Tag: tom brady bucs

Marc Sessler calls Jameis Winston the ‘riskiest free agent of 2020’

See why Marc Sessler over at NFL.com thinks Jameis Winston could be a risky acquisition for any team.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t been to the postseason since 2007, but given all the chatter surrounding the club as we approach free agency, you’d think they were already Super Bowl favorites heading into 2020.

That’ll happen when a guy like Tom Brady is linked to your team. While Tampa Bay can still opt to bring Jameis Winston back, those 30 interceptions make it hard to justify paying the former number one overall pick, even if it is just on a one-year deal.

Winston could very well be done in Tampa Bay, and according to Marc Sessler over at NFL.com, Winston is the riskiest free agent of 2020. Even if the Bucs don’t bring him back, Sessler thinks it will be hard for the former Heisman Trophy winner to find work as a starter in 2020.

Per Sessler:

“With a record-setting seven pick-sixes in 2019, Winston appears to be done in Tampa — with the Bucs reportedly hot to trot for Brady — and realistically out of rope as a starting NFL quarterback. No franchise can sell Winston as a QB1 due to his perilous ball security. The risk is reduced in a backup role, but that scenario screams for some under-fire coach turning to Jameis in, say, Week 7 — and suffering the consequences.”

If Winston is destined to be a backup in 2020, there are several experts, including Peter King of NBC Sports, who feel he could benefit from sitting for a year behind a guy like Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. Winston would get a chance to learn from Big Ben — another Bruce Arians protege — and inherit the starting job once Ben calls it a career. Plus, he’d be coached by Mike Tomlin, one of the most respected, no-nonsense coaches in the league.

It might not be the ideal situation for Winston in the short term, but long term, it could pay big dividends.

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This Bucs receiver lands on list of most underrated free agents

Which Buccaneers player landed on ESPN’s list of most underrated free agents?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be active players once free agency starts next week. From re-signing Shaq Barrett to the possibility of luring a big-name veteran QB like Philip Rivers or Tom Brady to Tampa, the Bucs have a lot on the line.

While Barrett tops their list of offseason priorities, there are other players who are heading to free agency that the team would love to retain, like Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul. And, don’t forget, quarterback Jameis Winston is going to be a free agent, too.

But, as ESPN points out, there’s one Bucs player heading into free agency who many teams might be overlooking. Sam Monson at ESPN listed Bucs wide receiver Breshad Perriman as an underrated NFL free agent.

Per Monson:

“In the last few games of Tampa Bay’s 2019 season, the former first-round draft bust flashed the potential that made him such an enticing prospect. Thrust into the starting lineup because of injuries, Perriman recorded 100-yard games in the final three outings, and he didn’t drop a single pass in any one of them. He still represents a long shot, but he is also just 26 years old and could be signed for a bargain price because of his career history to date.”

Perriman came on strong at the end of the year, even making some history in the process. It was a shame it took so long for him to finally break through, but those big games will likely lead to a nice little payday for him. Whether or not that money comes from the Bucs remains to be seen, however.

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Florida NFL teams certainly struggled in 2019

Take a look at how states with multiple NFL teams fared record-wise in 2019.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2019 season with a 7-9 record, a step in the right direction for a team that was coming off two-straight 5-11 seasons. A strong 4-2 finish to the year have many people believing the Bucs, under the guidance of veteran coach Bruce Arians, are poised to make a return to the postseason in 2020, somewhere they haven’t been since 2007.

But a losing record is still a losing record, and Tampa Bay wasn’t the only Florida team that struggled last season. You can add the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10) and Miami Dolphins (5-11) to that list as well. In fact, Florida teams had the worst combined winning percentage among states with multiple NFL teams, ahead of only Ohio (Browns and Bengals).

Take a look.

The Bucs would love to improve on their record next year. With a young defense and formidable offense, Tampa Bay may just be a quarterback away from becoming a true contender.

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John Breech of CBS Sports thinks Bucs have ‘best selling point’ when it comes to QB Tom Brady

See why John Breech of CBS Sports believes the Buccaneers are the most attractive landing spot for soon-to-be free agent Tom Brady.

Until free agency begins on March 18, the NFL rumor mill will be in full swing. Lately, one of the hottest rumors out there has New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady considering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a future home. And why not? The team has two star receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, a promising tight end in O.J. Howard and a young, up-and-coming defense.

While some may find it hard to envision Brady suiting up for the Bucs, where there’s smoke, there could be fire. And, John Breech of CBS Sports, speaking on the Pick Six Podcast, added fuel to that fire by saying Tampa Bay offers Brady the ideal situation.

Per Breech:

“A, it gets you out of the AFC; there’s no Patrick Mahomes to worry about … (and) you don’t want to go up against Belichick. No. 2, Bruce Arians, his pitch is going to be, ‘Look, man, I’m 67 years old. I’m not coaching for five more years. I’m coaching for, like, two more years … I want to win right now, (and) I’ve got all these offensive weapons. I just feel like the Bucs have the best selling point as far as the most potential to win right now.”

It’s hard to argue with Breech’s reasoning. Tampa Bay looks like an appealing destination for any quarterback, especially one looking to win a Super Bowl right now like Brady is. Time will tell if the Golden Boy is seriously considering Tampa Bay, but for now, I suppose no news is good news for Bucs fans.

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Why the NFL should be hoping Tom Brady signs with the Buccaneers

If the NFL wants to increase its ratings, they should be hoping Tom Brady signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With NFL free agency set to hit later this month, all eyes will likely be on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who could very well end up leaving the only franchise he’s ever played for.

Speculation has run rampant on where Brady could end up. From the Los Angeles Chargers to the Las Vegas Raiders, it appears every team in need of a QB upgrade finds themselves on the list of potential suitors. That includes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who right now seem like more than just a dark horse contender in the Brady sweepstakes.

While it may be hard to envision Brady ditching a Pats uniform for a Bucs one — given that Tampa Bay hasn’t made the postseason since 2007 — if you are a fan of the NFL, or even a fan of football, you want this to happen. And now.

Why?

Every NFC South divisional game featuring the Bucs would be a must-watch prime-time event. Brady and the Bucs facing Drew Brees and the Saints in the Superdome. Brady and the Bucs hosting Matt Ryan’s Atlanta Falcons, a rematch of Super Bowl LI QBs. And, should Cam Newton remain starter with the Carolina Panthers, well, you get the idea…

The NFC South would instantly become the best division in football hands down. The NFL would have a ratings bonanza every time NFC South foes squared off. Vegas sportsbooks would be wild scenes. It just makes so much sense that you’re afraid it’s too good to be true. And, it might be.

But, until Brady puts pen to paper for a team not located in Tampa, it’s fun to dream about how exciting the 2020 NFL season could truly be if he came to the NFC South.

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Peter King believes it’s ‘likely’ Jameis Winston leaves Buccaneers in free agency

Peter King of NBC Sports believes Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston could very well end up playing elsewhere in 2020.

Could it truly be the end of the Jameis Winston era in Tampa Bay?

Peter King of NBC Sports, who has really been the gift that keeps on giving this offseason when it comes to his hot takes on the Bucs, wrote about quarterback Jameis Winston again in his Football Morning In America column today, and tried to figure out where the turnover-prone QB could wind up once free agency hits.

Per King:

“Where will everyone land? I kept asking people here about the fate of Jameis Winston, and I couldn’t find a landing spot for him. I doubt sincerely he’d be a starter on opening day 2020 if he leaves Tampa (which is likely), but where would/could he be a backup?”

King goes on to speculate about which teams could use Winston’s services once the draft comes and goes. The rumors about Winston being out in Tampa Bay seem to be coming in just as fast as those linking Tom Brady to the Bucs. Remember, too, that King made this observation about head coach Bruce Arians and his demeanor towards his quarterback as the season wore on.

Could Winston be out and Brady in?

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ESPN says QB Tom Brady is the one free agent the Bucs ‘must sign’ this offseason

See why ESPN thinks quarterback Tom Brady could very well end up in Tampa Bay this offseason if he decides to leave the Patriots.

At this time last year, quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were on top of the NFL world as Super Bowl champions (again). After defeating the Los Angeles Rams in a less-than-thrilling Super Bowl LIII, Brady further cemented his legacy as the best quarterback to ever play the game by capturing his sixth Lombardi Trophy.

But, oh, what a difference a year makes.

With the retirement of tight end Rob Gronkowski and Brady starting to show his age, the Patriots’ 2019 season ended with a stunning home loss in the divisional round to the Tennessee Titans. Now, the unthinkable could be upon us, as Brady is set to hit free agency and it’s beginning to look more and more likely that he could be playing elsewhere next year.

So, where could he wind up?

Well, according to ESPN, the Buccaneers look like an intriguing destination for the future Hall of Famer. In their latest article listing one “must sign” free agent for each NFL team this offseason, ESPN had Brady pegged as the can’t-miss quarterback for the Bucs.

“Brady wasn’t the same Brady last season as the one we have all grown used to seeing, but his 79.0 overall grade still ranked 12th at quarterback. The big problem was the Patriots’ lack of playmakers on offense. A one-two punch of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans has to sound pretty intriguing to Brady as he considers where his career will end, as both guys were top-10 wide receivers by PFF grade during the 2019 season. The Buccaneers have the cap space to make it work, and a much-improved defense with Brady orchestrating a talented offense could have the Bucs as legitimate contenders in 2020.”

Not only would Brady benefit from playing with Evans and Godwin, but he could easily help revive the career of tight end O.J. Howard. Remember, the Patriots inquired about Howard at the trade deadline but were told “no” by the Bucs. Imagine bringing Brady to Tampa Bay and teaming him with this offense?

Be still, my heart…

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Peter King says the Buccaneers are the ‘sleeping giant’ in the Tom Brady sweepstakes

See what NBC Sports’ Peter King had to say about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Tom Brady.

File this under too good to be true, but NBC Sports’ Peter King seems to believe that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the “sleeping giant” in the Tom Brady sweepstakes.

As most people know, Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback who’s won six Super Bowls with the only franchise he’s ever known, can become a free agent this offseason and leave the Pats. Nobody seems to know which way Brady is leaning, and his recent post on social media certainly didn’t help matters.

Per King:

“The one that I believe is the sleeping giant in this is Tampa Bay. And when I say that, if Jameis Winston is realistic with what his contract demands/requests, whatever they are, in my opinion he will be the quarterback of the Bucs next year. But, I don’t know that. I am hearing some things out of Tampa that he might be, and his agents might want a little bit more money than the Bucs want to pay. And we’ll see if that pans out. We’ll definitely see.”

With guys like Brady and Philip Rivers on the open market, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bucs tried to use them as leverage in their negotiations with Winston, claiming if the QB’s demands are too high they’ll go after one of the future Hall of Famers. Whether or not the organization would actually do that remains to be seen, but you can bet the Bucs will be a team to watch closely once free agency starts.

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