USFL Adds Jeff Garcia to Board of Advisors
Gayle Saunders
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The returning United States Football League is adding former Pro Bowl Quarterback Jeff Garcia to the league’s board of advisors.
Garcia will serve on the player development branch of the USFL’s advisory board, joining Fred Biletnikoff, Jim Steeg, James Bailey and and Terrell Jones on the board.
The USFL is planning to field eight teams for its inaugural 14-game season in 2013, which will kick off in March and wrap up with a championship game in June.
Rhonde Barber likely Moved to Safety
Gayle Saunders
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Bucs’s GM Mark Dominik has made it know that longtime Bucs CB Rhonde Barber will most likely play safety in 2012.
Although once a tackling machine, Barber is getting up there in age, and isn’t the guy he used to be. Don’t get that confused with the thought that he can’t play anymore, because he definitely still can. At the age of 37, Barber can still make plays out there and with the idea of him moving to safety it will allow him to play centerfield and use his abilities to continue to make plays.
The Skinny: Since the Bucs drafted rookie Mark Barron, expect him to player closer to the line of scrimmage and Barber can still perhaps play in nickel packages, and cover slot receivers as well.
Pre Draft Visits : Tampa Bay Buccaneers
By Gayle Saunders
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League rules allow each team to bring in 30 players for predraft visits. No on-field work is allowed. The visits are simply an opportunity for the players to sit down with the coaches, as well as the personnel people, for any additional questions, football or otherwise.
Not every player accepts every invitation he receives, so teams don’t always get the first 30 players they requested. But coaches often will look at video with players to get a sense of their football awareness, or put them to work, marker in hand, on the dry-erase board to see how they dissect certain game situations.
One important fact to note from last years draft is, 21 of the NFL’s 32 1st round selections had confirmed pre-draft visits and/or workouts with the NFL teams they were selected by. So there is a good shot that he players below will get drafted if they’re on the board during the teams draft selection.
Below we’ll be updating the chart of pre-draft visits, if you have a player visit you’d like us to add to the chart leave a comment and I’ll add it. Thanks for your help in advance!
LAST UPDATED 4/21/12
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trent Richardson – RB from Alabama
David Wilson -RB from Virginia Tech
Bernard Pierce -RB from Temple
Ronnie Hillman -RB from San Diego State
LaMichael James -RB from Oregon
Justin Blackmon – WR from Oklahoma State
Rueben Randle – WR from LSU
Aj Jenkins -WR from Illinois
Marvin McNutt – WR from Iowa
Ladarius Green – TE from Louisiana-Lafayette
Taylor Thompson -TE from SMU
David Gonzales -T/G from Washington State
Dennis Kelly -OT from Purdue
Amini Silatolu – G from Midwestern State
Michael Brockers -DT from LSU
Tank Carder – OLB from TCU
Trevor Guyton – DL from California
Chandler Jones -DE from Syracuse
Quinton Coples- DE from North Carolina
Bobby Wagner – LB from Utah State
Ron Brooks -CB from LSU
Morris Claiborne -CB from LSU
Josh Bellamy -CB/WR from Louisville
Dre Kirkpatrick – CB from Alabama
Tavon Wilson -S from Illinois
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Team Needs and Draft: Secondary is a must especially with Barber possibly gone and Aqib Talib dealing with legal troubles, the need for corner is great. Linebacker remains a serious hole, and getting defensive line help either provides insurance for the injury woes up front or adds a fresh pair of legs in the rotation.
Let’s be honest: Any time a team has an active 10-game losing streak, there are needs. Wide receiver is one of the biggest cracks in the dam. There’s a difference between the young wideouts the Bucs have and Justin Blackmon.
2012 Draft Picks
1.5, 2.4, 3.5, 5.5, 6.4, 7.5
Free Agent Signings
QB Dan Orlovsky, WR Vincent Jackson, TE Chase Coffman, CB Eric Wright
2011 Draft Picks
1st: Adrian Clayborn (DE) Iowa
2nd: Da’Quan Bowers (DE) Clemson
3rd: Mason Foster (ILB) Washington
4th: Luke Stocker (TE) Tennessee
5th: Ahmad Black (S) Florida
6th: Allen Bradford (RB) USC
7th: Anthony Gaitor (CB) Fla Int’l
7th: Daniel Hardy (TE) Idaho
Schiano: Blounts Role Could Diminish
Gayle Saunders
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Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Greg Schiano is preaching the no fumbling gospel in 2012. The new head coach is a fan of LeGarrette Blount, but knows that Blount has to do a better job of protecting the ball. Schiano has made it known that Blounts role could diminish if he doesn’t focus on his fumbling issues.
“No one who touches the football will get touches if they don’t protect the football,” “That is one of our core covenants -– (protecting) the ball. It’s so important they named the game after it, so we make a big deal about that.”
The Skinny: Lets not forget who coached Ray Rice at Rutgers…Schiano loves a dependable back. Don’t be surprised if the Bucs draft Richardson at the #5 spot in the draft because Schiano sees a “special talent” when he looks at Richardson.
Vincent Jackson: Bucs…Bears…Bills…Oh my!
Gayle Saunders
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The early front runners for Vincent Jackson’s services are the Bucs and Bears. The team who gets forgotten is the Buffallo Bills.
With the Redskins dealing with a cap penalty it might have knocked them out of the Jackson race. Right now things are pointed at Tampa Bay, but I like Chicago Bears as a favorite, however the Bills do have the money to pull the trigger.
The Skinny: Although the Bills are the sleeper choice with $30.8 million under the cap, that gives them the fire power to go after Jackson. Let the games begin!
Jeremy Zuttah Might Not Hit The Market
The agent for free agent G/C Jeremy Zuttah says “there’s a good chance” Zuttah won’t reach the open market.
“It seems the conversation is pointed (toward getting a deal done),” Zuttah’s agent said. “It is definitely in the direction where both sides want to get something done, so it’s just a matter of getting pen to paper and figuring out what makes the most sense for Jeremy.”
Zuttah is able of playing both guard and center, since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2008, Zuttah has started 44 games for the BUcs
Freddie Mac & Steve O Show w/Derrick Brooks & Vonta Leach
Buccaneers Release Albert Haynesworth
By Gayle Saunders
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Buccaneers have released DT Albert Haynesworth. That makes it his third team in a year that he’s been let go from. At $7.2 million there was no way he would return at that price.
With new coach Greg Schiano in the mix, its most likley he wasn’t interested in Haynesworth moving forward with the Bucs. Haynesworth failed to make his presence known in the seven games he played with Tampa.
It will be interesting to see if the Eagles will take a look with his buddy Jim Washburn still coaching in Philly. Haynesworths greatest days of football were under Coach Washburn, but at age 31 how much does he have in the tank is the question. The positive for the next team is you can now take a risk for a discounted rate.
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