Sean Murphy-Bunting Talks Loneliness, Mental Battle
August 9th, 2022
Sean Murphy-Bunting in his elbow brace last season.
Sean Murphy-Bunting’s opening day elbow injury last season was more than it appeared on the surface.
Joe referenced Todd Bowles’ curious words about his cornerback last week, and now Murphy-Bunting has revealed more.
Murphy-Bunting visited Sports Day Tampa Bay and explained that the mental aspect of the injury and the two-month rehab messed with his mind and affected his speed — even though it was an elbow and not a lower body injury.
“I had never missed a sports game in my life, never missed a practice,” Murphy-Bunting said.
“It was a big mind thing for me. … The entire time I would get in my own head and stuff because those hours, man, in treatment and being by yourself gets lonely. Going home and not being able to I guess really think about what you’re going to do the next practice and how you’re going to get better the next game. I mean it really took a toll on my mental for a while, but it allowed me to kind of clear my mind and really see the game for what it is, and try to understand the game more from a coaching aspect than a playing aspect.”
Murphy-Bunting went on to say the mental battle continued for him upon his return to the lineup and he was “playing very timid” with the elbow in a brace and “too slow.”
Rehab continued into this offseason, he said, and all is oerfect now.
This all gives Joe quality hope that Murphy-Bunting can get back to being the cornerback who was a beast during the 2020 playoffs.
August 9th, 2022 at 8:06 am
The NFL has decided to emphasize illegal contact penalties this season. This may hinder both SMB and Davis as they are both very handsy at the top of the route. They may have to change their playing style a little.
August 9th, 2022 at 8:10 am
Irishmist
But could be a good thing to cause everyone sees lattimore hold evans every other pass play
August 9th, 2022 at 8:15 am
@Bird
U got that right about Lattimore! Hard to believe he gets away with holding Mike Evans so much.
August 9th, 2022 at 8:20 am
The illegal contact focus will benefit us……helping our 137 WRs to get open.
I can only imagine how Ryan Jensen feels….missing what could be the last season with Brady…….he’s so competitive I know he is really hurting.
August 9th, 2022 at 8:38 am
I saw the emphasis on illegal contact. It’s happened twice before and the increase in penalties the following season is very large ( between 100-200% increase in calls). With this in mind I foresee many five yard penalties early in the season called early and then they will fall off later in the year and be gone by play off time.
August 9th, 2022 at 8:39 am
So not only is SMB an average corner at best, he’s also a head case. Logan Ryan, Winfield Jr. will play the slot this year. SMB will have to have a monster season in a contract year to stick with the team past this season. Doubt he has the make up, and mental toughness needed to win a starting spot.
August 9th, 2022 at 8:45 am
Appreciated SMB opening up.
More and more people are opening up about depression or other things that affect them. Very real things.
Luckily the Bucs got the best two corners out of the 2019 draft with SMB and Jamal Dean.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:24 am
The mental thing is what determines their complete rehab success. Guess what, Chris Godwin is going through the same thing as we read this article.
August 9th, 2022 at 10:14 am
I hate Lattimore. Holding like a tick on a dog.
August 9th, 2022 at 11:17 am
SMB is oerfect.
August 9th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
The Saints have the def holding thing down perfect. Maybe we can start getting some calls against them finally
August 9th, 2022 at 12:15 pm
Leave it to some stupid a55clown on here to call him a mental case for admitting the difficulties that any player would encounter in a similar situation.
It’s predictable because you tools think you’re so *hard* and anybody who experiences an emotion is weak. Complete jackassery. I’m sorry your dad was a big meanie.
August 9th, 2022 at 12:57 pm
For anyone that has had rehab, you know the mental aspect of the process is huge. Add to that the other things the article points out, i really had to be a tough learning experience for him. Glad he is back and ready to show all the fans, and the league, what he really has.
August 9th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
@ Sasquatch “Complete jackassery. I’m sorry your dad was a big meanie”. You got me LOL! Good one and coining a new word. 😀 😀
August 9th, 2022 at 6:39 pm
I get SMB’s mindset btw. He never missed a practice or a game. He was always focused on how he could improve for the team and now he could do none of that. He was literally lost for a while. I get it and am thrilled to see him bearing his soul.
August 9th, 2022 at 7:10 pm
it was obvious it was a mind blowing experience for SMB. it was a gruesome injury for a young kid, constant fear the elbow will blow up again considering there was no surgery. Frightening for a player. Good to hear him verbalize it for us as most of “fans” don’t get it.