Antoine Winfield And T.J. Watt
October 2nd, 2023
Has serious company.
Yesterday inside the NFL’s version of Lincoln’s Tomb, Joe witnessed one of the best performances he’s ever seen from a Bucs defensive back.
And that came from Bucs safety Antoine Winfield. Simply put, Winfield was all over the field on Sunday. There was only one thing he didn’t do, and that was pick off Derek Carr, the slimy Saints quarterback.
The Bucs’ media relations team pumped out data on how big Winfield’s day was and Joe thought he would share. Three things stick out.
– Winfield is the first player in five years to have the following stat line: nine tackles (two for loss), a sack, a quarterback hit, a pass defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The last time a defender did that was Bobby Wagner in 2018.
– Winfield forced and recovered a Saints fumble on New Orleans’ 6-yard line to set up a Tampa Bay touchdown drive before the half. Through Sunday’s 1 p.m. games, Winfield joined Steelers OLB T.J. Watt as the only players in the NFL with multiple forced fumbles and multiple fumble recoveries this season. Winfield is also the only player in the league this season with multiple games with at least one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
– Winfield’s two career games with at least a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery are the most by any defensive back and tied for the most by any player since 2020.
Joe doesn’t know how many of you got a chance yet to listen to a special edition of the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” recorded live from Big Storm Brewing in Ybor City in the final moments of yesterday’s game. There, Ira said Winfield is playing at an All-Pro level.
Is there really any doubt?
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:34 am
Where is all this money going to come from in the offseason if Winfield is a $15m per year player? White wants north of $15m per year, Evans wants $20m per year, and Baker will either need a new deal or be franchised.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:36 am
stay healthy AW…….dude is in beast mode. all the D has been for the most part short of the 2nd 1/2 last week….but AW is on another level!
VV seems to be mailing it in the last couple games though….and the pass rush seems to have dropped off at the same time. coincidence?
any more info on the rookie joe?
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:37 am
right now ME aint getting paid. just my opinion.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:37 am
No doubt…just gotta come up with a few interceptions and that All – Pro will be cemented if he continues on this pace.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:38 am
Dean u suck you need to spend more time with Winfield and learn a thing or two.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:39 am
Pay the man. Next to Wirfs this guy isn’t going anywhere.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:42 am
Dude was an absolute pleasure to watch.
I’ve NEVER seen a better game from a safety.
He should win defensive player of the week, Hands Down.
What are the chances he can win Defensive Player of the Year?
Needs some picks now to go with his BOOK of stats
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:46 am
Vea mailing it in? He had two sacks yesterday and we held their running game and check. Not sure what you’re smoking boss man.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:51 am
“Bucs Fan From Philly Says:
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:34 am
Where is all this money going to come from in the offseason if Winfield is a $15m per year player? White wants north of $15m per year, Evans wants $20m per year, and Baker will either need a new deal or be franchised.”
This is why Mike Evans won’t be a Buc if he wants a top dollar comtract.
Wirfs and Winfield definitely come first, when it comes to getting paid. They are priority 1 and 2.
Then Mayfield if he continues to play well. I would hope he gives something of a discount, hopefully realizing that he’s found a place where he fits.
Then Mike.
The only way I see it, is if they can somehow move on from either Dean or Davis. Neither is worth the money they got. Vita Vea is another. Not saying he’s not available, but it’s too much money for a part time player.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:52 am
Edit “not available s/b not good”. Its early….
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:53 am
Steven thank you!!
Came to say the same thing. Vita playing hurt still creating havoc. Mailing it in. 🤦🏻♂️. Really hood kancey plays after the bye.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:54 am
I’m sure glad he’s on the Bucs and not the Saints!!!!!
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:55 am
Good question Bucs fan from Philly. What’s your read on this Joe and Bucs fans. Sounds like they may not resign my favorite player Evans in 24
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:56 am
not knocking VV……just that he is suppossed to blow people up, and I am just not seeing it. Greene is a nice surprise and Logan is looking good. been seeing them as much or more than VV.
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:01 am
Watched the 12 minute Dennis Allen presser after the game……not once did he mention the Bucs or give any credit whatsoever to their play or players…
What a sad case he is……
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:04 am
AWJr did overrun and miss one big tackle that allowed Kamara to pick up a first down, otherwise it was a near perfect game.
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:11 am
Saying someone is mailing it in is certainly knocking them. As already noted, he had both a pass rush going along with nullifying the run. All while dealing with a inadequate wing. I’d say it was the opposite of mailing it in.
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:17 am
Licht will make it work.
We will keep Evans, Winfield and Wirfs.
We may have to let Carlton Davis go and let Zyon start.
And draft two young corners next year
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:39 am
Gonna need a Brinks truck
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:42 am
BillyBucco, spot on. Wirfs. Winfield. Vea. Evans. Mayfield.
Dump Dean and Davis, the Dynamic Duo of Disappointment. Find a new MLB. Find a Center.
Will there be cap room? Yes.
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:44 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:01 am
Watched the 12 minute Dennis Allen presser after the game……not once did he mention the Bucs or give any credit whatsoever to their play or players…
What a sad case he is……
————————–
That’s typical with the Aints. I’m sure you remember the crap Payton pulled. I’m still loving the 70 points the Fish nailed Payton with. Wonder if the Bronco fans have recovered? They win yesterday?
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:50 am
Why not wait until at least mid-season before wondering where the Bucs will get the $$ to pay everyone? Very good start but we have 3/4 of the season to go. Lots can happen. Baker could get hurt and Trask could crash and burn and we have new worries.
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:54 am
I adore Mike Evans but this is the NFL. Licht will likely trade one of the cornerbacks and may trade 50.
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:57 am
Boss Says: “Right now ME aint getting paid. just my opinion.”
I agree. Not that Evan isn’t worth getting paid north of 20mil, but the Bucs are better off signing young and proven players. It not personal, just business. The Bucs have to factor in that winning the super bowl in the next year or two is a reach. Evan just doesn’t not fit in the long term goal of the Bucs.
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:11 am
Biggest problem with Evan’s demand is he wants it GUARANTEED. Older dudes usually start getting nagging injuries at his age. (Like hamstrings) Locking in $50-$75 mil on a guy who starts having Julio Jones-type injuries is bad business
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:23 am
Gotta sign wirfs and Winfield and let Evans and white walk
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:25 am
Joe, Please stop besmirching Lincoln’s Tomb by comparing it to that oversized porta potty.
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:28 am
@Boss, what game are you watching when bringing up Vita Vea? You’re either not paying attention or you know diddle squat about what that position looks like.
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:30 am
Relax y’all. There is much less Dead Cap space next season and our front office are proven bad azz salary cap managers.
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:34 am
If be tempted to let Evans test the market, then match is best offer. I don’t think anyone is gonna pay him much more than he makes now, owing to his age
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:43 am
We have luxury problems. Great draft picks we need to resign instead of waiting for their contract to expire so we can move on like with Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
Wirfs can get extended since he was a first round draft pick.
According to spotrac, we have a potential out with Davis after this season. That can be used to pay AW.
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:57 am
So it’s not necessarily picking one guy over another IF the guys negotiate deals the Bucs can afford. IE Perhaps DWhite takes less than 20 million current top salary at his position…same for ME13…depends on negotiations.
But if a push comes to shove…Winfield is the guy who deserves the big $$$.
DW45 played lights out his rookie year and appeared then a valuable as Winfield is now. If he heals and regains his former value it’s going to be tough to keep him if he really wants top $.
So I view this as priorities…who gets fed the most and how much.
IMHO 1.) Winfield!!! 2a) DW45 2b)ME 13 I’m not aware of Vita’s or Wirfs contracts if they need to be resigned before next season then obviously ;they are in there somewhere.
As for Mayfield…if he plays as he has the first 4 games he’s going to get fed either here or elsewhere. I think Baker has his head on straight and like Brady did when he was with the PATs will consider some creative financing on a hometown deal. Bottom line for Baker is he got screwed by the Browns..Panthers and Rams were just a weird deal…but Baker is having FUN..
The rest of the team is also having FUN with him leading the show.
I trust Licht to handle this…I realize there are some situations where he can wait…hopefully with Baker..others like ME and DW might be cheaper when signed sooner. There are a LOT of variables which is why Licht and his staff earn the big bucks.
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:59 am
I said prior to his Draft that Winfield Jr. Was my favorite player in the Draft that year and got receipts to prove it. Said it on every article about him on this site prior to Draft too.
No one was even talking about the guy, never mind seeing what I saw in that guy. Was my favorite player in that Draft. He’s showing us ALL why now!
October 2nd, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Not only does dead cap come off the books next year but the salary cap will go up also. Hopefully we will be able to retain our best players and resign Mayfield to a proper contract. We should move on from Jensen. He may never be the same player again.
October 2nd, 2023 at 12:34 pm
It bothers me that we are talking about next year’s CAP space. Not one person who posts on here knows as much as Greenie and Licht (etc.) about our team. Our front office does not look for advice from you. We have this year to hopefully enjoy a LOT. Let’s talk about who we may pay next year when the time comes.
October 2nd, 2023 at 12:56 pm
“Pay him, pay that man his money.” – KGB
October 2nd, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Winfield’s like a one man wrecking crew.
October 2nd, 2023 at 2:14 pm
The poster who said that VV was “mailing it in” while he was impressed with Mike Greene and Logan Hall needs to remember that those guys are often freed up because VV takes on frequent double teams. VV is the strongest guy on our team. Don’t be an idiot.
October 2nd, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Why all the hysteria about keeping players for NEXT season when we’ve just played the 4th game of THIS season?? There are 13 more games to go. Fact. Jason Licht is proving to be one of the best GMs in the League. Fact. I don’t get it. Too much squawking about $$ too early. These boyz are already making millions$$ or close to it.
October 2nd, 2023 at 2:47 pm
🙂
October 2nd, 2023 at 3:27 pm
How sweet would be for the Bucs to win a Super Bowl in the Saints future dome in 2025!
October 2nd, 2023 at 3:50 pm
lol Boss proving he’s clueless day in and day out around here
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:07 pm
Winfield is healthy and flying around the field. It’s a joy to watch. Please stay healthy young man and keep making plays for the Bucs!