Are The Patriots Calling Again?
March 9th, 2020
“Greg, can I just have Blount and Talib since you’re not interested? I’ll give you a job when they fire you.”
Remember those reports last offseason of the Patriots calling the Buccaneers for O.J. Howard?
Well, today heard a SiriusXM NFL Radio news man talking about a new report that the Patriots are shopping for tight ends now, possibly to entice Tom Brady to stay and possibly just because they need a major upgrade.
Also, NBC Sports uber NFL insider Peter King spoke on NFL Network this morning about how Bill Belicheat screwed up last offseason when he didn’t score Adam Humphries in free agency (Humphries turned him down and went to Tennessee) and didn’t upgrade at tight end.
So that has Joe wondering this afternoon if Belicheat texting his former director of player personnel, Jason Licht. The Bucs have Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard and certainly don’t need both.
And Bucs historians also know that it was Belicheat who traded with Licht for tight end Tim Wright in 2014. Wright caught six touchdowns and won a Super Bowl ring that season. And in typical Belicheat fashion, he was cut four months later.
Joe wrote earlier today about the changing tight end market in the NFL. Brate is signed for four more seasons. Might he fetch the Patriots’ late third-round pick?
March 9th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
A 3rd for Brate? Awesome! Do it!
We need as many late 2nds and 3rds as possible! Even a 4th or two. I havent seen a draft this deep in a long time!
March 9th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
A late third rounder for Brate?
No thanks.
March 9th, 2020 at 3:55 pm
Given our salary Cap situation(too many high-priced mouths to feed), there’s an excellent chance IMO that Cam Brate is no longer a Buc after March 22nd. Getting ANY pick for him from anyone would be a lot better than just releasing him outright.
That said, can’t see Bill Belicheck paying $6 mil a year AND a 3rd Rnd pick for Cam Brate. Much more likely that Bill has his eye on OJ.
March 9th, 2020 at 3:59 pm
help to get Tom Brady here, and he can have O.J. Howard ….. all day long…
BA = LovieS 2.0
March 9th, 2020 at 4:04 pm
Ahhh Timmy Wright!! Haven’t heard that name in awhile.
March 9th, 2020 at 4:06 pm
If Jason Licht can hose Belichick for a 3rd rounder by trading Brate and saving $6mil at the same time he will put himself in the running for GM of the year in 2020!!!
March 9th, 2020 at 4:07 pm
OJ for a 4th Rd pick in 2020 & a 2nd in 2021….or Sony Michel – straight up…Would have to seriously consider it.
March 9th, 2020 at 4:14 pm
If Belichick calls to trade with you, you hang up the phone. If you answer, you’ve already lost.
March 9th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Brate is not worth anything bad contract with bad hips no way any gm will give up more than a 5th brate is a product of Jameis just like titans learned by overpaying hump who also was a product of Winston’s golden arm.
March 9th, 2020 at 4:28 pm
Ahhh Timmy Wright!!
Based low standard bucfans lowered bar for greatness my guess timmy Wright should be up for the ring of underachievement next year….
March 9th, 2020 at 4:54 pm
Brate is Jameis’s blankee….just like Jack Nicholas grandson at FSU
March 9th, 2020 at 5:07 pm
If Belicheat calls for a TE…You answer & listen.
Yeah, he’s calling because he sees the Bucs are not utilizing their own talent & thinks he can get a deal….That should be a given…So, not really concerned w/ helping an AFC team, as long as the return is right.
For Brate:
7th Rd pick in 2020 + conditional 6th rd pick in 2021.
(NE would be taking on Brate’s $6M 2020 salary & open that Cap space to help Bucs pay for Godwin’s extension – which is a better use of funds – in this offensive system.)
For OJ:
Option A request: a 2nd in 2021 & a 4th this year = is a steal…when balanced against TE usage in BA’s system. 2020 is a Deep Draft at a number of positions. 2021 (Late) 2nd rd pick would give FO another Day2 option/trade capitol).
Option B: Sony Michel straight up – is an equally appealing proposition- if medicals are good. He’s still on a rookie deal – so money fits. Plus he looks to be on the outside looking in w/ James White likely NE’s RB1…If he’s healthy, would be a good “change of scenery swap of 1st rd talents & Michel looks like a nice compliment to RoJo… (As long as the medicals check out.)
March 9th, 2020 at 5:51 pm
OJ Howard and Cam Brate both with bad seasons last year.
The thing is Brate’s contract is higher, he can’t run block and it seems like he is starting to wear down.
Not saying that O.J. Howard is going to turn it around but at this point his upside is much higher.
If NE offers a late 3rd rounder for Brate, take it. Gives you more money to sign some of those valuable defensive guys for this next year.
NE did not use Damian Harris at all last year. Possibly he can be included in any magical trade that we talk about on this site.
March 9th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
I would trade OJ and I wouldn’t think twice. Extremely overrated player. And it’s funny everybody blames the OL for our running game but OJ was a big reason why we struggled. Cause he can’t block worth a darn. They said he could block coming out of college which is why I liked the pick but they lied.
This system needs blocking TEs. That’s why they like Auclair. Dump OJ and get another big body. And somebody that can make a dirty catch o we the middle……Something else a TE should be able to do that OJ can’t.
I’m fine keeping Brate as a possession receiver. But he’d probably see limited snaps again so he gotta redo his deal. If not see ya. Rebuild the position. Focus on receivers and RBs who can catch as you primary targets.
March 9th, 2020 at 6:08 pm
And OJ has still not had a better statistical season then Brate did in 2016. Brate is undrafted and OJ can’t even match him. That’s pathetic for a first round pick.
All’s OJ can do is run if he has open field. That’s it. And only if he manages to catch the ball. Three years in and never shown the potential that was claimed it’ll never happen.
One day y’all will realize that forty yard dash splits, vertical leaps and wingspan measurement aren’t what it takes to make a great football player. Not even close.
And ya wanna know why he wasn’t part of the game plan? You go take a look at game one this past season and tell me how OJ was not the absolute worst player on the field that day. You can’t cause you won’t……..He was a big part of the game plan that day. The rest of the season. he got what he earned.
And later on when we lost our top receiver and it was next man up where was he? That’s right, sucking. Breahard stepped up…..even RoJo stepped up. Pathetic man.
March 9th, 2020 at 6:13 pm
Howard is worth at most 3rd pick and Brate maybe a 5th rounder.
March 9th, 2020 at 6:17 pm
Catcard
I’m with you on OJ’s value. A couple of higher draft picks one this year and one next is another thing good franchises do…stockpile picks for the future.
For all we know Brate’s current exorbitant salary may work out to be a bargain after the new cap. When he’s healthy and plays well I think Brate is worth it. He seems to have a knack for finding seams in end zone defenses which is a terrific talent for any TE to possess.
March 9th, 2020 at 6:18 pm
With Winston gone, Brate is expendable. Brate will be missed. Not Windstunned.
March 9th, 2020 at 6:34 pm
By the way, I was at Tim Wright’s first game with the Buc’s in 2013. A group of us had flown up to watch the Buc’s play NE that year. We were in the stadium early and watching both the Buc’s and NE practice. We saw 81 in the practice and wondered who that was. Lo and behold it was Tim Wright.
I actually remember that game more for Josh Freeman. I do not typically wear Jerseys to games except away games. I was wearing a Josh Freeman Jersey (anyone want it).
Last game he played for the Buc’s. That must be worth something. A game worn jersey by me on the last game Josh Freeman played for the Buc’s.
March 9th, 2020 at 6:34 pm
Hey does anybody even know who we got for Tim Wright? I’m guessing a rookie from a draft pick.
If we got the better end of that deal it would make twice that we got them on a trade. The other with Logan Mankins. We surely got a steal for that beast.(though O don’t know who they drafted with our pick either).
Getting two over on the Pats is quite an ackomplishment. I’d bet right now no other team could say that without going back to the 90’s or earlier.
March 9th, 2020 at 6:36 pm
Hahaha a game worn jersey by Geno. I still got my lucky underwear from our glory years……You think it’ll fetch me anything on gregslist?
March 9th, 2020 at 7:14 pm
Brate and Winston for a 3rd round pick and a box of steaks.
March 9th, 2020 at 7:20 pm
Pats don’t have a 2nd this year, but have two 3rd rds. Get one of them for Brate or one this year for OJ and another pick next yesr.
March 9th, 2020 at 8:13 pm
All you trade this and traft that crowd when was the last trade bucs won????? When was the last time the received a 3rd or above for s player?????
March 9th, 2020 at 8:25 pm
Newsflash: You can’t decide until you know who the QB is.
March 9th, 2020 at 8:26 pm
Brate is worth more than OJ, Haters.
March 9th, 2020 at 10:02 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
March 9th, 2020 at 8:26 pm
Brate is worth more than OJ, Haters.
only in the minds of low standard feeling first bucfan that confuses nice guys and popularity with greatness daily. brate is a nobody without jameis
March 9th, 2020 at 10:04 pm
just like hump was a nobody without jameis in ten…. titans sure did flush a lot of coin down the drain on the little fella
March 9th, 2020 at 10:22 pm
Regardless of the moves made, if the 2020 season is a bust, heads will roll. First on that list SHOULD and MOST DEFINITELY BE JASON LICHT
March 9th, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Bonzai on the field yes Brate is worth more then OJ. In a trade nah……There’s always a bonehead GM out there just like some fan who fall all over themselfs because some dude ran fast in track shoes and a speedo…….I won’t deny that ON is one heck of a athlete. Football player, not so much.
March 9th, 2020 at 10:28 pm
Yeah well Big O chopping heads after every two years is a big part of why this team is the consistent mess that it is.
Bruce might not be coaching here for a crazy long time but he has assembled a staff that could potential give us some real consistency. They Glazer better see this thing through if they know what’s good for them………..Now if this team quits out on the field like Dirk’s team and Schianos team did all bets are off for me. Otherwise it’s kneejerk foolishness.
March 10th, 2020 at 12:49 am
I think that we’d be lucky to get their late 4th round pick for Brate, but it’s better than nothing. I’d rather get their late second round pick for Howard if we can somehow sucker them into that trade. I fully expect us to do nothing and end up eventually losing Howard to free agency and getting nothing in return as per usual.
March 10th, 2020 at 5:33 am
Humphries is lucky Tannehill saved the day, otherwise his choice to go to Tennessee would’ve looked stupid.
Belichick isn’t going to pay that for a tight need that could very well get released. OJ is the only one with a real market.
Then again, Arians could hold onto them both and use it to entice Brady to come to Tampa. He’d have to learn how to use tight ends, but every other coach does so maybe he’ll figure it out
March 10th, 2020 at 5:46 am
Prediction: If we trade OJ to the Pats, he will become the next gronk!
As long as Brady is still there.
March 10th, 2020 at 7:26 am
OJ would be much better in a system that utilizes a TE. New England knows this. I would had to see OJ leaving for anything less than a second round pick, especially from NE since they are picking at the bottom of the round.