“I Don’t See It Being A Good Fit”
April 1st, 2017
Intrigue.
Bucs fans got worked up last night and it had nothing to do with cold beer on a Friday night.
The personal quarterback coach of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston — that would be George Whitfield — twittered out yet another photo of Jameis posing with free agent running back Adrian Peterson, 32. Also included in the photo were Bucs receivers Mike Evans and Josh Huff.
Naturally, many Bucs fans pitched a tent seeing this and concluded that before all is said and done, Jameis and his crootin‘ will ensure Peterson plays in pewter and red this fall.
Brian Baldinger, who logged 11 years in the NFL, is not convinced. In a segment on NFL Network last night, the topic of Peterson and the Bucs came up. Baldinger suggested Peterson is all but washed up and thus, would be a bad mix for a young team like the Bucs.
“One thing Jason Licht [said], he said ‘we are a young team.’ And he specifically said, Jason, when he mentioned Jameis and Mike Evans and Donovan Smith and Ali [Marpet]. It’s a young team. And that’s not what Adrian is.
“Now, we went and watched all 37 [of Peterson’s] runs today from last year. That’s a small sample size in his great career. There were a lot of one- and two-yard runs last year. A lot. And it wasn’t just the line. He didn’t’ look like the same, explosive guy. Lot of jump-stops, a lot of hesitation. Wasn’t running through tackles the way we are used to seeing.
“Now, it could have just been a bad year and it all goes away. Maybe he gives that team the Adrian Peterson we are used to. I don’t see it being a good fit in Tampa Bay.”
Joe hates to suggest the following because for so many Bucs fans, it will be like mom catching you watching porn.
In the past few weeks, while Joe was in Indianapolis at the combine or in Phoenix at the NFL owners meetings surrounded by NFL bigshots and Bucs movers and shakers, Joe heard nothing to suggest Peterson is on the radar of the Bucs.
Now this doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter surely seemed a little more than intrigued earlier this week when he spoke of Jameis and Peterson working out together. And we cannot fully discount the power of Jameis and the influence the Bucs quarterback wields at One Buc Palace.
If you had to put a gun to Joe’s head, Joe would say, at best, the chances of Peterson winding up with the Bucs this season is 15 percent.
April 1st, 2017 at 1:44 am
If the draft doesn’t fall the Bucs’ way at the RB position, and Martin looks bad in training camp, I could see AP being an option. Other than that I agree the odds are pretty low.
April 1st, 2017 at 1:44 am
If it were to happen it would definitely be AFTER the draft. Plus the other old guy in the picture is Tim Grover (Jordans old trainer) and he is JW3 trainer as well as AP trainer. So that could explain why they were together.
April 1st, 2017 at 1:54 am
Dallas, Mike:
Totally agree. ***IF*** this were to happen, it would be after the draft.
April 1st, 2017 at 5:05 am
The Bucs are a win now team – and once again they don’t seem to be thinking that way which is obvious by this lackluster offseason. For AD – he should be an option if Martin isn’t in the plans or looks out of shape/not right here in a couple of weeks. This sort of reminds me of 97/98 – you had Dan Marino wanting to come here – sure he was old, but who cares, Dan Marino at 35% is better than a 110% Trent Dilfer. To think how bad Peyton was in his last year -Mario was better than that and that Bucs defense was better than that Broncos defense. But they said at the time we are young – we don’t want to go old – blah blah blah. Unless you’re out of it completely you should play to with. The Bucs went 2-2 versus the top 4 seeded teams in the playoffs last year – they have a chance to win it all if they get hot at the end of the year. Sign everyone to short term deals and go for it. They should have got a 3rd WR and get AD and draft someone – do what Ira talks about the Bucs having done in the last – get a vet and a rookie and stack the positons so the next wave is ready to go. Think of how different the franchise is if they do pull the trigger on Favre in what, 2008, and you got that defense which still had life. This isn’t a building team – they got a chance to win now – do it.
April 1st, 2017 at 5:14 am
When there is so much talent at the running back position in the draft…it just doesn’t make sense.
