February 20, 2025 • 26 mins
Team Reporter Casey Phillips, Senior Writer & Editor Scott Smith and Staff Writer/Reporter Bri Dix talk about all the latest Bucs news in this week's edition of Bucs Insider. The team discussed Chris Godwin's contract update and potential OLB free agents that could be a good fit for the Buccaneers.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome into Books Insider, coming to you from the Buck Studio,
presented by ticketmaster Casey Phillips here with senior writer and
editor Scott Smith and staff writer Breed Dix. Another off
season edition of The Insider, which means we're of course
talking about things like free agency, like the draft, and
we got some interesting news that's also not news about
Chris Godwin. But at this point everyone will take any
crumble of anything that we could get about what's happening
(00:22):
with Chris Godwin. So I will fully admit that all
the stuff with the salary cap confuses me to this day,
ten years of working here, and I have so much
admiration for Jackie, for Mike up there in the office
doing what they do. Tell me the morsel of information
we got risplain in larger detail.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
First of all, it does feel like good news, and
it is actually technically news because it was an actual
transaction sent up to the league which happened over the weekend,
or the agreement was made over the weekend. So I'll
start from the beginning in twenty twenty two, Chris Godwin,
remember he got franchise tag for the second year in
a row, and then a week later, they he came
to terms with the team on a new three year.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Contract, which is great.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
It was awesome outcome that ran twenty twenty two through
this year. But, as is commonly the case these days
for cap reasons, that three year contract also had three
automatic voiding years on the end, twenty five through twenty seven,
And what that allows you to do is spread out
the cap hit, so it spread out over six years,
but then when that automatically voids, whatever's left in those
(01:24):
three years accelerates to right then. So in Chris's case,
if he becomes a free agent, the Buccaneers will have
a dead cap hit at eighteen million dollars. So you
set a specific date for when those years void, and
when they signed that contract back in twenty twenty two,
they made the date twenty three days before the start
of free agency, specifically because that would be one day
(01:44):
before the franchise tag window opens. You have to be
able to use a franchise taging player. That player has
to not have a contract for the next year, and
even though it was going to automatically void, the contract
did exist for twenty twenty five, so it had to
be avoided before the franchise tag, or you couldn't use
a franchise tag.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
You're with me so far?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
So, over the weekend, with the franchise tag window arriving
on Tuesday, the Buccaneers and Chris Guywin agreed to change
the date of the voiding contract to March twelfth, which
is the day the new league year begins at four pm.
So what that did was it removed the possibility of
using the franchise tag on Chris Guywin because he's now
(02:27):
technically still in the contract in twenty twenty five. Right, So,
but that wasn't really a big deal because we were
probably never going to use the franchise tag because it
would be his third time.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
He would make jillions of Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Well, specifically either one hundred and forty four percent of
his salary last year or the quarterback franchise tag number.
You do not want to give a quarterback franchise tag
to a wide receiver. It would have been about forty
four million, forty one million dollars. He's a great player,
but is there a receiver making forty one million? It's
the highest run thirty right.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, that would be wild.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
So this what it does is it gives the Bucks
and Chris Godwin longer to negotiate exclusively before freegency begins,
which and.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
We've seen that's gone well in the past when they yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well, time to talk about To me, it signifies that
both sides are interested in getting a deal done. And
I don't see exactly what Chris gets out of this
for himself other than just more time to negotiate with
the Bucks. So to me, I don't know what Chris
Godwin is thinking.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
No assumptions, No, you can't.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Make an assumption, but it sure seems like if you're
going to make that move, you are interested in trying
to gauge.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Yeah. Yeah, I think that's a great sign and I
think that this is also one of those moments where
it's cool to know as we talked about the replacing
of Liam Cohen with someone who was already in house
and for that consistency, Chris is someone that I imagine that
mattered a great deal too, because we saw the difference
in how he gets used in different offenses and how
successful he was in Liam Cohens that prior to that
(03:57):
injury going crazy. So now have to think, okay, well,
I imagine Josh Grizzard saw how well that went, and
therefore the Chris scene that Josh Gizzard is the guy
that everyone's kind of like, we all know how well
this could go. And I'm sure that played a really
big factor. And again, yeah, Chris before that injury was
just having the most incredible year.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Yeah, and you know who could use a receiver other
than us the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
So everybody's making that connection.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's great to see Liam Cohen be like, I want
that guy. He's my Cooper Cup. But your point is
very good one there. This would offer him continuity here
obviously the only team he's ever played for. I think
him and his wife loved the community, right, the community
loves them back.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And the fact that Josh Grizzard got the job and
the Offen Street.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I would assume Josh can guarantee it, Chris that you
are going to be in that same role, right.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Right, That's true. Yeah, And let's go ahead and listen
to when Josh Grizzard was asked about the idea of
if he was pulling for Chris Godwin to get resign.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
I love Chris, as you guys know, Chris is as
good of a human being and football players, you're gonna
be around. He was a huge asset to us last
year being a coach on the field and playing all
those different roles. I think he's leading the league and
catches yards, yards after catch when he got hurt. And
I love Chris to death, but Jason and Todd, they
have a proven track record with the roster here, so
(05:21):
let those guys handle that.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
So obviously, as we all do tons of admiration for Chris,
he knows to leave it to the experts at this area.
But I'm sure he's sitting there like, please, I would
love this guy to be back here and be part
of this offense. And Bri, you just tell us a
little bit about what you've noticed of what this offense
last year meant to Chris. What he meant to this offense.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
Well, one of the things too that you look at
and I think why it was so devastating when he
was carted off was I mean at the time of injury,
I mean he was leading the NFL in yards after
catch I think yards and then catches as well, so
he was on pace to potentially get that triple Crown,
was having the best year of his career arguably, and
(06:06):
really this offense is predicated on Mike Evans. His ability
on the outside is that deep threat, whether it's the
back shoulder catches that he makes or the physicality. His
high point ability bil with Chris Godwin out of the
slot with the things that he's able to do, his
quickness in and out of breaks, whether it's the crossers,
the corners, the wheel routes, the option routes, all those things.
(06:29):
He's really great on those two way goes and kind
of exploiting when DB's give him that free release. But
just can't say enough credit to this coaching staff and
their ability to even when you didn't have Mike Evans,
you didn't have Chris Godwin, their ability to supplement the
production of those guys, whether it was getting Katten more
involved and having him kind of run some of those
(06:50):
routes that he's been able to run. We just weren't
really able to see him run some of those things,
but you kind of got to see how much of
like a well versut how tight end he is. But
then also getting Jalen McMillan more involved and having him
kind of have an opportunity to do both those things.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Whether it was some of.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
The deep opportunities he had or his ability out of
the slot, and then Sterling Shepherd as well. So I
think it's exciting just to see the continuity that they're
gonna be able to have some of the rubiage the
same and things that are able to translate from last year.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
And obviously it'll be his system.
Speaker 5 (07:25):
He'll probably incorporate some little nuances and some different things.
But I think, as we mentioned earlier, but one of
my main takeaways from his press conference was too just
you weren't starting from scratch, and so now they're gonna
be able to fine tune a little bit of those details.
And I think part of that is gonna be looking
at ways for Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, if you know,
(07:48):
they get that long term Deill done, and being able
to use those guys to exploit defenses.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Absolutely, When you think of Mike Evans the quintessential Mike
Evans play, it's like the back shoulder fade and it
right gets Carolina last year. When I think of Chris
Godwin in the quintessential play Chris Godwin play, what I
picture in my mind is it's third and twelve. They
throw them the tunnel screen. You don't expect them to
get the first down and it takes five perfect lanes.
(08:15):
It just makes the subtle little moves to get those lanes.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
And you see him.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
You're watching the marker and you see him and he
gets there and you're like, he did it again.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
He did? Yeah? I completely agree. And so you brought
up the idea of how Chris Godwin most likely not
going to be a franchise tall camp be now, But
even before then we knew probably not an idea that
we were pursuing on that front. Is there anyone else
we're seeing? And also, just what does that mean the
deadline now of other people for not using it on him?
Are there other people that it gets open to do
you see that happening? And just how prevalent is that
(08:44):
going to be this free agency time around, normally for
the Bucks but for other teams.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Yeah, the franchise tag window open on Tuesday and goes
through March fourth, but I don't think the Buccaneers have
a candidate for it. You know, it's not to say
there aren't good players that are potential free agents, but
it's just a matter of where they are in their career,
how long they're going to play, you know what they're
likely to make, and it just we don't have a
guy that's right in that sweet spot. And really, we
have not been afraid to use the franchise tag. We've
(09:11):
used it in four of the last five years, but
it was always on a player still fairly early in
his career, like Shaq Barrett coming off his nineteen and
a half sax season, and then Chris twice and then
last year Antoine Winfield, and it's a guy that you
are are trying to extend the negotiating period to get
a longer contract. And all those guys did eventually get
a longer contract. So if you were to say Levante David, well,
(09:32):
Levante seems to be going year by year right now
in his career right and I don't think that necessarily
both sides you're looking for like a new three or
four year deal, so you're probably not You're probably not
using it at Levante, And then I just don't think
we have a guy.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
And really it's a kind of a weird year.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
There's only been one year since the franchise tags came
into existence in nineteen ninety three that no team has
used one.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
But that's that's a possibility this year.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
It's crazy, that's so long. Yeah, to go with this not.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
I think it was nice ninety six if I remember correctly,
but just one time and you look around the league
and you just don't see a lot of players in
the right position. I guess most likely is T Higgins.
There's reports that Cincinnati will tag if they can't get
a deal done, but they might get a deal done
and not even have to do that. Sam Darnold maybe
in Minnesota. But it's very possible that there are no
tags this year, and usually there's between like six and eight.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, you said it was ninety six the last time
this happened.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I think it's nice.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
This is where I asked Bree how old she was
your favorite? Can that be our new segment of how
old was bri? I already loved football already, It was
right she was paying attention to those franchise tags one
hundred percent. So now, also as we talk about free agency,
that also means the draft is right around the corner.
Everyone's favorite time of year, so much to talk about,
(10:44):
which also means mock draft season is here. Forget off season.
That's what we should call it. Mock draft season, which
also we just started our Path to the Draft series
this week, so make sure you check that out. We're
going to be doing that each week of a few
different things of whether it's looking at mock drafts, whether
it's looking film of some potential guys. You guys to
use a clicker, you felt like the real scout of
there fast forward and backward. That's really the whole reason
(11:06):
we do the show is to give Scott the clicker.
So let's talk a little bit about the mock draft season.
I know you guys are both participating in it as well,
So tell me about these initial ones here.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
You just went up yesterday. Why don't you go first?
Speaker 5 (11:17):
It did? I went with and I I I do
have to admit that I kind of purposely placed it
because I just really like this guy, So.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
I purposely made.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
I know, I know, and I would just practice it
by saying that I really don't think Mike Green out
of Marshall is even going to be available at nineteen
with the way things are falling. But he is a
guy that has just risen on mock's risen on draft boards,
and it's because of his incredible performance at the Senior.
Speaker 6 (11:48):
Bowl and mobile.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
I think he only ended up performing in two of
the practices there instead of doing the whole week, just
because he was so dominant and really in those one
on one competition drows. There was one against a first
round graded tackle and Josh Connorly Junior used a bull
rush and absolutely knocked him into the dirt. Just wowed
the league executives that were there. So he's now and
(12:12):
a lot of mocks he's going in the top ten.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
So but in.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
Mine I had the magic wish or Diapson light and
co and he landed at nineteen.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
But he's the guy that just has that.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
He's a quick twitch athlete, has that leg burst And really,
I think one of the things that our front office
really values and our executives is power in our past rushers,
in getting that speed to power conversion. And that's something
that if you look at Shack Barrett, you look at
Yaya Dabi, that's one of the traits that their best
(12:49):
at is that power.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
That's their staple.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
They harness that and use a variety of moves off
of that. But also when you look up Mike Green's game,
he can win with that brute strength, he can win
with those he can win with finesse, and I think
he has a good a good rush plan and already
a variety of moves at his disposal and has that
kind of patented power that.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
This team seems to lee.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
College football.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
Yes, and he led FBS sax and seventeen and he
was second with twenty two and a half cackles for loss,
so made a living in the backfield, which I think
would excite Todd Bowles.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
So this sounds like an aspirational mock draft that is
a we've been working together too long at this point. Yeah,
so how about we go to our mister realism the draft?
