Bucs Sign Linebacker Bruce Carter
March 11th, 2015
It looks like the Bucs have a new starting strongside linebacker.
Lovie Smith clearly got a thumbs up from his old pal Rod Marinelli, the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, and brought in Bruce Carter for a visit. And now there’s a deal, the Buccaneers announced this evening.
Carter, the former 2011 second-round draft pick out of North Carolina battled a thigh injury last season, making eight starts in 13 games. The 27-year-old made plenty of plays, though, with a whopping five interceptions last season, second best in the NFC.
Joe’s glad the Bucs upgraded their linebacker corps. No, there’s no evidence the Bucs view Carter as a potential middle linebacker to departed replace Mason Foster.
Lovie also has found a guy that knows his defense, a key to avoiding the painful growing pains the Bucs experienced last year.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
NICE!!!!! Welcome to Tampa Bruce!
March 11th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Solid move!
March 11th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Looks like their going OL in second round
March 11th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Dare I say that Lovie is desperate for Rod’s sloppy seconds???
March 11th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
They goin WR in the second
March 11th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Good start guys
March 11th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Shelton Quarles was also a string side LB until he moved to the middle and helped win a a Super Bowl.
Don’t be surprised if he moves over there despite what Joe may think. The guy has the necessary speed to play there.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
So, why didn’t we re-sign Foster? We have no MLB.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Hope he can play MLB!
Good signing!
Go Sucs!
March 11th, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Great move. Love this pick up.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Keep hearing he will be the MLB. Has the speed.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:23 pm
If your any good don’t they find a way to keep you ?
March 11th, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Can you all please stop pretending like you know what this organization is going to do!!!!???? You don’t know sh!t !!!!
ty……….
March 11th, 2015 at 5:24 pm
not bad. would rather have ORAKPO but not bad.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
GeT Rid of the SqAwk
March 11th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Sorry to break it to you guys, but they will go Eric Kendricks in round two, addressing the position everyone seems to be forgetting…Inside Linebacker. You all wanted us to take the Panthers ILB instead of Baron. Well, Kendricks is that guy.
OL can be addressed in rounds 3-4 just as easily…in fact, it would be better there because none are worth a 2nd rounder.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
He can play the middle, I believe he played there when Sean Lee went down.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:27 pm
like this move
March 11th, 2015 at 5:27 pm
heh. You guys act like if we don’t fill a need in FA, it won’t be addressed. Don’t forget the draft and post draft FA.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
4 years $20 million. Wonder what Foster gets based off that.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
This time last year I was going “who’s Michael Johnson?” then after looking at his stats said “they gave him that much money?” This is already a much stronger FA just with signing Carter. Now sign Hardy.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Very happy with this signing. Need to know where he is expected to play but I think his experience with Marinelli is a positive. Still need multiple players on the DLine to sign after ridding ourselves of Clayborn, Johnson and Bowers. Great start though… Welcome Bruce!!
March 11th, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Just stay healthy!
March 11th, 2015 at 5:33 pm
yup tampa 2 player should help good move.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
Interesting that Joe is very quick to say this doesn’t mean he’ll play MLB.. what does that mean with Danny L? Is he no longer a starter or are these 2 going to compete for MLB/SLB
I’m fine with spending a round 2 pick on MLB if the right guy is there for the right value; but this seems like a solid signing regardless and gives more flexibility
March 11th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
With all of those FA available from a 12-4 team, the BUCS just might be called Dallas South in 2015.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Well, I doubt we’ll find anyone in the Veteran Combine. It’s more a list of wannabe’s.
