Ali Marpet Believes Bucs Can Still Win
February 10th, 2022
Pro Bowl LG Ali Marpet
In past years, if the Bucs had one or two players make the Pro Bowl, it seemed like an accident.
Until a guy who wore No. 12 showed up, the Bucs were still in the throes of the Lost Decade. Joe likes to write that the Bucs, who had the worst home record in the NFC in the post-Chucky era, were the NFL’s fire hydrant in a dog park. It was sad.
That totally flipped with Tom Brady.
So when the Bucs had nine players involved in this year’s Pro Bowl (Brady did not show up and Tristan Wirfs was at Pro Bowl practices but he couldn’t play due to his bum ankle), it was basically a message to the NFL that the Bucs had arrived.
As if winning the Super Bowl the previous season wasn’t a signal.
Left guard Ali Marpet said so many Bucs in the Pro Bowl is a sign Tampa Bay can still win, whoever the new quarterback is.
“It feels really cool,” Marpet said of so many Bucs at the Pro Bowl. “It’s nice to have such a strong Tampa presence, considering the past couple of years there hasn’t been.”
That throng of Bucs in the Pro Bowl, Marpet said, is proof that the Bucs have the players to win, especially now that they know how to win.
“We have such a strong core in that locker room,” Marpet said. “There should be a lot [more] success. … The talent is there and has been there for a while. So I think we can have success.”
The trick is, how many of those talented players who are free agents can the Bucs bring back and still have enough Team Glazer loot left over to get another quarterback?
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and his accounting wizards are going to have their work cut out for them. If the Bucs can keep the free agents, find a quarterback and stay under the cap somehow, Joe might hire these guys to do his taxes.
February 10th, 2022 at 6:13 am
‘If the Bucs can keep the free agents, find a quarterback and stay under the cap somehow, Joe might hire these guys to do his taxes’.
That’s a piece of cake Joe. Bucs have no choice but to stay under the salary CAP, so that one’s easy. We already have a QB (his name is Kyle Trask, remember?) and finding a couple more for competition won’t be all that hard (they’ll be eager to sign on given this team’s talent-level). Only challenge will be signing the free agents; well, select ones at least.
Personally think that the biggest challenge (and the monkey wrench in this whole equation) will be having a successful draft. We WILL have holes come draft-time; Bucs simply can’t afford to bring EVERYBODY back. The REAL challenge will be finding starter-capable players, in our Top-3 picks especially.
February 10th, 2022 at 7:20 am
Not happening….the restructuring of many contracts already happened last year…..not much left to restructure…
But, I agree with Ali….we can still win.
February 10th, 2022 at 8:29 am
One thing is certain. It’s going to be an interesting and, I hope exciting, off-season.
February 10th, 2022 at 8:50 am
The change in attitude is key, as long as we keep the key pieces together. Godwin is a must. Fournette should be a secondary priority. We can probably survive without Jensen, and no doubt Gronk is walking. So on offense it should be CG and 4net. Then focus on our D-backfield. JPP is probably gone. Keep Suh if we can. Then the elephant in the room is a legit QB. Although I’d like to see what Trask can do, the safe route is an experienced vet like Jimmy G. And then if Licht can hit big again in the draft, we’re set for another playoff run. The Bucs can do this. It probably won’t be as fun for those of us watching, but they can do this!
February 10th, 2022 at 8:58 am
How do we know Godwin will be able to overcome his injury?
February 10th, 2022 at 10:14 am
Can Ali Marpet play QB?
February 10th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
When we resign Gabbert who I believe will be our opening day starter to a prove it contract, and have Trask on a rookie deal, we’ll have money to spend. Gabbert the 32 yr old former 1st round pick is the vet QB that gives us the best chance to win right now. Don’t have to waste time teaching him the play book, he knows it inside out. Gabbert starts, Trask will back him up. Now we have money, and draft choices to stay competitive. I think we can win a weak NFC South with Gabbert at QB, I bet the Bucs believe so too.
February 10th, 2022 at 10:09 pm
At least the rest of the NFC South is also on equally shaky ground.