“I Would Have Been Ecstatic”
February 28th, 2022
Bruce Arians approved?
It’s a safe bet who will have the heaviest hand when it comes to picking the next Buccaneers starting quarterback.
He’s the Quarterback Whisperer, Bucco Bruce Arians.
Yes, Team Glazer will want a say in the new face of the franchise, and general manager Jason Licht runs the personnel operation. But nobody’s going to tell Arians who to play at quarterback. That’s like telling Mozart what key to write in.
Colts quarterback Carson Wentz is one guy clearly available via trade, and he might be cut in a matter of days. The Colts seem finished with him. (Joe wonders if it’s in part because Wentz’ is unvaccinated and it was a team issue late in the season?)
Wentz, 29, was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016. He’s been to the Pro Bowl and has a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles. Then he was run out of Philadelphia, perhaps too harshly. But now he’s getting booted in Indianapolis where they’re looking to assign blame for the Colts’ late implosion last season. Wentz threw 27 touchdowns in 2021, 10th best in the NFL — in a run-heavy offense.
So could he be Arians’ guy? Joe has no clue, but Arians did say the following in October of 2017, per NJ.com.
“I loved him coming out,” Arians said of Wentz. “He really reminded me a lot of Andrew Luck. He’s big, strong, physical, and played in a pro-offense [in college]. He has that linebacker-mentality playing quarterback, it shows up in his toughness. He can really hurt you, out of the pocket and in the pocket…. He’s such a good athlete, he reminds me of Ben [Roethlisberger] in a lot of ways, how he just throws guys off of him in the pocket and makes big plays downfield.”
Arians also said, “I would have been ecstatic” if Wentz had fallen to him in the ’16 draft.
Arians had more to say but what may be most important to know is Arians was known back then for deeply scouting all available quarterbacks every year. It was a passion of his.
Maybe, just maybe, Arians sees in Wentz what he saw in foe the former floundering 2003 No. 1 overall pick, 33-year-old Carson Palmer back in 2013. They are very similar in stature; Wentz is a little more mobile but doesn’t appear to have Palmer’s throwing power.
Joe’s not lobbying for Wentz, but Joe is sure confident that Arians has a mancrush on at least one of the available quarterbacks.
Enjoy Today’s Ira Kaufman Podcast.
February 28th, 2022 at 7:23 pm
Arians may have loved Wentz, but the Colts sure didn’t! And, they gave away the farm for him in a trade.
At Indy, with a great defense and the best running game in the NFL, Wentz was unable to win.
Still, he will be available, and easy to sign, and probably better than either Gabbert or Trask, so WTF ?
February 28th, 2022 at 7:36 pm
Wentz went #2 overall, not 1.
February 28th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
There will be several teams interested in Wentz…..two other teams in our division, for example….
Not so easy to sign because he’s affordable…..and we could do worse.
February 28th, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Oh sure, he’s tough BA.
He’s also freaking injured the majority of the time.
February 28th, 2022 at 7:53 pm
He is also the worst QB in the 4th quarter. Right up there with Famous Jamous.
February 28th, 2022 at 8:04 pm
There are only 10 very good QBs and only 5 SB caliber ones left in the NFL.
Wentz, Carr, Winston, Cousins, Mayfield while aren’t amazing, but with the surrounding weapons and the lack of QB talent even a Mathew Stafford now has become a top 5 QB and SB winner.
The days of Brady, a Manning, Ben and Brees controlling the SB access is now over.
You need a QB whom can beat a Dak, an aging Rodgers, and a Murray, and Carr and your in a NFC championship. It doesn’t require all world talent anymore. Be happy getting a moderately good QB and over invest in weapons so he can win, that was the Rams, Chiefs, Cinci and Bucs model.
Go all on a QB and get as many weapons as your can and win a SB.
February 28th, 2022 at 8:14 pm
NE,
So Brady was a moderately good QB huh?
Gotcha.
February 28th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
Wentz is jameis 2.0
February 28th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
So crazy and no take the lumps and realize you can’t win a sb every year and save resources and draft capital and cap space to 2023 where the chance of putting a competitive team is better.
February 28th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
Why waste the money on Wentz? This is not the year to sign an expensive mediocre QB…
I would rather sign a few more free agents over an overpaid mediocre QB.
