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Strikes 1, 2, 3, 4: Who Wants To Play For Tampa Bay?

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 2, 2009

TAMPA - I wouldn't exactly call this Big News.

More like small type.

The bloody purge at One Buc Place was the talk of the football world last week. And if one person said it, a thousand people said it, a hundred thousand people said it:

"Those guys sure as hell better have a plan."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik clearly did have a plan as free agency began.

Now if only those other guys had followed it.

All-world defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth sure didn't. He went to the Redskins, and for only $100 million!

The Patriots and Chiefs sure didn't follow it. They worked out a deal that got got Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel, who the Bucs wanted to use to trade for Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler (Luke McCown, how you feeling today?).

And receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh didn't get with the program, either. The Bucs were after him, but when H-man named the teams he was after, the Bucs weren't on the list.

Made a nice run at linebacker Jonathan Vilma, but, no.

Strikes 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Of course, this could change. The doors and lights remain open at One Buc. And we're not sneezing at the signing of tight end Kellen Winslow, who should catch many footballs, regardless of quarterback, provided he doesn't get a new motorcycle.

Maybe he can fill the leadership void left by the departed Derrick Brooks.

Kidding!

I just don't think it's a news kind of free agency when all these guys are flying around and your main weekend signing is: Michael Clayton.

Why the Bucs wanted to give this guy $11 million in guaranteed money is beyond me. What is it, a dollar per drop?

Like I said, people keep coming in and out.

And it might just be a badge of honor when you lose out to the Redskins and their insane, can't-build-a-winner owner Dan Snyder.

But the Bucs wanted Haynesworth.

And they still want Cutler.

I really can't believe they couldn't land Cassel when all it took to get him — and Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel — was a second-round pick, which Kansas City gladly handed over.

Cutler might still be out there. He's that angry with the Broncos for trying to trade him. As of Sunday, he wouldn't even meet with Denver officials to mend fences. So there still might be an opening.

But who wants to play with Raheem and Mark?

I think the Bucs need a quarterback, help in the pass rush, a top-line (non-Clayton) wide receiver, a running back, a linebacker, a defensive back … on and on. Can you say "rebuilding"?

Maybe it's going to come together.

But Morris and Dominik were hoping to start with Big News. The purge last week — from Brooks and Dunn to Galloway and Hilliard to June — said they needed to.

It hasn't happened.

Yet?

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