“If You’re The Glazers, You’re A Little Hesitant”
December 16th, 2014
There’s nothing quite like the Custodian of Canton, eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune, weighing in on all things Bucs. He lets it fly in his unique Brooklyn style, and often he serves up a nugget on Team Glazer.
Kaufman didn’t disappoint today.
Joining Ronnie and TKras on WDAE-AM 620 this morning, the veteran NFL scribe and Hall of Fame voter said he’s not sure the Bucs will be going all-in with Team Glazer’s checkbook when the free agency dinner bell rings in March.
Kaufman said the Bucs attacking the free agency market for the past three seasons, and largely failing, might change the team-building approach from the top down.
“They’ve spent all this money and they’ve gotten very little in return, guys. So going forward, next March, when Jason Licht and Lovie Smith says, ‘We want so-and-so and so-and-so in free agency,’ if you ‘re the Glazers, you’re a little hesitant,” Kaufman said. “And I think it’s much more likely, gentlemen, that they stockpile draft picks and go that way, and I think that’s probably the smarter way.”
Joe thoroughly disagrees with Kaufman. This isn’t the 2010 NFL, teams have to spend money. The new labor agreement demands more parity in spending.
The Bucs can do both: attack free agency and make moves to maximize the draft.
Free agency is only the devil, if you pick the wrong guys. But that doesn’t mean you don’t pick them.
Vincent Jackson was a big score. Carl Nicks played great before his season-ending injury in 2012. Guys like Michael Johnson, Josh McCown, Anthony Collins and Eric Wright were major whiffs. Dashon Goldson is to a lesser degree.
You can hear all of Kaufman, via the 620wdae.com audio player below.
December 16th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Anyone who watched tape of Michael Johnson could see he wasn’t worth the cash. Whatever Lovie saw was terrible.
The others were harder to see but were easily overpaid.
December 16th, 2014 at 4:26 pm
right on Joe you nailed it
December 16th, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Gee…who made those poor FA decisions……fire L&L…start over and don’t fall for your HS sweetheart 15 years later
December 16th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Its the second and 3rd wave of free agency where you build championship teams.
December 16th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
We need to focus on depth…..spend some money on 3 3mil players rather than 1 9mil player…..Build your stard through the draft picks 1-3…..will take 2 more years to be a winner….
December 16th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
“Its the second and 3rd wave of free agency where you build championship teams.”
“We need to focus on depth…..spend some money on 3 3mil players rather than 1 9mil player…..Build your stard through the draft picks 1-3…..will take 2 more years to be a winner….”
Doh !!!!!! why didn’t L&L know that ???
Fire L&L
December 16th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Agree with all these posts. Need FA for depth and not a bunch of starters. New Oline should be younger and nastier players. Bucs shouldn’t have paid potato chip McCoy all that $$ to end up on IR like he’s done 3of 5 yrs. I’m just not sold on L&L drafting well either. I still say Glazers should hire a draft guru or retired GM to help them out.
December 16th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
L&L could have spent the same money on Suh….and let McPloy go
December 16th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
You mostly need free agents to succeed, basically every team does it. The Broncos signed 3-4 big name free agents all are performing very well especially for their D. We just seem to sign mostly the wrong ones. Other then McCoy whose up for a big extension in the offseason besides I think David? You have to at least hit the salary cap floor. We might be cutting some big name free agents as well that will clear up even more room.
We need to hire a REAL experienced President of Football Operations to see us through maybe the most important offseason in recent memory. Otherwise we may see the same ole same ole.
December 16th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
The Broncos were also already a Super Bowl team before they made their moves. Their team was already built, they simply augmented it. We’ve been trying to build the team the last few years for FA. My main concern is Lovie is gonna be in win now mode and will pursue more vets in FA since he’s blown through all his goodwill (and then some) this year.
December 16th, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Stop the nonsense here and draft Mariotta.
December 16th, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Bucright…”My main concern is Lovie is gonna be in win now mode and will pursue more vets in FA since he’s blown through all his goodwill (and then some) this year.”
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He’ll have trashed the roster by the time he’s fired after next season. That’s why I’d fire him now.
December 16th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
Glazers should put Schiano to work in the draft….he did pretty good in that dept. although he could be a little bitter now and work against us.
December 16th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
I see Roy Miller was good enough for the Jags to give him a new contract. We sure have let plenty of NFL quality D-line men waltz off to other teams.
