Bucs Won’t Toss Ryan Griffin Investment
August 30th, 2017
Ryan Griffin didn’t have to show much to earn a new deal
The word is “investiture,” as sage JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman likes to say on his podcast.
In the case of the Bucs’ quarterback situation, two seasons as the No. 3 QB in Dirk Koetter’s system was enough to earn Ryan Griffin a contract extension today.
Koetter and general manager Jason Licht simply don’t want Griffin on the open market — even though the 27-year-old has never taken a regular-season snap and got hurt in the 2017 preseason opener on an ill-advised pass attempt.
The Bucs even brought in Ryan Fitzpatrick this spring because they didn’t want to gamble on Griffin being their only option to back up America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
But Griffin has survived.
The Bucs slapped a restricted free agent tender on Griffin earlier this year. The tender money, about $1.8 million, locks in when he makes the 53-man roster. It’s clear to Joe the Bucs want to be sure Griffin is available if they want him next season. Joe wouldn’t read more into today’s extention than that. Frankly, Joe wouldn’t be surprised if Licht told Griffin’s agent he had to sign the 2019 extension or likely be cut this week. (Joe’s assuming that’s kosher under the labor agreement).
This move certainly won’t get anyone hot in the pants unless their last name is Griffin. It’s interesting, though, that the Bucs put so much stock in a No. 3 QB when they have depth question marks at other positions.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Lol further proves my point to Bonzai who liked to proclaim Fitzy as “as another FA bust” that Fitzy was never a serious FA signing.
Like I said… Griffin is the real #2 and had he not gotten hurt was ahead of Fitz.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:10 pm
Makes sense, they may need him. The was Fitz has looked, there is a good chance Griffin would have won 2nd string anyway.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Bright minds over at OneBucPlace.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
Added insurance, perhaps? I don’t know. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense otherwise. Lots of back-ups in the pool.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
“It’s interesting, though, that the Bucs put so much stock in a No. 3 QB when they have depth question marks at other positions.”
They can walk and chew gum at the same time. Imagine that.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:21 pm
fitz has looked awful and is one and done. i think he’s mainly here for his AFC East expertise and what he brings to the meeting room. they liked griffin enough to carry him for 3 years, the extension makes sense for him and for the bucs
August 30th, 2017 at 2:22 pm
He’s clearly our #2 QB as soon as he’s healthy.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
Agree with PRBuc and the rest who believe Griffin was on his way to earning that #2 spot before his injury.
Again across the league backups are either Fitz, McClown, AJ McCarron…guys who are never going to be the answer. The exceptions are the Garapolos young guys who are developed in house waiting on their chance…and once they get exposed it’s even hard to hang on to them.
Apparently the Bucs believe Griffin is a solid backup.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
Do not get it twisted Griffin is Koetter’s qb of the future. He never wanted Jameis and likes those stuff true pocket passers. If the Bucs fail to give Jameis a 10y 300mil (or 5yr 150m) contract next yr say hello to your new qb.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
From what I’ve seen, Griffen is the second best QB on our roster
August 30th, 2017 at 2:49 pm
I draw the line at ‘he knows the playbook”. Otherwise, there is no substitution for game experience. You can’t tell me with a straight face that you guys were comfortable with Griffin being the back-up during the offseason.
August 30th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
So it’s been officially confirmed in writing now, DB55 ^^^ smokes crack.
Smh…
August 30th, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Lmao. If it’s white it ain’t right!
August 30th, 2017 at 3:03 pm
Well, Fitzmagic made this decision early. In fact, what should happen is Griffin should be the #2 and Fitz the #3. Fitz has looked horrific and some of his time has been against 2nd and 3rd team defense.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:06 pm
DB55, you my boy and all but please tell me you are joking about the Griffin being our #1 QB stuff. The dude is 27 and can’t hold a candle to JW’s skills. Koetter loves Winston so I’m going to go ahead and assume you are just smoking trees and having fun.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:06 pm
Cmurda
For that you keep the Samoan at #3. Fitz is hot garbage said it the day he was signed but wtf do I know!
August 30th, 2017 at 3:14 pm
I’m dead serious. Obviously Griffin ain’t got jack on jaboo but I think Koetter wants a Matty Ice clown. A pocket passer that is capable of exec his playbook.
Our number 1 pass play is the scramble play, think about that. Our oline sucks but Griffin gets the ball out fast, makes the right reads and throws the ball away when needed. Jaboo don’t do none of that, he just makes plays. 8k yards and 50 TDs in his first 2 years. We better pay up or it’s Ryan Griffin to the rescue.
If you don’t believe me watch HK from ep 1. Koetter rips Jameis decision making on the regular.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:28 pm
DB55
LMAO. I think I’m beginning to get you. Remember the great movie with Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller….”Something About Mary”.
I think you’re the JBF version of Mary….many of your posts could end with “just fing with ya”. Love that movie and a wry sense of humor so I think I’m starting to get you. Sometimes you’re just fing with us….I’m waaay cool with that.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:29 pm
Buc4lyfe79, doubt that DB55 is smoking the the funny stuff. Sounds more like an older brother did a number on him with the ‘Monster Under the Bed’ routine. And DB55, at this point Bucs would just about be willing to give Jameis a blank check at contract time & tell him to fill in the numbers himself.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Why re-sign a qb with 0 snaps and an injury?
