Talks Between Bucs, Derek Cox Grow Serious
March 10th, 2013
If Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik talked to nobody but agents for NFL cornerbacks this past weekend, Joe would be content.
It seems there is at least one cornerback Dominik is getting serious about. While there have been reports Dominik has reached out to the representatives of Dolphins free agent Sean Smith, it seems the Bucs are doing their best to land another corner with Florida ties, Derek Cox of the Jags.
Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune Twittered out Sunday night that negotiations between Cox’s camp and the Bucs are heating up.
@RCummingsTBO: Bucs are continuing their pursuit of FA CB Derek Cox. He’s someone Bucs could sign out of the chute on Tuesday
Here’s something else to give Bucs fans a reason not to stay awake, despite people’s body clocks not yet used to Daylight Saving Time (Joe is a huge fan of Daylight Saving Time, and it should be the law of the land 12 months a year):
Appearing on WFLA-TV Channel 8 Sports Extra Sunday night, Cummings noted for every cornerback the Bucs sign in free agency or acquire in the draft, the odds of Eric Wright returning decrease.
In short, Cummings said the Bucs don’t want to come away “shutout” in their quest to land cornerbacks both in free agency and in the draft, and the only reason Wright is still employed by the Bucs is as an insurance policy.
If the Bucs sign two free agent corners, Cummings said, “there’s a real good chance” Bucs fans have seen the last of Wright wearing pewter and red.
March 11th, 2013 at 12:04 am
Smart, why cut Wright unless you have a replacement. I hope Cox can stay healthy.
March 11th, 2013 at 12:06 am
BIG UPGRADE, SMART MOVE, MAKE IT HAPPEN DON
March 11th, 2013 at 12:59 am
Hope they sign Cox and Sean Smith. Then we will have the start of a real secondary
March 11th, 2013 at 12:59 am
Awesome sauce! Sean Smith AND Derek Cox! Seems unlikely but could you imagine getting both? Tuesday can’t come fast enough . . .
March 11th, 2013 at 1:14 am
Cox is definitely an upgrade as he is reliable and not a liability when covering #2 WRs. But I don’t understand why people like Sean Smith so much.
March 11th, 2013 at 1:40 am
Eric(can’t stay out of s—)write, art you real proud of yourself ? It’s now time to see you take off and hurt another team. You sure repaid the faith that Domonic placed in you, didn’t you? I’m already crying about you being released. Boo Hoo. Lol.
March 11th, 2013 at 1:51 am
Why not keep Wright in the fold as the third cb? he’s got talent, and after his flub, the Buccs can rework his contract to their liking??? The more good cbs on this team the merrier in a pass happy NFL? No?
March 11th, 2013 at 1:57 am
Feel:
Dominik is not going to pay Wright that kind of cash to be a nickel corner.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:15 am
From all that I’ve read, Derek Cox is a good press-cover corner. He has been plagued by injuries, none serious, but just wasn’t on the field. If the Bucs think he’s past those problems, he is possibly a good get. I’m always a little concerned when there is nobody else competing with you for a CB and it is a position of need for so many teams this year. I haven’t read of any other teams pursuing Cox.
Now Sean Smith is a different story – he looks great, a real physical specimen. But I can’t find the good words out there for him. The Dolphins aren’t making any attempt to keep the guy and they are one of the few teams that have more cap space than we do. The fans aren’t screaming for the Dolphins to re-sign him the way we are screaming for the Bucs to re-sign Bennett. What’s up with that?
In 2012, Smith was ranked as the No. 74 corner out of a possible 113 in the league. He received a majority of negative grades across the board from the staff at Pro Football Focus. In 2011, the news was even worse. Smith was No. 105 out of a possible 109 corners.
This puzzles me because if you read PFT and RotoWorld, several teams are in pursuit of him. Maybe they see something that others are missing. This guy wants big money, so I hope the Bucs have really put in the due diligence on Smith before we buy if he is genuinely on their radar screen!
March 11th, 2013 at 3:09 am
Dominik does not have to pay Wright any certain amount of money, his contract has been voided, so he could try to low ball him. What do you mean he wont pay that kind of money?
March 11th, 2013 at 6:22 am
Mac,and biggers was one of the top corners at PFF.Bucs see potential in a 6-3 almost 6-4 corner who plays tight and is fast.Played Fitzy from Zona well.Lits if upside and hes young
March 11th, 2013 at 7:32 am
The Rock Star is just warming up his pipes with this signing. He’ll put on his Skinny Pants with a bigger signing i reckon
March 11th, 2013 at 8:51 am
Look, i really like Derek Cox and he should be a priority for us, on the other hand, i really DONT like Sean Smith at all, sure he is tall, fast and COULD be a good CB, but the facts are in, he never step up and play like he should, he wants to get paid, dolphins dont bother in bring him back, i say i will pass on him, i preffer Keenan Lewis over him.
Bring Cox, Lewis, and draft 2 CBs(Rhodes or Trufant on the first and a 4th rounder)
March 11th, 2013 at 11:22 am
With the lack of sure-fire top tier CBs in the draft (outside or Milliner who will be gone at #13), I think the Bucs can/should land three CBs in FA. Let’s get Smith, Cox and Gamble.
Leave the draft open for other “best available” positions (OT, DE, DT, TE, SS) and draft some corners in 2014.
Go Bucs!!!
March 11th, 2013 at 11:36 am
Great post Joe.
March 11th, 2013 at 11:50 am
i hope we give Antoine Cason a look, he is the same size as Cox, but probably more durable
March 11th, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Two words about Cox= ALWAYS INJURED!!!
March 11th, 2013 at 12:05 pm
@ElioT
Although Ronde Barber played close to the line of scrimmage the majority of last year, Barron‘s skill set makes him more of a true SS. That means we would need a FS, to handle more single high deep coverages when (if) Barron drops down in the box.
March 11th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
being him on but not Smith. Smith is overrated due 2 his size yet isn’t tha type of hitter u want along with concrete hands