“I Still Think They Might Cut Me”
August 30th, 2018
Bares his soul.
What a fantastic interview!
Perhaps from Joe and other Bucs beat people, fans can sense writers really like right tackle Demar Dotson. The big reason why is the big guy is real. Dotson may be the nicest, friendliest NFL player you can find.
Dotson almost always has a kind word to say, and not only does he always answer questions, he is sometimes bluntly honest.
An easy guy to pull for, Dotson never played football until he was 22 after finishing his career with the Southern Miss basketball team. The only NFL team that showed any interest in Dotson was the Bucs, and he is now the most senior member of the team.
And it is because Dotson came up the hard way that he still is paranoid come early September when teams slice their rosters to the mandatory-53. Just like in his 2009 rookie season, Dotson is scared of “The Turk” (the guy known in NFL locker rooms as the Grim Reaper, who tells players the coach wants to see them and bring your playbook).
Appearing on the “Salty Dogs” podcast heard on Buccaneers.com with co-hosts Scott Smith and Jeff Ryan, Dotson delivered one of the more memorable player interviews Joe has heard.
With cutdowns coming Saturday, Dotson wasn’t shy about admitting his fears of being forced to leave the only NFL team he has ever known.
Dotson was asked if he still feels fortunate when driving to work for how lucky his life turned out.
“All the time,” Dotson said. “That is what keeps me hungry. That is what keeps me driving everyday. I can’t let up because I am still a guy that came in through the back door.
“I still think they might cut me. I still think I might get fired. That is still in the back of my mind. I am always thinking about that. I don’t ever want [anybody] to say he don’t work hard. I don’t ever want [anybody] to say he’s not giving it 100 percent.”
There is a lot more in the interview, including how Dotson nearly blew his chances with the Bucs before he even left the state of Mississippi while in college, how Gaines Adams was a key figure in him making the team and how he once practiced with toeless cleats.
Oh, and Dotson’s oldest son may be a chip off of his old man’s block. Dotson is 6-9 and wears size-18 shoes. His son, who is nine-years old, is in his first year of organized football. He’s 5-8, 180 and wears size-13 shoes.
Additionally, Dotson is mad at Chucky because he thinks the Bucs had a very physical training camp thanks to Chucky spouting off about his old team. Dotson said he read this offseason that Chucky attended a Bucs practice last year and remarked how he thought it was soft and sloppy. (Good bet it was this story.)
Dotson is convinced Bucs coach Dirk Koetter read the same quote and decided to heed Chucky’s words.
“Oh my goodness, why would you say something like that for?” Dotson said of Chucky. “So [Koetter] made up his mind he was going to make camp more physical than it was.”
Joe can just about promise that you will not hear a better interview of a Bucs player today.
August 30th, 2018 at 6:28 am
Dotson has become a very good pro, gets better every year. Last year he was playing great before he got injured. I hope he is here another 5 years.
August 30th, 2018 at 7:25 am
Dot is one of my favorite Bucs of all time, because he’s the definition of home grown…
I love his mentality; imo, no matter what round you’re drafted in you should always have the mindset of an underdog…the carnal sin of any profession is getting to comfortable and content…if you wanna stay on top, or in this case “not get fired or cut” you have to always stay hungry…
If this team can stay healthy I beleive we have what it takes to climb out of the NFC South basement, and into the playoffs…
August 30th, 2018 at 7:48 am
Demar Dotson is the consummate Buccaneer IMHO. Put on his hard hat and brings it every single play. Humble and honest to a fault, this dude is gem. I listened to him on Ira’s podcast and hung on every word he said, just priceless. “… he lines up and just beats the dog crap out the guy in front of him.” Warhop said. Dot will go up in the Ring of Honor when he hangs up his cleats. Fully equal to past Buc hero Paul Gruber. Keep grinding Dot, we love you!
