“Fiction”
April 19th, 2020
Analyzing trade rumors.
In the mind of one national NFL stenographer, these trade rumors of tight end O.J. Howard are like a Tom Clancy novel.
Juicy “fiction,” writes Chris Roling of Bleacher Report.
While Howard hasn’t been the most productive player and hasn’t lived up to expectations as the 19th pick in 2017, it would be an odd time for the Bucs to give away that sort of potential after adding Tom Brady at quarterback.
It’s not like Howard is costing the team big money over multiple years or blocking others on the depth chart. And if the Buccaneers are down on him, other teams probably understand it too and will wait things out.
Simply put, the return on a trade likely wouldn’t be worth it. There’s also a chance playing with Brady helps Howard rewrite the narrative of his career, which would mean investing massive money in Brady stands a better shot at being a successful move.
Joe has wondered — if you believe rumors that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has been trying to pawn Howard for nearly two years — if there is a reason the Bucs are shopping Howard and the rest of the NFL likely knows it, too.
So — again, if you believe the rumors — that may well explain why Licht hasn’t found a suitor for Howard since October 2018.
The point about Howard’s salary is solid. Why get rid of a guy if he is cheap? Howard is still on his rookie contract.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:17 am
He’s a sour apple….that’s the issue. Part of Arians coming in was to change the culture particularly with accountability to the team. IMO…..Howard drank his own koolaid much like Winston and Hargreaves due to their draft status and perceived “upside”. His agent likely plays a role as well filling his ear with the rationale that if the Bucs don’t want him or view him as the “elite” talent he is, other teams will. So he gives the middle finger to excellent coaching via effort and focus. This team is now past the stage of a youth movement with enough established vets that set the bar high for professionalism and commitment to winning. Having a malcontent who lacks in focus and attention to detail, particularly when everyone sees the fella has the ability, isnt’ going to sit well in the locker room.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:21 am
Brady will have him playing good ball. If not we will trade him at beginning of year plain and simple.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:28 am
It is a solid point joe!!!!!!! The “real” question is when will joe and the sheep talk about the big contracts and not producing, like ole stale biscuit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
April 19th, 2020 at 8:35 am
My guess is we will see a lot more Brady to Brate than Brady to OJ. But I do agree, it is still too early to consider trading OJ.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:49 am
There’s simply too much potential to bail this year after all we’ve already invested.
OJ is still a bargain on his rookie deal. It’s clear though that this will be an ABSOLUTE make it or break it year.
Everybody knows Brady’s reputation with TE’s and his leadership skills along with the respect that six rings brings. If OJ can’t blossom in this situation it’s time to move on.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:53 am
I totally agree, but OJ is special and as much as I love Mike Evans I think it’s time to look in trading the guy. If we didn’t have Godwin then heck no, but how can they afford two premier WRs and very expensive WRs next year. Deep draft and get a second, 3rd or 4th and Adams ? He’s turning 27 in August and will be 28 going into next season, but we have needs and that’s the only player with true value ( minus Godwin ) GO BUCS and not trying to be the NDog of this site, but I wouldn’t be disappointed if they did or at least thought about it !!! TB12 had Randy for a year, but didn’t win a SB with him. His type of WR is 6’2 and Jason at least see what’s out there. Yes he’s been this teams best WR, but injuries and going to the sideline after each catch worries me … 2 OL picks, RB, Safety, and WRs
April 19th, 2020 at 8:56 am
Trade bait, just get it done however you have to. Claypool in the 3rd to replace him.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:04 am
It would seem that if they were really interested in trading Howard they would have featured him more in the last couple of games, at least….
He had zero targets in the last game with Evans & Godwin out…..ZERO…
Doesn’t sound like a very good plan to me.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:06 am
Trade OJfor a 2nd or 3rd. Get it done. However, don’t give him away.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:08 am
Trade OJ and D Smith to the Redskins for Trent Williams and sign him to a long term deal as part of the trade.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:11 am
Are all TE’s head cases?
