“Just Being Under The Radar Is Going To Be Good For Us”
July 31st, 2023
Not missed?
The buzz surrounding the Bucs the past three years might have been a little overbearing for more than a few Buccaneers.
Tom Brady was beloved, but the microscope the team was under wasn’t everyone’s favorite reality.
Bucs veteran edge rusher Anthony Nelson told WDAE Radio today that there’s some upside to Brady retiring.
Nelson was asked how it feels different around the team without Brady. Nelson didn’t mention the loss of leadership or quarterback greatness.
“Honestly, just like less buzz, nothing different in the building,” Nelson replied.
He went on to say the media frenzy was “surrounding us constantly the last three years just because of Tom.”
“I kind of like that,” Nelson said of the quieter environment without Brady.
“It was amazing playing with Tom but with that comes a bunch of buzz. I think just being under the radar is going to be good for us. … Inside the building, it feels the same [without Brady], a lot of guys like ready to go to work. We still got the same culture. [Todd] Bowles has made sure of that and he’s done a really good job of that so far. It’s been mostly outside the building that’s been the difference.”
A Bucs starter who didn’t want his name attached told Joe this week “he’s heard the narrative everywhere” that the Bucs will take a major step backward without Brady. The player said it’s a bad take because of the team’s plethora of talent and that there’s value in going from the daily spotlight to an underestimated club that’s only focused on work.
Whether it’s legitimate or not, there’s a popular sentiment at One Buc Palace that the team won’t drop off after going 8-9 with Brady leading an offense that scored just 18 points per game.
July 31st, 2023 at 1:51 pm
LFG baby!!! I love the feel of this training camp this year, minus the injury to our #1 pick. I’m very optimistic about this team and that’s rare for me. I believe the Oline is going to be dominant therefore the run game is going to be dramatically better.
July 31st, 2023 at 1:59 pm
4-13. LFG (where I have no idea)!!!
July 31st, 2023 at 2:43 pm
Oh yes, not having the GOAT around to bother everyone’s preparation should be a major asset as we move forward.
I can only imagine all the paparazzi crowding the meeting rooms and practice fields and what a major distraction that must have been for the lesser players like Anthony.
I am so glad Todd wants to completely ignore the two years under BA where we won it all once and nearly did twice for not Todd’s D playcall when the game was on the line against the Rams…
I am glad Todd has not tried to tear down everything done over these years in order to put “his stamp” on the team
The stamp that signifies 4 out of 5 losing seasons in a row as a HC with NO playoffs EVER
The players are not the reason we are going to struggle to win 6 games this year….
July 31st, 2023 at 2:43 pm
Nelson will continue to get time as OLB1 if JTS keeps running past the QB and missing him. Nelson actually got the fastest sack in the NFL last year according to NFL NextGen Stats!
July 31st, 2023 at 2:43 pm
10-7 seems very plausible, if we get good QB play. That will be dependent upon a good running game, I believe, since these guys aren’t Brady. I like what I’ve heard so far.
July 31st, 2023 at 3:04 pm
It’s nice to have a great QB. Not so great to have the celebrity and royalty treatment to one guy above the team. Personally, I’m happy to be building something new. Celebrity QBs are annoying.
July 31st, 2023 at 3:15 pm
“Celebrity QBs” have made and do make the NFL what it is.
July 31st, 2023 at 3:34 pm
And that attitude is why the Bucs have been uninteresting losers for most of their history. Nelson sounds like he’s afraid of success.
July 31st, 2023 at 3:36 pm
No Peter King in camp, no NFL training camp reports from Tampa, no live preseason games on NFL network. Crickets when it comes to this team.
July 31st, 2023 at 3:41 pm
The people predicting a losing record really don’t know football. Our defense is better, special teams will be better, the offense honestly can’t be worse. The division is weak. This is a 10+ win team. Those predicting a losing record really have no idea how much talent we have.
July 31st, 2023 at 3:47 pm
The Bucs will go as far as their QB can take them. To win in this league you need a good QB.
July 31st, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Hype Train 2023 … Somehow I get the feeling that your new name is disguising a lot of previous negativity provided under an old name. The 2022 & 2023 teams are paying (salary CAP-wise) for the infusion of talent that made the 2020 & 2021 teams so good. And even though we’ve potentially had to ‘compromise’ from a talent perspective in several groups this year, this team seems to be genuinely excited about building something ‘new’. And yes, with Todd Bowles as their HC.
It’s hard for me to picture our offense OR our defense DOMINATING this year (too many new parts). But TOGETHER, playing solid COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL, I honestly believe that we can win the NFC South again. It’ll require us going probably 4-2 within the division (like we did last year), but I think that’s possible, as is a 10-7 record or thereabouts. It’s all about how well this coaching staff can develop & use the ‘youngsters’ & new additions IMO.
Yesterday’s records don’t mean squat. Just ask Bill Belichick, who had ONE winning season in his first 6 seasons as a HC.
July 31st, 2023 at 3:57 pm
This isn’t a wild take. We’re a small market team and with Tom comes all the extra attention by the media. I’m sure it’s a relief not to deal with all that stuff. Of course, Anthony Nelson isn’t big enough to feel any differently. I think it’s crazy to think that any player would say we’re down in the dumps because Brady left and we just will melt without him.
