The Return Of Conte
March 9th, 2017
He’s back.
UPDATED: 6:26 p.m. – Bucs fans, celebrate. Your fan favorite will be back for 2017.
Chris Conte, a safety, will be back wearing pewter and red. Now the question is, where/will he play?
Joe is convinced if the Bucs can retain Bradley McDougald, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will wipe his hands and then focus on more pressing needs. If McDougald returns, the Bucs will be set at safety.
Of course, will Conte, 28, start over Keith Tandy if McDougald re-signs?
**Conte gets paid, per ESPN, $5 million over two years with incentives that can bring it to $7 million with $2.5 million guaranteed. …
March 9th, 2017 at 3:28 pm
bwahahahaha
March 9th, 2017 at 3:29 pm
Oh no..
March 9th, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Wow
March 9th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Even if McDougald comes back, they still need another Safety.
Go Bucs!
March 9th, 2017 at 3:32 pm
hm..
I’d think it’d be Tandy & McDougald with Conte in reserve role. Maybe draft a developmental guy or stud but it seems like we wouldn’t do that with all 3 of these guys on the books.
I can live with it if we still upgrade the D-line with a DT FA signing and possibly DE in the draft in the top 3 rounds.
Front 7 >> secondary
March 9th, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Trade back a bit and draft Melifonwu.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:34 pm
I guess JoeBucsFan won’t have to turn in their Chris Conte Fan Club card…
March 9th, 2017 at 3:35 pm
is this a signing or surrendering or possibly the fact bucs devalue safetys so much that conte is all they need. something stinks.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:36 pm
Actually glad he’s back because of his experience, but … our safety positions need an upgrade (and not just getting McDougald to re-sign). Whether it’s adding a FA safety like Cyprien or Church or whoever, or adding a potential starting safety through a reasonable-high draft pick doesn’t really matter. Bucs have to improve at safety this year to compete in the NFC South.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:36 pm
Hes not very good. Thats all
March 9th, 2017 at 3:37 pm
He improved under Mike Smith. People seem to forget Conte has only worked under Lovie, so it’s going to take some more time for him to improve.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Exactly Jason. And to be honest, he was the best safety while Lovie was here.
He was playing better and better last season under mike smith before his injury.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
I saw McDougald in L.A., and pretty sure he was wearing Chargers gear later that night. So the Chargers might be his new team.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Elio T is right. VERY GLAD to hear this news though and hope Conte picks up right where he left off last year, sealing games with INT’s.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Defense Rules
conte is equally experienced at getting torched as he is at making the rare big play. i still think he has more career concussions than he does interceptions. these are the types of players the bucs must upgrade and move on from to get to the next level. experience watching receivers score is not very valuable in the big picture. i’d prefer talent over experience myself.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
As deep as this Safety and DB class is in the draft, I hope they pick up at least one.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Didn’t he leave after the season finale in a huff? Oh well…Sabbby P. must be unavailable.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:42 pm
I thought that conte was beginning to play pretty well before he got injured.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:43 pm
Oh no…
March 9th, 2017 at 3:44 pm
But I won’t pretend that he was playing like garbage before the chicago game. Wouldn’t have blinked twice if we had let him walk.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Fills a need, now they can draft best available. Hopefully at some point it’s a safety, but not a dire need now.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:47 pm
Conte is a waste of a roster spot. Terrible move when Cyprien is out there
March 9th, 2017 at 3:55 pm
Great we re-signed a solid back up Safety to a $3M 1 year deal. And Joe’s pining for us to re-sign McDougald – another solid backup Safety to what would likely be a similar deal. And until the last 5 games of 2016 where he broke out with great play – Tandy was a solid back up safety. So unless we are counting on Tandy’s extremely small sample size of good play to be the starting talent we need – which is probably a mistake if that’s the case – then in reality we would have 3 solid back up Safeties on the roster and be left with not enough starting talent on the back end of the defense – just like last year. And Joe wants to call us “set”. LOL
This is one of the best Safety classes coming out in a long long time. Make sure you get one in the draft Jason Licht!! Melifonwu or Budda Baker would be a huge score if they could be had outside the 1st round. Would be worth it to trade up to the top of the 2nd for either if they are still available then.
