Most Important Free Agent?

[BLT]

Yeah, I want a C that's going to draw a smart calculated personal foul every once in a while.

Tell me you don't know anything about football without telling me you don't know anything about football.

You’re deep in your opponents territory.. you’re already up 15.. they take a cheap shot on your QB.. you don’t want your Center to go lay someone out after the whistle?

[King Bootz]

Tell me you don't know anything about football without telling me you don't know anything about football.

You’re deep in your opponents territory.. you’re already up 15.. they take a cheap shot on your QB.. you don’t want your Center to go lay someone out after the whistle?

Nope. Lose of a down and 15 yards. Absolute stupidity to think that's a good thing.

[BLT]

Damn y'all are soft.

[King Bootz]

Damn y'all are soft.

You can win with soft. Can't win with stupid

[Kress]

viewtopic.php?p=21820#p21820

I mean, that's what we're talking about, right?

[Dread]

Center is definitely important, especially with Brady at QB.

I think there is good argument you don't tinker with Brady's Oline very much so moving on from Jensen and Cappa would seem unwise in that regard.

I will say that Licht has a good track record with the Olinemen he's drafted in the 3rd round or earlier. Every single Olinemen Licht has drafted before the 5th round (which is a crapshoot) has hit.

So if Licht and the coaching staff thing Hainsey is ready then he's a cheaper option at Center than Jensen or at RG than Cappa since both will be free agents.

It's possible Jensen is back and Hainsey plays Guard replacing Cappa if/when he cashes in elsewhere in FA.

What I don't think is likely is that we re-sign both Cappa and Jensen, but that assumes Hainsey is ready to start in 2022.

Not getting all this Hainsey love. The guy missed half of camp, has played 12 entire snaps in a regular season game, and we now think he's going to replace Jensen or Cappa? Where is this coming from? We don't even know if this guy would be on a roster if he hadn't just been drafted. Why are we not talking about Cappa's actual backup?

I'm not sure what you mean by "Hainsey love". Are you implying that a 3rd round pick shouldn't be considered/discussed as a potential replacement to one of two pending free agents at either Guard or Center?

Btw. Aaron Stinnie (Cappa's actual back-up) is also a pending free agent this offseason.

I don't see any declarations for how good of a player Hainsey is, or isn't. On the contrary a few of us have qualified our opinions with 'if the staff feels he's ready'.

The NFL is a hard salary capped sport and the Bucs are already borrowing from the future to maximize our current window of success. Jensen is going to cost over $10M/yr to retain, Cappa will likely cost $4-5M/yr. Hainsey costs less than $1M/yr and is under contract thru 2024.

The reality is that Hainsey WAS drafted, and was drafted by a GM who has a good track record of drafting Olinemen in rounds 1-3. So it's pretty silly you feel this discussion should not take place.

[The Outsider]

Tell me you don't know anything about football without telling me you don't know anything about football.

You’re deep in your opponents territory.. you’re already up 15.. they take a cheap shot on your QB.. you don’t want your Center to go lay someone out after the whistle?

There's a difference between being nasty and being a liability. Luckily for us Jensen appears to have gotten better in that regard since his first couple of seasons here.

[MJW]

If I was going to rank them by how I'd prioritize them this offseason:

GET IT DONE

1) Carlton Davis III. For reasons stated on this thread, I don't see this as much of a question. If it still is, I expect it to be extinguished when he returns and reminds everyone how good he is. Tag him if need be. This is our #1 offseason priority, a la Shaq last year.

TRY TO GET IT DONE (BUT DON'T GO CRAZY)

2) Chris Godwin. I want Godwin back. I also definitely have a sane ceiling in mind for how much I'd be willing to pay Godwin, considering we're also paying Evans and we have other young options. If some second tier team like Jacksonville or Chicago wants to give him 5-110, I'd let them. But we should attempt to retain him if we can. I think something like 4-75 would work with enough guaranteed cash. Get it done, unless he's decided he wants Davante Adams money.

OFFER A FAIR DEAL AND GO FROM THERE.

3) Alex Cappa/Aaron Stinnie. My instinct is Cappa will test the market and do well. In which case, Stinnie can step up on a much more affordable deal. As long as we don't lose them both or badly overpay for Cappa (a nice player, but not the guy you overpay.)

4) Leonard Fournette. I'd be fine offering Fournette a similar contract to the one he's playing under. 1 Year, $4 mil or so seems fair to both parties. He's clearly the #1 guy at this point and he's worked hard to round out his game. I hate paying backs ANYTHING but it doesn't make sense not to considering all the factors.

5) Antonio Brown. Like Fournette, I'd bring him back on a similar deal to the one he's playing under. He made about $3 mil this year. I'd say that's about right considering he's been banged up and is a year older. My lizard brain says to let him walk, but it's obvious how much Brady leans on him.

6) William Gholston. He's still a plus contributor, but he's no longer young. I think 1 Year, $5 Mil is about right. He deserves to retire a Buccaneer and he's still a useful player.

