Sweezy’s Impact
October 22nd, 2016
“He’s already helped us, Mr. Glazer.”
One thing that rankles Bucs fans is the Houdini act performed by guard J.R. Sweezy.
Signed as a big-money free agent in the offseason, Sweezy has yet to put on a pair of shoulder pads for the Bucs, not even for a practice. He was to have replaced starting left guard Logan Mankins but seemingly developed a mysterious back issue the moment he arrived at One Buc Palace.
Chatter at One Buc Palace about Sweezy, who’s now on the reserve/PUP listm has been on complete and total lockdown. Joe swears it would be easier to obtain the combination code to Team Glazer’s liquor cabinet than to get any information on Sweezy’s injury.
No, Sweezy is not talking. No, the Bucs are not talking; No, there is no word if Sweezy will ever play for the Bucs. This complete and total information blackout on Sweezy and his back only invites suspicion.
One could argue, however, the only person(s) missing Sweezy is Team Glazer and its platoon of accountants.
It surprised Joe when the Bucs did sign Sweezy in March. Everything Joe had heard whispered around One Buc Palace in the offseason pegged Kevin Pamphile as ready to fill the void left by Mankins.
Maybe Pamphile, at the time, was judged to be a year or two away from being a solid starter, hence the signing of Sweezy. But as Dirk Koetter mentioned on his weekly radio show on WDAE-AM 620, through five games Pamphile has has the highest total grades of all Bucs offensive linemen this season.
And the Bucs can directly thank Sweezy for that. Such is the word from center Joe Hawley who Joe chatted with this week about Pamphile.
Per Hawley, Pamphile thought he had a starting gig locked in when the Bucs signed Sweezy. Pamphile was so upset about the snub, he plunged himself into his work and the results are what Koetter and the coaching staff have discovered: Pamphile’s not bad, not bad at all.
“He has grown up so much becoming a starter last year,” Hawley said of Pamphile’s lone start in 2015. “He has always wanted to play but he’s never had the opportunity. He had one opportunity last year when Logan [Mankins] got hurt and I thought he played really well. Felt like he earned the job.
“Then [the Bucs] brought in Sweezy. I think that kind of lit a fire under him. He knows he can be a starter in this league. Unfortunately, Sweezy got hurt but fortunately for Kevin, he got an opportunity and has taken the most of it. I’m very impressed with the way he has been playing. He’s building confidence throughout the year and I think he will only continue to get better.”
Of course, if one is to believe Sweezy returns this season (nothing suggests he will), then what would the Bucs do with Sweezy?
Well, 2016 is pretty much written off. Not sure how anyone could argue Sweezy, who hasn’t worn a pair of shoulder pads since he played for the Seahawks in January, would unseat Pamphile this season, and there is no way he replaces Ali Marpet at right guard.
Joe suspects if Sweezy is ever able to play for the Bucs (2017, 2018?) that Sweezy would be a right guard and Marpet would be moved to center.
Remember, when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht drafted Marpet, he stated Marpet graded out as a potential NFL center.
October 22nd, 2016 at 10:21 am
I could not play for the Bucs to and I will do it for half the price!
October 22nd, 2016 at 10:25 am
Whats lichts contract?
Leave this fool and his 2nd rounder in san fran
Bring in a competent Gm and give koetter 1 more year…
But enough of this molasse dunketeer bs and have a modern quick offense
October 22nd, 2016 at 10:34 am
believer, I bid 1/4 the price.
October 22nd, 2016 at 10:53 am
Thats the biggest B.S. Story in a while. P.S Joe gets some bandwidth and an app.
October 22nd, 2016 at 11:04 am
Fans are quick to blame Sweezy…suggesting he is faking injury to collect an easy paycheck. From what I’ve read, he isn’t that type of player at all.
When he returns…probably next year, I’m moving Pamphile to RT.
October 22nd, 2016 at 11:13 am
It obviously sucks to pay a guy that isn’t playing, but having too many guys that are capable starters once Sweezy does return is a good thing.
