Same Ol’ Bucs (Which Is A Good Thing)
March 23rd, 2022
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians
Are the Bucs better than they were last spring? Joe cannot go there yet but one guy who works for the league thinks so.
That would be Dan Hanzus of NFL.com. He decided to rank each team on how it looks during the second week of free agency. He has the Bucs as one of the NFL’s best. And yes, thanks to Tom Brady.
The Bucs are back. Were they ever really gone? Tom Brady’s “retirement” lasted all of 40 days; the G.O.A.T.’s return means Tampa Bay is right back in the mix of Super Bowl contenders in the NFC. Brady’s stunning reversal was followed by new contracts for wide receiver Chris Godwin, cornerback Carlton Davis, center Ryan Jensen and running back Leonard Fournette. The Bucs filled a need at guard by trading for Shaq Mason and addressed depth issues at wideout with the signing of Russell Gage, who gives the team a legitimate replacement for Antonio Brown after a breakout 2021 season in Atlanta. What’s that up in the sky? The Gronk-Signal is shining above Tampa Bay. Don’t make Tommy wait.
OK, now that Will Gholston is back, there are only two guys Joe is comfortable saying he has a strong vibe the Bucs want back. That would be defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski.
With Suh, he is a mercenary, and Joe is OK with that. Suh wants to get paid, whoever will cut the check. We all know that. And he is willing to wait months in order to secure that check.
Gronk? Does anyone really believe he won’t be back? He seems entrenched in the Tampa Bay community. He hangs at local barbershops like a regular guy, goes to the Strawberry Festival, works out at One Buc Palace twice a week, goes to Cam Brate’s wedding, which was held locally, and from time to time Gronk and his Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue covergirl girlfriend Camille Kostek can be found at a watering hole in Tampa.
So you bring back most of your top-end free agents, add some rookies and key veterans (receiver Russell Gage, Logan Ryan and Shaq Mason), the Bucs should be good to go.
What a difference two weeks make!
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:14 am
The dream continues!
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:15 am
Suh is loyal. Suh loves Tampa. Tampa loves Suh. Pay him fairly. He knows his value and he knows the market.
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:22 am
Agree on this one Joe…..
Gronk and Suh back….not sure if there will be an undesrtanding on the money with Suh…..But would be great to have him back and Draft his next year replacement , somebody like Travis Jones or Devonte Wyatt in case he is still there, not sure he will be ………….
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:22 am
In the “lost decade” “Same old Bucs” and “Its a Buc’s life” used to make fans wince. TB12 threw all the negativity and talk of curses into Tampa Bay and moved Joe’s Den Of Depression and likely location of the NFC South basement out of Tampa and into the ATL, Carolina and likely New Orleans this year. The 2020’s sure beat the heck out of the lost decade to all Buc fans!
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:30 am
They need more yet….they didn’t cut it last year and have not improved that much yet on paper
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:30 am
Definitely sign Suh and Gronk then draft beef on the Dline!
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:41 am
Well, the fact is if it weren’t for Brady, it might indeed be “the same old Bucs.”
Enjoy the A-Ride while it lasts.
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:46 am
Most exciting off-season in my memory – unless you count Brady’s first arrival. Must be a really fun time for Joe to write about.
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:46 am
Gronk also owns part of Rocca, the restaurant next to armature works. phenomenal food.
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:52 am
“Gronk and his Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue covergirl girlfriend Camille Kostek”
He just looks up to Tom so much. He’ll be back.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:04 am
‘With Suh, he is a mercenary, and Joe is OK with that. Suh wants to get paid, whoever will cut the check.’
Wow Joe, there’s that word ‘mercenary’ for the second time today. So Brady’s a mercenary; Suh’s a mercenary. Since White says he wants $100 mil on his next contract & won’t get it from the Bucs, I presume he’s a mercenary too? Oh and Davis was ready to sell his services to the highest bidder until Brady came back, so I guess he’s also a mercenary? How about Gronk? Or Godwin? Are they mercenaries too?
Or are they just BUSINESSMEN who also happen to be football players & want to be nicely compensated for their services? I for one agree with ModHairKen … ‘Suh is loyal. Suh loves Tampa. Tampa loves Suh. Pay him fairly. He knows his value and he knows the market’. Would love to see him retire as a Buc & be voted into the HOF & Ring of Honor … and especially if we win another Super Bowl with him at DT.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:09 am
Gronk and Suh are both long in the tooth.
They are both beasts though. Gronk is priority 1 because of his chemistry with Brady and blocking. Suh might be a luxury at this point now that WG is back. DL early in the draft, maybe trade up.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:14 am
^^^^ Joe you just knew you were going to get this lecture again. You must be doing it to get this experts panties twisted .
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:24 am
JOE
Do you have a sense of what the Bucs are looking at for the draft?
