M.J. Stewart Is Cut
August 6th, 2020
Out. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
UPDATED 6:57 p.m. – This isn’t shocking.
The Bucs have washed their hands of defensive back M.J. Stewart ,the team announced this evening.
Tampa Bay tried the slow-footed Stewart just about everywhere in the secondary — corner, nickel corner, safety — and the result was the same. There was a black streak on the grass where his footsteps were with steam rising off the ground.
The No. 53 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Stewart joins the long list of Bucs second-round flops.
Hopefully Carlton Davis and Ronald Jones can stop that nasty habit.
It’s hard to believe Bucs coaches considered Stewart the next Tyrann Mathieu just over a year ago.
August 6th, 2020 at 5:42 pm
“Hat Tip” to D-Rome?
That’s where I heard it first.
August 6th, 2020 at 5:44 pm
GM Jason Licht has had a lot of “flops”, not just in the 2nd round.
August 6th, 2020 at 5:46 pm
If not for the Davis pick this would have been absolutely egregious. still an absolute waste of a pick unfortunately. to get cut before year 3 you have to be bad.
Thank god Arians is here and we aren’t as shy about this as we were under Dirk.
August 6th, 2020 at 5:47 pm
Definitely Jaymiss Winstunned’s fault. Poor kid.
August 6th, 2020 at 5:56 pm
Another screw up to blame on Mike Smith. M.J. was a hard thumper in bump and run, then Smith stuck him in zone coverage. He never recovered
August 6th, 2020 at 6:04 pm
Although GMs have the final word on draft picks, most of the time they allow the head coach to make the pick. Stewart was projected to go in the middle round – this was a big reach.
August 6th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
Well, he tried, that’s all you could ask. Still the Bucs made him a millionaire so let’s not cry too hard for him.
August 6th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
Finally! End Buc fans suffering and Stewart`s. The guy couldn’t make plays, consistently got beat, and was never around the football. Another bad second round pick by Licht. When asked about what he liked about Stewart when he was drafted, Licht said he liked Stewart’s physicality, not coverage skills, which is the most important trait for a DB, but physicality, smh.
August 6th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
At least they know when to release a bust and don’t hide them as previous regimes … a little credit for knowing when to move on!!
August 6th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
BigHog Says:
August 6th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Vick is who we needed!!!
…………….
Typical dumba$$$$$ racist comment.
How do you live with yourself BigRacist!
August 6th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
Mazzi Wilkins is making the roster over him!
August 6th, 2020 at 6:25 pm
Hey Joe, is there now an algorithm that randomly places your C4MH ads on a random post? Or is it somehow strategic?
Algorithm, strategy, those are big words. Joe’s sticking small ads in the comments hoping for the patronage of the masses. –Joe
August 6th, 2020 at 6:47 pm
The draft is a crapsshoot…win some, lose some. I DO find it odd that Licht seems to do better in later rounds than in earlier rounds.
August 6th, 2020 at 6:56 pm
Seemed always a step behind or just late
August 6th, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Everyone knew this was going to happen.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:01 pm
Square plug in a round hole.
Hell, John Lynch could not be that effective in today’s NFL. Physical DB’s are soooo…yesterday.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:07 pm
Doctor Stroud Says:
August 6th, 2020 at 5:44 pm
GM Jason Licht has had a lot of “flops”, not just in the 2nd round.
Every GM has flops. Name one who doesn’t.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:09 pm
AlabamaBucsFan Says:
August 6th, 2020 at 6:04 pm
Although GMs have the final word on draft picks, most of the time they allow the head coach to make the pick. Stewart was projected to go in the middle round – this was a big reach.
Mike Smiths pick all day. Bowles knows his sht!
August 6th, 2020 at 7:12 pm
What a waste of a pick. I wish we could be a successful drafting team like the Ravens. Our top 5 paid center was a 6th round pick for them that they developed and eventually turned into a third round pick.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:25 pm
Jason Licht is trash at least half the time- by the Jameis Winston hater logic- he should be fired not extended 5 years, despite all the great he does.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:26 pm
What’s Lichts record on draft pics and as a GM in terms of games won?
August 6th, 2020 at 7:27 pm
Hopefully Tom Brady can cover up Jason Licht and Bruce Arians mediocrity.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:28 pm
Please tell me if what I’ve just written isn’t true!! Anyone please- the floors yours.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:33 pm
Justin Evans next?
