Category: League News

NFL sets salary cap for 2023 season

See how much money NFL teams will get to spend on their rosters in 2023

The NFL salary cap for the 2023 season will be set at $224.8 million, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.

That’s an increase of more than $16 million from the 2022 cap, but even with that expanded number, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still expected to be over the cap by nearly $55 million as things currently stand.

Tampa Bay will obviously have to make some tough decisions and get creative with some current contracts in order to get under the cap at all, let alone enough to re-sign any of their free agents or bring in new replacements.

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Former Washington tackle Trent Williams erred Sunday in Philadelphia

The former Washington left tackle was ejected from the NFC championship game for slamming a Philadelphia defender to the ground.

When Trent Williams concludes his NFL career, he may be headed to Canton, OH and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But Williams revealed again Sunday, there is a side to him that cannot continue to be conveniently overlooked.

Understandably, Williams and his San Francisco 49ers teammates were frustrated Sunday. They had lost their third-string QB Brock Purdy, no longer able to pass, having injured his passing elbow.

Trailing 31-7 with a little over four minutes remaining, Christian McCaffrey ran for six yards to the San Francisco 38.  Well, after the play, Trent Williams walked over to a group of players from both teams in a light skirmish.

Williams could have simply gotten one of his teammates out of there to help dissolve the situation. However, for no apparent good reason, Williams grabbed Philadelphia’s K’Von Wallace and violently hurled Wallace to his back.

Williams wasn’t finished, immediately throwing a couple of punches as well, escalating the entire situation. Williams was appropriately ejected and will most likely be fined as well for behavior that was entirely out of line and is without excuse.

Williams is a terrific left tackle, exhibiting amazing athletic ability and agility his entire career since being drafted by Washington fourth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.

The former Oklahoma Sooner was deservedly elected to the Pro Bowl each season with Washington from 2012-2018 and San Francisco in 2020-22. Even more, he was voted first-team All-Pro 2021-22.

Yet, there is the other side of the coin with Williams. In 2011 Williams was suspended four games by the NFL, and then again in 2016 when Washington was enjoying a 6-3-1 record. Keep in mind this is significant because those NFL four-game suspensions occurred only after multiple failed drug tests or missed tests, or other violations. What’s more, PFT had reported Williams tested positive ten times in 2011.

When Williams sat out the 2019 season, he blamed the Washington medical staff, saying, ” I almost lost my life.” Williams painted a bleak picture, portraying Washington’s staff as irresponsible.

But when the Redskins responded they would be willing to hand over the medical records of the medical care that had been given to Trent Williams, Williams backed off and went silent.

Trent Williams is a great player, but Sunday, he again showed his career has also been marred with numerous times of poor judgment. Williams is now 34, and perhaps isn’t it time he learns that his decisions have had serious consequences?

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Kyle Shanahan using Bucs’ NFC title upset vs. Eagles to inspire 49ers

Kyle Shanahan is hoping his 49ers can deliver a similar upset in Philly this weekend to the one John Lynch and the Bucs scored 20 years ago

This weekend, head coach Kyle Shanahan will hope to lead his San Francisco 49ers to a road upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game, much like the one the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enjoyed 20 years ago.

In fact, Shanahan even used the film of Tampa Bay’s 27-10 win over the Eagles in 2003 to inspire his team during their preparations this week, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic.

Hall of Fame safety John Lynch, a key member of that Bucs team that went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII in dominant fashion, also happens to be the 49ers’ general manager.

Hey, whatever works.

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Bill O’Brien won’t be the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator

There won’t be a reunion between Tom Brady and Bill O’Brien in Tampa Bay

Cross one candidate off the list of potential replacements for Byron Leftwich as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ new offensive coordinator.

Bill O’Brien is headed back to the New England Patriots to take same job he had when he worked with Bucs quarterback Tom Brady previously, agreeing to be the offensive coordinator once again for Bill Belichick.

O’Brien was considered a strong candidate for the same position in Tampa Bay, where his presence might have had an impact on whether or not Brady decides to return for another season with the Bucs in 2023.

The Bucs have yet to announce any formal interviews for their open offensive coordinator job since moving on from Leftwich last week.

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Surprise, bids for Commanders lower than anticipated

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos hasn’t formally submitted a bid for the Commanders.

Sunday, we learned there were actually no $7 billion bids for the Washington Commanders.

