Running back update

Many around here have wondered aloud whether the Bucs are pursuing Dallas free agent running back Julius Jones.

Well, the Bucs do have an interest, but they aren't nearly as enamored with him as a couple of other teams who are likely willing to spend more generously to get him. Those teams weren't identified by our source, but we have heard consistently since before the start of the signing period that Tampa Bay is an unlikely destination for Jones.

As for Warrick Dunn, released earlier this week from the Falcons, the Bucs appear to be on hold waiting for his situation to work itself out. Earlier today, general manager Bruce Allen said, "We're going to keep watching it from Tampa and see what occurs. I do not know his timetable."

Other backs still available through free agency include Tatum Bell, Ron Dayne, Musa Smith and Chris Brown. Remember, I said they were available. Never said they were any good!
 

Comments

[Harvey]

Ron Dayne could be short yardage replacement for Alstott. We need play makers. Bruce & Jon please do something that makes sense.

[M. Reynolds]

They ARE doing what makes sense. They aren't mortgaging money or the future on mediocre players. Sometimes just not screwing up is a step in the right direction. I'm sure we'll have a good haul in the draft.

[JC]

I live in Dallas, and I agree that Jones isn't going to be worth the money he would want. He probably wouldn't want to be a backup/share carries with Graham, either. Bell might not be a bad change of pace back, but we've already got an outside/speed guy with Bennett, and a workhorse in Graham. Anyone else they get from FA would likely only be a role player.

[Harvey]

While Moss was shopping around not even talking to him made no sense, Not showing intrest in Turner made no sense. Not making play for Crumpler made no sense. Doing nothing is not step in right direction. Getting players that are mediocre at best for bargin prices makes no sense. Thinking that Gruden and Allen can have good haul in draft is insane. They do not draft well, face it!

[Kipp]

Why didn't the bucs get Alge Crumpler?! Signing him would of put less pressure on Bruce Allen to sign a thug like Jerramy Stevens. Also T.J. Duckett would of been a great cheapish addition to our back field, we really dropped the ball there.

[Jay]

So if the Bucs traded for Jeremy Shockey, would you guys (Harvey and Kipp) change your tune? I doubt it.

None of the guys Stephen mentioned are better than our current starters, so why pay free agent money for depth? Hell, Darby showed some flashes in preseason last year, why not give him a shot to crack the roster?

Of course, I still want the Bucs to sign Warrick Dunn, but that's strictly an emotional decision.

[shane]

the bucs need to do this offseason to their offense what they did to their defense last offseason get younger. not going for moss made sense because he is getting old not going for walker made sense we don't need a 2 year plan not going for porter made sense we don't need gruden going any crazier than he is we don't need turner we still have caddy graham and bennett. the bucs have made good moves with their line through the draft and free agency and now they need to do the same with the receivers through trades and the draft

[Harvey]

Jeremy Shockey is a me player, remember Meshawn??? If we sign Dunn it is just an emotional sign. 44 million and we sign a center, that is our big splash? We need play makers. Every day the better players get signed, granted not a deep free agent pool but have to spend like 28 million, Should have signed at least one from skill position. Maybe Bruce has something up his sleeve besides his arm but I doubt it.

[Justin M]

I cannot believe that people think Ron Dayne would be a good short yardage replacement (he is a notoriously soft runner) and that we dropped the ball regarding TJ Duckett.
Do you guys watch the NFL?

[bill]

Moss at 31 is better than any reciever in draft and will be for several years. Caddilac is up on blocks and may never get wheels back.

Player skills need to fit the Buc's system. If free agent skills don't fit the system then it makes no sense to pursue the player. I'm confident the Buc's coaching staff and management know what they're looking for in a player.

[shane]

also the bucs need to trade up to get that WR out of California(i think his name his de'shean jackson?)

[Harvey]

D. Jackson is fast but 4 foot nothing, too short to be go to reciever, Galloway can not play forever. I would like to have confidence in Bruce and Jon but they need to show me. Even if we have 10 quarterbacks our starter is still 38

[Kipp]

All I'm saying is Bruce Allen sayed he's going to bring in "Tiger Woods" type players via free agency....where are they? I like Jeff Faine but other than that we haven't done.....anything.

