Ideal Landing Spot
September 2nd, 2020
CBS: Bucs have leverage.
Yes, the Bucs are judged by many NFL insiders and observers as being one of the top suitors for newly minted free agent running back Leonard Fournette.
As Joe has detailed, Fournette is a complete back. He can run and he can catch. And Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians sure didn’t deny interest in him when Joe asked. Arians has touted Fournette as a top-shelf back before.
Patrik Walker of CBS Sports spells out why the Bucs signing Fournette makes all the sense in the world.
That guy who used to be the quarterback of the Patriots and is now in Tampa would love a beefy RB.
True, the Bucs are attempting to appease Tom Brady by signing LeSean McCoy to a one-year deal, but McCoy lost his spot to a young halfback in Kansas City before being shelved in the Super Bowl. And if McCoy is being projected by anyone to be the team’s lead back for Week 1, well, that simply drives home my point regarding concern at the position. Adding Fournette would keep him in Florida, where there’s no state tax, something he’s sure to be keen on when considering he will need to keep as many of his coins near as possible in the event he loses the $4 million grievance against the Jaguars, and puts him with Brady and Bruce Arians — two people who are unequivocal in what they demand from players (both in character and in production).
It’s a doable deal financially as well, because although the Bucs have a scant $2.24 million in cap space currently — via Overthecap.com — Fournette isn’t in position to command big money. A one-year prove-it deal would give him the chance to join a club on the verge of becoming a winner, on an offense loaded with receiving talent, under a proven head coach, behind a six-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, and right next door to the team he loathes in North Florida. It’s perfect for Fournette, truly, and he could parlay a dynamic 2020 into a multi-year deal with the RB-needy Bucs next offseason.
As far as future tense goes, should he stick around, the Bucs would enjoy seeing a rotation that includes Fournette, Ronald Jones, II and young talent like either Ke’Shawn Vaughn or Raymond Calais, so this really becomes more and more of a no-brainer if you think about it. Tampa Bay is all in on winning a Super Bowl in 2020, and signing Fournette would play right into that narrative.
As Joe has stated, the timing of the news leaking that the Bucs are trying to extend Lavonte David’s contract is very interesting. Could it be that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is trying to extend David now, in part, to free up cap space to squeeze in Fournette?
If the Bucs really are hellbent on gunning for the Super Bowl, then there is no reason not to give serious consideration to signing Fournette.
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:02 am
Maybe offer a cheap deal with easy to reach incentives. Gives the team a financial out if he continues to be a headache/locker room drain.
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:11 am
Not a single person is expecting McCoy to be the lead back week 1. Idk where that idea came from lol
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:12 am
Also, no state tax in Florida.
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:18 am
Pablo Thanks we are signing too much free agents, we are going to have no chemistry
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:19 am
Fournette and RoJo would be our version of thunder and lightning. But I wonder why Jax gave him his walking papers? He is young and Im sure working with Brady would help him mature. But the talent is there IMHO and we are going ALL IN so lets see what happens.
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:35 am
Jags had nothing bad to say about him, they pretty much traded all of their good players, they are starting over, and said they wanted to see what they had in their younger backs.
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:37 am
They didn’t want to pay him his $4 million roster bonus. They are in full-blown Trevor Lawrence mode.
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:47 am
It would be too good to be true… fingers crossed.. I am a firm believer that he’ll be a Buc soon !
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:48 am
Pablo you are right we should have kept the chemistry that has led to zero playoff appearances in 13 years.
I believe reading some posts in this forum actually make you more stupid.
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:52 am
Well if Fournette is looking for a stage to showcase his talent he couldn’t pick a better team than Tampa Bay as we have five nationally televised games and a constant national audience watching Brady. This would give a platform to elevate his status with the premiere running backs and as this will do the same for Evans and Godwin and a number of our defensive players make his name associate with 2 of the G.O.A.T.S. in the game with Brady and Gronk. This is how you make money in the long run not just on stats but on being marketable.
September 2nd, 2020 at 9:53 am
Shady/Rojo/Dare can easily go down during season opener.
It will take LF a couple of weeks to get adjusted to our system.
We know other backs are gonna go down as they do every year. Fournette coould be gone to another team and we are left scrambling for scrubs.
