It’s The Little Things
May 30th, 2024
No slacking.
Something at Bucs practice caught Joe’s eye Tuesday. And it wasn’t even during practice.
All-Pro Bucs safety Antoine Winfield is probably the Bucs’ best defender. That’s not a knock on Lavonte David. Winfield is in the prime and David is in the sunset of his career, though still a top-shelf player.
Winfield just signed a contract to be the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL. Life is good.
But Winfield got where he is through hard work and he intends to go further.
It was July-hot on the practice fields of One Buc Palace. Felt like training camp. It was 12:30 p.m. with the sun beating down. Many players headed inside for the cover of air conditioning.
One of the few who stayed in the heat after practice, still wearing his helmet, was Winfield.
Winfield was working on the JUGS machine practicing to get an extra pick or two.
Not one person would have said a word if Winfield had ducked into the building. Not one. Winfield doesn’t need the extra work. He doesn’t have to worry about his job security or another contract.
Winfield in a lot of ways, has it made.
But there was Winfield catching ball after ball from the JUGS machine underneath the brutal Florida summer sun.
This is what pros do. They didn’t get where they are by being soft or lazy. And Winfield probably figures he won’t get another ring or — can he dream? — or a one-way trip to Canton without that extra work.
Winfield, at the end of the day, is a pro’s pro.
Hot day. Practice is long over. And Antoine Winfield out here working on the JUGS machine. Pro. pic.twitter.com/C4757bh7CR
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) May 28, 2024
May 30th, 2024 at 12:45 am
I was actually proud of Jenna Laine saying to Dean, “Winfield was out there working on the jugs. Dean said he wanted to get some work in catching passes from the QB and he was late to the party. Don’t make excuses Dean. Put in the work however you can. What a great example Winfield is setting. It’s got to help the rookies understand what it takes to get that Big payday.
It takes WAY more than saying I WANT TO PUT ON A SHOW. Just go out and work and put on a show.
Dean has all the tools and it was nice to hear he was working on core muscles, but that missed pick against Detroit was a ham sandwich and he just wasn’t hungry enough to change the game for us.
May 30th, 2024 at 1:11 am
Players like Winfield are less and less common across all of sports, if what I see and believe of him is true as a player. Being competitive, striving for greatness and not settling, hard work pays off. Also don’t forget to stretch and build cardio along with strength, it helps prevent injuries. You all know this but it’s just reinforces it. Use your speed on every play, build endurance! There’s no feeling like being world champion but even if you lose it’s nice when other teams and media respect you because they know what they have to deal with when they play Tampa. That was what it was like in ‘02. Rules changed, play smart and minimize dumb penalties! Coach it’s your job to keep everyone on the same page and believing in one common goal. Build a dynasty, that’s the best retirement plan. Easier said than done so ask yourself, what does it take what are you willing to sacrifice… one or a few plays and that lions game was a win, that’s all. Also one or a few plays and you miss the playoffs. Just go undefeated and annihilate everyone.
May 30th, 2024 at 3:14 am
Love that Joe!
Would love that even more if about some of our butterfinger guys would have been with him! Particularly Dean, Izien, Isaac, McCollum, and Dennis. Did I miss anyone?
He is setting the standard and apparently guys are not paying attention!
Go Bucs!
May 30th, 2024 at 3:40 am
I would marry Antoine.
May 30th, 2024 at 4:56 am
Love it! So true, that is what pros do. Antoine is all that and much more. Agree with other comments, he is setting the standard that hard work pays off. I did have a good laugh at Dave Pear’s comment about marrying Antoine.
May 30th, 2024 at 6:34 am
AWinfield has the work ethics of a Walter “Sweetness” Payton. He’s All pro, All Star, n All the time. JDean is a fluke. He’s one jug catch away from injury. If you condition n train ur body regularly you minimize injuries. That ain’t happening with Dean cause after he received the loot, he’s showing now he don’t give a hoot. AWinfield is setting the benchmark and examples of a winner.
May 30th, 2024 at 6:47 am
His teammates could in the secondary should all be right next to him. So many opportunities slipped through their hands last season, no pun intended lol.
May 30th, 2024 at 7:36 am
He’ll always be remembered the guy that Cooper Cupp run by on a zero call defensive by yours truly Bowles, to beat the Bucs out of the Super Bowl!
May 30th, 2024 at 7:37 am
Licht rewards hard work and heart.
Tampa Bay is a meritocracy.
If you go hard, you play. If you play hard, you stay.
If you work hard, play hard, and never give up?
Licht will reward you.
May 30th, 2024 at 8:14 am
Doughboy Says:
May 30th, 2024 at 7:36 am
He’ll always be remembered the guy that Cooper Cupp run by on a zero call defensive by yours truly Bowles, to beat the Bucs out of the Super Bowl!
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Peace out
May 30th, 2024 at 8:24 am
Doughboy Says:
May 30th, 2024 at 7:36 am
He’ll always be remembered the guy that Cooper Cupp run by on a zero call defensive by yours truly Bowles, to beat the Bucs out of the Super Bowl!
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Not even close! Outside of him doing something criminal, he will ALWAYS be the squatting peace sign. No one can take that from his, the Bucs, or Superbowl HISTORY
May 30th, 2024 at 8:25 am
Typo: “ALWAYS be (remembered for) the squ…”
May 30th, 2024 at 8:38 am
People under 35 like Winfield are less and less common !!
May 30th, 2024 at 11:43 am
A true pros pro.
And lol at any idiots who think that play against the rams was on Winfield…
May 30th, 2024 at 2:29 pm
The Rams Cover No one call was atrocious. Then Diva poorly communicated it so no one knew what to do. Not even the Bowels of Todd would be such a genius as to leave AW2 one in one against Kupp. He was supposed to be someone else’s responsibility and AW2 tried to compensate.
That one is 90% Bowels and 10% Diva.
May 30th, 2024 at 2:56 pm
Bowles4President Says:
May 30th, 2024 at 8:24 am
Doughboy Says:
May 30th, 2024 at 7:36 am
Not even close! Outside of him doing something criminal, he will ALWAYS be the squatting peace sign. No one can take that from his, the Bucs, or Superbowl HISTORY
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yessirrrrr. AND that goal line punchout against Carolina that saved Bowles and Mayfield