Alterraun Verner … In New England?
April 11th, 2017
Wanted, finally?
One telling, rarely-discussed story of the Bucs offseason is the unemployment of Alterraun Verner.
At 28 years old, the former Pro Bowler and three-season Buccaneer (2014-2016) has no team.
To the best of Joe’s knowledge, Verner is a healthy, supremely-intelligent guy who also appears to be involved in charitable efforts. He hadn’t missed a game since 2014. In addition, Verner seems to be the kind of guy you call when you get arrested on a BS charge — and he shows up to bail you out with a fresh bag of Burger King takeout and a hug.
Unless Joe is missing something, Verner’s 2016 film must be so heinous that no team is willing to offer a job for more than the NFL minimum salary.
Why else would he be on the street in his prime?
Lovie Smith gave up on Verner rather quickly, and so did Mike Smith. Remember, Verner was the opening-day starter in Atlanta, and then he found the bench and couldn’t play nickel back much over Hey Jude Adjei-Barimah and undrafted rookie Javien Elliot.
Verner had a big day in the Bucs’ win against the Seahawks, an emotional day for him after the shocking Thanksgiving weekend death of his father. But still, Verner has no team.
All that scares Joe a bit because the Bucs have depth concerns at cornerback and Verner played ahead of cornerback Josh Robinson last season. So Verner can’t find a job but he played ahead of Robinson?
Anyway, Joe hopes Verner finds a happy ending.
Boston sports radio beast WEEI served up a story yesterday about how Verner caught the eye of Bill Belicheat and, they claim, Verner, Darrelle Revis and Justin Gilbert could be the cornerbacks New England is considering if they trade Malcolm Butler.
How Bucs would it be for Verner to land with the Belicheats and thrive?
April 11th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
it would be nothing new….how many bucs and other teams cast offs has bill made successful…countless….I wouldn’t be surprised one bit….would welcome him back in a heartbeat just like we did conte, I just don’t want to see him starting….if I were verner I would be telling my agent holla at bill for me!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
April 11th, 2017 at 1:11 pm
^^ Exactly. it would be same old same old.
Talib.
Blount.
Revis.
Casillas.
Wright (not as much success as the others, but him and Casillas did get rings.) Hey, Wright caught 6 TDs from Brady. That’s a big contribution. –Joe
April 11th, 2017 at 1:12 pm
If Verner does end up in N.E., I suspect he would play well. The Pats truly have the Midas Touch these days. Almost every player they pick up now shows marked improvement. Their D-Coordinator Matt Patricia ( who looks like your neighbor that doesn’t have a job ) is very underrated and puts players in good position. Of course Belicheat is an all-time great defensive mind to begin with.
April 11th, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Just another good play we couldn’t make work it’s actually sad.
April 11th, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Verner’s tape isnt good.
But teams are more concerned, that he couldnt get on the field, with a quality DC(Smith)
But Verner is Belicheat’s kinda guy.
Very intelligent.
I bet he does well in New England.
And that cool. Hes a good guy!
April 11th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
Always liked him just sad he didn’t pan out
April 11th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
I wish him the best. He was a key contributor on the best game last year.
April 11th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Its possible that we bring Verner back on a cheap 1 year deal if we don’t come out of the draft with any new CB prospects and he’s still on the market due to lack of interest. Would be hard to believe that he wouldn’t be at least our 4th or 5th best CB on the roster if he did come back.
April 11th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
No way in h e double L would I let him walk..all out guys got better with Smitty..all of them..he just needed the Smith to be coached out of him by the correct Smith..
April 11th, 2017 at 2:40 pm
The team that picks him up will be a turn and cover not backpedal and cover defense. Seeing him try and backpedal and cover was painful in training camp last year. Smart guy, good player but the Bucs aren’t the right system for him skill set.
April 11th, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Alsoran Verner
April 11th, 2017 at 3:38 pm
Mike Smith saw the same things as Lovie did. Sometimes guys peak at an earlier age and then that’s it. Same goes with Jonthan Banks. This idea pushed by some that a coach can ruin an NFL player is silly.
April 11th, 2017 at 3:53 pm
I find it 100% amazing that once contributing DBs here are now almost out of the league or glorified bench warmers
– Jonathan Banks
– Alterraun Verner
Why can’t the bucs develop DBs???????????
April 11th, 2017 at 3:55 pm
He was inconsistent. Quit on plays.
Bill will not allow any of his players to quit…and the Pats have the rep to make players listen if they want a ring.
Every other team is all talk and hope. The Pats actually get the job done.
Frankly, I do not understand why all the other teams are not trying to emulate the Pats.
April 11th, 2017 at 3:56 pm
@TheBucsAnthem
Maybe we should get a WR coach to work with them, lol.
April 11th, 2017 at 3:58 pm
I’m more concerned with the loss of McDougald. To the Seahawks no less. He will be for Licht what Bennett was for Dominick.
April 11th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
I’m afraid you may be proven right.
April 11th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
If McDougald ends up being the equivalent of Michael Bennet you were the only guy who saw it coming Bonzai and I’ll give you credit..
I won’t be mad at Light though the way we were all p1ssed at Dominic. Michael Bennet was a known commodity and lead our team in sacks when we let him walk for no reason. No one understood just letting him go. I think you’re the only person I’ve seen say that Mcdougald’s even a solid starting S
imo McDougald was OK in run support and terrible in pass coverage. Tandy was bad in run support but much better in pass coverage
April 11th, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
April 11th, 2017 at 3:58 pm
I’m more concerned with the loss of McDougald. To the Seahawks no less. He will be for Licht what Bennett was for Dominick.
McD will behind Cam and Earl not the Starting LDE with multiple chances to disrupt a game. I don’t really understand him signing there as his playing time will be tied to those guys’ injuries or fatigue.
April 11th, 2017 at 4:28 pm
Maybe he will follow Bradley McDougald to Seattle after they jettison Richard Sherman.
April 11th, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Bonzai lost his man crush. LOL
Dude – calling him the next Michael Bennett is a stretch dontcha think? The Bucs obviously had no interest whatsoever in re-signing McDougald and no other team in the league wanted him for anything more than a low cost back up. Evidenced by the fact that after 3 weeks on the open market generating little interest – he signed a 1 year prove it deal w/ Seattle who was already set at starting Safety for a mere $1.8M. (His 3rd 1 year “prove it” deal in a row – guess what he has yet to “prove it” – LOL)
April 11th, 2017 at 6:10 pm
@ lord
I disagree. Tandy was very good against the run. You may want to go back and review his tape.
April 11th, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Sooooooo I never understood the criticism on Verner. He was a damn good.corner in Tennessee used playing a lot of press. He comes here and is asked to play zone. Saying Lovie benched him means nothing, and I am still not convinced Mike Smith can run a defense. They finished 4th best or whatever it was in the second half of the season, but that was from that 5 game stretch that started with the Bears and then 4 teams sleeping on us. Look at 2 of the final 3 games against New Orleans and Dallas and see the worst defense in the entire league those.two weeks. By the way Verner is unsigned right now like charles, peterson. The guy will start for.someone and show how Mike Smith is ALMOST as bad as Lovie.
April 11th, 2017 at 7:46 pm
This guy got burnt worse than snowbirds at Clearwater beach.
April 11th, 2017 at 7:47 pm
Actually I am also in the crowd that Bradley mcdougald has just started reaching his potential. Some Bloom early some Bloom late I think we’re going to be regretting letting him go.
April 11th, 2017 at 8:08 pm
The Pats thought Leonard Johnson was good enough…..and Johnson actually didn’t play that badly for the Patriots when he was with them.
Hard to put verner in the doghouse when you had little pass rush going since he arrived in Tampa…and probably played more zone than he did in Tennesee.
April 11th, 2017 at 11:39 pm
If Robinson is playing CB for us we are in trouble. He is a special teams stud but terrible in coverage.
April 12th, 2017 at 12:10 am
Verner was terrible last year when he played – he stood out and that’s saying something considering how bad most of the secondary was for much of the season.
April 12th, 2017 at 12:33 am
Hey joes. I can’t find a way to contact except a comment on a page. I live in Idaho now and love the big dog discussion every week but your radio section is a hit and miss. If I can’t catch it live then it seems I miss it! Big dog is in our hearts, which makes it even worse worse when I can’t hear the replay whenever. I can get Ira (or Irv) any moment but the radio link sucks
April 12th, 2017 at 12:35 am
Hey joes. I can’t find a way to contact except a comment on a page. I live in Idaho now and love the big dog discussion every week but your radio section is a hit and miss. If I can’t catch it live then it seems I miss it! Big dog is in our hearts, which makes it even worse worse when I can’t hear the replay whenever. I can get Ira (or Irv) any moment but the radio link sucks
April 12th, 2017 at 12:50 am
Kory:
Will pass along your sincere thoughts to the Big Dog.
As for our radio spots on WDAE-AM 620, we often link to the audio the next day focusing on a subject matter discussed during the show. Also, we retweet the link from WDAE-AM 620’s Twitter feed.
Just FYI, no appearance this afternoon/week as the Rays have an afternoon game today.