Classy Hawley “Finished” With Bucs
February 27th, 2018
Types Instagram goodbye.
Center Joe Hawley is one of the good dudes in the NFL. Problem is, like for all NFL players, Father Time is undefeated.
Now we don’t know if Hawley’s days as a professional football player are over, but he seems to think his days with the Bucs closed yesterday when Tampa Bay informed Hawley they would not pick up his $2.5 million option for the 2018 season.
Today, Hawley offered a gracious and sincere thanks to Bucs coach Dirk Koetter and fans as he believes his Bucs’ chapter has closed.
joehawley61: When I was released by the Falcons 3 seasons ago, I was devastated. It was after final cuts so most NFL rosters were set. I had no idea where or if I would have an opportunity to play the game that I loved. That was until I got a call from Dirk here in Tampa. He called me up and said they needed a swing backup center/guard. He knew I could play both from our time together in Atlanta. I knew I was a starter in this league but opportunities were slim. So they signed me as a back up and I was happy to be on a roster. The week I got there they asked me if I was healthy enough to dress for the game because I was still recovering from ACL/MCL surgery from the previous season. I said hell yeah, [of] course I’m ready. First drive of the second half our starter goes down with an ankle injury. I get thrown into the fire after being there for about 4 days. I didn’t even know the names of some of the guys I was playing next to. It was wild. But I went in there and played the way I knew how to, with a lot of energy, confidence and finish. I went on to start the next 30 games. I’ve had such a great experience in Tampa and just wanted to say thank you to Dirk and Jason for giving me a chance when no one else would. Thank you to Bucs nation for all the love and support over the past 3 seasons. If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this story it’s that if you trust the process of life and work your ass off to get what you want, you will end up exactly where you are meant to be. Although my time here is finished, I truly believe that what ever comes next is going to be bigger and greater than anything I can imagine. Bring it on. I can’t wait!!
Who knows, maybe the Bucs are just trying to whittle Hawley’s salary down? Hawley is no longer a starter and a backup getting $2.5 million is a bit pricey. Throw in the fact Hawley, 29, only played in four games last year, well, it’s hard to justify paying a backup over a half-million dollars a game.
Hawley otherwise seems to be having a fine offseason by his Instagram account. He traveled to El Salvador, went to the Daytona 500 with old football teammates from the past, and just adopted a puppy.
If Hawley’s days with the Bucs are indeed over, Joe wishes him well. The fantasy-baseball loving Hawley is an easy guy to pull for.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:34 pm
Dilly Dilly to Hawley Brawley !!!
February 27th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
While JR Sweezy is still robbing the Glazer boys
“I have no doubt Sweezy has pictures of Jason Licht without a bra”
Kobe Faker
February 27th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Dude played with fire. Sucks he is undersized because he got thrown around some times, but he definitely was a pain in the necks of DT’s everywhere. I wish him nothing but the best
February 27th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
The Bucs won’t tender Adarius Glanton, Jude Adjei-Barimah, and now they won’t pickup Joe Hawley option. I think these are cost-cutting moves…meaning they think they can get them at a cheaper rate. These are good moves by Jason Licht. But why didn’t he get this creative with VJAX $10 million salary, or Doug Martin $ 6 million salary last season?
February 27th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
That’s funny Kobe
lol
February 27th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Hawley always gave us the max of what he had. Sometimes it was not enough. And he never laid down. Good luck to a classy guy! Who’s next? Easy (money) Sweezy?
February 27th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Good luck Joe,some people think the run game was better with the makeshift line that
you were part of at the end of the year.
That said ,I hope Licht gets better players than he gets rid of. A repeat of 2014 would not good.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Joe brought attitude to the line..
.
….who will now bring it? ???
February 27th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Hopefully, it’s to cut salary. He’s a more than capable back-up.
Dude plays whistle to whistle. Love his fire!
February 27th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
nice classy personal response unlike that insincere garbage Martin and his PR agent published.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
Classy and a warrior.
Need more guys with his attitude and fight. (And ideally a bit younger)
Good luck Hawley!
February 27th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
Lake,
“I think im going to streak naked on the field during the 4th quarter. RJS will be half empty with opponents fans anyway….you actually think our defense canl tackle me”
Kobe Faker
February 27th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
Bucsfanman
a team that resides permanently in the basement and with the most salary cap in the NFC is not going to cut salary if they believe the player can play.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
Maybe Hawley will be back. Just not for $2.5M obviously.
