“He Came To Me”
March 25th, 2018
Raiders fans have been doing their share of grumbling about Jon Gruden’s approach in free agency this year.
They’re scratching their heads trying to understand Gruden’s fascination with old players, seemingly on the decline.
Former Raiders player and assistant coach Rod Woodson is a new leader in the anti-Chucky charge in Oakland.
Woodson is upset by Oakland dumping Michael Crabtree in favor of Jordy Nelson at wide receiver, and he was adamant that Doug Martin was a bad move.
“You can’t tell me you bring in Doug Martin and they’re a better football team,” Woodson said, via CBS Sports.
Interestingly, a report on the Raiders official website says Gruden flew to see Martin (not the other way around) before free agency opened, after he was cut by the Bucs. Martin, in a chat with official site, also emphasized “he came to me” with a plan to show the NFL that Martin has plenty left to show the league and to prove.
It’s one interesting marriage, and of course that means Joe will be paying attention.
Chucky even signed his former Bucs quarterback lab prodigy Josh Johnson.
Few would remember that back in 2008, Chucky, during a chat about Johnson with Oakland media, hinted that he might get fired by the Bucs.
“He’s our secret weapon. He’s in our laboratory and I don’t know if they’re going to give me enough time to develop him, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in what this guy can be,” Chucky said of Johnson. “He is a very good athlete. A great kid. Football-smart, man. Players love him. I just think a year from now, he goes to training camp, he’ll show you and a lot of people that he belongs in the league and he can become an NFL quarterback.”
With every passing week, Joe is more and more relieved that Chucky won’t coach the Bucs again.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:10 am
LOL
J Gruden still acting like it’s 2009…………
I’m sure they will be successful to a certain point
But hey……who knows………….maybe chucky have learned from the errors of his ways and have progressed ahead.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:12 am
Im also relieved that he wasnt brought back here. Too many Buc fans live in the past
March 25th, 2018 at 10:15 am
…………and take note Chucky Fan boys what your coaching God is doing right now……….
and you guys are complaining about current Bucs Free Agency??? Just imagine being an Oakland fan…. UGHHHH!!!!!!!
March 25th, 2018 at 10:16 am
Next to cancer93’s wasted 100 million gruden’s deal might be second worst in recent history. glazers and Davis competing for most pissed away coin with nothing to show for it….
No more excuses cancer93 fanboys.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:18 am
Amen to that. Plenty of appreciation for Gruden. However, his first losing streak will bring out the boo birds. His schtick seems to be the impression that he will eventually win every game 77-0.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:22 am
The team is better off with a top 5 DT then without one tamponcon. If you don’t appreciate GMC go root for another team with a DT that meets your standards I can only think of maybe 3 or 4 options the rams Bengals a free agent yet to sign that’s about it
March 25th, 2018 at 10:23 am
Tmaxcon always makes me laugh. JoeBucsFan should let you write a weekly article.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:27 am
Alan
Top 5 career who loser has never won a single meaningful game in his ENTIRE CAREER.. top 5 coach quitter.. top 5 in flat performances top 5 doll collector and top 5 in career blowouts has captain… sorry but those accomplishments out weigh his meaningless pro bowls and his great first step to nowhere
March 25th, 2018 at 10:27 am
LOL, so many Bucs fans wanted Gruden, I’m liking where were at right now.
Except the cornerback dilemma with VH3 and Ryan Smith, and we need a new safety and if possible cut Sweezy for better in the draft.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:30 am
Alan
Not to mention his cancerous soft approach that sucks the desire to be great and will to win from every coach, draft pick and free agents.. locker room cancer with a smile results prove it 8 years of FAILURE
March 25th, 2018 at 10:31 am
Tmax–double up on your meds–it is sunday early and you are at it nonstop
what is your actual diagnosis anyway?
