Tag: buccaneers news

Gronk and the Buccaneers come to the rescue for this Tampa high school

Rob Gronkowski is teaming up with the Buccaneers to help out a local Tampa high school and their football team.

Rob Gronkowski hasn’t played a down yet for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he and his new team are already teaming up to help out a local Tampa high school who lost their football equipment after their storage shed burned down in a fire.

Per ESPN:

“Blake High School will get a replacement for the 10-by-20 shed, along with all necessary football equipment. The Gronk Youth Foundation and Bucs Foundation split the cost.”

Take a look at this video Gronk posted on his Instagram page, announcing plans to help out the Blake Yellow Jackets.

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Bruce Arians’ reason for wanting fans in stadiums is hilarious

See what Bruce Arians had to say when talking about the possibility of NFL teams playing in empty stadiums in 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic has interrupted sports leagues around the world, and if and when the NFL kicks off its 2020 season, one of the proposed ideas to ensure public safety is playing games in empty stadiums. While that might not be the ideal situation for either the league or its fans, it’s an option that’s on the table at this point.

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians spoke at length on a Zoom call with reporters yesterday on a wide variety of topics, from the national protests to his new quarterback Tom Brady. And, when talking about the possibility of playing in an empty stadium, Arians had a pretty hilarious response.

Take a look.

Arians is certainly not one to shy away from the use of colorful language. In fact, when he interviewed for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job back in 2013, Arians dropped several F-bombs almost immediately. It didn’t seem to hurt him, though, as he ended up getting the gig.

If the Bucs do have to play games without fans, I think the NFL would be wise to mic up Arians for those games. I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear him?

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Model Camille Kostek shows Gronk love on Instagram for his birthday

See what model Camille Kostek had to say on Instagram when wishing Rob Gronkowski a happy birthday.

More birthday wishes for Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, who turned 31 today.

Teammate and buddy Tom Brady already posted a happy birthday message to Gronk on his Instagram story. Now, Gronk’s girlfriend, model Camille Kostek, has done the same.

Take a look at some of Kostek’s photos from her story.

It’s good to be Gronk.

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Tom Brady wants you to wake him up ‘When September Ends’

Buccaneers QB Tom Brady took to Instagram yesterday to celebrate the release of the team’s 2020 regular-season schedule.

The 2020 NFL schedule was released last night, and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tom Brady era will kick off with a bang — in the Superdome against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

The Bucs will play five prime-time games this season, including a Super Bowl XXXVII rematch against the now-Las Vegas Raiders and their head coach Jon Gruden, who coached the Bucs to victory in their Super Bowl win.

Brady has plenty of experience playing in big games, but this will be the first time in two decades he’ll be playing for a new coach and a new organization. The six-time Super Bowl champion seems excited about the next chapter in his career, and took to Instagram yesterday to post the schedule along with Green Day’s hit song “Wake Me up When September Ends.”

Take a look at a screenshot from his story below.

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Dan Graziano thinks Bucs will ‘most likely’ pick up O.J. Howard’s fifth-year option

Dan Graziano over at ESPN.com predicts the Bucs most likely pick up the fifth-year option of tight end O.J. Howard.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made headlines last week when they traded for retired tight end Rob Gronkowski, who will end his one-year absence from football to join the Bucs and reunite with Tom Brady.

The move for Gronk fueled speculation that tight end O.J. Howard could be on the move. After a disappointing 2019, it seemed the former first-round pick might not be around to catch passes from Brady next year. But GM Jason Licht came out last week to address the Howard speculation, and it now seems like the Bucs are content keeping him around.

With Howard staying put, Dan Graziano at ESPN.com says the Bucs picking up Howard’s fifth-year option is “most likely happening” now.

Per Graziano:

“Bucs general manager Jason Licht said in February that the team would pick up Howard’s fifth-year option. That was before the team traded for Rob Gronkowski — a deal that intensified the speculation around the league that Howard could be traded. But with the tight end option number coming in under $9 million, picking it up wouldn’t hurt Howard’s value even if they did decide to move him.”

It’s a smart decision by the Bucs. Howard is still young and has plenty of talent, so it’s too soon to give up on him just yet. The Bucs can only hope that working with Brady and Gronk will help elevate his game. If not, they can trade him down the road.

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Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen help feed the Tampa community during coronavirus crisis

New Bucs QB Tom Brady and his wife Gisele Bündchen have paid for meals to help feed the Tampa community amid the coronavirus crisis.

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady may be new to the Tampa community, but that hasn’t stopped the future Hall of Fame quarterback and his wife Gisele Bündchen from helping those in need during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Brady and Gisele have made a sizable contribution to feed those in need during this tough time. Take a look.

Per the Tampa Bay Times:

“Feeding Tampa Bay is the largest food rescue and distribution organization in the community. It has mobilized during the coronavirus to provide thousands of meals to children who normally eat breakfast and lunch at schools, and to seniors whose communities have limited or banned visitors.”

Brady isn’t just about making Tampa better on the field. He’s going to do what he can to make the community stronger as a whole off of it, too.

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Why a lost offseason could hurt Tom Brady

Jenna Laine of ESPN explains why a lost offseason may ultimately hurt new Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hoping Tom Brady can end their postseason drought, which currently stands at 12-straight seasons.

Brady, the six-time Super Bowl champion, has 30 playoffs victories, the most of any quarterback ever. The Bucs, who haven’t won a postseason game since their Super Bowl XXXVII win following the 2002 season, believe Brady is the missing piece to their playoff puzzle. After all, Tampa Bay’s offense was tied for third in scoring last season, even with Jameis Winston throwing 30 interceptions. Put a future Hall of Famer like Brady under center and a postseason berth seems all but certain, right?

