Bucs Hire Terry Cousin as Their Director of Player Engagement

Terry Cousin, 12-Year NFL Vet 

Today, Tampa Bay made another move, adding another former NFL player to their staff.  The position filled, Director of Player Engagement, consists of basically mentoring young players and helping them to get evenly adjusted to life in the NFL. 

To fill this position, the Bucs reached out to 12-year pro, Terry Cousins.  A Miami, FL native, he was manning a similar position with Steve Spurrier at the University of South Carolina.

Cousin, as a member of the 'Jags

Terry Cousin entered the NFL as an undrafted free-agent in 1997 as a member of the Chicago Bears.  He went on to play for several teams in the league, including the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Jacskonville Jaguars, and ended his playing career with the Cleveland Browns in 2008.

Cousin is going to have his work cut out for him.  He takes this position on a team with one of the youngest rosters in the NFL.  We here at BuccaneerTalk.com wish him the best and hope these young pups listen to him and learn to handle themselves like responsible adults and functioning members of our beloved city.

Cam Newton and the Panthers coming to Tampa earlier than expected

According to CBS Sports the Carolina Panthers will be coming to the Tampa Bay area a little earlier than expected for the opening weekend of the NFL. In the first week of the NFL’s regular season, the Carolina Panthers will travel to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers. But they’re going to head south a little earlier than they’d probably like, because of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

The Panthers play the Bucs on Sunday, September 9, but the DNC is taking place from September 3-6, with President Barack Obama set to deliver his acceptance speech on the final day of the convention … in Bank of America Stadium.

So, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers plan to head down to Tampa early and “practice in the Tampa area for at least part of the week” prior to the game. The Panthers announced on Thursday that they would practice at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida.

Though the Panthers would have three days between the end of the convention and the first game of the year, there’s little question that Charlotte will be a security and traffic nightmare for anyone living there.

The Panthers facilities are concentrated downtown and Person points out that they would “likely be within the security perimeter” set up by Secret Service for the President’s visit.

An Official Message From the Tampa Bay Bucs

SPREAD THE WORD : Inspirational Buc Eric LeGrand will be visiting next week and will have a Press Conference June 5th shown on Buccaneers.com! LeGrand said he will have exciting news to share about his Buccaneers Jersey during the Press Conference!

Ronde` At Free-Safety Should Be Just Fine

Let's run-off some quick facts here.  Future Hall of Famer, # 20 Ronde` Barber = 5-Time All-Pro, 5-Time Pro-Bowler, Super Bowl Champ, Most consecutive starts by a Defensive Back in NFL history and still going at 199 in a row, Most Sacks ever by an NFL Cornerback with 27, Bucs all-time leader in interceptions with 43, and finally, member of  the NFL's 2000's All-Decade Team.  No player ever fit the popular term "He's forgotten more football than you will ever know", more than Mr. Ronde` Barber. 

For the last handful of years, we've heard that he's lost a step, he's too old to keep up, and destined to be replaced.  Yet, he's still here, and he even had one of his most productive seasons last year.  In a season where most of our team gave up, and went through the motions last year, Ronde` was still hustling, making plays, tackling ball-carriers, and looking like age has no factor in his ability to still impact any given game.  In fact, comparing last season to his championship season 10 years ago in 2002, Ronde` had more interceptions (3 picks in '11 vs. 2 picks in '02), more forced fumbles (1 ff's in '11 vs. 0 ff's in '02), and the exact same number of total tackles for the season (79 total tackles in 2011 and 2002).  In a nutshell, this man can not only still play this game, but he can play at a high-level, be effective, and change the course of games. 

Just when pundits, critics, and so-called "experts" were calling it a career on behalf of Ronde`, he has been given a new life.  He's no longer a Cornerback; he's now designated to be our starting Free-Safety.  Along with rookie Strong Safety Mark Barron, this position switch not only shores up our last line of defense, but it also opens up the door for several "splash" plays from the safety positions. 

Fact, the Cornerback position is much harder to occupy than a Safety position.  If there is a position where true speed is an absolute requirement, its the Corner.  Safeties have the benefit of already being at least ten to fifteen yards behind the line of scrimmage.  They are not required to be as fast and agile as a corner.  So saying that Ronde` has lost a step, is not such a big deal.  What better way to use your smartest, most capable player on your defense, than to move him to the back of the defense, to where he can view the entire offense and whatever plays are coming his way?

As a Free Safety, with the exception of Cover-Two defenses where he will have a specific deep-half of the field to protect, he will mostly be free, to hover wherever is appropriate, and make/prevent plays.  He will be lined up on the weakside of the defense, and will have the option of picking up coverage for our Weakside Linebacker, and/or our Middle Linebacker, whenever those positions blitz.  If he chooses not to pick up that coverage, he just stays deep to assist our corners on any seam routes being run by the offenses.  He will no longer have to turn his back to an offense.  His main requirement, will be to not let any player on offense get behind him. 

The main transition he must master now, is the ability to take proper pursuit angles.  This matter is extremely essential to our defensive success.  If you think this is not important, please remember the worse player our defense has seen in decades, Mr. Sabby Piscitelli.  His career here in Tampa consisted mainly of taking the wrong angles to help our corners, and making Ronde` and whatever other corners we had, look worse than what they really were.  We won't have to worry about that with a true professional like Ronde`.  He won't get caught chasing the wrong routes, he won't get caught out of position, and with 1,138 regular season tackles, he won't get caught shying away from making the stops needed to get our defense off of the field.  His pride, work ethic, commitment to always learning, natural instincts, and natural abilities will not allow him to play this position at a mediocre or even average level. 

