Andre Ellington Gets Dumped; Path Cleared For LeSean McCoy?
August 31st, 2019
Like most 30-year-old running backs, certainly the ones unemployed at age 29, Andre Ellington wasn’t good enough.
Through the Bucs preseason, his pass blocking was suspect and he just didn’t look special. Bucco Bruce Arians said several times the former Cardinals standout was finally healthy for the first time in four seasons, but it apparently wasn’t enough to overcome Father Time. Ellington had no team in 2018.
Per Greg Auman of The Athletic, Ellington and his $805,000 salary were chopped from the Bucs as the team trips its roster down to 53 this afternoon.
Of course, this means a running back spot very well could be on the radar of Arians and general manager Jason Licht, and available now is likely worn out LeSean McCoy, who was cut today by the Bills. He’s 31 and coming off a crappy season, but outside of that, the six-time Pro Bowler has had a career worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.
Arians signed Adrian Peterson for the Cardinals after the start of the 2017 season, so Joe can’t say Arians abhors old running backs.
If the Bucs are interested in McCoy, hopefully he didn’t watch the offensive line’s peformance against Cleveland. Yes, Joe suspects McCoy will have a few suitors before the day is done.
It’s a shame the Bucs invested all those spring and summer snaps into Ellington when they could have been developing a young running back. That’s a miss by the regime.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:33 pm
who?
August 31st, 2019 at 4:33 pm
Come on down Shady… from my Bills to my Bucs would be a dream come true!!
August 31st, 2019 at 4:35 pm
This surprised me just a bit……not a big Ellington supporter….just thought he would be kept.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:36 pm
How about Jachai Polite? That’s who I want to aim for.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Noooooo, snag JOSH ADAMS from the Eagles as they released him! He’d be solid! And probably #3 RB
August 31st, 2019 at 4:37 pm
McCoy would be an asset for sure since he can catch the ball better than any Buc RB. He’s also a very good blocker. At this stage he doesn’t need to be a bell cow.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:39 pm
I think it has more to do with Ogunbowale and his development. I can also smell a trade coming for Santos.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Ellington was never going to make this team. BA gave him a chance to resurrect his career and knew he would tutor the rest of the backs in the process. Win – win for both the player and the team.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Hall of Fame consideration?
Hahahahahahaha!!!
He’s the 25th leading rusher in NFL history, and he’s caught about 500 balls.–Joe
August 31st, 2019 at 4:40 pm
He was only kept to help mentor through camp
August 31st, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Are we going to sit either PB or ROJO – no we are not -PB is making $3-4mil, ROJO a 2nd rd pick from last year, it just doesn’t make sense to add an old RB when we need depth at DE, another G perhaps, S stop gap due to injuries to Evans/Edwards
It means Dare is the #3 and I like that – if ROJO plays as well as he has this PS, we don’t need a 31 y/o RB4
August 31st, 2019 at 4:41 pm
On the surface this sounds really stupid – for a bunch of people that complained about Martin’s rushing average, like it was his fault, to then want a guy with equally bad stats. But McCoy can catch the ball well and should be the top back. But I’d assume Houston will be all in on him, and will McCoy want to come to a team the national media is saying is a 5 win team? Doubtful.
We shall see, but I don’t think it’s going to happen, and I’m not sure it’s really all that great of an idea. I do like him as a pass catching back, I just don’t think he wants to play that role of Charles Sims.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Jaylen Samuels would be a good RB4
August 31st, 2019 at 4:45 pm
Chasing Paris Hilton
August 31st, 2019 at 4:46 pm
McCoy will have at least a couple suitors, and my guess is more than one of them will be more appealing than a team coming of back to back 5-11 seasons…
August 31st, 2019 at 4:49 pm
TBBF’s bubble players:
Benenoch
Miller (PS)
Oconner
D. Stewart
Bailey
There will likely still be some changes coming…..
August 31st, 2019 at 4:50 pm
I expected Mazzi Wilkins or De’vante Harris to be cut but not both of them. Especially with the Ryan Smith suspension.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Bobbo right on. He was here to mentor RonJon.
August 31st, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Can Lesean McCoy possibly play right guard? How about rush the passer?
August 31st, 2019 at 4:55 pm
De’Vante Harris made the 53…..
August 31st, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Elliy was used to teach Arians’ system.
