Pining For Donald Penn
June 5th, 2018
Trade proposal.
An iconic voice of Bucs past is smelling the smoke of a potential trade. And he wants the Bucs near the fire.
Former Bucs guard Ian Beckles, on his undervalued podcast “In the Trenches,” has come across rumors that the Raiders might be dangling left tackle Donald Penn out to see what type of bait he can lure. And Beckles made no secret of his desire for the Bucs to bring back their former long-time offensive lineman.
Joe has not heard such rumors but in recent days, word has surfaced that Penn, never one to hold back his feelings, left a voice mail for his new coach Chucky and cussed him out for selecting an offensive lineman in the first round.
Even though Penn is a graybeard by NFL standards, Beckles said he has seen enough of Donovan Smith that he believes Smith has already hit his ceiling. Beckles believes even an old man like Penn would be an upgrade.
“Donovan Smith, eh, I don’t know if that experiment should be over or not,” Beckles said. “You hate to pull the plug on an experiment — well, it wasn’t an experiment — he was a pretty high draft pick.
“I just don’t see how the kid has improved that much as he has gotten older. You are supposed to improve as you mature as a football player. I still see Donovan Smith making some rookie errors and it is way, way, way too far into his career for him to be making those errors.
“I would love to get Donald Penn back. I don’t know what it would cost but Donald Penn brings a little attitude. And attitude is what we want, that’s for sure.”
Joe really doubts this would happen though Joe too would love to have Penn back. Trick is, Smith isn’t going anywhere anytime soon (no, he cannot play right tackle… or guard).
First, no matter how often or how loudly the PFF tribe stomps its feet on the floor and hollers out loud, the Bucs like Smith and believe he is a top-12 tackle in the league, at worst. Additionally, Smith has only missed one half of football in his NFL career. That alone is a huge factor in the eyes of the movers and shakers down at One Buc Palace.
For those who are down on Smith (Joe is not among them), just think: If the Bucs didn’t have an incompetent running the football operations four years ago, Penn, 35, would still be with the Bucs and you wouldn’t have Smith, 24, to kick around when you are bored.
June 5th, 2018 at 8:14 am
Way to point out the age difference. We can always use the draft collateral that would be needed to pick up Penn in the actual draft.
Beckles is right about the attitude. No arguments from me regarding that.
June 5th, 2018 at 8:15 am
I like that joe thinks that DS76 is a top LT but then ask questions like why are they moving AM74 next to him, and why did the Bucs need to have the best passing blocking running back for majority of snaps!!!!!!!!
To me DS76 is just a young version of Fat Donald Penn!!!! The best trait of the two is that they are always on the field!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
June 5th, 2018 at 8:16 am
Penn at 35 make zero sense to me.
June 5th, 2018 at 8:16 am
No thanks….D Smith will suffice one more year and playing with Marpet and Jensen….that half of he OL will be much improved….I am not a huge fan of Smiths half azz not playing to the whistle…but at the same time don’t want to use a roster spot on old man Penn
June 5th, 2018 at 8:21 am
Preach Joe.
June 5th, 2018 at 8:28 am
So Donovan has Joe convinced that he “can’t” play on the right side eh?
Big difference between “can’t” and “doesn’t want to”.
Smith has 1 more year to prove himself as a reliable LT. Something he has yet to do IMO.
June 5th, 2018 at 8:46 am
24 does not seem that old to say he has hit his ceiling as far as improving his game.
June 5th, 2018 at 8:50 am
Beckles has something negative to say about a Bucs player. Alert the media. He never has anything positive to say about this team.
Actually, Joe has shared many positives from Beckles this offseason. –Joe
June 5th, 2018 at 8:51 am
Beckles has something negative to say about a Bucs player. Surprise, alert the media. He never says anything positive about any Bucs players.
June 5th, 2018 at 8:59 am
The problem with Smith is he thinks he is already elite. I’m not a basher like some, but those comments told me all I needed to know. He isnt the answer. He obviously isnt a great tackle. He should be out every day trying to improve his game. Not sure how much he is, considering he already thinks he is at the top of his game. That attitude is what we need to get rid of. He should feel he needs to improve every day to keep his job. The way Brady and the great ones do. I’d love Penn back. Any improvement I’m for. I dont see any way the Bucs do it tho. For some reason they talk up Smith like he is the future savior. I dont get it. Compromising photos of the Glazers he must have.
June 5th, 2018 at 9:00 am
Not going to happen.
1. Licht was the GM when we let Penn go.
2. He cussed-out Chucky for drafting an o-lineman, really?
3. He is an older D. Smith.
4. He called the fine fans of Tampa, “wine and cheese fans”. Remember? (Well, maybe he was right on that one.)
June 5th, 2018 at 9:14 am
Sorry but this is just dumb. He’s 35 and has zero trade value. Smith has shown enough to warrant another prove it year.
