The John Brown Intrigue
February 13th, 2019
DeSean Jackson isn’t the only NFL WR who can get past DBs.
We sit here today in mid-February wondering what will happen with Bucs malcontent wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
After doing just about everything to get himself sprung from One Buc Palace short of hacking Team Glazer’s annuity funds accounts, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians has made it clear he would like to keep Jackson.
Last week Arians was supposed to have a sitdown with Jackson to see if anything could be worked out. Whether that meeting ever took place is unknown. However, just on face value, it seems a stretch that Jackson is in a Bucs uniform come September.
(Jackson is in the final year of his $10 million contract and the Bucs can release him without any financial penalty.)
Of course, so many Bucs fans have hollered themselves hoarse and punched so many holes in the wall blaming America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, for not connecting with Jackson on deep balls, these same fans may go full-blown Heaven’s Gate if the Bucs don’t replace Jackson with another speed demon.
(Joe suspects this cult-like adulation and slurping for Jackson is rooted some way with PlayStation.)
That’s why Joe has been pimping speedy John Brown for the Bucs to sign in free agency and send Jackson and his fishing boat back to the left coast. Jenna Laine of ESPN believes Brown would be a smart pickup by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
Brown possess elite 4.34 speed in the 40-yard dash and can stretch the field vertically. His deal with the Ravens last season was for a reasonable $5 million, much less than the $10 million price tag of keeping Jackson. Having spent four years with the Cardinals, including a 1,000-yard season in 2015, he knows Arians’ offense well. Brown can also line up in the slot and contribute in the short passing game, especially in the event Adam Humphries doesn’t return. Beware of injuries, because last season was the first time since Brown’s rookie season in 2014 that he played all 16 games.
Now if you look at Brown’s numbers from this past year, they are similar to this Jerry Rice Jackson’s. Brown has the wheels and, as Laine points out, played for Arians. The adjustment would be minimal.
Oh, and throw in the fact Brown doesn’t try to blow up locker rooms, he would be just about a perfect match for the Bucs.
Take the cash that was going to be thrown away paid to Jackson and use that Team Glazer loot to keep Adam Humphries and sign Brown.
That’s a win-win.
February 13th, 2019 at 10:39 am
damn joe maybe if the bucs had leadership in the building every year you would not be crying about this malcontent or that malcontent. instead at taking shots at the players you dislike why not post about the root cause of why players become malcontents in Tampa year in and year out…. every damn year you have one you can call out who lays down because bucs have no intentions of competing at an nfl level….
so who will it be next year when djax is gone. you had, baker, last year…. every year a player stands out because he won’t lose quietly and accept he has no hope or chance to win. it’s the glazer way and they have trained low standard bucfan very well to go along with this nonsense.
February 13th, 2019 at 10:40 am
players become malcontents based on the toxic working / losing environment that the glazers provide each and every season.
February 13th, 2019 at 10:45 am
imo, we have enough weapons….we need defense, not another wr…..go 2 TE sets….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
February 13th, 2019 at 10:45 am
if crabman can’t hit djax deep how he gone hit anyone else deep?
i mean maybe ME get a couple over the shoulder that look good, but hell he get 90% of the balls and him and crabman just play to rack up each other stats.
no room for deep man. and you wan try and double sell him to replace hump
GTFO
yeah, 5 mill is better than 10 mill, shoulda stopped there lol
February 13th, 2019 at 10:46 am
brown is injury prone so he should fit in well in Tampa. paying hump is stupid considering he has no upside and bobo and Watson do…. talent wins not emotional attachments to mediocrity.
February 13th, 2019 at 10:50 am
crossing fingers.
February 13th, 2019 at 10:59 am
Desean Jackson – 5-10 and 175 lbs
John Brown – 5-11 and 178 lbs
He has a slightly bigger catch radius I’m guessing ? So that is good for Jameis long ball?
We need to stretch the field. Need a speed guy to go with the bigger Evans and Godwin and sit down possession little guy Adam Humphries.
