Why is there so Much whining about Spending...

[jaybuc88]

The poor drafting started before 2001, but, most teams don't draft well. Teams that draft well usually are fortunate enough to hit on a few and it makes the other talent drafted around them look better.

That's my point to base building your team just on the draft is stupid..period

Well then I guess we stupidly won a SB in 2002 because the base was built via the draft.

JUST the draft...you have to have both FA and drafted players to win, just like we did when we won the Super Bowl in 2002

[MagicMike]

The ONLY coach in Buccaneer history that had consistently good drafts was Sam Wyche.  Wyche coached from 1993-1995.

In 1993, he drafted John Lynch, Horace Copeland, and Chidi Ahanotu.
In 1994, he drafted Trent Dilfer, Errict Rhett, Harold Bishop (whom he later traded for the draft pick that brought us Alstott), Pete Pierson, and Jim Pyne.
In 1995, he drafted Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks.  

In 3 seasons, he managed to draft 3 guys that will make the Hall of Fame, and 9 solid players.  

In addition, he made the free agent signing that truly turned around the Bucs' franchise -- Hardy Nickerson.

If the Bucs were seriously interested in building through the draft, they would sign Sam Wyche as a draft consultant.  At least Pewter Report was smart enough to do so.

[Doug09]

The poor drafting started before 2001, but, most teams don't draft well. Teams that draft well usually are fortunate enough to hit on a few and it makes the other talent drafted around them look better.

That's my point to base building your team just on the draft is stupid..period

Well then I guess we stupidly won a SB in 2002 because the base was built via the draft.

JUST the draft...you have to have both FA and drafted players to win, just like we did when we won the Super Bowl in 2002

I'd say it's 80% draft /20% FA.

You try and make it sound as if it's 50/50.

The draft builds the core foundation of the team, the few FA acquisition's sprinkled in are what put teams over the top. The Bucs really drafted no one of significance early in the 2000's which is why there is no one to pay after their rookie contracts expire, which is why we suck now.

[ktownbuc47]

Our 2002 SB team was 50/50.

[Doug09]

Our 2002 SB team was 50/50.

Close, but not exactly.

12 drafted
5 undrafted
9 FA
1 trade

I'm willing to bet the other SB winning teams had ratios of 70%+/30%-

[ktownbuc47]

Our 2002 SB team was 50/50.

Close, but not exactly.

12 drafted
5 undrafted
9 FA
1 trade

I'm willing to bet the other SB winning teams had ratios of 70%+/30%-

12 drafted out of 22 starters is closer to 50%. I don't believe any of the undrafted started with the Bucs, they were pickups.

[Feel Real Good]

Our 2002 SB team was 50/50.

Close, but not exactly.

12 drafted
5 undrafted
9 FA
1 trade

I'm willing to bet the other SB winning teams had ratios of 70%+/30%-

12 drafted out of 22 starters is closer to 50%. I don't believe any of the undrafted started with the Bucs, they were pickups.

The 2002 Bucs are a little different because that was the last gasp of a run. That team was 5 years after the run started when a lot of the original players got old, role players too expensive, and they were continually picking outside the top 15 and thus missing out on prime players to replenish the roster. The 1997 that got the ball rolling boasted 17 of 22 starters as homegrown and the 1999 also had 17 of 22 starters who had only ever been Bucs.

[PWNASAURUS]

Our 2002 SB team was 50/50.

Close, but not exactly.

12 drafted
5 undrafted
9 FA
1 trade

I'm willing to bet the other SB winning teams had ratios of 70%+/30%-

12 drafted out of 22 starters is closer to 50%. I don't believe any of the undrafted started with the Bucs, they were pickups.

The 2002 Bucs are a little different because that was the last gasp of a run. That team was 5 years after the run started when a lot of the original players got old, role players too expensive, and they were continually picking outside the top 15 and thus missing out on prime players to replenish the roster. The 1997 that got the ball rolling boasted 17 of 22 starters as homegrown and the 1999 also had 17 of 22 starters who had only ever been Bucs.

