“Nothing Sweet About” 2012, Says Eric Wright
May 29th, 2013
Eric Wright had what some would call a nightmarish season in 2012, despite perhaps making the Bucs’ play of the year with a thrilling pick-six of Eli Manning win Week 2 at the Meadowlands.
Wright signed a lucrative contract in 2012 to join the Bucs but agreed to a clause that would void his contract if he were suspended by the NFL. That came back to bite Wright in the rear end in a terrible way, as he was busted for popping Adderall and had to cower to Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik for his job back, but at a much-reduced cost.
Wright discussed past, present and future after today’s OTA practice at One Buc Palace.
The interception return for a touchdown against Manning “should have been the play of the year,” Wright said. But the 2012 season, there was “nothing sweet about it, we lost. That’s what we are out here for today and the rest of the offseason and training camp to get ready for the season, to get ready for big things.”
When his contract was renegotiated with the Bucs, “I had no idea about (Revis trade talks),” Wright said. “I’m not sure. Darrelle is a friend of mine; I talk to him but as far as the timing, not too sure. Obviously, [acquiring Revis is] a great move, a great thing for everybody.
“Losing a guy like Ronde [Barber to retirement], that hurts. He was one of my favorite cornerbacks ever. Not having him around will hurt. But bringing in Revis and Dashon [Goldson] and some young guys will help and modes well for us.
“As long as I am healthy and out here, there’s no way I won’t contribute for this team, that’s how I am in general. I have been playing this [NFL] game for six years and starting for six years. That should say something about who I am and the player I am and where my mindset is.
“Of course there was concern [about not being back after suspension]. I am just happy to be out here as a player. I take it as I can contribute to the team. Definitely a place I am happy to be and dealing with coach and the Glazers and Mark Dominik, it is a vote of confidence to be here and to continue my playing career here. I’m grateful for that.”
May 29th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
Bum. After Banks develops this guy is toast.
May 29th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Ouch!!! What a pay cut. I think Wright will be playing for his career in 2013. The last thing he wants or needs is to be benched for a younger player. With Revis on the other side, Wrigh will get plenty of opportunites to showcase his skills.
Myron….you’ll just have to wait.
May 29th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
He’ll be fine
May 29th, 2013 at 4:01 pm
I personally feel like Wright is a bit too arrogant for all he has done in the NFL. After all that has happened, he still doesn’t even seem the slightest bit humble. Pride and confidence is one thing but this is different. He went out and got DUI in celebration of his super contract in 2012. (Dismissed, but still.) He spent all of last season either getting burned (Giants game), suspended, or injured. How about striving for a full 16 games injury and suspension free?
There is just something about him that makes it hard to root for him. He just comes off as if he has already established a Hall of Fame career or something when in fact he still has A LOT to prove if he even wants to be employed next year.
May 29th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Wright has everything to lose if he can’t put a solid season together. Maybe the Revis friendship will have some influence here.
Even with keeping the toes on the line, the Bucs may just keep him as insurance if he gets outplayed.
May 29th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
I disagree WCBF,
He’s show PLENTY humility, there’s nothing wrong whatsoever with having “confidence” in your own ability. That is NOT arrogance.
After ALLLLLL that’s happened huh????
1 Mistake if i’m counting correctly, the suspension from the pills.
A dismissed case for DUI..
6 yrs in the NFL, noone’s perfect, put the pitchfork down.
May 29th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Well, I was speaking about his particularly unspectacular NFL career. He “fell” to the second round and landed with the Lions. Then he was allowed to walk away from a terrible secondary in Detroit. He was never spectacular there.
His line, “As long as I am healthy and out here, there’s no way I won’t contribute for this team, that’s how I am in general.”, comes off as arrogance more than pride. Essentially that “if I am healthy, I will be playing.” (Or at least, that is how I took it.)
Then he talks about, “I have been playing this [NFL] game for six years and starting for six years.” as if that means he earned something. He was injured, unproductive, and suspended last season. He throws out the obligatory “whatever I can do to help the team” line but I don’t really buy it.
No one is holding a pitchfork, I simply believe he came off as disingenuous when he spoke.
May 29th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
To me it came off as as long as he is able to, he will contribute. That if he’s healthy and able he’ll contribute (very general word too).
Not many people can say they have started in the NFL 6 years. I’d be proud of that too. Technically he did earn it actually, unless you think it was handed to him in some way. 😉 Whether he was a star or not, that’s not what I’m arguing lol but just the previous mentioned is a big task within itself. Just seems that anytime this guy’s name is brought up in an article someone finds something he’s done wrong or not well enough lol. Not you, just gets annoying is all haha.
But to each his own right, I may not agree but I hear ya 🙂
May 29th, 2013 at 7:44 pm
To be clear, I think he will be a solid cornerback for us. He could very well explode playing opposite Revis and make a pro bowl. I just don’t hear that humble attitude when he speaks. He says the obligatory statements that all players make but it is very different than when, say, Gerald McCoy says, “I am not a pro bowler, that was last year.” I just don’t see Wright taking the same approach when he speaks. I mean, the guy has his own blog. Hardly proof and I’m sure it happens but I don’t know any other player that has their own personal blog they write for.
Again, I hope he does great. I just don’t care for his attitude.
May 30th, 2013 at 5:09 am
Lest we forget that Wright was a high priced free agent who was expected to team with Talib (who was the one burned by the Giants) last season to form a credible tandem. With his injuries, suspension and the loss of his counterpart on the opposite side, I don’t think we really know what we have in Eric Wright. I know this much. He’s probably a whole lot better than the street free agents we had manning the corners last season. I certainly don’t interpret his comments as boastful. I found them to be a little humble.
May 30th, 2013 at 5:09 am
His contract this year is NOTHING.
1.5 million for one hear. Down from 7 million!
He can be a GREAT #2 corner. He was drafted as a #1 corner.
So to have him as our #2 could be huge.
He is playing for his life. He is 28. Hes in a contract year. He MUST play well to earn another contract from someone. (probably not us)
To have Revis as our #1 and Eric Wright as our #2 with Banks as our #3 and Leonard Johnson as our #4 with Gorrer and a few other young guys fighting for time.
I feel great about our depth.
If we have a nickle package with Revis, Wright, Banks, and Johnson,
Then we have a chance of beating times like the Packers.
We need 4 solid corners to win a superbowl.
Good luck Eric Wright! We need you!
May 30th, 2013 at 10:41 am
BucsfaninChina Says:
“Bum. After Banks develops this guy is toast.”
A common thought amongst the uneducated masses. Wright played injured last year, and that affected his play.
Since then, he has shown nothing but good intentions. A new father too.
And as to the uneducated comment, I mean in regard to how Wright is viewed and the need to have a #3 CB in a passing league. Even if Banks claims the #2 position, we still need a good CB to cover the 3rd WR, who is often used these days.
May 30th, 2013 at 10:42 am
I will agree though that you may be right, but not for the reasons you think. If he is toast, it will be because of his age in 2 years.