What Say You, Chris Baker?
September 11th, 2017
Bar set
Bucs fans paying attention this offseason knew Tampa Bay was in need of a serious boost on its defensive line.
The prime target for Joe and other fans was manbeast former Cardinals Pro Bowler Calais Campbell.
The 6-8, 300-pounder was simply the perfect fit for the Buccaneers, and a lot of teams. He was versatile and coming off a strong year. And he was known for having an all-start work ethic and attitude.
Tampa Bay was linked to Campbell in free agency, per reports, but the Jaguars waved $15 million annually in front of Campbell and the former Miami Hurricane magically chose the Jacksonville. He never even talked to Tom Coughlin or Jags head coach Doug Marrone in advance of the signing.
Instead, the Bucs beefed up their defensive line by paying 29-year-old, practice-loathing Chris “Swaggy” Baker $5 million and change a year, with $9 million guaranteed.
Joe brings this up today because Campbell is the talk of the NFL after four sacks yesterday in the Jaguars’ 29-7 throttling of the Texans in Houston. Campbell wasn’t just a one-man show. He was a disruptive force helping the Jags rack up a franchise record 10 sacks.
Joe hopes Baker sees that Campbell performance and gets inspired. Baker should be all fired up to prove he was the top free agent defensive tackle on the market.
A lot of fans think Joe is too hard on Baker and has been since late March. But remember, Hard Knocks revealed Baker’s own teammates, even rookies, were quick to mock his practice habits and drive.
Esteemed JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman has been told by many Redskins sources that Baker shows up on Sundays.
Joe can’t wait.
September 11th, 2017 at 10:41 am
The only thing that Swaggy will get fired up about is when the pizza shops re-open after the storm.
September 11th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Baker may be the anti-Kenny Bell.
Bell showed up in practice, hopefully Baker in games.
September 11th, 2017 at 10:56 am
Hopefully “Swaggy” is the NFL’s version of Alan Iverson. We’ve all heard the cliche you play like you practice…not Iverson! Dude was great and didn’t need practice.
In theory the major challenge for DT’s would simply to have their bodies at peak form for the games. It’s not a complicated position like QB or even OL…so it’s not like Swaggy will be at a mental disadvantage. If he knows his body better than we do we’re about to find out Sunday.
September 11th, 2017 at 11:09 am
I very rarely agree with gm Joe but this one made too much sense
September 11th, 2017 at 11:17 am
campbell is a stud and has some years left. Never made since we didn’t go after him hard
September 11th, 2017 at 11:31 am
Let’s see our “great” DT get 4 sacks in a game first forget about Swaggy. See you McCoy is disruptive folks Campbell just showed what truly great players do and McCoy is good not great.
September 11th, 2017 at 11:39 am
How many DT’s in the game have 4 sack games? Period!
Yeah he had a great game…ONE game…he’ll have others but 4 sacks in a game is just crazy.
BTW…Athlon sports ranked the top ten DL’s for 2016…
Campbell was ranked 4th…Swaggy was ranked 10th.
September 11th, 2017 at 11:48 am
People upset the Bucs didn’t sign Campbell need to remember that he was 3x the price of Baker, and the Bucs need cash in the next few years to resign Alexander, Evans, Winston, & Marpet. Who knows, Brate may need to get paid too, depending on his season.
Going after Baker instead of Campbell made all the sense in the world to me. He had a great game, but a lot needs to fall into place for a player to get 4 sacks in a game.
September 11th, 2017 at 11:55 am
Did Baker even flash in camp? Oh yeah, flashy dance moves.
September 11th, 2017 at 11:56 am
Jack, Campbell has only a few good years and the Bucs have mountains of cash available to spend on short term solutions. Campbell could have been the difference this year and wouldn’t have had a long term impact on the Buc’s salary cap. They cant save the money they didn’t spend this year and put in a some type of cap reserve. We should have bought his services.
September 11th, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Make no mistake, I wanted Campbell as much or more than anyone during the offseason. But it’s a tad bit disingenuous to to try and compare he and Baker.
Both from contractual and positional standpoint, they are 2 completely different types of player. 15 mil a season vs 5 mil a season. Campbell is a pass rusher that can kick inside on passing downs. And Baker is a pure Nose tackle that is capable of generating an interior pass rush.
So comparing them is just silly.
September 11th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
StPeteBucsFan:
I just fell out of my chair when I saw you tried to compare Swaggy to Alan Iverson, at least Iverson was in shape and didn’t fall asleep at night with three empty pizza boxes scattered on his belly!
September 11th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Robert Ayers can kick inside and pass rush if Swaggy can’t get to the QB. With Spence and Smith at DE there should be plenty of pressure regardless if Swag is not game ready. I still will take Swaggy against the run all day long.
September 11th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
I liked Campbell, but $15-million – wow. I do t blame anyone for passing on him, it’s just too much money to have tied into your d-line.
September 11th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Shoulda, coulda, woulda….who gives a crap anymore? The roster is what it is right now and it’s time to start a new season.
Keep staring in the rear view and see how far that gets you. NFL history is full of “what if” questions that will never be answered.
September 11th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Good game for CC but let’s not lose sight that the Texans O-line is horrible and their best olineman is holding out.
September 11th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
Tom
Take your point but Iverson played point guard not nose guard/tackle. LMAO
Iverson had to run his backside off almost non stop…Swaggy can just go in a few bursts and then sit.
September 11th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Well, let’s just face it. Baker isn’t going to go out and get 4 sacks in a game. This comparison is set up as a loser. The Bucs didn’t want to spend 15M on another D lineman, so they went for a guy that fit a defensive need, as they saw it, for a reasonable price.
Not a fair comparison. So why don’t we put a stop to it now.
September 11th, 2017 at 12:54 pm
Campbell & Baker play two entirely different positions.
September 11th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
@St.PeteBucsFan:
A few bursts by Swaggy? The only thing with a “few bursts” are the seams of his football pants….
September 11th, 2017 at 1:24 pm
I like Blake’s analysis.
September 11th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
I wanted Campbell but I watched that game yesterday and even Ghost Johnson coulda gotten at least 2 of those sacks.
Watson basically ran into 2 sacks.
I hope Baker ain’t a bust, but I wouldn’t even on him being anything more than average.
September 11th, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Campbell overrated he can’t play Nose Tackle he is a De id take a younger gholston
Campbell had a good game against garbage tom savage
September 11th, 2017 at 2:53 pm
You can play winners and losers in free agency all you want. Let’s see what the record is at the end of the year.
September 11th, 2017 at 3:48 pm
Yeah, Licht screwed this up. Hey, it happens.
His misses on running backs far worse. Any putz who watches college football could have told you Devonta Freeman was a better running back than Charles Simms. Then Licht passes on all these good running backs like Dalvin Cook and Kareem Hunt for Justin Evans and instead drafts a guy who either is too dumb or too lazy to learn a playbook.
September 11th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Jimmy you nailed it.
September 11th, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Baker is 360…..
U have to have guys who take things seriously.
Bucs need to hire people who can mentally sort out someone’s pride level.
I’d have brooks and Ronde in that building
September 11th, 2017 at 5:58 pm
What Blake said. Also we can list 10 players off week 1 performance we might could have maybe thought about trying to sign. Each of those instances has its own set of variations. Add to that the fact that free agents get a vote and the conversation is interesting but hardly compelling or defining.
September 11th, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Wow fans like jimmy still crying for cook. Nevermind the fact that majority of the football nation have the bics as playoff contenders. Im amazed at our fans