“The Godwin Problem”
December 18th, 2021
Yes, Chris Godwin is healthy. Breathe easy.
Joe is not chasing a ghost here.
Godwin, however, will be chasing his 100th reception of the season tomorrow night against New Orleans (he’s got 92) and another huge game against the Bucs’ biggest rival.
The Saints may own the Bucs in the regular season, but they haven’t had a lot of luck containing the Bucs’ beastly No. 1A receiver.
That reality wasn’t lost on The Times-Picayune beat writer Luke Johnson, who reminded Saints fans of three realities entering the Sunday night clash that will either lock up the NFC South crown for the Bucs or breathe new life into a 6-7 Saints team.
2: The Godwin Problem
While we’re talking about recent Saints-Bucs history, we might as well ask: Have the Saints figured out a different plan for defending Tampa receiver Chris Godwin? Because whatever they tried to do last time certainly didn’t work when Godwin went off for 140 yards and a touchdown on eight catches in Week 8. Much of Godwin’s damage came out of the slot with C.J. Gardner-Johnson trailing in coverage. It was Godwin’s third career 100-yard receiving game against the Saints, and he’s made a fan out of Saints coach Sean Payton: “He is one of their go-to guys. He is a tremendous blocker. … He does everything you ask of a receiver. He’s physical. He’s smart. He’s an important piece to what they do offensively.” Godwin enters this week ranked No. 2 in the NFL in receptions (92) and No. 4 in receiving yards (1,054).
Keep an eye on Gardner-Johnson covering Godwin again. He missed practice time this week with a bad toe.
Godwin also is marching toward a massive free agency payday, and Joe is convinced Godwin has Bucs management by the footballs.
There is no way the brass can look Tom Brady in the face and tell him they didn’t pay his No. 1 target, so Godwin has all the leverage if he stays healthy.
December 18th, 2021 at 3:52 pm
1A receiver? Uh uh. I think Evans and the others are great, but Godwin is the best receiver we have. He’s the complete package. To me it’s not really close
December 18th, 2021 at 3:53 pm
Pay the man. Get it done Licht! My only reservation would be if Godwin is looking to “reset the market” like Hopkins did a couple of years back. I love Godwin, but we’re not talking Jerry Rice or Randy Moss here and he’s not even the best receiver on the team. He’s worth twenty million per year all day long, but I wouldn’t go much past that.
December 18th, 2021 at 3:56 pm
We have 4 #1 targets: Evans, Gronk, Godwin and AB.
December 18th, 2021 at 4:16 pm
Buczilla … ‘he’s not even the best receiver on the team. He’s worth twenty million per year all day long, but I wouldn’t go much past that.’
Chris Godwin is worth whatever the highest bidder is willing to pay him. No more; no less. My 2 biggest questions are ‘How badly do the Bucs want to keep Godwin AND how badly does he want to stay a Buc?’
December 18th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
IMO Chris Godwin has surpassed Mike Evans as your number 1 guy! This isn’t a knock on Evans at all but he has all of the tools a top flight wideout should have.
December 18th, 2021 at 4:24 pm
Having multiple #1 receivers has been in the past NFL times, a secret to a great offense:
Terry Bradshaw had John Stallworth and Lynn Swann. Both were huge in their SuperBowl dynasty years.
Joe Montana had Jerry Rice and John Taylor. Multiple Super Bowl rings.
Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison.
Big Ben to Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
Kurt Warner to Tory Holt and Issac Bruce.
Tom Brady to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
These receivers can can go down in NFL history by running the table with Tom Brady. Super Bowl or bust!
December 18th, 2021 at 4:37 pm
Evans, Godwin, AB and Gronk will not be stopped!
December 18th, 2021 at 4:40 pm
No way Godwin leaves the Bucs. He’s a team kind of guy and why wouldn’t he want to stay with other similar personalities (i.e. Evans, Gronk, Brate, etc.). Management will pay the man, and I feel even if they come up a couple mil south of what other teams are offering, he will stay. It will still be a huge payday.
