Pamphile Fills Void
August 26th, 2016
Your Bucs left guard (for now).
Tonight, and for the foreseeable future, Kevin Pamphile will be your starting left guard.
When or if that changes depends largely on free agent big-money pickup J.R. Sweezy recovering from his mysterious injury, thought to be his back, though no one is speaking on the record. Secured State Department e-mails are easier to obtain than information related to Sweezy’s situation.
The Sweezy injury is a red flag but both Joe and the Bucs are comforted by the belief Kevin Pamphile can fill in just fine. Joe spoke with Pamphile after practice Wednesday and he is just happy, for the time being, to be a starter.
“I’m just filling a role, wherever coaches need me to play,” Pamphile said. “Unfortunately, it happens to be the role where J.R. is out. It could have been any other position and if the coaches asked me to play, I would have played to my full capabilities. I’m happy to help the team in any possible way.”
Originally one of the Milk Cartons duo, Pamphile has come a long way. He played in every game last year, mostly as a sixth blocking lineman. And he did a fine job. Whether his play in the coming weeks vaults him into a permanent starting gig, at guard or tackle, well, Pamphile isn’t worried about that.
“It is a great feeling that I am reaching their expectations,” Pamphile said of reaching his coaches’ goals. “Although I have to stay at work each day to get better.
“Right now I take it day by day. I don’t want to think about [starting] in those terms. I just come in to get my work done to help the team get better. Obviously, there may be days where guys are sick and I have to fill different roles, like last week I had to fill in at tackle for Donovan [Smith].
“But the mindset I have is to help the team get better in any way.”
Guard or tackle? Pamphile has no preference so long as he is on the field.
“Tackle was the first love, you always remember your first love,” Pamphile said. “But right now I have fallen in love with the game of football.”
Pamphile admitted he has kept in touch with the former starter at left guard, retired Pro Bowler Logan Mankins. But rarely do they discuss football.
“I texted him a couple of times since he retired,” Pamphile said, mostly to “put his feet up and lay down on the beach somewhere.”
August 26th, 2016 at 11:06 am
Secured State Department e-mails are easier to obtain than information related to Sweezy’s situation.
What secured State Department e-mails?
August 26th, 2016 at 11:18 am
This certainly was not a back injury which all of a sudden happened to..Easy (money) Sweezy. The Bucs had to know about it. They pulled the trigger anyways. Had to be a favor owed or something….We will get very little play from sweezy this season. He in return will be on the therapy table geting PT and massages while Counting them paychecks with a S..it eatin grin on his face. Bad move by the Bucs. WE NEED BALLERS! On the other hand, Pamphile will have his moments. But he does have a tendency to get..blown away here and there by the opposition. Just hope he can hold his own.
August 26th, 2016 at 11:22 am
Joe, haven’t you let the cat out of the bag already on Sweezy’s back? I remember hearing on one of your podcast appearances that was the case. Maybe check with the other Joe before playing stupid. Just sayin’…
August 26th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
I love Kevin Pamphile…I hope he has a break out with the Bucs and not have to worry about the on-going back problems with Sleezy Sweezey…Win that spot KP!!!
Sleazy Sweezy or Sleezy Sweezy..I like it..Let me go trademark it..lol..
August 26th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Some refer to the 2014 draft as a bust. So far looks pretty dang fine
An elite #1 WR (average of 1200+ yards fist 2 seasons with bad QB & a rookie QB)
An elite pass catching RB – possibly best #2 in the league. 1000+yards last year.
A starting LG – Pamphile – from the 5th round
An athletic TE who will contribute this year if healthy. I don’t care what anyone says – the dude has made some of the best catches I’ve seen in all these TC highlight videos / preseason. I’m not giving up on you ASJ!!
August 26th, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Yes, but it would be nice if the team could cough up the information for the record to stop any mindless/inaccurate speculation.
August 26th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Still stings a bit that Mankins walked away from the 1 year/ 7 mil left on his deal….propers to him for going out after a very solid effort last year. Had he stayed, the Sweezy pot sweep/swindle probably never would had happened. It sure smells like an eventual IR placement to me.
August 26th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
There was nothing special about Sweezy to begin with. Pamphile will be just fine. Not great but good enough for what we are right now. We will need better for when the time comes to go to the playoffs, but there are about 18 out of the 22 positions that will need to be better at that time. Not necessarily new players, but they will need to play better.
August 26th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
Cut him now! Simple as that!
August 26th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
I like Pamphile’s attitude. Go out and work.
Players play!
August 26th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
“Tonight, and for the foreseeable future, Kevin Pamphile will be your starting left guard.”
Does this mean there has been an official announcement for the start of the season, or are you simply guessing for now?
August 26th, 2016 at 1:44 pm
@Mahabone
Actually, if I recall correctly, Joe said that someone else (a local reporter) was claiming it was the back. He didn’t say it was official.
August 26th, 2016 at 1:46 pm
This Free Agent signing may hurt Licht more than the kicker draft pick in the long run.
August 26th, 2016 at 5:01 pm
That’s good, the Sweezy distraction to cover the kicker question.
August 26th, 2016 at 6:50 pm
According to SB Nation (Buc Nation) Pamphile is out tonight with an injury? When did this happen?
August 26th, 2016 at 7:07 pm
Love Pamphile’s attitude. Hope he can step up and play well as a starter.
Regarding Sweezy – yea its disappointing that a high priced free agent is not available to help the team at this point – but for people to suggest he’s a free loader and perfectly happy to fleece the Bucs and cash a paycheck for doing nothing as if he planned it that way (yes- talking especially to you Mike Johnson) – well that is truly an ignorant and judgemental viewpoint.
Anyone who thinks a competitor like Sweezy wouldn’t prefer to be out there working and battling with his new teammates – is obviously not the brightest crayon in the box.
NFL Players get injured – Duh! its obviously not their preference or their fault. Sometimes they get injured multiple years in a row. It happened to McCoy, it happened to Stocker, it happened to ASJ. And in every case many “fans” turned on them and called them “soft” and worse.
It doesn’t mean they aren’t good players. It doesn’t mean they are soft or injury prone. It doesn’t mean they have a “I’ll just cash a paycheck and be happy” attitude. It just means they got caught in a bad situation playing a very physical contact game and the laws of physics worked negatively against them and their bodies.
Healing takes time and anyone who has ever had a semi-severe injury or worse themselves knows this.
Sweezy will be back at some point and if he’s good enough when he comes back, he’ll work his way onto the field. No more – no less.
Point being – quit hating on a guy who you have never even seen play in a Bucs uniform. Maybe he does suck and this was another terrible free agent signing. But tape says and his ex coaches say Sweezy is a dog – that he’s a very good player who gives maximum effort and brings it. We’ll have to wait and see for ourselves
Just don’t rag on a guy that you know almost nothing about for being injured. Its beyond ridiculous to assume Sweezy prefers being injured and cashing a paycheck instead of being on the field earning that paycheck. Now if you want to say that about Anthony Collins or Michael Johnson – well there is some evidence to support that contention…