June 5th, 2018 at 9:15 am
Donald Penn is gone crazy. Last time I seen he went viral trying to fight a fan. He actually drove to him to fight him
June 5th, 2018 at 9:15 am
Chucky went heavy oline in the draft. Penn’s days are numbered and by most accounts played poorly last year.
Didn’t the same “incompetent running the football operations” draft Smith?
Along with drafting folks like Winston and Evans and Kwon among others?
Shoulda kept Lovie for sure.
June 5th, 2018 at 9:36 am
More pining for players who were involved in seasons where the bucs weren’t in last place. Hey let’s trade for Doug Martin too
June 5th, 2018 at 9:44 am
An iconic voice of the bucs past, are you kidding? Beckles sucked as a lineman and sucks as a radio host, he just sucks.
June 5th, 2018 at 9:46 am
35 and he’s pi$$ed Gruden drafted OL?
The guy is delusional…
June 5th, 2018 at 10:17 am
pass…..unless he can play G……
let benenoch sink or swim at RG and throw cappa into the fire if Dotson isn’t 100%……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 5th, 2018 at 10:19 am
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo notes that Anthony Munoz is still alive…..and only 59……and Pablo also notes we wouldn’t have to spend a draft pick on him. Pablo is still upset Hason didn’t draft Will Hernandez”
June 5th, 2018 at 10:19 am
penn may be gone…..they drafted LT david sharp a year or 2 ago and then drafted an olineman this year…….but he’s too old be bring back unless he’s willing to play G……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 5th, 2018 at 10:38 am
Although I personally liked Penn, I would not bring him back. 1..possibly 2 more yrs and he’s toast anyway. Smith is not as good as he thinks. He needs to really up his game this year. Its time. he’s been in the league for a minute now. Should np some of the ropes to skip and those to tackle. Amp it up some this year Mr. Smith! And ole Beckles always likes to snuggle up with..whatever is close around aye? Better watch out for that..Me Too Movement Mr Beckles!!
June 5th, 2018 at 10:43 am
I believe one of the Joes’ was declaring Pig Penn as “Hall of Fame worthy” ( seriously ) at one time. Penn has lost both some ability and perhaps his mind. He was a pleasant surprise over a decade ago…snagged off the Viking practice squad I believe.
LOL. Joe posed the hypothetical question of Penn’s Hall of Fame status if his streak of games started consecutively set a record and he got to the Super Bowl and more Pro Bowls. The streak was snapped last season after 10 years, and he did get one more Pro Bowl two years ago. –Joe
June 5th, 2018 at 10:44 am
👍
June 5th, 2018 at 11:19 am
For what? ..one year? If he wants to retire a Buc then we could sign him for a day and then retire him but to take on his salary and loose an important spot on the 53 man roster instead of grooming a long term OL would be negligent. As often as the Joes like to bring in a bunch of washed out vets, wouldn’t Joe be better off following someone like Chucky who loves over the hill veterans. Oh wait, Chucky just released Penn. ..my bad
June 5th, 2018 at 11:24 am
*correction* trying to trade him
June 5th, 2018 at 11:56 am
Lots of rumors that Penn was instrumental in letting Carr get hurt. Combined with these other rumors and the fact hes old. Not sure why anyone would want that garbage on their team. I never even thought he was that good when he was here. Lmao. I agree with Beckles about GMC but not this crap.
June 5th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Could’ve done without the General Bondi part of this picture. Nice subtle way to inject politics into your blog Joe(s). Actually it isn’t so subtle.
June 5th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
June 5th, 2018 at 1:04 pm
I know, right?
I mean, how else can you explain Mark Dominik’s; ineptitude.
Considering during his tenure with the BUCS – he abstained from drafting offensive lineman. In spite of the glaring holes & depth issues at the position.
June 5th, 2018 at 1:30 pm
Penn over Anthony Collins? Yes even at age 50 but over Donovan Smith nah. They are kinda the same in that any contact forbit would include a weight clause lol. Would only happen if Mark Dominick was gm. This regime knows nothing about him like we do
June 5th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
I like Donovan. It’s hard to gauge these offensive linemen but from what I’ve seen I think he has been pretty solid. He’s a big guy and he stays healthy. The rest is all contingent on his work ethic, but he surely has the tools.
June 5th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Can he play right tackle? Cuz that’s a bigger need than LT right now.
lol.
No thanks to trading draft capital to get a left tackle BACK ON our roster 5 years later (and 5 years older).
June 6th, 2018 at 6:08 pm
That’s the kind of move bad teams make.
No one wants D. Smith replaced / moved to RT / or moved inside more than me.
Penn isn’t the answer.
3 years ago?
Sure
Should they have kept him?
Absolutely
They made a mistake then – trying to fix it with another mistake now is just making things exponentially worse.