“It’s Not Severe To The Demise Of The Team.”
June 26th, 2022
A legendary Buccaneer has plenty to say.
Keyshawn Johnson had a lot to say last week about what the loss (?) of Rob Gronkowski will mean to the Buccaneers.
For those unaware, Johnson hauls in massive money as a weekday morning host on ESPN Radio. Once upon his time in Tampa, Johnson hosted his own radio show while he played for the Bucs, without a co-host.
As for Gronk retiring(?), Johnson thinks the Bucs will be just fine.
“It’s a hit, but it’s not severe to the demise of the team,” he said of the Gronk loss.
“The team will still be able to function, move forward … find another red zone target, potentially use Mike Evans in that role a little more because of the size situation.”
Hey Keyshawn, why will the Bucs still be able to win it all without Gronk? “Because they got the defense,” Johnson said.
Tom Brady reading Gronk’s body language and trusting him is Gronk’s greatest value in the red zone, per Johnson, outside of the steady size mismatch. But Johnson is convinced the Bucs will be able to run the ball well and Brady will find just enough on the roster to replace Gronk, if Evans stays healthy and Chris Godwin can return healthy at some point.
Spouting what almost sounded like Bucs heresy, Johnson said the Bucs should pass on bringing back Gronk if the team is playing welll and performing the red zone. Johnson is convinced Gronk will struggle to be effective if he comes back in midseason and the Bucs must rely on him.
However, Johnson is all-in on a Gronk return if the Bucs and Brady only want him late in the season for spot duty leading up the postseason.
If the Bucs call Gronk for 25 plays a game and less than a couple months of work, then Johnson is sure that would work “no problem.”
The Gronk drama is worth watching, at least until the Bucs make a move on a veteran free agent tight end.
If the Bucs stand down, then that should be a tipoff that there’s a Gronk plan behind the scenes. Remember, Antonio Brown showed up midway through the 2020 season.
June 26th, 2022 at 12:08 am
In Licht we trust.
June 26th, 2022 at 1:48 am
Bring back AB, that would be entertaining
June 26th, 2022 at 1:49 am
Also he’d be our best receiver
June 26th, 2022 at 3:36 am
What a headline!
Spoken like a true jock meathead.
What could he possibly know about “team”?
Meshawn was truly a selfish, overrated pos; Bucs fans already know this.
“Just Give Me the Damn Ball” smh
June 26th, 2022 at 3:37 am
Maybe we should bring AB back till CG returns … Maybe.
AB is getting pretty darn old. I’m talking myself out of it already.
Maybe we should work it out for Gronk to play the first 4 games then rest for 3 weeks and then just take the easier games off.
June 26th, 2022 at 3:45 am
Play the first 4, take the Falcons off, play the Steelers, maybe. Take off the Panthers. Play the Ravens and especially the Rams. Off for the Seahawks and the bye and maybe the Brownies. Play the rest except the last two.
June 26th, 2022 at 3:47 am
It’s enough to keep him tuned up, but offers lots of rest.
June 26th, 2022 at 3:49 am
Brady relies too much on Gronk and often his picks come when he forces it to him. He needs to trust Mike and Godwin to be the elite athletes they are.
June 26th, 2022 at 4:00 am
Hey Joe’s I know this is a bit off subject but at the owners meeting this year they cut out the rule of the use of one helmet a season. Will we be seeing the old cream cycle unis this year ?
June 26th, 2022 at 5:12 am
^^^^….and our only way back to the Super Bowl!
June 26th, 2022 at 6:22 am
If he is going to play much less mid season and beyond leading up to the playoffs, then he should be paid accordingly.
June 26th, 2022 at 6:46 am
they’ve already decided to do a half season of the gronkinator…
#ItsLikeBuyingAyeHalfDozenEggsAtTheMarket #ItsPossible
June 26th, 2022 at 6:47 am
but if he avoids the rams game, shame on gronkie…
June 26th, 2022 at 6:52 am
he really needs to return week 9 in beast mode and make a statement game vs the rams…
sitting it out is def not the answer
June 26th, 2022 at 7:13 am
westernbyc@ the majority of Brady’s picks came from off the hands of Evan’s, Johnson, Darden & Lenny. He may not have that break away down the field ability but very few TE’s in the league do but a more than reliable target.
June 26th, 2022 at 7:14 am
Starting my day with “Gronk-a-day”……nothing better….
June 26th, 2022 at 7:18 am
If you want know how valuable he was Google NFL tightend stats 2021. I believe he is ranked 5th yet only played 12 games. Kittle is 4th he played 14 all others played the entire season. Keyshawn is an idiot.
June 26th, 2022 at 7:48 am
Suh.
June 26th, 2022 at 9:01 am
Scheduled for next year.
June 26th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Too bad you were so selfish, Meshawn. You had a lot of the same playing qualities as ME, minus one huge attribute – Mike wants to win first. You wanted stats first no matter what you and your supporters say. 2002 team was a one loss team going into mid-season and you were disgruntled. You should be praising ME13 as the guy you admire the most.
June 26th, 2022 at 5:48 pm
Thank you Joe, we are grateful you guys are buccaneer fans. We couldn’t ask for more informative news on the BUCS. Best sports site around.
June 26th, 2022 at 9:26 pm
Johnson’s comments are cringe worthy sometimes. He does have a point about Gronk though. Brady needs to trust someone not named gronk, Evans or Godwin for this thing to work. Many of the the stats listnfrmafar sited are impressive, but they are also telling. At times, it looked like Gronk was the only one Brady trusted last year. If he’s on the field, Brady is likely throwing to him in clutch situations, aka the red zone and 3rd down. That’s not spot duty, but heavy duty. So, explain to me how this works? Gronk is either a decoy or he’s getting the ball?
June 26th, 2022 at 9:40 pm
GOB, I disagree. Brady is known for spreading the ball around. One game Evan’s is the star, Lenny, Godwin or Gronk. If I had to pick the favored go to guy, I would have to say Godwin then AB were his favored targets.
June 27th, 2022 at 8:19 pm
Read the whole article, all the replies, and no mention of Cameron Brate?? Yah he’s not gronk but is a solid route runner with extremely good hands. Wouldn’t tb12 find a way to get the rock to Brate?