Buccaneers Sign Richard Sherman
Oct. 3: As Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports (via Twitter), Sherman’s base salary checks in at just $1MM. He can earn up to $350K in per-game roster bonuses ($25K per game over the final 14 games of the season) and another $900K in playing-time incentives.
He will collect the first per-game roster bonus and start chipping away at his playing-time incentives tonight. Though Sherman only signed with Tampa Bay a few days ago, he reportedly picked up the defense more quickly than expected and will be in the starting lineup against the Pats (Twitter link via Rapoport).
Sep. 29: The Buccaneers have signed Richard Sherman, according to the cornerback himself (Twitter link). After a prolonged stint in free agency, Sherman gets a one-year, $2.25MM deal with $500K guaranteed (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).
“I went with the best offer I had, the best opportunity to go out there and put some tape on, to lead another group,” said the multiple-time Pro Bowler. “I feel comfortable and confident in my abilities to go out there and execute and help that team win…This was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
Sherman, a five-time Pro Bowler, will the Bucs and old rival Tom Brady in time for this week’s game against the Patriots. The Bucs had a clear need after losing Sean Murphy-Bunting (elbow), Jamel Dean (knee), Carlton Davis (abdomen; ribs), and other key defensive backs in recent weeks. Dean should return sometime soon, but he probably won’t be ready for New England.
In 2019, Sherman’s last healthy season, he recorded 61 tackles and three interceptions. Then, his 2020 was sidetracked by a calf injury, limiting him to just five games. Fortunately, Sherman is said to be 100% healthy and down 15 pounds from last year.
To make room for Sherman on the roster, the Bucs have placed wide receiver Scotty Miller (turf toe) on injured reserve (Twitter link via Rapoport).
Rob Gronkowski Facing Multiweek Absence
Rob Gronkowski won’t be getting a homecoming in New England after all. The veteran tight end is not traveling to New England and will not play against the Patriots tonight, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
This injury may be a bit more serious than originally believed. After X-rays came back revealing minimal damage, a subsequent MRI revealed Gronkowski suffered multiple cracked ribs against the Rams and could miss multiple games, Schefter tweets. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com originally reported that the MRI and CT scan showed two breaks (Twitter link), but it was later discovered that Gronkowski actually has four cracked ribs, one broken rib, and a punctured lung (Twitter link via Jay Glazer of FOX Sports).
Gronk suffered the injury during last weekend’s game against the Rams, and after not practicing all week, he was listed as doubtful to play. However, head coach Bruce Arians kept the door open, saying Gronkowski would be a game-time decision. Alas, the veteran tight end won’t be suiting up for tonight’s showdown.
Still, Gronkowski is not expected to land on IR, as Greg Auman of The Athletic writes. Under the modified injured reserve rules, a player on IR need only miss three games before being activated, and including tonight, the Bucs play three games in 11 days. While it seems likely that Gronk will miss next Sunday’s bout with the Dolphins, he could be ready to go for the following Thursday night contest against the Eagles. Otherwise, Auman posits, the club could have parked Gronkowski on IR and kept a roster spot open for 2020 draftee Khalil Davis, who was cut yesterday.
While much has been made of Tom Brady‘s return to Gillette Stadium, Gronkowski also put together a Hall of Fame career during his stint with the Patriots. In nine seasons with the team, Gronk earned three Super Bowl rings while hauling in 79 regular season touchdowns, the most in franchise history. The tight end caught on with Brady and the Bucs last season and proceeded to win another ring.
The 32-year-old was having a hot start to the 2021 campaign, collecting four touchdowns through the first three weeks. Fortunately for the Buccaneers, the team should be fine without their starter, as the team is still rostering O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/21
Here is Saturday’s batch of minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: LB Dennis Gardeck
- Promoted: S Chris Banjo, OL Eric Smith
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: CB Cam Lewis
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: S Kenny Robinson, RB Rodney Smith
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: WR Malik Turner
- Promoted: DT Austin Faoliu, DT Justin Hamilton, RB Nick Ralston, TE Jeremy Sprinkle
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: LB Curtis Robinson, OL Austin Schlottmann
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: K Ryan Santoso
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: WR Equanimeous St. Brown
- Placed on IR: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (story)
Houston Texans
- Promoted: QB Jeff Driskel, DB A.J. Moore, LB Hardy Nickerson
- Activated from IR: K Ka’imi Fairbairn
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: DB Dicaprio Bootle
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
- Promoted: RB Buddy Howell, LB Justin Lawler
- Waived: S J.R. Reed
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: C Cameron Tom
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: G Dakota Dozier, CB Parry Nickerson
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: C Will Clapp, T Jordan Mills, WR Kenny Stills
New York Giants
- Promoted: C Jonotthan Harrison
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: S Ashtyn Davis, S Sharrod Neasman
- Promoted: OL Isaiah Williams
- Waived: RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: OL Jack Driscoll, CB Josiah Scott
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: OT Chaz Green, WR Cody White
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: DL Maurice Hurst
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: WR Cody Thompson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: CB Pierre Desir, TE Codey McElroy, CB Rashard Robinson
- Waived: DL Khalil Davis
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DL Amani Bledsoe, FB Tory Carter
Latest On Rob Gronkowski’s Status
Tom Brady‘s return to New England has understandably overshadowed everything else about Week 4’s Sunday night game, but it also marks Rob Gronkowski‘s first matchup with the Patriots since being traded. But Brady’s wingman is not looking likely to suit up.
Gronkowski did not practice this week, and the Buccaneers listed the future Hall of Fame tight end as doubtful to face the Patriots. Bruce Arians is willing to play Gronk without him having practiced, however, calling him a game-time decision, via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine (on Twitter).