[John P]

Some of you screaming for playmakers don't seem to grasp the economics of free agency. Jerry Porter, possession receiver with poor attitude - $30 million?!? Javon Walker, 1 good season and a poor attitude, $55 million?!? If a team is willing to throw that kind of money to those guys, good for them - but I'd be irritated if the Bucs did.

The Bucs won 9 games (and surrendered in two others) last year with so called scrap heap players that were young and inexpensive. With a better pass rush and another year of O-line development, I'm not going to bet against them again.

I don't think any of the guys on the open market at RB are worth much consideration. Why pay them to sit on the bench when you can draft a kid with a better upside?

[Justin M]

John P,
You totally understand how things work. I could not have said it better myself. Everyone read what he said.

[Josh]

you know what harvey, you make no sense at all. do you ever notice that the teams who appear to be the "winners" in free agency turn out to be crap (san fran last year). i like the addition of faine and bolstering the linebacking corps. also, i think our past couple drafts have been great, adding depth and forming a stud o-line for years to come. this year in the first couple of rounds we need to focus on cornerback, reciever, and maybe a speed back since the RB class is stacked with depth, also look for pass rushing help and interior defensive players

[Josh]

Also remember the superbowl winning team did not have huge playmakers (besides burress), they got impact players in the draft, which is exactly what we will do this year

[Kipp]

We need way too much to just address it in the draft alone.

[mkurbo]

Too Late !

More over to my point - these gentlemen (Glazer/Allen/Demoff/Gruden) are smart business people. They are far more engaged with the FA market than we fans could ever imagine. The fact of the matter is that they have made a major strategic blunder. They miscalculated as to how more available cap room (dollars available) would translate to absorption of top tier talent in rapid fashion. This misstep left them hat-in-hand on the sideline while all the top talent signed elsewhere in the first several days of free agency.

This whole “smokey thee piece pipe” effort with the media underscores their miscalculation. There were a handful of truly talented athletes to address each of the Bucs needs, and they dropped the ball completely. Good business people can make bad decisions – but raising ticket prices and not locking down a few of the top available talents in the first several days of FA now turns into a local and national debacle. I believe the initiative and opportunity has already been lost and we should not be looking at desperate trades to some how repair the damage !

[Jay]

MKurbo,

Please describe some of the "top tier talent" that was available in free agency, how they fit the Bucs needs, and how they failed to acquire them.

[cozart]

?

[cozart]

i am personally glad we are not OVERPAYING average free agent players elite player contracts. and did you "fans" ever consider maybe the bucs brass has a little more insight on these free agents than you? do you know the health of crumplers ankle? other than he missed over half the season due to injury, i don't know, and neither do you. besides we can get a better wr via trade, rather than signing other teams disguarded trash.

[Kipp]

Sounds like someone is making excuses for a bad front office. My theory is that word's probably getting around not to go to Tampa due to Gruden/Allen and their shananagans(throwing out Lynch, discarding Quarels after publicly saying he was healthy and ready to play, low balling Alstott at every turn). Players look at more than just money when picking a team and maybe Gruden/Allen are scaring them off.

[Jam]

Harvey, I'd say with STARTERS like Joseph, Trueblood, Sears, Smith, Caddy, Ruud, Phillips, Adams and T-Jack your's and every other idiot's argument that Gru/Allen can't draft is pathetic!

The draft is a crapshoot and for us to be fielding that many very solid young players is a testament to the FO's drafting ability. Remember, Gru/Allen has only had three 1st round picks here. One won Rookie of the Year, one was the runner up to Ben Rothlisberger and the other had 4 more sacks in 8 starts than Simeon Rice has had the past two seasons.

I just wish some of the 4th-7th rounders worked out more often as that's the only area where we (and many other teams) struggle to find the "Gems".

[Kurt]

yeah, that's why quarles came back to help coach and be with the team because we treated him so poorly. nimrods please keep your stupidity to yourselves. when we're 12-4 at the end of the season and Gruden has won his 4th division title in seven years (while completely rebuilding the franchise,) you jerkoffs will be gushing about how you knew they'd pull it off. You know absolutely nothing about football and building long-term franchises. Do you see the Steelers pumping out the dough? Do they consistently have good teams? I wonder why? Some of you need an education.

