September 15, 2025 • 51 mins
Team Reporter Casey Phillips sits down with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles & Assist General Manager Mike Greenberg following the Week 2 win against the Houston Texans. They reviewed the back-to-back last-minute victories, rookie WR Emeka Egbuka's dominance to start the season & the continuing changes to the offensive line.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
That's three three.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is Buccaneers Total Access with head coach Todd Bowles.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
That the hell of a job going back, go back,
rockin make up those a sideline route.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
It is cod Ball cop Paul my Cabots, what the
guy try?
Speaker 5 (00:21):
Pall over it?
Speaker 4 (00:22):
Touch Down, Tampa Bay Fire, the Cabets, Get up Going.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Brought to you by Advent Health.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Whether you're in the stands, on the field, or celebrating
with your greatest fan, Advent Health make sure you're ready
for a game day and every day feel whole with
Advent Health Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fire
the Cannons now your host, Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips
and head coach Todd Bowles.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
Welcome into the Todd Bowles show Casey Fields here with
head coach Todd Bowles. Man, congratulations on another win, another
road win, and another one that took some years off
people's life. It feels like this is our this is
our theme for the start of this year. Tell me,
first of all, just what did this win in particular
say about this team? Knowing definitely some mistakes, I know
that you would have not loved happening, but then to
(01:08):
still be able to despite injuries, despite some mistakes, pull
out a win at the last minute on the road
and in primetime.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Well our number one job going down. It was whatever
it takes to win the ball game. We knew it
wasn't gonna be clean, and football is probably not meant
to be clean. We got some things to clean up, yes,
but the resiliency and toughness they showed and gut and
gut wrench in time was unbelievable. The two minutes by
the offense, the goal line, stand by the defense, you
(01:35):
know that that was you know, we practiced that, We
rehearse it all the time. To see them go out
and execute on the road against the playoff teams good.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
And then now you are eight to zero in weeks
one and two as a head coach, best record in
the NFL in that time for opening weeks, and we're
just the sixth team to start two to zero in
five straight seasons since the nineteen seventy merger. Tell me
what has led to you, you guys, having this kind of
success in these first couple of weeks, and some of
the big things you feel like you could try to
do to make sure it carries over.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
If they started the playoffs right now, it will be
very happy. But they don't. So it's only two weeks
and we have to understand that. And again, like you said,
we've lost weeks three, so that's going to be real
big for us going into this week. But to get
off to a good start while you find your footing
and you can stack early wins, can't do anything but
help you lately season.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
And then Josh Gazzard yet again, just finishing a game
with a two minute drive. We're making this a pattern
here of the start of his career. What did you
see about this two minute drive and compared to last
week and just some of the things with his game overall,
maybe that you saw him learn from week one and
continue to even improve just in that one week span.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
He was good in the two minute drive, but he
opened the game aggressively when they scored first, and he
came back aggressively, started throwing the ball around and getting
into the playmakers and have aggressive play call. And I
thought from weeks one to two, I thought that really
changed and he rolling that way. So that was a
big plus for us to start the game off, and
it kept Baker, It got him involved early and kept
(03:06):
everybody moving, so two minute at the end was easy
for us.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
Now, you guys are the first team to score game
winning touchdown in the final minute and back to back
games on the road.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Since nineteen ninety nine.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
What do you feel like if you look at these
two games to get those kind of clutch game winning touchdowns,
What are the elements that have helped you guys be
able to do that and what it's shown you about
specifically your offense.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
It's good to know practices paying off, because we practiced
two minute religiously, relentlessly. We practiced red zone relentlessly, We
practiced third now, so we put them in every situation,
good and bad, over and over and over and over
to see them execute and not sweat and just go
through their progressions and going through their routes and blocking
(03:49):
those guys and getting everything done. Obviously, a big fourth
down run by Baker, Another big run by Bucky getting
us all the way down there. Cad made some plays,
Mike made a player, or shot rent it In made
a play. I think it just shows the concentration that
they have in practice and the maturity bringing it over
to the game.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
Baker had a few different milestones. He had twenty five
thousand career passing yards. He moved into third most games
in franchise history with more than two passing touchdowns, and
he ranks fifth in franchise history for passing touchdowns. Now,
what did you notice about his game and just the
things that we have now learned from him at this
point to see the way that after not being with
the Bucks for that long, he's already really climbing a
(04:28):
lot of these record books and stats, and just feels
this game in particular, just felt like such a great
example of the way that Baker can will a team
at the end to win.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
He's not just filling the team. He's playing good football.
He's not turning it over number one. So he's been
real smart with the football. He runs when he has
to learned. He's to learn how to get down a
little bit out of whole bunch, but a little bit,
but he runs when he has to. He's very accurate.
He has a good command of the offense going into
his second season here just understanding second season in the system,
(04:59):
I mean, just understanding where to go with the football.
He's playing faster, he's playing smarter, and he's playing good ball.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
It looked like he was a little bit gimpy on
a couple plays. What do we know about just how
he's feeling, And especially on a short week like this,
I'm sure a lot of guys.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Are sowing right now. We'll wait, We'll wait and see
how he's feeling right now. But Baker's a competitor and
he'll probably need a few days to get his rest
up and get healed up, and he'll be ready to
go on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
One of my favorite Baker moments was it looked like
he was hurt, but he told the injury to wait
so he could get up and trash talk. Somebody, did
you happen to see this play? What were your thoughts
on this?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Thank I'm not gonna let it and anybody see him hurt.
He's gonna be hurt until you say something to him.
Then he's gonna go right back up and he's gonna
run a play and he's gonna trash talk. Then he's
gonna get up hurt again. Then he's gonna go back
and do the same thing. That's just part of it.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I like it. So now we know Tristan.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
But then you think you're gonna have Luke to start
the game, which we weren't sure about throughout the week.
Then of course he ends up going out at the
end of the first quarter, so then Charlie Heck.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Had to come.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
How did the whole offensive line handle yet again another
change here to start the season compared to you know,
when we thought this was going to be a group
that came in with so much consistency from last year,
all the same guys up there.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
How did you see them handle that?
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I thought they battled. I thought they battled off against
one of the better d lines in the league. They
made a few sacks here and there. But I thought
we were very aggressive running the football, especially straight up
the middle. Atam. I thought Charlie battles. I thought Barton
battles on the outside. And those guys played hard and
they helped us get a win.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
And then now again short week going into next week,
what are you guys hoping to see of who could
be on that line and some of the different combinations
and ways that you might try to make up for
guys still being out.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Maybe it's going.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
To be next man up. I mean, you don't have
many guys, it's going to be next man up. It'll
be our home opener. But at the same time, like
you said, we've lost the third game last year's and
the last couple of years, so this will be very
important for us. Coming home and everybody's patting you on
the back, and you got family coming to town and
you need more tickets, and then your concentration goes. So
our focus in practice this week, it's got to be
(07:02):
at a premium.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
So the run game one hundred and thirty six yards
between Rashad and Bucky averaged five point six yards at carry.
You has got over one hundred yards rushing for a
league best tenth straight game. We have sixteen one hundred
yard rushing games since the start of last season, which
is the fourth most in the NFL during that time.
Tell me specifically in this last game, especially compared to
(07:24):
Week one, how you were able to see Rashad and
Bucky both get involved, get going and have the kind
of numbers they did.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Two guards in the center were very tough, between Ben
and Michael and Coldy, they were very tough. And Reshot
and Buckie ran hard. They ran very hard up in
between the tackles. They know it was going to be
a physical game. They took what they gave them and
then some. They were very good in the open field
in the past game as well, and I put one
of the tougher games I seen both of them play
at the same time. I thought they did an excellent Yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
For Shot in particular, we know he had the game winner.
He also recovered that very important fumble, and you know,
at the end of the third quarter in a really
important drive, had back to back runs of twelve, nine
and sixteen yards. What did you see specifically for him
and the way that he contributed when Bucky's really kind
of taking the reins as that main guy. But Rashad
showed a lot in this game.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Sad played a very tough game. Obviously he blocks most
of the time, but he can run the ball. He
ran very hard and talk between the tackles. He made
people miss, he ran over a few people. He's good
in space. He willed us in the end zone on
the last touchdown drive. And I can't say enough about him.
He played an excellent blow game.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
So let's talk about a mecca again. Now another touchdown.
So has the most receiving touchdowns through two career games
in Bucks' history, tied with Aman Ross. Saint Brown and
Romadunze for most receiving touchdowns to start this season. What
have you seen specifically about his ability to get in
the end zone and be ready for these clutch moments
to start.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Off the career.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
He can beat you so many ways. He can catch
and run, he can beat you over the top, he
can run with the football, He makes key block, he
does a lot of things. He can beat you with
route running, he can beat you with speed, he can
beat you with power. So he's just using everything, and
we're trying to use everything he has. So whatever he
can do to help us out on the field, we're
used in and he's just letting his ability to come
(09:13):
out naturally.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
I feel like Ryan Miller is a great example of
that next man up idea where when we didn't know
about the different wide receiver injuries going in, this is
a guy that's been, you know, grinding away on the
practice squad and now here he comes in gets a
touchdown his third touchdown in thirteen overall career receptions. That's
not a terrible style line there of ratios. Tell me
(09:35):
what about him gives Baker the confidence and offense the
confidence to still.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Call his number when that's needed.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
You know, even when he's a guy that hasn't always
gotten as many reps with Baker and the starters.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Oh, we know he's not on the scouting report of
the opponents. So whenever we put him in, he's going
to be open and all Baker has to do is
find us. He's found them, No, Ryan, Ryan is a
very good all around player. He knows all three positions.
