“Not Going To Sit Here And Sugarcoat It”
October 28th, 2016
Donald Penn returns home and will make his 148th consecutive start at left tackle. He can’t wait to deliver some payback.
Raiders left tackle Donald Penn was painted by the Tampa Bay Times during his Bucs days as a rubber-shirt-wearing fatso stressed out about weigh-ins and dehydrated and ineffective as a result.
It was tremendous disrespect — and a lot of hooey — directed at a very good player who never missed a start.
And the Times wasn’t the only media nonsense peddlers trying to fat-shame Penn without attribution.
Sadly and wrongly, Penn was cut by Lovie Smith and Jason Licht just prior to the 2014 season. Joe might have been the only one in town defending Penn consistently and wagging a finger of shame for cutting him. He was a good football player and a strong locker room presence. Joe’s not looking for credit. It was obvious.
Penn will make his 148th consecutive NFL start on Sunday. He jumped into the Bucs’ starting lineup for injured Luke Petitgout a month into the 2007 season, and Penn has missed few snaps or practices since.
The Raiders embraced Penn in 2014, and already have delivered him a second contract. He’s been playing at a standout level since leaving the Bucs. Derek Carr is consistently the least hit quarterback in the NFL.
Does Penn harbor a little bad blood for some folks in Tampa? Yes he does.
Asked yesterday about the chip on his shoulder entering this game, Penn said it’s there in a big way.
“It’s very huge. I’m not going sit here and sugarcoat it,” Penn said. “You know me; I’m a straightforward guy. I mean, that’s definitely in my mind. It’s something I’m never going to forget. They did release me a couple of years ago. Good thing is I’m happy where I’m at now.”
Penn added he “could probably play five or six more years if I want to,” but acknowledged he might cut short his career for the sake of long term health and being a father.
“The thing is, do I want to? When am I going to call it quits?” Penn asked rhetorically. “My body’s been great, hopefully stays great.”
The Donald, 33, added that he attributes his lasting success in the NFL to how hard he is on his game in the film room.
No, Joe’s not rooting for the Raiders. But Joe remains a little sickened by how Penn was dumped for no good reason — for Anthony Collins!
October 28th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Good player. Good guy. Good luck Penn.
Another free pass for Licht.
October 28th, 2016 at 2:45 pm
I hope Mike Smith knows that Penn can score TDs too. Don’t get caught slipping he might dunk on the goalposts just for chits and giggles.
October 28th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Thought it was a stupid move at the time, hate it even more now.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
I always liked the dude, Penn was a reliable big body Guy and always showed up and worked. Never liked the decision when we let him go along with a bunch of other o-line moves from the Lovie era, that being said, hope he is on the losing side this Sunday…..haha….Go Bucs!!!
October 28th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Always liked this dudes field presence. He had Freemans back on every play. I was glad to see he landed on a team.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
I wasn’t to upset about Penn leaving. He was inconsistant at best. When he was good, he was very good and when he was bad, he was very bad. People had been calling him to be cut for a few years. I was ok with the rebuilding of the O-line. hindsight is always 20/20. Its not like hes been a complete stud for the Raiders.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
i liked donald and will resume rooting for him around 5 PM eastern on Sunday, hopefully after he loses to the bucs. Prior to then i’m rooting for him to poop all over himself on the RJS field while Robert Ayers and Noah Spence light up his QB
October 28th, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Change your minds now. That year he was getting beat like a base drum and allowing sacks. Everyone was wanting an O-line overhaul. That is why they watched the film and tried to change the line to begin with. So now everyone is going to do just like they usually do. Change their minds and claim they never wanted it to happen.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:20 pm
I hope Robert Ayers makes a turnstile out of him. People forget, but his last year Donald Penn was horrible.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:20 pm
Another in the long list of players let go here who succeed elsewhere
It’s a Bucs life
October 28th, 2016 at 3:21 pm
He’s not the only talent cut loose from the Bucs. Michael Bennet, Mark Barron, etc., and it continues now. NFL coaches have an ego thing about guys they brought in/not. Johnnathan Banks is another example of coach’s male ego getting the best of itself. Right, Joe? Go Bucs on Sunday!!
October 28th, 2016 at 3:27 pm
The Bucs plan, which hasn’t really changed over the past three years, was to get younger and cheaper. The goal was to build a team that can compete in the future. Donald Penn, Davin Joseph, and Zuttah wasn’t part of that plan. They are 33, 32, and 30 respectively. Meanwhile Marpet, Smith, and Pamphile are 23, 23, and 25 respectively.
