFL QBs become a face of the franchise. The upside is enticing, the downside could be ugly and set the franchise back. After the Freeman debacle, do the Glazers want a possible repeat? I would say no. I’m not convinced Manziel is a Lovie Smith type of guy, regardless of his talent.
January 20th, 2014 at 11:10 am
Martinii
Interesting because Derek Carr has a lot of the athletic ability to create like Manziel. Has a slightly stonger arm. All of them are a gamble, but I wouldn’t be opposed to Derek Carr in the second round if Manziel and Bridgewater are gone.
January 20th, 2014 at 11:13 am
Man some folks are cranky over Joe and Johnny. Get your own website and do as you please.
Now hear this. If John Manziel (I hate that childish name Johnny)goes to McDonald’s, orders a Big Mac and some writer writes about it. Joe is going to post it. Yah it’s that bad.
January 20th, 2014 at 11:43 am
The Bucs pick 7th and Johnny will have been off the board somewhere between 1-6, so the Bucs won’t even have to ponder drafting the kid. It’s like people forget that while the Bucs were a pathetic 4-12, they aren’t picking top three or top five, so any talk of Johnny Football coming to Tampa at 7 is a pipedream, IMO.
That being said, I’d draft him in a heartbeat if he managed to slip, even with that clown agent representing him.
January 20th, 2014 at 11:53 am
@ mpmalloy LMAO
“the Bucs need a quarterback desperately”. Guess 25 other teams do as well?? Manziel won’t be there and they better not trade 2 first round and a second round pick to get him. And they won’t
January 20th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
It’s going to be fun to hear all the whining and crying come draft day when we pick something other than QB.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
IMHO because of the agent he signed with there’s no way
the Bucs would even consider him.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
No, no, no to Johny “spoiled rotten” Football. Thank god he signed with Freeman’s agent. That alone doomed any chance of him coming to the Bucs.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Garropolo is the best QB in the draft. He was head and shoulders better than any other player in he E-W Shrine game.
Now he’s going to play in the Senior Bowl. If he excels there, he moves into the 1st round.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
I think the Bucs would be fooolish to trade up because no matter what, someone really good will fall to us at 7.
Trading up to #2 would cost us next year’s first rounder…something I’m not comfortable with.
Joe, I bet Johnny’s agent has him hold out for money.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
I have come around to getting Manziel if at all possible, but not likely drafting 7th. Drafting busts is a part of NFL reality, the Bucs have had their share in the past, evidenced by the franchise’s pathetic overall win loss percentage. With Manziel, any which way is up and I believe he will make some team better.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
@ clowney
I agree that Garropolo looked really good! I don’t know I would say the best but he certainly will be the best available when the bucs pick at #7. Bridgewater and Manziel won’t be there.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:13 pm
The amount of complaining about post topics is a little silly …
I mean, it’s clear Joe has a little bit of man-zeal for Manziel (not that there’s anything wrong with that)
I, for one, check this place pretty regularly, as I’m interested in what happens this offseason. If Manziel happens to fall to #7, it would (at the very least) be interesting, no?
January 20th, 2014 at 2:32 pm
joe,why not have a story about teddy the best qb in the draft.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
Good idea hamilton. Maybe you could give us your take on all the QB’s available in one article Joe and how they might improve the Bucs O.
It’s just a suggestion sunshine. Take it or leave it.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Hamilton:
Joe doesn’t believe the Bucs have a prayer for Bridgewater. He’s a damn good quarterback.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:48 pm
You guys are not looking at this logically. What I mean by that is The bucs pick 7th overall, Tex, Jags, Browns, Vikings all need a quarterback and need a quarterback and could use another pass rusher. Johnny and Clowney are not going to be available at number 7, unless we trade up which I don’t see the bucs doing that we won’t see either those guys in a Bucs uniform. Your dreaming instead being realistic if you think otherwise. Logically We could see Blake B or Watkins or Barr, or a tackle or Greg Robinson at number 7 or some other player that I’m not mentioning, so lets cut it out with the Johnny and Clowney conversations cause its not gonna happen….. Anyway Go Bucs!
