NFC South: Derrick Ward
Thoughts on Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 37-9 loss to the Houston Texas on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium:
What it means: The Buccaneers have been searching for an identity all season. Looks like they finally found it. They are a mediocre team with problems in a lot of places on offense and defense. They’re 4-5 and have to face the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers next. Coach Raheem Morris has been saying all year that his team’s goal is to win the NFC South. That’s probably not going to happen, unless the Bucs suddenly get dramatically better and the Saints stumble.
Same old story: Tampa Bay’s offense started off the way it has pretty much all season -- very slowly. The Bucs didn’t score their first points until Connor Barth hit a field goal just before halftime. They didn’t score their touchdown until the fourth quarter. Maybe the Bucs should take a lesson from former coach Sam Wyche. Back in the mid-1990s, the Bucs were starting poorly after halftime. So Wyche actually had his team practice its halftime routine. Maybe the current Tampa Bay offense should practice starting a game.
Albert’s Army: The Bucs picked up defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth during the week because injuries had left them thin in the middle of the defensive line. Haynesworth was fairly active, making four tackles. But the problems on Tampa Bay’s defense go way deeper than the middle of the defensive line. Matt Schaub only had to attempt 15 passes, but he threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns and the Texans had no problem running the ball.
Insult to injury: Derrick Ward, the same guy who was a free-agent bust with the Bucs, ran for a touchdown against his former team.
What’s next: The Bucs travel to Green Bay to play the Packers next Sunday.
What it means: The Buccaneers have been searching for an identity all season. Looks like they finally found it. They are a mediocre team with problems in a lot of places on offense and defense. They’re 4-5 and have to face the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers next. Coach Raheem Morris has been saying all year that his team’s goal is to win the NFC South. That’s probably not going to happen, unless the Bucs suddenly get dramatically better and the Saints stumble.
Same old story: Tampa Bay’s offense started off the way it has pretty much all season -- very slowly. The Bucs didn’t score their first points until Connor Barth hit a field goal just before halftime. They didn’t score their touchdown until the fourth quarter. Maybe the Bucs should take a lesson from former coach Sam Wyche. Back in the mid-1990s, the Bucs were starting poorly after halftime. So Wyche actually had his team practice its halftime routine. Maybe the current Tampa Bay offense should practice starting a game.
Albert’s Army: The Bucs picked up defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth during the week because injuries had left them thin in the middle of the defensive line. Haynesworth was fairly active, making four tackles. But the problems on Tampa Bay’s defense go way deeper than the middle of the defensive line. Matt Schaub only had to attempt 15 passes, but he threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns and the Texans had no problem running the ball.
Insult to injury: Derrick Ward, the same guy who was a free-agent bust with the Bucs, ran for a touchdown against his former team.
What’s next: The Bucs travel to Green Bay to play the Packers next Sunday.
The NFL draft is long over and all we have to look forward to now is free agency, though we don't know when or how it will come or exactly what it will look like.
But if there is a 2011 season, it will have to be preceded by some sort of free-agency period, one last window for teams to fine-tune their rosters with what they couldn't get in the draft.
We’ll spare you most of the boring details of the labor negotiations, but we do have to point out that the rules for a potential free-agency period aren’t set. They could be determined if a new labor agreement is reached and that probably would include some tweaks to past rules. It has long been assumed that if the lockout is lifted before an agreement that free agency rules will be the same as they were in 2010. But word has started to trickle out in the past few days that might not be the case.
At this point, we only can look at hypothetical situations -- all you can do is dream and you might as well dream big. With that in mind, let’s take a look at one free-agency dream scenario for each NFC South franchise.
Atlanta Falcons -- This is the easiest call in the division because you can see it coming like a slow-moving storm or Arthur Blank strolling to the sideline late in a game. Let’s go ahead and make Atlanta’s dream move signing Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards.
Some of our coming moves are pie-in-the-sky scenarios that probably won’t happen, but this one has serious potential. Edwards has five seasons in the league, which could make him a restricted or unrestricted free agent, depending on the rules of free agency. If at all possible, I think the Falcons will pursue a player who had eight sacks in 14 games last season and 8.5 the season before that.
Edwards is just hitting his prime and sure looks like the one missing link between the Falcons being a team that exits the playoffs early and one that can challenge for the Super Bowl. Blank and general manager Thomas Dimitroff already put most of their chips on the table when they traded up on draft night to get wide receiver Julio Jones. He’s the explosive player they wanted on offense.
Edwards can be the explosive guy on defense. Carolina’s Charles Johnson, a probable restricted free agent, and Green Bay’s Cullen Jenkins could be fall-back options. But the Falcons already have shown strong signs this offseason they’re not interested in falling back.
Carolina Panthers -- Let’s imagine for a moment that Carolina owner Jerry Richardson opens his free-agent checkbook for the first time in several years to bring in cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who has been playing with Cincinnati and is another five-year player.
If Joseph is a free agent, this move would make all sorts of sense. He's a local product, from just over the border in Rock Hill, S.C. He also has nine interceptions the past two seasons. Carolina has Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble, but their futures are very uncertain.
Richardson has had some success in the past bringing local products home -- Stephen Davis, Kevin Donnalley, Ricky Proehl -- and Carolina has invested a lot in its young defensive line and has a good group of linebackers. Joseph could solidify the secondary and new coach Ron Rivera suddenly could have a nice defense. By the way, I know there’s speculation about defensive tackle Tommie Harris ending up with the Panthers because of his Chicago ties to Rivera. That could happen. But I don’t view Harris as a dream scenario. I view him as a guy with questions about his knees, who could be a decent pickup if he can stay healthy.
New Orleans Saints -- This one’s tough because the Saints have a bunch of young and talented, but totally unproven players at outside linebacker. Plus, veteran outside linebacker Scott Shanle can become an unrestricted free agent. The list of players at outside linebacker who definitely will be unrestricted is pretty thin. You could take a veteran such as Detroit’s Julian Peterson and gamble that he’ll regain some of his early-career magic the way some other veterans have with the Saints in recent years. The Saints have shown willingness to gamble on injured guys in the past and Carolina’s Thomas Davis has huge upside.
But Peterson’s no long-term solution and Davis is a total unknown because he’s had two major knee injuries. In a best-case scenario, the Saints will re-sign Shanle. Then, they’ll go after Buffalo’s Paul Posluszny. He’s a four-year player and could end up being restricted. But hey, we can dream.
Put Posluszny with Shanle and Jonathan Vilma and the Saints would be better off at linebacker than they were in 2009, when Shanle and Vilma were joined by Scott Fujita.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- The Bucs spending big money in free agency? Well, they haven’t done it in some time unless you count Derrick Ward, and that didn’t work out. But there’s one sure-fire move that could excite a fan base that wasn’t buying tickets during a 10-6 season in 2010 and put this team over the top: sign cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Asomugha’s the one true gem we know will be in this free-agent class and his price tag is going to be astronomical. But if there is a salary cap, the Bucs will have more room under it than any team in the league. The Bucs showed a willingness to spend big money once before, offering more to defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth than the Redskins did before Haynesworth went to Washington. There are strong rumors Asomugha will end up in the NFC East, but Tampa Bay can use the lack of a state income tax in Florida, a great natural-grass field, the weather, a team on the rise and coach Raheem Morris (a former defensive backs coach) as selling points.
The future of Aqib Talib is unsure because of off-field problems. Sign Asomugha and the Bucs have a corner more talented than Talib who doesn’t come with the headaches. Put him out there with veteran Ronde Barber, who still plays at a high level, and younger players such as E.J. Biggers and Myron Lewis. If the pass-rushers taken in the draft (Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers) work out, Tampa Bay’s corners suddenly could be dominant.
