“Last Chance U”
October 21st, 2021
Feeling good about Bucs.
Joe heard one of the best descriptions of what the Bucs are with their roster full of stars.
Yesterday, Playoff Lenny spoke and said he mentioned to furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing receiver Antonio Brown that the Bucs are the NFL’s version of “Last Chance U.”
For those unaware, “Last Chance U” was a documentary series produced for Netflix. It chronicled a junior college football team in Mississippi that basically brought in most of the team’s players from big-time programs. For whatever reasons, these players had left and were looking for one last chance to continue their football careers, or go on with their lives.
The football program was like a halfway house, though most of the players didn’t have a shady background.
Former Bucs backup quarterback and wide receiver John Franklin III, who once played for Florida State before he left the program, was a graduate of “Last Chance U” (and later played quarterback at Auburn and Florida Atlantic).
“Me and A.B. had a talk and I’m like, ‘Man, this is really Last Chance U,’” Fournette said. “And we’ve got Richard Sherman here now – this is like his second chance.”
Fournette isn’t wrong. Look at all the guys either discarded by their previous teams or out of football: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Playoff Lenny, Brown and Sherman. (Yeah, Joe’s putting Brady on the list.)
Fournette gives the Bucs major props for helping turn around his career.
“This organization is different,” Fournette said. “They take care of their people here, they understand their people [and] they understand their players too.
“When you get that kind of love back, you’ll work your tail off for anybody that’s doing that for you.”
Joe thinks this comes from AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians. They mean it when they say they will take care of players.
We know Arians — while he’s all business, short-tempered and salty-tongued between the white lines during practice — is very much a player’s advocate once practice and games are over.
Arians said yesterday that given Playoff Lenny’s confidence has exploded because of his success in the playoffs and in the past games.
“Oh totally, yeah,” Arians said. “I mean, when you’re out there playing and you’re playing good, you’re going to be confident. You’re going to show a lot more emotion than if you’re sitting on the bench.”
It’s good to know how much people are getting along. Now just win games. Let’s hope that unlike “Last Chance U,” the Bucs win consecutive Super Bowls.
Playoff Lenny appeared last night on “Total Access” last night. You can see in the NFL Network video below him tell the story about how Brady recruited him to Tampa.
“Here, it feels perfect,” Fournette said of the Bucs. “Feels like home.”
“It feels like home” 🏠 – @_fournette #GoBucs | @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/mBkwE6sWpM
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) October 20, 2021
October 21st, 2021 at 8:13 am
What a feel good article Joe.
Nice.
October 21st, 2021 at 8:14 am
Trade Rojo, always wanted to see Adrain Peterson in a Buc uniform. Lenny, and A.P., let’s get a ring top off a HOF career.
October 21st, 2021 at 8:20 am
Don’t forget Swaggy
October 21st, 2021 at 8:26 am
What a difference between the atmosphere in this organization now and what we were accustomed to in the past. A winning culture and team first atmosphere now permeates One Buc Place.
October 21st, 2021 at 8:33 am
Is Gio in the mix? I don’t know about Brady & especially Gronk, Gronk would of got picked up by many teams. Cris Carter on GMFB this morning naming what current WR he thinks will join him in HOF. His top 5 are Adam’s, Julio Jones, Evan’s, AB & Hopkins. Drop the mic, debate over.
October 21st, 2021 at 8:39 am
You dont think players talk.
Why wouldnt you want to come to tampa. Take a little less for a short period of time in your career and play with the goat and chance to win championship
Most watched nfl team now 😂 so get some more exposure for next potential bigger contract.
Sandy beaches
Good weather
No income tax
Freedom
Organization that cares about its players
Massive boat parades
And again a chance to play with GOAT
October 21st, 2021 at 9:17 am
I would consider trading (if possible) Vaughn. Jones is not great but some-body has to be there if Lenny got hurt. Gio is good but not a three down back.
October 21st, 2021 at 9:29 am
Great feel good story Joe. Wish we could keep all of them next year; but that will be impossible.
Yea, I think Gio should be included; he was not wanted by the bungles and took a minimum to get his chance with the Bucs.
And I get Brady and Gronk being on the list. Brady was discarded by a team he was on for 20 years and won 6 SBs! Sure he could have gone elsewhere, but “the greatest coach ever” decided Brady’s best was over and tossed him aside like it was trash pick up day!!! LMAO Gronk too. All part of Last Chance U!!!
October 21st, 2021 at 10:07 am
We are lucky to have a coach and GM who can see something in somewhat washed out players, finally.
It is interesting watching bad teams and seeing who they blame. Most of it is the ego of the coach, since they are usually new to the scene, and dump their true stars for team unity.
Now they are here and Brady is making the best of it, hu-rah.
October 21st, 2021 at 10:43 am
I wonder when the culture finally turned around?!
BA’s addition was what this organization desperately needed.
October 21st, 2021 at 10:48 am
The Cool Uncle BA and Nephew J Licht have created a place, that in many ways is like the Raiders of the 60’s and 70″ and early 80’s. Where players like to be and play. They gave a chance to so many that others just would not.
And that is when the Raiders were consistently a Super Bowl contender also.
Last Chance U, yeah sounds good to me. The horrible 1976 Bucs version of last Chance U was the opposite lol lol
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 21st, 2021 at 11:18 am
Speaking of Last Chance U, the Bucs should bring in Brian Poole for a workout, especially if a decent trade cannot be executed within the next week and a half. He’s a solid CB but he has some health-related red flags. His 2020 season ended prematurely due to injury; he was also cut by the Saints this season after a stint on IR. I’d love to see him sign if the doctors and training staff wave the green flag.
October 21st, 2021 at 11:43 am
Hodad Says:
October 21st, 2021 at 8:14 am
Trade Rojo, always wanted to see Adrain Peterson in a Buc uniform. Lenny, and A.P., let’s get a ring top off a HOF career.
——————–
How about we trade you as a fan for a Texans fan and a Lions fan to be named later. GFOH with that stupid crap.
October 21st, 2021 at 1:17 pm
TOM Says:
October 21st, 2021 at 9:17 am
Unless you’re ready to give up on him, that would be a terrible idea — Vaughn is the only RB under contract for next year. Do we really want to be in that situation?
October 21st, 2021 at 1:57 pm
Leonard Fournette understands that you cannot get into the end zone by running out of bounds, especially when you can run OVER somebody. It’s ATTITUDE. AB and Gronk have it, everyone else needs to get it.
October 21st, 2021 at 6:16 pm
Lol Brandon!
October 21st, 2021 at 8:21 pm
Well Said Brandon 👏
October 22nd, 2021 at 9:25 pm
Passing thru,, Patriots signed him yesterday