December 18th, 2021 at 4:41 pm
Only thing for Godwin would be to squeeze every ball. He’s so good at everything sometimes it looks like he drops balls, but to he’s credit he’s still leading the league. I have zero complaints, just pointing and it’s scary to think that he’s only getting better.
He is going to get paid by us after winning the super bowl and he deserves it.
His willingness to block, and his talent, make him the George Kittle of WRs. Don’t think he’s as good as Larry Fitzgerald (yet?), but he’s the closest thing to that in BA’s offense. All rolled up with the attitude and tenacious blocking of Hines Ward. Dude is a player.
December 18th, 2021 at 4:54 pm
Well there not going to sign ab next year so that 3 or 4 million can give to Godwinso he’s getting 1 or 2 million over evens cuz he’s not leaving
December 18th, 2021 at 5:06 pm
I believe the triumvirate of TB12, Gronk, and AB are here together to ball out at all costs and win some damn games. Keep them for as long as they want to play, lord have mercy if TB12 gets a wild hair and wants to shove it in the world’s face and play beyond next year.
I’m so impressed w TB12. You know he’s the greatest athlete of our generation, a modern day Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, etc.
However, I am truly impressed with how TB12 backs it up, works his ass off, is a great person, dad, husband, and he values passing along his knowledge to others and showing them what it takes to be great. He’s the best damn QB ever, and he seriously is a better human being. Couldn’t be more proud of who is our leader, and that our awesome coach BA is man enough to step aside and let TB12 spread his greatness.
With all of that, go Bucs, wax the saints tomorrow.
December 18th, 2021 at 5:33 pm
As long as TB12 is under center, Godwin will be a Buc and make decent $$$. He never struck me as greedy in the first place.
He can make $18+ with the GOAT or $20+ as a (hypothetical) Jag with an underachieving, overhyped QB.
I’m pretty sure his IQ allows him to see how the difference could affect his long-term career.
December 18th, 2021 at 6:30 pm
He’s not leaving Tampa, the guy loves it here
December 18th, 2021 at 6:36 pm
I can’t believe Godwin is only 25. I hope we figure out a way to keep him in Tampa but I don’t believe we can afford him. He will be the #1 WR FA this off season. I think he will land a DeAndre Hopkins level contract somewhere like Jacksonville or another WR needy team with tons of cap space…
December 18th, 2021 at 6:55 pm
Was it Godwin rookie year that took it down the sideline for a Bucs walk off last game win against the Saints? Please correct me if I’m off, about anything, but I will always remember that Godwin TD.
December 18th, 2021 at 7:04 pm
Arrelious Benn is available.
December 18th, 2021 at 7:11 pm
SOEbuc you are correct…. I was at that game and that play was amazing. Although, Joe will probably disagree because that Godwin catch cost the Bucs dearly in draft position. Guess things worked out just fine. Go Bucs!
December 18th, 2021 at 7:13 pm
Sounds like the Saints will dump cash at Godwins feet if the Bucs don’t lock him up.
December 18th, 2021 at 8:09 pm
Medicated Pete Says:
December 18th, 2021 at 7:04 pm
Arrelious Benn is available.
Ugh, I had forgotten that dude and it just makes me more appreciative of the wideouts that we have now.
December 18th, 2021 at 9:25 pm
@Bucfan Godwin is the best “all around” WR the Bucs have, but he’s not the #1 receiver on the Bucs. When teams double him all the time like they do Evans and he puts up the same numbers, then I’ll agree with you. I’m not taking anything away from Godwin, because the dudes a stud, but he doesn’t get the other teams best CB or double teams like Evans.
December 18th, 2021 at 9:51 pm
You have to pick one BUCS receiver to build a team around. Who ya got?
December 18th, 2021 at 10:18 pm
I am with MarineBuc, it is hard to believe the kid is only 25. Wow he still has a lot of quality years left. I’d love the Bucs to keep him but as we all know it just comes down to the numbers.
December 18th, 2021 at 10:48 pm
This is the part of sports I loathe. I get that everybody needs to feed their family and deserve to be paid what the market will bear.
That doesn’t make it any better for fans or IMHO the players themselves. How much bling can you fit on your body. How many Lambo’s can you drive. How many homes? At some point the money becomes like monopoly money. It becomes the root of evil.
We’re not talking about roofers slaving all day in the hot Florida sun asking for another dollar or two an hour…an amount that would actually make a difference in their lives. Making 20 million instead of 15 or even 10 makes no discernable difference in your life.
How much money do we suppose Tom Brady has left on the table over the years. Have we ever heard of Brady holding up the Pats or the Bucs. No because he has a terrific value system…OK smartarses yeah a wife making more than he does doesn’t hurt. LOL But clearly Brady has his priorities in order.
Again I’m NOT slamming players for grabbing all they can. I pity them however if the $$$ are the driving force. I’d be looking at the organization and where it was located as well.
December 18th, 2021 at 11:41 pm
@Buczilla
Arrelious Benn was supposed to be what Chris Godwin is…..crazy
December 19th, 2021 at 12:17 am
I think the matter of money is an issue. While the salary cap is supposed to get a boost next season, it really will depend on the pandemic and how it effects games in the coming months. Omicrom is here, like it or not, and it is quickly becoming dominant.
We could debate the validity of the threat it poses all we want, but its not about what we think.
So if things get so bad that the nfl stops letting fans into games again, that’ll be a bad sign.
Also…I think Suh will play another season. JPP might not. Lavante Davide could decide to move on soon.
But the biggest thing to consider is Mike Evans. AB won’t be a Buc next year. ME will be…but he controls a big chunk of change…and because of his restructures each year, that salary of his is going to keep inflating.
December 19th, 2021 at 2:06 am
@Miller – you nailed it, even though so many forget.
I love Godwin and 100% want him back. But he’s not usually getting the #1 coverage / double coverage… and when he does… Evans explodes.
December 19th, 2021 at 3:49 am
Bonzai … Your last paragraph got me thinking for some reason about under what conditions Tom Brady MIGHT return for one last hurrah (I personally can’t see him returning in 2022, but who knows?). A HUGE key IMO will be not just having the weapons (ME13, CG14, Gronk … plus?) but also his OLine for protection. That means also re-signing Jensen & Cappa (plus probably Stinnie as a quality backup).
For some reason that got me thinking about the importance having a top-shelf OLine has made to top-performing QBs over the years. No idea what measurement criteria would work best, but SACKS PER GAME PLAYED would probably be a decent starting point (hard to be a Top QB if you spend each game lying on the ground?). QB rankings are obviously very debatable, but check out 10 of them for kicks …
1-Tom Brady … 537 sacks in 314 games (1.71 sack/game)
2-Peyton Manning … 303 sacks in 266 games (1.14)
3-Joe Montana … 313 sacks in 192 games (1.63)
4-Brett Favre … 525 sacks in 302 games (1.74)
5-Dan Marino … 270 sacks in 242 games (1.12)
6-Drew Brees … 420 sacks in 287 games (1.46)
7-Aaron Rodgers … 492 sacks in 209 games (2.35)
8-Steve Young … 358 sacks in 169 games (2.19)
9-John Elway … 516 sacks in 234 games (2.21)
10-Warren Moon … 458 sacks in 208 games (2.20)
Lots of other great QBs played earlier (Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham, etc) but they didn’t bother keeping sack records back then (fair game like every other player?). Interesting though that the great pocket passers (like Brady & Manning) pretty much always had top-shelf OLines protecting them. Not an accident I’m sure, and not free either.
December 19th, 2021 at 6:02 am
@stpetebucsfan – on taking less to stay on the team, while I generally agree, to be fair, WRs have a short shelf life compared to QBs. Once you are slow you are out. TB12 was slow from the get go and that was never an issue. So while a QB can afford to take the long view, a WR is more in the here and now mindset trying to maximize his earning potential in the few short years he can play.
December 19th, 2021 at 8:13 am
@Miller: the “best” CB rarely covers the slot, which is why Arians likes his best receiver in the slot.
December 19th, 2021 at 9:28 am
stpetebucsfan Says:
December 18th, 2021 at 10:48 pm
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+100 on your entire comment. That said, Glazer Boyz pay Ungodly CG14 what he has earned and deserves.