OT: Official 2020 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

[Deus Irae]

The Glazers may reaping the financial rewards of having TB12 as their QB1



Waiting List For Season Tickets Returns

 

[Tony2046]

Looks like Brady (and Mahomes???) will be on the cover of Madden this year.





Tom Brady To Make His Madden Debut As A Buccaneer? — Outside Leverage

Noooooo. He's going to break the Madden curse too? What can't he do?

 

[VectorPrime]

Noooooo. He's going to break the Madden curse too? What can't he do?

He was already on the cover of Madden and would have won the Super Bowl if one Malcolm Butler wasn’t benched. Mahomes was on the cover 2 years later and did win the Super Bowl.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

it hilarious clowns like you attempting cerebral nuance

If you find it obnoxious, I must be doing something right

My god, you re pathetic

 

[Tony2046]

He was already on the cover of Madden and would have won the Super Bowl if one Malcolm Butler wasn’t benched. Mahomes was on the cover 2 years later and did win the Super Bowl.

I was just kidding but honestly didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[gobesmug]

There absolutely were people here who loved the TB choice. But, even the biggest fans of a move to Tampa Bay had questions about the Bucs defensive secondary, tight ends, WR depth, and running backs. And most of them had questions about JPP (age), Barrett (one season wonder?) and Suh (Suh gonna Suh in big games).

What happened in Tampa is that most of the questions answered themselves in just about the most positive manner possible. And, for the questions that didn't answer themselves that way, "GM Brady" solved the TE problem ("I want Gronk"), the WR depth problem ("We need AB"), and the RB problem ("Hey, Lenny, come on down!").

And nobody predicted all of that prior to the season. That's why the whole "They were just a QB away" argument is nonsense.

The Bucs had 90+mil of cap space, to go along with a good drafting position.

TE was a luxury. How many teams have 3 TEs capable of starting? OJ and Brate were about the best TE duo, because most teams are lucky to have 1 good TE. OJ was looking great before getting hurt.

Wr, another luxury*. They had the best Wr duo. *Luxury because how many teams have 3 WRs capable of being the #1 Wr on half the teams in the NFL.

JPP and Suh weren't question marks. They were re-signed to continue the top 5 def they had the prior year.

The secondary was young but underrated. Plus with an elite front 7 the secondary doesn't have to be more than average.

The biggest need going into the draft was RT, they were in the perfect range to get one of the top 4 OT, a rookie Safety to compete, and a RB.

The team was solid. AB was a luxury, Gronk elevated an already strong TE core, and Fournette didn't hit his stride until RoJo got hurt and opened the door.

The Bucs were poised for a great run, with the GOAT. It's why they signed him and why Brady wanted to join.

Personally I called Gronk and AB joining Brady wherever he went. So Fournette was the only surprise to me.

 

[IllegalContact]

My god, you re pathetic

nahhh......you’re pathetic

 

[Deus Irae]

The Bucs had 90+mil of cap space, to go along with a good drafting position.

TE was a luxury. How many teams have 3 TEs capable of starting? OJ and Brate were about the best TE duo, because most teams are lucky to have 1 good TE. OJ was looking great before getting hurt.

Wr, another luxury*. They had the best Wr duo. *Luxury because how many teams have 3 WRs capable of being the #1 Wr on half the teams in the NFL.

JPP and Suh weren't question marks. They were re-signed to continue the top 5 def they had the prior year.

The secondary was young but underrated. Plus with an elite front 7 the secondary doesn't have to be more than average.

The biggest need going into the draft was RT, they were in the perfect range to get one of the top 4 OT, a rookie Safety to compete, and a RB.

The team was solid. AB was a luxury, Gronk elevated an already strong TE core, and Fournette didn't hit his stride until RoJo got hurt and opened the door.

The Bucs were poised for a great run, with the GOAT. It's why they signed him and why Brady wanted to join.

