Not A Bad Move, But…
April 13th, 2012
Earlier this week, the Bucs made some roster news by cutting Tanard Jackson.
To be frank, the Bucs probably stuck by Jackson much longer than they should have, and finally washed their hands of a talented but thoroughly unreliable safety.
After blowing off the first week the team could meet with its new coaching staff to get a head start on learning the nuances of a new defensive coordinator, the oft-suspended Jackson paid for it, and is now walking the streets as a man without a team.
Initially, former Bucs defensive lineman Steve White didn’t lose sleep over the transaction by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, which White wrote about on “School of the Legends.”
Evidently T Jax decided to ditch the first week of meetings in order to rehab in New Orleans. Quite honestly that was a stunningly dumb move on his part in my opinion. He is one of those guys who probably should’ve been in Coach Schiano’s office the day after he was hired, trying to make a good impression. With his baggage and after the terrible year he had somebody close to him (agent, family member, real friend) should’ve made it clear to him that he was already on thin ice and needed to prove himself all the way over with a new regime if he didn’t pick up on that himself. That he didn’t “get it” gave the Bucs the perfect opportunity to both “make a statement” as well as start fresh with getting new blood in. From that standpoint I really don’t have a problem with the move.
But… here is where White had a problem with the move, and it is legitimate: The Bucs have virtually no one left at safety.
Sure, there is free agent Cody Lynch and a few guys that have scant playing time in the league, Larry Asante, Devin Holland and Ahmad Black. Oh, and Corey Grimm who is coming off his second season-ending injury to his legs in as many years.
Yes, one could say the Bucs are thin there at safety.
Joe’s going to guess that new Bucs coach Greg Schiano wanted no part of Jackson’s lack of credibility and dedication further rubbing off on younger players.
So it was, adios!
Now the Bucs have to go dumpster diving for a safety. This is what happens when you put faith in a guy who has demonstrated time and again to be unreliable.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:20 am
I don’t mind this too much. You are right about us being really, really thin at safety. Just like linebacker.
It doesn’t matter. We weren’t fixing all the holes on this defense in one offseason anyway. Better to remodel some even if it is painful next year.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:22 am
so if TJAX comes down he gets ripped for not rehabbing. If he rehabs he gets fired. Damned if he did, damned if he didn’t.
Would like to find a way to draft Mark Barron (trade down to the teens) now. Safety is a bigger concern than corner. We have Wright, Talib, Barber and Biggers and Gaitor can play inside. Safety is the top priority right now.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:35 am
Bucfan34:
Nonsense. As Joe has written before, what exactly was TJax doing for rehab in New Orleans, short of some voodoo potion, that he couldn’t do at One Buc Palace for three or four days. It’s not like the Bucs don’t have trainers and physical therapists on staff.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Cody Lynch, hybrid safety. Gerald Price = McCoy’s lower body and Price’s upper.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:41 am
1 down 2 or 3 to go…imo
April 13th, 2012 at 8:47 am
The message is clear.
The Buccaneers will no longer tolerate unreliable, irresponsible and uncommitted players being on the team. They have to draft, sign players, re-up players accordingly and I’m all for it.
Tannard BLEW IT! Goodbye.
April 13th, 2012 at 8:59 am
This perfectly illustrates how fandom has changed over the years. Here we are barely into the off season with months to go, and people are freaking out over a safety being cut because it creates a hole.
Never mind that there are still months to free agency and a draft on the horizon. If we were a few weeks AFTER the draft and the need had not been addressed, I could see reason for concern.
I think an article reviewing possible options in free agency and the draft would be better. Why focus on the negative so early? The Bucs only JUST created the need…give them time to address it before you start complaining.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:09 am
@Pete I think it’s because most people realize we will probably address CB, LB, and RB in the draft before thinking about a safety.
And a fifth round safety isn’t going to set the league on fire.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Bucfan34 Says: April 13th, 2012 at 8:22 am
so if TJAX comes down he gets ripped for not rehabbing. If he rehabs he gets fired. Damned if he did, damned if he didn’t.
.
Spoken “like” a man who does not accept responsibility for actions taken. What was TJAX rehabbing for? Didn,t he also fail the physical? Ask yourself how. Afterall, if he were working hard in the off season and getting rehabbed for an injury (assuming it wasn’t drug rehab), then why is he so out of shape?
GMC is rehabbing in the off season…is he out of shape?
When Schiano was hired he said everyone gets a clean slate. This did not mean the past was in the past as many assumed. It meant he was going to look at each player OBJECTIVELY and evaluate them.
Also, we have a draft coming up. Just what roster spots do you think the picks are going to get? There are more cuts coming, especially since unsigned draft choices now count against the roster.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:18 am
Fatmosh
I don’t think we’ll take a RB before the 6th round. I think it will go:
CB
LB
LB
Safety
They could just as easily NOT take a RB at all and make their next pick a tightend.
And a 5th can still set the league on fire. Lots have in the past.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Btw…I was making that prediction before Tanard was cut so things are falling into place from my point of view.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Exactly- wasted too much time on an undependable dumbass
Now- cut Talib and Black
Next – cue the zombies- who’ll come shambling in, claiming how “elite” those two losers are!!
Especially that Poi eating HawiianBuc.
But, I think this was the exact right move to change team mentality! These bozos quit on their coach last year. In mid season
You have to eliminate the really stupid ones- who thought they’d get away with it.!
Bye Aqib.. Bye Quincy. Last of Grudens garbage, taken to the curb!
April 13th, 2012 at 9:22 am
@BigMac
“Cody Lynch, hybrid safety. Gerald Price = McCoy’s lower body and Price’s upper.”
LMAO!!!! Two perfect killing machines!
April 13th, 2012 at 9:33 am
Joe,
First, I’m a big fan of Jackson on the field and I’m not worried about how he played last year (Only Raheem would start a guy who was out 14 months his first week back-his legs were obviously shot) But I’m reading crazy stories about Jackson off the field and the recent arrest of his child’s mother. Can you confirm? Because if that stuff is true along with the drug history and suspension risk, this is a great move. You just can’t have guys like that around.
April 13th, 2012 at 9:36 am
As Joe has written before, what exactly was TJax doing for rehab in New Orleans, short of some voodoo potion, that he couldn’t do at One Buc Palace.
Let’s see here,Ricky Williams +New Orleans = that voodoo weed that u can’t leave alone….The kinda that make u give up millions of dollars just 2 smoke.Lol!
April 13th, 2012 at 9:43 am
When you think about it, releasing TJax didn’t create a hole at safety. The hole was already there. TJax is no longer the young player with huge potential we remember from a few years ago. Success take commitment, hard work, desire, and heart. There is nothing from last years performance to suggest that he has what it takes to turn things around and his poor choices continue to trip him up. Now the roster spot is open to find a more committed body to fill that hole that was already there. Fingers crossed this coaching staff can get it done. So far so good!
April 13th, 2012 at 9:47 am
I agree with Pete, plus if they pick a CB 1st, Rhonde can play safety if necessary. I have found in life, that a lot of people can do great if given the chance, that is why in areas that we need help, give those that haven’t had a chance an opportunity.
The time to get excited is after the 4th preseason game, until then, we don’t know jack.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:03 am
Ronde will not play safety and he has said so. “Too small to play safety.”
In the last year of his illustrious career, he’s not going to volunteer for the physical beating that a safety must endure. These beatings will create trauma that would last for decades and are not necessary for Ronde at this point in his life.
We’ll be able to pick up a couple players after the other teams make their final cuts. A lot of times a GM will cut or try to hide a great player who was not drafted early to protect their highly drafted players whether they can play or not. That’s how we stole LaGarrette Blount.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:12 am
Draft S.S. Ray Ray Armstrong 2013…half the problem solved…now get a free safety
April 13th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Bucs can go “dumpster diving” for safeties and find guys that will play better than T-JAX did last year, and be more dependable too, and not have to wait for their buddy Rah to keep rescuing coddling them.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:43 am
can’t fix stupid.
I guess asking your employer if its ok to rehab in New Orleans or would they like him to come to Tampa to do it was beyond his grasp.
Now if he was avoiding a drug test, then at least there was some method to his madness.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:57 am
@Pete
If Schiano is going to a New York Giant styled run-first offense that depends heavily on a tandem of RBs, you might want to re-think RB before the 6th round!
April 13th, 2012 at 11:08 am
guys like jackson and talib are examples of the kind of players we have to quit taking chances on. get a little less talent maybe for more heart and dedication
April 13th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Quietly deafening character move by the Bucs fron office, very much needed. They did stick with Jackson longer than they should have. He wasn’t that good, decent…and was injured over a year-and-a-half, so…
We’ll scour the Safety cuts after the draft, pick one up in 3rd rd, or 5th round, we’ll sign someone, plus Grimm.
MUCH MORE to gain in the statement to players by Bucs, than lost in his toking-can’t-control-my-sorry-ass-making-millions-self!! Punk is, as punk does.
April 13th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
All these internet geniuses and no one has yet realized that he didnt want to play in Tampa anymore…
April 13th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Cody Lynch? Cory Grimm? Man Joe, did Jackson sell you the remnants of his weed yesterday before he left town?
Haha!
April 13th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
The bucs really hung in there with this guy considering his suspensions and being on the verge of getting a lifetime suspension with one more positive test.
He was given another opportunity and immediately was rewarded with a nice contract. It is totally on him in my opinion. He should have been trying to make the best impression possible from day 1.
let’s move on!