Buying Low
April 25th, 2018
What a maroon!
Antonio Callaway is a flat out fool and maybe a tool.
And the Bucs should take advantage.
Now before Joe continues, let Joe point out something that’s like an episode of the “Twilight Zone”: The Bucs are loaded at receiver and really don’t need one.
This season, that is.
Callaway is a gifted receiver from Florida who got thrown out of school last year for a variety of misdeeds including a sexual assault allegation (in which he was cleared), a pot charge and a credit card fraud scheme.
Kind of guy you want for a neighbor, no? Well, no. Kind of a guy you want on your football team? Sure, because he is talented and Joe doesn’t have to live next door to him.
It surfaced yesterday that Callaway, knowing the football world had a spotlight on him, couldn’t put the bong down. Allegedly. Clearly this guy isn’t dealing with a full deck here.
So why take a chance on the guy? Well, he has first round talent but an XFL-head. After learning of his recent escapade, Callaway likely cost himself millions as he sees his draft stock free fall into the third day of the draft.
It is likely Callaway could be had for a throwaway fifth-round pick.
Joe learned from NFL general managers that reserve wide receivers better be able to play special teams or they likely won’t be on a roster for long. Callaway, who clearly wouldn’t start for the Bucs and likely would be a No. 4 receiver at best, is a special teams player. He was a return man at Florida and not too bad at that.
The Bucs return game as been rotten for years. Just when it appeared Bernard Reedy was establishing himself as a decent return man last season, the Bucs cut him (Reedy later was on the Belicheats roster through the postseason).
Callaway could be that return guy, only a guy with strong receiving skills as well. Hey, DeSean Jackson has only one more year left on his current contract and after this season, it is no longer guaranteed.
Of course, the flip side to all of this is that Callaway sure seems like a walking suspension. If he cannot lay off the left-handed cigarettes when he has millions of dollars on the line, how can any team expect him to abide by simple NFL rules after he signs a contract?
April 25th, 2018 at 12:10 am
The fact that someone can be suspended for using legal medication is inane. The NFL needs to wake up.
April 25th, 2018 at 12:16 am
Two things.
1 – that last play was amazing.
2 – I miss Will Grier
April 25th, 2018 at 12:24 am
Dope turns you into one – and there are too many dopes on this team already. No thanks.
April 25th, 2018 at 12:36 am
Everyone can bash me all they want but Callaway is one of the best receivers I’ve ever seen play the game.
Now, if he could clean up his life I’d love to have him and I suspect whoever gets him might hit the jackpot. It’s s gamble for sure, a big one but, it could be a huge homerun too.
April 25th, 2018 at 12:40 am
That speed is world class man. He was so exciting to watch as a freshman in the SEC and I had such high hopes for him as a Gator fan.
Would love to see the Bucs benefit from him if he could just get right in the head.
April 25th, 2018 at 12:42 am
A fifth round pick is a throwaway Joe?
April 25th, 2018 at 12:43 am
Pretty much.
April 25th, 2018 at 12:44 am
Kind of guy that spends too much time in jail. Last thing we need to do is fill this guys pockets with lots of cash. Look, I love finding diamonds in the rough but not at the sake of selling our soul to do so.
April 25th, 2018 at 12:46 am
Rather spend a 5th round pick on Alex Cappa — Tackle prospect from Humbolt
April 25th, 2018 at 12:52 am
Tyreek Hill had about as much, maybe a bit less baggage and he dropped to the fifth round.
Hill had one very ugly, disturbing incident. No denying that.
Callaway has had several. So guessing fifth round pick might be his ceiling.
April 25th, 2018 at 12:58 am
Wherever he goes he will make an immediate impact I guarantee, he’s just that good. It’s a shame he put himself in those situations, a damn shame.
April 25th, 2018 at 1:12 am
Players like Callaway need good veteran mentors and strong leadership on the team. Does that describe the current state of the Bucs locker room?
April 25th, 2018 at 1:12 am
Using a very late pick…
I also like WR Desean Hamilton in the 4th round
I would be fine with either if we added WR Jackson into a trade for better picks
April 25th, 2018 at 1:13 am
We’ve had speedsters from Florida before, and all failed to impress.
April 25th, 2018 at 1:33 am
We haven’t drafted a WR or a RB from UF in over 20 years.
April 25th, 2018 at 1:48 am
Money brings out what you always were, in excess.
