What are the five ways new Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith can help lure free agents to Tampa Bay? Does he have the clout to persuade high-profile free agents to come to the Bucs for less money? Find out in this PewterReport.com article. https://www.pewterreport.com/index.php?option=com_k2&Itemid=20&view=item&layout=item&id=9638
I am not sure that Smith has that much more influence unless we want a bunch of Bears and Vikings on our team. I will say this and I know I will get flack for this; Dungy has a lot of influence here and I would bring in Vick. The three top QB's are not NFL ready and will need a year or two except for Manziel that I believe is similar to Tebow and will likely bust once other teams figure him out which won't be very long. There are 3-4 NfL ready OL and LB positions and that is where I would go with spot 7
While I certainly believe the incredible facility at One Buc, Lovie Smith himself, the new coaching staff, the lack of a state tax and living in Florida itself are attractive to FA's, it still comes down to money for the most valuable FA's. I myself am not interested in huge CAP dollars for players coming off their best years and starting to decline. Now, young FA's that might fit ARE interesting to me. FA's who might want to come hear and be a part of the team while getting better, growing with the team, are guys I'd like to see here. Goldson fit that mold, although his penchant for penalties became a problem last season. We'll have money to spend on other players until we find that franchise QB who will eat up so much opf the CAP. I trust Smith/Licht will spend it wisely.....have to.Don't care at all what Tony Dungy thinks about Vick. I care about what fans think about extreme animal cruelty and how that will affect they way they look at this team. It matters to a lot of people and that has to be taken into serious consideration. I don't think he's a fit here anyway though, probably just took the repetitive and boorish bait again. The fact is, the Buccaneers do not NEED that kind of PR or distraction. If Johnny Manziel were to fall to 7, he'll be a Buccaneer, though I seriously doubt he'll fall that far. Completely different player than Tebow. Like comparing Fran Tarkenton to Trent Dilfer on a bad day.
Garv,Completely agree about Vick. We have enough PR problems, we sure don't need that on top of everything else.Am more interested in Robinson than ANY QB or WR.
Garv,Completely agree about Vick. We have enough PR problems, we sure don't need that on top of everything else.Am more interested in Robinson than ANY QB or WR.
I wonder who the Buccaneers are looking at as far as the OL in FA? As the article points out, a LOT of what happens in FA will determine who the Bucs are interested in drafting.
When was the last time we acquired an OL in Free Agency that worked out? Penn we pulled from a teams PS. Nicks couldn't stay healthy. I agree about getting Hardy, but my guess is that the Panthers will match any offers. I disagree about Vick and I don't doubt there would be some sword waving, but that would be it. He is perfect for our present situation. You got to get over his past crime that he did and he did his time for it. I trust Toney Dungy view about Vick.
I disagree about Vick and I don't doubt there would be some sword waving, but that would be it. He is perfect for our present situation. You got to get over his past crime that he did and he did his time for it. I trust Tony Dungy view about Vick.
Horse, I don't have to and I won't ever get over what Vick did to those dogs. I think the world of Tony Dungy and his Christian beliefs, but he and my family are 180 degrees apart on the dog issue and worse him possibly coming to the Bucs. I will absolutely guarantee you I will stop going to any Bucs games if he is on the roster. Think you are underestimating the immense dislike for Vick from dog lovers. Just because you choose to forgive him doesn't mean there aren't a myriad of fans who absolutely won't. Its a damned crime he wasn't prosecuted for killing/maiming the dogs rather than just the betting side of it or he might still be in jail where he belongs.Unc
I disagree about Vick and I don't doubt there would be some sword waving, but that would be it. He is perfect for our present situation. You got to get over his past crime that he did and he did his time for it. I trust Tony Dungy view about Vick.
Horse, I don't have to and I won't ever get over what Vick did to those dogs. I think the world of Tony Dungy and his Christian beliefs, but he and my family are 180 degrees apart on the dog issue and worse him possibly coming to the Bucs. I will absolutely guarantee you I will stop going to any Bucs games if he is on the roster. Think you are underestimating the immense dislike for Vick from dog lovers. Just because you choose to forgive him doesn't mean there aren't a myriad of fans who absolutely won't. Its a damned crime he wasn't prosecuted for killing/maiming the dogs rather than just the betting side of it or he might still be in jail where he belongs.Unc
Stan, a lot of fans will stop going and supporting the Bucs. Nobody "got to get over" anything they don't feel right about. And to say he is perfect for "our" present situation is ridiculous. How so? Fans who need to "trust Tony Dungy view" over their own principles are pretty damn weak if they are grown men. I will decide if drowning, hanging, beating to death, and electrocuting dogs to death who were not victorious or willing to fight other dogs for "sport" is something I can get over. I will make the judgement as to whether or not I think it's a good PR move. Don't need Dungy, the Pope, Mother Teresa, a horse or John Wesley Hardin to make it for me.It will not happen,wait and see.The old statement of fact is BACK!
I am a dog lover too. I have had a dogs my entire life, so don't think I don't love them because I do. I have never had a problem approaching any dog because they sense that I care about them. I know that we all have a responsibility to take care of our pets. Okay Garv and Uncle Stan I accept that you can never forgive nor forget what Vick did. I too dislike dog fighting and especially the way pit bulls have been breed and treated. I was upset with Vick too after hearing what he and his friends did to their animals, I too thought they should pay and was glad about the jail time. I actually have more respect for Michael Vick than I do for Ray Lewis; I hopes he never gets into the Hall of Fame. Lewis knew very well who murdered who and wouldn't give them up and protected the murderer. I believe that was a much bigger deal because human beings died and justice did not prevail. Nope, Vick has done his time and I am okay with it; I know that you all are not. I got it.
Horse,He did no time for dog fighting, only the betting.Unc
I don't begrudge anyone for not forgiving Vick. Unc, he was indicted and convicted for dog fighting, which included just the fighting and the operation but also the execution of dogs. Here's the indictment: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/vick20070717-2.pdf You might be thinking of the state charges brought by Surrey County. I know there was a state court "animal cruelty" charge, but I don't know what became of it. I do know, however, that the federal charges included more than betting, for what its worth.I love dogs and the indictment is very tough to read.
Thanks VinBucFan.
I don't begrudge anyone for not forgiving Vick. Unc, he was indicted and convicted for dog fighting, which included just the fighting and the operation but also the execution of dogs. Here's the indictment: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/vick20070717-2.pdf You might be thinking of the state charges brought by Surrey County. I know there was a state court "animal cruelty" charge, but I don't know what became of it. I do know, however, that the federal charges included more than betting, for what its worth.I love dogs and the indictment is very tough to read.
Vin,IIRC, The state and/or county did their very best to NOT indict Vick to for dog fighting. There was some "connection" , supposedly, between Vick and the county/state prosecutors, so it was never brought to trial. It's also my understanding the feds could not use what the state had, as real "proof" was missing. The state did nothing.Correct about federal charges, but my understanding was he was only sentenced on the betting charges, due to the screw up by the county/state.Unc
I don't begrudge anyone for not forgiving Vick. Unc, he was indicted and convicted for dog fighting, which included just the fighting and the operation but also the execution of dogs. Here's the indictment: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/vick20070717-2.pdf You might be thinking of the state charges brought by Surrey County. I know there was a state court "animal cruelty" charge, but I don't know what became of it. I do know, however, that the federal charges included more than betting, for what its worth.I love dogs and the indictment is very tough to read.
Vin,IIRC, The state and/or county did their very best to NOT indict Vick to for dog fighting. There was some "connection" , supposedly, between Vick and the county/state prosecutors, so it was never brought to trial. It's also my understanding the feds could not use what the state had, as real "proof" was missing. The state did nothing.Correct about federal charges, but my understanding was he was only sentenced on the betting charges, due to the screw up by the county/state.Unc
not sure about that Unc. what I recall about the state case is that the grand jury did not return an indictment against Vick on the animal charges, but did return an indictment against others associated with Vick. If my recollection is correct, that means there must not have been much evidence at that time against Vick because as the old adage goes grand juries could indict a ham sandwich (i.e., the prosecutor usually gets what he/she wants). I don't buy into the conspiracy that the state tried not to prosecute him. Prosecutors are elected officials who want to be "tough on crime." Maybe Virginia is different, but as I recall the operation was discovered by the state while they were investigating a drug crime involving Vick's cousin. I think he gave the address of the "kennel." The point being that it was the state and/or county that brought the matter to light. I think where the confusion comes on the "betting" issue is that Vick entered into a plea agreement that focused on the betting crime and the conspiracy (because they were federal charges), but the plea agreement also states that if the matter went to trial the government would prove that Vick and his cohorts killed dogs that did not perform well. This statement is in both the indictment and the plea deal: " ”In or about April 2007, PEACE, PHILLIPS, and VICK executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well in ‘testing’ sessions … by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.” Essentially, the plea agreement mirrors the indictment: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/michael-vick-cops-felony-plea In essence, as part of his plea deal Vick admitted gross animal cruelty. In fact, if anything the plea creates some distance between Vick and the betting. That said, Vick actually lied about his own personal role in killing dogs initially, but then, as I recall, later admitted his role, which is part of why the sentencing judge added time.It does not strike me as od that Vick as the $ source and the ring leader would've had a lesser involvement in actual day-to-day "operations," if one calls it that. I would think that is common, but I also think its really a distinction without a difference because NONE of the actions happen without Vick. He is an admitted KILLER and TORTURER of dogs, not just an admitted illegal gambler.
You might be right in what you wrote-I'm not in total agreement.My understanding is Vick was not sentenced to the maximum because all charges could not be "proven" in court so the feds backed down. Granted prosecutors could indict a ham sandwich, if they WANTED to. Those in charge in Surrey county did not want to. It was like a domino, so the state couldn't and therefore the feds couldn't. That's pretty clear in my mind- but then my mind isn't as sharp as it used to be. Unc
