“Can’t Pull The Trigger”
November 13th, 2018
It’s hard to believe four-time Pro Bowler Brent Grimes has three passes defensed and zero interceptions in seven starts this season.
That’s like Joe going to a barbecue and consuming three ribs and no beer. It just doesn’t happen.
Yet here we are. Grimes is the Buccaneers’ best cornerback but isn’t performing anywhere near his high standard.
Some have questioned his effort. Long time Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud joined that club referring to Grimes on a podcast last week a barely willing tackler in the run defense.
Former Bucs and Patriots cornerback Ricky Reynolds, who played 10 seasons and had 23 career interceptions, sees Grimes as a player fighting hard but losing to Father Time.
Reynolds spoke about Grimes this evening on 1040 AM with multimedia guru Rock Riley, whose afternoon show is the best in town. He sees 35-year-old Grimes as a player showing he has the knowledge and the instincts but “can’t pull the trigger” physically any longer to make plays the way he once did.
That can lead to a lack of confidence, Reynolds said, and an eventual fear of getting hurt in certain situations.
Reynolds is a reasoned and classy guy and is part of the FOX-13 pregame show. He’s a regular at Bucs games, so he’s not some disconnected ex-player with an uninformed take.
Joe going positive here. Perhaps Grimes can bounce back through the final seven games. He’s still a freakish and prideful athlete, and Joe has no doubt he wants to finish strong.
Grimes may not end being worth the $8 million or so the Bucs will pay him this season, but he’s certainly been worthwhile and valuable signing in his three seasons.
November 13th, 2018 at 6:36 pm
When a 33 yr old Corner is your best DB
Problems are everywhere.
November 13th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Lol. Brent Grimes being the Bucs Corner is almost like Little Timmy Doogan being the smartest kid in the slow kids class.
November 13th, 2018 at 6:42 pm
That’s what happens when you just want to collect a paycheck so you can put more monetyinto your already fat bank account. He learned from the best… GMC.
November 13th, 2018 at 6:57 pm
Thanks wish Jason Licht would draft a CB w a top 10 pick. Oh wait. Vernon Hargreaves III
November 13th, 2018 at 7:08 pm
You know what everyone says after winning the lottery? I quit!!!! Unless your name is Bree’s, Brady, Big Ben, Rogers, and a handful of others that have a REAL passion for the game of football. Grimes is just running out of passion.
November 13th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
You have to give it to the joes. The guys don’t ever loss enthusiasm. You’re a better man than me my friend.
I just think it’s funny listening to the radio hearing the airheads talking about the same stuff me and the haters said in the off-season ie dline, Koetter, the defense but hey wtfdik
November 13th, 2018 at 7:11 pm
@SteveK
I wish that Jason Licht would have realized that spending 8 million on a 35 year old CB was an incredibly bad idea considering the players that were there to go after in free agency.
I also wish that he would have realized that spending almost 4 million dollars on a kicker who was shaky in 2016 and was coincidentally a Jets Kicker just like Nick Folk.
But what I wish the most is that the Glazer’s had done the right thing and had signed Dave Gettlman to be the new Gm after we went 5-11 in 2017.
November 13th, 2018 at 7:18 pm
whoops, I meant to say signing catanzaro would have been a bad idea as well.
November 13th, 2018 at 7:20 pm
SchwiftyBuc
If we’re being honest, overpaying Grimes was about the only option we had. Due to the failure of the coaches to develop a CB, his hands were tied. I know he hasn’t played his best this year, but hes still he just as good or better than what we have. So it goes…
November 13th, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Lol. No it wasn’t. Not even close.
Could have gone after any of the following to replace Grimes and Ryan Smith while we’re at it.
Trumaine Johnson
Malcom Butler
EJ Gaines
Rashaan Melvin
Morris Claiborne
Kyle Fuller
Patrick Robinson
Breeshaud Breeland(who was available into the season)
Sorry if you didn’t know that. But saying Grimes was the only option is just laughlably wrong.
November 13th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
“That’s what happens when you just want to collect a paycheck so you can put more monetyinto your already fat bank account. He learned from the best… GMC.”
———–
So you think GMC is just collecting a paycheck? Then why did he play with a torn bicep last year? Why is he playing with a calf injury (the same calf injury that took Vita 2 months to play on)? Funniest thing is, you would never say it to his face. You can catch him after every single game signing autographs, but none of you keyboard tough guys would dare say a cross word to him in person. Nah, you are the guys that giggle with joy like little school girls when he signs your card collection.
