Bucs wanted Lorenzo Neal

Got a late-afternoon tidbit for you: as it turns out, the Bucs did want Lorenzo Neal.

The veteran fullback joined the Ravens for his first practice today and told the Baltimore Sun the Bucs also offered him a one-year deal. He picked the Ravens, he said, because general manager Ozzie Newsome was the first to express interest in him after his released from San Diego.

The Bucs worked out Neal last week, but coach Jon Gruden didn't  sound all that interested when asked about the possibility of adding him to the roster. Maybe he was just playing coy.

Click here for the full story, if interested.

Comments

[runs with scissors in front pocket]

Rich McKay would have had him with a smile, Gruden makes me soooooo mad. Anyone for a game of lawn darts? How bout you Bruce Allen? Rich McKay would play with me.

[McGz]

Bucs should of offered Neal a multi-yr contract. Are you kidding me? You don't let talent like that sign elsewhere, especially if you have as much cap room as Tampa does.

[john]

Rich should have never let Neal go in the 1st place. I was upset to see him go. Although it is a shame to not have signed him back here in Tampa!!

[George Leslie Hicks]

I just don't understand about what took Tampa to make its mind. The FB was here before he went to San Deigo. He would had been our FB period. They should have said we will give you a one year contract with a option for next year if things go right. He would have open up plenty of holes for these rb's and qb's

[Kurt]

Why did the Chargers release him?

[SC]

Gruden and Allen have the opportunity to improve the running game (no offense, Askew), and let him go to Ballymore. The Bucs are now 0 for 2 on potential team-improving transactions this preseason.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Stacy-Cole-Show Come listen Monday-Friday 8:30-9:30 PM www.stacycoleshow.com www.myspace.com/stacycoleshow

[Bruce Allen]

He was never in our camp for a workout..errr, lets try this...we never offered him a contract...yeah, thats the ticket!

[raw_as_fuq]

Damn! We almost got him.

Also Kurt, the Chargers let him go because Norv Turner changed up the O that really doesnt give that much work for a FB.

[Stephen Blackehart]

West Coast offenses just don't use the FB that much as runners, which is why Alstott's touches declined after Gruden got here. It was never anything personal for either guy, IMHO.

[shane]

Chargers cut Lo because of the kid from LSU named Jacob Hester. Wish the Bucs would have went after him in the draft but oh well. Jacob will be the starting FB in San Diego

[Brandon]

You guys know we have a Pro Bowl calibre FB on the roster in Askew, right? And you also know that Lorenzo Neal is 38 years old, too? I can't believe the know-nothings wanted to go out and spend big $$$ for a FB that his own team didn't even want back and only one other team wanted.

Neal's still a good blocker but at this stage of his career he is too slow and lacks the flexibility and agility to be as effective as he once was, plus he has horrible hands, doesn't run good routes and is/was not a threat to ever run the ball. He is/was a one dimensional FB whose one dimension has greatly eroded.

[Greg]

We do not need another fullback. A fullback will make only a marginal difference in improving our run game. We need recievers that can catch the ball, stretch the field and slice back fields. This would significantly improve our run game because defenses would have to take our pass game seriously. With Galloway out, we have no threat to keep the field spread. Use the salary cap to make a trade for a stud reciever, not a fullback (good or not).

[cory]

At this point in his career, he is NOWHERE near as good as Askew. Did everyone forget Askew just signed an extension that pays very well for his position? I can almost guarantee that the offer was near league minimum to backup Askew, who the organization loves. Like it was said above, a casual fan is definitely not going to appreciate what b.j. brings to the team. But let's call for Gruden's head anyways!! WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

[Maurice]

I hear what everyone is saying, but it would be nice if we had someone to add depth at FB. Pittman was willing to play the position, but he's gone now. Did anyone notice how bad our running game got once Askew got hurt last season? I agree that we are in great need of a playmaker at the wide out position. I can't understand how a team with so much cap space only added Antonio Bryant and Dexter Jackson. Both have nice speed, but neither will strike fear in the hearts of the other team's DB's and coordinators

bruce allen is a putz

[DR]

Lorenzo Neal is a beast but I think his age has caught up to him. He'll go down as one of the best FBs to play the game. It wasn't a fluke that every team he played on had great running games. Tampa had their best running game with him, despite the fact they had no other offensive weapons. Eddie George, Corey Dillon, and probably even LT will have or have had their best years running behind Lo.

