The Important Decision On Ryan Jensen
March 12th, 2022
Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen
For weeks, Joe typed the Bucs could re-sign Chris Godwin to a multi-year contract and then franchise center Ryan Jensen (unless he agreed to a contract which didn’t seem likely).
But that didn’t happen as Godwin got tagged leaving Jensen free to test the market.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard recently explained that some players bring more value than others because of their impact on other players. Joe thinks that applies to Jensen.
Remember how Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht used to crow about how “nasty” Jensen was and he wanted Jensen’s gnarly demeanor to be the Bucs’ standard? Tell Joe that Jensen’s ‘tude didn’t rub off on the rest of the offensive line.
So Joe asked former Bucs scout and Jets personnel executive Pat Kirwan about Jensen last week in terms of Ballard’s words regarding a player’s influence value.. Kirwan, who co-hosts along with Jim Miller pound for pound the best damn football show in the free world, Movin’ The Chains on SiriusXM NFL Radio, believes for the Bucs to be contenders with Ali Marpet gone, keeping Jensen is critical.
“Call him the captain of the line if you wish,” Kirwan said. “He makes the calls. He can coordinate everything. He communicates with the quarterback all the time.
“The Marpet part is really important. I think [the Bucs] — first of all I think they needed [Jensen] no matter what Marpet was doing. Now [with Marpet gone], I think it is absolutely necessary to bring [Jensen] back.”
Easier said than done.
Kirwan has his ear to the NFL ground and let’s just say Jensen’s agent will be a very popular man when legal tampering kicks off on Monday, when Jensen could agree to a new contract elsewhere by that afternoon.
The Bucs’ problems in keeping Jensen “is going to be the competitive market out there,” Kirwan said. “A number of teams have their eyes on him.”
Joe heard from reliable people at the combine that the Jets and the Bengals are both drooling over the chance to sign Jensen.
Yes, Joe knows money is tight for the Bucs these days. Simply put, if Jensen walks out the door of One Bucs Palace along with Ali Marpet, that would be two Pro Bowl interior linemen gone. And you can then kiss Tom Brady goodbye (again) for 2022, that’s all there is to it.
March 12th, 2022 at 5:52 am
Sign Jensen not some QB with a bunch of baggage
March 12th, 2022 at 6:02 am
Going to come down to Jensen, or Cappa. Bucs could go guard as early as 1st, or 2nd round to help ease the loss of Marpet, and Cappa. Stinnie can be resigned also, but Jensen I think we’ll bring back at all costs. The Bucs won’t lose Godwin, or Jensen. Both I feel are the top priorities.
March 12th, 2022 at 6:14 am
The vultures are circling. The Bucs’ carcass is about to be picked clean.
March 12th, 2022 at 6:27 am
Can’t let heart and soul type guys go unless you’re fully into rebuilding mode. Jensen is a future Ring of Honor guy…hope he realizes what he’s meant to Tampa and sticks around
March 12th, 2022 at 7:13 am
Didnt eagles just give kelce 14 mil per
So someone will be desperate and give 15 mil per. I think he goes to bengals cause oline got burrow killed last year and they know burrow is future and have him for reasonable qb price for 2 more years
March 12th, 2022 at 7:35 am
Legacy vs chasing rings. Regardless, Brady’s future doesn’t hang on what happens with Ryan Jensen. He’s gone gone
March 12th, 2022 at 8:36 am
How well does Joe know Jensen? Does he seem like the type of guy who would choose Tampa over other teams for reasons other than money (loves the team, the area, wants to live here after football, etc)? Or does Joe get the feeling it will almost entirely be about the money?
March 12th, 2022 at 9:17 am
How hamstrung are the Bucs? Or is Licht so bad at his job that he couldn’t convince a couple of our FA’s to stay? I think it’s a combination of both!!! But Jensen and Whitehead were key. There is little chance any of our FA’s re-sign before or on Monday. Too bad compensatory picks didn’t kick in this draft when we need them.
March 12th, 2022 at 9:34 am
Come on, SKBucsfan. Licht hasn’t forgotten how to do his job and he’s certainly much better at it these days.
March 12th, 2022 at 9:38 am
Who was covering Cooper cup in our last game ,?
March 12th, 2022 at 10:08 am
Sure SK. Licht is so bad at his job he put together an allstar roster that won a super bowl and managed to keep them all together for another run the next year. A team that put up a team best all time record and the best offense in team history. What a bum
March 12th, 2022 at 10:30 am
Center is the second most difficult offensive position to fill in my book. At least for the Bucs (historically).
If we have a young QB, we need a nasty but reliable center.
March 12th, 2022 at 12:44 pm
I think he can be replaced by a serviceable replacement I hope the bucs don’t chase a 31 year old center
March 12th, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Let Joe say first he’s an awesome dude and a guy you want in a foxhole with you. Joe does know Jensen doesn’t care for humid Tampa summers (he’s a mountain man).
Yeah, Jensen is a capitalist. Remember he came to the Bucs when they were putrid. Why? Jason Licht showed him the money.
Jensen has his ring and he knows being 30 he has a short shelf life. So he’s going to cash out. Only chance he stays with Bucs is if he knows who Bucs QB will be (Brady, Watson).
March 12th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
OMG, Tom Brady retired… you guys have to get over it already.
As for Jensen… Licht literally drafted his replacement last year for a reason, he always knew he was going to let Jensen walk after this season.
Marpet is the much bigger loss, and unexpected.
March 12th, 2022 at 5:25 pm
Rod says that Tom is retired…. so somebody text Tom and tell him it’s over. It’s no longer his choice….Rod said so. NOBODY KNOWS Rod…….the rumor hyping sports writer J-offs have yet to be right on anything…the only team they didn’t say Rodgers was going to ….was the lightning
March 12th, 2022 at 9:41 pm
TBFan is right . No one know what TB will decide to do in the future.
Maybe Ali Marpet will come out of retirement like Gronk.
March 12th, 2022 at 9:48 pm
The key to figuring out what Brady is going to do is Gronk. If Gronk signs with Tampa you can expect Brady back. If Gronk signs with another team then we can kiss goodbye whatever dreams we had of Brady coming back.