August 30th, 2018 at 8:12 am
Awesome that licht as usual, has not planned nor drafted a legit NFL replacement for this, but I am sure he will get to it in the next 4-5 years, hopefully when dotson retires he remains in this community because he seems to be an outstanding person who the community would benefit from him being here
August 30th, 2018 at 8:51 am
5-8 13 shoe size 180lb 9 year old?!?!? Strong genes there. Do they have DNA storage facilities at One Buc Place? We need to clone this man and we’ll have a Dotson forever. Don’t the Glazers want to win? If so, they will become the 23 and me of the NFC.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:10 am
I believe Licht has drafted Dotson’s replacement in Alex Cappa, but he’s nowhere ready to take the reigns from Dotson yet. The big guy has nothing to worry about this season. There just aren’t enough quality lineman ready to take the veterans spot so he’s safe for now. He may at some point be relegated to a backup role but I think they’ll let Dotson leave the game on his own decision.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:15 am
well chucky said they were soft and sloppy and that exactly how we played the entire season….chucky was correct…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
August 30th, 2018 at 9:23 am
If he played on the D-line, people would be saying they don’t want choir boys.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:23 am
His biggest accomplishment is leading active NFL players in LOSSES and basement titles… team needs talented winners not nice guy feel good stories
August 30th, 2018 at 9:55 am
I Bleed Pewter Says:
August 30th, 2018 at 9:10 am
I believe Licht has drafted Dotson’s replacement in Alex Cappa
^^^
For the sake of our QBs I hope Cappa never starts.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:56 am
I am already anticipating Cappa moving to tackle when Dotson is done playing.
I think there is a good chance we will consider drafting an offensive guard with our first round in 2019, depending on the caliber of players available of course.
_______________
Go Bucs!!!!
August 30th, 2018 at 10:38 am
Wow reality err tmax what a world you live in! You should really hang up your Buc fan gear and go root for the Patriots because you never have anything good to say about any of our players let alone some of the stalwarts of the team. The Patriots are consummate winners and it would make your life more fulfilling!
August 30th, 2018 at 10:40 am
Wow reality err tmax what a world you live in! You should really hang up your Buc fan gear and go root for the Patriots because you never have anything good to say about any of our players let alone some of the stalwarts of the team. The Patriots are consummate winners and it would make your life more fulfilling!!!
August 30th, 2018 at 10:45 am
I get the Chucky worship because he was coaching when we won our only SB.
Props for that.
But after that….Chucky was a LOSING Buc coach. He followed the SB year with a 7-9 clunker…did our SB talent disappear that fast.
And if you take Chucky’s Buc record after the SB it was 45-51!!! Six games beneath .500. In fact that’s a .468 winning %
Even with last year’s disaster Koetter is at .438…in his third year Koetter could easily surge ahead of Chucky’s record.
I’m not suggesting Chucky is a bad coach…just an overrated coach.
BTW if you google you’ll find a slew of Chucky is overrated articles.
https://thebiglead.com/2018/01/03/jon-gruden-track-record-head-coach/
Gruden’s career winning percentage of .540 suggests he’s an average football coach. Guys like Chuck Pagano (.552) Dennis Green (.546), Jim Mora (.541), Brian Billick (.556), Jim Caldwell (.554), Wade Phillips (.562), Ron Rivera (.576) and Mike Smith (.589) all have better marks than him. None of those guys is knocking down the doors of the Hall of Fame as a head coach.
August 30th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Gruden was great as an OC, not so great as a HC. He got the team over the hump, but he couldn’t keep the team competitive. Gruden was a spotlight hog and players couldn’t trust his word. Great coaches lnspire players to follow them. Gruden drove his team with threats and curses. I was glad to see him arrive and glad to see him leave. Koetter doesn’t lie to his players. He treats his guys like men. Respect breeds respect.
August 30th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
1Sparky
Stated very well indeed! And I feel the same way you did…
” I was glad to see him arrive and glad to see him leave. “
August 30th, 2018 at 3:11 pm
Very good interview, thanks for the heads up Joe!