Mo Claiborne Still Out There
March 16th, 2019
Available.
No team has more failed corners masquerading as nickel corners than the Bucs. They are absolutely stocked with them and sadly, Joe is confident this was not by design.
If there is a Bucs pattern in free agency in 2019, it seems either a signing must be dirt cheap or known by Bucco Bruce Arians or Todd Bowles in another life.
The Bucs could hit these points match by signing Mo Claiborne. The cornerback (not nickel corner, but an honest to goodness real corner) played for Todd Bowles with the Jets.
No, he’s not Deion Sanders but Claiborne was at least serviceable (30 starts, 3 interceptions and 100 tackles through the last two seasons). The only thing, say, M.J. Stewart should be doing when it comes to service is making sure Joe’s Crown Royal and water remains fresh.
You cannot tell Joe that Claiborne would hurt.
Rashaan Melvin, a former Bucs player not good enough for inept Lovie Smith, is still available as well.
March 16th, 2019 at 6:18 am
Agree with you Joe … Claiborne wouldn’t hurt. Bucs have to do SOMETHING to get a veteran starting-caliber outside CB in here because if the season opened today, our Secondary wouldn’t even be as good as what we had last year. Expecting better coaching is one thing. Expecting miracles is quite another.
Claiborne made $7 mil last year with the Jets & looks like he did reasonably well IMO (15 games, 2 INTs, 57 tackles & 14 passes defensed). But here’s what Pro Football Rumors had to say about him … “Over the last two years, Claiborne has missed just two games combined, but he has been far from a shutdown corner”. Ouch.
Coming up with even $7 mil may be challenging thanks to the salary Cap hell we find ourselves in. Looks like Spotrac has pretty much updated its’ numbers for the most recent signings (except for Barber, Harris, Nunez-Roches & Watford … no idea yet how much their contracts will affect the Cap).
Bucs sit at $3,261,449 for the Top-51 it looks like, with very little dead money ($96K). However, add in the 4 just mentioned and we’ll PROBABLY be in negative numbers. Spotrac also shows us with 8 draft picks this year that’ll cost us $10.2 mil … money we don’t presently have. Thus to sign our draft picks AND Claiborne, we’ll PROBABLY need to clear close to $20 mil. Some of that will become available when we cut down to the final 53-man roster to make room for our draft picks (probably $3.5 mil). The rest COULD be gained by restructuring ME13 & a couple others … players who we KNOW will be here for the next several years. It’s doable, but tight it looks like.
March 16th, 2019 at 6:19 am
We def need to get a corner with experience….go get him Licht, as long as he’s not pricing himself out of reach.
March 16th, 2019 at 6:25 am
Joe
You read my mind. Was putting in last article.
Claiborne got 7 last year and 5 the year before
So Bucs could get him for 5 or 6 at one year prove it deal and Bowles knows him very well . Need experienced corner. 5 would do it most likely.
And they need free agent safety too. There are a ton of safeties this year still out there in free agency. Buyers market.
That way they can cross of safety and dB for this year draft and go all defense and one olinemen with 1st four important picks. Hunter Renfrow or running back after that
March 16th, 2019 at 6:27 am
@Defense, I think cutting Brate and restructuring some others could get it done, esp GMC. We really dont need Brate…..he got paid and then took it easy. Could also restructure Jensen if we draft Bradbury. I dont know wht Licht overpaid for him. Another dead weight IMO, Gholston! Why is he still here?
March 16th, 2019 at 6:49 am
^^^^
Cam Brate did not take it easy after getting paid.
He played with a torn labrum almost all last year. Bone fragments were removed in procedure. I never had one but had friend That did. Excruciating pain. It’s a miracle he was even able to play at all.
With them loosing 2 receivers like hump and DJax , he will remain for one more year. Perriman can’t stay healthy so unknown there. and they will likely draft a receiver.
Watson and Bobo will also be given every opportunity to step up.