They’re younger, cheaper, and by the time they mature as pro’s they’ll be better.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:27 pm
J. Banks is a total mystery. What in the he11 is going on with Banks? No way Jude is better than Banks it’s just not possible according to physics.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Exactly! That entire offensive line was overpaid and under-performed. The Buccaneers were right to blow it up.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Dudes were good, come here and suck then go somewhere else and are good again. Go figure it is truly a Bucs life. I hope Ayers abuses Penn like Greg Spyers did to Frank Middleton in the Bowl! Carr has to taste dirt and grass on a regular come Sunday. He’s gotta feel like bumper cars afraid of who’s gonna bump him next!
October 28th, 2016 at 3:40 pm
DB55 Says:
October 28th, 2016 at 3:27 pm
J. Banks is a total mystery. What in the he11 is going on with Banks? No way Jude is better than Banks it’s just not possible according to physics.
—————————————————-
Man, thanks DB55. I have a feeling that this one will be a physical dog fight. DK’s offense is itching to get on the home field. Oakland’s strength is their offense. Michael Crabtree would be a great receiver in his 60s. What happened to the 49ers? Some new trust bozo buy them? GO MIGHTY TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS!!
October 28th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
It’s trust fund bozo. My bad. GO BUCS!!
October 28th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Always liked Donald Penn. Very good player and a good guy. Always remember the game against the Vikings where he stoned Jared Allen. Doug Martin had a big day as well as Josh Freeman.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:45 pm
“He’s been playing at a standout level since leaving the Bucs.”
Go figure. Thats what most players do when they leave the Bucs.
October 28th, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Geez – most of you reminiscing about the good ole days with now old man Penn at LT and falling in step like lemmings with Joe’s ridiculous take that Penn was “dumped for no good reason” sure seem to have forgotten what a terrible 2013 season he put on tape.
Joe – I’ll give you more than one good reason Penn was let go – I’ll give you 8.500,000 of them (what he was due in 2014) as exhibit A. And awful play in the previous season as exhibit B.
Penn played in 2014 and 2015 for just over half that amount each year and now has a raise to 70% of that figure this year and next.
So ya think maybe he was a tad bit overpriced at the time? Especially coming off the worst season of his career?? I know you are tight with the guy and all – but you are letting your personal feelings get in the way by ridiculing what was a sound business decision at the time. And also throwing a cheap shot in as well by bringing up Anthony Collins. The obviously bad decision to bring in Collins came after the fact of the seemingly at the time good business decision to let Penn go.
IMO – we did Penn a favor in letting him go and probably extended his career. It lit a fire under his a$$ which was obviously not there the previous year and reminded him the hard way that NFL stands for ‘Not For Long’ if you don’t bring it every week and every year.
October 28th, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Joe,
Do my eyes deceive me or did you write Donald Penn got the job due to injury?
What!
I’m shocked DP didn’t know he was supposed to give back the job to Pettigout.
I guess he just played the Gehrig card.
October 28th, 2016 at 4:25 pm
@D-Rome – “The goal was to build a team that can compete in the future. Donald Penn, Davin Joseph, and Zuttah wasn’t part of that plan. They are 33, 32, and 30 respectively.”
Their replacements to start that season were a center roughly Zuttah’s age, a minimally proven LT about a year younger than Penn, and once they realized they had no starting guards they traded for a guard who was on the brink of retirement. We are lucky to have pamphile, marpet, and smith panning out so well, but at the time they made the cuts Pamphile was 3 months away from being drafted as a late-round project and the bucs were 15 months away from drafting 2 OL in the 2nd round. it was was veterans replacing veterans
October 28th, 2016 at 4:37 pm
I was always with you when it came to Penn, joe. He had a decent amoun of grit to him, and was always a very good pass protector. He was the prototype player you want on your offensive line, both in attitude and execution. I still have one of his giant XXXXXL gloves he tossed to me when I was in the stands after a loss in Green Bay. I’m glad Penn is doing well after the bucs let him go for no damn reason. He is a great dude and an excellent player. No pass rusher the bucs have will be able to get past ol D Penn.
Of all the blunders the bucs have had in recent years. Cutting Penn should be above letting Bennett walk. It was the dumbest thing they could have done, and Lovie did it. No surprise.
October 28th, 2016 at 4:40 pm
JZ was (27 at the time and play 3 OL positions) the big mistake. Lovie shouldn’t have cut the entire offensive line before he had players in place that were better.
October 28th, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Joseph never came back from his major injury and was done as a player. Penn was over priced by about $3-4M and coming off his worst year. Zuttah was the one that bothered me the most at the time – but the reality is we have the same type and class of versatile player in Evan Smith and have saved almost $4M since letting Zuttah go and swapping out for EDS.
That 2013 Oline was one of the worst I have ever seen and I applauded “blowing it up” – even if the replacements didn’t fare much better with no OC the following year. Glennon took some serious poundings his rookie year and proved that if nothing else – he’s durable.
Its all good now though. Jason Licht has a keen eye for young OL talent and its probably the deepest position on our team now.
October 28th, 2016 at 5:17 pm
I am not going to sugarcoat it either!!! DP70 did not have a good last 2 years in Tampa!!!
October 28th, 2016 at 5:27 pm
Realist
Two words Anthony Collins …..drops mic
October 28th, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Prior to 2013 I was a fan of Penn’s. However, he looked over the hill in 2013, so I have never blamed Stupid Lovie for letting him go. I was a huge critic of letting Bennet go when that happened because I felt he would be a double digit sacker and he has proved it with Seattle. We now have the deepest OL we have ever had. They are blocking on run plays like All Pros. Now that we have our best sacker back and Spence is getting more starting time, I don’t think Penn is going to be able to keep them off his QB, not to mention, our DC Smith will be good for a new blitz or two as well. We need to beat our Home Game jinx in order to compete for the playoffs. Go Bucs!!!
October 28th, 2016 at 5:43 pm
@DB55
No one is questioning that AC was worst,,,, but DP70 last 2 years were unacceptable!!!!! But since we seem to be playing the “who is worst game”
two words…… lovie smith……. drops mic, while crowd is giving standing ovation!!!!!!
October 28th, 2016 at 5:44 pm
Boob DB55, nice work. Penn didn’t have to sugarcoat anything….seriously the talent that Lovie/Licht let go is a big reason this “turnaround” is so slow. I will say this the next 8 days are critical for the season – 2-0, 0-2 can’t wait until Sunday. Still imagine the Bucs with Penn, Zuttah, Barron (unless you just love Conte or “insert any name at Sam backer” Revis to be honest, our old corners are being exposed…I just honestly can’t remember a team over the past three seasons SO bad in free agency…George Johnson, Michael Johnson, Anthony Collins, Verner, McCown, Myers, Wright, Sweezey, I mean I can easily go on and on. Lets see the next eight days!
October 28th, 2016 at 7:44 pm
I am not worthy…(bowing down.)
You win that round!!!
October 28th, 2016 at 7:46 pm
I see everyone is finally coming to the realization that Revis is hot garbage, I’ve only been saying it for 2 years now but again what tf do I know?
October 28th, 2016 at 8:52 pm
Cut happy buc fans were yelling for this guy to be off the team and you see know why these couch potatoe fans aren’t involved in football. Same fans who want Evans out last year and McCoy out.
Good guy and stay healthy !!
October 29th, 2016 at 1:43 am
I remember his butt block attempt! I forget the game hella funny though.
October 29th, 2016 at 3:37 am
Well @ least they didn’t listen to your out cry to draft Johnny football Joe.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:37 am
Donald Penn is ranked sixth best offensive tackle in the NFL. It is difficult to think about if the Bucs would have re-signed Penn along with some other players who moved on to be outstanding on other teams, who they could have drafted in place of Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Kevin Pamphile and others. Where this team should be today? Jeremy Zuttah, Ravens, is the 11th rated center and Patrick Omameh, Jaguars, remember him, is one of just three NFL guards with 100 or more pass blocks with no sacks or hits allowed, and only three hurries. He is also run blocking well.
October 29th, 2016 at 9:32 am
Could you imagine Penn and Bennett with the guys we have now? Both of our lines would be doninant
October 29th, 2016 at 9:37 am
Ohh and Zuttah. Wow Penn, Pamphile, Zuttah, Marpet and Smith.
October 29th, 2016 at 10:58 am
Penn was our best Left offensive tackle, in the wretched history of this team.
He was an absolute wall. Unbelievably good at shutting down the NFzLs top DE
As usual, he was abused by the stupid and clueless segment of this area. Due entirely to their own hateful natures.
Same hateful fools who bad mouth Gerald McCoy now.
Its why I call these morons out. As Is obvious by Penn’s comments, Players are affected by the Venom these lowlifes spew out.
The hateful fanbase base might explain why this team has sucked forever. And ever.
Dont think so?
Re-read Penn’s comments.
October 29th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Those “folks” in Tampa are long gone.
October 29th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Captain Tim : hot it on the head. These fans want guys out if they have one down year. This fans would have ran out Peyton , farve , Peterson for being injured and many more.
October 29th, 2016 at 8:18 pm
He’s not a Buc so buck him. I want to see our d line blow his fat a$$ up.