January 20th, 2014 at 2:53 pm
He’s the next Fran Tarkington, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, and Tim Tebow rolled all into one. The Glaziers would be crazy to pass on this gem of a QB. He’s like Barry Sanders with a John Elway arm. Word is that he already has a spot reserve for him at the Hall of Fame. The Bucs should at least trade the first four rounds, Gerald McCoy, LaVonte David, and some waterfront property to get him. But I know at least 29 teams will be bidding to get him. I know the Rams hoping that he falls to them.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
“If John Manziel (I hate that childish name Johnny)”
yeah, because it didn’t work for johnny carson. also, anonymous screennames calling people’s real nicknames, childish.
“You guys are not looking at this logically…”(yada,yada,yada)
because sapp, rodgers, and others never slid in the draft before.
January 20th, 2014 at 3:07 pm
Yah lurker and Johnny Unitas as well. Does not mean I have to like it.
January 20th, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Reminds me of Timmy from South Park is all.
January 20th, 2014 at 3:15 pm
Be Good Johnny – Men At Work
Be good be good be good
Be good be good be good
Be good (johnny)
Be good be good.
“are you going to play football this year, john? ”
“no!”
“oh, well you must be going to play cricket this year then,
Are you johnny? ”
“no! no! no!”
“boy, you sure are a funny kid, johnny, but I like you! so tell me,
What kind of a boy are you, john? ”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWofxpq3fgA
January 20th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
lol…
Is it any wonder you’ve got too much time on your hands?
Ticking away with your sanity
you’ve got too much time on your hands
It’s hard to believe such a calamity
you’ve got too much time on your hands
And it’s ticking away – ticking away from you
–styx
and I thought it was timmyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
January 20th, 2014 at 3:28 pm
I get this sinking gut feeling where everytime I read abouot Johnnt Football the name Ryan Leaf comes to mind…..only about 6 inches shorter. Time will tell.
January 20th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
I thought I heard Johnny signed with Lebron’s friend Maverick Carter to be his agent? Maybe it was just his company and Burkhardt is actual agent?
January 20th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Never mind….Maverick Carter is his “off field” agent.
January 20th, 2014 at 4:47 pm
if we DONT draft johnny football because the glazers feel that he cant be handled then we hired the wrong coach once again, we might as well have kept greg schiano if that is the mentality….im not a johnny football guy but he is who he is because he isnt cut from the same mold of most nfl players of humble or poor upbringings…i think im more impressed that as the son of rich parents he end up like michael jordans kids so spoiled they never learned what talent was….he’s either gonna be a stud or a dud and it wont have anything to do with size
January 20th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Yup lol what I’ve said all along.
Team Glazer just came out of an ordeal with a similar QB that caused them hell.
Whether or not that’s the case for Manchild, they won’t take the gamble.
January 20th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Forget the haters Joe….I agree, it’s not a great chance we get him but. I’m all for having Russel Wilson 2.0
January 20th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Forget the haters Joe….I agree, it’s not a great chance we get him but. I’m all for having Russel Wilson 2.0
January 20th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
I believe the greater issue with Freeman is who was responsible for not cutting him before the season opener costing the Glazers $8 million in salary. If he showed behavioral issues all throughout preseason, Dom/Schiano gambled and lost, which ultimately helped seal their fate.
The agent was shady, but was doing what was best for his client. The previous regime failed the Glazers by letting Freeman stay on the 53 man roster guaranteeing his salary for the year. Total incompetence.
January 20th, 2014 at 8:40 pm
@ D-money
“As much as I love JBF.com I’m considering taking a break until after the draft.”
I am with you on this. I do not understand the “want” to draft this QB with our current O-line play from this season as a base IMO he would not make it multiple games in a row. Much less 16+ games of the NFL season.There are no Rice, UTEP, SMU Sam Houston State’s on an NFL schedule. Not that Johnny doesn’t have good looking stats, he does.
It is not my $ but I do not see Mr. Manziel being a top 10 QB. He has to many red flags on and off the field for me to want to spend the $ and time waiting for this Sophomore college student to grow up.
Would it be fun to watch him do what he has been successful at as a QB in college in the NFL. Sure, but your opinion on how well him making all the “extra stuff” in the end zone and on the field/side line will impress the NFL players he is playing or going to play against?
Go Bucs!
January 22nd, 2014 at 11:48 am
The Bucs are usually bad every year, but they always do good enough to avoid getting the best player in the draft.
Why does every one hate Manziel? Because he likes to drink beer and party? I’d rather take him then wait for the rapist QB from FSU that some of you want to wait for in 2015. The guy completely balls and is superior to any QB in the draft.