August 6th, 2020 at 7:34 pm
yeah clean house you just see tons of people around here happy with gump………
August 6th, 2020 at 7:37 pm
Well, that’s one less TD for Brees now. Let’s hope Carlton Davis lives up to last season and improves.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:40 pm
As a Licht defender, I feel I get to say the following and it should mean more: that was unquestionably the worst Licht pick in his time with us. It’s not even close. The value added from the trade down was completely nullified by drafting him.
Whatever scout approved that should (have be)en fired immediately. It was a KNOWN terrible pick the moment it happened. Just ridiculous. Good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:43 pm
Shame. He looked like he could be a player while he was at UNC. Too bad Mike Smith has his CB’s practice socially distancing with his zone scheme. MJ never recovered.
August 6th, 2020 at 7:44 pm
Had his CB’s practice social distancing*
Damn autocorrect lmao
August 6th, 2020 at 7:56 pm
Watching Smith’s corner scheme was by far the strangest most frustrating thing I’ve ever seen on a “defense.”
August 6th, 2020 at 8:02 pm
👍🏾✌🏽
August 6th, 2020 at 8:09 pm
And another 2nd round pick wasted!
These guys are supposed to be “cornerstones” for a franchise for years to come.
August 6th, 2020 at 8:14 pm
I rarely am critical of draft picks but I simply didn’t understand how Stewart was selected before Davis
August 6th, 2020 at 8:16 pm
didnt we (coaches) compare mike edwards to the next tyrann mathieu? what a shame for jason licht. this guy has just totally bungled drafts. we have this year with the free agency but that shouldnt give him a pass, this is despicable at this point and the glazers ought to be embarassed.
August 6th, 2020 at 8:27 pm
Funny reading all the pile-ons for JL’s horrible draft/FA choices over the last 5 years that put Bucs in quicksand, especially key 2nd round picks who were expected to contribute. Imagine being a young QB trying to overcome those organizational issues for 5 yrs, ie, no D, no kicking game for years. All JW fault!
August 6th, 2020 at 8:31 pm
Happy trails bro.
August 6th, 2020 at 8:40 pm
Wonder if we’ll see him on another team playing lights out as a linebacker. Way too many picks from the past that never made a difference for the Bucs. Wonder why we don’t ever make the playoffs….. if you can’t draft solid player after the first round you’ll never build any depth and stay at the bottom of your division.
August 6th, 2020 at 8:42 pm
It was a bad draft pick by Licht, but in his defense, Mike Smith liked his corners short and slow. I still haven’t figured out WHY that was.
August 6th, 2020 at 8:45 pm
GM Jason Licht has not done a good job in drafting talented players, and JW is part of that conversation. His performance could not overcome the overall lack of team talent. The problem goes higher than Licht. Team Glazer runs this team like a fantasy football team and not like an NFL franchise.
August 6th, 2020 at 9:08 pm
LOL!
August 6th, 2020 at 9:08 pm
Just curious how much cap space $ did we get by releasing Stewart?
August 6th, 2020 at 9:33 pm
Fast forward five years later from JW draft.
JL has more “draft mulligans” than a CEO in golf scramble. Brady is the GOAT (albeit 19 yrs in Belichick system with great D). I am still in awe of Brady’s comeback from 28-3 deficit to win SB vs Falcons.
JW-haters should have cojones to admit that JW was playing with a short hand for his first 4 years on a team that earned 1st draft pick, meaning the Bucs were BAD, coupled with JL bad decisions to support him.
JW royally screwed himself in YR 4 with his IDIOT UBER situation. All on JW! Which opened up Fitz literally “hobbling” JW (Aka Misery movie) for Season 4. JW never recovered in Season 4.
Any insightful or competent agent would have moved JW from TB in 2019. The only reason JW was TB QB in 2019 was BA being hired and JL trying to validate his #1 pick. Bad combo all around.
Moving on – Brady inherits a BUCS team, after 5 years, that is finally taking shape, to win. Covid crap, be damned. Bucs are prime for SB win.
As for JW, dude will sit and learn from Brees.
August 6th, 2020 at 9:48 pm
Not much. Just a hair under $1.4 million.
Here is OverTheCap.com’s estimate of cap space (Note: They do not have Shady McCoy’s salary factored in yet.)
Guessing Stewart and Shady’s contracts cancel each other out.
August 6th, 2020 at 9:49 pm
I do gotta say I think yall overvalue 2nd round draft picks. You gonna miss on a lot of them(granted Licht has a bad track record in that specific round). Simple math dictates that. That s as I’d M.J. was outright terrible. I try to like all these guys but I am glad we wont have to see him on the field again. He was tough to watch.
August 6th, 2020 at 9:53 pm
@Jimmy – 1st and 2nd round pics are expected to contribute quickly for most teams, as it relates to GM decisions. The later rounds, are supposed to be the wild cards.
August 6th, 2020 at 9:54 pm
Kalind with all due respect Bunting the same was said about Bunting when he was picked.
August 6th, 2020 at 9:59 pm
Redzone yes that’s ideal…..But the facts just dont bear that out. St.Pete posts it all the time during draft season. You’re a hair over 50% hit rate in the first round. And that percent gets lower round by round.
Not every 1st and 2nd rounder is a beast like so many think they are. I’m convinced with college football being so huge here in the South Bucs fans got a bit of a distorted view on the value.
August 6th, 2020 at 10:23 pm
@Jimmy – AGREE 100% regarding hit rates for draft choices.
i stand strong that JW was solid #1 for Bucs future QB, yet JW never had a real chance given JL draft choices, and bolstered by JW’s idiot Uber situation that ended up being JW’s final nail in his TB coffin -directly or indirectly. Just what it is.
Many of us in this board got a second chance in life after we screwed up as young idiots. Be real, here.
JW has embraced a new married life with a kid. Let’s give him the benefit of doubt.
Regarding JL – he is a cat with 9 lives.
August 6th, 2020 at 10:34 pm
Thank you Jesus
August 6th, 2020 at 10:56 pm
Redzone I also think coaching goes a long way with all of that too. The lack of player development is mind numbing to me. Joe has well documented the astounding failures to developers any one player for pur secondary. You can also look at OL. 3 years of Dirk. Not one G T or center developed. In fairness I must credit the prior staff for developing some recievers.
Then you look at free agents……Dirks first order of business as a HC was to openly plea for Doug Martin. Then how about Djax?……that flop of a move has Dirks grubby little paws written all over it. You gotta wonder how many other free agents came at the recommendation of the coaching staff? Stiff Swaggy, stiff Ayers? Who knows how deep it goes………..One year with Bruce and we get a dam fine looking draft class(so far) and we bring in Suh and a sack king. Even Perriman was a solid move.
All that said if Gay cant get it done and we still need a kicker Licht has to go. 8 years to find a kicker is beyond absurd.
August 6th, 2020 at 10:58 pm
And dont even get me started in Grimes.
August 6th, 2020 at 11:03 pm
You guy who talk about the ex qb are bums like him…do you start dating a supermodels and talk about the hoodrat you use to lay up with…..
Get over the clip board holding least paid qb defense 12th man and bezt friend America’s turnover machine cock roach sex cheering uber driving assaulting crab leg stealing college women raping never seen a play off game unless on tv google qb skill sets skanks traitor that lick drew brees booty 3rd string qb…
Go be a saints fan because we really don’t need you at all…
You arm chair gm’s with the foresight of fly in spiders web cry baby fans. Who can enjoy the god of football running your offense for the next 2 to 3 years or when he feels done with the game.
Name another qb that’s went to 10 superbowls and has 6 rings….ill wait…how many super bowls the bucs won???
Now go sit down and shut like a good little hating beeeochhh
August 6th, 2020 at 11:38 pm
I feel terrible for any defensive player that was drafted in the Mike Smith era… Good luck MJ.
August 6th, 2020 at 11:56 pm
@Jimmy – again – 100% agree w your post. Dirk was great example of Peter-principle.
August 6th, 2020 at 11:57 pm
@Bucsgotachance – Try to keep up, Dude.
August 7th, 2020 at 12:35 am
Best coaching staff since Gruden/Dungy. The adults are here and cleaning up the mess.
It’s simple, Licht gets the groceries. Arians and Bowles make the list.
“You fly, Glazers buy”. BA to JL
In BA I Trust!
August 7th, 2020 at 12:55 am
Well said Bucsgotachance….
