Goodbye, Cameron Brate!
March 2nd, 2023
Cameron Brate
The cuts at One Buc Palace continue.
Leonard Fournette is getting the axe. Donovan Smith will, too. And now comes tight end Cameron Brate, one of the most accomplished pass catchers from that position in Buccaneers history.
Brate, undrafted out of Harvard in 2014, was one hell of an NFL success story. He was a borderline Pro Bowl player in 2016 and 2017 before injuries slowly and steadily chipped away at his effectiveness.
Benched by Bucco Bruce Arians for a chunk of 2020, Brate got more playing time that season after O.J. Howard’s season-ending injury in Week 4. Brate clearly earned Tom Brady’s trust and became an important figure in the Bucs’ late playoff run.
He returned in 2021 and 2022 and looked to be out of juice. Now he’s out of a job, per Jeremy Fowler of BSPN.
Brate turns 32 before next season. Joe wishes him well.
Who’s next on the Bucs’ chopping block? Shaq Mason?
#Bucs are expected to release tight end Cam Brate in the coming days, per source. Brate, who played nine seasons in Tampa, has a cap hit of around $5 million. A good run with 273 catches and 33 touchdowns.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 2, 2023
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Amazing run for a former UDFA
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Hell of a player, Hell of a pro, and what I´ve heard several times a hell of a Teammate…
Extraordinary journey Mr Brate…..Wish you nothing but the very best!!!!
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:32 pm
his injuries did him in.
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:32 pm
Good luck Brate with your next endeavor.
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:33 pm
Great player for us. Glad we had him but it is time to move on. Plus, that Stache!
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Thanks for making that catch on the River! Bucs immortality!
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:36 pm
OJ Howard, remembered for his catch at the rays game, Cam Brate remembered for his catch of the Lombardi trophy and the last TD pass Brady threw. Good luck Brate, truly a classic player for the Bucs. loved the chemistry with he and Jameis also
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:37 pm
No surprises thus far. Shaq Mason would be a mild surprise if that happened.
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Good luck Cam!! Thanks for helping out 🙂
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:38 pm
So far no big surprises by these cuts…
Fournette, D. Smith and Brate have all been discussed at length here.
Who is next? Probably Kicker Ryan Succop. Maybe RG S. Mason?
How about reaching an injury settlement with Shaq Barrett?
Slowly gaining some needed cap space but now we have to replace these dudes.
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:39 pm
Thanks Brate and good luck.
Pretty sure Bucs are going to draft a TE now.
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Thanks for the memories Cam! You will be missed. Best wishes to you. Always a class act.
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Thanks!
Cam
Enjoy a healthy retirement
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Any truth to the rumor Devin White going to the steelers for their 32nd pick?
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Thanks for everything Cam! When we had no one else in the lost decade you were there holding it down.
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:55 pm
I’m glad he got paid millions of dollars, he deserved every penny!
March 2nd, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Great guy, Great Buc, and in the end he’s a Superbowl winner! Wish him the best and thank you for all the great memories!
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:02 pm
Brate will always be a legend here. the parade catch, the first Harvard to Harvard TD pass with Fitz, and a hall of fame porn stache. And to think he was a N.O. Taint once.
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:02 pm
We will miss him. He caught Brady’s last touchdown
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:11 pm
He had a good connection with TB12 but his connection with Winston was special.
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:20 pm
BEST of wishes to you Cam! Now that you have realized your boyhood dream you can put that Harvard degree to work. Start a company with a good manager and retire without ever spending all the money you made in the NFL!
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Thanks, Brate, for the years of positive consistency.
Time eventually wins.
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:21 pm
One of my favorite bucs. All the best Cam!
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Solid football player. Earned a Super Bowl ring along the way. Congrats on a fantastic career.
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:34 pm
Hate to say it but I see no big losses so far. I’ll take it.
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:37 pm
One of the good ones. Met his fiance at the airport one time shortly before they married. She overheard me and my buddies talking football and came over to join the conversation. Implied that she had a relationship with one of the players and then revealed it was Brate. Shared some insider-ish Information that was quite interesting. Wish him well moving forward.
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:38 pm
Rome, also if memory serves me, I believe he was the one that caught Brady’s pass of the Lombardi during the super bowl boat parade! Memory of a lifetime for him I’m sure.
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Will miss him. He was a good Buc. Good luck Cam!
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:48 pm
He had a good run as a player and should be considered to start a good run as a coach.
Tremendous football IQ and a lot of offensive knowledge to go with it.
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Cam always overachieved in the NFL………
He lived his dream when others didn’t….and at times, he looked good.
But his career wasn’t exactly stellar or even I say “good”.
Cam was a “serviceable” tight end here while it lasted. Have fun in retirement Cam!!!!!!!
March 2nd, 2023 at 1:53 pm
I wish him and his caterpillar all the happiness.
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:06 pm
He has the last Tom Brady thrown touchdown caught football in his possession too! That will be worth a huge pile of money to add to his bankroll. Good job indeed.
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:06 pm
What a solid pro. Always appreciated him. I can’t think of a better undrafted Buc
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:10 pm
I don’t think he plays again, my guess he’ll retire.
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:11 pm
Always liked Cam Brate, thanks for some good years!
To answer the question on Shaq Mason, I think he’ll be cut or traded for a late round pick.