November 13th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
What kind of a man are you if you talk about someone on the internet, but would never do the same in real life?
November 13th, 2018 at 8:02 pm
Brent Grimes can’t even find the trigger much less pull it, will be glad to see this recycled piece of Atlanta trash go out with the rest of em that means you Koetter and Smitty. Can’t build a championship team from recycled garbage better luck next years fellers.
November 13th, 2018 at 8:06 pm
Grimes always been garbage to me Joe
King of loafing in run game. He makes a good play and gets burnt THE VERY NEXT PLAY
Slips and slides all over the field…..just didn’t see what ppl saw in him
November 13th, 2018 at 8:10 pm
Carlton Davis? Now that’s a player. Davis should be the cornerstone we need to build around. He gonna be a stud
November 13th, 2018 at 8:25 pm
Joe has gotten too close to Grimes, you can tell how he’s using kid gloves.. Or Joe is just scared of a Miko backlash either way if it were anyone else Joe would seem way more harsh.
November 13th, 2018 at 8:29 pm
The Very Next Play going from the sublime to the ridiculous Bucs make a QB tag deal with Le’veon Bell and Glazers sell team to Davis and move to Oakland.
November 13th, 2018 at 8:30 pm
The Bucs always vary their ineptness to keep fans on their heels at appointing blame anywhere.
November 13th, 2018 at 8:35 pm
Keep collecting them paychecks Grimes, that’s about the only good thing playing for Tampa
November 13th, 2018 at 8:43 pm
NFL players obviously get paid more playing injured than they would sitting out. Only money they get from not playing is guaranteed money
November 13th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
When you have to talk a player into coming back by waving 8 mil in front of him…it usually ends poorly. He was tentative at best.
November 13th, 2018 at 9:02 pm
Whoever the general managers is next year needs to do everything possible to get Le’Veon Bell in a Buc uniform!
November 13th, 2018 at 9:04 pm
Whoever next gm is he better get bell in a Bucs uniform
November 13th, 2018 at 9:08 pm
waiting for mama grimes input in the comments
November 13th, 2018 at 9:11 pm
Absolutely right Trench War, Miko’s reputation precedes her, the backlash could be devastating to the Joes’ business…but then again, it could maybe take it to a new height in this wasted season.
November 13th, 2018 at 9:17 pm
@Hawaiin Buc …. Dude you literally say the SAME thing every time you don’t agree with a poster. It is TOO F..ing funny! Next we will hear Debilah say…” How date you talk about my boy that way!” You both are TOO freaking funny!!
November 13th, 2018 at 9:27 pm
Never been a big fan especially since he’s been here. He’s always been an absolute liability in the run game and he’s just a mismatch against some of the bigger receivers in this league. Should have let him retire and used that money elsewhere.
November 13th, 2018 at 9:33 pm
Can’t wait for all the media who praised this re signing to be held accountable as well. So many moves by Licht were applauded by the media (such as keeping Mike Smith) and now the same media is happy to run him and Koetter out of town.
November 13th, 2018 at 9:42 pm
People who jump on the “soft” or “not playing hard” online lynchmob bandwagon are just lazy d-bags who repeat what they see on bumper stickers. The guy is old, he’s lived on the edge for a couple of years now in terms of injuries, and, as many predicted, he crossed over in AARP terrority. It happens. If you’re in your 40s you remember first feeling it probably in your late 20s or right at 30 where you just no longer feel young – you still feel fine, but you just don’t bounce back from stuff just as quick. Then one day in your mid 30s you wake up feeling old, and it happens real quick, you feel fine, then next day you suddenly struggle to do what you could do the day before, and you continue that slow decline until the day you die. It’s all downhill and there isn’t a thing you can do about it. Maybe you can get a second wind with a hand full of pills and HGH, maybe eat some stem cells from a baby’s neck, but short of that, it’s all downhill and you die.
November 13th, 2018 at 9:46 pm
SteveK Says:
“Thanks wish Jason Licht would draft a CB w a top 10 pick. Oh wait. Vernon Hargreaves III.”
I hope Licht never makes another pick for the Bucs. It’s a shame, because he is so good at finding late-round gems. But he ruins it by trying to be the smartest GM in the room in rounds 1 and 2, where the best picks are pretty much obvious to everyone.
November 13th, 2018 at 9:52 pm
Hawaii
Can you invite me with you to your press box so I can call McIceCream McIceCream to his face? It would be a joy
November 13th, 2018 at 9:53 pm
Lamarcus Says:
“Carlton Davis? Now that’s a player. Davis should be the cornerstone we need to build around. He gonna be a stud.”
