Report: Okoye Cut And Will Re-Sign With Bears
August 31st, 2012
Apparently, Greg Schiano likes his defensive tackles healthy.
Brian Price got shipped out to Chicago after he proved to be physically unready (possibly mentally, too.) Now Amobi Okoye is a goner, as well.
Sean Jensen, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports that Okoye was cut from the Bucs and his old team can’t wait to get him back, which ironically probably doesn’t bode well for Price’s future with the Bears.
The defensive lineman was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he’s finalizing a deal to return to the Bears, according to a league source.
A former 10th overall pick, Okoye posted his second-best sack total last season as a Bears reserve, and he signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Bucs during the offseason.
E.J. Wilson? Banged up Gary Gibson? Wallace Gilberry? Those appear to be the remaining depth options at defensive tackle behind Gerald McCoy and Roy Miller. Frank Okam is already gone.
Joe sincerely hopes the Bucs have someone else up their sleeve. Okoye was the second biggest offseason signing on defense, and clearly the need for D-line depth hasn’t disappeared. Schiano himself has said numerous times that the dropoff from the first-team line to the second-teamers concerns him.
Perhaps one of the Redskins interior lineman that gutted the Bucs on Wednesday?
August 31st, 2012 at 11:05 am
This has to be a joke. Dominik must be looking at a trade…it’s the only way he’d be able to bring in a proven guy without issues.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:06 am
Now what, already thin at d-line. I hope this is a BS report…
August 31st, 2012 at 11:06 am
Whoa – Why would the bears want him back so bad if he was hurt. WWTTFF… This is starting to stink out loud.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:07 am
oh man, wasnt this guy just talkin about getting ready for week 1 vs the panthers??? can we bring price back??? we need DEPTH!!!
August 31st, 2012 at 11:07 am
nothing like having confidence in gerald to remain healthy and effective!
August 31st, 2012 at 11:08 am
Wow. Both our lines are paper thin.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:08 am
Must have someone in mind……I hope!
August 31st, 2012 at 11:09 am
Giants DL Marcus Thomas just got released…could he be a potential fill in for Okoye?
August 31st, 2012 at 11:10 am
I would like to of listened to the conversation between Dom and Schiano on this decision… “I bring him in and you are just going to cut ’em without letting him play in a single game”
August 31st, 2012 at 11:11 am
This is crazy, I had high hopes for Okoye. I hope the bucs know what there doing, if not where gonna be picking first in the draft.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:11 am
Okoye can play ball. WTF?
August 31st, 2012 at 11:11 am
I hope we sign a DL or two.
I’m ready for a “shocking” addition, rather than any more subtractions.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:11 am
What the fizz*ck???! The Bucs are in trouble in the trenches!!!
What the hell is going on here?
August 31st, 2012 at 11:12 am
this is concerning, but you have to admit…the line looked pretty good against the Pats-without him. this is the 1st move they have made that i don’t like.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:12 am
I told you guys yesterday, we don’t need players that can’t or won’t practice.we will be fine with out lazy broken players
August 31st, 2012 at 11:13 am
Im telling you there going to trade benn for a d line man
August 31st, 2012 at 11:15 am
Jordan…not sure bout Marcus Thomas….they couldn’t even use the right picture for him on Maddon. He’s an after thought. The Giants are pretty thin at DT and they cut him. Maybe he’ll sign with the Bears too.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:16 am
How the F does this team put so much stock in Roy Miller. The guy is not a good football player.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:19 am
While overall I like Schiano’s coaching style, I feel he has been very quick on the trigger for dropping or trading guys who have talent who are dealing with injuries or off field issues. This would not be such a concern if we did not lack depth, but certainly goes against the win now philosophy I was under the impression he was bringing in:
Briscoe- gone in a flash. I am sure we could have gotten a draft pick at least.
Price- If healthy a beast! If he was not ready or to send a message why not put him on the PUP list for example.
OKOYE- supposedly a key off season acquisition to shore up our D-line depth. Gone for nothing without seeing what he can even do.
I would rather wait on and risk okoye than have someone name Gillbury or Gibson on the team who are just plodders.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:20 am
Also I don’t know how Baker who to me only shined one game made the team over Tandy and Grimm.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:20 am
Easy now, let’s hide the Ativan for a moment.
I think this is a clear message from Schiano that anything beside being on the field working and doing your job with success is not going to be accepted.
Why would you keep a guy who can’t practice and then when they do play gets owned by another teams third and fourth unit? You could as Joe mentions above go get the guys who just trashed your own players and have them molded into your players with practice everyday.
