No Need To Panic… Yet
March 14th, 2018
For some reason this has all the feel of the 2011 offseason.
The Bucs were coming off what turned out to be their lone double-digit win season in the post-Chucky era, 10-6, losing a playoffs tiebreaker to eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay.
Just missed the playoffs and what happened the following spring? On face value, it sure looked like the organization got awfully cocky about its own players, and so the Bucs, in an effort to get over the hump and into the playoffs, went out and added… a friggin’ punter.
That was it! The organization went into full siesta mode. Spring break indeed!
With the exception of one season — Dirk Koetter’s first, this team has been in meltdown mode every since, taking up residency in Buccaneer Cove, the basement of the NFC South.
But don’t panic, yet.
Joe is seriously nervous that the Bucs will enter the 2018 minicamps with Ryan Smith as a starting cornerback — don’t get Joe going on drafting a cornerback after seeing how Vernon Hargreaves and Smith have been all but ruined thus far. No need to burn another valuable pick on a corner until proven otherwise.
But a bit of browsing on the interwebs has calmed Joe down. In fact, based on WalterFootball.com’s top-seven free agent corners, three have yet to reach an agreement with a team as of this typing.
(Remember, contracts cannot become official until 4 p.m. today when the free agency dinner bell rings.)
The three unsigned include E.J. Gaines, Rashaan Melvin and Patrick Robinson.
Yeah, Joe is even willing to bring back Leonard Johnson. No, he’s not an All-Pro, but he’s not Smith either. And Johnson actually started seven games for a playoff team last year.
March 14th, 2018 at 5:14 am
I want Morris Claiborne. After a slow start to his career he has improved a ton. We wouldn’t have to break the bank for him either.
March 14th, 2018 at 5:24 am
If its another slow news day for the Bucs today fans are gonna lose their minds. Heck most of them are already going crazy.
Isn’t tomorrow the day they officially raise the season ticket prices too? Would be nice to show the fans something to get them excited.
March 14th, 2018 at 5:30 am
It appears there will be no impact additions to this team. I think the Glazers need to cut ties with Licht and Koetter immediately. This upcoming season will be another lost season. To not dramatically improve the D-line and O-line, CB, S, is unconscionable. The Bucs are not close to winning anything else but the Toilet Bowl game. Such pathetic leadership.
March 14th, 2018 at 5:45 am
JBF March 8, 2018 … ‘Talib Traded to Hollywood”
@Joe … “Breathe easy, Bucs fans, Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter have a plan to fix the NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense. That might not include Brent Grimes, their very best cornerback, but there is a plan.”
Aah yes, we all remember those words well Joe. And THE PLAN is unfolding right before our eyes. Oh yes, it DID include re-signing Brent Grimes. It obviously DID NOT include signing any of the top CBs (and certainly not any DEs like Quinn or Wilkerson).
Really hate to admit this, but tmaxcon is probably right: “Typical glazer inaction or when they do act it will be left overs, has beens and injury prone gambles mixed dented can aisle garbage.” My guess is that those who are still here in Sept will be bitching about how Scapegoat Smitty can’t coach up a 2nd & 3rd level defense. This is becoming shameful.
March 14th, 2018 at 6:07 am
Yah the ej Gaines race is heating up so we may lose him
McKinnon to bucs seems done deal.
Now throw whatever you can at Jensen and sitton and no need to draft oline this year. Seeing multiple posts that Jensen is “liking” bucs comments on twitter. Hope that has meaning.
Got 40 mil to spend (since 10 needed to sign drafted players) although ayers and a few others could free up another 10
March 14th, 2018 at 6:18 am
You are right Joe. No need to panic. We need to give up this season, pick young guys, gamble on some young and talented FA, release the mccoys and davids and whoever is not part of our future and can win us some new blood in the form of picks. We will not win anything next year. Lets lose the false hope and inevitable dissapointment and stop doing the same mistakes we do every year. maybe we’ll change our faith
March 14th, 2018 at 6:23 am
So disappointing. I am not sure why I even bother to check every single day to see what we do. Well another snooze year ahead. Does anyone have a prediction on how bad we are going to be. WAITING for a positive move by the Bucs in free agency. Get your collective heads out of the sand and show some leadership.
FIX THE TRENCHES!
March 14th, 2018 at 6:36 am
@oldtimebuc I predict a 5-11 season. This team is not close to anything but losing another season. The thought that the Glazers are in financial trouble and do not have the money to pay anything more than the floor seems to be more reality than wrong. It’s going to be another bad season. Yet, the lemmings will show up in droves at the meet the team day. Anyone concerned with excellence or is that just something the Patriots pursue?
March 14th, 2018 at 6:46 am
Nothing to see here folks.
Keep moving.
Apparently, this team is so good, we don’t need to add ANY other players for ANY position.
We’re all good.
We’ll coach-up our own players that have made us the juggernaut of basement NFL.
Just wait and see.
Give us 16 more years, you’ll see.
March 14th, 2018 at 6:50 am
By the way….we’re raising ticket prices this year to see the same losing players you saw last year. Trust us. ……The Glazers.
March 14th, 2018 at 6:52 am
If only Dr kevorkian was around today.
