NFC South Power Rankings

Joe Soriano — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:46:03 +0000

Since Free Agency has come to a stall, and I don’t feel like looking at more draft prospects; it’s time to take a quick stock of the NFC South to this point. 1. New Orleans Saints They lost Carl Nicks- to a team in the division, no less- but they still have one of the [...]

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Curtis Lofton still an option

Joe Soriano — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:37:53 +0000

Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t just going to ignore the linebacker situation and “build through the draft” at that position. I mean, it’s pretty much a sure thing that they are going to take Morris Clairborne (or maybe even Trent Richardson) at the number five spot in the first round. They could take somebody in the second round of the draft, but it seems better if the Bucs use some of the $20 million in cap space they have on a linebacker like Curtis Lofton.

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Analysis: Bucs release Jeff Faine

Joe Soriano — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:00:06 +0000

I feel like a freaking genius after my post recapping the big Carl Nicks signing, because I also had one of those weird “Let’s think about this in terms of an actual plan” moments; that random musing came true. You see, I basically thought that the Bucs were never going to prioritize a mediocre guard and give him a four-year deal. And then, this is where it starts to make sense, give big money to another guard when the team already has two guards under long deals. Since Zuttah is a better center than guard, I predicted that it was the reason why the Bucs valued him so much; they were going to move him to center and release the ineffective and overpaid Jeff Faine. They did.

Sep 18, 2010; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Jeff Faine (52) celebrates a touchdown by running back LaGarrette Blunt (not pictured) during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Buccaneers defeated the Vikings 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

After signing three free agents to huge deals, with the Eric Wright deal being gross overpay, the Bucs needed to clear something up. After all, they still need some big help a linebacker, a new RT, and another addition to the secondary. Maybe. But this team clearly needs at least one linebacker, most likely dynamic run-stopper Curtis Lofton, and a right tackle. Unless if they want to give Jeremy Trueblood one more chance to regain his 2008 form, which is highly unlikely. But hey, I doubt they add an RT anyway.

In any case, the Bucs have cleared $6 million in cap space and got better in the process. Sure they lost a player, but they gained money (let’s not forget their future gains from shedding Faine’s contract) and didn’t have a place for him. He would have been the most expensive back-up lineman in the league, and that’s something no team wants on their hands.

It was the obvious decision, and it shows that the Bucs- gasp- actually have a plan in place under their new regime. Credit the Bucs for being aggressive, even if it led to that quizzical Eazy-E deal (yes, I will keep calling him that). Greg Schiano is going to install a power running game with LeGarrett Blount, but expect them to add a No. 2 back to compliment him.

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The Pewter Plank » Curtis Lofton

NFC South Power Rankings

Curtis Lofton still an option

Analysis: Bucs release Jeff Faine