The Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years — No. 11
July 17th, 2014
Endless Top-Whatever lists across the Internet got Joe thinking of the Tampa Bay drought since their Super Bowl glory. Not a playoff victory since! And that motivated Joe to rank the 20 worst Buccaneers of the past 10 years.
Serious deliberations went into this at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters.
Beers bottles were thrown. Game film came out. Arguments ensued. Chants of Sabby from wild interns were quieted by Joe.
In the end, primary consideration was given to expectations for a player combined with his on-field performance. Off-field behavior was a factor, and players were not punished for injuries.
No. 11 — defensive end Gaines Adams (2007-2009)
Joe hates writing anything negative about a dead guy, especially a good man like Gaines Adams who passed away so tragically. But Adams is very deserving of a spot on this list.
After two Bucs seasons, Tampa Bay fans were left wondering whether Adams was an average football player, a terrible thing for a No. 4 overall draft pick like Adams was in 2007.
A 2009 ESPN feature on Adams revealed he didn’t work too hard in the weight room and didn’t have nearly enough strength and hadn’t developed pass rush moves. You can re-live that nightmare story here.
Joe remembers being appalled that Adams didn’t have the necessary work ethic in ’07 and ’08, despite shining examples of greatness around him in the Bucs locker room, and being part of winning teams and top-10 defenses.
High Bucs hopes for Adams in 2009 never materialized. Somehow, former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik convinced Lovie Smith and the Bears to cough up a second-round pick for Adams that October. Adams did little in Chicago and died of a heart attack in January 2010.
No. 12 — Keydrick Vincent No. 13 — Dre Moore No. 14 — Kevin Ogletree No. 15 – Sean Mahan No. 16 — Da’Quan Bowers No. 17 — Daniel Te’o-Nesheim No. 18 — Kyle Moore No. 19 – Jeremy Trueblood No. 20 – Michael ClaytonThe Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years will run once or twice daily until No. 1 is revealed on Thursday, July 24.
July 17th, 2014 at 10:23 am
Bowers reminds me of Adams. Hopefully Lovie’s eye for talent has improved since. I hope Licht would not allow such signings ever again!
RIP Adams…
July 17th, 2014 at 10:42 am
Anyone know what became of that 2nd rounder?
July 17th, 2014 at 10:50 am
@KBecks
Assuming you were talking about the second rounder in 2007, this was on wikipedia:
“On June 2, 2009, it was reported that Sears has a neurological condition sustained from a concussion. It is unknown as to the extent of the injury, but early reports are saying that it is possibly severe enough to be career-threatening.
Sears was waived by the Buccaneers on April 26, 2010.”
July 17th, 2014 at 10:52 am
I realized right after I posted that’s not what you meant… Oops!
July 17th, 2014 at 11:20 am
@kbeck
We traded the pick to Oakland, plus another pick to move up and taken WR Benn. Who will also likely be on this list. Ugh.
July 17th, 2014 at 11:25 am
Adams < Cheeseburger Bowers
But ONLY bc Adams was a #4 overall pick. Outside of that, they are Clemson twins.
July 17th, 2014 at 11:30 am
he kinda came on at the end of his rookie year and I thought he would be a double digit sack guy, but never happened. Of course we get a gift 2nd rounder for Gaines and we blow it by taking A Benn with rob gradkoski on the board…. Thanks DOM
July 17th, 2014 at 11:33 am
kbecks and Evan,
From Wikipedia- 39: Oakland → Tampa Bay (D). Oakland traded this selection to Tampa Bay for a second-round selection it acquired from Chicago (42nd overall; traded to New England, who selected Rob Gronkowski) and a fifth-round selection it acquired from New England (153rd overall; traded to Jacksonville, who selected Austen Lane).[source 12]
We traded up and picked Rejus Benn.. Smh… I know hindsight is always 20/20, but after Gerald McCoy, our next 3 picks were Brian Price, Myron Lewis and Benn while players like Rob Gronkowski, Zane Beadles, Daryl Washington, NaVorro Bowman, Jimmy Graham, Alterraun Verner, Geno Atkins, and Kam Chancellor were still on the board. No way to have predicted they would all be stars, but our front office seemed to have whiffed much more frequently than any other(except maybe Oakland and Cleveland).
July 17th, 2014 at 12:29 pm
Joe
But the brain trust did invent the Benn around play that caused and still causes a lot of comment on using this tricky play in order to upgrade the exploits of Benn.
As you said, nine days and I could not resist this one.
July 17th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
And now we enter the the realm of elite suckage:
The Top 10
July 17th, 2014 at 12:59 pm
Benn was good before he was injured. I don’t think he deserves a spot in the top 10 worst. By the way, the smh some use has got me puzzled, I can’t figure out what it stands for.
July 17th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
The guy had about 12 or 13 sacks in his 1st 2 seasons combined, anyone that thinks that is a bust needs their heads examined, He could have done better sure, who knows what would have happened with Marinelli in Chicago
July 17th, 2014 at 1:04 pm
I know leonard johnson isn’t on this list but he really should be. He had those rookie interceptions but the guy allows so many first downs on third and long. Maybe lovie’s scheme will help him, he needs to be booted from the team imo.
July 17th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
@Joe
Enjoy this feature. The only thing missing are the coaches who also deep sixed our team.
Maybe you can make that a special edition. Worst Buc’s coaches/coordinators.
July 17th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Jason Pierre Paul who was What seemed to be the biggest missed pick by TB aside from 1 big year has 3 other seasons with less than 6 sacks, For all who feel Gaines Adams was a mega bust, how many Buccaneers DEs have 13 sacks in 2 years combined?? Many people just nod their head with whatever the media shoves in their ears
July 17th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
I wonder where Shabby Missedatackle will be.
July 17th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
“Bowers reminds me of Adams.”
That’s because they’re both overrated DEs who boosted their draft status by playing against ACC offensive lines.
No more Clemson garbage. PLEASE.
July 17th, 2014 at 5:27 pm
SMH = SHAKING MY HEAD
July 17th, 2014 at 5:47 pm
Joe you know the bucs have been around longer that 15 years right? 🙂
Duh. –Joe
July 17th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
Really thought he was becoming a star when he returned that INT for 6 in Chicago and picked off Rodgers in Tampa not long after. He was getting to the QB then too. But it seemed it was always with a speed move around the edge and never anything else.
Sad ending.
July 18th, 2014 at 12:01 pm
He didn’t work hard in practice or the weight room. Mostly because he tired easily. Most thought he was lazy. I wonder if it might have been medical. You know like an enlarged heart or something.
July 18th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
He should be in the top 5 considering where he was drafted.