April 19th, 2020 at 9:18 am
Hey if we were willing to stick with Winston all the way into his 5th year option then I don’t see the harm in letting OJ finish on his 4 year rookie contract, especially since Brady is here now.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:19 am
OJ Howard has been productive…as the blocker they’ve forced him to be. Fix the oline and Howard’s stats will suddenly improve because he’ll be freed up.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:20 am
I think the trade talk with O.J. is from teams that are interested in him, I don’t think we ever considered trading away a first round draft pick who hasn’t shown enough yet to have any trade value.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:23 am
Some of the suggestions here are ridiculous.
Do you really think Tom would be here if they planned to trade OJ and Evans?
April 19th, 2020 at 9:41 am
Bonzai, you’re a nice fan, a nice poster, popular here, but you have that deeper part of you that can get mean and throw it out there that you havent discovered yet. Some find it, some dont. Thats ok. And thats OJ in a sense. I hate it. I wanted us to draft him…..i dont know wth happened….money got to him i guess and he wants to stay soft. FK that!!!!!!
April 19th, 2020 at 9:41 am
“The stupidity of the Bucsheep fanbase is limitless
Trade OJ Howard?
You think Tom Brady is Stupid
Brady knows OJ is perfect for His skillset. OJ unlike Brate can separate within short distances instantly. TB12 will make OJ the hot outlet receiver. Easily 100 receptions completing short horizontal routes and then taking deep shots outside to MEME and Godwin
Who the f*** wanted to trade for OJ to the Patriots last year at trade deadline. Who was the QB for the Pat’s last year?
5 years here Kobe has posted and still the low level IQ. The Bucs Fanbase is the Vince Young of NFL fanbase wonderlick scores. Kobe Faker has forsaken the football Gods”
Kobe Faker
April 19th, 2020 at 9:49 am
OJ has a million dollar body and a ten cent head.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:52 am
Howard was Dirk’s pick- nuff said.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:53 am
I dont think they trade
Unless it helps with getting jamal adams
April 19th, 2020 at 9:53 am
OJ and a 2021 1st to th Jets for J Adams.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Jesus Christ you guys act like he hasn’t done anything with Bucs. He is not a bust, just a young player. He is going to blow up this year with Brady. I haven’t believed these rumors either. Would make zero sense to get rid of a guy with his potential and cap friendly deal. It is always weird how posters always have to have a player that they turn on. Joe even speculated about it a while ago wondering who it would be. Looks like it’s going to be OJ. Lol the first poster today called him a “sour apple” with zero evidence to back up that statement. I hope he makes all of you crow and he blows up next season!
April 19th, 2020 at 10:02 am
Bobby your take is beyond ridiculous. However, it must be fun to live in Fantasy Land you just make stuff up out of thin air with zero proof. Go back and read what you typed. You created an entire narrative about OJ. He doesn’t care, thinks to highly of himself, and has an agent convincing him that he is worth more than he is. I mean all of that with nothing to back up these claims. I know we are all a little bored at this point buy man, come down off the ledge and back to reality. You have zero idea why OJ hasn’t lived up to his potential yet. I mean you built up a complete narrative and yet you really have no idea who OJ is as a person, player, and teammate.
April 19th, 2020 at 10:03 am
Just curious ….
Expectations of whom?
He had an extraordinary first year and an irregular second, mainly because he was used in a wrong way….
If you use him just for protection well trade him, if you are going to uses him for what he is with the best QB ever you better keep him.
You see Auclair type with this offense????
Build the OL and one RB to protect TB 12 and we already know that OJ what he can do….. because he already did with Koetter.
April 19th, 2020 at 10:12 am
Brady Bunch
Some of these posters live to be the turd in the punch bowl. Others think they can be GM, Coach, and play callers. I’d hate to be stuck in the house with them.