Remember, it’s all hypothetical. But wouldn’t the NFC South be a better and more exciting place if these dream scenarios actually came true?
But if there is a 2011 season, it will have to be preceded by some sort of free-agency period, one last window for teams to fine-tune their rosters with what they couldn't get in the draft.
We’ll spare you most of the boring details of the labor negotiations, but we do have to point out that the rules for a potential free-agency period aren’t set. They could be determined if a new labor agreement is reached and that probably would include some tweaks to past rules. It has long been assumed that if the lockout is lifted before an agreement that free agency rules will be the same as they were in 2010. But word has started to trickle out in the past few days that might not be the case.
At this point, we only can look at hypothetical situations -- all you can do is dream and you might as well dream big. With that in mind, let’s take a look at one free-agency dream scenario for each NFC South franchise.
Atlanta Falcons -- This is the easiest call in the division because you can see it coming like a slow-moving storm or Arthur Blank strolling to the sideline late in a game. Let’s go ahead and make Atlanta’s dream move signing Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards.
Some of our coming moves are pie-in-the-sky scenarios that probably won’t happen, but this one has serious potential. Edwards has five seasons in the league, which could make him a restricted or unrestricted free agent, depending on the rules of free agency. If at all possible, I think the Falcons will pursue a player who had eight sacks in 14 games last season and 8.5 the season before that.
Edwards is just hitting his prime and sure looks like the one missing link between the Falcons being a team that exits the playoffs early and one that can challenge for the Super Bowl. Blank and general manager Thomas Dimitroff already put most of their chips on the table when they traded up on draft night to get wide receiver Julio Jones. He’s the explosive player they wanted on offense.
Edwards can be the explosive guy on defense. Carolina’s Charles Johnson, a probable restricted free agent, and Green Bay’s Cullen Jenkins could be fall-back options. But the Falcons already have shown strong signs this offseason they’re not interested in falling back.
Carolina Panthers -- Let’s imagine for a moment that Carolina owner Jerry Richardson opens his free-agent checkbook for the first time in several years to bring in cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who has been playing with Cincinnati and is another five-year player.
If Joseph is a free agent, this move would make all sorts of sense. He's a local product, from just over the border in Rock Hill, S.C. He also has nine interceptions the past two seasons. Carolina has Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble, but their futures are very uncertain.
Richardson has had some success in the past bringing local products home -- Stephen Davis, Kevin Donnalley, Ricky Proehl -- and Carolina has invested a lot in its young defensive line and has a good group of linebackers. Joseph could solidify the secondary and new coach Ron Rivera suddenly could have a nice defense. By the way, I know there’s speculation about defensive tackle Tommie Harris ending up with the Panthers because of his Chicago ties to Rivera. That could happen. But I don’t view Harris as a dream scenario. I view him as a guy with questions about his knees, who could be a decent pickup if he can stay healthy.
New Orleans Saints -- This one’s tough because the Saints have a bunch of young and talented, but totally unproven players at outside linebacker. Plus, veteran outside linebacker Scott Shanle can become an unrestricted free agent. The list of players at outside linebacker who definitely will be unrestricted is pretty thin. You could take a veteran such as Detroit’s Julian Peterson and gamble that he’ll regain some of his early-career magic the way some other veterans have with the Saints in recent years. The Saints have shown willingness to gamble on injured guys in the past and Carolina’s Thomas Davis has huge upside.
But Peterson’s no long-term solution and Davis is a total unknown because he’s had two major knee injuries. In a best-case scenario, the Saints will re-sign Shanle. Then, they’ll go after Buffalo’s Paul Posluszny. He’s a four-year player and could end up being restricted. But hey, we can dream.
Put Posluszny with Shanle and Jonathan Vilma and the Saints would be better off at linebacker than they were in 2009, when Shanle and Vilma were joined by Scott Fujita.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- The Bucs spending big money in free agency? Well, they haven’t done it in some time unless you count Derrick Ward, and that didn’t work out. But there’s one sure-fire move that could excite a fan base that wasn’t buying tickets during a 10-6 season in 2010 and put this team over the top: sign cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Asomugha’s the one true gem we know will be in this free-agent class and his price tag is going to be astronomical. But if there is a salary cap, the Bucs will have more room under it than any team in the league. The Bucs showed a willingness to spend big money once before, offering more to defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth than the Redskins did before Haynesworth went to Washington. There are strong rumors Asomugha will end up in the NFC East, but Tampa Bay can use the lack of a state income tax in Florida, a great natural-grass field, the weather, a team on the rise and coach Raheem Morris (a former defensive backs coach) as selling points.
The future of Aqib Talib is unsure because of off-field problems. Sign Asomugha and the Bucs have a corner more talented than Talib who doesn’t come with the headaches. Put him out there with veteran Ronde Barber, who still plays at a high level, and younger players such as E.J. Biggers and Myron Lewis. If the pass-rushers taken in the draft (Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers) work out, Tampa Bay’s corners suddenly could be dominant.
Remember, it’s all hypothetical. But wouldn’t the NFC South be a better and more exciting place if these dream scenarios actually came true?
Could Bucs be players in free agency?
March, 30, 2011
3/30/11
7:30
AM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Shortly before the lockout began and soon after Tampa Bay re-signed cornerback Ronde Barber to a one-year, $4 million contract, the Buccaneers were sitting at a league-low $63.8 million in salary-cap space committed toward the 2011 season.
You also need to remember the Bucs have placed tenders on guard Davin Joseph and some others, so this number’s going to climb a bit if the tenders hold up in a new labor agreement.
But it’s pretty likely the Bucs will be doing some subtracting as soon as the labor agreement is reached. As I said in this post, the Bucs are almost certain to cut ties with troubled cornerback Aqib Talib as soon as they can, and that move will clear up roughly $1.35 million in salary-cap space.
We don’t know what the new salary cap will be. In 2009, the last capped year, it was right around $130 million. In some of the reports about the labor negotiations, there were indications owners were pushing for a cap as low as $101 million. So let’s just go hypothetical, split the difference and say the cap will be somewhere around $115 million.
Throw in the tenders, assume the Bucs might re-sign a few of their new players and factor in whatever they have to pay their rookies. No matter how you slice all that, it’s pretty safe to assume the Bucs still will be well beneath the cap.
The Bucs haven’t been big players in free agency lately and they’ve been preaching about how they’re building with youth, which is nice. But there also will be a salary-cap floor, if there is a salary cap and the Bucs will have to meet that.
Sometimes, coach Raheem Morris talks a little more than he should. But, after a quick crunch of the numbers, I’m wondering if Morris was sending out a signal when he was asked about what his team might do in free agency when he met with the media at the NFL owners meeting in New Orleans last week.
“You get your plan, you lay it out and you execute it,’’ Morris said. “We talk about when to dabble in free agency, adding some pieces to push you to the next level. Those things happened in Tampa . And maybe those things will happen again. Are we at that point yet? We’ll have to find out. You’ve got a good idea who you want to target. You can’t close the door. Sean Jones worked out great. Derrick Ward was not a great fit for us. You get a certain value. You’ll never hit 100 percent in the draft or life, you just want to be more right than wrong.’’
I’m not expecting the Bucs to go on a crazy spending spree in free agency, but I’m thinking Morris sounds like a man who is planning on doing a little shopping once the store opens. Hey, with that kind of cap room, the Bucs just might be able to replace Talib with some like ...oh, let's just say Nnamdi Asomugha. That would be an upgrade on many levels.
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Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireThe Buccaneers are in position financially to compete for free agents like Nnamdi Asomugha.
Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireThe Buccaneers are in position financially to compete for free agents like Nnamdi Asomugha.But it’s pretty likely the Bucs will be doing some subtracting as soon as the labor agreement is reached. As I said in this post, the Bucs are almost certain to cut ties with troubled cornerback Aqib Talib as soon as they can, and that move will clear up roughly $1.35 million in salary-cap space.
