Easy Choice For Jared Allen?
February 20th, 2014 
Where would you want to play, Jacksonville, Oakland or Tampa?
That’s a scenario spelled out for nearly-free-agent (18 days) defensive end Jared Allen on NFL.com.
Analyst Elliot Harrison only sees those three cities as plausible potential landing spots for Allen.
Tampa Bay needs an edge rusher in the worst way. New coach Lovie Smith has no problem playing veterans, and Allen would give the defense enough of a boost to shorten the amount of time an already strong secondary has to cover. The Buccaneers should have $10 million or so to play with, and while that will not be enough for, say, Greg Hardy (should he hit the open market), it could allow them to add someone like Allen. The Jaguars, who will have nearly three times as much cap room, have needed a pass rush of any kind for a long time. But after bringing in the likes of Aaron Kampman and Jason Babin over the past few years, it would be nice for the team to target someone younger than Allen.
What intrigued Joe here is that if those are really going to be the options for Allen, then how could he not come Tampa?
The defensive talent here is superior to what’s in Oakland and Jacksonville, plus Tampa has Allen’s friend Leslie Frasier in place as defensive coordinator and a defense-first head coach with an excellent reputation in Lovie Smith. It’s almost a no-brainer.
Allen also would have to like his odds of landing in the Hall of Fame finishing his career strong alongside Gerald McCoy freeing him up for sacks.
Perhaps the Bucs have other ideas to generate an improved pass rush. But their first big chance to do it comes March 11. If they move fast, the Bucs probably could have Allen that night. It would be a safe move for a proven guy, one who’s also known as a hell of a citizen.
February 20th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Somewhere Gru is shaking his head.
February 20th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Allen and Tillman baby! Come on down!
“Allen also would have to like his odds of landing in the Hall of Fame finishing his career strong alongside Gerald McCoy freeing him up for sacks.” Reading this sentence feels as good as seeing Brooks score a TD on the Super Bowl.
Go Bucs!
February 20th, 2014 at 12:50 pm
If they are able to land Allen and draft a youngster the Bucs rotation could be lethal by mid season. I like everyone under contract with the exception of my boy Bowers.
He has more excuses and sound bites than he does sacks.
If we can trade down to get more picks then all the better and take a young Ealy or a OL prospect that would be righteous as well. I do know our qb situation won’t go away so I am officially doing the “Joe Manziel” lobbying for Vick until we find the qb we need to lead the franchise.
February 20th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
If they move fast, it probably means they overpaid for a player on the backside of his career. I mean, the opening bell is usually about top $ contracts? Am I wrong?
February 20th, 2014 at 12:53 pm
What a Noval Idea!-A Quality Veteran Presence for a young up and coming Defensive Line.
Note: Hmmm nothing coming out of One Buc. As it relates to players getting extensions or contracts restructured.
February 20th, 2014 at 12:54 pm
novel
February 20th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
Allen would be a great FA. Then get Clowney at all cost. The ol’ ball coach said it best “when the ball’s snapped he’s got something no one else has” that’s what the Bucs need, bad.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Lovie says we have to consider taking a QBwith the #7 pick, and that he’d “Like to have an upgrade at the QB position.”
LMAO @ the MGM
February 20th, 2014 at 1:04 pm
I will be surprised if they sign anyone within the first 24-48 hours. They don’t have gobs of cap space to blow anymore. They can’t afford to continue to overpay for FAs. Just a little realism for the splooge-in-pants fantasy football crowd.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:04 pm
IMHO-
Sign the following player to bolster our Rotation
*From The Left Side
• Justin Tuck 6′ 5″, 268 lbs (Giants have cap issues)
*From the Defensive Tackle
• Kendall Langford 6′ 6″, 313 lbs (Reportedly will be cut)
*From the Nose Tackle
• Tony McDaniel 6′ 7″, 305 lbs (Seattle has Cap Concerns)
*From The Right Side
• Julius Peppers 6′ 7″, 287 lbs (Reportedly will be cut)
Note: Parts are interchangeable (Jared Allen & Greg Hardy)
*(Later Round Darkhorse Prospect)
• Morgan Breslin OLB/DE USC 6-1 (250)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEoZsuWbE0w
February 20th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Bucs will have more than 10 million to play with
February 20th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
-Morgan Breslin (USC)
Played well under Monte Kiffin. Reminds me a lot of Jared Allen actually
February 20th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
@William
I’m with you….Jared Allen, tillman with a between qb and we’ll be ready for the draft
February 20th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
reports are that the salary cap will go to $130M this year and should increase next year with the new thursday night deal signed by CBS.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
LUVMYBUCS Says:
February 20th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
-Morgan Breslin (USC)
Played well under Monte Kiffin. Reminds me a lot of Jared Allen actually
++++++++++
What???? Morgan Breslin is a midget compared to Jared Allen. Breslin has decent first step quickness but is no great athlete… like Allen, but Allen has a long rangy frame, underrated athleticism, and a non-stop motor that Breslin doesn’t quite have.
