Russell Gage Talks Tom Brady, Non-Arrival In NFL
March 30th, 2022
New Buccaneer Russell Gage might be the best No. 3 receiver in the NFL.
Joe is confident no team has ever had three wide receivers earning $10 million or more per season like the Bucs do now. In fact, Joe asked NFL executives at the NFL Owners meetings this week if they knew of any receiver trio hitting that single-season salary mark. They came up empty, too.
Gage hit the big time with his Bucs contract and by being coveted by Tom Brady, but Gage showed how humble he is when he answered a question yesterday on The Jim Rome Show about his rise from being a 2018 sixth-round pick of the Falcons.
Rome asked, “Do you feel like you’ve finally arrived in the league?
Gage paused, said “No,” and went on to explain that he appreciates the respect he’s been shown but he has so much more to prove to himself and the rest of the league. Interesting to Joe, it sounded like Gage got a little overcome by emotion as he answered but then recovered.
“I want to show people that I can play at an elite level that I’m capable of. It’s satisfying to kind of be where I am, but at the same time it’s not satisfying. I have more work to do, for sure,” Gage said.
Bucs fans have all heard about the recruitment phone call Gage got from Tom Brady. He thought it was a prank and then figured it out midway through.
Gage explained to Rome that the telltale sign that it really was Brady on the phone was the detailed plan that was unveiled. Brady didn’t call and just , ‘Hey, bro, LFG.’
“When he kind of explained his plan and everything, how detailed he was, I mean at that point I’m like, ‘This definitely has to be who he says he his,” Gage said.
Then “disbelief” further overcame Gage and he basically shut up and said he’d call his people.
“So much respect given to me from such a high quality player. I was just kind of in disbelief,” Gage said. “I didn’t really have any words to say other than, ‘I really appreciate it and I have to relay this to my agent.”’
Bucs fans remember what the offense looked like for the small handful of games when Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Antonio Brown were fully healthy. The Bucs could have that again and more this season with Gage, plus Brady being so comfortable in the Tampa Bay offense.
March 30th, 2022 at 12:57 pm
Actually Gage is our #2 receiver until Godwin is fully recovered and on the field.
We really don’t know when that will be. Hopefully week one of the 22′ season but I have heard it might not be until week 4 or even later.
March 30th, 2022 at 12:57 pm
What little we may miss on the field from AB’s amazing football skills, will be worth not having to deal with his insane drama. Happy to have Gage. Definitely seems like he has the right mentality. Still wants to earn his pay, not entitled.
March 30th, 2022 at 1:02 pm
“Russell Gage might be the best No. 3”
Uh, no, that would clearly be Antonio Brown.
Gage as the best #3 out of people on rosters? I’d have to check, but I’d seriously doubt it. He seems like a solid guy, and hopefully he makes me look stupid and is easily the best #3 in football, that would be awesome.
March 30th, 2022 at 1:04 pm
@marine
I agree. I think Bucs believe he is #2WR while Godwin heals up. Should be interesting.
March 30th, 2022 at 1:14 pm
Lets see… who is the top #3 WR in the NFL…
So going team by team, there really aren’t many stud #3 WRs this year. If AB signs with anyone as a #3, then they instantly win this list… But to my count, Gage would be 3rd on my list…
Here’s my list…
1. Tyler Boyd
2. DeVante Parker
3. Gage
That’s assuming Parker stays in Miami. If they move Parker for a draft pick, and the Dolphins are picking up most of the cap hit – the Bucs should offer something. He’s a really good WR if he’s healthy, and as a 3rd or 4th on the Bucs, man would that be an elite weapon to have.
But anywho, the deep depth at WR isn’t great. Seems like most teams are going away from having a single star with garbage around them and trying to make sure they have 2 top guys, which has spread out the wealth a bit.
March 30th, 2022 at 1:17 pm
still think we should use scotty miller for punt returns or pick up a guy that is a corner and does return duty CB Marcus Jones – Houston 5’ 8” 174 lbs. @ NFL Combine
no matter what facts are fact and jaelon darden did not work out and we cannot waste a roster spot on him going forward, it is too much risk
March 30th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
So here it is: Brady “Hey Russell, here’s the plan….you see Mike & Chris will be double-teamed……you will be open so I will throw you the ball and you will catch it and run “..
Russell “Sure sounds like a good plan to me, Tom”
March 30th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
Rob, not to discount his antics but AB was the #1 in talent and Godwin a very close #2.
March 30th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
Who’s 3 in Vegas now?
March 30th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
Rod-. I think OBJ if he goes to Rams as #3 would be higher than anyone else. But he could go somewhere else.
March 30th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
If you go by the last two years
Tyler Boyd
Then Gage. He’s better than Parker
Anyway you look at it, it was a fantastic pick up and the team should feel blessed to have that insane diva Antonio Brown gone. It was great while he lasted but he wasn’t going to last any longer. Just this week he’s busy posting naked photos of him and D-Jax’s ex online. The guy is mental
March 30th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
On another note, the Saints lost Malcolm Jenkins to retirement
March 30th, 2022 at 2:07 pm
godlovesbucs – I was only going by current rosters, but maybe. OBJ, coming off another injury, and he was already diminished – he might not be the same guy. Still very good, but I wouldn’t hand the title. I think Boyd would probably be a bit better. But if OBJ comes back fully healthy and didn’t lose a lose a step, then sure, you could give him that title. But then again if Julio Jones is someone’s #3, like the Bucs for example, if healthy, he’d be by and far the best #3.
But still, over either of those guys, I’d still take AB. He still looked fantastic with the Bucs, still had his speed and quickness. Too bad he’s a nutjob.
March 30th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
David Says:
March 30th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
On another note, the Saints lost Malcolm Jenkins to retirement
——–
I saw that… if there was a HOF for defensive holding, he’d be in on the 1st ballot.
March 30th, 2022 at 2:16 pm
I think that if Gage remains healthy enough to play the entire season that he is going to have a monster season and will quickly become a fan favorite. I sense similar traits between him and TB12 both being later round draft picks and both feeling an intense drive to prove they are elite at their craft. Great addition to our team.
March 30th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
The Bucs didnt pay this guy to be the 1,2, or 3 receiver. He got paid because he wins one on one matchups and makes catches. This team pays 3 wideouts good money because TB12 is going to go with the best match up week by week. Considering CG is going to miss games, Gage is likely to see targets early, and likely even more when they are all healthy. Perriman, Grason, and Miller running outs and drags on top of this makes me anticipate an even higher offensive output than last season.
March 30th, 2022 at 3:10 pm
With Evans, Godwin, Gage, Grayson, Perriman and Johnson, Miller likely will not be on the roster. Darden will definitely get the 7th spot over him, if they choose to carry 7.
March 30th, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Always worried about him when with the falcons, now with us and Tom, you cant beat it
March 30th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
If Milller can’t beat out Darden he wouldn’t belong on anyone’s roster. Darden is cheap so he might be worth the price, but he would be gone if I were HC. Gage has impressed me so far.
March 30th, 2022 at 10:57 pm
L
F
G
!!!!