[Cris from MD]

Gruden thinks too much... You can tell by his playbook all the verbage with his plays, he thinks the more words you have to use in calling a play, makes that play better. This is NOT brain surgery, we needed a FB. Here comes Neal, why not sign him? His act is tired, the looks, the shouting, it's over.
My prediction: This year they'll finish around 8-8 or 9-7, might or might not make the playoffs. Fire Gruden and his butt-boy Bruce. Hire Cowher or someone else, every coach will be fighting to come here. Especially having so much money under the cap and so much talent. That coach will take us to the Super Bowl.
Gruden, LESS IS MORE....

[Darryl]

the buc.s have wanted many players,but they dily daly around until they are gone.

[Michael]

To Chris above, how do you figure the Bucs needed a fullback? Askew was the alternate for the probowl for the NFC last year. All we have heard about him from Gruden is that he is a great fullback and thats why they signed him to an extension. Dont forget, they have 2 back-ups FB's on the roster. While neither maybe of Neal's level, it would be stupid to take a roster spot for a back-up FB making ALOT of money, (Even thought they are well under the cap), rather then be able to put it somewhere else, such as maybe a reciver half way through the season. While it is harder to learn the offence then, who knows? Maybe Chad Johnson has another blow up, and the Bengals have to trade him. Keep the money free just in case.

[J.]

I'm just glad that most of you who make comments here are not the Bucs GM. I can just imagine the bizarre team that you would field. Just because you watch football while drinking beer and getting stains on your shirt doesn't make you a GM. We should have signed Lorenzo? gimme a break...I think some of you just complain for the sake of complaining, no matter what the subject is.

[Steve L]

J….Yahtzee! You said it, man. Lo Neal was been one of the best, but we have a decent FB here already. You know it’s a slow news day when this piece gets 20+ posts, but here I am adding to it. If our o-line plays to its potential and we get some decent FB play, we should have a good to very good running game. I think our group of RB’s is underestimated. Low on name recognition (save WD perhaps); high on production (3 1K backs that are part of the mix).

[jeff]

Neal no country for old men

[Yoshi]

The three comments before this one are the smartest ive seen on this page. People are always complaining about how our team is old yet they want to add an old full back when we have a perfectly good one already. Last year was only BJs coming out party hes going to be alot better this year. He might even make the probowl. Like Michael said, if we have all this cap space why would you want to waste it on Lorenzo Neal when we might be able to pick up a fire WR. I could see it right now. Bucs trade Chris Simms Michael Clayton and a Conditional 2nd rounder for Anquan Boldin. THATS something you waste your money on.

[Michael]

Also, let me point out how against people were to the Bucs re-signing Warrick Dunn. Dunn is younger, and can have a much bigger impact then Neal would.

[Vince]

I'm a Gruden and Allen supporter, they are great at making shrewd business decisions, but they HAVE GOT TO GET US A WR!!!! Or, let these unproven guys have a crack... the "Warren's," the "Spurlock's", the "Jackson's", heck, let them all get real game time experience from one week to the next until someone pans out! Odds are that they aren't all terrible players, but sometimes only real game experience in the season will show who's got talent? Is it possible that they all are terrible players?

[Cris from MD]

We are over 20 million under the cap, players get hurt! If BJ goes down then what? You guys are idiots! Your saying it's stupid to have 2 very good FB's? Save the money, for a WR? There all gone! This is why we have 3 good RB's. Players get hurt. To the person that said maybe get Chad Johnson. GET REAL! Gruden is not as smart as he thinks, he couldn't or wouldn't find a way to play the A-train. Great teams have depth and every position, especially when you have the money. And to J, I've never had a beer in my life. To Jeff, "no country for old men" tell Garcia that. Do you people think before you type?