Hardy, Cowboys Talked Into The Night
March 18th, 2015
Bucs fans pining for former Stinking Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy better slug down some coffee before reading the following. That way, they can’t use the excuse they were half-asleep while reading.
Free agent Hardy and the Cowboys continued negotiations last night in hopes of finalizing a deal this morning, reports David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
Yesterday, talks between the Cowboys and Hardy’s agent oily Drew Rosenhaus grew serious, per Moore, and the two sides broke to break bread and then keep hammering away into the north Texas night.
Hardy was expected to stay in Dallas overnight, Moore added.
For Bucs fans hoping Hardy lines up next to Gerald McCoy, it doesn’t appear Tampa Bay will get a chance to make a sales pitch, if Hardy and Rosenhaus have their demands met.
Clarence E. Hill, Jr., of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, reported Hardy met Cowboys defensive coaches coaches last night and is expected to take a physical this morning. Hardy and the Cowboys, per Hill, were working on a one-year pact.
March 18th, 2015 at 3:12 am
For those pining for a savage DE…. How can you not get a HARD-ON for HARDY?
March 18th, 2015 at 3:23 am
Please sign with dallas
March 18th, 2015 at 3:55 am
why would he not want to go to a playoff team vs a 2-14 team?
March 18th, 2015 at 4:54 am
And the bucs let another one go this front office needs some help
March 18th, 2015 at 5:17 am
Licht – call Rosenjerk immediately and tell him that the Bucs are very interested and Hardy owes it to himself to come visit and talk about it before signing with Dallas. Tell him that the Bucs would be offering a multi year deal at fair market value if both sides are agreeable. No bad behavior discounted, 1 year prove yourself all over again offers. A real multi-year deal worth $11-12M a year with guarantees and big signing bonus.
Dallas can’t do that. They don’t have the $.
If that doesn’t get his attention – then we never had a chance. If it does get his attention – then he’s a steal at fair market value and it would be incredibly smart to lock him up for a few years (pun intended). You don’t see edge pass rushers with this guy’s talent and NFL track record hit the market very often. Like almost never. Not at 26 years old.
March 18th, 2015 at 5:47 am
Like my gramps always said, A day late and a dollar short.
March 18th, 2015 at 5:49 am
Aw shucks
March 18th, 2015 at 5:55 am
Lots of cap money left. We really need Hardy’s talent. Although less needed would we go after A. Peterson ? Owner Jones seems to always win on these matters. Better get the best QB with the first draft pick and best OL player available with the second. We are counting on you Lovie/Licht!
March 18th, 2015 at 6:03 am
This regime continues to disappoint the fan base. They were the worse team in the NFL and they bring in four mediocre ex bears players and think that is going to solve all their problems??? They were absolutely dreadful! It’s really hard to see their vision, maybe they think hey maybe we will win 4 games this year. Pathetic. I was not happy with the Lovie hire from the get go. Too damn conservative. Go ahead head Lovie, keep this team in dumpster land and send yourself packing so we can hopefully have a real coach. Wake up!!
March 18th, 2015 at 6:09 am
I saw we were going after a Patriot again. Believe it was center Connolly? Anyways, we need to stop taking old Patriot players. It doesn’t work.
March 18th, 2015 at 6:21 am
Sometimes I wonder when Lovie brings in these Ex-Bears is the mindset more about the loyalty he has to these players to give them a job instead of making the team truly better.
March 18th, 2015 at 6:29 am
P’Cola, that makes no sense.
Landing this guy would be great but honestly I’m not that disappointed. He’s looking for a short term contact right now. He’d be around for the beginning of our turnaround and then look for a bigger paycheck.
March 18th, 2015 at 6:53 am
Seems like the Bucs were waiting for another team to publicly show interest and guage his value before committing themselves. They’re definitely being patient this offseason. Patience is a good thing but they’re all but out of options for fixing the line and pass rush. They’ll have to use the draft and the second round of free agency.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:04 am
Why should we expect Lovie to do anything to improve our team? He took a horrible team under Schiano and made them 10 times worse. His first move when he got the job was to cut the best player on the team. We can only hope that Lovie goes back into his basement in Chicago and never comes out.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:09 am
Hopefully they can get a monster defensive end with the number one overall pick next year. L&L should be getting extremely nervous right now. It is starting to look like another 2 to 4 win season coming up and I don’t know if they will survive another season like that. This franchise cannot continue to change coaches every two years but damn, there the worst team in the NFL and they don even appear to be in rebuild mode. If they are lucky and get 2 or 3 starters out of the draft this will take 5 or 6 years to turn around.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:13 am
@Skyline Crew
He’s a guard but can play some center…Stork is their starting center. At least it would be someone Mankins has played with and has some re-pore with. Could help with building some solidarity.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:14 am
BucsFan4Life,
I hear you! I just need to see us get better.
