The Blaine Gabbert Leverage Play
February 23rd, 2022
Saved a penalty.
It is widely known in league circles that Bucco Bruce Arians thinks the world of quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
The head coach has made many comments to back that up through the years and, well, it appeared Arians assured Gabbert a job in 2019 when nobody else would. Gabbert also hit the free agent market for weeks in 2021 and where did he land with a minimum contract?
So chatter from Arians this week about potentially starting Gabbert in 2021 was hardly a shock, even if it feels like a slap to the face of thinking Bucs fans.
It was odd, however, for a couple of reasons. First, Gabbert has no contract for 2022. So why would Arians publicly claim Gabbert could be the Tampa Bay starter and potentially inflate his contract demands?
Second, Arians gushing about Gabbert could have another team look at Gabbert and say, “Hmmm, if Arians likes him that much, maybe we should make him our capable and expensive backup.”
Arians is a sharp cat who knows very well what’s coming out of his mouth. So Joe suspected Arians was dropping a sales job on Bucs fans this week to brace the masses for a potential Gabbert year. However, it’s just as likely that Arians is trying to manufacture market leverage for the Bucs when it comes to any trade or free agency offer they might have for a quarterback.
To secure leverage with a potential QB or his current team, you need a very public and plausible second option. Kyle Trask’s master’s degree in Bradyology and coffee isn’t it. And after Arians called Gabbert “the most underrated player in the NFL” last spring, it seems like going with fresh public Gabbert love might be the Bucs’ best chance to look like a team happy enough with its in-house quarterback option.
Joe knows some fans and media will think candid Arians was only pulling back the curtain and revealing his true love for Gabbert. But Joe can’t buy (or stomach) that there isn’t a lot more to it.
February 23rd, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Blaine does not cry any Blaine tears , he’s back for revenge and it’s so very clear
February 23rd, 2022 at 4:35 pm
This seems too cute by half.
February 23rd, 2022 at 4:46 pm
let’s be realistic…
BA is playing with house money at this point…
if the team starts out like the titanic…say 0-3 or 1-4…
he bails with a health issue, a doctor’s note, and maybe even his full season salary…
so don’t sleep – big chance we play the greater portion of the upcoming season with an interim coach…
like brady, he wasn’t necessarily expected here for year 3…
he’s gonna see how his roster plays out, then make his own personal moves…
#PersonalMovesNotPersonelMoves
things are real messy in tampa without tom…don’t listen to anything anyone is saying
February 23rd, 2022 at 4:48 pm
#BreakUpTheBucs
#TearItDown
#ItCanHappenSoonerThanLater
February 23rd, 2022 at 4:50 pm
So BA is a turd polisher.
February 23rd, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Chocolate stain, Blaine!?!?
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:00 pm
maybe the most derated player in the NFL
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:08 pm
If he becomes starting QB not maybe but the worst QB in the NFL
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:20 pm
“Blaine Gabbert Leverage Play”
LOL!OL!OL!OOLOLOLO!!!!!!
Literally the first time in the history of the internet that those words appeared in that order.
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:24 pm
Lipstick on a pig…
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:26 pm
That is exactly what a old desperate senile coach would do.
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Is one more year sitting going to benefit Trask? This isn’t Aaron Rodgers sitting behind Brett farve. They need a legit QB, or it’ll be a lost season. Ben isn’t a Jimmy G believer, but he’s certainly an upgrade of what they have. Keep Brady’s offense, and outbid the Steelers for him. That won’t happen because your demented coach is determined to reinstate his antiquated offense. Have fun
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:29 pm
I’m going to stick with my initial estimates…
65% chance it will be Gabbert/Trask
15% chance we bring in a third QB to compete – Dalton, Turbisky, Bridge(over troubled)water, etc.
5% chance the Bucs make a major move for a big name QB.
5% chance TB12 returns to the Bucs in June for one more season.
5% chance TB12 returns and we trade him for another QB – Jimmy G, Wentz, etc.
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:34 pm
If your leverage is saying that you’ll start Blaine Gabbert… man, you have some big time problems… Big time…
Also it’s really stupid if the Bucs aren’t strongly considering bringing back Winston. I don’t care what the fake news rumors were about Teddy Bridgewater, the Bucs were not letting Winston walk to sign some limp armed one leg turd burglar who is afraid to throw the ball — to run a deep ball offense. The only reason Winston left is because they had a chance to sign Brady, if Brady wasn’t signed, they would have brought back Winston.
