Injuries Lurk In Senseless Game Tonight
August 31st, 2016
Greed
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that cancelling the Bucs’ already rescheduled preseason game tonight would be a reasonable, and likely smart, idea.
Don’t expect that to happen, though.
Follow the money. There’s too much money at stake. The NFL doesn’t like flushing money down the toilet, refunding tickets, TV rights fees, etc., even for a meaningless game.
Joe respects that many roster-bubble players are dying to play on what is expected to be a rain-soaked field under rainy skies at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. They want to win a job, their dream job. But Joe feels badly for the legitimate NFL players who will be forced to play in the dangerous conditions, especially the guys in the trenches.
Take fourth-year men Akeem Spence and William Gholston, for example. The high-quality backups said yesterday that they expect to play tonight.
That’s brutal duty in a meaningless game — for guys in their contract years — against a handful of backup offensive linemen and tight ends, some of which will be moving mattresses or applying to grad school next week. What a great way to get hurt on a messy field.
Joe asked Spence about that yesterday. First, when the TV cameras were rolling, Spence said he played in snow at the University of Illinois and he praised the Bucs’ equipment crew for making sure guys have the right footwear to stay safe. Spence also smiled and said that once a player figures out his footing in the slop things are ok.
But in a more quiet moment 1-on-1, Spence told Joe that he’ll be saying a few prayers of health to the football gods. “Some guys can get a little crazy in the last preseason game,” Spence said. “I’ll just play my best and hope to come out of it.”
Joe hopes the Bucs manage to stay healthy, and that Dirk Koetter is smart enough to keep every possible valuable Buccaneer off the field. Play some guys both ways, if you have to.
Joe would love to see Kenny Bell play safety!
Koetter has made a gargantuan effort this summer to “take care” of players and keep them fresh, healthy and ready. No sense in blowing that tonight because the NFL wants to ring the cash register one last time in August.
August 31st, 2016 at 9:52 am
Because of the field conditions, I wouldn’t play one player that is a lock to make the roster. If you know he’s going to make the team, why risk injury? The Kenny Bell’s of the roster can play the entire game.
August 31st, 2016 at 9:55 am
After Dye got injured, I am really concerned that one of the backup WR pulls a Bridgewater.
August 31st, 2016 at 9:57 am
Even practice can cause injury (Rankins, Bridgewater)…..
I am looking forward to watching the future UPS/Uber drivers, Hooters Cooks, Insurance Adjusters, Mattress Movers, High School Assistant Football Coaches, Mattress Movers & Sports Blog Writers slosh around tonight in the downpour.
August 31st, 2016 at 9:58 am
Kenny Bell at safety. lol
How many fans will be in attendance?
Joe you should have a JBF contest to see who guesses how many fans show up tonight and the fan that’s closest wins, hopefully another Sabby jersey like you gave out at the draft party.
August 31st, 2016 at 10:00 am
Put my guess down for about 1,884 screaming lunatics show up tonight.
August 31st, 2016 at 10:15 am
Buc fan, Hooters cooks?? Lmao that was a good one.
August 31st, 2016 at 10:34 am
Already heard from an O-ville gal working tech tonight that it is a MESS in Tampa. Black skies, raining like all-get-out. Oh well, just follow the money, the mean green that dictates all. 🙁 Hope no one gets bit by Buc Luck tonight. Attendance guess: 13,000-plus. Redskin fans crazy enuff to show up. Go Bucs!!
August 31st, 2016 at 10:36 am
I would play the starters for one set of downs.
One. One first down, one three-and-out, and sit them all.
Let the Potatoes win this meaningless game, who care.
August 31st, 2016 at 10:36 am
If you project fearful thoughts from your mind you get fearful manifestations in your life.. Play the d@$! game.
August 31st, 2016 at 10:37 am
Or is it potatos, I don’t remember it’s all Dan Quail’s fault
August 31st, 2016 at 10:57 am
I wanna see 15 passes to kenny bell tonight. Heres the money question…..do you let aguayo make kicks tonight?
August 31st, 2016 at 11:04 am
Gosh, TBBF you sure got a thing against Mattress Movers, I agree, play the game, sit any potential 53 candidate after one series and let the 22 hopefuls finish the game.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:06 am
Slip sliding away should be a laugher. I guess conditions dictate Glennon will have a good excuse if all else fails.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:13 am
Nole-on Sat- I’m with you on that
Everyone needs to quit letting the word injuries come out of their mouths so much when we’re talking about our team. Nothing good can come from that. I always hear everyone talking about injuries this and injuries that. I even heard Keotter say it once. But I usually hear him use the word healthy when describing such a thing. He always uses the word healthy and health when talking about the subject for instance he’ll say he’s trying to keep us healthy instead of saying trying to avoid injuries. Stop having a pessimistic mindset as fans. Jameis understands this and is the basis of his leadership style. Just like as players when they play to avoid injuries can lead to injury. As fans of our team we should collectively stop this kind of talk.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:20 am
Martinii
Mike Williams was a Mattress Mover (to his front yard)…..and….FYI….the whole point was to poke fun at Joe by adding future “Sports Blog Writers” to his list.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:26 am
4life this fan base here on jbf atleast has a ways to go. No worries they’re mental will be quickly remedied once this season kicks off.
