“Go For Two” Not Absurd
February 17th, 2021
Repeat? Why not?
Repeating as Super Bowl champs has become so rare Joe has to believe it is because of the physical pounding teams take.
The Bucs just played a USFL-like season with 20 games. Sixteen regular season games and four postseason. So repeating in the NFL is hard as can be.
(This is why Joe laughs hysterically when guys like Peter King screamed against expanding a regular season. The USFL had 18-game seasons and some dudes turned right around and signed with an NFL team to play 16 more in the same calendar year — and Joe never read or heard of anyone crying this was a blight on society. And Joe can promise you dudes got beat up more back then than they do now.)
Of course, the long season may have been tempered with a shortened training camp and no dumbass preseason games — funny, King never seems to have a problem with worthless preseason games.
But Patrick Daugherty of NBC Sports Edge (nee: Rotoworld) believes the Bucs have a young and talented enough nucleus to overcome the old bones of their star veterans.
Tampa’s Tom Brady acquisition had a whiff of desperation about it. Along with the Chargers, the Bucs were one of only two teams to seriously pursue the best player of the 21st century. After years of false prophecies of his decline, Brady’s 2019 seemed to finally usher in the beginning of the end. Slumped to 10-year statistical lows nearly across the board, Brady’s final pass as a Patriot was a pick six. It just seemed like time for a player turning 43 in August. It was, of course, but for a Super Bowl and not a send-off. Brady identified a readymade championship roster, and the Bucs found their final piece. After years of sub-par supporting casts in New England, Brady aggressively stumped for upgrades — Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown — to an already loaded skill group and didn’t waste what was given to him. As he did his job, the defense did theirs, harassing Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes en route to a Super Bowl title. With young talent — Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield Jr., Devin White, Vita Vea, Carlton Davis — perfectly complementing the Bucs’ veteran core, this is a team well suited to run it back even if its quarterback is about to turn 44.
Look, Joe has seen enough. Only until Joe actually sees Brady’s skills deteriorate will Joe believe he’s shot. Don’t care how friggin’ old he’s supposed to be.
Would you believe the way Brady played this past season he’s 43, if you didn’t read or hear about it daily?
Joe has come to believe anything is possible with Brady. So yeah, why not expect the Bucs to fly to Los Angeles next February for a second-straight trip to the Super Bowl?
February 17th, 2021 at 8:06 am
Let’s get to the really important issue,
Are we gonna wear the creamsicle’s next year?
All Buc fans want to know.
February 17th, 2021 at 8:10 am
Dynasty of the 20’s ! 🙂
February 17th, 2021 at 8:13 am
You’re on fire Joe. Back-to-back SB championships works for me. And it’s doable if we can keep this defense together and most of the offense together.
The key to ‘saving Tom Brady’ is our OLine far as I’m concerned. Our big-uglies only gave up a total of 22 sacks this year in the regular season (21 on Brady). In comparison, Patriots OLine gave up 37 sacks this past year, and that was with some scrambling QBs playing behind it. Our OLine’s ability to protect 43-year-old Tom makes a huge difference in his effectiveness AND longevity IMO.
February 17th, 2021 at 8:24 am
I can see us going back to the Super Bowl, not so sure about The “Chefs”.
February 17th, 2021 at 8:29 am
Already claimed our room to stay with friends who retired to in Dana Point, not far from Irvine, for next year’s SB. Bring on the ’21 season!
February 17th, 2021 at 8:52 am
Didn’t Brady have the second best season (statistically) of his career last year? I think so – by the QB ratings. Wins, not age, are what matters. He improves both the O and the D.
February 17th, 2021 at 9:15 am
Brady wont play after next season unless the bucs find a way to go all in again. He wont play just because he can. Arians will probably retire, gronk will be less mobile. More losses in free agency. The time is now to get another one . Licht and arians knows it. After next season gabbert will be the starting qb
February 17th, 2021 at 9:21 am
Chesapeake, you may want to do some further google maps searching before you “lock in” that reservation. Sofi stadium is not in Irvine!
February 17th, 2021 at 9:22 am
Elite QBs like Brees and Rogers have won only one SB in their career so far. That is likely it for Brees, Rogers may still compete for another -maybe, maybe not. Roethlisberger – two SBs in total. If any of them were to say – “I am coming for another one next year” – how credible will this be? Not very. When Brady says it – you know there is a very good chance. At any age.
February 17th, 2021 at 9:30 am
they better draft a qb!!!
February 17th, 2021 at 9:44 am
Peter King molests collies.
February 17th, 2021 at 9:50 am
Since Brady turned 37, which is right after Bellicheck wanted to get rid of him and move forward and people started talking about the end of his career, there have been 7 Super Bowls.
He has been in 5 and won 4 of them.
As this offense got more on the same page as time went on this season – he got better!
With this O line and receiving corps… Absolutely should be the favorites to repeat from the NFC.
I saw that the Buccaneers are putting a priority on signing Godwin to a long-term deal which I think is fantastic. He should be the priority because Antonio Brown is older, let him go. (And sign LVD and Shaq!!!)
February 17th, 2021 at 9:56 am
Don’t be that guy!
One of the reasons KC didn’t repeat was their arrogance. Anyone remember how the Bucs were after winning the Super Bowl? Remember Sapp kicking the pylon? If they keep it quiet, professional, diligent, intense, they can definitely repeat.
February 17th, 2021 at 10:55 am
Drafting a qb: Arians has indicated a few times that he is perfectly happy with Blaine Gabbert
does it seem like the Bucs brain trust only views Scotty Miller as a situational player?
February 17th, 2021 at 11:27 am
Brady’s on another level.
February 17th, 2021 at 11:38 am
We can’t wear creamsickles ! NFL rules only allow uniform changes every X years (don’t remember what X equals, but it’s more than 2! NFL also only allows one helmet color, so our Pewter helmet doesn’t go with creamsickle uniform, need a white helmet.
So it ain’t happening , unfortunately.
Don’t understand the one helmet rule, absurd , perhaps it does identify the team despite the alternate or throwback jerseys.
February 17th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Dear Bux….
everything you said is accurate about the helmet color (that Pats were victimized by that rule as well). However, the NFL said they were talking about relaxing that one-helmet rule next year.
Personally I don’t get it. If you’re trying to protect someone’s head, wouldn’t you want a brand new helmet EVERY GAME?
February 17th, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Sign TB12 for another two years. The oline and run game will keep his jersey clean.
February 17th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
Buxszntkt
What Adam said….
February 17th, 2021 at 1:01 pm
I’m not talking about a whole season of Orange… just a couple throwback games. The helmet issue is under review, I believe.
February 17th, 2021 at 10:55 pm
As long as we keep our key guys on defense (Shaq, Suh) we should be favored to win it all next year despite what some folks in the national media (Tanier) would have you believe.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:55 pm
that would be cool, thanks for the update Jmark and Adam.
Would be awesome to see the creamsickle for a game or two, the all pewter as well. Would hardly have any room for the full time jerseys, lol.