He's very tough on special teams. He's a disciplined route runner,
he has outstanding hands, and anytime we put him in
(10:06):
their joby on the spot, we're not afraid to throw
to him. We trust him. We understand where he's going
to be. He knows where Baker's looking. He does his
job to perfection, and when we find him, he makes
a play.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
I know, we were two of three in the red
zone offense and they were zero for two. We are
tied for the best red zone defense in the league
this year. Obviously, that's always a huge aspect of the
way a game goes. What have you seen on both
sides of the ball in the red zone that makes
you the most proud.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Offensively, we run the ball and we got the thread
of the quarterback run and we do a good job.
Griz does a good job scheming them up in the
past game, and add does the red zone as well defensively.
Out being I can give all that credit to Tim Atkins,
who's our red zone defensive guy. Tim does an excellent
job in the red zone from high to low tendencies,
(10:55):
what they like to do, where they like to do.
That gives us all the information so we can try
to execute out a high level when those guys are
very prepared.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
I don't have a stat to back this up, but
I have to imagine that you have had some more
of goal line stand plays to start this season than
make the any seam before. How proud were you of
your defense to do another goal line stand for so
many different plays this time, even just from the one
yard line.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
What stood out about your the way the defense just
held up.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
In that situation and has now really only allowed one
play to score after having you know, something like twelve
plays inside the four yard line on those stands.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
They don't flinch. They do a heck of a job
rally and and understanding whatever it takes and defend every
blade of grass.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
I know. Third down you mentioned is something that you
guys drill a lot in practice. You held them to
two of nine on third down and oh for one
on fourth down. What do you think you guys did
so well in that area.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
The pressure's got to them a little bit. We try
to take away number twelve. We tried to take away
columns a little bit from that standpoint, but those guys
up Frank got some pressure.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
You know.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
We let him out the pocket up up the middle
of time or two and let him run. But for
the most part, those guys followed the game plan to
a t.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
I know, you guys held them to under one hundred
yards rushing.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
That's the sixty fourth time holding an opponent to that
stat since you took over the defense, which is the
most during that time in the league. How did you
feel overall about the run defense, especially knowing they were
definitely trying to get chubbed going the whole game.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Other than the last touchdown run that he got up
thought they played well up front in a run game
against Rassier and Tykee had a lot to do with that.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
And then we know that Levante was the third player
now to play two inner games with the Bucks, after
Derek and Ronde.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
But the first to start all of them.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
What does that stat say to you about just the
career Levante has had here in his long jevity, oos.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Long gevity says a lot. That means he's in shape
all the time. He still loved to play the game
at a high level. And you know, I'll probably give
him a game ball because he didn't cass the one
that he should have.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
That's what I love.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
No matter how many games you play, you're never escaping,
never escaping the criticism.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
We could drop the intercept job. I know he had
to beating himself up. I'm sure for.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You as bad as I wanted to be.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Casey Phillips here with head coach Todd Bowles, I know
we had a few different sacks we were able to
get in that game. Take me through Lavante and Elijah's
shared sack and Greg Gaines and then Tykey's as well.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Oh I got Tyke. He ran over his guy. He
did a heck of a job. He just ran over
and running back and he came through on the quarterback.
He's very strong. He doesn't look like it size wise,
but he's very strong and he can lift you up.
He took him off his feet and ran him back through.
The quarterback Levante did a heck of a job. This
guy's in his blitz. He kind of faked and fainted
and came through. And at the same time, Elijah came
(13:42):
through on the other side, which we're looking for some
big things from him. Then Gaines got the sack. He
just keeps working. He doesn't look like the ultimate sack guy,
but he's quicker than you think, and you know he's
craftier than you think, and he always finds his way
back there.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah, and you mentioned Elijah Roberts looking for some things
from him, especially when at this point we still don't
know a ton about Elijah's injury. But what have been
your expectations for Elijah robertson how might they change depending
on Elijah's availability.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Oh, Eliza's availability says everything. It'll give him more chances.
The ruster quarterback in the past game. He's developing in
the run game, but he's a heck of a pass
rusher for us, and if he can add that dimension,
that'll help us a great deal.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
We talked about Tyke's sack, but he also led the
team in tackles.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Had his first game with multiple tackles for loss.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
What did you see about his game in particular, and
maybe some of the things we don't even see about
how well he's playing out there like you're.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Played in college. He's a very heavy football player. He's instinctive,
he's very smart. Between him, Winfield and Lavonte, those are
three of the most instinctive players I've ever coached. And
when they're out there at the same time, they can
dissect things and make plays. And he came through in
quite a few plays to get some TFLs as well.
He's playing physical, he's playing smart, and he's playing well.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Tell us a bit about the vision to rotate Jamel
and Benjamin Morrison and just what you saw of Benjamin
Morrison and some of his first kind of major actions
since coming back from the injury and starting in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Oh Dean starts for us, and we wanted to get
Morrison some reps to get his feet wet because you
never know what's going to happen during the year. We're
trying to get him caught up and get his feet
wet and get him some reps as well, not just
special teams. And he went in there. He had some
good plays and he had some things he saw for
the first time. But the more you get him in there,
the mores conference goes up because we never know we
(15:29):
might need him.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
And then you mentioned special teams. I know that definitely
some of the moments you guys would like to have
back on that unit this week. What have you seen
now about Chase missing another one? Kind of plans there
in ways you guys hope to help him get back on.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Track two weeks in a row. Can't miss the kicks
and the snap is good and the hole is good.
We got to make those kicks. He understands that, we
understand that as well, so we'll work on that this week.
I don't ever want to pump block as the ultimate
special teams to get in a pump block, so we
really got to look at that part of it. And
they got a return as well, So it wasn't a
(16:05):
good day on teams, but they made the winning tackle
at the end of the ball game, so everything is okay.
But we'll work on that this week.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
So now finally we get a home game here. Started
with a couple of road games and then now you're
coaching against your former team. Has that now been long
enough since you've been there, that it doesn't seem any
different than other games, or is there any time still?
I feel like we asked players that of what it's
like going against a former team.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Is there any extra motivation in that?
Speaker 3 (16:30):
No extra motivation because we played them before I think
two years to go up there at their place and
we beat them, So no extra motivation. Very close with
Aaron Glenn, still close with some people in that building,
but we're trying to get a win.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
And then tell me, now, for you guys, this home
game and then also a little extra something with the
new throwback jerseys. I know that's something that some of
the guys get excited about. And for you are those
things when there's a little bit extra for a first
home game and honoring the fifty years.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
What is it like for you as a head coach
to watch that? Do you enjoy that or for you
is it just kind of business as usual?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
It's even more business as usual because although they are great,
they're distractions and making sure the players are focused when
they go out there to play. That's going to be
the biggest thing for us to get the third win.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
And then now looking at the Jets, we don't know
a whole lot health wise for their quarterback situation. But
tell me, depending on which guys in there, what does
that do for you guys on defense and just the
different styles or different aspects of their play.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
You got to take a look at I do think.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Could change as much. I mean, it feels as bigger
than Taylor, but they both can run. They're both very
good out of the pocket, and the tower has been
around a long time. You can throw the ball. They
have a lot of talent. You know, it's early in
the season. Everybody's trying to find their way. They have
a lot of talent. We know we got to play
our best game.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Is it an extra challenge when it's a short.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
Week to have a guy that is the backup and
maybe who I know, you guys try to work ahead
a little bit. Does that add an extra challenge on
the game planning side?
Speaker 3 (17:57):
It does, because you don't see much of them, and
we haven't seen much. I don't think he's played since
maybe twenty twenty three. But at the same time, he's
a good quarterback, so not having enough of them a fan,
we've really got to study just formations and tendencies and
go from there and what do.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
You see from a guy like Breise Hall and the
way that he's emerged. Definitely, a lot of fantasy people
are big fans of him, and tell me what it's
like to go against him on the defensive side.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I'm a big fan as well. I think he's one
of the best backs in the league that's not being
talked about enough. I think he's strong, he's fast, he's powerful,
he has an array of moves, and he's tough to tackle.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
And what about Garrett Wilson?
Speaker 5 (18:34):
What have you seen with his progression and the way
that I know he'd been playing with justin fields and
now maybe a different quarterback out there. What does it
potentially change about the way that you guys face Garrett
Wilson and just the ways that you've seen him grow
doesn't change.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
He's the number one receiver, very fast, runs a lot
of routes and beat you in a variety of ways.
