“The Buccaneers Don’t Need Patrick Peterson”
March 13th, 2021
Likes how Bucs’ DBs devour.
When the shot-callers of Tampa Bay talk about bringing back the Band of Bucs, one area you don’t hear any chatter about is the secondary.
The secondary, who glossed themselves “The Gravediggers,” were fabulous in the playoffs and Super Bowl. “Youngry,” as a former Bucs secondary coach would call them.
So when former Bucs guard and popular radio personality Ian Beckles heard a rumor that Cardinals cornerback and free agent Patrick Peterson was interested in reuniting with his old coaches Bucco Bruce Arians and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Beckles suddenly had a sour taste in his stomach, as he explained on his podcast “In the Trenches.”
“I heard a rumor that Patrick Peterson wants to come here and play,” Beckles began. “Patrick Peterson is another guy who is going to be a Hall of Famer. But he ain’t a Hall of Famer today.
“I have been watching some film and I was watching some highlights of the Rams and Seattle [playing Arizona] and they were catching balls on Patrick Peterson at a frantic rate. Patrick Peterson used to be that guy who you just didn’t throw the ball at him. He’s not the same.”
The Bucs secondary is loaded with good young players and Beckles has no idea why the Bucs would even think of screwing that up by signing a has-been, no matter if he once played for Arians and Bowles.
“The Buccaneers don’t need Patrick Peterson,” Beckles said. “They don’t need him. They have young kids coming up, hungry. Everybody in that defensive backfield improved last year. By the end of the year we had a great young nucleus. And that’s going to be even better next year.”
And you know what else? They are inexpensive. None are first-round picks. Also, Carlton Davis and Jordan Whitehead are in the final year of their contracts and both are being paid $2 million+ change.
With the Bucs counting nickels to get the Band of Bucs all signed, they won’t have cash to sign any old veteran like Peterson whose best days are in the rear-view mirror.
As always, Beckles welcomes feedback and encourages listeners to submit Bucs questions by e-mailing him at IanBeckles@RadioInfluence.com.
Enjoy today’s new Ira Kaufman Podcast, presented by Bill Currie Ford.
March 13th, 2021 at 8:09 am
Vet minimum as the 4 corner – sure. Maybe nickel if Bunting returns to his regular season brain farts. If not the bare minimum then “that’ll be a no for me dawg.”
March 13th, 2021 at 8:10 am
Finally, someone who makes sense…..
We have 4 picks in the first three rounds……I suspect one of them will be a defensive back……ST & Depth…..you can never have enough CBs…..
I’d like to see……DT, DE, LB, DB……keep feeding that defense.
March 13th, 2021 at 8:14 am
Amen Ian.
March 13th, 2021 at 8:17 am
Beckles is usually wrong.
But hes right this time. The Bucs young secondary is exciting to watch.
In the Super Bowl, I have never seen so many balls swatted away by DBs!
And they WILL be even better this year.
This team needs young depth- not starters.
Petersen was a hall of frame caliber player. But like all good times, its come to an end.
March 13th, 2021 at 8:25 am
i’d rather seea richard sherman come in here as a more cerebral type mentor to the young guys…
but that isn’t happening due to his price…
and i don’t really want him here…but would prefer him here more than peterson to rub off on the young guys…
we could use an old vet who’s just hanging on for a year, willing to play for a ring, comes dirt cheap and has that heavy duty mentorship mechanism already built into his style…i don’t know who that guy would be, but it’s arians, bowles and licht’s job to know these type of things…hopefully they find someone like that if say cockrell doesn’t return
March 13th, 2021 at 8:28 am
For “ring chaser minimum” possibly, good vet presence as depth, definitely not as a starter. kicking the tires on Peterson is not a bad idea. GO BUCS!!!
March 13th, 2021 at 8:29 am
“Beckles is usually wrong. Unless I agree with him, then he’s right.” <— Fixed it for you. Some of you in these comments crack me up. Putting so much stock in your personal opinions over people that actually played in the NFL and have a deep knowledge of the game. Keep it up though, the rest of us enjoy the laughs.
March 13th, 2021 at 8:32 am
No matter who is back there, if you dont get pressure, the secondary will struggle. That’s just how the league is set up. I dont think Peterson makes us better or worse, we had back ups filling in occasionally and they held up fine….as long as the pass rush was productive.
March 13th, 2021 at 8:35 am
Respectfully, Beckles needs to go back and watch the Super Bowl again. There were a lot of open balls that were dropped by the Chiefs WRs–our guys left some big holes in that game. I like the youth on our team, but competition, leadership, and depth is something that could benefit the backfield. If Peterson wants to come here for peanuts—you bring him.
