Big Love For Dotson; No Contact With Joe Haeg
May 7th, 2020
Donovan Smith talked to media yesterday via an online video chat
With framed Gerald McCoy, Chris Godwin and Charles Sims jerseys serving as part of the backdrop in his home, Donovan Smith talked to local media yesterday.
One question Joe had was about a departed Buccaneer. An undrafted free agent in 2009, booted Bucs right tackle Demar Doston had quite a run in Tampa bonding with countless teammates and surviving five head coaches before Bruce Arians gave him the ax following last season.
Joe asked Smith what he wanted to say about Dotson, as well as what kind of vibe Smith was getting from the tackle who replaced Dotson in March, former Colts lineman Joe Haeg.
“Big money Dot; that’s my man,” Smith said.
“You know, you gotta tip your hat off to Dot. To understand his story and how he even got to the league, and what he’s been through throughout the whole league, and to spend 11, 12 years here in Tampa and give his all out there on the field, you just gotta tip your hat to somebody who works as hard as him. [He] makes sure he’s that he’s his best self to come out and compete. He’s won of the strongest guys I know out there. Dot, I’ve got nothing but love and respect for him.”
Smith went on to wish Dotson the best in wherever the future takes him.
Interestingly, Smith implied he’s had no contact with newcomer Haeg. “And I haven’t spoken to Joe Haeg. So I don’t know yet,” he said.
The O-line is a bonded group, so Joe expected Haeg would have received some sort of formal welcome, even in the wacky environment caused by The Sickness.
Dotson told JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman that the Jets were interested in him before the draft but that situation cooled quickly.
May 7th, 2020 at 12:24 pm
what is the minimum salary if we bring dot back as a back up ?
May 7th, 2020 at 12:34 pm
Man I wish they would bring him back!! Give him the vet minimum and let him ride the bench!! The dude deserves it and NEVER got paid very much (by football standards that is) … Some of those penalties on him last year were just horrible calls!! And they came at the worst time and just screwed poor rojo!!… But I would still say he is AT LEAST still a middle of the pack lineman! And I’m willing to bet better than Haeg!! Maybe he could even compete with cappa for guard…. I don’t know man I just hate to see him go right when it looks like they will finally get that playoff monkey off their back!!!
May 7th, 2020 at 12:34 pm
I think it’s around 650K per year, though maybe it’s different for vets vs. rookies
May 7th, 2020 at 12:43 pm
The one against him on screen TD to Brate in the 9ers game was complete bullsh!I!!!
May 7th, 2020 at 12:47 pm
“Hey Dope, You ready?
Dope Smith going to get chewed out daily and frequently from the Old Goat
Key of the 2020 season is to have our old and immobile statue in 1 piece for the whole season
Not 1 player is as important or responsible for the Bucs failure or success than this waterlogged slow footed Dope”
Kobe Faker
May 7th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
i want them to bring dot back…
but…
the team and brady might really be worried, because occasionally he totally gets fried on a play, looks really bad on the grass, and can get the qb totally blown up that way…
jameis was shifty and young, and could handle it…
an older tommy, that is somewhat statuesque, can get straight yoked and carted off if a lineman completely whiffs on a play…
the team must limit the completely blown up plays or our qb will be insane blaine
May 7th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Favorite Dot moment was when he threw his hand in the air during a play after Jameis threw an int vs the Bengals. The only time in 5 years I saw a teammate respond like that to a Winston turnover.
May 7th, 2020 at 1:10 pm
Just read a twitter leak from nick underhill saying the Bucs open in New Orleans 4:25 fox game of the week.
May 7th, 2020 at 1:11 pm
over 900k a year by the way, and Joe, you guys need a proof reading editor
May 7th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Sounds like the Bucs traded Dotson for Haeg to be the 6th man on the line. I don’t know enough about Haeg to know if that’s a good trade.
May 7th, 2020 at 2:00 pm
I would take dot as a backuo ALL DAY!!! Hes a good lineman and would proabbly be dominant in a backup role. His mistakes always came when he get tired and the bucs could certainly use the depth
May 7th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Dotson can only play one position at RT. If that’s the reason they didn’t bring him back it make a lot of sense. Yes good guy hard worker all of that……..But sometimes it’s gotta be about more then that. If we upgraded it’s a good thing and it’s just part of the gig.
We are long overdue to develope young OL anyway…….Cappa was a nice start last year……Now let’s keep building!!
GO BUCS!!!!
May 7th, 2020 at 2:12 pm
To take one from Joe’s book……We tolerated him until we could replace him.
May 7th, 2020 at 2:41 pm
Cmon joe. This article is very amateurish. Don’t be ridiculous. Smith’s quote is as is. Joe doesn’t sanitize like others. –Joe
With the spotlight now on the Bucs you will be getting more and more traffic. You really need to proof read your posts. I am the last one to be the grammar police but this happens almost daily and you’re a professional.
May 7th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Cool any jets about bringing Dot back. Haeg is versatile backup and not an openly discussed liability in the run game. Sounds like a great guy… meet Dot for dinner but keep him off our bench. I worry a lot about Smith too but we’ll see… Joe and others keep telling us he had an improved year last year. Fingers crossed but I’m not totally convinced just yet.
May 7th, 2020 at 4:49 pm
I like Dotson a lot as a backup/emergency guy. If he takes a low ball contract he would be nice to have as a mentor/backup.
May 8th, 2020 at 12:22 am
Dot isn’t playing for a league minimum contract, he as much said so on a competing podcast last year. I like how fans come out and want everyone to play on the cheap. Hopefully these people’s bosses will call them into the office tomorrow and cut their pay.
The punishment these guys take and the commitment they have to make to the sport is extreme. Dot is not going to play for nothing.
I like Dot, I really do, he is a stand up guy. He said he still wants to play and I hope he gets an opportunity at a salary that he feels is fair. If it comes it may not be until injuries start happening. Truth be told he is done in Tampa and possibly elsewhere because he doesn’t run block. Arians said we won’t ask him to do what he isn’t good at but look at the limitations that placed on the run game.