Chris Baker Work Ethic Blasted
March 22nd, 2017
New Bucs DT/DE Chris Baker
Fighting words out of D.C. for new Bucs free agent defensive tackle Chris Baker.
There’s zero question that Baker was an excellent player for the past two seasons on a Redskins team that won more games than it lost. Call the Redskins what you want, but they’ve maintained stability at head coach and they made the playoffs two seasons ago.
Redskins fans, however, are dealing with significant offseason changes. One fan wrote to Washington Post beat writer Mike Jones for help making sense of the loss of Baker and the acquisition of his replacements.
Jones had a piercing reply.
Chris Baker was popular with the fans because of his personality, but Redskins coaches, officials and even some teammates were just lukewarm on him. The team’s talent evaluators and coaches weren’t always happy with Baker’s work ethic, and they felt like he needed to make more of a consistent impact.
Ouch!
This reminds Joe of when Falcons beat writer Vaughan McClure shared an unsourced report of Gerald McCoy having a poor work ethic. Joe is confident that report was BS, but is this one? This is Jones, who is well respected, writing about the team he covers.
Interesting.
Regardless, Joe’s mind has a clean slate and high hopes for Baker. He turns 30 in October and seems so grateful to be finally landing in a 4-3 defense in the prime of his career.
March 22nd, 2017 at 10:49 am
Hayes can mold him to be a better player. If his work ethic was off to players but he was the best defensive lineman on the team then what the hell does that say about the redskins in general…
March 22nd, 2017 at 10:49 am
Let’s get tmaxs opinion on this subject
March 22nd, 2017 at 10:53 am
I pointed this out when he was signed. He talks big, delivers small.
And he is all about the camera. Not playing well. His ‘Big Swaggy’ nickname comes from his dancing, which he does more than playing.
His signing is a ‘C-‘ at best.
And while I’m at it…Signing Wilcox to start? That’s an ‘F-‘ grade…as everyone will agree later.
So far as I’m concerned, Jason Licht is still horrible at free agency. Folk was a good signing, and all about competition, which I am in favor of. Walker is a steal, but that won’t be revealed until later.
That’s the only reason Licht doesn’t get an ‘F’ over all this year.
March 22nd, 2017 at 10:53 am
The ice cream stand better get filled up it seems
March 22nd, 2017 at 10:56 am
If there was ever a dline that is known for players disappearing for long stretches it is the Bucs’. Welcome Mr Baker, you will fit right in!
March 22nd, 2017 at 10:56 am
Seems bucs blew it w this pick
March 22nd, 2017 at 10:59 am
Haha, Dusty Roads, “hey, hey hey! italian ice for everyone, go xmen and hulk!”
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:01 am
i can see the concern but at the same time, does anyone have much desire to be in Washington? The starting QB who’s guaranteed to get paid doesn’t even want to be there….all the top players are jumping ship….good chance he was ready to move on but a new environment can be good for all parties.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:05 am
did he produce on sundays?….case closed….
heard rg3 had a good work ethic, but teammates were luke warm to him as well…further more he didn’t produce on sundays….this is a nonissue…..GO BUCS!!!!
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:07 am
A miffed writer who covers the team we stole a bargain FA wrote his frustration of his soul and you just go wild on our new player? Seriously? You must be kidding…
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:09 am
You don’t get 10.5 sacks with lack of worth ethic. Being along side monsters with motors such as Clint McDonald and Robert Ayers their hard work and intensity is sure to rub off and make everyone on the DLine compete at their best. I’m not worried at all. Can’t put too much concern in what these writers say because 75% of the time it’s just claims
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:09 am
and they felt like he needed to make more of a consistent impact.
———-
Well then it’s a match made in heaven. #icecream #icecream #icecream
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:09 am
Offseason moves suck…djax and this guy don’t work…lost 3 players in mid-twenties > Shep,Spence and now McDougald….Bucs are worse!
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:12 am
lol They are all butthurt Baker has been blasting their organization via twitter.
Of course they aren’t going to have good things to say about him.
But FACT is that an “undrafted player” doesn’t make his way up to where he is now without good work ethic.
