Tag: Tampa

Super Bowl LV: Panthers Wire staff picks for Chiefs vs. Bucs

Here are our staff picks for Sunday’s game between the Bucs and the Chiefs.

Super Bowl LV is tomorrow, featuring an all-time great quarterback matchup and more compelling storylines that you can shake a stick at.

Here are our staff picks for Sunday’s game between the Bucs and the Chiefs.

Anthony Rizzuti

Has anyone noticed that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers really are Florida’s version of the Kansas City Chiefs?

Tom Brady, like Patrick Mahomes, is the face of a generation at the quarterback position, even if said face may have needed help from some of the state’s finest southern cosmetics and crackpot diet fads. Rob Gronkowski may be the oft-shirtless bro who attends all the boat parties, but he’s just as prolific a tight end as Travis Kelce is. And Antonio Brown, who dominated defenses in his day even despite his size like Tyreek Hill, has been the subject of more than a few “Florida Man” stories at this point.

Anyway, these two teams are built similar, at least on offense. Their myriad of aerial weapons, potent running back committees and chess masters on the sideline have helped send organizations teams through their respective conferences. Their defenses aren’t too shabby either, each boasting a handful of standout playmakers that can turn a game on its head in an instant.

So, with these two teams matching up well in what may be a close one (especially with the rainy forecast ahead), Super Bowl LIV could come down to whoever blinks first. If that’s the case, I’m much more willing to bet that this seasoned version of Brady, who threw three picks to Green Bay two weeks ago, slips up before (and more often) than sport’s best player in Mahomes.

The pick: Kansas City 27, Tampa Bay 20

Erik Williams

The goat is back in the Super Bowl and better than ever.

The Bucs have been one of the best defensive units in the league all season, and it starts with their incredible front seven. They should be able to shut down the run game and put it all in Pat Mahomes’ hand, which is not necessarily a good thing but it sure beats the heck out of trying to beat the Chiefs’ air attack plus an effective run game,

The key though is getting pressure on Mahomes. Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul have a good shot at that, especially with multiple injuries along the Chiefs’ offensive line. Getting Antoine Winfield back at safety will be huge for the Bucs also, as he will be able to help over the top to try and take away the deep threat of Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman.

It sounds crazy to say, but if the Bucs can just get 3-4 stops on defense they have a very good chance at winning this game. We already know Tom Brady is going to do his thing on offense, so this W for Tampa Bay will ultimately come down to their defense stepping up in critical situations.

The pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tim Weaver

When these teams met at the end of November, KC only managed a three-point win despite a hilarious line from Tyreek Hill (13 catches, 269 yards, three touchdowns) and two interceptions from Tom Brady. That might lead you to believe these teams are relatively evenly matched and therefore Sunday’s game could be a close one.

While Brady has made history defying the odds too many times to totally count him out, it’s also difficult to see his team overcoming the world-stomping elephant in the room.

Even with the greatest competitor in the history of the sport, a star-studded offense, a lethal defensive front-seven and home-field advantage to boot, the Bucs just don’t have enough firepower to overcome the force of nature that is Patrick Mahomes’ arm. The other day on Twitter I called him a 100-year talent without thinking too much about it – but when you really consider what we’re seeing from him it’s hard to come to any other conclusion. We have never seen the kinds of things Mahomes is doing and we may never again. Leads don’t matter. Defense doesn’t matter. Injuries don’t matter. He transcends every obstacle that comes along and does it with a smile.

Mahomes’ century-defining creativity forces everyone to re-evaluate the way the position is played, scouted and discussed. As long as he’s healthy and has an even half-respectable group of offensive skill players (he has two of the best in the NFL), the Chiefs are going to keep winning Super Bowls regardless of what their opponents throw at them.

The pick: Kansas City 31, Tampa Bay 10.

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USF Does Not Have Financial Guarantee for Games at Notre Dame

Simply getting invited to play a high-profile school at its stadium is an honor for Group of Five programs.

Simply getting invited to play a high-profile school at its stadium is an honor for Group of Five programs. In addition to getting greater exposure, you get a nice paycheck just for showing up. Those incentives make it easier to absorb a likely loss, which probably will be a big one. However, USF might not get that luxury for playing Notre Dame over the next three years.

According to the series contract, obtained by the Tampa Bay Times after a public-records request, there is no financial guarantee for the Bulls. In fact, if this year’s contest, scheduled for Sept. 19 in South Bend, doesn’t get played, the remaining two games in this series will not be scheduled. If it goes on as scheduled, those games must have dates by Aug. 1, 2021. And to no one’s surprise, the cancelation provisions include the phrase “epidemic or pandemic”.

