“I Proved That I Can Be A Starting Corner”
January 5th, 2016
(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
It’s obvious that Lovie Smith has little use for the cornerbacks on his roster.
Even in Week 17, Lovie again searched for a winning combination at corner and turned to his bizarre bromance for a football booty call.
The guy who appeared to the Bucs’ best cornerback this season, Sterling Moore, the guy who shut down and contained big names like Dez Bryant, Julio Jones and Odell Beckham, Jr., was inexplicably benched on Sunday.
Moore made eight consecutive starts before the season finale.
Joe has to laugh. What a mess rivaling the days of “E.J., Leonard, Danny & LeQuan.” (Joe can’t bear to type their last names).
Yesterday, Moore told Joe that while he could have started Sunday, “a stomach virus” draining him last week likely contributed to him getting benched.
Moore is a great politician.
Joe asked Moore to describe his 2015 season, which was marked by position changes and multiple benchings.
“I think I proved that I can be a starting corner in this league and make an impact on teams,” Moore said. “I’m happy with the way I played when I got my chance.”
Moore turns 26 next month and has five full NFL seasons under his belt, including three starts and two picks during his rookie year in New England. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent very soon.
Joe asked Moore if it’s important for him to play for a team where he gets a chance to be a starter. “Yeah, but at the same time it’s about whether or not I’m going to be on the field at all,” he said.
Joe wishes Moore well with his next team.
January 5th, 2016 at 11:44 am
As rthin as we are at cornerback and Moore played pretty admirably, I don’t understand why Joe wishes him well with his next team. Are you telling me the Bucs wouldn’t be interested in extending him an offer and trying to sign him? Hey Jude isn’t going to ease the pain.
January 5th, 2016 at 11:47 am
Keep him and Banks. Duh.
January 5th, 2016 at 11:50 am
i think that joe is implying that when he didn’t get a chance to play on sunday, a bridge was burned.
January 5th, 2016 at 11:55 am
I wish him well wherever he ends up. Another talent misused and tossed aside so Jenkins can be our opening day starter next year.
January 5th, 2016 at 11:58 am
Could it be that Moore really was somewhat ill…..and that Lovie wanted one last look at someone else (Banks, Jenkins)…..before they were cut?
I think Moore gets an offer. Wishing him well with another team is premature.
January 5th, 2016 at 11:58 am
Other than Winston and Koetter and the offensive improvements this franchise is a complete joke.
If the trust-fund boys stay true to their current m.o. then they’ll let Koetter,
Martin, Mankins and Moore all walk, replace them with UPS drivers, keep Lovie. It’s terrible the way Shi**y franchises eat up great young QB’s. Makes me sad for Bortles and Winston and even JFF a little.
January 5th, 2016 at 12:03 pm
just fire the money out to free agents Eric Berry, Weddle and Josh Norman…BOOM, istant secondary repair 🙂
January 5th, 2016 at 12:03 pm
*instant
January 5th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
January 5th, 2016 at 11:58 am
Could it be that Moore really was somewhat ill…..and that Lovie wanted one last look at someone else (Banks, Jenkins)…..before they were cut?
I think Moore gets an offer. Wishing him well with another team is premature.
_______________________________________________________________
I think he passes on the offer unless it’s a big overpay. His comments sort of say it all, sounds like a guy who wants more opportunities and respect, and he will get it elsewhere. So we might as well wish him well elsewhere.
January 5th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
I had stomach infections 5 times in 2015. Ain’t no joke, and it does drain you for the first few days. So I’m pretty sure that’s all it was.
Is Jenkins cut yet?
January 5th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Moore and banks should be back as the 2or 3 for Moore and 4 for Banks.
January 5th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
this team has for a long time..and still does, need a DE and CB…Michael Bennett and Darrell Revis type players, go figure
January 5th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Seems a little short sighted to just assume the one benching possibly related to sickness in a meaningless week 17 game after the season is lost = Moore is going to a new team.
All I know is I would have cut Mike Jenkins years ago. Verner is most likely out with his salary out of our FA pickups the last 2 years.
I’d love to see Moore be our #2 CB on the outside. He proved he can hang there. Keep developing Jude for depth / possibly nickel role. Guy is only an undrafted FA and even top 10 overall pick corners typically struggle their first year or 2 before settling into solid consistent performers.
Ideally we could sign at least 1 starting outside CB that is an upgrade over everything we have and put Moore at #2. Then draft a CB with a top 3 round pick to play nickel with Jude while developing at outside as well. I think at a minimum those are moves we should probably make.
DE is #1 priority though. Sign 2. Draft 2. I’m tired of this sh1t. We seriously have the worst 4 man pass rush in the league. Not sure what coaching has to do with that honestly because our line just can’t penetrate anything game after game after game when only rushing 4. The only sacks we get are on loaded blitzes or a Jack Smith speed around the edge sack every once in awhile. Easy to complete 70% of your passes when you get like 7 seconds to throw the ball
January 5th, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Moore and Banks should have been our starting corners from day one, no questions asked. Lovie, this is a business. If he wants to be our hc a year from now, cutting Jenkins would be in his best interest. Extend Moore and Conte, hope to goodness they even consider coming back.
