“He’s Nursing A Couple Of Things That Have Lingered”
August 18th, 2017
Hurt
Joe had to laugh.
About five minutes after Dirk Koetter said he wasn’t talking injuries until required by NFL rules when the regular season starts, Koetter unveiled a fresh update on the health of one of his new veterans this afternoon at One Buc Palace.
Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, Ira Kaufman, asked Koetter about the position battle brewing at starting nose tackle, Chris Baker versus Clinton McDonald.
Koetter wouldn’t name a lead dog, which is rare for the head coach. He fired back at Ira saying there would be “a rotation” at the position regardless.
Then Koetter said Baker has had injury issues since the spring: “He’s nursing a couple of things that have lingered,” Koetter said.
Ok. Hmmm.
The starter matters, rotation or not. Baker has been bad in preseason and nothing special in training camp. Joe’s not writing the guy off, but if he’s injured and he’s valuable, then sit him down to rehab. The Bucs, with playoff aspirations, certainly need him healthy. If it’s a chronic problem for Baker, well, then that’s a different can of worms.
Joe might need an extra beer tonight.
August 18th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
Carl Nicks comes to mind for some reason with this dude
August 18th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
CM98 Has had injury issues since 2010!!!!! This will be his 8th season and has not made 16 games yet!!!!!!! looking at trends, our DT are due to miss games as par the course!!!!!!!!!
August 18th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
lol right… he got his contract to be a backup
August 18th, 2017 at 5:11 pm
Unfortunately Baker has 9 million reasons to basically sit back and relax. Hope I am wrong but sometimes that type of money sends older players into retirement mode. The Bucs have been screwed so many times by these types of players looking for that sucker to give them free money.
August 18th, 2017 at 5:25 pm
Yeah, hope he is not the chronic problem. Go Bucs
August 18th, 2017 at 5:26 pm
If Baker turns out to be a loaf….I’ll be one of the first to jump down on him…..but, for me, it’s way too early to be making that determination.
Also, this isn’t the type of team that will accept that in any way, shape or form.
August 18th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
it’s a chronic problem for Baker
—————
From the looks of it you might be right on the money. Dude is lazy and likes to talk ish, classic symptoms of chronic problems.
Good thing Licht let Atl sign Poe instead but Let’s see how the season plays out.
Personally, I just think it’s too hot for him to practice all the time. This sun is a killer.
August 18th, 2017 at 6:16 pm
So…JJ Wilcox sucks as a starter, so he’ll be a backup (I hope).
Baker has sucked…and I think Koetter is covering for him.
Licht screwed to pooch in FA this year.
August 18th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
Joebucsfan’s position on baker is well known at this point.
August 18th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
@DB55 … “Personally, I just think it’s too hot for him to practice all the time. This sun is a killer.” Tell that to the other 89 guys plus coaches & others out there every day DB55. Baker has $9 million reasons sitting in his bank account to suck it up like the rest of the guys and give 100%.
August 18th, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Baker’s antics with the kickers didn’t play out well on Hard Knocks. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets released or traded. I think McDonald is way better and a true team guy. Just a hunch and not sure if the cap hit.
August 18th, 2017 at 6:35 pm
You may not understand the adjustment. The first time I came to fl I lasted 10mins in the sun. It’s definitely not as easy as strapping up and playing. It takes your body time to adjust. Or he’s just lazy, either or.
August 18th, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Here is my thing. If he loads in practice pre season but plays like a beast on Sundays in OK with it.
August 18th, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Big Mac
U sound really stupid. They only people that had a problem with bakers heckling were right here at joe bucs fan. The man is nowhere near being cut. Say baker gets 6 sacks this season, that 1 every 3 games. He hasn’t even played a full game yet and u morons are ready to cut bait?
In Licht I Trust
August 18th, 2017 at 7:06 pm
Todd Monken needs to call out Swaggy P lol
August 18th, 2017 at 7:14 pm
Dude. This pick up looks awful. I hope this situation goes 180 or I will have no faith in fa pick up’s ever again
August 18th, 2017 at 7:22 pm
The guy came with a rep of not practicing but bringing it on game day so let’s wait just a little on him
August 18th, 2017 at 7:23 pm
What makes the pick look “AWFUL”? He’s a DT not a DE. He’s played less than one game. The only people crying over him heckling the kickers have never played football. Pat MCafee (a former college kicker and all world punter) has a podcast and he touched on the situation (specifically Bakers heckling) and he said he loves it. He said it wouldn’t be practice without people heckling each other.
August 18th, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Realist that’s why I want a DT high in the draft next year. Save this for a Lord Corn repost 😉
August 18th, 2017 at 9:34 pm
ME Goat, man, these comments on Baker are unreal. I thought most of the posters where somewhat knowledgeable football wise. Heck, pro sports wise. I don’t care for the dancing behind Jaboo’s interview, but besides that the guy’s done nothing to be scorned for. Let it play out till at least the regular season, and see the guy’s game then. I’m sure a lot of the players enjoy this blog and stuff like that is so weak. It doesn’t affect their play, but shows them the fanbase ignorance on the issues they know nothing about. Kills me. Support and hope for the best. But, what do I know. Maybe it’s reverse psychology.
August 19th, 2017 at 3:14 am
The only thing I see is that he appears to be carrying extra weight versus his time when he was more dominant at Washington. I don’t like his approach to the off-season. He seems to like to play his way into shape. Unfortunately, the time that was acceptable is long gone.
August 19th, 2017 at 5:30 am
Tnew, exactly! He was standing next to GMC during the game and looked really fat and out of shape. He made GMC look really fit. You have to work hard in this life to be successful.
August 19th, 2017 at 11:12 am
If the guy brings it on gameday I am fine.
But It doesn’t look good.
NO OTA’s
Doesn’t Practice
Class Clown
Thats not the Buc way.
He better bring it on sunday !
August 19th, 2017 at 11:18 am
Did anybody ever accuse Warren Sapp of looking fit? Lol. Bring on regular season!!
August 19th, 2017 at 11:58 am
We shall see If MR. Bakers got anything left in the tanl. The way it looks noew though…He took advantage of a big Bucs money grab. I mean he looks overweight and walks around Sh..talkin and laughing. If you just look at him, you wonder If he’ll survive preseason camp cuts! But theres no hiding in the NFl. We shall know soon enough.
August 19th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
@Bonzai
Wilcox wasn’t brought it to be a clear starter anyway. It was for depth, and an opportunity for him to try to win a spot if he surpassed conte or Tandy.