I suspect we will see a lot of healthy and hungry faces really soon.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:22 am
Does not make sense how this guy gets cut but Benn and Biggers stay?.. He played and practiced more than they did and is just as talented. Will be interesting to see what they do and who they bring in.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:23 am
untwist your panties people. i’m sure they’ve got stuff in the works. schiano is a smart guy and knows a good football player when he sees one. give it some time before you leap from the closest bridge.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:24 am
lets hope there is a plan. Buccaneer men/
August 31st, 2012 at 11:25 am
I wonder if being impressed with Roy Miller’s weight room presence has anything to do with this?
Buc fans should know by now that Roy Miller is an impressive workout warrior but when regular season rolls around, he’s a proven dud.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:26 am
Gary Gibson needs to get the boot as well. Schiano will likely lose some credibility if he sent Okoye packing for being injury plagued and keeps his boy Gibson.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:30 am
@Buc Fan #237
I pray that weight room bullish is tossed out the window. Lots of people are in awe of Quincy Black in the weight room. Look at the success that has lead to.
@Bucs4life
I’d say that Gibson will be cut later but Gilberry will actually make the team.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:33 am
I’m sure that by the end of the day, there will be quite a few quality players who are looking for a job simply because they were a little older or more expensive than some of the players who replaced them…I’m not gonna panick just yet!
August 31st, 2012 at 11:38 am
So called “Bucs fans” are the most un-informed, reactionary bunch in the NFL……….
Do you actually think Dominick/Shiano would release these players without other players in mind?
August 31st, 2012 at 11:40 am
I see where the Big East is looking for a 14th team.
Perhaps the Bucs could apply…………
August 31st, 2012 at 11:44 am
It’s funny how many fans will say how great of a coach Bill Belichick is, yet when someone (Schiano) acts the same way in cutting players who can’t or won’t practice, or who just don’t have the mental make up, many of those same fans start whining. The hypocrisy of it amazes me.
You know that Schiano is very much like Belichick, so you can expect his coaching style and his attitude toward signing/releasing players to be very similar as well. People say “you can’t make the club in the tub” when talking about other teams’ roster moves, but when it happens to the Bucs all of a sudden it’s some sort of disaster. Ridiculous.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:47 am
Dang, any of you want cheese and apples to go along with all the whine!
August 31st, 2012 at 11:48 am
FLboy
I agree.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:55 am
Am I reading it right that Sean Baker made the team over Asante, Grimm and Tandy? Wow…he must’ve really impressed over the past week or two for that to happen. Looks like we’re going with only 4 safeties after all: Barber, Barron, Black and Baker. Interesting development.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:56 am
Fans only know about players via name recognition.
That’s why they still yearn for Brian Price, a guy who basically never played.
Bowers may never play in the NFL either.
All of these hype guys based on “potential” won’t help us when we need them most, on Sundays.
That Redskins game must have been very telling for those guys who were cut/earned the team.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:57 am
shocked…. I am speechless …. ugh.. smh …really??? WE HAVE NO DEPTH AT DT!!!
August 31st, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Flboy. Some of you may keep in mind that some of these posters are very young. Ever think of that?
August 31st, 2012 at 12:01 pm
It’s amazing how fans react to cutting a guy that hasn’t even played and barely practiced. He was an underachiever and disappoint in Chicago. Trust me they resigned him for nothing and already knows their D. It’s just funny how people react.. OMG the sky is falling . Hilarious.
With that said if Dominik doesn’t improve this team in the next few hours, he should start looking for work for next year cause I can’t see Glazers keeping him.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Upon reflection and given the Bears defensive line problems, including Price, I doubt Price OR Okoye will see the field much and THAT would not help us at all.
We need to lighten up a notch IMO.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Come on waiver wire!
August 31st, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Oar, please leave the Apples out of it!
August 31st, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Michael Bennett will be seeing a decent amount of work at DT if the preseason is any measure.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:24 pm
I just threw up a little…in my mouth. Not that Okoye was a stud, but I hope we have a plan for depth.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:33 pm
“Looks like we’re going with only 4 safeties after all: Barber, Barron, Black and Baker.”
can’t wait for the Killer B’s to hit the field!
August 31st, 2012 at 12:35 pm
in schiano we trust!
he knows it will not be a one year turn around. he does not want people on his team, buc men, that cannot practice or have poor attitudes.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:42 pm
For all that guaranteed money, why not at least see what he has during the first 4 games.
Maybe he could be great on Sundays. Why worry so much about padless practices anyway?
This seems like a crazy move.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:43 pm
How much has Gibson played this pre-season? Can’t say I remember hearing his name much at all… Next few days will be very telling to say the least. But it’s starting to look like the next draft we will be loading up on both lines. D-Line, CB, O-Line and LB I think are our area of needs in that order.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Okoye alluded to the 110X16 torture tests yesterday, gone today.