We need a re to
January 5th, 2016 at 1:19 pm
As always Lord C and TBBF with great posts.
I take Moore’s comments a little differently bucrightoff although you could be correct.
I think Moore was actually classy considering how he has been treated. Unlike Jonathan Drouin of the Lightning who has shown us very little and yet demands a trade….Moore is keeping the high ground..
I think TBBF’s point about L&L already sure about Moore but wanting to see a final long look at Banks and Jenkins makes a lot of sense.
I think Moore will be back…along with Banks..and Jude (he costs nothing) the safeties all return but will face competition camp from folks the Bucs bring in.
I’m not the Verner hater many on the board seem to be. He’s not great but I do not think he sucks either. He’s great for depth and versatility. But will he retructure his contract to what he’s worth? No other team is going to pay him that amount so there is a chance Verner returns as well.
I think some of what determines who comes back will revolve around agents and what they think their clients are worth. NO DB currently on this roster is a legitimate #1 Cover corner….I think Moore is a 2 though and at time almost played like a 1B.
Imagine…we find one good DB and one great DE in the draft. This team would be entirely different on defense if we added a rush, one more truly talented DB, and the return of Kwon!
January 5th, 2016 at 1:51 pm
I read that Moore also had an ankle injury during the week, combined with an illness maybe that’s why he didn’t start?
January 5th, 2016 at 1:53 pm
I really don’t think we are going to cut all of our corners. Moore will get an extension offer and Banks will compete,
January 5th, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Martini, yea but the fear is which ones will be cut? If Moore and Banks are gone and Jenkins is still here, oh I shudder to think about that.
January 5th, 2016 at 2:19 pm
@SPBF … ‘This team would be entirely different on defense if we added a rush, one more truly talented DB, and the return of Kwon!’
Would love to believe that SPBF, but I think that the Bucs are a lot further away than that on defense IF they’re going to stick with Lovie’s defensive schemes. As in we need 2 Safeties, 2 CBs (assuming we can re-sign Moore), 1 LB plus a couple of DEs. All of that will be for naught though if the secondary coaching mess isn’t cleaned up. Too many cooks in the kitchen.
January 5th, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Sterling Moore is one guy they brought in that actually played well. If our line could provide any pressure to opposing QB’s Moore would mentioned with other shut-down corners in the league most likely. Our line left Moore out to dry this season.
This team desperately needs corners that can cover and if they know whats good for them they’ll do everything they can to keep Sterling here in Tampa.
January 5th, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Keep Moore, Banks and the other rookie that last started at DB fire the DBS coach I think this where the problem is
January 5th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Ditto @ Lord C!
January 5th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
sign him or well regret it
January 5th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
We should have Aqib Talib and Darelle Revis
January 5th, 2016 at 4:32 pm
Sterling Moore has seen his last game with Tampa. I bet Johnthan Banks and Jude Adjei-Barimah are the only two here next year. The Bucs will go after a CB in FA and one in the first or second round of the draft. The only reason Banks will stay is because of his cheap rookie contract. After next year Banks will no longer be in the NFL.
January 5th, 2016 at 4:32 pm
i really hope he is brought back. if he isnt its just another lovie wtf moment. how many times are our bucs going to give away our top corner. even if we bring in someone like norman. you still need 3 good corners. and moore is the only corner the bucs have that can be classified as good. except for banks in my opinion. but thats a whole another story as you know joe
January 5th, 2016 at 4:38 pm
lord cornelius your right on point. i dont understand how lovie cant think like that. if i were a glazer, id fire lovie now, koetter hc. let him pick his dc and do what lord cornelius posted for the defense. it really cant be that hard these coaches are paid alot of dollars to just think about the football team
January 5th, 2016 at 5:46 pm
godzilla13 Says:
“After next year Banks will no longer be in the NFL.”
How fitting neither will Lovie Smith.
January 5th, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Undwr normal circumstances where our head coach had all of his players believing and acymtuallu played and stuck with his best players….I would no way in hell suggest firing r hat head coach in his second year. But what Lovie has shown the last two seasons is that he hasnt got a clue how to evaluate talent or get the most out of his players. If Lovie stays and dirk koetter ends up leaving I will not watch one game next season. I want him gone and I as a fan want only what is best for this Its not about the record of wins and losses….its the way the team got those losses…period
January 5th, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Sorry lots of typos from phone
January 5th, 2016 at 11:02 pm
He answered the question that joe asked:
“Joe asked Moore if it’s important for him to play for a team where he gets a chance to be a starter”
I love how Joe is ready to just push our players out the door.
January 6th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
Well said tampabaybucfan. I thought the same thing. Why worry about a player you know you are going to keep.
Would like to give odds to anyone who thinks Jenkins will be back next year. I know it fits nicely into all the Lovie haters way of thinking, but it just isn’t going to happen.
As usual the same stupid people making the same stupid remarks.
Beam me up Scotty, there is very little intelligent life on this site. Alot like the Florida House.