We don’t know what the new salary cap will be. In 2009, the last capped year, it was right around $130 million. In some of the reports about the labor negotiations, there were indications owners were pushing for a cap as low as $101 million. So let’s just go hypothetical, split the difference and say the cap will be somewhere around $115 million.
Throw in the tenders, assume the Bucs might re-sign a few of their new players and factor in whatever they have to pay their rookies. No matter how you slice all that, it’s pretty safe to assume the Bucs still will be well beneath the cap.
The Bucs haven’t been big players in free agency lately and they’ve been preaching about how they’re building with youth, which is nice. But there also will be a salary-cap floor, if there is a salary cap and the Bucs will have to meet that.
Sometimes, coach Raheem Morris talks a little more than he should. But, after a quick crunch of the numbers, I’m wondering if Morris was sending out a signal when he was asked about what his team might do in free agency when he met with the media at the NFL owners meeting in New Orleans last week.
“You get your plan, you lay it out and you execute it,’’ Morris said. “We talk about when to dabble in free agency, adding some pieces to push you to the next level. Those things happened in Tampa . And maybe those things will happen again. Are we at that point yet? We’ll have to find out. You’ve got a good idea who you want to target. You can’t close the door. Sean Jones worked out great. Derrick Ward was not a great fit for us. You get a certain value. You’ll never hit 100 percent in the draft or life, you just want to be more right than wrong.’’
I’m not expecting the Bucs to go on a crazy spending spree in free agency, but I’m thinking Morris sounds like a man who is planning on doing a little shopping once the store opens. Hey, with that kind of cap room, the Bucs just might be able to replace Talib with some like ...oh, let's just say Nnamdi Asomugha. That would be an upgrade on many levels.
Let’s start today’s series of team-by-team mailbags with the Carolina Panthers and work our way up through the NFC standings.
Michael in Hickory, NC, writes: My comment is about the "sports writer" who thought about putting Carolina at number 33 in the rankings and putting a UFL team above them. I have been a long time Carolina fan and always will be. I think it is ridiculous to think that a UFL team can beat any NFL team. I am sure he wouldn't say anything like that if his favorite team was 1-11. I would say before you start saying something like that you might want to back it up with facts.
Pat Yasinskas: Umm, that was a joke. I thought that was pretty obvious. Sometimes, we use humor, creativity, wit and sarcasm here. It comes in especially handy when we’re talking about the Panthers this season. If we stayed completely literal, all I’d be able to write about the Panthers is “they’re 1-11 and have the worst record in the NFL’’. This kind of reminds me of the time last year when the Giants thumped the Bucs and I wrote that Derrick Ward, who had just left the Giants for the Bucs, was trying to get on New York’s bus after the game and one reader actually bought it.
Pete in Raleigh, NC, writes: I think John Fox is safe. I think Marty Hurney will be let go and Fox will have more control next year. You cannot bring a new coach in and have a winning season right away. It will take some time to build a program at Carolina. It took Bill Cowher 15 years to win the Super Bowl. Panthers fans are not waiting 15 years. Jerry Richardson said the problem will be fixed next year.
Pat Yasinskas: You better hurry up and call Fox, because he’s already got his bags packed and his resume out for other coaching jobs. Seriously, I totally disagree with your read on this one. If Richardson wanted Fox back, a contract extension would have been signed long ago. Besides, I think Fox is anxious for a fresh start and has no interest in fixing Carolina’s problems. I also think Hurney’s job is safe.
Mike in Goldsboro, NC, writes: I have a question about the Panthers' future coaching vacancy. Do you see Josh McDaniels as a potential candidate? After all, he is an offensive-minded coach who had great success in New England. His teams in Denver weren't always very talented, but they seemed to be well-coached (take his 6-0 start for example). And being a young, relatively unproven head coach, he would not command a huge salary like those of Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden. So, do you see Josh McDaniels being hired in Carolina?
Pat Yasinskas: Nope. McDaniels’ run in Denver was far from impressive and questions about his maturity surfaced. He’ll have to redeem himself as a coordinator before getting another shot at as a head coach.
Michael in Hickory, NC, writes: My comment is about the "sports writer" who thought about putting Carolina at number 33 in the rankings and putting a UFL team above them. I have been a long time Carolina fan and always will be. I think it is ridiculous to think that a UFL team can beat any NFL team. I am sure he wouldn't say anything like that if his favorite team was 1-11. I would say before you start saying something like that you might want to back it up with facts.
Pat Yasinskas: Umm, that was a joke. I thought that was pretty obvious. Sometimes, we use humor, creativity, wit and sarcasm here. It comes in especially handy when we’re talking about the Panthers this season. If we stayed completely literal, all I’d be able to write about the Panthers is “they’re 1-11 and have the worst record in the NFL’’. This kind of reminds me of the time last year when the Giants thumped the Bucs and I wrote that Derrick Ward, who had just left the Giants for the Bucs, was trying to get on New York’s bus after the game and one reader actually bought it.
Pete in Raleigh, NC, writes: I think John Fox is safe. I think Marty Hurney will be let go and Fox will have more control next year. You cannot bring a new coach in and have a winning season right away. It will take some time to build a program at Carolina. It took Bill Cowher 15 years to win the Super Bowl. Panthers fans are not waiting 15 years. Jerry Richardson said the problem will be fixed next year.
Pat Yasinskas: You better hurry up and call Fox, because he’s already got his bags packed and his resume out for other coaching jobs. Seriously, I totally disagree with your read on this one. If Richardson wanted Fox back, a contract extension would have been signed long ago. Besides, I think Fox is anxious for a fresh start and has no interest in fixing Carolina’s problems. I also think Hurney’s job is safe.
Mike in Goldsboro, NC, writes: I have a question about the Panthers' future coaching vacancy. Do you see Josh McDaniels as a potential candidate? After all, he is an offensive-minded coach who had great success in New England. His teams in Denver weren't always very talented, but they seemed to be well-coached (take his 6-0 start for example). And being a young, relatively unproven head coach, he would not command a huge salary like those of Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden. So, do you see Josh McDaniels being hired in Carolina?
Pat Yasinskas: Nope. McDaniels’ run in Denver was far from impressive and questions about his maturity surfaced. He’ll have to redeem himself as a coordinator before getting another shot at as a head coach.
Bucs make good call on Jerramy Stevens
October, 25, 2010
10/25/10
2:03
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
TAMPA, Fla. -- Before I flew out of the Atlanta airport this morning, I wrote that the Bucs should go ahead and release tight end Jerramy Stevens and make a bit of a statement.
Well, that’s exactly what they did a few hours ago. The Bucs released the tight end, who was charged with narcotics violations on Saturday night. Stevens had past problems with the law and off the field. Surely the fact that he was nothing more than a role player made it easy to kick him to the curb.
The Bucs probably don’t do that with Josh Freeman or Gerald McCoy. But Freeman and McCoy have shown no propensity to get into any sort of trouble, and that’s important to note. Freeman and McCoy were the first-round picks in each of the drafts run by coach Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik.
Those guys got bashed a lot last year, but let’s give Morris and Dominik some credit for trying to do things the right way. They care about character. The previous regime of coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen really didn’t, and they were the ones who brought in Stevens as well as Aqib Talib and Tanard Jackson, some other guys who ran into recent problems.
Morris and Dominik might not have a room full of choirboys like the Bucs did in the Tony Dungy years. But they realize good character can help a team succeed, and we’re not talking just about guys with legal problems.
Morris and Dominik ran Antonio Bryant and Derrick Ward out of town because they didn’t have great attitudes and were viewed as bad influences in the locker room.
Well, that’s exactly what they did a few hours ago. The Bucs released the tight end, who was charged with narcotics violations on Saturday night. Stevens had past problems with the law and off the field. Surely the fact that he was nothing more than a role player made it easy to kick him to the curb.
The Bucs probably don’t do that with Josh Freeman or Gerald McCoy. But Freeman and McCoy have shown no propensity to get into any sort of trouble, and that’s important to note. Freeman and McCoy were the first-round picks in each of the drafts run by coach Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik.
Those guys got bashed a lot last year, but let’s give Morris and Dominik some credit for trying to do things the right way. They care about character. The previous regime of coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen really didn’t, and they were the ones who brought in Stevens as well as Aqib Talib and Tanard Jackson, some other guys who ran into recent problems.
Morris and Dominik might not have a room full of choirboys like the Bucs did in the Tony Dungy years. But they realize good character can help a team succeed, and we’re not talking just about guys with legal problems.
Morris and Dominik ran Antonio Bryant and Derrick Ward out of town because they didn’t have great attitudes and were viewed as bad influences in the locker room.
Let's start off today's series of team-by-team mailbags with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
David in Shanghai writes: Having watched all of the Bucs’ games, it's clear to me that Caddy is not the problem. The offensive line is just not getting it done. No one other than Barry Sanders could find a hole. It also seems he's had 4 or 5 big runs called back due to penalties away from the ball (bad luck).Part of it may be the play calling or formations. As a casual observer it seems obvious to me by the way they set up whether the Bucs are going to run or pass. Still, you could say that's true of other teams, such as the Saints late last week, but they are still able to run it. I really feel it's the line that is failing. Caddy is running hard, there's just nothing there. I admit I am pulling for him since he was drafted by the team and is an inspirational story, but I feel I'm right here. It has been disappointing reading other media (not you) suggesting he is the only problem. I would think the coaching staff could see the truth.
Pat Yasinskas: This is one of many letters about Cadillac Williams and Tampa Bay’s struggles in the running game and we’ll use this as a starting point for some other letters with some shoot-off questions. First, I’m sure the coaching staff does see what’s really happening and that’s part of the reason Williams still is the starter. That tells me they don’t think he’s the whole problem. I agree with that, but I do have to be fair and say Williams may be part of the problem. He’s had two major knee injuries and may not be what he once was. But I think he still could be an effective running back when things are working well around him. As far as the Bucs being obvious with their offense, I don't think many teams would put eight men in the box because quarterback Josh Freeman has brought the element of a deep passing game to this offense.
Damione in Tampa writes: Good question for you Pat. Is it time to start drafting offensive linemen? The o line is a supposed strength, but there’s always a reason (excuse) why they haven't looked the part. The firing of O coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, an injury to Jeff Faine, etc. But could it be the line just isn't as good as advertised? Derrick Ward’s recent success makes me wonder.
Pat Yasinskas: I think you might have hit on something when you suggested maybe this line isn’t as good as advertised. Really the only guy on this line that might be of Pro Bowl caliber is guard Davin Joseph. Faine’s out now with an injury. He’s been a decent center, but never a great one. The other guard spot has been an issue. Keydrick Vincent is just a guy. Had Arron Sears not had personal problems, he and Joseph could have formed a very nice guard tandem for the better part of a decade. Having to part ways with Sears hurt the Bucs more than a lot of people realize. As for the tackles, they are what they are. Left tackle Donald Penn got a boatload of money because the Bucs needed someone to protect Josh Freeman’s blind side. Penn’s adequate as a pass blocker, but he’s never going to be a Pro Bowler and neither will right tackle Jeremy Trueblood. So, is it coming to the time when the Bucs should draft some offensive line help? Yes, I think so.
Todd in Indianapolis writes: Why aren't we talking about Pete Mangurian losing his job? I just don't understand how the O-Line goes from a strength to a rebuilding project in the 2 years he has been the coach. The line has a lot of talent. They are all starters in this league.
Pat Yasinskas: Wow, you want to put all the blame on the offensive line coach? I think that’s a stretch. Mangurian is a guy with a good reputation. True, his line isn’t performing well, but I think there’s a lot more at play here. He’s working within offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s system and, as I said above, I think a lot of people might have been overrating this line when they called it a strength and the loss of Sears factored heavily into that. Joseph’s pretty good. But I think an offensive line need at least one blue-chip guy to be very good. I don’t think the Bucs have that guy.
Chris in Harrisburg, Pa., writes: With all these fines being handed out on viscous and illegal hits, how come Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins didn't receive one for that cheap shot at Josh Freeman's knees late in the game? I mean, he was clearly out of bounds and Jenkins takes a shot at his knees. Talk about intent right?
Pat Yasinskas: The week isn’t over yet and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we hear Friday that Jenkins gets fined. He was flagged on the play and it was pretty flagrant. It didn’t fall into the helmet-to-helmet category that drew so much attention early this week. The league acted quickly on those plays. But, usually, most fines become public on Fridays.
David in Shanghai writes: Having watched all of the Bucs’ games, it's clear to me that Caddy is not the problem. The offensive line is just not getting it done. No one other than Barry Sanders could find a hole. It also seems he's had 4 or 5 big runs called back due to penalties away from the ball (bad luck).Part of it may be the play calling or formations. As a casual observer it seems obvious to me by the way they set up whether the Bucs are going to run or pass. Still, you could say that's true of other teams, such as the Saints late last week, but they are still able to run it. I really feel it's the line that is failing. Caddy is running hard, there's just nothing there. I admit I am pulling for him since he was drafted by the team and is an inspirational story, but I feel I'm right here. It has been disappointing reading other media (not you) suggesting he is the only problem. I would think the coaching staff could see the truth.
Pat Yasinskas: This is one of many letters about Cadillac Williams and Tampa Bay’s struggles in the running game and we’ll use this as a starting point for some other letters with some shoot-off questions. First, I’m sure the coaching staff does see what’s really happening and that’s part of the reason Williams still is the starter. That tells me they don’t think he’s the whole problem. I agree with that, but I do have to be fair and say Williams may be part of the problem. He’s had two major knee injuries and may not be what he once was. But I think he still could be an effective running back when things are working well around him. As far as the Bucs being obvious with their offense, I don't think many teams would put eight men in the box because quarterback Josh Freeman has brought the element of a deep passing game to this offense.
Damione in Tampa writes: Good question for you Pat. Is it time to start drafting offensive linemen? The o line is a supposed strength, but there’s always a reason (excuse) why they haven't looked the part. The firing of O coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, an injury to Jeff Faine, etc. But could it be the line just isn't as good as advertised? Derrick Ward’s recent success makes me wonder.
Pat Yasinskas: I think you might have hit on something when you suggested maybe this line isn’t as good as advertised. Really the only guy on this line that might be of Pro Bowl caliber is guard Davin Joseph. Faine’s out now with an injury. He’s been a decent center, but never a great one. The other guard spot has been an issue. Keydrick Vincent is just a guy. Had Arron Sears not had personal problems, he and Joseph could have formed a very nice guard tandem for the better part of a decade. Having to part ways with Sears hurt the Bucs more than a lot of people realize. As for the tackles, they are what they are. Left tackle Donald Penn got a boatload of money because the Bucs needed someone to protect Josh Freeman’s blind side. Penn’s adequate as a pass blocker, but he’s never going to be a Pro Bowler and neither will right tackle Jeremy Trueblood. So, is it coming to the time when the Bucs should draft some offensive line help? Yes, I think so.
Todd in Indianapolis writes: Why aren't we talking about Pete Mangurian losing his job? I just don't understand how the O-Line goes from a strength to a rebuilding project in the 2 years he has been the coach. The line has a lot of talent. They are all starters in this league.
