Official 2022 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

[gobesmug]

Nah he might have pouted a little in 2021 mainly due to all the injuries and AB going insane again but nothing compared to his last year in NE. There were no talent in the offensive skill positions and Brady threw the ball away a ton as no one could get open and there wasn't anyone he got trust. In addition, it had become obvious that Giselle wanted to move on from NE especially when Brady hit his 40s.

The main difference in 2022 from 2019, is the Bucs are trying everything they can to protect Brady and give him talented guys to throw to. The 2019 Pats did squat to improve the offense. With that elite defense, they probably would have been favored to win the SB if they tried to get actual offensive talent instead of shopping at the bottom of the bargain bin.

Ultimately, they used the excuse of a salary cap to throw their 2019 SB chances away.

The 2019 Pats did try to get weapons, they just relied on risks and rookies and they all failed.

First it was reported they wanted to trade for AB but the Steelers refused to send him within conference

They signed Damarious Thomas, resigned Josh Gordon who had developed chemistry with Brady, drafted a Wr in the first rd and signed AB the moment he was cut. Then traded for Sanu with a 2nd rd pick mid season.

You can debate the choices they made but can't debate they tried

 

[1960Pats]

Nah he might have pouted a little in 2021 mainly due to all the injuries and AB going insane again but nothing compared to his last year in NE. There were no talent in the offensive skill positions and Brady threw the ball away a ton as no one could get open and there wasn't anyone he got trust. In addition, it had become obvious that Giselle wanted to move on from NE especially when Brady hit his 40s.

The main difference in 2022 from 2019, is the Bucs are trying everything they can to protect Brady and give him talented guys to throw to. The 2019 Pats did squat to improve the offense. With that elite defense, they probably would have been favored to win the SB if they tried to get actual offensive talent instead of shopping at the bottom of the bargain bin.

Ultimately, they used the excuse of a salary cap to throw their 2019 SB chances away.

And now the Pats chances are just about gone. Oh well, it was a great run. Thanks Tom.

 

[1960Pats]

The 2019 Pats did try to get weapons, they just relied on risks and rookies and they all failed.

First it was reported they wanted to trade for AB but the Steelers refused to send him within conference

They signed Damarious Thomas, resigned Josh Gordon who had developed chemistry with Brady, drafted a Wr in the first rd and signed AB the moment he was cut. Then traded for Sanu with a 2nd rd pick mid season.

You can debate the choices they made but can't debate they tried

Under Bill they have almost every time gone the cheap route by letting their stars walk when their price went up and picking up older, cheaper retreads. That worked with Brady but we'll have to wait and see if it works without him.

 

[Tottie]

Under Bill they have almost every time gone the cheap route by letting their stars walk when their price went up and picking up older, cheaper retreads. That worked with Brady but we'll have to wait and see if it works without him.

I like bills approach to WRs for the most part. Of course you are right in saying having Brady for 20 years helped immensely, but it should still be the best approach over a long period of time. Year to year anything can work out or fail but spreading money around is safer than having the best best wr1. If Jones is decisive to help the line we have the tools to move the chains. It helps when you draft a guy like gronk too.

 

[Bill Lee]

And now the Pats chances are just about gone. Oh well, it was a great run. Thanks Tom.

Indeed, and now that you've divorced yourself from the Patriots, you're gonna have to find another team to root for soon. Tampa's gonna suck once Tom goes to Fox next season and all their overpriced vets and their deferred cap hits force their window shut. Let's see how Todd Bowels picks up the pieces when he returns to having a talent level like the Jets teams he used to coach had. Might have been nice to have an offensive minded coach around, but Tom sent him packing. Probably going to have to do what they did before Tom got there, suck for a decade solid so they can clear out the vets and cherry pick the draft.

 

[VectorPrime]

Another point in favor of the Masked Singer conspiracy. AB just two days ago randomly began ranting on Twitter about it being unfair that Brady is given time off no problem. Well, what did AB famously get in trouble with the Steelers over that began the public breach with the team and cause him to demand a trade? Missing time to appear on the Masked Singer.

 

[Guts]

Lmao theory is growing

 

[Tottie]

Lmao theory is growing

I don't care what he's doing but I would hope he would never be on that show. I can see him been off finishing his movie but this is a bit much. As stupid as it sounds it isn't completely ridiculous since we have somehow seen no leaked photos of his whereabouts since he left.

 

[Bill Lee]

I like bills approach to WRs for the most part. Of course you are right in saying having Brady for 20 years helped immensely, but it should still be the best approach over a long period of time. Year to year anything can work out or fail but spreading money around is safer than having the best best wr1. If Jones is decisive to help the line we have the tools to move the chains. It helps when you draft a guy like gronk too.

