Don’t Lose Sleep Over Devin Hester
March 5th, 2014
Clear rumblings from NFL Network
Too many people believe there will be a mass exodus out of Chicago, legions of Bears wanting to be reunited with their old boss and new Bucs boss Lovie Smith. Of course, Bucs fans always on the lookout for the shiny object in someone else’s yard began jumping up and down for Peanut Tillman.
Sounds nice until you take a cursory glance at the Bucs roster and, well, there’s no room for Tillman at the inn.
What did make a bit more sense is that ridiculous return man Devin Hester could come to the Bucs. And, no, Eric Page would not create a logjam and prevent the Bucs from signing Hester. The key here is, it appears, Hester will not choose the Bucs.
NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport threw out a little nugget on Twitter Tuesday that Bucs fans pining for Hester may want to find another return man to pant over.
@RapSheet: For those asking about a possible reunion for Devin Hester and #Bucs coach Lovie Smith: I don’t see it happening.
Joe won’t scoff at Rapoport. Let’s just say Rapoport has a pretty good pulse on what is happening behind the scenes in NFL circles when he isn’t being conned by Jed York. So Joe trusts Rapoport.
Yeah, it would be nice to see Hester return kicks at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, but apparently, it isn’t in the cards.
March 5th, 2014 at 10:37 am
I don’t know about a mass exodus from Chicago. But Its been quiet at One Buc. Is Licht so busy on the phone to shuffle this mediocre roster?
March 5th, 2014 at 10:45 am
@ TBR
What do expect Licht to do? There’s as much coming out of One Buc as there is coming from about 25 other teams (some teams have restructurings and releases left and right to get under the cap).
It’s the slow time right now, just waiting for the starting bell at 4pm 3/11.
March 5th, 2014 at 10:47 am
I don’t see why there’s no room for Tillman. Our corner situation is pretty terrible after Revis (and maybe Banks, jury is still out). Even giving Banks the benefit of the doubt, our next best CB is Leonard Johnson. That’s terrible.
March 5th, 2014 at 10:50 am
I want a Johnny Knox clone, before he got hurt in 2011, he was a ball of fire for Lovie Smith.
March 5th, 2014 at 10:51 am
Why would anyone pine for Hester? We already have Jeff Demps, who at least can and hopefully will contribute on offense. Hester is purely a returner and will not be involved in any other way. It’s the ultimate luxury signing, not neccessary at all.
March 5th, 2014 at 10:53 am
I agree with Buc Realist, it has been too quiet. Other teams are positioning themselves for Monday. With all the talk about restructers from Revis, Penn, Joseph, and the “Lets cut everybody” mentality it sure seems like the Licht’s are out and nobody’s home at the palace. Maybe I’m too anxious for a little news, or the notion that we are going to eliminate half our roster is just a myth.
March 5th, 2014 at 10:58 am
If we have room on our roster for a return specialist, then I’m all for it. It would be really special to see Hester break Deion Sanders NFL return record.
…but
I don’t want to see him used at WR. He has never excelled at it. Plus, this late in his career he just needs to concentrate on returning.
March 5th, 2014 at 11:09 am
Joe any thought on Brett Smith QB?
March 5th, 2014 at 11:09 am
For those looking for cuts and restructures, the Bucs brass shouldn’t be in too big a rush to do anything, with $19 mil in Cap Space. This is by no means the most available, but there’s enough there to immediately be active if they so choose.
This is a new coaching staff, that is probably still evaluating what it has on the team and trying to compare to what will be available. No reason to make a rash decision and cut someone, or ask them to restructure, if still making evaluations.
March 5th, 2014 at 11:10 am
Glad to hear:
@Gil Brandt
Team visits happening earlier than I can remember. NoDakota St. OT Billy Turner has visits set w/ #Bucs, #Panthers, #Vikings
March 5th, 2014 at 11:30 am
We have much greater needs than Tillman or Hester
March 5th, 2014 at 11:34 am
McCluster would be a way better pick up anyway. He’s younger, quicker, and a beast on offense if used properly. A Great value pick up.
March 5th, 2014 at 11:37 am
What about WR/KR Jacoby Ford or WR/KR Jacoby Jones?
March 5th, 2014 at 11:57 am
In the words of licht and lovie… Value add.
March 5th, 2014 at 12:14 pm
No room for Tilman at the Inn? Joe, the Bucs need depth in the secondary in a bad way. We have Revis and I guess Banks on the other side. Johnson, Gorer and who else? The secondary lacks serious depth.
March 5th, 2014 at 12:18 pm
There’s an old saying, “no news is good news”. Looks like licht is going to be a poker player that keeps his cards close to his chest. He’s certainly no rock star. Can’t water to see the surprises in fee agency, both giving and receiving.
March 5th, 2014 at 12:21 pm
I think Banks will be just fine in Lovie’s defense, I’m expecting him to be much improved next season. But outside of Revis and a young Banks, the Bucs have very little in the way of secondary depth. Peanut Tillman would be a perfect pickup for the right price. The Bucs could very much use a third corner with experience.
March 5th, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Return specialists have a very limited shelf-life. Lovie found Hester before, I’d like to see him find someone brand new who makes a name for himself here, in the future, not somewhere else, in the past.
March 5th, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Dexter McCluster.
A “value” FA…
March 5th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
lions Says:
March 5th, 2014 at 11:09 am
Joe any thought on Brett Smith QB?
———————
Personally, I love the guy. Playmaker extreme with a flair for the dramatic. Single-handedly kept his completely overmatched Wyoming team in ball games with Nebraska and Texas. He isn’t perfect. His arm is average at best, he isn’t an elite athlete, but he is extremely athletic, and he has the Johnny Manziel 6th sense in the pocket. His mechanics are all out of whack, or at least were at the end of the regular season, but I think he could clean up very nicely as a future starter at the NFL level.
He wasn’t invited to the Combine and that was a huge blow to his draft stock, but he was mentioned by most as the biggest Combine snub. His Pro Day is March 14th so I know I will be keeping a close eye on him….
Speaking of which… one of the main guys that recruited him out of high school was Wyoming OC Marcus Arroyo, now Bucs QB coach. Smith showed up early (graduated early) and spent spring practice there at Wyoming under Arroyo, so he should have a pretty good inclination of what kind of a person and player he is…speaking of which, started every game as a true freshman.
March 5th, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Lets get Sam Shields! Definitely like McCluster over Hester, he’s younger and could be utilized well in Tedford’s offense.
March 5th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
No room for Tillman? Ummmmmmm I wish we had CB depth that didn’t need Tillman but Johnthan Banks is a 3rd CB at absolute best right now
March 5th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
Martinii:
‘…seems like the Licht’s are out and nobody’s home at the palace.’
That’s a good one. Thumbs up. You should be writing ad copy for Bud (Licht). You’d be much better than whoever came up with those stupid beer bottles playing football.
March 5th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
“Don’t lose sleep over Devin Hester”….challenge gladly accepted. However, I do have a head start on said challenge.
March 6th, 2014 at 1:30 am
So much for Ian Rapaport’s pulse
March 6th, 2014 at 1:58 am
Seems as if Rapport’s certainty should be questioned here. From AP report as written on ESPN:
“Now, it looks like he’s moving on.
Hester expressed interest in reuniting with former coach Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay.
“I look at Lovie as my number one coach right now because he’s the one that took a chance on me coming out of the draft,” Hester said. “He has all my respect so if he’s a guy that is going to shoot at me and want me to come play with him again, my arms are open.”
—-> TB is his first choice