Frank Okam Cut
November 22nd, 2011
Now this is a headscratcher for Joe.
The Bucs today cut defensive tackle big Frank Okam, per Buccaneers.com.
Okam originally joined the Buccaneers almost exactly a year ago. He was first signed to the team’s practice squad on November 17, 2010, then promoted to the active roster one week later. He had played parts of the 2010 season with Houston and Seattle before coming to Tampa.
Initially a fifth-round pick by the Texans out of the University of Texas in 2008, Okam played in eight games over his first two seasons in Houston. With the Buccaneers in 2010 and 2011, Okam played in nine games with four starts, recording 31 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Defensive tackle isn’t exactly a position of strength, which is why the Bucs took a desperate stab at Albert Haynesworth.
Let’s see: Haynesworth, though he has played well, is not in the best of conditioning. Brian Price, while very talented, is a bad move away from missing the season with his strange, painful injury. Roy Miller… what’s the point?
This is just strange.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Disgusting that he got cut over Roy Miller. I would rather have an injured Okam over a healthy Miller any day of the week.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:04 pm
why not cut Roy Miller instead ? headscratcher is right …
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:07 pm
They wont bring back Haynseworth next year either. Just a stop gap till McCoy comes back.
At least thats the way they will look at it.
But this isn’t strange at all. They had to spend a little money to get Albert, so they release someone to take some of the pain away. Just because its a thin position is meaningless.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:07 pm
We need to wait and see what happened, maybe there is more to this than meets the eye. The article I read said he was healthy and ready to return, but I cannot imagine them cutting him. The new guy was a beast in college, but is small for a DE. Maybe they are going to turn him into a LB, but then they could have cut one of those bums.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Eric, the other guy is probably making around the same as Okam.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:11 pm
They must know something we don’t. Otherwise this move makes no sense at all. Maybe his calf injury is something they don’t expect to get better before the offseason…? Is Swanson Miller off the practice squad being elevated because he’s shown something in practice? Inquiring minds want to know, dammit.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Oh okay, I see. Guess I should’ve read the article at the Bucs site before asking questions.
This is interesting, because being a University of Washington alum I was familiar with the play of Te’o-Nesheim and I wanted the Bucs to grab him in the third or fourth round of the draft last year. Hopefully he does as well as I thought he would.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:23 pm
@Mcbuc,
You are correct sir.
I retract my knee jerk Glazer boys are cheap remark.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I think I figured it out: He isn’t any good, so we cut him.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Miller isn’t any good, so he stays?
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:39 pm
This makes no sense…one thing that I think we can all agree on is that this team lacks depth…well except our slow receiving core…
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Miller is 2 years younger so I guess they think he has more potential. But yes, he’s no good either.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:42 pm
I saw Roy Miller make a tackle last week. Should have cut Quincy Black instead. No one would have noticed.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Oh HECK NO. HECK NO. I do NOT like this decision.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Lord, I sure wish I knew what raced around in Dom’s brain somedays. What the hell did this move accomplish except to make this position even weaker than it already was?!
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Gotta say I don’t like this move. Why cut what lil depth u have left at a position in the stretch run cut miller instead of okam. Miller sucks so bad everytime he’s in the game he’s a liability. But then they sign a de? One of the few positions on the d line where theres depth. Why not sign a lb or db. Then id understand but can’t say this makes too much sense to me.
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Don’t get it. Don’t like it.
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:32 pm
I’m not really sure about this move……….I’m inclined to agree with Vince, what does it do besides make us weaker at the position?
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:34 pm
K2…We will not know until the Bucs make a statement. There may be more to this than meets the eye.
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:34 pm
May have insulted Raheem’s grandmother.
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:34 pm
May have insulted Raheem’s grandmother.
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Yeah, this one, on the surface, seems like a strange decision
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Wonder what Mason Foster’s take on the Bucs signing one of his former Huskies teammates…
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:40 pm
True Mcbuc, there probably is more to the story. We’ll wait and see.
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Jeff Fisher
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:48 pm
^^^I wonder if the fans that love Fisher also love Gruden? It’d be a severe inconsistency if they liked one and not the other.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:01 pm
We liked Rah until we saw him coach.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:02 pm
Eric, now come on! You’re a clever guy. Be honest, Even you don’t believe some of the stuff you say, now do you? Does this move sound like a team making decisions for a new incoming coach? Tell me you’re just joking and I shouldn’t be concerned!