I like the idea of moving Marpet to center and putting Sweezy at his more natural right guard position. Then all we need to upgrade on the line for next year and beyond is right tackle.
October 22nd, 2016 at 12:03 pm
I am with TBBF on this. One, Pamphile has had a chance to really mature, two, unless several of our starters go down between now and the end of the season, we can focus of more important needs in the 2017 draft, and finally Sweezy will return eventually which will give us good depth and several options to upgrade potential weaknesses like aging penalty prone Demar Dotson.
October 22nd, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Can’t help myself guys. Easy (money) Sweezy. What a name aye? I know its not funny but this whole situation just..cracks me up. Because I picture him on Sundays with a 40oz, a bowl of his favorite blow (for pain of course), some popcorn and a big recliner to accompany his big wide grin as he sits and watches the team who is paying him to..rest and..get well. What a picture huh?
Look, Bucs should just pay him after this season and send him on his way. The guy will be injured reserved, off and on with the Bucs from now on. Backs don’t heal without a couple yrs therapy and rest…and a few more hits from the bowl!! My Man..Easy (money) Sweezy. Got a ring to it for sure.
October 22nd, 2016 at 12:24 pm
MJ stop talking with reality and football intelligence
Best ability is availability
Its a concept that dreamy fans here in tampa dont beleive in and which buffoons like licht takes advantage of
Tomorrow is a statement game. We will see who we are
Kobe doesnt like whats going to happen tommorrow..but lets just enjoy today
Michigan 75 and fighting lovie dovies 13
October 22nd, 2016 at 12:28 pm
What has happened to Caleb Benonoch from UCLA our 5th round pick? Could he be the next Pamphile. He’s a natural tackle. Devonta Bond selected the round behind him did pretty well when all the DL injuries forced him into action at Charlotte.
Is Benenoch on the practice squad or did he have an injury in training camp?
I don’t remember reading about him since the draft.
October 22nd, 2016 at 12:48 pm
The Bucs are hiding Sweezy’s condition to avoid further embarrassment. Injuries kept secret from the fan base make no sense, except to hide ineptness.
October 22nd, 2016 at 12:57 pm
St Pete… I believe Benenoch did have some sort of injury early in training camp. Haven’t heard much about him since, except that he could be future talent for the Bucs.
October 22nd, 2016 at 1:28 pm
The Bucs aren’t talking about J.R. Sweezy now but according to NFL PUP rules that silence must eventually end. Let me share the rule with you.
At the end of 6 weeks a player on Reserve PUP has 2 options – he can begin to practice or he can remain on PUP for an additional 5 weeks.
Anytime the player chooses to begin practice, at the end of 6 weeks as in the case of Louis Murphy, or at the end of the 11th week, a 3 week clock starts where the team is given a roster exemption but must make a decision before or at the end of the 3 week practice period.
At the end of the 3 weeks allowed for practice the Bucs must decide to move the player to IR, move player to the active roster at which time a corresponding cut must be made, or release the player. If the player cannot return to practice at the end of the 11th week, the same decision must be made.
October 22nd, 2016 at 1:29 pm
I like the idea of moving Marpet to center and Sweezy to RG. Much better o line if that were to happen
October 22nd, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Does JR Sweezy even exist. No picture of this guy or anything. I smell a conspiracy here. The Sweezy conspiracy.
October 22nd, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Sweez-gate
Sweezi-leaks
Lost Sweezils
October 22nd, 2016 at 1:54 pm
To build on my earlier point, there are a contingent of Bucs fan who believe this Sweezy signing to be a conspiracy. This was a fake player created by the organization to please Bucs fans in the offseason. The plan was make it look like they were doing something to replace Logan Mankins. By having this make-believe player get injured, they also had a great excuse to fall back on incase Pamphile didn’t work out. It all adds up if you look close enough.
October 22nd, 2016 at 2:36 pm
I’m open to any credible evidence that Sweezy is faking injury or that he doesn’t want to play.
It’s easy to be suspicious but that doesn’t make it true.