Look, players needs to understand that the media knows we have talent on the roster, but this is a QB-driven league and we have major questions with our QB room. It really has little less to do with Brady. If this team signed Carr or Jimmy G, we would be rated higher.
We’re also not the only team with a chip on our shoulder. I read the same thing about the Packers’ players feeling disrespected because Rodgers left and the media have them racked so low.
July 31st, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Bucsfan13 Says:
If this team signed Carr or Jimmy G, we would be rated higher.
True, and Trask will outplay both of them.
July 31st, 2023 at 4:47 pm
Well played DR, was on the work computer
My utter disdain for Turd Bowles is obvious
I love this team but have no confidence in this coaching staff led by Todd
I hope and pray I am right back on these here pages eating crow soon enough but after watching and loving this game for over 40 years, I know a bad coach when I see one and we have all been watching him for a while now
July 31st, 2023 at 4:47 pm
Gotta love the subtle jabs joe always throws at brady. We get..you’re glad he’s gone and that you’re team sucks again..
July 31st, 2023 at 6:05 pm
JimBobBuc Says:
“Nelson will continue to get time as OLB1 if JTS keeps running past the QB and missing him. Nelson actually got the fastest sack in the NFL last year according to NFL NextGen Stats!”
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To be fair, fastest sack most likely means that someone screwed up and left him unblocked. But I agree with you about Nelson deserving more reps. If you look at his stats per down, I think he has out-performed orbiting Plan 9.
July 31st, 2023 at 7:27 pm
You couldn’t be more wrong.
July 31st, 2023 at 7:37 pm
“To win in this league you need a good QB.”
I agree Miller! I place the emphasis on good. The Bucs had a great QB, in fact the GOAT. That’s one way to git er done. But a “good” QB who can rise to the level of Brad Johnson or Trent Dilfer can succeed with this team.
Jeff Garcia who made 4 pro bowls playing for 5 different teams..a build that mirrors a slightly smaller Mayfield, had a winning two years for the Bucs.
There is no reason Mayfield can’t duplicate that with the better talent on this team or that Kyle Trask beats out Mayfield because he too has the talent to be a “good” if not great QB.
Patrick Mahomes is a freak!! No Caleb is not ever going to reach that plateau.
Several others like Burrows are als exceptional. I do not place either of the Bucs QB’s in the “exceptional” category but they can at least be “good”. Especially if the OL plays to it’s potential and stays healthy.
July 31st, 2023 at 9:17 pm
I think many are underestimating our division. I think it will be better than many think. I think 11 wins are a necessity if we want to win the division. Liking what I’m reading on Trask. Hope he gets a shot and shine. But agree with many you can’t win without a qb and especially an inept head coach.
July 31st, 2023 at 11:27 pm
Like I’ve been saying. Sleep on this team all you want. If Mayfield or Trask ends up being an average starter, we’ll contend for the division title. After that, anything can happen.
August 1st, 2023 at 2:50 am
It’s all just speculation at this point. Especially from all the talking heads who obviously haven’t done their homework.
I like Nelson and hope he gets more snaps this year.
Go Bucs!
August 1st, 2023 at 8:27 am
HEY JOE
In case you didn’t already know, FOX News picked up this story. I just found it on their front page. You might want to send a polite complaint, because while they cited you, they failed to link to this page. They owe you clicks!
Joe doesn’t care about petty stuff like this. Nobody owes Joe “a link” tied to the source. The mention is more than appropriate. –Joe
August 1st, 2023 at 10:14 am
I preferred when the Bucs were discussed in the potential Super Bowl conversations… not if they may make the playoffs.
It is mind boggling that some fans wanted change so bad, that they will settle for anything just to be right about the change.
What a way to send off the best QB in Bucs history… and the guy only did it in 3 short years.
August 1st, 2023 at 10:19 am
And when are we going to celebrate the 2nd Super Bowl roster like we glorified Sapp, Brooks, Lynch and Barber?
When will we reflect on the defense that won the super bowl, give Suh, Pierre-Paul, L David, White… etc…
instead, it seems a lot of Buc fans wrote them off with little to no fanfare.
August 1st, 2023 at 10:47 am
“Joe doesn’t care about petty stuff like this. Nobody owes Joe “a link” tied to the source. The mention is more than appropriate.”
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Hmm. I noticed that you always try to link to the source, so I figured it was a standard practice.
What really bugged me more than that, was the story they borrowed? (Is there a word for this practice?) There was much more consequential stuff yesterday that you wrote about affecting our team. The only reason that they focused on this one is because of the name Brady. I know why. Just irked me. You didn’t even put it in the headline, and they still sniffed it out! LOL
August 1st, 2023 at 10:57 am
TheG**gle doesn’t like links. It’s one thing for Joe to do it in a post to reference a source (legal if not ethical, actually) but if Joe opened it up for commenters it would be a nightmare on Joe’s end.
August 1st, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Oh, yeah I understand that part. I knew you’d remove it from my comment. That was just for you in case you wanted to check it out. 👍