Headlines

Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Rumors

Tom Brady Undecided On Retirement?

By | at January 29, 2022 4:20 pm

4:20pm: Brady is still expected to retire, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who offers the issue that has since surfaced likely relates to the timing of the announcement rather than the decision itself (video link). An official announcement figures to come at some point soon, though it may take some time.

3:42pm: The Buccaneers still have not received definitive word their quarterback is retiring. Since ESPN’s report surfaced indicating Tom Brady was walking away, the 22-year veteran told GM Jason Licht he has not made a decision on retiring, The Athletic’s Greg Auman tweets.

During his call to the Bucs, Brady indicated he is “not even close” to deciding on retirement, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe (on Twitter). Brady’s father has also weighed in on the matter. Tom Brady Sr. said his son has not retired, via Kylen Mills of KRON4 News (on Twitter). Brady’s agent, Don Yee, also tried to push pause on this situation.

While Brady has not indicated he won’t retire, true finality here has not come just yet. This story has certainly moved into a weird place, and it might well drag out for a while.

A Twitter user himself, Brady could easily clear this matter up. As of now, the 44-year-old passer has yet to confirm he is done playing. Brady has long indicated he wanted to play until his age-45 season, though rumblings of his retirement have surfaced for several days before Saturday’s report.

This decision comes at a key point for the Bucs, who failed to defend their Super Bowl title after bringing back their entire core from last season’s team. Tampa Bay has numerous starters set for free agency and has no Brady heir apparent lined up. Their two-year passer’s retirement call could also determine the futures of Bruce Arians and Rob Gronkowski. Arians has said he will continue as Tampa Bay’s head coach, but it will be interesting to hear from the 69-year-old HC once Brady makes his statement.

20 comments Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers QB Tom Brady To Retire

By | at January 29, 2022 1:29 pm

The increased rumblings of a Tom Brady retirement following his 22nd season did not let up, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports this is the direction the all-time great is expected to take. Not long after that report surfaced, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington confirm the Buccaneers quarterback is set to walk away (Twitter link).

Brady has long said he wanted to play through at least his age-45 season, with even that lofty timetable being potentially extended after his seventh Super Bowl victory last year. Those plans appear to have changed. Last weekend’s Rams game indeed looks like it will be Brady’s finale, though some uncertainty exists on the Bucs’ part.

While Schefter and Darlington add the Bucs have braced for Brady’s exit for weeks, the team did not receive advance notice of Saturday’s news. Bruce Arians indicated earlier this afternoon (via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud, Twitter links) he had not yet been informed about the retirement. Brady’s agent also tried to hit pause on this situation (via SI.com’s Albert Breer, on Twitter). Brady does appear to be ending his career, but Greg Auman of The Athletic notes (on Twitter) TB12Sports deleted a tweet acknowledging its top client’s accomplishments. Bucs players are nevertheless voicing their appreciation for Brady on social media.

The 44-year-old quarterback has pushed the boundaries of the position to an unprecedented place, remaining a Pro Bowl-caliber player into his mid-40s. Brady finished as this season’s second-team All-Pro passer and had the Bucs as the NFC’s No. 2 seed. Tampa Bay’s reload operation did not result in the team defending its Super Bowl title, with Chris Godwin‘s injury and Antonio Brown‘s explosive exit weakening this year’s team late in the season. But Brady did not show much in the way of decline following his bounce-back 2020 slate. But one of the greatest players to in the sport’s history is unlikely to go through a walk-off tour next season despite having signed a through-2022 extension last year.

Given the cap gymnastics the Bucs performed to bring back their entire Super Bowl-winning core, it was going to be difficult for the team to pull off a similar act for the 2022 season. The likes of Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fournette, Jason Pierre-Paul, Carlton Davis, Ryan Jensen and Alex Cappa are among the Bucs set for free agency in March. With on the cusp of ending his storied career, it can certainly be expected a second Gronkowski retirement will soon follow. Gronk said this week that if he was forced into a decision now, he would indeed leave the game for a second time.

Having been a pro in every 21st-century season and having started for the past 21 years, Brady will finish as the NFL’s leader in every major statistical category. The former Patriots mainstay’s postseason resume laps his peers’, and after his NFL-most 43 touchdown passes this season, Brady will finish his career with 624 — 53 more than the next-closest passer’s total. He and Drew Brees passed this record back and forth last season, and while the recently retired Saints legend is a bit closer to Brady in passing yards, the ageless Bucs QB will exit the game with that record (84,520) as well. Brady’s retirement comes a year after Brees’ and days after Ben Roethlisberger‘s.

Brady’s place as the game’s greatest player can be debated in the years to come, but the former sixth-round pick is without question the best draft investment in NFL history. The 199th overall pick in 2000, Brady launched his unexpected rise to NFL stardom by keeping the Patriots’ QB1 job after a September 2001 Drew Bledsoe injury. The Michigan product proceeded to start 316 games, missing time only because of a 2008 ACL tear and 2016’s four-game Deflategate suspension. In between, Brady piled up six Super Bowl-winning seasons with the Pats.