Armstrong, Matt C
Carter, Sherman C
Foster, Jason C
Gallington, Deveric C
Golic, Mike C
Gottschalk, Ben C
Pocic, Graham C
Van Roten, Greg C
Berry, Aaron CB
Burton, Brandon CB
Carr, Deveron CB
Edwards, Kip CB
Lee, Saeed CB
Love, Jordan CB
Lyn, Keon CB
Patrick, Johnny CB
Posey, Julian CB
Reid, Greg CB
Sullen, Jordan CB
White, Ryan CB
Anderson, Jamaal DE
Brown, Sammy DE
Carriker, Adam DE
Cox, Rakim DE
Mims, Tevin DE
Paulhill, Shahid DE
Rayford, Caesar DE
Roh, Craig DE
Sam, Michael DE
Black, Larry DT
Collins, Nate DT
Forston, Marcus DT
Harris, DaJohn DT
Jerideau, Byron DT
Minter, Zach DT
Thompson, Everrette DT
Troup, Torell DT
Moore, Dan FB
Pryor, Lonnie FB
Unga, Harvey FB
Dominguez, Ray G
Goodin, Stephen G
Huey, Michael G
Morris, Darius G
Wells, Justin G
White, Ian G
Baker, Chris LB
Copeland, Brandon LB
Divitto, Steele LB
Doughty, Jake LB
Dowtin, Marcus LB
Drakeford, Darin LB
Fox, Dan LB
Glaud, Ka’Lial LB
Keiser, Thomas LB
Kimbrough, Jeremy LB
Lutrus, Scott LB
Rolle, Brian LB
So’oto, Vic LB
Steward, Phillip LB
Miller, Jordan NT
Johnson, Jerrod QB
Kafka, Mike QB
Kay, Brendon QB
Price, Keith QB
Robinson, Zac QB
Thomas, Darron QB
Wilson, Tyler QB
Bush, Michael RB
Hampton, Jewel RB
Hines, Quentin RB
Jones, Felix RB
LeShoure, Mikel RB
Scott, Da’Rel RB
Wood, Cierre RB
Mcmillian, Jerron S
Mitchell, Charles S
Owusu-Ansah, Akwasi S
Sebetic, Kyle S
Silva, Mana S
Starling, Jawanza S
Young, Joe S
Aladenoye, Josh T
Breckner, Jack T
Foketi, Manase T
Harris, Randall T
Childers, Jamie TE
Momah, Ifeanyi TE
Ogbuehi, Emmanuel TE
Veldman, Matt TE
Walker, Dallas TE
Waters, Eric TE
Adams, Joe WR
Anderson, Joe WR
Gadsden, Ben WR
Jean, Lestar WR
Johnson, Darius WR
Kurihara, Tukashi WR
Mayo, Thomas WR
Mitchell, Carlton WR
Slaughter, Nathan WR
Steelman, Trent WR
Williams, LaQuan WR
March 11th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Actually Joe, hes our new starting MLB.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Im chatting on a NFCE site right now and talking to some Cowboys fans. They are sad to see him go. That is a good thing
March 11th, 2015 at 5:40 pm
SuperSam, where are you seeing this?
March 11th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Who says he’s the MLB? Unless that comes from Lovie or Licht’s mouth, it’s not known. Drafting MLB in round 2 is still a possibility.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Lets see a few more signing reports now. Im still concerned about slot return guy. Rather have a vet fill that role.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
Jason Worilds retiring after 5 years in the league?
Man, there is a retirement bug in the NFL right now.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:45 pm
had to find some negative in this, huh…
You’re wasting your breath bredrin.
When it was reported that we were bringing him in for a visit, i reached out to one of my Cowboys friends to ask him about him.
He said that would be a great pick up for us and that he would team up GREAT with Lavonte.
I also then asked him, specifically, if he thinks that he could play the Mike or is he limited to the Sam. He responded with a resounding, “yes”. He stated that he’s fast enough for the Mike in the T2 defense. He also informed me that he chased down Julio Jones.
That was enough from me.
He’ll get the opportunity to do that twice a year now.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:50 pm
Lovie likes speed.
Difference between this guy and Mason Foster?
Bruce Carter – 4.57 40
Mason Foster – 4.75 40
March 11th, 2015 at 5:51 pm
We need DE’S badly!
If we don’t sign any. That means No
QB 1st overall
March 11th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Michael Sam is coming to Tampa.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Just because he’s fast enough to play MLB doesn’t mean he’s an MLB.
March 11th, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Yes Celly I am getting the same thing from my Dallas sources even more now. They say he is very vast and way athletic. The only knock I can find on him so far is that he lets the ball carrier to come to him too much, not really a TFL guy. They say he can cover tho so he fits
March 11th, 2015 at 5:59 pm
No to Michael Sam.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
From the bucs website: “He is considered strong against the run and has very good speed, so he could be a good fit for the Buccaneers at their recently vacated middle linebacker spot, or perhaps the strong side.”
March 11th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
I think the point here is a bona-fide starter at either SAM or MLB who ‘knows the system’. He can play MLB if we dont get the draft pick we want…or he plays SAM and there is no learning curve for him….
We have to be happy about these moves. MJ gone…Collins gone…and a plug in starter who knows the defense. Maybe L&L aren’t as dumb as you all think…
March 11th, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Well, if he is the new MLB, then our second rounder will likely be offensive or defensive line.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
FA isn’t done and neither is the 2nd round of FA. Expect more pickups.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:07 pm
I think Barrett Rudd was faster and quicker than Mason Foster. For gawd sakes what was that idiot thinking when he drafted Foster anyway.
He never got the hang of pass coverage.
I know he tried his best and worked hard, but Foster just couldn’t cut it.
If the Saints want him, more power to them but they better get used to Greg Olsen having him for lunch twice a year.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
He also started his first 2 season at Mike then moved to Will for 1 season before heading to the Sam. Plug and play right out out of our own scheme.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:09 pm
@ddneast
and hopefully ASJ
March 11th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Here comes Chris Conte Safety..heard he is signing docs rt now.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
@Celly and Bucgatr
Thanks for the reports from Cowboy partisans. That relieves me. I’m not sure why Rod Marinelli would be honest with Lovie unless Marinelli was certain that Carter was going to be a Cowboy cap casualty. And that’s certainly possible.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:16 pm
nobody else wanted Michael sam why in hell do the bucs?
March 11th, 2015 at 6:17 pm
No Probs SPBF. Im pretty active on all NFC sites and I write articles for the NFCS on two other sites. Well one of them is all but dead but my point is Im always trying to find out all I can about anything Buc related. Us true fans need to stick together and be informed. I was at the NFCE site asking about McClain when the news broke about Carter so naturally I got their true reactions rather than “f that dude” ” He sucked anyways” I got nothing but respect for him and admiration for the good acquisition it was for us. Needless to say we won’t be interested in McClain anymore
March 11th, 2015 at 6:19 pm
I honestly don’t mind the Conte signing. From what I’ve read durability is the concern but his coverage ability is solid.
Goldson was just good for ripping peoples heads off and getting fined; but Lovie prefers speed/ coverage. Conte is faster than Goldson and known more for coverage.
When we signed Goldson a lot of SF fans said we were getting a guy who didn’t cover well but was on a great defense and hits hard. That turned out 100% accurate pretty much.
Conte was listed as a top 5 FA for the Bears. He literally should be an upgrade for what our defense needs and cost probably half the price
March 11th, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Actually Conte should cost like nothing from what I’ve read. And likely might not be better than Goldson lol but way cheaper. If both are bad give me the cheaper one
March 11th, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Hey guys……..We coulda had Sam Bradford
http://imgur.com/fOH8r0k
March 11th, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Can we have a sane conversation about Greg Hardy?
Two questions. Can we all agree Hardy would be a beast along side of GMAC and McDonald? Yes he’s a great player who would impact our D immediately
2nd question. Can we get past his off field transgressions. Domestic abuse is very serious and i get that. But is this his ONLY offense. How many times did he get busted for this…once or repeatedly? IF this is his only situation I’d interview him and find out Goodell’s plans for Hardy next year.
I’m not sure the Bucs take that chance though if they draft Fameis. Fameis will bring an onslaught of negativity from women’s groups around the nation and Tampa Bay. That may make a Hardy signing tough.
If Hardy has only been charged this one time, if he shows remorse, I’d consider him.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:25 pm
Good signing, happy to see it.
There’s a few of you guys in here I’d love to tailgate with. Celly is one of them.
Love your posts man. Always have.
Just so there’s no jealousy (because I am famous ya know)I’d also like to tailgate with Bonzai, WS99, TBBF, Gatorbuc, DallasBuc, ODB, lurker and a few others….
Let’s party!
March 11th, 2015 at 6:29 pm
@St. Pete…..if its an pay for production type deal with no guaranteed cash I’m all for it….im tired of seeing the “bad guys” go to other franchises and ball out with no more problems an us being the goody goody type team and struggles season in and season out…hell we do it the right way and can’t fill the stadium lets take a chance on these bad boys and see if we win….cant lose much more fans anyways……
March 11th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Im not getting as good a news from my Bears e-buddies on Conte. Back with more later
March 11th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
@StPete, her story against his…..I read the details and she just didnt seem like the victim she played….it happens.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
And Hell yeah I would tailgate with you 87. Just that 3000 miles is a long way to go
March 11th, 2015 at 6:33 pm
On Hardy, the problem is NFL/Goodell has not decided penalty. Max is 6 games. He would have to come at the right price for potentially playing 10 games. I think his agent is probably not backing off 16 game pay.
Glazers dont care about PR or DV/Woman’s issue lets be real. Hence why I am starting to believe it will be JW instead of MM on draft day. They put all those videos up on team site to test the marketing waters of TB. Everything is quantitative for the Glazers hence the cut of Collins and Johnson regardless of cap hit.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Here is one of the more favorable comments I have found for him. This guy writes Bears article for the same site Im at.
MIBearFan moderatorjust now
He plays hard. He blows assignments in coverage, and he looks like a child when he doesn’t commit to a tackle. He can lay some lumber, and when he’s in position, he has good ball skills. He thinks too much.
March 11th, 2015 at 6:38 pm
That was about Conte of course
March 11th, 2015 at 6:54 pm
@st Pete
Greg hardy was actually charged then plead guilty. Jameis was just accused. I don’t see the comparison
March 11th, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Hardy never plead guilty. You can’t plead guilty and then file an appeal. Smh
March 11th, 2015 at 6:59 pm
And there is no comparison. Jameis hasnt been found guilty and Hardy had his case overturned in appeal because she was a no show.
Now if we are assuming they are both guilty then it is not even close. Rape is worse than DV. You never know if she was the reason for it in the first place. I don’t hit women but Ive never had one to square up to me like a man and hit me with a closed fist either. At that point she is getting knocked out like any other man would. Rape is a crime in and of itsself that is sociopathic. There is no comparison in the two crimes accept the two both involve Women. Now ….That said a repeat offender of either one alleged or not is completely unacceptable
March 11th, 2015 at 7:02 pm
@bucgatr
He was found guilty which is even worse lol. Meanwhile jameis wasn’t even charged. Thanks for making my point even more
March 11th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo is confused (always)….Pablo hears the fears of all with Winston & MLB….now we hear that Carter may be MLB…..Pablo wonders. What gives?….Pablo doesn’t pretend to know fooball like experts like 87…here on JBF”
March 11th, 2015 at 7:05 pm
Hardy was found guilty. Appealed. Paid her off. She didn’t show. He was let off.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
@bucgatr
He was found guilty which is even worse lol. Meanwhile jameis wasn’t even charged. Thanks for making my point even more
…………………………….
You didn’t listen to a word I said
March 11th, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Hey Pablo, What do you think of the FA moves so far?
March 11th, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo won’t be happy if the FA period closes and all we have are non-brown signees. Pablo is not racist but Pablo loves his hombres and wants them as Bucs. Pablo isn’t holding his (cilantro/avocado) breath!!!”
March 11th, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Carter, Lansanah or Perryman, David 🙂
March 11th, 2015 at 7:42 pm
@Iamking
I’m not comparing their “alleged” crimes. I’m comparing the PR fallout that will follow them.
In fact Fameis Jaboo will bring far more baggage than Hardy. There WILL be a civil lawsuit against Fameis once he signs the big contract and there is the documentary.
Hardy perhaps paid off his wife. Whatever BOTH bring assorted PR problems and that is why they tied them together. Not the severity or guilt of their “alleged offenses” but rather the reaction from the public.
Hardy would be much easier to hide than Fameis because he’s not a QB or the face of the franchise.
One thing that scares me about Fameis is that he loves the attention and runs his mouth thoughtlessly. He’s a stupid comment waiting to happen.
But if we coach him up off the field perhaps Fameis Jaboo will be an NFL MVP!
March 11th, 2015 at 7:47 pm
You humans have done well in this signing.
May you be granted wisdom, but not long life.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:47 pm
Unfortunately for Winston…….unresolved can be worse PR than Hardy(guilty)…..folks have a tendency to move on after it’s over……If Hardy plays well and avoids incidents…he will be “old news”
Winston can achieve some relief also….but it may take a while.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
87- anytime
March 11th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
@PRBucFan
Yes Sirrrrr
March 11th, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Perryman in the second if he available.
