Tag: Bucs

Packers are 2.5-point road underdogs to Buccaneers in Week 3

The Packers are slight road underdogs to the Bucs in Week 2, per Tipico Sportsbook.

The Green Bay Packers will go into Tampa Bay in Week 3 as slight underdogs. But oddsmakers don’t exactly love the unbeaten Buccaneers: The Packers are only 2.5-point road underdogs, per Tipico Sportsbook.

Sunday’s showdown on FOX will be the home opener for the Buccaneers, who beat the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints on the road to open the season. The Packers bounced back from a 16-point defeat in Minnesota in Week 1 by beating the Chicago Bears by 17 points in the home opener last Sunday.

Since Tom Brady arrived in Tampa Bay, the Bucs are 2-0 against the Packers, including a 28-point win at home during the 2020 regular season.

Also, the Bucs are 2-0 against the spread this year.

However, Tampa Bay is beat up along the offensive and defensive lines, and it’s unclear if Mike Evans (suspension), Julio Jones (injury) or Chris Godwin (injury) will play.

The Packers won three games as betting underdogs last season.

Betters are loving Matt LaFleur’s team in this one. As of Wednesday morning, roughly 94 percent of bets and 80 percent of the money took the Packers against the spread, per Tipico.

Note: the betting line at several other sportsbooks has dropped to Packers +1 or Packers +1.5. It’s unclear if Tipico will follow suit. Packers Wire will provide updates throughout the week if the betting line changes.

Tom Brady jokes with new Notre Dame teammate upon signing

We’ll always have 1998, @tombrady.

Former Notre Dame tight [autotag]Kyle Rudolph[/autotag] spent the first 10 years of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings before being a member of the New York Giants in 2021.  After being released earlier this off-season, Rudolph officially has a new home as he’s signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Obviously this means that Rudolph will be teaming up with [autotag]Tom Brady[/autotag] as the legendary quarterback decided to opt out of retirement this off-season.  Perhaps Rudolph can be thankful that Rob Gronkowski stayed retired for this opportunity, but I’m certain he’s thrilled to be joining the Bucs after spending last year with the dumpster fire that is the football Giants.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Brady was quick to show off his sense of humor after the Rudolph signing was made official.

It’s not that I dislike Brady because in fact its the entire opposite, especially as he’s gotten out of New England and become more likable seemingly by the day.  However, imagine making your first collegiate start and not only losing but failing to throw a touchdown pass altogether against an opposing team who was coached by Bob Davie.

Yikes, Tom!

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Former Georgia P Jake Camarda now in position to start for Tampa Bay Bucs

Camarda in position to start for Tampa after this roster move.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to release punter Bradley Pinion on Wednesday, per multiple reports.

This move opens the door for former Georgia punter Jake Camarda, a rookie, to start for the Bucs next season.

The Bucs made Camarda the second punter taken in the 2022 NFL draft when they selected him in the fourth round of April’s event, three spots after Penn State’s Jordan Stout went to the Ravens.

Camarda finished as UGA’s career leader in punting average with a mark of 45.78, surpassing 2009 Ray Guy Award winner Drew Butler (45.4). He punted 47 times in 2021 for an average of 46.7 yards, with a long of 68 yards vs. Alabama.

Camarda ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine faster than nine running backs and nine wide receivers, posting a time of 4.56.

PFF free agency grade: Buffalo Bills TE O.J. Howard

PFF free agency grade: #Bills TE O.J. Howard:

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The Bills were in need of some depth at the tight end position ahead of the 2022 NFL season.

With starting TE Dawson Knox putting up career numbers en route to a franchise record-setting performance this past year, the team looks to have their long-term solution at tight end for years to come. But behind him, the roster is a bit thin at his position.

So on the back of a big news day that saw Buffalo add pass rusher Von Miller on defense, they took time to address offense as well, adding former Buccaneers 2017 first-round selection, TE O.J. Howard, on a one-year deal.

Here’s how Pro Football Focus graded the addition of Howard:

TE O.J. Howard: One year, $3.5 million (up to $5 million)

In brief stretches during his five seasons with the Buccaneers, Howard looked like the player they expected him to be when they made him their first-round selection in 2017, namely pre-injury in 2018 and 2020. But those stretches were much too few and far between. Howard averaged just over 0.1 wins above replacement per season over the course of his rookie deal.

He’ll now get an opportunity to stay healthy and put that behind him in Buffalo while competing for snaps with Dawson Knox. The Bills could look to get two tight ends — Howard and Knox — on the field more with the potential departures of Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley.

Grade: Average

During the start of last year’s offseason, TE was considered a position of need for Buffalo. Knox had not yet taken the next step as he did in 2021, which lead to widespread speculation in the media that the team would add starting talent in free agency or the draft.

Previously, the team had been linked to other free agents such as former Giant Evan Ingram and Western New York native Rob Gronkowski. Instead, the team added Howard to cap off an eventful day.

The 27-year-old is a strong addition by Buffalo who gives QB Josh Allen another big target, the Bills depth at tight end behind Dawson Knox, and who could potentially create a similar TE tandem to the one that helped the Patriots dynasty for a number of years.

Per ESPN Stats & Information, the Bills ran two-or-more tight ends on an NFL-low 100 plays during the 2021 season.

Nonetheless, Knox became a go-to target and was tied for the most touchdown catches by a TE in the NFL last season. Running two-tight end sets on offense with big targets like Knox and Howard on the field could make it even more difficult for opposing defenses to contain the Buffalo offense.

2022 NFL free agency: Potential Eagles target Chris Godwin expected to remain with Bucs

2022 #NFL #freeagency: Potential #Philadelphia #Eagles target #ChrisGodwin will either be tagged or sign a long-term deal with the #Buccaneers

One of the top wide receivers set to hit the open market will be remaining with his current team for at least the next calendar year. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Buccaneers will either place the franchise tag on wide receiver Chris Godwin or reach a new deal with the injured star.

Because the franchise tag puts Godwin among the five highest-paid players at his position, his salary for the 2022 season will cost the Bucs roughly $19.18 million after paying him $15.98 million to play under the franchise tag last season.

Godwin is coming off a 1,103-yard receiving season despite missing the final three games with a torn ACL and MCL, which he underwent surgery to repair on Jan. 3, and he’s logged 1,000-yard seasons catching passes from both Tom Brady and Jameis Winston.

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Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady share cover of ‘Madden NFL 22’

Mahomes is back on the cover of EA Sports’ Madden NFL video game franchise.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is back on the cover of EA Sports’ Madden NFL video game franchise, but this time he’s joined by another player.

After a tease earlier this week, Mahomes officially shared the “Madden NFL 22” cover on his Twitter account. It turned out to be exactly what everyone predicted. Mahomes will share the cover with Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady.

This marks the first time since 2010 that two NFL athletes have shared the cover. Back then it was Steelers DB Troy Polamalu and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, who had faced off in the Super Bowl the year prior, just as Mahomes and Brady did in Super Bowl LV.

There are multiple versions of the cover depending on what edition of the game you pick up. Mahomes shared covers for the base game, MVP Edition, and the Dynasty Edition.

This marks the second Madden cover for Mahomes as he was featured as the cover athlete two years ago for “Madden NFL 20.” Brady was also featured as the cover athlete in “Madden NFL 18.” They’re the only two NFL players to ever be featured on a Madden cover twice.

“Madden NFL 22” come to PC, Playstation and Xbox gaming consoles on August 20, 2021. You can get early access to the game by pre-ordering.

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Tom Brady played entire 2020 season with knee injury that eventually required surgery

Not long after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV, quarterback Tom Brady had offseason surgery to repair a knee injury.
Brady told the media he had been dealing with the injury since April or May of last year.
I never really never like to talk about injuries. I’m just a little bit old school in that way, Tom Brady.
Brady seems pleased with his progress in recovering from the surgery, and is ready to start the season at full strength

Not long after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV, quarterback Tom Brady had offseason surgery to repair a knee injury.
Brady told the media he had been dealing with the injury since April or May of last year.
I never really never like to talk about injuries. I’m just a little bit old school in that way, Tom Brady.
Brady seems pleased with his progress in recovering from the surgery, and is ready to start the season at full strength

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 NFL schedule

Here is the 2021 NFL schedule for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 3: @ Los Angeles Rams
Week 4: @ New England Patriots.
Week 5: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 6: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Week 7: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 8: @ New Orleans Saints.
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: @ Washington
Week 11: vs. New York Giants
Week 12: @ Indianapolis Colts
Week 13: @ Atlanta Falcons.
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 15: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 16: @ Carolina Panthers
Week 17: @ New York Jets
Week 18: vs. Carolina Panthers

Here is the 2021 NFL schedule for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 3: @ Los Angeles Rams
Week 4: @ New England Patriots.
Week 5: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 6: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Week 7: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 8: @ New Orleans Saints.
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: @ Washington
Week 11: vs. New York Giants
Week 12: @ Indianapolis Colts
Week 13: @ Atlanta Falcons.
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 15: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 16: @ Carolina Panthers
Week 17: @ New York Jets
Week 18: vs. Carolina Panthers

The Athletic’s NFL power rankings put the Saints in 3rd place in the NFC South

The New Orleans Saints have won their division four years in a row, but the Athletic NFL power rankings put them in in the NFC South cellar.

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The Saints have taken a lot of hits this offseason, but are they really trailing multiple rivals in pursuit of their fifth consecutive NFC South title? The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia says so, having slotted New Orleans all the way down at No. 19 in their latest NFL power rankings:

“What’s their formula for winning games in the post-Drew Brees era? The Saints quietly produced the NFL’s second-best defense last season and will need a repeat performance to get back to the playoffs. Jameis Winston (and Taysom Hill?) will have a strong offensive line, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas to work with. But the Saints are thin at wide receiver and tight end. An injury-riddled season for Thomas, like we saw last year, would leave them with one of the NFL’s worst pass-catching units.”

It’s true that the Saints are running with a thin receiving corps and a new quarterback (maybe two), but this is a team that went 8-1 with Brees watching from the sidelines over the last two years. They have a winning formula and still have the top-end talent to compete with anyone. It’s up to their rookie draft class to prove they can hang in there when called upon as injuries inevitably take a toll in New Orleans.

So it feels like a reach to slot the Atlanta Falcons all the way up at No. 11. Atlanta picked one of the most exciting playmakers in the draft by adding tight end Kyle Pitts, and good for them — but their offense wasn’t the problem last year, and their defense is one of the most talent-poor units you’ll see around the league. Dante Fowler’s contract is an albatross. They had to sign 20 free agents just to pad out the training camp roster.

I won’t argue the reigning Super Bowl champions being ranked No. 1. There’s reason to think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are being overrated after shambling through the 2020 season until they got hot at the right time, but for now they’ve earned their laurels. We’ll see how it shakes out.

Maybe the Saints really are toothless after Brees retired and a crowd of high-priced veterans were let go in salary cap cuts. But they’re entering the 2021 season knowing that the NFC South title is theirs to defend, even if upstarts like the Bucs and Falcons are gaining steam. If it’s any consolation, at least the Panthers are in everyone’s rearview at No. 27 in these NFL power rankings.

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No, the Bucs shouldn’t be talked up as 2021 NFC South favorites

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won plenty of fans following their Super Bowl victory, but the NFC South will be as competitive as ever.

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Is this a hot take? It feels like a hot take. Slandering the reigning Super Bowl champions isn’t going to sit right with many readers, but here it goes. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting gassed up entirely too often this offseason, with many outlets and media observers pointing to the Bucs as favorites to win their division. They shouldn’t be.

The oddsmakers at BetMGM Sportsbook, for example, have Tampa Bay winning the NFC South at a -155 line, which would flip a $50 bet into an $82 haul. New Orleans isn’t too far behind at +275, which would yield $187 for the same ticket. Their divisional rivals, the Panthers and Falcons, have longer odds at +700. You do the math.

It’s easy to explain why the Bucs are favored so heavily — they’re the ones tossing the Lombardi Trophy between boats and enjoying avocado tequila at the Kentucky Derby. But it took a lot of luck for them to get here.

Tampa Bay did what every contender hopes for and got hot at the right time, cruising into the playoffs off of a four-game winning streak. They survived two wins against teams hamstrung by fraught quarterback situations to narrowly beat the Packers in the NFC title game before running the injury-ravaged Chiefs off the field during the Super Bowl.

If Taylor Heinicke hadn’t posted a quarterback rating 17 points below league average, the Bucs wouldn’t have made it out of the wild-card round. If Drew Brees hadn’t thrown three interceptions in a meltdown while Jared Cook gave the game away with a second-half fumble, things look very different. Losing one of Taysom Hill or Latavius Murray, but not both, might have given the Saints enough of a physical edge to avoid putting so much on Brees in the first place.

There are parallel timelines where Tom Brady’s legacy is in jeopardy after an 8-8 dud away from New England, and others where the Bucs are seen as desperate, trendy Super Bowl contenders trying to fix the flaws they found in January. It’s just not the timeline we inhabit.

Credit to the Bucs for hitting their stride when they needed it most, and for bringing back so many key players from their title run. Their front office has done a great job keeping that core together while adding possible upgrades. But at the end of the day the team they’ve held together finished the season at 11-5 with coin-flip wins against the 4-12 Falcons, the 6-10 Giants, and 7-9 Chargers.

Compare that to the Saints, who built a team around Brees that won the NFC South an unprecedented four consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2020. That roster’s top-end talent (which has gone 8-1 without Brees the last two years) remains intact, but their depth is facing legitimate scrutiny after so many contributors were lost against an equally-unprecedented depressed salary cap. Enough changes have taken place around the division to make it anyone’s game, no matter who eventually won their championship rings.

We’ll see how it shakes out in the fall. Maybe Jameis Winston is able to make the throws Brees couldn’t to keep the Saints in contention, while cutting down on the turnovers that got him punted out of Tampa Bay. Maybe the Panthers’ new quarterback and improved supporting cast make some noise, while the Falcons go all-in on an offense seeking to make the most of Matt Ryan’s golden years.

So it makes sense, on the surface, for Tampa Bay to be getting so much attention. With so much continuity in place and fresh memories from their last — surprisingly dominant — win, they’re going to get their flowers. But while the Bucs are relishing their time on top of the mountain, they may need even more luck than they enjoyed last year to remain kings of the hill.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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