Breslin to me, is the epitome of a tweener. A guy that doesn’t quite have the frame to play DE and doesn’t have the speed and change of direction to play OLB in the 3-4.
Besides all of that, Breslin needs his hip to check out anyway, if it doesn’t, he can forget about being drafted by anybody.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:17 pm
You guys realize that you are endorsing the signing of a 33 year old CB? Seriously? Why stop there? I bet Joey Galloway and Randall McDaniel are well rested and ready to come back and contribute. Maybe Ronde can come out of retirement and play one more year for Lovie. I wonder how Alstott’s neck is feeling. Sign them all. It worked wonders for the Redskins.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
I’m pretty sure Jared Allen wants to stay in Minn. or go to a team who is a Superbowl contender
February 20th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
@Brandon
I know you’ve probably watched Breslin Dominate some of the best Tackles in the Pac-12. So there should be no argument over his motor/heart, and ability to get after the quarterback. Because see thats the part I’m comparing. Not the hue of his skin, or size or anything else.
If wasn’t for an injury, we would be talking about him in late 1st or early second. Coach Pendergas, has a coached up some of the best-And speaks of very highly.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Also mind you I did use the term DARKHORSE. But the term Tweener, you used. I have no probably with an undersized guy, that can over come his size limitations. With tons of impact plays;watched plenty do.
In 2012-He finished just behind former Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones (14.5) and former UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr (13.5) in sacks.
2013-Breslin was limited to just five games this past season due to a painful injury, but was still very productive, totaling 4.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss
Doctors operated on Breslin to repair his sports hernia in November. Since then, he has made a full recovery!!!
February 20th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
*I have no problem with an undersized guy
February 20th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
“No other USC pass rusher in the last decade has accumulated more tackles for loss (19.5), sacks (13) and stuffs (32.5) in one season than Breslin during his redshirt junior year. That time span features a decorated list of first-round draft picks including Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Lawrence Jackson and Nick Perry.”
February 20th, 2014 at 1:40 pm
“His production over a per-game level also tops the list of other high-profile prospects in this year’s draft class like South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, Barr and Buffalo’s Khalil Mack. In Breslin’s 18 career games he sacked the quarterback 17.5 times, averaging .97 sacks per game.”
February 20th, 2014 at 1:43 pm
You guys dreaming up these fantasy free agent scenarios are going to be sorely disappointed come March 11.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:44 pm
Right now we have a little over 6 mil to play with, thats good for 10th most cap space in the league. Allen would most likely follow the money.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:44 pm
@Orca
Not Dreaming, just realistic options
February 20th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Allen would be a great signing. Revis and Jackson worked out well. Amazingly, folks seem to be reluctant to participate in free agency. Why? So we can continue our winning ways?
Ill take a Gru styled patchwork Division Championship team please.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:47 pm
We need a proven guy with talent at this position who can lead the underachieving (Bowers and Claiborne).
February 20th, 2014 at 1:51 pm
@Brandon Says:
“…You guys realize that you are endorsing the signing of a 33 year old CB? Seriously? Why stop there?”
Brandon, its a pet peeve of mine when someone criticizes another’s point of view WITHOUT offering an alternative. IMO, I am excited about this and all for it. We have a number of needs; DE and CB are two of them. We can only fill those needs thru FA and the draft (and we only have 5 picks this yr). If we can get quality players at a reasonable price, and we have the cap room, what the hell is wrong with that?
February 20th, 2014 at 1:52 pm
@Glennon Mob Says:
“…We need a proven guy with talent at this position who can lead the underachieving…” Glennon?
lol, sorry, could not resist!
