Bracing For The Spin
October 24th, 2020
Bucs GM Jason Licht
One might think a general manager who hates free agency wouldn’t sign a player like Antonio Brown, who has failed repeatedly from the neck up in recent years en route to disappointing three franchises and three head coaches with Super Bowl rings.
But hey, this is Tampa, where the soap opera of modern Bucs football knows no creative limits to its freakish screen writing.
Over the years, Bucs GM Jason Licht has often talked about players failing from the neck up. His prized No. 1 overall draft pick was an exceptional example, as were a few of his more expensive free agents.
Bucco Bruce Arians has bristled multiple times when asked about adding Brown to his selfless receiving corps. Yet here comes Brown, a week after the balanced Bucs racked up 38 points, a year after Arians’ offense was ranked No. 3 in scoring and No. 3 in yards, a couple of months after the NFL suspended Brown eight games for deeds outside the horrendous specifics of the civil suit against him that alleges rape, a week after Chris Godwin returned to the field.
So Joe finds it reasonable to believe Tom Brady is the chief power broker at One Buc Palace and driving the Brown signing.
When the Bucs next week talk about their organizational unity on signing Brown, and about the alleged depth of injuries to other Bucs receivers, remember how Licht said there was total personnel consensus at One Buc Palace during the 2014 offseason. Joe didn’t believe it then and doesn’t believe it now.
Joe’s not going to buy any of the spin coming out of One Buc Palace regarding Brown, either, (Arians would never mislead Jay Glazer) just as Joe never believed the ramble that the Bucs were all set at running back after drafting Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
But Joe is actually looking forward to how the Bucs package their message for the public about the Brown signing. It should make for great entertainment. Hopefully, Brown makes for even more entertainment on the field.
October 24th, 2020 at 8:29 am
It’s a great move Mike Evans has an equal issue Chris Godwin can’t stay healthy and a contract here
October 24th, 2020 at 8:44 am
Brady, do not like Evans or Goodwin, the entire Packer’s game one pass thrown to Evan and none thrown to Goodwin after the blow up between the two. In comes Antonio Brown, good luck with that.
October 24th, 2020 at 8:48 am
This is not a huge gamble……the price is low…..he has extreme talent……Brady wants him…..he knows this is his last chance…..he’s had plenty of time to think about his actions…
Just think of it….we are replacing Cyril Grayson with Antonio Brown…..
When you look at it that way, the deal makes good sense.
October 24th, 2020 at 8:48 am
I recall the good old days of the Niners and Cowboys taking turns signing Neon or Haley or whatever vet it was gonna take to get over the top
Arians is older than me and he remembers too
That’s what we are doing – period
October 24th, 2020 at 8:50 am
Injuries seem like a real concern. 6 weeks in and Howard is out, Fournette, Godwin have missed games and Evans is banged up.
There’s also a bit of PR brilliance, the Bucs will be must watch football, they’ll be talked about constantly…..in a period where fan viewership is disrupted, its a way to make us at the forefront of the headlines both locally and nationally.
October 24th, 2020 at 8:55 am
I want to hear some SERIOUS spin! As in what I hope the Bucs did before making this move.
Obviously Brady had an absolute right of refusal. If Brady had said no it would not have happened. Brady played with AB in his most controversial period. Perhaps he knows something? Maybe he just feels lucky.
I think BA also obviously had a right of refusal…so did TB12 sell him?
Or is it simply because this move does make sense on so many levels?
WIN NOW BABY! Hard to argue with winning as a motivator. This team is ready to compete for an SB. Our weak link this year are the hammies of CG14 and ME13. When BOTH of them are gone our offense is totally defanged. AB of course will change that instantly.
The future. Don’t believe this involves a major financial commitment. This off season some major decisions will be made. I think perhaps the Bucs view AB as a rental. However am I the only one here? As much as I love ME and CG…CG is one of my favorites…if they can’t stay healthy. Perhaps they’ve just both gone through a tough streak. Let’s hope.
October 24th, 2020 at 8:55 am
I believe Brady, Arians, JPP and the rest can keep him in line, also he has to know this is his last shot, so maybe he has learned something
October 24th, 2020 at 8:59 am
The last sentence is the bottom line. This is a good team trying to get better. If it works out everyone’s happy. If it doesn’t he’s gone and we still try to be the best team we can be. Not that hard.
October 24th, 2020 at 8:59 am
I picked up this take on line….
The question now stands: Did the Buccaneers need to sign Antonio Brown?
The quick and logical answer is no. They didn’t need to sign Antonio Brown. Their receiving core is already elite as it is. Was it a good move signing him? Absolutely.
The Tampa Bay receiving core has been battling injuries all year. OJ Howard will miss the rest of the season with a torn achilles, Chris Godwin has been dealing with Hamstring issues, and Mike Evans has had ankle problems early this year as well.
Signing Antonio Brown is the Bucs safety blanket if another major receiver goes down. Is there really that much of a loss if Brown steps in for Godwin or Evans? A drop-off maybe, but a slight drop-off at that.
Antonio Brown also poses as a much more viable slot option than Scotty Miller or rookie Tyler Johnson when they decide to use four receiver sets on offense.
Let’s be clear- Antonio Brown doesn’t even need to produce to be an impact guy. Just the fact that he is on the field makes him a major threat to score. He attracts attention from safety’s downfield and linebackers across the middle. With safety attention on Brown, teams will not be able to send double teams to Evans or Godwin. If linebackers have their sights on Brown, the Tampa Bay running backs can get involved in the pass game in the flats without as much pressure.
October 24th, 2020 at 9:06 am
“But Joe is actually looking forward to how the Bucs package their message for the public about the Brown signing.”
.
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If they are hollyweird/Washington DC smart, they will send Darcy out to host the press conference with a straight face, and explain how Antonio is a gud boy and dreams of finishing his degree and making a difference in the world. Oh, and supporting some women’s charity. Yeah, I think that’ll do it. Rainbows and unicorns.
October 24th, 2020 at 9:07 am
Brady IS the power broker on this one. But as a fan that would like to see a competitive team, Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller just do not ring a bell at this point of their careers. They are either all in or not. Finally in this goofy year of 2020 it is fun again to be a Bucs fan. In the 44 years of this team playing football, fun has been few and far between. 0-26 yea I watched it. Back to back 2-14 in the 80’s yea I watched it, worst team in the 80’s, yea I watched it. The lost decade yea I watched it. From 1976 until 1997 they had 3 winning seasons. I could go on and on, everyone gets the point. This year has been a blast so far, and expecting a lot more. Super Bowl who knows, but we will darn sure compete for it this year. SUPER BOWL OR BUST!!! GO BUCS!!!!!
October 24th, 2020 at 9:12 am
Is it complete lack of judgement by the Bucs? That is, we know they whiffed on Winton’s character–picked him first overall and he ended up with the same issues he had at FSU. Was taking AB, who seems far, far worse, another whiff (such as beliving something like “I’m better now; I’ve learned my lesson”)? Or, do they just not care? Are they so bent on doing well in the playoffs that who they get there doesn’t matter any more?
There have been plenty of PR tragedies with the Bucs. This is the worst one since the immediate post-gruden era where they dismissed so many SB roster players and told angry fans to pound sand and pay more for their tickets.
October 24th, 2020 at 9:17 am
Roy, I’m not sure this is a PR tragedy just yet. It may yet be. But if he’s kept on a short leash and he says the right things he’ll be given a chance. From yesterday’s posts the fan base seemed split almost 50/50 on this move. But I’ll tell you this, the first time AB lines up and gets seven catches for 110 yards and a touchdown or two all that rhetoric will be gone. We shall see very soon.
October 24th, 2020 at 9:27 am
Roy T. Buford Says:
“… we know they whiffed on Winton’s character–picked him first overall and he ended up with the same issues he had at FSU.”
.
.
After supposedly spending one million packet-change dollars to investigate his character. LOL
October 24th, 2020 at 9:31 am
Joe- You make a great point about the spin. Will be interesting. Just hope not too much negative impact on the season – which is going great.
October 24th, 2020 at 9:34 am
@Ed … “Brady, do not like Evans or Goodwin, the entire Packer’s game one pass thrown to Evan and none thrown to Goodwin after the blow up between the two.”
You lost me Ed. What ‘blow up’ are you talking about? And as far as there only being 1 pass thrown to Evans & none to Godwin after goes, I don’t see the issue. Both are hurtin, our running game was doing great & our defense was on fire. And oh ya, we won BIG TIME. Maybe BA didn’t want to take a chance of getting either dinged up more?
