The Price For Glory
July 12th, 2021
Playing through searing pain.
A Twitter yesterday from Bucs safety Jordan Whitehead demonstrated to Joe just what NFL players — and specifically the Bucs players — physically sacrificed to become the best of their generation.
In the NFC title game at Green Bay, several plays could be pointed to that turned the game in favor of the Bucs.
For example, Sean Murphy-Bunting’s pick of drama queen Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at midfield set up the Bucs to hit Scotty Miller on the almost-final play of the first half, which gave the Bucs a 21-10 lead.
The Bucs don’t win that game without that touchdown. And that touchdown doesn’t happen without SMB’s pick.
Then there is Whitehead. He forced two fumbles, one on the Packers’ first possession of the second half. That forced fumble, recovered by Devin White, set up a short touchdown pass to Cam Brate.
The Bucs don’t win that game without that touchdown and that touchdown doesn’t happen without Whitehead’s forced fumble. Whitehead, however, blew out his shoulder and didn’t come back. He did play in the Super Bowl but he Twittered out Sunday the degree to which he hurt his shoulder.
My whole labrum was torn in the Super Bowl https://t.co/hpaBRguVjH
— jordan whitehead (@jwhite_333) July 11, 2021
Whitehead didn’t do a whole lot in the Super Bowl but he answered the bell and had two tackles. Joe has no earthly idea how a guy can play defense in the NFL with a fully and freshly torn labrum.
That just shows you what kind of guys have been assembled by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. When Licht says he looks for guys who love the game, Whitehead playing with a torn labrum is exactly what he is referring to.
Licht and most NFL people want players that love the game so bad, they almost cannot stand straight before they will leave the field.
July 12th, 2021 at 12:26 am
Whitehead is a great young safety in the box for the Bucs. He needs to be resigned.
July 12th, 2021 at 12:27 am
Saquan Barkley was the #2 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania, coming out of high school. Whitehead was #1.
July 12th, 2021 at 12:46 am
Need to get him a shoulder brace and some heavy duty shoulder pads with extra shock absorbers for next year.
July 12th, 2021 at 1:20 am
He caused aaron jones to fumble not just once but twice, he used his shoulder to do it each time. He has the technique down. He is a huge asset this team often overlooks.
July 12th, 2021 at 6:59 am
Jordan cannot go anywhere, him & Winfield complement eachother perfectly.
GoBucs!
July 12th, 2021 at 7:09 am
No matter what he does from here on out, he was hugely responsible for the Bucs getting a ring. He was lights-out in the playoffs
July 12th, 2021 at 7:11 am
Really good 4th round pick…..as good as Kwon’s pick…..we keep our own…..he’ll be signed again.
July 12th, 2021 at 9:29 am
That dude is a ruthless hitter. Hope he’s fully healed for the 2021 season. He and Windfield could become as good a tandem at safety as While and David are at LB.
July 12th, 2021 at 9:38 am
When it come to GRIT players, Whitehead will go down in the top five of Bucs players, he is in that Paul Gruber, Ali Marpet, Dave Logan, Ronde Barber, ME13 mode, huys that just give it their all, work hard, play hard
July 12th, 2021 at 9:56 am
That is a tough dude, Jordan Whitehead. I hope he healed. That is no joke of an injury.
July 12th, 2021 at 11:04 am
His hitting reminds me of Lynch laying the wood.
Really hope he heals up right.
How long does that injury take to recover from?
July 12th, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Whitehead and Winfield … the Terrible Two
July 12th, 2021 at 2:11 pm
Whitehead is a heat seeking missile looking to destroy the ball carrier. I love the guy because he plays defense the way it should be played. People say football is a contact sport, no when it’s played like it is supposed to be played it is a collision sport. Here’s hoping he comes back completely healed and ready to deal out more punishment this year. I guarantee you opposing running backs and receivers will have their head on a swivel looking to see where Whitehead is every play.
July 12th, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Sign Whitehead on, he’s a favorite of ours now.
July 12th, 2021 at 7:04 pm
I remember that play. You could see that he could get hurt to make it. I’ll take him over Matthieu. GO BUCS!
July 12th, 2021 at 8:43 pm
A whole tear?! I had a slight tear in my labrum from wrestling in high school and that hurt like a you know what. It still affects me to this day to an extent. I really hope we can keep him, he’s a beast and exactly who we need for this defense.