Bailing On Bobby Rainey
March 6th, 2015
After a strong start last season, Bobby Rainey had just two carries in Tampa Bay’s final six games.
Doug Martin got healthy. Charles Sims was force fed, and Rainey was buried.
At least he had company next to Mike James.
Joe gets it. Decisions must be made. There’s only one rock.
But now the Bucs must make another decision: pay Rainey about $1.5 million with a restricted free agent tender, set him free, or sign him to a different contract. The deadline for the tender is in a matter of hours, as the free agency dinner bell rings Tuesday.
Joe doesn’t expect the Bucs to drop $1.5 million Rainey. If they want to keep him, they could probably let him go and re-sign him for less. But Joe suspects Lovie is finished with Rainey, who he only allowed to return punts when everyone else he hired last year failed or got hurt.
Rainey, 27, is a good guy, and a great story, coming off the couch for the New Schiano Order and helping the Bucs win games in 2013. His Bucs career reveals 938 yards on 231 carries. That’s a solid four yards per carry.
Joe would be pleased to see Rainey return, but Joe thinks the Bucs are likely to go in a different direction.
March 6th, 2015 at 9:15 am
I was struck with, what I think, is a great approach that will set the Bucs up for tremendous improvement this coming year.
There are the positions to secure in Free Agency:
1. A tough, top rated FA Guard
2. A tough, top rated FA tackle
3. And here’s the kicker that is going to help Jameis become a top QB right away……………………….ADRIAN PETERSON.
Think about what that adds to the passing game…in fact, to the entire offense.
You add him and all of a sudden our offense is something to be feared.
We can pick up the defensive parts needed through the draft, following our “Saviors” pick at #1.
Think about it….
March 6th, 2015 at 9:16 am
Our luck…..we let Rainey go and Martin goes on IR during training camp….
March 6th, 2015 at 9:21 am
No one can run behind our awful oline every one says. Even Barry Sanders couldn’t run with our oline. Rainey get 4 yards a carry and let’s just sh!t on him! He’s done nothing but out perform every runner on the team since he got here so let’s just give him the Rodney Dangerfield treatment. SMH
March 6th, 2015 at 9:27 am
27 years old and still hasn’t had a significant YEAR yet, a couple games here and there doesn’t do it. it’s just the running back position and im pretty sure they’ll draft a guy because I don’t see them picking up the 5th year option on doug martin either so it’s time to move on from mike james, rainey and martin in these next two seasons
March 6th, 2015 at 9:33 am
@Dean:
If Adrian read your post he’d fall out of his chair laughing….
March 6th, 2015 at 9:39 am
@Dean – blah blah blah blah……
March 6th, 2015 at 9:48 am
@Dean
Don’t let them get to you. Your opinion is as valid as anyone else’s. Some people are just idiotic jerks that like to troll and attack people. Children….pretending to be adults.
Personally, I think they should let Rainey go. When everyone was heralding him, I was unimpressed and said as much. His few good games were the result of his size…the big guys he played against had trouble finding him in a crowd. Once they figured things out, they stopped him cold.
I believe, behind a good oline, Muscle Hamster will reign supreme.
March 6th, 2015 at 9:52 am
@Tom…Don’t think AP would fall out of his chair after all..
“While the Dallas Cowboys have been reported to be a Peterson favorite destination, the running back prefers five teams: the Arizona Cardinals, the Indianapolis Colts, the Cowboys, the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources–amid–open-dialogue–with-vikings–adrian-peterson-considers-deal-restructuring-to-facilitate-trade-232555914.html
March 6th, 2015 at 10:00 am
@ nobody:
Everyone’s seen that list…….AP is Vikings property, they would ask for a high draft choice in return for him, which would not be a situation the Bucs would look at….he would still ask a hefty contract, money better spent on the defensive side of the football….
AP will not go to a team with no offensive line, would you??
March 6th, 2015 at 10:07 am
Where are all the articles about teams that want to trade up to get Winston?
March 6th, 2015 at 10:15 am
AP is under contract and no one is gonna trade for that salary at that age and the Vikings cant be dumb enough to release him
March 6th, 2015 at 10:17 am
Amen….bucs4lyfe
March 6th, 2015 at 10:18 am
Good Guy?
