March 20, 2025 • 17 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. On the first day of spring, the team discussed the addition of LB Haason Reddick, talked about LB Lavonte David’s heartfelt message and analyzed the other free agency signings so far.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome into Bucks Insider, coming to you from the Buck Studio,
presented by ticket Master Casey Phillips.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Here with Scott Smith.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
And Breed Dix, and we have even more to talk
about coming out of that free agency frenzy, and I'm
sure things.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Might still be happening. You never really know, but we
got a chance to.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Of course, we talked about some of those moves last week,
but now we got to have press conferences from a
few of those guys, which is exciting. We're gonna have
even more of that moving in the future days here.
But I wanted to go ahead and start with Hassan
Reddick because he's kind of our one big, splashier new
free agent signing, new addition to the team, and we
wanted to help fans get a chance to know him
a little bit better. So let's take a listen to
(00:36):
this clip of what made him want to join us
here in Tampa Bay just.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
To fit after talking the footy at the talking to
Coach Bulls, you know, their vision for Haddie plan to
use me here. That was revery intrigued and something that
I knew I needed. Outside of that, you know, I
felt like this was a team that was a couple
of short pieces away. I felt like that I could
come bring my knowledge, my abilities blended with the guys
(01:02):
that's already here. You've got great pieces. You know, you
got feeded, you got a young guy Yaya. So just
knowing that I can come here help out, I thought
it'd be fun.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I loved hearing from him and his presser.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
For one thing, the guy knows how to do a
press conference and how to endear himself to fans. He
even used the word crew already. This guy knows what
he's doing already. So outside of his skills at a
press conference, what are some of the things that we're
excited about with him coming in? Maybe even learned from
him at his press conference?
Speaker 4 (01:32):
I like said he in the draw to coming here,
was talking about the vision that Todd Bowles and both
Larry Foot have for him, but also just he said
he felt like this was a team last year that
were just a few pieces away, and he said, you know,
he can bring his knowledge, which he feels like separates
him as a pass rusher, staying one step ahead in
(01:52):
the trenches. But also just wanting to join a guy
like Vida Vea joining Yaya Dabi and what the capability
and the potential of this team can be in twenty five.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
You know, it reminds me a little bit, and I'm
not trying to make a straight comparison, but the Simeon
Rice edition back in two thousand and one. At that time,
Money Kiffen told him he would be the final piece
to the puzzle and to what would be a great
defense because they needed a really good outside edge presence
to pair with Warren Sapp in the middle who was dominant.
(02:23):
I'm not saying Hassan Redika Simeon right, so I'm not
saying he's not. I don't want to paint it either way,
but I feel like he mused the phrase piece of
the puzzle, I think, and it made me think, yeah,
we have dominant inside guys.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Now.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
Our two leading SAC guys last year were Vidave and
College CANSI so not that were right, College was. I
don't want to I know they were there, Bat you
don't want to give them press. So you know, if
if he could provide that, it's it's kind of a
similar situation and he recognizes that. And I think also
there was the connections that helped out I mean, first
of all, I played a.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Temple, so quite a temple staff.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
Yeah, and then you know he played at Arizona when
Todd Bowles and others were there. Larry Foot was there.
Larry Foot was his coach, his position coach when he
was playing off ball linebacker there. And now because Larry
just switched again here for us to outside linebackers, he's
going to be his position coach again. And I think
he has a real affection for him.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
I thought the timing of that was so interesting that
Coach Foot did just shift and now here we get
this guy that he gets to shift with him, And
how cool to think that. Man, what if Coach Foot
hadn't hadn't made that move, does Hassan Reddick still want
to come here? Will never really know, but man, after
the press conference, I got to talk to Hassan for
a little bit and we were discussing how he just
loves Coach Foot, like he just thinks so.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Highly of him, as we all do here love him
so much.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
I think, what a perfect pairing of this guy who
brings a bit of that veteran presence, especially to a
room that still has Yayad that's a little younger Chris Braswell,
you're hoping to maybe take a step to have that
veteran guy in the room to really kind of show
them what to do.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I think is really going to be great.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
We also had Levante David's pressler, So yeah, I heard of,
never heard of this guy. He's not quite the new
addition like Hassan Reddick is, but a boy are we
excited we still have him? And of course his presser
was just lovely and so many great sentiments shared about
the organization about him.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
So take a lesson.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
I think it's incredible, man. I think that's I don't
know if it's talked about enoughing. You know what I'm saying,
these guys being loaded to their guys. You know what
I'm saying, uh knowledge organizations aren't like that. And uh
for for those guys to be transparent us and uh
half that you know, back and forth communication about how
important they feel we are to them and how much
we wanna be back and playing this sit and for
(04:29):
the city. You know, I think that's incredible. You know,
it's a test to you know, from the ownership all
the way down. You know, they want their guys and
they believe in they guys, and they gonna stick with us,
you know what I'm saying. So, and I think for
the young guys to see that, that gives them, you know,
even more motivation, you know what I'm saying. They could
ask guys like me, Chris, Mike for advice and things
like that. So you know, when when those guys see that,
(04:49):
you know, I think they get even more motivated, they
wanna play for this organization or organization like that, And uh,
the thing is just it just becomes a mutual respect thing,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So, Well, of course, Levante's the guy that we build
the draft after ascension, now that they've talked about that,
of that, I am that man's strategy and that it's
Levante that we just want more. Levante's in here, So
thank goodness we still have that one in the room.