April 19th, 2020 at 10:25 am
Joe what about #66 on oline that guy never stops on a play ????
What Info you have in him he is huge also
April 19th, 2020 at 10:26 am
Trade him while you can get a halfway decent draft pick. (2nd or 3rd) The longer you keep him the less your going to get. I don’t see him getting any better.
April 19th, 2020 at 10:33 am
sorry joe last comment meant to be posted with Wisconsin RB post
April 19th, 2020 at 11:06 am
Wait… Hang on…. Maybe it means not all rumors are true?
Shocking!!!
April 19th, 2020 at 11:40 am
All we hear is draft liars poker baloney, including this one.
Nobody on any team gives away their secrets, period. Those that do find themselves quickly career-limited. This is the season when the personnel guys make their bones, and spreading baloney is part of the job description.
95% of what we hear is disinformation and the Licht-Arians combo plays that game as good, if not better, than anyone.
That said, one *rumor* I have heard is Brady and Howard have not made contact. I find that really hard to believe.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:46 am
I would think OJ would be excited to play with Brady. He doesn’t seem like it. In fact, he seems happy to be a “baller” and nothing more. Didn’t Kevin House reach out to him and his response was nah I’m good?
April 19th, 2020 at 11:51 am
If anyone thinks OJ Howard’s production has been anything near Jameis Winston they are utterly insane but then again look at the complete idiots that post on the site daily so odds are people probably think that you guys are so clueless.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:53 am
And oh yeah Buctime you wish you had half the knowledge, strike that a quarter of the football knowledge that I forgot yesterday get a clue brother.
April 19th, 2020 at 4:34 pm
IF he yields a 2nd, do it… and only because this draft seems deep at OL and RB so multiple picks give best shot of finding a winner. It would be great to add another top 64 pick (also a reason to trade back if don’t like options at #14). Otherwise, why not wait to see how he and Brady click.
April 19th, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Fictional reason might be Gronk’s rights for Howard.
April 19th, 2020 at 5:25 pm
I was reading some blog sites for other teams about trading for OJ Howard. A Redskins write believes it would only take a 4th and a late round pick to get a deal done for OJ.
If he does get traded that return would be a tough pill for fans to swallow.
I still dont think OJ Howard and Cam Brate will be used the way some of you are expecting. I dont think Arians is going to change his scheme in the twilight of his coaching career. Even with Brady as QB.
Im honestly expecting nothing more than a line of 40/500/5 for Howard in 2020.
April 19th, 2020 at 5:30 pm
The Bucs went from having…
Evans, Godwin, D-Jax, Hump, Brate and OJ
to having…
Evans, Godwin, Perriman, Brate and OJ…
to having…
Evans, Godwin, Brate and OJ…
And idiots are wanting to dump OJ?
Do you dopes know how a depth chart works?
April 20th, 2020 at 12:02 am
Yeah it’s year three no need to trade him now unless it’s a sweet deal. Sweet if Brady and Brate make a sweet connection. Sweet in the red zone.
April 20th, 2020 at 9:35 am
Trade O.J. only for a Jamal Adams, a proven impact player
April 20th, 2020 at 11:34 am
if he continues dropping balls and unable to be consistent with brady then he should be out the door.
April 20th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai,
I agree we used OJ as a blocker last year he wasn’t featured as a pass-catching TE, so how is he supposed to have any catches? He sure looked promising under Koetter He did have a few mistakes in the passing game last season, one which bounced of his hands and was intercepted.
For whether or not he’s on the trading block because he’s not a fit for an Arian’s style offense or because he feels entitled or even if he’s actively being shopped at all is just speculation.
No one thought TB12 would come to Tampa, are we all confident that Gronk won’t come here either?
With Jason Peters still on the market, in our price range, and able to hold the spot for two years I think it would be a poor choice to move up for a tackle. Although, if the Bucs think they can move up by trading OJ to get a Simmons if he falls to number 6 would be a great move