Tag: bucs pro bowl

Bucs players falling behind in Pro Bowl Games fan voting

Only three Bucs players are in the top 10 of their positions in fan voting so far.

There are certainly a few Tampa Bay Buccaneers players who deserve a Pro Bowl nod, but the team isn’t well-represented in early polling.

NFL reporter Tom Pelissero released the initial results for Pro Bowl fan voting on Wednesday, and Tampa Bay’s representatives can only be found sparingly. Of every position group, only three Bucs are in the top 10 — and all of them are in the lower bracket of their respective positions.

Left tackle Tristan Wirfs is the highest-ranked Bucs player in any group, sitting at eighth place among all offensive tackles. Defensive lineman Vita Vea is currently sitting at 10th place among DLs and Bucs wideout and kick returner Deven Thompkins is 10th among return specialists. Bucs WR Mike Evans, who is having one of the best campaigns of his career right now, isn’t in the top 10 at his position, and neither is Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who is having an All-Pro-caliber campaign in 2023.

It should be noted that Pro Bowl Games fan voting is only a part of the selection process for the Pro Bowl Games. Fan vote counts for a third of the votes, while NFL players also get a third and NFL coaches do, too. That means that it’s still very possible that some Tampa Bay players could make it, but it appears unlikely at the moment that fan voting will be a big part of their nomination.

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Field Yates thinks Shaq Barrett’s Pro Bowl selection is a surprise, but that’s a good thing

See why NFL analyst Field Yates thinks Shaquil Barrett’s Pro Bowl selection is a big surprise. Hint: it’s a good thing.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not be heading to the postseason, but at 7-7 and riding a four-game winning-streak the Bucs can actually look forward to what the future holds for them, which is something they haven’t been able to say in years past with much confidence.

The Bucs have shown tremendous growth this season under first-year head coach Bruce Arians, and, not surprisingly, three of his players have been selected to the 2020 Pro Bowl.

As ESPN analysts went through the roster shortly after its release, they wrote about what surprised them the most. Field Yates said Barrett’s selection was a surprise, but it’s not a shot at the Pro Bowl linebacker in anyway.

Here’s what Yates said:

“That Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett made it, and it was well-deserved. The surprise traces back to this offseason, as Barrett signed a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. He’s now the NFL’s leader in sacks (16.5) and a Pro Bowler. What a tremendous job by Barrett and outstanding signing by general manager Jason Licht.”

I doubt you’ll find many willing to argue that Barrett’s signing wasn’t the best move of the offseason. He’s more than exceeded his contract and has earned a big pay day when he becomes a free agent.

Barrett took to Instagram to post this message shortly after he was selected to the Pro Bowl.

Congrats to all three players!

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2020 NFL Pro Bowl: See which Bucs should be selected

Find out which Tampa Bay Buccaneers players should expect to find a spot on the Pro Bowl roster.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not be going to the postseason, but they still have a lot of pride on the line these last two games.

The Bucs are riding a four-game winning-streak thanks to Sunday’s big 38-17 win over the Detroit Lions in which quarterback Jameis Winston became the first player in NFL history to throw for 450 yards in back-to-back weeks. Winston is on pace to surpass 5,000 passing yards this season, which would make him just the eighth quarterback in NFL history to accomplish that feat.

Unfortunately, Winston also leads the league in interceptions with 24, so as strong as he’s been the past few weeks, a Pro Bowl selection might not be in the cards for the quarterback when the rosters are announced tonight.

So, which Buccaneers should expect to find themselves playing in the NFL’s All-Star game? These four seem like the strongest candidates.

Godwin and Evans have both had outstanding years, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards each. While a Pro Bowl Selection definitely seems in the cards for the pair, they’ve both suffered hamstring injuries the past two weeks that will likely keep them out for the remainder of the season. Not sure if they or the team would want them playing in the Pro Bowl.

Barrett seems like a virtual lock to get selected. The first-year Buccaneer has already tied Warren Sapp for the Bucs’ single-season sack record with 16.5, which also leads the NFL.

With guys like this on the roster, the Bucs are legitimate postseason contenders heading into 2020, assuming they retain Barrett.

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