I suspect he was scheduled with a routine operation and it didn’t go well or didn’t fix the problem. I suspect that team Doctors haven’t cleared him to practice.
I also think it’s highly unlikely that
October 22nd, 2016 at 2:38 pm
I also think it’s highly unlikely that Licht had any idea this could happen…..maybe he should have but we’ll never know.
October 22nd, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Licht gets a free pass once again…
October 22nd, 2016 at 3:27 pm
How long, by rule, before Sweezy can return from the reserve/PUP list?
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“When he returns…probably next year, I’m moving Pamphile to RT.”
This is where my money goes too. They can’t put Sweezy at RT…too inexperienced by the time he returns.
But I do think that they could rotate Sweezy in if he comes back this year…sort of ease him back into playing. Remember, he is new to his position. He needs time to develop too.
October 22nd, 2016 at 4:00 pm
Mike Johnson and Kobe Faker wasting bandwidth again.
Your posts are pure garbage. This site is better without you.
Get your heads out of your BigHogHaynes.
October 22nd, 2016 at 4:01 pm
dal
i dont think so this offseason
the Glazers are going to bring a outside overseer to run this organization
they are going to fire jason gump and his incompetence
He is a joke among the FO exec in the NFL
signing sweezy,movingup for a kicker, and paying 11 mill to an old damaged wr is being laughed at from everybody in the nfl offices.
licht makes nothing and koetter gets 1 year trial.
there are cricket sounds coming from RJ stadiums and jeers and giggling from fellow nfl owners.
Its all about the money…and they are losing the fans and corporate cash down the toilet
October 22nd, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Nice try on Jackson.
Jackson was under contract from the previous administration. He played well enough last year to return. For evidence, consider Dirk Koetter’s own words last year when he said of Jackson, “I hope he’s back next year.”
BTW Kobe, Jim Harbaugh is leading Lovie by 31 in the first half. Or did you already turn off the Illini game?
October 22nd, 2016 at 5:44 pm
I predicting on my other post mich 75-13
Lovie is a incompetent fool and taking a job from a good coach
Poor kids
A successful fo would have cut vjax contract and brought him back for vet minimum…this is what successful winning teams do
Im simple and slow. I know you have to follow what successfull teams do
Its not that hard
I trade what i see
Winning successful teams dont move up and pickup a kicker in the 2nd round
They make decisions to win, those are not
October 22nd, 2016 at 5:50 pm
@Piratic: you took a shot but I’m still here. I don’t know the extent of your grievance with me but I’m sure I’ll get a chance to correct any problem you may have with me! GO BUCS : SALUTE TO COLIN!
October 22nd, 2016 at 6:50 pm
Lookahere Erratic Piratic…..I ain’t goin nowhere. I’m here 24-7. As a great Chicago Bears LB once said, I like this kind of Party. Bring it on! Besides Joe Likes a little variety. What would the world ne like with all of you..go go Pom Pom Ladies?!
October 22nd, 2016 at 11:54 pm
Carl Nicks 2.0
October 23rd, 2016 at 7:41 am
Back injuries are mysterious and always taken for granted, until you have to deal with one. And once bitten, they don’t really get better. Keep Sweezy around for his deal but don’t count on him, and sure as he11 don’t move other guys doing well on the O line around. Bucs get ready to pay Pamphile and the man had better produce once he cashes the check. For guys down on Jason, just chill.
October 23rd, 2016 at 10:50 am
I dont know why everyone wants to move Marpet to center so quickly. I think Joe Hawley is a good player. And how can you not love that beard. Im excited to see what Benenoch can do next year. Even though he had the season ending injury in camp and hasn’t gotten any play, lots of people say if he stayed in college one more year, he would’ve been a very high round draft pick. I say send Sweezy packing at the end of the year because paying a one-roll guard with a very bad back so much money is ridiculous. Next year: LT Dotson, LG Pamphile, C Hawley, RG Marpet, RT D.Smith/ Benenoch. Then within the next few years draft a good LT.