February 13th, 2019 at 11:09 am
You meant to say slurping OF deasean jackson right
February 13th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Joe –
Your argument from a financial perspective doesn’t add up-
Brown played for $5 mill last year.
He’s an unrestricted FA. To think he’ll sign for same or less is unrealistic.
He will likely be offered $8-10 mill , especially with salary caps going up.
Bucs have plenty of young receivers that can take Humphries place.
Realistically, your proposal will cost Bucs $15 mill for Brown and Humphries-
No thanks
February 13th, 2019 at 11:26 am
Didn’t Joe just post Jameis takes the blame for not hitting Jackson? Now Joe is lashing out at fans for agreeing with Jameis?
The comedic posts just write themselves
February 13th, 2019 at 11:29 am
@Bird and don’t forget what someone like Brown could do for the likes of OJ Howard.
February 13th, 2019 at 11:39 am
Didnt watch the ravens much last year but those numbers are good for as much as they ran the ball. And ya cant coach speed. I’m all for it. Hope they can get a draft pick or player for dslax
February 13th, 2019 at 11:47 am
If you watched this offense without DJax, it struggled. You have to at least have the threat of speed, otherwise teams are going to cheat up.
And again, if there was chemistry between DJax and Jameis, all his “diva-ness” would be swept under a rug. Don’t pretend like the Bucs didn’t KNOW that he was a diva. He’s been this way his whole career. It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t make it work.
So, the question then becomes: Can Jameis connect with a different speedster?
Don’t act like it’s a given. The proof is on the field.
February 13th, 2019 at 11:53 am
John Brown is just not as scary to defensive coordinators as DJax. He just doesn’t garner the same attention or respect as DJax all game. The defenses will defend him man to man more often and slide coverage over towards Evans. So why pay Brown so much money when Godwin or Watson for a cheaper price can do the same thing. Without DJax, or someone else who is equally respected then expect M. Evans numbers to come down this season. Evans spoke of this earlier. Maybe Brown could work out but to say he’s basically equivalent to DJax, No-way Jose.
February 13th, 2019 at 11:53 am
I’m going to piss all you Jameis haters off when I say the problem of Winston to Djax is not Jameis it’s DJAX. Does Jameis have a problem connecting with Hump, Mike, Godwin, OJ, Brate? Hell no only Mr. Attitude Jackson who is more concerned about his persona than winning games. He is too Fast, Too Short, and has a difficult time adjusting to ball when it’s not between his jersey numbers. How rare is it that he really sacrifices his body and goes after a pass like Mike, like Hump, like Godwin, et.al? Everyone blames Jameis not the $10mil malcontent. It will really piss me off if Arians keeps Jackson and lets Hump Walk.
February 13th, 2019 at 11:58 am
It seems you are making a case *for* John Brown but Joe senses you are trying to make a case *against* John Brown.
February 13th, 2019 at 11:58 am
Get MeJax the eff out of here. He is a bad human being and a terrible football player. He sucks at life aside from his financial achievements.
February 13th, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Even with DJax’s righteous speed, you can’t hold the ball for longer than 2 seconds in this league. So, I don’t care how fast DJax is, how far down the field can he get in 2 seconds even on a post unchecked? Also, if he doesn’t leave his guy do you expect him to fight for the ball? It is nice to have someone to take the top off the coverage but he’s useful for just that, and a score if things break down. He can’t expect to be open 60 yards downfield unless Jameis is scrambling for his life and that’s not something good for QB1’s health.
If DJax is back, he has to be realistic about this, and if he’s not the next speed guy has to be too.
Go Bucs! Looking for good things this year!
February 13th, 2019 at 12:09 pm
@Martinii – I couldn’t agree more. DJax almost never sacrifices his body to make difficult catches and I got so sick of seeing him not go all out and then watching Jameis get the blame for it. Jameis doesn’t have the same issues with anyone else and even made mediocre or unrealized talents BETTER. Read Cameron Brate, no one was checking for him UNTIL he showed chemistry with Jameis. Evans will become the best WR this team ever had and the vast majority of the balls thrown his way were from Jameis, but Jameis sucks because he and one particular malcontent cannot get it together? pffffttttt!!!!!!