It's funny how this is "Bill's approach" by those that are critical of him, yet it's the same thing Tampa has been doing for the last several years. Even at $25M they are underpaying the GOAT, they got lots of vets many on team friendly deals with some talking about the "discount" they took, and have been using draft picks they accumulated after a decade of sucking to build a big part of their talent base.

The big (huge?) differences are that Tampa has missed on their QB drafting (Chris Simms? Mike Glennon? Jameis Winston? vs Brady then Mac), they are only getting late-period angry/pouting Brady and only for a couple of years, and they don't have the GOAT coach, nothing like that. IMO their window is gonna slam tightly shut next year when they have to deal with all the cap overhang they'll get from the actual Brady retirement and other vets moving on, and have to find a new QB (or go with Blake Bortles?).

Talking about chances that are almost gone, it is a good description of where Tampa finds itself.

 

[Guts]

I don't care what he's doing but I would hope he would never be on that show. I can see him been off finishing his movie but this is a bit much. As stupid as it sounds it isn't completely ridiculous since we have somehow seen no leaked photos of his whereabouts since he left.

I don't think it is true, but it's a funny theory. I think what @Tunescribe said in the beginning is what makes the most sense. Vacation or marital issues


I thought it was health related with his family, but Rapaport disputed that

 

[sb1]

The masked singer theory is funny but no. The team wouldn't feel this way if it was that. I also don't think something like that would go over very well with them either. That's not the Brady I know.

Probably issues with Gisele/family. Hopefully all is well and we'll hear from him soon.

 

[Tottie]

The masked singer theory is funny but no. The team wouldn't feel this way if it was that. I also don't think something like that would go over very well with them either. That's not the Brady I know.

Probably issues with Gisele/family. Hopefully all is well and we'll hear from him soon.

I don't buy the Gisele thing but it is very possible. She had to have authorized his return so why the quick change of heart? If it's simply a vacation then why is Devin white saying that stuff? Is he guessing? I still think his mom is the most likely thing here. He talks a lot in social media bit not about stuff like that so reports that his family is fine could be unsubstantiated.

 

[Guts]

I don't buy the Gisele thing but it is very possible. She had to have authorized his return so why the quick change of heart? If it's simply a vacation then why is Devin white saying that stuff? Is he guessing? I still think his mom is the most likely thing here. He talks a lot in social media bit not about stuff like that so reports that his family is fine could be unsubstantiated.

Rapaport said that it wasn't health related

 

[TheRainMaker]

Bill’s most aggressive offseason moves at WR that never happened was in 2014 when he was in talks with both Steve Smith and Emmanuel Sanders. Steve Smith was a turd and wanted to sign with the 1st team that contacted him (Ravens). Sanders said Bill was playing too games and decided to sign with Denver.

 

[Bill Lee]

I don't buy the Gisele thing but it is very possible. She had to have authorized his return so why the quick change of heart?

That's how power plays work.

 

[VectorPrime]

Bill’s most aggressive offseason moves at WR that never happened was in 2014 when he was in talks with both Steve Smith and Emmanuel Sanders. Steve Smith was a turd and wanted to sign with the 1st team that contacted him (Ravens). Sanders said Bill was playing too games and decided to sign with Denver.

That was 2013 and Sanders was lost because Bill was cheap and made a $2.5 million offer which Pittsburg had no problem matching with their right of first refusal with him being a RFA.

 

[Deus Irae]

Jensen and Gill are expected to open season on injured reserve, Wirfs has a strained oblique that could impact him at start of season, Neal has an arm injury, unknown timetable. Lots of hamstrings all over. Godwin recovering from knee surgery.

 

[VectorPrime]

Wirfs is the only one that is new and concerning.

 

[Deus Irae]

The 2019 Pats did try to get weapons, they just relied on risks and rookies and they all failed.

First it was reported they wanted to trade for AB but the Steelers refused to send him within conference

They signed Damarious Thomas, resigned Josh Gordon who had developed chemistry with Brady, drafted a Wr in the first rd and signed AB the moment he was cut. Then traded for Sanu with a 2nd rd pick mid season.

You can debate the choices they made but can't debate they tried

While I agree with your point for the most part, and I think most of that year's problems came because of two mistakes with veterans (moving on from Thomas, cutting Brown), and the disaster of that WR draft pick, we can look at that in another way:

1. Gordon was relatively cheap because of his issues.
2. Brown was relatively cheap because of his issues.
3. Thomas was an aging vet who came cheap.

So, yes, BB was willing to make some moves. But BB was still not shopping at the high end.

 

[Deus Irae]

Wirfs is the only one that is new and concerning.

Yeah, I don't like week one games to start with, and adding injuries at key spots makes me like that game even less.