December 16th, 2014 at 5:41 pm
Well lets see, I am not of the belief you can build exclusively through the draft because there is not enough time and cap floor for minimum spending requires some spending.
The problem here is the player talent, evaluation, and acquisition. They were so desperate to win that they skewed what they thought they saw and whiffed big.
McCown – I get it, ball security, athletic, veteran that could cater to strong defense
Johnson – thought he would be the dominant pass rusher
Collins – athletic tackle, never played full season and show promise
EDS – played with ARod, Packer system, good grades in the past
Myers – veteran TE
Cousins – WTF
Mankins – desperation move, low risk high reward move
Murphy – vertical experienced vet WR
McDonald – steady vet to add experience and depth on DL
It’s that the intention was there but honestly – I cant blame them on Collins but Johnson film showed he was a power rusher and McCown is and was a career backup. Mankins don’t want to go thru a rebuild and EDS film shows he’s more of a average pass blocker than run blocker. Cousins, I don’t know what the ^&* they saw…
They made a weak roster weaker and a undisciplined team more undisciplined. I know Lovie Liar paraded 4-12, whelp here we are at 2 – 14 in a bad fashion. There was no growth or improvement overall, the same mistakes, and only the defense was satisfactory for a few games.
Lovie deserves scrutiny and questioning. The Glazers should give him the minimum budget to spend on FAs and force them to be efficient and scout to perfection. Anything less than 7-9 or a good 8-8 should get them fired.
I could argue that I would like Lovie gone just because I don’t see the long term ability to build a program and develop a franchise QB.
December 16th, 2014 at 6:03 pm
Looks like Lovie depends a lot on the physical attributes of a player other than how someone plays. Johnson looks the part but does nothing but dance with blockers. The problem with most free agents is if they were good they wouldn’t be free agents teams keep the really good players, stick with the draft.
December 16th, 2014 at 6:10 pm
Alexstotle00 Says:
December 16th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Anyone who watched tape of Michael Johnson could see he wasn’t worth the cash. Whatever Lovie saw was terrible.
The others were harder to see but were easily overpaid.
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Uhhh, he was the top rated DE by most media outlets AND he was just coming off a season that he was given the franchise tender by the notoriously cheap Cincinatti Bengals. Why would Cincinatti have franchised him if they had spent 4 seasons with him and knew he sucked? Maybe he has cashed out on his career a la Haynesworth and so many others…but his potential is there to be a great player… he has yet to play up to it with this team.
December 16th, 2014 at 6:29 pm
I guess Lovie convinced the Glazers that he had a credible plan. A potential first overall pick is so huge for the Bucs, a chance to change the immediate future going forward. Talk about the possibilities. Don’t even have to hold hope for a late season Bucs win anymore. 2 and whatever!
December 16th, 2014 at 6:33 pm
Michael Johnson has 1 ten sack season. Potential to be great? Man Brandon Lovie’s nuts have blinded you to reality.
December 16th, 2014 at 6:45 pm
the stadium will be empty next year for all bucs home games. the only people in the stands will be fans of the visiting teams that will buy tickets at internet ticket sites.
get rid of lovie and his staff. bring in a competent coach.
December 16th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Considering what Goldson is getting paid, I suppose he’s a whiff to a lesser extent, but….. The guy has played much better as of late. It’s also difficult to make plays when the opposing QB could write a short story before finding the receiver of choice. I still say our secondary is just fine as is. Linebackers also. The D Line is horrid though. There’s McCoy and that’s it.
There will be zero excuses for not selecting a QB with our 1st Round pick unless, of course, we trade down for more picks. I’m on board if we get a good deal to do exactly that.
December 16th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Brandon dont choke on those nuts. Lovie got some manly nuts bro.
December 16th, 2014 at 7:08 pm
No more high priced free agents unless they are an iron clad stud like vjax. These guys get these big paychecks and guaranteed money and they lose there hunger. Or they can’t handle the pressure. Also, a lot of these guys are being let go cause they don’t have much left in the tank. Jags loaded up in free agency and they suck too..