September 2nd, 2020 at 10:14 am
At some point, we have to recognize one or more of these players will be grossly underutilized for what we’re paying them…..there’s simply not enough balls to go around. $10 million per year to Gronk…..are we going to get $10 million in production? Evans is at $20 million….$4 million or less seems like a decent value for Fournette’s production….but if productive, then one of the others is grossly overpaid.
I look at our offensive line as the biggest question mark with literally no depth. One guy goes down and we’ll be scrambling to replace them with no salary cap left.
September 2nd, 2020 at 10:21 am
#Repost
Turnover Since Jacksonville Lost
• Conference Championship 20-24 vs. New England Patriots
Notable Players either released or traded
QB Blake Bortles
RB Leonard Fournette
RB T.J. Yeldon
WR Allen Hurns
LDE Yannick Ngakoue
LDE Dante Fowler
RDT Malik Jackson
RDT Marcell Dareus
RDE Calais Campbell
LCB Jalen Ramsey
RCB A.J. Bouye
S Tashaun Gipson
September 2nd, 2020 at 10:35 am
gotta sign him….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 2nd, 2020 at 10:40 am
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’d feel much more confident with a proven top-5 back on the team. G~d, the Bucs would be terrifying with that much firepower!
September 2nd, 2020 at 11:37 am
Was money the ONLY reason Jacksonville cut him?
September 2nd, 2020 at 11:38 am
Im all about it…get him Licht!!!
3 headed monster at RB, with Wirfs now on the right side?….btch please! No D wants that!
September 2nd, 2020 at 11:39 am
What do you do in 2021 if he has a break out year in this pass happy new league? Godwin is a lock. We owe Tom guaranteed $50 million (could be $60 million). Mike Evans isn’t going anywhere. Need to resign LVD. Especially if he shows his usual great LB play this year.
Get rid of D.Smith, Jensen ( I like but too old for too $$$), Brate (love but too much $$$ with all receivers). I really think TE Tanner Hudson has some serious potential with hands and size. Trade Scotty Miller. No Shaq.
What is the Bucs 2021 plan if Fournette goes 1,500+ yards in 2020?
September 2nd, 2020 at 11:48 am
You want to see a preview of our future look at Jacksonville.
It will look very similar to the below:
LUVMYBUCS Says:
September 2nd, 2020 at 10:21 am
#Repost
Turnover Since Jacksonville Lost
• Conference Championship 20-24 vs. New England Patriots
Notable Players either released or traded or retired
QB Blake Bortles (Brady)
RB Leonard Fournette (McCoy)
RB T.J. Yeldon (Don’t even have this now)
WR Allen Hurns (Godwin or Evans)
LDE Yannick Ngakoue (JPP)
LDE Dante Fowler (Shaq)
RDT Malik Jackson (Shu)
RDT Marcell Dareus
RDE Calais Campbell (Gholston)
LCB Jalen Ramsey (Gronk)
RCB A.J. Bouye (LVD retirement or just done)
S Tashaun Gipson (we actually should be fine here)
September 2nd, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Just waiting to hear that he signed here. If he wants legitimate shot at the Super Bowl, especially if he signs. Because Fournette would turn a weakness into a strength. Then it is the Brady Bunch. But we will see. GO BUCS!!!
September 2nd, 2020 at 1:41 pm
I am 100% with ya Joe. The Bucs need a physical back to close out games, goal line carries, and 3rd and 1. Imagine getting a lead and actually killing the clock. Imagine what long physical drives would do to help our defense. Just WOW
September 2nd, 2020 at 2:56 pm
I’m curious. I see LUV around perhaps he or Joe can answer.
I’m not sure I understand the rules of the cap game.
EG If a player signs for one million in guaranteed money and another ten million in incentives is added. The top incentives would be unreachable short of a career year but others should be attainable.
So what happens if the 1 million guy ends up at the end of the season claiming another five in bonus. How does that six million total count against the cap and how could it count against this year’s since the guy won’t get the majority of the money until the seasons over?
Does any carryover go to next year’s cap?
September 2nd, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Fournette is a product of high volume, and that’s it. He’s average at best, which the stats and the analytics will show. Our running back room is good, don’t even mess with it.
September 2nd, 2020 at 5:45 pm
Maybe Devin White can help convince him to come they are friends and used to play together.