Personally I think Delany showed enough to be the 4th CB. I firmly believe he will pass Cockrell (not a big accomplishment) and push SMB.
Because of this, and SUH and Gholston’s age along with JPP probably gone I see them going DL early.
I also see this draft as deep with DB’s and DLine.
Do you have a sense of what the Bucs are looking at for the draft?
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:26 am
We are in the midst of the Golden Era of Bucs football and it’s all thanks to TB12
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:33 am
Slightly off topic, but apparently Tyreek Hill is in talks to be traded from the Chiefs. That seems surprising to me as it would seem to seriously weaken their dynamic passing attack. Sounds like dolphins and jets are the main contenders at this point. If the dolphins get him they could be creating a potent offense with their new dynamic head coach.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:34 am
Long live Tom Brady!!!
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:34 am
Must of these experts always have their panties in a bunch. I’m surprised none have come out saying something like; “Oh, just like Gruden won with Dungy,s marauders, Arians and Brady are wining with Koeter’s StickCarriers”….🤣🤣🤣🤣
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:34 am
Still feel like we are missing another edge guy (and I doubt jpp is it at this point). The problem is money. Nelson made some decent strides, but not sure if I feel great hoping Nelson and jts keep progressing even if we add another pick. Prob only so much we can do as free agents edge guys are expensive
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:41 am
Joe, so are Brady and Suh part of the Wagner Group? Those are real mercenaries.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:46 am
Suh or no Suh we have to use one of our first two picks on a defensive tackle. One of the first four picks on a left guard.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:48 am
A player should know his relative worth unless he’s delusional.
Most either chase money or a ring.
Usually chasing a ring comes with a little less money if a player is beyond his second contract.
It’s rare a player gets max $$$ AND chases a ring.
Fact is if Brady was getting Rodgers $$$, many of these guys wouldn’t have signed on to chase the ring.
It is what it is.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:01 pm
That’s the difference between tom and “it ain’t about the money Rodgers.” Tom is willing to look past breaking the bank to benefit his team to increase his chances in winning and Rodgers who said it isn’t about the money but then his contract makes him the highest paid player. Part of what makes Tom the goat.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Ira is a mercenary but he works for free breakfasts, lunches & dinners instead of money….JBF “business expenses)
As for Suh & Gronk….I agree….get those two back and add a couple of pieces in the draft and we are good to go.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:42 pm
DBS … After a quarter century in the military stationed around the world, the word ‘mercenary’ has a very negative connotation to me. Ndamukong Suh is anything BUT a mercenary IMO; he simply expects to be compensated fairly for his talents. I applaud that; apparently you don’t. Thanks for your input.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Gronky, Suh and JPP. If his shoulder is good, we should re-sign him. We can still draft a DL or two to learn this year.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:47 pm
D-line draft…Georgia’s on My Mind. If a Pecan Wecan.
March 23rd, 2022 at 1:25 pm
Cobraboy
I think we’d be surprised at how many have no clue. Especially the young ones. They are out of college, or just a few years removed, and focus on football and let their agent handle all the money and contracts. Of course their agent fills their heads with delusions that they’re worth more than they are
March 23rd, 2022 at 1:38 pm
Gholston is on a 1-year deal. Suh will get a 1-year deal.
Licht will draft their replacements (i.e. Wyatt and Hill) this year and the defensive rebuild will be all but complete. Look for TB12 and LVD replacements in 2023.
March 23rd, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Suh is the anchor on d-line.
And he really is a spring chicken in terms of age.
As you can see he’s a whole decade younger than Brady, the goat!
March 23rd, 2022 at 4:26 pm
I think Su wants to stay in Tampa Bay, has nothing to do with football but everything to do with family.
March 23rd, 2022 at 5:21 pm
I seem to be the only one who thought that a lot of “air” was gone from Gronk last season. Yes, he has a connection with Tom, but I (for one, I guess) didn’t see it play out much. I wouldn’t mind losing him if we have to, for the money.
March 23rd, 2022 at 8:24 pm
A shame could’ve least sent someone like coach prime said just a shame and look who’s coaching them kids never know whats out there
March 23rd, 2022 at 8:36 pm
Just a shame realtalk could sent someone
March 23rd, 2022 at 9:06 pm
Two steps forward, two back. Gage and Ryan are great additions and upgrades. Lenny and Gholston, not good and meh. C Davis, risky. Gronk not back is a concern. What’s he stalling for?
They could redeem by signing Melvin Gordon/Rashaad Penny/Marlon Mack at RB. Please grab one of the remaining pass rushers/DL still out there–Akiem Hicks/Jerry Hughes/Calais Campbell/Justin Houston/J Clowney/Carlos Dunlap. A pass rusher at DT: Larry Ogunjobi (who was doing great with the upstart Bengals)/Sheldon Richardson.
Go heavy defense for most of the draft. Just stockpile with terror.
It’s time to put Matt Stafford on his back and shut up Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp.