“As Soon As I Heard That Tom Brady Signed, I Started Working Out That Much Harder”
August 30th, 2020
Interesting nugget from a member of the 2019 Buccaneers defense.
Tampa Bay launched few players from last year’s defense, but one was veteran linebacker Sam Acho. He was new to the team but had played for Bucco Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles in Arizona.
Acho is without a team now, but he carries a powerful voice as the NFL Players Association vice president. He joined FS1 last week and was asked about the Bucs. Interestingly, he said “the deciding factor” for the Bucs’ 2020 season is the defense. Acho rattled of a string of six key defensive players and none were in the secondary.
Of course, he was asked about the Tom Brady effect and gave a very telling answer. Aside from saying the usual, that players look up to Brady with awe and he’s someone who was revered and studied by players leaguewide for years, Acho said the Brady signing jacked him up immediate.
“I know I’m a free agent now. I was planning and still hoping to sign back with Tampa. As soon as I heard that Tom Brady had signed, I started working out that much harder,” Acho said. “That’s the kind of effect Tom Brady has on the team. You know, when you play with The Goat, you gotta step your game up.”
Multiply what Acho said times, say, 60 guys and that could/should mean the Bucs are that much stronger, faster and more focused than last year. And then throw in how Brady has raised things a notch for coaches.
It may be meaningless hype, but it sure feels good 14 days before opening day.
August 30th, 2020 at 8:59 am
Different vibe in the locker room then when everyone was walking on egg shells out of fear of damaging Winston’s mental state (any further).
August 30th, 2020 at 9:09 am
Two guys that always to mind with me on players wanting to be on their game or face some vicious wrath: Bill Parcells and Tom Brady. Not to mention Brady doesn’t ask you do anything he won’t do–better.
Kind of odd that one can still be the NFLPA VP and NOT be on a team.
August 30th, 2020 at 9:11 am
When Brady signed the Patriots lost their best head coach and we got him he elevates the play of all the other players and raises their standards.
August 30th, 2020 at 9:18 am
I suspect that Brady’s leadership will help us with our penalty problems also…..players not only work out more physically but sharpen up mentally also.
August 30th, 2020 at 9:18 am
I can’t believe what I just read.
“14 days before opening day…”
There is a God.
August 30th, 2020 at 9:27 am
Off topic but, I just read that Ryan Fitzpatrick’s mother passed away yesterday.
I pray peace for all who suffer.
August 30th, 2020 at 9:33 am
I wonder what the Bucs would have looked like the last 5 years if they were all in with Jameis Winston at QB?
August 30th, 2020 at 9:38 am
Heaven forbid if the wheels fall off of this thing and it’s another typical Bucs season, it’s going to be interesting as to why the high hopes didn’t come to fruition.
I’m hoping for the best this year, of course, but am actually looking to next year when Brady and the team gain the experience needed in working together this season.
August 30th, 2020 at 9:47 am
It takes a team effort. Glad to see that everyone’s on board and ready for a great year. GO BUCS!
August 30th, 2020 at 10:08 am
yeah Says:
August 30th, 2020 at 9:33 am
I wonder what the Bucs would have looked like the last 5 years if they were all in with Jameis Winston at QB?
Yeah, hard to know… All the turnovers and whatnot. He’s gone, yeah. Let it go or spare us who cheer for the TEAM. Have a great day, yeah
Go Bucs, yeah
August 30th, 2020 at 10:25 am
This just shows how unbelievably crappy this organization is. They have players openly saying they didn’t work out as hard as they could. Newsflash these are PROFESSIONAL PAID ATHLETES! It is their job to be their best, it’s nice to know thousands of us fans have paid out good hard money for players who admittedly did not give their best effort into being a good as they could be. Blame whoever you want and give credit to whoever you want but this speaks to an organizational failure where the culture is “come to Tampa to get paid and coast”. Just another reason this organization will have little to no fans in the very near future. Also just out of curiosity wasn’t the coach supposed to fix this, you know accountability and all? Cause we know some players on the team worked extremely hard!
August 30th, 2020 at 10:37 am
Aannddd. He’s back.
August 30th, 2020 at 11:08 am
N doggy, you forget these players are human. Your naive to think that any person who busts their ass, some for years mind you, and are constantly let down by the same player turning the ball over, would continue to go balls to the wall. At some point you start thinking about yourself and not buying into the team as much. It’s not they didnt want to win, it’s that human hope is a finicky thing. And before you start defending winston by pointing fingers, remember, the only player on a team that touches the ball 50%~ of the snaps is the qb. He shoulders most of the blame/praise for a damn solid reason. Go Bucs!
August 30th, 2020 at 11:15 am
Oh my. What up Ndog? While your not happy that #3 is gone. I get it, I wanted him to win HERE for US. Damn homie, it didn’t work… Sucks. Outside of Gronk, #3 had the same roster to win with. It was a TEAM failure from top to bottom.
Listen, if you’re truly a Bucs fan then support the team. I could care less who plays for the Bucs. Been a fan since it’s inception. I own plenty of fan apparel but not a jersey.
Bucs fan,
#whatdaBucisthis
Go Bucs
August 30th, 2020 at 11:46 am
Ndog: “IT IS THEIR JOB TO BE THEIR BEST!!!!”
Also Ndog: Continually posts weak comments.
August 30th, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Just joking, Ndog. As Rico 210 points out, it’s good to be a Bucs fan. Why can’t you enjoy it?
August 30th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Again it’s ok to disagree about the team Ndog has a different opinion about the team . I do agree with him on players not giving their best . That’s not Jamies fault or even the organization fault . It’s the players fault who wasn’t giving their best . We have to stop trying to find scapegoats for when this team loses . It’s 3 or 4 games that we lost last year that wasn’t Jamies fault wich means we would have made the playoffs . And to tell the truth Matt Gay and our defense lost those games . That’s why we are having a kicking competition right now because of those games . But now Jamies is gone and it’s football season so for right now I’m going to root for the team to win . And when the off season comes we can voice our opinion or facts about the team . But I can’t lie about how I feel about the future it looks dem but for right now I’m just going to enjoy the season . Go Bucs !!!
August 30th, 2020 at 12:49 pm
You’re supposed to buy into the team, not an individual …for you dummies out there you win as a team and lose as a team. Mr 5,000 was just an accomplished within the game, that was not his purpose but with no run game, how else do you move the ball when on offense…Did players give up on (Jay-Miss..Mr TurnOver..UberMan..Weak between the ears)? Yes the did, yet I never seen him get flustered or give up on a player because of a dropped pass or a missed field goal, no he would run up to that player give the fist bump as if to say we will get them next time….you never give up on the team never because at the point that you do …you become a weakness to the strength of team!!! We got it on paper…now is the time to lay it all on the field as a TEAM!! GO BUCS!!
August 30th, 2020 at 12:51 pm
Everyone was right. Ndog didn’t (or barely) made it a week before he was back with the same old. Welcome back. It’s like you never left.
August 30th, 2020 at 1:16 pm
I want everyone to remember that Rogers had 35 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions and the Packers still missed the playoffs in 2018 I believe . He missed the playoffs 2 year in a row with a lot of touchdowns and without double digits interceptions and they still didn’t make the playoffs . It’s going to take the hold team to win 1 game not 1 guy . Brady can not and will not win on his own . He won with the Patriots because of the team he had . He played with a top 5 or even a number one defense his hold time with the Patriots .
August 30th, 2020 at 5:57 pm
Ndog, WTH are you doing back in here? Last I saw you cried and went away to support Jameis and his new team. Yet here you are again with the same non sense from before your resignation. Kick rocks bro, Jameis needs your support in New Orleans.
August 30th, 2020 at 6:54 pm
Big surprise… When a team gets a REAL qb and a winning one at that, suddenly players are excited and willing to go all out for the guy…. I’m sure they got SO sick of playing all out and then a knucklehead throw the game winning pass to the other team..
The Bucs are SO MUCH better off without JW…. Good Riddance!
August 30th, 2020 at 7:05 pm
Yeah I’m sure it’s really uplifting for a QB to play with a defense that can’t stop anyone (remember the Capitol Collapse and countless other games, including 4 last season) a kicker that can’t kick (to many games to count) and a running game that can’t run ( basically the last 4 years). Yet our QB never quit, played hurt and set countless records, yet people blame him. Yeah that makes perfect sense, do you people hear yourselves. The complete lack of common sense is unfathomable.
Was he perfect of course not but the fact that we have been HORRIFIC in every aspect of the game around him and yet he gets all the blame is laughable.
August 30th, 2020 at 8:13 pm
You know who holds a clip board for the Saints now.
August 30th, 2020 at 11:51 pm
The difference between a natural born leader of men vs a privileged 1st overall pick.
The difference between making everyone around you better vs making everyone around you work harder due to your bonehead mistakes.
The difference between yahoo vs google.
Tom Brady for president 2020
THANK GOD THE CANCER IS GONE!!!
August 31st, 2020 at 8:08 am
He is called the GOAT for a reason!!
SHOW some respect. I do not see the
6X SB Winning
14X Pro Bowler
4X League MVP moniker that you use 50% of the time?
WHAZZUP?