Bucs Testing Waters; Sign New DE
April 8th, 2015
The Bucs went fishing for a DE last night, signing restricted free agent George Johnson.
The Bucs are more desperate for a pass-rushing defense end than Joe is for a beer on a steamy Florida Friday afternoon.
They will take virtually anything that comes across as someone who can breathe on a quarterback.
Hence the name of Lions defensive end George Johnson. The Bucs signed the restricted free agent to a three-year offer last night, per NFL.com. The Lions already lost Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in free agency. So Joe wouldn’t be shocked if the Lions match the offer and retain Johnson.
Oddly enough, Johnson, who came from Rutgers — Rutgers! — was with the Bucs for three seasons but you will be hard-pressed to find any Bucs fan who remembers him on the roster. Now, Joe suspects, those same fans will laud the Bucs for such a savvy (?) move.
That is, if he doesn’t stay in Detroit.
April 8th, 2015 at 5:31 am
It was hard to forget the stupidity of cutting him after he looked so promising his rookie year and had 3 sacks in 2012 preseason. The brain trust cut after final cuts to make room for TE Pianalto after Stocker went down with another injury. Now Pianalto, that’s someone who Bucs fans probably have forgotten.
April 8th, 2015 at 5:41 am
He got 6 sacks last season and Lions fans don’t want to lose him. Sounds good to me, sign him.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:04 am
Hmmmm. I think it will be an offense heavy draft again.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:23 am
@BoJim -I’m fine with that. If Lovie’s defense takes a while to learn then I have no problem with using FA to acquire the veteran pieces needed to just make it run properly. We can bring in the young talent to grow up in Koetter’s offense this year and then start to bring in the up and coming defenders in next year’s draft. If we got a QB, a bunch of O linemen and a receiver/return specialist this year in the draft, I’d call that a good one.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:43 am
We remember him Joe. Most of us were surprised he was let go.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:46 am
Yep, what Espo said. We remember him
April 8th, 2015 at 6:59 am
PFT just said that the Bucs haven’t even scheduled a workout for Leonard Williams. I guess that goes against the fears Joe has that Lovie will pull an unforeseen move and pick up a defensive player with the #1 pick
April 8th, 2015 at 7:00 am
I would be more excited if he could play Guard…
April 8th, 2015 at 7:02 am
I bet Detroit matches unless we way overpaid.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:59 am
Lol Johnson came from – all together now –
April 8th, 2015 at 8:07 am
Per: Tim Twentyman
The Lions tendered Johnson an original-round offer at $1.54 million. That tender allows the Lions to match any offer the Buccaneers have made, but it doesn’t give the team any compensation if they don’t match the offer.
The Lions could have offered Johnson a first-round offer worth $3.347 million or a second-round offer worth 2.356 million, which would have given them compensation in the form of a first- or second-round pick, but decided instead to offer him the original-round tender.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:07 am
This is our Bowers replacement fwiw.
Still in desperate need of some edge rushers.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:23 am
This is just another piece on lovies 2015 garbage collection run. Not a difference maker. Not a guaranteed upgrade over anyone. Just Lovie hoping this guy works out. Building a roster with system specific garbage from other teams and 1st waiver wire claims are nothing to get excited about.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:03 am
@tmaxcon
Just another piece of much needed competition at the position. I wouldn’t stop there though. DT C.J Mosley is still out there-Sure he has a 4 game suspension (Marijuana) looming. But with Melton’s gimp knee-he’s another creditable, productive yet cheap veteran you can stash away.
Thinking way outside of the box-I would also see if the Lions are willing to trade DE Devin Taylor.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:05 am
Another band aid on a bullet wound.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:08 am
I would also sign LB Colin McCarthy as well
April 8th, 2015 at 9:11 am
I definitely remember him and I remember thinking he seemed like he had a bit of promise to him. Seemed to have some hustle. Doesn’t hurt and can be a rotational player
April 8th, 2015 at 9:13 am
I would think the Bucs structured the deal to be heavily loaded in year one to try and prevent the Lions from matching. So while they may want to match, they practically might not be able to.