They’re not spending money on McCoy, they’re keeping Anderson
August 31st, 2019 at 5:03 pm
Melvin Gordon available via trade! GET HIM!
August 31st, 2019 at 5:08 pm
Samaje Perine.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:09 pm
Melvin Gordon is a somewhat above average running back who played behind a great offensive line that made giant holes for him. He’s not bad by any means, but he way overvalues himself. There’s a reason the Chargers aren’t budging at all – and why no one is offering anything to the Chargers in trade.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:10 pm
Trade Donovan Smith for a 7’th rounder and a bag of chips. Crease Dotson to BestBuy for an iPad with a nice case.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Hard pass. He’s been getting worse the past 2 seasons and behind our garbage O-line he isn’t like to get any better.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Debate Harris was cut early on today according to Greg Auman.
Hyde now with Texans via trade from OF, takes them out. Philly won’t want him now too old, plus Howard and Sanders now. Cowboys about to re-sign Zeke.
That leaves Chargers maybe as frontrunners, but I am all in favor of McCoy being lead back here, with Barber to occasionally spell him with bruising style. Screw FloJo. $3 mill base plus $2 mill extra incentives for 1000 yards, and if 8 TD’s.
Gordon is way too expensive over 3-4 years, plus 1st round pick San Diego will want in return.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:19 pm
Can’t be a fan of anyone who tweets out the spoilers for Avengers Endgame before most of us could see it.
But compared to our current backfield, yeah, Shady is a MASSIVE upgrade.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:22 pm
“It’s a shame the Bucs invested all those spring and summer snaps into Ellington when they could have been developing a young running back. That’s a miss by the regime.”
Did you forget that a rookie came in, got snaps, and took what was likely Andre Ellington’s third running back spot away from him? And also, said rookies development into this role may have come as a result of Ellington’s ability to help him adapt to the new system? I know being butthurt over who is in the running back room is a constant theme on this website, but come on.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Please go get Garton from LA now!!!!!
August 31st, 2019 at 5:35 pm
The Bunting pick is looking bad early on too. Could have had a fresh RB at that spot. McCoy may not have any tread on his tires.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:37 pm
If my vote counts a big NO on L. McCoy
August 31st, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Isaiah Johnson must of got cut too. He lives in my neighborhood and just walked I to the neighborhood gym.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Bucsfaninchina Says:
August 31st, 2019 at 5:22 pm
I see your point…..but we have no rookie running backs on the 53…..only rookie was Bruce Anderson and he will likely be on the PS…
August 31st, 2019 at 5:53 pm
isn’t shady the one with a rep for domestic disputes with some woman?
i can’t believe we cut bruce andreson then ellington…that is weird…i figured one or the other…
bucco bruce is playing it coy in front of the media..he is not that happy with his roster
August 31st, 2019 at 5:55 pm
BS. That is a MISS by BA bringing HIS guys in and taking Team Lovie to his own level. Gabbert. Ellington. QB Whisperer to Winston. All losers. We expect that from a HC but this HC has accomplished NOTHING more than other failed coaches so far. He is in his reitrement job. Bucs fans…enjoy padding the mattress of Licht and Arians in their retirements. Arians is driving his golf cart off into the Tampa Bay sunset.
August 31st, 2019 at 5:57 pm
I’m sure that Ellington was a asset helping all the running backs get up to speed with the playbook. He earned some money had the opportunity to show his stuff and help the younger guys grow. I don’t think it was a waste.
August 31st, 2019 at 6:00 pm
He’s the 25th leading rusher in NFL history, and he’s caught about 500 balls.–Joe
—–
Warrick Dunn has more rushing yards and more receptions. Are you saying Dunn is HOF too? C’mon Joe.
August 31st, 2019 at 6:01 pm
I think the Spence and Ellington cuts are messages to vets – you better make plays, close is not good enough
August 31st, 2019 at 6:06 pm
Anderson showed that he can be a good RB and a change of pace RB. No need to got get a 30 year old back.
But if they do I wouldn’t be mad about it.
August 31st, 2019 at 6:27 pm
Warrick dunn has more rushing yards than mccoy and he caught over 500 balls and i dont ever hear his name in the hof discussion. Other players with more rushing yards are fred taylor, steven jackson, corey dillon. I never hear their names in the hof discussion. Ricky waters is never in the discussion either. If you dont put those guys in, then lesean mccoy does not deserve consideration
Consideration is different than getting in. Watters has been on the ballot, so has Taylor. Yards per carry for McCoy is extraordinary. And he’s not retired yet. –Joe
August 31st, 2019 at 6:55 pm
If you idiots want McCoy, who is truly “shady,” you are dumber than I think. He’s old and there is very little gas in the tank.
August 31st, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Would love to get a DE or DT upgrade along with another OL upgrade.
Shady would make a great addition to Seattle with a shifty QB who can make stuff happen.
I Love Dare at the RB…this guy is gonna light it up!
Go Bucs!
August 31st, 2019 at 7:08 pm
On rating running backs, I would probably go Fred Taylor, LeSean McCoy, Warrick Dunn, Ricky Waters but would not have a problem with someone else having a different rating.
I think the “Shade” mood for McCoy in Tampa would be very unhappy and not that productive at this point in his career. Like someone else said, possibly looking at Josh Adams might be a play.
August 31st, 2019 at 7:58 pm
Come on joe. Ricky watters 1st and last time on the ballot of 50 was 2007. Fred taylor in 2018 was on the list of 108 candidates before the reduction to 50. Like i said, if watters, dunn, taylor, dillon, steven jackson are not being considered, mccoy wont and shouldnt receive consideration.
August 31st, 2019 at 7:58 pm
We need to bring in J.Adams and K.Doss for sure! Go BUCS!!!!
August 31st, 2019 at 8:40 pm
Chargers told Gordon to seek a trade go for him ! Not 31 yrs old McCoy…..
August 31st, 2019 at 9:28 pm
If, if, if.
For dudes who claim to hate speculation, y’all sure do a lot of it.
August 31st, 2019 at 9:30 pm
I’d rather have Dunn on my team than that fatso Bettis or that bore Curtis Martin. When you look at the stats, which is the only reason Martin got in, it makes no sense why Dunn has never had his name even brought up.
BTW, no, he’s not a HOF, but neither is Bettis or Martin.
August 31st, 2019 at 9:33 pm
Do people yelling about Gordon under how the cap works, and more importantly have they actually watched any film? Do yourself a favor and just watch a highlight video and what you’ll see are giant holes he’s running through, something he wouldn’t be getting here even if they could afford him. You could literally put Ronald Jones in that spot and he’d have rushed for 1100 yards. Gordon is a nice player, but he’s not special, and that’s the reason no one is giving him the huge deal he wants and no team is giving up a 1st for him. Maybe I’ll be proven wrong, we shall see shortly.
August 31st, 2019 at 9:37 pm
I wonder where our salary cap is after these cuts.
August 31st, 2019 at 9:46 pm
Bonzai – Spence was really the only cut that I’ve seen where the you’re above min, and because of guarantees even that was only about an $800k savings.
Because of the veteran min compared to the 2nd year min, the Bucs save some money there as well.
But the OL they traded from was on a rookie deal, I think a 4th rounder, so he’s going to make more than a min they’d pay someone else.
So with all that said I’d expect them to be about the same, around $5m. It’s a guess, but an educated guess.
August 31st, 2019 at 9:51 pm
Lmao. “FATHER TIME.” Guy isn’t even 30. Goes to show this isn’t just a young mans game, this is a kids game – and we’re all just a bunch of grown ass men cheering for dudes that are 20yrs younger than us and don’t know dick abut life
September 1st, 2019 at 1:19 am
LeSean McCoy is a Chief! It might not be official, but it will be.
September 1st, 2019 at 1:23 am
Chiefs gave McCoy $4?!? Wow, that’s quite a bit – which makes me assume they plan on using him.
September 1st, 2019 at 6:13 am
Path might not be clear for McCoy anymore, but it is for Dare
September 1st, 2019 at 10:45 am
I think we are going to struggle this year and I think Jamies will get all the blame. This offensive line looks bad witch means we will not be able to run the ball and it’s going to be hard to pass the ball!!!! I don’t know why they brought back that Trash GM !!!!!
September 1st, 2019 at 2:38 pm
[Bulls(p)it with the “click bait” narrative! You don’t remember Adrian Peterson running wild against the Bucs??? What team was he running for? What coach pulled him off the trash heap? Hell, Arians himself said he’d take a guy off the sidewalk last week. Words came right out of his own mouth! Yet you have some hangup with Joe because you have a boner for a lousy running back! Don’t come at Joe with this noise! — Joe}