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Now?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yeah, Well, first of all, I like I want to
comment on I like the point about the Senior Bowl
because yes, he led college football in sacks and seventeen
a half, but he played at Marshall and I don't
know if that's considered as big of a football program, right,
So that's what's so great about the Senior Bowl is
you get these guys mixing with going against guys from
Alabama and Georgia and so on. And if he dominated there,
(14:03):
then that can help scouts gop. That production is real.
So I agree. Also, he was already gone. I think
he went fifteenth in my draft, so I didn't have
a shot at him because I did the you know,
the my draft you're supposed to although you although you're
probably gonna wonder if I'm telling the truth because guess
what position it was.
Speaker 6 (14:23):
Well, you admitted it.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yeah, yeah, case, he's probably gonna think I forced it
because I'm so into drafting cornerbacks high.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
If we have seven draft picks, Scott would draft seven cornerbacks.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It's so hard to get depth and keep depth and
develop good cornerback depth, and then they're always getting injured
or a least the case, I don't think. You don't
even tell me what our depth chart looks right now,
Like right now, I'll still take a corner and in
this case, you know, we just we saw last year
all the you know, we were we were down to
(14:56):
our fourth and fifth and sixth options.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
We thought we were gonna have to go out there.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
We had he did a great job, weirdly enough, But anyway,
I think this draft has enough cornerback depth to have
somebody available at nineteen. I also do think it's very
very possible to go ed rush. It's a really good
draft for Edd Dresser's but in mind I came up
with Benjamin Morrison of Notre Dame. We talked about it
in our road to the draft the other day. Just
(15:20):
a really good corner but he had hip injury that
required surgery in October. So that's the big question mark, right,
and so when he goes to the comment and gets
the medicals, that's going to be really big.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
But just a very fluid guy.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
We saw some clips of him how quickly he can
match the moves. You know, he's got the quick feet
and the change of direction. And then also we saw
him defending a deep pass where he really did a
good job of using the boundary to you know, to cut.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Off the receivers to the football and then he got
the ball.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
So just you know, I think cornerback and Ed Dresher
are probably the two biggest needs for us off fall
linebacker two. But I'm not sure I want to do
that in the first round. So when it fell to
me and he was still there. There was a couple
blow at the corners too that are interesting, like Joddy
Baron of Texas, But that's the one I went with,
and I'd be really excited if we got him.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
And so as we talk about mock drafts, of course,
there have been some really great draft picks in recent
years that the Bucks have done, especially this last year.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
We saw that.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Rookie class was vital last season. So we're gonna do
a little bit of a rookie spotlight on some people
we drafted last year. So let's start with Tyke Smith
and the contributions that he had to the season and
where even compared to the expectations of him coming in.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Yeah, so a third round draft pick and he was
considered right away as a combatant for the slot corner job,
which he did end up winning, which was pretty impressive
because we still had Christianizzian who'd done a pretty good
job in that role last year. But he just was
right from the beginning of playmaker. And I don't want
to set the expectations too high, but he reminds me
of Antoine Winfield junior in that he's a rangy guy
(16:53):
who seems to Devin knows for the football and just
he's one of those guys that makes the big play
throughout the season. And he had two he had two interceptions,
he had five for three force fumbles and five passes
defense right, and it was one of the few players
in the league. I think there was only there were
four players in the entire NFL who had at least
three force fumbles, at least five passes defense, and two interceptions.
(17:16):
And he did that while missing four games of parts
of others due to injury. So I think the arrows
pointed up for Tyke. I think it ended up being
a really good third round draft pick.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
And I got that's going to be a key part
of your defense.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
For a long time, very much a playmaker, which is
excited and also a great guy, really fun to talk
to and very introspective, very smart. So yeah, we're very
excited about his future here. And then of course we
got to talk about Bucky Irving, right, Yes, I don't
think we've mentioned him much in the last year. Yeah,
so let's say, in case people have forgotten who he is,
filled them in.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
But he got a little bit of recognition from PFF.
So he was the highest graded rookie by PFF with
a ninety point eight grade, and then in PFF's top
one hundred and one players from twenty twenty four, Bucky
Irving came in at fifty eight and he was the
only running back with a ninety plus grade at rushing
(18:09):
and receiving not too shabby. Yeah, but his I mean,
just his the shiftiness, his ability to make that first
guy miss is incredible. But I think one of the
things with him too is it's you see, just his
his vision and his ability to see the whole field
(18:31):
and whether it's you know, him kind of having and
being able to see what angle was linebackers safeties are
going to potentially being able to take and then his
quick acceleration to hit the holes. But also he's not
the biggest back, so his ability to kind of get
skinny get through the holes, and he creates a lot
of times lanes and rushes that really wouldn't be plausible
(18:54):
for most running backs with just his that lateral movement,
his cutting ability, and the contact balance that he has.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
I mean, I can't.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
Even count how many times you would see a guy
like have a hold of his jersey or he's like
shifting this way, his entire body is low to the
ground and then he would cut and go another way
and just dart.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
So but just his ability to kind.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Of resurrect the Bucks ground game that had been ranked last.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
In the league.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
The previous two years and then to be fourth. I mean,
if you had said that we would be a top
five rushing attack, not many people would have said yes.
