Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/28  at  06:20 PM

James, Samuel was franchised last season and the patriots do not pay players to play for them.The patriots is about to lose two starting receivers-thats says alot.

Posted by  James Anderson, Lakeland, FL on 02/28  at  11:16 AM

OK....44 million. 1st week free agents can suck that down to nothing in 3 days. The difference between 1 year wonders and perrenial playoff teams is that they don’t loose when someone get hurt. Injuries make a big difference. Ask Carolina. Depth was key to the Bucs going to playoffs. Why does Samuels want out of NE? Cause they won’t resign to paying his back up league minimum to pretend he belongs in the league. Last I looked, NE did fine after Law left. Don’t get me wrong...love Samuels skills. But, not at the expense of Coleman, Crumpler, Faine, Justin Smith, Bryant Johnson, Andre Davis, etc.

Posted by  dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/27  at  09:08 PM

The bucs will draft a DE this draft,releasing Carter and Spires which is a great move.Signing Justin Smith would really help but i don’t think thats going to happen.Offense for us this year will have to come out of free agency i think,just sign two receivers and draft one in the 3rd or 4th round.

Posted by  mkurbo, Sarasota on 02/27  at  07:41 PM

Cody, I agree the pass rush is key this off-season.  I think they may sign Coleman and go after Odom, Laboy or McCray at DE.  Smith may not go to San Fran, but if he does, Marques Douglas would be another option. Harvey may still be available in the draft at #20.  I’m warming up to the strategy that upgrading the depth of the DL might be more sound than paying one guy $72 million (Freeney).  The reason I like Samuel – understand it’s a costly move – is that he guarantees us a top tier backfield even as Barber starts to age.

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/27  at  06:24 PM

You have to sign Samuel and draft a corner in the first round.Barber is getting older and slower.Buchanon is really a nickel back that should not be starting.Its about putting the best people on the field.Our defense get better with Samuel-remember,we’re playing tougher teams next season.
Like Cody said,you need better CB to make blitzing easier-guys that can run with the receivers.
If we could also draft a corner in the first round that would set the table for a young and strong secondary for the future.

Posted by  Cody Ubben, Cedar Falls, IA on 02/27  at  02:37 PM

The best way to help the secondary out would be to improve the pass rush but if you look at free agency and what is going to be available at the 20th pick in the draft there really isn’t anybody out there thats going to be a huge upgrade. The top tackles and ends all got tagged and Justin Smith is rumored to have a deal almost done with the 49ers.
So considering that, the best way to help the d-line out is to sign a pro-bowl corner. Say all you want about us not needing a cover corner but I also remember alot of bitching about us not blitzing more. In order to blitz more we would need corners that can cover.

Posted by  Quentin, Tampa, FL on 02/27  at  02:18 PM

You’re not gonna grab the first cornerback off the board at spot #20. The second or third one could be yours, though. It depends on how other teams view him compared to who else is available. A potential future star should still be there, so we can upgrade even without grabbing Samuel. But I’d still like to grab him for somewhere around $8 million. Simeon Rice was like a $7 mil+ cap hit, so just think of it like having him back.

Posted by  Anthony Gironda, New Port Richey on 02/27  at  01:44 PM

SIGN HIM!!! We need a cornerback who can help Barber & Buchanon, Asante Samuel is a CB who has proven himself by making plays, intercepting the ball, & winning 2 super bowl titles. SIGN HIM!!! SIGN HIM!!! SIGN HIM!!! Also, go after Stallworth & Berrian!!!

Posted by  Joel Schaffer, Belleair Bluffs, FL on 02/27  at  08:17 AM

At the combine Antonio Cromartie’s cousin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, was the star of the secondary, running a 4.33 and showing footwork few cornerbacks have shown in years.

Should the Buccanneers pencil Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in at number 20 in the draft?

Or will he already be long gone by the 20th pick?

Posted by  James R. Kinzer, 351 Winfield Ave. Winfield WV 25213 on 02/27  at  08:15 AM

Last year, we played a “Pop Warner” schedule !!  This year we are going to have a “Pro Bowl” schedule.  Just to go 8&8, we are going to have to have all of the “Good” players that we can get from free agency and/or the draft!!  I would think that the owners of the Bucs would like to play in the next super Bowl rather than just hosting it.  Has beens and wanna bees won’t do that for any team!!  The Giants went thru the Bucs like a hot knife thru butter!!!

Posted by  Quentin, Tampa,FL on 02/26  at  10:57 PM

He will make a difference. The problem with Kelly leaving isn’t that Buchanon can’t replace him, it’s that Sammy Davis would struggle as the nickelback. Drafting a quality corner would help that, and I’m not against doing that if Samuel’s asking price is too steep. But this guy is a proven ball hawk. Teams tend to avoid him, which is a sign of greatness. We also play man-to-man more often than some of you seem to think, and having him would let us do that more often. There’s benefits to playing man if you have capable corners. Because you’re not relying on your linebackers to take away the middle of the field, they’re free to either blitz or concentrate on the run. Same goes for the safeties. TBC…

Posted by  Bob Centanni, Gulf Beeze, Fl. on 02/26  at  08:08 AM

Big mistake to add “overpriced talent” to an already superior defense. Draft a quality Cornerback and let some weak team like the Saints use up their cap room signing Samuel. He won’t make a difference.

