Official 2022 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

[Bill Lee]

Purdy played good. He could be better than JG, but also the Bucs D were bad too. So we'll see.

You could say he played Purdy good...

 

[TBR]

Bottom line on their struggles: the Bucs have won 2 games (almost 3) based on the fact Byron Leftwich was more or less BLOCKED from being able to call plays for the offense. That says it all. The no-hunddle got them wins vs Rams and Saints. And nearly beat Green Bay with it.

It’s hard to win games in the NFL as you’ll often hear, yet the Bucs won 2, ultimately because their OC was blocked from calling plays for his team's TD drives. Instead, Brady and the offense had to do it on the fly... all while dealing with chaotic, time constrained situations with limited availability in routes and plays to run. You can point to various miscues from Brady, the OL, Evans, etc. throughout the season, but nothing is a bigger indictment of their problems on offense than Byron Leftwich.

 

[1960Pats]

AFC South is super trash though.

It's also the reason that the NFCE looks so strong. The AFCS is a combined 1-12 vs the NFCE and 1-2 vs the other NFC teams. Yeow!

 

[1960Pats]

Bottom line on their struggles: the Bucs have won 2 games (almost 3) based on the fact Byron Leftwich was more or less BLOCKED from being able to call plays for the offense. That says it all. The no-hunddle got them wins vs Rams and Saints. And nearly beat Green Bay with it.

It’s hard to win games in the NFL as you’ll often hear, yet the Bucs won 2, ultimately because their OC was blocked from calling plays for his team's TD drives. Instead, Brady and the offense had to do it on the fly... all while dealing with chaotic, time constrained situations with limited availability in routes and plays to run. You can point to various miscues from Brady, the OL, Evans, etc. throughout the season, but nothing is a bigger indictment of their problems on offense than Byron Leftwich.

This is exhibit B of the axiom that coaches don't win games, players do, and that coaches can only lose them. Exhibit A came at the end of the NFCCG last year.

 

[1960Pats]

They didn't read it the same way that's for sure. Evans got behind the defender so it should have been an easy TD.

The pass would have had to be thrown over the defender. Had Brady thrown the ball any more to the right it would have hit the SF player.

 

[VectorPrime]

Vrabel. Start tampering with Brady already. You two are already friends in real life, no one can prove you aren't just talking about the family. Just don't put anything in writing. Titans have now lost 3 in a row to drop to 7-6 despite Derrick Henry going off. Tannehill will be 35 next year, he's not gonna make the leap. He sucks.

Also, Gronk to Nashville? Seems like a good fit...

 

[RicoG]

Vrabel. Start tampering with Brady already. You two are already friends in real life, no one can prove you aren't just talking about the family. Just don't put anything in writing. Titans have now lost 3 in a row to drop to 7-6 despite Derrick Henry going off. Tannehill will be 35 next year, he's not gonna make the leap. He sucks.

Also, Gronk to Nashville? Seems like a good fit...

Yeah, the Titans would be the best fit for Brady that's if he doesn't retire.

Hopefully yesterday was just a one off putrid game that Brady tends to have once a year, and not the definitive decline some have been calling for nearly a decade.

In Brady's defense, the bad throws immediately after banging his hand on the helmet was probably because he couldn't get a firm grip on the ball. The rain probably made it that much harder.

The next game will be telling.

 

[VectorPrime]

Also Vrabel might be coaching for his job after this season. Does he want to ride with freaking Tannehill again?

I do fear that Jimmy G might be in position to co.ckblock Brady which is ironic. It'll be him and Brady who are the only two FA QBs worth a damn unless you want to throw in Baker Mayfield as well which you shouldn't.

 

[Bill Lee]

Vrabel. Start tampering with Brady already. You two are already friends in real life, no one can prove you aren't just talking about the family. Just don't put anything in writing. Titans have now lost 3 in a row to drop to 7-6 despite Derrick Henry going off. Tannehill will be 35 next year, he's not gonna make the leap. He sucks.

The window for TEN was open last season, but in the offseason they paid Tannehill and Henry and did not pay AJ Brown. Their lack of cap space and overall modest talent level means overall IMO they aren't a good fit for Brady. He needs what he got in Tampa, a team that sucked for a solid decade and had stocked up on young talent taken with high draft picks. TEN ain't that, IMO.

Overall, IMO, Toamy should be thinking of life after playing. Is he still going to be an interesting property to FOX after this mediocre season at Tampa then some other late career stop along the lines of Favre on NYJ?

We did notice the blitz of 'what will Tom be doing next season' content on Sunday morning, right? This the kind of thing an agent puts out to stir the pot a bit. It's not hard to imagine that he's already exploring that space. Probably already having some fancy dinners on various yachts, hopefully more discretely this time.

Also, Gronk to Nashville? Seems like a good fit...

I think Gronk is done with his playing days, both physically and mentally.

 

[VectorPrime]

LMFAO the Titans play the AFC South next season. Oh man, Brady HAS to go there. AFC South and NFC South on the schedule. Good lord what an easy landing.

 

[Guts]

LMFAO the Titans play the AFC South next season. Oh man, Brady HAS to go there. AFC South and NFC South on the schedule. Good lord what an easy landing.

Tom should just retire after the season no matter how it ends. This season has been hell for him on and off the field.

 

[Nehalem]

LMFAO the Titans play the AFC South next season. Oh man, Brady HAS to go there. AFC South and NFC South on the schedule. Good lord what an easy landing.

Unfortunately they traded away their one good WR, resulting in their GM getting fired.

 

[VectorPrime]

Tom should just retire after the season no matter how it ends. This season has been hell for him on and off the field.

Oh please, if he wants to keep playing because it's the only thing keeping him going then I'll root him on. I was very clear for years that I wanted the Pats to keep Brady until he went completely over the cliff like Thelma and Louise. Well they didn't, and he's not off the cliff yet.

Like this is such a bizarre borderline concern-troll thing "oh he seems miserable on and off the field please think about your future Tom." He'll be fine money wise whenever he decides to hang it up regardless of whatever he wants to do. If he wants to keep playing for now he should play. Just find a better situation.

 

[crawhammer]

The Titans aren't good enough, even with Brady. He'll be in a similar situation but worse because the AFC is stronger. They'll win that division (because it's not good), probably as a lower seed, and ultimately get bounced by a much better team like Kansas City, Buffalo or Cincinnati. This is what's likely to happen this season, the Bucs will win their division at 9-8, or god forbid 8-9, they may get past the wild card (depending on the matchup), and ultimately get knocked out by SF or Philadelphia.

Brady needs to stay in the NFC because it's the much easier path to the Super Bowl. I wouldn't count out SF yet, Purdy could play like garbage moving forward. The Rams could be an option. Maybe New Orleans (if Payton unretires). Detroit as a dark horse. He probably could return to the Bucs but that's a quickly fading roster that will be even worse next season (especially if they retain Bowles). He'd probably retire if it came down to Tampa Bay being his "best" option.

I suppose they're an incredibly remote chance he returns to New England. If something crazy like finishing the season 0-7 happens then Belichick may be desperate enough to reconsider Brady.

I see retiring as a greater probability then Brady signing with an AFC team. Maybe with the Raiders due to his history with McDaniels but then Brady is exposing himself to losses vs Mahomes which I think he'd rather avoid. Right now, Brady has a big advantage vs Mahomes head-to-head.

 

[VectorPrime]

What even is the Saints roster going forward though? Assuming Michael Thomas can actually stay healthy for once. They'd dump Winston and Dalton and save money there fine. But are they actually, you know, good? Besides QB if Brady goes there and coach if Payton comes back?

 

[TBR]

This is exhibit B of the axiom that coaches don't win games, players do, and that coaches can only lose them. Exhibit A came at the end of the NFCCG last year.

Are you referring to the 49ers/Rams? (I don't remember what happened) Or mistaking the ending of Rams/Bucs as the NFCCG letting Kupp get wide open deep?

 

[VectorPrime]

Saints pass catchers are...ok I guess? Thomas (assuming health so lol), Olave, Kamara are three legit passing targets. Landry is probably washed but idk he's there. No TEs worth a damn though afaik. Is their o-line good?

 

[RicoG]

Tom should just retire after the season no matter how it ends. This season has been hell for him on and off the field.

Brady may not be making all the throws due to a injury. His hand was hurting for awhile during the game and affecting his throws. He still had lasers over the middle.

If instead, Brady is healthy and continues to plays meh over the next month, he'll know and will retire.

 

[crawhammer]

There's something to be said for the hand injury yesterday. It did seem to effect his throws. The second pick I believe looked like he lost his grip on the ball.

 

[crawhammer]

What even is the Saints roster going forward though? Assuming Michael Thomas can actually stay healthy for once. They'd dump Winston and Dalton and save money there fine. But are they actually, you know, good? Besides QB if Brady goes there and coach if Payton comes back?

Saints pass catchers are...ok I guess? Thomas (assuming health so lol), Olave, Kamara are three legit passing targets. Landry is probably washed but idk he's there. No TEs worth a damn though afaik. Is their o-line good?

Kamara is having a down season so who knows if he's starting to decline. They have a few young receivers with upside. Olave is only 22 and he looks like a stud. Who knows about Michael Thomas? Injuries are killing his career. Supposedly he'll be healthy for next season after having toe surgery. The Saints defense is good. But Brady only signs with the Saints if Payton returns.