No Free Rides
September 8th, 2015
Can’t play? No pay.
Joe actually got negative feedback on Twitter from Bucs fans who were irked that two members of the 2015 draft class, fullback Joey Iosefa and kick returner Kaelin Clay, did not make the final-53 man roster.
So Joe must ask rhetorically: So Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht should have kept dead weight on the roster?
Joe actually applauds Licht. Shoot, a lot of NFL general managers would have kept their draft picks in an effort to save face, hoping upon hope that said player(s) would somehow magically turn the corner one day.
(How else could one logically explain how Myron Lewis hung on with the Bucs for so long, despite being a complete and total slug and a drag on the roster?)
Remember when Licht told Joe during his first NFL Scouting Combine as Bucs general manager that a great thing he learned from Bill Belicheat was to get rid of your mistakes, and don’t let them drag down the team? Cut them loose, learn and move on?
That’s just what Licht did this past offseason with very embarrassing signings (Josh McClown, Ghost Johnson and Anthony Collins).
If Licht was willing to let Team Glazer eat tens of millions of dollars for the above troika, Licht sure as hell wasn’t going to waste time with guys making relative peanuts who couldn’t cut the mustard.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:04 am
The fans who complained are probably in favor of “participation trophies” for youth sports.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:04 am
So with Clay, Hall and Dye, isn’t that a pretty high number of receivers on the practice squad, is that why we got another QB, to develop them while Jameis works with the starters
September 8th, 2015 at 9:07 am
Thank heavens Licht is not a Taylor Swift fan! Otherwise we’d be listening to bubble gum music (dated reference) on all of these threads. I can get into some great AC/DC classics.
We learn from our ________. Sadly too many of us are simply too proud to admit them. i’m with Joe on this one. Licht has impressed me greatly so far.
Same for Lovie. I think he now realizes the need for a franchise QB and some offense. You MIGHT be able to win 10 with great D and special teams and little offense, but you will CERTAINLY field boring teams and the NFL rule makers do not support that strategy any more.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:10 am
Feel sorry for them, therefore keep them? I don’t think so! Remember 2-14. Licht has learned the lesson very well, have we?
September 8th, 2015 at 9:11 am
I’m sorry Joe, but most GM have one rule regarding draft picks, you keep them around your organization for at least one year. That could be the 53 man roster or the practice squad. Cutting a player loose and not allowing them to develop (i.e. Joey Iosefa) is a failure and a wasted pick even if it’s in the 7th round.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:15 am
Cut bait!
September 8th, 2015 at 9:18 am
I don’t understand the critics. Iosefa was, perhaps, a bad pick (he was a 7th round pick, not a 2nd or 3rd) but Kaelin Clay is in the practice squad.
I don’t think what is wrong with that.
We gave them a chance to show themselves and one showed capabilyt and apparently not the other one.
It’s part of life, you make choices and history is telling you if they were the right one.
But yes, you learn more from your mistakes than from your success. if they don’t have the level to be on the roster, keep them away from it.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:18 am
Somewhere along the way, this team has got to learn how to develop late round draft picks into something good or even great.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:18 am
Good for Licht…..mistakes happen in the draft all the time….and as we know with Dominick….not just in the lower rounds.
As the Realist will remind us…the “Pop Star” made second mistakes by hanging onto losers.
Clay & Bell may have been fortunate to be injured and will have a 2nd chance….especially with Bell who has great talent but didn’t show it except on special teams.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:19 am
This article only really pertains to 7th round FB Joey I. They are hoping Clay turns the corner that why they put him on the practice squad. Same thing with KBell paying him full salary and putting him on IR with a hamstring injury.
I see Dominic Brown was picked up by the Steelers.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:32 am
Keep drinking the kool aid Joe. I feel so good licht missed on an entire free agent class for two years in a row. I feel good that we have drafted 4 oline and they all aren’t good enough, I feel good we only got one pick right last year and maybe only one this year. Yep that licht is doing a great job of getting rid of misses as we had to another 2-14 season. He was fired from philly you know that right Joe?!?
September 8th, 2015 at 9:40 am
They didn’t even give the Hawaii kid a single carry all preseason though
September 8th, 2015 at 9:45 am
The difference between an undrafted rookie and a 6th or 7th round draft pick is negligible. We cut loose of Iosefa (who did nothing to stand out) but kept Humphries (a potential steal) … that’s a push. Clay’s on the practice squad, but I still can’t figure out why. He showed me nothing. Hall’s a much better prospect.
Still don’t understand the Ryan Griffin situation. Third QB on our roster, and don’t think he’s eligible for the practice squad (had 2 years on N.O.’s practice squad it looks like). Chance to pick up intel on N.O. is irrelevant (no way that’s worth giving up a roster spot). Only 2 things that make sense at this point are that the Bucs REALLY like his potential, and that Mike Glennon is being used as trade bait for a DE or OLineman. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:48 am
Why does everyone act like ACDC Licht and Chicago Lovie know what they are doing. With all the personnel moves they have made the last 16 months the evidence is there. They Don’t!