And he was a big portion of that, and just
kind of the the counter gap scheme that the Bucks
really took off with and kind of became the staple,
which was what Bucky accelerated and did so well with
at Oregon.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
So they implemented it here.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
That was really fun highlight package.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Then yeah, yeah, we could have just rolled that instead
of our show.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Frank, I always wonder.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I always wonder when you see a guy like that
just making all those moves upon moves, it just quick
cuts all of a sudden, how much they're actually thinking
and how much it's just instinct. Yeah, you don't even
think about You just just go yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
I don't think you have time to think. Yeah, or
if you do, then that hole is gone and it's too.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Late and you either have that or you don't.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
I completely agree. So now what we normally also have
an off the field human interests side, and I knew
we were talking about Bucky, so I wanted to showcase
his most important quality. You think it's that yards after catch.
You think it's that instinct. I argue, it's his flag
football coaching ability. So we miked him up during the
girls preseason classic here this last week because running back
(20:26):
coach Skip Pete, his daughter was on one of the
teams participating, so Bucky decided he was going to go
coach that team, and coach he did. So we have
a beautiful little teaser clip for you of the full
miked up. So let's take a look.
Speaker 6 (20:41):
Go good, Go good. Now we got chips left and
the ones that's on the left they want to slench.
Then't wait, she's going to be open to the flat by.
So got problems from this down, baby, so play go.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
So. I love everything about this and I cannot stress
to you enough how much you need to go watch
the entirety of it. It is up now wherever you
watch Buccaneers content, social media, all of that. I don't
I didn't get to see the finish one yet. It's
just been here. I happened to sit near the producer
who's been working on it. I'm tun to hear it
over and over this last week. I don't know if
he included this one clip, but there's a part where
(21:34):
basically it turns out, not only was he coaching, there's
a little bit of trash talk and happening everybody is
shocked by. And when he went to go kind of
say hi to the other team that they were playing
against at the end, one of their players was like, no,
I'm not going to adapt you. You were trash talking
me the whole time, and you could see Bucky was like, okay,
all right, I like that. So it was incredible to watch.
(21:56):
We loved his participation. Also, the tournament as a whole
was incredible. There were a record number of teams and
players and so fun to watch, so fun to have here.
So make sure you check out a just all the
coverage of that tournament, but be the full version of
his micd up. If he has even a fourth of
that energy during our games, I feel like we're good
to go.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
That was something I've ever seen him that animated, to
be honest, amazing.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
We found his post NFL career coaching girls flag football.
So we will close this our trivia question of the day.
We stumped you last time, so we decided we'd let
you redeem yourself a little bit by coming up with
the trivia question yourself.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
This is the end.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Oh, not the end. Sorry, we do have more.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
We're just going to We're going to read it.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Yes, our trivia question, tell us, and then we'll give
people some time to listen in.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
Okay. In nineteen ninety three, the first year of true
free agency in the NFL, the Buccaneers landed a future
Pro Bowler in linebacker Hardy Nickerson from the Steelers. At
the same time, two prominent Tampa Bay players left in
free agency to sign with the Cleveland Brown's name either
(23:03):
one of them.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Interesting to give you a little clue.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
At the time they left, they were both the team's
all time leaders at their positions.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
There's a production.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
Well, considering this is nineteen ninety three, Yeah, two years before,
I was negative too.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
I'm so you remember perfectly.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Yeah, Sedent't your birth year coincide with kind of the
end of the Dallas dynasty, the Cowboys dynasty.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
You were in Dallas were born.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
I have heard that.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, yeah, okay, amazing, Okay, Well, we will all Dallas
is glad that you left.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Before we give the answer to it, we will have
it one. We will close with our free agency deep dive.
We recently talked about how many of the inside linebackers
were free agents. We figured now we kind of moved
to the outside linebacker position and discuss again, multiple people
in this position are potentially free agents, and so tell
us just kind of a situation of who could be
(24:04):
free agents and what we see happening with that very
important position group.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
So Anthony Nelson is going to be a free agent
for the second time. He finished a second contract with
the Buccaneers, which is impressive, especially for a fourth round pick.
And he's always been kind of considered that steady eddie
guy right who does everything right. He made the biggest
defensive play of the entire year, which you're watching right now,
for the Buccaneers to force that fumble in overtime so.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
For us to get the win.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
There.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Just a guy I think that the coaches have always appreciated.
And he generally finished the season around four or five
or six sacks Joe try and Sea. He's finishing his
first contract. The Buccaneers declined his fifth year option originally,
so you know, we'll see if he gets a second contract.
And then you got Jack Barrett, who came back to
the Buccaneers late in the season, really only made a
couple of cameos right there at the end, So we
(24:47):
don't know at this moment.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
You know exactly what.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
He has left and you know what the relationship between
him and the team is. But I would think if
you're bringing back at the end of last year, you
were thinking ahead towards possibly you know, continuing that relationship, right.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Yeah, And I think that's going to be an interesting
I mean, we've talked about how important that group is,
how and then especially for free agency and then draft.
What that means that I know they're going to want
to regardless of how many of these people they bring
back or not, they're probably wanting to add to that position.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Yeah. Yeah, which you know he might be right about
us going to addresser.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
In the first ROUNW Yeah, thank you, even if it's aspirational.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
So all right, what is our answer, sir to our
trivia question?
Speaker 2 (25:25):
So the answer is quarterback Vinnie testa Verni and wide
receiver Mark Carrier, both franchise record holders at their respective
positions at the time, signed in free agency with the
Cleveland Browns, who would not long after that become the
Baltimore Ravens. And then Vinnie actually was still with them
and moved over with them.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
So yeah, I mean we're talking about the guy at
the time who is our all time leading pastor in
terms of yards and touchdowns and our all time leading receiver,
Mark Carrier. And this was the very first year of
free agency, the new CBA was nineteen ninety three, and
the Bucks one of the best freegent signings they've ever
made was one of their first, Hardy Nickerson. Yeah, and
he was a real culture changer for that franchise when
I was trying to make a turnaround, especially after twenty Dongee.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Arrived, So it was that was a big.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Addition, but it was also kind of at the end
of an era with both Anie and Mark carry are leaving.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
That's very true, all right, that's going to differ us
on this edition of Bucks Insider. Thanks so much for
being with us, and we'll see you next time.
