Mystery Of Blaine Gabbert
March 21st, 2023
Victim of numbers game?
So in the past few weeks since Tom Brady retired and the Bucs began hyping Kyle Trask and how he will compete for the starting job, one name Joe noticed was never mentioned: Blaine Gabbert.
The veteran backup and former first-round pick came to the Bucs in 2019 with the Bucco Bruce Arians regime and had been a backup since.
Last year at the combine, the then-Bucs coach preached loud and proud how Gabbert was a damn good quarterback and Arians was ready to go to war with Gabbert for 2022 and win ballgames.
Then Tom Brady unretired.
Then Arians retired.
Joe knows how much Gabbert loves the Tampa Bay area and the way Arians talked him up, Joe thought it was strange the way Gabbert’s name was basically forgotten since January, especially since he was higher on the Bucs’ depth chart than Trask.
So in a sidebar session with Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht at the combine, Joe asked Licht point blank what was up with Gabbert.
JoeBucsFan: Blaine Gabbert, a year ago, Bruce [Arians] was telling anyone who would listen [at the combine] that he can win games with Gabbert. That Gabbert can be a starting quarterback. Has he fallen off the map that badly that you have decided to move on or does he not fit your new offense?
Bucs GM Jason Licht: I wouldn’t say he has fallen off the map. We’re evaluating every quarterback right now. Free agency, draft, all of them. I have a lot of respect for Blaine. I’ve had a good relationship with Blaine. I wouldn’t say he has fallen off the map.
Given the news that Gabbert and the Raiders are talking turkey, it seems like along with the Bucs signing Baker Mayfield, Gabbert is toast with the Bucs.
(Joe is guessing the Bucs may take a flyer on a rookie quarterback in next month’s draft so they have three quarterbacks for 2023.)
As Joe mentioned, Joe wonders if Brady was playing matchmaker for Gabbert, who he was tight with, trying to hook him up with his old Belicheats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
March 21st, 2023 at 4:59 am
Think the Bucs are trying to get younger at QB and don’t see Gabbert as the long term answer. So maybe they will also look to draft a QB, not that the Bucs ever developed a rookie QB that stayed.
March 21st, 2023 at 6:08 am
Blaine Gabbert has indeed fallen off the map, he did so 3 years ago. Gabbert wouldn’t still have an NFL playing career if not for Tom Brady.
March 21st, 2023 at 6:18 am
Joe, that wasn’t a very good way of phrasing the question to Licht. It put him quickly on defense, so what he gave was this schmarmy non-answer to a dramatic yes/no question. Should have asked him something more open ended in order to get him to reveal more, like “If you can, tell me what your thinking was regarding Gabbert, heading into the off season.”
And by the way, you’ve done some great reporting during the time I’ve been a regular here. This site is a treasure for our fan base.
March 21st, 2023 at 6:20 am
It’s the offense change. In fact, if Trask was not a high draft pick by licht, Trask would be off the map as well. They need QB that move. Arians always drafted big arm QB’s that do not move. And there has never been a QB that Arians drafted that succeeded in the NFL.
March 21st, 2023 at 7:26 am
3 relatively young QBs should be the goal. Mayfield is about to be 28, Trask is 25, and a rookie can come in to develop/compete whether it be 2023 or beyond. That’s why I see value in drafting Hendon Hooker, because with Trask & Mayfield we don’t need to draft him under the premise he’ll be our “savior” like we did back in 2014(which failed miserably), but can allow him to rehab, study Canales’ playbook and be ready should we need him mid-season. It’ll be interesting to see who or if we draft a QB, but I’m also thinking we’ll have >1 QBs at rookie camp.
March 21st, 2023 at 7:34 am
Draft DTR on day 3.
March 21st, 2023 at 7:53 am
Joe a question I’d like asked is, do we have a defensive coordinator? Last year Bowles used the excuse he didn’t have time to pick one so he went with the stupid idea of having co DC’s. Has he decided on one, does he plan to call the defense again? My guess is his defensive assistants might feel like they’re in a dead end job with no hope for promotion. Arains had a coaching succession plan, ask Bowles why he doesn’t have one with his defensive coaches? Bowles should concentrate on being a HC, and pass the riens.
March 21st, 2023 at 8:21 am
My post yesterday seems appropriate.
Tampabaybucfan Says:
March 20th, 2023 at 3:48 pm
They can’t bring Gabbert back to Tampa……why?
Well, it’s supposed to be a competition between Mayfield & Trask….but Trask was behind Gabbert on the depth chart….so, it would have to be a 3-way competition.
My guess is that our 3rd QB will be a later round draft pick.
March 21st, 2023 at 9:15 am
Gabbert has no place on the New Bucs.
He knew Arians offense, and Brady wanted a veteran backup.
Brady and Arians are long gone. And soon, so will be Gabbert
March 21st, 2023 at 9:57 am
@CcHead
IDK if he’ll be available day 3, but DTR is one of the 4 QBs I’d take out of this class to group with Mayfield & Trask.
March 21st, 2023 at 9:57 am
He’ll always be remembered as the guy who beat out Colin Kaepernick for the starting job in San Francisco. Before Kaepernick decided to take a knee.
March 21st, 2023 at 9:58 am
Gabbert never got a lot of playing time behind Brady, (who was just playing to protect himself from injury at the end), but in limited action Blaine may have the best passer rating of any Buc QB ever during his time in TB.
March 21st, 2023 at 10:43 am
Gabbert has made one hellava career and made some decent money as a backup in this NFl. Somebody will pick him up in a few. He knows his role and performs it well to the tune of millions$$
March 21st, 2023 at 10:56 am
Licht hates Gabbert! Bowels hates Gabbert! Gabbert never got a fair shot at starting. Waaaaaaawaaaaawaaaawaaahhhh.
All you people who say mean things about Blaine are haters.
March 21st, 2023 at 11:31 am
So TBBF, players can’t move up or down on a teams depth chart?
March 21st, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Yeah, I agree with asking that question to Licht was the wrong one to ask. We have all seen Gabbert has “fallen off the map” but Licht could never have addressed that comment head-on. Darn it!
I, too, have pondered many times this question regarding Gabbert and the only thing I can discern is that we need to look at a younger guy in that position, period. Gabbert may be even better than Mayfield in the short run, but that is not all we are looking for, this season.
March 21st, 2023 at 1:41 pm
From local hero to zero
March 21st, 2023 at 9:30 pm
They’re evaluating the draft and will come back around. Bowles loves Gabbert, and for the moment, Rah Rah Canales has some rope while he sets up.