“They Kept Their Drunken Promises”
March 17th, 2021
The Band of Bucs is not fully back in the fold (yet).
There is still Ndamukong Suh out there, though the Bucs are in active talks with him.
There is Playoff Lenny, who is being wooed by Bill Belicheat.
(Column Intermission: The Bucs seem smitten with this James White, ex-Belicheats running back. Meanwhile, Belicheat, who is apparently good with White leaving, is sending candy and flowers to lure Playoff Lenny to New England. Shouldn’t that sort of tell Bucs fans something?)
And of course, Antonio Brown is walking free (as of 4 p.m. today) and who knows about Ryan Succop?
So the full Band of Bucs is not yet back. Still, many major players have returned and it’s like a dream come true.
Yesterday, Kyle Brandt, co-host of “Good Morning Football” seen and heard weekday mornings on NFL Network, was giving the Bucs major, major props for the offseason work of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians — this year and last offseason.
And while Brandt admits park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady is a huge factor, he suspects it is more than just Brady why players want to stay in Tampa Bay, in some cases passing up millions more to play elsewhere.
“I tend to buy in to all that lifestyle stuff we hear about Tampa, and Arians and Licht,” Brandt said. “The stuff (co-host Peter) Schrager says. ‘You are a veteran? Take the day off. I don’t care. Take the whole week off.’
“I just think guys like [foot-rubbing, car-littering Bucs tight end Rob] Gronkowski, ‘why would they want to start over for with some red@ss coach who is going to ride me? No, I like the lifestyle. My family likes it here and I like winning Super Bowls.’
“It is just sounds so cheesy and corny in the NFL when it’s usually about ‘Get your [money]bag while you can.’ These guys didn’t.”
In all, the fact Licht and Arians were able to keep the core of free agents from escaping Tampa Bay means that at the boat parade, per Brandt, “They kept their drunken promises.”
Of course, this all sounds great so long as you win. Joe is awfully confident that at times during the Lost Decade when the losses piled up week after week and cancers took over the locker room and quarreled and hassled with coaches — and at one time you had a head coach/defensive coordinator so inept that later on a dormant Big Ten program didn’t even want him — it must have seemed like Tampa Bay was football hell.
Yes, Tampa Bay can be football paradise. But like any other level of football, only if the team wins.
See Brandt’s full take in the NFL Network video below.
“They kept their drunken promises.” 🍻@KyleBrandt is impressed with the @Buccaneers offseason. pic.twitter.com/c1ih4vcnHq
— GMFB (@gmfb) March 16, 2021
March 17th, 2021 at 5:54 am
Drunken Promises?
I’ll drink to that!
March 17th, 2021 at 6:07 am
It blows my mind when I think about what we as fans have had to endure the last 18 years, after Chucky left nearly everything Tampa tried would never work out. Now all of a sudden, our Buccaneers are the best team in the league with no signs of slowing down. It’s unreal how fast things change when everyone is focused and working with each other. “Going for two” as BA says and as Antoine Winfield Jr likes to show his opponent (one of the greatest taunts of all time) seems so real at this moment. Jason Licht you are a genius. Thank you for saving our Buccaneers.
March 17th, 2021 at 6:26 am
Kyle is so passive aggressive. He’s so envious of Brady and doesn’t even realize it.
March 17th, 2021 at 6:44 am
Stop with the “Belicheat doesn’t want James White so why would the Bucs?” nonsense.
It is entirely possible – no, likely – that the Bucs would be better off with James White and the Pats would be better off with Fournette…..
White’s high end pass catching skills are the 1 thing the Bucs offense was missing last year out of the backfield.
White will bring more value and productivity to the team for less money. Not to mention he is Tom Brady pre-approved…..
No-Brainer
March 17th, 2021 at 6:44 am
If we’re recycling takes on James white from last night, then I will too:
Leighroy Says:
March 16th, 2021 at 10:05 pm
White for Lenny is a false choice. It’s really White in exchange for McCoy. I for one would like to see another restructure and bring in both (White and Lenny)!
Regarding AB, there is so much WR talent out there that AB’s market value still needs to play out. We can’t overpay for AB or his value vanishes quicker than your bike. Remember, it took injuries and a month of campaigning for Licht and BA to relent and sign the guy, so should we be surprised they haven’t sprung to resign him in the first few days of FA?
March 17th, 2021 at 6:56 am
It is good to see BA and Mgt is not going to take their foot off the gas pedal. At BS’s age, and also Bradys age the Bucs are all in. No screwing around. What a joy to be a fan these days, after so many years of watching a slow burn dumpster fire. GO BUCS!!!!
March 17th, 2021 at 6:58 am
Not BS’s – BA’s lol, GO BUCS!!!
March 17th, 2021 at 7:04 am
Like Shaq, you can’t blame AB to see what is out there for him. I know all is due to his off field antics but he made nothing last season in comparison to his talent level. There are a number of you that feel Bucs would be fine without him, I say your wrong he was a huge piece to this offense last year and will continue to shine if given the chance. Who do you double team if he is on the field with Evan’s & Godwin?
