Connor Barth May Get Tagged
February 25th, 2012
Bucs fans have been acting like youngsters armed with a wish list for Santa at Christmastime after Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik said the Bucs will go shopping with their Christmas Club free agent cash.
While fans have been celebrating, it’s been easy to forget the Bucs had players of their own that will be free agents.
One is Jeremy Zuttah, the Bucs versatile offensive lineman. It appears, however, both the Bucs and Zuttah are close to signing a deal as both sides from to remain status quo.
Another free agent is kicker Connor Barth. And Dominik explained to Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that Barth will not get away from the Bucs, so Cummings Twittered today.
@RCummingsTrib: Bucs GM Mark Dominik says PK Connor Barth will not be an unrestricted free agent. Says he’ll either re-sign him or tag him before Mar. 13.
Well, we all know how much Dominik loves kickers and punters. So for the first time Joe can recall on a lazy Saturday afternoon, a Bucs kicker will be slapped with a franchise tag.
February 25th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
FYI: I’m pretty sure the Browns tagged their kicker, Dawson, a year or 2 ago. But I’m glad they will do what it takes to keep Barth. IMO him and Koenen were the team MVPs last year. Not that that is saying much, but still.
February 25th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
And with the 5th pick in the draft Dominik selects the best college kicker to back up Barth in case they can’t sign him to a long term contract. To save money for signing Conner, Dominik also forfeits the rest of the 2012 draft class.
February 25th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
boring but good! Hell,he’s one of our best playmakers.
February 25th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Nice to see them use the tag…
February 25th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
really…not sure if he is top 5 kicker
February 25th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
1.9mil to 2.65mil. Just a short-term ploy to give them time to work out a long-term deal. Nothing to worry about here!
February 25th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Beyond lazy Joe, its happened 4 out of the last 5 years. Can you not use Wikipedia or you just trying to stir up a hornets nest?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franchise_tag#Franchise-tagged_players_2
Kicker is actually one of the places it makes the most sense cause you don’t break the bank and you can keep a good player under contract. Barth has been as solid as it gets, would be a good move.
February 25th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
To add to that the Broncos are likely going to tag Matt Prater this year too. Weak Joe, very weak.
February 25th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
That says a lot about the talent on your roster. The most valuable expiring contract is a kicker.
February 25th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Not really Thomas….it just says that we don’t have many players becoming FA’s this year. What a dumb statement…
February 25th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
On top of that, usually the leading scorer is the field goal kicker. If you have a good one of course you want to keep him. I guarantee you that the Ravens wish they had one…….
February 25th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
What is dumb bobby is that you speak without knowledge:
Josh johnson, geno hayes, jeremy zuttah, ronde barber, sean jones, earnest graham and elbert mack come to mind.
The problem is that pop stat believes that Barth is the most valuable of the group (and yes the least expensive position to tag).
February 25th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Kickers are infrequently tagged – I seem to recall Vinatieri being tagged but not many others.
You dont comprehend the point. I agree with the decision, Barth has been good any no other player is worth franchise tag money – which is the point – good teams have tough decisions virtually every year re pay big money or expose an asset – the bucs dont have that problem.
February 25th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Further to the point of some of the prior posters:
Pop star has shown 1 talent:
The ability to acquire kickers.
Maybe we could redefine his role:
GM in charge of kicker acquisition as well as his primary role of Glazer errand boy.
February 25th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Thomas can’t you read, above you? A kicker gets franchised almost every year. Check out PFT on ths story and they said both Prater and Scobee could also be franchised.
February 25th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Point being, 4 out of the last 5 years (and probably will be 5 out of 6) is far from infrequent.
February 25th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
You franchise whoever you have to. That’s the luxury of the designation. Who cares what position it is, if it’s a guy you need to keep and can’t agree to a long term deal, then you do it. All this other BS is insignificant, and you’re all idiots for claiming it is significant.
February 25th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Also, Barth made 93% of his fg’s attempted overall, 93% of those from 40-49 yards and missed only 1 out of 3 beyond 50. He may not have Janikowski type range, but he’s got some clutch accuracy, that he displayed all year.
