Buccaneers Interested In Re-Signing Leonard Fournette
The Buccaneers would like to bring Leonard Fournette back for another season (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). As it stands, Fournette has just one game — the Super Bowl — left on his contract.
Fournette joined the Bucs on one-year deal worth up to $3.5MM in September. Over the last year, he’s served as a solid RB2 behind Ronald Jones II, notching 3.8 yards per carry in 13 games. Fournette also snagged 36 passes for 233 yards, giving him 600 all-purpose yards for the year.
As the centerpiece of the Jaguars’ offense, Fournette faced stacked boxes on 39% of his carries from 2017-19. With the Bucs, he’s surrounded by a number of offensive weapons, forcing defenses to keep things honest. Fournette’s stats don’t exactly jump off of the page, but the Bucs like what they’ve gotten out of the former No. 4 overall pick.
Still, the Bucs may look to lock up Jones for the long haul, which would cut into available funds for Fournette. Some wondered if the former Jags star would leapfrog Jones this year — he responded with 5.1 ypc for a career season.
Bucs Expected To Retain WR Chris Godwin
There are a number of quality wide receivers slated for free agency next month, but it sounds like the Bucs will keep one of them off the market. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Tampa is expected to engage Chris Godwin in talks on a long-term contract before the March 9 deadline for applying the franchise tag, and if those talks do not result in a deal, it sounds as if the team is prepared to use the tag on the Pro Bowl wideout (Twitter link).
We heard last April that the Bucs were eyeing an extension for Godwin, but it’s unclear how far those negotiations advanced. Between the lack of a new contract and the fact that Tampa has a number of other key free agents to make decisions on, there was some speculation that Godwin would be playing elsewhere in 2021. But it sounds as if that won’t be the case.
This season, Godwin did not quite return to the Pro Bowl form he displayed in 2019, but he was quite effective just the same. Although his 12.9 yards-per-reception mark was a career-low, that is largely attributable to the fact that the team transitioned from Jameis Winston to Tom Brady at quarterback. Godwin’s catch rate increased to a career-best 77.4%, and had he played in all 16 games — he missed four contests due to injury — he was on pace to eclipse 1,100 receiving yards. He also scored seven TDs.
Based on the expected salary cap of $180.5MM, the franchise tag number for Godwin would be $15.808MM (h/t Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com on Twitter). Godwin can probably do better than that on a long-term contract, as the top 12 wide receiver deals in the league feature AAVs of at least $16.2MM, but it’s a fair starting point in contract talks.
The Bucs are also interested in bringing back Antonio Brown, and while Rapoport says tight end Rob Gronkowski plans to take a few weeks to make a retirement decision, he will only play for Tampa if he chooses to return in 2021. Keeping the band together for what could be the final season of Brady’s career makes plenty of sense, though it could mean that a defensive free agent like Shaquil Barrett or Lavonte David will be squeezed out of the picture.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/6/21
Here are the latest NFL minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Signed to reserve/futures contract: OL Jordan Steckler
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: T Eric Fisher (story), LB Willie Gay
- Promoted: WR Marcus Kemp, LB Chris Lammons, QB Matt Moore
- Activated from IR: TE Deon Yelder
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: G Ted Larsen, QB Drew Stanton
Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate Dealing With Back Discomfort
It sounds like Cameron Brate may be a bit banged up heading into the Super Bowl. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers tight end was a limited participant at practice Thursday due to a back injury. Rapoport adds that the ailment was described as “back discomfort,” and Brate “was pulled out of an abundance of caution.”
Brate felt better on Friday and, despite being listed as questionable, is expected to play Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Thanks in part to the addition of Rob Gronkowski, Brate put up some of the lowest numbers of his career in 2020, compiling 28 receptions for 282 yards and two scores. However, the 29-year-old has seen a more significant role in the playoffs. After collecting five or more targets in only two of his 16 regular season games, Brate has seen at least five targets in each of his three postseason contests, hauling in 11 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown.
If Brate were to be sidelined for the Super Bowl, Gronk would likely soak up most of Brate’s snaps. With O.J. Howard sitting on IR, the Bucs could also hypothetically turn to Antony Auclair or Tanner Hudson.
There is some good news on the injury front for Tampa Bay. Rapoport adds that wideout Antonio Brown was a full participant at practice. The 32-year-old sat out the NFC Championship as he nursed a knee injury. Brown appeared in eight games for the Buccaneers this season, compiling 45 receptions for 483 yards and four touchdowns.
Bucs’ Bruce Arians “Wouldn’t Be Surprised” By Tom Brady Extension
The Buccaneers have Tom Brady signed through the 2021 season. Still, head coach Bruce Arians “wouldn’t be surprised” to see the future Hall of Famer ink an extension sometime after the Super Bowl. 
[RELATED: Arians Says “Hell No” To Retirement]
“I don’t have anything to do with contracts, so that would be a Jason [Licht] question,” Arians told reporters on Thursday. “I think Tom’s real happy with where he’s at, and I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Brady will turn 44 in August and he’s teased playing past the age of 45.
