Leonard Fournette Says He’s Still A Fourth Overall Pick
April 16th, 2021
Leonard ”Playoff Lenny/Lombardi Lenny” Fournette is steaming with confidence and last night he acknowledged the fierce competition brewing at One Buc Palace.
While visiting NFL Network, Fournette spoke about choosing to return to Tampa Bay for 2021 and the unity among his teammates. ”I didn’t want to break it up,” he said.
Of course, a $4 million contract with little threat of being overworked behind a beastly Bucs offensive line had to have been an attractive factor. But Fournette sounded like a guy who would prefer his old workload with the Jaguars.
He told Total Access that “it’s tough” to keep a healthy competitive balance among all the Bucs running backs, noting that everyone wants to be the No. 1 back, including newcomer Giovani Bernard.
On flipping the switch like he did after being benched following the Bucs’ bye week, Fournette said he wants everyone to know he’s still the beast who came out of LSU in 2017.
”I got my opportunity, you know, showing everybody why I was drafted fourth overall,” Fournette said. ”You know I’m still that same guy when I was with [Jacksonville]. I had a point to prove, most definitely. It’s a great story I can tell my kids, my grandkids, from being cut and performing the way I did through the back end of the season and becoming a Super Bowl champion with my teammates.”
And what a story it is. Fournette clearly was having an issue with his status behind Ronald Jones last year, but wise coaching and the football gods dropping a thumb injury and The Sickness on RoJo came at just the right time.
Joe loves that it’s going to be a dogfight for a starting running back gig come training camp. Joe just hopes none of the RBs gets injured in a worthless preseason game after a future grad student/mattress mover drills him late.
April 16th, 2021 at 5:27 am
Competition is healthy & is supposed to bring out the best in every player Joe. And especially at the skill positions. Fournette is in the perfect spot to showcase his talents. No excuses.
April 16th, 2021 at 5:29 am
Yeah and Jameis is still a first overall. Spidie senses detect a attitude problem. Jacksonville chapter II ? 4 million one year deal, you signed it !
There was a undrafted 1,000 yard rusher last year.
Locker room chemistry > than you
April 16th, 2021 at 6:43 am
I think Lombardi Lenny wants to prove something. And it will be a contract year for him. Both of those are very good for the Bucs. I expect to see really good things from Lenny.
April 16th, 2021 at 6:45 am
SB~LV that’s why I was hesitant on Lenny coming back also. He was sulking last year and almost got cut.
April 16th, 2021 at 6:49 am
Maybe get those spider senses checked out. Do you want a RB that says “nah man I don’t need the rock, I like being the 2nd banana, let’s all share the pill and sing koom-bah-yah” or you want a guy with a chip on his shoulder, never satisfied with “enough”, wanting more chances to run over the defense? I know which one I want.
You don’t think Brady is still bitter after 20 years about being a 6th rounder? These guys (some of the best ones at least) live for proving doubters and haters wrong. Doesn’t mean theyre a clubhouse cancer. There’s a difference between the Swaggy Baker’s / Albert Haynesworth’s of the NFL and Playoff Lenny. Bark up a different tree.
April 16th, 2021 at 6:52 am
Lenny is the MAN! He is definitely still 4th overall pick.
April 16th, 2021 at 6:56 am
I didn’t see a 4th overall pick effort or results. Is it common for a fourth overall pick to be mediocre for half the year and have to learn a lesson by being benched?
I have very different expectations for a 4th overall than he does.
In BA I Trust!
April 16th, 2021 at 6:57 am
Fournette needs competition and even then there’s a chance he reverts back to his old ways if he’s not deemed “the guy”.
April 16th, 2021 at 6:59 am
When Lenny signed last year, he talked about how he was excited to NOT have to carry the load by himself like he had done his entire career all the way back to highschool. So who knows.
April 16th, 2021 at 7:15 am
Lots of talk.
He sure didn’t look like the guy I saw destroying people at LSU. He looked like a career sub-4 yard per carry, dime a dozen running back.
Gerald McCoy used to talk alot in the offseasin too.
April 16th, 2021 at 7:27 am
Average regular season and blew up in the playoffs
The test is history
I will take playoff lenny for 700 Alex (aaron now)
April 16th, 2021 at 7:38 am
If playoff Lenny shows up for real next season the Bucs backfield looks outstanding especially with the addition of a 3rd down pass catching back. Power, speed and pass catching 3 headed monster. Opponents will have to game plan for both a talented run game and passing game. Two headed monster for other teams to try and defend against.
April 16th, 2021 at 7:39 am
BA has his bases covered at RB.
April 16th, 2021 at 7:50 am
Only thing I’m concerned about is – what if ROJO earns the starting spot in camp? (I’m fine with either frankly) but to me, I wouldn’t put it past Fournette to sulk again, and worse this time around now that he has his ring. Now with Brady it’s less of a concern of course but I’m telling you right now: Gio Bernard is going to be playing A LOT. He never misses an assignment, he catches everything his way and allows Tommy to run the offense the way he wants. This is not some sort of LeSean McCoy thing, Gio will be playing roughly half the time, and either ROJO or Fournette will be standing on the sideline more than they would care to be
April 16th, 2021 at 8:04 am
Great RB competition. First rate players. My expectation is that LF will have an even better year this year. He has the talent to be the best in the league.
