Trotter coming to town

Middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, the Eagles' longtime starter who was released on Tuesday, will make Tampa Bay his first of possibly several free-agent visits, according to multiple reports.

Trotter, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, would give the Bucs another weapon in what is already a deep linebackers unit. Despite that depth, the Bucs are concerned about the middle, where key backup Antoine Cash was lost for the season this week. Third-year player Barrett Ruud is beginning his first season as the starter now that Shelton Quarles is retired.

The 30-year-old Trotter reportedly has drawn interest from many teams and will likely not rush his decision. The Broncos have also been linked to Trotter, though it's not yet clear whether he has plans to travel to Denver.

Comments

[Daniel]

I read the Eagles released him because his knees are shot. If he can pass a physical, he's only 30, an excelent run stuffer and can help goal line and short yardage defense. My only concern is the Bucs mike backer is asked to cover the tight end down the field, sometimes far down field. Can Trotter do that?

[Sean]

I agree with you 100% Daniel. He would be great for our run deff. That is also true that he might not be able to keep up with the downfield coverage. I mean shelton quarles was a great guy in the Tampa 2 scheme, but if we could get trotter for a reasonable amount of money (not too much) it would be a good pick up. He could also help tutor Rudd.

[George L Hicks]

I say if Trotter comes here first. Then he wants to play here. A veteran LB along with brooks what a excellant combo. He doesn't have to play every down maybe 1 play per series would be fine with Trotter.If Tampa gets him on board the defense would improve really fast.

[Scott Estevez]

I agree Trotter may not be able to cover ground in the Tampa 2 but I thought Ruud was the man. Are the Bucs not happy with Ruud right now? Trotter would be great cause he is one of those great leaders who people will follow and he can make this defense more accountable than last year.
I heard that the Bucs where going to use June and Brooks on Nickel situations so maybe Trotter comes in, everyone in Philly says he is in great shape, and start then come off in third down? I like Ruud but I think this is something we should do.
One more thing, how about bring Sapp back? With the Raiders getting G. Warren maybe we can. Sapp sounded like he didn't agree with the move and Davis may not like being questioned. Just a thought.

[Tiki]

If its true that Trotter's knees are shot, do you see the difference? Eagles release the guy and do not ruin his chances of signing with another team but claiming he failed a physical like the Bucs did to Simeon Rice. yes, the Bucs beat the Eagles and won a Super Bowl but if you can't see the fact that the organization has lost a lot in its reputation after it worked so hard to build it after 20 seasons of humility.
Its time for a change in the guards and bring in a coach like Cower no matter what the cost is.

[Skylar]

Boo-hoo, I feel so bad for Simeon (who didn't get whisked away by anyone else after he "admittedly" failed our physical.) This organization is just like any other; you don't see Quarles crying like the big baby Rice do you? The Eagles are notorious for underpaying and releasing players. Remember when Trotter left the Eagles a few years back because they wouldn't pay him? He sucked at the Redskins if anyone recalls because can't play the cover2, plain and simple. He may be able to help us in 3-4 looks, but if you ask me, Ruud looks great and our #1's are going to be pushing people around again. We drafted Black and Hayward to add depth and if injuries pile up then we can always let the old man Brooks play Mike while June & Winborn play Will and Sam respectively. Save the money for more D-linemen.

[Tom]

Trotter would be a great addition. I don't even know who would back up Ruud if he went down. Another thing, if Brooks has the year he had last year, I think he should go over to the strong side and let June play will. He may be more athletic than Brooks at this stage in his career.

[Tiki]

Its not just Rice (i know Rice is a thug wannabe)but more about how they treated Lynch with the "failed" physical and everything. Lynch was willing to take a pay cut and is one of the greatest community supporters of NFL history. Then the team brings in a bunch of criminals who have average talent at best. Dunn wasn't treated right either, and he is another great guy. They would have won a super bowl with Dunn as well. It would have been a better ride with Dunn rather than with a wife beating loser like Pittman.

[Michael Singleton]

Can we bring Hardy Nickerson back to fill the middle?

[James]

Oh My God...I hate the stupid comments.. I mean if you're gonna comment..make it intelligent and pertinent..,(cough,Tiki,)..If Trotter wants to come over to our house and play there's no harm in a look-see if for nothing but depth,...but the price must be right...

[Ken]

You guys need to quit whining about the bucs releasing players. There's a thing called the salary cap, and in addition to that teams have to make the hard decisions for their future. If we'd kept Q on and in 10 years he's a drooling idiot from brain damage, how would you feel then?

[James]

Tiki, let me address your impertinent, inaccurate and misspelled statements. I will be the first to admit that the defense was a key to our Super Bowl, but remember the defense had been here for 6-7 years before that, along with Dungy, and the Lombardi Trophy was conspicuously absent. Enter Gruden who the management procured for a king's ransom after getting booty-screwed by the prima donna bunghole Parcells. Gruden added the spark...and a few veteran players to the offense that was enough to get us to the dance. We Won!
How quickly people forget that.. man. However the nasty gift of ugly,backloaded contracts written by McKay were the gifts that kept on giving
and the lack of quality draft picks killed us. Now finally all of that has been cleared away and some real solid talent coming in...Gruden really deserves the chance to succeed with a team he built, same as any coach.Oh yeah and theres really only Lynch that you can point to as far as any Buc who has been released and is enjoying moderate success..the rest just haven't done it anywhere else.

[Rob L]

Ok.... First, for you weekend fans that claim players are mistreated, how about you open your eyes and realize a few facts....

Fact. John Lynch had a neck injury that either may or may not have been able to heal correctly. (By the grace of god it did heal correctly, and I am happy for John, and he will still always be one of my favorite all time players.)

Fact. The Bucs purposely did not disclose all of the facts of his injury, or even the fact of the injury to the public until after he signed with another team and passed their physical to assist him. YES TO ASSIST HIM! All of you weekend fans that just listen to media hype need to stop believing everything you read and do a little looking into things yourself before you come up with your half witted opinions....

Fact. Warren Sapp left for the money, he admitted it, the Bucs accepted that & were not going to through that kind of money away on someone who was towards the end of his career, especially when they felt they had Booger in place to succeed him (we all know how that turned out, but hind sight is 20/20).

Fact. Rice DID fail the last official physical that the Bucs gave him, however that was back in the spring. he was not set for another physical until training camp. The truth of the matter is he failed several physicals throughout the off season. He was still not 100% in his shoulder (by the way for those of you that have blinders on, you can still pass a physical & not be 100%). AND there was no guarantee that he would be able to go back to his old form.... so YES a business decision was made... Rice with his typical ego felt he was being "disrepected" (the same ego that was displayed when he wouldn't pick up his Super Bowl ring until he got the "respect" he deserves), he didn't take the 2 million less (by the way he could have earned that if he performed because they boosted his incentives with the pay cut offer), so now GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!

Now... as far as Trotter goes, he wouldnt be a bad idea as a back up because you never know. But he comes from a true 4-3 defense and the Bucs run a shaded 4-3 defence which means the Sam backer plays more down on the line so the middle line backer has to cover the seam. Trotter has never been strong in pass coverage, but he should be good for about 10 yards. Once again, he would only be a back up though, so if they had to use him they would have to do some re-scheming. When they go with the 3-4 that they are talking about using sometimes he wouldn't be a bad weak side middle (like Ray Lewis does when they go 3-4)..

