Adrian Peterson Is Itching To Play For Bucs
February 11th, 2021
Wants in.
When a team wins a Super Bowl, has a cool coach that players respect, a farm animal of athletes leading the way and a home base in the subtropics with no state income tax, it’s a no-brainer that free agents will come sniffing around One Buc Palace.
Add free agent running back Adrian Peterson, 35, to the mix.
Now Joe already brought word that Peterson told CBS Radio that he texted before the Super Bowl with his buddy park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
And Peterson already has played for Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians. So Peterson knows what he would be getting into. But Peterson tells TMZ he wants a ring.
Throw in Florida weather, playing for Arians and having Brady hand him the ball; Peterson makes it sound like a dream destination.
“That would definitely be something I’m interested in,” Peterson said of playing with the Bucs in 2021. “If they want me to be a part of it, I’ll be a part of it for sure. Because I’m definitely trying to add a trophy to my resumé.”
Joe has no idea how much gas Peterson has in the tank. He ran for a Peyton Barber-like 3.9 yards a carry for the Lions last season. The Bucs, however, have one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.
In less than two years, the Bucs have resurrected Ronald Jones’ career and revived Playoff Lenny after he was thrown to the curb by Jacksonville (thanks Doug Marrone!). So Joe suspects that the Bucs’ coaching staff can help wring out whatever Peterson has left in his old bones.
Here’s the thing: Whether the NFL keeps the salary cap as is or it drops, Joe is not really sweating how things shake out.
It would absolutely suck if Lavonte David left and it would be a kick to the nuts to see Chris Godwin and/or Shaq Barrett walk away in free agency. But let’s say that happens because the salary cap drops. There will be a buyer’s market for free agents as teams will be shedding veteran players right and left.
So the Bucs will very likely have their pick at a value rate to replace Godwin, Shaq or David (though a legit pass rusher like Shaq is awfully hard to come by).
If the cap stays the same or even slightly increases, well, the Bucs may find a way to keep all their best players.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is going to make his accountants earn their salaries this year.
(Arians told Godwin to his face on stage yesterday his “arse ain’t goin’ nowhere.” Licht hollered the team will be brought back for 2021 intact. Joe has no idea if that was alcohol-fueled enthusiasm or not.)
You can view Peterson’s on TMZ below.
February 11th, 2021 at 7:39 am
Hmm. Peterson? Back-up/spot/situational player/pass blocking?
Swap out McCoy for Peterson? Low veteran salary…..
It may not be a horrible back-up plan if we can’t bring back ROJO/Fournette combo
I really liked how Vaughn looked in limited playing time.
February 11th, 2021 at 7:46 am
RoJo and Vaughn!, we’re good….sign our own first. Godwin and David are absolute must sign
February 11th, 2021 at 7:49 am
I am itching for a MegaMillion Scratch Off. Geesh I was screaming for AD the year after we drafted Carnell ! That was a long time ago. No thanks I’d rather have Frank Gore if we play that game 😜
February 11th, 2021 at 7:51 am
As long as he will take a deep discount. AP would make a nice upgrade from Shady McCoy…
He can still be a very productive back in our RB rotation.
February 11th, 2021 at 7:54 am
No on AP. Sign a pass catching RB and draft another one.
February 11th, 2021 at 7:54 am
Adrian Peterson, Patrick Peterson, JJ Watt, Richard Sherman, Jadeveon Clowney, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Ingram, AJ Green, Larry Igunjobi, Aldon Smith, Von Miller, Jamal Agnew, Justin Houston, Marlon Mack, James White, Dalvin Tomlinson
Those are the names on my watchlist for this off-season, of which the Bucs maybe can add 1 or 2.
February 11th, 2021 at 7:54 am
Meh. Don’t really need or want him.
I’ll take Etienne with pick #32 all day long though. We are missing a back with his skill set. Love Ronald Jones. I’ve seen flashes of brilliance in his game since he started producing in 2019, when he averaged 4.2 yards and generated 1,000+ yards from scrimmage despite having nearly all of his biggest plays called back due to idiotic penalties (Goodbye Dotson hello Wirfs!). He is by far the most dynamic and explosive rusher on the team, but the kid struggles to catch the ball with any kind of consistency.
Fournette was a better receiver out of the backfield, but not by much. He had plenty of drops as well and rarely made people miss after the catch. And as much as I loved his alter ego “Playoff Lenny” he wasnt great during the regular season, and he is a FA who will probably want a pay raise we might not be able to afford.
