Season Over For Murphy; Sweezy Too?
November 7th, 2016
Floppy hat duty and hanging out with Bucs officials has highlighted J.R. Sweezy’s Bucs career.
That flushing sound you’re hearing could be your toilet, but it also could be the official sound of J.R. Sweezy’s Bucs career.
The Seahawks’ starting right guard from 2012 through 2015, Sweezy arrived in Tampa as a big money free agent of the Buccaneers in March.
The Bucs were damn lucky to get him, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll told Joe in March, and the Seahawks wanted to keep him.
Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter viewed Sweezy as an upgrade to barely-tested guard/tackle Kevin Pamphile, who made just one career start before this season. Pamphile fared well filling in for Logan Mankins in that one game last year, but Sweezy would be their man to step in for Mankins, they believed.
It turned out to be an unnecessary signing. Pamphile has been very good, and Sweezy has never practiced in a Bucs uniform.
We’re halfway through the season, folks.
Today, the team placed wide receiver Louis Murphy back on physically unable to perform list, which ended his season. Last month, Murphy returned to the practice field but had a setback in his recovery from knee surgery in November 2015.
Once resuming practicing, Murphy, per league rules, had 21 days to be placed on the roster or be done for the season. He didn’t make it.
Sweezy isn’t guaranteed any significant money for next year. So look for the Bucs to move on even if he miraculously returns to the practice field soon. Perhaps the team will detail how and when Sweezy got injured — and what exactly he injured. But don’t count on that.
At this rate, with Sweezy’s $9 million salary coming off the books, and $10 million for Vincent Jackson, and the near certain release of Alterraun Verner and his $6 million, the Bucs will have plenty of Team Glazer loot to sling around when the free agency dinner bell rings.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:20 pm
Another free agent bust for Jason Licht who has been the GM for three years now, and has wasted millions on horrible free agent signings and mediocre drafts! I like Coach Koetter but the Bucs need to fire Licht and bring in a GM who actually knows how to evaluate talent! Take a look at the Tampa Bay Lightning who has one of the best GM’s in hockey who quickly built a contending roster! Jason Licht is clueless and doesn’t know what he is doing!
November 7th, 2016 at 3:24 pm
we talk about changing the attitude and what not, should of signed a guy named josh Norman, who I believe would of loved to play against the panthers 2 times a year. Love his attitude, and we need players with that kind of spark on this team.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:26 pm
use 2 picks for a kicker, keep a 3rd worthless qb on roster, count on injured and old players at crucial postions, sign free agents that are damaged goods…. the list goes on and on.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Season over?! Did it ever begin?!
Well, hopefully he’s OK. Sad. You can never have enough goo OL.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Shocked , absolutely shocked. Next to go IR , Doug Martin
November 7th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Like I said competition brings out the best in players, Pamphile was pissed the bucs brought in another guard, and he busted his asz this year.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:30 pm
“My name is jason gump. I m not a smart GM, but i know what love is”
November 7th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
Pamphile knows sweezy i got paid 9 milly this year
Pamphile getting peanuts and wants some of that money soon
This is why lockerooms are shattered and not as 1
You guys dont think sweezy and that stolen loot isnt talked about daily among the players
November 7th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
Who are you idiots that think light should be fired?!??
Unreal how ignorant some of you are.
You think every signing should be a pro bowler.
Light cannot control sweezy getting injured.
his biggest mistake so far is not signing another WR.
He’ll need two next year.
Shepphard and humphries are the only two sticking around besides Evans.
WR, S, another pass rusher.
Then depth and always add Oline.
That is all they need to be a playoff team.
That and how about not having 4 RBs getting injured.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
…and why should we be excited that Jason Licht has cap room to spend? His FA track record is nothing short of atrocious. Only Licht would sign a guy to $10mil guaranteed and never see him as much as participate in a single team practice. Licht sucks folks.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
The glazers and the new gm thinks licht the idiot should be fired….