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:05 pm
I have a feeling that he is an injury casualty, but they say he’s healthy so they don’t have to pay an injury settlement when cutting him. He may be healthy enough to play, but not full strength and may not be full strength the remainder of the year. Seems like they’re just trying to get more healthy bodies in there.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:10 pm
This is so wrong…smh Roy miller definitely should have got the pink slip and return his iPad.. I guess we’re going with speed over strength in that position. But if we’re gonna try to make a run we definitely don’t need a player who is injured on his calf.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Meybe Swanson Miller us just lighting it up on the Practice squad? Lol
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Miller must be rah rah guy like black. Pays to go clubbing with coach buddy.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:23 pm
?
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:23 pm
I think BamBamBuc is right this stuff happens all the time. injured guys are declared healthy so they can go get another job someplace else if deemed healthy enough by that team and the team doesn’t have to play extra money because of injury clause
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Roy Miller works harder in practice to improve his game…..and is very durable. Miller is the back up nose tackle to Brian Price, Okam plays 3 technique and with McCargo playing well he was expendable.
Miller has not played as bad as our idiot fans think……a few bad plays, a few good plays- he’s not as quick as Brian Price, but he is built well to play the nose in our defense.
Remember…..the ENTIRE d-line is YOUNG, and nose tackle is the most physically demanding position to play on the line….constant double teams on every play- people are acting like Roy Miller is playing next to 3 veterans and is the weak link…..he’s playing with ALL young guys who aren’t exactly playing perfect either.
One thing is for sure…..Miller will continue to work his A** off to improve his technique because that’s who he is……….
And that’s why he’s still here.
So, who knows more about D-line play…..the fans or Kieth Millard, Grady Stretz, Mark Dominick, and Raheem Morris??????????
Not to mention…..Frank Okam’s play has regressed since the first couple weeks of the season- FACT.
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Who cares dude is always injured they both suck and should both be working at wal mart. this team is full of players who would even make the cut on another nfl team.
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:19 pm
As someone else suggested, if Okam is still injured, then the Bucs may have waived/injured him because he’ll be a free agent at the end of the season anyway.
We’ll know for sure when we see if they add him to the practice squad.
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:19 pm
He’s Turruble!
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Newsflash: Okam was cut so that he could go to Hollywood – they’re filming the next season of the Biggest Loser…
November 22nd, 2011 at 8:04 pm
drbinshore: some of your analysis, for example, your position about Miller being a nose and nose being physically demanding drawing more double teams is right on. Many think that big name 3 techniques, like warren sapp, draw more double teams and if you chart it – the nose is doubled more frequently.
It is clear to me that you understand the game, unlike most commenters here.
That makes Price’s 3 sacks (same season total for GMC in 2010) all the more impressive. I have also heard that Miller works hard. Sadly, he still is a liability – especially in pass rush.
your analysis that Miller hasnt played poorly is DEAD wrong. I believe that he played better than GMC against Detroit, but compared to Price – there is a huge drop-off in productivity. I have been thrilled with Price and Albert. You, and the org, need to let go of this pipe dream that Miller will pan out and cut your losses. I think Okam when healthy is much more effective at either tackle.
November 22nd, 2011 at 8:44 pm
You know, my guess is that the GM and head coach are totally unaware that they are thin at DT. I’ll bet noone has even informed them that McCoy is injured. C’mon!!! Do you honestly think that this was a knee jerk reaction by the front office to cut Okam??? If you do think that then you are absolutely clueless. I’m sure that Okam’s injury was worse than initially thought and they thought they could improve the defense with another player that wasn’t necessarily a DT. If Okam were healthy I don’t believe he would have been let go and if he is healthy then I look for him to be brought back very soon. There’s a reason for everything in this business and none of it is the nonsense most of posts on here suggest.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:37 pm
It was said that Frank Okum did go clubbing with Raheem, but he was too expensive to feed, and could drink other team members under the table.
That’s why they called him “Frank The Tank”
Seriously, I was shocked when I was driving to a last minute roof cleaning job today, and my crew and I heard this on Sports Radio.
My first thought was why not Roy Miller ?
It is going to be interesting to see if Albert Haynesworth remains here in Tampa for 2012 too.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Because we just stole a former 3rd round pick from Philadelphia’s Practice Squad! Daniel Te’o-Nesheim was a stud for Oregon. Their all time leader in Sacks. He is a pass rush specialist as a smaller DE but he is fast and he could really help our pass rush. Which still sucks by the way!