April 1st, 2017 at 5:31 am
This needs to be and it needs to be done now. Signing AP would only add experience to our young team and young RB’s. AP once won the MVP, and that comes with experience that can rub off in the locker room as well as on the field. He does not have to be AP aim his prime. AP in the backfield is enough to have teams consider putting 8 players in the box but they can’t because we have Evans and Desean. AP with the addition of Desean makes our 9-7 offense more of a threat.
I want AP and a young RB in the early rounds. Preferably Dalvin at #19 so he can learn from AP and possibly play if AP agents hurt that seems to be everyone’s biggest concern. AP went on Instagram to say his asking price was $8 million. Doug $7 million salary this year is voided from his PED use. Trade him or release him this offseason but sign AP.
Former MVP player in AP who can play week one @ $8 million or $7 million dollar Drug Martin who can play week four??? Doug makes $7 mills per bcuz of that great season where he ended up second in rushing behind Jon other then AP. Either way we would have a veteran running back who proved themselves to be a top running back two years ago.
How is AP not a weapon for Winston and a nightmare for opposing teams???
Cmon guys this is not Madden and we are not signing him to a life long deal. 3 year contract for $20 million. $10 guaranteed but packed with ton of incentives. So it’s pretty much a one year trial.
April 1st, 2017 at 5:36 am
I want to win now and if the Glazers/ Licht do then signing AP would signify to the team they believe we can win now!!! Why not win now while still drafting a RB for the future. Sign AP before the draft so you can draft the best available at 19 and not be strapped to picking up a RB @ 19.
Sign vets to teach the draft picks at the same position.
Use free agency to plug your team needs so you can go into the draft and get the best players available and not based on need.
April 1st, 2017 at 5:47 am
I’m not saying sign him right away but as it has been said bring him in!
Make a try and eventually makes him practice during underwear football training camp and see what happens: if you feel a kind of magic sign him on one year deal, with incetives, if there is no magic let him go elsewhere!
But give it a try.
I don’t see the big risk, initially we were supposed to pay Doug Martin 7 millions. This money is still available: just in case, Doug Martin will surely sign for 1 million and you could still have AP for 6-7 millions for one year.
April 1st, 2017 at 5:47 am
@Rod Munch
You are exactly right.
We should be in “win-now” mode.
GMC has two more years of elite quickness. LVD is in his prime. Brent Grimes is stilla top 10 CB.
Why arent we trying to win now???
We could have signed Dontari Poe!!
We could have added Cordarelle Patterson as our return man and backup to Desean Jackson!
We could have signed Martellus Bennett on a two year deal.
We could have added many players on 1-2 year contracts!!!
April 1st, 2017 at 5:55 am
Is no one else impressed that Jameis is working out with 2 of his Bucs receivers in the off-season on on his time & dime? The chemistry between Mike Evans & Jameis is obvious, but it’s interesting that Josh Huff is in there too.
Found a quote from Jameis last December about Josh Huff in a Greg Auman article: “Josh Huff, man, he’s blazing. (He) has a lot of abilities that would definitely add to our repertoire. (Chemistry) is getting better and better. … We’ve got to get that connection, to continue to work more and more, but we’re looking forward to taking that challenge this week.” Maybe we’re overlooking something more obvious by focusing instead on Adrian Peterson?
April 1st, 2017 at 5:57 am
The Bucs are in a 2-4 year window with Koetter and this team.
April 1st, 2017 at 6:24 am
You have absolutely nothing to lose signing him for 2 years. It doesn’t change the way you draft either. Koetter didn’t mind picking up Steven Jackson when he had a lot less left In the tank. Peterson is a different dude. He only carried the ball 37 times, he didn’t look good the season he carried the ball 21 times either then he won the rushing title at 30 years old.Any time he has had a full season of carries he has avaerged just under 1500 yards and just over 12 tds. He has been on the opposite side of the spectrum of consistency compared to Martin
April 1st, 2017 at 7:36 am
Rod Munch – WTF are you talking about? There was never any serious talk of Marino coming to the Bucs???
Teacherman – Just because Licht didn’t sign every FA on your wish list doesn’t mean we aren’t trying to win now.
