Finding A Way To Win
July 17th, 2021
No speed bumps present.
The great ones may find themselves on the mat from time to time. But at the end of the match, it is they who remain standing.
And so it is with park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
Early last season, there were times when even Joe wondered if this Brady Experiment was going to work out. Brady was trying to do something no 43-year old had ever done before in the National Football League.
“Never” in a league over 100-years old is pretty ominous. Trying to beat never is like the Wright Bros. or Neil Armstrong or Robert Oppenheimer.
But Brady did it. Adam Rank of NFL.com documented just how far Brady came last season from his early toe-stubbing.
Tom Brady scored on a 2-yard touchdown run for Tampa Bay’s first points of the season … but the team looked out of sorts in a Week 1 loss on the road in New Orleans.
Tom forgetting it was fourth down during a prime-time loss in Chicago. It was embarrassing for about a week, and then Tampa started to get it together and went on an amazing run. And in true Tom Brady fashion, he turned this faux pas into a positive meme for himself. Like, seriously, how is he always able to do that?
As we learned, once Brady got comfortable with his new teammates and Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians’ offense, this Bucs team hummed like never before.
With Brady healthy this year, and a year under his belt with the exact same teammates, Joe is stoked to see how many more points this Bucs team can rack up.
Think about it: With a quarterback who had a torn up knee and didn’t know the whole playbook during a pandemic after no offseason, the Bucs still averaged more than 30 points a game.
July 17th, 2021 at 8:11 am
If TB12 stops trying to force the ball to Mike Evans (to get Mike his 1000yds), the Bucs will be 17-0
July 17th, 2021 at 8:14 am
Mike either catches the ball or catches a pass interference penalty
July 17th, 2021 at 8:20 am
I don’t think Brady “forces” many passes.
Just sayin
July 17th, 2021 at 8:42 am
The Bucs went 4-3 after the Bears game leading into the bye week. They got it together, but not until 2nd half of Falcons game after being down 17-0.
July 17th, 2021 at 9:12 am
I believe that 2nd half of the Falcons game is when we really turned it around…..
Another subject…..but no news is good news….this is the time of year that we hear about players’ bad acts (Sherman, Mingo)…..
Stay out of the news, Bucs…..
July 17th, 2021 at 9:24 am
Don’t be surprised if we hire Sherman after the trade deadline.
July 17th, 2021 at 9:28 am
Be afraid NFL, be very afraid. This Bucs Team is like no other in the 47+ years of the history of the Tampa Bay franchise.
The Bucs will be more consistent this year, plain and simple.
Does not take a rocket scientist to see that, even though many in the media have their heads stuck in the sand and just parrot words that other talking heads have uttered.
The defending champion Bucs will field their most dominant team ever assembled in 2021.
This is not hype, just the simple facts about the Big Bad Azz World Champion Bucs!!!!!!!
Enjoy Bucs Fans.
July 17th, 2021 at 10:51 am
Sign Adrian Peterson. He can still play and would be a nice contributor. I also would love to see AP returning kicks. He’s a generational talent, whom we should’ve drafted, but make it right and sign the guy now. He can step in for a handful of plays, or be the guy for a game or 2. Plus he wants his ring. Let’s build something bigger and continue to play our game. Go Bucs!
July 17th, 2021 at 12:01 pm
It’s amazing to me that in an article entitled ‘Finding a Way to Win’ about our 2020 Bucs that the word DEFENSE isn’t mentioned in the article even once. Kinda makes it sound as if our Bucs deserved the SB championship simply because they signed 43-year-old Tom Brady to QB our team.
And to think that he did it on ‘a torn up knee’ and that he ‘didn’t know the whole playbook during a pandemic after no offseason’. I’m starting to wonder if we even need to show up on game days this Fall. Maybe the NFL should allow the Bucs to just start with the playoffs. Thinking now that if this were a 17 foot putt in golf, our media would simply declare it a gimme.
I’m confident that our players aren’t buying into the hype, because Bruce Arians & Todd Bowles won’t let them. Bucs have an excellent starting lineup on offense AND defense, plus fairly good depth for a change in almost all position groups. We’ve also seemingly got an easier 2021 schedule than we’ve had the past several years, AND the NFC doesn’t appear to be as stacked as it has been in years past. All that works in our favor, BUT … every game will be a dogfight, no matter the size of the dog in the fight. Nothing’s a gimme in the NFL, not even the notion of ‘how many more points this Bucs team can rack up’ with a healthy 44-year-old Tom Brady.
Prediction Joe: Bucs scored the most points we’ve ever scored (492 points) last season, for an average of 30.75 PPG in 2020. That’d be 523 points scored in a 17-game schedule. Brady’s 40 TDs is the 2nd most he ever thrown, and we ran for 16 TDs. That’d be at least 42 passing TDs & 17 rushing TDs in a 17-game season. Bucs are however playing some very good defensive teams this year (Bills, Pats, Dolphins, Colts, Washington, Giants, Saints) in about half our games. It’ll be a good year for our offense IMO if we replicate our 2020 stats over our new 17-game season (523 points on 42 passing TDs plus 17 rushing TDs).