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:36 pm
If the Bucs lose out, and aalbert plays up to his ability, then expect some big changes, get rid of McCoy and get some FA’s.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:36 pm
If the Bucs lose out, and aalbert plays up to his ability, then expect some big changes, get rid of McCoy and get some FA’s.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:45 pm
just saw that michael bennett has an undisclosed injury that their not sure how healthy he is. Okam said on his twitter that he may be back but hell have to wait until tomorrow
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:53 pm
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/content/injury-bucs-michael-bennett-impacted-frank-okam-decision
Lo and behold, not because of the money or the club…
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:54 pm
I’m surprised that with all the D-Line movement this season, Alex Magee has never gotten a call. I don’t think he’s playing in the NFL at all. He wasn’t great, but I thought he played decent last year. I knew about the weed in the car incident, but did that end his career? We gave up a 5th round pick to get him last year. Was this another Dom blunder?
November 23rd, 2011 at 1:18 am
Are the bucs nutts roy miller is way worse!!! Seriously we will all question this forever…
November 23rd, 2011 at 2:14 am
[Why be stupid adam? — Joe]
November 23rd, 2011 at 2:16 am
Ok, so I was close. Bennett had the injury that caused a need at DE. Okam, while probably mostly healthy, has been injured, hasn’t practiced much and Roy Miller is the better option at this moment. Okam may be back with the team, but both he and Miller are backup DTs… at best. Doesn’t really matter which one is cut, if either one has to start, we’re in trouble. This sure is a lot of fuss over a couple backups.
November 23rd, 2011 at 2:17 am
don’t yall wish it was quincy blizzy talking all the lockeroom ish instead??
adam from the zoo
November 23rd, 2011 at 2:18 am
i guess someone really is going home for the holidays……hmm….and not coming back
November 23rd, 2011 at 2:22 am
nate i promise you that you will not think about frank okam forever….you will forget he existed before you know it, unless you live in some tiny buccaneers bubble (like me and john travolta)….and yes roy “no skills” mills somehow dodged the turkey axe.
forever bucs fan — adam from ny
November 23rd, 2011 at 2:31 am
Nate- if you are going to “question forever”, what the team does with a 3rd string tackle and a practice squad player, then you might wanna step away from the keys for a while! That’s fanatical, even for this bunch, lol!
November 23rd, 2011 at 7:43 am
aw joe i thought it was a good post….entertainment is all it was…i tettered on the edge but never really went over the cliff….ok i will fall back in future posts…i was just palying around joe…go easy brother go easy….the kid will come correct for the rest of the season.
November 23rd, 2011 at 7:50 am
scotty reynolds seems to navigating a sinking ship over there too…that site has all but completely fell off…no podcasts….no charlie…no wolf…no nothin”’………the pewter submarine is about to go under and duke took like 3 years of premium pay from me with no kind of resiprocity before his mag went digital….ganked for a 3 year subscription 105 dollar deal right before he killed off the mag and went to the computer submarine…when i see that guy he will be forking over a c-note to me fo-sure…..adam from ny
November 23rd, 2011 at 8:29 am
OK, somebody figure this one out. Te’o Neisheim was given #50, usually a linebacker number. Anybody want to chance a theory? Oh, and there are numbers in the nineties not used. While you’re at it, Why does Haynesworth and McCargo have the same #95?
November 23rd, 2011 at 9:27 am
My theory is that they are planning to sign someone…a LB or CD…maybe a RB (though I doubt it).
Much as I hate to see Okam go, this could wind up being a good thing. Ples, if no one claims him he can go back on the squad.
November 23rd, 2011 at 9:47 am
Ah…I should have read the comments first.
BamBam, I was about to say that if it had to do with an Okam injury, why sign DE instead of DT? But then I read furthur on.
The Bennett injury is bad news of course, but at least it is not a season ending injury.
I’m surprised an injury on Albert hasn’t been announced. Him getting that stinger in the last game was a scary thing. I instantly thought “Well, that was a waste of a signing…”
But them Albert went back in. I don’t know about you guys, but that impressed me. The old Albert would have stayed on the sidelines. He showed leadership in doing what he did.
Kind of makes me want to think he actually is changed. If he keeps on playing like he is, there is a great chance he’s here to stay.
On Miller…
drbinshore is spot on. Miller is better than he is given credit for. But the likely reason he was kept over Okam is experience and continuity.
Miller has proven he is durable…just what you want in a backup. And I’m not convinced he can’t be good at the other DT spot.
November 23rd, 2011 at 9:52 am
McCargo is number 79
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:03 am
Well, well….there actually WAS a reason for the move. See how silly some of you are with all the conjecture and jumping to conclusions??? See why we’re sooooooooo glad that the front office doesn’t let the fans dictate their decision making?
November 23rd, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Okam hasn’t done anything all year. I get it.