“We Just Tricked Him And Didn’t Call Him A Linebacker”
April 8th, 2022
New Bucs safety Keanu Neal
Joe remains stunned, in a good way, that the Bucs signed hard-hitting and healthy safety Keanu Neal to a one-year deal for just a shade over $1 million.
The former Pro Bowler turns 27 in July and played well in Dallas last season as a rotational linebacker with All-World Micah Parsons and former Pro Bowl LB Leighton Vander Esch. Neal found his way to 72 combined tackles in 61 percent of the Cowboys’ snaps.
What an upgrade (on paper) from Andrew Adams! And what a depth piece for the Bucs to create major competition in the defensive backfield with fellow newcomer safety/corner Logan Ryan.
Joe hasn’t found Cowboys fans online complaining much about Neal’s play last season, and many hoped he would return.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn recruited Neal last season to play linebacker, but Neal made it clear he wanted out of that role.
Joe saw a year-old quote from Quinn explaining that when the two were together in Atlanta, Neal really was a linebacker most of the time but wasn’t aware of it.
“We just tricked him and didn’t call him a linebacker. We said ‘You’re a safety.’ I never told him he was a linebacker, but he was a linebacker on 70 percent of the snaps,” Quinn said.
One astute and long-time observer of the NFC South, three-time Super Bowl winner Ed McCaffrey (Christian’s dad), said on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week that he’s excited to see how creatively Bucs head coach/defensive playcaller Todd Bowles will use Neal. He likened him to versatile Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn in his ability to play in the box but still cover tight ends or big receivers.
At 6-0, 210 pounds, Neal is much smaller than Chinn, but he’s universally regarded as a tackling machine who also can cover.
Still, the big questions remain: Why Neal was so inexpensive and did he fall under the Tom Brady recruitment spell?
April 8th, 2022 at 12:15 pm
Does that mean he gets paid less? Lol
April 8th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Tackling machine?
April 8th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
All good…we need help at Safety and LB….we’re getting thin there…(no disrespect to LD or DW)
April 8th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
I’ll take him!
April 8th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Love the pickup. Good insurance against injuries and could be a good rotational safety to relieve Ryan. He could even end up starting.
April 8th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
if he’s that good why would dallas let him go. then again, the bucs are known for not utilizing a players strengths. perhaps just did not fit their scheme.
sounds good though. 210 seems light for a LB, but hey maybe he can step in there and cover for DW on obvious coverage plays. sounds versatile.
April 8th, 2022 at 12:47 pm
‘Still, the big questions remain: Why Neal was so inexpensive and did he fall under the Tom Brady recruitment spell?’
Uhhh, maybe he wanted a chance at a ring and believes that Tampa Bay represents the best route for him to achieve that? Isn’t that why Playoff Lenny signed on? Why Gronk signed on? And yes, why Tom Brady signed on? (to name but a few).
Besides, despite all the promise when he was drafted, Neal’s been in the league now for 6 years, but has yet to really fulfill that promise or potential. First 2 years he did pretty good, but then the bottom fell out for 2 years because of injuries. His 5th year in Atlanta was meh, and last year with the Cowboys he was only on the field for little more than half the plays.
THIS is the year that Keanu puts it all together and struts his stuff. Bowles will find some very creative ways to use him in this defense, and assuming that Neal lives up to his potential, 2023 & beyond promise to be very rewarding for him. I’m excited to see what both he & Logan Ryan will contribute to this Secondary.
April 8th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
Sounds good to me. We know where the weakness is and are pugging the holes.
April 8th, 2022 at 1:36 pm
A million to play near home and possibly win a title. Yes please
April 8th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Ryan, Edwards, & Winfield could be the centerfield safeties in single high defensive sets on run downs. We’ve been rotating about 3 safeties every season since Bowles came aboard and Neal seems to be the guy he’ll have patrolling the 2nd level with help from Winfield rotating in from time to time. Also cant forget we controlled KC in the Super Bowl running a 3 high safety look, which might be something we see again at some point in Bowles first season as HC.
April 8th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
need to sign Suh and get that done with He is one of the Best on D
April 8th, 2022 at 3:03 pm
Lots of reasons for Neal to sign with Bucs……first & foremost, he’s from Sumter County Fl…..just up the road from Raymond James Stadium……went to Univ of Florida…….probably wants to play for Todd Bowles…….opportunity for a ring…
And, he has a chance to revive his career and showcase his talent on a 1-year deal.
He is still young……and don’t forget that no state income tax….it is a factor no matter how much you make.
April 8th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Re: Defense Rules
Tom Brady signed on because he couldn’t leave the Bucs as he’s still under contract. And any trade would deplete his next team. Tom would be outta here if it were up to him.
April 8th, 2022 at 3:28 pm
bowles must be absolutely giddy over this signing…
and a quick glance of his 4 safeties on paper…
yowzers!
April 8th, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Red-sparrow … ‘Tom would be outta here if it were up to him.’
We’ll never know, because he’ll never tell. Yes the 2023 contract with the Bucs was still there, but all he had to do was wait us out (no way we were gonna pay him $20 mil in CAP hit this year just so we could keep his rights; remember how tight our salary CAP was prior to him re-signing; Bucs would’ve caved eventually). WHOEVER Tom Brady went to would’ve become an instant contender (look at all the key guys who chose to sign with us AFTER he un-retired; like Jensen, Fournette, Godwin, Davis for starters, with more to come).
Thankfully TB12 CHOSE to return to the Bucs. And why not? Bucs have treated him very well and basically ‘sold-out’ in 2022 to create a roster that can make a run for the SB.
April 8th, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Hope he is healthy this year, if so JL will have to cough up for a multi year deal.
Need to find someone to carry LVD’s , he won’t last much longer
April 8th, 2022 at 4:04 pm
BREAKING NEWS:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade Jamel Dean & Sean Murphy-Bunting to the Carolina Panthers for two warm beers and some stale nachos with the no cheese.
April 8th, 2022 at 4:17 pm
BradyBucs…. Can’t drink all day if you don’t start early SMH
Bunting’s career was off to a good start until he exploded his elbow.
April 8th, 2022 at 4:35 pm
He self-identified as a quarterback. He knows his $55MM payday will come.
5D chess.
April 8th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
I can only imagine he was not getting bigger offers because of his injury history. Great pick up though.
Is toughness makes up for Whitehead
April 8th, 2022 at 6:03 pm
BradyBuc
You exemplify a lot of fans around here have no idea about cornerback play. Dean is easily in the top half of NFL cornerbacks. SMB needs some work
April 8th, 2022 at 6:04 pm
If Bowles put together a better front line that could pressure the qb our secondary would need less time to cover and receivers to get into the soft spots in the zones.
April 8th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
These are some savvy pickups on the defensive side. Bowles needed a few more options on the back end. These guys arent world beaters, but are solid players that will likely perform better than what we had last year. They may have also been acquired to allow 54 and 45 to get after the QB more often this season. Another pass rusher would be the icing on the cake.
April 8th, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Red-sparrow Says:
April 8th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Re: Defense Rules
Tom Brady signed on because he couldn’t leave the Bucs as he’s still under contract. And any trade would deplete his next team. Tom would be outta here if it were up to him.
……………….
If your name isn’t Giselle then STFU loser!
April 8th, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Red-sparrow Says:
April 8th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Re: Defense Rules
Tom Brady signed on because he couldn’t leave the Bucs as he’s still under contract. And any trade would deplete his next team. Tom would be outta here if it were up to him.
……………….
If your name isn’t Giselle then STFU Loser!. Geesh, Idiocy knows no bounds here often.
April 8th, 2022 at 7:27 pm
Red-sparrow
Defense Rules @ SB are right on target. Get lost looser!
April 8th, 2022 at 7:28 pm
He and Logan Ryan have Bowles all over their signings – he is a safety driven system- these two with Winfield and Edwards can really hide deficits at CB which we have
Great moves and look for a young CB early in the draft and one late
April 8th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
SB LV
I don’t know there hasn’t been any mention of ILB with LVD contract up next year. He will either retire or another deal with the Bucs. He would not go anywhere else. Has Minter been signed anywhere? Idiots year after year call for the Bucs to get a RB early. Once again they show their faces and want a #4 back in the 2-3 round range.
April 9th, 2022 at 3:33 am
For Dime defense.
Sometimes we need to take Devin White or LVD off the field in obvious passing situations.
I want a LB/S to cover the middle of the field instead of a LB.
I hope Bowles will get creative with him.