The best way to push an inconsistent player is to provide competition.
But the Buccaneers didn’t to that at offensive tackle, which could mean another year or putting up with troublesome weight issues for left tackle Donald Penn.
The 30-year-old tackle is still solid, but according to Mark Cook of PewterReport.com, Cook has “failed to meet most of the weight clauses in his most recent contract.”
That apparently frustrates the organization, but it’s not like they gave themselves many choices.
They didn’t draft a tackle, and spent the big money in the offseason at other positions.
Penn’s safe for the short term, but since he’s owed $22 million over the next three years, it seems the Bucs will be looking for line help a year from now.
UPDATE 12:06 p.m. ET: Penn contends that he’s in great shape and that the report from PewterReport.com is false.