It’s not a sign that you did anything to wrong to bring back Winston now. If you have a chance to sign Brady, you do it, and the Bucs did. There’s nothing wrong with saying now that Brady is gone, you want to see if you can resume course. We already know the players on the team like Winston, we know that he knows the playbook and is highly productive, and pre-Brady, Winston set every passing record and offensive scoring record that the team had. Going back to Winston makes all the sense in the world. He’s cheap, he doesn’t cost any draft picks, and Evans and Godwin love him, knowing he’s going to get them the ball.
If you can get Watson, Rodgers or Wilson, then sure, those are a tier above — the next tier is Winston, Carr, Cousins, then Wentz and Jimmy G are a tier below.
Winston isn’t only free, he’s still young enough that he could easily play another decade or more. Also, last year, when he was hurt, he was just above Brady in QBr, and at the time, I believe he had the best TD-to-INT ratio of any starting QB in the NFL (if not the best, it was top 2 or 3).
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:40 pm
A repost from an earlier article….
Tampabaybucfan Says:
February 23rd, 2022 at 3:43 pm
It makes zero since to build up Gabbert when he is a FA…..what if another team believed it enough to sign him as a backup?
Nope….we are being prepped for a Gabbert at QB for the Bucs….
Sorry folks.
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:44 pm
Letting gabbert play will hold TB12 to his contract if he comes back out of retirement.
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:45 pm
Mr Munch … ‘Going back to Winston makes all the sense in the world. He’s cheap, he doesn’t cost any draft picks, and Evans and Godwin love him’.
Only about 10 or 12 things stand in your way: all those other teams who still need starting QBs. Among them: THE SAINTS. Sounded like Jameis really liked it there, and they liked him.
February 23rd, 2022 at 5:47 pm
tampabayallday … ‘Letting gabbert play will hold TB12 to his contract if he comes back out of retirement.’
Ding – ding -ding; we have a winner.
February 23rd, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Bucs have to grab the best available qb they can get. Only qualification being an upgrade over Gabbert. Also, Trask needs all the preseason
work he can get. Gabbert has no upgrade potential. He can sit next to coach Arians on the bench and hold the clipboard.
February 23rd, 2022 at 6:06 pm
To be honest, the only Vet who make sense and we can get cheap and still have money to go out and get other players is..WINSTON. All the big names are gonna cost us an arm, leg, and a future lost of picks. Winston is better than Gabbert, trask, Bridgewater and even Jimmy G. But I think Jameis stays put. The Saints new coach really likes him. Arians would be a fool not to make a play for him though. I can guarantee you we go 8-9 or 9-8 at best with Gabbert.
February 23rd, 2022 at 6:08 pm
I agree with Rod Munch and Marine Buc. I am all for bringing Winston back, and barring that, I think we see Gabbert start, backed up by Trask.
If Brady did not come here, Winston would still be here.
Teddy Bridgewater has a weak arm, so this is not the offense for him.
February 23rd, 2022 at 6:17 pm
Check out what I just read.
Chris Mortensen
@mortreport
That Bruce Arians professed his belief in Blaine Gabbert again is no surprise, especially with the @Bucs roster.
Now, here’s your hypothetical to ponder: The Bucs take a shot at Deshaun Watson and believe Gabbert can keep them competitive if Watson has to serve any suspension.
February 23rd, 2022 at 6:22 pm
The only problem with this bluff is no one will believe it. I doubt even the rock star would have fallen for it.
I think Josh Freeman was better than Gabbert. Before he totally melted down.
February 23rd, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Rod munch makes a lot of sense!
Winston was anything but boring.
February 23rd, 2022 at 6:56 pm
No one’s banging down Gabbert’s door. The Bucs could wait until the week before training camp and sign Gabbert if they swing and miss on Watson.
February 23rd, 2022 at 7:22 pm
What’s concerning is he shows no such bravado towards Trask, so if this is all some PR strategy for Bucs fans or trades, Trask seems to hold no value. Strategically you would think they would be hyping Trask as he’s under contract AND actually could be dangled in a trade for the QB we desire in place of draft picks.
February 23rd, 2022 at 7:30 pm
Ah, the Nuthugger Brigade is back……..and they’re out of their minds.
No effin way.
Get real.
February 23rd, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Bring Winston back
February 23rd, 2022 at 7:58 pm
Sometimes the lightbulb just comes on for veteran QBs. Look at Jim Plunket, Doug Williams, Mark Rypien, Brad Johnson and Kurt Warner. Nobody would have predicted that kind of success for any of those guys, but they all won Super bowls. Gabbert has everything he needs to succeed; a strong arm, 4 years experience in the offense, and an apprenticeship under the best that’s ever played. Teddy B and Jimmy G have none of those things. And Gabbert will come cheaply enough to allow us to sign other free agents and put a decent team in place around him.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:01 pm
Are Gabbert jerseys for sale?
