Via Sports Talk Florida
Special to Bucs Report
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to give Tom Brady everything he needs to compete for another championship.
Free agent receiver Russell Gage and guard Shaq Mason, acquired in a trade from the New England Patriots on Friday, are the latest additions to a revamped roster that’s taken form since Brady ended his brief retirement.
Gage’d Talent
Gage, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons, signed a three-year, $30 million contract and is expected to become the Buccaneers No. 3 receiver behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
It's official ✍️@GageRussell | #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/VlLWDRpMxb
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 18, 2022
A Bargain
Mason, obtained for a fifth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, joins the Buccaneers after playing seven seasons in New England. He was part of two of the six Super Bowl titles Brady won with the Patriots.
Welcome to Tampa Bay, @ShaqDiesel_70!#GoBucs
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 18, 2022
Gage started 21 of 61 games he appeared in with Atlanta after entering the league as a sixth-round draft pick in 2018. He had 66 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns in 2021, with 50 of those catches for 661 yards and three TDs coming over the final eight games.
GOAT On Line Two
He was weighing his options in free agency when got a phone call this week from Brady. That seems to have been what sold him on signing with the Buccaneers.
“Definitely caught me off guard. … For a minute I thought it was a prank. He just told me about what they have here in Tampa By and he wanted me to be a part of it,” Gage said. “Honestly, he didn’t have to say much. But he definitely had me hooked after that.”
Gage, who has 193 receptions for 2,065 yards and nine TDs, is also excited about playing with Evans and Godwin, who he’s followed closely as division rivals.
“As a receiver, you watch guys and you try to learn things,” Gage said. “I’ve always admired he way they jell together as teammates, as players.”
Filling A Need, And Then Some
Mason, meanwhile, addresses one of two openings on the offensive line. These openings were created by the unexpected retirement of Pro Bowl guard Ali Marpet and loss of the team’s other starting guard, Alex Cappa, in free agency.
The eighth-year pro appeared in 103 regular-season games with New England. He’s also started all 13 playoff games he’s played in his career.
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
For more on this and everything Buccaneers check back here hourly at BucsReport.com.