[Frankie]

Let's see...how do you become a successful team? By building and investing in the lines of scrimmage. Not marginal position players (Berrian, Walker, Henderson, etc.) If those guys were really that much of difference makers, do you think their teams would let them walk? Wait to evaluate the team until training camp. If no upgrades have been made by that time, then it's time to get upset.

[steve]

how about you all need to calm down the bucs will be just fine. you really think jon gruden and bruce allen want to lose games and lose their jobs. You know they have a deal in store through trades. watch after they sign their current players to extensions theyll make a trade for a wr. i dont think it will be chad johnson bc none of the bucs qbs have a strong arm to get him the ball deep so he would be worthless if u cant throw deep to him. I think fitzgerald will be better and will be a buc next year. He has some speed, great size and can go across the middle and win most jumpballs. he'll fit the system perfect. as far as the draft theyll go with either a db like antoine cason from arizona or even trade uop to go after mike smith from usf. 2nd round theyll prob draft joe flacco whos got a strong arm. So buc fans dont worry i dont think bruce and john want to finish last or look like idiots. remember good players come from trades and to get them u need cap money

[mkurbo]

Jay – You have got to be kidding ? There was talent at WR, DE, CB, and RB for the Bucs to bring in… Tuner to the Falcons ? Gay to the Saints ? McCary and Odom ? Bryant Johnson ? Come on, don’t even go there !

Was that top tier expensive – heck yes it was ! But if any of you think that somehow the market is not going to continue to get more expensive year after year, you’re dreaming… This was the time to add young impact players and they blew it big time.

[Jay]

Mkurbo,

I was asking you to name the free agents, but more importantly, how they would fit the Bucs.

At WR, I saw two valuable players in Walker, and Moss. There's no way in hell the Bucs would top the ridiculous offer Al Davis tendered to Walker, and Randy Moss was offered more money at Philly than what he signed for with the Pats, so it was never about compensation.

At CB, I saw Gay as a nickel back, and not a solid shutdown corner for the Bucs, and definitely not a replacement for Barber or Buchanon. Again, the money he got was to be a starter, and we'll see at least twice this season if he was worth it. I'm suspecting no.

At RB, it would make no sense whatsoever to trade for Turner, considering the year that Graham had, and the re-signing of Bennett. Turner would want to be the starter, and that just would not happen with those three on the same field.

I don't believe that DE was a need with both White and Adams holding down their jobs quite well during the season. So McCary is out as well.

Overall, you've got to look at each of these players and evaluate whether they are worth the investment of time and whether or not they are an upgrade for the existing position. None of the players you listed could supplant any of the starters already on this team, so I don't believe they would be a worthwhile investment. If you want to add young, impact players, you allow your scouts to do their jobs, and identify prospects in the 2nd and 3rd days of the draft, and find your depth there.

If you want an impact player, aim for Haynesworth next season after the franchise tag expires on him, then be prepared to spend money - something they have plenty of now. Extend and lock up your key positions, and if you find the right fit in free agency, go for it, but don't break the bank. Now, if you'd like to justify doing so for anyone I might have missed, go right ahead, I'm listening.

[Harvey]

I am happy that some of you think Gruden/Allen know what they are doing. Still Crumpler, Turner, and Moss would have put fear in other defenses, extending our own players will not. Anyone that thinks Turner would not have come out of training camp as starter makes me wonder. E.G. is decent but not L.T. that is reason Turner was not starting. Buchanon is not a starter, be better with rookie. We have to spend 28 million, remember nimrods "You get what you pay for!"

[aaron]

1st rd.- Sam Baker, LT, USC.
we need a good young tackle to go with the rest of our line. that is our weak spot.
2nd. rd.-Devin Thomas, WR, MSU.
we desperatly need somebody to replace J.Galloway.
3rd. rd.-Dwight Lowery, CB, SJSU.
fits system perfectly, played cover two at college. 13 int's in two years.
4th rd.-Jason Jones, DE, EMU.
we need to restock at DE. steal in the 4th.
5th rd.-Trey Brown, CB, UCLA.
we need another young cb to pass the torch too. 9 picks last 2yrs.
6th rd.-Yvenson Bernard, RB, OSU.
perfect fit for what we need. runs, catches and not afraid to block. steal in the 6th rd.
7th rd.-Bo Ruud, OLB, Nebraska
need atnother olb for depth and for future. good pick up at this point. good bloodlines...