By adding Etienne to the mix we’d be adding a bonafide 3rd down back with reliable hands and the balance through contact, shiftyness and gamebreaking speed to maybe be the next Alvin Kamara or at the very least a player of a slightly diminished caliber in terms of raw playmaking ability but with even more speed.
As of right now thats my guy if he falls to us.
February 11th, 2021 at 7:55 am
Can AP CATCH?
February 11th, 2021 at 7:55 am
Depending of which players we let go ofcourse. I would like to see some vets, ringchasers on a 1-year deal who will give it them all for a Lombardi!
February 11th, 2021 at 7:56 am
Adrian Peterson, Patrick Peterson, JJ Watt, Richard Sherman, Jadeveon Clowney, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Ingram, AJ Green, Larry Igunjobi, Aldon Smith, Von Miller, Jamal Agnew, Justin Houston, Marlon Mack, James White, Dalvin Tomlinson
Those are the names on my watchlist for this off-season, of which the Bucs maybe can add 1 or 2…
February 11th, 2021 at 7:58 am
I still dont understand why people are not saying barrett is a must sign. He should be priority #1
He had 18.5 sacks at mainly right end two seasons ago
They ask him to play left this season so jpp can play mainly right and he gets almost double digit sacks with missing a game for covid. Has not been hurt.
He chased every single qb we played in playoffs and got several sacks.
You are lucky to find edge rusher like him in nfl
He was the guy after mahommes and rodgers who can run away from most dlineman
He made what around 16 mil with franchise tag?
He wants to be back. He cant shut up about it. His family loves it here. It seems like family atmosphere under arians in tampa. He told his agent to get deal done quickly which sounds like team friendly contract. 3 years 50 mil all guaranteed may do it. (With incentives to be added even to sweeten pot)
February 11th, 2021 at 8:01 am
Pass. That money would be better spent in the draft on Tequila Tommy’s eventual replacement. You know – learn at the feet of the master like Rodgers did with Favre.
February 11th, 2021 at 8:13 am
HARD NO ON AP
who wants an creaky old dinosaur, JOE…shut down this bullspit
February 11th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Pass.
February 11th, 2021 at 8:33 am
Great story AP told the other day, he makes a four yard run against the Bucs while playing for the Lions, he looks up and it Winfield Jr. who is laying the wood. AP is like, this is the lil kid I used to play catch with after practice when he was with Minnesota.
February 11th, 2021 at 8:34 am
Pass
February 11th, 2021 at 8:34 am
AP is really needy meaning he wants the ball. I’m good with the guys we got.
February 11th, 2021 at 8:52 am
Hard Pass.
February 11th, 2021 at 8:52 am
park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking Super Bowl-winning…
Shouldn’t there be a “Lombardy trophy tossing” somewhere in there?
February 11th, 2021 at 8:59 am
Too old for a rb and it’s retirement time. Better served just staying with Shady as a 4th rb.
February 11th, 2021 at 9:04 am
Nope pass don’t even entertain this idea. You have two RBs Jones and Vaughn. I know BA said David, Godwin, aren’t going anywhere but do he expects both to take a home town discount? Only way Godwin plays next year is if he is Franchised Tagged. I can see David taken team friendly deal. So if Suh doesn’t return who do you have to replace him with?
February 11th, 2021 at 9:06 am
Pass.
February 11th, 2021 at 9:33 am
What’s with the geriatrics movement? We need young players not wrinkles. Looks like CG14 will be back. He and ME13 were yukking it up big time together at the boat parade. Evans has already stated his willingness to redo his contract. LVD54 will also be back.
February 11th, 2021 at 11:00 am
Vaughn is a bust–we need RoJo, James White, a draft pick Rd 1 or 2, and a veteran to be in a rotation with RoJo. Maybe AP could be that guy.
February 11th, 2021 at 11:27 am
Love AP but I’m just not sure what he brings to the table at this point.
I foresee RoJo and Vaughn being the main tandem next year with both learning better routes and blocking all off-season with Brady.
If Fournette leaves for a payday, AP could be that veteran back up to come in but he’s not exactly known as a pass catcher or blocker. He is a runner, so I don’t know if it’s a good fit.
February 11th, 2021 at 11:29 am
Lambeau
😂 I just realized you said you expect round 1-2 draft pick to be a running back? LOL
you are out of your mind
It’s a Rojo and Vaughn. You thought that was a bust year for Vaughn?