If not – good luck Joe Hawley. You got a lot of heart and no one can say otherwise.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
kobe
just run right at cancer93 he will make sure he is nowhere near the play if it’s the 4th qtr.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Yet Evan Smith is still around? Interesting…
February 27th, 2018 at 2:00 pm
I will bet that Licht is done with Koetter guys and he will be going after his own guys this off season. Unfortunately for Hawley he is one of those guys along with Jay Hayes.
February 27th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
tmax ranting about McCoy in another article that has nothing to do with him? Color me shocked.
#obsessed
February 27th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
Evan Smith is not under contract. UFA.
February 27th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
This brewing situation is why I’ve been yelling guard as loud as any other position. Unless Benenoch is going to be the left Guard next season this will have to be addressed in Free Agency.
February 27th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Safe travels Joe
February 27th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
unbelievable
every article has to do with the leader of the losing culture cancer93 the face of the basement years. until the disease is eradicated their is NO hope.
February 27th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
tmax- It’s clear they do not have a knack for certain personnel decisions. Maybe they are compensating by becoming number-crunchers.
I’d take a team full of Hawleys. Dude’s got heart.
February 27th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Respect
February 27th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Hawley was undersized and garbage. Next ………
February 27th, 2018 at 2:28 pm
Have him coach and get some fire in the line
February 27th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
So its Nelson we’re picking at 7th….interesting, but im ok with it
February 27th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
The Denver broncos might sign Kurt Cousins and draft Nelson..
lol Kobe
They may sign you to be their next CB
They sure can use 3-4 of them
February 27th, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Hawley was a guy I loved to watch. Not the best in line blocker but call a play that lets him get downfield and it’s rare you won’t see a defender get knocked on his ass.
Them types of plays don’t show up on stat sheets but I guarantee you defenders remember them. Makes a big difference the next time they see a similar play developing…….Don’t remember the last time we had a 100 yard rusher in a game but I betcha Hawley was in that day.
February 27th, 2018 at 5:47 pm
$100 Belichick picks him up and makes him a star.
February 27th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
No excitement this offseason.. just a wait and see mentality for me
February 27th, 2018 at 5:56 pm
Very classy guy.
February 27th, 2018 at 5:58 pm
MadMax Says
“So its Nelson we’re picking at 7th….interesting, but im ok with it”
Wrong. Hawley was not a starter. Bucs are keeping Marpet and Sweezy where they are.
February 27th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
tmaxcon Says
“every article has to do with the leader of the losing culture cancer93 the face of the basement years.”
Yeah, can you believe how many times Joe mentioned Gerald McCoy in this article. Of all the nerve!
lol…I admire you for trying to make stupid a fad.
February 27th, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Lake,
if cousins go to Minn Vikings…
we will never come close to surpassing Minn & Philly for the next 7-10 years
Its actually embarrassing how far out we are compared to those well run and complete teams
we are the cinn Bengals of the NFC
“I see more competitive football being played at Lakeland highschool friday nights”
Kobe Faker
February 27th, 2018 at 6:21 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai
your pedophile supporting superhero has made losing a fad for his entire career I guess I’ll just keep making Reality relevant.
February 27th, 2018 at 7:28 pm
Kobe,
Best football in the world
Friday nights at Thomas W Bryant Stadium
Lakeland, Fl
February 27th, 2018 at 7:37 pm
^^The stuff we post here should at least sound creditable!^^
February 27th, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Lakeland Dreadnaughts all day lone
February 27th, 2018 at 10:06 pm
I keep wishing and hoping that Sweezy will return to form one day.
February 27th, 2018 at 10:10 pm
$2.5m doesn’t seem like a lot of money for a semi-competent backup. Perhaps the Bucs have a plan, but probably not.
February 28th, 2018 at 9:39 am
tmaxcon Says:
February 27th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
kobe
just run right at cancer93 he will make sure he is nowhere near the play if it’s the 4th qtr.
Sure you right brother, sure you right!!!! LMAO
February 28th, 2018 at 10:58 am
Stupid to let Hawley walk for $2.5 million. This team sucks.
February 28th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
There is a possibility that Sweezy comes all the way back this year. It has happened b4 where a player who misses a full season is less than himself the first season back, then comes all the way back his 2nd season.