Remembering Joe Flacco
November 15th, 2018
Should have been a Bucs QB?
No, you have not stumbled into an alternative universe worthy of “The Twilight Zone.”
It is a world, however, where Joe Flacco is your franchise quarterback.
Joe will allow you to pause a moment while you clean up the coffee from your keyboard.
Now, what does Flacco have to do with the Bucs? Well, Jenna Laine of ESPN has a short story on how things have gone wrong for the Bucs since the dark January Friday afternoon in 2009 when Team Glazer fired Chucky. It was a moment in time from which the Bucs have yet to recover.
Instead of playoff goals with Chucky, now fans just hope to have competitive games in November and December. Many Bucs fans start monitoring mock drafts before Halloween.
Of course, Laine could write a book on how this now futile franchise has sunk to its current depths. But Laine writes that with a little foresight the Bucs likely would have never been on the cusp of a third housecleaning in 10 years at One Buc Palace had Chucky drafted Flacco.
This isn’t a case of “hindsight is 20/20,” because Flacco had just won a national title with Delaware and anyone at practices that week could see he was clearly head and shoulders above prospects Colt Brennan, John David Booty, Andre Woodson and Eric Ainge. The only other player who came close to him that week was Chad Henne.
Sources involved with those evaluations said the team did its due diligence on Flacco, but he was never in the Bucs’ conversation. Instead, they drafted cornerback Aqib Talib. After the 2008 season, the Bucs opted not to re-sign Garcia. Griese was released July 13, 2009, and decided to retire. That meant the Bucs had to go get a quarterback, the absolute worst situation to be in, as 2009 wasn’t the year to find a stellar quarterback among the draft class. …
Instead, general manager Mark Dominik reached for Freeman with the No. 17 overall pick in 2009 because Morris had a relationship with him from their time at Kansas State. The Bucs quickly anointed him their “franchise quarterback,” yet he produced just one winning season and was out of the league by 2015.
Laine has a point. Flacco is still in the league and still playing, sometimes, at a high level. He’s got a Super Bowl ring to his name. Flacco was the No. 18 overall pick in 2008; Talib was No. 20. So the Bucs would have needed to trade up to get him.
Of course, Joe knows others will scream why didn’t Chucky draft Aaron Rodgers? Fair point.
We know why Chucky didn’t draft Brady Quinn. It seems the Notre Dame project was too buff and cut for Chucky, who had a thing for Charlie Frye.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:06 am
If you need more multiple HOFers on defense to win a SB, it’s probably not safe to assume Flacco (who has been awful since 2012) would thrive in Tampa where EVERYONE seems to regress.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:10 am
I’m pretty sure one of the Joes has a thing for that buff and cut beefcake Brady Quinn!
November 15th, 2018 at 11:42 am
This is the 4th housecleaning in my estimation. Rah, Schiano/Dom, Lovie, Koetter/Licht. I understand what you meant, but 5 HC changes since Dungy/McKay, ie, the brothers’ watch.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:47 am
He would of been a bust with this fanbase.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:49 am
Joe give us HC options. :p.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:55 am
If Gruden had drafted Aaron Rodgers instead of Cadillac Williams
He would still be the Bucs Head Coach
If I had played the winning mega-million numbers
I would be living in my beachfront mansion, with my super model girlfriend
November 15th, 2018 at 11:56 am
I think Flacco as a FA option next season is appealing. He’s never had WRs like the ones we have. Then add Brate and Howard, and he could have a resurgence.
I’m of the Mind we should find a veteran QB and focus on fixing the defense. Of course, we’ll have to see who’s running the team when that time comes.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:58 am
^^ @LakeLand,
We are awarding you with the “SARCASM CHAIN” one again!
Well done, sir!! 😉
November 15th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
First Eli, now Flacco.
Neither, right now, is better than Jameis – who is 24 YEARS OLD.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
Danny,
I don’t hate that idea. I wonder if we could snag Matt Stafford instead?
November 15th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Matt Stafford is Jameis Winston, if he does not improve over the next few seasons.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Tampa Bay Demon
If the Bucs hadn’t traded their 1983 1st round pick to Chicago
For their 1982 2nd round pick
They could have drafted Dan Marino in the 1983 draft
** They used the Chicago pick on Booker Reeese**
November 15th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Stick with Jameis under a different regime.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
^^ I remember that well, brother. MyGod, just think of it.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
They should have had Dan Hampton on D, too.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Tony LA- Based on what, exactly? Age?
Honestly, you cannot compare the three.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Well Flacco sure looked good in Tampa that time he threw for like 5 TDs in the first half a few years ago. Too bad he only does that against the Bucs D. But who knows maybe he loves the field here that kickers hate.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
^^ You nailed it, Darin. — The only time Flacco looks like that is in the playoffs or against us. lol
November 15th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Soft @ss Gerald McCoy
November 15th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
gruden doesnt like rookie QB’s so there’s that!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
November 15th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Danny – I totally agree with you on signing a veteran QB. Why waste our HOF receivers while a rookie QB learns his trade. These receivers should make any experienced QB look good (Not including Infamous Jameis of course).
November 15th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
We should’ve fired Dork last year, held on to Martin and Vjax a year too long while paying them 8 and 12 million a year, could’ve of gotten plenty of quality players for those prices, but we only get 2nd tier FAs that are paid like studs, this team is made up of a bunch of IDIOTS, every freaking fan on this site can see the moronic moves needed to be made miles ahead of the loses running the show, remember that grand slam draft, we got 1 player guaranteed to get a 2nd contract, that’s Marpet, Kwon might sign a discount due to his injury, knowing our leaders, we will probably pay him top dollar, he’s not getting better and off injury, stupid idea, sorry JOE’S, your wrong, DSMITH is not, nor will ever be, a top half LT, he’s too slow footed, he needs to move to guard, this team has no direction and I’m tuning them out more and more, thank god for Fantasy Football and NFL Red zone, otherwise I’d find something else to do on Sundays, cause this team is Maki g me question my loyalty
November 15th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
Lakeland right on he should have drafted A Rod
November 15th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Predicting it here… John harbaugh comes to Tampa along with flacco
November 15th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
Yuck, Dre. Just Yuck. ==== I like the John Harbaugh idea, but do NOT want Joe Flacco here.
November 15th, 2018 at 5:37 pm
FLACCO SUCKS!
November 15th, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Hey Joe!
The Captain ain’t showed on deck for weeks.
That’s the Bucs…
Blackbeard never let the Crew get soft after battle.
Put some on…Dead Man’s Chest. .. (Google that)
Bucs are broken link …Bucs Palace is to busy do TV make up.
So..It’s 2019….Holy. @…it’s 2019 and the $$CAP.
Oh great….11:59…who do we save?
Lombardi work the players hard and push them via choice commitment.
Bud Grant (Vikings) 12 Titles. …and NO Superbowl wins!
Nice guy…. doesn’t finish First!
So we arrive at One…. Failure …..Palace.
And for Gawd sakes. ….Turn the Team Jersey Back to Superbowl winning Pewter!
November 15th, 2018 at 9:36 pm
The new GM should make his first mission to change those dadgum clock alarm digit uniforms. Just another reason to Fire Licht!