Legitimate Concerns
May 11th, 2020
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan personally will guide you and give you a special Ira/JoeBucsFan discount. Historic 0%/84-month financing offers won’t last long.
BY IRA KAUFMAN – IKaufman76
It’s a grand plan, ambitious in scope, but it’s not foolproof.
Buc fans don’t want to contemplate the flip side of the franchise’s all-in movement, an unprecedented approach that unfortunately isn’t guaranteed to succeed. Tampa Bay just handed its starting job to a quarterback who will be 43 before taking his next NFL snap.
The opportunity to land Tom Brady as a free agent proved too enticing to ignore for a franchise weighed down by the NFC’s longest playoff drought. The move has raised expectations significantly in Tampa, exciting the fan base, energizing ticket sales and boosting merchandising revenue.
In the process, the Bucs are now the most talked-about team in the league, ahead of the Cowboys and the defending champion Chiefs. The stage is set for a dynamic season at Raymond James Stadium, yet there are some danger signs afoot.
Joel Glazer once pointed out to me that teams who make the most noise during the offseason often fall silent in the fall. The Redskins were a prime example, generating headlines in March, only to be buried in the standings by Halloween.
The 2020 Bucs will try to buck that trend.
The Questions
The Brady effect is a positive on so many levels, yet there are legitimate concerns. In his last nine starts, Brady is 4-5, with 11 TD passes and five interceptions. More alarmingly, his average yards per pass attempt in those nine games is a paltry 5.9.
Questions abound, writes Ira Kaufman.
That’s awful. That’s a worse number than Mitch Trubisky posted last season.
Mitch Trubisky.
And while it’s true that Brady wasn’t throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Foxborough, he was backed up by the league’s No. 1 defense, providing him with optimum field position.
While Brady’s leadership skills will surely help the cause, the Bucs must prove they have a locker room mature enough to handle all this new attention. For the past 12 years, nobody paid this franchise any mind. Now, the Bucs are on everyone’s mind.
The NFL’s new little darlings have pushed their chips all in. There’s a lot at stake, including some big jobs.
When you go for broke, you face the possibility of going broke.
A Season To Remember
The worst possible case for the Bucs this fall is to go 9-7, come up just short in an expanded NFC playoff field and be relegated to the 18th pick in the 2021 draft. Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields figure to be long gone at a time Tampa Bay will face added pressure to groom a quarterback behind Brady.
9-7 won’t cut it this season and everyone knows it, writes Ira Kaufman.
Buc Nation doesn’t want to contemplate the possibility of this bold venture going south. That’s understandable. This fan base has suffered enough pain and suffering. Buc supporters deserve a break, so here comes Brady, high-stepping his way down from Door No. 2.
All the planets seem aligned for a Buc resurrection, but Mars and Jupiter won’t block Cameron Jordan. Venus and Neptune can’t help you cover Julio Jones.
There are no guarantees in America’s Game. The only sure scenario – the Patriots contending for a championship — is now threatened by Brady’s departure.
How much does he have left? While his arm strength has diminished, Brady’s grit and competitiveness remain at a championship level.
Buc fans and the league’s broadcast partners anticipate a heck of a thrill ride in Tampa.
This franchise is long overdue and all signs point to a season to remember.
Let’s hope it’s for all the right reasons.
Ira Kaufman’s column is presented by Bill Currie Ford, where the stunning offers and 0% interest rates are waiting for you. Click on Ira to visit BillCurrieFord.com, where GM Sean Sullivan will help you personally.
May 11th, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Ira…..you had to ruin my hypeomania………..the last thing I’m thinking about is the 2021 draft…..
May 11th, 2020 at 3:48 pm
4-5 and still had a 2-1 td/int ratio.
May 11th, 2020 at 3:50 pm
If you’re going to cherry pick the last 9 games for Brady then use it for the D as well.
First 8 weeks PPG given up: 7.7 – #1 in the league by insane margin
Pats Defense last 9 games gave u: 20.4 PPG would rank 12th – closer to average. Gave up 28 to the Texans / 27 to the Dolphins (at home)/ were not the same elite unit anymore.
They built that team to be an elite top 2-3 D with an offense that ran the ball and played efficient. It worked until the defense became much more closer to average than top 3-5.
The #’s weren’t great still. But hell a 11:5 TD-INT ratio is still better than 11:11 lol
May 11th, 2020 at 3:51 pm
Also you cannot understate the garbage he had to throw to in the last half of the season. His yards per pass attempt is so low because he is great at stealing yards. also he did not trust his WRs to catch balls in any situation where they would have to make a contested catch.
May 11th, 2020 at 3:55 pm
We are building a Super Bowl Champion team, not a dynasty.
It truly is an all in move that mostly disregards the near future. I don’t just say it to say it. Look at how our team is built and the money tied up. In two years we are in for a major rebuild unless our draft picks hit at a high rate.
Who is our future QB? What young pass rushers are we developing? O lineman? Our Oline, DLine, TEs, and soon WR are all stocked with high priced starters with little to no depth behind it that can take over in the next few years. That will mean either we are going to have to over pay Free Agents in a few years or go cheap and hope our draft picks hit.
I’m not complaining as I love our situation for this season and couldn’t be more excited about the relevance that Tompa has brought us. Just saying that this really is an all in move which anything less than a Super Bowl is a failure in my eyes. If you’re going to mortgage your future, you better bring home the hardware.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
LordC
That was an EXCELLENT post. It not only put Brady’s season in better perspective it showed the dangers of cherry picking stats or worst of all using too small of a sample base to provide any meaningful insight.
Ironically…at least IMHO Brady does not need to play lights out this season. He just needs to be efficient and let his team do the work. He’s ALREADY done the lion share of what he was brought here to do. It’s a new day in Tampa Bay.
I am a fan…my wife is a casual fan…had season tickets in the first Sombrero years but now is more of a hockey fan than NFL…still she keeps up with the Bucs. Now that I’m watching a lot more Good Morning Football and other NFL net shows and my wife has started paying some attention because of the vast amount of time they are talking about the Bucs.
TB12 is well on the way to accomplishing what we brought him here to do. I think the on the field stuff will be the easiest part for Brady. Again he does not have to carry this team. By the end of the season the Defense could challenge to be one of the best in the league. The offense is loaded with weapons.
This team is set up as ideal for a player with Brady’s skill set and experience.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
We sacrificed 15/years for 2.
If there isn’t a super bowl win (not the playoffs,;a SB Win) this was a waste.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Alaska, I disagree. This team is stocked with a very good core group. Vea, White, Barrett, Vaughn, SMB, Dean, C Davis, Godwin, OJ, Marpet, Wirfs, Rojo, etc. This team is loaded with youth. The big question mark will be QB. I was in favor of giving one more year to JW because this franchise has struggled mightily for a franchise QB.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Pugs…that is true but for one thing…what makes you think we would win a SB in the next 15 without a top notch QB? And if the D matures, and 8-8 would become the norm, what chance would we have of replacing Winston, or Brady, with a top tier rookie replacement? Next to nothing. Our best bet is to ride this two years with Brady, and set up a champion quality team, and make it attractive to the next quality FA. And ride this horse for a few more years.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:33 pm
Ira, you’re turning into a Debbie Downer. Of course there are no guarantees. And yes, it MIGHT go south on us. BUT … it MIGHT lead to the playoffs and to the Super Bowl.
Lord C … Great catch on the role the Pats’ defense played in those last 9 games. Having the #1 DEFENSE on the season though helps ANY QB, especially when that #1 defense only allows 14 PPG average on the season and lets the offense feed on 36 TOs. Had the Bucs’ defense only allowed 14 pts in each game, we would’ve gone 16-0 last season.
Alaskan … You nailed it. I love our situation this year too, and I THINK it’ll extend to next year. After that, all bets are off. Like you said, we’ll probably be looking at a major rebuild starting in 2022. Vets like Brady, Suh & JPP likely won’t be here after that. Some big shoes to fill. But that’s TOMORROW’S problem, not today’s.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:43 pm
Yes we are all in for the next 2 seasons. I’ll take that approach over the normal status quo around here. We havent invested any future draft picks, most contracts will be off our books after 2021. We are being aggressive and as a fan, that’s all we can really ask for.
Who cares who our QB will be 3 seasons from now. This is our chance now. I still think we need to find a better backup QB but I think that would’ve happened if it was going to. Other than that we are looking really solid on O n D.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:46 pm
“If there isn’t a super bowl win (not the playoffs,;a SB Win) this was a waste.”
That’s a brain dead illogical assumption. It assumes that the prior player…what was that loser’s name…would have won a SB. This is a rather huge assumption since in FIVE FREAKING YEARS…he never reached the playoffs and finished with four losing seasons in a row.
What you JW nuthuggers simply cannot realize is that we gave up NOTHING to get Brady!!! We gave up a 4th round draft pick to get Gronk. This has all happened for a FOURTH ROUND DRAFT pick and dumping a QB who NEVER won here.
Because some of you love JW so viscerally you make stupid statements. When JW reaches a SB then get back to us…and even then you’d have to wait and see how we do.
Bottom line…The entire league has voted with their wallets!!! Giving up on JW was NOT a gamble.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:48 pm
BradyBunch you proved my point brotha! Vea, Godwin, OJ, and Davis are all due to be renewed in the next two years. Barrett and Suh are on one year deals. Our cap is up against the wall.
We are bound to lose starters in the next couple years and my point is who will replace them? We don’t have young developmental depth, so we will have to sign more moderate prices FA, hope to hit on our picks, and make tough decisions on letting veterans like LVD, Evans, Suh, Barrett, Gholston, and Smith go or let younger players like Godwin, Davis, Howard, etc go.
You are correct that we DO have a great core but the way that our contracts are spread, to me, spells rebuild and tough decisions in the near future.
Even if we signed Jameis to 25M we’d be in the same boat with a less talented team. I’m fully on board with going for broke, as it beats being broke every single year.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:50 pm
We’ve tried that build from the ground up for the past decade and that crap is not working. Part is on the GM but most of it has to do with this generations attitude. They get the big payday and just like winning the lottery they think cool lets just smoke some weed and play Madden! The love of the game has become just the love of money. Then they are broke for the last 30 years of their lives.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
St. Pete.. generally on the nose as usual, but need to amplify, or expand on one thing…
“When JW reaches a SB then get back to us.”
Just to clarify, Winston could reach the SB. He could reach a SB as a third string bench riding QB. What I think you mean, and I agree, that he will never likely reach the SB after a season at starting QB.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:56 pm
Players that just love the game of football are becoming very hard to find. A little off topic but even huge high schools are having trouble fielding teams. My old high school moved to a variation of what football used to be.
May 11th, 2020 at 4:56 pm
My measle advice……sit back buc fans and enjoy the ride. This will happen only once, so don’t blink. And oh yeah,………look to pass to Gronk, or Gronk!
Let’s GO GRONKANEERS!
May 11th, 2020 at 5:20 pm
@Pugs&Bucs
What exactly are we risking in your 15/2 ratio? I’m not sure I understand the dilemma? Were you a Winston supporter that thinks they gave up on him too early?
The 15 years of suckage are gone, there’s nothing we can do about that now. There are no guarantees going forward with Brady, that is correct. There was a plethora of evidence to show that Winston wasn’t getting any smarter with the ball.
Here’s the deal, you can’t always be looking at what your win total might be 3 or 4 years from now. Sometimes you just have to push the chips in and win now. Evans isn’t getting younger. The defensive front seven are on the back 9. Godwin is cheap this year.
It’s time to sh!t or get off the pot. No there is no Super Bowl guarantee. No there is no guarantee that Brady and Gronk will still be dominant, but dammit, at least there’s hope.
Hope right now for me, after the last decade of dog sh!t football, is worth the two year investment into trusting Brady.
May 11th, 2020 at 5:29 pm
We’re “sacrificing” 15 years for 2. Well, in fairness, Jameis does lead the league in at least one category over his five-year tenure.
We’re sacrificing leading the league in TOs for the next 15 years for 2 of not.
There. I fixed it for you.
May 11th, 2020 at 5:32 pm
If Brady stays healthy, Bucs go 12-4.
If not, Dak Prescott is possibly available next year.
Patriots may be tanking this year for Trevor Lawrence.
They are not making playoffs with Jarrett Stidham.
Betting on Brady has been a pretty safe bet.
May 11th, 2020 at 5:33 pm
Based on this article we should trade Brady for Mitch Trubisky…great idea? Legitimate insight?
May 11th, 2020 at 5:37 pm
Alaska- I agree AND disagree. There’s enough young talent on this roster to be excited about and develop.
Shaq’s what 27? Vea, Anthony Nelson has shown potential, White, our entire secondary.
We will definitely need a QB and OL (always!) and perhaps another TE. RB? Who knows?! Maybe this Vaughn kid is for real.
I see us in a sweet spot provided that these youngsters develop, and we actually saw development last year.
It’s all about the blend of vets and young talent. IMO.
May 11th, 2020 at 5:39 pm
I guess we should just forfeit the season 0-16 is easier than being optimistic. If we had traded Evans and Godwin to NewEngland I bet their fans would be depressed wondering if Brady could still win games.
May 11th, 2020 at 5:42 pm
“Its not foolproof”
Then it most likely won’t work with an old fool as head coach!!!!!!!!!!! The biscuit is stale!!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to herd the sheep, and put them back in the pen!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!
May 11th, 2020 at 6:36 pm
Bucsfanman … Good point about our young talent. Every year brings its own ‘challenges’ in terms of building & maintaining a winning roster. If all goes really well this year, we’ll be picking #32 next year. Obviously there’s good & bad with that: it’d mean we won the SB, but landing a franchise QB at #32 is pretty difficult (but not impossible). We’ll also need to re-sign some high-priced FAs OR quality vets to replace them (Gronk, LVD, Godwin, Barrett, Suh?), as well as improve our depth. But it still looks to me like a 2-year window is doable.
2022 however looks like the ball-buster. Personally don’t expect to see Tom Brady or Gronk here in 2022. Also don’t expect to see BA here, and certainly some (maybe most?) of the coaching staff will have moved on if he does. Lots of contracts due in 2022 besides Brady (Donovan Smith, JPP, Jensen, Vea, RoJo, Davis, OJ, Cappa, Whitehead among others) and they’ll all want to be paid of course.
Probably a good idea to just hope for the best in these 2020 & 2021 windows & enjoy the ride.
May 11th, 2020 at 6:50 pm
Need to bring in another QB besides Gabbert and Griffin. Kizer I believe may be available for competition doesn’t hurt at least he has more experience than Griffin and cheaper.
May 11th, 2020 at 7:01 pm
If a year from now, the facts show that Jameis’ 2019 was better than Brady’s 2020, I’ll still thank management for going after Brady. Everything he is, Jameis isn’t.
Worrying about 2020 because of what Brady did with an Offense bereft of any receiving talent in 2019 is useless.
May 11th, 2020 at 7:14 pm
Bruce Arians looking at this roster (in Al Pacino’s voice): I’m reloaded!! Ok? Come on in here MFs, I’m waiting for ya.
May 11th, 2020 at 7:44 pm
Brady, Gronk, and even Arians are here for one reason and that is to change the losing culture. This should be obvious to everyone. All of these guys have mentioned they are not here for the long haul. I am more than fine with this as a 30 year fan and season ticket holder. Last player to change the culture was the great Hardy Nickerson! He was the leader of the best Buccaneer defense I’d ever seen which is the ’99 NFC championship D!
May 12th, 2020 at 12:36 am
Most teams who go all in during free agency tend to go on a spending spree to get a bunch of players.
The Bucs only got two players and re-signed their own. That’s technically not ‘All-in’. Thats using free agency to get the final pieces to a team…the way free agency is supposed to be used.
May 12th, 2020 at 12:45 am
Bucnjim Says
“Brady, Gronk, and even Arians are here for one reason and that is to change the losing culture.”
Dude, this team doesn’t have a losing culture and hasn’t for a couple years. It has a fighting culture.
Tom Brady is here to fill the quarterback position the way it is supposed to be filled. Low turnovers, production and commanding the team. That’s it.
The Bucs needed an upgrade at QB and they went out and got the best because they were tired of the position costing us games.
Gronk was brought in for only one reason: to make Brady happy.
We really don’t need Gronk. Brady can certainly do well with Brate, OJ and Hudson. But Brady wanted him so they got him.
Arians had already changed the culture.
May 12th, 2020 at 1:15 am
The Buccaneers are a team of retirement and enjoyment for Brady! He has studied the Buccaneers in-depth because that is the type of man he is and that is the real reason Brady is here. He told you himself that HE chose to go to the Buccaneers. They didn’t put any moves on him. Brady saw what the Bucs receiving corps (probably the best in the history of the NFL) and he wants that kind of power. The Bucs got lucky they built that offense the way that they did or Brady wouldn’t be here. Brady does not want his legacy to become tainted for cheating. He wants to prove that he is indeed the very best that there has ever been. We are lucky to be alive to see this thing go down. Go Bucs ALL THE WAY BABY!!!
May 12th, 2020 at 5:22 am
So dramatic You’d be criticizing if we kept Winston instead, you’d be criticizing if we’d drafted a quarterback instead. Local reporters are so fearful of expectations it’s pathetic. You gotta do better than 43, gotta do better than depth behind backups, where would San Fran our Baltimore or Kansas City be without their starting quarterback for an extended amount of time? Gthoh
May 12th, 2020 at 8:29 am
Well it’s good that we are bringing up a qb being him with Blaine Gabbert
May 12th, 2020 at 10:44 am
Folks BA went with door number 2. He was saying that the QB was the issue. So I’m saying anything less than 11 wins this season is a failure. Just making the wildcard is not good enough. I just hope that the line holds up and protects well and the defense plays a full 16 games instead of the last 5 weeks. I really wanna see us beat good teams and the games we are supposed to win I wanna see those game dominated by the Bucs. 2020 11 wins or better. No excuses left. All in
May 12th, 2020 at 11:06 am
Playing in the NFC Championship game (win or lose) will be a successful season.
Making the playoffs and getting bounced out in the first game like the Cincinnati Bengals did for years will be a total letdown.
Being a high seed 2 or 3 and getting bounced by a low seed and well it won’t go over well. Coaches will get another shot in 2021 though.
Final 4 or bust because the future is now!
May 12th, 2020 at 11:54 am
Damn, I love reading Ira Kaufman. He’s always right on. I will say this. On paper, this team is special and I really believe this defense will be great and we have not had that in a very long time. With this defense and Brady running this offense, we will be in every game. I really think we will be hard to beat. Jason Licht and Arians set the table. Lets hope our players take advantage of the opportunity we have.
May 12th, 2020 at 12:21 pm
Who’d a thunk 5 years ago that #weaponsforJameis would morph into
#weaponsforTB12