“Yeah, definitely. I would definitely consider that,” said B week (via NFL.com). “Again, it’s a physical sport. Just the perspective I have on that is you never know when that moment is. Just because it’s a contact sport and again it has to be 100 percent commitment from myself to keep doing it.”
“I’ve been fortunate over the years. Alex (Guerrero) and I work really hard to make sure physically I can perform at my best because you take different hits, over the course of the year you deal with different bumps and bruises, different injuries and so forth. You know, it’s just going to be me continuing to make that commitment to making it part of my year-round process to play football and continue my career.”
Even though Tom Terrific hasn’t been totally perfect with his new team, the Bucs are four quarters away from winning it all. And, win or lose, Arians also says that he’s in for at least another season.
Antonio Brown, Sammy Watkins On Track For Super Bowl
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins participated in the Chiefs’ Wednesday practice, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Meanwhile, the Bucs also had one of their most dangerous weapons on hand. Antonio Brown practiced with the Buccaneers, though he was kept to light work as he recovers from a knee injury. 
Watkins has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and hasn’t played a full 16-game season since his rookie campaign with the Bills back in 2014. Despite that, he remains a serious threat for any opposing defense. This year, Watkins was limited to nine regular season games and finished out with a modest 37/421/2 stat line. If his calf heals up in time for the Super Bowl, it’ll mark his first appearance in this year’s playoffs.
Brown missed the NFC championship game, but the Buccaneers still managed to edge the Packers and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. In the regular season, the 32-year-old caught 45 passes for 483 yards and four touchdowns. His best game came in Week 17, when he hauled in eleven catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns as Mike Evans was held out.
Fortunately, Brown did not suffer serious structural damage, so the Bucs are hopeful that he can play. It also helps that they kept him grounded a couple of weeks ago to prevent additional swelling at higher altitude. If things keep going in this direction, Brown will be cleared for the second Super Bowl of his career.
No New COVID Cases For Chiefs, Bucs
The latest round of testing revealed no new COVID-19 positives for players on the Chiefs or Buccaneers, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Barring any hitches, both teams should be set for Super Bowl LV on Sunday.
[RELATED: Chiefs’ Mitchell Schwartz Out For Super Bowl?]
The Chiefs were forced to place two players — center Daniel Kilgore and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson — on the COVID-19/reserve list earlier this week. Fortunately, neither player has tested positive, though they were in close contact with a barber who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Close-contact situations require only a five-day clearance, so both players should be able to suit up if they continue to test negative. Kilgore has mostly been a reserve for Kansas City this season, but he’s a valuable backup, having started 13 games for the Dolphins last year. Also, the Chiefs will likely be without the services of right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, so they’ll want Kilgore at the ready. Robinson plays a large role, so the Chiefs don’t want to lose him either. Robinson appeared in all 16 regular season games this year, racking up 45 catches for 466 yards and three touchdowns.
Arians Upset Leftwich Getting No HC Buzz
- Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy has gotten a lot of attention for getting passed over for head coaching jobs, but Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians is similarly upset about the other offensive coordinator coaching in the Super Bowl. “I was very, very pissed that Byron [Leftwich] didn’t at least get an interview this year for the job that he’s done,” Arians said, via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (Twitter link). “I get way too much credit and so does Tom Brady for the job that Byron has done.” Strong words from Arians in support of his OC, the former quarterback who spent 10 years as a player in the league from 2003-12. Leftwich got his coaching start as Arians’ quarterbacks coach with the Cardinals in 2017, and was then hired as his OC when he took the job in Tampa in 2019. If the Bucs have this kind of success again in 2021, Leftwich probably will start to get some serious head coaching buzz next cycle.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/29/21
Here are the latest practice squad moves:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Earl Watford
- Activated from practice squad injured list: WR Cyril Grayson
- Released: OL Nick Leverett, RB C.J. Prosise
Bucs’ Bruce Arians: “Hell No” I Won’t Retire
Bruce Arians is having too much fun to stop now. If the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl, the veteran head coach says he won’t be tempted to leave on a high note. 
[RELATED: Bucs Want To Re-Sign AB]
“Hell no,” said Arians when asked about the possibility of retirement (Twitter link via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “I’m going for two. If the Glazers will have me back.”
At least, it was a fair question. Arians, 68, has retired twice before. Most recently, he retired as the Cardinals’ head coach after the 2017 season. He was also claimed to be walking away in 2011, when he parted ways with the Steelers.
Arians has won two Super Bowls as an assistant, but he’ll be going for his first ring as a head coach. Win or lose, the Glazers will almost certainly want him back. The same goes for wide receiver Antonio Brown — the Bucs reportedly want to re-sign the controversial star, who has stayed out trouble since coming to Tampa Bay. In the regular season, Brown caught 45 passes for 483 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.