A Name To Look Out For
March 4th, 2021
Slot WR released Wednesday.
Yesterday afternoon, Joe brought word from Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian saying on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht should not tag free agent Chris Godwin, and if Godwin’s asking price is too rich, then wave goodbye.
It’s not that Polian doesn’t like Godwin — he does. Polian knows there is only so much Team Glazer loot for Licht to spend. If Godwin leaves, it won’t hurt too badly, per Polian, because the Bucs have furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown to fall back on.
Of course, given Brown’s well-documented off-field antics, that includes a great deal of risk and a leap of faith by Licht’s.
Well, a guy that maybe the Bucs might to keep in mind just hit the unemployment line last night. That’s slot receiver Golden Tate.
Also last night while co-hosting “Late Hits” with Tom Pelissero, Polian noted something Joe has long believed: once you get get past the stars who will be free agents, it will be a buyer’s market for the Class B or Class C free agents. And there will be many, Polian said.
Polian listed Tate among the next those in the next class and he should be a bargain.
If Godwin leaves, the Bucs will be looking for a slot receiver. When need meets opportunity…
Of course, Tate is sort of a diva and a headcase himself. He once had a beef with Janoris Jenkins. And he went mental during and after a game with Jalen Ramsey. Tate cried for the ball a lot with the Giants, who dumped him to the curb yesterday.
Would Joe want Tate over Godwin? Hell no! But Joe does know wide receivers who are on the wild side suddenly behave when the guy throwing them the ball is park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
If Godwin leaves over cash and the Bucs get a bargain with someone like Tate, then that should leave plenty of Team Glazer loot to sign Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett, kicker Ryan Succop and linebacker Lavonte David.
Joe does wonder if Tate is washed up. Drafted in 2010, Tate turns 33 in August and had just 388 yards receiving last year, his worst season since he was a rookie.
March 4th, 2021 at 12:11 am
TY Hilton, much better that Diva Tate in every way. If Godwin goes and AB is iffy, sign TY.
March 4th, 2021 at 12:14 am
Old stubborn vet, I wouldnt take my chances. Id rather focus on making sure AB can stay away from becoming a headcase again.
I think people are under estimating how good AB was and still can be, when hes at his best, hes a top 5 WR in the league.
March 4th, 2021 at 12:17 am
Polian is a HOF GM, but I chalk that up to being lucky enough to be in a position to draft Peyton Manning.
Well, he did get to the Super Bowl with two other teams … –Joe
I doubt Polian watched NYG games this season, not many would outside of the tri-state region. If this was Jones’ first year behind center, you can explain it away, but that’s not the case. My guess is that Tate isn’t getting separation like he used to.
March 4th, 2021 at 12:18 am
ugh…Want me some Godwin! Basic 101 negotiating – Godwin already stated his goals, and compromises. JL has the ball. Get’er’done JL!
March 4th, 2021 at 12:22 am
I’d go with Antonio Brown over Golden Tate, if we’re looking for cagey vets. Tate’s numbers took a dive last season. If it was Jones’ rookie season, we could explain that way as an aberration, but that wasn’t the case. I doubt Polian even watches NYG games, I certainly don’t. I have a feeling Tate is having trouble getting separation.
I think Brown will be an expensive re-signing. Sure, there’s a trial coming up, but it’s worth a roll of the die.
March 4th, 2021 at 12:26 am
Oops, I think Brown will be an inexpensive re-signing. Damn, I should proofread.
March 4th, 2021 at 12:29 am
At least in the playoffs Tyler Johnson’s hands were better than Godwin’s. I love Godwin but I think his replacement is already on the team and we need the money for the defense. Keep that defense together and add to the trenches through the draft.
March 4th, 2021 at 12:31 am
@tbbucs3 – interesting strategy w AB.
Top 5 talent – Top 5 head-case. Maybe AB is a different WR head-case w/Brady as QB. Seemed so in 2020.
2021 – will JL buy AB? Dude can flat out play…. what will be his cost?
March 4th, 2021 at 1:41 am
Polian is right. I’d love to have Chris back but not before Shaq, Suh, David, Gronk, and Succop are officially signed for at least 2021. Lesser receivers like Amari and Keenan are being paid far more than they are worth. Why should Chris settle for less than them? Per Overthecap, Amari’s cap hit will be 22 million this year. That’s what the fools in Dallas are paying for 92 catches, 1,114 yards, and 5 (!) touchdowns.