Personally I called Gronk and AB joining Brady wherever he went. So Fournette was the only surprise to me.

You got so much of this wrong.


But I'll just point out the one that's probably the most obvious. The idea that adding a 3rd TE was a luxury is absurd. Howard hasn't played a full 16 game season in his 4 years in the league.

 

[VectorPrime]

There were people, even a couple on this forum, who did point out that Tampa had some sneaky upside that wasn’t so apparent by just reading the stats and seeing that they were a bad defensive team on paper statistically. And I also remember more people saying that these people were Brady ball washers and that he went to a team that’s a glass canon where he can put up great stats but lose 38-35 because he no longer cares about winning.

The majority consensus was that Brady went to a subpar losing team because he had no other real options. The minority opinion was that the Bucs had the potential to be better than what most people think but that a lot of things would have to go right. No one on earth thought they were a loaded team.

 

[gobesmug]

You got so much of this wrong.


But I'll just point out the one that's probably the most obvious. The idea that adding a 3rd TE was a luxury is absurd. Howard hasn't played a full 16 game season in his 4 years in the league.

How many teams in the NFL have 2 legitimate starting TEs let alone 3?

Who do the Chiefs have after Kelce?

Tell me all the great TEs that GB has.

Explain to me to the great depth at TE the Saints had last season.

Who did the Pats have at TE to back up Gronk all those years, outside of the 1 year they had Bennett? Even when they had Hernandez who did they have to back up those 2 in case of injury?

TE was not a need for the Bucs, they even had a decent backup in Hudson that would have been our starting TE last year.

The reason they took Gronk wasn't because he was needed for depth, but because he is a HOF talent that overall, including blocking, is still a top 5 TE. IMO he his is still best overall TE in the game.

 

[Tony2046]

How many teams in the NFL have 2 legitimate starting TEs let alone 3?

Who do the Chiefs have after Kelce?

Tell me all the great TEs that GB has.

Explain to me to the great depth at TE the Saints had last season.

Who did the Pats have at TE to back up Gronk all those years, outside of the 1 year they had Bennett? Even when they had Hernandez who did they have to back up those 2 in case of injury?

TE was not a need for the Bucs, they even had a decent backup in Hudson that would have been our starting TE last year.

The reason they took Gronk wasn't because he was needed for depth, but because he is a HOF talent that overall, including blocking, is still a top 5 TE. IMO he his is still best overall TE in the game.

Most thought Gronk was done after the 2018 season and that the injuries had caught up to him. Imo, they brought Gronk in because Brady wanted him and hoped that Gronk could give them a little something now and then. Turns out he had a lot left in the tank.

 

[Tony2046]

There were people, even a couple on this forum, who did point out that Tampa had some sneaky upside that wasn’t so apparent by just reading the stats and seeing that they were a bad defensive team on paper statistically. And I also remember more people saying that these people were Brady ball washers and that he went to a team that’s a glass canon where he can put up great stats but lose 38-35 because he no longer cares about winning.

The majority consensus was that Brady went to a subpar losing team because he had no other real options. The minority opinion was that the Bucs had the potential to be better than what most people think but that a lot of things would have to go right. No one on earth thought they were a loaded team.

I'll have to go back and look but I recall more than a few posters thinking that signing Brady made the Bucs a Super Bowl contender or at least a playoff team. But I don't think anyone thought that they would win it all in Brady's first year.

 

[amfootball]

The only positive thing about the Bucs you heard a year ago was Evans and Godwin. And they were talked about so much because Brady played with the worst set of receivers in 2019.

Most thought Arians was a clown. And Todd Bowles, please. We made fun of the guy non-stop when he was the Jets HC.

No one thought the Bucs were a Qb away from a SB. And most thought Arians system would be a disaster for Brady. The only real positive people kept saying is Brady won't throw 30 picks like Winston. NO ONE predicted 40 TDs or a playoff run on the road beating the Saints, GB and then destroying Mahomes in the SB.

The revisionist history as usual is stunning.

 

[gobesmug]

The only positive thing about the Bucs you heard a year ago was Evans and Godwin. And they were talked about so much because Brady played with the worst set of receivers in 2019.

Most thought Arians was a clown. And Todd Bowles, please. We made fun of the guy non-stop when he was the Jets HC.

No one thought the Bucs were a Qb away from a SB. And most thought Arians system would be a disaster for Brady. The only real positive people kept saying is Brady won't throw 30 picks like Winston. NO ONE predicted 40 TDs or a playoff run on the road beating the Saints, GB and then destroying Mahomes in the SB.

The revisionist history as usual is stunning.

Todd Bowls was respected by a lot on this board. His ability as a DC was never laughable. In 2019 the Bucs with all advanced metrics were a top 5 def.

He was the HC for one of the worst run organizations, which is why Bill didn't want to be the HC there and resigned to sign with the Pats instead.

It's not revisionist. They had an elite front 7 with Vea, Suh, JPP, the league leading sack artist in Shaq, Lavonte David who has always been one of the best LBs in the league, White who was starting to bloom in the second half the season.

They didn't just have 2 WRs, they also had 2 TEs, and RoJo broke out in the second half the season.

That was a strong team which only had a few holes to fill, which they did with FA and the draft.

The Bucs would have looked even better if Covid didn't ruin the off-season program and training camp.

 

[IllegalContact]

Most thought Gronk was done after the 2018 season and that the injuries had caught up to him. Imo, they brought Gronk in because Brady wanted him and hoped that Gronk could give them a little something now and then. Turns out he had a lot left in the tank.

Gronk is gone.....there is no Gronk

 

[Nehalem]

Brady sticking it to Bill here. LOL

In Tom Brady‘s 21-year NFL career, he has played 20 seasons for Bill Belichick and one for Bruce Arians. Reflecting on that one, Brady said Arians has been great to play for.

“He’s a great motivator — he’s got a great feel for the team — a great pulse for what’s going on in a locker room, great intuition, great evaluation of talent,” Brady said on Good Morning America. “When you’re in one place for 20 years, you think that’s the only way, and I think when you go to a different place you realize, ‘wow — there’s another way that people do things.'”

Tom Brady on Bruce Arians: Great motivator, great feel for the team

In Tom Brady's 21-year NFL career, he has played 20 seasons for Bill Belichick and one for Bruce Arians.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

I don't know.

I feel like BB would have been happy to have Tom Brady, Antonio Brown, and Rob Gronkowski on the Patriots

 

[amfootball]

Todd Bowls was respected by a lot on this board. His ability as a DC was never laughable. In 2019 the Bucs with all advanced metrics were a top 5 def.

He was the HC for one of the worst run organizations, which is why Bill didn't want to be the HC there and resigned to sign with the Pats instead.

It's not revisionist. They had an elite front 7 with Vea, Suh, JPP, the league leading sack artist in Shaq, Lavonte David who has always been one of the best LBs in the league, White who was starting to bloom in the second half the season.

They didn't just have 2 WRs, they also had 2 TEs, and RoJo broke out in the second half the season.

That was a strong team which only had a few holes to fill, which they did with FA and the draft.

The Bucs would have looked even better if Covid didn't ruin the off-season program and training camp.

No one had the Bucs winning their division much less making a run to the SB on the road. The Saints were better than them and the Packers.
They had a talented team in some areas but they were by no means a powerhouse and Brady going there was not something the talking heads or even most Brady fans on this board thought would result in a SB championship in year one blowing out Mahomes in the SB on top in a Covid season. The only poster I remember really believing in them toward the end of the season was SB1. LOL.