The problem right now for the Bucs and Brady, though, is the lack of in-person training and interaction that’s resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. Even the 2020 NFL draft will be fully virtual, according to a memo from commissioner Roger Goodell.

As Jenna Laine of ESPN points out, a lost offseason could ultimately hurt Brady and his preparation for the 2020 season.

Per Laine:

“Coach Bruce Arians said he sees some similarities between the Bucs’ and Patriots’ playbooks, but Brady will still need time to adjust to different personnel. ‘Julian Edelman runs certain routes and Chris Godwin runs certain routes and they’re very similar, but they are different people,’ Arians said. ‘That part is going to be the harder part — getting them together. … As soon as it’s safe to do all that, I’m sure they’re going to do it on their own.’ Arians added that he, too, has to get to know Brady, but they can do that collaboration electronically.”

Electronic collaboration is fine, but it can’t replace the in-person collaboration between players. Brady can talk all day on the phone with Arians or Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but figuring out timing on routes needs to be done on the field. And, if Arians’ offense is as complicated as it seems — even if he is making adjustments to accommodate Brady — then it could take some time once the season rolls around for the Bucs offense to really start clicking.

Hopefully, training camp will start without a hitch and Brady will find the right groove with his receivers.

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Warren Sapp sounds off on people not practicing social distancing

Tampa Bay Buccaneers great Warren Sapp was none too pleased to see people not practicing social distancing.

It’s a strange time for all of us as the world deals with the effects of the coronavirus. Sports has come to a halt, as has much of daily life for many people. One of the best ways to ensure health and safety right now is to practice social distancing.

In many stores, you’ll find signs instructing people to keep a safe distance from each other, especially around the checkout line. Should be easy enough to understand, right? Well, apparently not.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hall of Famer Warren Sapp took to his Instagram the other day to sound off on those not taking things seriously. Take a look.

If stores can’t get people to practice social distancing, maybe they can get Sapp to come in and put them in line. Literally.

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New 2020 mock draft suggests the Bucs may reach on an OT

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports has the Bucs taking an offensive tackle in round one, but suggests it might be a reach.

The first wave of free agency has been kind to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not only did they re-sign both Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul, as well as franchise tag Shaq Barrett, but they also landed the biggest fish on the market: QB Tom Brady.

With Brady now Tampa bound, the Bucs are looking to end their postseason drought and hopefully become the first team ever to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. Super Bowl LV will take place at Raymond James Stadium next year, and Brady would love nothing more than to get back to the big game with his new team.

But, in order to have a shot at making history, the Bucs will have to make sure they keep the 42-year-old Brady upright. Offensive line was a major issue for Tampa Bay last year, evident by the 47 sacks Jameis Winston took. Mock drafts everywhere have the Bucs taking an offensive tackle in round one of next month’s draft, the only question is which one? Charley Casserly of NFL.com thinks Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs will be the pick, but Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports thinks it will be Houston’s Josh Jones, though he suggests it might be a reach at No. 14.

Per Trapasso:

“This is probably the highest you’ll see Jones, but the Buccaneers have to take the offensive line seriously with Tom Brady in the mix.”

It’s interesting Trapasso thinks Jones at 14 could be a reach. In Will Brinson’s most recent mock draft, he predicted the Bucs traded down in the first round with the Las Vegas Raiders from 14 to 19, where they then snagged Jones. If Tampa Bay can acquire more picks by trading down and still grab an OT in round one, it might be worth the risk.

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A look at Tom Brady’s record and stats against every Bucs opponent in 2020

Take a look now at how new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has fared against every opponent he’ll face in 2020.

While the 2020 NFL schedule won’t be released until next month, you can be sure that more than a few Tampa Bay Buccaneers games will be on prime-time. That’s what happens when you sign the greatest quarterback of all time to lead one the league’s best offenses.

With six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady now a member of the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay will find themselves heading into the 2020 season with something they haven’t had to deal with in a while: expectations.

Fortunately, Brady knows a thing or two about winning. With that, take a look below at the opponents the Bucs will face next year and what the Golden Boy’s record and stats are against them.

HOME

  • Atlanta Falcons (5-0, 11 TD, 1 INT)
  • Carolina Panthers (2-3, 6 TD, 5 INT)
  • Green Bay Packers (3-2, 10 TD,  3 INT)
  • Kansas City Chiefs (5-4, 11 TD, 8 INT)
  • Los Angeles Chargers (6-2, 15 TD, 5 INT)
  • Los Angeles Rams (3-1, 8 TD, 2 INT)
  • Minnesota Vikings (5-0, 10 TD, 2 INT)
  • New Orleans Saints (4-1, 11 TD, 3 INT)

AWAY

  • Atlanta Falcons (5-0, 11 TD, 1 INT)
  • Carolina Panthers (2-3, 6 TD, 5 INT)
  • Chicago Bears (5-0, 14 TD, 4 INT)
  • Denver Broncos (7-6, 26 TD, 6 INT)
  • Detroit Lions (4-2, 7 TD, 4 INT)
  • Las Vegas Raiders (4-1, 8 TD, 0 INT)
  • New Orleans Saints (4-1, 11 TD, 3 INT)
  • New York Giants (4-1, 6 TD, 4 INT)

If we only count divisional match-ups with NFC South opponents once –and not twice for both home and away categories — then Brady is 57-23 against teams he and the Buccaneers will face next season, throwing for 143 touchdowns and 47 interceptions in those games. (Those 30 Jameis Winston interceptions from 2019 look even more jaw-dropping now.)

What’s even more exciting to think of is the prospect that Brady will be playing in a warm-weather environment for the first time in his career. No more having to deal with frigid snow and icy rain late in the season, especially come playoff time. If his numbers were gaudy in the northeast, imagine what they’ll be like in sunny Florida.

I’m sure fantasy football owners certainly will.

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