Category: Latest Team News

Adam Schefter reports an ‘unexpected high number of players’ want to join the Bucs and Tom Brady

Now that quarterback Tom Brady is Tampa bound, Adam Schefter reports a high number of players have reached out to the Bucs.

Spring break may be on the back-burner for a number of people due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it seems that Tampa Bay is suddenly becoming the hot destination for NFL players now that quarterback Tom Brady is expected to sign with the Buccaneers.

Brady, the six-time Super Bowl champion who announced his decision to leave New England earlier this week, will undergo a physical in New York today while the language in his contract gets hammered out. And, not surprisingly, now that Brady is Tampa bound, other players are hoping to follow suit, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Tampa Bay, which hasn’t been to the postseason since 2007, is suddenly looking like a formidable NFC contender. Brady brings experience and leadership with him, and with a stacked offense, the Bucs will be one of the most feared teams in the league next year.

Players who sign with the Bucs would not only get a chance to play on the same team as the greatest quarterback of all time, but they get to play in sunny Florida where there’s no state income tax.

It seems one Hall of Fame wide receiver is already on board with the idea.

Maybe I should reach out to the Bucs, too…

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Gregg Rosenthal thinks the Patriots would prefer Cam Newton over Jameis Winston

See why Gregg Rosenthal believes the New England Patriots would be more willing to roll the dice on Cam Newton than Jameis Winston.

The NFL world is still processing the news that Tom Brady is expected to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after officially ending his 20-year run with the New England Patriots.

The six-time Super Bowl champion will look to return the Bucs to the postseason for the first time since 2007, and his arrival will reignite a Bucs fan base ready for a return to the glory days.

But, let’s not forget that Brady’s arrival marks the end of Jameis Winston’s tenure with the Bucs. The former No. 1 overall pick is still without a home, and now that Teddy Bridgewater will be joining the Carolina Panthers, it seems that Cam Newton is also a quarterback lost in the wind.

So, could either one of them end up in New England to replace the Golden Boy? Gregg Rosenthal over at NFL.com pondered the Patriots’ quarterback situation, and suggested that if it came down to it, Newton may be the choice over Winston.

Per Rosenthal:

“The Patriots are perhaps the only team left without an expected starter, although second-year pro Jarrett Stidham is likely a bigger factor in Bill Belichick’s head than that of the public at large. Still, Belichick loves value. It would be a very Patriots-like move to pick up a former No. 1 overall draft pick at quarterback at a deep discount price. My instinct says that Josh McDaniels would rather come up with a new offense for Cam than trust Winston to avoid mistakes, but Belichick has options.”

It certainly doesn’t help Winston’s case that he threw for 30 interceptions in a contract year. With Bruce Arians throwing in the towel on the former Heisman Trophy winner, it might be hard for Winston to convince another franchise to hand over the reigns of their offense to him.

In all likelihood, Winston may have to settle for a backup role. But, as several media members have suggested, including Peter King of NBC Sports, that might not be such a bad thing if Winston were to wind up with an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sitting for a year and learning behind an experienced quarterback could pay dividends in the long run.

Unfortunately, for Winston, he won’t get the chance to sit behind Brady in Tampa Bay.

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Bill Barnwell gives Brady to the Bucs ‘a rare A’

See why Bill Barnwell of ESPN handed out a rare ‘A’ when grading Tom Brady’s expected decision to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL world is still reacting to the news that Tom Brady is expected to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The six-time Super Bowl champion announced on Instagram yesterday that he was leaving the New England Patriots after a historic 20-year run. Speculation was that Brady would wind up in either Los Angeles with the Chargers or Tampa Bay with the Bucs. In the end, Tampa Bay had more to offer.

Now that Brady will be teaming up with two-time NFL Coach of the Year Bruce Arians, along with one of the league’s best offenses that features playmakers like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and, yes, O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay has gone from dark horse playoff contender to dark horse Super Bowl contender.

The move has drawn the praise of many sportswriters, including Bill Barnwell of ESPN. The often stingy grader of NFL moves was so impressed by this one, that in his breakdown of the Brady-to-Tampa news, he handed out a “rare A.” Barnwell broke down the move at length, and in the end, summed it up best with this:

“Of the quarterbacks who were available to the Buccaneers, Brady had the highest short-term floor and ceiling. For whatever off-field benefits Brady will offer the Bucs, no free-agent signing is going to move his team closer to a Super Bowl than Brady with the Bucs. Even if it fails miserably, this team had a chance to sign the greatest quarterback of all time to fill an enormous position of need on its roster.”

