The Pewter Plank
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The Buccaneers must end the Vernon Hargreaves era now

By Cory Kinnan

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 27: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans grabs the facemask of Vernon Hargreaves III #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Nissan Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 27: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans grabs the facemask of Vernon Hargreaves III #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Nissan Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 03: Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on November 3, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 03: Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on November 3, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

A few final thoughts

Over the past four seasons, Hargreaves, when he is on the field and not hurt, has done nothing to warrant a roster spot in Tampa; it is now time to chalk him up as another first round bust and cut bait. As the oldest cornerback in the room, the Bucs must sit him down for the rest of the 2019 season and let the younger, more promising guys prove their worth.

Giving Dean a trial-by-fire last week worked well as he was able to take his growing pains from a week ago and turn it around yesterday against the Cardinals as he came away with an interception. Murphy-Bunting has been getting solid playing time, and while he is showing his rookie struggles, seems to be getting better every week he is on the field.

For a player playing as poorly as Hargreaves is, the Bucs can no longer justify keeping him on the field. The coaching staff and front office should have seen enough of Hargreaves by now to know what he is: a liability in coverage, a less than willing tackler, and an overall bust.

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Sit Hargreaves down, let the youngsters grow through the flames, cut the 2016 first round pick after the season and collect an additional $10 million in cap space. Given chance after chance, the book must finally close on the VHIII experience.

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