[Tiki]

LMAO! at you jokers! Great team Gruden has built so far, 3 of the last 4 seasons, losing records with a playoff that ended in an absolute embarrassing fashion. Yeah, McKay really screwed these guys with the salary cap!?, thats highly exaggerated- where's the proof? Show me. What did Gruden and Allen leave the Raiders with? They left a bad salary cap situation with no young talent. Why is that? Because Gruden can't draft!!! Let him stay here with this team? Are you kidding me? They'll 6-10 at best, I got lots of money on that! gruden is that same moron who took a kicker in the first round- explain that!
As far as the Eagles, the Eagles are $15-20 million under the cap every year and compete because they have young talent. When they make business decisions, they don't burn their bridges. They don't lie to the public on a daily basis.
Fact. Lynch played that year, the entire season after the Bucs released due to a failed physical.
Fact. Lynch told the Bucs he would play for the league veteran minimum salary.
Fact. Gruden record since Super Bowl- 27-37.
Bucs young talent right now (especially 1st rd picks)...are all busts. Name me a player who isn't a bust.

[Tiki]

Sapp was at the end of his career? Are the last 10 seasons the end of your career? have you watched him the last 2 seasons, do you know anything about football? Sapp is still a beast and the Bucs wished they had him!

[Sky]

Excuse me..Sapp said he would take a pay cut too, Gruden and Allen wanted to go younger with injured prone McFarland who had never hashed out and I don't know why they thought it would be different. We should try and get Sapp back..he is a BEAST and is still dominate at his position! I don't like that comment about Michael Pittman either... He's still a better run/catcher than Williams who still hasn't proved a damn thing yet either just like Clayton or any other draft pick that Gruden/Allen has picked up.

[GOD]

FACT: YOU GUYS ARE ALL IDIOTS, GO PICK SOME POWERBALL NUMBERS SINCE YOU ARE ALL SO GOOD AT PREDICTING THE FUTURE, WIN THE LOTTO AND WITH THAT MONEY GO START YOUR OWN NEWSPAPER THAT YOU CAN WRITE MORE IDIOTIC CRAP. GO BUCS!!!!

[ALLAH]

Fact: Some stupid couple, last year during preseason football argued with me about how great the bucs were going to be. I made the mistake and overexaggerated their record. They said 12-4 and I said 5-11. We were both wrong but I was closer. This year I'm going with 6-10.

[Aarun]

Trotter would be a great addition, then they could leave Brooks and June on the field in the nickle.
When it comes down to it, the only facts we know, is what they want us to. We are all outside looking in with opinions and keyboards.

[Michael Vick]

I heard they want to bring Trotter here because he is a dog fighter and Petigout wants a challenge for his dogs. I got $26,000 for the winner.
Does anyone know where I can order soap on a rope?

[T-Bone]

Let's review the Lynch issue someone brought up - Bucs bashers. R. McKay left us cash strapped and Lynch failed the physical. Lynch was NOT offered a contract by Tony Dungy or Herman Edwards, who certainly could have used his talents. Doesn't that say something - failed physical, not $ and no offer by Dungy or Edwards. Bucs were not the only ones to pass on Lynch. Congrats to Denver for taking a chance, one they could AFFORD to take.

[T-Crap]

Prove to me that McKay left the Bucs strapped? If Lynch failed a physical with a neck injury, why did he play that entire year? Dungy's Colts were salary cap strapped, thats why Manning has taken pay cuts numerous times to keep players on that team. Its all good though, it was fun watching Lynch playing in the AFC playoffs numerous times while the Bucs were watching with us. Oh yeah, the Bucs made the playoffs too. They lost to a team that had 130 yards total offense. But there were highlights last year, i.e. Bryants 60 yd kick to win the game and Bryants 25 yarder to end the shutout against Pittsburgh- THE MOST EMBARRASSING, SHAMEFUL MOMENT THAT EVER HAPPENED IN A GAME IN NFL HISTORY!!!

[Rob L]

Beast???? Are you freakin kidding me? 2.5 sacks in 2004, 5 sacks in 2005.... That's a beast???? Get a clue you know nothing hack.... Then in 2006 he finally got off his fat butt and lost weight and finally had respecable numbers with 10 sacks.... STILL NOT A BEAST!!!!! Ohhh and FYI, I did not say he failed his physical, learn to read... I said there was no guarantee that he could recover from his injury... Get a clue.... Get hooked on phonics or something...

[hi]

hi