Has “The Plan” Changed?
November 9th, 2011
The Albert Haynesworth signing has Joe wondering whether the Bucs’ grand master build-through-the-draft plan has been altered and, if so, why?
Clearly Haynesworth is Exhibit A of why not to rely on a free agent. And he’s pretty high on the questionable character list. (Joe’s being kind.)
Yet here he is — on his way to Tampa to join and influence the “yungriest” unit on the Buccanners.
Hell, two weeks ago after the injury to Earnest Graham on The Raheem Morris Show, the head coach told a caller asking about a Tiki Barber signing that Tiki was like a family member to him but the Bucs were all about building through the draft and staying within the organization so don’t look for Tiki.
Now all along rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has said that free agency is to be used when you fail in the draft. Michael Koenan is the easiest example.
So barring a new philosophy in place, one can only surmise that the Bucs see a significant element of failure among their last three picks at defensive tackle, in addition to needing a live body.
Don’t get Joe wrong. Joe’s dying to see Hayenesworth resurrect his glory years. And if he does, look for the Bucs to get a lot more comfortable bringing in veterans next year.
November 9th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Keith Millard finna have Fat Albert on a short leash.
November 9th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
The pickup made me laugh. Can’t spend any money on bringing in a vet or two in free agency (Barnett, Sproles, Barber, etc.) to help with an area of need, but will definitely bring in a guy who hasn’t been productive since he left Tenn. Granted the cost probably isn’t much, but there are a few vet running backs out there that could be had for the same or less money you could assume. Maybe the old Haynesworth will finally show up, even though Belichick said there were some physical limitations that kept him from playing in NE. Either way, have to agree Joe, this is definitely an extreme about-face.
November 9th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
This about sums up Haynesworth for me…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFzp3uHua40
November 9th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
BTW, love the fact you have two articles out about this already while PR doesn’t even have a mention of it on their site.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
If the Bucs are going to lose, I’d prefer they do it while stomping the opponents face.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Two things I do think about this signing. First since he was released by both the Redskins and the Patriots he is damaged goods so I am sure we got him pennies on the dollar unlike the contract that Dom was first going to offer him so if your take is the Glazers are just cheap and its not about rejecting veterans then it fits right in. Also I like the move because like others I think we have enough bad apples on this team with players like Talib and Winslow so one more who can actually produce in an area we badly need run stopping might just be a good thing. Sure it can blow up but lets keep our fingers crossed
November 9th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
FLBoy84:
Joe aims to please but Joe has to thank his readers. Joe was in Clearwater for an interview for a story (non-Bucs) he is working on and on his way home Joe checked Twitter where quite a few readers tipped Joe off.
So thanks!
November 9th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Glazerhouse is bargain shopping again. All it cost the family was the rest of Haynesworths $700,000 base salary plus incentives.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
“has the plan changed” I hope so because after three years “the plan” was circling the toilet bowl fast.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Don’t really see the downside here. Upside is the guy comes in, plays well and improves the product on the field. Downside is he continues to be a jerk and you cut him. The only thing your are giving up is the player he is replacing: the greatness of John McCargo.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
all and all he should be more bang for the buck than whats out there. Were talking today right he’s here to fill a void which I’m sure he will put a starving dog behind a meat wagon he’s going to eat. I see this as his last meal so yungry hungry becomes a tasty treat
November 9th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Haynesworth is a quitter, he took the redskins money and lost his motivation to play. I hope he can play a significant role with the Bucs, but I’m expecting him to be just as lazy here as he was in Washington and New England. Maybe his attitude will rub off on Geno Hayes and Quincy Black so we can cut all three at the end of the year. Actually, after watching Quincy on the field (because Quincy never really looks like he is actually playing while on the field) I guess Albert’s attitude already rubbed off on him!
November 9th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
According to Derrick Brooks on 620 with the Big Dog , this will be the first time he will be playing in a true 4-3. I like the move but Dominic is clearly panicking and feeling the pressure. He’s the only idiot that couldn’t see how signing some FA’s couldn’t help this team out. I think he owes the fans an explanation as what his plan is now.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
This team is three or four plays away from being 7 and 1 the only egg they laid was the San Fran game everything else was a dogfight till the end.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Albert will line up in his natural position… the one that earned him the big contract he received in DC, before they switched schemes and negated his value to them… A 4-3 Undertackle, lined up on the outside shoulder of the Left Guard.
I see a solution here
November 9th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’m all for it, low risk, possible high upside. Whether Haynesworth works out or not is not the point, The very moxy of this team to pull that trigger has me hyped again. After Nnamdi fails in Philly, go get him too! Keep pushing the envelope. Go Bucs!
November 9th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Joe said: “Now all along rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has said that free agency is to be used when you fail in the draft. Michael Koenan is the easiest example. ”
We did miss in the draft. On McCoy , Price AND Miller….
November 9th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
i like tha move. He’s on his last leg and there ain’t nobody else better in tha free agency pool
November 9th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
No the Bucs have not changed their views of building through the draft. The fact of the matter is the team was fown to 3 defensive tackles and 2 of those are fighting injury problems. You have to have a body to put in the position. Choices at this point are undrafted scrubs that are sitting on their sofa waiting for a call. 32 other teams are not using them, even on their practice squads. Or, take a flyer on a man that was once a dominant pro-bowl player that was best served playing in a 1-gap 4-3 system like our own. Your picking up a 1 year deal worth minimal. Your goal is to fill the need at the specific position for this year. If the player stinks it up, you cut him, lose nothing, and I’m quite sure the same sofa turtle will be available and waiting for your call. If he excells? Once again, you look like a genius. All to gain, nothing to lose.
P.S.
As for the locker room distraction arguments; there is probably no coach in the league that is as tight with his locker room as Raheem Morris. I’m quite sure if Raheem catches air that a cancer is beginning, this guy will be gone.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I think we’re reading waaaaaayyyy too much into this.
Haynesworth still has a lot of talent left in the tank, unlike Tiki Barber, T.O. or any other “FA” out there these days. He just has to get his act together (that is a HUUUGE “IF” I realize…).
It’s a low risk, medium reward move that fills an immediate need. If the bucs thought John McCargo was “the answer” at DT, they would have kept him on the roster coming out of preseason, and you can’t fault an organization for still thinking they are alive at 4-4 halfway through their season.
I think if anything, this is the first sign of life that the Glazers are willing to plug a leak if they believe they are still in the hunt. Maybe by that definition, “the plan” has changed.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Haha funny how all the Buc fans kill the Glazers for not spending when we nearly gave this guy 50 mil a few years ago. Idiots.
I don’t mind the signing. He’s not gonna “poison” the locker room, that’s stupid. He’s an idiot, not a damn toxin. Has Talib “poisoned” the locker room? People that say that have a really bad misconception about what an organized sports team is about.
Low risk, high reward. If he sucks, is he sucking any worse than Roy Miller? LOL Fat Al could stand still and do as much as Roy.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
The beauty of this move is he’s going to play as a 4-3 under tackle, basically having his leash removed and told to wreak as much havoc in the backfield as possible. He doesn’t need to learn any playbook for that…just use his natural gift at penetrating the offensive line and get after it. He was totally miscast with the Skins & Pats since they both run a 3-4. I’m eager to see how this goes. Heaven knows this line was NOT going to stop the run with McCoy gone, so this is pretty much a no-lose situation.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
The most important inference from the Haynesworth acquisition is that Dominik went out and made a move instead of allowing McCoy’s injury to serve as a convenient excuse for inevitably poor defensive tackle play in the second half.
As we all know too well, the salary cap isn’t an issue with this move. According to altiusdirectory.com, the Bucs are operating at a $59.7 million total payroll, while Green Bay and Pittsburgh, the “draft-only” teams Dominik wants to model the Bucs after, are operating at payrolls of $129.8 million and $116 million, respectively. And having Haynesworth make the Bucs a worse team on the field is not the issue either. As Joe stated in a recent post: if we were all honest before the season, we knew the Bucs faced significant growing pains with the more difficult schedule looming this season. 8-8 was an oft-repeated prediction. A back step was going to happen with or without Haynesworth. So, if the issue is the potential for Haynesworth to pollute the locker room, well, ESPN reports that the Bucs are only on hook for something like $750k. I doubt Dominik and Morris would hesitate to cut Haynesworth at the first sign of trouble.
Let’s be clear: this move isn’t likely to work out (although “working out” certainly depends on expectations, which are low). But at least Dominik isn’t giving up on the season.
November 9th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Exactly FLBoy.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
The NFL (Not For Long) is a cold and unforgiving business. Yesterday it was McCargo, today he was just cargo as he was shipped out on the first thing smoking to make room for Big Al!!
November 9th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
He’s going to take Raheem’s lunch money.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Terrible desperation signing. Just terrible. We’ll get him but not a stable free agent in the offseason? Pathetic. Fat albert is a washed up scumbag.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Tiki’s a washed up scumbag. Is he next?
November 9th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
What were they supposed to do? No McCoy; No Okam and down to Price who has a hard time getting up after each play. The Bucs still have at least eight games to play and may end up with even more injuries on the D line. Too late to get a young guy up to speed even if they wanted to. No one in their right mind would look at Haynesworth as this great signing, but I’m going to have to give credit to the team for not packing in the season. IMO it is at least worth a shot! He can step in and take the field right now.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
When I think about what would happen if Bruce Allen worked for Hugh Culverhouse, this is the scenario that pops up.
November 9th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
This was clearly a reaction to losing McCoy for the season. He and Okam will trade time. This is the obvious move. I like it, and we didn’t have much of a choice. Maybe he produces, the alternative wasn’t better. Don’t read into this more than it is. It is not a change in strategy, nor a reflection on the Glazers or anyone else. It is just what it is, the best opportunity to fill the giant hole in the middle of the line we witnessed against the Saints.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
When the Bucs said ” hungry” i didn’t realize they meant it literally, and measured by how much you can EAT.
The obese tackle tandem of Blubber Price and Fat Albert definitely qualifies as “hungry”.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
“Oahubuc Says:
November 9th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
When I think about what would happen if Bruce Allen worked for Hugh Culverhouse, this is the scenario that pops up.”
LOL !!! Best post of the night.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
“When I think about what would happen if Bruce Allen worked for Hugh Culverhouse, this is the scenario that pops up.”
Hahaha. I agree with Blubber on this one, best of the night.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Shocking news. But, if you think about it, what do we have to lose?
I say why not.
Aint nobody stopping the run anyhow. This guy has at some point.
Like it! Feeds into my philosophy.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
As joebucs stated this signing is more a result of the failures in the prior drafts at DT – McCoy, Price and Miller. Depth at DT needs to be addressed next year both in the draft and FA. Haynesworth, Talib ,K2 and Tenard Wow! How the mighty Bucs have fallen from the days of Sapp, Brooks, Lynch and Alstott. These bucs are’t a very likeable crew. Good character guys usually give more effort and have more pride. The team needs an attitude adjustment.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Bring on T.O. and Tiki next at least it will be an entertaining circus.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Dom should have claimed Al Woods off waivers. He played with the Bucs last year and isn’t a complete douchebag. Maybe Rah can get fat Albert playing again, but he is just plain lazy and no longer has his heart in the game. I’m not optimistic.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
With the season slipping away, what do they have to lose?
I hope the idiotic and/or fraudulent plan changed.
Lets get some experience in here, including the head coach, and start maximizing our ability. Look at the Bengals – young all over at key positions but playing like they are prepared,
November 9th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
I like this move and the risk is substantially lower than the reward. He is going back to his natural position and knows if he blows this shot – he’s done in the NFL. Big Al will bring it more than John McCargo ever would.
Should he do well, it will be funny to read all you fair weather fans harping to Joe that you knew this was a great idea all along.
Lets see.
Go Big Al, Go Bucs
November 10th, 2011 at 8:45 am
At least the guy has been playing football and not sitting on the couch. There was no other choice to give the Bucs at least a chance to stop the run. Fans who don’t like the signing aren’t giving a list of players they think would be better for the teams success either.