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:19 pm
Thanks Cam Brate. Always one of my favorite Bucs!
Best of luck in the future
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:34 pm
I’d like to see Brate have a job with the bucs moving forward. He’s a buc for life
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:36 pm
TY for your service Brate! much respect.
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Expected. Everyone knew it would be Smith, Fournette and Brate. Now it starts to get interesting.
Who else gets released? Mason? Succop? Someone else?
Trades? Which contracts get restructured? Which FAs get re-signed?
March 2nd, 2023 at 3:08 pm
definitely part of that early to mid 10s group of long time productive bucs… happy trails and we’ll always have that trophy toss moment
March 2nd, 2023 at 3:11 pm
Letsbucinggo … ‘Any truth to the rumor Devin White going to the steelers for their 32nd pick?’
Haven’t seen that rumor, but it’s interesting. The Steelers had 10 LBs on their team in the course of last season, to include Devin Bush Jr (drafted right after Devin White). Apparently they don’t use their LBs like we do though & rotate them a bunch; Devin Bush only got 659 def snaps (62%) in 17 games, as opposed to Devin White getting 1076 def snaps (96%) in 17 games. Bush wasn’t all that productive either (0 sacks, 2 QB hits, 2 TFL, 2 PD). Since Bush would be up for a new contract, you got me wondering if the Steelers are looking to move on.
March 2nd, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Writing was on the wall. He has slipped in production since Gronk was here. Thanks for the memories Cam. Have a great after football life!
March 2nd, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Nothin but love for Mr. Brate!
Injuries definitely caught up to him these last 2 seasons. I wish him nothing but good luck in his next endeavor, and am forever grateful for everything he gave us during his time here!
March 2nd, 2023 at 3:59 pm
God bless you Brat, and thank you for your service, a true and faithful Buccaneer!
March 2nd, 2023 at 3:59 pm
He was fun to have. Thank you Cameron Brate!
March 2nd, 2023 at 4:14 pm
4 million of the 5 million cap hit is because of that 70s porn style mustashe he has.
March 2nd, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Once in a while a player comes along who everybody likes…..Cam Brate is one of those……didn’t cost a draft pick…..always positive….played with injuries…..clutch performer…..
A Harvard education usually proves beneficial for a career….in this case, it wasn’t needed……Cam….you done good!!!
March 2nd, 2023 at 4:55 pm
Best ufda in bucs history
March 2nd, 2023 at 5:04 pm
@ DR
I would pull the trigger on that trade… Not because I don’t like D. White – but because it would clear @ $11M in cap and I don’t think he is worth the contract he wants…
This is the last year of his rookie deal.
For pick #32? Heck YES!
March 2nd, 2023 at 5:10 pm
Would the Bucs groom him for a front office role or does he go into the business world. Impressed with his work ethic.
Last couple of seasons he slowed down to the point of only being able to get short passes.
In his prime he was a valuable weapon.
March 2nd, 2023 at 5:24 pm
Thanks for the solid years, Cam… best wishes! Really going to miss you – grown real fond of the ‘stache.
March 2nd, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Tough to see him go. But, thanks for everything Cam. Wish you the best on your next endeavor.
March 2nd, 2023 at 6:16 pm
A good guy that gave all he had, who wasn’t overly athletically gifted. But was a good Buc, through and through. Thanks, Cam.
March 2nd, 2023 at 6:20 pm
Good luck Mr. Brate.
March 2nd, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Thanks Cam. Loved ya through the good and bad. Take care of that stach brother 🥸
March 2nd, 2023 at 7:04 pm
Thanks Cam! God bless!
March 2nd, 2023 at 7:08 pm
Don’t add at TE. Let Otton and Kieft be the 1-2, at least for this year. Bigger needs to fill. Thanks Cam. Super bowl champ for life!
March 2nd, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Marine Buc … on looking at that further, the #32 pick is actually the first pick of Rnd 2, not Rnd 1 as usual. Had something to do with the Dolphins getting that #32 pick from the Bears in an earlier trade, but then the Dolphins lost it because of their Brady shenanigans. That’s a pretty heavy hit.
Devin White’s status scares me this year. Bucs can’t pay $20 mil for an ILB in 2024, so he’ll be leaving is my guess (not worth $20 mil anyways). IF we did re-sign LVD, I wouldn’t have any problem with trading White now & drafting his replacement high. But if we don’t re-sign LVD, we’d be looking at TWO new ILBs this year if we traded White, and that’s not good at all. Just have to see how this thing plays out I guess.
March 2nd, 2023 at 8:23 pm
Thanks Cam but…..whats with the Ron Jeremy Mustache ?
March 2nd, 2023 at 9:24 pm
Fire the cannons for Brate. He was a stud before all the injuries. Glad we got to watch him get a ring
March 2nd, 2023 at 9:36 pm
Thank you Cam.
March 2nd, 2023 at 9:44 pm
The trash-stash killed his game. Still one of my favorites though.
March 3rd, 2023 at 6:49 am
He’s on my all-time Bucs roster.
March 3rd, 2023 at 7:42 am
Make America Brate again! Thanks! Good Health, Cam!
March 3rd, 2023 at 10:46 am
Brate Job! I said it everytime you caught the ball my guy. Cheers!