Report: Bucs Thought Palmer Was Theirs
September 27th, 2013
NFL inside Adam Schefter last spring had an innocent Twitter where he said the Bucs had reached out to pursue then Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer. It didn’t happen.
Joe made mention it back then, but the news barely created a ripple.
This week after Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman was benched, Palmer reignited the flames saying the Bucs contacted his agent “a lot.” Now, after some digging, Schefter finds out Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik thought he had a trade worked out for Palmer.
Tampa planned it out. It had extensive talks to try to get a trade done. A deal was within its grasp, so much so that the Buccaneers believed Palmer would be theirs.
And just when the Buccaneers thought they would land him, the Cardinals stepped in and made an offer the Raiders could not refuse. Arizona, not Tampa, got the trade done.
In the end, one of Palmer’s agents, Dave Dunn, helped steer his client to Arizona instead of Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers felt jilted, betrayed. It did not play particularly well in their training facility. And the Buccaneers had little choice but to find their new emergency backup quarterback, North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon, in the third round of the draft.
Palmer started out this season terribly but has progressively improved each week. It will be interesting to see how he does against the Bucs.
It’s a major “what-if” had Dominik landed Palmer. If he did, would Freeman, never shown to be mentally strong to begin with, have melted down in the preseason with Palmer on the roster? Would Freeman have been traded last offseason?
Just what the hell happened to Freeman, after posting career-year numbers in 2012 before he hit his typical December freeze? Did he do to want Schiano (and/or Dominik) to want to wash hands of him so badly, so quickly?
Joe’s smelling something here and it isn’t because he hasn’t jumped in the shower yet.
September 27th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
The only what if is what could the Bucs have gotten for Freeman in the offseason? Maybe they get a 2nd or 3rd instead of the offer they’re likely getting now, 6ths and 7ths.
September 27th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
And I could’ve swornPalmer himself stated he WANTED to come here.. Maybe Dominik stole Palmer’s agent’s girlfriend or something.. But jest aside, would’ve been great to have Palmer but I’m sure his agent saw the Cardinal’s QB situation as more conducive to him starting immediately than here. And of course, from the Raiders’ standpoint, Card’s likely offered a better compensation package.
September 27th, 2013 at 12:12 pm
My undisclosed sources told me that as soon as the Cards made an offer, Palmer turned his nose on Tampa Bay, and it had nothing to do with the money.
September 27th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
You’re right, RBellBuc, it had nothing to do with money and everything to do with playing time; the Cardinals promised Palmer a starting job, and really, who was he going to lose out to? In Tampa, Palmer would have to push Freeman, and very few people expected Josh to implode this badly this quickly into the 2013 season. Had Palmer known this, he’d be a Buccaneer and getting ready to face the Cardinals this week.
September 27th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
“Just what the hell happened to Freeman, after posting career-year numbers in 2012 before he hit his annual December freeze, did he do to want Schiano (and/or Dominik) to want to wash their hands of the guy so badly, so quickly?”
ATLBucsFan says: “Freeman checked out at some point and there was no turning back. So let’s move on.”
There’s your answer Joe. Checked out on whom, the coach, the team? Checked out from what, some “off field” problem? I don’t think we will get any real answers right now. If the Bucs do find a trade partner for Josh this season, then we might find out if it was the coach or the team. Then again that might turn out to be a smoke screen for Freeman if he does have “off field” problems. Maybe leaving the area entirely will help him with his demons, whether it be the coach or “off field” problems. Oh well like ATLBucsFan said. Let’s move on.
September 27th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
“Joe’s smelling something here and it isn’t because he hasn’t jumped in the shower yet.”
lol. as a Bucs fan I hope you’ve been bathing in whiskey like the rest of us.
September 27th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
I find it interesting that the Local Media, Specifically Radio to a larger extent (probably for ratings or fan feedback) and Print Media to a lesser extent, has painted One Picture of this whole situation… Specifically Josh… but as we step outside of Our Media Bubble, we find an Entirely Different Picture regarding Freeman and his Shortcomings being Painted. I really think Josh Lost the Locker Room Support, for Whatever Reason, and THAT’S Why He Lost his Captaincy. I just get the feeling, based on his Sideline Demeanor, that Josh just wasn’t that engaged with his Other Offensive Teammates. I’m not saying that he has Always been like that but it sure had become more obvious these last 3 weeks of this current Season.
September 27th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
I think Palmer had final say in where he would go. So in the end he snubbed Tampa.
I was hoping to get him, but regardless of what he claims, he made his choice. Just like Tuna did twice.
Maybe Rivers will hit the market this off season. One can dream.
September 27th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
No big deal. Palmer’s a one-year stopgap at best. He probably could’ve led us to an 8-8 record.
I’m happier that we rolled the dice on Freeman (damn! snake eyes) and Glennon.
September 27th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9_g1NuoT6s&list=TLD4px2MYVmgRyCajOlR6XvoZdOTS8ojGY
September 27th, 2013 at 7:17 pm
There have been some quiet rumors about his off field behavior, even heard one media person who lives in same area say he hopes what he has been hearing isn’t true.combine that with missing team photo, and late for his own camp , not saying he’s Hernandez, but I bet at some point things are going to surface, and would not be surprised if Schiano and Dominic know more than you think.
September 28th, 2013 at 12:16 am
Freeman is a 25yr old Young Man! Boy, the crap I did at 25 and I wasn’t a Millionaire.
C’mon people! Where were his Team mates? Who took Free under their wing? NOBODY. The Buccaneers have not had any LEADERS Freeman’s entire time.
According to reports Freeman had a tremendous work ethic. He used to be engaged in the huddle and sidelines. This year he merely walked off the field and sat at the end of the bench! No conversation with receivers or Coaches
Freeman Checked out on Draft Day!! When Glennon was selected (Who had long ties to Schiano) Josh knew he would never see a New Contract, that the best he would receive would be transition Tag Not Franchise.
Who wouldn’t want Out of a Hopeless situation? The O-Line wasn’t healthy, there were usually only 2 receivers running routes (DID A TE even catch a ball this year or targeted?). Bucs also lead in Drops mostly on 3rd down Oh how many times have we seen Captain Jackson fall down on a route?
The final INT Nail happened on a Speed Out to Jackson who looped out and allowed Talib to easily pick it off.
Happy Trails Josh! At 25 there is plenty opportunity left.
September 29th, 2013 at 4:23 am
Maybe Palmer took a look at the roster and compared to game tapes to discover how many times Davin Joseph, “X”, and Carl Nicks…we’re never on the field…and he got a severe spasm in his surgically repaired knee….and neck…and shoulder…
He probably wondered how Free managed to throw for 4000 yards…