The path of an undrafted player us much more difficult.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:12 am
Mike
They don’t get it. It’s a lost cause. Just be happy they have something to do on Sunday afternoons. Ain’t nobody here to win.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:13 am
Talks big plays small, lolol that’s laughable, his play has been top tier the past two seasons.
His stats back it up. Bonzai you are losing your weight around these here boards.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:14 am
But Derel Walker is an A+ signing right Bonzai?
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:17 am
Classic how people on this website are so clueless. So when they drafted Chris Baker , it was a great pick. Now because of some random source who commented on something in an article , it’s a bad pick
Listen folks. Get a gripe. Who is Chris Baker good friends with? Yah. Mr beasting himself Robert Ayers. They are Boyz. You think Ayers will let him half ass it. Think not.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:17 am
Derel Walker’s going to be a viable number 2.
The same kind of one I had this morning.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:18 am
Got Chris baker in free agency
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:22 am
I am not concerned about alleged work ethic issues. New team, new surroundings and a much different culture with Jaboo leading the way. Baker will be a fine addition. Just hopefully the injury bug is kind to us this season.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:23 am
Who is Mr Beasting again? Oh he is the guy with those beastly stats, right? Or is it just beastly rhetoric? I hear Mr Baker has some beastly rhetoric too.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:24 am
And he was still their best defensive player last year? Lol
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:24 am
How bout a burger with those french cries PhallusBuc?
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:25 am
Redskins must have a problem with Cousins’ work ethic as well. Lol
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:26 am
Phallus buc phallus buc phallus buc.
You the man phallus.
Everyone loves your positive comments
Positively idiotic, moronic comments
Keep em coming
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:27 am
DallasBuc – The expert on everything Bucs.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:35 am
The guy was a bright spot on an otherwise atrocious front 7. Keep perspective folks…living in DC, I can tell you he’s a solid player and a good pick up. Skins are notorious for playing media and planting stories to offset the perception that their leadership and f/o is incompetent. Now, I’m not saying Baker is Sapp or that he doesn’t get beat during series. He isn’t and he does. But for a source to call out his effort compared to the trash that was happening at 6 other key positions around him is laughable.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:43 am
How bout all you haters give these guys a year in the system and if they suck then run your mouths cause right now y’all who are hatin just sound like idiots!!!!
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:49 am
So now he’s a “bad” signing?! Geez, how about we see the guy play before we cast judgement?
I don’t understand Buc fans sometimes!!!!
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:50 am
yeah, great moves – NOT!…shep, spence, mcdougald and aguayo will still be playing after djax, baker and folk have retired…
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:52 am
They wont be as good tho.
March 22nd, 2017 at 11:56 am
I cannot believe how many of you call yourselves a fan of your team when you do nothing but say disrespectful stuff about them. Your not a true fan of your team. Your a disgrace to the bucs organization as a fan. Go play in traffic for all us true bucs fans who deeply love this team and are happy everyday with all the moves their making. Everything they do is to better this team. I praise the glazers and I praise Jason licht and I praise dirk koetter and I praise every player that’s on this team and will be on this team.
March 22nd, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Dear raisin cookies that look like chocolate chip cookies, you are the reason I have trust issues.
March 22nd, 2017 at 12:03 pm
And what were those stats over the last two season’s again. “We talking about practice,C’mon man not a game but practice”.
March 22nd, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Excellent reference there Nosbos lol
March 22nd, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Bonzai has now entered the group of the following fans:
KobeFaker
Dallasbuc
Miko is on his way too.
F*** you, F*** you, F*** you, F***, everyone else is cool.
March 22nd, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Oh I forgot Tmax
March 22nd, 2017 at 12:21 pm
1987- I just spit my coffee out, LOL
March 22nd, 2017 at 12:27 pm
87, nice!
March 22nd, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Every skin fan I asked about him said the same.
I think jason only looks at athletic ability.
We need mental grinders
March 22nd, 2017 at 1:09 pm
Would he say this had his team re-signed him? The answer is no.
Baker is just the begining of the overhaul along the d-line. They will continue to shift away from the straight up four man front and pick players that are capable of running more over/under fronts. Mark my words, this will be GMC’s last year as a Buc, if he doesn’t get dealt in this draft that is.
I’m not starting a rant of GMC hate, I’m stating the obvious, he can only function as a 3-tech.
