Bucs Shut Down Belicheat
October 21st, 2019
Stonewalled.
Once upon a time it seemed like there was a pipeline from Tampa to Foxborough, Mass. where Bucs players would be turned around by Bill Belicheat and become stars.
That pipeline, at least for now, seems to be shutdown. Albert Breer of theMMQB.com noted this morning in his weekly column that Belicheat tried to pry Bucs tight end O.J. Howard away from the Bucs.
In short, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht slammed the phone down on his former mentor.
The Patriots’ decision to bring Benjamin Watson back after Matt LaCosse went to IR only further illustrates the team’s problems at Rob Gronkowski’s old spot. Eight days until the trade deadline. New England already asked, and was told no on, Buccaneers tight end OJ Howard. I’d expect they’ll be turning over rocks this week at the position.
The first thing Joe has to say is if Belicheat wants one of your players, do not let him go. The Bucs have given up on enough players, good players, only to see them blow up playing for Belicheat.
Cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Darrelle Revis spring to mind.
Yeah, Joe understands folks are frustrated that Howard is not being used more in the passing game. But he is being used more in blocking, which sort of tells you Bucco Bruce Arians doesn’t trust the offensive line.
October 21st, 2019 at 9:33 am
Don’t forget about LaGarrette Blount. The list is long. –Joe
October 21st, 2019 at 9:36 am
The O-Line sucks………I agree
But the non-creative play calling for the offense and the non-use of our TEs is unacceptable.
October 21st, 2019 at 9:38 am
Can we trade for Belicheat ?
October 21st, 2019 at 9:45 am
Howard is nothing special just another talented guy with great measurables that doesn’t translate to Sunday’s…couple that with soft play and no heart he’s a perfect buccaneer man
he’s just another in the long list of draft mistakes from this minor league franchise
October 21st, 2019 at 9:46 am
Dont see why they wouldnt trade him, especially of they can get a high draft pick for him.
They can sign a TE off the street to struggle with blocking and get 3 targets a game.
October 21st, 2019 at 9:51 am
It’s smart on the Patriots part to try. They signed ASJ earlier this year only to let him go due to his personal issues.
October 21st, 2019 at 9:59 am
It’s a bit alarming that the same player that flips in Tampa, “suddenly” becomes a stud playing for Bill. Perhaps the Bucs coaching is suspect.
October 21st, 2019 at 9:59 am
Why wouldnt the bucs trade him to the Pats…the bucs will be 5-11 with him or without him and its obvious arians and leftwich do not know how to use him in this 1980’s offense…get a #1 from the pats…i mean the bucs could have drafted dalvin cook in stead of a 10th TE
October 21st, 2019 at 10:03 am
Holding an underused asset is asinine, when you can get value for him.
October 21st, 2019 at 10:05 am
Oj is only a asset in low standard bucfans mind. The rest of the world sees oj for what he really is and thats is a one dimensional soft player…. simple as that
October 21st, 2019 at 10:09 am
I dunno man. Why hold a guy like OJ down if u don’t value him in your offense? If your not gonna use Brate/Howard (which they clearly aren’t willing to use them) why not let them move on with their career? This offensive staff is on shaky ground at this point imo. Imagine what NE would do with Brate/Howard
October 21st, 2019 at 10:12 am
Curious if he inquired about Brate? Probably not given his price tag. Patriots/Brady would turn Howard into a 100 yard/game receiver with @ a td per game as well.
October 21st, 2019 at 10:15 am
revis wasnt drafted by the bucs….lol…he was already a star before tampa and new england….
with that said, licht shouldve pulled the trigger…..a 1st, 3rd and J.C jackson for OJ…..
then send a 2nd and 3rd to the redskins for trent williams…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 21st, 2019 at 10:20 am
Godwin is only player with trade value on entire roster. evans is untradable with contract and the rest have xfl level talent. Take your 5th rd pick for oj and be thankful
October 21st, 2019 at 10:21 am
The Bucs GM is crazy! We should be sellers, stocking up draft picks for a new QB/rebuild. This is why we are bottom dwellers year after year. We refuse to get value for good players during losing seasons. The Pats continue to be a great team because they have no problem shipping off great players for draft picks.
October 21st, 2019 at 10:23 am
If nobody is offering a 1st for O.J. Howard then hold on to him. Now if they offer two 2nd picks then maybe think about it. Now if Tampa doesn’t value him then why not move on. I think on of the two TEs has to go Brate or OJ. I think if you can find a trade partner for Brate then take it. If not please start putting one of them in the slot that way Evans, Godwin, Brate, and Howard are all on the field. There is clearly a mismatch somewhere.