Welcome into Books Insider, coming to you from the Buck Studio,
presented by ticketmaster Casey Phillips here with senior writer and
editor Scott Smith and staff writer Breed Dix. Another off
season edition of The Insider, which means we're of course
talking about things like free agency, like the draft, and
we got some interesting news that's also not news about
Chris Godwin. But at this point everyone will take any
crumble of anything that we could get about what's happening
(00:22):
with Chris Godwin. So I will fully admit that all
the stuff with the salary cap confuses me to this day,
ten years of working here, and I have so much
admiration for Jackie, for Mike up there in the office
doing what they do. Tell me the morsel of information
we got risplain in larger detail.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
First of all, it does feel like good news, and
it is actually technically news because it was an actual
transaction sent up to the league which happened over the weekend,
or the agreement was made over the weekend. So I'll
start from the beginning in twenty twenty two, Chris Godwin,
remember he got franchise tag for the second year in
a row, and then a week later, they he came
to terms with the team on a new three year.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Contract, which is great.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
It was awesome outcome that ran twenty twenty two through
this year. But, as is commonly the case these days
for cap reasons, that three year contract also had three
automatic voiding years on the end, twenty five through twenty seven,
And what that allows you to do is spread out
the cap hit, so it spread out over six years,
but then when that automatically voids, whatever's left in those
(01:24):
three years accelerates to right then. So in Chris's case,
if he becomes a free agent, the Buccaneers will have
a dead cap hit at eighteen million dollars. So you
set a specific date for when those years void, and
when they signed that contract back in twenty twenty two,
they made the date twenty three days before the start
of free agency, specifically because that would be one day
(01:44):
before the franchise tag window opens. You have to be
able to use a franchise taging player. That player has
to not have a contract for the next year, and
even though it was going to automatically void, the contract
did exist for twenty twenty five, so it had to
be avoided before the franchise tag, or you couldn't use
a franchise tag.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
You're with me so far?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
So, over the weekend, with the franchise tag window arriving
on Tuesday, the Buccaneers and Chris Guywin agreed to change
the date of the voiding contract to March twelfth, which
is the day the new league year begins at four pm.
So what that did was it removed the possibility of
using the franchise tag on Chris Guywin because he's now
(02:27):
technically still in the contract in twenty twenty five. Right, So,
but that wasn't really a big deal because we were
probably never going to use the franchise tag because it
would be his third time.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
He would make jillions of Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Well, specifically either one hundred and forty four percent of
his salary last year or the quarterback franchise tag number.
You do not want to give a quarterback franchise tag
to a wide receiver. It would have been about forty
four million, forty one million dollars. He's a great player,
but is there a receiver making forty one million? It's
the highest run thirty right.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, that would be wild.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
So this what it does is it gives the Bucks
and Chris Godwin longer to negotiate exclusively before freegency begins,
which and.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
We've seen that's gone well in the past when they yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well, time to talk about To me, it signifies that
both sides are interested in getting a deal done. And
I don't see exactly what Chris gets out of this
for himself other than just more time to negotiate with
the Bucks. So to me, I don't know what Chris
Godwin is thinking.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
No assumptions, No, you can't.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Make an assumption, but it sure seems like if you're
going to make that move, you are interested in trying
to gauge.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Yeah. Yeah, I think that's a great sign and I
think that this is also one of those moments where
it's cool to know as we talked about the replacing
of Liam Cohen with someone who was already in house
and for that consistency, Chris is someone that I imagine that
mattered a great deal too, because we saw the difference
in how he gets used in different offenses and how
successful he was in Liam Cohens that prior to that
(03:57):
injury going crazy. So now have to think, okay, well,
I imagine Josh Grizzard saw how well that went, and
therefore the Chris scene that Josh Gizzard is the guy
that everyone's kind of like, we all know how well
this could go. And I'm sure that played a really
big factor. And again, yeah, Chris before that injury was
just having the most incredible year.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Yeah, and you know who could use a receiver other
than us the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
So everybody's making that connection.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's great to see Liam Cohen be like, I want
that guy. He's my Cooper Cup. But your point is
very good one there. This would offer him continuity here
obviously the only team he's ever played for. I think
him and his wife loved the community, right, the community
loves them back.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And the fact that Josh Grizzard got the job and
the Offen Street.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I would assume Josh can guarantee it, Chris that you
are going to be in that same role, right.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Right, That's true. Yeah, And let's go ahead and listen
to when Josh Grizzard was asked about the idea of
if he was pulling for Chris Godwin to get resign.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
I love Chris, as you guys know, Chris is as
good of a human being and football players, you're gonna
be around. He was a huge asset to us last
year being a coach on the field and playing all
those different roles. I think he's leading the league and
catches yards, yards after catch when he got hurt. And
I love Chris to death, but Jason and Todd, they
have a proven track record with the roster here, so
(05:21):
let those guys handle that.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
So obviously, as we all do tons of admiration for Chris,
he knows to leave it to the experts at this area.
But I'm sure he's sitting there like, please, I would
love this guy to be back here and be part
of this offense. And Bri, you just tell us a
little bit about what you've noticed of what this offense
last year meant to Chris. What he meant to this offense.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
Well, one of the things too that you look at
and I think why it was so devastating when he
was carted off was I mean at the time of injury,
I mean he was leading the NFL in yards after
catch I think yards and then catches as well, so
he was on pace to potentially get that triple Crown,
was having the best year of his career arguably, and
(06:06):
really this offense is predicated on Mike Evans. His ability
on the outside is that deep threat, whether it's the
back shoulder catches that he makes or the physicality. His
high point ability bil with Chris Godwin out of the
slot with the things that he's able to do, his
quickness in and out of breaks, whether it's the crossers,
the corners, the wheel routes, the option routes, all those things.