Great hands, great competitor. It's going to be a load.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
And then looking at their defensive front, it stands out
to you, guys.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
They get off the ball. They get off the ball
just like Houston did. They play in the backfield, they
wound up play in the backfield, they want to put
a lot of pressure on you. They're front four, it's
very talented, led bike winning Williams and they do a
good job.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
And then how about their secondary got.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Some names back there? Obviously, Saults will probably follow Mike
around like Stingley, did you know he's a very good
corner excellent and everything stems off of him, So wherever
he goes, they will probably put the coverage away and
they trust him to play one on one.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
And then finally, just schedule wise for this week, how
do you and the coaches try to deal with the
short week, the short schedule and what means especially for
a day like a Tuesday where that's your big game
planning day and it's coming off.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
I'm sure almost zero sleep.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
No Tuesday is kind of normal. We got a head
start last week because we had the extra day, so
we tried to work ahead as best we could. And
we'll get together this afternoon after we break down the
tape of the game and then kind of go from
there and game plan accordingly. Be here a little later
than normal, but it's a short week. Comes the territory.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
Well, coach, thank you for spending the time with us,
and again good luck on an amazing road win.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Coming up next is Assistant general manager Mike Greenberg on
Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by advent Health. This
is Buccaneers Radio.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by advent Health Exclusive
Hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dropping back the role
we'vereatened the blitz of coming after the home.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Fussy sack from the backfield at the forty two yard line,
Vitavea has his fourth sack of the season.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Now more with Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access.
Speaker 5 (20:34):
We are here with assistant general manager Mike Greenberg after
having head coach Todd Bowles with us the first half.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Mike, thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
You get a lot of gold stars in my book
for being the guy that comes in on the very
little sleep I'm imagining.
Speaker 6 (20:47):
Thank you for having me. Really appreciate it. Happy to
be here.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Yeah, how are we feeling? How many hours of sleep.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Are we rocking?
Speaker 5 (20:53):
You know?
Speaker 6 (20:54):
We got home I think around three thirty ish, give
your take, probably to sleep it that four so bye,
it went to sleep. Was in a great mood after
that that win. Probably woke up a little bit at
six am to a six year old in my face
letting me know how disappointed he was that his fantasy
football team lost. And you know, blame me for it
(21:17):
is the assistant gym of his fantasy football team. He
was telling me everything that I did wrong. So but
other than that, you know, it was a great night.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yeah, kids will humble you.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
It happens very quickly, very quickly.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Well, like you said, you went to bed in a
great mood because what a great win. And I know
for myself and Box fans, it has felt like maybe
we've lost a few years off of our life these
last two weeks.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
The stress of.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
It, I imagine for you it is even more so.
Tell me what it's been like for you guys to
have absolute last second clutch wins, two minute drives, and
what it says about the team at this point.
Speaker 6 (21:51):
I mean, can't say enough about the team and how
hard they play and how much respect they have for
Todd and the coaches, and to go in the road
and win those two games like we did at the
end of the game was really incredible and really says
a lot about the players we have in the locker
room and Baker at the end of the game is
just unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, his just will to win is so incredible.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
I think my favorite moment of the game was him
sort of getting hurt and yet making that pause so
he could get up to trash talk.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I think that was Baker in a nutshell.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
It perfectly summarized him. Yeah, he You know, it was
great play. You were concerned about the injury, and then
you realized he wanted to get up quickly so he
can continue talking trash or shot.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Yeah, yeah, priorities, priorities.
Speaker 6 (22:34):
For Baker, but he really the last two drives first
in Atlanta and then last night was unbelievable.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
And how cool for a guy like Josh Brizzard getting
to start new coordinator and to have game winning two
minute drives in both of your first two games and
just what that does for his confidence, the team's confidence,
and what it says about just his choice even as
offensive coordinator.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
No, it's you know, he did a great job for
us last year working with Liam and then uh, Liam
obviously great coordinated a great job for us last year,
but for her Josh to come in and be able
to transition into that role and be able to have
the success he had on the road the first two weeks.
Says a lot about you know him and the coach
(23:16):
he is, and excited to have him, and I think
the players really excited. And when you know, Todd and
Jason hired him or promoted him into that role, it
was interesting to see the reaction of the players. They
were excited. They thought, you know, it was well deserved
and that you could see really that decision paying off
now and.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
Then another decision paying off you and the rest of
the front office deciding to draft a Mecca Buka looking
like a real solid decision at the moment.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Yeah, I'm going to take credit for that one. If
it would have went you know poorly, that then I
you know, Jason had a sco When it works out,
me and Jackie like to take credit for it. So
that now it just says a lot about Jason, you know,
the evaluator he is, the scouting staff, and how great
of a job that they've done over the past few years,
(24:05):
a lot of years now in a row, and it's
you know, it doesn't surprise me that they hit on
another one. And what a great player a great kid.
So we really fortunate to have him, and it's been
really fun watching these first two weeks.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
I mean, I know there was a lot of hype
about him. What everyone in the front office was sort
of saying after we drafted him of talking about his maturity,
talking about his ex as a nosibility that it was
just I almost felt like, I'm like, geez, like, I've
never heard of someone being this hyped right out of
the gate.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Is he going to be able to live up to it?
Speaker 5 (24:36):
Now? Three touchdowns in two games? Did even you guys
imagine that he would be setting the world on fire
this quickly?
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Just you know, here being in some of those meetings
and hearing the scouts talk about just a type of
kid he was, and the comp that they kept really
referring to was was Chris Godwin. And I remember Jason
being like, well, have another Chris Godwin, Like that's a
home run. And I you know, just the type of
guy he is and how his work ethic, he doesn't
(25:06):
surprise me that he's having as much success as he's had.
But even this summer, just listening to guys like, you know,
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin talk about him from being
in the meeting rooms and how press they were with him,
you can tell that we had something special.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
We're talking to assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. Rashad and Bucky
both had great games last night. What was it like
to watch the two of them really get going. I mean,
you have Bucky just incredible runs and then Rashod and
not only the fumble recovery, the game winning touchdown, and
just what it's like to have two backs like that
back there, what that does.
Speaker 6 (25:40):
For your offense, the fumble recovery. You know, I almost
forgot about that really until we watched this hip end
this morning. I was like, that's such a key play
and such a heads up play by Rashod. And they
both had excellent games. That last drive really was tremendous,
and just they compliment each other very well. And then
to see you know, Sha I get the touchdown. He
(26:03):
played a great game, and it's just been fun watching
them too, And I think we have great pair there.
And even you know, Sean Talker, you know obviously didn't
I don't think he had any carries last night, but
he's he's a really good player as well, So that's
a special room.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Yeah, And I was thinking about just the chaos that
has been the offensive line situation with all the injuries
these first couple of games, and I think about how
complicated enhearted Arty is for you guys to build a
roster and to look at a room like that. And
if I had then told you, like, Okay, so we're
gonna be without Tristan, and we think we're gonna have Luke,
but then we're not gonna have Luke, and then we're
gonna have Graham at this position, and then we're gonna
move into this Like just if we were.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
To have that hypothetical, you'd be like, that's not a thing.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
How do you guys try to build and prepare for
a situation like this where you can end up kind
of snake bit at one position room? And last year
it was kind of the corners and dv's and now
the line. What has it been like to watch the
way you guys have You know, Jason and his staff
have tried to build that room and their ability to
handle such a weird situation getting thrown at.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
Them working with Graham. As we were leaving locker room
last night, and I said, Okay, guard next week and
we'll just you know, change it up. We'll see, we'll
see maybe tight end the week after. And he's just
such a special player. It's so unique to see from
playing center to left tackle in the NFL is really remarkable.
But he's a special guy. He's a great player, smart,
(27:20):
willing to do whatever he can for the team to
help us win. But then really obviously he was a
great pick by Jason the scouting staff, but then you
look at a guy like even Michael Jordan that we
picked up the summer, that's been such a key addition,
started two games, done a really really nice job. So
you know, credit to the scouting staff and Jason just
(27:41):
always looking for who else we can bring in, who
else is out there that may be able to help us,
and hitting on Michael Jordan just signing the summer. It
has been really really beneficial. And you know, I don't
know if we win these first two games without the
play that we've had from him.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
So that's that's huge.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
And I say about Luke and always injured at the moment,
but you had Luke and Zion both get signed extensions
fairly recently, and so congrats on that. I know that's
always a lot of work for you and Jackie and
your department. So tell us a little bit about some
of the things that went into those and just the
excitement of having those two guys be able to know
that they're they're here long term.
Speaker 6 (28:19):
That's really the goal is to the scouting staff to
pick the right players, coaches developed them, and then you know,
for me and Jackie and Jason to pay the players,
extend them to keep our own That's when that's when
you really really kind of have have success when you
kind of can hit on all three of those and
(28:39):
keep your own players. So it was important for us
to get those two done and keep continuing to keep
our own guys that we've you know, drafted and developed.