October 21st, 2019 at 10:28 am
Is this article supposed to show how clever the Buc’s front office is?
October 21st, 2019 at 10:33 am
ONCE AGAIN LADIES AN GENTLEMEN T M A X I P A D WITH NONSENSE FUMBLING OUT HIS TRASH HOLE HE CALLS A MOUTH. YOUR SO UNEDUCATED ITS HILARIOUS. THANKS FOR THE GOOD LAUGH BUD
October 21st, 2019 at 10:35 am
Sounds to me like Howard is available…for the right compensation
October 21st, 2019 at 10:45 am
Why trade him to pats a high pick is what at the end of each round so 1st is like a 2md an so on OJ is a beast throw him the ball
October 21st, 2019 at 10:47 am
Realistically they need to call up the Chiefs and Eagles and send Suh for a #1 to a playoff team…..and OJ should have been traded for a #1 if that was the offer….licht is like the gm of the jags in the movie draft day
October 21st, 2019 at 10:50 am
should trade for their o line best right guard and a draft pick, or right tackle we got t ends that can block and still keep brate
October 21st, 2019 at 10:56 am
Have ta agree w Tmax on this one… OJ only had measurables coming out of college with very few catches but the excuse was Bama just didn’t use him.. unfortunately this year he does look soft and lacking heart. Again the BUCS needed a RB or DL and passed in both to have 2 TE’s. I would rather have Dalvin Cook or Johnathan Allen
October 21st, 2019 at 10:58 am
#1bucsfan
No once again madam the actual SCOREBOARD and on field results prove I’m right while you madam are just a foolish delusional optimist with a crush on bad players
October 21st, 2019 at 11:10 am
Guess he doesn’t trust the other tight ends either. BA’s offense is dumb, dont use anyone except chris godwin because I miss Larry Fitzgerald….forget Evans, howard and running backs. Coaching is costing games just like players and for far not all that I’mpressed with the “veteran” coaching going on. Seems like our coaches can only do good things in training camp, as soon as the season start they all fall apart
October 21st, 2019 at 11:13 am
Would take nothing less than a 1st and 5th if you want him.
He can be top player , he was fine last year till injury and I don’t think he forgot how to play and catch. The system hasn not been kind to him
October 21st, 2019 at 11:16 am
Wish folks with stop with all the COULDA-WOULDA-SHOULDA stuff. OJ’s a beast. Neither he nor Cam is being used to their potential right now. The two of them together have only been targeted 32 times in 6 games (and have caught 25 of those for 78%) … that under-use borders on incompetent on the part of our OC IMO. That same OC has targeted Perriman, Miller, Wilson & Watson 34 times in 6 games (and the 4 TOGETHER have caught only TEN passes for 29%). Continuing to use the remaining three of them (Bye bye Bobo) given their performance to date borders on incompetent too.
Our offensive problems aren’t with ME13, Godwin, OJ or Cam. They’re not even with Barber or Rojo (they’ve only been targeted TOGETHER 15 times in 6 games (and they’ve caught 11 passes for 73%). Our problems are with game-planning, play design & play-calling by our OC, AND with an OLine that’s erratic as all git-out, AND with 4 WRs who aren’t hacking it. Jameis hasn’t helped the situation one bit with his turnovers to be sure, but let’s at least attempt to FIX these OTHER problems BEFORE we bury him on the trash heap of failed Bucs’ QBs.
October 21st, 2019 at 11:17 am
THETRUTH
What are you basing that statement on. Actual on field play / results prove you are dead wrong. Just because you want the softy to be good doesn’t make him good. Results are all that matter… what if’s and good measurables wont get you a cup of coffee on game day
October 21st, 2019 at 11:18 am
I would suspect that the Bucs should be talking to several teams about several players before the trade deadline. Bucs play next on the 27th and will be much more inclined to make a move should they lose the Titans game.
Bucs lost a lot more than they figured when they let Hump leave , he was a 1st down machine and a super reliable punt returner , Bucs are sorely missing both those attributes.
Joe Burrow would certainly look handsome in a Buc’s uniform(if that is possible for anyone). LichtBrain has underwhelmed consistently and got a 5 year extension , so does that mean JW should be extended too?
When do we get to see the popsicle orange throwback unis again? maybe we can turn it around with the orange and the Errol Flynn winking pirate. Sure do miss the days of just showing up at the sombrero and getting free tickets , but those days will return soon this season sans some wins.Maybe Neal Colzie or Wayne Haddix has a son that is available?