March 16th, 2019 at 6:49 am
Bucs have a Visit Monday with Former packers Safety Kentrell Brice shouldn’t be pricey an good depth I like that we’re actually making our backups better instead of just our 1st string excited for the Draft
March 16th, 2019 at 6:52 am
Sorry
Labral tear (hip) Damn autocorrect
March 16th, 2019 at 6:54 am
I like Brice. Many sites have him listed as top remaining free agent. Buyer safety market. He could get playing time right away.
Get another 1 year prove it deal. If player leaves then get possible compensatory pick.
March 16th, 2019 at 7:12 am
Walter football doesn’t like Brice.
Anyway , there are a ton of quality safeties still left who should be there for some time bringing down their value like last year.
March 16th, 2019 at 7:26 am
@Bird, thanks for the info, I didnt know. Dont have a lot of time to keep up with everyone like i used to….work, work, work lol.
March 16th, 2019 at 7:28 am
And yeah, if they can pick up Hunter Renfrow (Hump 2.0) in the 5th, that would be ideal. Doubt he lasts past the 4th though.
March 16th, 2019 at 7:39 am
Well….if the Bucs sign Morris Claiborne they would end up with the player most of us wanted the team to draft in 2012.
March 16th, 2019 at 7:39 am
MadMax … When you have no money you have to get REALLY CREATIVE to just eat, much less drive a Lexus. Restructuring contracts is certainly one way to do it, BUT … it costs you down the road (in future years). Teams like the Pats & Saints do it regularly it seems with their big $$$ players (Saints just did it again with Brees), but it only works IMO IF you’re willing to commit to a player for several years NOW. Jameis & GMC are NOT good candidates for restructuring their contracts IMO. But Marpet is and so are Jensen & JPP.
Not in favor of cutting Brate either. Cam played hurt all last year & survived a year of musical QBs. He’s a very good receiving TE (his blocking seems to be improving too). Given OJ’s propensity to not being able to finish seasons, I’d definitely prefer to keep Brate. We’ve got LOTS of other more deserving candidates for release (like Benenoch for instance?).
Will Gholston’s salary is NOT out of line with what other part-time DEs are making. Our newly-signed DE/OLB Barrett is now making $5 mil, and Spence is making $1.9 mil for sitting on the bench. Heck, VHIII is making $4.5 mil and Will has played a LOT more defensive snaps than VHIII has in the past 2 years (849 vs 555 and CBs should be on the field for a LOT more snaps than part-time DEs). Plus I think Gholston will do much better this year in Todd Bowles defense.
I agree with BucHead5588 & Bird that safety Kentrell Brice looks interesting for depth, but his stats last year don’t show me much as a starter (50 tackles, 2 PD, 1 sack, 0 INTs in 14 games). That’s almost identical to what Isaiah Johnson had for us last year (48 tackles, 2 PD, 0 sacks, 1 INT in 15 games). And Johnson’s already re-signed for this year.
March 16th, 2019 at 7:41 am
A vet CB would be the 1 position i hope they spend on
March 16th, 2019 at 7:49 am
I’ve thought all along he would make a lot of sense for the Bucs to sign.
The good thing for him is he would no the scheme too.
March 16th, 2019 at 7:54 am
And im going to keep saying it whenever somebody brings it up…
WE DONT NEED ANOTHER HUMP TO REPLACE HUMP!!!!!
Larry Fitzgerald was the primary slot WR in Arians offense in Arizona. He isnt going to be looking for a small, quick slot guy.
Look at our current WR group and you can already see the roles…
Evans = Michael Floyd’s role
Godwin = Larry Fitzgerald’s role
Perriman = John Brown’s role
The only WR that should be drafted is on day 3 who has deep speed and returner upside to compete with Bobo Wilson.
Hunter Renfrow will be a waste of a pick in this offense.
March 16th, 2019 at 8:01 am
Sorry Joe, BA wants a smart football team. Claiborne doesn’t meet that standard.