April 25th, 2018 at 1:52 am
I love how so many people dismiss a nineteen year old kid for doing something stupid. What hypocrites.
April 25th, 2018 at 1:59 am
How many 19-year old college kids hatch credit card scams?
April 25th, 2018 at 2:18 am
Makes Mile Williams look stable.
April 25th, 2018 at 2:19 am
Boneheaded idea. Unless he can rush the passer or kick.
April 25th, 2018 at 3:07 am
Dude is supremely talented.
That being said, the Bucs should stay away from him. The guy needs to get out of Florida. If he stays, he’ll be influenced by the wrong crowd that already is impacting his life in a negative way.
April 25th, 2018 at 3:58 am
pass
April 25th, 2018 at 4:06 am
whoa – this kid plays at a different speed than anyone on the field…he’s quite polished too…someone will take a shot on him earlier than you think…hopefully the bucs snag this kid – he has star potential…he’s such a polished athlete from the get go…wowzers!
in a year or so, both djax and humphries will most likely be gone…enter “the kidd”
April 25th, 2018 at 4:52 am
I dont hate this idea as much as some people might. Especially if D-Jax is actually on the trade block.
April 25th, 2018 at 5:20 am
Stupidity will always overcome talent…..sorry…
April 25th, 2018 at 5:55 am
@Joe … “Clearly this guy isn’t dealing with a full deck here.” Your words not mine Joe. Would you have written the same thing about past players like ASJ, Talib and Blount? Come to think of it, not many (if any) past Bucs (who went on to be decent NFL players IMO) come to mind who folks would’ve described as “not dealing with a full deck”. Forrest had it right: “Stupid is as stupid does”.
April 25th, 2018 at 6:03 am
no thanks any team that’s dumb enough to spend a draft pick on this team is going to regret it in the long run , & he isn’t a first round talent wide receiver i don’t know where you get that from every draft expert i’ve listened too says he is extremely raw and basically doesn’t know how to really run routes , one guy ranked him as the 12th best receiver in this draft class (a bad wr class) even without factoring in off field issues . so if we are going to draft a receiver late their is more talented and smarter options out there
April 25th, 2018 at 6:09 am
“The kind of guy you want as your neighbor? no”…….I……….am………..biting……….my…………tongue…….
April 25th, 2018 at 6:15 am
Licht has spent the entire offseason trying to make this a “smarter” team
Smarter teams have dynasties, dumb teams have decades of ineptitude and embarrassment.
And this was a dumb team last year.
We dont need another dumbass. We are well stocked.
April 25th, 2018 at 6:25 am
So let me get this straight…. the guy is a sexual deviant (allegedly) a druggie and a thief and Joe wants to bring him here? Even for a 5th rounder? No thanks Tampa’s crime stats are going to go the roof if we do.
April 25th, 2018 at 6:29 am
I was at the combine watching the QBs wrs and tes, and this kiss was the only receiver that stood out to me. Kid has great hands and tracks the ball better than anyone in the draft. If he keeps his nose clean, whoever lands him in the 4th round or later will be very happy. I certainly wouldn’t complain if it was Tampa.
April 25th, 2018 at 6:43 am
You want to bring in 2018 version of Chris Baker?
What plant is he going to hump?
Kobe the Parrot
April 25th, 2018 at 7:05 am
No thanks…yeah I know how gifted he is ……he simply does not get life….
April 25th, 2018 at 7:16 am
If he played a position of need then yes but ay wr? No. Unless we trade back and get additional high picks, it’s just not worth it.
April 25th, 2018 at 7:30 am
He can room with Arden……
April 25th, 2018 at 7:33 am
LOL Yes. And have. With Talib, too.
April 25th, 2018 at 7:38 am
In the sixth round it would be well worth it.
April 25th, 2018 at 7:44 am
Absolutely the worst draft ideas in the news I’ve seen ever. You guys have no business criticizing Licht with horrible advice like that. Why bring in a guy like that if you think he’d only be a 4tyv receiver and a return guy, how is that even worth it knowing how fragile this locker room is.
April 25th, 2018 at 7:46 am
He could be our very own Martavis Bryant!
April 25th, 2018 at 7:48 am
Noah..agreed !…he needs a strong veteran lockeroom….not one still try to find a way to win…..I see this guy in the Lawrence Phillips class
April 25th, 2018 at 7:54 am
No.
