Big Gator has hurdles to climb.
Some may call Joe weird but Joe likes to write about dudes who get on the field on Sundays to help the Bucs win ballgames.
Practice squad guys technically aren’t even NFL players — some may be; most are not.
So when Joe fields a question from fans, “Where is the story on (Player-X) on the practice squad?” Joe often asks if the guy had a run-in with the law that Joe missed.
If a fan wants to just read a regurgitated bio on the guy, pull up his college bio.
That’s why Joe spends little time on undrafted free agents. They weren’t drafted for a reason.
Yes, Joe wrote about undrafted defensive tackle Desmond Watson, the Big Gator, a local kid who went to Florida, and popular safety Shilo Sanders from a football family. Joe was mildly interested in them landing in Tampa.
But when the Bucs signed Watson, Joe read so many stories not only suggesting Watson making the team was a mere formality, he would be the designated fireplug to stop the Philly Tush Push. Joe said, “Hold up!”
As Joe mentioned on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast,” you mean the Bucs would give this Watson hundreds of thousands of Team Glazer loot to play maybe four snaps all season, really?
That seemed a little ridiculous. And apparently it also does to Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
In a story about Watson by Jenna Laine of ESPN, Bowles scoffed at the notion Watson was signed just to stop the Philly Tush Push.
“We didn’t get him for the tush push — we got him because we really thought he could play,” Bowles said. “It’s just a matter of getting him to the point where he can play more than two or three plays [per drive].”
As Joe stated, there is a reason Watson wasn’t drafted. Like with any UDFA, it will be a hurdle for Watson to make the 53-man roster. And then he has another hurdle to get on the field.
Think about it: The Bucs crow about José Ramirez and Markees Watts as if they’re the second coming of Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre Paul, yet those guys cannot bribe their way onto the field on Sundays.
Joe’s pulling for Watson but Joe prefers focusing on the drafted rookies. If Watson makes roster, great. Let him get there first.
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