February 20th, 2014 at 1:53 pm
I don’t care how old Allen is. He’s a beast and has always played above and beyond his talent level IMO. Sign him.
He and McCoy would clean up alongside each other.
Hardy is too overpriced. Pass.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:56 pm
I just don’t get it. Allen has already said he wants to play for a proven contender and as of right now, its not the bucs. He is thinking Green Bay, New Orleans, maybe a San Fran or Denver. And I promise you will take less to play for one of those franchises before he signs with the bucs. He has made his money and now it is about the ring. Who cares that Fraizer is here. It means nothing. Allen is not coming to tampa.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
If you look at the Super Bowl Champions over the Past 15yrs.
Majority of them, signed FREE AGENTS that where major contributors. I’m not saying sign (15+) Free Agents like New England did in 2001, but there should be some overhaul.
February 20th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
@LMB-
The Bucs will not spend big in free agency this year. That is my opinion. So I regard all of these free agency musings as fantasy sploogefest material.
February 20th, 2014 at 2:07 pm
@Orca
I never listen, to the Chess games GM’s play going into Free agency/Draft period. I’m just listing realistic options.
Its time to throw out what “WE CAN’T DO” with the baby water. And get this ship on track. I’m eagerly waiting to see how it all plays out. Because we have the ammunition, to make a quick turnaround.
February 20th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
History repeats itself. Last Viking DL we got worked out pretty good in Brad Culpepper. Allen, come on down!
February 20th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
@LMB – They’re not realistic options if the team is not inclined in that direction. I think the last 2 years have created unrealistic expectations for Bucs fans regarding free agency. I believe they will be more conservative this year, with the new regime. Draft, develop, and supplement with value free agents. Allen is a possibility if he isn’t trying to break the bank.
February 20th, 2014 at 2:31 pm
@andres
Think that was DT Chris Hovan, but I feel you.
February 20th, 2014 at 2:34 pm
@Orca
True its only Realistic, If you want to win NOW.
February 20th, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Joe it is quite obvious why most of us are not GM/Coaches in the NFL, the first thing you have to look at is what you have and what you need and what you can get so you have a team that plays together (see Fins). We could have Rachel next to us each game and then we would not care.
We will soon see what the new gang thinks.
February 20th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
The Bucs have to do whatever possible to land a rival division foe star DE.
They must land Hardy if he hits the open market.
February 20th, 2014 at 5:01 pm
@LMB- Spending big in free agency does not necessarily = “win now”… And your opinion of how to win now isn’t necessarily that of the Bucs front office or head coach. I’ll side with them when it comes to deciding who’s more qualified to make such decisions.
Seriously, every year people drool over spending the most money on free agents… and every year, the teams that do it are most often the ones who end up playing in the Super Bowl… Sorry, that’s the way it is. The teams that draft well, develop players, and supplement in free agency are the ones who sustain winning over the long term. That is a fact.
Look how awesome we are after those 2 offseasons of big spending.
February 20th, 2014 at 5:04 pm
* are most often NOT the ones who end up playing in the Super Bowl.
February 20th, 2014 at 7:08 pm
I hear the point that your trying to make. But that didn’t stop the last 3 Super Bowl winners, from addressing areas of glaring weakness by way of free agency.
February 20th, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Its all about getting the best 53 men available for a Championship Run. By whatever means necessary.
February 20th, 2014 at 8:42 pm
I’m not against getting free agents. I’m just in favor of spending wisely, maximizing your available cap. Running out on day 1 of free agency and dropping a buttload of cash doesn’t usually fit that strategy. Let’s get some guys, but let’s be smart. I hope that is where they’re headed at OBP.
February 20th, 2014 at 9:21 pm
@Orca
I hear you, I believe in finding value as well. You won’t hear me say-” Hey lets pay a corner $16 millions BUCS a game”.
February 20th, 2014 at 9:36 pm
@William
I agree!
February 20th, 2014 at 9:44 pm
“I’m pretty sure Jared Allen wants to stay in Minn. or go to a team who is a Superbowl contender”
I get that statement made by WATCHDOG
BUt……….. there is NO REASON to be loyal to MN or stay there and I have seen 99% of every player who is a free agent in the past leave for cash, not a SB contender. I would opt for a SB contender, but that means paycut and in the end, the players usually don’t go for that.
February 21st, 2014 at 12:41 am
jared allen = diminished skills.