March 22nd, 2017 at 1:31 pm
He’s a second tier FA that hot 2nd tier money. If he does play hard and is productive he’s a home run. If he doesn’t then, well, he’s a 2nd tier FA. We shalll see – but if there were no questions about him then Washington wouldn’t have let him go and he would have got a lot more money.
March 22nd, 2017 at 1:48 pm
PRBucFan Says
“Talks big plays small, lolol that’s laughable, his play has been top tier the past two seasons.
His stats back it up. Bonzai you are losing your weight around these here boards.”
You really should have checked those stats before making your statement. Open mouth, insert foot.
Someone above mentioned 10 sacks? He’s only have 11.5 sacks his ENTIRE CAREER!
“his play has been top tier the past two seasons”?????
He had 3 sacks last year. 6 the year before! That’s an average of 4.5 sacks over the last two years!!!!!!!!
Give me a break, PRBucFan. At least back up your claims by actually looking at the stats.
LOL. Come on, people. The guy has averaged 2.3 sacks since he started playing in 14 or more games 5 years ago. And his tackles declined last year along with his sacks.
The ONLY good thing about Baker is that he is mostly healthy. That is the only thing. He’s not even going to start, people, unless McDonald gets injured.
March 22nd, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Bonzai, what exactly has McDonald done to be handed the starting job again? Yes Baker has 9.5 sacks the past 2 years. McDonald has 8.5 the past 3 years. Want to know how many sacks McDonald averaged when he plays 14 or more games? 0 because he hasn’t played in 14 games in 1 season yet since being in Tampa. Idk why you are so quick to grant him a starter lol.
March 22nd, 2017 at 2:10 pm
Bucballbaby84 Says
“I cannot believe how many of you call yourselves a fan of your team when you do nothing but say disrespectful stuff about them. Your not a true fan of your team. Your a disgrace to the bucs organization as a fan.”
I am very respectful of the organization. I am a second generation fan of this team, and have been for a very long time. I bleed red and crap pewter (even if the new uniforms are red and charcoal).
It is a tendency for Bucs fans to fool themselves about these free agent signings, and then when the season starts and they do badly, the fans have the nerve to act like they knew it all along, even if they didn’t.
Being a fan doesn’t mean you support bad signings. When the season starts, fans here criticize me for being so positive because I refuse to give up…ever. I support the final roster every year.
But I also see during times like these that Jason Licht is horrible at free agency. Last year, he signed 22 players with major injury histories, and of those 22 players? Three worked out. THREE!!!! And only one of them went without an injury. Grimes.
Even so, I thought maybe he would learn to do better at free agency. He hasn’t. Look at these players objectively.
Baker isn’t as good as people are claiming. He only has 11.5 sacks in his entire 8 year career. An average of 22.625 tackles per year. 0.625 passes defended and 0.625 forced fumbles.
In what world is that starting material? In what world is that a good signing????
So let’s talk about JJ Wilcox and his average of 39.5 total tackles per year, his 3.75 passes defended per year, or his 0.5 forced fumbles per year. Or how about his penalties? The kid wasn’t even a starter last year.
Desean Jackson? He’s an okay signing. Not as great as everyone here wants to claim, but hey, I’ll give Licht the benefit of the doubt on that one.
Folk was a good signing, but even he may not be with the team by the time final cuts are made, not if Aguayo comes back strong.
Walker is a steal from the CFL, where he was among the best, and fans here refuse to see his potential. Licht struck gold there, and it took guaranteed money to get him to sign with the Bucs (most of you didn’t even know that). He may even get more yards than Jackson.
The bottom line is this: If Licht does not address defense in one of the first three rounds of the draft, we’re in trouble. The defense is what carried this team last year. Think about that. After years of focusing on offense, it was the neglected defense that gave us a winning season.
So instead of addressing it properly, Licht signed two players that have not produced and let our best safety walk.
March 22nd, 2017 at 2:13 pm
I do not think Ayers is going to let any D linemen coast.
Same with JW.
Otherwise he’ll be gone fast
March 22nd, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Joeypoppems Says
“Bonzai, what exactly has McDonald done to be handed the starting job again?”