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:02 pm
As I said in an earlier post, if the Bucs really do believe that Trask is the future or if they are at least going to give him a chance to be then they are not going to swing a big deal to bring in one of the established free agents or anybody that will cost them some high draft picks.
They may try to roll with Gabbert or some other middle of the road free agent until they feel Trask is ready
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:03 pm
It’s official Brady out, he’s producing a movie called 80 with Brady. Jane Fonda, Sally Fields, Lily Tomlin and one other old actress. Supposedly this based on a true story about these 4 older women follow his career and finally all go to the Atl/Pat’s SB. He produces it and has a part in it. He’s Showtime now folks.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:10 pm
I’m all for going with Gabbert and Trask if the long term plan is convincing Brady to start playing in November. I think he could convince his family to let him play 3 months if he wants it bad enough.
The tough part is convincing Free Agents to buy into it and sign with Bucs.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:12 pm
I’d rather start the homeless dude off the street over Gabbert. I’d have more faith in the homeless dude.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:14 pm
My rankings for best options:
Trade for AR, he the clear most talented QB in NFL and wants a SB win more than most QBs in NFL.
Trade for Wilson he a a top 5 QB when he’s at his best and Super Bowl winner
Trade for Watson, he has potential to be a top 5 QB. However, if he hasn’t paid off all 22 accusers and got NDA, with chance of criminal charges stopped he is unplayable in the NFL and is the worst option and a liability. There is no chance he get away from this without a settlement, there is too much piling up against him.
Trade for Carr, he a good QB whom is a top 10 QB in the right system and in a QB hungry NFL.
Trade for Cousins he’s probably the second best pure thrower on this list, but sometimes he isn’t clutch.
Sign Winston, he’s a good QB and NFC is starving for very good QBs, so he went from average to valuable with retirements of the most of the NFC stars.
Sign Wentz, he has issues but is better than other FA on this list and was a winner at one point in his career.
Sign Teddy he is probably the next best FA QB available and can keep a very good roster in a playoff hunt but probably won’t get into playoffs.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:19 pm
I would also take Jimmy G over wentz
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:25 pm
I think the movie is called Golden Boy meets Golden Girls.
The sex scenes are rumored to be hot.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:31 pm
You don’t want to make teams think you’re desperate at QB, or else the asking price for every trade and free agent goes up.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:33 pm
TB wants to hang out with Jane Fonda rather than play pro football? Somebody give this man a history book.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:36 pm
Doosh, you got the name right.
Brady Makes Post-Football Moves, to Produce, Appear in Road Trip Comedy for Paramount, Endeavor Content (Exclusive)
Hollywood icons Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field will star in ’80 for Brady,’ which Kyle Marvin will direct and Brady will produce via his 199 Productions.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:36 pm
**** meats
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:47 pm
Wasn’t expecting much for the 2022 season I’m fine with Gabbert Trask with a strong push for 2023 have more viable options on the table then.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:52 pm
Arians probably thinks Gabbert is under contract.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:54 pm
I wonder how much Jordan Love would cost? GB looks like they’re going to hold on to Rodgers and Love is entering the 3rd year of his rookie contract.
February 23rd, 2022 at 8:57 pm
watch him be good. BA was the whisperer in past fanmedia frenzy cycles. eat crow haters? maybe not but maybe. i’m pulling for trask. if you can’t learn the job in a year you can’t do the job. mahomes had 22 completions year 1. mostly he got coffee or some stupid line that some folks like to overuse.
February 23rd, 2022 at 9:34 pm
The current situation I would go with Trask also.
February 23rd, 2022 at 9:40 pm
If they make a move for Winston, he will come, for 36-40 million a year. He is not going to swallow his pride and come back, unless he is among the highest paid QBs in the league.
He wasn’t worth it before and he isn’t worth more now.
Selling Gabbert is about having an almost name to sell season tickets. I think he will fall apart by week three or four and Trask will take over.
I still think that the Bucs need to make a complete team, in case Trask fails and they line up a big name QB in 2023.
February 23rd, 2022 at 10:21 pm
BA’s public support of Gabbert as his starting QB for 2022 is at the expense of Trask.
Every time BA mentions door #2 or that he’d be OK with Gabbert as the starter – when Gabbert does not have a contract. It shows BA & the FO have ZERO confidence in his only rostered QB.