A rib injury sustained in Los Angeles represents Gronkowski’s first setback with the Bucs, though he obviously endured numerous injury issues with the Patriots.
Gronk’s first Bucs season featured the tight end bouncing back with a 20-game campaign. He caught two touchdowns in Super Bowl LV, collecting his fourth ring, and hauled in four TD passes from Brady through two games this year. Should the 32-year-old tight end not be able to go Sunday, it would be his 31st missed regular-season game as a pro. Gronkowski re-signed with the Bucs this offseason but has not committed to extending his unretirement beyond this season.
The Bucs are rather well-equipped to handle a Gronk absence, with the team hanging onto trade-rumor mainstay O.J. Howard and keeping Cameron Brate as well. Antonio Brown is also back to join Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as options for Brady in his Foxborough return.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/30/21
Here are Thursday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Zack Johnson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on practice squad IR: TE Thaddeus Moss
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Bryan Mills
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: T Jonathan Hubbard
Buccaneers Activate Antonio Brown Off Reserve/COVID-19 List
Antonio Brown will join Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in returning to New England this week. The Buccaneers activated their high-profile No. 3 wide receiver Thursday.
A positive COVID-19 test landed Brown on the Bucs’ virus list ahead of their Week 3 Rams tilt. Brown is vaccinated, as the Bucs’ team rate hit 100%, making for a quicker return for the 12th-year veteran. Brown’s return comes shortly after the Bucs lost No. 4 wideout Scotty Miller to an injury, one that will keep him out a while.
Brown played in Week 1 for the first time since 2018 but has missed the past three Week 3s. The Patriots signed the mercurial receiver shortly after the Raiders cut him ahead of the 2019 season and used him in Week 2 of that year. But a report of Brown sending intimidating text messages to a woman who’d accused him of sexual misconduct led the Patriots to cut him after less than two weeks.
Brown, 33, will now return to Foxborough with fellow ex-Patriots Brady and Gronkowski, though Brown’s trip back to Massachusetts will be obviously overshadowed. This game will be Brown’s first against one of the three teams that parted ways with him in 2019. The Bucs do not play the Steelers or Raiders this season. Thanks to a strong season opener, Brown has six receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown this year.
LeSean McCoy Retires From NFL
LeSean McCoy is hanging up his cleats. The veteran running back will sign a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Eagles, capping his career after 12 NFL seasons. 
McCoy, 33, spent last year with the Buccaneers and captured his second Super Bowl ring. Afterwards, he seemed intent on playing in 2021.
“The only thing is it has to be the right team,” McCoy said. “I can’t go from two Super Bowls to playing with BA (Bruce Arians), Andy Reid, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes to not even having a team that’s competing. I’m still a competitor. To bring me back, I have to play for a team that is a contender, or with some young guys I could help out. I still want to be effective and get a shot to play and showcase my talent. I still have some more highlights to give out.”
McCoy played sparingly for Tampa last season, getting only ten carries and 15 receptions in ten games. Of course, he was also one of the most accomplished running backs of the past decade. McCoy made six Pro Bowls in seven seasons from 2011-17.
After 12 years with the Eagles, Bills, Chiefs, and Bucs, McCoy racked up 11,071 rushing yards. Another couple of seasons could have put him at 12,000 — every retired RB who has eclipsed 12,000 is in the Hall of Fame. Others who ended their careers between 11,000 and 12,000 — Fred Taylor, Steven Jackson, and Corey Dillon — have not been inducted, but McCoy could potentially find his way to Canton.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/29/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Doctson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: OL Sua Opeta
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated to return: OT Cedric Ogbuehi
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: Scott Miller
Buccaneers Host Richard Sherman
The Buccaneers are meeting with Richard Sherman (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). This marks Sherman’s first free agent visit of the season, though he has interest from multiple contenders (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
Sherman, a five-time Pro Bowler, could join the Bucs in time for this week’s matchup against the Patriots. He’d go a long way towards filling in for the Bucs’ litany of injuries in the secondary. So far, they’re down Sean Murphy-Bunting (elbow), Jamel Dean (knee), and Carlton Davis (abdomen; ribs). Dean should return sometime soon, but he probably won’t be ready for Week 4.
Sherman made headlines for all the wrong reasons this summer, but he has reportedly received counseling since his July arrest. Meanwhile, his former employers — the 49ers and Seahawks — have both expressed interest in recent months. Ultimately, the defending champs could come away with the former Legion of Boom leader, who is reportedly back to the weight of his salad days.
The 33-year-old turned in a so-so 2018 for the Niners, rebounded for a strong 2019, and lost much of 2020 to injury. Even though he’s no longer in his prime, Sherman could provide a big and timely boost for the Bucs.
Buccaneers WR Scotty Miller To Miss “Significant Amount Of Time”
Scotty Miller will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. The Buccaneers wideout is set to miss “a significant amount of time,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Miller is still awaiting test results that will determine how long he’ll be out, but an IR stint seems likely.
Head coach Bruce Arians referred to the injury as “severe turf toe” earlier today, according to ESPN’s Jenna Laine (via Twitter). Standard “turf toe” could lead to a one-month absence or a season-ending injury. During this past year’s playoffs, Patrick Mahomes dealt with a turf toe injury that ultimately required offseason surgery. In other words, the timeline could be variable, but at the very least, Miller will probably be sidelined for at least the next four weeks.
The 2019 sixth-round pick has spent his entire career with the Buccaneers, and he made a name for himself in 2020 with Tom Brady under center. The wideout finished the year with 33 receptions for 501 yards and three scores, and he added another four receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown in the playoffs.
After appearing in only 20 snaps through the first two weeks of the season, Miller got into a season-high 32 snaps last night and hauled in his first two catches of the season.