There’s no question the NFC South will become the must-watch division next year. If the NFL is smart, they should just book every Brady divisional game on prime-time right now.

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This stat about Tom Brady and Bucs QBs is mind-boggling

Find out just how great Tom Brady is when compared to former Buccaneers quarterbacks.

Pinch yourselves all you want, Bucs fans, it seems the dream is about to become reality.

After witnessing one of the most bizarrely spectacular seasons ever by a QB last year with Jameis Winston — who threw for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions — the Buccaneers are about to land the best quarterback to ever play the game.

Tom Brady announced yesterday that he was leaving the New England Patriots after 20 years, and before the day was over, it was reported that the Bucs were expected to be his new team.

Tampa Bay offers Brady a high-powered offense, an experienced head coach and a team desperate to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2007. And, if you want to know how Brady stacks up against former Bucs QBs, this stat from Schefter will put it into perspective.

Brady to the Bucs will also provide the NFL with its dream scenario: two divisional games next year between Brady and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints (I got chills just writing that). Oh, let’s not forget, too, the two divisional games between the Bucs and Atlanta Falcons, which will feature Brady going up against Matt Ryan in a Super Bowl LI rematch.

Best of all? Brady won’t have to wear those ridiculous alarm clock jerseys, as the Bucs will unveil their redesigned uniforms next month. The question now is, how much will Brady pay Chris Godwin for that No. 12 jersey?

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Report: Bucs make strong offer to QB Tom Brady

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gone all in on their offer to quarterback Tom Brady, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

The Tom Brady era is officially over in New England, as the six-time Super Bowl champion took to his Instagram account today to thank Patriots fans everywhere for the 20 years of memories.

Now a free agent for the first time in his career, Brady will now likely wind up in either Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers or Los Angeles with the Chargers. And, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports, the Bucs have gone ahead and made a strong offer to the Golden Boy.

Take a look.

If we are just talking football, then Tampa Bay is a no-brainer in terms of where Brady should go. A two-time NFL Coach of the Year in Bruce Arians would give Brady a veteran leader on the sideline, plus, he’d get to throw to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

However, as many have pointed out, in Brady’s Instagram post he referred to himself as a “California kid,” leading some to speculate he is LA-bound, especially when you consider the glitz and glamour Hollywood provides him and his supermodel wife, Gisele Bündchen.

Time will tell.

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The market for QB Tom Brady is down to these three teams

See which three teams are currently in the market for the services of six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the market for Tom Brady, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The news should come as no surprise given that the Golden Boy’s name has been linked to Tampa Bay for weeks now. The Bucs can offer Brady the chance to pair up with an experienced head coach in Bruce Arians and two of the game’s best receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Plus, there’s tight end O.J. Howard, who the Patriots inquired about at the trade deadline in October before being told “no” by Tampa Bay.

The Chargers, of course, can provide Brady with the glitz and glamour of playing in Los Angeles, but let’s face it, it’s the Chargers. They aren’t exactly the most exciting team around. Also, Florida has no state income tax, so if Brady wants to get the most bang for his buck, Tampa Bay is the way to go.

Don’t forget, too, that Dianna Russini of ESPN reported last week that any team looking to sign Brady would have to give him a say in the roster and play-calling decisions. Tampa Bay is apparently willing to do both to sign him.

Stay tuned…

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Report: Jason Pierre-Paul returning to Buccaneers on two-year deal

JPP played only 10 games in 2019 after suffering a fractured neck last offseason, but in those games, he totaled 8.5 sacks.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on star linebacker Shaq Barrett today, keeping the 2019 NFL sack leader in the bay for at least another year, and, hopefully, longer.

But, that’s not the only big news of the day for the Bucs defense. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team has agreed on a new two-year deal with pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul. JPP played only 10 games in 2019 after suffering a fractured neck last offseason, but in those games, he totaled 8.5 sacks and helped draw some of the pressure off of Barrett. Bringing Pierre-Paul back along with Barrett ensures the Bucs’ defense will have two of their biggest stars playing for Todd Bowles for the foreseeable future.

Is it too soon for Bucs fans to start thinking playoffs? Of course not!

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Buccaneers place franchise tag on Shaquil Barrett

The Buccaneers have tagged Shaquil Barrett, keeping him in Tampa Bay for one more year.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t going to risk losing the NFL’s 2019 sack leader in free agency. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bucs are placing the franchise tag on Shaquil Barrett, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Tampa Bay had until 11:59 a.m. ET on Monday to use the franchise tag.