Side note: vikings D 30th 2014 enter Mike Zimmer 5th 2015.
See how quickly change can occur people. And all they did was run the football.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:30 am
Speaking of Mike Williams, already cut in K.C.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:50 am
Some here are not big fans of pre season. I am and this is why. Me personally all look for is some continuity from my staters. The pre season for me is huge when the second teamers enter the game. That is where you gauge the quality of dept. When your second team dominates the opposing teams second team then you’re on to something. Tune in tonight see for yourselves what I’m talking about.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:52 am
maybe best it just gets rained out
August 31st, 2016 at 11:54 am
We should also wrap all players in bubble wrap all year to protect them, just to be safe.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:55 am
TBBF – Nice one!
August 31st, 2016 at 11:56 am
When I got up this morning it was raining. Hasn’t stopped yet. Don’t see how they can play in this.
August 31st, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Bet the UNDER big tonight….. With one less day to prepare and bad field conditions should be a lot of running…
August 31st, 2016 at 12:14 pm
“That is where you gauge the quality of dept. When your second team dominates the opposing teams second team then you’re on to something.”
———-
Here’s the thing: 70% of the guys playing today won’t even make the team. Therefore it doesn’t matter who dominates who. Just because you dominate a future security guard tonight doesn’t mean you are going to dominate a NFL player in December. It’s like a boxer fighting an amateur and knocking him out in the first round. That doesn’t mean he’s going to beat a champion.
Second, the coaches are not game planning. You are underestimating the importance and relevance of a game plan. There are a lot of NFL coaches that refuse to blitz in the preseason. There are others that don’t even watch a second of opposing team’s film. They don’t scheme at all.
Preseason can be used to evaluate individual talent. That’s it. It has been proven year in and year out that it has little to no relevance to regular season success. The 0-16 Lions went 4-0 in the preseason. There have been many Super bowl champs that didn’t win a game in the preseason. It’s meaningless. We could beat Washington by 100 and it won’t mean a damn thing come September 11.
August 31st, 2016 at 12:30 pm
I love when y’all cut in paste my post, it really drives home my position.. Thanks 50☺.
August 31st, 2016 at 12:31 pm
If we beat Washington by 100…..it would mean something to all of those who bet the under tonight…..
August 31st, 2016 at 1:36 pm
It’s all about those dollars if you’re just referencing THIS game. Yeah, there is some evaluation that needs to occur but lets be real, out of the guys playing tonight few will be on the 53.
August 31st, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:
August 31st, 2016 at 10:36 am
If you project fearful thoughts from your mind you get fearful manifestations in your life..
That’s more than a cut and paste worthy statement NOSBOS.
#TRUTH
Joe – you bring up some good points. Excellent article.
August 31st, 2016 at 1:59 pm
Don’t forget a lot of these guys have college degrees…so I don’t think they need to work at hooters as a line cook..even though it’s still a job..and the insurance field is not a bad one either. We celebrated my niece’s bonus at her firm for garnering one of the biggest benefit contracts ever..bad news is that she needs to pay quite a bit of taxes on her 180,000 dollar bonus..
Only thing is that I had to explain to her since she was in college, is that the word ” a lot” is not spelled a “alot” or “allot” allot means to allocate..
And yes English is my third language…
Just saying..
Now GO BUCS! and I want Peyton Barber is grab a spot!!!
Stay safe out in this rain..don’t want to see any injuries..
August 31st, 2016 at 3:07 pm
no way in hell I would let a.spence and big will play tonight…that’s just crazy…I wanna see players like Kenny bell, aj francis, davonte lambert, cliff Matthews…those type of players, play the entire game….GO BUCS!!!!
August 31st, 2016 at 5:26 pm
5:13PM here in O-ville Nol On Sat/Buc On Sun–you live here? Pouring like crazy, only weather problem is very bad and intense lightning. Possible sky-to-ground. No way is anyone playing in those weather conditions. Even back in the 20th century, they stopped/cancelled games. Hey Joe–anyone starting a weather stream? I would like to see this game. I can skip it to keep anyone(s) from being fried/electrocuted. Go Tampa Bay, but no fries pleasz!!!
August 31st, 2016 at 6:38 pm
The preseason is a waste and a ripoff. The USFL had no preseason and an 18 game schedule that was exciting. Time for the NFL to make a change.