“You Can’t Be Great And Not Know What Greatness Looks Like”
June 10th, 2024
Stunning revelation.
There’s old school, and then there’s really old school.
A guy on the Bucs defense qualifies as the latter.
Inside linebacker K.J. Britt, the man who will replace departed Devin White this season, did a bit of a media tour in advance of his recent youth camp. One of his stops was with The Sick Podcast – Pirate Parlay.
Britt talked about how he studies film morning and night, and he mentioned that he sometimes goes back 50-plus years for knowledge.
“Studying these great linebackers like Willie Lanier, the first mike linebacker, with the Kansas City Chiefs. Just watching guys who excel at their position, you know, Dick Butkus. You can learn from them guys and you can put it into your arsenal and it can be yours,” Britt said of the great linebackers of the 1960s and 1970s.
“I mean, that’s why you go to college, to learn. You can’t be great and not know what greatness looks like, if that makes sense. I’ve heard that from a lot of people I watch.”
The more Joe learns about this Bucs roster (and it’s a 24/7 study), the more Joe thinks it might be the most football-devoted club the team has assembled in 20 years.
There’s so little drama and so many guys seemingly doing all the right things. And 2023 malcontents Devin White and Ke’Shawn Vaughn are off the roster.
June 10th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
already more logic than anything DW45 ever preached while in TB
June 10th, 2024 at 1:16 pm
I think that the film work alone exceeds the effort DW45 put in
June 10th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Lanier and Butkus are great examples to start studying. I would also add Singletary, Lewis, and of course the Godfather, Brooks.
June 10th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Beat me to it @BucsFan55
June 10th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Thumper, we’re gonna need KJ to step up yuge next season
June 10th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Hardy Nickerson.
June 10th, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Hardy Nickerson was amazing in his prime. I don’t know if Brooks would have become everything he did without Nickerson being there.
June 10th, 2024 at 2:06 pm
Greg, you may be right. Or at the very least Brooks got to the top faster because of Hardy.
June 10th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Since we are talking about great Linebackers-Richard”Batman” Wood and Scot Brantley come to mind. Scot could literally knock people out on the field and off , just ask Steve Duemig-He turned the “Big Dog” into a toy poodle.
June 10th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Lunchpail Player. KJ will show up and do his job. Not a gamechanger but not a liability. I call that an upgrade … for now.
June 10th, 2024 at 3:04 pm
Now we understand better why Britt looked like/was an upgrade over White at the end of last year – despite the large differences in speed, athleticism and playing experience.
Britt first and foremost is a FOOTBALL PLAYER. KJ is also a serious student of the game – who applies himself 110% when it comes to study and preparation. When on the field – Britt usually diagnoses what he sees properly and inserts himself exactly where he is supposed to be to make a play.
Devin White despite being an all world athlete has NONE of those qualities….
Diva could have been the next Ray Lewis if he applied himself to his profession the way Britt does. But alas – instead, he is the next Kwon Alexander…..
June 10th, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Don’t disrespect Kwon Alexander like that Pickgrin, never had an effort problem and he was decent in coverage.
June 10th, 2024 at 3:22 pm
All they gotta do…is win football games.
June 10th, 2024 at 3:24 pm
I just tire of all the drama Wirfs, Britt, Winfield and David subject us to.
Oh, wait…
June 10th, 2024 at 3:59 pm
Britt looks and sounds like a different player this year. I have very high hopes for him this season. Could be his best.
@Joe… would you say that Britt has always been the student he sounds to be, or has he evolved into what we see now?
June 10th, 2024 at 5:23 pm
Once again I’ll revive my gratitude speech. KJ Britt is grateful for his opportunity. DW45 and players like Fameis were blessed since middle school and heralded as the next coming of greatness based on their physical skills.
White and Fameis didn’t really appreciate the gifts they had received and felt no need to justify or work for them. Britt is a refreshing change!!! ME13 and CG14 are refreshing changes from many NFL WR divas. Wirfs and Barton APPRECIATE what has been given to them and the opportunities those gifts have provided. They are willing to work to maximize those gifts.
I love winning. But I really watch football to be entertained. I’m not entertained by arrogant prima donnas. The Bucs seem to have found the formula to find the RIGHT guys. Guys who “get it”!
June 10th, 2024 at 6:33 pm
Hopefully all this youthful wisdom will translate into a season and career that escaped Devin White
June 10th, 2024 at 7:27 pm
ATLBUC Says:
June 10th, 2024 at 1:16 pm
I think that the film work alone exceeds the effort DW45 put in
Lol!
“I am that man”. Bucs mantra. Go be that man KJ!
June 10th, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Once again, stpetebucfan, what you said. I could not say it better.
Go Bucs! Overachieve an win.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:31 pm
For many reasons it was a good idea to get rid of Devin White.
June 10th, 2024 at 11:16 pm
Joe, what are trying to say? The stars are all aligning?
June 10th, 2024 at 11:53 pm
Anybody who doesn’t acknowledge the correlation between winning football games and the switch from White to Britt just isn’t using common sense. Look, Im proud of Bowles for getting there, especially if we didn’t win and people called him crazy.
I absolutely get WANTING your 1st round draft pick to finally take it to heart. Kinda like Vea is this offseason. I like Vea, but that makes me think he didn’t want to bite the bullet instead of the hamburger. IMO, Bowles needs to get to the BEST player, regardless of draft status. Watts should have played over Shaq, Diaby could have played earlier, Neal should have been shown the bench after Houston etc.
I feel like there are enough DUDES now that it shouldn’t be a problem anymore, but dang, grow a pair!!!!!
Britt should make us forget about White pretty quickly, and will probably be a fan favorite by week 4.
June 11th, 2024 at 12:52 am
You just gotta be cheering for this guy. What a story. Great article, Joes.
June 11th, 2024 at 2:28 am
One of the things about HOF LB Brooks was his preparation. You think maybe Brooks had a word with Britt? I know somewhere I read that Brooks had some words of wisdom for White. Which were apparently ignored.
Wonder if they let Brooks break down film with our guys?
Go Bucs!
June 11th, 2024 at 6:27 am
britt hits with a thud…he’s a hard hitting dude…
if he learns to punch the ball lose as well as maintain his hard hitting style, he could potentially create a handful of turnovers during the season…
#AyePunchersChance
June 11th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
He should climb into his WayBack machine, and look at the play of Tommy Nobis, quite possibly the best MLB not in the HoF.
Great player (but an a$$#ole person)