October 21st, 2019 at 11:19 am
Just because they haven’t used him as much in the passing game doesn’t mean OJ Howard isn’t valuable. He’s a good player and Leftwich needs to get him more involved in the game plan. I would like to see a few more TE screens to help Winston out. He is getting pounded because the O-line hasn’t performed the last two games. When the line blocked well against the Rams everyone got involved. Keep OJ Howard and get him more involved.
October 21st, 2019 at 11:20 am
At this point the first round draft pick of Howard leaves head scratching bewilderment.
October 21st, 2019 at 11:21 am
Howard would have 1000 yards receiving if he went there. A real coach would know how to use him.
October 21st, 2019 at 11:23 am
D R
you have no concept of the word legend surprisingly you understand even less about the definition of beast… i guess i need to write a dictionary to assist desperate low standard bucfan understand sporting terms that actually reflect the minor league franchise we follow
Let’s start with an easy one
Beasts are consistently dominant and do not require excuses from fans
October 21st, 2019 at 11:34 am
Big bucs fan nobody is going to give a 1st round pick O(verated) J Howard.
October 21st, 2019 at 11:35 am
Maybe if BA doesn’t trust the OL maybe the problem is the GM
October 21st, 2019 at 11:38 am
SPLIT OJ OUT WIDE, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE. See how Belichick used Gronk and all the different spots they would line him up (to force a mismatch)? I imagine he would use OJ the same.
The Bucs? He’s a fullback and 6th OL……. (and not even good at it)
October 21st, 2019 at 11:44 am
Nice! Finally an article that doesn’t rehash 15 previous articles. Congrats…
October 21st, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Congratulations, Joe,
You’ve managed to convince many Buc fans that the Bucs problems are with the secondary, O-Line, Devin White, OJ Howard, M Evans, play calling, coaching, drafting, ownership.
If Teddy Bridgewater or Kyle Allen were qb, Bucs would be 5-1 right now.
Jameis is on pace for over 30 turnovers (25 interceptions and G-D knows how many fumbles)
This is his 5th year… when ?
October 21st, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Just the fact that the Pats WANT HIM is enough to tell even a neophyte that OJ has huge value. Think about it.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Unless they’re giving us Brady or a first and second I’d hang up in the face of belicheat.
Tired of all the fantasy football idiots calling for someone to be traded cause you don’t think he fits the scheme.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:06 pm
This is why you pass on Josh Allen when he falls in your lap because you’re dead set on replacing Kwon with an inferior player at #5. Wait…only deez Bucs.
October 21st, 2019 at 4:12 pm
Alanbucsfan Says:
October 21st, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Congratulations, Joe,
You’ve managed to convince many Buc fans that the Bucs problems are with the secondary, O-Line, Devin White, OJ Howard, M Evans, play calling, coaching, drafting, ownership.
If Teddy Bridgewater or Kyle Allen were qb, Bucs would be 5-1 right now.
The saddest part of this statement above is that are actually clueless enough to believe it. My goodness you are sooooooo CLUELESS!
October 21st, 2019 at 4:28 pm
“Yeah, Joe understands folks are frustrated that Howard is not being used more in the passing game.”
I’m still fuming that we even drafted him. The least needed position on the team at the time. The Bucs have made bad decisions after bad decisions with him.
Licht should go back to being the errand boy for real scouts.
October 21st, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Brate: Watch me lead the league in TD’s. Look at these clutch third down passes I haul in that are 4 feet above my head.
Licht: Screw the pass rush. I’ve failed trying to do that anyways. Lets get a flashy pretty guy that we dont need…. And we need a LOT of things right now.
Koetter: I’m going to smile from ear to ear about this waste of a pick.
October 21st, 2019 at 8:50 pm
Ask for a 1 and a 3
October 21st, 2019 at 11:07 pm
Blow J Howard is another Licht bust. Trade Jameis! Free Jameis from this mess!
October 21st, 2019 at 11:07 pm
I DONT LIKE THE PERSON PICKING MY PLAYERS
October 22nd, 2019 at 4:19 am
Hard to be beast when he’s barely targeted. Maybe next time they should actually address the OLine so he doesn’t have to block most of the time.
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:43 am
What pipeline? Revis and Talib lasted one season in NE. Revis was a free agent bust that was past his prime and Talib was/is a problem. Blount went to the Steelers before ending up at New England.
Howard has shown flashes but he can’t block and he’s inconsistent as a pass catcher. You probably would only get a 4th rounder for him.