10 Candidates for Exile from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013

In case yesterday's 41-0 trouncing at the hands of the New Orleans Saints was not indication enough, this just in...the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2012 campaign is as good as done.

That being the case, it is never too early to look ahead to what hopefully is a brighter, more successful season. With the draft process far from completion it may be silly to throw out names of players the Buccaneers should look to draft.

On the other hand, we can easily discern which players (and perhaps coaches) need to go.

10. Michael Koenen

This first one may puzzle you, but if you break down the reasoning, it makes a ton of sense.

First there is the money. Koenen is set to make $3.25 million over the next four seasons. I know Rich Eisen would disagree, but punters are not worth that kind of change. Tampa Bay could easily find a young rugby or Australian rules player to fill in for cheap. Anyone remember Kai Forbath? He is doing just fine for Washington.

Head coach Greg Schiano recently gave a proposal that he thinks kickoffs should be removed from the NFL. This would eliminate perhaps the most critical part of Koenen's game. Without kickoffs (unlikely to happen), number nine is definitely not worth his price tag.

Schiano was also quick to mention Koenen's less than stellar punt towards the end of the Philadelphia game—mind you it was his 10th punt—as part of explaining the loss in his post game comments. When asked in his post game conference to explain why he chose to run the ball on 3rd-and-7, with the game in the balance, part of Schiano's explanation was,

"

"We didn't have a great punt."

"

Perhaps Koenen is first on the chopping block.

9. Danny Gorrer

To be fair, cornerback Danny Gorrer probably would have never seen the field in a perfect world. As Buccaneers fans have quickly learned, however, in the NFL the world is rarely perfect.

Two weeks in a row, Gorrer dropped what could have been a pivotal interception. Most likely his case of the butterfingers in the Saints game would not have mattered much, but he single or double-handedly could have turned what became a loss into a win against the Eagles. 

With time winding down, Nick Foles threw a pinpoint pass right to the hands of Gorrer, the best incompletion of Foles' career thus far. Soon after, the Eagles scored and all but sealed the fate of the 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

8. Myron Lewis

Since the Buccaneers run out the worst pass defense in the NFL, we may as well focus on this bumbling unit some more.

It's reasonable for teams to let their early draft picks develop for the length of their contract.

By the same token, it is reasonable to cut ties with a player like Myron Lewis. The former third-round pick has appeared in 28 games and accounted for 19 tackles, three pass deflections and zero interceptions during his service time in the NFL. 

Numbers never lie, this case is no exception.

8. Roscoe Parrish

This one is pretty simple. If you are going to have a player who does nothing but return kicks or punts, he had better be a game changer. Nine yards per return just does not change games. Parrish just is not the player he was in his mid-to-late 20s.

Have a nice retirement Roscoe.

7. Quincy Black

This one bothers me a little, but only because of the ugly injury Quincy Black suffered against San Diego. 

That, however, is part of the reasoning. If he is not back to his old self, the Buccaneers cannot afford to pay out nearly $6 million to Black.

If he is back to his old self, the Buccaneers still cannot afford to pay out nearly $6 million to Black over the next three seasons. 

Without a doubt, Bryan Cox has done wonders with Mason Foster, and Lavonte David is an animal. Adding a third play-making linebacker would not only improve the run defense, but if he were the right kind of player, perhaps improve the pass defense as well.

6. D.J. Ware

While it is nice to give coaches like offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan players they are comfortable with, D.J. Ware needs to go.

This one is more about the opportunities he is taking away from Doug Martin than a lack of production on his part. From day one, both Greg Schiano and Mark Dominick have preached about how Martin is a three-down back a la Ray Rice. 

Despite this mantra, Martin consistently comes off of the field for Ware on third downs. Perhaps this has something to do with how little the team involves LeGarrette Blount.

Whatever the case, with both Blount and Ware are restricted free agents this offseason. Tampa Bay should allow Ware to walk and sign Blount to a third-round tender and take trade offers. Then the Buccaneers should find a supplement to Martin who they trust on any down, so that Martin can more often be a threat on the most important down.

5. Jeremy Trueblood

Jeremy Trueblood has always been a great run blocker with a mean streak, all indications are that he is a great teammate and locker room guy as well. 

This offseason he will be an unrestricted free agent. Regardless of pleas from friend and linemate Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay needs to cut ties. 

He lost his starting job during the preseason, and he then was injured and lost for the season when he finally did get some playing time.

If Trueblood finally does move on from the Buccaneers, the door will be opened to bring in a young tackle who can be groomed on the right side and eventually slide in on the left side when Donald Penn's contract expires in 2015. 

4. Ted Larsen

To be blunt, Ted Larsen is not a good NFL offensive lineman. He should not be a starter in this league, not at center nor at guard.

Injuries happen though, so he was thrust into his starting role which he was then benched from earlier in the season.

One thing Larsen does have a knack for is penalties. He has killed countless drives with numerous penalties, and he shows no signs of stopping.

This season has proven that quality offensive-line depth is pivotal in the NFL. The key word in that statement is "quality," and Larsen does not fit in Tampa Bay.

3. Arrelious Benn

The man they call "Regis" has fallen flat on his back time and time again, but he is the next contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, set to make over a million dollars next season. 

Benn, a player who was drafted ahead of Mike Williams, has so much potential, but he has failed to produce on the field and stay on the field.

He accumulated a total of 26 receiving yards and 16 rushing yards in eight games this season. He did, however, amass over 300 kick-return yards, but as we said before, return men need to be game changers.

This one is tough, and I am glad I don't have final say here, but the Buccaneers could definitely use another "slot-style" receiver. If they feel like there is a better or perhaps cheaper option available, no one could fault the team for getting rid of Benn.

By the same token, Benn is the only player on this list it would make sense to keep around for one more season.

2. Bill Sheridan

The defensive prowess or lack thereof in Tampa is a large part of nearly every loss that the Buccaneers have suffered and a small part of nearly every win.

There are surely injuries and a general lack of talent on the back end, but accountability is something that Greg Schiano is known for. If he does not get rid of defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, than how accountable is anyone?

There has been no understanding of coverage schemes, an extreme lack of pass rush and most disturbing, perhaps, a bend-but-don't-break attitude which is often broken. 

There are plenty of candidates that Schiano could look at, but that is for another article. In the mean time we can just be satisfied knowing he should be gone.

1. Eric Wright

Vincent Jackson has been fantastic, and Carl Nicks was great until he went on injured reserve, but Eric Wright was simply a mistake. 

We could go back and rehash last offseason, and look at players like Brandon Carr who could have had similar contracts, but that is not productive. 

We can however, look at the season that was for Wright. He made a breathtaking play against the Giants in Week 2, as he took his lone interception of the season through the sea of blue jerseys, as he trekked 60 yards for a half-ending touchdown. The rest of the season was, for lack of a better word, pedestrian. 

Wright was also suspended, which was perhaps the best thing he could have done for the Buccaneers. Due to some crafty contract writing, Wright only received a bit over $1 million this season. The contract also allowed the once guaranteed $7.75 million a year over the next four seasons to be voided if there was any sort of suspension.

Perhaps Wright should have taken some Adderall when reading his contract—good riddance.