As long as he is healthy and his head is in the right place, I see no reason not to bring AP in if he will sign for close to what we were going to pay Martin.
2 years – $15M w/ 1/2 guaranteed in 2017. Draft a RB and let him learn from a 1st ballot HOFer.
Its not like we can’t afford it with like $29M in cap space left. Would still be plenty left to sign Evans to a new deal if that’s what they intend to do.
April 1st, 2017 at 7:37 am
He’s had a wonderful career, I think it would be a good thing if he finished with a bang on another team not being the Bucs.
April 1st, 2017 at 7:45 am
Bottom line is AP is not a starting running back anymore. If you can bring him to compete with our other backups, and he wins a spot, then great. If you bring him in with bigger expectations than that, then I say no way. We don’t need a old starting back who will replicate Doug’s 2.9 ypc average. I hope we get a stud RB at the 19th pick!
April 1st, 2017 at 7:48 am
At some point, he will be signed. It will be determined by the price. If we were to pay him 2yr $8M for $4M per yr, would anyone have a problem with that? Probably only Jacquiz who might still be the best back on the team.
April 1st, 2017 at 8:08 am
I’d rather have Blount if we don’t get the back we want in the draft.
April 1st, 2017 at 8:09 am
All I know is if we pick Dalvin Cook I don’t see him being worth the 19th pick.
April 1st, 2017 at 8:31 am
Brian Baldinger is the epitome of a moronic meathead. He is wrong 98% of the time. Unfortunately I have to hear him 2-3 times a week on sports talk radio up here in Philly.
While I think AP is not going to be a 1,000 yard back this year, he could still be a fit. It is not AP or a young back as the only RB pick ups. It should/will be AP and a young back. I know he had the off-field issue a couple years ago, but prior to that you didn’t hear anything negative. Also, he’s a freak in terms of training and drive. Remember how he trained after his ACL injury and basically reset the expected timeline for recovery? That is the type mentorship needed for a young team. So while Baldinger is right ~2% of the time, I don’t think he’s right here. He lacks the ability to think on multiple levels of fit. AP and a young back would be a great fit.
April 1st, 2017 at 8:31 am
I believe there is not a lot to put into these workouts as the Bucs are waiting for the draft to first see if any of the young RB’s are available that they want in the draft. Still need to see how Doug is in Training Camp and if we don’t grab a RB in the draft and if Doug doesn’t look up to speed along with our depth then we can look at the FA market for N AP or say a Jamal Charles. If AP is willing to come to us at a reasonable contract deal then I say go for it to build up our RB depth. Our Oline play will be much better in 2017 so he could benefit from running behind a younger stronger Oline.
April 1st, 2017 at 8:40 am
I’ll leave it to Jason Licht to decide if he fits and to get the money right. As for as AP being washed up, just looking at that photo, he looks like he’s been carved from a block of granite.
With AP the psychology of the game changes. Just the sight of AP in the backfield and DJax on the outside, opposing DCs are going to have fits trying to decide to load the box or cover deep.
Not holding out hope that this happens, wouldn’t be disappointed if it did!
April 1st, 2017 at 8:47 am
The Bucs are “a young team” because dominik was a horrible GM!!!!!!!!!!
April 1st, 2017 at 8:53 am
So Kevin a back that can take it to the house on any given play, can line up outside and catch the ball, can earn the hard to earn yards and will force teams to fear the run is not worth the 19th pick?
April 1st, 2017 at 8:55 am
We seem to like “bridge” players so what’s the problem, everyone including myself seems to have at least a small problem with Doug M. but if he is healthy and in shape with his head in the right place let him compete, as for AP bring him in as the “bridge player” and DRAFT MIXON! Oh he has a similar running style, match/made! CONTINUE TO BUILD THE DAMN WALL!! HUFF IS PUTTING IN WORK!
April 1st, 2017 at 9:23 am
How is Peterson a bad fit? Even at 50%, AP is better and faster than Doug Martin and Charles Sims! I hope the Bucs draft Dalvin Cook and sign AP to a 1 year contract to mentor and split the carries with Cook! That would be a great 1-2 punch in the backfield!
