Boycott Is Good For Bucs
April 14th, 2021
“Back to Berkeley Prep, boys.”
So last night, Bucs players decided to join the Broncos and Seahawks in boycotting voluntary in-person offseason workouts at One Buc Palace until The Sickness is better under control.
Isn’t that what the vaccine is for?
Anyway, it appears the Bucs will only participate in virtual (Zoom!) meetings. This has to anger Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians who has recently railed about the lack of offseason in-person workouts, claiming it hurts the development of younger players.
Joe gets what Arians is saying, but the play last year of then-rookies Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield, who had zero in-person workouts at One Buc Palace and no preseason doesn’t exactly reinforce Arians’ public grousing.
But Joe is thinking this players-led boycott won’t be so bad for the Bucs. One reason why Super Bowl-winning teams rarely win back-to-back Super Bowls is the wear and tear catches up with them.
Think about it: The Bucs played four extra games last year as the season extended into February. In the past, that’s when many Bucs players were just returning from Tulum, Costa Rica and the Dominican after hanging out on sunny beaches enjoying cold drinks and warm island women.
Granted, the offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamps do not have any hitting. Still, every small parcel of extra rest on the Bucs’ bodies will help them down the road in the playoffs.
(How weird is that: Joe’s writing about playoff games some nine months before they kick off.)
Yeah, the Bucs will still use Zoom meetings. And Joe suspects we will see impromptu practices pop up at Berkeley Prep — quick, local news organizations, book your helicopters and by all means wear camouflage when you are hiding behind trees.
Joe is of the mind this boycott will do the Bucs more good than harm.
April 14th, 2021 at 5:55 am
Hopefully Gronk remembers to change workout shirts between Zoom meetings.
April 14th, 2021 at 5:59 am
I agree with you Joe. Considering what was accomplished this past year, I take no issue with this.
April 14th, 2021 at 6:25 am
TB12 needs to rest his gimpy knee anyway. We’ll be playing 20 games again this season
April 14th, 2021 at 7:10 am
Cold drinks and warm island women
You paint a beautiful picture, Joe.
April 14th, 2021 at 7:22 am
There were a lot of injuries early on last year though. Not on bucs but other teams. Hope we can avoid
Agree that we played late into 2021 for the first time in a long time so our guys should not get to soft
April 14th, 2021 at 7:28 am
Think their being a bunch of pansies. The sickness has a 99 percent survival rate n these guys are well oiled machines not old farts who won’t die from a common cold. Get it together.
April 14th, 2021 at 7:51 am
#1 I agree. Get the shot(s) and get back to work.
This is exactly the same as the teachers simply not wanting to go back to work and still be paid. Must be nice.
High survival and recovery rate BEFORE the vax. This thing is practically over now. Let’s just get back to life The Excuse is over.
April 14th, 2021 at 7:56 am
Small note to Joe: “the Dominican” is a mild insult to the people of La Republica Dominicana. Not fightin’ words, but”he Dominican Republic” is the proper term that is music to their ears. Dominicans are very patriotic, proud people who love their island paradise.
I have live in the DR for 13+ years.
April 14th, 2021 at 7:58 am
No real issue with missing the “voluntary” workouts, especially for a fatigued Bucs team.
Not sure how you boycott “voluntary.” Seems like an excuse for vets to have more uninterrupted vaycay time.
Now a boycott of mandatory OTA’s is a different animal altogether…
April 14th, 2021 at 8:01 am
Using Covid as the “excuse” is the problem.
WAY too much of that going on in business and the world in general these days.
Especially considering when you add up the #s of people who have either had Covid and have antbodies or have been vaccinated – we are quickly approaching 50% of Florida’s entire population already being immune….
April 14th, 2021 at 8:05 am
Not really upset by this, but definitely thinks it’s weak. I mean they sure didn’t seem to care about pandemic while celebrating the Super Bowl.
Luckily, I don’t see Brady sitting idle. He will gather teammates again for some high school practices.
April 14th, 2021 at 8:30 am
Why aren’t all professional athletes fully vaccinated at this point. There is absolutely no reason for them not to be as it’s fully open to all adults in this state.
April 14th, 2021 at 8:36 am
No way this happens without Brady… if he is ok with it, then what do I have to complain about?
In Brady we trust!
April 14th, 2021 at 8:37 am
We’re just talking OTAs here. They’re still going to have training camp and 3 preseason games to warm things up and evaluate rookies.
April 14th, 2021 at 8:39 am
Post-surgery, could Brady participate in any OTA?
April 14th, 2021 at 8:41 am
Much ado about nothing.
April 14th, 2021 at 8:50 am
Joe
“Joe gets what Arians is saying, but the play last year of then-rookies Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield.”
Joe spring practice is for late round and UDFA and no names off the street that Licht turns into stars. Not first and second round necessarily.
April 14th, 2021 at 9:10 am
First and second-rounders get a lot of reps in TC. Higher picks, not so much.
OTA’s developed the down draftees and UDFA’a.
April 14th, 2021 at 9:11 am
Who would throw passes in the Bucs voluntary OTA’s with Brady not likely to participate?
Right now there are how many unBrady QB’s on the roster? .5?
April 14th, 2021 at 9:26 am
Here’s an article I’d love to read… Any chance of the Bucs training staff or coaches saying “The 2021 season proved that One Buc is as safe as it gets when it comes to workout facilities. We’ll still be here on (insert date) at (insert time) waiting for anyone that wants to take advantage of our first class facility and some of the best trainers in all of football”.
I could see the players who are ranked between 60 and 90 on our offseason roster being tempted to make a good impression on coaches. As far as peer pressure goes, would they care? Those guys are trying to get a job.
Maybe I’m missing something, but would love to know one of the Joe’s thoughts on this.
April 14th, 2021 at 9:36 am
The keyword here is “voluntary.” It’s voluntary workouts. Don’t think the NFLPA is going to throw players out of its association if they work out. There is likely a handful that already workout. If this is a powerplay to reduce or eliminate offseason workouts, Joe gets it. If this is a powerplay to get rid of preseason games Joe will volunteer to picket alongside. Injuries were down last year across the board. One could argue offseason workouts are a deterrent as a result.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:45 am
I’m ok with this. Now irs up to the players to hold each other accountable without slacking an inch. Tough to do with a SB hangover and they have one like it or not. We’ll find out whether this hurts them or doesn’t.
April 14th, 2021 at 10:59 am
Totally respect the decision not to go to voluntary workouts.
Just a little hilarious they are using the word “boycott” for something voluntary and completely in their control, rather than “we’re not volunteering”.
April 14th, 2021 at 11:26 am
Medicated Pete Says:
April 14th, 2021 at 6:25 am
TB12 needs to rest his gimpy knee anyway. We’ll be playing 20 games again this season
………………………..
So you think we will not have first seed in the NFC
April 14th, 2021 at 11:53 am
20 games would be the 1st seed.
17 regular season + 3 playoff games
April 14th, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Couldn’t agree more Joe. I think the vets really don’t need OTA’s anyway. It would be nice if the rookies and players going into their second year could have some time on the field with the coaches, however Can you blame the players for not wanting to risk their health or their families over some optional workouts.
April 14th, 2021 at 2:53 pm
Hey SB Medicated Pete is right. 17 game season plus playoffs. That’s 20 games. GO BUCS!
April 15th, 2021 at 1:53 am
most of bucs players are gd.enough not to have to,but they should be studing any new plays and practicing and keeping in shape at home anyways.