Tampa Bay Buccaneers G.M. Mark Dominik Arrogant About Handling Free Agency

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik is disillusioned in his approach to free agency.

Dominik wishes to build a strong organization via the NFL draft and successfully hit on late-round draft picks. The issue is late-round picks don't pan out as often as most think. The Tom Bradys, Marques Colstons, and Al Harrises of the world are few and far between.

His refusal to look at marquee free agents irritates Bucs fans, and after witnessing the Detroit Lions steamroll the Buccaneers' defense on opening weekend, people are wondering, "Where are the impact free agents?" 

According to the St. Petersburg Times, Dominik's opinion on free agency is, "The grass isn't always greener." This means attractive stars such as cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Johnathan Joseph and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins couldn't possibly help make the team any better. It's too much of a gamble.

It's an enormous one given that talent such as Jeremy Trueblood—who struggled to run block against the Lions—was re-signed during the abbreviated offseason. Wouldn't signing offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie have been less of a gamble?

Or how about denying contact with former Bucs middle linebacker Barrett Ruud—who led the NFL in tackles Week 1—in favor of rookie Mason Foster.

Foster was thrown into the fire and abused by Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

If Dominik really had zero interest in Ruud, why not amuse the masses and acknowledge a Paul Posluszny or Nick Barnett to install a veteran into the most important role in the Tampa-2 defense?

It's completely presumptuous and brash to assume the Buccaneers can successfully fill a void with a rookie linebacker who didn't get to participate in mini camps and offseason workouts due to the lockout.

It's asinine to assume E.J. Biggers or Cody Grimm could possibly support Aqib Talib—who seemingly did everything by himself during Sunday's loss.

While constructing a team out of nothing but free agents isn't the necessary recipe to build a winner, infusing veterans in key roles should have been Dominik's top priority.

The season is far from over, and it's too soon to predict anything, but if the Bucs play like they did against the Lions, Dominik needs to take a long look in the mirror.