“He Played His Way Out Of A Contract”
December 14th, 2018
Donovan Smith has been a fiesty guy on Twitter lately, firing back at amateur film gurus and those who question his effort.
But what about when a man paid by the Buccaneers thinks Smith is unworthy of a fancy new contract?
That guy paid on the team payroll blasting Smith is Buccaneers Radio Network analyst John Gilmore, a Bucs tight end for Chucky and Raheem Morris after years with Bears.
He hopped on WDAE-AM 620 today and, after saying he didn’t want to sling daggers at the Bucs’ offensive line (a nearly season-long punching bag for Gilmore), he went after Smith.
“You started talking about the O-line and I started getting butterflies in my stomach as if I was Jameis Winston,” Gilmore said. “Man, I don’t know what is going through [Jameis’] mind watching the tape.
“But our offensive line, and I’m not in the mood to throw stones this morning because we all know there’s issues there. But that’s something they’re going to have to address in the offseason.
“I mean, Donovan Smith, and it’s unfortunate, he played himself out of a contract. And obviously we have issues on the right side of the line at that right guard position, which I think is really the main issue. I mean a guy like [Ryan] Jensen is playing full-time center and part-time guard.”
And here we are with three games to go — and three games remaining on Smith’s contract.
This will all come down to how the new Bucs head coach views Smith’s value. He’s not bad and he’s not great. Is coaching a negative factor? Or has it been a positive?
There’s always the franchise tag available for Smith, which would be roughly $14 million for the 2019 season.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
Lazy in
Lazy out
Lazy was the knock on him coming out of college
well to be kind
insert inconsistent effort for Lazy
the curse of 2nd round draft picks rolls on
December 14th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
these next two games make me worry about Winston’s health.
Gonna be running for his life.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
We need these last six games to see what we have in Winston.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Tagging Smith makes the most sense. Right now the right side of the line is a bigger issue than the left. No, the left side isn’t perfect at the moment, but Smith and Marpet are a lot better than Benenoch and Dotson. Delay the LT issue one more year until we address the right side first.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
I’ve held out hope on Smith for years he obviously has trouble with speed rushers. I would move him to guard. Seems like we have a huge need at RG AND RT. ALTHOUGH NO ONE WANTS TO CALL DOTSON OUT.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:31 pm
They need to replace George Warhop. They’ve been mixing up that line for years trying to help him find something that works.
Sacks have gone up every year…and so did resulting turnovers.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
I really like Jonah Williams and Greg Little in this upcoming draft.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
@Season Is Over
Three games.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Honestly, I think we have the solutions to the right side on the team already.
Wester at RT
Cappa at RG
December 14th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Donovan is a pretty likeable guy. – Really wish that he seemed to show up on Sundays with the same FIRE in his gut as what he finally seemed to display on Twitter.
I agree that he really may have played himself out of a deal.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
He is the opposite of Hump. both had contract years. On showed out and 1 will didn’t.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
@DB55
I agree with almost everything you said, but instead of him moving inside to guard, I would like to see him play at RT. His stance and physical statue would probably make moving to guard a tough adjustment for him.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
They need to slide smith to right guard and try him out at guard these last few games. He has a guards body and skill set and let Wester play at tackle
December 14th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Seems like one of those guys who fails above the shoulders…
December 14th, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Licht wants to pay him so he can say “Look what I did!” to the Glazers.
2nd contracts don’t mean sh** if the guy you are re-signing is getting paid way more than he’s worth. That’s still just a bad contract done for the wrong reasons.
December 14th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
@Joe … “There’s always the franchise tag available for Smith, which would be roughly $14 million for the 2019 season.” Uhhh, no way, please. $14 mil for Donovan to come back as our LT for what? So he can get next season’s $21 mil QB killed? I’m all for retaining Donovan … but NOT as a LT. Personally I’d move him to LG & slide Marpet back over to RG (I’m still of the opinion that’s his natural position). Then find a real LT AND a real RT for next season (1 FA & 1 high draft pick). That’d allow Donovan to be an alternate LT IF push came to shove (the new LT got injured?) and it should give us a solid ‘core’ in the center of our OLine.
December 14th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
So that Grandslam draft that the Joes pumped up for so long isn’t looking to be a grand slam by Licht after all…
Jameis, no extension but likely to play out his 5th year option
Donovan Smith, will probably walk in free agency as new regime has no loyalty to him
Marpet, vastly overpaid for so little performance
Kwon, drug suspension year 1, missed time in year 3 due to injuries and missed a majority of season 4 due to injuries will come back on a team friendly deal or be on another team
2 out 4 will probably be here long term depending on what a new regime decides
December 14th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Team full of fat softies
December 14th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
He’s worth 8 million a year at best for a desperate team
December 14th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
There will be no quit in the Kris Richard regime….will it be the Monday after the Atlanta game they fire dork or after the super bowl?
December 14th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
DB55
Dotson has never no reason to be called out about anything. His time is just finally up. He’s been the second best o-lineman to Marpet. He was the best one last year at 33.
December 14th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Getting tired of these idiots saying Kris Richard, Joe. We need a good HC with NFL HC experience like Rivera or Harbaugh. No more hiring of guys who have been a defensive backs coach his entire career.
December 14th, 2018 at 5:01 pm
We need a gigantic, long guy like Greg Little at LT in the first round.
December 14th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
He probably played his way out of a LT contract. I agree with the posters who say sign him to play guard if possible. Sign a free agent tackle to compete with Wester and draft another tackle. Hopefully a LT will be available in round 1 for a 5 or 6 win team.
December 14th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Tagging d mite makes no sense whatsoever. A new coach will come in here look at this years tape and move on. No new coach is gonna be stuck on Tampa’s underperforming talent like fans and Dirk Koetter. Free agency or the draft can bring someone else at less of a price. Fat and lazy since day one. Tired of watching him and a couple others stand around while both qbs running for their lives
December 14th, 2018 at 5:22 pm
They probably could get Donavan Smith to play the part of ‘Finch” in the remake of the 80’s classic, Wildcats…………..Football.
December 14th, 2018 at 5:47 pm
Draft a left tackle and move Donovan to right tackle. Keep Dotson as a backup. Like Joe said he’s playing a mediocre LT but maybe he would be a better RT.
December 14th, 2018 at 6:04 pm
@SOEbuc
I completely disagree, anytime i hear the word experience i just have a picture in my mind of a coach who is stuck in his way of doing things rather than trying something new. For instance, wasn’t Mike Smith an experience coach, yet he didn’t want to adjust his defense, same could be said for Lovie Smith. If we do hire an experience coach as you put it, then that means he got let go from his previous team, that doesn’t mean he will fail with the Bucs mind you. I’m just sick and tired of people saying teams need experienced coaches. I just want the coach that puts his players in the best possible position to succeed.
December 14th, 2018 at 6:10 pm
He came out and said he cant play guard and wont play right tackle.
Marpet, who’s twice the offensive lineman that Smith will ever be has been on the team for four years and has played right guard for two seasons, center for one season, and left guard for a season. Hell, he played left tackle in college.
Smith knows that good left tackle get paid the most money, thus he wouldn’t entertain the idea of being a team guy and playing another position. I wouldnt be overly surprised if he would purposely sabatoge a try out at a new position just to try to keep his fat a$$ at left tackle.
JR Sweezy started in Seattle as a DT, moved to right guard for them and the Bucs, and is now Seattles starting left guard, yet this pile Smith doesn’t think it’s possible for him to stick his left hand in the dirt as opposed to his right.
December 14th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Donovan Smith will go to another team and be great. I say keep him around another year. He’s still young. Left tackle is one of the toughest positions. He’ll never play guard.
December 14th, 2018 at 6:39 pm
I literally called it before the season started. I refused to make any concrete predictions. But I made it abundantly clear that I felt very strongly that not firing Mike Smith and The right side of the Oline would destroy the season.
December 14th, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Smith is worth 60k a year with benefits.
He’s the best worst option.
December 14th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
I would be ok with Rivera as HC and give Kris Richard a shot at DC. Keep Monken as OC.
The shouting for Richard as HC seems premature but he looks good and who knows, maybe down the line he’ll be ready for HC.
Donovan Smith……no.
December 14th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
I’ll say it for the 1000th time.
D. Smith is a below average left tackle.
He would make an average to good RT.
He has a chance to be very good at guard opposite Marpet.
The Bucs will never have a good offensive line while he is its LT.
I said this 3 years ago, 2 years ago, last year…
It is blatantly obvious to anyone who knows anything about football that he is a a liablity that lacks the drive, focus, want and desire to be great. His motor runs at half-speed.
December 14th, 2018 at 9:53 pm
I agree with Defense. “No, Donovan, we’re not going to give you $14 million to get our QB killed. What we will do is pay you top current guard dollar for four years to move inside to left guard, put Marpet back at RG, jettison Benenoch from any starting gig, put Wester at Right Tackle, and move up to draft the top LOT. Unfortunately, some team is going to look at Donovan’s durability, and will call him a top 15 LT, and they’re gonna offer him $15 million. Smith won’t be able to turn that down.
December 14th, 2018 at 10:18 pm
Speed Rushers are his Achilles heel, so move him, to guard, or better yet, to right tackle.
December 14th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
@DB55
Agree with everything you said. If we move him to RT he’ll still have problem with speed… tell him try OG or walk…
December 14th, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Mediocre play gets you mediocre pay…
December 15th, 2018 at 1:53 am
Ledke played well during the preseason. Give him a shot and see what he does and just bench smith already.
December 15th, 2018 at 8:10 am
SOEbuc Says:
“Dotson has never no reason to be called out about anything. His time is just finally up. He was the best one last year at 33.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
I am glad you mentioned that, SOE. I have been meaning to say something about DOT. — Yes he is slowing down a bit finally (having Benenoch next to him does not help)…. but he has been a warrior for us for quite a few years now and a great teammate in the locker room. Sending him some good vibes as he seems like he may be winding down the road now.
December 15th, 2018 at 9:22 am
Sumo- he will be great because they will move him to RG or RT- we were literally the only team in the draft that pegged him as a LT. I remember watching the coverage, reading the magazines, all of them said he would be a mailer at Guard but his feet are too slow and he takes plays off. They actually showed plays where he was beaten with a speed rush and his QB got crushed. When we drafted him, I threw my remote. It seems if you have 1 good week at the senior bowl- the Bucs will ignore 2-3 years worth of game film. Incredible!!
December 15th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Man, JJ, you have come out firing today. Great points.
And yet, have the Bucs even ever entertained the notion of moving him to Guard as so many of you guys have suggested in these forums?
I am guessing probably not.
December 15th, 2018 at 9:47 am
Demon- I thought they did talk to him about playing Guard and he refused, most likely because of the difference in money for the second contract between a LT and a G or RT. I can’t say I blame him but that is not much of a “team player”. I like D Smith the dude, would love for him to be our RG or RT, but if he insists on LT, peace out, otw, we will be looking for a LT next year and a QB because he is gonna get Jameis killed.
December 15th, 2018 at 10:05 am
Very well said again, JJ, and I agree about Donovan as a dude. I think he is well liked in the locker room as a teammate. I think you are right that for him to stay here in TB, he is going to entertain that notion of maybe shooting a little lower in his $ expectation and move to G.
December 15th, 2018 at 10:36 am
get rid of frankinstein, hes slower and has worse foot work then the real frankinstein defense just blows by him and penalty after penalty he is the worst
December 15th, 2018 at 11:18 am
This is the NFL. He’s not moving to guard for money reasons. If we don’t pay him, he’ll get what he wants from another team. I’ll point out he’s been an iron man not missing time. That is important. Losing him means we spent 4 years grooming him and he’ll be gone. Not long ago, we were all upset because we thought he could not play from an injury. Now we’re calling for his head. He’s young with a lot of experience. That means a lot on the open market.
December 15th, 2018 at 11:59 am
If you get rid of him what are the better options. He is like Jameis. Jameis the 16-20th best qb in the league. Donovan the 18th to 22nd best left tackle in the league.
Getting rid of either than give me a better option to start.
By the way, not impressed with John Gilmore as an analyst either. He is like the 29th of 32 analysts in the area. Why is Joe quoting the lowest level analyst for his articles each week.
December 15th, 2018 at 12:20 pm
What the Bucs need to do is slide his lazy ass to the bench. Forget RT. What makes any think he’ll be any better at RT. He’s the classic underachiever. Yeah, lets franchise him for 14 mil. That was an attempt at a joke. Right?