July 17th, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Sadly, joe makes political posts that become too political when comments don’t talk his way. Why make things up? There’s nothing political in the America’s Team post on the home page. As for comments “talking Joe’s way,” there’s no such direction to talk. If Joe cared about politics, Joe would make a lot of money with a political website. But Joe has no such interest. Lastly, Joe deletes political comments when they hijack a thread because Joe doesn’t want anyone confused that this site is of a political nature. –Joe
July 17th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
C’mon, Defense Rules. Relax. Let the fans enjoy this dream ride. It’s rare.
July 17th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
Political in this article? Where?
July 17th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
The Joes actually briefly discussed this. He’d sure come cheap.
July 17th, 2021 at 3:35 pm
Sherman hasnt been able to cover for years now. Never cared for the guy.
July 17th, 2021 at 4:20 pm
SufferingSince76 … You REALLY been a Bucs’ fan since 76? Remember 2002 when we won our 1st Super Bowl? Good times, everyone was praising Jon Gruden for winning us a SB (and poor-mouthing Tony Dungy for putting together terrible offenses). How about 2003? Remember that season? Yup, 7-9; no playoffs. Those same fans who praised the 2002 team weren’t exactly thrilled with what they saw in 2003. I remember how giddy everyone was and convinced we’d repeat.
How about 2004? Remember that season? Hmmm, 5-11; no playoffs again. Fans were even less thrilled, especially when they opened the season with a 4-game losing streak and ended the season with a 4-game losing streak.
Thankfully we bounced back in 2005 with an 11-5 regular season … only to lose to the Redskins in the Wildcard game. Bummer. Following that up with a 4-12 season in 2006 didn’t help much either.
Point being Suffering: NOTHING’S A GIVEN IN THE NFL. Everything has to be earned. No such thing as a ‘dream ride’.
July 17th, 2021 at 4:42 pm
Defense Rules . I agree with you a 100 percent bro !! I feel the same way !!!
July 17th, 2021 at 4:50 pm
unfortunately there is massive story about Brady and Bucs on front page of Fox news in essence we lied to the league every week in regards to TB12 health status. Brady had the fully torn mcl we never divulged. Even I knew it was a requirement to get honest on injuries. cannot imagine Brady revealed all this to Tampa Bay Times for no reason.
July 17th, 2021 at 5:33 pm
Sherman is quickly heading for free-safety territory
July 17th, 2021 at 5:53 pm
Ha…nothing made up here. When such truth hurts, it’s all shut down. Twice now. Not political to a point, it was ok. No biggie, just yap crap. Go Bucs.
July 17th, 2021 at 6:00 pm
Sherman was actually one of the best ever. Sadly, he has not been that for some years now.
July 17th, 2021 at 7:15 pm
Arians is the one who told every1 abt knee surgery not Brady right after superbowl. Clyde Christensen in June said Brady wasnt right all year and is expecting big year from him because his knee is repaired. Bucs coaches leaked the story not Brady. Bucs are a mickey mouse organization. I know Brady is not happy with this. Now Brady name is being run through the mud thanks to these 2 clowns
July 17th, 2021 at 9:12 pm
Mike Florio has been writing about this since Brady had surgery.
July 17th, 2021 at 10:44 pm
hope it don’t get traction
July 18th, 2021 at 8:29 am
Defense Rules and Oneilbuc yall, it is a piece on Brady’s ability to adapt and achieve. If the post was about White & LVD, would you bitch if Brady or the offense wasn’t mentioned? What I find disturbing is Denfense Rules confirmation came from one of the biggest Brady haters on this site. As far as Sherman, in a heart beat if the price was right, not necessarily for his current abilities but for his expertise and leadership qualities. Bucs DB’s need a veteran presence.
July 18th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
Defense rules? Can you show us how many teams won the SB with an elite defense and a good defense? It is rare compared to an elite offense and a good defense. Look at the Patriots’ dynasty please, an elite defense aka Seatles could only last 2 years.
July 18th, 2021 at 2:11 pm
Political. I’m voting for Arians Brady and Bowles. President Vice President and Head of Defense. GO BUCS!
July 18th, 2021 at 4:41 pm
Mike, although I agree Defense rules crossed the line trashing Brady but in his defense there are many SB winning teams that only won because of defense. Denver/Carolina (Manning threw for 143 yds), 85 Bears, Seattle/Denver, Baltimore when Trent Dilfer was QB, Tampa/Oakland, Steel Curain D, Giants 2007/Pat’s, I am sure there are more.
July 18th, 2021 at 8:24 pm
Joe Says:
“The Joes actually briefly discussed this. He’d sure come cheap.”
.
.
Dude went on clearance sale this week.
July 18th, 2021 at 9:26 pm
Boston Sports Info
@bostonsportsinf
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8h
Tom Brady
Has as many Super Bowl wins (4) and playoff wins (16) since 2014 than any other QB has in their entire careers in the Super Bowl era
T. Brady (2014-2020)- 4 SB wins/16 wins
J. Montana (career)- 4 SB wins/16 wins
T. Bradshaw (career)- 4 SB wins
Tom was 37 YO in 2014