Trendsetting Bucs
June 1st, 2021
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
It seems the Bucs may have kickstarted the NBA trend of superteams into the NFL when they signed a bunch of big-name free agents and then hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy with them.
The Bucs may be setting another NFL trend as well.
We all heard last week how starters and almost-starters on offense gathered for training at the Yankees minor league complex with park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
Eventually, Bucco Bruce Arians persuaded Brady’s bunch to work out at One Buc Palace on a side field unsupervised. At the same time, voluntary OTA practices were attended by all the rookies, undrafted free agents and bubble players.
Albert Breer of SI.com thinks that may be the new standard as the NFLPA is fighting with the NFL to scale back offseason workouts permanently.
Meanwhile, Bruce Arians is holding OTAs at the team facility, with a lot of the younger guys getting more work in as a result—and using it as a sort of developmental camp. If you think about that, it really does make sense. The older players know what they need, and are getting their work in. The younger players need direction, and they’re getting it from their coaches. And in a couple weeks, they’ll bring all of that together at mandatory minicamp. And if it works out, there’s an interesting template to work from there, if you have a veteran quarterback capable of taking the kind of lead role that Brady routinely does.
Damn right the vets know what they need. They just won the Super Bowl.
Last year proved that the normal offseason is unnecessary and those worthless preseason games sure as hell are not necessary.
Selfishly, Joe loves offseason practices because they are fun for fans who love learning more about the team.
Joe thinks it’s OK to have the current offseason for players still on their rookie contracts. If the vets want to work out on the side unsupervised, that’s cool.
If the vets, including bubble players, think they have it all figured out and stay home during the voluntary portion of the offseason, that’s their prerogative.
June 1st, 2021 at 6:52 am
Having Brady run the voluntary OTAs for the vets is probably a good idea. They are more worried about getting in Bradys doghouse than the coaches.
June 1st, 2021 at 7:46 am
Nobody prepares more tha Brady–but he has earned the right to do it his way.
He has his own personal trainer (not allowed in Patriot facility) and fitness regimen–obviosly he knows what he’s doing.
June 1st, 2021 at 7:57 am
Brady coulda used one “worthless” PS game last season. His opening effort against the Saints was abysmal, to say the least.
June 1st, 2021 at 8:14 am
Revising history a bit here Joe. Football in the beginning of last season was horrible around the league. IMO it took several weeks for the play to improve. Vets don’t need a lot of work, but just stepping on the field game day didn’t look that good to me.
June 1st, 2021 at 9:27 am
Ol’ Half a sac was a Veteran NFL player too. With his at OTA’s and training camp follies on display. How trendsetting was his Buccaneer tenure?
In other news, Ybor city arborists claim they have found the missing other half a sac….
June 1st, 2021 at 9:45 am
While I agree that 4 preseason games are too many (rectified that somewhat this year)……I think 2 would be best…..
IMO….they are not worthless……are good at looking at bubble players and give all others some practice against someone other than themselves…
As for the fans….the price needs to be about $15 per ticket.
June 1st, 2021 at 12:30 pm
I like the preseason games…
June 2nd, 2021 at 9:22 am
Sorry but one of your statements are way off. Pre-season games are necessary. That’s why Tampa started 7-5. Yes they won the SB , but those games are necessary for team chemistry. Thank God they yelled at the end of the year. GO BUCS!
June 2nd, 2021 at 9:23 am
gelled
June 2nd, 2021 at 12:42 pm
4 preseason games is all about greed from the owners. 18 games per season and only two preseason games max. Long time records such as receiving yards in a season will fall quickly, but knowledgeable fans will still recognize the older records as more impressive.