Despite this unusual arrangement, USF won’t be completely deprived of money for playing the Irish. It can purchase 300 tickets for this season’s game if it so chooses. And with the teams keeping their respective home ticket revenue, the Bulls should benefit nicely when this series has its lone game in Tampa.

Hey, in the times we’re living in, you can’t afford to be picky.

Georgia OT Andrew Thomas goes to NFC South in latest NFL mock draft

Georgia football OT Andrew Thomas projected to NFC South team in latest 2020 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the NFL has not changed its original date of April 23-25 for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Instead, multiple reports have the league considering moving the draft to a remote format. Regardless, there are several former Georgia Bulldogs anticipating their name being called. 

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report recently listed his thoughts on each team’s needs. He noted that Tampa will be looking to add a left tackle with pick 14 to protect Tom Brady next year and that Andrew Thomas may be picked for the job. 

Miller wrote:

“With Tom Brady locked up, look at offensive tackle in Round one as the biggest need and also best value. If Andrew Thomas (Georgia) or Austin Jackson (USC) is there, the Buccaneers could get a plug-and-play left tackle to protect the GOAT.”

During his tenure at Georgia, Thomas was one of the most decorated offensive linemen in the country and one of the best blockers Georgia’s ever seen.

He was a unanimous first team All-America selection for the Dawgs last season and won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He was also voted two time All-SEC 1st Team by Coaches and Associated Press and was selected as a Freshman All-American in 2017.

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7 Georgia Bulldogs taken in CBSSports’ full NFL mock draft

CBS Sports released a full NFL mock draft that included 7 Georgia football players being taken.

Most NFL mock drafts that we’ve seen over the past couple of months have had 2-3 Georgia football players going in the first round.

However, in CBS Sports’ most recent 7-round mock draft, the outlet has just one Dawg taken in the first round, and that’s left tackle Andrew Thomas.

Analyst Chris Trapasso projects the New York Jets to take Thomas with the No. 11 overall pick in the NFL Draft, which is currently scheduled for April 23 in Las Vegas.

On Thomas, Trapasso wrote:

Jets GM Joe Douglas knows how vital an offensive line is after his time in Philadelphia. Thomas was outstanding the two seasons at Georgia and has length for days.

Trapasso has Thomas ranked as the 15th overall player in the draft class and 4th ranked offensive tackle.

In total, Trapasso has seven Georgia players going in the draft.

Round 2:

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Aaron Murray to miss Week 2 of XFL

Georgia football legend Aaron Murray of the Tampa Bay Vipers in the XFL will not play in Week 2.

Tampa Bay Vipers quarterback Aaron Murray struggled in his XFL debut last weekend against the New York Generals.

The former Georgia Bulldog went 16/34 for 231 with two interceptions and two fumbles in a loss to New York.

The Vipers, now 0-1, announced on Friday that Murray will be sitting out this weekend’s contest, springing former Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius into the starting role.

In the first half of last week’s game, Murray apparently suffered a foot injury that has since held him out of practices.

Murray returned back to his hometown of Tampa to play for the Vipers this season. After breaking numerous SEC and Georgia records, Murray attempted to play in the NFL, where he did not find much success. He then went on to work for CBS as a broadcaster in addition to playing a single season for the Atlanta Legends, a member of the Alliance of American Football in 2019.

After poor outing in Week 9, kicker Jason Myers rebounds against 49ers

After missing three kicks against Tampa Bay, Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers more than redeemed himself vs. the 49ers in Week 10.

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers couldn’t have asked for a better ending Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Just one week removed from missing three kicks, Myers found redemption in Santa Clara.

Myers nailed two critical field goals in Week 10 — including the 42-yard winner in overtime — to ensure the victory for the Seahawks.

Coach Pete Carroll never doubted his kicker and his faith in Myers paid off in dividends.

“Yeah, man I’m so fired up for him,” Carroll said after the game. “We’ve got a long season. We’ve got so many kicks in so many games. We’re going to be like this all year and he’s going to have to keep making those kicks for us, and he will. Fortunately, it didn’t lose a game for us and here we go, we win a game with him. I hope you can see why it’s so important to support your people, and to stay with them, and hang with them and all that.”

Despite the misses against Tampa Bay, Myers was able to stay focused on the job ahead, kicking clean on Monday night. Myers was good on all three extra points and both field goal attempts.

“It’s just, to hang him out there, and leave him out there, and ostracize him and whatever, I don’t even know how to think that way, ” Carroll continued. “We love him … and he came through and had a big night, and shoot, they’re carrying him around in the locker room in there.”

The Seahawks will need more performances like that from Myers as they continue their quest for the playoffs.

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