Bucs oust offensive coordinator Leftwich, 5 other assistants
Bucs coach Todd Bowles also announced Chris Boniol (specialists), Kevin Garver (wide receivers), Jeff Kastl (offensive quality control), Lori Locust (assistant defensive line) and Todd McNair (running backs) will not return next season. In addition, quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, senior offensive assistant Rick Christophel and outside linebackers coach Bob Sanders have decided to retire, the team said. He inherited the former coach’s entire staff, including Leftwich, who — like Bowles — joined Tampa Bay as assistants in 2019. Jameis Winston threw for more than 5,000 yards in Leftwich’s first year as Bucs offensive coordinator, however the 2015 No. Meanwhile, Leftwich has gone from being interviewed for several head coaching vacancies a year ago to out of a job.
wftv.comBucs' Brady breaks own NFL mark for completions in a season
ATLANTA — (AP) — Tom Brady broke his own NFL record for most completions in a season, quickly gaining the needed nine connections in Tampa Bay's game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Brady had a record 485 completions with the Buccaneers in 2021. The 45-year-old Brady entered Sunday's game against the Falcons with 477 completions, leaving him only nine away from a new record. The sideline pass gave Brady nine completions on his first 12 attempts and 486 for the season. Brady completed 13 of 17 passes for 84 yards with a touchdown, giving him 490 completions for the season.
wftv.comChiefs kick off Week 18 playing for AFC's No. 1 seed
The NFL is moving forward with the Week 18 schedule during a difficult, emotional week. It’s uncertain whether the Bills-Bengals game will be resumed or canceled so the Chiefs need a win to maintain that top spot. Pro Picks figures Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will want to finish strong following a struggle against the lowly Broncos last week. CHIEFS, 31-17Houston (plus 2 1/2) at IndianapolisThe Texans (2-13-1) need to lose to lock up the No. The Lions (8-8) need a win and loss by Seattle to get in after a 1-6 start.
wftv.comBuccaneers won't rest Tom Brady, other starters in Week 18 matchup with Falcons
But Tom Brady and the rest of their starters aren’t going to take the week off. Brady hasn't done that in the first 22 years of his career, and he's not going to start now. "I haven't missed a game other than my ACL (injury), and then in 2016, I missed the first four games. Like Brady said, he’s missed just a handful of games throughout his career. Brady threw for a season-high 432 yards and four total touchdowns in the Buccaneers' comeback win over the Panthers last week.
wftv.comBowles says it's time Buccaneers decide who they want to be
The first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers can’t afford to take anything for granted in the weak NFC South. The Bucs, at least on paper, appear talented and skilled enough to hold off Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans in a tight division race in which all four teams have losing records with a month left in the regular season. In the aftermath of Sunday’s humbling 35-7 road loss at San Francisco, coach Todd Bowles declared it’s time for his players to “decide what kind of team we want to be.”
news.yahoo.comBucs, Seahawks praise 'electric' atmosphere at Munich game
MUNICH — (AP) — Even in defeat, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll could recognize the special experience of participating in the NFL's first regular-season game in Germany. The Buccaneers beat the Seahawks 21-16, but both sides seemed to appreciate the historic nature of the event. Fans sang “Sweet Caroline” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” toward the end of the game, and stayed to sing some more afterward. Bayern stars Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané and Alphonso Davies were all on hand for the game. Seahawks fan Don Wood, who came to Munich from the state of Washington with his wife and several other friends, was also surprised.
wftv.comBucs, Seahawks praise 'electric' atmosphere at Munich game
Even in defeat, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll could recognize the special experience of participating in the NFL's first regular-season game in Germany. Seattle and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a Bavarian welcome both in the days leading up to the game and during it, highlighted by an energetic capacity crowd of 69,811 at Allianz Arena singing together in the final minutes of the game and afterward. The Buccaneers beat the Seahawks 21-16, but both sides seemed to appreciate the historic nature of the event.
