NFL.com: Bucs In Boone Swoon
August 11th, 2014
Lovie Smith told media and, indirectly, fans to not overreact after a few ugly series by Tampa Bay’s first-team offensive line on Friday.
But now it seems the Bucs are pondering an overreaction.
NFL.com super insider Ian Rapoport is reporting tonight that the Bucs are one of the teams interested in trading for unhappy 49ers guard Alex Boone, who refuses to play (to date) for the $4 million or so due him in 2014.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports, via a person informed of the Bucs thinking, there is real interest in a Boone trade at the right price.
Another Buccaneers source tells Rapoport there have been no “real” conversations with the 49ers yet, but the front office touches base with all teams to discuss who might be available.
Feel free to click on through above for more.
As a paid NFL employee, Rapoport has general managers on speed dial and gets all kinds of scoops. But that doesn’t mean he gets it right all the time or doesn’t get played with misinformation.
Joe’s not saying Rapoport is wrong, but Joe can’t see how it makes sense for the Bucs to pull the trigger to trade for a grumbling guard who wants to get paid big bucks. If the Bucs were so high on investing in guards, then they would have drafted one higher in May. They had ammunition to make that happen. Or they could have kept Jeremy Zuttah, who would have looked like a Pro Bowler compared to what was showcased Friday in Jacksonville.
No, Joe doesn’t think the Bucs are about to alter the course of their grand plan after a few preseason series. That would be an overreaction Lovie said was unnecessary.
August 11th, 2014 at 11:15 pm
Depending on what he wants it might not be a bad deal. But if he wants Carl Nicks money – forget it. I doubt they’re interested in paying another fortune to a malcontent. Strongly doubt it.
August 11th, 2014 at 11:25 pm
For the record, Boone is not owed 4mil in 2014. He has 2 years remaining on his contract for a total of 4mil. 2014: $2 million (+ $400,000 roster bonus), 2015: $1.2 million (+ $400,000 roster bonus), 2016: Free Agent.
It might not take a mega deal to land Boone. I don’t know what he would want for a long term contract, but the Bucs would not be pursuing it if they did not think they could swing a reasonable deal. I trust Licht to know how much this guy is worth.
August 11th, 2014 at 11:31 pm
That’s simply untrue, they were probably higher on our current guards and were just wrong about them.
Now that they have realized their current crop is horrid it makes all the sense in the world.
He’s one of the best guards in the league getting paid back up money, it’s not that hard to comprehend why he would hold out. If he were to play for that money and get injured who knows if he’ll ever see a big pay day. He needs to take advantage while he’s still considered elite.
August 11th, 2014 at 11:56 pm
Personally, I would not be pursuing RG Alex Boone. I would try to get Mike Iupati, the 49ers LG who will be a free agent in 2015 and the 49ers have acknowledged that they will not be able to resign him for cap reasons. We need a replacement for Carl Nicks, not Davin Joseph. We have people (Omameh, et al) who can play the right side more ably than the more important left side.
Iupati is a 2 time pro bowler who plays the left side and is outstanding as both a run blocker and pass protector. PFF rates Iupati much higher than Boone as an interior lineman. The 49ers have back-up for the left side, where Boone’s back-up Adam Snyder just got injured and they’re going to be hard pressed to let Boone go.
A trade for Iupati, who they’re going to lose anyway, would take less of a draft pick than Boone who has 2 years left on his contract. It would also free up money for the cash strapped 49ers to give Boone an extension, and others in line for extensions.
August 11th, 2014 at 11:57 pm
Do it! Boone is young, tested and has some natural talent! If the Bucs are serious about wanting to “win now”, a guy like Boone can help a lot. We will almost certainly be spending draft choices next year on O-line anyway, so why not send a 3rd or 4th round choice now to SF for a guy who has already shown he can play at a high level! MAKE it happen now so we can get some cohesiveness in the trenches. If we don’t, we will go through a handful of QBs and have little to show for it at seasons end!
August 12th, 2014 at 12:02 am
Lets just not pull a Darrelle Revis Type of Deal Again
August 12th, 2014 at 12:09 am
This is your fandom kicking in, Joe. Overreaction to trade a potential pro bowler guard who can actually block? Is the alternative to have a line weaker than a slice of butter? Boone would give us a chance to at least make a play for the playoffs. Quit being so conservative.
August 12th, 2014 at 12:16 am
Overreaction??
Go home, load last weeks tape.
Watch
Repeat
That line is so bad, it could blow our entire season.
