Extensions for upcoming Free Agents?

by buccanator on Sep 23, 2009 6:57 AM EDT Comment 15 comments

Here are the list of the upcoming Free Agents.

Pos	Player Name	FA Status	Previous Team	Current Team
WR	Antonio Bryant	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
WR	Maurice Stovall	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
PK	Mike Nugent	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
OT	Jeremy Trueblood	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
DL	Jimmy Wilkerson	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
LB	Angelo Crowell	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
LB	Barrett Ruud	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
SS	Will Allen	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent

Antonio Bryant

He proved in the 2008 season that he could be a top receiver. With the franchise tag placed on him, does he get his extension or does he test the market? IMO it will be determined when he returns from injury and how well he does when he gets back. If Bryant returns and finishes the season with 70+ receptions and 700 yds, he will test the market for a team that will pay him and could be a contender. There is no such thing with loyalty, it is a business and he will be looking for the best opportunity available. 50% chance of returning

Maurice Stovall

Jon Gruden had a love affair going on with Stovall but he hasn't panned out. IMO Gruden wanted Stovall to be the great draft pick steal but instead turned out to be just another so-so player that Gruden had become customed to drafting. He is the type of receiver the will get you 30 receptions for 200-250 yds a season. I see Stovall looking for someone to take a chance on him. 10% chance of returning

Mike Nugent

I don't even know if Nugent will make it through the season let alone wondering if there is a choice in the off season. 0% chance of returning

Jeremy Trueblood

I can say Trueblood has turned into a decent Right Tackle. Him and Davin Joseph do a great job on the right side and have a good partnership. IMO Trueblood will return and get a decent amount of money. He is young and he is strong. 90% chance of returning

Jimmy Wilkerson

He was a solid pickup in the off season and would have given us great depth at the Defensive End position if we had good starters. We don't and I feel he is doing what he can and has the most upside of any of the ends on the team. I hope we do keep him and build up the right and left side with him in the rotation. 75% chance of returning

Angelo Crowell

It is a shame that he was injured before we had the opportunity to see how good he is. He has all of the ability in the world but his health is a major problem. I would like to see us get him for one more season to see but I doubt we will. 10% chance of returning

Barrett Ruud

He has the resume, he has the ability, and he could be a valuable asset to this team for years to come. I think it was completely wrong not to sign him to an extension and I think it will hurt us in the long run if it doesn't happen before he becomes a Free Agent. He is a top notch MLB in this league, even though this new defense has people questioning his ability. Everyone on the defense is being questioned. IMO he will test the market and he should. It will be a bidding war and I don't think we come on top. 25% chance of returning

Will Allen

Back up journey man that hasn't been able to move into the starting lineup. He has the opprotunity to show some skills with Phillips going down to injury, so we will have to see. IMO the only way he stays on the team is he blows up in the next two weeks before Jackson returns. 5% chance of returning

We need to be big players in the Free Agency to be competitive for next year and use the draft for more depth.

Is this too soon? or can we look at this years team and face reality?

Pos	Player Name	FA Status	Previous Team	Current Team
WR	Antonio Bryant	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
WR	Maurice Stovall	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
PK	Mike Nugent	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
OT	Jeremy Trueblood	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
DL	Jimmy Wilkerson	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
LB	Angelo Crowell	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
LB	Barrett Ruud	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
SS	Will Allen	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent

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Quick hits (and just my opinion)

- AB – Not coming back. Wants out, wants money

- Stovall – Team friendly deal might bring him back. He’s no more than a 3rd WR but usually is a good special teams guy. On the cheap he’s welcome back

- Nugent – a dime a dozen. See ya

- Trueblood – Depends on the deal he wants. He’s an aggravating player. He is the most penalty prone on the the line. I see him back unless his demands are high

- Wilks – May bring him back as the winner of the war of attrition

- Crowell – I have no idea either way. If Black and Hayes play well, why bring him back?

- Ruud – Unless he improves, he wont get the deal he wants. Has to show he can play in this system

- Allen – back as a back up. We know see how much we need depth.

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by Buc Wild on Sep 23, 2009 8:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the team has to wait until the cap mess is straightened out before handing out too many extensions.

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 23, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We may not even be watching football

I read that the players Union has encouraged players to put aside 25% of their income this season as a precaution in case of a strike. That sounds like they mean business to me.

by LeeCaz on Sep 23, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think your completely off base

The only 2 that I see leaving are Crowell and possibly Nugent. Both cases is because there is better talent elsewhere. I see every other one of those returning next year. Ruud is not leaving, doesn’t want to leave and probably won’t be able to leave next year.

The only question mark that I would say is Antonio Bryant. he is a bit of a wild card.. personality wise. He should want to stay because it is the first place that the fan base adores him, but at the same time I can see him wanting out. He is a crazy competitor and wants to play somewhere that can get the job done.

But I say we franchise him again after the season and then he gets a long term contract or is traded depending on our own offseason.

by miracles83 on Sep 24, 2009 12:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You franchise tag Bryant

nobody will trade for him. It would take a 1st and 3rd rounder. He isn’t worth that. Why would you pay him 10 million? sign him to long term for about 5 million per year or let him go. If Ruud doesn’t get a contract extension that he deserves, he will test the market. You sound like players actually have a love for where they play, not even close to the truth. This is a business and if someone offers more money for the amount of desired years, he is gone. Bottom Line!!! They have showed how loyal they are to him, why should he be loyal in return. Let the Patriots, Steelers, or Colts come calling. #51 will be moving to a Super Bowl contender. I hate the truth but it is still the truth.

by buccanator on Sep 24, 2009 5:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget last year and the Patriots

You trade him and then the other team restructures the contract for a better long-term deal. You can also trade the player on whatever value he produces. it probably would take multiple draft picks OR 1 first round pick simply because that would be his worth if he succeeds this year.

Regarding Ruud. You forget that in the current state of affairs that Ruud will only be a restricted free agent and that means we will be able match whatever price another team offers or we will get draft pick compensation.

This has nothing to do with player loyalty. I am looking at it from the business perspective and that is why I think both players are going to be here next year. We will still be under the salary cap and so we can afford another year of Bryant being franchised.

by miracles83 on Sep 24, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember, it takes two

if the players want to be here, the front office has to want them. Stovall may want to stay, but how much will we want to pay a career back up? I wouldnt be surprised to see some turnover from this list.

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by Buc Wild on Sep 24, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see your point.

It does take two and Stovall is a career backup WR/stud ST player. I think his special teams play gets him a new contract offer especially if he can show that he can produce these coming games with Bryant hurt and slowed.

At the same time though, if he wants starter’s money then I see him going to another team and I’m fine with that. He isn’t a starter and shouldn’t get starter’s money.

My point was that these players aren’t leaving without a nod from the team to say we can do better without you.

by miracles83 on Sep 24, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No problem letting go its what we don't pick up

I feel that this regime has no problem letting players go thats unproductive the problem is we don’t replace what we lose. If any of these players are let go what free agents are available to replace them or either upgrade that position. I for one had no problem with the players that were let go a year ago, but we didn’t pick up anyone in free agency or in the draft to replace them. Even if management felt the back-ups could step it up and produce who then replace the back-ups. I think this is the reason we have depth issues now at WR, CB, S, and LB. We cut Galloway and Hilliard and replace them with a 7th round pick in Stroughter and some may say Winslow but he’s a TE. AB gets hurt and we start Clayton and ?. I don’t see that sending shivers down the opposing teams secondary. We let go Brooks and June and replace them with oft injured Crowell who is by the way gone for the season and convert Phillips into a LB which takes away from our depth at Saftey. What happens TJ gets suspended Phillips now at LB weight is move back to Safety and we’ve been getting torched for big gains. Now Flip is hurt leaving us even thinner at Safety and LB.
Buchanon is let go and replace by another 7th rounder, Talib starts and Elbert Mack moves to nickel corner, but we all held our breath Lib got into that incident. Can you imagine if he was suspended for 4 games too. Yikes. Whatever moves we make with these free agents let it be quid pro quo

by whatdabuc on Sep 26, 2009 5:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs