Bucs May Make A Royal Move
March 4th, 2012
The Bucs need depth in lots of places, but Joe’s not so sure wide receiver is one of those spots.
Could the Bucs use a burner of a No. 1 receiver? Sure. That’s different than needing depth. The Bucs seem to have a plethora of No. 3 guys.
But there is chatter out on the interwebs that the Bucs want to add another No. 3 receiver. Mario Manningham is one of those rumors. Another rumor, per ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas, is the Bucs are targeting Denver’s Eddie Royal.
Like Manningham, Royal wouldn’t solve all of Tampa Bay’s problems. But, also like Manningham, he could be a nice addition. I don’t see Royal as a No. 1 receiver, but I think he could fit as a No. 2 or 3 receiver. He had a big rookie year under former coach Mike Shanahan in 2008 when he caught 91 passes for 980 yards.
Royal’s numbers have slipped the past three seasons and he bottomed out last season, catching only 19 passes for 155 yards. But any receiver’s numbers are going to dip when Tim Tebow is your quarterback.
While that is true, with Tebow as a signal-caller any receiver’s numbers will drop, that doesn’t mean Royal is going to be a big help to the Bucs.
If Denver, also a young, building team, doesn’t want the guy, that raises an eyebrow with Joe why the Bucs would want him.
March 4th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
More speed than Manningham? Can he play or does play special teams, punt or kickoff returns
March 4th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Royal would fit into the second-tier FA WR’s after the group of V-Jax, Colston, Bowe and Lloyd. Would think possible targets joining him would be guys like Meachem, Robinson, Garcon, Ginn Jr., and Douglas.
March 4th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I think Garcon could be a huge addition as the burner… V-Jax would be the best WR we could get but if the Bucs get other top tier FA like Nicks or Carr/Finnegan
March 4th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Royal would be a great pick up and yes he can play special teams, but all of this is pure speculation at this point. We will only know what FA the bucs are looking at when FA actually starts. Other than Dom and Schiano, NO ONE else knows who we are actually targeting. Btw who the bucs get in FA will NOT dictate who they will draft. Remember the Smoke screen with the Leftwich signing in 09′?
March 4th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
I was thinking about Lloyd, he is faster and a return man
March 4th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Lloyd isnt a returner
March 4th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Royal is a great target. He ran a 4.2 – 4.4 40 during his proday a few years back. When he was teamed with Brandon Marshall he was the deep speed threat while Marshall ran the under routes. I think he was overshadowed with Marshall and now Thomas/Tebow. I’d rather have him then Manningham.
March 4th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
I think it would be another failed signing by Dominik.
March 4th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
I don’t know why we can’t just go out and sign a top receiver like Vincent Jackson! I wish the Bucs would stop always settling for 2nd best all the time. Royal is not a #1 receiver…..and that’s what we need. Royal is a question mark, yes he had Tebow as his QB but still…..he had a bad season last year.
Might as well not even sign a WR if he’s our guy. Same with Manningham.
March 4th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Manningham, Royal, they should just renamed themselves The Bye Week Bucs.
March 4th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Dude has speed, brings another element that none of our recievers currently have. I would welcome him any day, but he couldn’t be the only addition.
March 4th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
I think this would be a great signing I think Mike williams should remain our number 1 with some speed that Royal would bring it would open up some routes for Benn and williams speed we didnt have last yea i dont know why everyone is sayin williams aint a number 1 look at his rookie year the numbers he put up at well as he didnt have a bad year last year as bad as everyone makes it seems we dont have speed who wouldnt play the underneath routes wen defenses know u cant beat them deep we should concentrate our money and sign Nicks and some players in the defense like a middlebacker and a Safety for depth
March 4th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Big007hed Says:
March 4th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I think Garcon could be a huge addition as the burner… V-Jax would be the best WR we could get but if the Bucs get other top tier FA like Nicks or Carr/Finnegan
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Actually, Colston would be the best WR we could get. He’s only had one season under 1,000 yards.
March 4th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
The big question on Royal is whether the QB issues in Denver were the reasons his numbers dropped.
On the surfase though, he looks like another Michael Clayton.
March 4th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Royal is an upgrade over Parker/Spurlock/Stroughter but he’s not a starting caliber WR. Adding a guy like Royal is the bare minimum I want for us at the WR position. He fills our need for speed and return ability but not much else, therefore we’d be depending on Williams/Benn/Briscoe to produce.
March 4th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
With newly added assistant Ben McDaniels having worked in Denver in 2010, you’d think he could probably add some insight into Royals’ situation there. Could be an intriguing signing, though some of the other guys listed above would be as well.
March 4th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
* Except Michael Clayton
March 4th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Jackson most likely stays with the chargers we already have colston clones on the roster…no to manningham and royal we need a guy who faced other teams #1 cb consistently and won… d.jackson, st. Johnson, v.jackson possibilities but again v.jackson ain’t leaving imo
March 4th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
IT WOULD BE BAD PICKUP THIN K WE ARE NOT AS BAD AT WR. BENN IS still at least a 2 anything less than a top wr is a bad hire we need lb and dbs way more than wr maybe we should coach up what we got insted of letting them play cards allday.
March 4th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
AGENT SPEAK!!!
March 4th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
There are really only a few WR’s that I would target. Either Vincent Jackson or Desean Jackson as top guys. I don’t want Lloyd nor Colston. Lloyd has only shown success in 1 system. I do like Colston but I don’t see much difference between him and what we currently have at receiver. He may have better statistics and have more experience but also consider who has been throwing him the ball. Looking back, it would’ve been nice to draft him. But do we drop Williams to sign Colston? Its a betting man’s guess, but I’d rather stick with Williams.
