“Hurt The Fabric Of The Franchise”
July 18th, 2017
Mark Dominik speaks
Former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik was chatting on the SiriusXM NFL Radio airwaves this morning.
Dominik is a frequent co-host and once in a while he’ll reveal an insightful Buccaneers nugget.
Hey, Dominik spent 19 years in the organization and still has contacts on the inside. So Joe pays attention.
Today, Dominik was talking about the GM/owner relationship and how important communication is. He also dove into the challenge of big decisions by a GM and what goes into them, and he referenced the famous Bill Walsh philosophy of dumping a player a year too early being preferable to ditching him a year too late.
And that’s when Dominik talked about the “brutal” start to his regime when he released Derrick Brooks. Dominik used the proverbial “we” when talking about the Brooks call, but he sure sounded like a guy who didn’t want to do it.
“I still believe it hurt the fabric of the franchise,” Dominik said of cutting Brooks.
Raheem Morris was 32 when he got the head coaching job and Brooks quickly was collaborating with new defensive coordinator Jim Bates. Brooks seemed like the perfect guy for a new regime and a young head coach. Nope. Out the door you go.
Joe will never understand Tampa Bay’s moves/non-moves during the Raheem era — nor will Joe ever feel like the truth was uncovered. Too many of those moves were downright inexplicable. That includes the public nose-holding and head-shaking at free agency despite having a very young 10-6 team on the rise after the 2010 season.
Throw in letting Michael Bennett walk after the 2012 campaign for no good reason, and Joe waved a white flag on trying to figure things out.
In came Lovie Smith who preferred Josh McCown over Darrelle Revis, and it’s easy to understand why Joe is only 19 months removed from depression, anxiety, night terrors and a horrible streak of broken remote control devices.
July 18th, 2017 at 11:40 am
It is amazing how things have changed so quickly for the Bucs.
Coaching and front office were in the bottom five in the league and now I think the front office has moved into the top 10 and I think the Bucs coaching staff is certainly in an upward trajectory.
July 18th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Spandau Ballet-lovin’ former GM Mark Dominik was handed the thankless job of cleaning house in the transition into a new era, but his inability to draft well was his undoing.
July 18th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Actually I just saw a post that showed the entire 2013 draft class. The only team in the NFL that still has every drafted pick still under contract in the NFL – Tampa Bay Buccaneers…the only team that can claim that….crazy
July 18th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
“I know why Says:
July 18th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Actually I just saw a post that showed the entire 2013 draft class. The only team in the NFL that still has every drafted pick still under contract in the NFL – Tampa Bay Buccaneers…the only team that can claim that….crazy”
What lol? The only player who got a 2nd deal out of that class was Will Gholston.
R1 – Revis rehab rental year
R2 – Johnathon Banks – fighting to make a roster with the Bears
R3- Mike Glennon – gone to Chicago on a deal everyone laughed at
R4 – Akeem Spence – not re-signed. Decent rotational guy but nothing special
R5 – WIll Gholston – good job Mark!
R5 – Steven Means – gone
R6 – Mike James – gone
July 18th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Brooks was released because he was so slow the play-by-play guys were laughing at him trying to play during the broadcasts. I will never forget when that happened.
So cutting him was the right thing. And obviously it was time, because he retired shortly after.
July 18th, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Watching the Bucs vs KC game week 11 last year.
Aguayo won us that game. I had forgotten that.
July 18th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Joe…another hurt on the space time continuity continuum …..where the hell has “morning cup of joe” gone?
July 18th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
@bonzai…I remember that….I too felt sick to my stomach watching the great DB look so sad….you could tell his mental part of the game was still sharp but he just wasn’t able to get to his spot quick enough and was a step slow….still think they should have let him go out on his own terms…..IMO, you don’t do a future HOF that have been the face of your franchise and role model for the community like that…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 18th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Come on Lord. I said just the drafted players in 2013 are in the league not just Bucs. Under contract with another team. Understand?
July 18th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
I know why
Ok man got you – I mis-read it then lol sorry
I will be surprised regardless if Banks/Means/James all make final rosters this year
July 18th, 2017 at 1:01 pm
@bonzai… the d holding a playoff team at home to 17 pts and the conte endzone int won the game, but yes aquayo going 4 for 4 with a long of 41 was almost like he belonged in the nfll.
July 18th, 2017 at 1:26 pm
Pushing Brooks out the door was one of the most classless moves this organization ever pulled. Actually I should revise that to this ownership group because Culverhouse was pretty much the definition of classless – but I digress…
You let the man play another year or two if he wants to and is capable. If he wasn’t good enough to make the final cut – then thats one thing but that certainly wouldn’t have been the case in 2009. You let an iconic player like that compete and end his career on his own terms.
