Barrett Ruud Mocks Critics, Lauds Raheem Morris
August 5th, 2011
In sort of a farewell address to the Tampa Bay area, former Bucs leading tackler and middle linebacker Barrett Ruud appeared on The Fabulous Sports Babe Show Thursday afternoon heard on WHBO-AM 1040.
During the long interview which touched upon a variety of subjects from his new coaches to his alma mater being rated the best team in the Big Ten, Ruud was asked both about his harsh critics locally and his relationship with the Bucs.
Ruud all but dismissed his critics as not being knowledgeable football people and professed his affection for Bucs coach Raheem Morris.
Fabulous Sports Babe: When was the moment you knew you were not coming back here?
Barrett Ruud: You know what? It’s tough to say. I really thought I’d be coming back. I guess once free agency started and I didn’t hear a whole lot from [the Bucs], I guess I figured then. I really did think I would be back this year after the [2010] season was done. It just so happened it didn’t work out. But I guess I sort of figured through free agency I wasn’t going to be back.
Sports Babe: I said for the last month or so now — it was just my own personal opinion — that if I were Barrett Ruud I would not stay here because I felt that no matter what you did, it wouldn’t be enough for the people who were going to constantly complain about Barrett Ruud.
Ruud: (chuckles) Yeah, you know what? One thing you can’t control is criticism. The one thing I have a lot of comfort in is I find most of my critics are not involved in the game. It seems like the people that are involved in the game don’t criticize me that much. So, that’s one thing you are going to deal with. It’s part of the league and that’s why it is so popular is that everybody’s into it. My niece does fantasy football and she thinks she knows more than me. But that’s the reason why football is one of the — it is the premiere sport in the world, probably. You are going to have criticisms but you can’t look that much into it.
Sports Babe: You think your relationship with the coach , the head coach and the front office was fractured?
Ruud: Definitely not the coach. Me and Raheem are very close. I always plan to make return trips down to Tampa. I have friends down there. When you spend six years there, I’ve met too many good people just to shut it all out. My coach is one of them. We are very close and we will always hang out, so that is not an issue. Definitely when you are not wanted by people it is frustrating when it’s your job.
It sounds like Ruud won’t be exchanging Christmas cards with Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik as Ruud went out of his way to dodge the question about his relationship with the Bucs front office.
Just goes to show what a class guy Ruud is in the midst of a difficult, humbling if not embarrassing time for the guy.
August 5th, 2011 at 8:08 am
“midst of a difficult, humbling if not embarrsing time for the guy.”
That sounds like something somebody “not involved in the game” would say. I’m sure Ruud is doing just fine.
August 5th, 2011 at 8:15 am
Glad you got your morning Ruud wood out of the way Joe, please not 5 more Ruud articles today…..
August 5th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Yeah, I don’t really see him “mocking” here. He’s just talking about how it doesn’t bother him that much.
August 5th, 2011 at 8:34 am
ruud was not a beast but he was a pretty good player , he managed to stay healthy every season , bucs fans maybe in for surprise when we struggle on defense a few times this season
August 5th, 2011 at 8:37 am
also after watching some film of mason foster he kind of reminds me of ruud
August 5th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Dom made the decision and he definitely doesn’t take his cues from us, or base decisions on popularity, because if he did #55 would still be playing.
August 5th, 2011 at 8:51 am
Just glad the guy is gone. Best wishes to him. Lets go win a championship.
August 5th, 2011 at 8:58 am
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – Morris is not the guy responsible for Ruud’s release. Yes, release. I used the word vendetta a few days ago and backed off of it because I don’t think there’s any hatred here. But the front office had decided he wasn’t coming back. Something started a couple of years ago with Ruud sitting on his helmet and the FO never giving him a long-term deal. Dominik is not an “in your face” type of GM. When this guy wants to get rid of you, you will never hear the gunshot – you will have to keep checking your shoe tops for blood. When Dominik comes out and names (anoints) an unproven, never-played-a-down, albeit high potential rookie as MLB, there’s some “I’ll show you” in that proclamation. It had to end, but I wonder if there was a better way to it. My forever and last comment on Ruud as a Buccaneer!!
August 5th, 2011 at 9:04 am
No problem jumping from University of Washington to starting ML for the bucs.
Nothing to see here.
In Dom we trust.
August 5th, 2011 at 9:10 am
I personally wanted Ruud to stay… guy’s got a ton of critics, but at least he is a class act – even on his way out. Best of luck to him until Nov 27th.
August 5th, 2011 at 9:16 am
Eric, there will be growing pains but we will be better without him.
August 5th, 2011 at 9:19 am
I still say all Dom’s gushing is smoke and mirrors…I bet McKenzie starts. He has one year in the system, and has been great in practice. They may rotate Foster in so he gets the feel for the position, but McKenzie to me is the better choice…Am I spelling his name wrong?
August 5th, 2011 at 9:25 am
Hey Ruud, there is a way to silence the critics… by making plays, not only the routine ones, but splash plays as well. People didn’t criticize Brooks because he made those plays, Ray Lewis doesn’t get criticized for being soft.
And as for the fact that people that “know football” don’t criticize him…. No, not with their words they don’t, the NFL is a fraternity. People usually don’t crap on other people, especially when they are good guys. But the criticism was validated when only one team offered nim a contract, a one year deal at that… I’m pretty sure the questions about his ability goes deeper than the fan base.
August 5th, 2011 at 9:29 am
Brandon:
When’s the last time Quincy Black made a “splash play?” Miami in 2009 on a tipped pass was the last time Joe saw one.
August 5th, 2011 at 9:46 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaVQpwl5Mj0
I think thats would be considered splash?
August 5th, 2011 at 9:57 am
I be willing to be that we are the only people talking about this guy in the world. While everyone is glad to have football back and the economy is tanking (congress on vacation) we are talking Barrett (non-factor) Ruud. Oh boy so exciting…
August 5th, 2011 at 10:02 am
I’ve never seen here such hoopla regarding the departure of a player! CHTIST! HE’S GONE!!!!! Move on Joe! You can’t find other things more important than an overrated linebacker to talk about?
August 5th, 2011 at 10:10 am
Eric- you’re exactly right. This move was based on unpopular opinion of Ruud. Primarily instigated by Ian Beckles. The defense has Rookies at every key position, except CB. And we lose the one guy who could have kept them on the same page. God forbid anything happen to Ronde, or the defense will be fooled on every play.
The only great play Quincy has ever made was signing that contract. I can’t say he’s over rated, because no one thinks he’s any good
Eric, after arguing with you and Thomas for over a year, it looks like I might have been wrong about a few things. While I still believe in Raheem, and the direction the team has taken, money Is still the issue with This team . The way they front end loaded contracts for some career underachievers, it becomes obvious that this team will only achiever greatness, if it can do so at discount prices. I didn’t believe it, but recent events make it obvious.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:11 am
We can only discuss “important” stuff. Obviously, losing our starting ML is frivilous.
I don’t know what the hell Joe(s) is thinking.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:14 am
@Capt. Tim,
I am still the leader in the clubhouse in the wrong category!
August 5th, 2011 at 10:20 am
I don’t think he exactly “mocked” his critics. Kind of hard to mock anyone else when you leave town with your tail between your legs to join a team in disarray on a one year deal.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:26 am
“The only great play Quincy has ever made was signing that contract. I can’t say he’s over rated, because no one thinks he’s any good”
That is really funny
In the End, Caddy will be a bigger loss to the “TEAM” factor. Chemistry does affect a football team, regardless of what the stats say.
Donald Penn did an intvw on PR, and was open that he was very dissapointed he cant block for Caddy anymore and that Blount would be bummed the most. Oh Well
August 5th, 2011 at 10:28 am
One year contract tells all! I’ll go out on a limb here and predict that the 2011 LB’s on this team have a better year this year than the previous two with Ruud here. Better in total tackles and much better than last in run defense. Any Takers?
August 5th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Well forget the splash plays how about tackling someone on initial contact or using your momentum and body weight to drive a running back backwards? Barrett Ruud apparently doesn’t know how to do that. I will say he will have the longest career of any middle linebacker in NFL history if he keeps his game at this level. The guy hates direct contact. Its almost like he is a personal friend of every running back and doesn’t want to hurt them or himself. The guy is just soft plain and simple. I don’t think the same can be said for Quincy Black or any other player on the Bucs right now. Good luck Tennessee I hope you have a stout line in front of him and good safeties behind your definitely going to need them.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Penn disappointed he can’t block for Caddy? He shouldn’t be. Caddy showed just how awful at run blocking Donald Penn is with his “I get what the blockers give me and not an inch more” running style. Blount covers these linemens asses with his constant tackle breaking.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:33 am
One more thing. Thanks Dom for making the move all of us knew needed to be made. I wish we had brought in a vet to replace him but I will take a good rookie over him any day. The “quarterback” of our defense was out of position so much last year he obviously missed some signals.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:34 am
Oh yes…letting Ruud go was just a big conspiracy. All based on public opinion. Nothing at all to do with the GM’s vision of where the Bucs are going and what’s the best way to get there. Oh no…couldn’t be that. Has to be a vendetta, a conspiracy. WTF?! Where do some of these morons come with these retarded ideas, anyway? The level of brain-dead imbecility astounds me sometimes. Un-frigging-believable.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:37 am
Nick2- Well thats the one thing about Mason Foster and Mckenzie that are instant upgrades over Ruud. Both men know how to drive thru a ballcarrier. With the way people whine on here you’d think that no team ever starts anyone at MLB except guys with tons of experience. Every MLB is a first time starter at some point and the good ones are usually pretty good from the beginning. Linebacker is the easiest spot on defense to make an instant impact as a rookie and that includes MLB. Its no coincidence that defensive Rookie of the year usually goes to a linebacker.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:37 am
Oh, and BTW…take it to the bank that McKenzie is your opening day starter at MLB and will hold on to that role like a steel trap. Barring injury the Bucs will have to rotate Foster in at either WLB or SLB. TMac is going to surprise more than a few people. He, McCoy & Clayborn will be the heart & soul of the front seven this season. Looking forward to it in a big way.
August 5th, 2011 at 10:48 am
Interesting, I guess, all those players like Winslow, Ronde, etc were going “out on a limb” for supporting and wanting Ruud to be re-signed?
Hope that limb don’t break! We’ll soon find out! Go Bucs!
August 5th, 2011 at 10:51 am
FLBoy…I agree, and I have been saying McKenzie will start. I think Dom’s praise of Foster is a bit of smoke and mirrors. It also helps motivate the other guys. Man, I cannot wait for the season to start!
August 5th, 2011 at 10:57 am
McKenzie does seem to have some Alpha Dog in him. I feel Foster will be a SAM at some point. I like Foster but am not sold on him being a Beast quite yet.
August 5th, 2011 at 11:02 am
No Doubt .. it is the Dawning of a new ERA on Defense. Only Ronde and Sean Jones over 27 basically.
This will be fun to watch grow. And it starts 1 week from tonight BABY
August 5th, 2011 at 11:30 am
When all is said and done, Barrett Ruud will be in the Hall of Fame…..
August 5th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Javato- that is your opinion. That’s all. It is not the opinion of any of the people who make their living with Football . It is the opinion of Ian ” the lied piper”, and those who followed him.
Beclesgeardonrudd- whatare you babbling about? Our Probowl tackle can’t Block!??? You must watch the game from under the table- try actually watching for once . Blount and Caddy actually had 5 yes plus averages once our perrienial slackers had crawled off othe field- that would be Faine, Joseph, and trueblood. Then, Penn and a group of talented Rookies led us to 7 games with our highest yards per carry.
Even an idiot can see that
August 5th, 2011 at 11:53 am
Javoto- I agree that it’s cool to add a Young MLB to grow with the line. But Ruud was an understudy a year before he took the reins. Plus I don’t think we have that Young guy yet. Foster is a run stopper. That’s not iurMLbs job- it’s coverage- fosters biggest weakness.