As long as Ronde` Barber stays injury-free, this is going to be a very interesting and widely watched position switch for the Bucs defense.  The entire NFL will be watching.  It has been done before.  Rod Woodson and Aeneas Williams, two of the best to ever play the Corner position, made the switches to Safety late in their careers, and extended their time in this league for a few extra years. 

Aeneas Williams #35 & Rod Woodson #26

Williams turned the extra seasons into two more Pro-Bowl selections, an extra All-Pro season, and a Super Bowl appearance with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI (the Rams Lost to the New England PaCHEATots 20-17 on a field goal while the game clock expired).  In Woodson's case, he parlayed that switch into 3 more Pro-Bowls, an extra All-Pro season, and 2 more trips to the Super Bowl, winning the 1st with the Ravens, and losing the 2nd as a member of the Raiders, against our Bucs.

OC Mike Sullivan gives his analysis of Josh Freeman

Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan was on Sirius NFL Radio with Andrew Bogusch and Amani Toomer. He discussed HC Greg Schiano's team philosophies, and the development of QB Josh Freeman.

When asked of his observations of Josh Freeman, Sullivan had this to say: "I think with the quarterback position, regardless of the system and regardless of style of play, it really comes down to three key variables. That's leadership, the decision making, and accuracy. I think when you take a look at some of the things we were able to assess on film and some of the specifics, it could be some mechanics or it could be some things that would affect the accuracy. Ultimately though a lot of the decisions sometimes that are made, we don't know necessarily what was going into that decision. Why that decision was made. But when you take a step, you objectively look at tape, and then you analyze why the ball went where it did. You kind of hear an explanation as far as his justification for that and you can start the education process about how we want to do things. You know, when an incomplete is not only okay, it's a good thing. When a sack is not only a good thing, is not only okay, it's a good thing. It's all about protecting the ball. Making the smart decisions. So we've taken a look at some of these things and of course the leadership standpoint. I think the leadership standpoint is it's not so much a guy being 'rah rah', and head-butting guys, and being fired up before a series or on the sideline. It's really the preparation and the confidence that the other players will have in that quarterback because he knows the system inside and out. He's prepared and he knows what to expect. He has that type of resolve, that no matter if things are going well, or things are going poorly, he's going to continue to be focused. He's going to continue to do everything to put his team in a position to win. So I really think we were direct with him (Freeman) and he is excited to work and be a part of everything that has taken place this offseason. He's just really looking forward at taking that next step and finishing strong with OTAs and then keep the ball rolling and improving once we get to training camp."

We're not sure about your opinion, but if Sullivan can somehow mold Josh Freeman into a quarterback of this description, the Buccaneers may post a top 5 NFL offense this year. Freeman has the ability. He just needs a true teacher that can shape and mold him into an elite QB. Is Sullivan that teacher? We sure hope so.

Sapp disrespects Monte Kiffin in his new book

Just how low will Warren Sapp continue to crawl? I guess his financial crisis has forced him to seek monetary gain from trashing old friends and co-workers. In his newly released attempt at gaining income (book) Sapp completely disrespects Buccaneers ex-defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. “I always believed Kiffin (blitzed) so much because he wanted the glory; it made him feel like a great defensive coordinator,”. Sapp goes on to sling dirt on QB Trent Dilfer and others. If you want to know the true character of a man, just watch what he does when he is faced with adversity.

Buccaneers hire Director of College Scouting

According to "The Football Scoop" the Buccaneers have hired Eric Stokes as their Director of College Scouting. The position was formerly held by Dennis Hickey. Hickey was promoted this past season to Director of Player Personnel and the position left unfilled. Stokes has been with the Seattle Seahawks' personnel department since 2002, serving as a pro personnel assistant, scout and assistant director of college scouting. Stokes played in the NFL as a safety from 1997 to 1998, but saw his career cut short due to injury.

Buccaneers Insider with LB Dekota Watson

Buccaneer LB Dekota Watson is looking forward to this Buccaneers' season. Watson likes the new up tempo approach during practices and enjoys getting an opportunity to rush the passer off the edges.
Buccaneers Insider

2012 NFL Head Coach rankings, Schiano ranked 1st among all other 1st time head coaches.

Clifton Brown, of Sporting News, has released his rankings of the 2012 NFL head coaches. It's a very interesting list especially with Brown not riding the band wagon of Belicheat being number 1. But Brown does provide his explanations for each of his rankings. As you would expect with a 1st time NFL head coach, the Buccaneers Greg Schiano is found near the bottom of the list. What you may not expect is that Greg Schiano is ranked 1st among the other 1st time head coaches, including the likes of Joe Philbin and Chuck Pagano. Take a look to see if you agree.

Offensive Offense History! Is it about to change?

Bucco Bruce

Every person should know, if a man has a feather in his hat, a knife in his mouth, an ear-ring in his ear, and he is winking at you, your probably about to get something you were not asking for. Thus is the history of our Buccaneers' offense.

I would dare to say that very few people understand just how offensive our Buccaneers' offense history is actually. Let me take a moment to bring some fans up to speed on a few historical facts. The Buccaneers have thirty-six (36) years of NFL history to their existence. The NFL expanded in 1976 to add two more teams, Tampa Bay and Seattle, bringing the total number of teams to 28.
Since the Buccaneers inception their offense has ranked in the top ten (10) of the NFL during only two (2) season of the thirty-six (36) played. In 2003 and 1984 the offense ranked 10th. That's the highest rankings in their history. For a quick reference of the Buccaneers' offensive rankings here they are from 2011 going back to 1976. 21, 19, 28, 14, 18, 29, 23, 22, 10, 24, 26, 21, 28, 22, 29, 28, 27, 20, 25, 16, 26, 24, 22, 17, 27, 27, 23, 10, 28, 13, 18, 15, 14, 28, 28, and 28.  Keep in mind that there were only 28 teams until the NFL expanded in 1995, adding Carolina and Jacksonville. So the bottom line for the history of the Buccaneers' offense is an average of twenty-second (22nd).

Captain Fear

Enough of history! Let's look at new beginnings. Let's examine what the potential is for the Buccaneers' offense taking the field this season. First we must look at the offensive coordinator and his offensive philosophy. The Buccaneers have traditionally ran either a west-coast offense or a hybrid version of the west-coast offense. This offense is predicated on short dump off passes and relies greatly on yards-after-the-catch to be successful. The Buccaneers have hired Mike Sullivan from the New York Giants as their new offensive coordinator. To determine Sullivan's offensive philosophies we take a look at the New York Giants. Even though Sullivan was the quarter-backs coach and not the OC, a coaches corp beliefs are generally molded through their past experiences. The Giants utilize a little more old-school philosophy to their offensive approach. They love to run the ball heavily and allow their QB to play-action off the run fake. I would expect nothing less from Sullivan and the Bucs' offensive scheme.

QB Josh Freeman

Now let's look at the offensive leader, QB Josh Freeman. Freeman will be entering his fourth (4th) year as a QB in the NFL. He has a very strong arm, he's intelligent and he exhibits the extreme desire to be great at his craft. Freeman gave us a taste of what great potential in 2010. Now I understand that Freeman had a set back in statistical numbers for 2011.  But I'm not quite sure that there was not a certain player that was yammering in Freeman's ear during each huddle to throw it to him down the middle because he's always open. That player is no longer in Freeman's ear and this is Freeman's time to be a true leader.

Guard Carl Nicks

What tools have we given our offensive leader to work with?  Will he have time to perform and will he be protected? Well the Bucs have a pro-bowl left-tackle in Donald Penn, they went out and signed the number one rated offensive guard in the NFL, All-Pro Carl Nicks, they moved Jeremy Zuttah to center (his natural position), they have a pro-bowl guard in Davin Joseph and Jeremy Trueblood is in his contract year.  With that offensive line, as long as Trueblood can hold the right edge, Freeman should be quite comfortable in the pocket.                                              

WR Vincent Jackson

Does our offensive leader have outside weapons? In 2010 the Buccaneers took WR Arrelious Benn in the second (2nd) round and then made what I truly believe was the steal of the draft when they grabbed WR Mike Williams in the fourth (4th).  Benn was struck by the ugly injury bug and has had to fight his way back, but Williams flashed some wide-receiver brilliance during the 2010 campaign. I'm not sure if it was a sophomore slump or just plain poor offensive scheming that lead to Williams fall-off in 2011. Only time will tell. But the Buccaneers did not sit pat in this area either. They went out and got the number one wide receiver available in free agency with Vincent Jackson. Jackson is a proven number one receiver that not only has deep threat ability, he will go over the middle just as well.  I look for the Buccaneers to move Arrelious Benn to the slot position. This is the position that he excelled at in college. Jackson will split wide, and Williams split wide, with Benn in the slot, is a formidable wide-out corps. Let's not forget that the Buccaneers signed TE Dallas Clark, drafted TE Drake Dunsmore and TE Luke Stocker is, after being injured during his first professional practice in 2011, healthy and will have a full training camp and OTAs.

Does our offensive leader have a running game behind him that defenses have to respect?  RB LaGarette Blount began his Buccaneers career turning a great deal of heads. If not turning them, at least making them look up as he flew over them. Blount exhibited a great deal of potential when the Bucs picked him off the Titans' waivers in 2010. A great deal of people jumped on the "Blount fumbles too much" bandwagon during 2011, and yes he does need to secure the ball much better. And there has been rumors of his success going

RB Doug Martin

to his head and he had become lazy with studying his playbook. That being said, the Buccaneers once again did not sit pat this off season. They traded from the top of the second round of this year's draft, back into the first round, and selected running back Doug Martin of Boise State. Martin is consistently described by most NFL analyst as a clone to RB Ray Rice. The Buccaneers also selected RB Michael Smith in the seventh (7th) round. Smith is a speedster that has been compared to the Saints' Darren Sproles. With the acquisition of these two running-backs it appears that, not only have sparks been lit, but there may be a full-blown inferno lit under Blount's backside to fight for his position.

So Buccaneers fans, it's been thirty-six (36) years and only two (2) top ten (10) offensive rankings.  I look at this year's offense like this. With the offensive line blocking I truly believe our running backs are going to post some serious yardage numbers. Running the ball successfully will force eight (8) man fronts or, with this trio, maybe even more. This will in turn open up the passing game where Jackson and Williams are spread out with Benn in the slot. If opposing defenses have eight (8) in the box, the double teams will be eliminated; and if they were to slide out to a double-team, they can only double one player. With Clark down the middle, and after a play action, our running-back swinging to the flats, this offense may just be dangerous. I will be the first to climb out on that limb and predict our offensive ranking to be in the top eight (8) of the NFL by years end. As always GO BUCS!

Winslow allegedly destroys luxurious house

Kellen Winslow Jr. is back in the news again today. According to the USA today Winslow is being sued for $133,000.00 of damage that he caused to a luxurious rental home in San Diego, California.  Winslow rented the house for $9,000.00 per month. The law suit alleges that every corner of the house was left damaged. Expensive Persian rugs were left "stained with dog urine and littered with dog feces....the house was overpowered with a putrid stench of animal waste."

Winslow's attorney had this to say; "It's a shakedown of a professional athlete." His explanation, "the holes in the walls were for televisions, the unpaid utilities was an honest mix up, and the dog waste was an accident that was cleaned."

Like they always say, there are two sides to every story, and somewhere in the middle, lies the truth. Isn't it funny how the same player continues to make excuses or have to give explanations? When is the last time, let's say, Derrick Brooks had to give an excuse or explanation about a negative event where he was involved? Piece of advice Mr. Winslow, man up, grow up, and dirty footprints will not follow your every step.  

Replacing Winslow with Clark - Only Time Will Tell

Many blog sites, news sites, TV reports, and talk radio heads have been on the negativity train when it comes to the Bucs former TE Kellen Winslow Jr, and their newest TE Dallas Clark.  It is true that each have had their share of difficulties, but it's also true that each are still capable of being very productive players in this league.  We're not going to talk about injuries here.  Instead, we're going to focus on who these men are when they are ready to go on the football field.

TE Kellen Winslow
scoring against his newest team
the Seattle Seahawks

Everyone has been particularly hard on Kellen Winslow Jr.  While a member of the Bucs, his numbers don't really help his cause either.  His most glaring issue was his YAC (yards after catch).  Winslow had a paltry average of 3.5 yards.  This lends credence to fans' complaints that Kellen was nothing but "three yards and a cloud of dust" when it came to his catches. 

In three seasons with Tampa Bay, he still managed to get a very respectable 218 catches.  With an average of 10.9 yards a catch, that amounted to 2,377 total yards.  Not bad at all for an NFL TE over a 3 season period.  Many of Winslow's catches extended drives by moving the chains for first downs.  He was an excellent 3rd down option and at times could be a mismatch when covered man-to-man by Linebackers. 

One glaring statistic that does not help Kellen win the popular vote here in Tampa, was that he only had 12 touchdown receptions in that three-year period.  This speaks to his inability to create separation from whoever was covering him.  It also shows that he was not much of a viable option in the red zone, where historically, TE's usually are the prime targets on passing plays there.

Kellen Winslow Jr. is a mixed bag when it comes to his current value as a productive TE in this league.  He is very outspoken in the locker room.  He has a formidable presence.  His demeanor in the locker room demands that he be involved in the offense; but the ability for his physical presence to match that has been at times, non existent.  Winslow had no more room to grow here in Tampa Bay, and with that being said, it does not hurt to respectfully part ways and try to find more production out of the Tight End position.

New Bucs TE
Dallas Clark

Dallas Clark, the newest Bucs TE, has the credentials and the pedigree as a former All-Pro, to make a difference immediately.  Understanding that he was a consistent offensive weapon of Peyton Manning, one of the most prolific passers this game has ever seen; Dallas has proven that if you can get the ball to him, positive production will follow. 

Statistically, he has not been that prolific production-wise.  On the contrary, he's matched what would be considered "average" when it comes to his certain statistics.  Dallas has collected a total 427 career regular season catches.  He's averaged 3.7 receptions per game, with an average of 42.5 yards per game.  Again, nothing to write home to Mama about. 

Where he does make a difference though, is in the most glaring statistic in his history.  He's collected 46 touchdown receptions.  Compare that to 23 touchdown receptions for Winslow over his entire career, and you can see why there is a case for optimism here in Tampa Bay.  When Clark is on his game, there are few Tight Ends who can create mismatches and get separation like Dallas does.  He is deceptively faster than he appears to be, and he has averaged an impressive 4.9 YAC average over his nine year career.  He is the rare TE that has true NFL home run ability, as he's collected multiple receptions of 50 yards or more, including two 80 yarders under his belt. 

Dallas Clark's sideline and locker room presence is in stark contrast to what Kellen Winslow Jr's is.  Clark has the reputation of letting his play speak for itself, and there have been no reports of him demanding the ball.  He has not been mentioned as a leader, but if he wants to make a truly positive mark on this team, it's time he steps up as a nine-year pro, and start having influence on this team.  He's a proven winner and he would have no problem getting these younger Bucs to follow his lead if he does indeed decide to step up. 

We have an interesting season of football coming up, and we here at BuccaneerTalk.com are curious as to who will have the better, more productive season between these two solid pros.  Regardless of who does, we appreciate the effort Kellen Winslow gave us during game days here in Tampa, and we sincerely wish him well on his future NFL endeavors.  On the flip-side, we are very happy to have the opportunity to watch Dallas Clark make his mark here in Tampa, and wish him only the best in his efforts to help bring our city another World Championship.

Salary cap issues????

Joel, Bryan and Edward Glazer

For the past several years almost every Buccaneers fan has moaned and groaned that the Glazers are cheap and do not spend the money it takes to be a competitive team in the NFL.  Well hold your lips together folks, those days are gone.

The Buccaneers have currently used $133.5 million of the $146 million cap space that is available to them this year.  It is pretty certain that the signing of first round picks Mark Barron and Doug Martin will take up somewhere near half of the $12 million in remaining space.

Looking towards the future, 2013's salary cap is projected to be in the $120 million range.  The Buccaneers, following the trade of Winslow and his inflated cap hit, now have approximately $112 million dedicated toward the 2013 cap number.  The Buccaneers have players such as Ronde Barber, Jeremy Trueblood, Sammie Stroughter, Roy Miller, Amobe Okoye, Michael Bennett, and a host of others that will be free agents at the end of the 2012 season. They will also have Josh Freeman, Mike Williams, and Brian Price that will be entering their last year of their contract in the 2013 season.

That being said, you may see even more cap maneuvering occur during the 2012 season. For instance, if the Bucs decide to renegotiate Josh Freeman's contract, they can spread the value of his new contract out over its length, and any cap room attained for the team is gained positively. At the same time though, just as Winslow being traded cleared almost $6 million in cap room, other players with large cap hits better be performing up to their potential.