CLASSLESS. And for no good reason other than saving some $. This was the peak of the Glazers 8 year run of being “thrifty” – aka the lowest payroll of any team in the league year in and year out. Shame SHAME!!
July 18th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Bonzai to take it one step further he could barely walk the last two years here. Saw him quite frequently then and still do. Each of our star players from that era were given at least an extra year or two because of their loyalty to the organization.
July 18th, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Lynch was told by team doctors he was risking permanent damage by continuing to play. That is a fact!! The Bucs did not want to take that chance. He did go on to have success with Denver, but one wrong hit would have left him in a wheel chair or even dead.
July 18th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
I was at the Bucs Giants playoff game and I remember one play vividly. Eli threw into the endzone with us leading 7-0. 55 was right there and the old DB would have swatted the pass or maybe picked it off. He was a step slow and Eli threaded it in for a short TD. Game momentum changed on that play and I remember thinking how did Derrick miss that play, but he was on fumes at that point of his career.
July 18th, 2017 at 2:32 pm
Ya I actually agree 100% w/ the Dom. shedding all of that veteran leadership and handing it over to a bunch of young guys, was a BAD move; I said it then.
I think we are just now recovering from it, but still, that veteran leadership has to be brought in thru Free Agency.
Glad to hear Dom’s accountability on that move
July 18th, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Is it being suggested that Dominick made those decisions under pressure to do so…..if that is the case, then he is a worse GM then I thought. Not only incompetent but powerless.
He was a complete failure and we are just now crawling out of the hole he dug.
July 18th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
If he was powerless that isn’t a GM problem it is an ownership problem
July 18th, 2017 at 4:56 pm
Don’t forget about re-signing Michael Clayton.
Don’t forget about releasing Jeff Garcia for Byron Leftwich.
July 18th, 2017 at 5:12 pm
Dom should write a book about how not to be a NFL GM so others won’t repeat his colossal mistakes and destroy a once proud franchise
July 18th, 2017 at 5:15 pm
Malcom Glazer was the man.
His kids dont have what he had
July 18th, 2017 at 5:51 pm
I’m not here to defend Dom or the move to cut DB55.
First I agree with Pickgrin that it WAS a classless move.
However….AGAIN…the Glazers made a HUGE gamble and totally messed up the diversification of their assets. They made a play for the most valuable sports franchise in the world although I realize there are a couple other soccer teams who would make that claim…but nobody denies ManU is considered a true gem.
So the the effect of that gamble hosed Dom…it hosed Raheem…it hosed Buc fans…and in this case it hosed DB55.
But ask yourself this…if any of you had a chance to make a big gamble that would set your ENTIRE extended family for life but it peoed your neighbors which would me more important…opinions or your family’s security?
This is not a defense of the Glazers as much as understanding their decision. Once they made their play and it was successful they seem to have returned their affection and certainly a reasonable budget to the Bucs.
And while it was sad at the time it did NOTHING to change Tampa’s love of DB55 nor did it hamper his business career…go Storm…nor his genorosity go “Brooks Bunch” nor his fame or ability to get endorsements…see series of Brighthouse commercials before Spectrum bought them out.
We only have this moment…literally…I had my first freaking heart attack this past Monday…fortunately very mild…no damage…just a sentence to a lifetime of drugs….no whining from me…I’ve had it great. But I’m well aware that all of us are not guaranteed another moment…and the past is already gone.
Soooo…it’s ALL good…the Glazers won their investment gamble…DB55 is in the HOF and a living legend in Tampa…and the Bucs are on their way to Minny.
Enjoy it guys!!!
July 18th, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Glad to hear you are relatively OK after the health scare SPBF.
Thanks for the reminder that NOW is all we have – its all there is – and that NOW should always be where we place our focus.
The past only exists in our minds as does any imagined future which is never guaranteed….
Regarding the Buccaneers. I kinda like where we are in the NOW.
July 18th, 2017 at 6:49 pm
I like Mark Dominik as a person, and really like him on TV and Radio, where he can never hurt our team again.
July 18th, 2017 at 7:20 pm
THX Pickgrin….and I agree…NOW is the time to be a Bucs fan!
July 18th, 2017 at 7:55 pm
Wow…
Lynch was told by team doctors << Oh! the same team doctors (Zvijac) that were feeding players pills…those guys? The docs being paid by the team who has the team in the best interest not the player….Yeah, real trustworthy. Second, its not a fact on lynch injury as its a medical issue and protected data. I recall when that rumor came out as the timing was suspicious because the team had egg on its face for ridding of a fan favorite.
July 18th, 2017 at 7:57 pm
stpetebucsfan… have you tried out natural healing remedies instead of pharmaceutical drugs? Might be worth a look. Good luck going forward.