“I Am That Man”
March 10th, 2022
Sean Murphy-Bunting is focused
Joe is always trying to read between the lines of anything that emanates from One Buc Palace.
Why? Because “whole-truth teller” is not in the job descriptions of any Bucs coach or front office member when it comes to communicating with media.
It’s understood that there’s a steady diet of half-truths, cover-ups, mis-directions and lies woven into officials’ comments about players. And the Bucs’ power hitters are a rather candid bunch compared to their peers.
So Joe is forever seeking clues to the deeper truths, even going back to the past to piece together what was real and what wasn’t. For example, as we near the 10th anniversary of the Bucs letting go of a young Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher for seemingly “no good reason,” Joe still thinks the unshared answer to that mystery remains an important part of Tampa Bay history.
Yesterday, the Bucs released a new official team video wrapping up storylines and intrigue at the NFL Scouting Combine. Bucs VP of player personnel John Spytek is on camera talking about the longtime slogan within general manager Jason Licht’s regime, “I Am That Man,” referring to the core qualities Tampa Bay seeks while scouting draft picks.
Joe was intrigued by Spytek’s choice of examples.
“We have an understanding of what a Buccaneer looks like right now, like we came up with that moniker, “I Am That Man.” We believe in that. It led us to people like Vita [Vea], it led us to people like Tristan [Wirfs], Chris Godwin, Sean Murphy-Bunting. We have seven draft picks this year; we’re trying to hit seven home runs,” Spytek said.
Joe heard Spytek’s comment and immediately thought the choice of Murphy-Bunting rather than fellow defensive back free agents Carlton Davis and Jordan Whitehead was telling.
Not only does it hint that the Bucs are passing on Davis in free agency next week, but it let’s Joe know the team is very high on fellow cornerback Murphy-Bunting and might be considering his pending 2023 free agency when it makes its free agency decisions over the next week.
Of course, this could all be a big nothing. But Joe’s not buying that.
March 10th, 2022 at 1:22 pm
It could have just been an arbitrary name that popped into Spytek’s head at the moment. I have no doubt they still love SMB’s talent. His development has been hindered by injuries. Anyway, nothing to see here.
March 10th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Don’t the he Bucs only have 6 draft picks? We don’t have a 6th round pick this year…
So hopefully we hit 6 home runs in the draft…
Is that a direct quote from the VP of PP?
LOL – someone should let him know…
March 10th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
@marine-
They got a 7th round comp… so it’s 7.
March 10th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Our defense is in better shape than the offense thats for sure.
March 10th, 2022 at 1:36 pm
He was just naming guys that are under contract or that they knew they weren’t going to let test the market, like Godwin.
Too much reading of tea leaves.
March 10th, 2022 at 1:45 pm
Yeah, reading the tea leaves, also known as spinning up clicks out of thin air. There’s a whole lot of parsing of innocent meaningless statements on here. Most of the time, the readings are wrong. But it creates clicks.
March 10th, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Our best shot is to win the division and at least get in the playoffs. That is a lower bar to shoot for than Super Bowl. Once is then…on any given Sunday!
March 10th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
@ sasq
Gotcha. Most of the mock drafts I’ve seen only have six picks…
March 10th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
Can smb have a bounce back season of course, seems like Bucs are counting on it. Wanting Carlton and Jordan yeah I get it but but looking at the huge explosive plays our secondary gave up over the last two years maybe they are adjusting. Whitehead not being in the game on the on the rams big play to end our season says just as much as anything Spytek says
March 10th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Can’t pay to keep every FA you’d like…
March 10th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
Good luck with that.
March 10th, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Hope that was just slip of tongue
Cause lets be honest. SMB “is not that man”
😂
March 10th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Pewter Power Says:
March 10th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
Whitehead not being in the game only said that he’s not our best coverage safety. Nothing else. Not a news flash.
March 10th, 2022 at 2:52 pm
Oh know!!! He didn’t mention Devin White….that must mean we plan to trade him.
March 10th, 2022 at 2:52 pm
SMB is terrible, watch the tape, he gets burned continually. QBs pick on him. Once in a blue moon he has a play. Draft CB’s…our pass defense sucks.
March 10th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
We have to get younger at some point.. might as well do it now while our division is weak..a couple good drafts we will be in good shape
March 10th, 2022 at 3:04 pm
Bucs are going to suck next year … that’s okay. Just be bad enough to get Bryce Young or CJ Stroud.
March 10th, 2022 at 3:06 pm
You could interpret all that as DeShaun Watson is completely NOT under consideration
March 10th, 2022 at 3:10 pm
I posted this on another thread How can the saints be a 100 million over cap and still sign all of There free agents Is, and Green Bay pay 50 million dollars for one person Come and the bucks can’t do squat Something wrong with this
March 10th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
They’re all mortgaging their future
March 10th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Isn’t a 100 million overcap still a 100 million overcap Or are they not paying anyone this year
March 10th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Funny considering SMB is easily the least consistent performer between the top 3. Hoping Dean can stay healthy this yr bc we’ll need it if Davis is gone.
March 10th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
Doesn’t seem to be any question that they’re not going to be able to re-sign Carlton Davis. SMB Dean and Delaney will be the main 3 CBs, Unless they draft another within the first two rounds
March 10th, 2022 at 4:23 pm
If SMB we’re focused as the caption reads. He would be practicing not taking pictures ?
March 10th, 2022 at 4:34 pm
I still love Bunting and when he is on he is a game changer. Sadly I must admitt he had a miserable year. I am expecting a huge bounceback year and if he breaks my heart so be it.
When we couldnt beat the Saints and I had a pit in my stomache in the Division azz l Round it was Bunting who changed everything it was Bunting who changed everything picking off a cheap Bress pass attempt over thd middle.
Everybody will remember the Winfield strip, deservedly so. But for me ot was that Bunting play in the 1st Q. That was the moment I believed this team was good enough to go all the way.
March 10th, 2022 at 5:18 pm
Marine Buc,
You missed the point on a different thread. The one team that Tom hates above ALL is the Colts. He would literally NEVER play there.
He is not playing again. If he changes his mind… it is Tampa.
March 10th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
I still can’t get past the vision of SMB watching Cooper Kupp run by him and not even trying to stop him.
The Bucs need some defensive consistency. Every once in a while they get a big splash play, but the rest of the time they watch the world go by.
Alas, the draft is all the Bucs can afford right now, so we have to hope Licht still has some magic.
March 10th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
According to Shefter, Colon Kaepernick is in the best shape of his life and is available.
March 10th, 2022 at 8:48 pm
SMB came back hurt last year but was a key player in the 2020 playoff run. Not giving up on em.
March 10th, 2022 at 8:54 pm
C’mon. 🙄
March 10th, 2022 at 10:16 pm
“I am that man”, says Kenny Pickett. Why not? Let’s have a 2 year rebuild, and a QB competition in camp.
March 10th, 2022 at 10:31 pm
kapernick, little bo peep…i’ll take anyone at this point…
just not the son of zsa zsa gabor
March 11th, 2022 at 4:25 am
I know you think Kyle Trask is not the man but draft wideout @ #27 and we are ready–repair our line–keep playoff Lenny, matter of time and Kyle “I am that man” Trask will lead us to the promised land. Watson will be in nfl jail for all of 2022 and big no way to bridgewater and jameis. Save money and roll with that man!