February 23rd, 2022 at 10:23 pm
omg it’s true rod is right…!!!
just bring winston back…
will he come back tho???
it would be so crazy..,but bring back crazy magoo or jaboo or what ever the f you wanna call him..
bring us back our crazy interception machine and let’s get back to being the crazy bucs before brady…
brady can have jane fonda, lilly tomlin, sally fields and rita moreno and all the old ladies licking his ballz…he can have all the gilfs in the world – to gisele’s dismay…brady will be a nasty ole #GrannyChaser
meanwhile we will be #EatingW’s with #CrazyAzzJaboo
February 23rd, 2022 at 11:03 pm
Saints actually have the better team for Winston in 2022 assuming Kamara doesn’t go to jail and pays the guy he jumped 1m to forgive him.
Unless Tampa goes all in and returns Fournett, Chris, Oline and maybe signs a better TE.
I just can’t really see Gronk actually catching passes full time from anyone else. Probably retire again and come back again if Tom decides to after making adventure comedies for senior citizens. Financially smart as senior women are one group whom still go to theatres.
February 23rd, 2022 at 11:29 pm
Any chance one of the Joe’s could write a real article about anything relevant to actually winning games next season? Just saying. If we do go with Blaine, the season is lost already. Simple.
February 23rd, 2022 at 11:43 pm
Joe’s pretty sure he’s been doing that regularly since the end of the 2021 season including this very article. Unless you are one of those old 1960s high school coaches who thinks a quarterback is no more valuable to a team than a right guard.
February 23rd, 2022 at 11:50 pm
Arians just does not want to look desperate. There is no way Gabbert is the Bucs starting QB.
February 24th, 2022 at 12:16 am
“Joe’s pretty sure he’s been doing that regularly since the end of the 2021 season including this very article. Unless you are one of those old 1960s high school coaches who thinks a quarterback is no more valuable to a team than a right guard.”
Joe was in severe man love with Jamoist Winston and wanted him back as the QB1. Even after he was a turnover machine. Joe has very little credibility on this subject.
February 24th, 2022 at 2:25 am
QB1 – Matthew Stafford lead the NFL in INT’s last year.
Turns out you win games by scoring more points than the other time – you literally get ZERO credit for winning the TO column on the stat sheet.
February 24th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Joe . Ask this question than why the Packers can’t win another a superbowl if it’s all about the quarterback ? How come Justin Herbert haven’t even played in a playoff game?? Defense wins championships just like even Brady never played with a bad defense his whole time with the Patriots. The whole quarterback thing is just a media narrative that’s been push on fans. Take 99 off the Rams and they don’t get to no superbowl or win a superbowl. He should have been MVP of the superbowl. Nick Foles showed that a average quarterback can win a superbowl with a good defense and running game . Facts!!
February 24th, 2022 at 8:38 am
Oneilbuc – Right on man. Defense wins ballgames.
Rod Munch – Stafford had the best receiver in the game, the same one that teams never covered for some odd reason. Turnovers do matter in reality. The Rams almost coughed up the game to us because of that fact. But our vaunted defense lazily gave the game away. Those are the facts.
February 24th, 2022 at 11:22 am
Oneilbucyall, do we have to go over this AGAIN? KC all offense when they won SB, Pat’s the year the beat Atl poor D, Pat’s the SB over Seattle, Seattle had the more dominant D, I do against Beard, Indy had.the dominant D, Pat’s/Carolina SB, Carolina had the dominant D, Pats/Rams SB, Rams had dominant D, 2020 Bucs ,the D didn’t step up until 4th qtr Saints game in the payoffs. The O averaged 31 points a game causing teams to be one dimentional.
February 24th, 2022 at 11:23 am
Indy over Bears SB. Damn autofill
February 24th, 2022 at 11:33 am
Let’s bring Winston back? You jack wagons serious? Yeah let’s relive those golden moments. Like when his first career game he throws a pick six, to his last game with the Bucs where he throws a pick six. Oh yes! I want some more of that! How about that playoff game he won for us? What? Five Winston years, no playoffs? Oh I miss those great Jameis seasons. There’s other ways Winston was the best. Uber grabber, who doesn’t get drunk, and do that. Yeah bring back Winston, just the QB who can save us.
February 24th, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Listnfrmafar. Remember Brady throwing 3 interceptions and the defense still held them ? The superbowl against ATL was because of Kyle Shanahan all he had to do is run the ball and kick a feild goal he done the same thing with the 49ers and the Cheifs superbowl. That’s called bad coaching!! Defense wins championships it’s a proven fact go look at the Broncos superbowl victory Payton Manning threw 9 touchdowns with 17 picks and they still made it to the superbowl and won it !! It’s to many superbowls that’s been won with more defense than offense and that’s a proven fact!!
February 24th, 2022 at 3:08 pm
It is Arians doing coach speak. How many players has he praised only to see them do absolutely nothing. Bucs fans should be used to this by now.