Smart Spending
March 26th, 2015
LB Bruce Carter may be a much better signing than Ghost Johnson.
Off the air but still in the cage Tuesday with good friend Steve Duemig, “The Big Dog” of WDAE-AM 620, Joe mentioned putting himself in Jason Licht’s shoes.
A few weeks ago, the Bucs general manager had to inform Team Glazer that roughly $29 million spent on the Terrible Troika, turnover-prone quarterback Josh McCown, Ghost Johnson and Anthony Collins, was flushed down the toilet in less than a year.
Duemig let out a big groan. It really is impossible to imagine walking into your boss’s office to break the news that a fortune was literally thrown away.
Whether indirectly because of the Terrible Troika, or directly, the Bucs were less drunken sailor-lie with Team Glazer’s cash this spring. FoxSports.com says that is a wise move.
Anybody who thinks that money cures all ills simply needs to look at Tampa bay’s offseason spending for evidence to the contrary. The Bucs went hard after big-name free agents like Michael Johnson, but few of their signings worked out. Meanwhile, under-the-radar investments like Danny Lansanah and Jacquies Smith have taught Tampa that they don’t need to spend like Darry Warbucks to get impact players.
Joe really likes the guys the Bucs got from the Cowboys. They’re role players who at times excelled in a defense just like Lovie Smith’s. So there won’t be a significant learning curve.
Always remember, the team that wins free agency often loses.
March 26th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
This linebacker Carter has crazy speed…Im interested to see how he does. While I will miss Mason, he just wasn’t cut out for the Tampa 2…
March 26th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
That dead cat carcass on MLK outside Buc Headquarters would be a better signing than Ghost Johnson.
March 26th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Agreed Tom. Carter would have to play really really bad…and even then, at his price, he could never been a worse signing than Ghost.
Just the thought of the ghost makes my blood pressure go up about 20 pts…
March 26th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Still no offensive linemen, even small investment ones.
March 26th, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Pablo could play DE better than the ghost. At least Pablo would try to succeed. So glad the ghost is haunting Cincinnati now.
March 26th, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Bullied j. Martin on waivers. Bucs have 1st shoot!! Yeppie!!!
March 26th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
I believe it is “Daddy”, not Darry” Warbucks.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:01 pm
Sooooooooooooo, where are my Offensive Linemen?
March 26th, 2015 at 5:10 pm
It’s gonna be all about the draft and rightfully so. I hope Licht and his team of College scouts have done their homework well beyond all the time and resources that have likely gone into making sure Winston is the best choice.
As long as they draft Winston and then concentrate on getting at least 2 of the best OLine players they can possibly find in the draft – then the Bucs should have a much better year and an incredibly bright future.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
@rayjay1122
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo appreciates rayjay1122 saying Pablo could play better than the Ghost but that’s not very hard…give Pablo a challenge….like GMC, LVD, ME13. Pablo thinks rayjay1122 could play better than Myron Lewis…..now….see how that feels”
March 26th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
From what I read; J Martin was pretty terrible last year. I’d be suprised if anyon wasted a waiver on him
March 26th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
I love this site! For months it’s been we MUST have a franchise QB! Now we are a month from drafting one and it’s where are our OL?
If it was August 26th and not March 26th I could understand the panic.
Give them some time. They still have some tools in the box…obviously the draft as well as first pick from the waiver wire until September.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
I cannot give this regime the benefit of the doubt after they managed to screw up every personnel decision last year. The Bucs have needed at least 2-3 starters on the offensive line since last year when L&L decided to get rid of the entire line without anyone to replace them. The waiver wire is people that teams felt they could do without and should be a place to find depth not starters so excuse me if having the first choice of waivers doesn’t excite me.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:23 pm
I’d take a flier on Martin if he checks out mentally. He played okay last season. He is certainly no worse than what we have and with a veteran OL group with the likes of Mankins, EDS, and Dotson, they should be fairly welcoming of different kinds of people… especially if they can help the team.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:43 pm
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the signings were mostly (or all) short term deals. This free agency class has sucked at areas of need.
I suspect the Bucs are trying to buy time for next year, hoping their bigger budget then can be put to good use.
March 27th, 2015 at 12:26 am
Wow. I just realized the bucs plan, or what it should be. For the draft, Jameis and then Oline almost the rest of the way. Multiple DEs in cuts and waivers. If so I’m excited
March 27th, 2015 at 1:25 am
Just sign J. Martin as depth. Get rid of Gilkey and other dead weight. Even if we cut him later. Check to see if he can play guard or center. Former 2nd round pick could be better than some of the crap floating here. Please K. Edwards and K. Pamphile justify your selections. I know its not your fault, but we had to pick you in the 5th round for something. Another RG and LT would be perfect. LOL, EDS proves to be better when he has better guys around him. We got this. Winston are you ready? You might have to move quicker and make faster decisions, but your the pick. You wanted to give the rock to VJAX. Get er done. BOOM!! Evans and ASJ….Its time. Dunkers in full effect. Time to turn my TV back on. Request some Sundays off. Bring out the gear. I feel warm inside. GO BUCS!!!!