GM Mark Dominik

Fans have asked for money to be spent. The Buccaneers have answered that request. Now let's see if GM Mark Dominik can handle some salary cap dancing.

Brees left hanging in the breeze!

QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

The situation in New Orleans just keeps getting better.  The Saints have now began their OTAs without their leader.  During the 2012 offseason, the New Orleans Saints placed the franchise tag on Drew Brees and needless to say, he hasn't signed it. Brees once suffered a career-threatening injury with the San Diego Chargers and rightfully wants more security than the one-year franchise tag deal would offer. Who could blame him?  Without signing the franchise tender Brees is not allowed to participate in team activities.

GM Mickey Loomis
New Orleans Saints

Every Saints fan and mostly every football analyst had predicted that the Saints and Brees would come to terms on a long term contract some time during the 2012 offseason and well before any team OTAs.  That time has came and gone. Both the Saints and Brees seem to be in a stare down match waiting for the other to blink.  The final hour for the sides to come to an agreement is July 16. This is the NFL deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals. Past that date, teams can sign their franchise players only to one-year deals. They cannot reach extensions until after their final regular-season games. Brees has been adamant that he will not play under a one-year contract.

Both sides can make very valid arguments for their standing five-year contract offers. The Saints' last offer was somewhere in the range of $18 million to $19 million per year, and Brees' last offer was somewhere in the range of $21 million per year, with varying views on finer points like guaranteed money and how much will be included in the first three years. If Brees were to hit free agency there is no doubt that he would receive a $20+ million per year contract.

All this being said, we all are pretty sure that eventually, Brees and the Saints are going to meet in the middle. They will probably end up somewhere between $19 million and $20 million per year, with around $50 million in some form of guaranteed money, give or take a million. But, as a die-hard Buccaneers fan, I truly enjoy watching this gunslinger stare-down and would love to see July 16th come and go just to see who blinks first. All the while, precious time is slipping away at OTAs. Every day that passes is one more day that an interim head coach, an interim-to-the-interim head coach, and QB Chase Daniel lead the Saints through practice.  Meanwhile, the main offensive play caller, Sean Payton, is sitting at home on suspension, and Brees becomes more and more discontent waiting for his agent's telephone call.  All I need is a bag of popcorn becuase this show is outstanding!

Video interview of HC Greg Schiano after OTA

HC Greg Schiano gives his perspective of TE Dallas Clark and todays OTA practice.

Coach Schiano meets with media after OTA

Bucs sign Tampa native and Robinson High grad WR Greg Ellingson, waive WR Tyler Shoemaker

Tampa Robinson High School Alumni and FIU Alumni
WR Greg Ellingson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign WR Greg Ellingson. Ellingson was an undrafted free agent signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011. He was waived from the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 29, 2011. He played college football at Florida International. Ellingson is 6'3", 197 lbs, runs 4.4 in the 40 and exhibits great body control with above average hands. To make room for Ellingson the Buccaneers waive waive WR Tyler Shoemaker.

Ellingson is a Tampa Native, who graduated from T.R. Robinson High School down in Port Tampa.  He is the second former Robinson Knight to be signed by the Bucs, after former Florida's Mr. Football, FB Zain Gilmore, was a member of Tampa's 2002 Super Bowl championship squad, until he was released at the final roster cuts after training camp.

Insider video of Dallas Clark's first Bucs practice

Buccaneers Insider gives a first glimpse at TE Dallas Clark practicing with the Bucs. Pay close attention when the video first begins if you are curious as to just how good is Clark's hands.
Buccaneers Insider

Kellen Winslow has been traded.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers have traded Kellen Winslow Jr to the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional sixth-round pick. I truly give GM Mark Dominik some credit here for pulling off this gem. With the cat out of the bag that Bucs would be cutting ties with Winslow, I fully expected teams to wait it out and negotiate their own deal with Winslow after the Bucs released him. To gain a 6th rounder under those circumstances is a job well done.

Warren Sapp chooses Raiders over Buccaneers!

Once again Warren Sapp has the opportunity to show some support to the Buccaneers and the direction they're headed. Once again it takes the other person on stage to point out the Buccaneers' positives. Sapp shows his love to Silver & Black. Here's the NFL Network clip of "What rookie head coach is in the best position to win?".
NFL Network ask "What rookie head coach is in the best position to win?"

Winslow out, Clark in??

Rumors are rampant! Kellen Winslow Jr. may be on his way out and Dallas Clark may be on his way in. Winslow is said to be #1 on the Bucs trading block and may very well be cut out right if no trade suitor can be found. Mean while, TE Dallas Clark was in Tampa for a private workout last week. Rumors are that the Bucs are attempting to work out a contract with the crafty veteran.  Will post more as it comes available.

Clouded judgement, loyalty, or just smart moves?

Is it clouded judgement, a token of loyalty or just good player-personnel knowledge? If you take a look at the Buccaneers' roster a couple things are obvious. A history with head coach Greg Schiano places you in a good position of getting an opportunity with the Buccaneers.

No school is more represented on the Buccaneers' roster than Rutgers University. Rutgers is, of course the school Schiano was head coach at prior to joining Tampa Bay. Including C Jeremy Zuttah and DE George Johnson, both veteran Buccaneers, the Bucs have seven former Scarlet Knights.  After Rutgers, the University of North Carolina is represented by six players.  UNC just happens to be the school Schiano's special assistant, Butch Davis, coached at before he was fired last year.  Out of the 13 players that come from Rutgers and UNC, all but one have played for Schiano and Davis.  Schiano says the Buccaneers are not showing favoritism to players he is familiar with.