March 11th, 2015 at 7:58 pm
@st Pete
I wasn’t saying that you were. I was just saying one was “charged” then “found guilty” and the other wasn’t even “charged”. So no comparison. That was Gatrbuc that went in depth
March 11th, 2015 at 8:18 pm
2nd needs to be spent on O line….no ifs ands or buts
March 11th, 2015 at 8:28 pm
“The documentary” you mean the one some feminists are even saying doesnt help actual victims??(slate.com) that documentary? Smh @ the willfully ignorant..get over it.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:34 pm
I hated the slanted espn coverage of jameis pertaining to that case, thats why I chose to get informed on the topic. you also see the ridiculous narrative they’re setting is Chip Kelly is racist. Both equally ridiculous and totally without merit. you’ll understand what some fans of Jameis as a person, not fsu qb, went through when its someone you know for a fact is a good person being persecuted. Im done talking off the field with jameis.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:39 pm
tval
All you smug insults will not change the facts. You seem to think that blaming the messenger and calling people willfully ignorant will make all of this go away.
It’s you who are willfully ignorant. I’m not judging or commenting on the actions of either Fameis or Hardy, simply pointing out public reaction.
The ill fated suit against FSU was FRONT page news this week. The documentary was front page news last week. Those are simply facts! FACT’s are what the willfully ignorant ignore.
You need to drop your defense attorney hat and put on a marketing hat. Oh and how about mixing in some FACTS.
I’m OK with drafting Fameis Jaboo. My wife said tonight…Oh Gawd it looks like they might really take him huh? MY BIL cannot believe it.
Again I”m not saying this reaction is correct OR wrong just that it IS out there whether YOU wish to remain willfully ignorant of that fact.
March 11th, 2015 at 8:56 pm
@Bonzai. I’m not so sure about that Bonzai. Either I’ seeing things or Mike Kafka is on the list. He could propel us to the Promised Land.
This is a great signing and if Conte officially signs, then that will also be a great signing. I like that the Bucs are making calculated risks rather than putting money on promise ahem Anthony Collins and M Johnson.
March 11th, 2015 at 11:49 pm
Why are we not going to bring former Saints MLB Curtis Lofton for a look?? We almost signed him as a “big name” FA two years ago. Saints overpaid him and had to cut him. Also OG Justin Blalock?? Played in Koetter’s system in ATL and fairly young. Anything is better than last year
March 11th, 2015 at 11:59 pm
StPeteBucsFan Says:
“The ill fated suit against FSU was FRONT page news this week. The documentary was front page news last week. Those are simply facts!”
and who cared you and a few 1000 others?
I think you’re overestimating the impact of that “documentary” of falsehoods.
FRONT page news…whoa whoa now hold on we better not take him.
FSU WILL get that suit dismissed then we can move onto Winston’s civil suit against him that WILL be dismissed as well for lack of evidence.
Like I said you’re overestimating that impact. No one seems to care. In fact if I wasn’t ever on JBF I don’t even think I’d know about the documentary. That’s how much publicity that thing got.
March 12th, 2015 at 8:27 am
Not sure why you are so positive that a civil suit will be filed against Jameis, especially if FSU gets theirs dismissed. Albeit rare, you can be charged with perjury for lying to a court, even in a civil suit. With the amount of lies that her and her legal team have already been caught in, I don’t see her putting her own butt on the line. Not saying that it wont happen, but I definitely don’t think its 100% by any means, like you are saying it is.
March 12th, 2015 at 8:38 am
If you notice, nothing has been done towards Jameis since his closing statement at the FSU hearing when he stated something along the lines of, “I am not discussing this matter any further until we are under oath and the accuser can be prosecuted for perjury for falsely stating that I raped her.” This statement, if anything, tells you that Jameis’ legal team will pursue every opportunity they have at turning this around on her. Also, that is a very confident statement from Jameis. If she is lying (which I believe she is), would you really want to put yourself in a position where there are REAL consequences that could happen to you? Because if she files a civil suit against Jameis, that is what she is facing, and for the first time ever, she will HAVE to tell the truth, or risk going to jail.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:00 am
Celly-
Carter is an athletic freak! He definitely has the physical prowess to do very well in the middle of the T-2. When he was drafted by the Cowboys and thrown inside as a 3-4 ILB he looked like a stud, I thought he was a star on the rise…but when Monte came in with his T-2, which I thought he was tailor made for the Will position, he didn’t play so well. Hopefully, he finally lives up to his vast athletic promise. He can run like a deer, and hit like a truck…I just hope he has the diagnosing ability to be the Mike.