Official 2022 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

[VectorPrime]

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

To be fair the Cowboys are in a worse spot injury wise and I think Zeke is cooked.

 

[Deus Irae]

Arians, according to JoeBucsFan.com, was “seen talking more and more to [Tom] Brady on the practice field, and Brady was seen going to him” in the days before Brady embarked on his ongoing, open-ended, training-camp hiatus. One assistant coach suggested to JoeBucsFan.com that Brady possibly misses the “constant feedback” from Arians.

Bruce Arians has become more involved in coaching Buccaneers quarterbacks - ProFootballTalk

 

[RicoG]

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

Sure they gave it a half hearted try, but not really if they wanted to be a SB contender. Dumpster diving for talent wasn't being serious.

Deus Ira makes some good points earlier and to add to it:
- 1st round WRs rarely make a big impact in their rookie year. Anything more than WR3 would have been a bonus. Nkeal wasn't even that.
- several garbage tight ends to replace Gronk.
- nothing to help a struggling with injuries Edelman. Could have traded for Amendola and given him a nice pay raise to shut him up about BB being cheap.
- Speaking of Amendola, they got rid of him cause they didn't want to pay his $5 mil per year salary while paying Edelman his 6 million or whatever salary. In contrasts, instead of getting rid of one of their two WR1s, the Bucs decided just to pay Evans his 16 mil and Godwin his 20 mil.
- When the 2019 Pats looked for an over the hill veteran, they looked at 2nd rate veterans that were cheap and had nothing left. In contrast, the 2022 Bucs got the best available in the midst of a bidding war with other teams in Julio Jones. At 6 million plus incentives, he isn't cheap either.

 

[RicoG]

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.

The Bucs have the talent to contend for another couple years before the wheels fall off as long as they get a still good aging veteran QB. The Bucs did it. The Rams have done it with Stafford while the Colts are trying it with Ryan, and Broncos with Wilson.

It's not a bad strategy. Contend for a few years, then rebuild for a decade, then contend again.

 

[RicoG]

And while we're on the subject of QBs I must say I've been a little impressed with Stidham. He sure as heck looks better than Cant Newton did.

Cam Newton was so bad, it almost made it seem like the 2020 Pats got him to tank the season.

As for Mac, I think he'll be pretty hard to evaluate in the QB pecking order until he has at least a middle of the pack WR/TE room. I think the ceiling of the WR/TE room is in the middling middle but the floor is close to bottom.

 

[gobesmug]

Sure they gave it a half hearted try, but not really if they wanted to be a SB contender. Dumpster diving for talent wasn't being serious.

Deus Ira makes some good points earlier and to add to it:
- 1st round WRs rarely make a big impact in their rookie year. Anything more than WR3 would have been a bonus. Nkeal wasn't even that.
- several garbage tight ends to replace Gronk.
- nothing to help a struggling with injuries Edelman. Could have traded for Amendola and given him a nice pay raise to shut him up about BB being cheap.
- Speaking of Amendola, they got rid of him cause they didn't want to pay his $5 mil per year salary while paying Edelman his 6 million or whatever salary. In contrasts, instead of getting rid of one of their two WR1s, the Bucs decided just to pay Evans his 16 mil and Godwin his 20 mil.
- When the 2019 Pats looked for an over the hill veteran, they looked at 2nd rate veterans that were cheap and had nothing left. In contrast, the 2022 Bucs got the best available in the midst of a bidding war with other teams in Julio Jones. At 6 million plus incentives, he isn't cheap either.

AB was cheap for the Bucs in 20 and 21. It worked great for 20 not so much for 21.

The 19 season issue was that too many risks were made on the offensive side of the ball and they all failed.

First they got cute negotiating with Adam Humphreys and botched it. Although that was good because he would have been a bust signing.

They waited on Gronk to make his retirement decision missing out on the only decent vet TE in Cook.

The one I hated the most was the draft. AJ Brown was the most pro ready Wr and yelling when Nkeal Harry was picked over him and DJ Metcalf. Just think if AJ Brown was taken how much better that offense is.

Demarious Thomas was good the first few games of the season playing for Jets, they should have kept him over Josh Gordon.

AB should not have been cut once they signed him and cut Thomas.

They could have AJ Brown and AB on the outside with Edelman in the slot.

Instead Kraft due to his * scandle had AB cut and due to Bill's sucking at drafting WRs the 2019 offense failed.

It was a missed year due to poor drafting by Bill and poor decision making by Kraft

 

[sb1]

Todd Bowles: I know exactly when Tom Brady is coming back

Todd Bowles is attempting to put the proverbial toothpaste back in the tube.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

 

[Deus Irae]

The Bucs have the talent to contend for another couple years before the wheels fall off as long as they get a still good aging veteran QB. The Bucs did it. The Rams have done it with Stafford while the Colts are trying it with Ryan, and Broncos with Wilson.

It's not a bad strategy. Contend for a few years, then rebuild for a decade, then contend again.

And nobody needs to be down for a decade. The key to any rebuild in today's NFL is to get the QB.

 

[Deus Irae]

Blaine Gabbert will make this second consecutive start for the Bucs, Scott Reynolds of pewterreport.com reports. Gabbert spent 2018 with the Titans, going 2-1 as the starter.

But third quarterback Kyle Trask is expected to take most of the snaps, per Reynolds. He played 61 snaps last week to 13 for Gabbert.