Pat Yasinskas: Wow, you want to put all the blame on the offensive line coach? I think that’s a stretch. Mangurian is a guy with a good reputation. True, his line isn’t performing well, but I think there’s a lot more at play here. He’s working within offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s system and, as I said above, I think a lot of people might have been overrating this line when they called it a strength and the loss of Sears factored heavily into that. Joseph’s pretty good. But I think an offensive line need at least one blue-chip guy to be very good. I don’t think the Bucs have that guy.
Chris in Harrisburg, Pa., writes: With all these fines being handed out on viscous and illegal hits, how come Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins didn't receive one for that cheap shot at Josh Freeman's knees late in the game? I mean, he was clearly out of bounds and Jenkins takes a shot at his knees. Talk about intent right?
Pat Yasinskas: The week isn’t over yet and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we hear Friday that Jenkins gets fined. He was flagged on the play and it was pretty flagrant. It didn’t fall into the helmet-to-helmet category that drew so much attention early this week. The league acted quickly on those plays. But, usually, most fines become public on Fridays.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were looking at all options in their running game, have lost one of them. Coach Raheem Morris said running back Kareem Huggins will miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans.
With starter Cadillac Williams struggling to provide any explosive plays, the Bucs had hoped to give Huggins more playing time and that he could spark the running game. But that no longer is a possibility and the Bucs will have to turn to backups LeGarrette Blount and Kregg Lumpkin.
But the Bucs likely will have to give Williams the bulk of the playing time for at least a few more weeks. Blount and Lumpkin each joined the team just before the start of the regular season and are still adjusting to the offense.
In hindsight, this makes last year’s signing of Derrick Ward look even worse. Ward was signed to a big contract and was expected to at least share carries with Williams and maybe even replace him as the feature back. That never came close to happening.
Ward was ineffective last season and did little in training camp before the Bucs went ahead and cut him in the preseason.
Tuesday is the trading deadline, but I wouldn’t expect the Bucs to go out shopping for a back. If anything, they might sign another free agent.
With starter Cadillac Williams struggling to provide any explosive plays, the Bucs had hoped to give Huggins more playing time and that he could spark the running game. But that no longer is a possibility and the Bucs will have to turn to backups LeGarrette Blount and Kregg Lumpkin.
But the Bucs likely will have to give Williams the bulk of the playing time for at least a few more weeks. Blount and Lumpkin each joined the team just before the start of the regular season and are still adjusting to the offense.
In hindsight, this makes last year’s signing of Derrick Ward look even worse. Ward was signed to a big contract and was expected to at least share carries with Williams and maybe even replace him as the feature back. That never came close to happening.
Ward was ineffective last season and did little in training camp before the Bucs went ahead and cut him in the preseason.
Tuesday is the trading deadline, but I wouldn’t expect the Bucs to go out shopping for a back. If anything, they might sign another free agent.
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 6:
Payback time? We don’t know if Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick will even play against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, but it doesn’t really matter. This game already is a grudge match behind the scenes. When the Eagles came to Atlanta last year, Philadelphia coach Andy Reid inserted Vick, then serving as a part-time player behind Donovan McNabb, into the lineup enough to throw for a touchdown and run for one. Those were his first scores since 2006, when he was with the Falcons. At the time, the Falcons were playing without quarterback Matt Ryan, several other starters and they had a whole bunch of guys banged up. There was a feeling among some important people in Atlanta that Reid intentionally -- and unnecessarily -- was rubbing the organization's nose in it. That story hasn’t gotten a lot of play because the Falcons don’t talk publicly about it. But that feeling was there then and it’s there now. At the very least, it provided some extra motivation in the team’s Flowery Branch headquarters this week and probably will do the same Sunday. The Falcons are completely healthy now and on a four-game winning streak. What if they get a chance to really rub it in the Eagles? Just my guess, but I think coach Mike Smith is too classy to do something like that. If he can win this game, he’ll do it gracefully.
The Michael Jenkins factor. Atlanta receiver Michael Jenkins will make his season debut after recovering from a shoulder injury. I think this is going to be a much bigger boost to the Atlanta offense than most people realize. The Falcons have played (pretty well) for five games without the full offense they want on the field. Now, they’re going to have it. Jenkins is going to step into the No. 2 receiver position and be the role player he always has been. He’s not flashy, but he’ll catch a few passes and he’ll help as a run blocker. More importantly, he’ll allow Harry Douglas to settle in as the slot receiver. That’s the spot the Falcons have pictured Douglas in since the day they drafted him and it just might help ease all the talk about how the Falcons don’t take enough shots down the field.
Everybody’s smiling. When I was out at One Buccaneer Place the other day, one thing stood out when I was in the locker room. The atmosphere was completely different than a year ago. Sure, winning cures a lot of things. But I think this process started back in the offseason and preseason when the Bucs unloaded Antonio Bryant and Derrick Ward. I’m not going to dance around it: They were not good locker-room guys. Coach Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik are growing up just like their team, and I think one of the more important things they decided in the offseason was they weren’t going to put up with malcontents in a locker room full of young players.
Signature game? A lot of people say Sunday could be a signature game for the Bucs if they can beat the Saints. While I think a win over New Orleans would be important, I don’t think that really would be the right way to look at it. I think this team already has turned some corners and coming from behind to win on the road in Cincinnati was a pretty big one. I don’t think the process in Tampa Bay has completely played itself out yet. But I don’t think winning or losing to New Orleans is going to make or break this season. The Bucs already have shown they’re respectable.
On the bright side. There’s no doubt New Orleans fans are passionate. But the “sky-is-falling’’ attitude that popped up after the loss to Arizona is a little over the top. Yes, losing to a bad team with an undrafted rookie (Max Hall) at quarterback was horrible, and it’s clear that the Saints have issues and injuries. But Sean Payton’s still the coach, Drew Brees is still the quarterback and that means this whole thing isn’t coming apart at the seams.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 6:
[+] Enlarge
Dale Zanine/US PresswireThe Eagles chose to showcase Michael Vick against the Falcons last season, something that didn't sit well with some in Atlanta.
Dale Zanine/US PresswireThe Eagles chose to showcase Michael Vick against the Falcons last season, something that didn't sit well with some in Atlanta.The Michael Jenkins factor. Atlanta receiver Michael Jenkins will make his season debut after recovering from a shoulder injury. I think this is going to be a much bigger boost to the Atlanta offense than most people realize. The Falcons have played (pretty well) for five games without the full offense they want on the field. Now, they’re going to have it. Jenkins is going to step into the No. 2 receiver position and be the role player he always has been. He’s not flashy, but he’ll catch a few passes and he’ll help as a run blocker. More importantly, he’ll allow Harry Douglas to settle in as the slot receiver. That’s the spot the Falcons have pictured Douglas in since the day they drafted him and it just might help ease all the talk about how the Falcons don’t take enough shots down the field.
Everybody’s smiling. When I was out at One Buccaneer Place the other day, one thing stood out when I was in the locker room. The atmosphere was completely different than a year ago. Sure, winning cures a lot of things. But I think this process started back in the offseason and preseason when the Bucs unloaded Antonio Bryant and Derrick Ward. I’m not going to dance around it: They were not good locker-room guys. Coach Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik are growing up just like their team, and I think one of the more important things they decided in the offseason was they weren’t going to put up with malcontents in a locker room full of young players.
Signature game? A lot of people say Sunday could be a signature game for the Bucs if they can beat the Saints. While I think a win over New Orleans would be important, I don’t think that really would be the right way to look at it. I think this team already has turned some corners and coming from behind to win on the road in Cincinnati was a pretty big one. I don’t think the process in Tampa Bay has completely played itself out yet. But I don’t think winning or losing to New Orleans is going to make or break this season. The Bucs already have shown they’re respectable.