I second this opinion.
November 13th, 2018 at 10:00 pm
The Bucs’ equipment team needs to supply Brent with some better cleats. According to PFF, he leads the league in slipping and falling (Min of 125 cover snaps).
November 13th, 2018 at 10:24 pm
You’d be lucky if you were only punched if you did that. It is very likely you would be dragged off in cuffs.
Of course, if you are a real man, you can tell GMC that to his face without a press credential when he shows up at the Den of Depression. He walks in from the parking lot like every other player. Anyone can stand outside the players’ entrance.
November 13th, 2018 at 10:37 pm
@DB55
Come on tough guy, why don’t you do it? You don’t even need to buy a ticket to the game. I’ll meet you and make sure you get to meet him. Shall we say Sunday the 25th at 4:45pm? Put up or shut up. We all know you won’t do anything.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:20 pm
Newsflash: Brent Grimes has not suddenly become a lousy corner.
He was injured, and sometimes it takes time to fully recover. He’ll probably retire after this year, but he hasn’t lost anything.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:38 pm
Meh
Hawaii
Your Boy is officially the leader of the worst defense in the history of the league! Congrats! Can’t wait until Ira stomps for McIceCream to join the hall of shame it will be a proud moment for all buc fans. 🙄
November 13th, 2018 at 11:47 pm
Lol Hawaii
So Sunday after the game? Is that what you’re saying? If you’re serious I’ll go as your guest and he’ll yea I’ll call him McIceCream he deserves it and he knows it. So yea if your not pulling my leg I’ll go. Are you inviting to the game too or just to get my arse beat? No no I’ll definitely go but as your guest not some dumbass fan coming off the street with no tix etc. I ain’t trying to look like Miko out there. So ball is in your court Hawaii joe can connect us if you’d like.
November 14th, 2018 at 2:19 am
Buccaneer Bonzai – Appears to me to have lost a step, could be wrong, maybe he’s not healthy, but that’s the problem when you age, it takes a lot longer to get healthy again. I don’t think he’s loafing, I don’t think he’s playing soft, the guy has too much pride to do that and it’s just people being lazy when they say that, which is literally the same thing they accuse him of. If he’s not healthy then maybe he eventually is healthy and looks good for a bit, but he’s at that point in his career where it’s hard to know if it’s a nagging injury or just the new norm.
November 14th, 2018 at 2:32 am
Grrrrr… I listen to talk radio and the guy on the radio said GMC is soft…. Grrrr… that makes me angry… Grrrrr…. and he likes comics books…. Grrrrr…. and Batman…. Grrrr… that makes me so angry….
You GMC haters should get a new act, it’s boring. Literally everyone in football thinks GMC is pro-bowler, but because he smiles and that triggers you, you think he’s awful. Really dumb. Then you have the moron that says if he’s not Aaron Donald you should cut him? LOL! Donald is literally a generational talent like Sapp was, and we didn’t cut every play not named Warren Sapp, nor did the rest of the NFL because had they, there wouldn’t be anyone else to play.
Oh wait, Gruden did cut/let Sapp (and Lynch) walk in order to sign Charlie Garner and a bunch of injured washed up offensive lineman. So there you go, I guess you GMC haters are like Gruden, just without the money or success or looks or personality.
November 14th, 2018 at 2:35 am
Many of Jason Lichts signing and deals are desperation deals and the quality depth is lacking. OJ is probably the only acquisition that was considered a “Luxury” but ended up being a great piece. Same thing has not happened at other positions. Lack of dynamic players and imo the signs point to lack of knowledge building a complete team from the trenches out.
The OL has been one of the greatest disappointments. Donovan Smith and Benenoch is easily the worse. Grimes money was worth it but in the big picture we kept him a year too late and all these draft misses have caught up with Licht.
November 14th, 2018 at 7:19 am
@DB55,
I’m not giving you a ticket that I spent my hard earned money on. Plus I know you won’t show up. You can buy your own ticket. This isn’t charity. Nice try though.
November 14th, 2018 at 9:20 am
As far as Grimes goes he has been a good CB for us.
Having said that I feel he is just a bad fit for this defense.
I will say it again – his style of play and the fact that he is not a move CB generally hampers this D.
Opposing OCs move their best WR around to create mismatches knowing Grimes will stay on his side of the field.
November 14th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Hawaiian
I alway enjoy your posts but when you get fired up you’re even more entertaining!