Bucs Shopping Arrelious Benn
March 11th, 2013
If there was every a player Joe felt badly about, aside from Brian Price, it is Arrelious Benn.
A second round pick from Illinois, Benn was going from a spread-option offense to a normal NFL offense, which is like learning a new language, and just when it appeared Benn had turned the corner as a rookie and proved to be playing at the level of a second-round pick, he blew out his knee.
Benn has never been the same.
Well, Benn may have played his last game as a Buccaneer. Per all-around good guy Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is shopping Benn around the NFL.
@JasonLaCanfora: On a day in which we’ve seen two WRs dealt-Percy Harvin and Anquan Boldin – the Bucs are shopping another, 2010 2nd rnd pick Arrelious Benn.
The sad thing about this is most Bucs fans, unfortunately, think of that godawful Benn’d-Around play when his name comes up.
Benn is truly one of the good guys on the Bucs. If he’s not with the team this season, Joe hopes he has success. Joe always roots for the good guys.
Frankly, if this is the only way to rip that friggin’ Benn’d-Around play out of the Bucs’ playbook, so be it.
If the Ravens can only get a sixth round pick for a stud like Anquan Boldin, Joe’s not sure what Dominik thinks he can get for Benn.
March 11th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
I for one will be sad to see him leave – no doubt he’s gonna have a solid career wherever he ends up, fingers crossed for that knee. And F the Bennd around, thats Voldemorts fault
March 11th, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Another Dominik mistake. Could have had Golden Tate.
March 11th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
BUST
March 11th, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Could’ve had Jimmy Graham!
March 11th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
One Doritos Locos taco sounds fair.
March 11th, 2013 at 5:45 pm
man, i’m with you joe… i don’t think i’ve ever wanted a player to make the roster more than this guy (ie: clifton smith).
the way they blatantly threw him out there ONLY on plays where he was to receive the ball was enough to tip a defense anyway. almost zero chance of success. only barry sanders adrian peterson and calvin johnson and a handful of others in the history of the game can do things of that nature.
i’m not buying the fact that he couldn’t have turned into a hell of a blocker too. hell, mike clayton got a 26 million dollar contract for said reason.
just some bad luck i suppose… i really hope he gets a legit opportunity somewhere. best of luck to you arrelious, here in TB or elsewhere!
March 11th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Sad how it turned out for Benn. I still don’t hate on Rockstar for that pick. He just couldn’t get going after the injury The only possibility that Dom could get a 7th rd pick is because of his $630k salary.
March 11th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
dom blows another draft pick. We cant ever be competitive if we hit on one player a draft.
March 11th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
There’s a lot of players we could have had, but you just never know when you are dealing with injuries. Was anyone here complaining when he torched the Redskins in his rookie year? He was coming on very strong until his knee injury, and just never seemed the same after. This is one reason (pretty much the only reason) I would be wary of going after Revis. In the NFL, just being a half a step slower can be the difference between being All-Pro and unemployed.
March 11th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Man in hindsight we would have all made better draft choices than Dom, they should just let us fans do the draft because after it happens we know so much more…
March 11th, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Stevek, I had forgotten about that! Ouch!!
March 11th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
How many people were screaming “bust” about Benn after he lit up Washington and Arizona and was having a good game against Atlanta before he blew out his knee?
March 11th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Kyle, actually I have posted players I wanted before the draft, & in several cases, my guy turned out better than Dominik’s. E.g., Linval Joseph vs. Brian Price. GMs are not above criticism just because they get paid a fortune.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Agree Kyle and Hawaiian,
Fans from EVERY team play the woulda, coulda, shoulda game when it comes to picks that don’t pan out and there’s ALWAYS guys that were taken after said player than surpassed their draft grade and projection. Get over it.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
When he came out with his fashion BS, I knew he was a BUST.
