Eagles C Jason Kelce pays tribute to Ryan Jensen at Pro Bowl Games

Kelce had a lot of nice words to say about Jensen after his retirement, calling him one of the best centers in the NFL.

Game recognizes game, as they say. And one of the best centers to ever play football had some very nice things to say about former Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen, who announced his retirement last week.

At the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Florida, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce was asked about Jensen’s recent retirement. The six-time first-team All-Pro had a lot of respect for Jensen, whom he singled out as one of the best centers in the league.

Here’s what Kelce said about Jensen:

“In his tenure in the NFL, he was one of the best centers in the league. Not only was he imposing physically, but he was an imposing personality — he was a tough, physical guy. He was a guy that set the tone for whatever team it was, Baltimore or Tampa Bay. He had an incredible year. Of course he had some injuries, but he was one of my favorite players to watch. He was going to bring it day in and day out, every game, you love watching Ryan Jensen play. He can look back on that with a lot of pride, and I think I speak for a lot of guys in the NFL when I say that Ryan played the game the way you would want a center, or any offensive lineman, to play.”

Kelce and Jensen have been on opposing sidelines a few times in their career. Most recently they met on the field after the Bucs defeated the Eagles in a blowout in the wild-card round last month. Kelce’s comments come amid speculation that he himself could retire from football after this season. If he does, both centers will have gone out with a lot of great play to look back on.

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How Ryan Jensen’s retirement affects the Bucs’ cap

A post-June 1 designation could free up some space for the Bucs in 2024, but they’ll still have to take a dead cap hit after Jensen’s retirement.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen officially announced his retirement on Saturday, which will see the Bucs give him a retired designation. But how does that affect the salary cap for 2024 and beyond?

As it stands, Jensen has $16.6 million in dead money on the salary cap for 2024 — that’s because Tampa Bay has reworked his deal in 2022 and 2023 when he was unable to play in the regular season due to the knee injury he suffered in 2022. The team could in theory take all of that dead money in 2024 to clear it in 2025, but it doesn’t have to.

Should the team wait to put Jensen on the retired list after June 1, his dead money would only count at $4.8 million for 2024, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. The rest of that money, which would come out to $11.8 million, would carry over into 2025.

Because the Bucs have some big decisions to make regarding high-profile free agents like quarterback Baker Mayfield and wideout Mike Evans, it’s likely that they’ll use that post-June 1 designation to save some money on the salary cap this year. In doing so, it might be a little easier to retain the players the team was hoping to bring back and to possibly add some new ones in free agency to maintain a competitive roster going into next year.

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Social media reacts to Bucs C Ryan Jensen’s retirement

“Big Red” was a fan favorite in Tampa Bay and helped the Bucs reach the promised land in 2020 — see how fans showed him love after he announced his retirement Friday.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens center Ryan Jensen was a crucial part of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl run in 2020, and now, he’s hanging up his cleats.

Jensen officially announced on Friday that he’s retiring from the NFL, putting a bookend on his career that started in 2013 with Baltimore. The decision comes after Jensen spent 2023 on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury he suffered in preseason during the 2022 season.

Jensen was a fan favorite in Tampa Bay, not only renowned for his excellent play at center but also for his fiery attitude on the field and his kindness off of it. Jensen was one of the more beloved free agency signings in team history, and as a result, fans made sure to show their love and give respects to the player they affectionately called “Big Red” on Sundays.

Check out what social media is saying about Jensen and all he did for the Buccaneers below:

Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen announces retirement

Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen shared on social media that he’s retiring from the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen has announced his retirement from the NFL, as shared on his social media.

Jensen, 32, has missed most of the past two seasons following a serious knee injury suffered in Aug. 2022. Jensen, who joined the Buccaneers in 2018, was a key cog on Tampa Bay’s offensive line with Tom Brady under center, which included their Super Bowl LV championship run.

Here’s what Jensen posted:

With any chapter in the book of life, there is always an ending. The NFL chapter of my life is coming to a close. As this chapter closes and I reflect on every aspect of my career, it makes me proud. In the hard times and good, there is always something special to learn.

Retiring from the game you have loved from a very young age is always hard. I am excited for this next chapter and the new opportunities and challenges it will bring.

Jensen played eight seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens (2013-17) and Buccaneers (2018-23). He appeared in 100 games, including 90 starts, with his final game coming in a playoff matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Jan. 2022, which also happened to be Brady’s final NFL game.

Former Bucs OL: Dave Canales will be ‘wave of radical change’ in NFL

Ryan Jensen and Garrett Gilkey had tremendous praise for soon-to-be Panthers HC Dave Canales.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen never got the chance to take the field with Dave Canales as his offensive coordinator. Nonetheless, the former Pro Bowler realizes what a divisional rival is getting in the 42-year-old play-caller.

As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Carolina Panthers are expected to hire Canales as their next head coach. And Jensen, who appeared on Thursday’s episode of the Short and to the Point podcast, was asked which of Canales’ characteristics will help him thrive in his new position.

“I mean, his leadership,” he told host Jessica Kleinschmidt. “The first time I met Dave, I was a little unsure of him. First time bein’ an offensive coordinator. He was just such a like happy-go-lucky guy. And I’m like, ‘Okay, let’s see how this is gonna work out.’ But, when it comes down to the root thing, he’s such a man of relation. He wants to have relationships with all of his players and lead them through the tough times.