April 1st, 2017 at 9:25 am
I watched his film from his last season.
Hes not the back he used to be.
It would be cool to sign him.
But he wont be cheap.
And he may not have anything left
If he would sign a contract- with no guarantees,
Then we could see if he has anything left during Training camp.
He’d get the Bucs on “Hard Knocks”, thats for certain!
But the Best thing for the Bucs- Is to draft a great young back, and let him grow up with the team
April 1st, 2017 at 9:31 am
Except for one thing. Jason Licht himself said that he will have to ask Jameis how Adrian Peterson looked out there. Why would he want to know? Hmmmn?
That comment was right here on this website yesterday.
April 1st, 2017 at 9:54 am
Out of the players in the picture, I would rather have AP than Josh Huff. Just sayin.
April 1st, 2017 at 9:59 am
yeah about the only impactful plays Huff had last year where those 2 kickoffs that hit him in the facemask and went out of bounds for a huge loss.
April 1st, 2017 at 10:00 am
I see free agency as the icing on the cake for the best built teams. You build championship teams through the draft.
Hence, AP is not a good fit. Cook-McCaff are best fit. This draft is deep at RB; team could go OL at 19 then RB in round 2 (Mack). This is what I would do but “In Licht we trust”.
April 1st, 2017 at 10:41 am
Peterson mentoring MIXON! We need a RB and this is the most complete one in the Draft as far as football, no weaknesses. Coach K, winning is why you are here. Now get that Big F*ckin Stick Out and don’t let this guy get away!!!Damn what the people say, Draft MIXON SUPER BOWL BOUND! But CONTINUE TO BUILD THE WALL! Everyone deserves a second chance but TRUMP!! ADMIT THE MISTAKE!!
April 1st, 2017 at 11:05 am
Geez folks…. Can we move on from this we need a RB talk? Jaquizz and Simms heavy for the first 3 games… And then still one of v the most underrated RB Martin returns…. Probably stronger than ever…..
My opinion? Don’t need a RB
April 1st, 2017 at 12:32 pm
LOL What exactly was underrated about Martin’s league-worst 2.9 yards per carry?
April 1st, 2017 at 1:01 pm
Signing AP would be just DUMB.
You’ve got a great young nuclesus mixed with some solid vets in their primes. Now is not the time to start adding “names” well past their primes. I really hope the Bucs are smarter than this.
April 1st, 2017 at 2:28 pm
LOL What exactly was underrated about Martin’s league-worst 2.9 yards per carry?
Almost 5 yards a carry the year before….. Guy has his worst year of his career and people want to move on?…. BUCS are preaching “family”…. They need to keep Martin around
April 1st, 2017 at 6:13 pm
Sign AP on the cheap and your RB worries are over for this year and possibly next year and you can focus on more important things like DL,OL, S,WR,TE,or maybe CB. Also let’s not forget that there’s a young man coming out of Tallahassee next year by the name of Derwin James that has many NFL general managers salavating.
April 1st, 2017 at 10:08 pm
I’d say a 1% chance. Guy is 33 years old. Joe and half of he bucs fans here didnt want to re sign martin when he was 27 yrs old because he was getting too old.
Hard no on peterson. He was absolute garbage in his 2 games last season. If you want to hate on martin because he had a real bad year last year, stop looking at AP who was worse and is coming off of a year with another major injury. Pay AP 8 mil for 3 or 4 games before another knee blows out? No thanks i’ll take my chances in the draft or with doug Martin.
April 1st, 2017 at 10:14 pm
Maybe joe hasnt done the research… he is banging the gong for a player that was actually a lot worse than Martin last season. In 3 games AP posted a 1.9 yard average per rush. But please keep spreading your alternative facts sayin martin had the worse average. (Im sure your basing it off of so many carries per uear. But it should not hide the fact that AP was far worse than even martin was last season.
April 1st, 2017 at 10:17 pm
I goggled adrian peterson, the first 2 or 3 articles were how the bucs were “definitely not” going after peterson.