March 25th, 2018 at 10:32 am
That’s what happens when you sit in a booth for years, you fall in love with the splash plays you’ve seen those players make through the years.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:34 am
Diagnosed with the inability to sugarcoat failure and live in denial.. no cure
March 25th, 2018 at 10:38 am
You got to love gmc to be a bucs fan? I don’t hate on gmc or any other player but i’m a bucs fan and want whats good for the bucs before anything else. GMC did his best for us, played through injuries and all but bottom line he made no difference for too long and too much money. he’s not a leader, he doesn’t set the right tone (i.e baker) and at his age we should try to get what we can for him in a trade.
This is what good teams do sometimes. like the saints traded graham and cooks. like the giants traded jpp who won a superbowl with them and 78% of giant fans are happy with this trade (a pole on sb nation).
you cannot get emotionally attached to players like that. these are assets that you should be able to deal for the better of the team.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:39 am
All you choirboy loving cancer93 nuthuggers have to defend yourselves with are excuses, political correct statements from coaches, meaningless pro bowls and a pansy arse ankle grab on matt ryan… you know what is missing fools. Wins and plays on the field… fraudulent POS nothing more…
March 25th, 2018 at 10:43 am
.. for example, and i don’t know how joe and ira can do a segment about suh and not mention this- trade gmc for a 2nd +- and sign suh. this way you still have a decent DT but get a high pick as a bonus.
fact that the joes and ira doesn’t even consider this as something worth mentioning on the podcast shows how much people are attached to gmc and to assets in general instead of looking at the bigger picture
March 25th, 2018 at 10:49 am
At least McCoy can keep his hands to himself
March 25th, 2018 at 10:50 am
You all might not like what Tax says but thing he said is a fact. With JPP in the house all his excuses as to why he doesn’t make plays when it counts are gone. Put up or shut up time.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:50 am
TMAX on a roll tho. I going to agree to some extent. Since 93 has been here is been losing, losing and more losing. If he cant produce more with JPP rushing the passer then GMC is done (if not already.) As for Gruden, yeah we dodged a bullet there. I think the Raiders will be awful this upcoming season. Cant believe he looked over the tape of Doug Martin the last two years and signed him???!!!
March 25th, 2018 at 10:58 am
@Reverse Joe
What’s the odds the bucs will go to the playoffs this year? This might be the last chance to get something for mccoy.
point is- there are teams which mccoy can be the difference between a sb run and a playoff appearance. I don’t think the bucs are one of them. gmc is worth more to these teams as a player than a draft pick. We can use the pick to build something for a potential playoff run in 2-3 years. I would add lvd to the mix too.
March 25th, 2018 at 11:03 am
What i meant to say is even if we will sniff the playoffs with jpp & gmc, it won’t last much longer to make more attempts before these guys decline and retire. Seeing what jpp and gmc can do together is a luxury we don’t have. if we don’t make it to the sb in the next 2 years we will be back in a hole and might lose on the best years of your younger talent.
March 25th, 2018 at 11:08 am
TmAxcon,FG
I get that you like attention, but are you aware that DT is one of the least positions on a team that directly influences wins?ds row many meaningful games has Suh won?
Look at Donald’s career record before last season
Gene Atkins?
Come on. None of those guys have ever won anything? So I guess they should all be cut and dumped and out of the league?
Every time I see you write nonsense about McCoy, I just roll my eyes, realize you u ew
March 25th, 2018 at 11:08 am
One simple question for cancer93 nuthuggers are you happier when she makes a meaningless pro bow or when she leads her defense to another nfc south basement title
March 25th, 2018 at 11:09 am
My question every time I read all of this is why single out McCoy? What about the other players that have been here for a while and we haven’t done anything. What about Evans? Gholston? David? Dotson? Why single out McCoy? Evans and David are leaders on the team as well.
March 25th, 2018 at 11:12 am
Wow, that makes two of us Joe! Fans need to remember how fixated he was with older players and just overall bad he was with free agency. Really really glad he isn’t here tearing this team apart to bring in old players on the decline.