“I mean, you just look at us, like Week 11, we’re 4-7, and that could’ve been a very big transition, and the whole thing could’ve just imploded. But throughout that entire struggle, where we lost five of six, Dave was the same person every day. Came to work, got the guys ready to play, stayed the course. And I think that’s something you look for in a head coach. And I think he’s gonna be very successful at it.”

The 32-year-old was sidelined for the entirety of the 2023 campaign due to a knee injury. He would, however, have a front-row seat to Canales’ first year as a play-caller—where the Buccaneers captured their third straight NFC South title.

Jensen was joined by former teammate Garrett Gilkey, who also just so happens to be Canales’ landlord in Tampa. He too had some praise for his renter.

“I personally believe that he’s gonna be a wave of radical change in the NFL,” Gilkey said. “Him and his wife, Lizzy are amazing people. Their whole posture towards community and relationships and vocation is something we haven’t seen since, like Tony Dungy.

“And so, I’m really, really, really excited to see the way in which his leadership not only proves to continue to be successful in the different teams that he’s with, but honestly how it’s catalyst of change in our industry that needs it.”

Oh, and the Canales family does pay their rent on time.

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Building an offense out of the All-Time Saints Villains

Building an offense out of the All-Time Saints Villains: Who makes your list at QB, RB, TE, WR, and along the offensive line?

Who are the biggest villains in New Orleans Saints history? What do we mean by that? We’re talking about the most challenging opponents the Saints have ever faced, who became key fixtures in rivalries with other teams. Not just loudmouths like Roddy White and Mike Evans, or iconic playoff villains like Marshawn Lynch and Vernon Davis — players who showed up and played hard against New Orleans on a regular basis.

We aren’t just highlighting players who were known for their big personalities (though of course that deserves some credit). Pro Bowls matter. All-Pro teams matter. Hall of Fame induction matters. The longevity of a player’s presence in the rivalry is a key part of our process. So with that in mind, here are our picks for the All-Time Saints Villains Offense:

Bucs coaches seem fairly certain about left side of o-line

It’s looking like half of Tampa Bay’s offensive line has been decided on.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line has been a somewhat contentious topic over the offseason, and it’s grown even more so after the team didn’t select a left tackle in the 2023 NFL draft. It seems possible now, though, that a decent chunk of the line has been set up as the offseason continues.

Bucs coaches spoke with media on Wednesday, and the offensive line was one of many topics those at the podium spoke of. Two of those coaches were OC Dave Canales and OL coach Joe Gilbert, and when both were asked about the offensive line, the two had the same makeup for the left side of it — both Canales and Gilbert said that [autotag]Tristan Wirfs[/autotag] is set to line up at LT and recent free agent acquisition [autotag]Matt Feiler[/autotag] will line up at LG, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud and FOX Sports’ Greg Auman.

With C Ryan Jensen certainly keeping his job there, that would make three of the team’s five offensive line positions known before the beginning of the season. The two remaining positions are RG and RT, as Wirfs had to move from the right side to the left. The right guard position should be an open competition between the likes of Nick Leverett, Robert Hainsey, Aaron Stinnie and new OG Cody Mauch, while RT will likely go to Luke Goedeke after he played there in the final game of the regular season in 2022.

The right side of the line will become clearer as training camp gets underway in the coming months, but it seems as if the offensive line is shaping up before rookie minicamp even begins.

 

Bucs 2023 depth chart projections: Offense

How do you think the Bucs will line up on offense when Week 1 comes around?

It is a new day for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their offensive roster has all but turned the page on the Bruce Arians era.

Tom Brady is gone and the offensive line, tight end and running back rooms are all in full rebuild mode. Only the wide receiver room will still look familiar, at least at the top of the depth chart.

With little money to spend in free agency, the Bucs will be considerably younger on offense, manned largely by players on rookie contracts. The Week 1 roster could have more undrafted rookies on it than it has had in years.

Here is the Bucs’ projected 2023 offensive depth chart:

C Ryan Jensen is excited Bucs drafted his lookalike in Cody Mauch

The Bucs center took to social media after Tampa Bay added another long-haired, red-headed lineman.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are adding another lineman to the fold, he he may look familiar to fans.

C [autotag]Ryan Jensen[/autotag] certainly thinks he looks familiar, as the Bucs lineman took to Twitter after Tampa Bay drafted OL [autotag]Cody Mauch[/autotag] on Friday — who happens to have long, red hair like him. Jensen posted the famed Spider-Man meme of the two Spidermen pointing at each other, clearly excited to work with Mauch on the line.

Mauch has also drawn look-a-like comparisons to TE Ko Kieft, who Tampa Bay took last year.

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Predicting the Bucs’ 2023 starting offense after the first wave of free agency

There is still a QB contest to be had and an LT to sign, but things are getting clearer in Tampa Bay.

Despite entering free agency with less cap space than any team in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have actually managed to not only keep their team intact but add pieces to round out the roster. In fact, very few of the Bucs’ starting spots on offense should be much of a mystery.

Many of last year’s offensive starters are set to return, but not all. The most obvious subtraction is quarterback Tom Brady following his retirement, but it was the offensive line that saw the greatest attrition. The Bucs cut left tackle Donovan Smith and traded right guard Shaq Mason. This created much of the cap space the Bucs desperately needed, but left the offensive line in a rebuild mode.

Most of the likely starters are already on the roster. General manager Jason Licht clearly had a plan in mind before the offseason began to not only get the cap under control but also ensure the Bucs largely had a workable roster.

Here are the Bucs’ likely starters on offense following the start of free agency: