“Very Under The Radar”
March 22nd, 2022
Underappreciated.
As high-profile as the Buccaneers have been for the past 24 months, somehow one player’s accomplishment has not been appreciated.
That was the firm message today from former Bucs rock star general manger Mark Dominik, who had hosting duties on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Dominik watched Leonard Fournette sign a new contract for Doug Martin money this morning ($7 million per year) and Dominik quickly ranted about how “very under the radar” Fournette’s 69 receptions were last season. Those catches translated to 454 yards, 2 touchdowns and lots of Tom Brady comfort. And those 69 receptions led all NFC running backs.
Yes, Fournette caught more balls than any other NFC running back, and Lombardi Lenny missed three games with a hamstring injury. In the season prior to Martin getting paid in Tampa by general manager Jason Licht, he had 33 receptions.
Fournette caught 76 balls with Jacksonville the year before arriving in Tampa. So his hands were never a question.
As Dominik said, true dual-threat running backs are rewarded handsomely. Joe just hopes Fournette loves his $7 million annual contract and feels he was paid well. As of now, Fournette is being paid top-10 running back money, not the top-5 cash he was seeking.
March 22nd, 2022 at 11:56 am
What’s up RoJo anyone sign him yet?
March 22nd, 2022 at 11:58 am
Licht cannot be held responsible for Martin ruining his career with drug abuse.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Nice
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Team need at least one more splash signing beyond Gronk on offense and need to draft high or sign pass rush.
I’d like to see a cheap deal for Julio, Cole, Amendola, Edelmen, or Landry.
Main weakness left is two pass rush threats if possible get JPP and Draft defensive starters round 1 and 2
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:05 pm
If you can sign Lenny to virtually the same contract $ per season as you did the Duggernaut (YEARS ago might I add), you’ve put yourself in a position to maximize value and return on investment. Really happy w/ the contracts this off-season. As much as I hate kicking the can down the road, only for the sand to fall out of the bottom eventually in same shape or form, but I totally get it in this situation and we are making smart moves and contracts/commitments I believe 🙌 another feather in the cap of Greenberg and Licht (…and Brady)
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Brady teasing us with his Twitter video of him playing catch with Edelman.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:10 pm
If there’s another big FA move it has to be on defense.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:19 pm
Licht is 10x the GM the Teflon Dom was. Even after huge swing and miss draft picks like Jameis, OJ, and the immortal Roberto Aguayo. I’ll be one of the first to say that I’m sorry I ever doubted him.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Nobody has signed Rojo.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Love what we are doing to keep the best offense in the league together but we will need this offense to operate flawlessly. Our defense is average at best. We need some more help or do y’all think we go heavy on defense in the draft
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:38 pm
Someone will sign Rojo by training camp time
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:43 pm
WHERE THE BUCS LOST LAST YEAR …
Problem: Wirfs injury. Wells was terrible in relief.
Solution: None.
Problem: Godwin and AB went out. The backups were okay but not great.
Solution: Signed Gage.
Problem: Injuries at DB. Logan Ryan replaces Whitehead.
Solution: None
Problem: Limited pass rush.
Solution: None
Licht will probably re-sign DL and vet backups at DB and OT. He’ll draft DL upgrades, DB depth, and an OT prospect.
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Drug Shamster. What a waste!
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Remember when we had Dare, Barber and RoJo coming out of the backfield.
I do………………………..
Fournette is a huge upgrade over those 3 combined.
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:09 pm
All Lenny has done since getting here is produce when the opportunity arose.
I’m glad he’s back!
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Lenny deserves 10 mill
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:28 pm
Looks like its basically a 1-2 year deal $9M-$16M since only the former amount is guaranteed.
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Mr. Fournettes intangibles are worth their weight in gold. Think we are very fortunate he signed a new contract…..
March 22nd, 2022 at 1:45 pm
His tangibles ain’t too bad either.
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:13 pm
Mark Dominik was a joke!
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:15 pm
If gronk is signed for more than one year it would mean that Tommy sign a extension too IMO
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:18 pm
PREDICTION:
If Lenny stays healthy he’ll have a 1,000+ yard rushing season this year for us. He hasn’t had one since he was in Jax, where he had two 1K+ season in his first 3 years.
Now that he’s been given a big contract, there’s no question he’s our #1 Back and they’ll use him more consistently instead of the “platooning” that was done between he and Jones during the past 2 seasons.
Fournette for sure now becomes the Bucs Feature Back and no more reason to share carries unless it’s to give him a rest.
ALSO…
I look for Mason to help us be more successful running the ball. No offense to Cappa, but he seemed mediocre in Run Blocking and more of a Pass Blocker.
Many of our best runs in the SB, and also during the season, came off that right side behind Wirfs. If Wirfs is 100% healthy… LOOKOUT! I think Wirfs & Mason are going to combine for a sometimes unstoppable run-blocking effort off that right side.
Ultimately, even though our Offense has been a Passing Beast, if we can somehow especially a more steady run game we can absolutely dominate other teams that won’t know what to try and stop.
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Come on Dooley everyone knows Dominik was a Rock Star!
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Get marpet on the phone now
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:37 pm
Buc1987,… wasn’t Dom a Pro bowl alternate selection that got to play after two ahead of his decided not to play in the game? Or was that some other guy? I get these rockstars and alternate selections to the Pro bowl quality guys confused.