March 16th, 2019 at 8:07 am
Disagree on another hump
Jameis needs his check down charley . A guy who sits down in coverage and gives an easy toss and catch to jAmeis to slow down his propensity to make a perfect throw in tight coverage (which becomes a pick)
March 16th, 2019 at 8:10 am
^^^^
That checkdown Charley will be a RB out of the backfield idealy. This isnt Koetters offense. Arians doesnt use the slot receiver as a safety net like Koetter did.
March 16th, 2019 at 8:17 am
You guys are dreaming.
And I cannot wait for M.J. Stewart to make Joe eat his words.
March 16th, 2019 at 8:18 am
James Williams, RB out of Washington State.
If the Bucs dont sign a RB then he makes a ton of sense as a day 3 pick. Crazy receiving production in college with 202 cactches in 3 seasons. Most of which were checkdowns. He also excelled in goal line situations as a runner.
Personally i think they should just sign Crowell and be done with the RB position. But this pick would make sense. Receiving ability is the 1 thing missing from the RB group
March 16th, 2019 at 8:34 am
There will be a draft day trade for Patrick Peterson, it will cost is a second this year and next. So I hope this new guard works out and we will see some more cuts
March 16th, 2019 at 8:45 am
The only thing, say, M.J. Stewart should be doing when it comes to service is making sure Joe’s Crown Royal and water remains fresh.
Comments like this is what makes us the dumbest fan base in the NFL. Yeah let’s write off a guy that the last (horrible coaching) staff had no idea what to do with. A physical corner in college with limited speed and they ask him, as a rookie mind you, to play off coverage which requires elite quickness and at least very good speed. If he was going to play man then he should have been bump and run every time to take advantage of his best traits which is being physical and aggressive. There is a reason the former coaches on the defensive side don’t have a job in the NFL now, it is because they aren’t NFL quality coaches. Whoever wrote this article is a prime example of someone who has no real ability to identify talent. Is Stewart great no but can he be a good player that has a important role on a good team absolutely.
March 16th, 2019 at 8:49 am
Ndog Says:
“Yeah let’s write off a guy (MJ Stewart) that the last (horrible coaching) staff had no idea what to do with”
———-
Well said, Ndog.
Ridiculous how quickly NFL fans write off players in the social media & blog era.
If you have followed the NFL for any length of time, the league was literally littered with players in the 70s and 80s that would have been completely written off after their rookie (and sometimes 2nd or 3rd seasons), yet went on to multiple pro bowls and in some cases, the Hall of Fame.
The difference? There were no social media circles or blog fans calling for them to be chopped off at the knees.
March 16th, 2019 at 9:16 am
D-Rome Says:
March 16th, 2019 at 7:39 am
Well….if the Bucs sign Morris Claiborne they would end up with the player most of us wanted the team to draft in 2012.
—————————————————-
“most of us wanted”??? Hardly…..
Dude scored a 4 on his wonderlic test. Was pretty much a total bust his first few years for the Cowboys who wound up taking him at #5 after Doms big move down netted the Bucs a whopping 4th rd pick. (who moves down from a top 5 pick and only gets a 4th rd pick in return??? – SMH)
MOST OF US (with brains) were screaming for Luke Keuchly – but NOOOOO – Dominic tosses that high pick in the dumpster by instead selecting Mark Barron – a “safety” at #7 overall… THANKS DOM!
March 16th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Pickgrin Says:
“Dude scored a 4 on his wonderlic test.”
———
Don’t you get 3 points for signing your name correctly?
March 16th, 2019 at 9:30 am
Draft day trade….
Gerald McCoy for Patrick Peterson??
Maybe throw them another pic as well??
Take Ed Oliver in the 1st to replace for new DT??
March 16th, 2019 at 9:33 am
Jason verrett is available too. Injury bug makes him cheap. But pro bowler when healthy
March 16th, 2019 at 9:35 am
Don’t have the money……would have to restructure GMC or cut a couple more players….
We still need a decent RG & RB…….I would put FA RB & OG in front of CB…..
I’d love a CB but I think we can go with (and don’t run me off) Davis & Hargreaves on the outside.
