Arrh! Who the Bucos be acquiring…
This time of year is usually busy in the far-ish western Virginia suburbs of Washington DC, with the Redskins bringing in everyone and the cousin for workouts, dinners and signing press conferences. However, this year’s fiscally restrained Redskins have done little more than re-sign a bunch of their own guys. Danny Snyder’s guys got brief mention in the rumors for Lance Briggs, Adam “Pac-Man” Jones and Chad Johnson. Yet Briggs re-signed with Chicago, Dallas is the leading contender to trade for Jones with no mention of Washington and there have been no recent rumors about any team talking to Cincinnati about Johnson. Only D.J. Hackett came in to Ashburn and he signed with Carolina. So with the Burgundy and Gold (or Red and Black if you’re Coach Zorn) relatively inactive let us see what the Pewter and Red is doing.
Incoming: C Jeff Faine (New Orleans) , DE Marques Doulgas (San Francisco), RB Warrick Dunn (Atlanta), TE John Gilmore (Chicago), TE Ben Troupe (Tennessee), QB Brian Griese (Chicago), LB Leon Joe (Buffalo), LB Matt McCoy (New Orleans), LB Teddy Lehman (Detroit), DE Jimmy Wilkerson (Kansas City), DB Eugene Wilson (New England).
Faine, who was signed a few hours after the open of the free agency period, was the subject of indirect tampering accusations against the Buccaneers by Chiefs’ HC Herm Edwards. I’m not smart enough to grade OL play unless its glaringly good or bad, so I can’t say whether he’s an improvement over John Wade. Douglas (a Howard guy!) is a serviceable addition to the Buc’s DL rotation. Dunn I blogged about earlier; he should be fine in the likely Bucs’ RB platoon. Gilmore and Troupe are just guys at TE.
Griese’s acquisition is further driving me to the conclusion that Jon Gruden may be insane with QBs. Griese’s best days are likely behind him, he was a Pro Bowler once, though it wouldn’t be impossible for him to have a Chris Chandler-like renaissance for a season or two. He was very shrug worthy in Chicago last season, but nobody looks good lining up with Cedric Benson, a man who really needs to be in a platoon to be a good NFL RB. My semi-educated opinion is that Griese is not starter material, but a long relief QB. He’s better over 10 games replacing your starter, than he would be over 3-5 games.
The Bucs now have six QBs. Jeff Garcia is the starter, but just turned 38. He’s pretty durable, so I don’t think the long relief role for Griese makes sense. Griese is the QB2 unless he trips on Cadillac Williams’ dog or something. Luke McCown (5 years) and Bruce Gradkowski (3 years) are both youngish QBs with decent limited starter potential who will compete for the QB3 job. Chris Simms, currently opting out of voluntary team workouts, is likely gone, though the Bucs keep holding out for a trade instead of an outright release. I’m not sure even the Redskins would trade for a mediocre QB coming off a spleen injury. Then last off-season, for reasons I cannot fathom, the Bucs got Jake Plummer, or at least his signing rights. The White Aaron Brooks retired after the 2006 season, sparing us more of his brilliant fourth quarter comebacks partially caused by his well-timed fumbles and interceptions. Plummer, like Kerry Collins, DeShaun Foster, Rashaan Salaam, Brodie Croyle and well, Aaron Brooks, is one of those guys I just have it in for as pros. I’m too lazy to search engine this, but I remember hearing Plummer was burned out on football. To top things off the Bucs are interested in adding University of San Deigo QB Josh Johnson in the draft. Go for seven! Maybe Gruden can have his brother Jay bring Shane Stafford with him from Orlando once the Arena Leagues season is over for the Predators? Go for eight!
Joe and McCoy I know nothing about. Lehman was a bad-ass at Oklahoma, who had a great rookie year with the Lions and has had injury problems since. Wilkerson seems a tad heavy for a 4-3 DE at 290 lbs., but knowing the Bucs, he’ll probably rotate in at DT and DE. Wilson was a S for the New Evil Empire of the NFL, but will switch to CB in Tampa.
Retained: RB Michael Bennett, DE Kevin Carter, LB Antonie Cash, CB Sammy Davis.
Bennett was a good RB when younger. He hasn’t had a lot of scrimmage work the last few years and was out the middle of last season with an injury. I don’t like his odds in the platoon with Dunn and Earnest Graham. It gets worse for him if Cadillac Williams comes back healthy. Carter re-signed after being cut, he’s OK at this winding down point in his career. Wow, he’s gotten hefty at 305 lbs. Cash I know nothing about and I’ll defer on joking about Davis.
Outgoing: TE Anthony Becht (St. Louis), CB Brian Kelly (Detroit), S Kalvin Pearson (Detroit).
Becht was the last of three TE’s drafted by the Jets’ in the 1st round between 1992 and 2000. Becht’s receiving numbers are even worse than the previously criticized Kyle Brady and both their Jets catch totals are pathetic compared to Johnny Mitchell. I’m sure Becht threw some good blocks though. Becht was just a guy in Tampa, of whom little was expected outside of blocking. I’m sure Al Saunders is eager to add Becht’s annual 12 catches to his high power offense. Nah, he just wants him to block for Steven Jackson. Kelly is a good pro who should help the comical Detroit secondary. I know nothing of Pearson, maybe he can help too.
Unsigned: DE Jovan Haye (RFA), WR Mark Jones, G Matt Lehr, RB Michael Pittman, DE Greg Spires, TE Jerramy Stevens, LB Jeremiah Trotter, C John Wade.
Haye should be re-signed by the Bucs. Lehr could help the Redskins. I understand system continuity and all that, but I think (based on my near zero knowledge) that he would have been an improvement over Jason Fabini as a back-up OG. He’s certainly younger. Pittman has been on the receiving end of much scorn from me for his domestic abuse history, though he’s apparently been on good behavior since arriving in Tampa. He’s 33, coming off an injury and has been little more than a decent pass catching RB the last three seasons. This might be it for him. I don’t have much to say about the other guys right now.