And that's really the long term strategy to success in
this league is really you know, reward your own players
that you've that you've drafted and developed.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
Yeah, and I mean, you guys have just done an
incredible job. It's been amazing to see the number of
players that are homegrown on this roster and especially compared
to a lot of the others. Where do you think
that that success has come from over the years. I mean,
you've now been here a long time. Jason has been
here a long time. What specifically for the idea of
building through the draft? Have you guys grown in that area.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
I think Jason has talked a lot about this publicly
that if at the beginning, when he was GM those
first few drafts, there's mistakes along the way that he
made that I know he picked here there that he
really like to take back. And what makes Jason such
a great general manager is he is always looking at
himself and looking at the at the staff and how
can we improve, how can we get better? And I
(29:40):
know a lot of it was he thought he was
taking too many risks on character guys. So you know,
we sat down the off season he said, Okay, we're
not going to do that anymore. We're going to take
some of these guys that may be really talented players
that maybe count more talented than even some of the
players that we're taking, but we feel so confident in
the character on the guys that we're more comfortable taking
(30:01):
these these are more of our type of guys. And
I think since we made that, you know, adjustment, and
Jason made that change, you've gotten that that's a lot
of the success we've had that we've been able to
find these guys that love football, that are good people,
great in the community, smart, wanting to get better. And
I think that's really a big, big key, like just
(30:22):
picking the right people for this organization. And a lot
of that goes to Jason just examining what you know,
he thought he was doing wrong with the organization, is
doing wrong and not being scared to change and admit
that that wasn't the right path. And I give him
a lot of credit, And that's honestly why he's been
such a great GM.
Speaker 5 (30:40):
And I know one of the big reasons people are
always trying to build through the draft is also the
fact that you get players for several years on a
little bit less expensive deal, right that it's a lot
easier for you to do your job when you have
more people that are on rookie deals on a team
at any given time as compared to maybe a lot
more expensive veterans and you're trying to make everything work.
So how does it factor in for you guys in
(31:00):
that sense of trying to build through the draft and
the ways that can potentially make your job easier.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
So you know a few years ago when we were
after you know, one Super Bowl we were kind of
all in with with Tom Brady and kept pushing some
of the cap charges down the road. Really the only
way to get out of that is to draft well,
and that's it, because you got it, you touched upon it.
You have to hit on some of these draft picks
that the salaries are, you know, are lower for you
(31:26):
have them for four first round picks, five years undrafted players.
You got to you got to hit on some of
those and that's really the only way to one get
out of cap trouble, but then sustain it for the
long term. So you can't really just go into free
agency and pay all these guys top dollar and bring
them in. It's not a model that works. So you
have to hit on those draft picks and that's the
way to really have a healthy cap and long long
(31:50):
term success. So that's why the draft is so important
to hit on those players.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
All right, we're going to take a quick break here.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
We're going to be back with more Buccaneers Total Access
with Assistant general manager Greenberg, brought to you by Avan Health.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
This is Buccaneers Radio.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
You were listening to Buccaneers Total Access with head coach
Todd Bowles and Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips brought to
you by ad Van Health Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
We are back here on Buccaneers Total Access.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
I'm joined by Assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. So we
were talking before the break about just the importance of
building through the draft and tell me this year's draft.
We talked a bit about a mecca, but several other
guys I know that the coaches are very high on.
So what kind of stands out to you guys so
far about what you were able to accomplish in this
year's draft.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
You know, I think we got We definitely brought in
some really good defensive backs. You saw that last night
that became apparent. David Walker was doing a great job
this summer and we're real we're excited that he's going
to be a part of this team going forward. And
I know, you know, has the injury and he'll rehab,
he'll get better. But he was really really impressive this
summer and turning heads and we're excited about him in
(33:00):
the long term, long term, but obviously a mecca. But
really the defense backs were impressive last night. Yeah, they
were making making plays. All of the defense played great
last night as a whole, but you can really see, uh,
those those two that we're excited to have them.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Yeah, I think they're gonna be big impact players for sure,
and great guys, which that's what I always as the
person who has to talk to all the players. I
appreciate y'all's philosophy and how you draft their They're good dudes.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
You know, we're we are fortunate and it comes from
Jason and Mike and Rob and we really, we really
do have great guys in.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
The locker room.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
And then I know, as we've talked about the importance
of building through the draft, you guys do like to
occasionally add some pieces in free agency when it makes sense,
and Hassan Redick was our one sort of more splash signing.
I would say this offseason, what was the idea about
bringing him in and just what you guys were able
to do with his contract and bringing him in here
and just what he could mean, especially for this defense.
We already saw sack week one, so already looks like
(33:59):
a pretty decent signing there.
Speaker 6 (34:01):
I'd say the hardest thing about free agency is it's
not like the draft where you bring the player in
for a visit, or you're meeting with them at the combine,
or your scouts have talked to them. Your free agency
moved so fast a lot of times you're taking a
chance on a player that you may not know. So
our coaches, like Larry Foote had been with them and
so we knew we knew the person from our coaches.
(34:22):
We knew that they felt comfortable with the guy. And
you know, obviously a talented player had the situation last
year with the Jets where he didn't play the majority
of the year, so we didn't, you know, really get
to see a lot of that last year, but just
that our coaches, some of our coaches knew them, and
it made it a little bit of a safer bet.
And that's the situation because they had been around them
(34:43):
and they were comfortable bringing them in and he'd fit
in with with the locker room.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
And I know also this off season was when you
got your promotion, which I don't think I've had you
on my shows or talk to you since then. So congratulations,
very well deserved. Four people who are like, what does
an assistant general manager do?
Speaker 1 (35:00):
And wait, there's multiple of them.
Speaker 5 (35:02):
How does this work kind of give people the high
level of view of at the top of the front
office staff, how you guys each divvy up your responsibilities
and how your role has changed and evolved here.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Over the years.
Speaker 6 (35:13):
Yeah. So I actually got brought in sixteen years ago,
now as.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
When you were ten.
Speaker 6 (35:19):
Obviously obviously to do half personnel and scouting and half
salary cap. Now, I probably was one of the worst
scouts that we've ever had in the history of than
Havny a blackan years. But what it did do was, I,
you know, I really they taught me how to scout,
how to watch tape, how to speak the language, how
to you know when I read the reports, how to
understand what they're saying, I know the terminology. So I
(35:42):
did a half scouting and half contract for about six
months and then just really half a season, and then
at the time the cat person here left and I
moved into that role and from there on really did
more of the salary cap and contracts. My main job
is salary cap, contracts rules, the player personnel rules, you know,
and the way he is on with the league office
and the football operation rules.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Budget fun killer obviously, real.
Speaker 6 (36:07):
Person everybody always wants to be around. Everyone loves the
rules always. Yeah, it's always great to tell people what
they Cannon.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
Can love that you're sort of the one that pays them.
We can kind of like maybe that.
Speaker 6 (36:15):
Counter accit a bit, a little bit, you know, the
glader signed the checks. But at least I could kind
of take some of that.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Yes, there we go. I like it.
Speaker 6 (36:21):
But yeah, everybody always loves loves a real person to
tell them what they can and can't do. But and
then I, I, you know, I deal a lot with
with the business side, and and then from a budgeting standpoint,
oversee and help with you know, groundskeeping and the video
budget and the scouting budget and equipment and uh, I
can tell you from a groundskeeping standpoint, I learned more
(36:42):
about the different types of grass than I ever thought
I would know my entire life. But you know, it's
a good education to have.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
And what what is your background getting to this? For
someone out there that's like that was a lot of
very different things. How does one get to that role
in spot?
Speaker 1 (36:57):
What was your background?
Speaker 6 (36:58):
Good question? So I I had always wanted to go
to law school. I had interested in the law. For me,
the perfect combination was going to be combining sports and
the law. But I get this question a lot. Do
I need to go to law school to do what
you do? No, you don't. It definitely helps, But I
was interested in going to law school. So when I
was in law school, fortunate enough to intern for the
(37:20):
Jets my first summer actually as Jackie Davison's intern, And
then second year I went to the League office and
worked really in the management council legal department there and
then kind of got exposed to all thirty two different
teams and that was a great experience, and then went
back to the Jets and then came here after that.
So my background is in the I am a lawyer,
(37:43):
but really I was able to kind of mix the
two and kind of combine my love for sports and
football and I'm really I am a math person. So
the salary cap and with with you know, aspects of
the law, So that to me has been a purpose
balance for me.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
That's great.
Speaker 5 (38:01):
We're talking to assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. Now what
I love is that when you came in, you said
sixteen years ago, very early in your career, you were
tasked with something that doesn't fall under any of those
things you mentioned outside. Maybe it's kind of a rules
based thing, but I heard it's perfect timing as we're
celebrating the fiftieth you had an unfortunate duty with one
(38:22):
of the top players in Bucks history.