February 28th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
Is it not possible that BA is just a shade behind Chucky in falling in love with every QB. Wentz reminds you of Andrew Luck and Big Ben? I get the toughness and size thought so I see what BA was thinking but that’s a no-go. BA loves Gabbert too. I can’t justify that one in any way. Gabbert is a backup. A good backup but definitely a backup. These are uninspiring QB’s.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:06 pm
Well, there you have it. Unless something has changed drastically, I think this hits the sweet spot of a less costly and more realistic option that might have the ingredients Arians looks for in a QB. Might be looking at our next QB.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:07 pm
Bucs97 Says:
February 28th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
Check his TD/INT ratio and get back to us.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:14 pm
NEPatsFan, I disagree. There are no veteran QB (that are reasonably available) (Wilson, Rodgers, Cousins not options $) worth going all-in for. Just all mediocre QBs. We still don’t know which of the veterans will be coming back, but Marpet’s retirement is major dis-incentive for a certain TB12 to come back any time soon, and more will follow out the door. Overpay for one of the many mediocre QBs, and you have a mediocre place holder for years, including this upcoming season that looks like a .500.
The more sensible option is to adopt a 3 yr time frame, lower expectations, and DEVELOP a young QB. Check out Trask (although I have doubts). Go make a deal for a younger veteran who is NOT on the popular big name list, and develop him. Someone like Mike White, who has shown he can win as a starter. Let’s have a competitive camp.
I’m sick of the Carrs, Jittery Gs, DeCrime, Bilgewater, etc. etc.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:23 pm
@steele: Bridgewater would be a decent “bridge” QB that won’t make a lot of mistakes and won’t break the bank.
If his body survives.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:26 pm
Wentz was once a great prospect, and had great production, but after he got injured, he’s never been the same player. Wentz, Carr, Jimmy G, they’re all the same tier of player, someone who will get you to 9-8, most years missing the playoffs, but if you make the playoffs, losing in the first round. If you’re going to go that route, then get the guy who is free, who is the youngest, who already knows the offense, who you know will be ultra productive in Jameis Winston. The morons out there tend to forget that in 2019, if Gay doesn’t personally lose two games by himself, the Bucs are 9-7, and that’s with no NFL level WRs down the stretch after Evans and Godwin both got hurt and the Bucs were starting Watson and the guy who the Lions and Bears cut during 2021.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:29 pm
Why do people keep talking about Arians and his QB when he will be gone next year? It’s the Glazer’s and Licht’s QB.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:31 pm
Wentz is out because the Colts need a fall guy. Reich is on the hot seat and moving on from Wentz buys them another year. Wentz had a few bad games but would be a quality signing (assuming we have a QB competition in camp)
February 28th, 2022 at 9:38 pm
Just more BS from bruce arrogance.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:39 pm
Captain checkbook will have more say than Arians, and Wentz doesn’t really fit B.A.s stats for a QB.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:43 pm
Cobraboy … Bridgewater seems like a double-edged sword. He MIGHT be good enough to win the division this year, maybe even next year. But that’s a BIG MAYBE & it’s doubtful we’d make any noise in the playoffs with him at the helm. So we’d end up … at best … with a mid-round pick AND we’d never know IF we’ve got anything in Trask. Actually, that’s a best-case scenario.
If we’re gonna put our available salary CAP into TEAM-BUILDING, let’s not waste any of it on ‘bridges’ like Bridgewater (who made $4.4 mil last season with the Broncos & would probably make at least that with us). IF Trask isn’t the answer, fine, let’s find out now. IF he is, we can all sing hallelujah and the Bucs can move on to solving other problems.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:45 pm
If all the Bucs QB experts can repair the damage, he could at the least, make this season interesting…
February 28th, 2022 at 9:45 pm
Bridgewater sucks, anyone campaigning for that limp armed loser knows as much about football as my 9-year old niece.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:50 pm
If he is unvaxxed then he is smarter than I thought. Get vaxxed, get boosters, get Covid. You can’t watch a commercial about toe nail fungus without 20 seconds of disclaimers of side affects. Anyone seen the possible side affects of the Jab?
Me neither.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:50 pm
I 100% agree w Western Buc. That was a heavy run offense. Wentz had his hands tied. If he makes it down here, he’s Carson Palmer 2.0. I think he’s by far our best option. Make it happen.
February 28th, 2022 at 9:59 pm
I think Bridgewater is more suited to a dink and dunk offense, West Coast Style. He lacks the arm strength for our vertical passing game.
February 28th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
27 tds 7 ints last year.