7) Jordan Whitehead. My instinct is, he joins Cappa elsewhere, Edwards gets promoted, and someone is drafted. If we do make him a priority, the market is usually pretty soft for box safeties. We could probably bring him back on 2-6, something like that. Similar safeties when for 2-4 and 1-3 all over the place last year.

INVITE THEM BACK ON OUR TERMS

8) OJ Howard. You know the Gronk thing will be up in the air. Howard is never going to live up to his draft status. But he's an occasionally dangerous weapon and a plus blocker who will have two years in the system. We could do worse in this spot.

9) Gio Bernard. He hasn't had as much impact as hoped, but that's mainly due to Fournette's improvements as a pass catcher. IMHO he's still a valuable piece of the puzzle and he'll be really cheap.

CON TE PARTIRO

- Jason Pierre-Paul. He's still good for the odd LOS knockdown, but he's lost a step or two and we drafted his replacement. This was always the plan.

- Ryan Jensen. Jensen is a better player now than he was when he got here. But again, we drafted his replacement and there are better uses for the money than an aging center. The only way I'd rethink this is if Hainsey isn't remotely ready. Even then, not sure how much I'd pay for Jensen at this point.

- Nkamukong Suh. Much more name than game at this point. Watch him closely some time. He's about done.

- Ronald Jones. He's firmly been displaced by Fournette. My hope is that Vaughn can ascend to his spot, but either way, I don't see the upside in bringing him back. He is what he is. Draft someone with a bit more versatility to push for that job.

- Blaine Gabbert. Let Trask start working with the second team each week.

- Steve McClendon. Time to get younger here.

- Pretty much all of our desperation defensive backs. Sherman, Desir, Robinson, Delaney, Andrew Adams, Curtis Riley, etc.

WE'LL SEE?

- Rob Gronkowski. Does he come back healthy? Has he played his last down? Does he call it a career? Obviously, we have to be open to bringing him back if he still wants to play. Then there's the money. With all our cap demands, how much are you paying Gronk knowing you might only get him for a month?

Who the fuck did we draft to replace Jensen?

Also, I think Gronk can come back healthy. He had a fractured rib and punctured lung which can take a while to heal but usually doesn't cause long term issues. It can also exacerbate back issues while the injury is still healing which is what I suspect happened in NO considering Gronk's history with having a bad back.

It's been said, but this was the plan when Hainsey was drafted in the 3rd. Let him sit and learn for a year. When Jensen's deal is up, we'd have an in-house option. I have no idea how close he is to being ready for that. But that was the plan.

As for Gronk, can he come back healthy? Sure. Am I counting on him for 17 games? No. Am I counting on him for 10 games? Probably not. The hope would probably be the same next year as it is now - you hope he can be healthy for the stretch run. Regardless, I expect the decision to be his and Brady's. If they both want him back, we'll re-sign him. But how much am I going to pay him with money tight? He's making $10 mil this year. No way do I even consider that number.

[The Outsider]

Who the fuck did we draft to replace Jensen?

Also, I think Gronk can come back healthy. He had a fractured rib and punctured lung which can take a while to heal but usually doesn't cause long term issues. It can also exacerbate back issues while the injury is still healing which is what I suspect happened in NO considering Gronk's history with having a bad back.

It's been said, but this was the plan when Hainsey was drafted in the 3rd. Let him sit and learn for a year. When Jensen's deal is up, we'd have an in-house option. I have no idea how close he is to being ready for that. But that was the plan.

I'm supposing Licht and Arians got you on the horn to discuss this? Oh, wait, no. You're just making suppositions like the rest of us. You have no idea if they intended to move on from Jensen after this contract when they drafted Hainsey.

[MJW]

It's been said, but this was the plan when Hainsey was drafted in the 3rd. Let him sit and learn for a year. When Jensen's deal is up, we'd have an in-house option. I have no idea how close he is to being ready for that. But that was the plan.

I'm supposing Licht and Arians got you on the horn to discuss this? Oh, wait, no. You're just making suppositions like the rest of us. You have no idea if they intended to move on from Jensen after this contract when they drafted Hainsey.

This is a strange battle to pick, considering I wasn't criticizing anyone or anything.

Yes, it's a supposition. Yes, the board is full of them. Most adults don't generally wait to be informed by an authority figure before making them. They look at the evidence and draw logical conclusions based upon that evidence. Sometimes they say things definitively when they believe the evidence is clear enough. Sometimes that's premature, sometimes it's not. Picking this specific post to challenge this phenomenon is pretty random.

The evidence in this case - we drafted him on Day Two, which is high enough to assume he has a clear path towards a starting spot in the future. They immediately transitioned him to center. Our current center's contract is up after the year and he's on the wrong side of 30. We have a ton of free agent needs. That's satisfactory enough for me to make this supposition. If that's enough enough for you, that's fine, there's no need to be an asshole.

