The preparations for the coming 2025 NFL campaign continue with all franchises now well into their roster building for the gridiron battles that lie ahead, and not least their own pre season build up programmes to ensure that each and every player is in peak physical condition to hit the ground running and naturally, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no different.
61 year old Head coach Todd Bowles has already been long at work ahead of the upcoming campaign where everyone even loosely associated with the Buccaneers will be hoping that this is the year that we can take the next step under his leadership, but our latest capture would certainly have raised eyebrows as we have brought in Florida native and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Fans who like sportsbooks probably did not see this coming, Buccaneers fans who entertain themselves with the likes of crypto casino promotions Betpanda would have been none the wiser either, but here we are.
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The 32 year old has put pen to paper on a one year deal, and the man from Miami has appeared in 79 career games, with 65 starts in his ten years with the NFL so far, and whilst no one in the supporter base will be in anyone expecting him to be the missing link in our ongoing search for true success, he is a sensible pick as a steady and reasonably experienced back up option should the need arise and a massive emergency hits us in the months to come.
That was the line propagated by the Bucs as they announced his arrival, citing his prior time with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions and explaining it simply as his experienced ‘extra arm’ would be useful in all aspects of their plans, whether that was training pitch or the dressing room. Having been handed the No 16 jersey, the Bucs also spoke about his 33-32 career record as a starter, the fact he had a Pro Bowl selection back in 2015 and that his stats read 75 touchdowns, earning a passer rating of 90.5, with 856 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
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He has now been involved with team practice for the first time since his new contract was agreed and the expectation is that it will not take him too long at all to ingratiate himself with the group and settle in and then start playing whatever role they envisage for him moving forward. It should also not be forgotten that this particular move in his career could have quite easily happened a number of years ago as he joked himself it ‘feels like I’m home‘ and went on to reference the fact that it had ‘finally happened’ after they had ‘flirted for years’ which involved the pre draft process, and then speculation back in 2020.
The potential elephant in the room is he has just finished coaching at his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, and whilst he led them to the Class 3A state championship in his debut year, he was also recently suspended following allegations of impermissible benefits being granted to players – nothing major on face value it should be added, these benefit allegations include Uber rides and meals – so hardly the crime of the century. But there will be those who say ‘rules are rules’ and equally those who say ‘well done for protecting the kids’.
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But it will feature as a distraction, even if he plays nothing more than a second fiddle to Baker Mayfield, which everyone expects. But with added successful coaching experience, a wider mindset and different experiences, even second fiddle could be a major advantage as we move forward.
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