Blaine Gabbert to start against the Titans, but Kyle Trask will take most of the reps - ProFootballTalk

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Who had TFB "The Masked Singer" for 2022?
This simulation sucks!

 

[TheRainMaker]

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.

No, they spoke in 2014 as well when he was an UFA. Sanders said Bill jerked him around. His agent said Bill was being cheap. Sanders asked Bill if he gave him the same contract he gave Amendola, he'd sign with the Pats. Bill didn't so Sanders went to Denver.

 

[TheRainMaker]

First they got cute negotiating with Adam Humphreys and botched it. Although that was good because he would have been a bust signing.

Glad that signing never happened.

They waited on Gronk to make his retirement decision missing out on the only decent vet TE in Cook.

Cook said he ditched the Pats because Gronk was taking too long.

Demarious Thomas was good the first few games of the season playing for Jets, they should have kept him over Josh Gordon.

Gordon should've never been brought back for what he did to the team in 2018.

AB should not have been cut once they signed him and cut Thomas.

They traded Thomas to the Jets - which really upset Thomas.

 

[Bill Lee]

Sure they gave it a half hearted try, but not really if they wanted to be a SB contender. Dumpster diving for talent wasn't being serious.

Deus Ira makes some good points earlier and to add to it:
- 1st round WRs rarely make a big impact in their rookie year. Anything more than WR3 would have been a bonus. Nkeal wasn't even that.
- several garbage tight ends to replace Gronk.
- nothing to help a struggling with injuries Edelman. Could have traded for Amendola and given him a nice pay raise to shut him up about BB being cheap.
- Speaking of Amendola, they got rid of him cause they didn't want to pay his $5 mil per year salary while paying Edelman his 6 million or whatever salary. In contrasts, instead of getting rid of one of their two WR1s, the Bucs decided just to pay Evans his 16 mil and Godwin his 20 mil.
- When the 2019 Pats looked for an over the hill veteran, they looked at 2nd rate veterans that were cheap and had nothing left. In contrast, the 2022 Bucs got the best available in the midst of a bidding war with other teams in Julio Jones. At 6 million plus incentives, he isn't cheap either.

The theme here seems to be "pay everyone, it'll be all right". Well, look at the 2023 Bucs salary cap, keeping in mind it's likely TB12 is working for Fox next year and they're going to not only take the salary cap hit for him, but also pay someone else who can play at a starter level.

 

[Guts]

The theme here seems to be "pay everyone, it'll be all right". Well, look at the 2023 Bucs salary cap, keeping in mind it's likely TB12 is working for Fox next year and they're going to not only take the salary cap hit for him, but also pay someone else who can play at a starter level.

Rams/Saints/Chiefs have worked around it. I'm not sure if salary cap is fake, but Andrew Brandt ex GM of the Packers said that its something called "cash over cap". Owners pay upfront the bonuses and team keeps pushing the cap down the road. You do have to hit on draft picks or else it catches up to you

 

[Bill Lee]

Rams/Saints/Chiefs have worked around it. I'm not sure if salary cap is fake, but Andrew Brandt ex GM of the Packers said that its something called "cash over cap". Owners pay upfront the bonuses and team keeps pushing the cap down the road. You do have to hit on draft picks or else it catches up to you

I think it also makes it hard to have decent depth since your spending goes towards a small number of big-name players and less to "middle class" players. If the big-name players end up missing games with injuries the strategy falls apart.

Also, having big money in WRs makes sense when you have a QB that can get them the ball, but what about next year when TB12 is working for Fox? Tampa will still be on the hook for expensive WRs since the cap-over-cash strategy makes for big dead-cap hits when you want to change the direction of the team. So, they need to find a good QB for next season, and chances are that too will need a big spend to resolve. TB12's departure will mean no more "team discounts" from the players they want to keep.

 

[Guts]

I think it also makes it hard to have decent depth since your spending goes towards a small number of big-name players and less to "middle class" players. If the big-name players end up missing games with injuries the strategy falls apart.

Also, having big money in WRs makes sense when you have a QB that can get them the ball, but what about next year when TB12 is working for Fox? Tampa will still be on the hook for expensive WRs since the cap-over-cash strategy makes for big dead-cap hits when you want to change the direction of the team. So, they need to find a good QB for next season, and chances are that too will need a big spend to resolve. TB12's departure will mean no more "team discounts" from the players they want to keep.

Good points.

I think ultimately Tampa is okay with the Brady experiment even if it means they're cap strapped for the next few years. They got a SB and the value of the team went up a lot when Tom got there.

 

[amfootball]

Cam Newton was so bad, it almost made it seem like the 2020 Pats got him to tank the season.

As for Mac, I think he'll be pretty hard to evaluate in the QB pecking order until he has at least a middle of the pack WR/TE room. I think the ceiling of the WR/TE room is in the middling middle but the floor is close to bottom.

Thornton is out 8 weeks.

 

[Deus Irae]

We don't know how long Wirfs is out. Stinnie wasn't necessarily a starter, but DSmith and Mason are the only intended starters we know are healthy. Hainsey has stepped in at center, but LG still a big question mark.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bucs guard Aaron Stinnie down on the field, trainers attending to him.

A player went into Stinnie's left knee during the play. Didn't look good.

Aaron Stinnie carted off the field. Wasn't bending his left leg or putting any weight on it. Has been competing for the starting left guard job.

 

[Deus Irae]

Arians, asked on WFLA broadcast if he's worried at all about Tom Brady being back and starting in the season opener in 22 days: "Not in the slightest."