“For Tom Brady, There’s Simply No Other Way”
October 28th, 2020
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Back in 1979, a young reporter from Brooklyn became a New York Giants beat writer. The NFL hasn’t been the same since — and neither has the Tampa area. The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports arrived in 1985 to cover the Buccaneers, and Ira has since earned Ph.D. status in mauling buffets, schmoozing front office types, never revealing sources, and podcasting.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Through seven weeks, it’s all going according to schedule for a franchise that often didn’t seem to have a plan.
The 5-2 Bucs are rising up the power rankings and some prominent league pundits are starting to praise Tampa Bay as the most complete team in the NFC. That’s quite a leap of faith after a bitter Week 5 loss at Soldier Field, where Tom Brady lost track of downs and a prideful defense forgot to make key stops.
“I knew it was a good football team,” Phil Simms said on “Inside The NFL.” “And I knew Tom Brady’s way of working and handling himself would change the players and the coaches. And they have definitely done that. I have no questions now. Tampa Bay is for real. I’ll be shocked if they fall apart.”
He’s not alone.
“Looking at the tape, I see this team coming together,” says Ron Jaworski, who will work Monday night’s game against the Giants for Westwood One Radio. “They are giving us a template for who the Bucs are. I really don’t have any lingering concerns about this team. I was a little worried about the offensive line at the start, but those guys have held up.”
The Seahawks and Packers have only one loss apiece, but the Bucs look like a more balanced club. Seattle’s defense is pedestrian at best and Tampa Bay has already spanked Green Bay, making Aaron Rodgers look like Mitch Trubisky.
While the Bucs have added players like Rob Gronkowski, Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr., it is Brady’s presence that has made all the difference.
“I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for him,’’ says Giants coach Joe Judge, a Bill Belichick assistant in New England for eight seasons. “Tom was a ton of fun to be around. You really got to see one of the great competitors on a daily basis of not only how he performed, but more importantly, how he prepared.
“I think that’s some of the things that get overlooked. It’s not accidental this guy’s playing this late in his timeline of being 40-plus years old and still playing at this high level.”
Jaworski ,who enjoyed an accomplished 15-year career under center, has run out of superlatives for No. 12. And the worst news for Bucs opponents is Brady is steadily becoming more accustomed to his supporting cast.
“Tom’s starting to understand how his guys run their routes,” Jaworski says. “The man’s playing at a phenomenal level right now.”
While the Saints have outscored opponents by a mere six points on the season, Tampa Bay is a plus-80 in point differential and the Bucs are averaging 80 yards per game more than the opposition. It’s been all Bucs in the trenches, with 25 sacks for Tampa Bay while Brady has been dropped only eight times.
The defense has done its part as well.
Todd Bowles
Todd Bowles is ordering up blitzes more often than any other defensive coordinator in the NFC. Buc pass rushers are coming from every angle and second-year linebacker Devin White has been unleashed – with startling results.
“I love this defense,” Jaworski says. “Bowles loves bringing that pressure and you don’t know where it’s coming from. That’s the key. What you see pre-snap is not necessarily what you get.”
Now Antonio Brown, cast off by the Steelers, Raiders and Patriots, gets his chance to make an impact for an NFC team. Not just any NFC team, but a franchise earning respect as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
“If he doesn’t fit in and if there is any disruption, good knowing you man, out the door,” says Simms.
According to Jaworski, Brown’s talent is too rare to pass up.
“You’re talking about one of the most dynamic, if not THE most dynamic player in the NFL a few years ago,” said Jaws. “If you get a chance to sign a guy like that at a bargain price, you say yes. Having Brady there will make all the difference with Antonio Brown. Brady hates to lose and he demands everyone else to compete like he does. For Tom Brady, there’s simply no other way.”
Lifelong Bucs fan and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan will help you any way he possibly can. Click through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Ira Kaufman drives a cherry red, 2020 Ford Escape.