I don’t see Chris staying unless we franchise him. He’s not worth more than Mike, but he deserves every bit as much and more as what some other receivers have recently gotten from their braindead teams. Good luck Licht, my prayers are with you. 😛
March 4th, 2021 at 2:36 am
It’d be a good strategy so long as they keep him away from Giselle
March 4th, 2021 at 5:28 am
The ramsey situation is a personal family problem. Ramsey has kids with Tate sister. And left her while pregnant for a side chick. He had been going back and for with Tate and his family for weeks being disrespectful.
March 4th, 2021 at 5:49 am
Yes, great teams are built by replacing great players with hand-me-downs from other teams. New England did great without Tom Brady and Cam Newton instead.
Brady=Newton
Godwin=Tate
March 4th, 2021 at 6:20 am
This is the equivalent of saying “Just replace Shaq Barrett with Bruce Irvin. Irvin is several years older, but was good a couple of years ago”, IMHO.
March 4th, 2021 at 6:51 am
A lot of teams use slot for undersized speed guy to run quick slants thru heavy traffic with dbs and linebackers and sit in open spot in defense.
Ba and bl are different.
Whoever it is has to block. Which makes sense cause They line up even closer to line of scrimmage. Another reason godwin was such a physical complete receiver . That is what slot is required to do in BA/BL offense. They need to be run blockers as well.
That is why AB and miller for most part lined up on outside – little guys
Therefore, I Wonder if they move evans into slot some more if godwin bolts?
Or they run more to outside sweeps instead of up middle so there are ways around it. That run to outside right on wirfs side with marpet pulling guard seems to work wonders 😂
——
Golden tate is decent blocker / physical guy…or he talks like one
Another receiver who may be option if godwin bolts is larry fitzgerald. Now he is much older and past prime but arians moved him into slot years ago and he became a really physical blocker as he has good size.
I think godwin stays so in the end it doesnt matter. Godwin likes evans and looks up to evans. Maybe they can convince him to take the mike evans deal of around 15-16 mil per.
Salary cap will go way up very soon. Especially with 17th game coming. Lock down your star players and continue drafting well
March 4th, 2021 at 7:07 am
Tag Godwin and trade him for a first, easy, much better than a 3 rd round comp pick next year
March 4th, 2021 at 7:08 am
We Have Scottie Miller and Tyler Johnson so we don’t need an old WR to come in. Let the young guys you have play time we did that with Godwin and look how that turned out. I like Godwin but he has the dropsies sometimes!! Pay the defense keep them together we are just fine at WR even without Godwin
March 4th, 2021 at 8:06 am
Adam Humphries was also released by Titans yesterday. I think he could be available cheaper. And we already know how sure handed and crafty Humphries has always been, and he was the best punt returner we had since peanut tillman in his prime.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:17 am
Hump has no place in this offense. Yes, he is the stereotypical Tom Brady Slot Receiver, but not in this offense. Out of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Tyler Johnson, and Scotty Miller, he’s the worst among that group.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:36 am
CG is not going anywhere, he will stay……LVD and Lenny will go….
March 4th, 2021 at 8:47 am
the market will be flooded with talent and some really good players will have to sign really cheap so if we lose a stud, he will be replaced and we won’t miss a beat short term… may be better off in the short term.
March 4th, 2021 at 9:18 am
Pass on the washed up head case prima Donna. Instead, trade every pick to trade up and draft Kyle Pitts.
March 4th, 2021 at 9:52 am
Golden Tate us far from golden, he did nothing special for the Giants and was never as good as he thought he was. No thanks.
March 4th, 2021 at 10:02 am
Tate really? Come on this has got to be a joke right. They will tag godwin.
March 4th, 2021 at 11:15 am
Biggest problem if we sign him is I may have to hang up the nickname Golden Taint
March 4th, 2021 at 11:58 am
“Polian listed Tate among the next those in the next class” – Joe
I that english?
March 4th, 2021 at 11:58 am
is
March 4th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
The Bucs have a great culture and enough weapons. Tate is all risk with little reward.