March 13th, 2021 at 8:36 am
where is the tandy-man when you need him…lol
March 13th, 2021 at 8:38 am
Jordan Whitehead was a MAJOR reason bucs beat packers fyi
March 13th, 2021 at 8:42 am
what if:
we bring ronde back for one last season… 🙂
to keep the young corners from not getting all big headed with that ring on their finger…
lol ronde could prolly make a go of it for one season… 🙂
#InRondeWeTrust #FuggTiki #IfTomCanRondeCan
#WeLoveRonde #TikiNotSoMuch
March 13th, 2021 at 9:06 am
100% agree
March 13th, 2021 at 9:08 am
The Secondary probably made the biggest strides last year, although Wirfs was like a shot of adrenaline to the OL. They don’t need to add any former superstars. Unless they are dirt cheap.
March 13th, 2021 at 9:08 am
Tampabaybucfan, check yo sheet. We only have an extra 7th this year.
I like where your head is at tho with focus on defensive depth. Mix in an OL and RB and we good!
March 13th, 2021 at 9:12 am
It’s an excellent point by Heckles. It’s also nice to have excellent team/roster “problems”. The Bucs were so good managing the cap for years ( lost decade + ) because their roster was mediocre at best and there weren’t enough good players “to pay” quite honestly.
March 13th, 2021 at 9:27 am
Yes they played better but it was the front 7 pressure that helped them succeed. Look at Washington without pressure, how did they do in that game. Sorry but a veteran DB with Peterson’s credentials makes perfect sense until the young guys mature.
March 13th, 2021 at 9:43 am
LISTNFRMAFAR Says:
March 13th, 2021 at 9:27 am
Yes they played better but it was the front 7 pressure that helped them succeed. Look at Washington without pressure, how did they do in that game. Sorry but a veteran DB with Peterson’s credentials makes perfect sense until the young guys mature.
Totally agree LIST spot on GO BUCS!!!!
March 13th, 2021 at 10:17 am
Spotrac has Peterson’s market value at $10.4 million per year. Do I think he’ll get that from a team? Probably not, then again, teams overpay for aging “name” free agents every year. Peterson could have a rebound year, but I’d rather see the Bucs use a day 3 draft pick on a CB.
March 13th, 2021 at 11:32 am
Forget Peterson. Get Even’s off the Tag and sign a cap-friendly contract. Take the cap $, plus Brady’s 19M, and sign Gronk, AB, Suh, Succup and hopefully Barrett. Let be in a position to compete and win another Super Bowl!!!
March 13th, 2021 at 11:42 am
Ugh. The time of year when all of the casual fans want a free agent because they recognize his name from 5 year ago…
March 13th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
Not related but funny how some of these QBs are trying to he more demanding of cixkes and want more say in the offense or are restructuring contracts trying to emulate Brady….the problem is Brady disnt whine and pit his teams or try to bully and he has the knowledge/experience ….Guys like Mahommes , Russel wislon and Deshuan Watson have athletic ability but no skill in how to develop receivers,read defense ,offensive blocking schemes …its more about the whole package than one thing in particular ….
March 13th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Too many typos….typing on the sun
March 13th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
I could see us drafting another DB with our round one pick. Yall might think it sounds insane but if you look at all these guys we gotta pay it might make good sense…….because eventually we gotta let somebody go. If we got really good young DBs waiting to get a shot maybe then we let a CB sign elsewhere…..Thats where you save money. But you cant let good Corners go if ya got nobody. Thats why you draft em now and have them ready. Its not all that crazy.
March 13th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
I wouldn’t say Mahomes and Wilson struggle with reading defenses or developing receivers. Look what Wilson did with all his past no name receivers and now Metcalf, Mahomes with Kelce. Doubt those two will restructure though for the better of the team.
March 13th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
Beckles has been making some sense lately. It’s crazy what happens when the Bucs win the Big Dance.
March 13th, 2021 at 1:12 pm
If he plays a backup role and special teams for league Vet min… sure why not
March 13th, 2021 at 1:49 pm
The Bucs are very thin in their secondary depth and we saw injuries all year. Carlton Davis is a good example. Bucs need to bring in one or two at least decent older vets that might have been better in their early careers willing to take short contracts. That’s what could make this a great defense. The Brady effect brings out the ballers of all ages.
March 13th, 2021 at 2:03 pm
The Bucs need to add a DB in free agency.
We know Carlton Davis can play and SMB is inconsistent but makes clutch plays. But do we have any idea if Jamal Dean is good or not?
March 13th, 2021 at 2:22 pm
This secondary is so much better when they’re playing up more than playing more zone in the regular season. Jamel Dean could be much more effective.
March 13th, 2021 at 5:26 pm
““I heard a rumor”
Beckles argues against a straw man. Go ahead Ian dazzle us with your brilliance.
March 13th, 2021 at 6:02 pm
Our young secondary is highly overrated. When our pass rush isnt ferocious (like in the playoffs and SB going against backup linemen) our secondary gets torched.
We need to bring in a solid vet corner to start.