I don’t think they will be able to attract any quality players, only desperate players willing to undergo the indignity of the gauntlets.
When GMC goes down, the Little General will have plenty of excuses. Maybe they will switch to the 3-4 defense.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Okoye wasn’t one of the best 53. Simple as that.
August 31st, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Chris@Apple
Ha!
August 31st, 2012 at 1:04 pm
JockstrapGrande
Vincent Jackson, Eric Wright, and Carl Nicks disagree!
No coin toss this time. You lose again!
Now go do 50 pushups and 10 gassers!
August 31st, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Marcus Thomas would be good for depth seeing as we don’t have much depth at the position.
August 31st, 2012 at 1:07 pm
@Lurker, love the “killer b’s”.
August 31st, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Just throwing something out there. If were still looking for a slot receiver, Mardy Gilyard was just cut. The guy can play!
August 31st, 2012 at 1:39 pm
I will ask the question again… and I’m still waiting for an answer:
“What has Mark Dominik done that makes you think he has any skill in evaluating talent?”
August 31st, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Great! They cut the little depth we have at DT and they’re cutting our only proven safety.
Why are sh*t players like Quincy Black and Myron Lewis still on the roster?
August 31st, 2012 at 2:10 pm
@Adam
Nothing! The 2009 draft was horrible, the 2010 draft is looking pretty bad now (with the exception of Mike Williams), at least we got Clayborn from the 2011 draft.
I predict that this will be Dom’s last season. If Freeman and McCoy don’t have a breakthrough season, he’ll be replaced.
August 31st, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Just have faith in our new coach. Some where Butch Davis is in here too. Remember they have last years film, ota, training camp and preseason. This is not being done without a lot of overall study and many hours on the staffs part. I am sure all the coaches are involved in evaluations.
August 31st, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Adam
Well, he helped put together a SuperBowl team. As Pro-scout first and then Director of Pro-personel, means he basically helped evaluate and find all the veterans we signed from 1995 to 2008. Those players helped us win it!
As for his drafts, well I have said this and will say it again, this team has talent, its thier poor coaching and injuries that have hampered thier development. And, no I’m not saying all his of his picks, but most. All GMs picks are hit or miss cause of all the things they can’t predict; injuries, players loss of drive and attitude(ie Micheal Clayton), not to mention undisplined decisions off the field.
Look I dont think he’s great, but to say he no skill for talent evaluation is silly.
August 31st, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Didn’t Dom say the Bucs knew knees? I think his role has now become the Bucs version of Iraqs former minister of information.
August 31st, 2012 at 3:05 pm
@OAR… “Helped.” You make him sound like that guy at the office that gets on all the good project teams, does nothing, but puts his “contribution” on his resume. I think it’s pretty evident that he was part of a good team. When he got to be on his own, we saw how little ability he had…. kind of like Larry Brown.
Geez, have you seen the talent he’s responsible for? I haven’t seen that many washed up losers since seeing footage of Hurricane Katrina.
August 31st, 2012 at 3:40 pm
“You can be a little more cautious at times (with players) and we’ve tried to do that (with Okoye), but at the end of the day, you’ve got to go out and earn a spot,” Schiano said Thursday.
August 31st, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Adam
You asked;
“What has Mark Dominik done that makes you think he has any skill in evaluating talent?”
I answered.
I guess you had to twist my words in your favor, well done.
BTW Some guy that does “nothing in a group” doesnt get to be DIRECTOR of anything. He was responsible for bringing in those veteran players and eventually helped sign them, when he was Director of Pro-personel. Again, to say he no skill for talent evaluation is sil…..asinine!.
You have yours and I’ll stick with mine.
August 31st, 2012 at 3:48 pm
BTW why do plenty of ex-players and analysts think we have talent on this team?
August 31st, 2012 at 5:32 pm
I agree with OAR.
August 31st, 2012 at 7:24 pm
So when Dominik is hidden by a team of others where people’s true contributions are obscured; he is a good performer.
Put him front and center and he collapses. Show me what HE has done. Not “he helped with this,” or “he was PART of that.” They made him GM Three drafts. NOTHING.I can honestly say his best moves were 2 he didn’t make! Albert Haynesworth spurned a bigger check to go to WAS and he didn’t resign Antonio Bryant. He drafted a solid/not spectacular QB and a DE that actually looked good for a season. That’s it.
The only thing that can save Dominik in my eyes is if the guys he drafted finally play up to form an do what they were picked to do.
September 1st, 2012 at 5:23 am
Adam,
Just to let you know, you got served. You asked a question, he answered you. You tried to change the question and twist his words, and failed miserably. It’s over, you got your arse handed to you by OAR. Drive home safely, bye bye now.