This is the same Bobby Rainey that was arrested for threatening to kill his girlfriend?
Man for all of the Winston haters on here–who’s never been arrested, and who anyone could see (if they bother to read the reports/transcripts) was the victim of a thinly veiled money grab—they sure don’t seem to have a problem with Rainey…
March 6th, 2015 at 10:20 am
One more tidbit for Dean, the Bucs could have taken Adrian P in the draft but instead chose to go with the late Gaines Adams.
March 6th, 2015 at 10:21 am
Oh, I see why—because I’m a moron.
Chris Rainey meet Bobby Rainey, Bobby Rainey meet Chris Rainey.
I’ll head back to my rock now 🙂
March 6th, 2015 at 10:23 am
@Tom
Or they might take an even swap for MArtin.
March 6th, 2015 at 10:24 am
@Tom
Who the Bucs took over AP doesn’t really matter, considering the entire staff is different.
March 6th, 2015 at 10:30 am
Really like Rainey. I’d like to keep him.
The fumbles are a big concern.
I’ll trust whatever decision.
March 6th, 2015 at 10:39 am
Joe,
Did Rainey finish as the leading rusher last year? I’m pretty sure he did which is just crazy considering he didn’t play towards the end of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if lovie gets rid of another schiano gem. Coming off the couch you say? Leading rusher you say? 4 yards per carry?
At least we have Charlie Simms to save the day.
March 6th, 2015 at 10:42 am
@Tom Edrington
LOL that’s awesome I forgot about that hahaha just another reason to take a quarterback first overall that was an awful pick….
look below I mean honestly do you really want the bucs to draft another defensive end, this franchise is known for defense because that’s where they put their first round picks historically, if they were using them on offense that’s what our history would be known for…..we took 2 running backs first overall, lee roy selmon and Vinnie testeverde. it’s time to crap or get off the pot, you cant be afraid to draft a quarterback otherwise you are the tampa bay buccaneers who’ve never had a franchise quarterback
1st round Defensive line HISTORY: Lee Roy Selmon, Ron Holmes, Eric Curry, (Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks both in 95), Regan Upshaw, Marcus Jones, Anthony McFarland, Gaines Adams, Gerald McCoy, Adrian Clayborn
Quarterbacks: Doug Williams, Vinny Testaverde, Trent Dilfer, Josh Freeman
Its time people
March 6th, 2015 at 10:43 am
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
March 6th, 2015 at 10:23 am
@Tom
Or they might take an even swap for Martin.
That would be a biggest mistake for them since that time they forgot to make a draft selection during their turn in 2003!!!
March 6th, 2015 at 11:18 am
I like Mike James better overall as a versatile RB.
QB topic: The 1st overall chosen QBs hit about 2 to 1 (good to bad) over the past 30 years. I think Jameis is much less of a reach than some of them including Alex Smith the QB most like MM.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:32 am
What happen in 2003 Bucs draft? We didn’t have a 1st and selected D. White and C. Simms from what I recall? I remember when the Bucs turned in two names in 82 Shawn Farrel and Booker Reese. Reese last two years, one the the worst selections in Bucs history.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:34 am
I think I saw Mike James carry the ball maybe TWICE last season. Rainey is shifty and more elusive but Mike James is a good Downhill runner with better YPC. I would like to see him get some carries as a third down back with Simms the primary. They should trade Doug Martin. With them using a third on Simms it’s clear he is Lovies guy, his Tampa Matt Forte. No reason to keep Martin as a backup when we could trade him for something.
I like Martin, but I think James would be a better third down back. I would keep Rainey, James and have Siims as my starter and trade Doug Martin. Giants would probably entertain the idea of a trade for him being that they took David Wilson right after we took Martin and his career is now over and Rashad Jennings battled injuries.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:35 am
Rainey was the best RB we had last year.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:36 am
Stanglassman Says:
March 6th, 2015 at 11:32 am
What happen in 2003 Bucs draft? We didn’t have a 1st and selected D. White and C. Simms from what I recall? I remember when the Bucs turned in two names in 82 Shawn Farrel and Booker Reese. Reese last two years, one the the worst selections in Bucs history.