Meybe Mackensie- but I havent seen enough- Meybe the coaches believe. I think we should have been a playoff team this year. Idont think we will be now. And that will be a major lose to a team with confidence.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
@ CaptTim I’d without a doubt put Penn in the top ten of tackles….. But after there first 3, there is a huge drop off. Another around 5-6. Penn is probably 9th or 10th best in the league but it doesn’t mean much when 75% of the league aren’t that good to begin with.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Ha, his critics are the equivalent of a young girl.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Captain Tim if we don’t make the playoffs this year it won’t be because we let Barrett Ruud go that can only help. No more offenses and running backs of opposing teams licking their chops at our soft middle linebacker. What we may lose in pass coverage we certainly gain in run stopping. Here’s to the Tyrone Mckenzie Mason Foster era. I will go out on a limb and say our run defense improves dramatically this year. But then again it has nowhere to go but up. Only 4 teams allowed more rushing yards with our 4.7 yards per carry allowed. Great job Mr. Ruud.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
His critics are 32 out of 32 NFL GM’s who refused to give him more than a one year contract. One year contacts are for stop gap players who will most likely be out the door when a replacement is drafted.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Every excuse has been made to why this man was not resigned,the fans did not know what they were talking about ,well the critics dont sign paychecks,ex players dont sign paychecks unless they have became a GM.Everyone says he is great but nobody put the money where their mouth was.So I guess Ian and a few fans made everyone forget to pay Ruud,hell no he is a very average player but a very good person,and wasnt Mackenzie Ruuds understudy last year?W.T.F you guys act as if we cut Brooks all over again.Some people still act as though Ruud was a all pro future hall of famer,to me all Ian did was say what his friends should have been telling him instead of lying to him .He felt like the guy at american Idol that all his friends told him that he could sing and Simon told him he was horrible.I guess now there will be another excuse because Ruud himself just shot the one out of the water that the Bucs were interested and he signed for less money because he had enough and wanted to go.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
You usually don’t fire you 4 year starter, to hire a guy you’ve never coached, unless you believe in him. Ask the highly reguarded Mr. Stephen Tullock, who was summarily fired.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Class act. He is right about his critics being nothing more than fantasy football hacks.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
You are right Capt. but what is the problem if they both sign one year contracts?What does that say about the both of them?
August 5th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Thomas a fantansy football hack only looks at numbers and stats ,if that was so he would be a pro bowler every year and he would be loved.
August 5th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Capt Tim…Come back from the darkside man. It is a sad day in Tampa Bay when you are teaming up with Thomas and Eric! I would put money on McKenzie starting at ML, and he has spent some time in the system. Don’t worry man, remember how last year went, well, this year we be somewhat like last year but with a playoff birth.
August 5th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
I find it funny, how the lack of respect and love, is missing from some fans about our ex-players and ex-coaches!
August 5th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Me too OAR, me too.
August 5th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I think a lot of the lack of respect comes from responses to fans that disrespect the current coaches and G.Ms and implying that they dont know what they are doing.
August 5th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
M. Wesley is right. Ruud is a fantasy stud because of his consistent tackles every game. I had him on my team the last 3 years. I think Ruud is an above-average MLB in the Cover 2 scheme and would have liked to see us re-sign him for another year or two until one of the younger guys could make a more seamless transition into the position. Dom seems to think either Foster or McKenzie can take over the job without a hitch though, so who am I to say he’s wrong. We’ll find out soon enough.
August 5th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
I’m not sure if Dom believes that they will take over without a hitch, but I think it is a hitch he is willing to live with for the growth of the team.
August 5th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
So you disrespect ex-players and ex-coaches, cause some fans have thier own opinion about the new ones? Wow, we have sunk to new a low as fans! I didn’t love all our ex-coaches or ex-players, but I’m not blasting them, just cause somebody didn’t like their replacements! They were Bucs, man!
BTW Not all these rookies are going to be great or even good. Laws of averages in the NFL. Does that mean, when their done, you’re going to dog them too? Or does it depend on who drafted/signed them?
August 5th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
BTW I’m not saying anything bad about Dom and his plan, I just think its sad and funny how some fans react to the ex-Bucs!
August 5th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
It’s not a lack of loyalty or respect; it’s just plain facts! Everyone loved Dungy including myself, but he was loyal to a fault. When asked to replace his terrible offensive Coordinator and let go of certain players he declined which led the Bucs to hiring Gruden. Then when Gruden showed his desire for veterans and lacked patients to teach younger players the Bucs went out and hired Morris who is more of a players coach. Will Morris have more success than Gruden? No one knows! That 9-7 team from 2008 lost it’s last 4 games by an average of 10 points per game and gave up an average of 185 yards rushing per game. Not the best example!
August 5th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
My point is, I’m not going to be blasting any of this regimes players or coaches, if they are fired or released, cause they didn’t succeed! I just dont get the hate on some ex-players and some ex-coaches. Again, they were my Bucs!
August 5th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
I agree OAR, and I tend to cheer for them when they are not playing the Bucs. It was hard seeing Nickerson leave, but I still liked him and rooted for him. Same with countless others. Sapp was an awesome Raider, but I liked him better as a Buc…Same with Lynch and Denver.
August 5th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
I can only imagine how the joeraysfan comment area is, if they bash the old players…just sayin. I will add thogh, that the guys on her are not even close to being as negative and bashing as the TBO posters. Some are the same like Tampa 2…
August 5th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
McBuc
Amen to that! And, I will be watching and rooting for Caddy, Ruud, Stovall, and even Gilmore. Sucks we play two of them, cause I won’t be rooting for them those two days. Go Bucs!
August 5th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Mark Dominick did what he thinks needed to be done for Tampa, and Ruud is taking it like a Man. When Mckenzie flew from Tampa to meet with Ruud, he must have had some idea ?
Trust me, many pro athletes do read these blogs, despite what they say. I know, I clean their roofs 🙂
August 5th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
I had to leave for a minute,as far as me disrespecting thats the way you see it but I try to tell it the way I see it and if me saying he was an average middle linebacker and a very good guy is disrespect than hey thats your opinion just like me thinking that way is mine I never wished him bad luck I still like him just like him better on another team,and by the way where was all this love and support for Sabby,didnt everyone blast him,we pick and choose who we like each and everyone of us will I root for them yes but not one of them are bigger than the team so when they play Tampa I could care less for them.What I really find funny is how some Bucs fans are quick to defend the ex players and coaches but dont have a thing to say about people that bash and trash the current players ,coaches and G.M.
August 5th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Wesley…I do not think OAR meant you specifiaclly. I agree about the bashers of the curent players and coaches as well. I see that Ruud is gone, so Geno seems to be the next target…unless of course you are Thomas, then it is anyone drafted by Morris and Dom that is not Freeman or M Williams.
August 5th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
I also have to admit, good one on Sabby. He was hard to defend, and I cannot really say I root for him. I guess I see both sides. I think Ruud is a good player, and I thought they would keep him, but I do not think he was good enough that the team will fall to pieces without him.
August 5th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
mwesley
McBuc is right. I wasn’t specifically meaning you. What you said sounded generalized. So, I responded in same the fashion, or atleast so I thought. No disrespect. I just hate to see the boards full of hate on Bucs and ex-Bucs, even Sabby, believe it or not. I won’t defend his play, although he did make me cheer a few times, but as a Buc.
August 5th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
McBuc
No they probably won’t fall to pieces, but I do think, they will struggle on defense with play calls and adjustments. And, by the grace of the pigskin gods, we shall soon find out! Go Bucs!
August 5th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
I missed Sabby at that Atlanta game I said it before and I will say it again he would have knocked the hell out that guy!
August 6th, 2011 at 7:36 am
Sabby Lovers, Don’t fret! you will see him again soon. He now plays for Kansas City.