Free Agency Caution
March 26th, 2021
Free agency is a different cat for defending Super Bowl champions, explains a guy who never won a Super Bowl as a general manager.
Former Eagles shot-caller Joe Banner, now of Mike Tannenbaum’s “33rd Team,” did a breakdown of winners and losers in free agency. Banner, who has been critical on social media in the past about Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, didn’t follow the groupthink that Licht and the Bucs are kicking tail in free agency.
However, Banner suggests the Bucs bear monitoring as to how things shake out in 2021, because of how they have largely kept the Band of Bucs intact.
Other than Shaquil Barrett, they really just paid everyone they wanted to. We just have a long history of title-winning teams, not just in football, either, that try to repeat with the same team, and it often does not work. I think Philadelphia made this mistake after their Super Bowl, and we really see it all the time. I think re-signing the younger players, Barrett and Chris Godwin was correct, but I am not sure about the Ndamukong Suh’s and Rob Gronkowski’s. Even with Godwin, they have enough talent at receiver; I think they could have made a tough decision and upgraded elsewhere.
That is fair — on paper. Joe believes Suh is much more important than his OK stats. His job isn’t so much to get after the quarterback. And what Suh does he does very well. And when asked to get after the quarterback, Suh has proven he can do that physically but also mentally (hi, Aaron Rodgers!).
Also, Joe knows through observation how players are sort of like pied pipers for Suh; he’s like another coach on the field. He has certainly helped Will Gholston play his best football.
And like former Bucs guard Ian Beckles said recently, wherever Suh plays, a defense just gets better.
March 26th, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Yea and he don’t eat ice cream which adds a bonus to the situation
March 26th, 2021 at 4:09 pm
You have got to be kidding only Shaq & Godwin?….upgrade from Suh & Gronk…..LVD, Succop & Fournette?
Other than age…..there is no upgrade……And we know the chemistry with Gronk & Brady…..
How about naming names?
We also know that there is no locker room problems….
This team can be better……
The entire starting SB lineups are back….first time since 1979, I believe.
March 26th, 2021 at 4:10 pm
You can’t compare the Bucs with anything in the past. Brady is the big difference with what we have vs what other teams did in the past. Look how much ordinary achievements from the past that our QB is shattering with his unbelievable career.
March 26th, 2021 at 4:11 pm
Ok Banner, TB says hold my beer (metaphorically) and watch this. I’m guessing the 2021 Bucs will be one of the best football teams of all time. Great offense and defense and hungry for another SB parade. No complacency here!!!
March 26th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
This did cross my mind, but then I told myself to stfu. We’ll be fine…
March 26th, 2021 at 4:39 pm
It’s interesting how so called experts say the Bucs formula of resigning the 2020 players hasn’t been a given based on past Super Bowl teams performances. This is a team that has learned to play as a team, to do your job and we saw that by how the Bucs won in the playoffs and the Super Bowl. This is a self less team lead by the greatest leader in NFL history. Tom Brady you brought so much more than your physical talents and WE THANK YOU. So, Bucs go out there and prove the naysayers wrong again.
March 26th, 2021 at 4:43 pm
I do believe the Bucs realize the team needs to get younger with Suh and JPP. Logically, this is the position the Bucs will address in the first few rounds of the draft. If Suh or JPP shows signs of slowing down, then the Bucs can simply use them as part time and have a young draft pick step in when needed. This is the luxury the Bucs have and most teams, including KC do not have.
March 26th, 2021 at 4:46 pm
This 33rd/turd team must be meant for comedy purposes only. Banner season, The Royal Tannenbaum…where’s Bruce Allen these days?
March 26th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
The added depth from the upcoming draft will make the team better. Take RB/WR Felton from UCLA in the 2nd round and the offensive production will skyrocket.
March 26th, 2021 at 5:04 pm
He obviously did not watch bucs season
Offense got better as season went on
Defese got better as season went on
Gronk had zero legs to start
Devin white year 3 …look out as he is leader of defense
Brady got better with timing of receivers
Secondary has swag
That guy should get a clue
March 26th, 2021 at 5:07 pm
Gronk and JPP and Suh–even Tom–may not be at their peak, but to say that kind of requires you to nominate cheaper free agents who outperform these HOFers.
March 26th, 2021 at 5:11 pm
With a take like that it’s easy to understand why he no longer has a job in the league.