But what did you take away from his press conference
and some of the things that you noticed about his
excitement to be back and what even made him make
this decision.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
What really set out to me was him talking about
the mutual respect that the team has, but in the
front office and then the players, and how you have
a guy like Lavonte that's going into his fourteenth season
with the same team, which is nearly unheard of in
the NFL. But then also you have a guy like
Mike Evans that just finished up his eleventh season, and
(05:40):
for young players to see those players this team stick
with the guys and pay them, but also their respect
and even he said that a lot of times you
don't have that open line of communication with the general manager,
but he said that's something that they have with Jason
light and that goes from the cure that isn't seated
(06:01):
here from ownership down and how a lot of young
guys when you see a guy like Mike Evans and
Chris Godwin and Lavante David that are still here, that
makes them become more motivated and want to play for
an organization that treats their players right and pays their
own and sticks with the players that they have.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Yeah, definitely established that kind of culture. Yeah, in over
recent years.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
It's great.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
I mean, I think it's a great sign for recruiting
new free agents or even just the culture you know
you're building for these rookies that are coming in that
when players are and we don't know exactly what all
the options were for guys like Mike and Chris and
Levante out there, but it seems safe to say that
at least for a few of them, if not all
of them, they might have been able to get more
money elsewhere. And that choice to stay here says so
(06:44):
much about the organization they're hopes for, how successful the
team could be, the culture we built, and I think
that's a really great thing.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
I liked hearing Levante talk about his process because think
about this. This is the third straight year he's signed
a one year contract, which is and before that it
was just a two year deal, which is the sign
of a guy who at the end of each season
is reevaluating whether he wants to keep going or not.
And what levintte they had to ask himself. Two things
that were big were do I still love playing football?
(07:11):
And do I trust myself to continue playing at the
standard I have set? And he had to mould that
over and I guess he came up with yes and both,
and I believe he's probably correct.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Yeah, I agree with that, And how exciting to know
that the answer is still yes.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
For both of those things.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
All Right, So let's talk about a few more of
the signings that have happened and these may not have
been quite as splashy as some of those guys, but
could be some really interesting additions to this team. First
of all, in terms of the returning guys, we have
Bryce Hall, who is a guy that I'm sure a
lot of Bucks fans kind of forgot about the fact
that he was on the team musher because he unfortunately
got hurt right out of the gate week one. But
(07:47):
when we think about all season how there ended up
being some pretty big issues with cornerback depth after some injuries,
it's because this is the guy that you had thought
was going to be your number three. I so very
excited to see him get another chance here when last
and didn't know.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
How he wanted, And in fact he did win that
third outside corner job. And in the very first games
I Mcallum got a concussion and Bryce Hall was in. Then,
of course, as you mentioned, he suffered a dislocate an ankles,
a similar injury to Chris Godwin's, and that was it
for the year. But he had fulfilled what the Buccaneers
expected when they signed him from the Jets and free agencies,
so it's good to see him get another shot at
(08:22):
doing the exact same thing, and just like we've.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Talked about with Chris Godwin of seeing how he has
gone through a hard injury before knew how to come
back and rehab from it, so we therefore have confidence
he knows how to do it again.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I feel similarly about.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Bryce Hall, where hey, he went through this in college,
the same exact injury, but the other leg still went
on to be able to have this career in the NFL.
So you hate it for guys to have to go
through multiple big injuries, but you also know they do
have some experience with it and maybe know how to
handle it. So all right, after Bryce Hall, we have
linebacker Anthony Walker Scott.
Speaker 5 (08:56):
I'll take this one great, go for it. I don't
know if you are aware of this, but think Walker
played his college football at Northwestern. Oh you know there's
he has a lot of starting experience. I think that's
the number one thing. He started eighty three games in
different stops including Cleveland, Miami, I think Indy was the
(09:17):
other one. And he's a good coverage linebacker, which I think,
apart from Levante, was something we were missing last year
because Sara s Didnis went down and you know he
was he was being very emphatic in his press for conference.
He's like, I've seen different grades out there PFF, and
it's funny to think about these guys actually looking at
their PFF grades and going, come on, no way. But
he says, watch the film. Passes are not completed deep
(09:40):
down the middle over me, and passes are not completed
deep down the middle in front of me, And I
think he's throwing it. He says, go watch the film.
So I don't think he's making this up. Anytime you're
playing cover to Tampa two and we don't do that exclusively.
Of course, Todd Bowles probably doesn't do that as much
as a lot of teams. But when you do do that,
you're middle linebacker has to be able to drop down
(10:01):
the middle.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
So I also got an unsolicited text from someone who
knows him from a previous stop of his in the NFL, who,
again unsolicited, just messaged me and was like, you just
got a great one. Good that this is a great
guy on and off the field, good community work.
Speaker 6 (10:16):
All that.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
What else would you explain it?
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, And of course all of us Northwestern people are
just stellar.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Uh So I thought that was really exciting to hear
that in addition to feeling good about his experience, and
of course also I think about last year, every time
there were injuries, it felt like you're not just going
to a backup, which is always challenging. It felt like
you were going to someone who was green as to be.
You were going to someone who hasn't played a lot,
doesn't have.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
A lot of experience.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Doesn't mean they won't be good.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Doesn't mean it won't be good. You just it's a
very unknown quantity.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
And so I feel like now with someone like Anthony Walker,
whether or not whoever are starting, insidelnebackers end up being
if he is not your starter. To know that if
something happens, you're going to someone with experience has to
make Todd Bowles pretty happy on that front. And then
of course another returning player, we got Sterling Shepherd. And
you know, at first we weren't sure if we could
trust the source that broke us. Yeah, we weren't sure,
(11:07):
but none other than Jason Light broke the news.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
I love when he does this. I feel like every year.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
He picks one random signing yeah to break himself, which
I think is really great. And Sterling Sheppard, I mean,
just a great person to have back. I think the
trust that in relationship he has with Baker going all
the way back to their college days is really exciting.
And he was a guy who made some big plays
on some third and fourth downs when accounted throughout the year.
(11:34):
And of course this hopefully also means we'll get back
his Sunday night football intro with his daughters.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
That's the most important part.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
So that's another addition coming back to this team for
some wide receiver depth.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
You know, he had some injuries in training camp and
then he started the season on the practice squad, But
the notable thing to me is that he then finished
the season. It wasn't long before he was up on
the active rostern and it wasn't too long after that
Chris Cavan got hurt and he was essentially became the
number three receiver. And as he put it, I played
(12:06):
a lot of football last year. I played more football
last year than I have a long time, because his
last three years I think with the Giants were all
injury mark and so I think it was big for
him to get through an entire season healthy and see
that he could still do it, you know, because he
could have just retired before signing with US last June.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I agree, and I think it was the fact that
he knew he wanted to come back and play with Baker,
and so it shows yet again for him to want
to do that again is a great sign. And then
now as far as another new edition, we have an
outside we have an offensive tackle in Charlie Hack who
just looks so the part he's a gigantic human.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
With a success is a great mustash.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I'm like, already, just the look, I have faith in
this person as an offensive lineman. So yeah, it seems
like potentially a swing tackle replacement for and we're going
to get into it after this of who we've lost
in free agency, but it's looking like that might be
his role here.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
Yeah, it's sure sounded like that's when he was prepared
for and he was talking about how you just really
have to be ready to lamb bull sides. And he's
another guy like you're talking about Anthony Walker. You've got
a guy with experience. He started twenty three games in
this league last year. I think it was he got
signed off of a practice squad to San Francisco's Active
Rosterer and five days later started and he started the
(13:16):
last two games. So I think what that says is
teams see him and go, we can trust the floor
of what we're getting here. Yeah, and so he's not
going to put us in a terrible situation and to
know how to handle it. So and you know, his
dad was in the league for like twelve years, mostly
with Chicago and Seattle, Andy Hick. So he's got the
jeans and.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Got the category y. Yeah, very true.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So related to that, let's discuss a little bit. We
wanted to start with all the fun stuff of who
we added, but of course we need to also address
who we have lost in free agency as well. And
so of course, based on that one, we figure we
should talk about Justin's school that sort of the looks
like the one to one replacement there potentially, So Justin's
school has left to go to the Vikings, and because
of some injury stuff there, I think he might get
(13:55):
a chance to start at least at the very beginning
of the season.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
So very sad to lose him.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Great guy, did a great job, especially when he's able
to step in for Tristan Worfs later in the year.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So we did lose him, but now.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
We already you know, were able to say, all right,
Charlie Peck is our replacement for him, it's looking like
and then another seems like one to one replacement in
some ways. kJ Britt went to the Dolphins and Anthony
from the Dolphins. Ear we just feel like just swap
these two guys out over here. And of course we
did also lose Tavi or Thomas also to the Vikings,
who was a very big person on our special team team.