While the Patriots machine centered around Bill Belichick‘s defenses in the early 2000s, with Brady making just one Pro Bowl in his first four seasons as a starter, he collected three rings in that span. After the Patriots acquired Randy Moss in 2007, Brady made a seismic leap by throwing 50 touchdown passes and winning the first of his three MVP honors. Although the Pats’ hopes at a 19-0 season did not come to fruition, with that upset loss to the Giants coming months before Brady’s September 2008 knee injury, the New England centerpiece remained on his position’s top tier for another decade and change.

Including the famed 25-point comeback win in Super Bowl LI, Brady finished his career with a record five Super Bowl MVP awards and won four championships past age 37. Brady’s decision to sign with the Bucs for two years and $50MM led to the end of that franchise’s 12-year playoff drought and Tampa Bay’s second Super Bowl win.

This retirement call may close the team’s title window, with the Bucs fully committing to Brady and not acquiring an heir apparent. It will be interesting to see if Arians retires for a second time, though the 69-year-old Tampa HC said he would return in 2022. The Bucs will need to dive back into the quarterback market soon, be it another veteran or through the draft, after their successful 2020 plan is abruptly coming to a halt.

63 comments New England Patriots Newsstand Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

Buccaneers Interested In Re-Signing WR Chris Godwin

By | at January 28, 2022 9:34 pm

One of several big names scheduled to hit free agency on the Buccaneers is wide receiver Chris Godwin. While last season’s champions will have to make several tough decisions on which players to keep and let go, it appears Godwin will be one of their priorities. 

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Bucs “have high interest in re-signing Godwin”. That would certainly be a worthwhile investment, considering his production so far in his career. Even in 14 games in 2021, the 25-year-old posted 98 catches for 1,103 yards and five touchdowns – already his second 1,000 yard campaign.

Godwin suffered a torn ACL in December, ending his season. Especially after Antonio Brown‘s departure from the team, his absence was felt in the Bucs’ passing attack. Fortunately, the surgery he had to repair the knee, performed earlier in January, was successful, and he is expected to make a full recovery.

Even if some teams are cautious making free agent offers due to the injury, Godwin would likely see a large market if he tests the waters. After playing on the franchise tag (set at $15.9MM) in 2021, a second tag would raise that number to just over $19MM if the Bucs decided to go that route. Instead, Fowler predicts “a sweet-spot deal that acknowledges the high-end market while protecting the team” as the ultimate outcome if he stays in Tampa.

Of course, much of Godwin’s plans will likely hinge on whether or not Tom Brady decides to return; even if he does, Godwin might still have the opportunity to be this year’s top wide receiver (with the potential exception of Davante Adams). He will therefore be central to the Bucs’ offseason, which will itself be one of the most intriguing around the league.

17 comments Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Byron Leftwich Moving Toward Jags’ HC Job?

By | at January 26, 2022 2:37 pm

WEDNESDAY: More smoke is emerging here. The Jags and Leftwich continue to discuss a deal, with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times noting the two sides are working to close out an agreement. A conflicting report, via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, pushes back a bit, indicating the Jags still have Eberflus in the mix and have not yet decided on a direction here (Twitter links). Nathaniel Hackett, who is a finalist for the Broncos’ job as well, is also not out of the mix, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets. Hackett would certainly be an interesting decision, considering the Jags fired him as offensive coordinator in 2018.

Meanwhile, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com writes that the Jaguars “launched” contract talks with Leftwich on Tuesday before the two sides hit an impasse this morning.

TUESDAY: The chances of a Byron Leftwich-Jaguars reunion appear to be improving. The Buccaneers offensive coordinator went through a second Jaguars interview Tuesday, and momentum is building toward a return to the place where his NFL career started.

Leftwich conducted an in-person interview with Shad Khan and GM Trent Baalke, and Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes many around the NFL expect him to land the job. Leftwich joins Colts DC Matt Eberflus as those who have taken second interviews with the Jaguars.

Moving to Tampa after working under both Bruce Arians and Steve Wilks in Arizona, Leftwich has begun sending out staff feelers. Bucs wide receivers coach Kevin Garver and outside linebackers coach Larry Foote are under consideration for a Leftwich-led staff, Wilson adds. Garver, 34, has been with the Bucs throughout Arians’ tenure and began his NFL coaching career with the Cardinals in Arians’ first season (2013). Foote, 41, both played under Arians with the Cards and worked for him in Arizona and Tampa. Leftwich and Foote played together with the Steelers in 2008 and in the early 2010s.

The Jags were under different ownership when they drafted Leftwich seventh overall in 2003. Khan did not own the team during Leftwich’s four-year stay in Jacksonville, though hiring a former Jaguar — one who is now a Super Bowl champion play-caller — may count as a positive step after the Urban Meyer debacle. Here is how the Jags’ coaching search looks as of Tuesday night:

15 comments Jacksonville Jaguars Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raiders Request To Interview Todd Bowles

By | at January 25, 2022 2:13 pm

One of the most sought-after coaching candidates has received another interview request. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Raiders have requested to meet with Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. 