Other than either of the Jackson’s, I like Garcon and Royal because they both possess speed and have shown some amount of success. I don’t want Royal even as #2 but he’d be a great addition to help change things up in certain packages. I do like Garcon definitely as a #3 and possibly a #2, but I don’t know if I like him better than Benn yet.
I’d rather pick up a speed guy like Royal who can use situationally and see what we have to offer this next year. There’s really no receiver (other than either of the 2 Jackson’s but there’s slim chance either are leaving their team) out there that you gotta say, “This has to be our guy.” With that being the case, then I just say we stick with our current hand and see what we can develop in the draft or young mid to lower level FA.
March 4th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
@passenger27 actually the chargers GM already said VJ is highly unlikely to be tagged and aren’t even close on a contract agreement. Therefore, VJ is most likely not returning to the chargers and will be available.
March 4th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Desean Jackson has already gotten the franchise tag so everyone can forget him.
March 4th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Desean Jackson is a turd and I wouldn’t want him in Tampa even if he wasn’t tagged. He’s been long forgotten about.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Before you vote “Buy” for Colston, you might want to check his medical record. I think he has had 4 or 5 micro-fracture surgeries, you know the kind that Bowers had. He may be a good pick-up, but here’s another opinion.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Worth-the-risk.html
March 4th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Fill LB, CB & OL in free agency & draft a WR. Buy needs and draft the best talent available.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Anybody but our collection of #3 receivers. Although Royal is probably a #3 also, not on this roster.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
CORRECTION: Colston has had 3 surgeries, one on the left and right knee and one on his wrist. To be fair, it hasn’t affected his performance as he has had a 1,000yd season every year he’s been with the Saints except one.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
if this is the type of wide reciever theyre gonna go after i am just gonna flip. but if hes just brought in as a #3 and a punt/ kick returner then im game. hes had pretty good success at returning punts and to me this is just like that article saying were going after ted ginn jr.
As much as we dont want to, we’re just gonna have to wait and see and let it all play out.
March 4th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
If they don’t bring in a true #1 receiver/play maker then they should waste a move at WR. We have PLENTY of 2s and 3s
March 4th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
shouldn’t*
March 4th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
We already have 2 #3 recievers. get a clue!!!
March 4th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Fox sports report, Bucs hire Ron turner as qb coach, lots of experience, not sure about much success
March 4th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Not sure about Turner….Curtis Painter anyone?
March 4th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Yup, Alex Marvez tweeted bucs have hired ron turner as QB coach.
March 4th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
D Jax ($9m) a turd and tagged. Bowe tagged? or staying anyway. Colston ($8m) injury history and NOT a speed guy, a system possession WR. V Jax ($11m) too expensive and 29 yr old. Manningham ($5-6m) works, Meachem is even faster at same $$, Steve Johnson ($7-9m) is great but not a burner.
Royal is really a slot guy that can play outside in a pinch, good returner too. More quick than fast, he can get deep occasionally though. He missed 4 games last year before Tebow, and didn’t get much action as a 3rd wr in the Tebow system. At $3-4m or less, he’s a decent signing….. if Benn and Williams can step up, and the big FA money is actually spent on OL or anywhere on DEF!
March 4th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Question, who is the special teams coordinator for the Bucs?
If they hired one I missed it.
March 4th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
@jim, forgot his name but he was the steelers st coach when they won the SB, Pittsburg posters were glad to see him go
March 4th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
thanks Rr
March 4th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
New ST coach is Bob Ligashesky
March 4th, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Ron Turner got hired as QB Coach
March 4th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
They’ve got rumors about us signing everybody that comes on the market. I’m just going to wait and see what happens instead of getting all worked up about what some talking head thinks we ‘might do’.
March 4th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
The one guy that excites me is Dwayne Bowe, he has yet to be tagged….could be very interesting and he truly is a #1, instantly makes Williams and Benn better.
March 4th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
I live in the SF Bay area and follow the 49er’s as well as the Bucs’s. If they pick up Ginn Jr. as a #1 or #2 along with his return capability this would be a great addition to our beloved Buc’s.
March 4th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
We just re-signed Joe’s man crush Jeremy Zuttah
March 4th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
Drew….Ginn Jr as a #1??? Has he done something or shown the ability to be a number 1? A return and punt guy…absolutely, but #1 or #2 receiver…im not feeling that.
March 5th, 2012 at 12:54 am
Royal would be a waste of a signing. The guy has never had a 1,000 yard season. Had a good rookie year but after that he’s been unimpressive.
His numbers are very Michael Clayton like
2008- nice rookie year 980 yards, 5 TD’s
2009- 345 yards, 0 TD’s
2010- 627 yards 3 TD’s
2011- 155 yards 1 TD
March 5th, 2012 at 1:24 am
Patrick,you can make a very good argument against a #1 or #2, but the tools are there. I think we both agree his role was as a #3.
March 5th, 2012 at 9:09 am
Lloyd isnt faster thn Royal
March 5th, 2012 at 9:11 am
@ patrick
look who his QB was his rookie yr
and look who it was after the numbers lie
March 5th, 2012 at 11:23 am
I was told pound for pound royal is the strongest guy on the team.
March 5th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Royal fits wht we need so does Garcon