Though Forbes had reported there have been multiple bids exceeding the $7B mark, Front Office Sports Sunday disputed the earlier Forbes numbers, stating that there are no bids higher than $6.3 billion.

What had been a foregone conclusion for many was that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos would be bidding. Surprisingly perhaps that may not be the case after all, as Bezos has yet to place a bid on the Commanders.

It has certainly been no secret that Bezos owns the Washington Post and the Post has been a leader in reporting on a toxic workplace culture under Daniel Snyder’s reign of the then-Washington Redskins.

Secondly, there has also been speculation (not actually reported) that Commanders owner Daniel Snyder would determine that he would never sell to Bezos, but would be willing to sell to other bidders, even if it were a bid less than the bid by Bezos.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, we must keep in mind that, as of now, it has yet to be confirmed officially who has actually submitted bids to Bank of America. It was confirmed, however, that Bezos did not officially place a bid.

FedEx Field is a stadium that is not in good condition, and its location is one where traffic is terribly congested. Snyder attempted feverishly in 2022 to get support for a new stadium but could not garner support from elected officials.

All we can confirm at this point is virtually every Washington Commanders fan is now holding their breadth, fearing that Daniel Snyder might not actually sell.

However, though the price may not be as high as Snyder had hoped, Snyder did choose not to attend Sonny Jurgensen’s jersey retirement. This pretty much communicated to Washington fans that Snyder has checked out and did not want to make an appearance, be seen on camera, be asked questions, etc.

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Bucs shut out of NFLPA’s inaugural All-Pro team

The NFLPA released their first-ever All-Pro team Wednesday, and not a single Tampa Bay Buccaneer made the cut

The NFLPA unveiled its first-ever All-Pro team Wednesday, and not a single member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the cut.

This might not be a huge surprise, considering how far the Bucs fell short of their lofty preseason expectations this season. That said, despite the team’s overall struggles for much of the year, they still had some individual performers that could have merited consideration here.

Either way, this might give Tampa Bay even more fuel and motivation as they head into Monday night’s wild-card playoff matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

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Tom Brady donates $10,000 to Damar Hamlin’s charity toy drive

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady shows his support for Bills safety Damar Hamlin with a generous donation to his foundation

There has been an outpouring of support throughout the NFL world for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, as he remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital after suffering cardiac arrest on the field during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

One way fans and fellow NFL players alike are showing support for Hamlin and his family is by donation to his foundation’s charity toy drive.

One of the most recent donations was for $10,000 from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.

The GoFundMe page for the toy drive had a goal set of $2,500, but has since surpassed $4.5 million in donations since Hamlin’s injury.

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Bucs send thoughts, prayers to Bills’ Damar Hamlin

Members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers share their heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin

The NFL world came to a halt Monday night after a scary situation in Cincinnati, as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field after making a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Medical personnel administered CPR, and an ambulance came onto the field to transport Hamlin to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

As news of the situation spread throughout the football family, members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were quick to send their thoughts and prayers to Hamlin and his family:

Kyler Murray suffers knee injury, could miss Week 16 game vs. Bucs

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was carted off the field Monday night after suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury

When the Arizona Cardinals face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Christmas night, they might be without their star quarterback.

Kyler Murray suffered what appears to be a serious knee injury during Monday night’s game against the New England Patriots, putting his availability for the Cards’ Week 16 matchup against the Bucs in serious doubt.

The initial fear is a torn ACL, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, but further tests this week will determine a more firm diagnosis.

Veteran backup Colt McCoy replaced Murray on Monday night, and would likely project as Arizona’s starting quarterback against the Bucs if Murray can’t play.

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Arrest warrant issued for Antonio Brown on domestic violence charge

An arrest warrant has been issued for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown on a domestic violence battery charge

An arrest warrant has been issued for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown on a misdemeanor domestic violence battery charge, per multiple reports.

Brown signed with the Bucs halfway through the 2020 season after serving an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

In December of 2021, Brown was suspended for three games for violating the NFL’s COVID-19 policy after allegedly obtaining a fake vaccine card.

Not long after he returned from that suspension, Brown had a sideline outburst in the middle of Tampa Bay’s road game against the New York Jets, removing most of his uniform and equipment on the sidelines, throwing some of it into the stands, and walking across the field as play continued on his way to the locker room. He was released by the team days later.

More to come.

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