Swaggy To The Bengals; Why Did The Bucs Do Him A Favor?
March 7th, 2018
Chris “Swaggy” Baker and Doug Martin were two ugly stains on the Bucs’ roster last season — and on the resume of general manager Jason Licht.
Every Bucs fan knows the details on Baker; he mailed it in before the season started. It was obvious in April and detrimental by October.
It was a no-brainer that the Bucs would cut Baker and Martin before the start of the 2018 league year next week. But for some reason, Tampa Bay released them 2 1/2 weeks ago, which gave both an advantage on the free agent market. The veterans didn’t have to clear waivers and were free to sell their talents to new teams immediately.
Why exactly did the Bucs do Swaggy and Martin that kind of favor when both clearly let their teams down intentionally? (Remember, Martin was suspended in 2016, and then again in 2017, after violating a team rule.) This was a subject last month on the multiple JoeBucsFan podcasts.
Fast-forward to today, and whaddya know, we learn from Chick Hernandez at NBC in Washington D.C. that Baker has passed a physical with the Bengals and is likely to sign there.
In thanks, will Baker mail Jason Licht a palm frond from his most special tree? Or maybe Baker will send Licht a thank-you pizza with that Team Glazer loot he stole?
Yeah, Joe is still bitter at Baker, and because the guys in charge decided he belonged on the field all season. And it irks Joe that Licht helped Baker keep collecting an NFL paycheck. Oh, and it’s a real kicker that Marvin Lewis, the Bengals’ head coach, is a very close friend of Dirk Koetter.
And people wonder why Joe is known to frequent bars at Hooters and Abe’s Place.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:32 am
Swaggy failed to get it done with the Bucs. You never know..Marvin Lewis may be able to get something out of him. Players released by the Bucs are famous for going on to other teams and doing..exceptionally well. NEXT!!
March 7th, 2018 at 11:33 am
Joe, you couldn’t wait for Licht to cut those losers, and you celebrated when it happened. Now you’re complaining. You remind me of a 12 year old girl sometimes. Look man, Joe made it very clear on podcasts that Joe hoped the Bucs made Swaggy and Martin wait til the last second to cut them to not give them an advantage after screwing the organization. They should have been traded in October or cut back then. But if Licht was going to keep them through the season, then don’t do the guys after favors afterwards. Of course Joe celebrated their departure because it made the team better. The two really aren’t connected. –Joe
March 7th, 2018 at 11:33 am
All the more reason to fire Jason Licht I mean c’mon , seriously, why is Licht still here?!?! FIRE JASON LICHT OLEASE!
March 7th, 2018 at 11:34 am
The talent level is atrocious in the NFL these days. They’ll take anyone willing to destroy their brains for a paycheck.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:42 am
I don’t really care. But if I was a Bengals fan, I would want a regime change if this signing happens. Especially when everyone knows how bad Baker is.
I bet he doesn’t make the final roster though. HArd to do that when he doesn’t show up.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:46 am
Somebody call Joe a WHAMBULANCE. He’s crying again. On the plus side Joe is perfectly happy taking the Glazerhouse Boys money to make a living. Yes, the Bucs have advertised ticket sales here in recent years. No, it’s not a lot of money and it’s never affected the content here. –Joe
March 7th, 2018 at 11:46 am
Why did we retain licht and koetter… this is going to be the same team minus baker martin and grimes… no one wants to come here and no team will trade with us… its just pathetic
March 7th, 2018 at 11:47 am
There is an easy answer to the question why he did them a favor. It’s likely because players talk. Somebody looking to sign may choose the Bucs because Doug will tell them they treat players well. If you go around sticking players left and right there are going to get known for treating players like BS. … Which is what made the whole deal last year about holding Doug Martin til the last minute and then cutting him a horrible idea. Once they kept him through camp he was on the team. Licht don’t stick his players like that. Sour players come back and bite ya.
Nicely articulated but not accurate. –Joe
March 7th, 2018 at 11:50 am
But I do agree with the premise that they should have cut Bakers ass mid season. Correct me if I’m wrong but that decision comes from the coach first. Would have taught this team a bit about accountability.
I’m calling Dirk a liar for saying he wanted a badass football team.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:50 am
It was worth releasing them early just to not see their names on the roster….is my guess….no real advantage other than small meaningless petty vengeance….no advantage…
March 7th, 2018 at 11:51 am
Drew aka q Says:
“this is going to be the same team minus baker martin and grimes…”
Spoken like a guy who totally discounts the draft, and a GM who has done well in it.
As to whether anyone wants to come here in free agency…if that were true, there would not be negotiations with Grimes ongoing. He’ll be back.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:51 am
Good call Altered. That would be petty.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:55 am
Terrible take Joe!!!!!! Your anger and spite are not allowing you to see the big picture!!!!!!! If you deem these players that bad, and if other teams sign them, that leaves other free agents in the pool for the Bucs to sift thru!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
@ Bucko40,
That is hilarious sir. Quite the conundrum.
Go Bucs!
March 7th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Who cares, trash team signs trash player. Good.
Good riddance.
March 7th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
Man,Joe I don’t know how u do it buddy. You put up with some of these people who comment on here, I mean some of them are outrageously posting stuff that just shows that they have zero clue. I get a little upset when i see them make comments about you or towards you as if they can’t wait to show you up, but it is quite comical when you shoot them back down to reality lol. I’ve come to realize that some just will never be jappy or never admit that just because they are Bucs fans don’t mean they have to criticize everything or everyone. Thanks for the DAILY content and giving some of us the pleasure of hearing from someone who is closer to the team than any of us will ever be. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK JOE’S! !!