March 25th, 2018 at 11:13 am
Jman Says:
March 25th, 2018 at 10:49 am
At least McCoy can keep his hands to himself
______________
No he can’t. He slept with Tmax’s wife. Henceforth the obsessive hatred.
March 25th, 2018 at 11:19 am
Gruden surely did alot with Galloway, Garcia and Earnest Graham.
There’s a reason you pay John Gruden $100 mil.
Josh Johnson was pretty nice on Madden lol.
March 25th, 2018 at 11:22 am
For the first time, we will have a player besides McCoy that other teams must account for. I am still having a hard time believing that Licht was able to pull this trade off.
I am geeked for next year, and we haven’t even had our Draft yet.
March 25th, 2018 at 11:26 am
IMHO Jon Gruden is a great “coach” and a horrible “GM” … Davis was INSANE to give him full control, which it appears he has.
Ya’ll should be thanking the Glazers for refusing to hire Chucky when he demanded full control.
I may trust Gruden as a pure coach more than I trust Koetter BUT I’d take a Koetter/Licht coach/GM duo than Gruden being both coach and GM!
March 25th, 2018 at 11:53 am
SB
Rember last time you called me out and I responded you pouted like a little beotch and said you’d never mention me again. what a surprise one little beotch is a fanboy of a another little beotch…
March 25th, 2018 at 11:57 am
Defend your man crush with facts not with deflection …. I realize you can not do that so please feel free to take it out on the one delivering the truth… your low standards are direct reflection on your own failures
March 25th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Omg T- MaxiPad is still here? Bro just stop, your level of lunacy is starting to show! Lol.. anyways , what I don’t understand is how come we aren’t looking at any of these safeties that are still available in FA. Specifically after we’ve let all the avail. Stud corners go somewhere else. Can’t tell me Reid or Navarro wouldn’t be an affordable upgrade or Tre Boston?2
March 25th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
Results prove cancer93 is nothing more than the face of the basement years.
March 25th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
Chucky is Art Shell rehire 2.0. It will be a disaster.
March 25th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Tmax-
Firethecannons is right. You are out of control and that was two hours ago. Don’t you live on a farm in Wyoming or something like that? Sign off and go tend your cattle.
March 25th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
TMAXCON, is what makes this site worth reading. He is usually on the money with 93, trade him for a 3rd or 4th rnd pick.
March 25th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
“scratching their heads trying to understand Gruden’s fascination with old players, seemingly on the decline.”
Been there. LOL Glad to not be re-living those frustrations – especially right out of the gate with a “new” coach”.
March 25th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Martin is Gruden’s new Charlie Garner. Hahahahaha
March 25th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Take the dick out of ur mouth tmaxcon nobody can understand you!
March 25th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
I really am starting to think that tmax was also the legendary message board personality “Patrick McIrish” from years backs (before JBF)
He kind of has a point about McCoy. This year should should prove it one way or the other. If JPP suddenly becomes invisible then we know
Bucker needs to put a stop to the sedative-laced soft-serve ice cream
March 25th, 2018 at 1:06 pm
We always said he was a great coach no doubt about that but he’s the worst talent evaluator ever which is so odd for someone who’s main job is to develop talent, I guess if you can’t really do that you bring in old players. He was lying though if glazers would have agreed to give him full control he would have coached here. Guess we’ll see if that 2002 magic will manifest again but he did the same thing for this city so you can’t go knocking him for it after that strategy got your team a championship. But please blame him for everything after 2002.
He definitely doesn’t have as many core platters as he had when he was traded to Tampa so it might get ugly for the raiders
March 25th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
Lol @ everyone who wanted to hire back the Second Coming. I love Gruden for bringing a championship to Tampa but he needs to stop living in 2008.
March 25th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Sometime it ain’t de head coach, but what assistants can bring out.
