Take It Easy On That Ruud Trade Rumor

Apparently there is a trade rumor floating around that the Bucs are working on a trade deal with the Colts for Barrett Ruud. Steve Duemig strongly hinted at it on his show yesterday, also, which only makes it less credible in my opinion. But the original source of this rumor was supposed to be Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star. Except he has no idea how he got involved.

[Comment From stevie ]
Sure you heard the rumor about you reporting a possible trade for Barrett Ruud?

PHIL B: Yes, someone called me about it this afternoon. I am most amused. And it’s a great lesson as to why people who comb the Internet and consider themselves knowledgable aren’t necessarily so. I have no clue about Ruud. I even typed his name incorrectly when I went to check it out online. But maybe it says something that somebody somewhere things my name could validate a rumor. Whatever.

Comment From [Lucky Horseshoe ]
come on Phil, we all know it was Poliana using your name to leak counterintelligence

PHIL B: Seriously, Lucky, you know me. How do you think someone would put something like that out there? Somebody has to have a motive, right? It doesn’t just appear out of nowhere without someone, somewhere having a motive for putting it out there. I suppose Ruud’s agent could be trying to work the Bucs, or another team interested in landing him, but mentioning my name, well, that’s pretty amusing.

Commenters ask the same questions about Ruud throughout the chat, but Wilson consistently denies that he knows anything about such rumors or why his name was attached to them. So until you hear something from someone more credible than a message board poster, consider this one squashed.

I just can’t imagine why Ruud, of all players, would be the subject of a trade rumor. He’s young, which the team wants. He’s smart, he has experience, he’s productive. The only thing he has going against him is that he skipped OTAs because he wanted to make a point about his contract extension. But he’s hardly a malcontent. Oh, and he’s going to command a big check on his second contract. Why? BECAUSE HE’S GOOD. It makes no sense. If Ruud is truly on the market because the Glazers want to save money and are subscribing to the “We’re winless with you, we can be winless without you” philosophy, they need to sell the team immediately.