March 7th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Isn’t that good though doesn’t that help us to get a comp pick for the following year ? I’m sure Doug will def get signed too. Potential comp picks only apply to guys whose contracts expired naturally, not guys who were cut with years remaining, which was the case with Baker and Martin. –Joe
March 7th, 2018 at 12:20 pm
How dare Joebucfan for getting advertisement $ from the Bucs to help sell season tickets, lol. Some people need to let go of the apparent dream that they will ever be more than a fan and will never be a Gm, coach, or even a reporter. Just a fan with an opinion is all, so stop feeling the need to bash everyone or “correct” everyone who has a difference in opinion.
March 7th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
im just glad swaggy hot sauce is gone i dont care the outcome he was a locker room divider and kind of a d-bag straight up adios palm tree fondler!
March 7th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Mr. Ed has a point, if we had cut them after the FA date, that type of BS circles around the players and their agents. We do want FA’s to want to come here right? Or do we spread the word league wide that the Bucs will screw you at their best opportunity? Not sure if that will be a selling point for potential FA’s looking at heading to Tampa. For my money Later days to the lazy half-sack Baker.
March 7th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
They did a free agent a solid … it’s not a big deal … Swaggy is irrelevant wherever he signs.
March 7th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Well. Looks like Baker wasn’t a issue. Baker on the Bucs was the issue.
Comes to proven theory free agent players come here with hype somehow decline when they come to Tampa
March 7th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
This is a good thing Joe. That’s one less team that won’t be bidding against us for Poe. Don’t be such a negative Nancy… smile, FA is about to start!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 12:56 pm
marvin wont be passive and push stuff off on his players….he’ll set the tone and the standard and baker will get in line…..simple as that…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Baker WILL flourish….
Idk if Baker like suger free ice cream judging from his looks but I know the Ice Cream there in Cincinnati is FLAT-FREE
March 7th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
I really dont know what joe is talking about. You guys find anything to whine about. I am willing to bet if the bucs would have kept these players, we would have had many articles on “accountability”. And yes, players are appreciative when they are released in time to shop their services. Way to go bucs. C’mon joe.
March 7th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
If there is any consolation to letting them go early is the fact they are filling holes on other team rosters early which leaves a larger pool of players available on FA day to choose from.
March 7th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Licht cut Baker & Martin to show early-on that he was being proactive in revamping the roster, and of course to save $$$. Nothing more, nothing less. Once 2018 rolled around, neither one was going to be a part of this team going forward.
March 7th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
The last thing the Bucs need at this point is to be known as an organization that plays hard ball with the players.
March 7th, 2018 at 1:10 pm
This article is like a guy worrying about who the ex he just dumped is dating.
When and how is irrelevant.
It didn’t work. Move on and let the other party do whatever they want.
Addition by subtraction.
March 7th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Lotta reading between the lines and not comprehending going on.–Joe
March 7th, 2018 at 1:21 pm
The Bengals love troubled players.
March 7th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
@Joes —
Here is your article about it. You never said boo about waiting until the last anything.
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2018/02/baker-gets-boot/
March 7th, 2018 at 2:17 pm
You guys are worse than bucs fans. Now you say the bucs did him a favor when you wasted him cut in season whenhe could have easily joined a twas in the playoff hunt. Make up your mind
March 7th, 2018 at 2:28 pm
“if we don’t get dt poe away from the failcons I’m gonna have an erruption”
March 7th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
Yes, the Bucs should have held onto him until the bitter end, and screwed him over. That would teach everyone in the league not to come to the Bucs unless you are willing to play hard!
And, no player in the league would mind if the Bucs screwed over a couple veterans. It would’ve created even more respect for the Bucs than already exists!
March 7th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
So did joe just suggest the Bucs punish these players?
March 7th, 2018 at 5:07 pm
I’d put money on it that he returns to being a decent player again with the bengals. Not saying he’ll be great but he can’t do any worse. He’s going to have actual leadership on the defensive side of the ball with Geno Adkins and Vontez Burfict.
March 7th, 2018 at 6:38 pm
You have to have “attitude” to make it in the NFL. Sometimes, as in the case of Swaggy, it’s bad. The classiest thing to do is do a guy a good turn even though he hosed you. That sticks out like a sore thumb, makes Swaggy look even worse…actually shows ALL the Bucs did him well and he’s just a jerk. And that story line can continue. He’d already gotten paid. No big deal here. Kudos to the Bucs…JimmyJack and others are right.
March 7th, 2018 at 7:46 pm
swaggy = koala bear
just look at him
March 8th, 2018 at 12:12 am
Joe, what FA signings would we attract with that kind of logic?
We are a perennial loser. We have horrible coaching. We’re the worst in our division on so many levels. So, to top it off we should treat players on their way out like a jilted lover and make it difficult for them to find a new team? Players pay attention to the little details – at least their agents do!
Come on man. At least treat people on their way out with the slightest decency so at least we have one thing going for ourselves when attracting bottom of the barrel FAs.
March 9th, 2018 at 5:57 am
Why is this doing the Bungles a favor. Bucs play the Bungles in Cincy. If he is the ever loaf we know and love he could jump offside on a crucial 4th quarter play and give Jameis a free set of downs or perhaps their new kicker a chance at a 46 yard winning FG as opposed to a 51 yarder that is the norm with the Koetter “two minute/ one score down offense)….,.
March 9th, 2018 at 10:15 am
Sounds like someone has an ax to grind that has nothing to do with the Bucs’ success, or lack thereof.