March 9th, 2017 at 3:56 pm
buc4lyfe79 Says:
March 9th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Elio T is right. VERY GLAD to hear this news though and hope Conte picks up right where he left off last year, sealing games with INT’s.
Amen to that!! He developed nicely indeed!!! I’m happy to have him..let’s not dismantle our defense when we are just about there!!
March 9th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
The most hated Buccaneer since Sabby Piscitelli.
March 9th, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Dont get all the Conte hate.. He had an overall decent year and he will more than likely be a backup. Solid signing for cheap and knows Mike Smiths system.
March 9th, 2017 at 4:33 pm
You guys got to be kidding me. What does Tandy got to do to get you guys to realize he is the best safety on the Bucs Roster. He’s earned the right to start b Y his play the last 5 games last season. Any people want to take bets today 3/9/17 that when he starts all games in 2017 he is the leader in interceptions on his team and is in consideration for the Pro Bowl?? And no he isn’t to small or slow. Remember him running down Zeke Elliot when they played Cowboys to save a touchdown. Time for you Buc Cats to get real!!!!
March 9th, 2017 at 4:41 pm
All three of them played like crap until later in the season. We can’t get rid of anyone until we have a replacement. Conte may not be the most talented but he plays with heart and will be excellent depth when we get an upgrade (hopefully this year) at safety.
March 9th, 2017 at 4:44 pm
An upgrade would probably be an early draft pick. Not many starting caliber Safeties left in FA.
March 9th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Ugh.
March 9th, 2017 at 4:59 pm
I’m a Tandyman Fan
tandy has an awful small sample size to gamble on him playing well consistently. good special teams player below average safety. signing conte proves the bucs don’t value the safety position and are willing to play corpses at the safety
March 9th, 2017 at 5:26 pm
i guess he can be the bridge to the rookie we draft this year. Most likely the rookie takes the job pretty early on though. I wont say Conte is a bad player, he is solid and pretty consistent. But he isnt a play maker. It would be nice to have at least 1 playmaking safety. Tandy did well in limited action. I hope he can continue to build off his successes last season.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Conte would make one good play for every five bad plays he made – he’s just not an NFL starter, or at least he shouldn’t be. Don’t know the numbers but man, how can there not be better options? Hopefully it’s purely a depth move, I’d hate to see him back starting. Oh well, can’t have everything.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:43 pm
I want OBI ONE in any round make it happen Licht. J Allen and Josh Jones our options if we can’t get her done. Trade up if you gotta.
Rd1 OJ
Rd2 OBI
Rd3 Foreman
Rd4 Josh Jones
Rd5 Tanzel Smart
Rd6 Mixon/Perine
March 9th, 2017 at 6:08 pm
Tmaxconsays. A below average Safety doesn’t start 5 games, intercept 4 passes and lead his team in tackles 2 or 3 of the 5 games he starts. He is legit at the safety position and will be steady there all year long. Study’s the game, knows the game, and is great at anticipating and is a very smart young man. Trust me I coached him and know what kind of heart he has and what his motor is like. You can’t coach someone to be a winner they just are and he is one of those type. Watch and tell me how wrong you were when 2017 is over!!! Bucs will be in the hunt this season. Good and big things are going on today in Tampa!!!!!
March 9th, 2017 at 6:14 pm
What he said ^^^im with you Tandy fan. Cuz I too am a Tandy fan.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:16 pm
Tandy is locked in as a starter
March 9th, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Tandy is rated as PFFs top safety the last half of the season
March 9th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Tampa is rumored to sign JJ Wilcox as well so if they bring back Bradley they will be 4 deep at S and not looking to draft one …
Me thinks they go TE/RB/CB in the first 3 rounds in some order … unless they want Mixon and think he’ll be available in the 4th or 5th …
March 9th, 2017 at 6:37 pm
For all you Conte fans…he had 13 missed tackles while making only 7….in addition he gave up 7 TDs…defend that
March 9th, 2017 at 6:38 pm
Nooooooooooo!
March 9th, 2017 at 6:42 pm
I’d think they’d have signed McDougald by now (6:39)… so I’m assuming he won’t come back. And tandy may have a small sample size in starting (with ridiculous production), but has a big sample size of filling in and not being the guy who gets burned (chris conte). He holds it down. I like conte as a backup and his new price, and I like tandy at his price as a starter. Definitely need to draft high though for the other spot.
Tandy
Draft Pick
Wilcox
Conte
March 9th, 2017 at 6:43 pm
Jabrill Peppers… Safety help plus a huge upgrade in the return game. It’s totally not what I think they will do but it would be fun.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:46 pm
Conte had 13 missed tackles while making only 7…..he also gave up 7 TDs….what the actual is Licht thinking?
March 9th, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Mike P Says has been watching the same Conte I did. Glad he resigned for depth but that should be his role going forward.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Amazing how 1 lucky INT gets you a 2 year deal… smdh
March 9th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Would have liked to get Micah Hyde, but it was not to be.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:55 pm
Dear Jason Licht,
You know there are starving children in Tampa. If you’re going to throw money away like that might as well feed the poor. While you’re at it you could prob find a better safety in a homeless shelter. Ijs
March 9th, 2017 at 7:19 pm
I know I’m in the minority but I like Conte. I think this was a great signing. Trust me, Conte is going to be in a split or reserve role but he’s useful. Don’t count us out of the JJ Wilcox or drafting a safety sweepstakes.
March 9th, 2017 at 7:43 pm
Tandy man – he wasn’t signed for depth, he was signed to start
March 9th, 2017 at 7:49 pm
Marcus Williams in the 3rd or budda baker in the 1st
March 9th, 2017 at 7:50 pm
This is a 1year 2.5mil Deal!
March 9th, 2017 at 8:46 pm
Mike10 says… why didn’t he start when he recovered from his injury last year. I can tell you why…..Tandy was Da man and the Bucs were winning. McDougald isn’t returning that is why they are still looking for someone to start opposite Tandy. Conte is not a starter anymore my man!!!! Sorry
March 9th, 2017 at 9:20 pm
1 year – $2.5 million screams 3rd Safety to me. Hope he does well on special teams.
This whole JJ Wilcox visit thing feels like a nudge to get Mcdougald to sign. Wilcox is probably slightly better than Conte, but not by much.
I almost guarantee they go into this draft with the purpose of taking a safety capable of winning a starting spot in camp or before.
March 9th, 2017 at 9:21 pm
Not bad, it’s backup money, fringe starter money. Worth having on the roster I guess, at least he knows the defense – but it shouldn’t get in the way of signing anyone.
March 9th, 2017 at 9:37 pm
This is Licht’s Michael Clayton.
March 9th, 2017 at 9:56 pm
There are probably 6 guys that should be an upgrade in this draft. It tough to throw a rookie out there though and expect him not to have growing pains.
March 9th, 2017 at 11:46 pm
He isn’t John Lynch?
March 10th, 2017 at 7:39 am
Jason Licht decision making just took a huge hit. Conte was burned repeatedly last year. Its not personal but he is not a starter on any other NFL team. The other NFC South teams are happy with this signing I bet.
March 10th, 2017 at 8:26 am
@ BucTrooper-You nailed it!
March 10th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Conte is a decent tackler and that’s about it. I would’ve loved to address safety before the draft as to leave us with options and no need based picks. Tandy is twice as good imo, I wonder if we can package some kind of trade for Charles Simms.