With all the moves they have made even a blind squirrel will find a nut. Turner, McDonald, Alexander (4th- Round).
Let’s be honest with the FA moves they were bound to have 1-2 players work out, but shouldn’t it be the other way. We should have 1-2 that don’t work out. Instead Licht gave huge money to players no one wanted.
If they really believed Kwon was that good they would have selected him earlier. They lucked out that Kwon is a play maker. But it also shows that the Carter signing is another big money mistake.
It’s Sad. The Glazers must be thinking what have we done? We have given control to 2 guys who have showed they don’t know what they are doing.
When you add 5 players from cut list and are still looking to add players, you know you are in trouble.
Our 3rd DE will be a player who could not make the 53 for Houston. I’m excited. Especially when one of the other DE’s is a basic cast off from Detroit. WOW!
September 8th, 2015 at 9:54 am
@I know why
Half of those O linemen haven’t even played an NFL game. The other still with us is only a 2nd year player, and he was a late pick. A bit early to pass judgement if you ask me.
I thought Clay played well. Shame he got banged up. Hopefully he bounces back.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:03 am
I use to tell people that said we had the least educated & worst other all fan base in the NFL that they don’t know what they’re talking about. Next time someone says that to me I won’t say a word. I don’t believe it’s always been the case this team use to have good fans. Now it’s just a bunch of 2nd guessing, negative know it all wantabe GMs. That’s what sad.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:05 am
Love It!
Get rid of it like a bad tasting gum. It won’t taste better if you keep chewing on it…
…in Licht I TRUST!!!
September 8th, 2015 at 10:45 am
How do we know the Bucs won’t keep their eye on Iosofa. There is only so much room, so many spaces and Iosofa was the odd man out. He could still show up at a later date.
Somewhere along the way, this team has got to learn how to develop late round draft picks into something good or even great.
Geez do you mean like a 4th rounder who will start at MLB from day one. IF…the two OL eventually become solid starters..(Penn level talent) and JW is not a bust Licht will clearly have enjoyed the best freaking draft in a decade. You guys are a tough audience.
@Espo
A bit early to pass judgement if you ask me.
DING! DING! DING! We have a winner! NONE of these guys have played a single snap in a real NFL game!!!
September 8th, 2015 at 10:58 am
Drafting a slow FB in the 7th, instead of La’el Collins should have been an obvious “well..he ain’t gunna make it.” I almost threw a kitten.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:15 am
Tom Edrington Says
“The fans who complained are probably in favor of “participation trophies” for youth sports.”
FIRST, there is nothing wrong with those. Not for the younger kids. It creates more interest in the sport for them.
They can still strive to get a first place finish.
My boys, who got no trophies for winning or losing, came in last place their first year (football) and went undefeated the next year. And one of them played with a physical handicap (in a regular league).
SECOND, the fans who complained are still idiots. So on that we agree.
One thing I like about Bill (Patriots) is that he is no nonsense. They excel because they don’t tend to carry dead weight. They move on quickly.
So, it’s a good thing in my opinion. It is a positive trait for the coach and GM. Of course, the Lovie bashers won’t give credit for it.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:25 am
They lucked out that Kwon is a play maker. But it also shows that the Carter signing is another big money mistake.
Whoop there it is. That is what people on this blog who complain about negativity are talking about.
There is simply NO FREAKING WAY L&L can possibly win with some of these posters.
If they have success…it’s all LUCK…their signings…not huge dollars..are criticized before they even make a play. No thought…no nuance as to the value of DEPTH. And NO thought as to whether Carter has made Lansannah any better. I mean it’s not like competion improves a player.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:47 am
@Kalind and everyone else complaining about not drafting Collins in the 7th…
It was well known (and made by public by his own agent), that Collins was going to refuse to sign with any team that drafted him after the 3rd round. That is why no one did. It would have been a waste of a pick. He wanted to take his chances as an UFA so he could pick his choice of team and get paid better than a late round pick.
“Simple as that” as Lovie would say. This issue has been beaten to death.
September 8th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
So if our franchise savior aka ” America’s QB ” doesn’t preform, will joes headlines read the same? No free rides. I doubt it.
My fingers are crossed that we do not see a multiple INT game from the savior. This is the NFL you toss two picks in first quarter it is almost impossible to overcome that hole. Not saying that our savior can’t dig himself out of a hole but it will not be as eqsy as he did it in the ACC.
Prove it or “No Free Rides ” right joe?
September 8th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
So licht can see his mistakes that’s good. I’m sure he sees that awful o-line he put together and the decent players he ran off. The busts he brought in like Mj. His drafts are to early to judge but that 14 draft has bust potential: asj, Simms, milk cartons Edwards and pamphile, Herron. Another bad year 5 wins or less and his days are numbered..
September 8th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
@StPeteBucsFan, I am with you all the way. You just make to much sense for some of these fans. I think the players drafted this year could be part of the best draft this organization has had in many years. We have to give it a little time and I think most fans will be very pleased with the results. Some fans wil not be happy no matter what Lovie and Licht do..