He could get some serious clients on this website. I mean suck it up people. Never seen so many cry babies in one place. Just whining about everything bucs
March 14th, 2018 at 6:52 am
Jensen, Suh/Poe, McKinnon and Gaines/Melvin… the only saving grace in free agency. Football should be entertaining, Bucs not doing that right now
March 14th, 2018 at 6:57 am
With the cap space the Bucs have there is no reason they can’t sign Jermaine Johnson.
March 14th, 2018 at 6:59 am
I’m good with McKinnon as well. He has 4.1 speed and benched 32 Reps which I think is a combine record for RBs. He has shown enough potential/upside to be given a chance to be a featured back. RB is a huge need for this team, we are not getting Barkley and most mock drafts I’ve seen have a run on RBs just before we pick.
March 14th, 2018 at 7:00 am
I just want to scream, GET SOME ONE!!!!! the inaction to want to help this defense is deafening,
Rrsrq……whole heartedly agree!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 7:03 am
@DefenseRules
Ha ha!
Smacking Joe in the pee pee and a nod to tmax in the same post?
It’s a crazy time man!
March 14th, 2018 at 7:03 am
They won’t get a running back… They just signed barber & will draft one. They are letting all the cb’s sign else where so I’m guessing we will get Claiborne & draft 1. And there are no ends worth spit in FA right now and we will draft a project. Prob gonna be another long season with 8&8 as the ceiling. Smh
March 14th, 2018 at 7:15 am
Lichts whiffed on the draft last year to get a rb and at the very least ONE defensive end, ONE, heck licht has whiffed in every draft, can he not see what the bucs are severely missing? Bucs still need OL, RB, DE, DB, the bucs just like last year do not need a TE….so i am guessing licht gets eddie pinero from UF and aanother LB or 2 and a TE
March 14th, 2018 at 7:24 am
They are trying, it’s just everyone drank the kool aid last year and the media darlings shat the bed. Why would anyone want to come here with a lame duck coach and a qb who might be suspended?
March 14th, 2018 at 7:44 am
I don’t think anyone wants to come play for this team and they are going to have to draft starting corners like the other teams in our division have done. Ignoring the defense all this time was a really bad idea especially since your offense is nothing to fear. Bucs will once again finish in the basement and it will be easier to accept than it was last year.
March 14th, 2018 at 7:52 am
reserving judgement until 1800hrs (6pm). No action by Licht tells me all I need to know about 2018. Season tickets? yeah right.
March 14th, 2018 at 7:53 am
2018 final standings, last place… 3-13 record if we’re lucky…
March 14th, 2018 at 7:57 am
Licht & Dirk are both cooked…
Licht brought this on himself and we are the ones that are going to suffer.
His free agent signings HAVE SUCKED and if you were the Glazers, were is the proof that he would get it right this time?
The Moe, Larry and Curly Glazer have had enough of the wasted FA $$ that Licht has spent, so they must have said this year, you are not spending in FA to the extent that you have before…
Why is Sweezy still on this team or Evans?
How did Licht get it so wrong with Swaggy Baker when all the warning signs were there..
It’s obvious Licht is a BAD GM…The Glazers will not allow him to tie the team down for the next GM and head coach next year.
Lichts Drafts are not even that great..people think he does a great job in the draft..
Really…
2014
ASJ ( 2nd Round Waste )
Sims ( 3rd round waste )
2016
Hargreaves ( No production yet )
SPence ( 2nd Round Hurt all the time )
Roberto ( 2nd round waste plus picks )
Smith ( 4th round aout of position for a year )
2017
Evans ( 2nd Needed Pass Rusher instead of a safety )
March 14th, 2018 at 8:00 am
I’m not panicking at all, this is exactly what I expect from this inept sh!t show of a franchise/organization. I am pissed but not surprised, this is the Glazer’s standard operating procedures. It just baffles me that there are some of you out there that STILL believe in this ownership and GM/coaching regime…..SMH. THE GLAZERS DON’T GIVE A SH!T ABOUT WINNING!! They only care about lining their pockets. As long as there’s revenue sharing and you group of blind sheep fans keep buying tickets to the games and spending money on merchandise…….they will keep laughing all the way to the bank.
March 14th, 2018 at 8:15 am
The Glazer asshats don’t even like American football they only care about futbol and lining their pockets from tv money, they aren’t getting anymore of my hard earned money for sure, feels like they don’t care so why should we
March 14th, 2018 at 8:20 am
D R
I’d rather be wrong and bucs win but 40 years as a buc fan has made me a brutally honest prick….
March 14th, 2018 at 8:25 am
Joe…this off season is beginning to smell like rotting fish…and as they say, it rots from the head on down.
March 14th, 2018 at 8:29 am
I am not worried about this one bit. You are the same people that B!tch after they do get Pro Bowl players in here or past Super Bowl players and then they don’t perform. And you are also the same people that were screaming to get your hands on Fat Albert. Had to have him. Well I have some news for you. It has not worked in 16 years or more. Why do you think it would work now?
March 14th, 2018 at 9:19 am
lol…..it feels like this staff is a dead staff walking……seems like glazers wont let licht spend big because they want to save cap for the new regime next year…..seem like they know Winston will have to sit 6games and they know we don’t have a chance with him missing 6games……seems lke they’re not trying to win this season…..
no urgency….no excuses!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 11:54 am
Sending out e-mails to reup on season tickets. Probably should have mailed it out earlier to fool em. Now is not a good time to ask for money. That’s why election day and IRS tax day are as far apart as posible.