If VH3 can stay healthy, he will play much better this year.
March 16th, 2019 at 9:37 am
Bucfan1988 Says:
“Draft day trade….
Gerald McCoy for Patrick Peterson??”
—————
If you were the Cardinals, would you EVER do that deal?
March 16th, 2019 at 10:25 am
If we can somehow squeeze a CB and Safety into our budget we are ready for the draft!!
March 16th, 2019 at 10:44 am
Let me just say, I don’t think McCoy will be on the final 53 man roster. As far as claiborne is concerned there are three other CB I would consider, Bryce Callahan, Bashaad Breeland & Brian Poole which I feel are equal to Claiborne.
March 16th, 2019 at 11:05 am
Claiborne doesn’t have to learn a new system so can the Wonderlict objection. He produced as a Jet CB and can do the same here. We don’t need an old RG when we can get the top Guard in the draft and are not hampered by stupid OL Coach anymore. We have BA’s Coaches to develop great rookies into NFL starters who can hold their position for ten years to come. And if we will just draft down and take White at 7 we can use Bucannon starting at Safety to help train Evans and Whitehead in the new system and then be available to replace any LB starter who goes down, though I believe we had so many injuries last year because our players didn’t have the conditioning program with multiple coaches we have now. We also don’t need a one year over the hill RB either when we can take Snell, Jr. in the third round to be with us for ten years with starting Power Back and third down back talent. Look at our DL lineup now with GMC Vea and PFF as starters and Gholston Allen and Roaches all Veteran backups. And we should also get another DE in the draft to develop too. We will be set. And there are plenty of sackers in the NFL who produce that are older than PFF and GMC. Besides GMC has never played DE before and with his takeoff and speed he could easily get more sacks and pressures than last year and PFF played entire games last year. He could be good for years ahead with a younger DE spelling him, so don’t write off either one of them and don’t forget we need PFF to be the leader of the DL too for years ahead too.
March 16th, 2019 at 11:38 am
Owlykat – there are these things in the English language that are both helpful and necessary in assisting the reader to try and comprehend whatever the hell you are babbling about.
They are called paragraphs….
March 16th, 2019 at 11:54 am
I, for one, am not quick to judge the current rostered Buc corners.
Why?
The pathetic Smith passive scheme made them look bad.
How does a CB in the NFL look marginally competent playing off 10+ yds off every receiver almost every snap?
I’m just not sure they are bad.
March 16th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Pickgrin … “Paragraphs”? LMAO. (Can tell it’s gonna be a brutal Saturday).
Why did you have to bring up Luke Kuechly? Bama’s my favorite college team (my wife graduated from there so I HAVE TO love them) but no way would I have taken Mark Barron over Luke Kuechly (I almost cried when Dom picked Barron at #7). Choices like that earn Dom a permanent place in Webster’s dictionary (under their definition of ‘dumbass’).
March 16th, 2019 at 1:16 pm
Great idea!
March 16th, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Defense Rules
“The rest COULD be gained by restructuring ME13 & a couple others … players who we KNOW will be here for the next several years.”
Sorry. Mike’s not restructuring anything a year after he signed a $55 million dollar deal and was one of the top three WR last year.
March 16th, 2019 at 2:00 pm
I don’t think the Bucs have #MoMoney left for the former Jets CB…But I would sacrifice E.Smith’s $2M for a 1yr prove-it roll-of-the-dice on Bashaud Breeland. At 27 & coming off injury, he’s a guy that would be worth taking a flier on, that fits the press-man outside CB role – opposite Davis.
March 16th, 2019 at 2:16 pm
I would like to see VH3 in his 4th season before I pass judgement. He played 2 years under a garbage defensive coordinator and was injured when smith was fired. The entire defensive roster looked better after smith left, yet we didn’t get to see VH3 after the firing. So I wouldn’t label him a bust just yet.
TB needs to sign Morris Claiborne. Thats a fact. It’s just irresponsible if they don’t.
March 16th, 2019 at 2:51 pm
cobra biy, ndog and bucsfire, glad to see other fans that understand players dont just go out on the field and play however they want. The crap coaching staff ruined every player ever drafted on defense.
You gotta be a complete idiot to believe every corner this team drafts is just a busy that cant play football. Let them jam the wr at the line and watch everyone imorove.
80 to 1 vegas odds that the bucs win the superbowl. I think this is a good year to make that bet
March 16th, 2019 at 3:09 pm
SOEbuc … If done properly, restructuring works in the interests of BOTH the player AND the team. That’s why QBs like Brady & Brees do it regularly. The player gains $$$ UPFRONT & the team gains Cap space … in the short term. It’s NOT a reduction in salary.
Issue from a team perspective IMO is that you’re kicking the can down the street (saving Cap space today at the expense of Cap space tomorrow). Players usually end up either better off or at the very worst breaking even. Another side benefit for the player IMO is that the team ends up committing to them for several years (since they’re spreading the ‘signing bonus’ out over several years & that would count against the Cap if they opted to cut the player for whatever reason). At least SOEbuc that’s the way it’s been explained to me.
March 16th, 2019 at 3:24 pm
NDOG,
I gotta think the coaches have done little, if anything, to develop the corners.
One thing that I have to point out is , the players that light drafted have experience in press man at the college level. There’s no argument to be made if you’re looking for a college player to come into the NFL and play press at a min level.
Zone is way more easy and if He’s slow, zone hides it and doesn’t put the player fresh outta college into a nightmare matchup. I hope coaching b
March 16th, 2019 at 3:37 pm
BucEmUp 7 … I agree that the Bucs surely have more talent in our Secondary than we’re used to seeing. But “Let them jam the wr at the line and watch everyone improve” doesn’t work on every play either (too predictable). I’m anxious to see how this coaching staff uses the players who we have available. And it’s more up to the position coaches to ‘train these guys up right’ than it’s up to the HC or even the DC.
The position coaches that BA & Todd Bowles brought with them seem to be quite experienced & talented.
o Mike Caldwell … ILB Coach: 6 years with Todd Bowles (8 yrs coaching LBs altogether).
o Larry Foote … OLB Coach: 4 years with the Cards (2015-2018) preceded by 13 years as a player with the Steelers, Lions & Cards (while Todd was the DC).
o Kevin Ross … CB Coach: 5 years with the Cards (2013-2017) coaching CBs (including Patrick Peterson & Antonio Cromartie).
o Nick Rapone … Safeties Coach: 5 years with the Cards (2013-2017) coaching DBs (including Honey Badger).
o Kacy Rodgers … DLine Coach: 4 years with the Jets (2015-2018) as their DC (with Todd Bowles) plus 7 yrs as Dolphins DLine Coach & 4 yrs as Cowboys DLine Coach.
All of those defensive position coaches have excellent resumes & have achieved some pretty impressive results. Some younger coaches mixed in also, not unlike what we saw when Tony Dungy built his coaching staff. A big key (to me at least) is that these coaches are used to working together, and that’s bound to help get the most out of the players we do have on our roster. But Atlanta, Carolina & New Orleans can say exactly the same thing … those staffs have worked together for quite awhile now.
March 16th, 2019 at 4:00 pm
Somebody sure doesn’t have much interest in getting any compensatory picks out of Kwon Alexander and Adam Humphreys leaving.
Whoever is still available come on down and sign with the Bucs. If you have a somewhat reacognizable name the fan base will embrace you for one offseason, then turn on you immediately.
Mo Claiborne, if you can somehow tell me what C-A-T spells and put your mark on a little piece of paper called a contract
March 16th, 2019 at 4:01 pm
…then come on down.
March 16th, 2019 at 6:29 pm
Word on the street is Myron Lewis is still available. Maybe we can scoop him up?
March 16th, 2019 at 6:59 pm
Joe was on this guy heavy coming put of college…wonderlic etc lol doesnt hurt