February 13th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
@Joe
I don’t want to say no because Brown is a good receiver but just not feared like Jackson is. So even if we bring Brown in I don’t think he would help keep Evans as clean. We would certainly be taking a step backwards in production from Mike Evans if he is doubled the entire game.
February 13th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Jameis almighty
He sucks at life and is a bad human being and a bad football player?
And Jameis is the anti – DJax , I’m guessing?
Jameis is almighty , winning at life on and off the field and a great human being
Dude …Send me your address right away …I’ll get some medical assistance immediately.
February 13th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
@alanbucsfan
Browns numbers dipped alot when Lamar Jackson took over at QB. That with also reuniting with Bruce arians could be enough for him to come here for 5 million
February 13th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
This is just a disaster waiting to happen.
He’s barely been relevant even at his best.
In a word… no
February 13th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Canadianbucsfan-
Wishful thinking… Agents job is to get the best deal, not match warm and fuzzy relationships
February 13th, 2019 at 12:24 pm
would swap him for Mesean in a NY second
February 13th, 2019 at 12:27 pm
@ alanbucsfan
I do understand that but I could see him wanting out of Baltimore. He isnt worth alot more then 5.
February 13th, 2019 at 12:34 pm
Well, since the wunderkind that is Jenna Laine said it (lmao)…..let’s take a look, shall we??…
John Brown, age 29 come this season…VERY EFFING injury prone, look it up, not “beware of injury”, massive understatement. Unrestricted Free Agent…UFA’s never sign for the exact amount (or lower) than their previous year ($5 mill). Sooo…if John Brown signs for say $ 7.5 mill times 3 years based on career production etc., then in good conscience, WHY wouldn’t Jason…
Take the $7.5 mill annually for a 29 year old Brown, apply that to a MUCH younger and MUCH more durable Humphries at $7.75 mill for 4 years (if Hump believed in sticking around for a little less–not sure he feels an allegiance), with Godwin more than capable of playing a good 1A at WR to DJax being gone, keeping mostly single coverage on Evans. Let OJ stretch the field down the middle.
So, bottom line, John Brown won’t sign for close to $5 mill with anyone, he’s 29, and brittle as HELL. Re-read the great business sense above 🙂
Go Bucs!
February 13th, 2019 at 12:56 pm
Canadianbucsfan-
Eagles have 3 FA receivers this year, they will likely bid up the price for Brown
February 13th, 2019 at 12:56 pm
We’re fine at WR with Evans/Godwin/Hump/Wilson/Watson IMO
Justin Watson looked legit to me last year when he got time.
If we let Hump go then better draft a pass catching RB who can play in the slot.
February 13th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Rather take a shot at JJ Nelson he knows Arians system he’s younger and probably cheaper plus I really want to allow Bobo and Watson to develop . Watson seems to me like he will be a really good player in this league
February 13th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
plenty of fast dudes out there who aren’t accompanied by a $10m price tag and an imminent threat to team chemistry. especially in the deep threat role, you need a guy who just flies downfield on demand and doesn’t come to the sideline moping because his job was to free up Evans for a first down or OJ Howard for a 40 yard TD
February 13th, 2019 at 3:24 pm
No need – resign Hump and we are good at receiver with Evans, Godwin, Hump, Watson and Bobo.
With Howard and Brate running routes as well – that’s still among the best receiving options for any QB in the league.
All the Bucs really need now is a dynamic, speedy, pass catching RB and this offense will be set!
Well except for Oline “issues” – LOL
February 13th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Give Tyrell Williams. 27 years old. 6’4″ runs a 4-4 forty. Last year salary under $3mil.
February 13th, 2019 at 5:45 pm
Package a trade. JW, Jackson, Mccoy, Brate, and Smith, for a 7th Rd pick. We could add all the RT’s on the roster as well. I have another trade in mind but there are not enough characters left to type here.
February 13th, 2019 at 10:11 pm
If im correct, Justin Wattson ran a 4.3-40 at his pro day. Why don’t we give him a chance to be our deep guy ?