Thats who
November 7th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Dave- Licht can control not signing a guy that is damaged goods. He didn’t get injured playing football for the Bucs. Let’s stop with the excuses.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Anyone trust Licht to use that cap space on actual team needs?
November 7th, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Sweezy will be on the team next year. Lets not send him packing yet.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:46 pm
@Dave
Yeah, the Licht Lynch Mob (LLM®) is out with their pitch forks a bit prematurely, IMO.
Licht is responsible for the drafting and development of Pamphile. Getting a starter like Sweezy in case Pamphile couldn’t go consistently/ in case of injury seems to be pretty smart. Unfortunately it was a worst case scenario with Sweezy getting injured and Pamphile grading out as the best lineman we have.
Not every pick or signing is going to work out. Percentage wise Licht seems to be doing well with the coaching philosophies being so radically different.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:47 pm
Can we get an investigation into the “injury insurance” policies on these players? There are some really suspicious things going on with Sweezy, if he doesn’t play because “he’s too injured”, does the “team’s ie The Glazers” injury insurance (which many teams take out on guaranteed big contracts) pay for his whole contract? Basically reimbursing the Glazers, and leaving the Bucs without a player. If he plays at all it may null the insurance or require the team to pay the majority of his salary; leading the team to lean on the staff to not clear or play him. If Sweezy’s “healthy enough to play” he should be playing, and if there’s been a significant setback to his injury they need to disclose it and stop playing this shell game; of he’s “really close to being ready” to up he’s on IR now. This has a whiff of the Glazer’s being cheap and screwing the team/fans once again.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:50 pm
If tampa doesnt beat chicago sunday, we wont win another game
Ray rice or greg hardy wouldnt want to play here
November 7th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Not one for calling for heads to roll, but I agree a bit w/ Brian. Licht has absolutely sucked as GM.
Look no further than those Lightning, or the Rays when they were killing it. We looked at nearly every move and thought, “GENIUS!”… and the teams ended up being good.
This team has sucked since Rich McKay left.
November 7th, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Brian and DallasBuc are spot on. Leave to the Bucs to have plenty of FA money next year in the hands of a GM with a demonstrated history of horrific FA picks and wasting money. Nothing will change until Yucs get someone in here that knows what he’s doing. The list of Licht misses are growing by the day and let’s not forget the ones he let walk away. Unfreakinbelievable!!!!
November 7th, 2016 at 4:03 pm
I am really beginning to despise this fan base. All they want is a new gm and coach every year.
November 7th, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Jason Licht has been mostly a failure. let’s be honest here. Way too many moves have ended up being terrible decisions and one thing that cannot be tolerated is screwing the pooch on the draft. By now, the entire universe is in agreement that trading up to draft a kicker is stupid. Trading up to the 2nd round for a kicker is punishable by death in some circles. I like Licht and he has made good picks and acquisitions as well. I don’t want to see the guy be banished but we really need a shot in the arm right about now and we definitely need a solid draft filled with some nasty linemen that can win the battles in the trenches. With that said, I’m all in on the Huff pickup. Here’s a guy that can help our return game and contribute potentially as a deep threat. It’s about time we stop worrying about having road scholars and start getting some guys that can play football.
November 7th, 2016 at 4:25 pm
Add another to the list: Doug Martin?
November 7th, 2016 at 4:25 pm
I don’t think he messed up the draft, but even if he did, it was one draft. Tampa fans give up way to easy.
November 7th, 2016 at 4:27 pm
At least they fixed the WR issue by signing Josh Huff to the practice squad.
BWA-HA-HA-HAA!!!!!
November 7th, 2016 at 4:28 pm
@Blake_Bucsfan
Exactly. It’s the worst fan base in the NFL.
November 7th, 2016 at 4:41 pm
when Mr.buccannner Bonzai spends his $ to buy season tks yr after yr he can talk about the fan base.. NO KICKER is worth two high draft picks plus has the team improved since the bucs gm came aboard…REALLY ?
November 7th, 2016 at 4:52 pm
Ah, thats right! I almost forgot. Along with being a farm team for the rest of the NFL, we also fatten the bank accounts of injured/injury prone players about to retire.