September 8th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Man I wish I could make 7 figures make a ton of mistakes lose big and have bosses and customers not criticize me. Where can I get me some of that?? Quit apologizing for these guys their job is to win period. So far their off to a bad start. Wah wah people our criticizing their bad moves. Get a different job landl or win soon your on the clock.
September 8th, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Whoever was banging the table for Iosefa in the 7th round needs to find a new profession. Stupid pick then, doesn’t look any better now.
When a draft pick isn’t good enough to make your team’s practice squad or make any dent in preseason you did a piss poor job of scouting. Taking a backup-FB-at-best over a flier on first round talent La’el Collins looks worse when you consider just how bad a pick the Bucs did make there. I get that it’s the 7th round, that’s when you take chances, not slappies.
Still a good draft. Might’ve been an all-timer with a few tweaks.
September 8th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
The truth is, 6th and 7th rounders uncommonly do well anyway. You guys act like it was a 4th rounder or better that didn’t make the team.
Sometimes I wonder why I even bother reading the comments here. In the past two years, the number of idiots has grown by 600 percent.
September 8th, 2015 at 3:25 pm
2015 draft nobody knows at this point. If jw isn’t a stud its a bust. 2014 while early looks bad. Lichts free agent picks so far have been bad overall. Those are the facts so far. Hopefully this years draft will work out. You can’t have #1 overall pick and not come away with a star though.
September 8th, 2015 at 4:12 pm
You are right Bonzai, 7th round picks are not ones who commonly make a big impact. All the more reason to take a flier on a guy like Collins or not screw the pooch in your RFA offer to George Johnson which would’ve let you keep the 5th round pick in the first place rather than devalue it (and 5th rounders I hear do a little better than 7th round picks overall).
But to discredit this idea that all seventh rounders are like Iosefa, even the great gazoo, Dominik found 7th round picks who could not only make the team in EJ Biggers, Erik Lorig, Cody Grimm they even started at one point. So shut your mouth. Thanks 🙂
September 8th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
@Bonzai, I feel the same way, but then I feel the need to attempt to educate these fools.
Tom S. –
Please see my above comment about La’el Collins… He would not have signed with any team if drafted after the 3rd round. That would have been a wasted pick.
Regarding your evidence of 7th rounders, is that really who you’re going with?
EJ Biggers – the worst cornerback to ever step on a football field? Or Cody Grimm, who was also terrible and only started b/c Tanard got suspended?
C’mon man, get a clue.
September 8th, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Iosefa is a talented player. He can catch, run and even throw. He did not get a chance here, Period. Tell me you don’t want to see a big back running the ball. Remember Alstott? It is good for the fans and it what is wrong with the NFL game today. Watching guys like this run the ball is what made this game great. We all lose by not getting the opportunity to see it.
September 8th, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Iosefa was a RB in college not a blocking FB so in a head to head competition with J. Laine he was most likely going to lose and he did. The Bucs should have given him a shot running the ball which is what I was hoping they would do. I liked his hard nosed downhill running style. However it’s time to move on.
September 8th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Lovie-Licht really blew this draft pick…considering we could have had La’el Collins. This is when I knew the brain trust of Lovie and Licht was all trust and no brains. Collins is second string on the cowboys team strength…the OL.
For those of you that want to argue that he would not have signed with the Bucs because his agent said not to draft him…pffft to that….U need to go look at the draft rules… smoke screen…..he would be a buc right now and probably starting on this dismal line.
Wish the team the best this Sunday…but have watched the NFL too long to know a winning team when I see one. Hunt to 5 wins…begins.
September 8th, 2015 at 8:30 pm
When a draft pick isn’t good enough to make your team’s practice squad or make any dent in preseason you did a piss poor job of scouting.
Guys I love to debate. I dislike having to point out other posters errors because I respect all the guys here….but…
Too many people here are clueless as to the real value of draft picks. That statement when we’re talking about a later round, but even a higher pick is a gamble. Here is some statistical evidence compiled by math wizards who have crunched the numbers.
From about round 6 (pick 160) and later, the percent chance of failing on a draft pick is over 70%.
Got that guys? Seriously!!! Stop posting nonsense about the value of a draft pick that has only a 30% chance of not being a bust…this is not just Licht…this is years for drafts by many GM’s!!!
Picking at the end of the second round only gives your team a 50% chance of finding a starter. Going towards the end of the round 3, your chance of finding a starter falls to 30%.
Guys!!! Stop bashing L&L with erroneous information. if Licht is to reach the league average he only needs half his second rounders and 1/3 of his 3 rounders to work out.
Yet we continually have posters come on here to bash L&L without even considering the facts!!! Without even giving four of these rookies one down of play to prove themselves or fail.
Sometimes the negativity here is earned from the 2-14…other times it’s just people who have already made up their minds and simply want suck from their big bowl of haterade!
September 8th, 2015 at 11:05 pm
Oh no! 2 late round picks got cut! Licht is the worst gm evar!
Iosefa was only drafted to ensure we got a look at him in camp. He is a pacific coast guy, and was probably the only FB worth a look. 7th round picks rarely make a team, although most do end up on the practice squad if they show some hard work.