April 16th, 2021 at 8:23 am
Both RB’s will start depending on the opponent and game plan. Hopefully, Fournette remains a TEAM player , because it’s in his best interest both statistically and financially.
April 16th, 2021 at 8:35 am
Moping Lenny will definitely show up after Rojo beats him out for the starter. There’s no question Geo Bernard is a better receiver and is automatically the 3rd down back. I’m predicting Moping Lenny will be asking for a trade at the deadline, maybe sooner if the Bucs draft a running back at 32. Every quote you ever read from the dude is always “Me, Me, Me, and Me.” He doesn’t give two spits about team success, he’s clearly only interested in getting his stats.
April 16th, 2021 at 8:38 am
lenny is pissed…
stashe just cut into his work load as a pass catching back…
hypothetically of course…
anything can happen during the season…
but they are stacked at back now …
with sneak wallowing in the bermuda triangle…
#LennyRojoAndStashAreTheBermulaTriangle
April 16th, 2021 at 8:47 am
Work on your hands lenny youll be good to go….also with GB and lenny for a 1 ..2..pubch rb duo ewwwwww weeee…were gonna be dangerous…alls we need is AB now…but AB needs to once agin check his ego and take less money
April 16th, 2021 at 9:15 am
Leonard got here & became the softest runner over 220lbs. Rojo keeps getting put on the back burner , I will never understand why lol… He’s the better rusher & his hands got remarkably better as the season progressed. “ Lenny” may be a locker room issue this season #GoBucs
April 16th, 2021 at 9:30 am
TB12 always had his best seasons in NE, when there was a good running game. In his last season in NE, there was no running game…and no kicking game (lengthened the field). So, let’s translate that for Tampa. TB12 + running game + TE + WR + OL + K…got em all. And that will make everyone more productive! So when Len said that he was glad not to carry the load, consider that he meant he didn’t want to have to do that for the entire offense…would be like TB12 having to throw on every down, because there was no running game. Gotta have the balance. Keep ’em guessing!
April 16th, 2021 at 9:41 am
Rojo keeps getting put on the back burner because he is so one dimensional he hardly ever turns his head around for the ball when brady is looking to check down his pass protection sucks his hands are terrible despite him having better vision running than fournette, fournette does those other things slightly better so you don’t have as many wasted plays with fournette than you do with rojo
April 16th, 2021 at 9:41 am
hopefully knowing that each back will have limited touches each game will make them run that much harder when they do get the ball. no reason these guys cant be breaking some serious tackles this year.. Also i wish fournette would run more like alstott with his size.
April 16th, 2021 at 11:31 am
Gofortheface30…correctamundo!
April 16th, 2021 at 11:36 am
Rojo is our best runner with the ball in his hands.
Lenny is our best (proven) combo of running and catching the ball.
Gio is our best (proven) 3rd down back…
And I have the word ‘proven’ there bcuz Keyshawn Vaughn might actually be our best combo back and 3rd-down back…
Anyway, as it stands right now…
Rojo is RB1
Lenny is RB2
Gio is 3rd-down RB
And Keyshawn Vaughn will push them all and steal some playing time for sure.
April 16th, 2021 at 12:22 pm
I just hope BA doesn’t try to protect his ego and go with the best RB. That seemed to happen a few times last year, it seemed like ROjO got the short end when it came to LF and AB
April 16th, 2021 at 1:29 pm
He still scares me. His rookie replacement in Jacksonville is far better and more versatile. 4 guys wanting to be #1 is not good, breads contention.
April 16th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Most negative RB on the team. He’s the Keyshawn Johnson of running backs, only with less production.
April 16th, 2021 at 2:24 pm
Also think Rojo could be traded in the draft…..Lenny, GB and Vaughn, we can let go of Rojo before his contract runs out for something. Next year he’s a FA…..i dont see the Bucs resigning him
April 16th, 2021 at 3:20 pm
I like Lombardi Lenny a lot. I hope he reaches his full potential next season but I have to say that sometimes I see he falls in the trap of entitlement. He is one guy with potential but until proven otherwise he deserves nothing. He better works his way to the top and I am sure he can be that #1
April 16th, 2021 at 3:27 pm
On the other side, RoJo has remained quiet and working. He obviously dislikes the competition and also wants to be the guy but has shown no bad attitude and has kept pounding. We have a great RB room and I expect a lot from them.
April 16th, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Obviously, players would rather make bank before they get injured or gassed. But, in a perfect world, sharing the load is the best option. It’ll prolong both of their careers and if they’re both ballin, then it just makes too much sense. The days of paying 1 back a boat load of cash is few and far between. These guys should consider solid pay with longevity. The only downside is, amny RBs need touches to get going. But, with a scary passing game, play action, stout OL, it should be easier to turn it on on a dime.
I see Gio as a specialty back with a shot at taking one to the house. He’s really going to get more and more playing time if he is the best blocker and pass catcher. It’s gonna be a heated room, that’s for sure. But, Gio will have to work his way into the game while learning the offense.
April 16th, 2021 at 6:25 pm
Playoff Lenny will rise again!
April 18th, 2021 at 2:09 pm
Glad Tampa has Fournette,it takes a whole team to win. GO BUCS!