I’m tired of these Cry Babies who Aren’t Actual Buccaneers Fans!
If you’re a Buccaneers fan you SURE don’t sit there and cry in your warm milk ladies when Your TEAM inherits the BEST QB TO EVER PLAY THE GAME over the loss of what has equaled a SCRUB!
Look, I AGREE that Winston DID NOT get the help that the team has Finally built..
BUT, BUT, BUT, That has NOTHING TO DO WITH JAMIES WINSTON’S CORE ISSUES!
Let me just Remind the Ladies in denial..
CONSTANT BAD DECISIONS!
CONSTANT TURN OVER MACHINE!
And right here I’m going to leave A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT unsaid concerning JAMEIS WINSTON.
AND BTW, I SUPPORTED JAMEIS WINSTON TO THE BITTER END! And then it happened.
The clouds parted and I could see Light at the end of the tunnel after WELL OVER A DECADE! And with that said,
It would simply take TO LONG TO WRITE ALL OF THE REASONS WE HAVE BEEN WAISTING VALUABLE TIME WITH (JAMEIS WINSTON) OUT FOR THE BLIND AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED to fathom!
The Bottom line was Even With the upgrades and HUNDREDS OF PROVEN COACHES HE GOT FIRED,(JAMEIS WINSTON) THE GUY WAS RAPIDLY GETTING WORSE!
The FACT is one of the Very Best that ever coached QB’S AFTER 1 SINGLE YEAR HAD ENOUGH OF THE GUY!
Please Excuse me for the Insinuations and DOUBTS Concerning All of you PROFESSIONAL COACHES AT YOUR COMPUTERS AT HOME WITH YOU NOODLE ARMS AND DECADES OF “ACTUAL NFL FOOTBALL COACHING” EXPERIENCE commenting around here as if YOU KNOW WHAT IN THE HELL YOUR BRIGHT ASS IS TALKING ABOUT, but I Believe I’M GOING WITH AN ACTUAL, “TWO TIME” COACH OF THE YEAR NFL HEAD COACH’S JUDGEMENT OVER YOUR UNEDUMACATED DONKEY ARSES’ 2 CENTS! AND THAT’S PERIOD. END OF STORY!
GET OUT NANCY!
GO BUCS!
August 7th, 2020 at 2:04 am
Another draft flop by Licht. He’s been doing well lately and all GM’s mess up, so I’ll purposely forget this mistake for now. 😭
August 7th, 2020 at 4:15 am
Very wel said… Looking at YOU
August 7th, 2020 at 7:00 am
Wonder what Lichts record on first round and second round draft picks starting in the nfl.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:17 am
It appears that cutting M J Stewart will cost the Bucs $888K this year due to dead money and his rookie signing bonus.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:32 am
Another failed 2nd round pick by Backstabbin’ Jason Licht Ronald Jones II is his next BUST. Don’t come around with that “all GMs hage bad picks” nonsense. He has missed on too many critical, supposed franchise building picks including a #1 overall.
August 7th, 2020 at 8:37 am
It appears that when a team cuts a player after 1 June, half the signing bonus (dead money) is counted towards next year’s salary cap. Only $444 of M.J. Stewart’s bonus will be counted towards this year’s cap numbers.
August 7th, 2020 at 9:34 am
Why do the bucs end up on the bottom for cap space. I remember last year we released McCoy to gain some space. But yet it was before Joe bucs fan was created that the bucs have been to the playoffs. I would imagine when this blog was created you would have more positives from this team. It seems like the winning organization’s know how to use their money better than Licht or Dominick.
August 7th, 2020 at 9:52 am
Jason =‘s Jameis
August 7th, 2020 at 10:58 am
@Allbuccedup:
Look at the roster.
You still want to whine about cap management?
August 7th, 2020 at 11:28 am
Cobrababyboy we are still not in the playoffs!WahWah!
August 7th, 2020 at 11:33 am
By the way choirboy John Lynch was better than any safety we have on the team now.
August 7th, 2020 at 11:49 am
@Allbuccedup: The rules were different when Lynch played. I doubt he’d be the backfield headhunter threat in today’s NFL.
Different world.
You must be a young ‘un…
August 7th, 2020 at 11:51 am
Choirboy I see you drank the kool aid too.