Bucs Pass On Riley Cooper?
May 7th, 2017
Finished?
It seems Riley Cooper’s days with the Bucs lasted about as long as a cold beer on a hot summer day.
Per the fingers of Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the veteran six-year NFL receiver is toast with the Bucs.
This is a bit surprising to Joe. Cooper clearly stood out as a receiver in rookie/tryout/free agent minicamp this past weekend. Then again, a six-year veteran should against UPS clerks.
Somewhere, misplaced Calgary Stampeder Donteea Dye breathes a sigh of relief. It seems the Bucs just can’t get rid of that guy.
May 7th, 2017 at 7:55 pm
It’s a shame what his legacy will be.
May 7th, 2017 at 7:59 pm
Coopee will sign wth another team most likely anyway
#cutdye
May 7th, 2017 at 8:06 pm
I wouldn’t relate Cooper being cut to Dye making the team at all. There is still Martino and Reedy (who beat out Dye last year, correct?) on top of the clear fact that DJax and Godwin are adds. With Hump and Mike Evans that’s six, and if I’m correct, that’s usually what they carry. I’m pretty stoked that for the first time in years, we’re not wondering who #2 and #3 will be. Knock on wood…always.
May 7th, 2017 at 8:11 pm
I more worry about QB than WRs. I called in and talked to Chris Landry last week and asked if the Bucs would be better off with taking the best out there with game experience, such as Brandon Weeden. I was suprised he said “NO” and that Ryan Griffen is the better of the two, despite Griffin having never taken a snap. Wow. Now, he also said if Jameis goes down, the Bucs are done. I don’t agree that’s the case if he’s down for a few games. Even four…if the Bucs have a QB that can manage and not lose a game, they can win half of them, which is what back up QBs are supposed to do. So while I’m happy the WR depth is looking pretty decent, I’m petrified over QB….
May 7th, 2017 at 8:25 pm
He couldn’t help himself and called Koetter a N word.
May 7th, 2017 at 8:30 pm
Bucs history with players from UF hasn’t been good at all… So this isn’t a shock….
May 7th, 2017 at 8:30 pm
@Fred — Keep in mind that even WITH Winston, the Bucs won just over half of their games last year. Without him, they would certainly be toast. Remember the Cowboys two years ago? Romo got hurt and they wound up with the #4 pick.
May 7th, 2017 at 8:30 pm
If they are willing to part ways with Riley, It tells me that this Sperbeck kid has been flashing.
I’ve seen a couple clips of him making some wild catches.
Their choosing to go with a young developmental guy over a dude who has had 4 nothing seasons in the NFL and 1 half way decent one.
Probably the smart move.
May 7th, 2017 at 8:33 pm
*they’re*
May 7th, 2017 at 8:39 pm
WR Jordan Westerkemp stood out at the mini-camp. They don’t call him the ‘magician’ for nothing………………………………https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGVR-PIAjT4
May 7th, 2017 at 8:40 pm
Lol Lakeland, Idk, Kenny Bell has scarred me when it comes to Nebraska WR’s.
May 7th, 2017 at 8:41 pm
Meanwhile over on the four letter behind a paywall in Todd McShay’s “Way too early mock draft 2018” he has us picking 11th next yr.
Do they dish out crack at the four letter?
May 7th, 2017 at 8:53 pm
SB…Todd McShay was going by Football Outsiders 2017 predictions. They pick the Bucs to go 7-9.
May 7th, 2017 at 8:54 pm
Blake…did you see that grab by Westerkemp yesterday?
May 7th, 2017 at 8:59 pm
Blake..I get most of my scouting reports from Greg Gabriel and Football Weekly.This is what they had to say about Jordan Westerkemp……………………A productive, sure-handed receiver. Runs good routes, can uncover vs man or zone. Very good competing for the ball in traffic. Quick, strong and elusive after the catch. Strong leader. Excellent football character.
Not quite as tall or fast as you would like. Not a deep threat. Had a late season injury that has to be checked but he did play in the East-West Shrine game.
Westerkamp was a productive three-year starter. He has lined up both outside and in the slot. He is a savvy route runner with nice quickness and hands. He also has outstanding toughness and does a great job coming up with the ball in traffic. I see him as an eventual starter as a slot receiver in the NFL. While he is going through the developmental process, he should be able to contribute on special teams. He isn’t special, but he can do things a lot of other players can’t or won’t and he is the type of player winning teams want.
That don’t sound like Kenny Bell
May 7th, 2017 at 9:00 pm
I meant Pro Football Weekly
May 7th, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Hopefully he was cut because the other young talents brought was to good to pass up. I could easily see dontae dye not making the 53 man roster this year.