***************
They had an article about that the other day titled something along of the lines of “worst botched draft pick in history”. They wanted Reese and instead the guy turned in a card for Farrel so the Bucs ended up trading up to get Reese. Farrel was the better pick after all and Reese never showed up.
March 6th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Trade Doug Martin and a pick for Victor Cruz
March 6th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Or get Cobb, or Jacoby Jones. Someone that can man the slot and return kicks/punts
March 6th, 2015 at 11:49 am
Not “The Kevin” Says:
March 6th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Trade Doug Martin and a pick for Victor Cruz
*************
What? That is a one-for-one trade. No pick for that bum.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Should be added to the mysteries of 2014: Rainey amasses 80 yards in the first half against Cleveland and gets 2 touches the entire 2nd half. Sometimes this team makes no sense. I do hope Koetter can make better offensive decisions.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Most teams nowadays feel like running backs are disposable commodities.
Chip Kelly is in the forefront of that mindset.
He felt he could trade shady, get a top rated MLB in return and find another running back who was just as good or better than Shady.
With C.J. Spiller, Ray Rice and others on the market, his thinking isn’t that flawed.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
To me it seemed obvious they were tanking from that same game….against Cleveland and through the remainder of the season. When Mike Evans CLEARLY caught that ball in the fourth quarter for the first the refs called it out and Lovie didn’t throw the flag. From that moment I wasn’t really upset when we lost games because I knew. Other things throughout the season go in-line with it as well. This is not a 2-14 team. The record says it is but it’s not. Obviously they looked horrible but this season should be fun to watch…
March 6th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
As much as I like Doug Martin and want him to succeed, it was painfully obvious that Rainey ran with more heart last year. Reward Rainey’s effort and sign him, if for no other reason than he has proven he is a serviceable RB and our backfield has proven that no one can stay healthy for a full season.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Just think guys, next year we play the Jags at Home. You all could see a home game win.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Rainey is our best back but just like Michael Bennett he will be pushed out of town so the high draft picks can play.
New front office, new coaching staff, same old nepotism and mismanagement of personnel.
March 6th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Wait Frank Gore is a FA???? Someone is going to get a good RB. He’s old but he aint done yet
March 6th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
It doesn’t seem right that the Bucs would have to pay Rainey (an UDFA) more to guarantee his return in only his 3rd season than what Doug Martin (a 1st round pick) makes in his 4th season under his rookie contract . Seems like those rules are screwed up to create that type of scenario. I’m sure the Bucs wouldn’t mind having Rainey back next year – but the $1.5M to ensure his return is a bit steep.
March 6th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
i like it alot dean. id take hardy at de too 1yr deal. why not were the worst team in the nfl. last yr. who cares about character concerns right now
March 6th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
@ Dean
Who were the young Viking QBs that AD helped become “top QBs right away?”
Best I can tell he’s never helped their QB situation at all, in fact the best young QB they’ve had in a LONG time is Bridgewater and AD was suspended at that time.
March 6th, 2015 at 2:48 pm
I don’t think much of Martin really, his vision seems lacking and doesn’t hit holes or slip tackles well anymore. Rainey seems ok, but Lovie hates fumbles. When Atlanta was rolling they had Turner, maybe Koetter will want a brand new big back as the feature back? I have to believe this team will have a much different look by the end of the summer.
March 6th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
All of our running backs need to stay. Sure let’s just criticize our running backs for not being good enough despite them being behind the worst O-line of all time last year!
Don’t want to pay $1.5 for a decent back? Oh but they’ll dump millions down the drain on ghostly Johnson I see.
At least they decided to keep Vincent Jackson.
March 6th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
WS99, Doug. Martin is another Schiano pick as is Mike James I believe. This has nothing to do with what coach picked what player. This is nothing but a financial decision.
Joe’s just trying to fan the flames so morons like you will get keyed up and start hitting the site so he can show advertisers how many hits he gets.
Geese, Joe plays you morons like a player,piano.
March 7th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
I ask it before but it got deleted, what type of hand signal is Winston flashing? I’m not familiar.