Posted by  Maurice Smalls, New York on 02/26  at  01:10 AM

I would love to see us buccaneer fans wearing Asante Samuel Jerseys.

Posted by  James Sapia, Spring Hill on 02/25  at  11:46 PM

Of course it’s hard to believe anyone wants to come here and play for “he who shall remain nameless”, but assuming all is well with health, and the $$ works, sign Samuel-CB (Ronde’s not getting any younger), perennial Buc-killer Coleman-DT, Crumpler-TE, and a proven, but young, WR like Javon Walker (post release).  That will fill MAJOR starting needs and free us up to draft accordingly FOR DEPTH (as it should be).  Plus it will infuse some life back into the Tampa Bay area fans who have grown wearily pessimistic with these two front office idiots and the in-and-out two-step square dance we’ve been doing with the playoffs.

Posted by  James Sapia, Spring Hill on 02/25  at  11:45 PM

Enough of the “This is a deep draft, so let’s not spend a lot in free agency,” crapola.  Rookie CB’s, WR’s, DT’s, and TE’s don’t win championships, and quite frankly 2002 seems pretty long ago.  We didn’t cut and paste for the last 5 years to be 30+ mill under the cap so we can spend it all on draft picks.  It’s time for Allen to earn his flippin’ $$ and sign the right guys for the right prices.
(Continued next message)

Posted by  James Anderson, Lakeland, FL on 02/25  at  09:40 PM

Don’t forget how Nate Clements made the 49ers immediate contenders. And don’t assume 8 million will be enough. He may be worth it as a corner (hated seeing teams nickel and dime our #1 defense), but it will cost us elsewhere. 1 splash + 5 ripples or 3 splashes? Hmmm.

Posted by  Erik, Chester,Pa on 02/25  at  08:56 PM

Hey,Bruce! Earn your extension and get Asantie!!!Spend the money. Defense wins and won us a Super Bowl.Spend the money!

Posted by  jose del valle, chicago on 02/25  at  08:47 PM

Is there anybody the bucs are not interested in or they interested in?after all is said and done some over the hill or never was will be signed.

Posted by  Patrick Dotson, Tampa,FL on 02/25  at  08:24 PM

kelly leaving...36 mil to play with...i agree to sign him...he is a proven corner with no injuries that im aware of...kelly has had injuries in the last 2 yrs...injuries have plagued this team....  and defense wins championships...id rahter spend 6 or 7 mil on a guy who is proven and has had no injuries and is 4 or 5 yrs younger than a guy whos been hurt alot recently and is 32...SIGN HIM!

Posted by  mkurbo, Sarasota on 02/25  at  08:15 PM

The number one priority is a major upgrade at DE as well as a couple lesser upgrades to the overall d-line rotation.  I like A. Odom, B. McCray and J. Smith as candidates for upgrading at DE,

Samuel would be a great add if we could give him a big bonus and keep his salary around Barber’s.  I would much rather pay him those dollars than an unproven first round rookie CB selection.  Samuel is still young (27) and would be a fixture in the Bucs defensive for years to come and to some degree offset the eventual loss of Ronde…

Posted by  Chris Payne, St. Pete on 02/25  at  07:24 PM

I will welcome Asante with open arms!! You guys forget how frustrating it is to watch teams nickle and dime us down the field. This is a very smart decision bringing this guy in. This will complete the youth movement that we desparatley NEEDED!

Posted by  ROMAN VASQUEZ, utah on 02/25  at  07:04 PM

you know we gained atleast five million from bk leaving so it really is like paying three or four million more for a way better younger proven player i say go for it, he had three touchdowns last year imagine him rhonde and phillip they will give the d line more time to get to the qb

do it!!

Posted by  George Leslie Hicks, Dallas,Texas on 02/25  at  06:35 PM

I say sign him Tampa, pay him the $8million a year, and also give barber and additional $2 million per year. Then sign DT Coleman and TE from Atlanta on what they want. With 30 million that would be a great additional with three top Free Agents. Of course the draft is coming up. Go Bucs

Posted by  Larry Schmauss, Minnesota on 02/25  at  06:34 PM

Incentives,incentives,incentives.Give the guy some solid guaranteed money up front, and give him some realistic incentives to get the rest on. He’s proven what he can do in the past, so if he can keep producing, he’ll get the bonus money and everyone goes home happy.

Posted by  James R. Kinzer, 351 Winfield Ave. Winfield WV 25213 on 02/25  at  05:14 PM

You only get what you PAY for!!  I don’t think that we need any more Has Beens and Wannaa Bees !!!!!!!!