Latest On Dontari Poe
February 28th, 2017
Update from the Heartland.
Eric Berry or his agent needs to quit crying wolf.
Right around Super Bowl Week, Berry (or his agent) began making noise he would refuse a franchise tag and his return to Kansas City appeared murky. A week or so later, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt all but promised Berry would return.
Yesterday, again, Berry (or his agent) began whining about how his future in Kansas City appeared grim. That, too, was quickly shot down.
Good guy Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star, a true underrated beat guy in NFL circles, instead has depressing news (indirectly) for Bucs fans.
Paylor reports that not only are the Chiefs close to signing Berry, but they won’t stop with Berry, and the imminent re-signing of Berry means the Chiefs will lock up stud defensive tackle Dontari Poe with a franchise tag.
“We’ll just work on that as we go along here,” Hunt said, when asked if Poe will be back. “There’s a sequence we need to approach things with.”
Poe was the guy Joe had eyes set on, thinking Poe would be second in line to Calais Campbell of available free agent defensive linemen. (Joe never bought into the pipe dream of 1) Berry walking away from Kansas City; and, 2) the Bucs signing him.)
It seems the Chiefs have no interest letting Poe test the free agency market, which may only drive up the price for Campbell.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:12 am
Hunt’s words “There’s a sequence we need to approach things with” probably means that Poe will be locked up with the franchise tag like you said Joe, but it also means that Berry has a ton of bargaining power right now I would think. Not especially good news for the Bucs, since contracts for DLinemen and Safeties will be driven way up this year it looks like … and we need BOTH in FA. Add in that we always have to over-pay anyways and it’s starting to look more & more like there won’t be more than 1 or 2 big names coming on down to Tampa, if that.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:29 am
Go get Nick Fairly. He should be a much cheaper option and played much better last year. Could be cause it was a contract year or maybe he is just hitting his stride.
February 28th, 2017 at 6:17 am
I like the idea of Fairly in theory. Get another big boy up front to put next to McCoy, and take away from a division rival at the same time
February 28th, 2017 at 6:19 am
Calais and McDougald will take care immediate needs in the defense to secure the Bucs’s opportunity for the playoffs. Of course, #WeaponsforWinston will follow.
Go Bucs!!!
February 28th, 2017 at 6:27 am
Draft well find the studs and draft them. Thats what good teams fo. Cant pluck everyone if fa
February 28th, 2017 at 6:37 am
sign DeSean Jackson, Tony Jefferson
move up in draft and pick Cook, 2nd rd. get another pass rusher or DT
February 28th, 2017 at 6:42 am
The “A” list of free agents is going to be quite short this year.
All teams are under the salary cap for 2017 and spending on so called top free agents is going to be ridiculous.
But we have a pile of $ to spend and need to be aggressive in pursuing available FAs that are good fits and will help the team win. We can afford to pay top dollar for a couple of good players for the next 2 years.
$25M for Campbell and DJax would be doable for the next 2 years. Just adding those 2 players would likely make a big difference in the Bucs capabilities to win games.
We have the $ – but will our top targets want to talk to us? Will they want to come to Tampa Bay?
Is the arrow pointing up enough yet that FAs are eager to talk to and actually sign with the Bucs?
This is what we do not yet know. We’ll find out soon though.
February 28th, 2017 at 6:50 am
Brandon Williams from Baltimore. Stud stud stud. 340 lbs
February 28th, 2017 at 6:52 am
With one of the deepest drafts at the defensive line in years approaching, every re-signing at that position makes those players more and more obtainable for the Bucs.
February 28th, 2017 at 7:17 am
IM with Bird
Brandon Williams is who I want
He’s fantastic at stopping the run
February 28th, 2017 at 7:20 am
Bird – Williams is so good against the run. Have had him on my Bucs FA radar for quite some time. If he escapes Baltimore I want him.
February 28th, 2017 at 7:33 am
Agree with above comments – Brandon Williams. 6’1 340 pound man beast.
February 28th, 2017 at 7:38 am
Check this out JOE
https://youtu.be/oKzpOJoDRzM
hopefully he is on the radar
February 28th, 2017 at 7:43 am
I haven’t followed Dontari Poe much since his rookie season but after watching him closely in the play-off game against Pittsburgh I wasn’t all that impressed.
February 28th, 2017 at 7:53 am
Why not Hankins?
February 28th, 2017 at 7:57 am
Pickgrin, Spot on. Takes 2 or more to tango. Hopefully we are (or will soon be) working hard to convince a few key free agents to agree to come here. Kind of exciting. Go Bucs!
February 28th, 2017 at 7:58 am
the Bucs arent wasting money on expensive short term (Campbell/DJax) or expensive long term (Poe) type players, the only long term player worth big money is maybe Pryor, and thats scary cause the short term production, next year Evans, Kwon, and maybe Pamphile need to get extended, then Jameis, Ali and possibly DSmith, although GMC will be gone by then, look for the same blueprint from last year, a few mid level players on short term contracts, and draft players to groom, a few years from now we wont be in cap he11
February 28th, 2017 at 8:01 am
Poe sucks and I can think of better ways to waste money
February 28th, 2017 at 8:29 am
I wanted us to draft Brandon Williams a few years ago when he was coming into the league…The Ravens were a top 3 defense against the run last year and Williams had alot to do with that…
February 28th, 2017 at 8:55 am
In regard to Brandon Williams, Ozzie Newsome is no dummie. But he will have to figure out what to do with Williams and Wagner. Tackles are harder to find in today’s NFL and the Ravens have a young Michael Pierce ready to take William’s spot. Which would result in compensatory picks for them if the lose Williams to FA.
I was so on board with the BUCS electing Aaron Donald a few yeas ago if they had the chance. That interior, pocket crushing, DL combo of GMC and Aaron would have been unreal. Glad we have ME but now we have a chance to get the interior DL combo that we’ve been needing. He’s young and such a beast. Would probably LOVE to play next to GMC and with these young Bucs.
Almost want this more than us throwing bills at Campbell.
February 28th, 2017 at 9:06 am
Not there yet I seriously struggle to comprehend what all the fuss over this dude is really about. I’d take Brandin Williams over poe any day.
February 28th, 2017 at 9:45 am
Poe has lost a step the last two years. I t is extremely clear when watching him. I’d rather have Brandon Williams or Jonathan Hankins any day of the week
February 28th, 2017 at 10:25 am
Yeah I was actually reading last night that Poe’s play has dropped off some but he is still a force in run stopping. Sounds like he may have already played his best years. I like Brandon Williams too, let’s get him in for his final contract of 4-5 years with like two guaranteed years. That would hopefully give us a few years of solid d line play where we can draft the replacements
February 28th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Not happening.
February 28th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Still. He’s almost 30 ya know.
February 28th, 2017 at 6:49 pm
Two of the top hopeful free agents off the market. I agree with Joe and never really thought Berry would hit free agency. However, with numerous teams having money to spend and limited top free agents, this off season may hinge on another homerun draft. Hopefully we can pick up an impact player or two in free agency but I would say that is far from a sure thing. Would love to see JW’s lobbying pay off and we bring DeSean in. However, none of these will be easy and guys acting like its just a buffet and we can get everything we want simply wont be possible.
February 28th, 2017 at 10:37 pm
They just signed berry to 13 mil a year. I don’t know if they have the cap space to franchise tag Poe. Cutting Jamal Charles seemed like it barely gave them enough room to sign Berry.