Bucs looking at Sauerbrun

[Rusty]

There are always challenges, aren't there.

[Boid Fink]

Remember when I said I don't know WTF is going on anymore?

The saying holds its weight in gold man.

WTF is going on?

They need to look for a safety in the Bush League USA camps, because Phillips is GAWD AWFUL.

Anyone who defends this guy after the weeks and weeks of watching him stink, is kidding themselves.

At leastthe five Bucs whiffed on their tackles at Westbrook. Phillips was just watching the damage happen.

Buckit gets poster of the year for his prediction that Phillips would be a weakness on this teams defense. We all said JP was a decent SS, and Buckit said Phillips sucked.

Congrats Buckit. Kiffin should hire you as a secondary coach assistant.

Well, how about all the people that wanted to bring in Woodson to play safety, and everyone said our Safety position was OK. I seem to remeber a lot of people here wanting Smith and Woodson to be signed, not just BuckIt.

I was just thinking more along the lines that Buckit was a definite Phillips basher in the offseason, before TC even started.  He said he sucked, took bad angles, all that and now, IMO, he looks like a genius.

AS far as Woodson goes, we pretty much knew he wasn't coming to Tampa, or at least I knew it.  Asking a guy like Woodson to play safety was not going to happen.  And Woodson is not a Cover 2 guy.  And Smith might have been signed, but I think the Bucs got outbid on that one.  And if Smith would have signed, I think JP would have wound up playing FS.  Neither here nor there, but it is just worth mentioning.  Good call Buckit, good call...

[bradentonian]

I was just thinking more along the lines that Buckit was a definite Phillips basher in the offseason, before TC even started. He said he sucked, took bad angles, all that and now, IMO, he looks like a genius.

AS far as Woodson goes, we pretty much knew he wasn't coming to Tampa, or at least I knew it. Asking a guy like Woodson to play safety was not going to happen. And Woodson is not a Cover 2 guy. And Smith might have been signed, but I think the Bucs got outbid on that one. And if Smith would have signed, I think JP would have wound up playing FS. Neither here nor there, but it is just worth mentioning. Good call Buckit, good call...

I was in favor of signing Smith.  In fact, I thought it was a no-brainer.  I believe the issue was not contract size, but length.  I think the Bucs were only offering a 1 year deal.

[TBayJJ]

I wouldn't mind sauerbrun, he wanted to beat up gramatica, so I thought he was a fool for that. But he is a damn good punter.

[bradentonian]

From PFT:

SAUERBRUN HEADING FOR MOTOWN

A league source tells us that punter Todd Sauerbrun was not signed by the Buccaneers on Tuesday, and that the veteran ball-booter is now on his way to Detroit.

The look-see in Tampa, as we understand it, wasn't necessarily for a job in 2006.  Instead, it's believed that Tampa wanted to check out Sauerbrun now, in the event that they decide to pursue him in 2007, when current punter Josh Bidwell will be a free agent.

Because Bidwell is a vested veteran, cutting him now would have required the Bucs to pay out the balance of his $585,000 salary, if Bidwell had elected to accept the amount as termination pay.  Under the CBA, a player is allowed to receive termination pay once in his career.

The Lions, however, will be in the same boat if they cut six-year veteran Nick Harris, who also is earning a base salary of $585,000.

[ABuccs Fan]

SAUERBRUN HEADING FOR MOTOWN

A league source tells us that punter Todd Sauerbrun was not signed by the Buccaneers on Tuesday, and that the veteran ball-booter is now on his way to Detroit.

The look-see in Tampa, as we understand it, wasn't necessarily for a job in 2006.  Instead, it's believed that Tampa wanted to check out Sauerbrun now, in the event that they decide to pursue him in 2007, when current punter Josh Bidwell will be a free agent.

Because Bidwell is a vested veteran, cutting him now would have required the Bucs to pay out the balance of his $585,000 salary, if Bidwell had elected to accept the amount as termination pay.  Under the CBA, a player is allowed to receive termination pay once in his career.

The Lions, however, will be in the same boat if they cut six-year veteran Nick Harris, who also is earning a base salary of $585,000.

Bidwell is a UFA after the season.  This could purely be a ploy to get Bidwell to resign before FA starts. Bidwell would be a fairly hot commodity in the FA market, and although the Bucs want him back (IMHO) they want it at the best price. So by working out a former Pro-Bowler, they are telling Bidwell that they can move on if he demands serious jack. Further, no matter where Sourballs goes, it will most likely only be for the rest of the season. Thus it give us an advanced look at him prior to FA opening. So if we do lose Bidwell to Fa, the Bucs have a back up plan.

But, overall, I think Bidwell is ALOT more important than just a punter. There were some horrible snaps Sunday that Bidwell dug out and still gave Bryant a chance to make the FG. The chemistry between Bryant and Bidwell could very well turn Bryant into the kicker we have always wanted.  Would a new holder and someone Bryant doesn't know make Bryant regress?

Sepe gets the prize!!!

[DanTurksGhost]

Sepe was right on. I was off-base on this one.

[oregonbucfan]

If tampa doesnt resign the best punter in the league Bruce Allen is worthless. It wont break the bank resigning a damn punter, and Bidwell loves kicking in the heat.

[ABuccs Fan]

If tampa doesnt resign the best punter in the league Bruce Allen is worthless. It wont break the bank resigning a damn punter, and Bidwell loves kicking in the heat.

this post is somewhat along the lines of the people who thought the defense didn't need to be upgraded because it was #1 last year. What does last year have to do with this year? Clearly Bidwell isn't on a proBowl pace this season. i'm not saying i don't want him back, but why would you be mad at the FO for entertaining upgrading the position???