Speaker 6 (38:24):
Very early on, I believe I know the story you're
talking about it. And by early on it was my
first day here, my actual first day here. So I
started in August twenty ten, and Raheem Morris as the
head coach, and the only fine that Rendez Barber ever
got of his entire career, I had the fortunate pleasure
(38:46):
of delivering into him on my very first day here.
So the first conversation I ever had with Rende was
I remember Raheem telling me he had a camper or
a trailer that used to keep in the parking lot
during training camp and take naps in there. Accidentally overslept.
So Raheem wanted to give him a fine for, you know,
being later missing a meeting, and I had to deliver
(39:07):
it to him, and I was shaking the entire way
down to the locker room because here I am on
my first day. I get to hand Ronde Barbara a
fine letter. This is awful and he I remember walking
to the locker room and he's having a conversation with
another player, and I did one of those where you
start to go towards him and backstep and just trying
to find that moment, and he sees me out of
(39:27):
the corner of his eye and mid conversation looks me,
he goes, just give me the fine letter. And I
did not know until years later that that was the
only fine that Rondie Barber got from the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers of his entire career. And that was my first
day here. What an honor, What an honor.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
And you and ronde are.
Speaker 6 (39:44):
Now good buds, very good friends.
Speaker 5 (39:46):
Yep. How how did that evolve over time after? Like
he didn't just write you off that day as the
rules guy.
Speaker 6 (39:52):
That somehow he blames me for the fine he missed
the meeting, but somehow it was my fault that he
missed the meeting. And then I owe the money that
we took from him. Yes, I think raheemo's the money,
but somehow he's a ad he remembers that being it's my.
Speaker 5 (40:05):
Fault only yes, of course, and he is correct, of course, Yeah,
of course.
Speaker 6 (40:09):
He's a Hall of Famery. You can't really you.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Can't argue with that arguing. It's very true. R. We're
gonna take another break.
Speaker 5 (40:14):
We have one more segment coming up here on Buccaneers
Total Access with Assistant General Manager Mike Greenberg, brought to
you by Advan Health, as is Buccaneers Radio.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Buccaneers Total Access with Head Coach Todd Bowles now continues,
brought to you by Advan Health, Exclusive Hospital of the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access.
Speaker 5 (40:33):
I'm here with Assistant General Manager Mike Greenberg. So let's
dive a little bit more into your role. I think
that you have the least the least understood job, maybe
in this whole building. As we were just discussing in
the break, I'm like, I still don't understand it after
interviewing you twelve thousand times. So tell everybody a little
bit about what you think are the most misunderstood aspects
(40:54):
of your job and what it takes to manage a
salary cap and be good at managing.
Speaker 6 (40:59):
This cap well. First, you know, when people don't understand
what you do too, you could just walk around and
act busy, yeah and every and just act like annoy
it and everyone's like, he's really busy.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Right, yeah, what is it that you're doing here? And
you're like, don't worry about it.
Speaker 6 (41:11):
Well, the salary cap. Uh, you know a lot of
people the biggest I guess misconception is it's fake. You
can always borrow from the future.
Speaker 5 (41:19):
I mean, I will say you have a few years
ago made that seem fairly feasible.
Speaker 6 (41:25):
Sure, sure, but so picking a step back, you know,
you can manipulate it. But the reality is in twenty
twenty one when we brought everyone back for the you know,
all twenty two starters, and the first step of that
is you really need the financial resources to do that.
So without the glaziers commitment to wanting to bring everyone
back and wanting to go for another Super Bowl winning
(41:47):
like me and Jackie really couldn't do like all these
different types of salary cap gymnastics, if you will, without
the you know, you need the resources to first do that,
and then then then you can kind of get creative.
And but the biggest miss you know, back to the
misconception is that you could just keep borrowing and barring
(42:07):
from the future. So I think I compared it to
basically a credit card you can borrow, but at some
point that's gonna come due. And if you keep pushing
and keep pushing, you know, you cut a player, that
money accelerates back in and you have all these dead
cap charges. And that's really what happened to us after,
you know, after the Tom Brady run that we had.
Now we knew that that was that was a planned
(42:30):
you know, we were going to go all in, and
we knew we'd have a bunch of dead cap charges,
but we really had to reset. And fortunate that hit
on Baker because otherwise they may have taken some time
to reset. And and fortunate again that we did. Jason
and the scout A staff drafted so well because that
helped get us out of some of the salary cap.
But I'd tell you know, the biggest misconception is that
(42:50):
you can just keep pushing it. Eventually it's going to
come back to to you know, to bite you and
be a little bit challenging to navigate. And so that's
that's the biggest thing that you want to you know,
we try and spend the cash to cap every year,
which is you know, spending what the salary cap is
and spending that amount to cash each year. Now, it's
got a little challenging, especially when you have to pay
(43:13):
some some top tier players and quarterbacks. But that's that's
the goal every year to try and have those two
be equal. And you know, my first half of my
year career here, we were able to do that. And
then what that did allow us to do is when
we were making those runs with Tom Brady and and
after the Super Bowl, it allowed us to really kind
of go all in because we didn't have all these
(43:35):
dead cap charges and we were able to have a
little bit more flexibility. And then but then once you know,
Tom retired, we did have to take those cap charges
on and it took a little bit of time to
get out of that. So, yes, you can manipulate it,
but you got to be careful when you do that.
Speaker 5 (43:52):
What are some of the more unique things that you
can put into contracts or do that either are just
fun or interesting or things people might not realize about
that isn't just sort of standard operating procedure.
Speaker 6 (44:04):
I always think incentives are kind of interesting and what
you know, each player can how they can earn some
additional money. We've tried here to really tie a lot
of it to playoffs and playoff wins and you know,
team components, but it's just personal as compared to personal.
But there are times when you you know, used incentives
(44:25):
to kind of bridge a gap where you think a
player is a three million dollar guy and they're looking
for maybe four and a half, and you can kind
of use incentives to, Okay, well we'll pay you the
four and a half if you play sixty percent or
you have eight hundred receiving yards or so. Some of
those I think are kind of interesting and you can
use them to really bridge gaps. But the incentives I
(44:47):
like the most are really tied to winning because if
we end up, you know, owing more money at the
end of the year because of incentives, it's easier for
me to go to the glazers and go, well, we're
only paying this extual because we won. We won. Yeah,
that it offends the blow up. It's a better conversation
to have because that's the goals to win.
Speaker 1 (45:04):
I like that.
Speaker 5 (45:05):
We're talking to assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. You've mentioned
Jackie Davidson and the way you two have worked together
for a very long time now, So tell everyone a
bit about her role, the way she works alongside you.
But then some of the things that she does uniquely
in her roles, we pain, right, Yeah, she's the worst.
Speaker 1 (45:20):
I hope she listens.
Speaker 6 (45:21):
So Jackie is wildly, wildly intelligent. It's been great working
with her. We challenge each other on the contracts and
we you know, so I shall come up with a
great idea or bounce things off each other, and it's
it's been fun just really going through this. And we had,
you know a ton of fun when we did resign
everyone from the you know, the Super Bowl team, and
(45:43):
then really even after that, trying to navigate our way
out of the salary cap situation we were in. And
so we you know, we work hand in hand when
it comes to the contracts and you know, negotiating the contracts.
And then she is a like an analytics background too,
so she does you know, some of that with with
game management, and that's where she kind of you know,
(46:03):
works with a little bit with the coaching staff and
the scouts on that, and you know, I shift more
towards kind of dealing with you know, working with the
business side and budgets. So that's where we kind of differ.
But both of our real love is the salary cap
and contracts, and we kind of work through that together.
Speaker 5 (46:20):
And then how has nil affected what you guys do
or has it? You know that guys now having made
a decent amount of money in college now prior to
coming here, maybe sometimes even more than they'll make on
a rookie deal, how has that influenced the.
Speaker 1 (46:35):
Scouting side, the contract side, all of that in recent years.
Speaker 6 (46:38):
Great question. I think it's still kind of developing a
little bit now. Really, me and Jackie hasn't really impacted
us other than you kind of touched upon it. Some
of these players are coming in with some money now,
but from our standpoint, their rookie contract, the rookie age
scale is kind of set, so it really hasn't hasn't
done much, hasn't had a big impact on us, but
(46:59):
it definitely from a scouting standpoint, I know our you know,
our scouts would like to see players are in college.
They're changing teams so much, and they're you know, some
of them are chasing money, and uh so it does
it has They've had to really kind of dig a
little bit more and and and try and find that
you know that they touch upon the character and it'll
(47:21):
be interesting though because it is so still pretty new
and how it continues to evolve and change going forward
to but because it's it's interesting.
Speaker 5 (47:28):
And how does a short week affect you? Guys in
the scouting staff over all the front office, we hear
about it all the time for coaches and players, but
what about for the scouting side on coming off of
a Monday night game like this?
Speaker 6 (47:40):
So from the scouting standpoint, but one department I really
want to touch upon it, or a few actually, the
athletic trainers and our doctors. And you know they get
home three four in the morning also last night, and
then they're they're here this morning. They got to sort
out players injuries MRIs and they got to meet with
Jason and say okay and Todd and say, you know,
these players may be available, this player may be out.