It’s good to see the team taking steps to save the season
August 12th, 2014 at 12:51 am
I’m sorry Joe, but what the heck is so dang solid about the collection of current offensive linemen we have on this team beyond both tackle and center positions?? And even THEY looked horrible lined up with 2 turn stalls between them. WE ALL HOPE there’s atleast 1 guy in that bunch that can start semi-solid for the rest of this long 16 game season, but if who started at guard this past game represented who had “shown the most” in camp, then this offense is in REAL REAL TROUBLE and they dam well BETTER be going after atleast one proven solid starter at the position because hoping 2 can “develop” at the speed of today’s game is a recipe for DISASTER. If they’re serious about winning NOW, not getting their QB’s killed, and seriously want people to spend their hard earned money to back up their team, PROVE IT by not thinking that we’re either all blind or idiots that couldn’t tell how horrible our starting guards played last game…AND by backing up your top down talk about “WINNING NOW” This offense MUST hit the deck rolling outta the gate RIGHT?? if that’s REALLY true, then the absolute worst part about friday night was COUSINS PLAYED EXACTLY LIKE HE HAS HIS ENTIRE CAREER, WHY SHOULDN’T FANS DEMAND BETTER?? Why wouldn’t Mccown want better, he wants to compete at the QB position, not play the lone bull fighter in the running of the bulls.
August 12th, 2014 at 1:04 am
I bet most of you guys have probably never actually watched Boone play. Y’all just jump at names.
August 12th, 2014 at 1:04 am
Joe, you keep writing that Boone is up unhappy with a $4 million dollar deal this season, but his number is $2.5 million this year, and $1.9 million next year. He’s cut presently got two years left on a four year, $6.5 million rookie contract. He will likely want more than $4 million a year, but $6 million would be a major raise for him.
August 12th, 2014 at 1:06 am
Oops… Posted then read the comments, looks like this has been pointed out.
August 12th, 2014 at 2:00 am
The money is needed for McCoy, remember him?
August 12th, 2014 at 2:05 am
You guys are the same people who panicked about the secondary and insisted on trading for Revis.
Will you never learn?
Do no trade (Licht sucks at trades anyway). Take what we can get thru FA and the waver wire. Develop. Draft next year, etc.
August 12th, 2014 at 2:07 am
And, btw, Ian’s source is a local reporter who made the same claim days ago. The is no “team” source.
August 12th, 2014 at 2:08 am
No, it would not be an overreaction. Kvetching and saying the sky is falling is overreacting. Finding a better player from outside the organization is an action, one that was always a possibility they’ve mentioned. They’ve always said they have their eyes open for ways to improve the team from the waiver wire or trades. How is this not clear Joe? Keep a level head, work with what you’ve got, and keep eyes open for personnel upgrades. Not an overreaction. Just another possible avenue to improve the team.
August 12th, 2014 at 2:45 am
I can’t take what I see in these preseason games seriously. I mean, even the broadcast and announcing is terrible. With that said, this offensive line shouldn’t cause panic because of what they didn’t do last Friday, they should cause panic because it’s a spot we all saw as a weakness. I don’t take any stock in the playcalling. Nobody is showing their hand in the preseason but the basic protection of the QB was anemic. I think Licht is listening and would consider a trade but I see it taking at least a 3rd rounder to land Boone and then a hefty extension. I don’t see this happening but Incognito is a distant possibility. It’s easy to forget that Incognito is as solid as anybody over the last 5 years. Gven the choice between him and J Martin, I’d take the guy that wasn’t crying.
August 12th, 2014 at 5:25 am
It would also take away from a strong conference contender. If lovie and licht are serious about making the Bucs relevant again then we need to match up with the front runnersin the nfc. If we can make ourselves better and the 49ers weaker, I’m all for it
August 12th, 2014 at 6:39 am
I re-watched the game. The offensive line is truly offensive.
August 12th, 2014 at 7:09 am
If Joe says it ain’t happening, then welcome to the team Boone and Incognito. The naysayers would love nothing more than for the Bucs to sit on their hands and do nothing so they, the naysayers, can bitch about how dire the situation remains, and how they told everyone so. Just like the naysayers who are lying in wait for McCown and Glennon to flop. In their eyes it’s not about what’s good for the team going forward but how accurate they are in their fatal prognostications. If we got Boone and Incognito, and everything all of a sudden was right in Vegas, it would make these naysayers wrong once again, and they just don’t like to be wrong.
August 12th, 2014 at 7:56 am
get him NOW.
August 12th, 2014 at 8:33 am
Do you know who took care of their O-line???
THE FALCONS!!!
The sign a great guard from Kansas City in Jon Asamoah.
And drafted a tackle in Jake Matthews.
And they signed a DT and DE.
We need to invest in our O-line.
Do you know why the Patriots are ALWAYS contenders????
THEIR OFFENSIVE LINE IS AMAZING!!
August 12th, 2014 at 9:05 am
Don’t think upgrading a position if need is overreacting. Watching the last game just emphasis the need for upgrading.