Are Bucs Selling The Cutting Of Michael Johnson?
March 9th, 2015
Joe reads the buzz this morning, courtesy of Yahoo! Sports, that Tampa Bay is bidding with the Seahawks, Bengals, Seahawks and Patriots for the services of defensive end Jabaal Sheard.
The soon-to-be-former Browns DE is a guy Joe’s written about recently.
A Florida native, he was a 4-3 defense edge rusher in college at Pittsburgh and was a Cleveland second-round pick in 2011. The poor guy already has had three head coaches, including Mike Pettine last year, who ran a hybrid 3-4 defense.
Sheard, 25, saw his career take off out of the gate with 8.5 sacks and 7.0 sacks in his first two campaigns in Dick Jauron’s 4-3 defense. But then he tailed off.
He had just two sacks last season but battled a foot injury most of the year. He played in every game and made five starts.
So what’s the Bucs’ sales pitch? The other three teams mentioned are Super Bowl contenders. What’s Tampa Bay’s answer when Sheard and his representatives ask about ghostly and ghastly free agent bust defensive end Michael Johnson?
Joe’s not sure how the Bucs could score a guy like Sheard without offering up a starting job. Joe’s got his fingers crossed.
March 9th, 2015 at 9:58 am
you’re assuming that they’re OK to stand pay with Jaqueis Smith? Who’s to say they’re not gonna rotate these guys around?
March 9th, 2015 at 10:07 am
if they cut this guy. talk about a team that wasted a lot of money last season geez. I am worried about L&L with their talent evaluation skills that’s for sure.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:08 am
I’m okay with him being hurt and only having two sacks last season, I just wonder where Joe’s outrage is that a hurt player played and was less productive than our own free agent flop.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:10 am
Sheard is hardly a difference maker, if would be dumb to cut Johnson. Sheard Johnson and Smith can rotate..
March 9th, 2015 at 10:12 am
agree lets see what he can do when healthy.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:18 am
re-sign clayborn…add DE mid-round in draft
March 9th, 2015 at 10:22 am
If Sheard is from Florida, that’s the sales pitch. He can play close to home and not have to pay state income tax.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:31 am
I here the Giants are interested in clayborn. Cutting MJ would be as smart burning 7m dollars.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:31 am
*hear
March 9th, 2015 at 11:01 am
Sheard played mostly on the left side if i remember right. Ultimately that doesnt really mean much but it could make a small difference in how he’s being pursued.
March 9th, 2015 at 11:06 am
Its almost like in Joe’s world you don’t need 3 des?
March 9th, 2015 at 11:12 am
How is Koenen still here? Anybody?
March 9th, 2015 at 11:55 am
Punters like Koenen don’t forget how to punt. They are told to not punt it deep to prevent returns.
March 9th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
I agree Brandon. Why is this guy better with a bad foot than our guy with a bad ankle and broken hand.
No consistency out here, even from Joe.
March 9th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Repost
Derrick Morgan (Age 26.058) DE/OLB
• Height: 6′ 3″ (1.91 m) || Weight: 296 lbs.
• 40 yard dash time: 4.77 seconds (*2010 combine numbers)
• Drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 1st round (16th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft
(Career Stats)
• 2012 (23 age) LDE 16 out of 16 (6.5 sacks)
• 2013 (24 age) LDE 16 out of 16 (6.0 sacks)
• 2014 (25 age) OLB 16 out of 16 (6.5 sacks) ←Ray Horton Defense
March 9th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
ChessMaster Says
“Punters like Koenen don’t forget how to punt. They are told to not punt it deep to prevent returns.”
No, but even the worse punters can “not kick it deep” and for a lot less money.
Frankly, being afraid of a return is cowardice from the coaches. If it’s an issue, get a new ST Coordinator.
March 9th, 2015 at 10:37 pm
Not sure why an agent or a player would ask about another player on the defensive line. Kind of a silly idea.
March 10th, 2015 at 9:08 am
Sheard was moved to outside LB last year when the browns change to a 3-4. May explain his lack of production. Plus, our Dline coach was his coach in cleveland those first two years. I think it would make lots of sense to go after him.
Love how these threads always seem to get hijacked. WTF?