(48:03):
Because before that information from a scouting standpoint, we may
have to bring in a player and we don't know
that yet until our trainers and doctors have had a
chance to really kind of go through uh the roster
and players come in and and diagnose all the injuries.
So we have a great, great athletic training staff and
medical team here and even equipment and video that they're
(48:27):
they're getting ready for the next game, and videos on
the plane loading in the loading in that game so
the coaches can start watching on their way home. Because
such a short such a short week, so the whole
football department really has to kind of push through it
and work together to get ready for the next game
because the short week is challenging. But from a scouting standpoint,
(48:48):
back that here is your question, you know they are
advancing the games, They're gonna meet with the coaches today.
They got to really be ready to go once the
coaches kind of put yesterday's game behind us and are
ready to start game planning for next week because it's
such a quick turnaround. So I know they were done
really at the end of last week, and then when
the Jet game came in on Sunday, they added to it,
(49:10):
but they were ready to meet with the coaches today
and get going for Sunday.
Speaker 1 (49:13):
It's crazy.
Speaker 5 (49:14):
And then now, as you mentioned, Sunday, we got first
home game of the year, We get to wear the
seventy six jerseys, we get to have a whole bunch
of alumni celebrating the fiftieth. For you who has been
here a long time.
Speaker 1 (49:24):
I mean not quite fifty. You know.
Speaker 5 (49:25):
I'm not going to put that on you yet, not yet.
But how special is it? When you think about that?
Do you get excited for a game like this?
Speaker 6 (49:32):
Very excited one excited to be home? Yeah? Yeah, I
was excited, but just excited the fiftieth year, the fiftieth anniversary,
it's really even special from what we've had, you know,
the event we had a few weeks ago that as
much as it pains me to compliment you so much,
you were outstanding, absolutely outstanding.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
Thank you. I appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (49:54):
But you could feel like the energy and excitement in
the building and everyone's really, you know, really excited in
the fact that we're two and now is pretty great too.
We'll have a lot of alumni here, as you mentioned.
I may give Rende Barbara a fine letter.
Speaker 5 (50:07):
I'll see absolutely what'll be finding them, I don't know,
we'll find we'll make something up.
Speaker 6 (50:11):
But the jerseys are great, they're really really uh, they
came out great. So it'll be exciting and the hopefully
we'll be able to get a win.
Speaker 1 (50:19):
And where do you watch the game from?
Speaker 6 (50:21):
I am actually on the sidelines now, you know, a
lot of them our football ops rep. So I deal
with the leaks if anything comes up. It's easier to
kind of be down there. And plus I I I
really just enjoyed being down there and watching from there,
and so it's it's I'm happy to be down there.
Speaker 1 (50:35):
Yeah, you're like, if I'm going to work.
Speaker 6 (50:36):
At football, I want to be you might as well
be down there.
Speaker 5 (50:37):
I'll be down there, mix up for all the behind
the computer contract work.
Speaker 6 (50:41):
It's the closest that someone my size will get to
being on an NFL.
Speaker 1 (50:44):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (50:45):
Well, Mike, thank you for coming in here on like
zero hours of sleep.
Speaker 1 (50:48):
You we just really appreciate it. You made our day here.
Speaker 6 (50:51):
Thanks for having me. This has been fun, all right.
Speaker 1 (50:53):
That's gonna do it for us.
Speaker 5 (50:54):
On Buccaneers Total Access with Assistant general Manager Mike Greenberg.
This is brought to you by Advent Health. This is
bucking Is Radio. We'll see you next week.
That's three three.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is Buccaneers Total Access with head coach Todd Bowles.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
That the hell of a job going back, go back,
rockin make up those a sideline route.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
It is cod Ball cop Paul my Cabots, what the
guy try?
Speaker 5 (00:21):
Pall over it?
Speaker 4 (00:22):
Touch Down, Tampa Bay Fire, the Cabets, Get up Going.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Brought to you by Advent Health.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Whether you're in the stands, on the field, or celebrating
with your greatest fan, Advent Health make sure you're ready
for a game day and every day feel whole with
Advent Health Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fire
the Cannons now your host, Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips
and head coach Todd Bowles.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
Welcome into the Todd Bowles show Casey Fields here with
head coach Todd Bowles. Man, congratulations on another win, another
road win, and another one that took some years off
people's life. It feels like this is our this is
our theme for the start of this year. Tell me,
first of all, just what did this win in particular
say about this team? Knowing definitely some mistakes, I know
that you would have not loved happening, but then to
(01:08):
still be able to despite injuries, despite some mistakes, pull
out a win at the last minute on the road
and in primetime.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Well our number one job going down. It was whatever
it takes to win the ball game. We knew it
wasn't gonna be clean, and football is probably not meant
to be clean. We got some things to clean up, yes,
but the resiliency and toughness they showed and gut and
gut wrench in time was unbelievable. The two minutes by
the offense, the goal line, stand by the defense, you
(01:35):
know that that was you know, we practiced that, We
rehearse it all the time. To see them go out
and execute on the road against the playoff teams good.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
And then now you are eight to zero in weeks
one and two as a head coach, best record in
the NFL in that time for opening weeks, and we're
just the sixth team to start two to zero in
five straight seasons since the nineteen seventy merger. Tell me
what has led to you, you guys, having this kind of
success in these first couple of weeks, and some of
the big things you feel like you could try to
do to make sure it carries over.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
If they started the playoffs right now, it will be
very happy. But they don't. So it's only two weeks
and we have to understand that. And again, like you said,
we've lost weeks three, so that's going to be real
big for us going into this week. But to get
off to a good start while you find your footing
and you can stack early wins, can't do anything but
help you lately season.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
And then Josh Gazzard yet again, just finishing a game
with a two minute drive. We're making this a pattern
here of the start of his career. What did you
see about this two minute drive and compared to last
week and just some of the things with his game overall,
maybe that you saw him learn from week one and
continue to even improve just in that one week span.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
He was good in the two minute drive, but he
opened the game aggressively when they scored first, and he
came back aggressively, started throwing the ball around and getting
into the playmakers and have aggressive play call. And I
thought from weeks one to two, I thought that really
changed and he rolling that way. So that was a
big plus for us to start the game off, and
it kept Baker, It got him involved early and kept
(03:06):
everybody moving, so two minute at the end was easy
for us.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
Now, you guys are the first team to score game
winning touchdown in the final minute and back to back
games on the road.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Since nineteen ninety nine.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
What do you feel like if you look at these
two games to get those kind of clutch game winning touchdowns,
What are the elements that have helped you guys be
able to do that and what it's shown you about
specifically your offense.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
It's good to know practices paying off, because we practiced
two minute religiously, relentlessly. We practiced red zone relentlessly, We
practiced third now, so we put them in every situation,
good and bad, over and over and over and over
to see them execute and not sweat and just go
through their progressions and going through their routes and blocking
(03:49):
those guys and getting everything done. Obviously, a big fourth
down run by Baker, Another big run by Bucky getting
us all the way down there. Cad made some plays,
Mike made a player, or shot rent it In made
a play. I think it just shows the concentration that
they have in practice and the maturity bringing it over
to the game.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
Baker had a few different milestones. He had twenty five
thousand career passing yards. He moved into third most games
in franchise history with more than two passing touchdowns, and
he ranks fifth in franchise history for passing touchdowns. Now,
what did you notice about his game and just the
things that we have now learned from him at this
point to see the way that after not being with
the Bucks for that long, he's already really climbing a
(04:28):
lot of these record books and stats, and just feels
this game in particular, just felt like such a great
example of the way that Baker can will a team
at the end to win.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
He's not just filling the team. He's playing good football.
He's not turning it over number one. So he's been
real smart with the football. He runs when he has
to learned. He's to learn how to get down a
little bit out of whole bunch, but a little bit,
but he runs when he has to. He's very accurate.
He has a good command of the offense going into
his second season here just understanding second season in the system,
(04:59):
I mean, just understanding where to go with the football.
He's playing faster, he's playing smarter, and he's playing good ball.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
It looked like he was a little bit gimpy on
a couple plays. What do we know about just how
he's feeling, And especially on a short week like this,
I'm sure a lot of guys.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Are sowing right now. We'll wait, We'll wait and see
how he's feeling right now. But Baker's a competitor and
he'll probably need a few days to get his rest
up and get healed up, and he'll be ready to
go on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
One of my favorite Baker moments was it looked like
he was hurt, but he told the injury to wait
so he could get up and trash talk. Somebody, did
you happen to see this play? What were your thoughts
on this?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Thank I'm not gonna let it and anybody see him hurt.
He's gonna be hurt until you say something to him.
Then he's gonna go right back up and he's gonna
run a play and he's gonna trash talk. Then he's
gonna get up hurt again. Then he's gonna go back
and do the same thing. That's just part of it.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I like it. So now we know Tristan.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
But then you think you're gonna have Luke to start
the game, which we weren't sure about throughout the week.