August 30th, 2017 at 3:32 pm
BTW DB55
Disagree about DK and #3. DK wants one thing…he wants to WIN. Dude is eaten up with it. He’d bring Ryan Leaf out of retirement and start him if he thought he could win with him.
He realizes #3 gives him the best shot at a SB. I also believe he enjoys the fact that despite all his manifest talent #3 does present challenges. DK’s father was a coach…I think DK is far more than just an X’s and O’s guru…he loves the mental aspect…the motivational part…getting the best out of players. I think #3 is DK’s wet dream.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:33 pm
Def
They better or else. It’s Griffin to the rescue.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:35 pm
You did hear him say he preferred mm? I’m not making that up right?
August 30th, 2017 at 3:50 pm
lol DB. You cray if you think DK wants Griffin over Jameis.
THey want Griffin to get healthy so he can be #2 and they can get rid of Fitz. He’s got some vet knowledge but his play has been turrible.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:56 pm
Winston is clearly the long term starter so why not keep someone around long term that can be his backup, that can step in and run the offense and not have to deal with training a new person every year to just hold the clipboard. From Hard Knocks it really seemed like everyone was upset when Griffin was hurt (well except the scrub offensive linemen that Jameis shamed) and thought he was having a great camp – Mike Evans looking for him on the sideline trying to find him, it was a little thing but it showed me that he viewed it as a real loss, not just a 3rd string QB getting injured. BUT, Hard Knocks can be edited to make any story seem legit, so maybe I’m reading too much into it.
Here’s what I do know, Mike Glennon got $16-mil, Josh Johnson is still in the league, Bruce Gradkowski is still in the league, Josh McCown and Luke McCown are still in the NFL, heck I think Vinny Testaverde might still be in the league. Point is if you got a backup that you think might be OK, keep them around for long as possible.
August 30th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
DB55 – You think there is a snowballs chance in tampa training camp that they do not resign Winston? You saw Licht on Hard Knocks last night talking about after drafting Winston, he went into his office and lost it. No way they don’t resign him.
August 30th, 2017 at 4:09 pm
I don’t put anything oast the Glaziers especially when it comes to money or taking care of their team. “Hey, no more HS locker room!” – GMC
They cheap man. Super cheap and they get involved in personnel decisions. Don’t let them fool you.
August 30th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Unb
I’ve never denied being crazy. One too many hits to the head. 😜
August 30th, 2017 at 4:32 pm
Good points DB.
You guys not taking him serious forget this is a business first and foremost.
Griffin is an excellent LONG TERM investment IN THE EVENT JW moves on to…..
OH IDK….. Jacksonville who would literally give him a blank check……
JL and DK realize JW don’t owe Tampa JACK….. And if our local media keeps dogging him….
Who’s to say JW don’t say…. OH IDK….. Let me go back home like…… OH IDK….. A guy known as King James…..
Why wouldnt the “Messiah” do the same…. Or follow the footsteps of his fellow super star friends….
Griff can be good enough if the system is well established….
FACT….. Its a business first and Tampa has a way of cheating its fans with poor business with its sports teams….
Enjoy it now and don’t take him for granted…. He might get run just as fast as our SB winning coach by the local media and trolls like we see on this site…
BTW…. for the love of God stop feeding the Trolls…… Or for the love of JW if you prefer……
August 30th, 2017 at 4:46 pm
Jabo will NEVER leave TB lolol
Y’all realize there is a reason you hardly ever see a “Franchise QB” switch teams just cause there contracts expire lol. There is a reason its called franchise QB lol The only times that has happened have been during rare circumstances. And Licht will not be outbid for Jameis either by anyone. The man just admitted to crying after we got him in the draft for Christ sakes ahaha. Hell lol Jabo will be extended before he even gets close to hitting the open market lol.
August 30th, 2017 at 4:54 pm
haha I hear ya on hits brotha.
I’m not worried about them resigning Jameis though. There would have to be some seriously insane drama and dysfunction going on for that to even be a possibility.
I believe we have finally moved on from that era of Bucs football.
August 30th, 2017 at 4:56 pm
JAB-
Last time I checked, Alabama doesn’t have an NFL team (nor will they ever), so I don’t think we have to worry about him going back home. And the Jags don’t play in Tallahassee either… lol
August 30th, 2017 at 5:12 pm
But he might just be the heir apparent to Eli Manning. He would thrive in ny, they would not only love JW but they might actually build him an oline. What a concept!
August 30th, 2017 at 6:33 pm
Agree with Joe. Disagree with nearly every comment. Some of y’all have wild imaginations. Man I thought when the season got close more knowledgeable football fans would start posting to add solid and more reasonable comments. CleaRly I was wrong.
August 30th, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Cut bait with both of these backups and sign Colin now…neither of these guys can hold Colin’s jock-strap! Do it …do it now!! Can any of you imagine that if we are down by 10 points against the Fish at half time and The Famous one goes down with a twisted ankle…Game over we don’t have a chance in hell!!
August 30th, 2017 at 11:49 pm
BigHog, we all know your agenda. If Kap were a white guy you would never be campaigning for him. I’m not against Kap playing in the league, but we won’t sign him for one simple reason: He doesn’t fit the offense. Kap is more of a runner and a one read guy and Koetter wants a deep passing attack, going through progressions. This is why I thought his best shot would be with the Seahawks. Go yell at them if you’re mad Kap’s not playing. Makes more sense for him to play for Seattle, even Carolina before Tampa.