December 16th, 2014 at 9:24 pm
The thing that the Glazers should be the most hesitant about is writing Lovie another paycheck
December 16th, 2014 at 10:00 pm
You definitely have to maintain a delicate balance between selecting quality Free Agents and building a strong young core through the draft. Both take top notch solid organizational SCOUTING. Not sure what the state of our scouting department is but if the current state of the team is any indication then we know how they may continue to reach. While I loathe the Three Stooges (Glazer Boys). I think their ineptitude is shown by the lack of their fathers ability to build and maintain a Top Quality Organization. Ever since Malcolm had his first stroke and relinquished day to day control of the Bucs to the Three Stooges we have been in a downward spiral. Seemingly getting worse every season. The 10-6 season under Radio was an anomaly or the Football Gods felt pity for the Tampa Bay longtime loyalist like myself and granted us a hope season. Hopefully at least on part of our organization can get their sh#t together.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Heres what could be a compromise: the Glazers fire Lovie’s lapdog Licht for general incompetence but allow Lovie to remain as HC with his buddy Frazier as DC or perhaps bringing in Marinelli if available but immediately hire a independent GM of the Ron Wolf/Bill Polian mold who in turns hires a competent OC. Lovie still coaches but the personnel decisions now rest with the new GM. If Lovie balks, fire him and announce to the world why.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:26 pm
Free agency works if you’re supplementing an already strong, established roster. Building a team with other teams players has proven to be bad strategy. The Bucs need to build a roster of homegrown players. This hasn’t happened in recent years, mostly due to bad drafting and head coach turnover. The Bucs need to find stability somehow. It’s the only way.
December 16th, 2014 at 11:19 pm
@FMDave, I am on board with that….and trading down for O line picks. Maybe we have something in Dotson at LT, at least next season….perfect for grooming Scherff as left guard or even RT….then trade back into the 1st for best available QB or pass rush…(its looking like Petty could be had in the 2nd or 3rd, why I dont know).
And we def need to address Center!!! Prob in F.A.
December 16th, 2014 at 11:31 pm
MadMax if the Bucs are offered a RG3 to DC or a Ricky Williams to NO type of trade package it would be awful hard to pass up even though the need for qb is glaring; simply too many holes to fill on this sinking ship! Even just swapping a spot in the order (say dropping from 1st to 2nd with the Titans) and picking up a nice high 2nd rounder would enable the Bucs to have 2 high 2nd round picks that could address the OL further, perhaps get a qb like Petty or Hundley, DE, etc….. I just hope the Bucs do not do the same if they are picking 2nd and get spooked by the Titans picking 1st if the draft order goes that way. Scherff or Peat from Stanford would be welcome additions to the OL and perhaps could be had in a trade down with someone like DC, Jets, maybe as far down as the Giants at 8 (but they would almost have to offer next years #1 as well to drop that far)…. But if the Glazers listen to the mob they may just go for the marquee name at qb and try to salvage sagging ticket sales. Time will tell, but trading down is not such an evil thing to do if they get enough in return and it will have to be a king ‘s bounty of picks for a small trade down ala RG3/Rams/DC…..
December 17th, 2014 at 12:07 am
You BUILD your team through the draft. You MAINTAIN/UPGRADE through FA. In other words, FA is great to fill a hole or two or upgrade an area but you can’t keep signing guys left and right hoping all these big money new faces mesh together like a video game.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:25 am
Hey Dave, our weakest point may be QB, but a lot of it is because of our O line. Now I liked what I saw with Dotson playing at LT, but the RT and even LG still needs to be addressed.
Heres my thinking with going QB first….he has to be groomed. Well, if its going to be next year or half way into this next season before he’s used, then why not spend that overall pick on a trade down and fix the O line first for a QB to feel a little safer behind? Its SOOOO obvious our O line needs attention!
We can address that and still land a good QB who can sit and be groomed. But the O line needs attention now…someone who can play starting game 1 next year.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:36 am
@RachelWatson’sthong: Agreed. Bennett and Wallace Gilberry should have never been let go. I can see why Miller was. Spence was supposed to be a cheaper alternative and looks like this year he has played fairly well.
December 17th, 2014 at 8:01 am
Doesn’t make any difference if Lovie is still our coach. They couldn’t have made a worse pick for head coach. We would have been better off if they had of kept Schaino.
December 17th, 2014 at 8:37 am
All Lovie needs to do is draft Mariotta, add some O-linemen, so more offensive players and a couple of defensive players and this team is at least 8-8.
The QB play and offensive line are below average at this time.
December 17th, 2014 at 8:46 am
JoeJoes Fungi Nails & RachelWatson’sthong both good points…even better screen names!
December 17th, 2014 at 9:34 am
What would make the Bucs problem even worse is if they use the number 1 pick on a QB. None in this draft are worth it. They won’t IMO.
Glazers need to stop trying to recapture the glory days of Bucs past. F$&k Dungy ball. Stop with bringing in the old Bucs personnel.