October 28th, 2020 at 4:27 pm
BUCS have BL and TB….the 2 best coordinators in the NFC…
GO BUCS!!!!
October 28th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
If we stay healthy we goin to da ship. For the first time since I dont know when I would put this team next to anybody in the league.
One game is on the calendar and that is KC. We want to be championship pedigree that is the game where we will find out.
October 28th, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Ira’s column kind of gave me a chubby.
October 28th, 2020 at 5:46 pm
Let’s go way back in time, to 2015:
Ron Jaworski, who said he wouldn’t draft Johnny Manziel “in the first three rounds,” says he wouldn’t take Jameis Winston No. 1 overall because the Florida State QB has “real flaws to his game.”
“I’ve studied a lot of him. I think Jameis Winston has a big upside in the NFL, but there are some real flaws to his game. Quite honestly, I would not take him at that No. 1 pick…. There are certainly mechanical flaws in his game that are troubling to me.”
This dude Jaws knows what he’s talking about. Nice to see someone so right is sold on the Bucs!
October 28th, 2020 at 5:51 pm
Swampbuc Says:
It drove Ndog and his fellow Jameis jock sniffers into manic depression…
I mean, how DARE the Bucs be successful without America’s Turnover Machine?
October 28th, 2020 at 6:07 pm
Hahaha Cobraboy – speaking of which, where is NDOG? If I had to guess he’s getting cu-cked
October 28th, 2020 at 7:08 pm
Realisto and npuppy dog are hibernating in their Den of Depression.
Btw Joe thanks for writing respectful words about our HOF Quarterback. Oops I get it now. It was Jaws talking. I should have known better. Lol
October 28th, 2020 at 7:09 pm
Ira outstanding like always!
October 28th, 2020 at 7:20 pm
For those of you who don’t think we need AB…….HOW DO YOU KNOW?…..this is the NFL…..both our top WRs could go down in the next few weeks.
I’ll admit…I’ve learned my lesson….I didn’t think we needed Gronk….now look!!!
October 28th, 2020 at 7:34 pm
Rarefied air at 1 buc place. They are checking all the boxes. All 3 phases The only team to beat the Bucs this year is the Bucs. But that crap stopped after Chi-Town. We will all be looking back at that as the turning point in the season. Players owned up to their stupid mistakes and overall undisciplined play. This is the best Bucs team CURRENTLY that I have witnessed since their inception. Do not look now, but the Bucs look like NE and NE looks alot like what we have seen far to many times from the Bucs lol. And there is a certain common denominator- Tom Brady. BTW Has anyone seen Billy B’s won loss record as a Head Coach without TB 12. It is a whopping 43% Welcome Bill back to life without the excellence of the GOAT at QB. A 12-4 regular season record is a distinct possibility in 2020. GO BUCS!!! NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ROLLS THROUGH TAMPA!!!!!
October 28th, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Going according to schedule Ira? Try telling that to Tommy. First place in the nfc right now would be according to schedule. Its getting there though
October 28th, 2020 at 8:09 pm
You think ndog drove to NO to have a confab with James to help him figure out the next chapter in his career?
October 28th, 2020 at 9:30 pm
Methuselah hit the old fart QB jackpot coming here. This is the best Bucs team talent wise in all 3 parts of a team. It is maturing. Methuselah will help it continue to grow. SB? Time will tell.
October 28th, 2020 at 10:25 pm
At least we are all on the same page it’s fun as hell to be a Tampa fan right now. That dime In a bucket to Miller was so fun to see. Bring AB in that’s fine- the “patriot way” is and always has been TB12. Just ask cam how that’s going with the patriot way. Dress up for getting benched? Hahahahaha
October 28th, 2020 at 10:43 pm
Joe !! Looks like your boys POE you were asking for Bucs to sign hit cut. Overweight , got paid didn’t care anymore. Thank god we didn’t waste cap space on that guy
October 29th, 2020 at 2:57 am
Awesome stuff Ira.