Either way this guy is a rotational guy and nothing more. If they’re badly overpaying just to get around RFA status, that’s not really wise.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:20 am
Devin Taylor – South Carolina Football (Highlights)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glUW6Y7z3gw
April 8th, 2015 at 9:27 am
Johnson is not “new”.
I was actually in favor of keeping him when he was cut from Tampa, but…
…let’s not pretend he’s great, because he isn’t. He produces at an average rate at best. A starter in a pinch.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:29 am
One bright spot is that Licht did not have to give up a pick to sign him…because Licht certainly would have done so.
Another bright spot…maybe Johnson can do well in Tampa 2.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:50 am
is this guy any good ? or did he look good playing with the great defensive line the lions had last year?
April 8th, 2015 at 10:05 am
@Bonzai
Previous Convo: (March 6th, 2015)
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
@LUVMYBUCS
I was hopeful of Johnson when he was here, and maybe I felt he wasn’t given a fair shot at the time…but I would hardly consider him a worthwhile risk at this point.
He’s the Josh McCown of 2015…a few good appearances last year, but the team that gambles on him will probably regret it.
btw, I like your posts, even if I don’t always agree with the options you present. For example:
(Defensive Tackle)
• Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions Not going to happen, would mortgage the future cap
• Henry Melton, Dallas Cowboys
• Stephen Paea, Chicago Bears
• Karl Klug, Tennessee Titans || *High Motor backup Tackle
(Defensive Ends)
• Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers || *On Commissioner’s Exempt List
• George Johnson, Detroit Lions Already made my case against this
• Derrick Morgan, Tennessee Titans
(SLB/MLB-Linebackers)
• Bruce Carter, Dallas Cowboys
• Akeem Ayers, New England Patriots –Simply is not a good player. At. All.
• Colin McCarthy, Tennessee Titans
• Ramon Humber, New Orleans
Lol, crazy how this stuff plays out brotha
April 8th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Since he benefited from having Suh pushing up the middle, he should fit right in with McCoy crushing the pocket while he gets the low hanging fruit.
April 8th, 2015 at 10:31 am
Patrick in VA Says:
April 8th, 2015 at 6:59 am
PFT just said that the Bucs haven’t even scheduled a workout for Leonard Williams. I guess that goes against the fears Joe has that Lovie will pull an unforeseen move and pick up a defensive player with the #1 pick
@Patrick
Maybe they see him more of a DT type player and not an edge rusher? They have Donte Fowler from Florida in and he’s definitely a DE and a top 3-5 pick.
April 8th, 2015 at 10:56 am
Nice. Now we can spend our second pick on an o lineman. The Lions probably match but I really hope not.
April 8th, 2015 at 11:31 am
George Johnson was blowing on lines up in the starting rotation in ronde barbers last year. That was the same year Leonard Johnson got spit roasted by practically every no name receiver. And we cut Johnson because we had Michael Bennett pegged as our starter. This is a depth signing more than anything. He just might have a Tim crowder type roll with us.
April 8th, 2015 at 11:59 am
I’m a true bucs fan so of course I remeber him. Also just want to say one side note. Johnson is a backup rotational pass rusher, which I know those are nice to have. Depth is always good, but the fact is we need a DE that wreaks havoc. The only chance we had at that this season was signing Hardy, which we didn’t so the only other way we could get one would be drafting him at #1 overall. Let’s be honest these gameplan wreaking pass rushers don’t make it out of the first round these days with the premium placed on that position. Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Aldon Smith, JJ Watt, these players don’t make it out of the top 10, better yet out of the first round. So unless we make some crazy trade we will be lacking the edge rusher we have been pursuing since Simeon Rice left, and will still be looking for one next year. I get tired of every single offseason hearing about us needing a pass rusher (which is true though)! Come on address this critical position! That being said don’t pass on Winston please Lovie
April 8th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Joe gives us no credit. Us Bucs fans have long memories, especially when it comes to talented players we let go.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
It is true that many questioned why Johnson was let go at the time. It did not seem to make sense, but I guess the administration has to protect their precious crappy draft picks.