February 28th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
PFF Top 100 Players of 2021 QBs on list
6. QB JOE BURROW, CINCINNATI BENGALS
9. QB TOM BRADY, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
14. QB JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS
18. QB AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
25. QB JUSTIN HERBERT, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
41. QB KIRK COUSINS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
43. QB MATTHEW STAFFORD, LOS ANGELES RAMS
45. QB RYAN TANNEHILL, TENNESSEE TITANS
69. QB PATRICK MAHOMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
81. QB DAK PRESCOTT, DALLAS COWBOYS
While PFF can be wrong on some of their evaluations, in general they are good at measuring the QBs. Tannehill and Cousins did not have bad seasons and were good QBs in 2021.
Also other Tampa stars on the list were:
30. S ANTOINE WINFIELD JR., TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
42. G ALI MARPET, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
44. T TRISTAN WIRFS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
62. T DONOVAN SMITH, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Windfield should be resigned.
NFL top free agents for 2022 Chris Godwin was 2 and Davis 8. no1 was Adams and he’s never gonna get to market.
February 28th, 2022 at 10:19 pm
Wentz > Bridgewater and Jittery G.
Still think with two yrs Trask is better than both.
February 28th, 2022 at 10:27 pm
Joe compared BA to Mozart.
BA compared Wentz to Andrew Luck.
So Licht must be on par with Kasparov or maybe Julius Caesar.
Happy Hyperbole Monday.
February 28th, 2022 at 10:32 pm
Wentz? I’d rather have Jameis. At least he was tough.
February 28th, 2022 at 10:52 pm
Just say NO to the Nuthuggers.
March 1st, 2022 at 12:39 am
Ooooh SB. You about to get in trubs. Every time I put my opinion out there about Vax and Vid, a scolding follows. Same opinion as yours btw.
March 1st, 2022 at 2:25 am
SB stop commenting on vax crap every chance you get and then acting offended (wait for it they will respond) when called on it. Stick to sports commentary.
March 1st, 2022 at 6:45 am
We already have our Wentz, his name is Gabbert. At least he know’s the system.
March 1st, 2022 at 7:13 am
Sign our good players that we can afford that want to stay n use Gabby n Trask n then see how that plays out n pickup players through the draft n waivers don’t be spending a bunch of $ on some big contract. Hasty quick decisions become costly regrets.
March 1st, 2022 at 9:17 am
I wouldn’t mind bringing Wentz into backup Trask but as a starter, we already know what he brings to the field with the many chances he’s had, and I’m not convinced at this point in his career, he would be better than Kyle. The only way I sit Kyle is if we get a top QB or draft one to compete with him this summer. I see Wentz in the same category as Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Fitzgerald, Teddy Bridgewater, Mitchell Trubisky, or even Jameis Winston lol
March 1st, 2022 at 9:28 am
Jay Bee Says:
March 1st, 2022 at 2:25 am
SB stop commenting on vax crap every chance you get and then acting offended (wait for it they will respond) when called on it. Stick to sports commentary.
Maybe you need reading comprehension problems. Joe opened the vaxxed door, not me.
March 1st, 2022 at 4:50 pm
Trask by far is the QB we need to go with why draft a quarterback in the second round your number One retires your rookie quarterback sent behind the best quarterback ever to play the game he learned something from Tom so now you got to put him in and let him learn the game in the game there’s nothing like learning likeplaying it takes some real dumbasses to not play trash it was a good quarterback in college I know that don’t mean that he’ll be good in the pros but he could be the next time Brady never say never of all that’s out there that’s all been talked about trash rings the bell the hardest give the man the job he was brought here to do and let’s go win some more super bowls he may not do this first year maybe not do his second year but every year he’s going to get better he’s a big boy he’s over the line we all know we watch him play in college just because of them guys have jobs in the NFL don’t mean they can’t read a quarterback any better than us they may think they do because they get paid for that s*** but you couldn’t look at Tom Brady and say oh yeah he does the best more than anybody absolutely the best quarterback out there other than Tom Brady was Watson Rogers he’s a choke artist that guy won one super bowl and what 17 years he didn’t want to know super bowl he’s good through the regular season only gets in the playoff he chokes Bridgewater hell no he’s as fragile as dry spaghetti and any of the other ones out there Jimmy g no no trash is the man put him in let him stand tall in the pocket and burn you down fill go bucks
March 2nd, 2022 at 6:51 am
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March 2nd, 2022 at 6:02 pm
I’m sure other ppl corrected but he’s the #2 pick behind Goff. Either way I would accept this as a last resort. Have him compete w/ Trask & if they’re equally good heading into the regular season that let’s me know that Trask could be ready & we can go ahead w/ starting him.