Then of course he ends up going out at the
end of the first quarter, so then Charlie Heck.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Had to come.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
How did the whole offensive line handle yet again another
change here to start the season compared to you know,
when we thought this was going to be a group
that came in with so much consistency from last year,
all the same guys up there.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
How did you see them handle that?
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I thought they battled. I thought they battled off against
one of the better d lines in the league. They
made a few sacks here and there. But I thought
we were very aggressive running the football, especially straight up
the middle. Atam. I thought Charlie battles. I thought Barton
battles on the outside. And those guys played hard and
they helped us get a win.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
And then now again short week going into next week,
what are you guys hoping to see of who could
be on that line and some of the different combinations
and ways that you might try to make up for
guys still being out.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Maybe it's going.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
To be next man up. I mean, you don't have
many guys, it's going to be next man up. It'll
be our home opener. But at the same time, like
you said, we've lost the third game last year's and
the last couple of years, so this will be very
important for us. Coming home and everybody's patting you on
the back, and you got family coming to town and
you need more tickets, and then your concentration goes. So
our focus in practice this week, it's got to be
(07:02):
at a premium.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
So the run game one hundred and thirty six yards
between Rashad and Bucky averaged five point six yards at carry.
You has got over one hundred yards rushing for a
league best tenth straight game. We have sixteen one hundred
yard rushing games since the start of last season, which
is the fourth most in the NFL during that time.
Tell me specifically in this last game, especially compared to
(07:24):
Week one, how you were able to see Rashad and
Bucky both get involved, get going and have the kind
of numbers they did.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Two guards in the center were very tough, between Ben
and Michael and Coldy, they were very tough. And Reshot
and Buckie ran hard. They ran very hard up in
between the tackles. They know it was going to be
a physical game. They took what they gave them and
then some. They were very good in the open field
in the past game as well, and I put one
of the tougher games I seen both of them play
at the same time. I thought they did an excellent Yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
For Shot in particular, we know he had the game winner.
He also recovered that very important fumble, and you know,
at the end of the third quarter in a really
important drive, had back to back runs of twelve, nine
and sixteen yards. What did you see specifically for him
and the way that he contributed when Bucky's really kind
of taking the reins as that main guy. But Rashad
showed a lot in this game.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Sad played a very tough game. Obviously he blocks most
of the time, but he can run the ball. He
ran very hard and talk between the tackles. He made
people miss, he ran over a few people. He's good
in space. He willed us in the end zone on
the last touchdown drive. And I can't say enough about him.
He played an excellent blow game.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
So let's talk about a mecca again. Now another touchdown.
So has the most receiving touchdowns through two career games
in Bucks' history, tied with Aman Ross. Saint Brown and
Romadunze for most receiving touchdowns to start this season. What
have you seen specifically about his ability to get in
the end zone and be ready for these clutch moments
to start.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Off the career.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
He can beat you so many ways. He can catch
and run, he can beat you over the top, he
can run with the football, He makes key block, he
does a lot of things. He can beat you with
route running, he can beat you with speed, he can
beat you with power. So he's just using everything, and
we're trying to use everything he has. So whatever he
can do to help us out on the field, we're
used in and he's just letting his ability to come
(09:13):
out naturally.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
I feel like Ryan Miller is a great example of
that next man up idea where when we didn't know
about the different wide receiver injuries going in, this is
a guy that's been, you know, grinding away on the
practice squad and now here he comes in gets a
touchdown his third touchdown in thirteen overall career receptions. That's
not a terrible style line there of ratios. Tell me
(09:35):
what about him gives Baker the confidence and offense the
confidence to still.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Call his number when that's needed.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
You know, even when he's a guy that hasn't always
gotten as many reps with Baker and the starters.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Oh, we know he's not on the scouting report of
the opponents. So whenever we put him in, he's going
to be open and all Baker has to do is
find us. He's found them, No, Ryan, Ryan is a
very good all around player. He knows all three positions.
He's very tough on special teams. He's a disciplined route runner,
he has outstanding hands, and anytime we put him in
(10:06):
their joby on the spot, we're not afraid to throw
to him. We trust him. We understand where he's going
to be. He knows where Baker's looking. He does his
job to perfection, and when we find him, he makes
a play.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
I know, we were two of three in the red
zone offense and they were zero for two. We are
tied for the best red zone defense in the league
this year. Obviously, that's always a huge aspect of the
way a game goes. What have you seen on both
sides of the ball in the red zone that makes
you the most proud.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Offensively, we run the ball and we got the thread
of the quarterback run and we do a good job.
Griz does a good job scheming them up in the
past game, and add does the red zone as well defensively.
Out being I can give all that credit to Tim Atkins,
who's our red zone defensive guy. Tim does an excellent
job in the red zone from high to low tendencies,
(10:55):
what they like to do, where they like to do.
That gives us all the information so we can try
to execute out a high level when those guys are
very prepared.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
I don't have a stat to back this up, but
I have to imagine that you have had some more
of goal line stand plays to start this season than
make the any seam before. How proud were you of
your defense to do another goal line stand for so
many different plays this time, even just from the one
yard line.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
What stood out about your the way the defense just
held up.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
In that situation and has now really only allowed one
play to score after having you know, something like twelve
plays inside the four yard line on those stands.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
They don't flinch. They do a heck of a job
rally and and understanding whatever it takes and defend every
blade of grass.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
I know. Third down you mentioned is something that you
guys drill a lot in practice. You held them to
two of nine on third down and oh for one
on fourth down. What do you think you guys did
so well in that area.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
The pressure's got to them a little bit. We try
to take away number twelve. We tried to take away
columns a little bit from that standpoint, but those guys
up Frank got some pressure.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
You know.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
We let him out the pocket up up the middle
of time or two and let him run. But for
the most part, those guys followed the game plan to
a t.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
I know, you guys held them to under one hundred
yards rushing.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
That's the sixty fourth time holding an opponent to that
stat since you took over the defense, which is the
most during that time in the league. How did you
feel overall about the run defense, especially knowing they were
definitely trying to get chubbed going the whole game.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Other than the last touchdown run that he got up
thought they played well up front in a run game
against Rassier and Tykee had a lot to do with that.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
And then we know that Levante was the third player
now to play two inner games with the Bucks, after
Derek and Ronde.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
But the first to start all of them.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
What does that stat say to you about just the
career Levante has had here in his long jevity, oos.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Long gevity says a lot. That means he's in shape
all the time. He still loved to play the game
at a high level. And you know, I'll probably give
him a game ball because he didn't cass the one
that he should have.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
That's what I love.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
No matter how many games you play, you're never escaping,
never escaping the criticism.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
We could drop the intercept job. I know he had
to beating himself up. I'm sure for.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You as bad as I wanted to be.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Casey Phillips here with head coach Todd Bowles, I know
we had a few different sacks we were able to
get in that game. Take me through Lavante and Elijah's
shared sack and Greg Gaines and then Tykey's as well.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Oh I got Tyke. He ran over his guy. He
did a heck of a job. He just ran over
and running back and he came through on the quarterback.
He's very strong. He doesn't look like it size wise,
but he's very strong and he can lift you up.
He took him off his feet and ran him back through.
The quarterback Levante did a heck of a job. This
guy's in his blitz. He kind of faked and fainted
and came through. And at the same time, Elijah came
(13:42):
through on the other side, which we're looking for some
big things from him. Then Gaines got the sack. He
just keeps working. He doesn't look like the ultimate sack guy,
but he's quicker than you think, and you know he's
craftier than you think, and he always finds his way
back there.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah, and you mentioned Elijah Roberts looking for some things
from him, especially when at this point we still don't
know a ton about Elijah's injury. But what have been
your expectations for Elijah robertson how might they change depending
on Elijah's availability.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Oh, Eliza's availability says everything. It'll give him more chances.
The ruster quarterback in the past game. He's developing in
the run game, but he's a heck of a pass
rusher for us, and if he can add that dimension,
that'll help us a great deal.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
We talked about Tyke's sack, but he also led the
team in tackles.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Had his first game with multiple tackles for loss.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
What did you see about his game in particular, and
maybe some of the things we don't even see about
how well he's playing out there like you're.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Played in college. He's a very heavy football player. He's instinctive,
he's very smart. Between him, Winfield and Lavonte, those are
three of the most instinctive players I've ever coached. And
when they're out there at the same time, they can
dissect things and make plays. And he came through in
quite a few plays to get some TFLs as well.
He's playing physical, he's playing smart, and he's playing well.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Tell us a bit about the vision to rotate Jamel
and Benjamin Morrison and just what you saw of Benjamin
Morrison and some of his first kind of major actions
since coming back from the injury and starting in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Oh Dean starts for us, and we wanted to get
Morrison some reps to get his feet wet because you
never know what's going to happen during the year. We're
trying to get him caught up and get his feet
wet and get him some reps as well, not just
special teams. And he went in there. He had some
good plays and he had some things he saw for
the first time. But the more you get him in there,
the mores conference goes up because we never know we
(15:29):
might need him.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
And then you mentioned special teams. I know that definitely
some of the moments you guys would like to have
back on that unit this week. What have you seen
now about Chase missing another one? Kind of plans there
in ways you guys hope to help him get back on.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Track two weeks in a row. Can't miss the kicks
and the snap is good and the hole is good.
