Brady Influence Molds Fournette
September 21st, 2020
Humbled.
Joe’s neighborhood has houses spaced out enough that with air conditioning running, one can holler and likely not be heard by the neighbors.
So yesterday when Leonard Fournette busted through the line and bolted for a 46-yard touchdown run to seal the Bucs win, Joe was hollering so loud Joe surely thought a knock on the door or a call from the cops was coming to see if Joe was OK.
Even after Fournette got past the line and appeared to break free, Joe was thinking how Mollie Hampster Doug Martin got caught from behind in the Capitol Collapse against the Redskins.
Though there were reports Fournette was less than a team player in Jacksonville — those are the things of the past. Fournette has become a Bucs team guy, in part, because of the influence of the jewelry from park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
Yesterday, while appearing on “The Sunday Drive,” with co-hosts Bill Lekas and Steve Torre heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Fournette naturally talked about his huge run, but also how he has changed with the Bucs thanks partly to Brady.
Fournette spoke glowingly of Brady and how the guy has a winning aura and just his personality makes people want to play better for him.
“You see why he has those 6 rings,” he said.
When Fournette was asked about Brady ramping up the preparation after losing the Week 1 game to New Orleans, he replied that he did along with the entire Bucs team. Then, Fournette was asked how he’s fit in, since he has only been with the Bucs maybe two weeks. Fournette said he forced himself to fit in.
Bill Lekas: You have only been there nine or 10 days. How have you been able to get so comfortable so fast?
Leonard Fournette: I had to. I put so much pressure on myself, No. 1. It was my first time being in a rotation with guys, too. So it was kind of hard to adjust to that. I always used to be the main guy. It humbled me too. I think overall, this experience was a good thing for me.
And it has been a damn good thing for the Bucs. If Fournette can come in and pound tired defenses like he did yesterday, Fournette will be worth his weight in gold.
Whoever decided to take a run at Fournette when he was released by the Jags, thank you. And thanks also go out to Dave Caldwell who may be the worst general manager in the NFL.
You can hear an excerpt of Fournette’s interview in the SiriusXM NFL Radio audio below.
.@Buccaneers RB @_Fournette joined “The Sunday Drive” and discussed his role in the Tampa Bay offense and what it is like to be teammates with Tom Brady…
“You see why he has those 6 rings.”
👇AUDIO👇 | #Buccaneers | #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/qbttfwSXiq
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) September 21, 2020
September 21st, 2020 at 12:08 am
Stud in the stable!
September 21st, 2020 at 12:15 am
This may be our best free agent pickup of the year.
September 21st, 2020 at 12:43 am
Can’t wait to see the improvements next week.
September 21st, 2020 at 1:07 am
>Though there were reports that Fournette was less than a team player while in Jacksonville
Reports also came out that 20% of all Grievances filed against teams were against the jags by the NFLPA. Who would be a team player there with how bad it got in the last few years?
September 21st, 2020 at 1:17 am
Brady only lacks the experience with his new teammates. I believe we will see the improvements weekly. I assure you, we wont even recognize this team in the second part of the season.
September 21st, 2020 at 4:09 am
Well said Elita, well said. GO BUCS!!
September 21st, 2020 at 5:52 am
Joe says ‘worth his weight in gold’. With the price of Gold and his actual weight, that would come out to be ~$7.1M. If he keeps it up, I’d be ok with that.
In BA I Trust!
September 21st, 2020 at 6:06 am
Fournette is clearly the best back on the roster. However, Rojo has been playing quite well. Between the two, I’d say we have a nice run-game.
I like the vibe around this team of late.
September 21st, 2020 at 6:18 am
I keep reading that Rojo has been playing well. Maybe I’m watching different games. To me, RoJo is…playing. Where are the breakout plays? Maybe I’m being too critical. I think he’s average at best. But I could be wrong.
September 21st, 2020 at 6:47 am
Fournette is the better back….however if the strategy is to let Rojo wear the defense down, then hammer them in the 2nd half with a fresh Fournette, I would say stick with what’s working. The old Bucs did this with Dunn and Alstott….when it came to close games out, in came Alstott who was a load to tackle.
September 21st, 2020 at 6:54 am
Fournette had two separate issues since he came into the NFL. The first was he was a bit immature and was use to getting by on his superior athleticism. That got fixed between the 18-‘19 season. Came in ‘19 in great shape prepared and had a really good year. He just expressed frustration because he felt like the team wasn’t committed to winning. I can’t fault him for that. I wish more Buccaneer players felt that way over the past dozen years.
September 21st, 2020 at 7:00 am
You always have to feed the ego, feed the beast with the ego. If Fournette doesn’t get fed, he’ll be a loud, unhappy player here too before long. For starters, he’s earned the right to jump over RoJo on the depth chart and in game planning. I think BA has nurtured RoJo’s fragile confidence long enough. Same garbage we saw last year with Winston (“Most of those INTs weren’t his fault”) until BA finally got fed up with Winston’s play. Fournette’s a young man still who needs to haul the rock. Give it to him as #1!
September 21st, 2020 at 8:02 am
Imagine the ground pound attack if we had a true fullback? I like the one, two punch we have with Fournette, and Rojo. McCoy should be gone, rather see Vaughn over him.
September 21st, 2020 at 8:24 am
You mean it’s the GOAT that showed him the way? Why would that be?
Despite your Disrespect and lack of class JOE-Brady and his talent and influence are going to make this team into a Winner while he is here. Why do you bad-mouth him and show no Respect? Odd, Joe has done many, many hours of podcasting since Brady was signed and there is no record of Brady being bad-mouthed. –Joe
Oh that’s right it’s funny your MONIKER of:
park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
Just Hilarious! Keep up the Childishness JOE-we love it!
September 21st, 2020 at 8:45 am
BL has found us a run game!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 21st, 2020 at 9:08 am
Elita Vita Says:
September 21st, 2020 at 1:17 am
Brady only lacks the experience with his new teammates. I believe we will see the improvements weekly. I assure you, we wont even recognize this team in the second part of the season.
——
I completely agree. Buc fans, coaches and players can all see the Bucs are just scratching the surface of where this team will be later this season.
September 21st, 2020 at 10:23 am
RoJo had 23 yards on seven carries, a fumble, and a TD. Fournette needs to be bumped up to #1 and have some depth and fresh legs with RoJo and I’m really wondering what the situation with Vaughn is and him getting a few reps at least. We spent a third round pick on him.
September 21st, 2020 at 11:22 am
I saw No. 28 running off the field after a kick-off. Doing his part on special teams is exactly the thing that is going to turn Fournette into the best back in the NFL by season’s end.
September 21st, 2020 at 2:59 pm
He definitely has speed for a big back. He’ll do fine here. Now it’s Gronk’s turn to start catching some balls on the run. With a decent run game those seam routes in the middle of the field will be open.
I thought in the first half Brady got some confidence with help from McCoy on short stuff. Its good to know that he can be like James White was in New England. Just don’t drop any more easy TD’s, Shady.
As usual, after a bad game, Mike Evans bounces back. When Chris Godwin returns next week this offense should get on track.
September 22nd, 2020 at 1:34 am
I like ripping on Licht (because he deserves it), but he has done one hell of a job this year adding legit talent to the team. His arrow is pointing way up, just like the rest of the organization.