February 25th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
I said infrequently not never. I did not remember Dawson and I guess it happens occasionally. I said I agreed with the move – so why are your panties in a wad?
I will say it again – if the roster was loaded with non-kicker talent – odds are 1 of the 9-10 expiring contracts would be in stronger consideration for the tag.
Coincidentally, Cleveland and Jax and to some extent Denver arent rosters loaded with talent either – so your examples prove my point.
February 25th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
I just want to give props to Mike Mayock for calling out Luck, Griffin and Blackmon, to put it on the field at the combine. These top players that won’t perform all drills at the combine should be barred from attending and give their spot to the guys on the bottom that don’t get invited. Display your wares or stay at home. Chances are we won’t wind up with any of three.
February 25th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Kickers get tagged more often than people think. The reason is not a lack of other talented players on the team, it’s because most players that deserve the tag get new deals before it ever gets to that point. For example, the team will probably give Freeman a new deal before he ever becomes a free agent or requires the tag. Probably a year before his rookie contract is up (this year sometime) we’ll work a new deal with him. What that leaves is kickers. The other thing to think about when it comes to the tag is the players that aren’t kickers that get the tag are usually the ones that held out or didn’t negotiate new deals the year before (DeSean Jackson comes to mind). Other players that get tagged are RFA players that teams could get compensation for if they allowed them to go that route, but would rather keep (Mike Wallace comes to mind).
February 25th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Joe said the first time a BUC’S kicker would be franchised, he didn’t mean in the whole league.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Thomas 2.2 Says: February 25th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
What is dumb bobby is that you speak without knowledge:
Josh johnson, geno hayes, jeremy zuttah, ronde barber, sean jones, earnest graham and elbert mack come to mind.
The problem is that pop stat believes that Barth is the most valuable of the group (and yes the least expensive position to tag).
_———————
The BUCs want Josh johnson to have a chance to start elsewhere. Gene Hayes has not worked out. Zuttah will have a contract done in time. Barber has said he will either play for the Bucs or retire. Jones and mack have not worked out. Graham is getting up in years and was never more than a blocking back.
So yeah, Barth makes sense.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Barth is 99% of their red zone offense. They better do something.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:21 am
How did they beat the Saints. Offense. Hell NO. Barth! Freeman may pass for 500 yards a game even if we get a great WR. But if as usual things wind up being the way they have been in th red zone, guess who we will need.
February 26th, 2012 at 2:18 am
As long as Connor Barth remains a Buccaneer. He’s a damn good “money” kicker we need to keep IMO.
February 26th, 2012 at 7:45 am
“The BUCs want Josh johnson to have a chance to start elsewhere.”
^^^^^ Most out-of-touch comment of 2012 so far. Congrats Doucher…
February 26th, 2012 at 8:21 am
Pete,I disagree.Mack is worth keeping ,we just need to get him coached up.he wasn’t one of the quitters and although he got torched a couple times the kid always hustled
February 26th, 2012 at 9:09 am
Great site, Joe! Joe knows Buc football! I believe you are correct, Joe, about the Bucs never using the tag on a kicker(very few players for that matter). The last one was Antonio Bryant and perhaps new author/ former DE Chidi Ahonotu before that. On a historical note, the Bucs thought they had a “handshake agreement” with kicker Steve Christie, didn’t tag him and the Bills swooped in and stole him. The Bills went on to lose 4 Super Bowls after that. Coincidence? You decide ;)….
February 26th, 2012 at 11:52 am
ALRIGHT!!! Our one free agency move this year! Woo Hoo! Let the season begin!!!
February 26th, 2012 at 11:53 am
According to RotoWorld, Mario Manningham is expected to sign with the Bucs! Good move if true.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Not if we overpay him. I was afraid we’d be sucked into the one good catch in the super bowl FA, i’m okay with the move if he comes at fair value for a single route speed WR but if we pay this guy like he’s a stud WR i’m going to be upset.