[DanTurksGhost]

If tampa doesnt resign the best punter in the league Bruce Allen is worthless.

Look, I like Bidwell, just fine but he is NOT the best punter in the league.

[Garv]

Josh Bidwell IS a top punter in the NFL and his record proves it. He's an asset and those of us who've seen him play know it.
They'll always be someone bashing one of our own after a game, win or lose. I don't get that and don't want to.
Josh is a class act, a great punter and probably the best holder in the NFL bar NONE. Let it go.

[ABuccs Fan]

Josh Bidwell IS a top punter in the NFL and his record proves it. He's an asset and those of us who've seen him play know it.
They'll always be someone bashing one of our own after a game, win or lose. I don't get that and don't want to.
Josh is a class act, a great punter and probably the best holder in the NFL bar NONE. Let it go.

Isn't that what you said about the defense this offseason? How do you measure or guage who the best holder in the NFL is?

[ABuccs Fan]

1   Mat McBriar   DAL   26   1314   50.5   41.2   75   4   0   8   17   9.5   0
2   Shane Lechler   OAK   27   1346   49.9   37.7   67   6   0   8   13   13.2   0
3   Dustin Colquitt   KC   31   1465   47.3   40.2   62   4   0   10   13   10.7   0
4   Jon Ryan   GB   32   1494   46.7   34.9   66   4   0   5   24   12.3   1
5   Brad Maynard   CHI   24   1103   46.0   40.9   58   1   0   9   11   9.3   0
6   Mike Scifres   SD   19   873   45.9   43.0   71   1   0   9   7   5.1   0
7   Hunter Smith   IND   22   1008   45.8   33.0   61   2   0   5   14   17.2   1
8   Ryan Plackemeier   SEA   32   1461   45.7   35.5   63   7   0   5   19   9.7   0
9   Jason Baker   CAR   43   1930   44.9   38.8   58   6   0   15   25   5.6   0
10   Nick Harris   DET   33   1480   44.8   35.8   55   8   0   6   19   7.3   0
11   Steven Weatherford   NO   31   1389   44.8   38.2   54   3   0   7   19   7.7   0
12   Chris Gardocki   PIT   24   1073   44.7   37.3   54   2   0   5   14   9.9   0
13   Josh Miller   NE   28   1239   44.3   39.0   62   4   0   9   12   5.5   0
14   Ben Graham   NYJ   33   1461   44.3   37.5   67   4   0   12   14   7.6   0
15   Dave Zastudil   CLE   34   1505   44.3   39.5   61   3   0   10   19   5.3   0
16   Brian Moorman   BUF   38   1669   43.9   39.6   66   1   0   12   13   11.2   0
17   Sam Koch   BAL   37   1625   43.9   37.4   60   1   0   11   23   9.7   0
18   Kyle Larson   CIN   35   1534   43.8   37.6   67   4   0   12   20   6.8   0
19   Josh Bidwell   TB   37   1617   43.7   34.9   59   5   0   10   19   11.8   1
20   Donnie Jones   MIA   33   1439   43.6   35.0   61   3   0   11   23   8.3   0
21   Chris Hanson   JAC   32   1396   43.6   36.4   58   5   0   10   14   9.4   1
22   Scott Player   ARI   37   1615   43.6   31.4   57   3   0   8   23   15.7   1
23   Michael Koenen   ATL   25   1084   43.4   37.2   59   3   0   9   8   7.1   0
24   Jeff Feagles   NYG   22   949   43.1   39.6   54   1   0   8   6   9.5   0
25   Andy Lee   SF   27   1161   43.0   35.6   57   2   0   10   9   17.8   1
26   Derrick Frost   WAS   35   1496   42.7   36.2   60   1   0   10   22   7.9   0
27   Dirk Johnson   PHI   34   1449   42.6   36.6   56   5   0   8   20   5.2   0
28   Matt Turk   STL   25   1063   42.5   38.3   59   3   0   10   7   6.4   0
29   Chad Stanley   HOU   28   1183   42.3   38.4   55   2   0   6   14   4.9   0
30   Paul Ernster   DEN   31   1289   41.6   36.5   61   2   0   11   14   8.5   0

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[Boid Fink]

Bidwell is forced to kick at his own 39 yard line.  Not exactly fair to him, he gets his numbers skewed.  He gets off some booming kicks, and the net is all the STs fault.

[Garv]

Josh Bidwell IS a top punter in the NFL and his record proves it. He's an asset and those of us who've seen him play know it.
They'll always be someone bashing one of our own after a game, win or lose. I don't get that and don't want to.
Josh is a class act, a great punter and probably the best holder in the NFL bar NONE. Let it go.

Isn't that what you said about the defense this offseason? How do you measure or guage who the best holder in the NFL is?

By paying attention. Our long snapping has been shaky all season and Josh has consistantly gotten the ball up, threaded right and in time.
As for the defense, yes, I believed last winter that our number one defense was number one last year. So what?
I don't get going after Bidwell. Oh yeah, Yatta and Booger are gone and some HAVE to have someone to bash for kicks. God help Grads after a couple of losses.
BTW, I'm not at all "mad" at the FO for entertaining any player to get better. But I'd rather have Bidwell than Suarkraut ANY day and am expressing why. We looked at some QB's recently too. Didn't sign a one but for a rookie for the PS. I have faith in Bruce Allen. Have since after the Garner, Deese, Stuessie debacle of a couple of years ago. We ARE going in the right direction now and there is NO doubt in my mind about that. None.