March 25th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
Why does t max insist on changing the topic from gruden to GMC…? If he changes topic so he can espouse his trash he is showing all fans his silliness ….just stating the obvious
March 25th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Nobody cares what the maxi pad has to say
March 25th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Lol. Same as it ever was’d
March 25th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
Tmax, so by your logic, Barry Sanders was a bum because he never managed to win a single meaningful game. Right?
March 25th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Yep.. I don’t miss that at all.
March 25th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Maybe gruden will call brad Johnson and see if he wants to back up carr.
March 25th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
What does an article written about Jon Gruden have to do with Gerald McCoy?
March 25th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
We all agree man it’s maxi pad making it a McCoy thing…
March 25th, 2018 at 3:24 pm
I’d take Chucky over Derp K any day.
March 25th, 2018 at 3:40 pm
Me too but that’s not the point lol
March 25th, 2018 at 4:06 pm
This is classic Gruden and the main reason I didn’t want him here. The dude ALWAYS brings in veterans who are over the hill.
March 25th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Who cares????
Seriously. F the Raiders and the coach who flamed out a decade ago…
Thanks Chuck for Making Tampa Sorry Again!!!
No seriously, kick rocks… TAMPA DONT GIVE A SPIT ABOUT YOU!!!!
March 25th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Allan,
We all know who the cancer is within the 12th man.
Lets focus on the possitives and the things we can do something about… For example… Ignore the nonsense and the AI… It knows not what it does and its only wish is to destroy that which created it…
Just saying, ignore the cancerTmax and his fellow but plugers
March 25th, 2018 at 4:31 pm
Yeah he lives in the past… probably reached out to Favre or Peyton manning to see if they want to back up care by now lol
March 25th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
Carr not care damn auto correct
March 25th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
All I can say is Gruden must’ve lost a bet. To hire dancin’ Doug Martin for anything other than being a nice guy is willingly slamming the car door on your own fingers. We all know how this is going to work out.
March 25th, 2018 at 4:55 pm
TMax is passionate about his disdain for GMC, and perhaps turns people off with his relentless and unabashed attacks, but consider this.
When the Bucs are up by 2 points, the opposing team has the ball with 2:30 left on the clock, and the Bucs need a stop. Have you ever thought, Gerald McCoy is about to get a sack and end this? Be honest with yourself. If your answer is like mine, never, then why was McCoy the highest paid player on the team for the last 3 or 4 seasons?
Gerald McCoy is a good, not great player whose primary focus appears to be his own goals and aspirations, not his team’s. When a man speaks from the heart and tells you that your football game is secondary in his life, perhaps we should listen.
Gerald McCoy, From Bucs Presser, 4.17.17 Min – 14:45 –
“My purpose in Tampa is much bigger than football, and in order for me to fulfill that purpose I have to do everything I can in my career to move forward and do what I’m really supposed to be in Tampa to do…”
My best guess is that the Glazers thought that they paid McCoy $100 Million Dollars to make football his #1 Priority, but that is just speculation on my part.
The problem is that Gerald McCoy is a terrific person, and off the field he is a fantastic role model, just an all-around great, fun, and likable guy. But his passion is for being popular, not football or winning unfortunately, and as the leader and former face of the franchise, that is a very negative mindset for a locker room. Gerald does not mind losing, and a losing mindset is just as contagious as a winning mindset. JMHO
March 25th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Chucky did the same thing with A.Bryant before we signed him, that one actually worked out. I don’t see this one working out .
March 25th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Wow you guys really take this GMC thing pretty seriously. What i don’t get is your not paying his contract it’s not coming out of your pocket and he is a top 5 Defensive tackle in this league. I really don’t think a football game should be in a DTs hands to win with two minutes on the clock either I think it should be in the defense as a unit. Trust me now that he finally has some pieces around him he will have a great year. Now enough about McCoy we have bear this into the ground for years and I’m sick 0f talking about it.
March 25th, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Gruden the gm is awful.
Gruden the coach is unreal
March 25th, 2018 at 6:23 pm
Kfromfla has hit it right on the head!! THAT aid the very reason why those of us that live and breath the Bucs have disdain for GMC. He does not have the same passion and drive that the truly great ones do. I’m glad that others are starting to realize this about him. To bad the people that can do something about it don’t see it.
March 25th, 2018 at 6:46 pm
They also thought Joe Gibbs would bring a ring back to Washington out of retirement…see how that worked out!..ruin that win/loss average MR.Gruden. Lol
March 25th, 2018 at 7:06 pm
How many quarterbacks has Gruden collected in Oakland thus far? I know they got EJ Manuel, Josh Johnson, Connor Cook and of course David Carr. I wonder if Gruden will go the 8 is enough route or try to get to a bakers dozen.
March 25th, 2018 at 7:24 pm
I told you he probably called rich Gannon to kick the tires and probabl6 brad Johnson too
March 25th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
While I mostly bash Gruden for being a tard and doing things like releasing John Lynch and letting Sapp walk in order to sign an old injured Charlie Garner, every 35+ year old injured offensive lineman in FA, signing Ian Gold to a huge money deal and giving Ellis Wyms big money – let’s look at things he did correctly in FA or in trades for vets – but I’m going to put a minimum limit that they had to have more than one productive year … here we go…
The Keyshawn for Joey Galloway trade. This was a big win for Gruden even if he tanked the 2003 season by sending Keyshawn home when the team was in the middle of a playoff run.
Matt Bryant was a very good pickup…
Jeff Garcia was perhaps a good pickup, I mean he did get them to a playoff game so that’s good – but he also was injured a lot in his 2 seasons which was the big knock on him by that point in his career.
…and that’s it. I looked over the roster for each year after Gruden got Rich McKay fired, so 2004-2008, looking at his guys, and that’s it. Antonio Bryant was a one year wonder so he doesn’t make the list, but you could give him credit for that if you think Gruden leaving is what tanked Bryant.
Man with as bad as drafting was for Gruden I think you can make a legit case he drafted better than he signed FAs or traded for guys. As far as rookies go you got Talib, Davin Joseph, the UDFA Earnest Graham, Donald Penn – and useful guys like Jeremy Zuttah, Tanard Jackson and Rudd.
Anywho good luck Raider nation. LOL!
March 25th, 2018 at 7:31 pm
Alan – Considering Gruden did everything he could to not play Brad Johnson, like trying to force Rob Johnson into the starting job and dumping Brad Johnson as soon as he got Rich McKay fired, I don’t think Gruden would be eager to have him around.
March 25th, 2018 at 7:44 pm
The problem is GMC is the highest paid def player and is the supposed leader of the D .
When the rest of the any group , team, pack ,family see’s it’s leader NOT have a I hate to lose attitude or leader doesn’t have fire ,fight and tenacity then that low level of desire spreads.
Gmc’ best snaps game in and game out is the first series and he seldom replicates that same effort the rest of the game . I can’t tell you how many times I see him make a tackle on the first series and end the game with two or three. With his talent level he should have 5 tackles plus game in and game out……….BUT He doesn’t and the other players know the he could and should and there in lies the problem.
March 25th, 2018 at 7:53 pm
GMC haters… ZZZZzzzzz.
Get some new material you bores.
March 25th, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Issic we get it bro your not a fan of GMC it’s borderline serial killer creepy enough already
March 25th, 2018 at 9:25 pm
Tmaxcon
We’re you one of those kids that wanted to take your football home if you got tackled before the goal line in a two hand touch game! Dude you are some kind of hater on 93.The guy has had ZERO help his entire career!6-8 sacks bye McCoy this year or I will join your club!
March 25th, 2018 at 9:30 pm
Big fan of GMC just think he doesn’t bring his A game often and it doesn’t help bring other players play their highest level. It’s just an opinion but The results are the results !!! 4 pro bowl players on The D !!! Leagues worst Defense !!!
Alan ever consider putting your medication in your koolaid
March 25th, 2018 at 9:42 pm
Tmax,
I hear you and you are right! Mccoy has never won a meaningful game. and on that note we should cut Mike Evans. he just got a major contract and for what. he has never won a meaningful game. Lavonte david needs to be let go. He is a career loser who has never won a meaningful game. Cameron Brate definitely needs to go, way to nice and intelligent of a guy to be a football player. And to think that next year we will be shelling out the big bucks for career losers like kwon alexander, ali marpet, and donivan smith.
March 25th, 2018 at 9:43 pm
As I see it we have four major wholes on our roster: strong safety, #2 Outside cornerback, running back and left guard. With the recent additions on the DL and at center we have shorn up the rest. Strangely enough, this draft just happens to be deep at strong safety, cornerback, running back and guard. I wonder if that is a coincidence. I think not.
March 25th, 2018 at 9:44 pm
Also Alan it appears you dislike Chris Conte who in my opinion played very good ball last year and made way more big tackles than GMC. I also think he played harder than GMC !! He also is maybe other than Kwon the hardest hitter on that D so Bro get off Contes back !! At least he brings it !!!
Is he a pro bowler no , Is there an ex Buc that thinks he is one of the best athletes he has ever played with, yes !! Would D James be an upgrade ,Yes
March 25th, 2018 at 9:50 pm
The season has not even started yet…………………
March 25th, 2018 at 10:57 pm
TMax,
half the time I agree with you, you have made a couple valiant points but every single article Joes print does not call for you to hijack the thread and turn it into a GMC bash.
Why cant you get interested in any other aspect of the Bucs teams and share that. I do agree 1) that GMC did not show leadership last year in regards to Baker, and 2) the team is not devastated when McCoy is on IR. So I have said that and now there is NO reason to repeat it over and over throughout Joes website.Nobody gives a shet anyway. That is how we think of you–you have made your point, we get it, move on to next topic.
March 25th, 2018 at 10:57 pm
If you play fantasy you might want to look at Doug for a backup RB. Good coach who can call plays. Good O line. A homesick kid back home. He may rush for a grand. Just sayin lol
March 25th, 2018 at 11:44 pm
You can’t be serious Issic… you don’t like GMC but you think Chris Conte is good. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
OK, I asked for some new material and you gave it to me, so hey, thanks, I guess.
March 26th, 2018 at 7:20 am
@KfromFLA
Love your analysis of GMC in the 20 or so post up. I can assure you as someone who works with GMC “indirectly”. Bat Man… IE, Randle McDaniel (Look him up) AKA, GMC is a football guy. He wants to win more than anyone… His talents and ability may not be what everyone expected(#99) BUT HE IS DAM CLOSE.
Sapp never closed out a game by himself… To think other wise is SOFA KING WE TAUGHT IT!!!!
Get off the Trolls Bridge. You can’t blame Paul Gruber for the Bucs losing. JUST LIKE YOU CAN NOT BLAME GMC!!!!
March 26th, 2018 at 9:01 am
douggie might have been good for Gru…. if he could catch a football.
March 26th, 2018 at 10:51 am
Gruden only picked up Martin because he thinks he can show the Bucs that he can make him great…
Anything you can do, I can do better… Good luck with that Gru.
March 26th, 2018 at 11:56 am
From NFL.com
“They have roles to play,” Davis told Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. “At this point in time, the role Reggie plays now is a little different than the role he played with Jack [Del Rio], a little different than his role working with Dennis [Allen]. It evolves. He has built the team to where we are now, and we’re in pretty good shape with the cap and everything else. Now he has a head coach who’s going to be running this thing for the next 10 years. His vision is going to be most important building what type of team we’ve got. That vision, and that direction is going to be helpful to Reggie more so than not. I think they’ll work together very well.”
Poor, Poor Oakland