My God, we should change our names to the Tampa Bay Charity…smdh!
November 7th, 2016 at 4:55 pm
The whole worst fan base in the NFL is stupid. I immediately discredit that B.S. talk. This fan base has every right to be PO’d about the product that they pay to see on the field or heck, even on their TV. It’s been a decade of miserable football but God forbid the fans voice their frustration with it. I personally want to see Licht and Koetter have at least 3 years to work together before any major decisions are made. The coaching carousel hasn’t done anything to stabilize this organization. With that said, I certainly understand and respect those fans that are calling for their heads. Every week I call for Mike Smith’s head and will continue to do so. 5 days after that embarrassment on Thursday Night Football, I still feel the same way. I don’t think Smith has any better clue than the previous Smith on how to run a successful defense.
November 7th, 2016 at 4:58 pm
All you mofos need some prozac ayers ,d.smith,b.grimes,marpet, Hargraves,Winston,brate,jude,Don smith etc there all horrible too right shot dolphins and jaguars could use some more suicidal fans cmon you don’t think new coaches every other year doesn’t have something to do with are record just chill I want the bucs to be relevant to but the blame game isn’t always best
November 7th, 2016 at 5:00 pm
^ He’s right you know (cmurda)
November 7th, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Sorry, my comment was for cmurda being right, but another comment came along.
November 7th, 2016 at 5:04 pm
Yes Bryan, theres some great players on our team, a few (according to measurables by other NFL talent) So who do we blame if it isnt the players or the coaches? The Tampa air?
November 7th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
gotta love Bryan’s examples… jude? one sack robert ayers, marginal starter d smith.We should congratulate him on winston… the #1 overal pick in the draft.
November 7th, 2016 at 5:14 pm
Glaziers should just sell this franchise. They clearly have no idea what the hell they are doing, hiring one buffoon after another. Malcolm was the mastermind, that much is obvious at this point.
Please Glaziers, sell the team and put us out of our never ending misery.
November 7th, 2016 at 5:16 pm
OH your sarcasm forgot about the undrafted rookies eat a dick
November 7th, 2016 at 5:20 pm
Bryan Glazer everyone. Heartgraves, jury is out, has been toasted by bigger faster receivers. Brett Grimes, aka slip n fall. How many ints do we have? Well it’s hard when our secondary isn’t even near a football .Winston hasn’t shown he can carry a franchise. This team is a train wreck . Getting to be unwatchable.
November 7th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
And Bryan, like the Browns, we keep hiring the wrong people.
November 7th, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Mike n- exactly. Apparently Bryan isn’t keeping up with current events. This is a terrible football team devoid of talent (GM job) that keeps getting its aas kicked week in and week out.
Let’s remember that Licht turned over 50% of this roster when he rode in on Uncle Lovie’s high horse. Enough excuses.
November 7th, 2016 at 5:24 pm
One could argue that everyone’s season is done, with the Bucs sitting at 3-5 and the schedule about to get really tough down the stretch. The Bucs will be lucky to get 1 or 2 more wins, so let’s just focus on player development and avoiding any more serious injuries…
November 7th, 2016 at 5:24 pm
Tell you what Blake and Bonzai, field a friggin team that can win a home game and we’ll stop wanting coaches and GMs. Friggin champions of mediocrity
November 7th, 2016 at 5:42 pm
Worst GM in pro football, guy is batting ZERO for 3 years on FAs, and his drafting for need is terrible, build a wall to protect the franchise and VH3 isnt that wall, get craxy and goofy licht get rid of GMC, blow the team upand start over, jameis has one weapon and the defense might be 4th best in the SEC, go hire polian or beg mckay but get someone competent to allow to spend the glaxer bucs
November 7th, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Guess what chris. Maybe if we didnt have new coaches and schemes every 2 friggin years, we’d actually be developing some consistency. Me and my father split season tickets. So I support this team, and I hate the losing as much as anyone. But unlike most of you neophytes I understand that part of the reason for all of muck, is that fact that we fire coaches every 2 years.
November 7th, 2016 at 5:47 pm
If anything needs to change about this team, it would have to be the Glaziers. Sell the team dammit.
November 7th, 2016 at 6:04 pm
Assumptions……you act like our players are only in the NFL because they play for tampa.maybe our cb start closing the distance between the wr they could stop a slant
November 7th, 2016 at 6:12 pm
OH and I want people to throw out the notion of Licht failing in Free Agency. NO ONE WANTS TO COME HERE! Consider this, we are not a Successful team. We do not have an established hierarchy. We have no established coach. And on top of that we have a whiny, 2-faced, cut-throat, 2-bit fan base that won’t come to games and support the team. Any Rock star caliber talent that is available will not want to come here unless we break the bank and over pay for them. So I say Screw free agency. And build through the draft, as Jason Licht has been doing.
Any gm that can draft close to 50 percent and pick up hard working UDFA’s that contribute to the roster is a Luxury.
November 7th, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Just want to say that Jameis played well on Thursday. OH and Mike Evans looked like the best Receiver on the field. Out-played Julio by a significant margin and made ever kind of catch imaginable. On top the refs F!@$ing him Every chance they got.
This kid literally made the prettiest catch of the 2016 season, AND GOT DRILLED HELMET TO HELMET WHILST DOING SO! But no flag was thrown… Yet when the game was still somewhat in reach, Mike Evans Busts loose down the left side line, Jameis Throws him a nice, arching deep ball. ME13 proceeds to get mugged by the opposing corner, but gets an OPI called on Him.
I don’t care what you say, call me crazy, tell me to get my tinfoil hat, whatever; But while the Bucs were still in that game, the friggin Zebra’s did everything they could to screw us. The last time I checked, it’s Illegal to hit a Qb laying on the ground Helmet to Helmet. The last time I checked, if a receiver hits the ground during a catch, and the ball shifts, and hits the ground, That aint no freaking catch. A “catch that occurred on 3rd and long by the way, and led to a Falcons score.
Yes, we gave up towards the End and proved that we didnt deserve to win, But we had momentum guys, and the Refs successfully stole every ounce of it away from us with bogus call after bogus call, and several crucial non-calls. Same crap happened in Oakland guys, by my recollection the raiders should’ve had 40 plus penalties in that game with they way their O-linemen were Holding on nearly every play from the 4th quarter onward. Same crap, Different week.
November 7th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Licht’s out “moobs” from the photo just drooped a bit more after this news…
November 7th, 2016 at 6:45 pm
Hahaha!!! We ARE most definitely a fuct up fan base… deseveringly so, this team just sucks the life force, soul, and heart right out of ya! They’re hell, have been for a long time. BROWNSlike even. Sad but TRUE! Insane thing is-I always drink the Kool-Aid, and get no sugar!!! Every offseason they fool me. So I take part blame for my frustration, but I really just don’t have much fight left. So F it, I’m not going to b having anymore heart attacks watching this bs.
It’s so not worth it. I’ll watch and pull for them, but I can’t b as invested as I have been. Just being honest, to many Sundays ruined. Go Bucs! But w zero expectations. Actually expecting to lose, a win would b a pleasant surprise.
November 7th, 2016 at 7:12 pm
Seems like free agents come to Tampa for a payday with no intentions of playing hard or at all. It has been quite the trend.
November 7th, 2016 at 7:52 pm
Jason Licht is a INCOMPETENT GM, and should be FIRED. And DUMB Bucs fans, who support him are just as PATHETIC as he is.
November 7th, 2016 at 8:59 pm
Why are we going after Light personnel wise when in reality Lovie had FULL control over the roster the first 2 seasons…and Koetter…with what he has to work with he is doing a great job. He’s an honest no bull coach…it’s refreshing and should be respected ! Defense…well let’s see what changes take place from here moving forward. We will know after Sunday where we really stand there…
November 7th, 2016 at 9:16 pm
Vinik needs to become mayor, buy the bucs, and turn them into a power house while bringing back the community to RayJay and getting all these haters off JBF.