(14:30):
He really was, and I think that was he made.
It just felt like every time there was a big splash.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Special teams play delivering, it was him. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
And then of course also Joe Tryan Schwenka has left
for the Browns, and of course we brought in Hassan Raddick. Like,
look at them, they were prepared for these losses and
they brought in someone each time. And so it doesn't
feel like any of the losses presented some glaring hole
that we haven't filled yet or feel forced to fill
in the draft, which we know that seems to always
(14:59):
be Jason Light's m of making sure in free agency
we at least fill some some holes. That way, when
you come to the draft, you're not in any kind
of desperate place.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
At any one position.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
So all right, let's go into the most important part
of our show, everyone's favorite segment except yours.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Maybe it depends how you do.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
So so far, so far, I got the first two
right yep, and then the next two half right. Partial credit,
partial credit. Yes, like the semeon one last week when
I but.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Are we doing this past fail? Are we like? Ab?
Speaker 5 (15:29):
No? Yeah? Well, at least you know, like last week,
if I had just known what age Simeon was when
he was drafted, I wouldn't be able to pick the
wrong number, and in the math did net up.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
But you knew all the other fun facts.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
So what do we got?
Speaker 2 (15:44):
All right? So, Brie, would you like to read the
question for us here? All right?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
The question is which Bucks pro bowler played at the
University of Nebraska Omaha in twenty ten.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
I was about to say this is easy because he
was just was Nebraska and we drafted Levante in twelve,
so he would have been there in twenty ten, as
was in Domikan, Sue, But it's the University of Nebraska's
in Lincoln, so I don't know much about the University
of Nebraska Omaha.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
When I saw this question, I did the same thing,
and I was like, wait, why are they saying there's
only one because it's.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Levante and it's Sue.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
And then I went to Lincoln, which having gone to
Miszoo at the time of this moment, with Nebraska in
our Big twelve division, I should have immediately recognized. So
I felt a little bad about that. So Casey was
partially stumped because of the Lincoln. There's Omaha part I
don't know nothing.
Speaker 5 (16:36):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Well, the answer is Shaq Barrett who played at Colorado State.
He did the whole bounce around, we go here, we
go there, and that was one.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Of his stops.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
This is very specific.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
It was, which is how stumps. That's what this has
gotta be.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Like a University of Nebraska OMA alumni sending in this.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
I think that same problem.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
See, because there were there were more than one question
submitted specifically about Nebraska related football things specifically, yes, but
also University Nebraska that I can tell.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
They're just they're the expert at that. So thank you
very much for our question.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
We got to stump Scott with it's our favorite thing
that happens, and again, please continue to send them und
now Oh no.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
Hey, unless you give me partial credit.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
We'll think about it. But also, just you're a baseball fan,
think of it that way. You're still batting a great average. Oh,
that's true, that you're still a famer in baseball category.
So please send us our our future stump Scott questions.
We love it, we appreciate it. So yeah, send it
to myself or Bree on social media.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
Nothing else. A thousand don't even have a football program anymore,
do they.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Oh, there you go.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
You stumped me with that question. I don't know, I
got nothing. Well that is going to do it for
us on this edition of Bucks Insider. Thank you so
much for being with us. We'll see you next time.
Welcome into Bucks Insider, coming to you from the Buck Studio,
presented by ticket Master Casey Phillips.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Here with Scott Smith.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
And Breed Dix, and we have even more to talk
about coming out of that free agency frenzy, and I'm
sure things.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Might still be happening. You never really know, but we
got a chance to.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Of course, we talked about some of those moves last week,
but now we got to have press conferences from a
few of those guys, which is exciting. We're gonna have
even more of that moving in the future days here.
But I wanted to go ahead and start with Hassan
Reddick because he's kind of our one big, splashier new
free agent signing, new addition to the team, and we
wanted to help fans get a chance to know him
a little bit better. So let's take a listen to
(00:36):
this clip of what made him want to join us
here in Tampa Bay just.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
To fit after talking the footy at the talking to
Coach Bulls, you know, their vision for Haddie plan to
use me here. That was revery intrigued and something that
I knew I needed. Outside of that, you know, I
felt like this was a team that was a couple
of short pieces away. I felt like that I could
come bring my knowledge, my abilities blended with the guys
(01:02):
that's already here. You've got great pieces. You know, you
got feeded, you got a young guy Yaya. So just
knowing that I can come here help out, I thought
it'd be fun.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I loved hearing from him and his presser.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
For one thing, the guy knows how to do a
press conference and how to endear himself to fans. He
even used the word crew already. This guy knows what
he's doing already. So outside of his skills at a
press conference, what are some of the things that we're
excited about with him coming in? Maybe even learned from
him at his press conference?
Speaker 4 (01:32):
I like said he in the draw to coming here,
was talking about the vision that Todd Bowles and both
Larry Foot have for him, but also just he said
he felt like this was a team last year that
were just a few pieces away, and he said, you know,
he can bring his knowledge, which he feels like separates
him as a pass rusher, staying one step ahead in
(01:52):
the trenches. But also just wanting to join a guy
like Vida Vea joining Yaya Dabi and what the capability
and the potential of this team can be in twenty five.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
You know, it reminds me a little bit, and I'm
not trying to make a straight comparison, but the Simeon
Rice edition back in two thousand and one. At that time,
Money Kiffen told him he would be the final piece
to the puzzle and to what would be a great
defense because they needed a really good outside edge presence
to pair with Warren Sapp in the middle who was dominant.
(02:23):
I'm not saying Hassan Redika Simeon right, so I'm not
saying he's not. I don't want to paint it either way,
but I feel like he mused the phrase piece of
the puzzle, I think, and it made me think, yeah,
we have dominant inside guys.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Now.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
Our two leading SAC guys last year were Vidave and
College CANSI so not that were right, College was. I
don't want to I know they were there, Bat you
don't want to give them press. So you know, if
if he could provide that, it's it's kind of a
similar situation and he recognizes that. And I think also
there was the connections that helped out I mean, first
of all, I played a.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Temple, so quite a temple staff.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
Yeah, and then you know he played at Arizona when
Todd Bowles and others were there. Larry Foot was there.
Larry Foot was his coach, his position coach when he
was playing off ball linebacker there. And now because Larry
just switched again here for us to outside linebackers, he's
going to be his position coach again. And I think
he has a real affection for him.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
I thought the timing of that was so interesting that
Coach Foot did just shift and now here we get
this guy that he gets to shift with him, And
how cool to think that. Man, what if Coach Foot
hadn't hadn't made that move, does Hassan Reddick still want
to come here? Will never really know, but man, after
the press conference, I got to talk to Hassan for
a little bit and we were discussing how he just
loves Coach Foot, like he just thinks so.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Highly of him, as we all do here love him
so much.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
I think, what a perfect pairing of this guy who
brings a bit of that veteran presence, especially to a
room that still has Yayad that's a little younger Chris Braswell,
you're hoping to maybe take a step to have that
veteran guy in the room to really kind of show
them what to do.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I think is really going to be great.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
We also had Levante David's pressler, So yeah, I heard of,
never heard of this guy. He's not quite the new
addition like Hassan Reddick is, but a boy are we
excited we still have him? And of course his presser
was just lovely and so many great sentiments shared about
the organization about him.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
So take a lesson.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
I think it's incredible, man. I think that's I don't
know if it's talked about enoughing. You know what I'm saying,
these guys being loaded to their guys. You know what
I'm saying, uh knowledge organizations aren't like that. And uh
for for those guys to be transparent us and uh
half that you know, back and forth communication about how
important they feel we are to them and how much
we wanna be back and playing this sit and for
(04:29):
the city. You know, I think that's incredible. You know,
it's a test to you know, from the ownership all
the way down. You know, they want their guys and
they believe in they guys, and they gonna stick with us,
you know what I'm saying. So, and I think for
the young guys to see that, that gives them, you know,
even more motivation, you know what I'm saying. They could
ask guys like me, Chris, Mike for advice and things
like that. So you know, when when those guys see that,
(04:49):
you know, I think they get even more motivated, they
wanna play for this organization or organization like that, And uh,
the thing is just it just becomes a mutual respect thing,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So, Well, of course, Levante's the guy that we build
the draft after ascension, now that they've talked about that,
of that, I am that man's strategy and that it's
Levante that we just want more. Levante's in here, So
thank goodness we still have that one in the room.
But what did you take away from his press conference
and some of the things that you noticed about his
excitement to be back and what even made him make
this decision.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
What really set out to me was him talking about
the mutual respect that the team has, but in the
front office and then the players, and how you have
a guy like Lavonte that's going into his fourteenth season
with the same team, which is nearly unheard of in
the NFL. But then also you have a guy like
Mike Evans that just finished up his eleventh season, and
(05:40):
for young players to see those players this team stick
with the guys and pay them, but also their respect
and even he said that a lot of times you
don't have that open line of communication with the general manager,
but he said that's something that they have with Jason
light and that goes from the cure that isn't seated
(06:01):
here from ownership down and how a lot of young
guys when you see a guy like Mike Evans and
Chris Godwin and Lavante David that are still here, that
makes them become more motivated and want to play for
an organization that treats their players right and pays their
own and sticks with the players that they have.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Yeah, definitely established that kind of culture. Yeah, in over
recent years.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
It's great.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
I mean, I think it's a great sign for recruiting
new free agents or even just the culture you know
you're building for these rookies that are coming in that
when players are and we don't know exactly what all
the options were for guys like Mike and Chris and
Levante out there, but it seems safe to say that
at least for a few of them, if not all
of them, they might have been able to get more
money elsewhere. And that choice to stay here says so
(06:44):
much about the organization they're hopes for, how successful the
team could be, the culture we built, and I think
that's a really great thing.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
I liked hearing Levante talk about his process because think
about this. This is the third straight year he's signed
a one year contract, which is and before that it
was just a two year deal, which is the sign
of a guy who at the end of each season
is reevaluating whether he wants to keep going or not.
And what levintte they had to ask himself. Two things
that were big were do I still love playing football?
(07:11):
And do I trust myself to continue playing at the
standard I have set? And he had to mould that
over and I guess he came up with yes and both,
and I believe he's probably correct.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Yeah, I agree with that, And how exciting to know
that the answer is still yes.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
For both of those things.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
All Right, So let's talk about a few more of
the signings that have happened and these may not have
been quite as splashy as some of those guys, but
could be some really interesting additions to this team. First
of all, in terms of the returning guys, we have
Bryce Hall, who is a guy that I'm sure a
lot of Bucks fans kind of forgot about the fact
that he was on the team musher because he unfortunately
got hurt right out of the gate week one. But
(07:47):
when we think about all season how there ended up
being some pretty big issues with cornerback depth after some injuries,
it's because this is the guy that you had thought
was going to be your number three. I so very
excited to see him get another chance here when last
and didn't know.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
How he wanted, And in fact he did win that
third outside corner job. And in the very first games
I Mcallum got a concussion and Bryce Hall was in. Then,
of course, as you mentioned, he suffered a dislocate an ankles,
a similar injury to Chris Godwin's, and that was it
for the year. But he had fulfilled what the Buccaneers
expected when they signed him from the Jets and free agencies,
so it's good to see him get another shot at
(08:22):
doing the exact same thing, and just like we've.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Talked about with Chris Godwin of seeing how he has
gone through a hard injury before knew how to come
back and rehab from it, so we therefore have confidence
he knows how to do it again.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I feel similarly about.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Bryce Hall, where hey, he went through this in college,
the same exact injury, but the other leg still went
on to be able to have this career in the NFL.