news.yahoo.comBrady: Struggling Bucs need to look in mirror, play better
It’s not difficult to see why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to a disappointing 3-3 start. Tom Brady and a talented but struggling offense have not performed at a consistently high level, particularly in the red zone. A normally reliable defense hasn’t played well, either, during a stretch in which the Bucs have lost three of four games.
news.yahoo.comTom Brady-led Bucs offense has been anything but a 'fantasy land,' and it's why the team is struggling
This team was supposed to be a bonafide Super Bowl contender, but they just look like a regular NFL team that’s trying to balance out the highs and lows of a long season. Looking at the entirety of the Buccaneers' season makes the loss to the Steelers a little more understandable, and also a little more jarring. They almost allowed an Atlanta Falcons offense with no Kyle Pitts to come back from a 21-point, fourth-quarter deficit in Week 5. Brady might not be that guy that can just carry an offense on his shoulders anymore, and the running game certainly isn't helping. A Brady-led offense, of all things, is really struggling to generate points and consistent yards.
wftv.comTodd Bowles says any Bucs living off Super Bowl are 'living in a fantasy land'
A loss like that brings into question where this Buccaneers season is headed. Todd Bowles was critical of his team after the loss, saying that anyone still living off the Super Bowl win two seasons ago is "living in a fantasy land." Number two, I think guys who are living off the Super Bowl are living in a fantasy land, and you gotta get your hands dirty and go to work like everybody else. However Bowles meant it, the message is clear that whatever the Buccaneers are doing isn't working well enough. It did very little against a Steelers team without its top three cornerbacks and All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
wftv.comTodd Bowles explains why Bucs allowed Cameron Brate to continue playing after experiencing head trauma
Only after Brate displayed concussion symptoms at halftime did the Bucs rule him out of the game. The Bucs later announced that Brate had in fact been placed in concussion protocol. TE Cameron Brate is OUT for the remainder of the game (concussion protocol). So the official explanation is that Brate didn't initially complain about concussion symptoms, so the Bucs let him keep playing. By comparison, only three appeared to have been ruled out in Week 3 in concussion protocol.
wftv.comDisplaced Bucs avoid Ian, begin preparation to face Chiefs
Family members, and even some pets, accompanied players and coaches in relocating ahead of the storm making landfall on Florida’s west coast. “The biggest challenge, I think we’ve already cleared, is just keeping their families safe. This is not the first time the Bucs have evacuated players and families with a hurricane approaching. “Everybody that wanted to come could come, familywise and otherwise, including pets,” Bowles said, adding the club initially explored the prospect of moving practice to West Virginia. Where we have to play — hopefully it is Tampa and everything is fine.
wftv.comNFL will keep 'Sunday Night Football' in Tampa Bay for now, but has contingency plan based on Hurricane Ian
The NFL is still hoping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can play "Sunday Night Football" at home against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. The league has not moved the contest yet, but has a contingency plan depending on the severity of Hurricane Ian, according to Judy Battista of NFL.com. — Judy Battista (@judybattista) September 28, 2022The Buccaneers are hoping the game will be played in Tampa Bay. #gobucs #nflnetwork — Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) September 28, 2022The Buccaneers have already experienced some changes as a result of the storm. #gobucs #nflnetwork — Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) September 28, 2022Hurricane Ian is classified as a Category 4 storm and is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
wftv.comBucs leaving for Miami as Hurricane Ian strengthens, threatens Tampa; Chiefs showdown on schedule for — now
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving south as Hurricane Ian intensifies and threatens Central Florida. Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters projected dire consequences for Tampa Bay in a worst-case scenario while speaking with the Tampa Bay Times. The Tampa Bay Ray played their home finale on Sunday and are scheduled to start a nine-game road trip on Tuesday to finish their regular season. Several Florida schools scheduled to host home games on SaturdayFlorida State is scheduled to host Wake Forest on Saturday in Tallahassee. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
wftv.comBucs DT Vita Vea, at 347 pounds, drops into coverage and forces an Aaron Jones fumble
Whatever caused Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles to decide to drop defensive lineman Vita Vea in coverage, it worked out perfectly. He usually doesn't do his best work dropping back into a zone coverage against Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Jones caught a short pass and probably wasn't anticipating Vea being at the goal line to hit him. Vea hit Jones, who lost a fumble. Nowhere on his pre-draft scouting report did it talk about his ability to drop in coverage.