[DR]

Comparing the Bucs to the Steelers? You're a fool. The steelers franchise is way far beyond the likes of Tampa. Look at the Steelers roster and compare it to the Bucs and you will see that the Steelers have talent and a lot of it is from their drafting. The Bucs have little talent. The talent that they do have is old. On offense, the talent they have was NOT drafted by Grudumb. The steelers haven't spent big money (until Big Ben's contract) but the Steelers also have not had a 4-14, 5-11, and a 7-9 record in the last 5 seasons. Don't ever compare a lowly team like the Bucs to one of the best franchises in the NFL. Maybe in the next 200 years will the Bucs earn that type of comparison.

[Kipp]

Still it would of been nice to see the bucs to of been involved in either the Marcus Stroud or Kris Jenkins trade. That would of helped our defence out BIG time. Good linemen of that size and skill are hard to find...

[Mike]

DR if you think so little of the Bucs then why do you post on this blog?

[Mike]

Seriously, It makes no sense to me? I'm a Gator fan as well and I never go to FSU or Cane blogs, especially on a daily basis, and trash that team. It's uncalled for. Ribbing the rival fan every so often is fine in jest but to constantly belittle them is ridiculous. I guess that you live in Tampa Bay and so that might be a reason you are on this site so frequently but its not an excuse to rip the Bucs on a daily basis.

[Nick]

I have to agree with Harvey at the top of this page. Keeping your core is great but not making a play at some top free agents (not even one) is a big mistake. Every year we have added talent and this year we have not. Other teams are getting better and we have stayed the same. For those of you who think we don't have the money we had (and still have) more than anyone at the start of free agency 44 MILLION!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stephen_Holder]

Hey, mkurbo, not trying to be a jerk here, but remember last week when I wrote on this same blog warning everyone not to expect a spending frenzy? You kinda ripped me for that, but I gave everyone a heads up because I had a verrry good source who warned me that's how it was going to go down. Now you're saying the same thing you were ripping me for saying: that they aren't doing anything. I'm not sure where exactly you stand on this thing? It's nothing personal. I like you and anyone else who engages in consistent dialogue here. You guys keep this blog going.

[Jam]

DR, grab a knife and run into it!

To others,,

Who are these players they should've signed? I see and hear alot of Bucs fans talking about the players we didn't sign but they never bring a well informed or even thought out argument that supports thier ignorant spew. They say we shoulda signed Berrian or Walker but they are quick to omit why these players are somehow worth $6+ Mil a year while knowledgeable football fans can lay down numerous amounts of reasons why these two players are grossly overpaid and weren't worth our time.

[Stephen Holder]

Not that I'm one to ever say "I told you so".... but here's what I was told last week: http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2008/02/the-big-day-cou.html

[Duane Davis]

If you want to go on history, look what happened to the Raiders one year after Gruden left Oakland. Look what happened to the Falcons 3 years after McKay took over. The Colts would be terrible if they didn't have Bill Polian as a talent evaluator since Dungy didn't draft well here. Dungy is a great guy and his players love him but his drafting ability stinks. Other than Moss and Samuels, there really hasn't been any top tier talent in this FA. That's just a fact.

[Dwayne]

Im kind of mad we didnt get some more playmakers but at the same time alot of them werent worth the money they got and alot of the people who complain about something ant then change there mind when it happens woulda of hated bruce and gruden if they woulda gave that much money for Walker or some of those other players with large salarys, its good he wants to give some of our own players extensions first because if we spend all the money on talent that isnt worth that money guess wats gonna happen next year and the year after were not gonna be able to keep some of our good players because all the money went to players not worth the price tag then were getting rid of players we coulda still had on our team, dont get me wrong i still think we should get some more players but im not to mad cause we won last year with a team that got no repspect and some players people never heard of, we all know bruce allen and we all knw he has something up his sleeve u can see it in his eyes at press conferences so we will be ok

[Syd Finch]

I'm so sick of people using the " Im going to get Tiger Woods type free agents" quote attributed to BA. Hey fools he never said that, he said " Would I like a Tiger Woods type free agent at every position, sure" big difference. I know it goes against the hate the FO agenda but if your gonna use a quote, use it correctly. Another piece of advice, stop listening to and parroting the likes of The Dumb Dog and JP S--- for brains, you bunch of GM wannabes sound like the idiots you are.

[Stephen_Holder]

Syd, you are exactly right about that. That is exactly what he said. Unfortunately, as a reporter, I've learned that people latch on to key words they hear or read in the news and they lose the context over time. It's inevitable I guess.

[Kurt]

I grow so tired of your endless idiotic tirades DR. If you're gonna say something, at least use proper context. We're doing exactly what the Steelers typically do (building from the draft) and you are ragging us for it. Of course, it doesn't matter what we do, you are going to rag the Bucs. Our team is loaded with Gru/Allen talent and I'm not going to waste any more of my time making you look stupid; everybody here already knows it. I think the knife idea was good for you. I'm just saying...

[DR]

Kurt, do you do stand up at the improv? Loaded with talent? HAHAHAHAHAHA! C'mon, you got to be kidding! What talent are they loaded with? They got no respect from the rest of the league and media with nobody originally voted to the pro bowl. The Bucs have to make a huge trade to get some talent. Hopefully, it's not Shockey. He's a bigger poison in the locker than TO is. There's a good reason why the G men played better after he was hurt.

[BEENABUC]

Guys and Gals,
I think that its important to remain patient because either the fate of Gruden and Allen rest in the core of players on this team that they have drafted. Complaining about who the Bucs should or shouldn't have signed is all hindsight because just 4 years ago we were in enormous cap restraint and now we have options. That is one step in the right direction, next we have been in the playoffs two of the past three years. That is a positive thing and just think these feats were accomplished with mediocre WRs.
Yes we need help but not at the expense of wasting money. This entire thread will be moot if the Bucs trade for WR with the likes of a Fitzgerald or someone of that caliber. Remember he is Michael Clayton's peer so, that is the root of the problem. We have received most of our return from the O-line but only after drafting 7 or 8 in consecutive drafts, simple statistics or probability. So lets apply the same theory to the WR position and ask yourself, who have we drafted over the past four years high in the draft at the wideout position? Hmm, on this issue I would like to throw this out there, how about if we can make a trade for a impact WR or draft TWO impact WRs, remember the law of probability, we can then get what we need on offense, at the WR. Now remember that we lost our starting LT on the goaling in Carolina when Wade whiffed on a block and was muscled onto Luke's leg...That will not happen with Faine. So signing him is a defininte bonus and it will impact everyone else to have someone with that type of accountability for their assignments. Remember good skill players make an O-line job easy because they dont have to block for long and good O-linemen make skill position players look good because holes are opened and time to pass is avilable.
To conclude, be patient guys the best is yet to come. Practice fan patience, it makes crow taste better.

[Kurt]

DR. We like you to keep talking. You're insight is invaluable to the true football fan who actually looks up stats and understands the game. Please continue to blog and let us be privelaged to your obvious paramount knowledge of the inside doings of the NFL. Your insight is mind-boggling; especially the amount of importance you put on the pro-bowl and other beauty contests. I heard that, not only did Lynch go to the pro-bowl again at his 5.3 40 time, but his wife was the alternate. He definately was the best at his position; not that guy in Buffalo or anywhere else in the AFC. And surely, Briggs (who was ranked 9 spots behind "the aging" Brooks in tackles - who was spelled by Cato on 3rd downs - certainly deserved the nod also.) Keep up the good work Doofus Ray; you're a real insider!!!

[James]

HAHAHAHAH I love it!!

[DR]

Yeah, don't count the fact that Briggs missed 2 games, and was playing through injury for part of the season for that defense that was decimated by injuries. Lynch was a BS selection but you underestimate his speed like an idiot. Briggs is quite obviously a great LB in this league.
You guys were crying about Galloway not making the pro bowl and yet he had only 57 catches, which is good for a 2nd WR or 3rd. Definitely not #1 go to WR type stats.
You guys had high expectations 2 years ago and the Bucs went 4-12. You talked the same talk then as you do now. You don't know anything about football. period.

[DR]

And just wanna say,I love Tony Romo, but that doesn't make me gay.