Tag: Bucs football

Tampa Bay signs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship after tryout

Former Georgia Bulldogs standout kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has found a new NFL home

Former Georgia Bulldogs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship made the most of his minicamp tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have signed Blankenship.

Blankenship elected to sign with Tampa Bay despite having multiple teams interested in him.

Blankenship is feeling healthy and is hoping to win Tampa Bay’s starting kicker role for the 2023 NFL season. He will compete with Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin.

The former Georgia star has connected on 83.9% of his career NFL field goal attempts. He has a career long field goal of 53 yards and has made 54 out of 58 career extra points.

Rodrigo Blankenship made four out of five field goals during the 2022 NFL season. He played for both the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts last season. The Colts, who originally signed Blankenship as an undrafted free agent, cut Blankenship after he missed a potential game-winning field goal in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Rodrigo Blankenship made 80 of 97 career field goals during his time with Georgia from 2016-2019.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Rodrigo Blankenship’s signing via Twitter

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Former Georgia RB Thomas Brown lines up two more NFL interviews

Los Angeles Rams assistant Thomas Brown has a pair of interviews for offensive coordinator openings

Former Georgia running back back and assistant coach Thomas Brown is scheduled to interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers for their open offensive coordinator positions. Brown plans to interview with Tampa Bay, for a second time, on Wednesday and with Carolina on Thursday.

Brown joins Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken as candidates to interview for the Bucs’ offensive coordinator job twice.

Brown is currently the tight ends coach and assistant head coach for the Los Angeles Rams. Brown helped the Rams win a Super Bowl last season. He’s gotten excellent experience under Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay.

Former Georgia running back Thomas Brown is a young, but well-respected NFL coach. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Here’s what Rams Wire said about Thomas Brown’s recently scheduled interviews:

Brown also interviewed for the Cowboys’ and Chargers’ offensive coordinator roles before they went in a different direction, hiring Brian Schottenheimer and Kellen Moore, respectively. Brown met with the Commanders about their OC job, too.

The former Georgia star running back also interviewed with the Houston Texans for their head coach job, but the Texans ended up hiring former San Francisco defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.

During Thomas Brown’s great career at Georgia, he rushed for 2,646 yards and 23 touchdowns on 529 touches. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the news on Thomas Brown’s interviews via Twitter:

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Former UGA star Jake Camarda makes NFL special teams play of the year

Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Jake Camarda may have saved the Bucs’ season after punting the ball following a bad snap

Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Jake Camarda may have saved the Bucs’ season on a play that was nullified by a penalty. Camarda, who stunned the NFL world with he 40-yard dash a the NFL combine, scrambled to get off a punt after he received an awful snap late in the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers.

Camarda, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft, showed off his speed as he eluded Panthers players to nail a punt inside Carolina’s five.

However, the punt was nullified with a penalty on the Bucs. If Camarda would’ve just fallen on the ball, then the Panthers would’ve been set up with excellent field position and a much better chance to defeat the Bucs.

We don’t think any other punter in the NFL would’ve been able to get off a kick in this tough situation. Here’s a look at Camarda’s heroics:

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Report: Todd Gurley trade talks picking up

Per a report, the Los Angeles Rams are in discussions about trading former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley.

Todd Gurley is one the best running backs in the National Football League when he’s 100% healthy. Unfortunately for the Georgia Bulldog great, that pesky knee of Gurley’s has caused him issues, hindering his production and limiting his workload. In 2019, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Gurley is two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees. With reduced production and a substantial contract, it is not shocking that Todd Gurley is frequently brought up in NFL trade talks.

According to a report from Pro Football Talk, those trade talks are picking up.

Given Gurley’s insane contract (good for him), cutting the former Georgia superstar is not really an option for LA.

Earlier this week, we wrote about possible destinations for Gurley if he were to be traded.

Potential destinations for Georgia great Todd Gurley if traded by Rams

Some potential destinations if the Los Angeles Rams trade former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley during NFL free agency.

Former Georgia running back Todd Gurley has reportedly had his name floated around in trade talks by the Los Angeles Rams recently.

Michael Silver was the first to report the news of the trade talks.

Gurley is two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees. With reduced production and a substantial contract, it is not shocking that Todd Gurley is frequently brought up in NFL trade talks.

Silver added to his report, noting the Rams are seeking a draft pick in return if they do trade the two-time All-Pro running back — the pick would be something in the range of the second to fourth round.

Then there’s the option to flat-out cut Gurley, but Silver mentioned how difficult that would be given his $20.15 million dead cap hit if he were to be released.

Gurley is meant for Los Angeles and it’s a shame his knee injury is holding him back from being the superstar running back he was early in his career.

However, Gurley, 25, still has plenty of gas left in the tank and continued to show flashes of brilliance last season on the Rams.

Cameron DaSilva at RamsWire took a look at where Gurley may end up if a trade is put in place.

RamsWire noted the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Bucs and Denver Broncos would seem to be potential trade partners for Gurley and the Rams.

DaSilva on why the Dolphins would be an ideal trade partner:

They’re in a complete rebuild and while it might seem counterproductive to trade for someone like Gurley, it would give them a player for fans to get excited about. They have $70.75 million in cap space right now and five picks in the first three rounds, so trade ammo isn’t a question.

There isn’t a team that makes more sense for Gurley than the Dolphins. They could part ways with their third- and fourth-round picks and still have plenty of assets for their rebuild.

For what it’s worth, Gurley already vacations in Miami often. Also, I cannot picture him anywhere other than a big-market team in a big-time city like Miami, New York or Los Angeles.

On the Broncos, DaSilva discussed Denver’s three third-round draft picks and how the team will likely be looking for a new running back via free agency or the draft. Would two third-round picks be enough to get Gurley to Denver?

Click here to see what DaSilva had to say about Gurley going to the Bucs.