April 25th, 2018 at 7:55 am
Patriots will draft this guy and make him a superstar.
April 25th, 2018 at 8:12 am
“a throwaway fifth-round pick”
I know you have to be joking. We just signed 2 former 7th round picks of other teams as FA’s, and made Jensen the highest paid center in the league, and 5th rounders are throwaways? I suppose you’ll come back with “since we can’t develop 5th rd picks they aren’t valuable and we should just throw them away.
April 25th, 2018 at 8:13 am
He beats Minkah on 2 or 3 plays here.
I won’t name anyone but, we’ve drafted kids with sordid pasts before; much earlier than this kid will go.
April 25th, 2018 at 8:37 am
Callaway was already in free fall before this. Undrafted FA at this point. If he falls to that, give him a chance. Otherwise he is what he looks like..a dummy that can’t get his head on straight. Better taking a back up OL or DL than this guy with a 5th.
April 25th, 2018 at 8:39 am
The Bucs have done everything they can to distance themselves from guys like this. He will go undrafted IMO. Such a shame!! That guy coulda been special. Only a matter of time before he melts down completely
April 25th, 2018 at 8:47 am
I recall another really talented receiver that got kicked out of a Florida school and had his issues with weed some years ago, ended up doing pretty good in the NFL. Problem is every guy is different, different talent, different demons.
April 25th, 2018 at 8:52 am
Don’t know the guy, common perspective is he talented. No one will spend a pick on him, but he could become a priority UDFA… let him work on the PS and see how that works out for him and the team when he has exposure to some professional athletes.
Or not.
April 25th, 2018 at 8:55 am
And it just came out that he tested positive for weed at the combine. Great call GM JOE!
April 25th, 2018 at 9:33 am
Pretty sure this is detailed in the story.
April 25th, 2018 at 9:35 am
Actually, they have not.
April 25th, 2018 at 9:36 am
Feel free to Google the odds of a fifth round pick making it to his second contract with a team. It ain’t pretty.
When is the last time a Bucs fifth round pick did anything? Devante Bond?
In the past 10 years, the only fifth round pick the Bucs have had that did anything for the team, fans couldn’t wait to run him out of town. Remember Luke Stocker?
April 25th, 2018 at 9:45 am
Life long Gator fan and Alum. I had high hopes for this kid. Massive talent and elite speed for his size but the kid is a bonehead.
April 25th, 2018 at 10:00 am
JBF Commenters: type something stupid…sip coffee…put down FSU mug…repeat.
April 25th, 2018 at 10:04 am
die hard gator fan here…..as much as I would love him on this team, I don’t think we have the lockroom leadership for him at the moment……
as someone mentioned above, he needs to get out of FLA….the only coach that can turn him around would be the man up in NE…..
with that said, if licht thinks dirk can turn him around, get him in the 6th…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
April 25th, 2018 at 10:53 am
I actually knew of a few… they just didn’t caught.
April 25th, 2018 at 10:53 am
Listen fellas, all he needs is to buy the Miko Grimes DVD and he’ll be good. I also trust Monken to give him the tough love he never really had at UF with Coach Mac.
April 25th, 2018 at 11:36 am
Agree with PA Privateer
If you’re gonna take a flyer on a position we don’t need, take Desean Hamilton. That kid has his head on STRAIGHT, really straight….
April 25th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Roasted Minkah twice!!
April 25th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
I can vouch for Joe’s stats on the huge % of 5th round failures. Shouldn’t take a lot of imagination…first rounders bust at 40% it climbs from there and by the 5th it’s a crap shoot. So why not roll the dice?
As for taking a flyer I’d love to give Quinton Flowers a shot as long as he was cool with how we planned to use him. We wouldn’t be bringing him to challenge #3 but rather to play all over…Shotgun QB sometimes but also scat back…split wide…he would be the wild card.
I realize the kid doesn’t have NFL ability at QB…at least I understand the doubts stranger things have happened…I just think he’d be worth a flyer late.
I watched him several times and the kid was just electric. He has the mysterious “it”. I’m not sure he’s a pure NFL QB but I do believe he could come in and run a shotgun for a play or two…
April 25th, 2018 at 5:24 pm
He will grow up out of the credit card scam type of offense. As far as the cannabis use we are all subject to the big pharma police state tyranny. People need to light a fire under this state governments ass for dragging their feet on carrying out what 71% of the voters decided.