(06:29):
He's really great on those two way goes and kind
of exploiting when DB's give him that free release. But
just can't say enough credit to this coaching staff and
their ability to even when you didn't have Mike Evans,
you didn't have Chris Godwin, their ability to supplement the
production of those guys, whether it was getting Katten more
involved and having him kind of run some of those
(06:50):
routes that he's been able to run. We just weren't
really able to see him run some of those things,
but you kind of got to see how much of
like a well versut how tight end he is. But
then also getting Jalen McMillan more involved and having him
kind of have an opportunity to do both those things.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Whether it was some of.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
The deep opportunities he had or his ability out of
the slot, and then Sterling Shepherd as well. So I
think it's exciting just to see the continuity that they're
gonna be able to have some of the rubiage the
same and things that are able to translate from last year.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
And obviously it'll be his system.
Speaker 5 (07:25):
He'll probably incorporate some little nuances and some different things.
But I think, as we mentioned earlier, but one of
my main takeaways from his press conference was too just
you weren't starting from scratch, and so now they're gonna
be able to fine tune a little bit of those details.
And I think part of that is gonna be looking
at ways for Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, if you know,
(07:48):
they get that long term Deill done, and being able
to use those guys to exploit defenses.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Absolutely, When you think of Mike Evans the quintessential Mike
Evans play, it's like the back shoulder fade and it
right gets Carolina last year. When I think of Chris
Godwin in the quintessential play Chris Godwin play, what I
picture in my mind is it's third and twelve. They
throw them the tunnel screen. You don't expect them to
get the first down and it takes five perfect lanes.
(08:15):
It just makes the subtle little moves to get those lanes.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
And you see him.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
You're watching the marker and you see him and he
gets there and you're like, he did it again.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
He did? Yeah? I completely agree. And so you brought
up the idea of how Chris Godwin most likely not
going to be a franchise tall camp be now, But
even before then we knew probably not an idea that
we were pursuing on that front. Is there anyone else
we're seeing? And also, just what does that mean the
deadline now of other people for not using it on him?
Are there other people that it gets open to do
you see that happening? And just how prevalent is that
(08:44):
going to be this free agency time around, normally for
the Bucks but for other teams.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Yeah, the franchise tag window open on Tuesday and goes
through March fourth, but I don't think the Buccaneers have
a candidate for it. You know, it's not to say
there aren't good players that are potential free agents, but
it's just a matter of where they are in their career,
how long they're going to play, you know what they're
likely to make, and it just we don't have a
guy that's right in that sweet spot. And really, we
have not been afraid to use the franchise tag. We've
(09:11):
used it in four of the last five years, but
it was always on a player still fairly early in
his career, like Shaq Barrett coming off his nineteen and
a half sax season, and then Chris twice and then
last year Antoine Winfield, and it's a guy that you
are are trying to extend the negotiating period to get
a longer contract. And all those guys did eventually get
a longer contract. So if you were to say Levante David, well,
(09:32):
Levante seems to be going year by year right now
in his career right and I don't think that necessarily
both sides you're looking for like a new three or
four year deal, so you're probably not You're probably not
using it at Levante, And then I just don't think
we have a guy.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
And really it's a kind of a weird year.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
There's only been one year since the franchise tags came
into existence in nineteen ninety three that no team has
used one.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
But that's that's a possibility this year.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
It's crazy, that's so long. Yeah, to go with this not.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
I think it was nice ninety six if I remember correctly,
but just one time and you look around the league
and you just don't see a lot of players in
the right position. I guess most likely is T Higgins.
There's reports that Cincinnati will tag if they can't get
a deal done, but they might get a deal done
and not even have to do that. Sam Darnold maybe
in Minnesota. But it's very possible that there are no
tags this year, and usually there's between like six and eight.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, you said it was ninety six the last time
this happened.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I think it's nice.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
This is where I asked Bree how old she was
your favorite? Can that be our new segment of how
old was bri? I already loved football already, It was
right she was paying attention to those franchise tags one
hundred percent. So now, also as we talk about free agency,
that also means the draft is right around the corner.
Everyone's favorite time of year, so much to talk about,
(10:44):
which also means mock draft season is here. Forget off season.
That's what we should call it. Mock draft season, which
also we just started our Path to the Draft series
this week, so make sure you check that out. We're
going to be doing that each week of a few
different things of whether it's looking at mock drafts, whether
it's looking film of some potential guys. You guys to
use a clicker, you felt like the real scout of
there fast forward and backward. That's really the whole reason
(11:06):
we do the show is to give Scott the clicker.
So let's talk a little bit about the mock draft season.
I know you guys are both participating in it as well,
So tell me about these initial ones here.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
You just went up yesterday. Why don't you go first?
Speaker 5 (11:17):
It did? I went with and I I I do
have to admit that I kind of purposely placed it
because I just really like this guy, So.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
I purposely made.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
I know, I know, and I would just practice it
by saying that I really don't think Mike Green out
of Marshall is even going to be available at nineteen
with the way things are falling. But he is a
guy that has just risen on mock's risen on draft boards,
and it's because of his incredible performance at the Senior.
Speaker 6 (11:48):
Bowl and mobile.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
I think he only ended up performing in two of
the practices there instead of doing the whole week, just
because he was so dominant and really in those one
on one competition drows. There was one against a first
round graded tackle and Josh Connorly Junior used a bull
rush and absolutely knocked him into the dirt. Just wowed
the league executives that were there. So he's now and
(12:12):
a lot of mocks he's going in the top ten.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
So but in.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
Mine I had the magic wish or Diapson light and
co and he landed at nineteen.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
But he's the guy that just has that.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
He's a quick twitch athlete, has that leg burst And really,
I think one of the things that our front office
really values and our executives is power in our past rushers,
in getting that speed to power conversion. And that's something
that if you look at Shack Barrett, you look at
Yaya Dabi, that's one of the traits that their best
(12:49):
at is that power.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
That's their staple.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
They harness that and use a variety of moves off
of that. But also when you look up Mike Green's game,
he can win with that brute strength, he can win
with those he can win with finesse, and I think
he has a good a good rush plan and already
a variety of moves at his disposal and has that
kind of patented power that.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
This team seems to lee.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
College football.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
Yes, and he led FBS sax and seventeen and he
was second with twenty two and a half cackles for loss,
so made a living in the backfield, which I think
would excite Todd Bowles.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
So this sounds like an aspirational mock draft that is
a we've been working together too long at this point. Yeah,
so how about we go to our mister realism the draft?
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Now?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yeah, Well, first of all, I like I want to
comment on I like the point about the Senior Bowl
because yes, he led college football in sacks and seventeen
a half, but he played at Marshall and I don't
know if that's considered as big of a football program, right,
So that's what's so great about the Senior Bowl is
you get these guys mixing with going against guys from
Alabama and Georgia and so on. And if he dominated there,
(14:03):
then that can help scouts gop. That production is real.
So I agree. Also, he was already gone. I think
he went fifteenth in my draft, so I didn't have
a shot at him because I did the you know,
the my draft you're supposed to although you although you're
probably gonna wonder if I'm telling the truth because guess
what position it was.
Speaker 6 (14:23):
Well, you admitted it.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yeah, yeah, case, he's probably gonna think I forced it
because I'm so into drafting cornerbacks high.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
If we have seven draft picks, Scott would draft seven cornerbacks.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It's so hard to get depth and keep depth and
develop good cornerback depth, and then they're always getting injured
or a least the case, I don't think. You don't
even tell me what our depth chart looks right now,
Like right now, I'll still take a corner and in
this case, you know, we just we saw last year
all the you know, we were we were down to
(14:56):
our fourth and fifth and sixth options.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
We thought we were gonna have to go out there.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
We had he did a great job, weirdly enough, But anyway,
I think this draft has enough cornerback depth to have
somebody available at nineteen. I also do think it's very
very possible to go ed rush. It's a really good
draft for Edd Dresser's but in mind I came up
with Benjamin Morrison of Notre Dame. We talked about it
in our road to the draft the other day. Just
(15:20):
a really good corner but he had hip injury that
required surgery in October. So that's the big question mark, right,
and so when he goes to the comment and gets
the medicals, that's going to be really big.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
But just a very fluid guy.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
We saw some clips of him how quickly he can
match the moves. You know, he's got the quick feet
and the change of direction. And then also we saw
him defending a deep pass where he really did a
good job of using the boundary to you know, to cut.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Off the receivers to the football and then he got
the ball.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
So just you know, I think cornerback and Ed Dresher
are probably the two biggest needs for us off fall
linebacker two. But I'm not sure I want to do
that in the first round. So when it fell to
me and he was still there. There was a couple
blow at the corners too that are interesting, like Joddy
Baron of Texas, But that's the one I went with,
and I'd be really excited if we got him.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
And so as we talk about mock drafts, of course,
there have been some really great draft picks in recent
years that the Bucks have done, especially this last year.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
We saw that.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Rookie class was vital last season. So we're gonna do
a little bit of a rookie spotlight on some people
we drafted last year. So let's start with Tyke Smith
and the contributions that he had to the season and
where even compared to the expectations of him coming in.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Yeah, so a third round draft pick and he was
considered right away as a combatant for the slot corner job,
which he did end up winning, which was pretty impressive
because we still had Christianizzian who'd done a pretty good
job in that role last year. But he just was
right from the beginning of playmaker. And I don't want
to set the expectations too high, but he reminds me
of Antoine Winfield junior in that he's a rangy guy
(16:53):
who seems to Devin knows for the football and just
he's one of those guys that makes the big play
throughout the season. And he had two he had two interceptions,
he had five for three force fumbles and five passes
defense right, and it was one of the few players
in the league. I think there was only there were
four players in the entire NFL who had at least
three force fumbles, at least five passes defense, and two interceptions.
(17:16):
And he did that while missing four games of parts
of others due to injury. So I think the arrows
pointed up for Tyke. I think it ended up being
a really good third round draft pick.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
And I got that's going to be a key part
of your defense.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
For a long time, very much a playmaker, which is
excited and also a great guy, really fun to talk
to and very introspective, very smart. So yeah, we're very
excited about his future here. And then of course we
got to talk about Bucky Irving, right, Yes, I don't
think we've mentioned him much in the last year. Yeah,
so let's say, in case people have forgotten who he is,
filled them in.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
But he got a little bit of recognition from PFF.
So he was the highest graded rookie by PFF with
a ninety point eight grade, and then in PFF's top
one hundred and one players from twenty twenty four, Bucky
Irving came in at fifty eight and he was the
only running back with a ninety plus grade at rushing
(18:09):
and receiving not too shabby. Yeah, but his I mean,
just his the shiftiness, his ability to make that first
guy miss is incredible. But I think one of the
things with him too is it's you see, just his
his vision and his ability to see the whole field
(18:31):
and whether it's you know, him kind of having and
being able to see what angle was linebackers safeties are
going to potentially being able to take and then his
quick acceleration to hit the holes. But also he's not
the biggest back, so his ability to kind of get
skinny get through the holes, and he creates a lot
of times lanes and rushes that really wouldn't be plausible
(18:54):
for most running backs with just his that lateral movement,
his cutting ability, and the contact balance that he has.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
I mean, I can't.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
Even count how many times you would see a guy
like have a hold of his jersey or he's like
shifting this way, his entire body is low to the
ground and then he would cut and go another way
and just dart.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
So but just his ability to kind.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Of resurrect the Bucks ground game that had been ranked last.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
In the league.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
The previous two years and then to be fourth. I mean,
if you had said that we would be a top
five rushing attack, not many people would have said yes.
And he was a big portion of that, and just
kind of the the counter gap scheme that the Bucks
really took off with and kind of became the staple,
which was what Bucky accelerated and did so well with
at Oregon.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
So they implemented it here.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
That was really fun highlight package.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Then yeah, yeah, we could have just rolled that instead
of our show.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Frank, I always wonder.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I always wonder when you see a guy like that
just making all those moves upon moves, it just quick
cuts all of a sudden, how much they're actually thinking
and how much it's just instinct. Yeah, you don't even
think about You just just go yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
I don't think you have time to think. Yeah, or
if you do, then that hole is gone and it's too.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Late and you either have that or you don't.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
I completely agree. So now what we normally also have
an off the field human interests side, and I knew
we were talking about Bucky, so I wanted to showcase
his most important quality. You think it's that yards after catch.
You think it's that instinct. I argue, it's his flag
football coaching ability. So we miked him up during the
girls preseason classic here this last week because running back
(20:26):
coach Skip Pete, his daughter was on one of the
teams participating, so Bucky decided he was going to go
coach that team, and coach he did. So we have
a beautiful little teaser clip for you of the full
miked up. So let's take a look.
Speaker 6 (20:41):
Go good, Go good. Now we got chips left and
the ones that's on the left they want to slench.
Then't wait, she's going to be open to the flat by.
So got problems from this down, baby, so play go.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
So. I love everything about this and I cannot stress
to you enough how much you need to go watch
the entirety of it. It is up now wherever you
watch Buccaneers content, social media, all of that. I don't
I didn't get to see the finish one yet. It's
just been here. I happened to sit near the producer
who's been working on it. I'm tun to hear it
over and over this last week. I don't know if
he included this one clip, but there's a part where
(21:34):
basically it turns out, not only was he coaching, there's
a little bit of trash talk and happening everybody is
shocked by. And when he went to go kind of
say hi to the other team that they were playing
against at the end, one of their players was like, no,
I'm not going to adapt you. You were trash talking
me the whole time, and you could see Bucky was like, okay,
all right, I like that. So it was incredible to watch.
(21:56):
We loved his participation. Also, the tournament as a whole
was incredible. There were a record number of teams and
players and so fun to watch, so fun to have here.
So make sure you check out a just all the
coverage of that tournament, but be the full version of
his micd up. If he has even a fourth of
that energy during our games, I feel like we're good
to go.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
That was something I've ever seen him that animated, to
be honest, amazing.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
We found his post NFL career coaching girls flag football.
So we will close this our trivia question of the day.
We stumped you last time, so we decided we'd let
you redeem yourself a little bit by coming up with
the trivia question yourself.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
This is the end.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Oh, not the end. Sorry, we do have more.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
We're just going to We're going to read it.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Yes, our trivia question, tell us, and then we'll give
people some time to listen in.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
Okay. In nineteen ninety three, the first year of true
free agency in the NFL, the Buccaneers landed a future
Pro Bowler in linebacker Hardy Nickerson from the Steelers. At
the same time, two prominent Tampa Bay players left in
free agency to sign with the Cleveland Brown's name either
(23:03):
one of them.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Interesting to give you a little clue.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
At the time they left, they were both the team's
all time leaders at their positions.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
There's a production.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
Well, considering this is nineteen ninety three, Yeah, two years before,
I was negative too.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
I'm so you remember perfectly.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Yeah, Sedent't your birth year coincide with kind of the
end of the Dallas dynasty, the Cowboys dynasty.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
You were in Dallas were born.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
I have heard that.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, yeah, okay, amazing, Okay, Well, we will all Dallas
is glad that you left.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Before we give the answer to it, we will have
it one. We will close with our free agency deep dive.
We recently talked about how many of the inside linebackers
were free agents. We figured now we kind of moved
to the outside linebacker position and discuss again, multiple people
in this position are potentially free agents, and so tell
us just kind of a situation of who could be
(24:04):
free agents and what we see happening with that very
important position group.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
So Anthony Nelson is going to be a free agent
for the second time. He finished a second contract with
the Buccaneers, which is impressive, especially for a fourth round pick.
And he's always been kind of considered that steady eddie
guy right who does everything right. He made the biggest
defensive play of the entire year, which you're watching right now,
for the Buccaneers to force that fumble in overtime so.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
For us to get the win.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
There.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Just a guy I think that the coaches have always appreciated.
And he generally finished the season around four or five
or six sacks Joe try and Sea. He's finishing his
first contract. The Buccaneers declined his fifth year option originally,
so you know, we'll see if he gets a second contract.
And then you got Jack Barrett, who came back to
the Buccaneers late in the season, really only made a
couple of cameos right there at the end, So we
(24:47):
don't know at this moment.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
You know exactly what.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
He has left and you know what the relationship between
him and the team is. But I would think if
you're bringing back at the end of last year, you
were thinking ahead towards possibly you know, continuing that relationship, right.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Yeah, And I think that's going to be an interesting
I mean, we've talked about how important that group is,
how and then especially for free agency and then draft.
What that means that I know they're going to want
to regardless of how many of these people they bring
back or not, they're probably wanting to add to that position.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Yeah. Yeah, which you know he might be right about
us going to addresser.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
In the first ROUNW Yeah, thank you, even if it's aspirational.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
So all right, what is our answer, sir to our
trivia question?
Speaker 2 (25:25):
So the answer is quarterback Vinnie testa Verni and wide
receiver Mark Carrier, both franchise record holders at their respective
positions at the time, signed in free agency with the
Cleveland Browns, who would not long after that become the
Baltimore Ravens. And then Vinnie actually was still with them
and moved over with them.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
So yeah, I mean we're talking about the guy at
the time who is our all time leading pastor in
terms of yards and touchdowns and our all time leading receiver,
Mark Carrier. And this was the very first year of
free agency, the new CBA was nineteen ninety three, and
the Bucks one of the best freegent signings they've ever
made was one of their first, Hardy Nickerson. Yeah, and
he was a real culture changer for that franchise when
I was trying to make a turnaround, especially after twenty Dongee.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Arrived, So it was that was a big.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Addition, but it was also kind of at the end
of an era with both Anie and Mark carry are leaving.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
That's very true, all right, that's going to differ us
on this edition of Bucks Insider. Thanks so much for
being with us, and we'll see you next time.
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