Barrett led the league with 19.5 sacks last season, breaking out in a big way in his first season with the Buccaneers. His previous career-high was 5.5 sacks with the Broncos in 2015, and his 37 QB hits in 2019 were more than he had in the previous five years combined.

With Barrett tagged, Jameis Winston is set to hit the free-agent market on Wednesday afternoon. The legal tampering period begins on Monday at noon, which is when Winston’s agent can begin contacting teams and discussing terms of a contract.

Assuming Barrett is tagged with an outside linebacker designation instead of defensive end, the franchise tag is expected to be worth $15.8 million for the 2020 season. Last offseason, Barrett signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers now have until July 15 to sign Barrett to a long-term extension, otherwise he’ll play the season out on the tag – which he’s said he’s willing to do.

Buccaneers willing to ‘give Tom Brady the things he needs’ to sign him

When it comes to QB Tom Brady, it appears the Buccaneers are ready to pull out all the stops to sign the six-time Super Bowl champ.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t been to the postseason since 2007, and haven’t won a playoff game since their victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII following the 2002 season. But this offseason could change all that.

The Bucs have lots of cap room to make a splash in free agency, and the big fish out there right now is quarterback Tom Brady, who has been linked to Tampa Bay thanks to their high-powered offense and veteran head coach. While picturing Brady in a Bucs uniform may be hard for some, Bucs fans are dreaming of seeing him don their new threads in 2020.

While Brady will have plenty of suitors once free agency starts next week, Dianna Russini of ESPN reported last week on “Get Up!” that the Golden Boy has two big “wants” that he’ll be looking for in his new team — control over the roster and making decisions on play-calling. And, according to Russini, the Bucs seem more than willing to comply.

Per Russini:

“I talked to Tampa Bay. They would love to have Tom Brady. They are willing to give Tom Brady the things he needs, he wants.”

John Breech over at CBS Sports points out the fact, too, that next year’s Super Bowl will be played in Tampa Bay, meaning Brady, if he signs with the Bucs, would have a chance at being the first quarterback ever to play a Super Bowl in his home stadium.

While the Super Bowl may be a bit of a reach, if Brady were to get the Bucs back to the postseason that would be a huge victory for the franchise and only add to Brady’s legacy. If you are Tampa Bay, you pull out all the stops to get a guy like Brady.

And, apparently, it seems they are going to do just that.

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Gil Brandt of NFL.com thinks Jason Pierre-Paul should stay with the Buccaneers

See why Gil Brandt feels DE Jason Pierre-Paul would benefit by staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers once free agency starts.

NFL free agency is scheduled to start next week, and based on the number of big-name free agents hitting the open market, it has the potential to rock the NFL landscape for the foreseeable future.

Guys like Tom Brady and Philip Rivers will test the free agency waters for the first time in their illustrious careers, while others like Jameis Winston may, unfortunately, be forced to find a new home if their respective teams decide to move on.

One Tampa Bay Buccaneers player sure to get a strong look from teams is Jason Pierre-Paul. The pass rusher, who missed the start of last season while recovering from a fractured neck suffered in the offseason, finished the year with 8.5 sacks in just 10 games. And while JPP may have posted a cryptic message last month implying his time in Tampa Bay could be over, Gil Brandt over at NFL.com says Pierre-Paul would be wise to stay where he is.

Per Brandt:

“[JPP] played a significant role in Barrett’s 19.5-sack season. After Barrett’s hot start (nine sacks in his first four games), opposing offensive lines began to focus on him, cutting down on his production — until Pierre-Paul returned from offseason neck surgery in Week 8, forcing opponents to account for two potent pass-rushing threats. Barrett went on to notch 10.5 more sacks in his final 10 games, while JPP added 8.5 of his own. If the Bucs lock down Barrett and make a competitive offer to JPP, he should think about re-teaming with Barrett and continuing to build on the momentum they established in Tampa last season.”

Bruce Arians has indicated that Barrett “ain’t going nowhere,” but it remains to be seen whether the Bucs will retain him via the franchise tag or a long-term deal.

Tampa Bay’s defense is on the rise, and JPP has shown he can dominate in Todd Bowles’ defense. The Bucs have a strong chance of making it to the postseason next year, and having Pierre-Paul on their roster would certainly help bolster their odds of making the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

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