Grewt players focus on the game and being on top.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
It really slays me to see all these comments from these after the fact, hind sighted, Monday morning GMs. Like the moron at the top, we could of had Golden Tate instead. Let’s say Dom did pick Golden Tate and he blew out his knee and Benn had a better career somewhere else. What then? Dom should have drafted Benn. Ha! …you guys are a fracking joke.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
As far as Benn goes, if Dom can pass the Blount and Benn (or maybe a low rnd pick) off to Philly for Foles, would be in favor of it. If Philly’s interest in Smith is genuine (and that’s a BIG if a month before the draft), seems Foles will be the odd man out running Kelly’s offense.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Get real some of you.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:19 pm
@ Dominick apologists,
He’s doing better, and he needs to make this roster better. I expect what they did last offseason: 3FAs+ 3 coveted players to draft.
Dom needs to make up for: Myon, Reejus, Derrick Ward, price, Kyle Moore, etc.
Last year was a coup in FA and the draft. I expect nothing less from Dom this year. I expect Dom to draft a QB as a possible “lifeline” to his duties.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:21 pm
Gotbucs,
Get real yourself, rebuilding since 2008. We cut Derrick Brooks for Geno Hayes or Quincy Black, both worse than a washed up Brooks.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:25 pm
4everbucsfan,
Every fan has their preferences dude, get friggin real. You play fantasy football, it applies value to players and makes fans more knowledgable of: stats, info, tape, etc.
Fans don’t go to games, as Joe rightfully reports, bc the at home viewing experience is much better with many more options.
Fans are much more aware now more than ever.
As far as “morons at the top”, when are you tired of effing sucking? When does Bucs Mgmt need to get their sh!t together? We’ve been out of the playoffs for too long.
GMC stepped it up this year, Freeman needs to do what GMC did, and we will (Free will) be fine.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:26 pm
@Stevek,
Just so I understand you correctly, you’re expecting Dominik to draft a QB simply to help his job security even though the team may have higher grades on QB’s coming out in 2014 than in this year’s QB draft class?
March 11th, 2013 at 6:32 pm
He’s got to make it to 2014. Ether way we can use a back up to develop.
I speculate a 4th or 5th: pick your “Tyler”- A-Wilson, B-Bray.
I think Dome put a feather in his cap with last draft. We need to draft like that again.
Dom’s seat is a lil more secure than Free’s. Dom is in trouble for lack of depth and CBs, Free is in more trouble from being too damn inconsistent.
March 11th, 2013 at 6:38 pm
Agree they need a backup to develop, but it’s been stated publicly by multiple people that Dom & Co. are very forward thinking (i.e looking a year or two ahead) when it comes to players that will be available in FA and the draft. Wouldn’t be surprised if they replaced Orlovsky with another mid-tiered backup and continued to develop Weber on the practice squad if they have higher grades on the QB’s coming out in 2014 (which on paper looks to be the case).
March 11th, 2013 at 7:37 pm
And we are in the 2nd year of a scheme overhaul, we may do well with extra depth picks for Benn and LGB.
March 11th, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Here’s the difference between Boldin and Benn. Boldin is making $6 million a year, by contrast, Benn is a bargain. Not saying he can play, but Boldin is 32. The reason Boldin ONLY was worth a 6th round pick is because the 49ers have to absorb Boldin’s contract. The 49ers could’ve waited until Boldin was released but there was no guarantee he would’ve been a 49er and there is also no guarantee that he could be had for $6 million.
March 11th, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Sure Dom’s hopeful there’s a team that liked Benn coming out of college that’s in need of a WR. Granted his production doesn’t come near Boldin’s, but like Brandon mentioned his price tag is a bit more than $5 million less and he has shown glimpses of being a productive receiver when healthy. Coupled with the fact he’s only turning 25 this year, could be a bargain for a team and should have some good years still ahead of him.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:03 pm
It’s true he and Price are both great people. I lived in the same condo building as Brian and you could never meet a more pleasant, kind person. He is as genuine a person as you can find and I feel bad for his personal tragedies. One of his best friends is Mr. Benn. If he meet’s Brian’s standards he must also be a great person. I wish good fortune to both of these people. We need athletes like them in our community.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:03 pm
We could have trade a 6th for Boldin and move Mike Williams to slot a position he would thrive in.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
I really really hope this year’s free agency for us isn’t a repeat of the 2010 season, where we think we are pretty much all set and don’t go after anyone. There are big time players out there, we can afford them, and I really hope we do. I know the secondary should be our top priority, but I don’t think we are as loaded on offense as many feel. It’s going to be really disappointing if our biggest free agent coup is Derrick Cox (not saying he can’t play, but I was hoping for a little more than just him). At least it would feel like a win if we would re-sign Bennett, but even that is starting to look unlikely. It’s pretty difficult to get better when you lose one of your best players, yet bring in little to fill the void. Crossing my fingers for a big day tomorrow.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
First of all it would be premature to label Benn a bust. Secondly, as Joe alluded to, the guy was putting it all together until blowing his knee out. That was an ugly injury.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:14 pm
Hawaiian,
We have to get some decent FA’s in here. Considering our cap space and new C.B. agreement, we literally have to, don’t we?
March 11th, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Steadman Bailey in the draft? He’d be a good slot reciever. Marquise Goodwin would be another. Could probably pick one of them in the late 4th round.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:24 pm
If the Glazers wanted to win as they say. They should have went after Boldin. They would have had a potent offense with guys who could catch Freeman’s erant passes.
Are you kidding a 6th round draft pick for Boldin the guy who handed the Lombardi Trophy to Baltimore. The Boldin is has fly paper hands. The Bucs are shopping who gives a f*#!. Rock star go makes some noise in free agency. No more projects.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:25 pm
@Cmurda,
I would think so, but there’s always the possibility of us figuring out a way to not do that. That’s one thing I don’t understand: if we aren’t going to pay Bennett, where are we going to spend our money? Even if we got Revis, there’s still a ton of money left. We could literally bring in Sean Smith, Revis, and Martellus Bennett, and still have some leftovers. At this point, I would love to just see one of those 3.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:33 pm
lol, the boy-genius GM will trade Been for a 7th or less and his supporters will say how he stole from the other GM. way to waste your 3 first second rounders rock-star
March 11th, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Hey… the Bucs SHOULD trade for Golden Tate now…
March 11th, 2013 at 8:59 pm
It’s real easy for us as fans to criticize the draft of Dominik. It’s also really unfair. First of all, you can’t blame him for injuries. If Price’s hamstrings didn’t get ripped from his pelvis, he may have been an all-pro (by all accounts he was a beast in training camp). If Benn doesn’t rip up his knee, he may have been a beast. Unfortunately, that’s life in the NFL. We have always seemed to be hit with that type of bad luck, but you really can’t blame the GM for that.
Second, it’s easy for us to sit back and list players we want us to draft. We all do it, myself included. Sometimes they would have been great picks, but more often than not, they wouldn’t have been. But there’s no pressure on us. As fans, we are much less educated as to the draft than we think. Any of you guys ever been in the interview room of a draft prospect? Any of you guys ever watched coaches film of every game of every prospect you are looking at? Any of you guys ever talked to a prospect’s coaches, teachers, parents,etc.? Any of you guys have access to all the medical information on a prospect? Any of you guys have your job on the line making the correct picks/moves, all while on the clock and having to think quicker than you can imagine? Drafting in the NFL is by far the hardest of any sport, and not one person on this board is even remotely qualified to do it. It involves a tremendous amount of research, and probably about the same amount of luck. You cannot find me one GM that doesn’t make picks that don’t work out, and they all make them every single year. Dominik has made some very good picks, some average picks, some bad picks, and some picks where the jury is still out (cough, cough Freeman). But he is leaps and bounds better than the drafts under the Gruden/Allen regime. Anyone care to argue that?
March 11th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
Joe, of ALL players to be ‘invested’ with Benn is LAST on my list.
He’s been nothing but a BUST. A 2nd round pick who couldn’t even line up on the field on opening day because he didn’t comprehend the playbook? Did this kid have a negative Wunderlick score?
You can shop Benn all you want but he’s got zero trade value, at least based on his field performance. I mean seriously Benn is to WR’s as Gaines Adam was to DE.
Hey maybe Chicago will give the Bucs a 2nd round pick for him?
March 11th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
Hawaiian,
Right on, give me a playoff GM and QB.
