Geno Gives Himself An “85”
March 1st, 2012It sure seems like we’re now entering the final minutes of the Geno Hayes era in Tampa Bay.
Hayes is an unrestricted free agent. The Bucs can do better for a starting outside linebacker. And while Hayes proved Taser-proof and alarm-clock challenged, those likely aren’t qualities Greg Schiano is seeking in his linebackers.
Hayes checked in with Tom Krasniqi on WHBO-AM 1040 yesterday and stated he didn’t see any Buccaneers quit last season, the Bucs locker room was “tense,” and Raheem Morris was a great coach who took the fall like a man but players didn’t want him to take it.
As for Hayes’ assessment of his 2011 performance?
“I wouldn’t grade it at 100 percent; that’s for sure,” Hayes said. “I’d grade it at least about 85 percent. It wasn’t the full, you know, me. It’s something that I don’t regret but I’ll learn from. I went through a couple of stages. But hey man, who doesn’t, man? You know, you gotta live and you learn, and that’s what I did this last year. And I learned a lot going through the things I went through.”
Joe’s got no problem with Hayes, who easily performed as well as can be expected over four seasons for a sixth-round pick, plus Hayes is still just 24 years old. He’s just not a sound linebacker and Joe’s seen enough since Hayes grabbed the starting job from Jermaine Phillips in 2009.
Might Hayes return in 2012 as a backup and special teams player? Joe wouldn’t wager against it, but it seems unlikely. Hayes made no mention of the Bucs showing interest in him during the radio interview.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:07 am
He thinks Raheem was a great coach? He doesn’t think the team quit? That alone is grounds for dismissal.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:13 am
Hayes is perfect backup material. He just shouldn’t be starting…anywhere.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:16 am
An 85 lol. Bye bye, Geno.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:22 am
Maybe the guy should consider a position change?
March 1st, 2012 at 11:22 am
To what, janitor?
March 1st, 2012 at 11:28 am
For a late round pick he’s done alright, but we don’t have a strong enough roster to cover for his weak points.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:29 am
Buh Bye.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:31 am
Good thing we cut Brooks so we could develop this guy.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:53 am
BSPN reporting now:
Mike Wallace will becmoe a RFA
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7633206/pittsburgh-steelers-franchise-wr-mike-wallace-source-says
I’d love for the Buc’s to trade back in the first round if we can, pick up an additional pick or two (maybe a 3rd or 2nd) & then go sign Mike Wallace to a monster deal preventing Pitt from matching. This guy is worth a 1st round pick hands down. Top 5 WR in the league & he is a burner! Let’s think outside the box Dominik.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:58 am
He’s got the physical skills. Sadly, that’s where it ends, and it’s been that way since college.
He probably is a backup. That the problem with a portion of the roster, backups as starters.
March 1st, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Wonder what locker room he was in?
Wonder what he thinks quit means? Losing 10 straight, 6 of those opponents scored over 35 pts(2 over 45pts), that sounds like quitters too me!
Raheem was a great head coach?????
Maybe, he meant great buddy?
BTW I thought all the smokers were off the team now?
March 1st, 2012 at 12:22 pm
OAR, not to mention one of those beatdowns came at the hands of the greatness known as Blaine Gabbert and the Jacksonville Jaguars. That one still stings.
March 1st, 2012 at 12:25 pm
If Hayes thinks Morris did a decent job last season and thinks he himself graded out at a 85, perhaps he should go to DC and join Dan Snyder’s circus.
March 1st, 2012 at 12:30 pm
For the millionth time… Final day to sign RFA players to contracts is about a week before the draft. Teams then have a few days to match or let them go, also before the draft. Teams typically don’t trade draft picks until draft day because they don’t know who’s available at that pick yet. We can’t trade down in the draft and send that pick to Pitt for Wallace. If we give up a pick, it’s the #5 pick in the draft and we won’t get any extra picks in later rounds. Not gonna happen. He’s more likely to end up someplace like Denver. They made the playoffs, so pick later in the round, they may lose Eddie Royal, they have need of WRs for Tebow (or whoever is there). I would say the Saints go get him and let one of their FA WRs go, but they don’t have a first this year if I remember correctly, so can’t make that play. Also, a team like the Browns can’t make the move for the pick they got from the Falcons, it must be their pick (#4).
March 1st, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Wow 85% huh??? I’d say more like 15% and that’s being very generous. I don’t want to insult the guy too badly, but he is a special teams player at best. He wouldn’t even be considered a top college LB right now. Geno looks like a player that doesn’t work hard at his craft. He is probably sitting on a beach right now, drinking, smoking and dreading having to start working out again. He would not be missed along with his buddy Quincy. To say they suck would not do justice to how bad they really are. Too say they didn’t quit is just a bold face lie. Hit the road Jack!