November 7th, 2016 at 9:31 pm
Its not haters on joe bucs its just competent bucs and football fans that know the nfl is set up for parity if you have competent ppl in management and personnel and the bucs have had neither since gruden was fired for going 9-7, then you get the rockstar and jason gump, 2 buffoons who have turned the bucs into the NFCs browns… blow team up let koetter get 4 years, keep jameis and evans and few others get mckay or polian to clean licht and other crap up
November 7th, 2016 at 9:35 pm
Did the Buc’s send the wrong GM to Tennessee ?
November 7th, 2016 at 9:44 pm
321 robinson in tennesse seems to be building from inside out and protecting their QB.. licht drafted a CB and a K
November 7th, 2016 at 10:28 pm
1 big question buc fans. ..should we be taking a closer look at the Glazers for some of the failures of this team some of the hires they have made..the timing of some of the firings …I give them a lot of credit for trying to build a winner they did make a great move to win a super bowl but even with that they set the team back years by giving up a lot of draft picks
November 7th, 2016 at 10:39 pm
I also feel like the wrong GM went to TENN.
November 7th, 2016 at 11:12 pm
Are gm went to the titans we kept the bad one
November 7th, 2016 at 11:25 pm
That’s assuming the Titans would have wanted Licht’s Out…and subsequently Arguayo & Sweezy. Doubtful….I will say that Jon Robinson sure seems like the real deal…fleeced the Rams for a redshirt QB….and has the Titans on the rise.
November 7th, 2016 at 11:26 pm
@stevbob… Lol, set the franchise back when they won a superbowl
November 7th, 2016 at 11:28 pm
@jmn… Exactly right but that’s what happens when you are a bad team.
November 8th, 2016 at 12:19 am
Jason is a okay scout.
But just is in over his head with running the big
Picture
November 8th, 2016 at 12:37 am
Who is this J.R. Sleazy you speak of?
November 8th, 2016 at 3:32 am
When players continuously outlast the staff season after season there’s no reason to try hard. They know the paycheck will keep coming and the staff will be gone in a year or two max. Total lack of accountability.
The current staff needs to be given 4-5 years, period, no wavering. If the players start to see themselves getting cut or traded for lack of effort, and the staff remaining in place, they’ll begin to realize the Glazers have stopped the merry-go-round and have finally figured out that it’s mainly the players that are the problem in Tampa.
Lovie’s pretty much a befuddled-faced idiot so it was necessary to fire him, but the previous coaches just weren’t given the time they needed to change the culture and turn over the roster in a deep way.
This is an absolute certainty: if the Glazers, once again, fire the GM and/or head coach after only two years on the job it will be totally impossible to find remotely competent front office and coaching personnel to give Tampa a chance. Impossible. Tampa will be blacklisted. And at that point the death spiral will be unstoppable for this franchise. They will go into permanent, endless, loss-filled misery and not be able to escape it. Tampa will become Cleveland South.
The Colts owner finally understood this. Every Colts fan this offseason was screaming for the GM and head coach to be fired. What did the owner do? He gave both Grigson and Pagano new contracts. That’s right. He flew in the face of the overemotional fan base and did what was right for the long-term health of his team. He stopped the merry-go-round and voted for stability and sustainability. He jumped off that idiotic emotional rollercoaster and decided he’d keep his feet planted on solid ground for a change. Good call.
November 8th, 2016 at 9:06 am
Shop around with all that money. They need to quit shopping at Wal-Mart and move on to Macy’s. The last good signing was Vincent Jackson. John Elway knows how to shop. The Raiders know how to shop.
November 8th, 2016 at 9:58 am
What about that Kelcie Mccray guy that Licht traded away for a crappy guard that never made the team. He looked decent on the Seahawks starting
November 8th, 2016 at 11:05 am
Sweezy would have to start in order to be finished….. #BustforBucs2016