“It’s Not Really Like Defending The Crown”
April 17th, 2021
Daily hunger
Joe’s picked up on a theme.
Earlier this week, Joe shared fresh words from safety Antoine Winfield Jr. rejecting the notion that the Bucs are under pressure to repeat as champions this year. No, no, no, Winfield said, the only pressure is to bust your butt every single day.
Fast forward a couple of days and returning Bucs defensive tackle Steve McLendon was asked on WDAE radio about defending the crown. He, too, rejected the whole concept.
“It’s not really like defending the crown,” McClendon lectured host Tom Krasniqi.
“When people say, ‘you’re defending,’ No, we’re not playing in Tampa again so we’re not defending that,” McLendon continued. “We’re really trying to get a new one. My biggest mindset is you have to outwork the person you were yesterday.”
McLendon went on to talk about how day-to-day challenge is the real one, “just doing the necessary things that will get you back there.” He went on to talk about focus and seriousness, etc.
Joe has heard similar rejection about Going For Two from other players. And Joe suspects someone so firmly planted this mindset into players that they’re brains are completely hard-wired — and it’s only April.
Joe sees this as a great sign, guys unwilling to acknowledge the Bucs are the top dogs and favorites to play in February. They’re all about the next workout.
The Tom Brady Effect? Bucco Bruce Arians? An amazingly mature roster? Whatever it is, Joe likes the vibe.
During the JoeBucsFan.com draft party at Big Storm Brewery in Clearwater, Thursday night, April 29, two lucky fans attending will each win a $250 American Express gift card thanks to Joe’s friends at Florida’s Elite Restoration. (More cool Bucs giveaways, too.)
At the 23:50 mark of today’s Ira Kaufman Podcast, hear the announcement courtesy of the great Bucs fans at Florida’s Elite Restoration.
DRAFT PARTY!
Your video invitation to Big Storm Clearwater, Thursday night, April 29! Giveaways, special guests, and more. Ira Kaufman and Joe will be in the house starting at 7 p.m.
April 17th, 2021 at 10:09 pm
It is a HOF team in action. One of the highest talent per position teams in NFL history. The men are in Beast Mode 100% Goin for the Trifecta in a row. Gotta stay grounded. They will become the benchmark for all teams in the end.
April 17th, 2021 at 10:36 pm
Keep it simple, dominate and finish the play, next play dominate your guy and finish, next play dominate and finish……..GO BUCS!!!!
April 17th, 2021 at 11:38 pm
Hell yea. Like the mentality. Still gotta earn it l
April 18th, 2021 at 12:18 am
Curious as to why we have a Steve McLendon quote but a Devin White pic.
Now if you are saying that Devin White is the epitome of “daily hunger” as the caption says….I get that!!!
April 18th, 2021 at 12:45 am
Your not defending unless you get there again.
April 18th, 2021 at 12:49 am
This is smart. They’re gonna hear all this “defending” stuff heading into the season and during the next season, they need to stay focused. The reality is, last season, a trophy and a ring do nothing to help them win a game this season. Teams that hold onto their glory are going to fail. I really believe that was the downfall of the 2003 Bucs — to a certain extent they bought the hype.
April 18th, 2021 at 12:52 am
The Bucs invented there “identity” towards the end of the season. It will be fun to see it evolve this year. I expect consistent dominance.
April 18th, 2021 at 1:11 am
Love the mindset and it’s so much better than obsessing over who might fall to us in the top ten. It’s a new Buc’s life folks. 😛
April 18th, 2021 at 2:33 am
You’re not defending it until you’re in it again so don’t be like the Chiefs and assume you’re going to win it before you even play in it!
April 18th, 2021 at 2:51 am
We’ll see what happens. Either they repeat, which requires good fortune along with great talent, or they won’t.
April 18th, 2021 at 3:56 am
Our Bucs caught teams by surprise last year. There is film to study and always a focus to beat the champs. The Bucs will be much improved since they are not starting from square one this season, and there really are no glaring holes to fill. They will be a better team, and they will need to be. It’s a long season.
April 18th, 2021 at 6:09 am
How did the Bucs catch teams by surprise? And what teams are you referring to? The Bucs were the talk of the nfl all offseason they caught nobody by surprise. Hype train was rolling and Brady at QB everyone wanted to beat the Bucs!
April 18th, 2021 at 6:46 am
Glad that the team isn’t buying all the hype being thrown their way by the media. Maybe it’s the ‘Tom Brady Effect’; maybe it’s not. But even the young guys seem to be well-grounded right now, and that’s a great starting point for this season IMO.
April 18th, 2021 at 8:26 am
We know who says that nobody cares what u did yesterday.
April 18th, 2021 at 8:45 am
There’s no reason they shouldn’t at least win the NFC, outside of an abnormal number of injuries, esp to You Know Who.
April 18th, 2021 at 8:46 am
In BA we trust!
April 18th, 2021 at 10:24 am
yeah like none of them ever thinks about repeating as SB champs. jockspeak at its finest
April 18th, 2021 at 5:09 pm
Ups have the benefit of Brady, Arians, JPP, Shaq and Gronk about trying to repeat – so you have to have the right mindset. Also with the team being so far away for so many years and Tom only having a year or two left, there has to be a fresh mindset of goals to accomplish
April 18th, 2021 at 5:12 pm
*Bucs have the benefit
April 18th, 2021 at 6:07 pm
“DW has not even reached 50% of what he is capable
Kobe believes he is not being used to his strengths
DW can break the single season sack total
He is unblockable
His power/ 5′ 10 small stature makes him unabled to be reached nor even held illegally
His strength in his arms makes it easy for him to disengage the initial grasp and his NFL best short distance closing speed is unfair to the much slower behemoth 6′ 6 giants
Amazingly he can get sacks not even starting on the LOS
Even better he moves down the line to find the open gap to shoot
Which means you cant have your best olineman on him
DW will be in the Hall of Fame”
Kobe Faker
April 18th, 2021 at 8:26 pm
No Days Off!!
April 18th, 2021 at 11:28 pm
Love it.
It’s a whole new year and anyone’s ball game. Teams are going to come at them harder, that’s the main difference.
I’ve heard plenty of fans say they lost some last year they should not have but, let’s not forget, they had a lot of tight games. Even some of the blowouts were not blowouts for the majority of the game.
They have plenty that they can improve on.
Get to work and LFG!