wftv.comBucs' Evans suspended for dust-up with Saints' Lattimore
TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has been suspended without pay for one game for his role in a scuffle that resulted in him and New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore being ejected from the Buccaneers-Saints game. The NFL said Monday that Evans violated unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules by knocking Lattimore to the ground when the Buccaneers star intervened in a confrontation that initially involved Lattimore and Bucs teammates Tom Brady and Leonard Fournette. “You knocked your opponent to the ground and a melee ensued involving players from both teams,” the letter said. It’s not the first suspension of Evans’ career. The other, a one-game ban in 2017, also involved Evans knocking Lattimore to the ground during a Bucs-Saints matchup at the Superdome.
wftv.comBucs' Evans suspended for dust-up with Saints' Lattimore
Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has been suspended without pay for one game for his role in a scuffle that resulted in him and New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore being ejected from the Buccaneers-Saints game. The NFL said Monday that Evans violated unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules by knocking Lattimore to the ground when the Buccaneers star intervened in a confrontation that initially involved Lattimore and Bucs teammates Tom Brady and Leonard Fournette.
news.yahoo.comTom Brady focused on 'opportunity' in front of Buccaneers
TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Tom Brady says he's focused on helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win, not how much longer he may want to play. Brady reiterated he’s focused on the Cowboys, not lingering questions about why he left the team for part of August. We’ve got to do other things and play to the strengths of the players that we have,” Brady said. You have to deal with where you are in the moment and deal with the challenges you face,” Brady added. “Certain guys aren’t here, certain guys are going to get hurt, things are going to happen to teams.
wftv.comBrady looks sharp, Colts backups prevail in preseason finale
INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Tom Brady made a succinct, strong statement in his brief preseason debut. “I’ve played a lot of football in my day — a lot of practices, a lot of games, and a lot of seasons," Brady said. "I’m ready to go.”In his first interview since returning to practice Monday, Brady did not elaborate on why he needed time off. It wasn’t just Brady under the microscope in this preseason finale. Colts: Ryan was 5 of 7 for 59 yards and was sacked once.
wftv.comTom Brady ends 11-day break, rejoins Buccaneers for practice
TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Tom Brady returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, ending what has been described as an 11-day, prearranged break from training camp for personal reasons. “If anybody can get away with the 11-day break during training camp, it’s Tom,” tight end Cameron Brate said. The coach said the break had been planned since well before the start of training camp last month. Bowles said it has not been determined if — or how much — Brady might play in Saturday night’s preseason finale at Indianapolis. Bowles said the biggest thing Brady missed during his time away was some conditioning.
wftv.comBucs coach focused on Titans, not Tom Brady's return date
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — (AP) — The Tennessee Titans must decide if rookie Malik Willis gets a second straight preseason start knowing exactly what they have in veteran Ryan Tannehill. “The plays might not be there all the time, but the mental reps and what he’s getting and making the right play is very important, not just making a wild play and making the right play,” Bowles said. "So it’s been great to have him there.”Tannehill also didn't play when the Titans opened the preseason by losing in Baltimore. ... Bucs right tackle Tristan Wirfs also left practice early with a trainer. ... Titans rookie WR Treylon Burks practiced Thursday after leaving Wednesday's session early, and he wore a sleeve on his left leg.
