The Buffer
April 22nd, 2020
A former Patriots assistant coach says Rob Gronkowski will have one vital role on the Buccaneers that has nothing to do with blocking and catching the football.
Wes Welker knows all about it. And so does former Bucs QB Chris Simms, who was a Patriots assistant after ending his playing career.
Now working for NBC Sports, Simms said on PFT Live that Gronkowski represents “a buffer for Brady” among the many Bucs who won’t be used to harsh demands for excellence.
“When Brady wants to yell at an offensive lineman for not practicing well or whatever it may be, you know, Gronk will [come] over, ‘Hey this is what Tom does. Just relax. He still loves you. He’s still got confidence in you.’ So that’s going to be great. Let alone it’s another guy in the locker room to show that team what it takes to win football teams.”
(Joe’s link to Welker above details him recounting Brady screaming at him and more.)
Joe has heard other NFL types talk about Gronk’s ability to communicate the Brady way in the Bucs locker room. This should be critical to a used-to-losing Bucs team that can’t afford to figure out greatness after opening the season with, say, a 3-4 record. It’s gotta start from Day 1.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:05 pm
16-0. First round bye. We play in the SB vs Seahawks…..Hawks win.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:10 pm
Interesting and likely necessary and helpful……..Gronk’s locker room presence along with Brady will be vital toward changing the culture…
Joe talks about guys with rings being important…..well…..Gronk & Brady have lots of rings…..winning experience…..something lacking with our Bucs.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:10 pm
We play an NFC West team in the Superbowl? Interesting….
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:10 pm
Uh, how would 2 NFC teams play in the SB?
lol
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:14 pm
El buc you don’t have enough money for what I’d wager on it won’t be the Bucs and the Seahawks in the SB lol
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:20 pm
IQ tests are quite clearly not required for posting here…
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:21 pm
That said, if this were 1976 that would have been a viable scenario. If we were in the NFC. But we weren’t so it wasn’t then either, haha.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:25 pm
Yeah, fair point by Simms.
Funny to imagine the conversation coming from Gronk in this scenario tho… “Bro I know! Dude is straight tripping dog, but for a good reason. He’s just amped bro, loves you dog, wants the best you know? Let’s do this. WOOOOOH!!!”
Scotty Miller and Joe Haeg will be running through walls soon enough.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:27 pm
Not at all.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Wow El_Buc941, whoops! Follow football much?
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:30 pm
When you are coached hard but the coach is fair, you don’t want to let them down. Brady can take our guys to another level. That will be the difference.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:34 pm
I prefer to really enjoy the off season activities and look forward to the most “potentially” exciting season in over a decade. For those that want to criticize every action and predict doom and gloom for the hopes of an “I told you so”, no one will give a shat or even remember if you predicted failure. So, go the fudge away.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:37 pm
IQ tests are quite clearly not required for posting…
Steven…I’ve suspected that for some time.
What next… Bucs defeat defending national champion LSU?
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:48 pm
“First it was 8 days but now its 3 days
3 days into training camp, TB12 and Gronk starts screaming and making OC playcaller imposter Leftwich crying to Papa Smurf
less than 3 days, Both TB12 and Gronk will realize the stupidity and incompetence of Bryon Leftwich
*JBF asked Leftwich after a game if the defences knew Leftwich was predictably calling run up the middle and getting stuffed…
the incompetent dimwit said “I dont think so”
TB12 and Gronk will not be tolerating this incompetence”
Kobe Faker
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Always better to be “The Buffer” than “The Fluffer.”
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:59 pm
El_Buc you’re part of the reason for my name 🤦🏾♂️
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:34 pm
Joe writing about two new Bucs showing leadership qualities and yet leadership is overrated (according to Joe)
I don’t think Joe knows what leadership is
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:35 pm
@El_Buc941 Says:
LOLOL thanks for the laugh in these dim times
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:50 pm
as opposed to JW yelling at his offensive lineman. You know him yelling go tackle that cornerback before another pick-six against me.
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:50 pm
Who will be the first player that has issues with being held responsible for not meeting Brady’s high expectations?
Donovan Smith?
OJ Howard?
My money is on Mike Evans. He’s exceptional, but allot of sandlot football due to his ‘chuck and hope’ QB’s JW and Johnny D**che.
In BA I Trust!
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:02 pm
Calling it now Bucs vs Chiefs Super Bowl and we win on a last second TD with a Gronk spike…
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:12 pm
A lot of folks keep talking about ‘changing the culture’ but there’s really only one way to do that IMO … WIN. And WIN CONSISTENTLY, not just occasionally (like 5 game ‘fluke streaks’ Joe?).
Bucs actually have a lot of WINNERS on this TEAM. Some have won it all (like Brady, Gronk & JPP); some have come close (like Suh). Many though are ‘home-grown Bucs’ (draft picks) who haven’t tasted the playoffs yet. But there’s still a LOT of talent there in guys like LVD, Vea, White and many others. They just need to put it all together.
Can they do that in a season that’s already been seriously impacted by this coronavirus? It’s anybody’s guess right now IMO. But we’ve got a much better chance of making that happen today than we did say 2 years ago. Time will tell though.
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:22 pm
El_Buc941 Says:
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:05 pm
16-0. First round bye. We play in the SB vs Seahawks…..Hawks win.
—————————————————————–
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
!?!?!?!? MORON ALERT !?!?!?!?
J.C.M.T.S.U.
This is what happens when you’re IQ is smaller than your waist size
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:23 pm
*correction* you’re should be your
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:27 pm
Yeah, I know Joe is just offering “worse case scenario” with the “what if 3-4” remark, but this group played really, really well last year after mideseason. It was only Jameis constantly turned the ball over that sank the team. Shaq & JPP have been around Super Bowl winners, Devin was around winning at LSU, and it’s a veteran group save the secondary. I can’t even imagine a scenario where this team is 3-4, and who cares: they rallied last year with an inferior QB/leader, and the kids already grew out of that.
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:33 pm
Question to ponder: Would the Skins trade Trent Williams for Donovan Smith and O.J. Howard? I don’t know if trading D Smith would cause us to take a salary cap hit, or not…Or if Washington would want him.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:00 pm
@kobe
Who would have thought something negative from you! With all the positivity you have to do what you do. You try to be funny and sometimes you are. From your own words you should not be posting here. You are not a Bucs fan and your issue against the bucs and it’s fans is tired and boring now! Do what you said a long time ago and honor your word.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:19 pm
Bucs over the Lakeland dreadnaughts to win the super bowl
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:21 pm
SC Bucs Fan Says:
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:50 pm
as opposed to JW yelling at his offensive lineman. You know him yelling go tackle that cornerback before another pick-six against me.
There it is!
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:28 pm
What a month unfolding, first Brady, now Gronk, what next??…If stars align, and TB12 wins SB for the Bucs in Ray jay Stadium (that is a 1st), Brady’s 7th and Bucs went from missing playoffs to SB, after Brady retires, what an autobiography he can write. I shop at Goodwill for 2nd handbooks…maybe I start saving buck 49 each month so that in 2 to 3 yrs times, I can afford that hard copy, just can’t wait for that hard copy to come to that 2nd hand shop…or never appear at all.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:29 pm
El_buc941: Estas todo pendejo homie… NFc west team in the SB against the Bucs estas pero BIEN PENDEJO
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:43 pm
Ya gotta credit Licht for pulling in two hall of famers. And I think most fans are after seeing the latest poll.
Big credit goes to Bruce too. There’s no way Brady and Gronk come to the Bucs under some of our previous coaching. That dude is very well reguarded around the league and we are seeing the benefits.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:45 pm
SC Bucs fan is correct!! Our OLine stayed in shape by doing sprints down the field regularly while chasing the opponents sprinting towards the end zone!
There it is again!
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:47 pm
Tomorrow I’m begging for Simmons to fall. I don’t think he will but man if we could add somebody like that to our secondary we gonna be in great shape.
If not I’m down with beefing up the OL. I do just hope we add at least one defensive player in the first two day………All’s I see is everybody asking for offense. Please don’t ignore the defense. They need more pieces.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Gronk makes this exciting as he is the best TE ever hands down and plays the game the right way, which is all out all the time. Evans and Howard (if he’s still here) hopefully learn quite a bit from him. Gronk is simply a hard guy to dislike and could put this offense over the top IF he can stay healthy.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:55 pm
I can’t wait to see our schedule released:
Game 1: SNF 8 pm
Game 2: MNF 8 pm
Game 3: SNF 8 pm
Game 4: SNF 8 pm
Game 5: MNF 8 pm
Game 6: SNF 8 pm
Game 7: SNF 8 pm
Game 8: MNF 8 pm
Game 9: MNF 8 pm
Game 10: SNF 8 pm
Game 11: SNF 8 pm
Game 12: SNF 8 pm
Game 13: MNF 8 pm
Game 14: SNF 8 pm
Game 15: MNF 8 pm
Game 16: MNF 8 pm
Game 17: FOX 4 pm
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:01 pm
Suckanees no more….what a team, deep pocket and heck of a smart businessmen/owner, agree to credit JL for listening and pulling this thingie of, Bucco, TB12, Gronk, Evans, Godwin, etc…great weather, beautiful TB….now, draft a OT (any of the big 4), WR, RB… and if worst case, get AB…oops!!! That will be one heck of a team, nightmare for the rest of the leaque.
Getting TB12 and 87 cost $35M a year… just the value increase of the Bucs enough to pay for everything, pack 85K stadium, ridiculous sales, playoff games revenue, advertisement, box seat, etc…how much does the Glazer make in all this regardless winning or not the SB. $35M is nothing, damn smart business people, no wonder they are rich and me a Joe 6-pack…LOL
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:04 pm
Correction, 75K stadium, and increase in the value of the franchise.
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:10 pm
DaBux I disagree
Week 11 TNF Thanksgiving Day nightcap……..The Pinnacle of football games in mine opinion.
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:33 pm
NDog don’t worry, JW will throw less picks than Brady this year. Hard to throw a pick from the bench.
April 22nd, 2020 at 11:55 pm
Guidance from the owners on what they’d like to see, sure that’s possible. But spending money/deep pockets has nothing to do with the players any longer. The salary floor and ceiling have been in effect for years/decades now.
You can blow money on stadiums, coaches, front office, practice fields and facilities, but players salaries are locked in.
It’s all about how you spend the cap money and execute a plan. We finally have a coaching staff with a plan and Licht and his team are executing.
Refreshing.
In BA I Trust!
April 23rd, 2020 at 1:36 am
if Gronk is weighing in at only 220 as reported (not positive on this) — Gronk said he weighs 250. That was yesterday to local media. Said adding 10 pounds is every easy, just a couple of extra shakes a day. –Joe and only has a couple months to bulk up, there’s no way he reaches his 260+ dominate playing rate by the time the season starts. At the weight he might reach what at that point is the difference between him and Cameron Brate (Just under 240) outside of the already inherent chemistry? Gronk was a dominating presence physically which you need in the run game, IDK, what are your thoughts?
April 23rd, 2020 at 3:01 am
EL Buc …. Im the ONLY “EL” up in dis BIiiH!!
You gotta know that brother, you not helpin em mannnn Rome You aren’t helpin him Your hurtin em MANE!!!
But TBH that was worth it for the laugh.
WAR JASON “Trash” 🗑 LICHT ruining this franchise by drafting a WR or a DEFENSIVE BACK at 14 overall then passing on QBs like Jalen Hurts and Jacob Eason ala CHAD REUTER mock draft.
@NDOG stop posting about GRONK, you are only allowed to post about Jameis Winston’s excuses from your manual. Literally you need to disappear like LaMarcus
Papa BWUCY BWuce is definitely going all in.
DEAR SANTA
PLZ DRAFT OFFENSIVE LINEMAN. DEFENSIVE END EDGE. QB. RB
April 23rd, 2020 at 4:47 am
That’s it Ndog, get excited. Shake the last five years off like a wet dog shakes off water. It’s really a new day in TB, with TB, and now the Gronk. The future is now!
April 23rd, 2020 at 6:56 am
I like the idea of Smith & Howard for Williams.
April 23rd, 2020 at 9:46 am
BucsFan87,
I second that! I can see it happening…
Bucs are winning it all this year, and in dramatic fashion… I can feel it in my bones.
April 23rd, 2020 at 9:50 am
And a side-note prediction that noone would expect to hear right now:
Rojo totally blows up this year. Jamaal Charles style… Potentially becoming the best back in the league over the next 5 seasons or so… Remember I said it
April 23rd, 2020 at 9:50 am
Typo… *BucsFan81
April 23rd, 2020 at 9:53 am
Watch Rojo’s 2019-20 highlight reel from last season and his Elite skills show up big time…. That dude is ready to be a Superstar, trust me on that. 💯
April 23rd, 2020 at 10:09 am
Don’t wanna burst any bubbles here but..Gronk has not completed an entire season sine 2011. Giving him 10 mil to play 8 or 10 games is stupid..pass stupid. You guys are gonna be reel mad when he and Brady are sitting on their yachts rehabbing going, we played’em aye guys?
April 23rd, 2020 at 1:01 pm
Gronk is fine he just needs one cycle of Testosterone suspension 100mg shots before each workout and no social distancing chinese buffet runs. Goodell already knows we give these guys a little Juice and some HGH.