Dion Lewis And The Bucs
February 12th, 2018
Joe understands a lot of Bucs fans have Patriots running back Dion Lewis on their radar.
The Bucs very much need to upgrade at running back and Lewis could be that guy.
A soon-to-be free agent when the free agency dinner bell rings in 30 days, Lewis has the versatility Bucs coach Dirk Koetter seems to favor, and the kind Bucs fans like.
Last season, Lewis, 27, had 896 yards rushing and 214 yards receiving.
Now Joe asked Lewis at the Super Bowl Opening Night event what his free agency plans are and Lewis Rosenhaused Joe. However, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald seems to know.
In short, Lewis wants to get paid.
Dion Lewis (unrestricted free agent): Lewis will want something comparable to a three-year, $18 million deal with $10 million guaranteed to avoid free agency. Don’t expect a hometown discount.
And just for random, fun speculation, another Patriots versatile running back is also a free agent. That would be Rex Burkhead, who has averaged over four yards a carry and eight yards a catch playing for Cincinnati and New England the last two seasons.
Burkhead was a warrior when he played for Nebraska in college. Guess who also played for Nebraska?
February 12th, 2018 at 12:03 am
I’m fine with Simms in that role. I would rather spend that much money on defense.
February 12th, 2018 at 12:10 am
I’ll take Burkhead any day!!!
February 12th, 2018 at 12:11 am
Dirk Koetter will use Dion Lewis the same way he use Charles Sims ( Hardly Ever or Never).
February 12th, 2018 at 12:12 am
And he will use Rex Burkhead as a blocking back for Peyton Barber.
February 12th, 2018 at 12:21 am
Neither are exactly what you would call a Stud running back. Grab our future star in the draft, somebody defenses have to account for
February 12th, 2018 at 1:54 am
Too small bring in a guy who can pound the rock and last more than 9 games a year.
February 12th, 2018 at 2:28 am
LaVonte David was a Husker!!
February 12th, 2018 at 3:07 am
Ahhhh get it, it’s a guessing game.
Okay the next one will be Star Lotulelei and the Bucs…
February 12th, 2018 at 4:26 am
Should be a top Bucs priority free agent along with Trumaine Johnson and Ziggy/Wilkerson
February 12th, 2018 at 5:08 am
The celler dweller in a division with three playoff teams is not going to attract quality free agents. Talib and Bennett might want to come home, but most free agents look to join a contender. We need impact players in the draft, and they’re too rare. Jacksonville has great weather and no state tax. Hopefully Koetter can pull a turnaround like Doug Pederson in Philadelphia, but it’s a tall order.
February 12th, 2018 at 6:27 am
Whats up with all this retread crap..
February 12th, 2018 at 6:34 am
Could you use the phrase, “When the free agencydinner bell rings” more often please Joe. It ranks right up there with other sayings such as, “step it up” or “play our game.” Thank you.
February 12th, 2018 at 7:02 am
I used to be paired up in speed and strength drills with small training group for a couple years in high school with Dion in Albany, NY. He absolutely has a world class work ethic is what I got from my time spent with him. He is also an excellent human being and would love to see him playing for my bucs in a position of need!
February 12th, 2018 at 7:19 am
Honestly can’t see the Glazers spending a dime in free agency after their 20 million dollar toilet flash last year. I know they will spend the money but only if the core players can compete. With all the money and draft picks spent on the offensive side of the ball last year it was still a question mark.
February 12th, 2018 at 7:34 am
Still banging the drum for Jerick Mckinnon. Only thing I can figure, is because he split time with AP, early in his career and then with Cook and Murray in 2017, his fantasy stats aren’t big enough for some. Dion Lewis is a good player, but Mckinnon is set to break out. The only question is can his handle the workload. He is stronger, bigger, much faster, younger version of Lewis. He’s coming off of his rookie deal. The only reason the Vikings won’t keep him is he wants to be a feature back. With Cook and Murray, he will have to split carries. He will want a 4 year deal from 16-20 million. This is a better option than Lewis. In his career he’s missed one game due to an ankle injury. Dion Lewis has been pretty good as well, other than missing half of a season to an ACL injury.
February 12th, 2018 at 7:47 am
Draft an RB maybe ND OL and then 90% defense
February 12th, 2018 at 7:59 am
@tnew
I like McKinnon too but wouldn’t depend on him as a feature back. He really didn’t do much the 2 years Adrian Peterson was injured and lost a lot of carries to the bigger back (can’t think of his name at the moment ) before they brought in Murray and Cook this year. Carlos Hyde is the guy that seems more proven if the price is right.
February 12th, 2018 at 8:23 am
NOT happening…
February 12th, 2018 at 8:51 am
WBoy… stats and film look different to me. He’s had over 500 yards rushing every season when AP was not around while splitting carries with another back. We can bring him into be the feature back but split carries with him, Barber and whoever we draft. He is such an improvement over Sims as the third down back plus is more than effective if he does have to shoulder the load for awhile if there are injuries around him.
He looks small because of how twitchy he is but he is 210 pounds at 5‘9“. Compact yes, small not so much.
Go back and watch his combine. He would be viewed as a second round prospect in this draft class.
https://www.google.de/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/1970894-jerick-mckinnon-puts-up-amazing-numbers-at-nfl-combine.amp.html
This will be a miss to pass on him. What he brings versus Sims is staggering.
February 12th, 2018 at 9:02 am
“We got the 2nd leading rusher in 2015, I think we like our RBs” said Koetter the Klown, lol even if we get a top flight RB, won’t matter when the defense knows exactly what the play is
February 12th, 2018 at 9:13 am
draft guice!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
February 12th, 2018 at 9:23 am
One thing is for sure. Whatever this regime decides to do, it will turn out to be totally wrong.
February 12th, 2018 at 9:36 am
@tnew
I agree on all points and think we’re saying the same thing but differently. Mckinnon would definitely be an upgrade over any back currently on the team but my issue is I don’t think he can carry the load of a feature back for an entire season but definitely a great talent to have in the rotation.
February 12th, 2018 at 11:07 am
Been saying it for years, the bus haven’t had a shifty, speedy change of pace RB in for forever. We need a Sproles-like guy and always have. Simms should be follow Martin right out the door IMO- he may have potential but once every 8 games isn’t gonna get it done. I don’t blame him, BTW, I blame Koetter who has ZERO idea how to use any of his personnel. Still needs to get Jameis moving more (designed-not running for his life)
February 12th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
I like Mckinnon or Lewis. Signing them + Barber and maybe Quiz and a draft pick in the R2-R4 range
February 12th, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Meh.
February 12th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
If the o-line doesn’t get better it doesn’t matter, it would all be a waste of money