So you hate it for guys to have to go
through multiple big injuries, but you also know they do
have some experience with it and maybe know how to
handle it. So all right, after Bryce Hall, we have
linebacker Anthony Walker Scott.
Speaker 5 (08:56):
I'll take this one great, go for it. I don't
know if you are aware of this, but think Walker
played his college football at Northwestern. Oh you know there's
he has a lot of starting experience. I think that's
the number one thing. He started eighty three games in
different stops including Cleveland, Miami, I think Indy was the
(09:17):
other one. And he's a good coverage linebacker, which I think,
apart from Levante, was something we were missing last year
because Sara s Didnis went down and you know he
was he was being very emphatic in his press for conference.
He's like, I've seen different grades out there PFF, and
it's funny to think about these guys actually looking at
their PFF grades and going, come on, no way. But
he says, watch the film. Passes are not completed deep
(09:40):
down the middle over me, and passes are not completed
deep down the middle in front of me, And I
think he's throwing it. He says, go watch the film.
So I don't think he's making this up. Anytime you're
playing cover to Tampa two and we don't do that exclusively.
Of course, Todd Bowles probably doesn't do that as much
as a lot of teams. But when you do do that,
you're middle linebacker has to be able to drop down
(10:01):
the middle.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
So I also got an unsolicited text from someone who
knows him from a previous stop of his in the NFL, who,
again unsolicited, just messaged me and was like, you just
got a great one. Good that this is a great
guy on and off the field, good community work.
Speaker 6 (10:16):
All that.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
What else would you explain it?
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, And of course all of us Northwestern people are
just stellar.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Uh So I thought that was really exciting to hear
that in addition to feeling good about his experience, and
of course also I think about last year, every time
there were injuries, it felt like you're not just going
to a backup, which is always challenging. It felt like
you were going to someone who was green as to be.
You were going to someone who hasn't played a lot,
doesn't have.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
A lot of experience.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Doesn't mean they won't be good.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Doesn't mean it won't be good. You just it's a
very unknown quantity.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
And so I feel like now with someone like Anthony Walker,
whether or not whoever are starting, insidelnebackers end up being
if he is not your starter. To know that if
something happens, you're going to someone with experience has to
make Todd Bowles pretty happy on that front. And then
of course another returning player, we got Sterling Shepherd. And
you know, at first we weren't sure if we could
trust the source that broke us. Yeah, we weren't sure,
(11:07):
but none other than Jason Light broke the news.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
I love when he does this. I feel like every year.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
He picks one random signing yeah to break himself, which
I think is really great. And Sterling Sheppard, I mean,
just a great person to have back. I think the
trust that in relationship he has with Baker going all
the way back to their college days is really exciting.
And he was a guy who made some big plays
on some third and fourth downs when accounted throughout the year.
(11:34):
And of course this hopefully also means we'll get back
his Sunday night football intro with his daughters.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
That's the most important part.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
So that's another addition coming back to this team for
some wide receiver depth.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
You know, he had some injuries in training camp and
then he started the season on the practice squad, But
the notable thing to me is that he then finished
the season. It wasn't long before he was up on
the active rostern and it wasn't too long after that
Chris Cavan got hurt and he was essentially became the
number three receiver. And as he put it, I played
(12:06):
a lot of football last year. I played more football
last year than I have a long time, because his
last three years I think with the Giants were all
injury mark and so I think it was big for
him to get through an entire season healthy and see
that he could still do it, you know, because he
could have just retired before signing with US last June.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I agree, and I think it was the fact that
he knew he wanted to come back and play with Baker,
and so it shows yet again for him to want
to do that again is a great sign. And then
now as far as another new edition, we have an
outside we have an offensive tackle in Charlie Hack who
just looks so the part he's a gigantic human.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
With a success is a great mustash.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I'm like, already, just the look, I have faith in
this person as an offensive lineman. So yeah, it seems
like potentially a swing tackle replacement for and we're going
to get into it after this of who we've lost
in free agency, but it's looking like that might be
his role here.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
Yeah, it's sure sounded like that's when he was prepared
for and he was talking about how you just really
have to be ready to lamb bull sides. And he's
another guy like you're talking about Anthony Walker. You've got
a guy with experience. He started twenty three games in
this league last year. I think it was he got
signed off of a practice squad to San Francisco's Active
Rosterer and five days later started and he started the
(13:16):
last two games. So I think what that says is
teams see him and go, we can trust the floor
of what we're getting here. Yeah, and so he's not
going to put us in a terrible situation and to
know how to handle it. So and you know, his
dad was in the league for like twelve years, mostly
with Chicago and Seattle, Andy Hick. So he's got the
jeans and.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Got the category y. Yeah, very true.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So related to that, let's discuss a little bit. We
wanted to start with all the fun stuff of who
we added, but of course we need to also address
who we have lost in free agency as well. And
so of course, based on that one, we figure we
should talk about Justin's school that sort of the looks
like the one to one replacement there potentially, So Justin's
school has left to go to the Vikings, and because
of some injury stuff there, I think he might get
(13:55):
a chance to start at least at the very beginning
of the season.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
So very sad to lose him.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Great guy, did a great job, especially when he's able
to step in for Tristan Worfs later in the year.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So we did lose him, but now.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
We already you know, were able to say, all right,
Charlie Peck is our replacement for him, it's looking like
and then another seems like one to one replacement in
some ways. kJ Britt went to the Dolphins and Anthony
from the Dolphins. Ear we just feel like just swap
these two guys out over here. And of course we
did also lose Tavi or Thomas also to the Vikings,
who was a very big person on our special team team.
(14:30):
He really was, and I think that was he made.
It just felt like every time there was a big splash.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Special teams play delivering, it was him. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
And then of course also Joe Tryan Schwenka has left
for the Browns, and of course we brought in Hassan Raddick. Like,
look at them, they were prepared for these losses and
they brought in someone each time. And so it doesn't
feel like any of the losses presented some glaring hole
that we haven't filled yet or feel forced to fill
in the draft, which we know that seems to always
(14:59):
be Jason Light's m of making sure in free agency
we at least fill some some holes. That way, when
you come to the draft, you're not in any kind
of desperate place.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
At any one position.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
So all right, let's go into the most important part
of our show, everyone's favorite segment except yours.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Maybe it depends how you do.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
So so far, so far, I got the first two
right yep, and then the next two half right. Partial credit,
partial credit. Yes, like the semeon one last week when
I but.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Are we doing this past fail? Are we like? Ab?
Speaker 5 (15:29):
No? Yeah? Well, at least you know, like last week,
if I had just known what age Simeon was when
he was drafted, I wouldn't be able to pick the
wrong number, and in the math did net up.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
But you knew all the other fun facts.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
So what do we got?
Speaker 2 (15:44):
All right? So, Brie, would you like to read the
question for us here? All right?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
The question is which Bucks pro bowler played at the
University of Nebraska Omaha in twenty ten.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
I was about to say this is easy because he
was just was Nebraska and we drafted Levante in twelve,
so he would have been there in twenty ten, as
was in Domikan, Sue, But it's the University of Nebraska's
in Lincoln, so I don't know much about the University
of Nebraska Omaha.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
When I saw this question, I did the same thing,
and I was like, wait, why are they saying there's
only one because it's.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Levante and it's Sue.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
And then I went to Lincoln, which having gone to
Miszoo at the time of this moment, with Nebraska in
our Big twelve division, I should have immediately recognized. So
I felt a little bad about that. So Casey was
partially stumped because of the Lincoln. There's Omaha part I
don't know nothing.
Speaker 5 (16:36):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Well, the answer is Shaq Barrett who played at Colorado State.
He did the whole bounce around, we go here, we
go there, and that was one.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Of his stops.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
This is very specific.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
It was, which is how stumps. That's what this has
gotta be.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Like a University of Nebraska OMA alumni sending in this.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
I think that same problem.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
See, because there were there were more than one question
submitted specifically about Nebraska related football things specifically, yes, but
also University Nebraska that I can tell.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
They're just they're the expert at that. So thank you
very much for our question.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
We got to stump Scott with it's our favorite thing
that happens, and again, please continue to send them und
now Oh no.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
Hey, unless you give me partial credit.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
We'll think about it. But also, just you're a baseball fan,
think of it that way. You're still batting a great average. Oh,
that's true, that you're still a famer in baseball category.
So please send us our our future stump Scott questions.
We love it, we appreciate it. So yeah, send it
to myself or Bree on social media.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
Nothing else. A thousand don't even have a football program anymore,
do they.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Oh, there you go.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
You stumped me with that question. I don't know, I
got nothing. Well that is going to do it for
us on this edition of Bucks Insider. Thank you so
much for being with us. We'll see you next time.
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