Bowles has already been linked to the HC vacancies in Chicago, Jacksonville and Minnesota. The buzz around him shouldn’t come as a surprise, of course, considering the work he has done in Tampa Bay. In three years, he has overseen one of the league’s top defenses, which played a crucial role in the team’s Super Bowl championship last season. He signed an extension to stay on in his current role with the Bucs, but the door has always remained open for him to take a head coaching job if possible.

The Raiders, of course, have been connected to Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh since the beginning of the hiring cycle. They’ve also given interim coach Rich Bisaccia a chance to get the full-time position, as he interviewed last week to stay on board. Schefter adds that the interview with Bowles is set to take place in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Bowles, 58, had an up-and-down stint as the head coach of the Jets prior to coming to Tampa Bay. Given the interest being shown in him now, however, there seems to be a very good chance he will get a second opportunity to lead his own staff.

 

18 comments Las Vegas Raiders Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Le’Veon Bell Clears Waivers

By | at January 25, 2022 9:55 am

After having been waived by the Buccaneers on Saturday, running back Le’Veon Bell has, not surprisingly, went through unclaimed. As Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (via Twitter), he is now a free agent. 

[Related: Buccaneers Activate Leonard Fournette, Waive Le’Veon Bell]

Bell signed with Tampa Bay in December to provide depth for a banged-up halfback room. With Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones missing time down the stretch, Bell found himself in essentially the same situation as when he joined the Ravens earlier in the year. Season-ending injuries to J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards had Baltimore searching for veteran replacements, ultimately settling on Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray throughout the campaign.

The three-time Pro Bowler ended what wound up being a very brief stint in Baltimore with 31 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns. In Tampa Bay, meanwhile, he totalled 12 touches for 49 scrimmage yards, including one receiving touchdown. Prior to Fournette’s return, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Giovani Bernard handled a larger share of the workload in the backfield.

Bell’s likeliest move may well have been to re-join the Bucs’ practice squad had they won on Saturday. Now that their season is over, and Bell went unclaimed, he is free to sign anywhere and continue trying to find a new permanent home in the NFL.

9 comments Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/24/22

By | at January 24, 2022 5:51 pm

Here are Monday’s reserve/futures deals:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

5 comments Atlanta Falcons Buffalo Bills New Orleans Saints Pittsburgh Steelers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Transactions

Byron Leftwich Gets Second Jaguars Interview

By | at January 24, 2022 5:38 pm

Byron Leftwich is getting a second look in Jacksonville. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the Jaguars have scheduled an in-person interview with the Buccaneers offensive coordinator for tomorrow.

Leftwich, of course, entered the league as a 2003 first-round pick of the Jaguars and spent four years under center in Jacksonville. Following his playing career, Leftwich transitioned to coaching, and he’s recently made a name for himself on the sideline.

The 42-year-old has spent the past three seasons as the Buccaneers offensive coordinator, including a Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2020. Despite the Buccaneers offense dealing with a number of absences in 2021, the offense still ranked second in points scored and yards. After emerging as a HC candidate last offseason, Leftwich has been connected to both the Jaguars and Bears gigs this year.

Leftwich is one of many candidates for the Jaguars head coaching gig:

11 comments Jacksonville Jaguars Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order

By | at January 24, 2022 8:55 am

The Divisional Round has come to end, and after each game was decided on the final play, the season has come to a bitter end for another four teams. That brings the total number of squads locked into their first round draft position to 28. Interestingly, the Rams and 49ers are still standing after they each parted ways with top draft picks this past offseason. San Francisco’s first choice is currently slated to be 61st overall, while the Rams aren’t projected to be on the board until the 101st pick. For Los Angeles in particular, the decision is certainly paying off so far.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2021 standings, plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. For playoff teams, the order is determined by their postseason outcome and regular season record.

Here is the updated order after this weekend’s results:

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-14
  2. Detroit Lions: 3-13-1
  3. Houston Texans: 4-13
  4. New York Jets: 4-13
  5. New York Giants: 4-13
  6. Carolina Panthers: 5-12
  7. New York Giants(via Bears)
  8. Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
  9. Denver Broncos: 7-10
  10. New York Jets (via Seahawks)
  11. Washington Football Team: 7-10
  12. Minnesota Vikings: 8-9
  13. Cleveland Browns: 8-9
  14. Baltimore Ravens: 8-9
  15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Dolphins)
  16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts)
  17. Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
  18. New Orleans Saints: 9-8
  19. Philadelphia Eagles: 9-8
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7-1
  21. New England Patriots: 10-7
  22. Las Vegas Raiders: 10-7
  23. Arizona Cardinals: 11-6
  24. Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
  25. Buffalo Bills: 11-6
  26. Tennessee Titans: 12-5
  27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 13-4
  28. Green Bay Packers: 13-4
  29. Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7*
  30. Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)
  31. Detroit Lions (via Rams)
  32. Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5*

* = Remaining playoff teams

6 comments 2022 NFL Draft Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders
Show all
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors