Confused By Josh Huff Signing
November 8th, 2016
Signing raises eyebrows.
Joe is loathe to write about practice squad players. Why? They are practice squad players, the Triple-A of NFL teams.
At least with minor league baseball players, one can track their progress almost daily as they play games. Practice squad players just practice a few days per week, far from the watchful eyes of reporters or the public. There are no progress reports or injury reports on practice squad players. They are invisible, a football witness protection program. For the most part, they are tackling dummies with a pulse.
Besides, Joe would rather write about guys who actually have a chance to contribute on Sundays. So pardon Joe for all but ignoring practice squad players.
But yesterday’s Josh Huff signing has folks so worked up, Joe has broken his stance — at least just for this one instance — of not writing about practice squad guys.
Huff is a pedestrian receiver. He has averaged a little more than a catch a game through his three years in the NFL. By contrast, misplaced Calgary Stampeder Donteea Dye has more catches per game, averaging a hair under two.
Huff was on the active squad of the Eagles but was recently cut when he got into a hassle with the cops for speeding, DUI and having weed and a gun in his rig.
Teams just don’t release dudes after a traffic stop like that if they are any good, or unless the dude has a ton of baggage (read: tweety, huge bowel movement ASJ). Eagles quarterbacks targeted him a grand total of 17 times through seven games this season.
It also says something that the Bucs put him on the practice squad.
The Huff acquisition has Pat Kirwan irked. The former Bucs scout, player personnel director of the Jets and current excellent SiriusXM NFL Radio personality took to his fantastic website, Real Football Network, and scolded the Bucs. But his reasons seem vague.
“What is Tampa Bay thinking about?” Kirwan asked. “Josh Huff? Hollow point bullets? Drugs in the car? And everything else that goes along with his problems? The Eagles were smart to cut him. The Tampa Bay Bucs put him on the practice squad.
“Tampa: You haven’t won at home. You are going to have fans stop coming. This is not going to help fans believe in the Tampa Bay Bucs.”
Joe isn’t reading Kirwan’s ire here. Is he mad the Bucs signed this Huff? Is Kirwan rankled because he’s not on the active roster? You can listen to the audio at the 2:38 mark here.
Is Huff the answer to all the problems at wide receiver? Of course not. Is Huff going to bring in fans? Nope. The only way that will happen is if the team starts to win. Could Huff be a part of that? Maybe.
Joe is just going to regurgitate what Kirwan has said over and over about players on the street in October and November: There are no answers walking the street this time of the year.
Any player acquired has to learn the playbook, which could take up to six weeks to master.
(For further reference, Joe heard Rich Gannon of CBS Sports during the Steelers-Crows game Sunday say veteran quarterbacks/receivers need a second game to get their timing back after missing games due to injury. And that’s for teammates who have been working with each other since the spring, not someone pulled off a sidewalk.)
Kirwan has stated repeatedly, guys picked up off the street this time of the year are mostly brought in as developmental players for next year, which sort of tells Joe why Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht put Huff on the practice squad.
November 8th, 2016 at 6:09 am
It’s all about the future. We are preparing for 2017. Joe you need to catch up. Stop living in the pass.
Are you aware Hillary is running for president? Are you sleeping in the job? Are you hanging out with Sleepy Freeman? lol
Is a new day in America’s playground! The best is yet to come!
November 8th, 2016 at 6:32 am
@tbtd2015
What the he11 are you even talking about?
November 8th, 2016 at 6:34 am
Not sure why people complain about expanding the roster. If they expand the roster it’s your “Practice Squad” players that would still be the bottom of the roster. What’s the diff? So joe could stop complaining about Practice Squad signings.
November 8th, 2016 at 6:49 am
I’m up and aware and ready to help HER pound this jack/ass into oblivion! As far as the post goes, do what ever you can to search for talent! GO BUCS DON’T BOO VOTE!
November 8th, 2016 at 6:54 am
I thought they put him on the practice squad until his legal issue becomes more clear. I read somewhere the gun he was had wasn’t registered in NJ which is where he was caught with it, potentially leading to jail time. I don’t love the signing, but this guy could start as a return man and be an instant upgrade. With Luis Murphy going on IR and Cecil Shorts not appearing to work out they are desperate for a WR.
November 8th, 2016 at 7:11 am
tdtb2015, great job…at sounding stupid.
November 8th, 2016 at 7:13 am
Signing Josh Huff is a huge mistake that paints a portrait of desperation. I’m betting one of the Glazer boys will tell Licht to cut the kid.
November 8th, 2016 at 7:42 am
I agree with the move. They need all the help they can get, even if they are evaluating guys for next season. Kick the tires and see what he has, maybe there’s some untapped potential they can tap into or maybe not.
November 8th, 2016 at 7:43 am
I’ve said this a few times, but what about Brian Hartline? A lot better stats than Huff and he’s available.
November 8th, 2016 at 7:57 am
Just being realistic here… the last time the Bucs had to play the NFC west and AFC west int he same year, they went 5-11 under the guidance of Gruden with 3 different QBs starting. I can’t imagine we win more than a couple more games the next 8 weeks.
November 8th, 2016 at 8:10 am
I also mentioned Brian hartline and he is under 30
November 8th, 2016 at 8:20 am
I know it’s slim pickings this time of year, but signing a guy w/character issues? Pot doesn’t qualify as this dumbo state will pass med pot today. 🙂 But the gun and drunk are red flags. No likee. 🙁
November 8th, 2016 at 8:30 am
I’m not going to approach this move attempting to condemn or justify the moral character of Mr Huff. He made an obvious mistake and has/is paying the consequences for his actions. I won’t rationalize either by saying “but he didn’t shoot anybody” or give examples like former Buc Super Bowl winner Dwight Smith who not only got stopped with a gun , but pointed it at passing motorists. lol.
I’m looking at the football move and the long term needs of our team. First this move is low risk/high reward. He is only on the PS and should be warehoused there until his off-field affairs are in order. New Jersey gun laws are as strict as New York’s, but an attorney with the right connections will be able to offer the appropriate financial incentives to get his charge reduced to a misdemeanor. Then there is Warden Goodell who will want his pound of flesh for violation of the personal conduct policy. All of these things can be handled this season and Huff should be fully rehabilitated and ready to go by the start of the 2017 football year.
Huff fills a need. This is like getting an extra 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft. At 5-11, 206, 4.46/40, he fills a need at KR/PR and is an accomplished route runner that can stretch the field. If he gets rehabbed with no more incidents, this could turn out to be a good move. If not, he gets waived – no harm, no fault.
I am surprised the Bucs made this move, but not at all unlike a Belichek bold move. Go Bucs!
November 8th, 2016 at 8:36 am
Takes bucs players much longer to learn a playbook. What Jason licht was thinking? Oh I’m gonna get fired for that horrible confusing waste of a draft I just had. The average football fan knew we needed receivers if for no other reason to Atleast attempt to do what the saints are doing with their team and try to outscore other teams. Bad draft worse that Tampa is undrafted free agent central of the nfl
November 8th, 2016 at 8:41 am
macabee, Licht drafting Aguayo was a Belichek-like bold move also. Oh wait, no it wasn’t. Bold move … Yes. Belichek-like … Not hardly. Jason Licht …. aka, The Gambler … ain’t no Bill Belichek.
November 8th, 2016 at 8:49 am
Defense,
Referring to Aqib Talib and Legarette Blount moves, etc.
November 8th, 2016 at 9:11 am
Why release ASJ and sign this guy? Contradictory. ASJ has way more upside
November 8th, 2016 at 10:30 am
Another poor decision by jason
November 8th, 2016 at 10:35 am
DUMB MOVE…DUMB GM….what happened to d.dye?…or c.shorts?…they need to call my boy andre davis….GO BUCS!!!!
November 8th, 2016 at 10:39 am
Great post macabee..total agreement..
November 8th, 2016 at 10:56 am
Tnew:
ASJ’s arrest was last straw for team.
November 8th, 2016 at 11:01 am
Tnew Says
“Why release ASJ and sign this guy? Contradictory. ASJ has way more upside”
You have got to be kidding me…
November 8th, 2016 at 11:03 am
return guy. period. huge void on this team and licht owes it to his coach and the fans to find a guy who people worry about kicking to
November 8th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Weed is not drugs; it’s a weed!
I had hollow points in my gun, in my car, which was for defense only.
Did the incident happen early in the morning, before a practice?
Did he have to take a huge s**t?!
November 8th, 2016 at 11:12 am
ASJ didn’t have heart. I don’t know him personally but just by watching his actions I’m not sure he’s all that committed to football. That’s why he was sent packing, the DUI was just the final straw. Huff may not be much better but he’s worth the low risk gamble.
November 8th, 2016 at 11:26 am
He can not only returns kicks he can get down the field quick and tackle on STs like Ryan Smith has proven he can do too, so we don’t have to keep our second best WR, Shepard, on STs and free him up to be our full time number two receiver so teams can’t just double Evans all the time. If this had happened in Tampa he would not have been arrested for the pot and having a gun in your car for defense is legal without a permit just as long as he had it securely encased, so I am OK with giving him a second chance. We also need to use him returning punts too so we don’t get Hump injured. And he was a Duck in college which means Koetter probably had instant info with his contacts on his real character. I doubt he is a big troublemaker.
November 8th, 2016 at 11:57 am
[Suggesting the general manager of the team Joe covers for living is involved in criminal activity is a very good way to get run. You are welcome to blast him as you see fit. Suggesting he is breaking state and federal laws not to mention rules of the NFL is quite another. Don’t do this again. — Joe]
November 8th, 2016 at 11:57 am
Josh Huff can contribute, he’s till young an he’s sure an upgrade from Johnathan Krause, he’s gonna be a role players, I guarantee the patriots would get value from him.
November 8th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
not kidding at all. Its contradictory. I was sick of ASJ’s schtick as much as the next guy, and was ready to see him go. I just don’t see how picking up a guy that just got cut from his team from similar (albeit, not as egregious) actions but not as significant upside makes any sense. I know the team is desperate but this makes little sense. Hopefully, I am really wrong about this, but I am tired saying “I hope I’m wrong about this move” only to go, “yeh, that’s what I kind of figured would happen” Its not like this guy is Josh Gordon with all of his issues but the talent sure isn’t near of a comparison. The team should make a few gambles, but lets make some with huge upside.
November 8th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Maybe Licht has Huff on his fantasy football team? Let’s be honest, character concerns aside this team is paper thin (aka desperate) at WR. It’s akin to the analogy of it’s 2:00 AM, the bar is closing, and you’ve struck out with every other woman there…sometimes you realize your options and decide that taking home the “metabolically challenged” (for the PC crowd) woman that is still at the bar finishing her 5th Jack & Coke is you’re only play left. Jason L is just trying to make chicken soup out of chicken…you know what.
November 8th, 2016 at 12:37 pm
Not sure why they did that when could have signed Ray Rice.
November 8th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
Next year, we should all be just a wee bit less excited about the acquisition Huff than we will be disappointed when we eventually let Banks go.. Or perhaps even more accurately ASJ… A player that was drafted high bc of his tools but hasn’t lived up to it, but now that he’s on his second team hopefully he straightens out now that his back is against the wall..
Licht always drafts “where talent meets need”.. We will still need WRs next year, and as long as someone else doesn’t feel the need to promote him from a jail cell to an active roster on the final 8 weeks we should have him in the new and hopefully improved WR stable in OTAs, preseason, etc.
November 8th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
I guess you could simply say that Licht weight is “Huffing”….
November 8th, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Dude has a 98 yard return for a TD. The majority of the comments have revolved around everything but football here. I want the Bucs to win some football games. We have tried signing the Angels of society for 10 years now. Football is a violent sport and not every athlete that plays the sport is going to be an ideal role model. The GM’s job is to balance it all with talent. We currently have zero skill in the return game. The signing makes sense to me.
November 8th, 2016 at 3:09 pm
Give Jason Licht a drug and alcohol test. I’m serious, something ain’t right about him.
November 8th, 2016 at 5:00 pm
tnew:
Sadly, Joe cannot write all the things Joe hears. ASJ has a litany of issues the team tolerated. As with anything, every team has its limits. ASJ’s DUI three hours before he was supposed to be at One Buc Palace was the last straw for the team. They had babied him and put up with his nonsense long enough.
Huff and ASJ are apples and oranges. Sorry if you can’t see the difference.
November 8th, 2016 at 5:03 pm
@Lakeland….LOL…I AGREE…GO BUCS!!!!
November 8th, 2016 at 5:03 pm
He’s done.
November 8th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Huff is on the practice squad. That’s it, if he shows something then he could make the 53 man roster. Until then its a buy low and hope something pans out deal. And whats the big deal about a lil weed and hollow point bullets. These guys are potential targets everyday they go out. Ridiculous how some people think he is satan for protecting his family and himself.
Don’t think he will make the 53 man roster but you never know. Would only be a bonus if he did. Can’t hurt us if he doesn’t.
November 8th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Waterboy:
ASJ talked a great game. Sadly, his play and dedication never came even close to his words.
November 8th, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Huff is faster than every WR on the roster and more dangerous & athletic than every WR not named Mike Evans… that also took a kick return to the house this season… the bucs need weapons and Huff is better than almost every weapons the bucs currently have…
November 8th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
Huff Huff give!
November 8th, 2016 at 11:36 pm
I don’t expect anything from him. But if he can contribute next year or even just compete in Tc next year. What’s the harm? He was a coveted draft pick a few years ago. So he has talent. It’s just a matter of if he wants to use it or not.
Korean does not know bucs fans. We are DESPERATE!!!! bring in Aaron Hernandez when he gets out of lock up! The bucs need all the roster help they can get.
November 9th, 2016 at 12:50 am
Went to Oregon with him. He was pretty fun to watch in college… Always wanted us to draft him.
November 14th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Misdemeanor? Yeah right. Lol! In New Jersey this guy will more than likely do some time. If he is a good fearing man and lucky it won’t be much time.
November 14th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Misdemeanor? Yeah right. Lol! In New Jersey this guy will more than likely do some time. If he is a god fearing man and lucky it won’t be much time.