wftv.comTom Brady taking 11-day break from Bucs for personal reasons
... He’s going to deal with some personal things. This is something we talked about before training camp started. The Bucs will also travel to Nashville for two days of practice ahead of their game against the Titans. “He didn’t want to take away reps from Blaine, Kyle, as well as Griff, as far as going into these next two games. Bowles said his confidence level is “pretty high” that Brady will be in the lineup for next month’s regular-season opener at Dallas.
wftv.comJoint practices allow coaches to hold players out of games
TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Tom Brady will get his reps in joint practices against the Miami Dolphins this week instead of an exhibition game. The teams will hold joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday. “Obviously, with one less preseason game right now, you need to get all the work in that you can get in,” Bowles said about joint practices. Philadelphia will have joint practices with Cleveland and Miami. "If we’re going to play, we should play and play a quarter, a couple of series, two to three series.
wftv.comInjured WR Godwin back on practice field for Buccaneers
Buccaneers Football Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin works with a blocking dummy during an NFL football training camp practice Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Seven months after undergoing knee surgery, Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin is back in pads on the practice field. Godwin, who signed a three-year, $60 million contract in March, worked out in full uniform at training camp Friday — running and catching passes during individual drills, but not participating in team periods. But we’ll keep in touch, and we’ll monitor that.”Godwin hadn’t joined the team on the practice field since December, when he was hurt during a home loss to the New Orleans Saints. “It’s always a plus when he’s in uniform.”Bowles stressed there’s no timetable for Godwin to join full-squad work. “As it goes on, we’ll see.”Godwin finished with a career-best 98 receptions for 1,103 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games last season.
wftv.comBuccaneers center Ryan Jensen out a couple of months with knee injury
Center Ryan Jensen is expected to be out "a couple of months" after sustaining a knee injury during practice Thursday. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said the team doesn't have an official diagnosis yet, but expects to lose Jensen for some time. Here’s Todd Bowles on Ryan Jensen, saying he’ll miss significant time with his knee injury. How can the Buccaneers replace Ryan Jensen? He's started every regular season game with the team since joining the Bucs in 2017.
wftv.comTom Brady is back, but he's hardly the only story for Bucs
TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Tom Brady is back for a 23rd season, his third with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But that’s hardly the only major storyline for the defending NFC South champions as they begin training camp. The Bucs did have another retirement to contend with: tight end Rob Gronkowski, who announced he was stepping away — again — in June. “You can see Julio is with the Bucs, and we’ve got Mike (Evans), we’ve got Tom (Brady), but we’ve all got to put the work in. But Bowles has been a part of the Bucs since 2019, when he became defensive coordinator.
wftv.comTodd Bowles calls replacing Bruce Arians 'bittersweet'
I get to do whatever I want,” Bowles said Thursday, a day after taking over because Bruce Arians moved into a front-office role. So I’m going to do it my way,” Bowles said. “Good players make good coaches so you always want to have good players,” Bowles said. "I understand a lot of things I’ve learned from my coaching experience, especially from him so I’m going to take that approach. I can help people get better and I’m going to use my approach.”___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comBuccaneers defense rises to occasion again in Super Bowl win
Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams, right, during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay’s defense finished its redemption tour with a Super Bowl championship. Brees and the Saints beat Tampa Bay twice during the regular season. By taking down Mahomes in the Super Bowl, the Bucs (15-5) avenged three of their five losses. He also took exception with Tampa Bay having only one Pro Bowl selection on its roster, linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul. “One Pro Bowl player and the team goes on to win the Super Bowl?
Bucs' Arians scoffs at rumors, says he's returning 'for 2'
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)TAMPA, Fla. – Seconds after linebacker Devin White intercepted a pass in the end zone, Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians started doling out hugs. Arians unplugged his headset, slipped on a Super Bowl championship hat and braced for the traditional Gatorade shower. Together, Arians and the 43-year-old Brady helped Tampa Bay win its first championship in 18 years and cemented their spot in the franchise history books. He took a year off and worked in television before returning to the NFL with Tampa Bay — joining a young team he saw as full of potential. His biggest coup was landing Brady, who engineered yet another masterpiece and won his seventh Super Bowl after six titles with the Patriots.
WATCH LIVE: Tom Brady, Bruce Arians discuss Super Bowl victory
The Buccaneers didn't even give him time to skim their defense in the Super Bowl. He was 26 of 49 for 270 yards and two interceptions in a 31-9 blowout that denied the Chiefs back-to-back titles. “They had a good game plan,” said Mahomes, whose quarterback rating of 52.3 was by far the worst of his career. "But credit to them, man, they played a heck of a game offensively and defensively and they beat us." “To the last snap,” Reid said, “he was trying to win that football game.”It was just that kind of night for Mahomes.
Brady, improved defense keys to Bucs winning Super Bowl
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during NFL football practice, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)TAMPA, Fla. – Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t be denied. The 43-year-old six-time Super Bowl champion may no longer be the best quarterback in the NFL, however, he’s shown in his first season with the Bucs that he’s still good enough to lead a team to the NFL title game. You want to make some moves that hopefully get your team into the Super Bowl.
Young Bucs secondary braces for another dose of Tyreek Hill
(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)TAMPA, Fla. – Like most NFL cornerbacks, Carlton Davis plays with a short-term memory but never forgets a bad performance. The third-year pro and the rest of Tampa Bay’s young secondary was dominated by Tyreek Hill during the regular season and are eager to redeem themselves against the speedy Kansas City Chiefs receiver in the Super Bowl. Hill had 13 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-24 victory over the Bucs on Nov. 29. “I play defensive back in the NFL, so you’re going to have your share of losses. I’m going to continue to be a dog and go out there and give it my all,” Davis said.
Chiefs' success big reason why fans will be at Super Bowl
(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)There will be about 25,000 fans inside Raymond James Stadium for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Even when COVID-19 numbers were spiking around the country, the Chiefs never experienced an outbreak traced back to their fans. AdThursday marked the final time talking to the media for the Bucs and Chiefs until after the Super Bowl. BRADY’S PORTUGUESETom Brady's six Super Bowl rings don't protect him from being trash talked in his own home. The fact that it will happen in the Super Bowl?
Check downs? More like checkmate as Chiefs take what's given
Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) between drills during NFL football practice Wednesday February 2, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The casual football fan is likely to describe the Kansas City Chiefs offense this way: a go-for-broke, throw-it-deep highlight reel built around a quarterback with record-setting arm strength and wide receivers boasting Olympic-caliber speed. Some might call all those dink-and-dunk throws “check downs.”AdGiven the Chiefs are playing for a second straight Super Bowl tile Sunday? Ad“That starts with Pat getting the ball out of his hand and allowing us to get upfield and make those moves,” Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins said.
Bieniemy doesn't ask to be 'poster boy' for Black coaches
Bieniemy has become the cause celebre when it comes to minority assistants who have been denied the opportunity to become head coaches in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)Eric Bieniemy has become the cause celebre when it comes to minority assistants who have been denied the opportunity to become NFL head coaches. “I did not ask be the poster boy of this particular situation that I have experienced,” Bieniemy said Tuesday. “I don’t understand everything, I am not an owner, I don’t sit in those meetings to interview head coaches,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. Bieniemy isn’t alone when it comes to minority coordinators in the Super Bowl who didn’t get a head coaching offer this offseason.
Out of Miller's shadow, Barrett aims to follow his footsteps
“He was determined to get it by any means, wouldn’t let failure be an option,” Barrett recounted. Barrett will have a starting — and maybe starring — role in Super Bowl 55 when the Buccaneers (14-5) face Mahomes and the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs (16-2) Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Barrett had a monster debut in Tampa, collecting an NFL-best 19½ sacks, forcing six fumbles and earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2019. Mahomes remembers Barrett in Denver as a player who never let quarterbacks exhale whenever Miller or Chubb tapped out for a breather. He’s got great speed, he’s got great power, he’s got a ton of moves,” Remmers said.