Brady was the one that attracted the FAs to come there and of course Licht having another stellar draft with Wirfs and Winfield helped put them over the top. But even when the playoffs started, most had then beating WFT and then losing badly to the Saints. That would have been considered a pretty good season in year one. Win 11 games, win a playoff game and then bow out to your division rival who owned you all season. But Brady got that team believing and they put together their best game of the season up until that point when they played the Saints.

And then very few if any had them going into GB in winning given Rodgers was MVP and playing at home for the first time in his career for the NFCCG and again the Bucs rose to the occasion. Probably their best win of the season until they destroyed the Chiefs on both sides of the ball to win the chip.

So this notion that this was some "dream team" or "Lebron-esque" team cake walking to the SB is complete non-sense. They did not look like a contender at all until they beat the Saints in the playoffs and even then they had to still face the Packers and Chiefs to actually win it and were underdogs in those games. It was an amazing season in totality that was capped off by having the GOAT QB getting everyone on the same page believing. The owner said as much when he accepted the Lombardi trophy.

 

[Pats1971]

Noooooo. He's going to break the Madden curse too? What can't he do?

He actually already did this. He was on the Madden cover already before.

 

[Pats1971]

Todd Bowls was respected by a lot on this board. His ability as a DC was never laughable. In 2019 the Bucs with all advanced metrics were a top 5 def.

He was the HC for one of the worst run organizations, which is why Bill didn't want to be the HC there and resigned to sign with the Pats instead.

It's not revisionist. They had an elite front 7 with Vea, Suh, JPP, the league leading sack artist in Shaq, Lavonte David who has always been one of the best LBs in the league, White who was starting to bloom in the second half the season.

They didn't just have 2 WRs, they also had 2 TEs, and RoJo broke out in the second half the season.

That was a strong team which only had a few holes to fill, which they did with FA and the draft.

The Bucs would have looked even better if Covid didn't ruin the off-season program and training camp.

They had not won a playoff game in 18 years...they had the worst record in football the last 5 years. They went 7-9 last year. We need to stop pretending Brady went to some dominating team and jumped on the superbowl train. That team didnt even know how to win and said as much.

 

[Pats1971]

No one had the Bucs winning their division much less making a run to the SB on the road. The Saints were better than them and the Packers.
They had a talented team in some areas but they were by no means a powerhouse and Brady going there was not something the talking heads or even most Brady fans on this board thought would result in a SB championship in year one blowing out Mahomes in the SB on top in a Covid season. The only poster I remember really believing in them toward the end of the season was SB1. LOL.

Brady was the one that attracted the FAs to come there and of course Licht having another stellar draft with Wirfs and Winfield helped put them over the top. But even when the playoffs started, most had then beating WFT and then losing badly to the Saints. That would have been considered a pretty good season in year one. Win 11 games, win a playoff game and then bow out to your division rival who owned you all season. But Brady got that team believing and they put together their best game of the season up until that point when they played the Saints.

And then very few if any had them going into GB in winning given Rodgers was MVP and playing at home for the first time in his career for the NFCCG and again the Bucs rose to the occasion. Probably their best win of the season until they destroyed the Chiefs on both sides of the ball to win the chip.

So this notion that this was some "dream team" or "Lebron-esque" team cake walking to the SB is complete non-sense. They did not look like a contender at all until they beat the Saints in the playoffs and even then they had to still face the Packers and Chiefs to actually win it and were underdogs in those games. It was an amazing season in totality that was capped off by having the GOAT QB getting everyone on the same page believing. The owner said as much when he accepted the Lombardi trophy.

Yeah this is always the after its over, effect. Nobody thought the Tampa who had zero playoff wins in 18 years was going to win the superbowl. The talking heads had them losing every playoff game before the game happened. No chance they can stand up to that Wash defense. No way they can go on the road with the saints who beat them twice. No way they can go to lambeau. No way they can beat the chiefs. Its so silly to hear now that Brady just went to some juggernaut that was tearing up the league for years so he could steal a ring. The entire team and coaching staff all the way to the owner know what Brady brought them and have said as much.