May 7th, 2017 at 9:02 pm
When did this fan base get full of sjw and special snowflakes? Holy cow
May 7th, 2017 at 9:03 pm
Chris…fair point…but keep in mind, that was with Evans and Humprhries and Brate, and not much run game, and up-and-down D. But they were still one win from the playoffs. Not to mention 9-7 is huge over 8-8. Lots of variables, sure, but let’s say Jameis is good enough even for 8-4, a back up QB that does not outright lose the game for them and relies on his team to win half, still gets the Bucs to 10-6. I’m shooting for a healthy Jameis all year and think they should easily improve by at least one game. I never predict records…to me, at the start of the season anything less than 16-0 is a defeatist attitude.
May 7th, 2017 at 9:03 pm
$
May 7th, 2017 at 9:09 pm
Maybe some chemistry issues w/ other players?
May 7th, 2017 at 9:12 pm
@LakeLand
I was joking my friend.
Westerkemp looks solid dude.
May 7th, 2017 at 9:25 pm
LakelandBuc/Blake
FYI!
Greg AumanVerified account @gregauman 8h8 hours ago
More
Bucs are not signing tryout WR Jordan Westerkamp from Nebraska. He’s headed to Browns rookie minicamp next weekend. Looked sharp, healthy.
May 7th, 2017 at 9:27 pm
Hump 2.2 not bad at all!
May 7th, 2017 at 9:30 pm
Im.surprised. Dude was good not long ago. Must be work ethic and attitutude.
OH WELL GO BUCS!!!
May 7th, 2017 at 9:30 pm
@ Blake: agreed. If Cooper isn’t signed, most likely means they like some of the youngsters. You never know until they get to workout against DB’s…
@ Lakeland: that Westerkemp video reminds me of Humphries in college.
I suspect the WR corp overall will look very little like 2016, a seriously good thing.
May 7th, 2017 at 9:34 pm
I was rooting for him, I know he can play.
But it may be best for the locker room to let him go.
But if that is the case why bring him in.
I trust Koetter !
May 7th, 2017 at 9:43 pm
“Then again, a six-year veteran should against UPS clerks.
Somewhere, misplaced Calgary Stampeder Donteea Dye breathes a sigh of relief. It seems the Bucs just can’t get rid of that guy.”
Was is the point of this self-deprecating stab at humor? Give it up Joe’s, you come off as real jackwagons.
May 7th, 2017 at 10:08 pm
Watch out for BoBo Wilson. They say he was explosive off the line playing the slot position and was also returning kicks the past too days. Plus look at his connection with Jameis. He had his best stats at FSU when Jameis was there. He has great quickness in the slot and can spell Humpries without a dropoff.
May 7th, 2017 at 10:15 pm
Meh, whatever.
May 7th, 2017 at 10:15 pm
Don’t get to excited about BoBo Wilson. Solid special team player that about it
May 7th, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Good, now we need to go after K.D. Cannon and Devote’ Fields.
May 7th, 2017 at 10:33 pm
Donteea Dye should be just as worried. He’s got 4 ahead of him right off the bat. Derel Walker probably has some things to offer plus CFL experience. That’s 5. If we carry 6, I think Sperbeck has more to offer than Dye.
May 7th, 2017 at 10:44 pm
I thought Jordan Westerkamp had a lot to offer. He was 2nd team All-Big 10 in 2015. Chris Godwin and Michael Thomas was 3rd team.I guess he wasn’t what the Bucs was looking for in a WR.
May 7th, 2017 at 10:45 pm
He may not be fully recovered from his injury.
May 7th, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Radioactive…best to move on.
May 7th, 2017 at 11:05 pm
K_bassuka,
The 49ers thought enough of K.D. Cannon a week ago to give him a $5,000 signing bonus and a $40,000 guaranteed salary and he is waived after rookie minicamp. Cannon is an above average WR. Something’s wrong with this picture! Caveat Emptor!
May 7th, 2017 at 11:06 pm
Thats a little surprising. I would imagine that Cooper would be miles ahead of those other guys. They must think one of those lesser known guys could have some potential whereas Cooper has hit his ceiling. Plus factoring in Coopers veteran salary compared to that of an undrafted free agent and it just makes more sense to try to develop one of those younger guys. Plus its not like we’re desperate for just any receiver. We actually appear to have some depth at the position. Maybe some team with very little at receiver will sign him.
May 7th, 2017 at 11:09 pm
macabee…I heard that he was a cancer and had a bad attitude. So John Lynch sent him packing.
May 7th, 2017 at 11:13 pm
This is news to Joe, who actually was at camp watching with his own eyes.
May 7th, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Lol Joe I did see one good catch he made.
May 7th, 2017 at 11:33 pm
Macabee
I’m aware of that, but character didn’t stop us from signing Cooper. Not saying to give them vrazy contracts but we should bring them on board on prove it deals.
May 8th, 2017 at 12:42 am
Who the heck is Westerkemp.
May 8th, 2017 at 12:56 am
All those rookies are being paid and have money committed to them. Cooper was never signed to a contract so he was not cut because he was never signed. I believe if we sign him we have to guarantee a certain about as a vested vet with so many years in the league. I believe they saw what they needed to and can bring him back at a later date if they are interested
May 8th, 2017 at 1:16 am
Eric..Jordan Westerkamp
May 8th, 2017 at 6:55 am
Joe, interesting that you feel the need to take jabs at players like Dye who is simply trying to live out a dream of playing professional football. What’s the purpose?
May 8th, 2017 at 6:58 am
Props to me. I called it.
May 8th, 2017 at 7:31 am
Although Jaboo, Freddie Martino and the velvet lounge of the Vero Beach Ramada Inn is a classic.
May 8th, 2017 at 7:49 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says
“Riley Cooper is camp meat, if he even makes it that far.”
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/05/rudy-slot-wrs/#comment-3817810
Meanwhile, without showing the name of who said this (you can thank me later):
“R u serious? Freddie Martino n Derek Walker over Riley Cooper… …Cooper has a chip on his shoulder, is hungry n bring lots of NFL/playoff experience.”
May 8th, 2017 at 8:41 am
Whoever the 5th and 6th receiver will likely have to be a potential ST demon, maybe Riley ain’t that guy t 30
May 8th, 2017 at 8:49 am
I said it before, I’ll say it again:
Opening day WR roster:
1. Mike Evans. 2500+ yards last 2 years
2. DeSean Jackson. 1000+ yards last year, injured year before (but 1000+ years before that)
3. Derel Walker. 2600+ yards last 2 years (CFL)
4. Humphries. 600+ yards last year in limited action
5. Godwin. Rookie, possibly elite talent
6. Freddie Martino. Only 142 yards in only limited (8?) opportunities, scored a TD and averaged 17+ yards per reception.
It’s possible #6 will change, but I think this will be it.
Jason Licht is building with an eye to the future. It’s taken him a couple years to find the right mix of guys at the position, but he’s done a swell job.
Frankly, I don’t see how we, as fans, cannot be excited about the position. It is probably the best WR group in the league now.
May 8th, 2017 at 8:50 am
So far as Walker, Joe’s camp notes say it all:
“Joe has to give it up for 25-year-old wide receiver Derel Walker, Mike Evans’ good friend from Texas A&M. The CFL star signed this spring by the Bucs looked damn good out here. The dude is long and athletic, and he was catching everything from all angles.”
Still early, but great sign.
May 8th, 2017 at 8:53 am
I say there is only one flexible spot on the WR group…the 6th spot. The rest are locked, barring injury or self destruction.
So Koetter and Licht have to be very picky while maintaining an eye for the future. They don’t want to miss out on a promising young player because they take a risk on a guy who has had chances already.
May 8th, 2017 at 9:11 am
This is one less story line for the Hard Knocks film crew, a needless distraction.
May 8th, 2017 at 9:44 am
Life is a bitch. What goes around, comes around. You reap what you sow!
May 8th, 2017 at 11:33 am
Coop needs to join one of the local Yakety yak sports talk shows cause his playin days are done. Besides..Donte Dye makes plays….in practice.
May 8th, 2017 at 11:56 am
They passed on him cause he’s better off in new England where he’ll fit right in so he can make all his racial slurs and nothing will happen to him i can’t wait till week 5 when we play new England so they get the same treatment they gave the baseball player and i aint throwing peanuts what i throw and say will make a stand and try to end this stupid race issue we’re all the same white black or whatever why can’t we just eat drink and be merry together i don’t understand
May 8th, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Good, I’m glad they did not invite him back and I hope no NFL team does. Let that be a lesson to other racists who want to get drunk and hurl racial insults. Better that hardworking young men like Dye, Martino and Reedy be given an opportunity to pursue their NFL dream without depreciating insulting nicknames that have long since ceased to be funny than let that pos cooper take up a roster spot.
May 8th, 2017 at 3:48 pm
Dark horse in the WR race
Levi Copelin
Ya heard it here first.
If Reilly earned a chance, he should get it.
If not, then we turn to younger legs.
When our starters are dinged up, and cant play- who helps Jameis the most?
Reilly Cooper, or Freddie Martino?
May 8th, 2017 at 4:57 pm
I said no when it was first announced…..eventually they agreed. Thanks.