[BLT]

Hainsey sucks

[The Outsider]

I'm supposing Licht and Arians got you on the horn to discuss this? Oh, wait, no. You're just making suppositions like the rest of us. You have no idea if they intended to move on from Jensen after this contract when they drafted Hainsey.

This is a strange battle to pick, considering I wasn't criticizing anyone or anything.

Yes, it's a supposition. Yes, the board is full of them. Most adults don't generally wait to be informed by an authority figure before making them. They look at the evidence and draw logical conclusions based upon that evidence. Sometimes they say things definitively when they believe the evidence is clear enough. Sometimes that's premature, sometimes it's not. Picking this specific post to challenge this phenomenon is pretty random.

The evidence in this case - we drafted him on Day Two, which is high enough to assume he has a clear path towards a starting spot in the future. They immediately transitioned him to center. Our current center's contract is up after the year and he's on the wrong side of 30. We have a ton of free agent needs. That's satisfactory enough for me to make this supposition. If that's enough enough for you, that's fine, there's no need to be an asshole.

My point is that you have no idea what is in the minds of the coaching staff and front office. Along with that, your point about his age is pretty moot. 30 is not the magic "end of the road" for really any position these days outside of RB. Most interior offensive linemen who have established careers play well in to their 30s in the current era.

They moved Hainsey to C immediately, great. All that means to me is that they probably thought he could provide solid depth and potentially replace Jensen down the line. But here's the thing, Jensen doesn't need to be replaced. He's not going to be astronomically expensive, his level of play is still consistent, and frankly changing up Cs just to do it is a fucking stupid idea with the team we have.

Now were you to say we were going to move on from a relatively injury prone Cappa, have Hainsey slot in at RG and take over for Jensen in another season or three when his play starts to decline I'd have been much more inclined to agree with you.

And if you think that's me being an asshole, well, I guess you just forgot what it was like to have me posting often cause you've gotten really god damn sensitive.

[Kress]

And if you think that's me being an asshole, well, I guess you just forgot what it was like to have me posting often cause you've gotten really god damn sensitive.

Doesn't mean you're not an asshole. Asshole.

[BJJ34]

I always found it weird that Asshole was an insult. An asshole is absolutely fundamental for you to live your daily life.

A friend of mine(R.I.P) always told a joke about it. I’ll try not to butcher it too badly.

A man was asking his organs/body parts which of them felt the most important. The Brain immediately chimed in with “without me, you have no function at all” and in the background there was a snickering laugh. The stomach chimed in next with, without me you cannot break down food and would starve to death. Again, a snickering in the distance. The lungs chimed in next with “without me you wouldn’t be able to breathe oxygen and the rest of the body would die without me” then the snickering became outright laughter and then chimed in with “Go a week without me opening, by the end of it… you’ll change your tune”. Said the asshole.

[The Outsider]

Nobody cares.

(This is an example of me being an asshole.)

[BJJ34]

Nobody cares.

(This is an example of me being an asshole.)

Did you forget to stop at the dispensary, buddy?

[Kress]

I always found it weird that Asshole was an insult. An asshole is absolutely fundamental for you to live your daily life.

You don't need to be a dick about it.

[BJJ34]

I always found it weird that Asshole was an insult. An asshole is absolutely fundamental for you to live your daily life.

You don't need to be a dick about it.

Well shit… calling someone Richard Nixon is definitely insulting.

[nybf]

I’ll try not to butcher it too badly.

...

The lungs chimed in next with “without me you wouldn’t be able to breathe oxygen and the rest of the body would die without me” then the snickering became outright laughter and then chimed in with “Go a week without me opening, by the end of it… you’ll change your tune”. Said the asshole.

Reread this part.

[Kress]

I’ll try not to butcher it too badly.

...

The lungs chimed in next with “without me you wouldn’t be able to breathe oxygen and the rest of the body would die without me” then the snickering became outright laughter and then chimed in with “Go a week without me opening, by the end of it… you’ll change your tune”. Said the asshole.

Reread this part.

And then the fingers said, without me, you wouldn't be able to type this joke, and then no one would get to hear how funny it is, but then there was raucous laughter and everyone looked to see where it was coming from, at which point the eyes said, without me, you couldn't do that, but I digress, because they looked and saw and there he was, rolling around on the ground, just laughing it up, and saying "you're all full of shit" because I'm the asshole because, you get it, if I don't open, none of you can poop, and then you'd be full of shit so that's the funny part, and everyone else tried to appreciate how funny it was, but the brain was still acting up about how important it was so nobody could think about anything, but it was still funny because it was the asshole that caused everyone to shit the place up so assholes are really important and therefore joke's on you if you call someone one.

Get it?

[ATrain]

CD3. Given how easy offense is to play, all the talent goes on that side of the ball, which makes above average corner talent a rare commodity.

CD3 is a 7/10 corner but his value gets inflated by get market.

Licht should be getting the contract done now so that when we sell off aging vets and do a planned rebuild year he'll be under Bucs control.