March 26th, 2021 at 5:21 pm
You are correct Joe ! Lol.
Seeing how Godwin’s numbers dropped so significantly from two years ago and allowing that was because Brady did not feel CG was his best choice , that means we need more receivers. Same with ME. Brady we will assume is taking what is the highest percentage shots he is comfortable with (agreed not 100% of the time ) , he needs more options. Why would you choose even Tyler Johnson over AB unless you have to.
Gronk, he looks slow and lumbering when he is out there but he and Brady have been together so long they know what the other is thinking and I’m certain that makes up for what Gronk has lost, I don’t see OJ Howard stepping in and filling Gronk’s shoes, perhaps not even Brate’s.
Suh , may be slower , but just a massive strong dude next to Vea makes huge problems for the O line and makes SB and JPP more successful.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
March 26th, 2021 at 5:41 pm
I get what he saying. He’s basically saying keep an eye in the future with the youth.
The problem is there is no one who can start at DT that’s better than Suh and fits better on this D line. Plus Suh did not show signs of age. He has been consistent and reliable for a long time
As for Gronk… that one makes no sense. Gronk is as healthy as ever and was getting better and better. And he is Brady‘s boy, not signing him would have been stupid.
March 26th, 2021 at 6:02 pm
Let these guys keep up with the disrespect. It’s just more bulletin board material for the Bucs.
March 26th, 2021 at 6:02 pm
Did anyone notice how much FASTER GRONK WAS in the playoffs & SB?
I think it took him most of the season to get back to prime football shape after taking that year off.
He was even ‘explosive’ at times during the playoffs & SB.
He looked slow & sluggish during many games of the season.
I think another reason why he BLOCKED most of the time was that the coaches could tell he wasn’t quite as quick off the line as he had been. But later in the season and post-season they started to use him more and more as a pass catcher.
I think we’ll see Gronk have a BIG year during the regular season this time around.
March 26th, 2021 at 6:55 pm
Comparing the Bucs bring their roster back with the GOAT to the Eagles who did so but downgraded from Foles to Wentz is comical. This is drivel at it’s driveliest
March 26th, 2021 at 7:30 pm
i guess he didnt watch much of the bucs last season. gronk got better as the yr went on as a pass catching te but his blocking that he did helped out this o line so much. it is overlooked by many (like himself). suh, is/was/still should be a game changer. he still demands attention as does vea, shaq, and jpp.
of course you always want to sprinkle in talent when you can but it just didnt work out for the bucs this offseason during f/a. there is the draft and fully expect 2-3 strong pieces to be added as the bucs are in position to draft bpa.
and whos to say the bucs dont add a veteran once roster cuts happen.
March 26th, 2021 at 8:07 pm
The 2021 Bucs roster is probably better than any that Brady has had in the past 10 to 12 years. He’s going to make it happen again. Don’t bet against him
March 26th, 2021 at 8:16 pm
I think they did a great job resigning almost everyone still got AB to get signed too. Everyone got a raise at that. They also have the draft to add to the future of the team. I say they draft a Guard with a trade up in the first or trade back and find a steal at C & Guard and get another DT in there too who will take up some mass and free those linebackers up. They could also use some young edge rushers. They will have an A+ offseason once its over and I think they never lose again
March 26th, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Seems to me “Team 33” is basically a bunch of fired GM’s who didn’t know much about winning.
Hell, I could be as much a loser GM as they were. It’s not that hard…
March 26th, 2021 at 9:27 pm
Maybe there’s a reason that Joe Banner never won a Super Bowl as a general manager. Anyone who can’t see the value of Suh & Gronk to this team has questionable talent evaluation skills IMO.
March 26th, 2021 at 11:13 pm
We have perhaps the best talent in the league so lets break them up….duh?
Why…well it’s so incredibly hard to repeat as SB Champs that only the Steelers brought everybody back and did it.
I wonder if any teams brought everybody but one back? Two? Three?
Bottom line…we really haven’t had enough SB’s to determine anything for sure…perhaps get an idea or two but nothing really solid.
March 27th, 2021 at 7:20 am
JOE I bet the 2nd boat parade will be better than the 1st. Let’s gooo
March 27th, 2021 at 7:42 am
Pretty sure Brady said, Yea I’ll extend but you have to show my boy Gronk some love.