March 22nd, 2022 at 2:42 pm
mark2001 🙂
March 22nd, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Lenny got a decent payday, not what he wanted but pretty decent and he doesn’t have to learn a new offense and find chemistry with new teammates!! Lenny wants to win and be apart of another Super Bowl run!! Lenny is a winner!! Very glad to have you back Lenny!!
AB watch and learn something!! This is what a TEAMMATE looks like!!!!
March 22nd, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Will be interesting to see the salary breakdown and if it’s a legit 3-year deal or 2-year deal. I believe I read he has $11m guaranteed, so that means 2-years, but if his base salary is a $9m signing bonus, then a $1m/$1m/$10m layout, then it means it’s really a 2-year deal at $5m a season, which would make a lot more sense than $7m per year. Then again, Brady wanted him back, so you bring him back, period.
Next up, the Brady extension… Going to need to happen to resign Gronk / Gholston and Suh. If Brady doesn’t extend then all this season the talk is going to be about how he’s going to San Fran next year, and will be truly aggravating. Of course if Trey Lance plays lights out, that might cause a change of plans.
March 22nd, 2022 at 4:58 pm
I love the signing even though I don’t agree with giving anyone but superstar running backs big money. F it, as long as we have Brady, forget about the future.
March 22nd, 2022 at 5:36 pm
Who Dat Who Dat Dat all y’all suckeraners lol wish y’all had Dat be my man Ricky Williams sure y’all know him was a beast
March 22nd, 2022 at 5:52 pm
I believe we should resign Rojo
March 22nd, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Aaron, less than half of your post consisted of actual words. Do better, especially if you’re trying to troll us.
March 22nd, 2022 at 6:52 pm
Maybe Rojo should resign.
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:00 pm
We need Marpet to unretire.
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:01 pm
Darrel Williams backup in KC 47 catches only started 7 games because Clyde being out.
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:19 pm
Tom make it happen. LOGAN MANKINS!😀
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Come on Tom. Randy Moss, Ty Law & Charles Woodson, too! We all know there’s a connection between Brady & Woodson.🙄
March 22nd, 2022 at 7:23 pm
Tom we can give Richard Seymour & Vince Wilfork a call, too! See if they want to come back & play, too!
March 22nd, 2022 at 8:15 pm
Love what we are doing to keep the best offense in the league together but we will need this offense to operate flawlessly. Our defense is needs help badley
March 22nd, 2022 at 11:38 pm
Vaughn is the backup then what? Someone in the draft?
Pass rush? Seems to me Barrett, Nelson, JTS are all being counted on to step it up more. Not sure what else to do there. The best free agent is probably JPP and as much as I would love him back I don’t know how healthy he’ll be and it’s got to be cheap
March 23rd, 2022 at 1:43 am
HONEY BADGER……GET HIM! I WISH WE COULD GET AB BACK.
SERIOUSLY.
March 23rd, 2022 at 7:11 am
Am I the only one that notices that the LT SUCKS Damn his effort sad against elite pass rushers. He doesn’t even delay them from getting at Tom
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:25 am
WalkdaPlank Says:
March 22nd, 2022 at 12:19 pm
Licht is 10x the GM the Teflon Dom was. Even after huge swing and miss draft picks like Jameis, OJ, and the immortal Roberto Aguayo. I’ll be one of the first to say that I’m sorry I ever doubted him.
————————
I disagree. Winston was not a bust. He just isn’t a franchise QB. He was productive and sturdy. He played out all five years of his contract and holds several franchise records. He’s also slated to be the starter in NO this year. No, he isn’t great, but was/is he better than Mariota? Yeah.
Howard was also not a bust. He wasn’t great either but he also saw all five years of his rookie contract and definitely not a bust. He was/is still a quality NFL player… Aguayo on the other hand, bust city. One of the worst picks in franchise history. Broke so many rules of drafting in the process, too. He was not a generational talent at kicker and therefore shouldn’t have been selected in the first three rounds. He was small (unlike SBass) so due to his lack of body mass, the leg speed required to generate force and velocity, had a far lesser margin for error and erosion. Tiny kickers often suffer a big drop off, 2nd round kickers often don’t pan out, and very few kickers are worthy of top 3 rounds… and Licht ignored all that.
March 23rd, 2022 at 5:22 pm
1 #bucsfan
Tom has to get this team to shift to the “hurry up” whenever he feels the opposing defense on its heels or in disarray. The Offense last year was too dinged up with so many backups that Brady couldn’t use this potent weapon of his.
Also, seems that the Bucs haven’t used imagination much in the play-calling. No talking about trickery, alone, but running a play with a certain look that the defense never sees coming. I must give credit where it’s due, Matt Lefleur seems to be able to pull those plays out whenever the Packers needed them, granted that the best receiver in the League, Davante Adams was likely playing decoy. With all the Bucs’ weapons seems like we make it harder to drivd tge ball fir lack of that same imagination.
Last, the Bucs must lose the NFL Record for most skill player unavailability due to soft tissue or hamstring problems. These preventable injuries are a sign of bad coaching/conditioning and player failure to be 100% warmed up and STRETCHED before ALL full speed practice and games. Unprofessional that the Bucs ALWAYS playing without one or two best skills guys due to pulled #:&:&#& hammies. Fine players who half-a** stretching conditioning or bring in more staff. Pay incentives to go full season without them. Just PLEASE fix them!!