On the bright side. There’s no doubt New Orleans fans are passionate. But the “sky-is-falling’’ attitude that popped up after the loss to Arizona is a little over the top. Yes, losing to a bad team with an undrafted rookie (Max Hall) at quarterback was horrible, and it’s clear that the Saints have issues and injuries. But Sean Payton’s still the coach, Drew Brees is still the quarterback and that means this whole thing isn’t coming apart at the seams.
Time for a trip through a bunch of news and notes from around the NFC South.
San Francisco coach Mike Singletary said Wednesday he was wrong for not shaking hands with Atlanta coach Mike Smith on Sunday after the Falcons beat the 49ers. Look, I know it’s an emotional game and coaches are under enormous stress and can make poor decisions in the heat of the moment. But they also each are part of a 32-man fraternity. Smith is as much of a gentleman as any coach I’ve ever covered. No matter if you’re team just won or lost against the Falcons, you owe it to the man to shake his hand.
Leave it to Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco to come up with a new nickname for Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber. It’s a pretty flattering comparison.
Houston running back Derrick Ward took some pretty strong shots at the Buccaneers and said he’s blocked out his time in Tampa Bay. That’s good because the Bucs blocked that time out when they cut him. I’m going to stand up for the Bucs on this one. Ward came to Tampa last season with a bad attitude that never got better and he created his own destiny with the Bucs.
As you might have expected, Tampa Bay center Jeff Faine took exception to some of Ward’s comments.
Jon Beason, who questioned Julius Peppers’ intensity in a radio about a year ago, is singing a different tune about his former teammate these days. With the Bears coming to Carolina on Sunday, Beason said Peppers might go down as one of the best ever.
Maybe it’s in honor of Peppers’ homecoming, but Matt Williamson ranks the top 10 pass rushers in the league. Peppers is on the list. But there’s not a single guy on the list from the NFC South.
At least the winless Panthers may be catching one break this week. The Bears have said quarterback Jay Cutler will sit out after suffering a concussion. Veteran backup Todd Collins will start in his place.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is a Philadelphia guy at heart. He was born and raised in the suburbs, talks with what some might call a Philadelphia accent (sounds normal to me) and grew up a Phillies fan. But he’s smart enough to know it’s not a good idea to wear a Phillies hat in Atlanta.
San Francisco coach Mike Singletary said Wednesday he was wrong for not shaking hands with Atlanta coach Mike Smith on Sunday after the Falcons beat the 49ers. Look, I know it’s an emotional game and coaches are under enormous stress and can make poor decisions in the heat of the moment. But they also each are part of a 32-man fraternity. Smith is as much of a gentleman as any coach I’ve ever covered. No matter if you’re team just won or lost against the Falcons, you owe it to the man to shake his hand.
Leave it to Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco to come up with a new nickname for Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber. It’s a pretty flattering comparison.
Houston running back Derrick Ward took some pretty strong shots at the Buccaneers and said he’s blocked out his time in Tampa Bay. That’s good because the Bucs blocked that time out when they cut him. I’m going to stand up for the Bucs on this one. Ward came to Tampa last season with a bad attitude that never got better and he created his own destiny with the Bucs.
As you might have expected, Tampa Bay center Jeff Faine took exception to some of Ward’s comments.
Jon Beason, who questioned Julius Peppers’ intensity in a radio about a year ago, is singing a different tune about his former teammate these days. With the Bears coming to Carolina on Sunday, Beason said Peppers might go down as one of the best ever.
Maybe it’s in honor of Peppers’ homecoming, but Matt Williamson ranks the top 10 pass rushers in the league. Peppers is on the list. But there’s not a single guy on the list from the NFC South.
At least the winless Panthers may be catching one break this week. The Bears have said quarterback Jay Cutler will sit out after suffering a concussion. Veteran backup Todd Collins will start in his place.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is a Philadelphia guy at heart. He was born and raised in the suburbs, talks with what some might call a Philadelphia accent (sounds normal to me) and grew up a Phillies fan. But he’s smart enough to know it’s not a good idea to wear a Phillies hat in Atlanta.
Ranking the NFC South running backs
September, 8, 2010
9/08/10
6:00
AM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
We’re going to wrap up the NFC South position rankings with the running backs. I saved that position for last because I think it probably is the most intriguing of all the groups in the division.
There are three guys who can make a legitimate claim to being No. 1 based just on their past résumés and a few other guys who could enter the argument if they stay healthy and catch a few breaks. On to the list.
There are three guys who can make a legitimate claim to being No. 1 based just on their past résumés and a few other guys who could enter the argument if they stay healthy and catch a few breaks. On to the list.
- Michael Turner, Falcons. I went with Turner at No. 1 because I’m thinking he’ll have the best statistics in the division when all is said and done. Turner’s on a mission to prove his huge 2008 season wasn’t a one-hit wonder. He admitted he let himself get out of shape before last season and that may have caused his slow start and led to some injuries. Turner’s been working on his conditioning all offseason and I think he’ll have a bounce-back year.
- DeAngelo Williams, Panthers. If Williams was in a different offense, I might go with him at No. 1 because I think he’s the most complete back in the division. He’ll get his 1,000 yards again and catch some passes, but he doesn’t get all the carries in Carolina.
- Jonathan Stewart, Panthers. He and Williams might comprise the best backfield duo in the league. Flip a coin on who gets more carries because that’s pretty much what coach John Fox does. These guys are both studs. The Panthers run enough to keep both of these guys happy.
- Reggie Bush, Saints. I know I’ll take some hits for this one, but I feel pretty strongly that Bush is in for a big season. He looks healthier and faster than I’ve seen him in recent years. Is he ever going to get 30 carries a game like Turner? No. But this guy is so dynamic that he’s a threat to score any time he touches the ball and Sean Payton will always find ways to get him touches.
- Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers. One of the most inspirational guys in the NFL the last few years, Williams finally is coming into a season where he didn’t have to spend the entire offseason rehabbing an injury. He’s overcome two major knee injuries and he’s going to get the bulk of the carries for the Bucs.
- Pierre Thomas, Saints. He and Bush are kind of a lighter version of Stewart and Williams. They’re going to share carries and they may even have a third guy in the mix. Thomas is more of a traditional running back than Bush and he’s a guy who can run for 1,000 yards if he gets enough carries.
- Jason Snelling, Falcons. This guy came out of nowhere last year and helped the Falcons get to a winning record, despite Turner’s injury problems. Snelling has become a favorite of the coaching staff and probably has earned a share of the carries this year. He’s big and dependable and can also fill in at fullback if needed.
- Jerious Norwood, Falcons. He is the classic tease. Norwood will give you some runs that are worthy of the highlight reel. But he also lacks durability and never has truly been able to carve a niche in this offense.
- Kareem Huggins, Buccaneers. The Bucs saw enough out of this kid that they went ahead and unloaded Derrick Ward, who simply just didn’t fit in Tampa Bay. Huggins is undersized, but he flashed all sorts of big-play ability in training camp and the preseason.
- Mike Goodson, Panthers. He got only 22 carries last year and there aren’t a lot of opportunities with Stewart and Williams around. But I think you might see a bit more of Goodson this year. He’s got big-play ability and can catch the ball out of the backfield.
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Marvin Gentry/US PresswireMichael Turner is determined to prove his breakthrough season in 2008 was not a fluke.
Marvin Gentry/US PresswireMichael Turner is determined to prove his breakthrough season in 2008 was not a fluke.
Time for another edition of the NFC South mailbag. Kind of interesting that the first three questions all come from Texas. Could we be taking over the territory of “The Beast’’?
Brendan in Dallas writes: How do you feel about Darren Sharper coming off this knee surgery? Do you think that he'll be able to have the great season like he did last year or should we expect more of Malcolm Jenkins this season? I myself like how Jenkins' been doing this preseason so I wouldn't mind having a younger guy like Jenkins out there.
Pat Yasinskas: I am extremely interested to see what the Saints do about Sharper in the next few days. All indications are he’s not ready to contribute right now and the Saints will have to make a difficult decision. I think the likely scenario is they’ll place him on the physically-unable-to-perform list, hope he can heal up and bring him back as insurance for the second half of the season. But I also wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Saints cutting Sharper or him deciding to retire. It’s been very clear for some time now that Jenkins will open the season as the starter at free safety. Jenkins is young and very talented. I don’t think it’s out of the question that he can put up numbers similar to what Sharper did last season.
Victor in El Paso, Texas writes: Now that the Bucs have cut Derrick Ward do you think the Bucs will get another running back?
Pat Yasinskas: I would not totally rule out the Bucs picking up a running back when other teams make their cuts. The Bucs constantly monitor the waiver wire and are always looking to upgrade a roster that clearly still needs some upgrading. But I don’t think it’s an absolute necessity that the Bucs get a running back. They appear content to head into the season with Cadillac Williams and Kareem Huggins as their top two running backs. Clifton Smith might factor in as a situational player. Plus, fullback Earnest Graham has some history at tailback and can always move back over there.
Robert in Dallas Texas writes: Keep up the great work! Two quick questions for you: Do you think the Bucs should make a move on a trade for Matt Leinart? Would he be an upgrade compared to Josh Johnson?
Pat Yasinskas: I’m not completely sold on Josh Johnson as a No. 2 quarterback yet. I think he’s a legitimate No. 3 with upside. I would like to see the Bucs add a backup with some legitimate NFL experience. But I’m not sure Leinart is the guy they should be looking at. First off, if Arizona’s trying to trade the guy they went through the offseason planning to start, that should raise some serious red flags. He’s a guy that was a high draft pick and has never done much in the NFL. We might be looking at another Heather Shuler or Ryan Leaf. I’d rather see the Bucs pick up some veteran with a little bit of starting experience that can come in, accept his role as No. 2 to Josh Freeman and fit well in the locker room. If the Saints, who may carry only two quarterbacks, decide to cut Patrick Ramsey, that's a guy I think the Bucs should be all over.
Harris in Weaverville, N.C. writes: I am a hard-core Panthers fan. However, I can't say that I keep up with every team in the NFL enough to know the answer to this question: Are there any teams in the NFL that are so loaded with wide receivers that there will be some decent pickings when the final cuts are due on Saturday? What are the chances that the Panthers will make a WR move from the waivers?
Pat Yasinskas: You can bet that Marty Hurney and his staff will be watching to see what wide receivers get cut by other teams by Saturday afternoon’s deadline. Given the fact the Panthers don’t have a lot of depth at receiver, I think a move is entirely possible. Just to throw a couple of names out there from other NFC South teams that might be available -- Tampa Bay’s Michael Clayton and New Orleans’ Adrian Arrington. Yes, Clayton largely has been a bust in Tampa Bay, but he could fit better in Carolina’s system. He is a good run blocker and might be a scaled-down version of Muhsin Muhammad. Arrington’s a guy who’s been held back by injuries and a very deep receiving corps in New Orleans, but he’s got plenty of upside.
Greg in Tampa writes: Can you explain to us Bucs fans why the NFL waited a whole YEAR to suspend Aqib Talib? One would think the league would act when the courts do.
Pat Yasinskas: A good question and something I’ve also wondered about. More than anything, I think this one got caught up in red tape. It took some time for the legal system to play out and that’s why the NFL didn’t take action last year. But couldn’t this suspension have been determined much earlier this year? You would think so. But I’m guessing Talib’s file was a little lower on Roger Goodell’s desk than Ben Roethlisberger’s. Goodell has the ultimate say on all suspensions and it sometimes takes some time for that to happen. But it’s not like the Bucs didn’t see this one coming. They pretty much knew from the end of last season that they’d be opening the season without Talib.
Brendan in Dallas writes: How do you feel about Darren Sharper coming off this knee surgery? Do you think that he'll be able to have the great season like he did last year or should we expect more of Malcolm Jenkins this season? I myself like how Jenkins' been doing this preseason so I wouldn't mind having a younger guy like Jenkins out there.
Pat Yasinskas: I am extremely interested to see what the Saints do about Sharper in the next few days. All indications are he’s not ready to contribute right now and the Saints will have to make a difficult decision. I think the likely scenario is they’ll place him on the physically-unable-to-perform list, hope he can heal up and bring him back as insurance for the second half of the season. But I also wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Saints cutting Sharper or him deciding to retire. It’s been very clear for some time now that Jenkins will open the season as the starter at free safety. Jenkins is young and very talented. I don’t think it’s out of the question that he can put up numbers similar to what Sharper did last season.
Victor in El Paso, Texas writes: Now that the Bucs have cut Derrick Ward do you think the Bucs will get another running back?
Pat Yasinskas: I would not totally rule out the Bucs picking up a running back when other teams make their cuts. The Bucs constantly monitor the waiver wire and are always looking to upgrade a roster that clearly still needs some upgrading. But I don’t think it’s an absolute necessity that the Bucs get a running back. They appear content to head into the season with Cadillac Williams and Kareem Huggins as their top two running backs. Clifton Smith might factor in as a situational player. Plus, fullback Earnest Graham has some history at tailback and can always move back over there.
Robert in Dallas Texas writes: Keep up the great work! Two quick questions for you: Do you think the Bucs should make a move on a trade for Matt Leinart? Would he be an upgrade compared to Josh Johnson?
Pat Yasinskas: I’m not completely sold on Josh Johnson as a No. 2 quarterback yet. I think he’s a legitimate No. 3 with upside. I would like to see the Bucs add a backup with some legitimate NFL experience. But I’m not sure Leinart is the guy they should be looking at. First off, if Arizona’s trying to trade the guy they went through the offseason planning to start, that should raise some serious red flags. He’s a guy that was a high draft pick and has never done much in the NFL. We might be looking at another Heather Shuler or Ryan Leaf. I’d rather see the Bucs pick up some veteran with a little bit of starting experience that can come in, accept his role as No. 2 to Josh Freeman and fit well in the locker room. If the Saints, who may carry only two quarterbacks, decide to cut Patrick Ramsey, that's a guy I think the Bucs should be all over.
Harris in Weaverville, N.C. writes: I am a hard-core Panthers fan. However, I can't say that I keep up with every team in the NFL enough to know the answer to this question: Are there any teams in the NFL that are so loaded with wide receivers that there will be some decent pickings when the final cuts are due on Saturday? What are the chances that the Panthers will make a WR move from the waivers?
Pat Yasinskas: You can bet that Marty Hurney and his staff will be watching to see what wide receivers get cut by other teams by Saturday afternoon’s deadline. Given the fact the Panthers don’t have a lot of depth at receiver, I think a move is entirely possible. Just to throw a couple of names out there from other NFC South teams that might be available -- Tampa Bay’s Michael Clayton and New Orleans’ Adrian Arrington. Yes, Clayton largely has been a bust in Tampa Bay, but he could fit better in Carolina’s system. He is a good run blocker and might be a scaled-down version of Muhsin Muhammad. Arrington’s a guy who’s been held back by injuries and a very deep receiving corps in New Orleans, but he’s got plenty of upside.
Greg in Tampa writes: Can you explain to us Bucs fans why the NFL waited a whole YEAR to suspend Aqib Talib? One would think the league would act when the courts do.
Pat Yasinskas: A good question and something I’ve also wondered about. More than anything, I think this one got caught up in red tape. It took some time for the legal system to play out and that’s why the NFL didn’t take action last year. But couldn’t this suspension have been determined much earlier this year? You would think so. But I’m guessing Talib’s file was a little lower on Roger Goodell’s desk than Ben Roethlisberger’s. Goodell has the ultimate say on all suspensions and it sometimes takes some time for that to happen. But it’s not like the Bucs didn’t see this one coming. They pretty much knew from the end of last season that they’d be opening the season without Talib.
On a day when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are dominating the news with the release of Derrick Ward and the NFL announcing a one-game suspension for Aqib Talib, the Atlanta Falcons just very quietly announced a couple of roster moves.
To get down to the 75-player limit, the Falcons reached an injury settlement with safety Matt Giordano and terminated his contract. They also released defensive tackle Thomas Johnson.
To get down to the 75-player limit, the Falcons reached an injury settlement with safety Matt Giordano and terminated his contract. They also released defensive tackle Thomas Johnson.
Financial breakdown of Ward's release
August, 31, 2010
8/31/10
3:02
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers paid running back Derrick Ward $6 million last year. In return, they got 409 rushing yards.
No way you can call that a good investment, but the Bucs cut their losses when they cut Ward on Tuesday. He was signed last season with the Bucs envisioning him as a No. 1 running back. The Bucs paid Ward $3 million in bonus money up front and a $3 million base salary on top of that.
Ward never showed much of anything and the Bucs decided to move on. They’re now off the hook for the 3.25 million base salary Ward was scheduled to earn this year and he’ll never see the $7.75 million he was supposed to earn in the final two years of the four-year deal. There will be no salary-cap hit for Ward this year, but that’s only because there’s not a salary cap this year.
But the Bucs aren’t completely off the hook for what turned out to be a very bad deal. If a salary cap is in place for 2011 and the rules are anything like the old ones, the Bucs then will have to take a $1.5 million hit for pro-rated bonuses Ward got up front.
No way you can call that a good investment, but the Bucs cut their losses when they cut Ward on Tuesday. He was signed last season with the Bucs envisioning him as a No. 1 running back. The Bucs paid Ward $3 million in bonus money up front and a $3 million base salary on top of that.
Ward never showed much of anything and the Bucs decided to move on. They’re now off the hook for the 3.25 million base salary Ward was scheduled to earn this year and he’ll never see the $7.75 million he was supposed to earn in the final two years of the four-year deal. There will be no salary-cap hit for Ward this year, but that’s only because there’s not a salary cap this year.
But the Bucs aren’t completely off the hook for what turned out to be a very bad deal. If a salary cap is in place for 2011 and the rules are anything like the old ones, the Bucs then will have to take a $1.5 million hit for pro-rated bonuses Ward got up front.
Dexter Jackson highlights other cuts
August, 31, 2010
8/31/10
2:36
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Today’s the day that rosters have to get cut down to 75 players. Aside from Tampa Bay booting running back Derrick Ward, we haven’t seen any other big names go down in the NFC South, but the news is just starting to trickle in.
In addition to Ward, the Bucs also released receiver Terrence Nunn and placed linebacker Jon Alston on injured reserve.
In Carolina, the biggest name to become a casualty was wide receiver Dexter Jackson. He was a second-round draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2008 and was a total flop. After getting released by the Bucs last preseason, Jackson caught on with Carolina’s practice squad. The Panthers thought bringing the Appalachian State product home might give him a chance to revive his career. But he didn’t show much in training camp or the preseason.
The Panthers also placed linebacker Thomas Davis on the physically unable to perform list and waived/injured defensive end Hilee Taylor. Receiver Wallace Wright was placed on injured reserve and receiver Oliver Young was released.
No roster moves have been announced by Atlanta or New Orleans as of the moment.
In addition to Ward, the Bucs also released receiver Terrence Nunn and placed linebacker Jon Alston on injured reserve.
In Carolina, the biggest name to become a casualty was wide receiver Dexter Jackson. He was a second-round draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2008 and was a total flop. After getting released by the Bucs last preseason, Jackson caught on with Carolina’s practice squad. The Panthers thought bringing the Appalachian State product home might give him a chance to revive his career. But he didn’t show much in training camp or the preseason.
The Panthers also placed linebacker Thomas Davis on the physically unable to perform list and waived/injured defensive end Hilee Taylor. Receiver Wallace Wright was placed on injured reserve and receiver Oliver Young was released.
No roster moves have been announced by Atlanta or New Orleans as of the moment.
Raheem Morris makes strong statement
August, 31, 2010
8/31/10
2:18
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Whether you realize it or not, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just made a pretty strong statement to their entire roster.
Coach Raheem Morris announced after Tuesday’s practice that running back Derrick Ward has been released.
“After practice today we were able to notify Mr. Ward,” Morris said. “It’s just like any other profession when it is time for you to depart. It’s not a surprise anytime in our profession anytime we tell you to go -- can’t say you’re surprised. You have every day to go out there and prove yourself. ”
I think the last part of that quote, about proving yourself, is hugely significant. Ward was signed to a big free-agent deal last year and the initial plan was for him to be the No. 1 running back. But Ward really didn’t do much last season as Cadillac Williams came back from injury and firmly grabbed the starting job. Much like former receiver Antonio Bryant, Ward didn’t always handle things the way the Bucs would have liked.
In a dismal preseason, he didn’t score any points with the coaches by pouting. The Bucs have a healthy Williams, a promising prospect in Kareem Huggins and they always can fall back on Earnest Graham, who can play fullback or tailback.
Yes, they could have hung onto Ward as insurance in case anything happened to Williams. It would have at least given them a veteran alternative that wouldn’t force a change at fullback. But Ward didn’t do anything to show the Bucs he was a guy they wanted on the field, and he put up a pretty convincing case that he wasn’t a guy they wanted in their locker room either.
Morris was hired last year and took a lot of criticism for being too friendly with his players and that label might have had some truth to it. He put up with some things last year that other coaches wouldn’t have. But it’s pretty clear Morris has learned from some mistakes in this area.
Last year, maybe he spent a little too much time trying to be everyone’s buddy. With moves like cutting Ward (and there could be some more veterans following soon), Morris is establishing himself as everyone’s coach.
Coach Raheem Morris announced after Tuesday’s practice that running back Derrick Ward has been released.
[+] Enlarge
Steve Mitchell/US PresswireDerrick Ward rushed for 409 yards during his one season in Tampa.
Steve Mitchell/US PresswireDerrick Ward rushed for 409 yards during his one season in Tampa.I think the last part of that quote, about proving yourself, is hugely significant. Ward was signed to a big free-agent deal last year and the initial plan was for him to be the No. 1 running back. But Ward really didn’t do much last season as Cadillac Williams came back from injury and firmly grabbed the starting job. Much like former receiver Antonio Bryant, Ward didn’t always handle things the way the Bucs would have liked.
In a dismal preseason, he didn’t score any points with the coaches by pouting. The Bucs have a healthy Williams, a promising prospect in Kareem Huggins and they always can fall back on Earnest Graham, who can play fullback or tailback.
Yes, they could have hung onto Ward as insurance in case anything happened to Williams. It would have at least given them a veteran alternative that wouldn’t force a change at fullback. But Ward didn’t do anything to show the Bucs he was a guy they wanted on the field, and he put up a pretty convincing case that he wasn’t a guy they wanted in their locker room either.
Morris was hired last year and took a lot of criticism for being too friendly with his players and that label might have had some truth to it. He put up with some things last year that other coaches wouldn’t have. But it’s pretty clear Morris has learned from some mistakes in this area.
Last year, maybe he spent a little too much time trying to be everyone’s buddy. With moves like cutting Ward (and there could be some more veterans following soon), Morris is establishing himself as everyone’s coach.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