"If a guy is available and I think they have a chance to help us (we'll try to sign him),'' Schiano said. "But it will never be because of my previous relationships. That will never cloud my vision on what's best with the Buccaneers.  And that's exactly what I share with them. I tell them that I want them to be here and I want this to work because I appreciate your skills and your work ethic, but at the end of the day I have one responsibility and that's to the Buccaneers."

I personally don't get too worked up over the signing of "potential".  Most of the time motivated talent rises to the top and the best of our best will wear the pewter and take the field.  But it is very interesting to observe how being comfortable with our knowledge of a subject may lean us to go a certain direction.  So I ask again, is Schiano's knowledge of his past players blinding his judgement, is his loyalty to past players forcing him to give them a chance, or is Schiano truly finding the best 90 players available to fill his roster and they just happen to be his previous players?

Time will tell.

Ronde Barber up for the challenge

In this Buccaneers' Insider addition, we get a quick look at Ronde Barber's approach to this upcoming season and his opinion of moving to free safety.
Buccaneers Insider, It's always a challenge

We've Always Heard About It, Brian Price Has Lived It

Bucs DT Brian Price at a Crenshaw Football Camp

N.W.A., "The world's most dangerous group", told stories of violence and hard times in South Central Los Angeles.  Their songs were like news reports to members of the inner-city all over America, due to the suppression of national news coverage that dealt with violence in South Central and other similar communities.  As stated by N.W.A. member Ice Cube, "Either they don't know, don't show, or don't care about what's going on in the hood". 

N.W.A.

To the people that were not from these types of blighted neighborhoods, N.W.A.'s songs literally romanticized these living conditions and almost made the listeners think of these issues as being in sort of a fantasy land.  It almost didn't sound like reality.

But reality it was, and still is.  For reference, consider Bucs DT Brian Price.  He was a resident of the Crenshaw portion of South Central L.A., which was frequently mentioned in songs by rap artists from South Central.  Price still has family there, and gives his time and resources to make life a little easier for members of that community. 

The issues mentioned by these songs were in stark comparison to the life Brian was facing on a daily basis.  The violence mentioned hit home for Price more times than we'd like to write about. 

Brian Price lost his two older brothers to violence there.  Damon and Eddie.  They now reside at the Inglewood Park Cemetery. 

Damon Price, 24, as reported back in 2010 by the then Tampa Tribune's Rick Stroud, was killed by a family friend who was a member of the area's Rollin' 30's Crips.  Damon had been taken in by the gang and protected when he did a short bid in prison.  When he got out of prison, he tried to go straight, and it's believed he was killed because he did not pay the gang for said "protection" when he got out. 

Eddie Price, 18, was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, as he fell victim to a drive-by shooting while walking a young lady to a bus stop.  According to reports, she was the intended victim but it was Eddie that lost his life a mere block away from his family's home that day.

"In a two-week span, there were like 30 people that got killed on the corner where my brother got killed," Price said. "Growing up there just opened your eyes to a lot. We were so marginalized there. It's like a lot of people from there never get out."

Now, Price is enduring a different kind of tragedy, but the end result is all the same.  Last week, he lost an older sister, Bridget, the mother of two young sons, in a car accident.  Various reports state that she was the sister that Brian leaned on during the hard times when his brothers passed.  The loss was so devastating to Price, that he was hospitalized for 3 days until yesterday, with dehydration and exhaustion.


Bucs DT Brian Price, mauling Falcons QB Matt Ryan


Brian Price has also been dealing with his two hamstrings, which both tore from the bone back in 2010, and he's still not 100% recovered from that.  As a matter of fact, he was in the airport, about to fly to see his doctor and get an update on his legs when he got the unfortunate call from his father. 

This man has dealt with more problems than many men can bare, but he's still with us, fighting to get to that light at the end of the tunnel.  He has been rehabbing his injuries like a madman, and he's even agreed to adopt his two young nephews that are now without their mother. 

We here at BuccaneerTalk.com salute Mr. Price, and will be rooting for him to overcome all of these obstacles.  If there ever was a player for fans to get behind, its this guy.

Excellent post about QB Josh Freeman written by this week's guest write-in winner Danny Bamber

After reviewing several entries, mostly very interesting opinions, we have chosen Danny Bamber's entry as this weeks winner of our Guest Write-In contest. Congratulations Daniel. Here's your entry:

Entering his rookie season, Josh Freeman was somewhat waiting in the wings for his opportunity despite the Bucs trading up to get him. Newly acquired QB Byron Leftwich started the season and lasted only 3 weeks as the regular season starter, as backup QB Josh Johnson made his first career NFL start @ Washington in week 4. Shortly after another stint of disappointing starts Josh Freeman found himself under center against the New England Patriots @ Wembley stadium in the UK. After a bye week, Freeman made his first career NFL start at home against the Packers. After the Bucs made an impressive rally to come back and defeat the Packers, the question was, why didn’t we start Freeman week 1?  Freeman went on to finish the season as the starting QB and finished with 10 TD and 18 INT. Freeman’s impact was more than visible.

Entering his first full-season as an NFL starter, Josh Freeman showed why the Bucs traded up and picked him 17th overall in the 2009 draft. He was throwing the ball to WR's Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn and Sammie Stroughter. At that time they were two rookies and a sophomore. Freeman and the young offense showed maturity well beyond their years. He quickly established himself as one of the best young QB’s In the NFL. He broke and tied franchise records. He broke the Buccaneers franchise record for the highest quarterback rating in a single season as Freeman posted a 95.9 QB rating in 16 starts. He also tied Doug Williams franchise record for the most 4th quarter comeback wins in a single season at 5. His tremendous play got recognized and he was named a pro-bowl alternate as he lead the Bucs to a 10-6 record.

2011 was a struggle to say the least. Freeman and the rest of the team’s play regressed and the youth of the football team really showed. Why did Freeman and the team’s play regress? Well this was a young team ready to make a jump to the next level and become a playoff team and having no offseason really hurt the Bucs. The Bucs played a harder field of opponents than the previous year and the offense became very predictable as Blount’s play had limitations and the Bucs were always behind and playing catch-up. Another reason why the Bucs regressed was because Freeman had a sprained right thumb for several weeks; and despite denying it affecting his play, it clearly did as Freeman’s accuracy was very inconsistent. A disappointing season after showing all that promise in 2010. Freeman said all the right things and blamed himself for the team’s poor season as he held himself accountable. It was very unfair to blame Freeman for all the disappointments in 2011.

What will we see from Josh Freeman in 2012? I think he’s in for a big rebound-type of season. Freeman has come into the OTA’s (organized team activities) 20 pounds lighter. In his short pro career this is by far the best personnel Freeman has been surrounded by. Newly acquired pro bowl WR Vincent Jackson is going to have a big impact on Freeman. Jackson is a go-to receiver who can stretch the field and make others around him more effective. The Bucs also acquired pro bowl OG Carl Nicks who bolsters the O-line. The Bucs now have two of the best Offensive Guards in football which will make the running game more effective; which also makes the play action fake more effective. The addition of Doug Martin also really helps Freeman. Josh knows he has a 3-down back who he can depend on, both as a runner and as a receiver. Freeman is also surrounded by a very high character, intelligent staff; and maybe the biggest reason why Freeman is ready for a bounce back season is because of new OC Mike Sullivan. Coach Sullivan comes from a winning background and was a big reason why Eli Manning had a bounce back season and got his name mentioned along with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees, as one of the best QB’s in the league.  I think Freeman is in for a big season. He has the talent and skill-set to be a franchise QB in this league. With Freeman in the best shape of his life, and now with some new toys to play with, and a very intelligent and structured coaching staff to work with, I’m expecting big things out of number 5 this year.

Brian Price, tragedy once again

Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to DT Brian Price and his family. Price was about to board a flight to Tampa last week when received a call that none of us want. His sister, Bridget, had been involved in a car accident. 

"He got the call, and it might have been his dad who told him Bridget has been in an accident and 'I don't think it looks good',''said his agent Charles Price, who is no relation to Brian. "I don't think Brian got to see her alive.''

Bridget was 30 years old and the mother of two sons, a 7 and a 9 year old. Bridget was the victim of a hit-and-run accident that caused her car to "spin out of control, and head on into another vehicle", Price's agent said. She died almost immediately of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. 

According to Charles Price, Bridget was responsible for helping Brian overcome the shooting death of his two older brothers.

“It’s been a rough couple of years to say the least,'' Charles Price said. "Especially where he’s coming from and it’s as if he can’t catch a break.''

His sister's death exacted a heavy toll on Brian, who had planned to attend the Bucs' first week of Organized Team Activities Tuesday. Brian has apparently become so mentally and physically exhausted, that he was dehydrated and had to be hospitalized, his agent said.

"It was just a situation where like the stress of the whole situation made him sick,'' Charles Price said. "He couldn't hold anything down. He had headaches, and a fever. In fact, he just got out of the hospital (Thursday). I can't speak for him, but I think it was a combination of the mental and physical stress. I was at the funeral and there was just a lot of grief, a lot of anger. His body sort of shut down on him.''

Between his own hamstrings being torn from his pelvis, to losing family members in tragedies, this young man has had his lifetime share of stress thrown upon his shoulders. Please keep him in your thoughts Buc Nation!!!

The Bucs Add Two, Drop Two

WR Wallace Wright

The Bucs picked up two more wide recievers today, signing WR's Wallace Wright, and Armahd Lewis. 

Wright, is a four-year pro, having played 53 career games with the NY Jets, mostly as a special teams contributor.

WR Armahd Lewis

Lewis, is a former track standout and reciever from Central Washington University.

TE Tyler Urban

To make room on the roster, the Bucs released TE Tyler Urban, and OT Mike Ingersoll.

Urban, is a former West Virginia Mountaineer standout tight end.

OT Mike Ingersoll

Ingersoll, is a former offensive tackle with the University of North Carolina Tarheels.

Bucs Sign K Connor Barth to a New Four Year Deal

Connor Barth, who was earlier this offseason designated as Tampa Bay's franchise player, has been signed to a new deal.  The deal is for 4 years, at $13.2 million dollars. 
This allows Connor to begin participating in all team activities from here on out.  Barth, who has been with the team since 2009, set the single season franchise record last season for field goal percentage (92.9%) while going 26 of 28 on field goal attempts.  He currently holds the NFL's longest active consecutive field goals streak at 15.  He also has a perfect record for extra points made, going 71 for 71. 

Sapp gives Bucs zero chance!

NFL Network spotlights the Buccaneers' OTA in this video clip. Sapp and Marshall Faulk give their opinions as to the direction the Bucs are headed.

Warren Sapp says the Buccaneers do not have a chance!

Guest Write-In Contest!!!!!!

Don't forget to submit your Guest Write-In Contest entry. It's simple. Write your thoughts and opinions about any Buccaneers related topic. Email your post to Gary@BuccaneerTalk.com by 1pm on Thursday (today). We will select the winning entry and that entry will be published on BuccaneerTalk.com on Friday. Here's your chance to express your strongest opinion to it's fullest. So good luck and let's hear it. GO BUCS!

