REAR ENTRIES: Rapid Fire

June 29, 2009 at 05:34pm by Scott   •  1 Comment »

YASINSKAS LIKES WILKERSON: Pat Yasinskas did a profile on Jimmy Wilkerson last week and called him a potential “breakout player”.

Here’s why I think Wilkerson is ready to do more than any of us expect. You might not know it yet, but this guy’s already a starter. Yes, he’s got precisely six starts in a six-year NFL career. But the fact is, the Bucs have designated Wilkerson as their starting defensive left end.

Well, we did know it, but the point is still valid. Wilkerson will be given every opportunity to fill Kevin Carter‘s old role at left DE. I’m still not understanding why the Bucs aren’t putting Gaines Adams on the left side where he was much more effective last year, but I suppose all of that will be revealed in training camp. And for the record, Pat can kiss my ass.

WE’RE NUMBER NINE!: Reader Mark S. sends good links now and then, and he reminded me of a poll that came out last week ranking the Buccaneers as the #9 Team of the Decade. They are the lowest-ranked team with a Super Bowl win, which I don’t really have a problem with. But the Titans being ahead of them with one fewer playoff win should probably be adjusted. A few extra wins in the regular season doesn’t make the Titans more the team of the decade than a Super Bowl victory does. And you can’t count the Music City Miracle because that was the 1999 season.

How’s that? Two reports where I provide my opinion on other writers’ opinions. It’s the laziest form of writing, people. Sorry to have to resort to it this week. It’s either that or just post pictures of hot chicks all week long. And I know you guys hate that.

AGENT CONTROL: This has nothing to do with the Bucs, but I like B.J. Raji‘s stand on his relationship with his agent.

“There will be no problem, as far as holding out on my end,” Raji said. “I’m a rookie but from what I’ve been told, holdouts are not necessarily a good thing. Especially a rookie coming in, you can’t afford to miss a week or two of training camp, especially when you’re trying to find a way to get on the field. Yeah, that’s my agency, but I’m in control, not the other way around.”

Too often you’ll hear rookies see rookies hold out and they’ll say something to the effect of “That’s out of my hands, I’m letting my agent handle it.” which is bullshit. It’s up to players to look out for their own best interests and not just leave everything up to the agent. In many cases, agents are looking for the big one-time payout since they get their percentage of money earned at the time and players can dissolve their relationship at any time. For example, high-end rookies are usually better served to get shorter-term contracts so they reach free agency earlier. Mark Sanchez‘s agent, David Dunn, was somehow able to talk the Jets into a five-year contract instead of the standard six-year deal that most top picks have to agree to. This will come up big in four years when he is negotiating his big second contract while the rest of his draft class peers are getting frustrated because they’ve blown their rookie signing bonuses on pussy and beer. Mmmm… pussy and beer….

Anyway, yeah for B.J. Raji.