It disgusted me to no end that Schiano was he scape goat, and Lovie comes in states: “we had to make changes, this is a 4-12 football team”.
Well, Lovie faced a fraction of the adversity and bad luck, all while being twice as bad as Schiano’s worst year.
Will the billboards come out for Lovie, just like they did Schiano?
March 18th, 2015 at 7:15 am
The problem with this team has been coaching and poor drafting. Combined it’s the perfect storm as each coaching staff drafts for the system they want to run, and the next staff comes in and flips it upside down. Lovie needs time. There are too many pieces. Get our QB this year, let him sit and learn while Glennon starts. Draft a pass rusher next year. I don;t know this sucks
March 18th, 2015 at 7:18 am
Wouldn’t mind seeing Bucs trade for left tackle, draft Erving at center in 2nd rd, have EDS pound sand, keep Dotson at RT, sign Connelly to play RG, and then you have Mankins at LG.
Problem solved
March 18th, 2015 at 7:18 am
Well that sucks. :/
Looks like another 2-14 season at this point. Both our lines suck ass.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:18 am
I’m not sure how serious they ever were about Hardy. There was no visit scheduled and they were just basically looking into him. I suspect Rosenhaus probably played up the Bucs interest by realize how crappy the pass rush was. If the Bucs were seriously interested in him they would have made a run at him already, his status hasn’t changed since last week so to just now be interested doesn’t really add up. But for a one or two year deal he was never coming here, way more upside in higher profile places. Bucs would have to probably go well above the Michael Johnson contract to really get his interest.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:20 am
Life of a Bucs fan, missing out on the impact guy.. again. WHY did they wait a week? I would have been on his doorstep LAST Tuesday. Telling him he can get back at his old team 2 times a year, and give the man a multi year deal. I know L&L are gun-shy after lasts years UFA crop, but damn.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:42 am
Well, if I haven’t learned anything from thuis off-season, it isn’t over until it is over (when he is signed by the Cowboys).
Think Frank Gore who was going to sign with Philthy and changes his mind and signs with the Dolts.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:42 am
@bucrightoff you hit the nail on the hand. One of the joes said last night on Duemigs show that the Bucs told him that there was never a visit scheduled between the Bucs and Hardy. That appears to be that douche agent trying to stir the pot.
Josh P your plan calls for all offensive linemen and you say “problem solved.” What? They have let three defensive ends walk and have not done anything to replace them. We are in desperate need there too!
March 18th, 2015 at 7:42 am
on the head
March 18th, 2015 at 7:43 am
Get ready for another 2-4 win season of pathetic….I dare not call it football.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:44 am
The realized backlash for him was real. Doesn’t look good for Winston or maybe they only wanted one bad PR player on the team.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:44 am
@Espo
Said several things including Lovie tending to be loyal to his ex-bears, at times to a fault (Josh McCown, Chris Conte (etc)); noting our need for Hardy talent on the o-line; noting Cowboy’s owners Jones usually getting what he wants; wondering if the Bucs will earnesty go after Peterson; the need for QB and OL for our first two picks of the draft. Just wondering which did not make sense to you? If it is the need for Hardy talent on the o-line, even for one year, that may help protect our new quarterback from taking those extra sacks and possibly ruining their career.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:45 am
The Kiffin curse will follow this team for many, many years.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:45 am
yep I will say it again, this man and his minions is the worst hire in buccaneer history, and I can not wait till they fire your pathetic, dumb, non emotional, unimaginable, texas drawl, ass lovie.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:46 am
Hardy isn’t leaving Dallas without a contract. The Bucs have to overpay to get this type of player. You know like they did with Michael Johnson. Too soon.
March 18th, 2015 at 7:54 am
This is the bucs, we never had a chance getting Hardy. We don’t pull off things like that. The Bucs do what losers do best…lose, at everything.