More turmoil brewing for the sAINT'S!

As if there was not enough distractions occurring with the New Orleans Saints over "Bounty Gate", it appears the Saints have even more turmoil brewing that may be about to boil over.  QB Drew Brees is becoming very disgruntled over his lack of a long term contract.  Brees may be drawing a line in the sand for the organization.

According to Fox Sports and the Associated Press:
Drew Brees said in a radio interview Wednesday night that he is frustrated by what he views as a lack of communication with the New Orleans Saints in his ongoing contract negotiations, adding the club should have shown more urgency to get a long-term deal done.
''It's been extremely frustrating for me. I don't think the negotiations should have been this difficult,''

Brees said on WWL radio in New Orleans. ''What's been a little frustrating on my end, or disappointing, is the lack of communication. We've reached out on quite a few occasions and at times I know I've been frustrated with the lack of response.''
While Brees said he wants to return to the team as soon as possible, he raised the possibility of missing minicamp and even training camp if he does not reach a long-term extension that he believes is appropriate. Brees has missed several weeks of voluntary offseason training with the club, and New Orleans holds its first offseason practices, called organized team activities, next week.
Brees said the Saints cannot pretend that the NFL's bounty investigation and resulting punishment - including the suspension of head coach Sean Payton for the whole 2012 season - has not been a huge distraction that makes the remainder of the Saints' offseason work ''very important.''
''This is a big time for our team, especially when you look at what has happened this offseason,'' he said.

Given his leadership role and his performance during his past six seasons, Brees said he would hope the Saints would make his next contract a top priority. ''There should be a sense of urgency and it just seems like there's not,'' Brees said. The Saints did not immediately respond to Brees' comments. However, general manager Mickey Loomis said last month he understands that he has never worked on a more important deal than Brees' extension, and he wants to come up with a deal that makes his star quarterback happy.

The Saints this season will attempt to make the playoffs for a fourth straight time. If they do so, they'll be in the running to become the first team to play the Super Bowl on its home field next February in the Superdome.

New Orleans has most of the top players back from an offense that set numerous NFL records last season, when Brees passed for an NFL single-season record 5,474 yards, smashing Dan Marino's mark of 5,084, which had stood since 1984. The Saints have placed the exclusive franchise tag on Brees, meaning he won't be playing anywhere else next season. However, Brees does not have to report and has said he has no intention of playing under a one-year franchise tag that does not give him any long-term security. ''I feel like our position is very reasonable and certainly appropriate for the situation that I'm in, which is having played the full extent of my (previous) six-year contract,'' Brees said. ''I knew exactly what I was signing up for and over the last few years I have not said a peep about wanting a new contract or not being happy with my current contract. ... Certainly, I took on a lot of risk last year by playing the last year of my contract without anything guaranteed for the future.''

Brees said he still wants to finish his career in New Orleans and has a plan to be as prepared as possible when he does eventually report. ''If that means missing OTAs, minicamp, training camp, I will be as ready as can possibly be,'' Brees said. ''There's no way you can simulate those things anywhere else other than being on the field with your team, but I have a plan, so I'll execute that plan as I need to.''
Now I am not one that likes to laugh at other's sorrows. However, I sure am giggling over the Saints implosion.

Hats Off to the Ultimate Team Player!!

Well Buccaneers fans, it is beginning to appear as though we may have seen the last playing days of a great Buccaneer. RB Earnest Graham truly opitimizes the meaning of "team player".

Graham entered the NFL by signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April 2003 and spent most of the 2003 NFL season and part of the 2004 season on the team's practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in October 2004.  From 2004 through 2011 Graham played in 98 games. He had 477 carries for a total of 2,047 yards with a 4.9 yards per carry average and 15 touchdowns. He also had 129 receptions for a total of 904 yards with a 7.0 yards per catch average and 1 touchdown.

Obviously Graham's career statistics are nowhere near overwhelming. However, it seemed like every preseason since Graham came to the Bucs he was the most productive running back in training camp.  Graham led the Bucs in rushing yards during the 2004, 2005, and 2006 preseasons, leading former coach Jon Gruden to dub him "Mr. August".  But when the real games would begin, Graham would find himself avoiding bench spurs more than avoiding would be tacklers.  That being the case, you never heard Graham utter a single negative word or complaint.  He would perform what was asked of him to the best of his ability and wait for his next chance.  I think we can all remember each year that the annointed starting running back would get injured, Graham would be called upon and would perform well enough that made us all believe he should be the starter the next season. The next season would come and Graham would be relegated to "full back" or back up duties once again.

At the beginning of the 2011 season, Graham was again called on to be a fullback and special teams player. However, when RB LeGarrette Blount was injured during week 5, Graham was thrust back into the featured tailback role for an October 16 home game against the New Orleans Saints. He responded by rushing for 109 yards on 17 carries as the Bucs beat their division rivals 26-20.

Graham again started at runningback the following week when the Bucs played the Chicago Bears in London. However, he seriously injured his Achilles tendon during the first quarter and was placed on the injured reserve list two days later, ending his season.  He became a free agent at the end of the 2011 season.
Graham is still in the process of rehabbing his Achilles tendon and has not been resigned. The fact that RB Michael Smith, chosen in the 7th round of this year's draft, was assigned jersey number 34 is a clear indication that we have all seen our last images of Graham in a Buccaneers uniform.

Just as he played his career, quietly without whining for the spotlight, Graham seems to be exiting his career. Quietly, without whining for the spotlight.  Our hats are off to Earnest Graham. We can not express our gratitude for the team player that he represented.  Mr. Graham, good luck in all your future endeavors.

Great photos from Day 1 of OTA

Great photos from Day 1 of OTA