He showed a lot of signs that he’s going to be a good one.
February 11th, 2021 at 12:19 pm
I’d like to see Vaughn get more action. He is young and strong and more than likely could be no worse than the production we currently are getting. Suh, Shaq, David JPP and Godwin need to have multiyear deals done to keep them Gronk would probably be the cheapest one to set up as he just wants to play with Brady.
February 11th, 2021 at 12:21 pm
James White!!! Go with the younger guy.
February 11th, 2021 at 12:24 pm
AB included in the Gronk statement above
February 11th, 2021 at 1:05 pm
Seems like lots of folks are writing off Fournette returning as a Buc this year. Maybe that’s a tad premature.
Spotrac has his Market Value listed as $8.1 mil, and looking at who else is hitting the market that seems reasonable. This year he made $2.5 mil (off the waiver wire & on a ‘discount’ most likely). Plus he really only played in 12 games in the regular season, and that’s what he averaged (12 games/yr) in his 3 yrs with the Jaguars. Leonard grinds out the yards, but his 3.9 yds/rush average over his 4-year career (3.8 YPR this year) barely puts him in the Top-25 active RBs (he’s actually #24 right behind the Bengals’ Giovani Bernard who sports a 4.0 yds/rush average over 8 yrs). Besides, he did just turn 26, and there are probably a sizable number of RBs out there who can average 4 yds/carry behind this OLine who are younger than that.
Leonard did extremely well I thought in our offense & particularly in the playoffs. If someone offers him $8 mil, so be it. But I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him re-sign with the Bucs on a 1 or 2 yr contract for say $5 mil a year and go for that 2nd ring with Tom Brady. After all, that is why he came here in the first place, isn’t it?
February 11th, 2021 at 1:08 pm
No.
February 11th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
White is 29, get him on 2 yr deal at 9mil
February 11th, 2021 at 1:56 pm
I’m not saying I want the Bucs to sign Peterson, but remember last offseason when posters on this very site were saying that Tom Brady was TOO OLD? How did that work out? Just saying.
February 11th, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Pass
Sign our own
February 11th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
Cannot under any circumstances lose Godwin. Ride Evans and Godwin for the next 5 years at least. Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson and Justin Watson if still on the roster as backups. Antonio Brown is a luxury we probably can’t afford next year. Godwin is one of the best young wide receivers in the game. I love the unselfishness including his enthusiasm for blocking. Yeah he had some drops at the end but so impressed with him that when I bought one of the salute to service jerseys, I bought Godwins. We are undefeated when wearing that jersey. You’re welcome!
Go Bucs!!! Go Chris!
February 11th, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Sorry Mr. Peterson. You’re a bit late. Leonard Fournette already got your spot.
February 11th, 2021 at 4:34 pm
He doesn’t catch the ball – and if you’re replacing Fournette you need a guy who can catch the ball. I don’t see how this would make any sense.
February 11th, 2021 at 4:39 pm
Pass.
February 11th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
LISTNFRMAFAR Says:
February 11th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
White is 29, get him on 2 yr deal at 9mil
If they can’t resign playoff/ Super Bowl Lenny. Absolutely sign JW. He’s one of the few things this offense was missing. Total class act also.
February 11th, 2021 at 5:04 pm
No thank you. Aging warhorse that’s breaking down and can’t catch. Doesn’t fit a bit into our offense. Shady fit as a vet 3rd-4th RB because he could at least go out for routes.
We can do so much better if we’re going to replace Lenny and/or add a different vet RB.
February 11th, 2021 at 7:48 pm
Definitely not. A 3rd RB MUST play special teams and we got lucky with McCoy because he didn’t. Peterson is also not much of a pass catcher. Rojo, in a full off-season with Brady. Will come back next season being far better in that area. Vaughn will as well. Most teams keep two so either a cheap capable vet or one or two rookies would be ideal.
✌—– this should be our Bucs symbol. Winfield and two rings. Double extendre. Make it happen ✌
February 11th, 2021 at 11:29 pm
Of all the veterans out there that could be valuable low cost additions, this ain’t one of them. AP is spent.
February 12th, 2021 at 2:50 am
No thanks AP.
February 12th, 2021 at 9:47 am
Running backs are a dime a dozen. We need Shaq more than a RB or receiver next year. Nothing wrong with ROJO Vaughn & McCoy and Fournet. Pay Shaq and give L.F. a cost of living increase.
February 12th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
For what? AD is washed up
February 12th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
AP*