Joe has heard and seen disturbing chatter regarding the Bucs possibly cutting running back Sean Tucker.
Joe finds that notion to be borderline dumb and preposterous. Good young players should not be departing the Bucs. Tucker is 24 and he scored 8 touchdowns last season. Among No. 3 running backs, Tucker is elite. And many teams keep four running backs on their roster.
But Rondé Barber strongly suggested Tucker is battling Josh Williams for a job with Tampa Bay during Saturday’s preseason broadcast. Williams was an undrafted free agent last season and barely got a sniff before being suspended for performance enhancing drugs.
While Joe doesn’t think Buccaneers Ring of Honor Jason Licht is foolish enough to let Tucker walk, Joe will play along with this idea.
Perhaps Tucker has been playing a lot — and late — in preseason games because the Bucs are showcasing him as much as possible for a potential trade.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, the Bucs are Tez Johnson-thin at cornerback and desperately could use a veteran.
Perhaps teams with serious running back issues like the Packers are interested in Tucker and have a corner to spare? Or teams with injury problems at running back like the Lions. Or maybe Licht can pry Sean Murphy-Bunting from the Cardinals? He’d be a great fit.
The way Barber was talking, Joe suspects something is up regarding Tucker, but Joe thinks it’s pure silly talk to think Tucker leaves the Bucs for no compensation.
That would be a very Lost Decade move.