March 1st, 2012 at 12:37 pm
The Saints are Cap-Strapped and don’t have the room to sign Wallace from everything I’m hearing.
March 1st, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I would love to see a number of the Bucs defenders go to Washington and play for their Buddy.
March 1st, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Why wouldnt to bucs make a move now on Wallace so they know heading into free agency whether they need to go after another wideout should the Steelers match?
March 1st, 2012 at 12:59 pm
For all the people wanting the Bucs to sign Wallace, if the Steelers don’t match the offer we give to Wallace, then as compensation for their lose, the Steelers get our 1st round draft pick (#5). We can draft Blackmon at #5
March 1st, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Really why does everyone blast Hayes? He was a 6th round pick….,.how can you expect much out of him at all? Only fools like Rah and Dom let him start and think of him as the answer, choosing not to upgrade thru free agency last year.
Keep Hayes for depth; he’s a good young backup but I agree he totally sucks as a starter.
Oh, and get rid of Black.
March 1st, 2012 at 1:35 pm
We do have a good OLB candidate in Ronnie Curran we picked up from the Titans. A fast tenacious ballhawk, who is a solid tackler with good instincts. He is good leader on and off the field. Curran led the SEC in tackles in 2009 with 116.
Lets see what he can bring to our team.
As for Geno, come back and compete.
March 1st, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Personally, I don’t care where a player is drafted. If he’s not performing his job well, then I consider him replaceable. Hayes can give whatever grade to himself that he wants’ When I watch a game and I see him out of his gap or being washed out by linemen, I want to see him gone.
March 1st, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Patrick
I’m blasting his perceptions of the team and Raheem, not for his sixth round pick playing!
March 1st, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Pit has said they’re going to match whatever Wallace gets offered even if they have to cut players to keep him. Just forget about Wallace.
March 1st, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@ ScottB
Why would you draft Blackmon and hope he turns into a guy like Wallace, when you could have Wallace?
Dez Bryant, Michael Crabtree, Darius Heyward-Bey, how have those picks panned out? None of them are anywhere near the talent of Mike Wallace.
March 1st, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@ Meh
That’s ridiculous, Pit will not match $9 mil. Otherwise they would franchise him.
March 1st, 2012 at 2:56 pm
I’m just repeating what they’ve said. They’re hoping to come to an agreement with him, but are prepared to do “whatever it takes” to keep him. They aren’t letting him go.
March 1st, 2012 at 3:02 pm
We won’t be signing Mike Wallace.
March 1st, 2012 at 3:03 pm
We’re NOT getting Wallace!!! Sheesh, we’d have to give up the #5 overall pick, it’s not gonna happen. We can’t trade down in the 1st and then get Wallace, because nobody trades draft picks until draft day and RFA is over before that.
Get on a real level here, people. The Bucs will draft Kalil, Blackmon, Richardson or Claiborne at #5 overall (not necessarily in that order of preference) or they will trade back. And to those saying that “trade back” is what we “need to do”, think about that for a minute. In order to trade back, you have to have a willing trade partner. To get a willing trade partner there has to be a player worth moving up for. Other than RG3, there’s not a lot that teams want to move ahead of other teams for. Might say Blackmon, but there are other WRs in the draft. Claiborne? Other DBs too. Kalil is tops at LT, but Reiff will be around still. Maybe TR? Gotta wonder if he won’t be around a couple picks later and not have to give up as much for him…. trading down will be extremely difficult if RG3 is off the board.
March 1st, 2012 at 3:55 pm
I believe Geno is gone and it’s his own doing.
No way the Buccaneers are giving up their 1 pick. Hopefully they’ll get
Claiborne or Blackmon, depending on who they go for in FA.
Thank GOD we have an off-season this year, with REAL OTA’s, mini camps, FA and the draft.
March 1st, 2012 at 3:56 pm
lol
March 1st, 2012 at 4:17 pm
taser-proof! haha
March 1st, 2012 at 4:49 pm
His attitude is exactly what was wrong with the team last season.
Absolutely ZERO accountability.
He doesn’t regret not playing at 100% but don’t worry because he will “learn” from it.
Can his ass and everyone else in the locker room that is saying they didn’t quit (they are usually the ones who quit first) and get rid of any player that doesn’t regret that freak show from last season.
March 1st, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Hayes must be extremely delusional if he think this team didn’t quit those last 10 losses and if he played well 85 % of the time. Maybe he meant he got washed out, not included or straight pancaked 85% of the time on the field.
March 1st, 2012 at 6:20 pm
65 D
March 1st, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Geno gets a zero. Maybe I’ll be nice and curve it to a 20! Ha!
March 1st, 2012 at 7:28 pm
@ BamBam you contradicted yourself. You start out by saying we shouldn’t give up the 5th pick in the draft and then close your argument by stating the pick isn’t desirable enough to trade. Plus Wallace is better than Claiborne, Blackmon, Kalil, or whoever. People need to stop being so negative. I even heard a radio host, who shall remain nameless (but I think we all know I am talking about) saying that Wallace is the dream guy for the Bucs to get. He started off by saying though he wasn’t worth giving up # 5, but by the end of his point it sounded as if he talked himself into it. Wallace is worth #5. People need to admit that and get over it. I have never argued with anyone that the Bucs won’t give up # 5 for Wallace. They won’t and we all know this. I am just arguing that people need to reallize that, yes it is worth it.
March 1st, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Also, no one needs to fool themselves. If the Rams trade that # 2, there is a good chance they will sign Wallace.
March 1st, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Are people seriously making the argument to draft Blackmon over Mike Wallace? You realize Mike Wallace is a proven Top NFL WR, and only 25 years old & Blackmon is merely a great prospect with no pro success. All things being equal (sans contract $ which we have plenty to spare) Wallace is the superior player right now.
March 1st, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Matthew, human nature’s first instinct is to always say “no.” So when someone brings up something new then it is natural to say no. Most human beings are proud and once they say no they feel the need to defend it, no matter how wrong they may be.
People argue that Wallace isn’t worth the 5th pick in the draft. Well 50% of all top ten picks are either busts or players that are decent, but not stars. No matter who we pick at #5 and what position they play, we as fans and employees with the Bucs would all be hoping that the player selected would be as elite at their respective postion as Wallace is in his.
People act as if this offseason alone will determine whether or not we will make it as a franchise. Some seem to think we can sign Vincent Jackson and draft Morris Claiborne and that somehow is better than a combo of either Carr and Wallace or Finnegan and Wallace. Every year there are varying levels of prospects at each postion. Every year there is a can’t miss player at each position and overlooked stars to be that get passed on. Also I wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs won 4, 6, 8, or 10 games next year. I don’t think the talent is unfixable, proper coaching that can get the players lined up in better positions will lead to better results. Bottom line this team is a work in progress and needs 2 – 3 years until it is ready to make a run. We have time to rebuild, that is why Schiano is on a 5 year deal not a 2-3 year deal like Rah.
With all that said, I know that the Bucs will not trade the pick for Wallace. But I think the idea of, for the umpteenth time that is probably making most of you sick to your stomachs, Blount pounding the rock, Wallace burning them deep, Williams and Winslow owning the middle, and the potential of double coverage on Wallace opening up Benn and Williams is a recipe for success that could be a long term solution for our offense that will allow Rock Star GM Mark Dominik and Up and Coming Rock Star Greg Schiano to focus almost all of their efforts on adding pieces to our defense. With the exception of OL.
I know that most people have stopped reading this post by now, and those still reading will rush to respond with such gems as: “the Bucs will never do it so just dropit” or “Wallace isn’t worth the 5th pick, draft Blackmon” (that one is very funny to me btw) or ” VJax and Claiborne are better” (they are easier, not better) or any other type of negative response.
An owner that had lots of available cap space and a clear mandate to spend, would make this move because we have a need for an elite blazing top end WR that would open up so many possibilities for our team, both on and off the field.
Also, I am willing to admit that I would also like the idea of drafting Claiborne in the 1st and drafting Stephen Hill in the 2nd. Or, Claiborne in the 1st and another DB in the 2nd. Or, signing Vjax, signing Carr or Finnegan, drafting Claiborne in the 1st, and drafting a Hill or DB in the 2nd. Or even, signing a FA or 3 like Nicks, Finnegan, Carr, VJax, Colston, and drafting Richardson and so on in the 2nd. I can admit that I would like every single one of those scenarios, I just think everyone else can admit that they would be thrilled with the Wallace scenario as well.
March 1st, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Also, thanks to @Brad to make me consider the whole Wallace scenario. I didn’t originate the idea, but I feel he is right and it is a good move.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Mike Wallace is very very good but looks at his split stats. Once teams started realizing that the Steelers aren’t the same old ground and pound Steelers and were a more pass oriented offense Wallace’s production dropped significantly in the second half of the season. I’d definately take Wallace over Justin Blackmon, but I really can’t say the same about Morris Claiborne. Also Pittsburgh has real leaders in their locker room, if Wallace came here he would instantly be “The Man” and I’m not sure how exactly he would handle that.
Just remember everyone, Pop Star Dominik chose Roy Miller over Mike Wallace.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:08 pm
“Most human beings are proud and once they say no they feel the need to defend it, no matter how wrong they may be.”
You have no idea how right you are about that.
March 2nd, 2012 at 11:06 am
Why is everyone on the cut the geno train all of a sudden when it was the entire defense who had a breakdown last year. if anyone should be cut it should be faine, trueblood, black, and sean jones. geno had a horrible year and might need a position change but has still been the closest thing to decent we have had as a linebacker. lets not have a nother barrett rudd situation and just draft and sign free agents and see how everything turns out.