This.

[Badabing]

The Bucs have NEVER drafted good.  They probably had about 10 good draft picks in their entire franchise existence.

With that being said, they always went out and got some key players.  We wouldn't have won the Super Bowl without free agent additions/trades.

After the Glazers acquired Man U in 2003, you saw less and less spending.  We were steady spending in 2004, but saw the light in 2005 where we all bought into the saying of "Don't want to get into cap hell again!!!"(even though Cap Hell is about as real as Global Warming-Ask the Redskins---and not for nothing but we won a Super Bowl and were a perrenial playoff team b/c of being in cap hell)

Not saying the Bucs should have overspent for guys this off-season, but they could have spent a little and there were some good players out there and still are.  If you dont think Lito Sheppard or Phillip Buchanan are upgrades over Elbert Mack, then that's your choice.  If you don't think trading a 3rd and 4th for Boldin would have benefited Freeman and our future, then that's your choice.  Just saying, there were moves that could have been made and still can.

[BUCFAN4LIFE]

So as seat holders paying top dollar for tickets and merchandise we are suppose to be okay with well the economy is bad so we are not spending - or we have had some bad drafts. Yet last I checked the Bucs are in the upper eschelon of pricing in the market yet dead last in in payroll and spenidng the past what 5 seasons now. If I am paying top dollar for the entertainment than you better damn well show an effort to put a product on the field. This penny pinching is why there will be blackouts, cause who in their right mind would pay the fees they expect and charge to watch CRAP! Couple that with the fact there is no real effort to even better the product... and they wonder why they suck.

[BucFan9720]

I hope the CBA is figured out so the Glazers can shut all of you that complain about the spending up. Nobody is getting paid in the NFL right now outside of a very, very select few and it has been that way for a few years now since restricted free agency and the franchise tag took over the market.

[benchwarmer69]

When you spend more, you don't always win more. However, the chances of winning are better. Washington spends way to much, but they hardly ever have a 3-13 season. They are usually stuck at 8-8 without playoff appearances, but they stay there, waiting until they are good enough or lucky enough. One thing is for sure, they'll be in another Superbowl before we will if this ship keeps sinking as it has.

I don't want them to go out and buy the farm, but it would be nice to have a WR that is worth the money they are paying them, at least on paper. Our team needs one or two highly prized players, and we have none. There was PLENTY of talent traded around in the last five years, so they will NEVER sell that line to me. J. Allen comes to mind right away. They had five years to get talent in here, if they thought Gruden couldn't bring in talent at any time, they should have had someone else draft. Five years, and all they have are a bunch of excuses, and no probowlers?? ..Dad would be proud.

[DefenseWins]

"Why is there so Much whining about Spending and little or none about the drafting of this team"

It is a valid question. They both deserve(d) attention.

[PWNASAURUS]

Yes the tickets are high I agree and it is your choice to not buy them, I stopped when they went to $99. The team is not where they are because they began a policy of "let's not spend." Lets all assume that Clayton, Cadillac, Ruud, Joseph, Trueblood, Stovall, Adams, Sears, Piscitelli, and Black all performed at a Pro Bowl level or at Least Solid Starters that "No one" could complain about, the FO would have to extend all of these guys who are our former rd 1-3 picks. You take those and add to what Talib, Tjax, and Penn will Def get soon and then the Bucs would be in the top 10 spending if 2004-2007 1-3 picks pan out. Too bad none of them are worth big money and thus we are where we are. This saved the Bucs money no doubt but it was not intentional and it would just not be fiscally or Football cap smart to just overpay for FA that prob won't help much because you couldn't give that money to "your guy."

[LoganBucs37]

40K season tickets??  Blackouts?    If these people cared they would have signed a B.Marshall type talent. Yes overpay if you must. Excite the fan base, but Noooooooooooooooooooooooo.     Anyway, watch for the Bucs to go onto the market soon if not already.