October 24th, 2020 at 9:57 am
I lost some respect for Tom “win at all costs” Brady. He is the equivalent of LeBron James. Go to a new team and make a fantasy team. It feels like we’re the Yankees. Disgusting signing. Watch this league turn into the NBA from here on out. If you can’t win, buy it.
October 24th, 2020 at 9:57 am
After all, is this not the same website that referred to Jameis Winston as “Americas QB, probowler Jameis Winston”, well, well after the uber scandal?
Enough! Write about how this move helps the Bucs on the field and forget about the rest!
October 24th, 2020 at 9:58 am
The SKY is Fallen.. Lol.. It’s going to be ok Brady’s got a plan.. Go Bucs..
October 24th, 2020 at 9:59 am
Can’t wait til he gets started and pulls a hammy like the rest of our WRs.
October 24th, 2020 at 10:00 am
@AwShbucs,
I’ll watch you rejoice when a player 2 years removed from football becomes a DIVA, demands the ball every time on offense, and alienates our core players.
The mission to the Super Bowl was supposed to be distraction-free.
Now I guarantee AB will create problems for our team. He’s going to rub people the wrong way with his entitlement. If he acts up, I hope the GM and HC have the balls to tell Brady that they’re dumping his man crush to the curb.
October 24th, 2020 at 10:04 am
lambchop, you’re not nostradamus. You can’t guarantee a damn thing!
I say Tom Brady is more than a good enough leader to keep Browns ego in check.
On the field, this guy is 2 years removed from being one of the best players in the game. On the field, this guy without a doubt bolsters our chances of winning the SB.
After all, did we not win our first Lombardi with Michael Pittman on the roster?
Forget about Choirboys! Lets Win!
October 24th, 2020 at 10:08 am
This move needs to come with a very, very short leash. I got to think BA, TB, Licht etc. had discussions w AB and laid out specific ground rules. And with Evans and Godwin being gimpy. This move had to be made if we are all in this year. Just don’t want to see the hand grenade go off in the locker room!
October 24th, 2020 at 10:08 am
Steve, yes, we will have to see. It is a PR disaster with me though. They’ve struck bottom. I don’t care if he’s the MVP of the SB…some things are more important. But indeed, I’m one guy.
October 24th, 2020 at 10:13 am
AwshBucs Says…. lol lol keep it up!! And by the way Rod munch also.SUPER BOWL OR BUST!!! GO BUCS!!!!!
October 24th, 2020 at 10:16 am
Roy, I totally respect your opinions and have done so for a while now. This isn’t a move I would have made. But my team made it. And I hope they’re strong enough to both absorb it and make the best of it.
October 24th, 2020 at 10:58 am
I agree, lets forget about Choirboys! Lets Win!
October 24th, 2020 at 11:05 am
In the immortal words of Herm Edwards ” You Play to WIN the Game” SUPER BOWL OR BUST!!! GO BUCS!!!
October 24th, 2020 at 12:05 pm
Steven007 Says:
“… if he’s kept on a short leash and he says the right things he’ll be given a chance.”
He’s had a lot of practice at saying the right things, now. I bet he sounds dreamy! LOL
====================
Roy T. Buford Says:
“…some things are more important.”
.
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When our country was at its greatest, principles were the first thing that were considered when making decisions. We are hurtling headlong into Babylon territory now.
🙁
October 24th, 2020 at 1:09 pm
Maybe Tom is just THAT good of a negotiator. Ownership giving him a little practice on the GM gig when he retires. Inagine Brady at GM to recruit and put all our players on the Brady diet and Bowles gets the HC gig. Watch it all unfold as Brady and B.A. retire from thier positions after SB victory at home..
After this last offseasons I’m not counting anything out lol.
October 24th, 2020 at 1:17 pm
With 26 mil in cap space next year and thats with only 33 players under contract it looks like its this year or not then back to the drawing board. I sure this is BAs last year win it all or leave the team in shambles.
October 24th, 2020 at 3:42 pm
Looks like Brady’s running the show it will be great if it works if not there is always next year.
October 25th, 2020 at 7:56 pm
I don’t get it the bucs are winning and all this wining, wtf- enjoy go have a beer or something- 🥴💨