March 17th, 2021 at 7:16 am
You’re overthinking BB wanting to bring in Lombardi Lenny and let James White walk. They Pats dont have an every down back, and that’s what he’s after. They have other backs who can catch the ball, and a 29 yr old RB who’s primarily a 3rd down player isnt a top priority.
March 17th, 2021 at 7:29 am
Usually if someone makes you a drunk promise, you better collect on that promise while they are still drunk.
Nice to see these guys try to stand by their words. That gets noticed by other players around the NFL I am sure.
March 17th, 2021 at 7:53 am
No question bud light should be a dollar cheaper in our stadium on sundays then the other beers
We gave them a nice free commercial with our super bowl boat parade
🚣‍♀️ 💥
March 17th, 2021 at 8:02 am
Actually, Shaq is the only one who took a discount……Godwin had no choice, LVD
received a very fair deal….Gronk got at least market value.
It’s on this next group of signings that we find out if players are willing to play for less.
March 17th, 2021 at 8:04 am
How great was that super bowl boat parade
Players (some with 2 feet of snow outside ) got to see how great playing in tampa really is ?
sunny beaches , no income tax (which does matter as tiger woods came to fl from ca for it and even commented on it in years past) and great weather …plus you get to chase a ring
But what they got to see was the GM and coach partying just as hard as the players and call it drunken promises or what you want …arians said you aint going anywhere to key free agents …players love that loyalty in nfl…coach and gm keeping their promises. players want to come here and will. I have a feeling this is arians last year as coach and he passes baton to bowles and company. Yet arians stays in some capacity in front office or even on sidelines on game days like tom moore. They keep the band together as long as they can.
Go bucs!
Go for two
Then three
March 17th, 2021 at 8:05 am
Uggh, Joe, your column intermission is frustrating because I know you don’t watch the Patriots play. White doesn’t fit into their offense anymore because he has a specific skill set that doesn’t work well with Newton as QB. He is not a 3 down back like Fournette, so it’s not a good comparison. Fournette doesn’t want to split carries with Rojo and it wasn’t until Rojo got hurt that “Playoff Lenny” showed up.
Fournette is gone and hopefully it happens today so we can move on.
March 17th, 2021 at 8:07 am
I’m excited for the season. But I’m tempering my expectations. Remember we have been here before with a great defense nucleus returning and didn’t even make the playoffs. Look at the rams, 49rs the two super bowl teams before us. They didn’t even make the playoffs the following year. To make it to the super bowl everything has to go your way. Injuries the teams you play on the playoffs. And not thinking you can just show up and beat anyone because you have been hearing al offseason about 16-0 and we will be the tak of the nfl all offseason. All are draft picks will be the best picks in the draft because they will say there going to the best place to learn and become great players. So I’m excited but just tempering my expectations.
March 17th, 2021 at 8:32 am
White fits Brady’s game, Lenny not so much. I agree Bucs could use another power back to offset Rojo but Rojo should be the primary bull rusher. AB, Suh then Succop, Lenny way down the totem pole at best. The defense will be good but offense can be even better. They averaged over 30 points per game, image what they can do this year?
March 17th, 2021 at 8:38 am
We’ve seen it with the Lightning over the past few years — guys willing to take a little bit less money to stay. The lack of a state income tax helps. But I’ve got to believe that having an established role in a great city on a team that is almost guaranteed to be very good — that’s got to be a huge draw for an athlete. If this team can stay good for a while, we’ll be the #1 draw in free agency every year.
March 17th, 2021 at 8:46 am
Bucs > Pats when it comes to picking offensive skill talent in last decade.
Who cares who Belicheat is looking at as offensive skill guys.
Name the skill guys brought in or drafted by the Pats in the last decade years that have excelled. Pretty short list. I don’t want to follow that model.
Now if it were defensive guys or offensive lineman, I agree.
March 17th, 2021 at 9:08 am
Succop is definitely not getting his due presence. With the dumpster fire kickers we had for so long, he was right down the middle all year and 9 of 9 in the playoffs. Love to get Suh back as well, but Succop is on the top of my list and AB continuing to “gel” with Brady made a huge difference and depth to our injury prone star WR. I like Scotty, and him and Brady connect but he can’t see over the line of scrimmage over the middle.
March 17th, 2021 at 9:18 am
Fournette and White are not equivalent. They are not a substitute for each other.
Fournette is a thumper who is semi-OK out of the backfield in a pass pattern.
White is more like a WR who can like up in the backfield. He won’t get the tough third-down yardage but will run excellent patterns and catch the ball faithfully.
White is more like McCoy, but with a lower odometer number.
It is not “either/or.”
March 17th, 2021 at 9:22 am
Superbowl or bust part 2 ?
March 17th, 2021 at 9:24 am
123urout
I prefer WIN NOW 2.0
March 17th, 2021 at 9:43 am
I cannot remember a more fun year + as a Bucs fan. I am SO enjoying this ride!
March 17th, 2021 at 11:18 am
Priceless pic save it just in case we draft a kicker again