Clinton give full effort, Baker takes plays off. Watch and see.v Clinton will start unless Licht gets someone better in here.
I agree though that neither is worth starting when it comes down to it. Which is why I’m disappointed.
If Licht goes offense in the first couple rounds of the draft, as people are suggesting, then that means free agency is where he should have improved the defense. He hasn’t.
Wilcox is a downgrade and Baker is too (because he takes plays off).
March 22nd, 2017 at 2:41 pm
I disagree. I think Baker will be named the starter and produce. They do need to add another DT for depth tho imo.
March 22nd, 2017 at 2:53 pm
I’m sure Licht and his boys watched every single piece of tape Baker ever put down, including college. These guys may not always make the best decisions, but they definitely do their homework and the film doesn’t lie, ever. I’m feeling pretty good about Baker and the d line needed some new blood. Hopefully they’ll get even more in the Draft early.
March 22nd, 2017 at 2:58 pm
I also bet that Baker is the guy Coach Hayes wanted, but what the heck does he know, right? Everyone in DC is a whine bag, top to bottom, crybabies. Waaah
March 22nd, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Bonzai, you neef to put down the free base pipe brodi. Your perception here lately has become increasingly more warped.
On what planet is Derel Walker a slam dunk signing, but Baker and Djax are crap?
Can’t remember whether or not you were on the Poe wagon or not, but baker has outplayed that dude by a significant margin for the past 2 seasons.
And this entire premise of Baker being lazy and unliked is probably fabricated anyhow. Dan Snyder is one of the most oily snakes in the entire league. The redskins are a straight up dumpster fire right now.
March 22nd, 2017 at 3:57 pm
Negative Nancys out in full force today
March 22nd, 2017 at 3:58 pm
Bonzai your hatred of Jason Licht is really making your opinions carry less weight.
But you think Walker is an A+ signing?
And as to your stats about signing 22 guys, you do realize that rosters are cut from 90+ down to just 53, right? Where you gonna get all those bodies from without signing guys?
You’re trying to act like Licht signed 22 guys to be starters and only 3 worked out. Holy hyperbole.
March 22nd, 2017 at 4:23 pm
Joe, I love how you stir the pot during these slow times. This one starts off with “There’s zero question that Baker was an excellent player for the past two seasons” but pretty quickly shifts to Mike Jones assertion that “The team’s talent evaluators and coaches weren’t always happy with Baker’s work ethic.” Wow! Quite a contrast. Poor Chris Baker goes from excellent player to lousy work ethic licketty split. I’m going to keep hoping that the Bucs knew what they were doing in upgrading their stable of DTs from Akeem Spence to Chris Baker, because that’s what this really represents. Don’t see him replacing Clinton McDonald at this point … that’ll play out in preseason. But having them BOTH available as DTs strengthens us defensively. I’m pretty sure they still call that competition, and it’s good. Every single position ought to get some.
March 22nd, 2017 at 4:23 pm
Blake
The jokes on you, most of us already know bonzai is “special”
March 22nd, 2017 at 5:22 pm
The annual off season sport on JBF. We all rip each other apart out of boredom waitin for some real things to talk about. This years free agency seems fairly solid to me. We seem to have picked up players as good or close to as good as the ones we lost and we still have the draft to go. I too am skeptical on DJax because of his history. Tremendous talent but a bit too much of a showboat and a “Look at me” guy. Those guys almost always crumble at some point with Deion Sanders being the exception to the rule. Having said that, the value he brings is that he will absolutely take heat off of ME and Jameis and that might be all we need from him. Even with my skepticism he brings something we didn’t have and that makes the Bucs better. Hopefully Chris Baker turns out to be a adequate replacement for Spence and maybe we pick up a serious upgrade in the draft.
March 22nd, 2017 at 6:54 pm
Would probably say anything to make it look like they weren’t stupid for letting as good of a player go.
March 22nd, 2017 at 10:13 pm
Nobody gets out of D.C. without getting crapped on by the organization.
March 23rd, 2017 at 12:07 am
didnt he go undrafted to starter? sounds like bad work ethic….
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:32 am
I forget the nose tackle is supposed to rack up sacks right? lolol smh
Bonzai, how much do you wanna bet that McDonald is not starting over Baker come opening day?