March 11th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
@Mr. Lucky,
I completely agree he has no trade value, but it’s unfair to criticize him for not understanding the playbook. First of all, coming from the offense he ran at Illinois, he basically had to learn a whole new scheme, with completely different terminologies. Plus, his position was much more complex than that of Mike Willims in the Greg Olsen offense. He had a few excellent games in the middle part of the season. Everyone could see he was getting better every single week. Surely you can remember that. Once he tore up his knee, he looked significantly slower. He was getting no separation, and to make matters worse, he developed corner back hands. I have no problem with us cutting him, trading him, etc., and yes he technically was a bust, but I really believe injuries robbed him of a very promising career. I don’t think it had anything to do with him not being smart enough to play.
March 11th, 2013 at 9:22 pm
@SteveK,
Dominik’s success falls squarely on the shoulders of #5. There’s no if, ands, or buts about it. If Freeman can be good Freeman for even close to an entire season, we make the playoffs even with our horrendous secondary. But if Freeman plays like bad Freeman, Dominik may very well be next up to join the Redskins staff.
March 11th, 2013 at 9:28 pm
I’d love for some of the naysayers who cry “bust” to go out and play football, let alone blow-out their knee and try to play football afterward. The ones who cry “bust” probably have never played a down in their life. 🙂
March 11th, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Glazers like Dom. He is exempt.
The Schiano/Davis et al leadership are making the moves now.
March 11th, 2013 at 9:50 pm
We should not criticize Benn, we should criticize the drafter for taking him39th, and Price 35th.
LaVonte David was there at 56th, or so, this past year. We can’t afford to swing and miss within the first two rounds, especially in the Top 40 selections.
This year is a BIG year for our GM and QB.
If Dom can put together a winner, and Freeman is given a Good D to go with all of his toys, then we are making a playoff run.
Agree Hawain. 100% on Freeman. He takes us as far as we go.
March 11th, 2013 at 10:11 pm
No criticism but if you want 1 average starter per draft then Dom is your guy.
March 11th, 2013 at 10:26 pm
People who think Benn was ‘lighting it up’ but for his woeful luck with his knee are completely out of touch. Benn NEVER made waves, remember all the positive pub Mike Williams got when they were both in rookie/training camp? Why didn’t you hear Benn? Because he was nonexistent. He had a couple of decent games late in the season like many, many players do that also never pan out.
Don’t blame it on the knee injury which was FAR from extreme, blame it on the fact that Dom and his guys made a bad talent decision, just like with Myron Lewis. It happens, hopefully Dom learned from it.
March 11th, 2013 at 10:55 pm
Pete Carrol may take him. Leon Washington trade for a 7’th round pick and Benn
March 11th, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Bucs will win th super Bowl this year!!!!!
March 12th, 2013 at 12:15 am
Leon Washington trade for a 7′th round pick and Benn… sounds good to me. But we should get a 7th rounder.
What about Benn, a 6th round pick for Golden Tate?
March 12th, 2013 at 12:36 am
I could see the Skins maybe looking at Benn. He played well under Raheem and he could lobby for him like he is for Aqib. Throw Blount into the mix and we get a 3 or 4 pick if they have that left.
March 12th, 2013 at 2:08 am
He Stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What Mark Domink <——– saw in that guy still boggles my mind
March 12th, 2013 at 6:56 am
Benn is not a bust – he’s a casualty of injuries – he’ll have a career year soon, and it’ll be a good one. He’s a weapon that should be utilized, i mean a team like the Fins or Rams could really do with him (when healthy). Those calling him a bust most likely called McCoy a bust aswell – how’d that pan out then xD
March 12th, 2013 at 11:43 am
MegaDave, McCoy was never shopped around the league. McCoy was never a healthy scratch, marginalized and beat out by a street free agent (Tiquan Underwood) for a reserve role. To compare the perception of two would be a huge disservice to people with eyes and a brain.
Generally GM’s really, really, don’t like to give up on guys they spent/wasted a 2nd round picks for next to nothing unless they have exhausted their avenues and likelyhood for success. I mean, Myron Lewis is somehow still on the roster. What does that say about Benn?