March 18th, 2015 at 8:01 am
You know what scares me most about this Regime? If it doesn’t work out which is likely we’re going to have a defense who’s only ability is zone coverage. It bring a scheme nobody runs and were left on the dust. THATS why we pick a QB. Lovie out good coach in and atleast we have. QB and the offense is atleast ready to compete
March 18th, 2015 at 8:02 am
There’s Lovie Smith showing his character colors again. No Richie Incognito, no Greg Hardy, and possibly no Jamies Winston?
March 18th, 2015 at 8:04 am
Adam Schefter already tweeted the bucs are in this so relax a little. Idk why but I see Hardy leaving dallas
March 18th, 2015 at 8:05 am
Here is a hope. Last year we were the off season winners in free agency… Look how that worked out for us. This year we are off season losers, so maybe that means we are going from worst to first? LOL…yeah right! I at least have lowered expectations compared to this time last year, so I can only be pleasantly surprised.
March 18th, 2015 at 8:06 am
P’Coa,
The part about signing players out of loyalty instead of improving the team. Sorry I hadn’t seen your first post. Many coaches recruit their former players and staff. Gruden did it. Dungy did it. Sometimes it’s to a fault (McClown) but it’s more about comfort level and trust than loyalty.
March 18th, 2015 at 8:07 am
Years worth of mismanagement, missing on draft picks and poor decisions on free agents have crippled this organization. Its going to be a long, slow crawl just to get to mediocrity. Thats assuming they learn to draft well.
March 18th, 2015 at 8:18 am
We have more money than the Boys. Call Rosenhaus and tell him that he and his client will get a bigger payday in Tampa. If he wants a 1-year contact then we might as well break the bank, all the good free agents are basically gone.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:07 am
I hate to read article after article where the Bucs are showing up last to the party. You want a player, you go after them. You don’t just invite players for visits, you bug their agents day and night when you want them. When you suck as bad as we do, you can’t sit back and expect players to come to Tampa. Just not going to happen. Players will play for champs or money. We are not champs so we have to put up the $$ or shut up.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:10 am
NFL Network reported that Hardy will decide later today between the cowboys and Bucs! Hope we get him!
March 18th, 2015 at 9:11 am
3 hours ago
“While Cowboys are favorite to land Greg Hardy with him in Dallas, it’s worth noting: Tampa Bay will not go away quietly. Bucs still in this.”
Adam Schefter
March 18th, 2015 at 9:11 am
Broy34WontArgueWithStupidity
I’m not as eloquent as you are with Lovie, I simply cannot stand his way of doing business. Good guy yes good football mind NO but you hit the nail on the head. We are going to be stuck with a bunch of broken down players who are system specific.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:13 am
I have a feeling he’ll be a Buc.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:25 am
Make a phone call and offer a longer deal.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:27 am
Jason hull Says
“And the bucs let another one go this front office needs some help”
This has nothing to do with the front office. They cannot get someone if they are never given a chance to get him.
I know it is popular to point fingers, but at least point them in the right direction.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:31 am
From the sounds of it and his actions, he simply wants to be in Dallas. So the Bucs are going to have to badly overpay (like 5 years, 65-75 million) to get him. This is where Lovie and Licht will be scared of doing it.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:38 am
Rosenhaus is just throwing the Bucs name out there to push the Cowboys into signing Hardy. Plain and simple leverage.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:42 am
When you have nothing better to offer you have no choice but to over pay
Both have no state taxes
Both are gun friendly
Both towns have legendary adult clubs
Similar schemes although Lovie is more passive play not to lose versus playing to win
Better exposure Dallas
Easier to hide maintain low profile Tampa
As you can see bucs have to over pay
March 18th, 2015 at 9:43 am
The original “Kevin” Says
“The problem with this team has been coaching and poor drafting. Combined it’s the perfect storm as each coaching staff drafts for the system they want to run, and the next staff comes in and flips it upside down. Lovie needs time. There are too many pieces. Get our QB this year, let him sit and learn while Glennon starts. Draft a pass rusher next year.
This is exactly my way of thinking, and the underlying reason why coaches are hesitant to come to the Buccaneers too. After Gruden, Raheem had only 3 years (justified) but then Schiano had only 2 years. Even if justified or not, it shows that coaches do not have time to develop a system in Tampa before they are shown the door.
Two key pieces are important outside of the draft this year. Defensive End and Center. If we could address those outside of the draft, it would actually fix three positions, because EDS could be moved over to Guard.
Otherwise, we just have too many needs to fix in one year. If we go into the draft needing a DE, it’s added to the list of Guard, Tackle, Center, MLB, Safety (maybe 2), Quarterback.
It is impossible to address all of these needs this year. IMPOSSIBLE.
On average, only 2-3 draft picks work out as starters per draft in the short term, and with luck, a team might get 1-2 more through long term development. With offensive line, we’ll be lucky if one player that is drafted can start this year. That’s why we need a center in free agency…because it fixes two spots.
And that one OL player? He would have to be picked in the second round (or a trade back into the first). Picked later and the chances are he would need more time to develop. As it is, he would have growing pains.
That means taking QB in first. OT in second. Leaving all the others for third round or later…and ALL of them would take time to learn their position, adjust to the NFL and such.
It will take a miracle for this to be a good season. It would take most of the underachieving FAs to overachieve simultaneously and the injury bug to finally swing our way.
The offense is our most likely area of improvement…IF…we get a center before the draft (one that is good enough)…and IF we can get a good OT in the draft.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:46 am
@tmaxcon
You forgot one plus to Tampa…
We play against the Panthers.
Of course, that doesn’t seem to matter at this point.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:46 am
Oh it’s obvious Rosenhaus is doing his thing. He’s “choosing” between the team he’s not even visiting versus the one he’s currently in their building? Rosenhaus is telling Tampa to back the Brinks truck up or its over. This is what he does, exceptionally well too.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:47 am
bucrightoff Says
“From the sounds of it and his actions, he simply wants to be in Dallas. So the Bucs are going to have to badly overpay (like 5 years, 65-75 million) to get him. This is where Lovie and Licht will be scared of doing it.”
And rightfully so. I want the guy, but that is way over paying…and beyond what this team can afford in the long term when you consider pieces to be added and David.
March 18th, 2015 at 9:55 am
We will always be a losing team as long as we have the incompetence of the L & L team making the choices. Hence last year’s FA. Why would he want to come here with that losing combo?
March 18th, 2015 at 10:15 am
The answer is as simole as your brain Lurker; money
In the words of the great philosopher Cyndi Lauper, “money changed everything.”
People may not like Rosenhaus but his clients love him which is all he is concerned about. He does an excellent job of representing his clients in a very shrewd manner.
As for overpaying Hardy, what might be overpaying the first couple of years turns out to be an average salary for a top tier player three or four years down the line due to the ever expanding universe and salary cap.
March 18th, 2015 at 10:17 am
3 yrs 15 mill per year! Cap is going up next year! Just do it!
March 18th, 2015 at 10:22 am
MadMax Says:
March 18th, 2015 at 10:17 am
3 yrs 15 mill per year! Cap is going up next year! Just do it!
____________________________________________________
Not good enough. Hardy can go to Dallas or Seattle, get tons of profile playing great for them, and sign a 5-6 year deal for $65-85 million next year. Bucs have to go huge to get him, anything short term is not going to get it done. That’s pretty much what Rosenhaus is saying right now.
March 18th, 2015 at 10:24 am
Was it ever in question? Jerry Jones could finagle the last dime out of a homeless beggar.
March 18th, 2015 at 10:40 am
ok, add in 8 mill signing bonus…4 now, 4 next year. If that doesnt do it, then nevermind.
March 18th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Buc-0s 82, problem with your statement is everyone else though the FA’s he picked up were the best players available. Can you prove to us on record(supply a link) where you thought otherwise.
If so, I would bow to your greatness. Until you can, just shut up. I’m sick of hearing from you Monday morning GMs who profess all this knowledge after the deals are done.
March 18th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
ddneast Says:
March 18th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Buc-0s 82, problem with your statement is everyone else though the FA’s he picked up were the best players available. Can you prove to us on record(supply a link) where you thought otherwise.
If so, I would bow to your greatness. Until you can, just shut up. I’m sick of hearing from you Monday morning GMs who profess all this knowledge after the deals are done.
I don’t need your approval to be on this site to state my opinion, don’t need a link to prove what is evident since L&L have been with the Bucs. Open your eyes and get off your computer searching for links to try to challenge people with, mix a Bucs game in somewhere. Actually that encourages me even more knowing that I make you sick. I have been a season ticket holder (4) since 82, not bragging, and you?, seen a lot and on this forum people can express their opinion, hope you are sick now from reading, but I do accept others opinions.