We got to make those kicks. He understands that, we
understand that as well, so we'll work on that this week.
I don't ever want to pump block as the ultimate
special teams to get in a pump block, so we
really got to look at that part of it. And
they got a return as well, So it wasn't a
(16:05):
good day on teams, but they made the winning tackle
at the end of the ball game, so everything is okay.
But we'll work on that this week.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
So now finally we get a home game here. Started
with a couple of road games and then now you're
coaching against your former team. Has that now been long
enough since you've been there, that it doesn't seem any
different than other games, or is there any time still?
I feel like we asked players that of what it's
like going against a former team.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Is there any extra motivation in that?
Speaker 3 (16:30):
No extra motivation because we played them before I think
two years to go up there at their place and
we beat them, So no extra motivation. Very close with
Aaron Glenn, still close with some people in that building,
but we're trying to get a win.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
And then tell me, now, for you guys, this home
game and then also a little extra something with the
new throwback jerseys. I know that's something that some of
the guys get excited about. And for you are those
things when there's a little bit extra for a first
home game and honoring the fifty years.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
What is it like for you as a head coach
to watch that? Do you enjoy that or for you
is it just kind of business as usual?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
It's even more business as usual because although they are great,
they're distractions and making sure the players are focused when
they go out there to play. That's going to be
the biggest thing for us to get the third win.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
And then now looking at the Jets, we don't know
a whole lot health wise for their quarterback situation. But
tell me, depending on which guys in there, what does
that do for you guys on defense and just the
different styles or different aspects of their play.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
You got to take a look at I do think.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Could change as much. I mean, it feels as bigger
than Taylor, but they both can run. They're both very
good out of the pocket, and the tower has been
around a long time. You can throw the ball. They
have a lot of talent. You know, it's early in
the season. Everybody's trying to find their way. They have
a lot of talent. We know we got to play
our best game.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Is it an extra challenge when it's a short.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
Week to have a guy that is the backup and
maybe who I know, you guys try to work ahead
a little bit. Does that add an extra challenge on
the game planning side?
Speaker 3 (17:57):
It does, because you don't see much of them, and
we haven't seen much. I don't think he's played since
maybe twenty twenty three. But at the same time, he's
a good quarterback, so not having enough of them a fan,
we've really got to study just formations and tendencies and
go from there and what do.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
You see from a guy like Breise Hall and the
way that he's emerged. Definitely, a lot of fantasy people
are big fans of him, and tell me what it's
like to go against him on the defensive side.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I'm a big fan as well. I think he's one
of the best backs in the league that's not being
talked about enough. I think he's strong, he's fast, he's powerful,
he has an array of moves, and he's tough to tackle.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
And what about Garrett Wilson?
Speaker 5 (18:34):
What have you seen with his progression and the way
that I know he'd been playing with justin fields and
now maybe a different quarterback out there. What does it
potentially change about the way that you guys face Garrett
Wilson and just the ways that you've seen him grow
doesn't change.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
He's the number one receiver, very fast, runs a lot
of routes and beat you in a variety of ways.
Great hands, great competitor. It's going to be a load.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
And then looking at their defensive front, it stands out
to you, guys.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
They get off the ball. They get off the ball
just like Houston did. They play in the backfield, they
wound up play in the backfield, they want to put
a lot of pressure on you. They're front four, it's
very talented, led bike winning Williams and they do a
good job.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
And then how about their secondary got.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Some names back there? Obviously, Saults will probably follow Mike
around like Stingley, did you know he's a very good
corner excellent and everything stems off of him, So wherever
he goes, they will probably put the coverage away and
they trust him to play one on one.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
And then finally, just schedule wise for this week, how
do you and the coaches try to deal with the
short week, the short schedule and what means especially for
a day like a Tuesday where that's your big game
planning day and it's coming off.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
I'm sure almost zero sleep.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
No Tuesday is kind of normal. We got a head
start last week because we had the extra day, so
we tried to work ahead as best we could. And
we'll get together this afternoon after we break down the
tape of the game and then kind of go from
there and game plan accordingly. Be here a little later
than normal, but it's a short week. Comes the territory.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
Well, coach, thank you for spending the time with us,
and again good luck on an amazing road win.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Coming up next is Assistant general manager Mike Greenberg on
Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by advent Health. This
is Buccaneers Radio.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by advent Health Exclusive
Hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dropping back the role
we'vereatened the blitz of coming after the home.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
Fussy sack from the backfield at the forty two yard line,
Vitavea has his fourth sack of the season.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Now more with Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access.
Speaker 5 (20:34):
We are here with assistant general manager Mike Greenberg after
having head coach Todd Bowles with us the first half.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Mike, thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
You get a lot of gold stars in my book
for being the guy that comes in on the very
little sleep I'm imagining.
Speaker 6 (20:47):
Thank you for having me. Really appreciate it. Happy to
be here.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Yeah, how are we feeling? How many hours of sleep.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Are we rocking?
Speaker 5 (20:53):
You know?
Speaker 6 (20:54):
We got home I think around three thirty ish, give
your take, probably to sleep it that four so bye,
it went to sleep. Was in a great mood after
that that win. Probably woke up a little bit at
six am to a six year old in my face
letting me know how disappointed he was that his fantasy
football team lost. And you know, blame me for it
(21:17):
is the assistant gym of his fantasy football team. He
was telling me everything that I did wrong. So but
other than that, you know, it was a great night.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yeah, kids will humble you.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
It happens very quickly, very quickly.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Well, like you said, you went to bed in a
great mood because what a great win. And I know
for myself and Box fans, it has felt like maybe
we've lost a few years off of our life these
last two weeks.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
The stress of.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
It, I imagine for you it is even more so.
Tell me what it's been like for you guys to
have absolute last second clutch wins, two minute drives, and
what it says about the team at this point.
Speaker 6 (21:51):
I mean, can't say enough about the team and how
hard they play and how much respect they have for
Todd and the coaches, and to go in the road
and win those two games like we did at the
end of the game was really incredible and really says
a lot about the players we have in the locker
room and Baker at the end of the game is
just unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, his just will to win is so incredible.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
I think my favorite moment of the game was him
sort of getting hurt and yet making that pause so
he could get up to trash talk.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I think that was Baker in a nutshell.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
It perfectly summarized him. Yeah, he You know, it was
great play. You were concerned about the injury, and then
you realized he wanted to get up quickly so he
can continue talking trash or shot.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Yeah, yeah, priorities, priorities.
Speaker 6 (22:34):
For Baker, but he really the last two drives first
in Atlanta and then last night was unbelievable.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
And how cool for a guy like Josh Brizzard getting
to start new coordinator and to have game winning two
minute drives in both of your first two games and
just what that does for his confidence, the team's confidence,
and what it says about just his choice even as
offensive coordinator.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
No, it's you know, he did a great job for
us last year working with Liam and then uh, Liam
obviously great coordinated a great job for us last year,
but for her Josh to come in and be able
to transition into that role and be able to have
the success he had on the road the first two weeks.
Says a lot about you know him and the coach
(23:16):
he is, and excited to have him, and I think
the players really excited. And when you know, Todd and
Jason hired him or promoted him into that role, it
was interesting to see the reaction of the players. They
were excited. They thought, you know, it was well deserved
and that you could see really that decision paying off
now and.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
Then another decision paying off you and the rest of
the front office deciding to draft a Mecca Buka looking
like a real solid decision at the moment.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Yeah, I'm going to take credit for that one. If
it would have went you know poorly, that then I
you know, Jason had a sco When it works out,
me and Jackie like to take credit for it. So
that now it just says a lot about Jason, you know,
the evaluator he is, the scouting staff, and how great
of a job that they've done over the past few years,
(24:05):
a lot of years now in a row, and it's
you know, it doesn't surprise me that they hit on
another one. And what a great player a great kid.
So we really fortunate to have him, and it's been
really fun watching these first two weeks.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
I mean, I know there was a lot of hype
about him. What everyone in the front office was sort
of saying after we drafted him of talking about his maturity,
talking about his ex as a nosibility that it was
just I almost felt like, I'm like, geez, like, I've
never heard of someone being this hyped right out of
the gate.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Is he going to be able to live up to it?
Speaker 5 (24:36):
Now? Three touchdowns in two games? Did even you guys
imagine that he would be setting the world on fire
this quickly?
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Just you know, here being in some of those meetings
and hearing the scouts talk about just a type of
kid he was, and the comp that they kept really
referring to was was Chris Godwin. And I remember Jason
being like, well, have another Chris Godwin, Like that's a
home run. And I you know, just the type of
guy he is and how his work ethic, he doesn't
(25:06):
surprise me that he's having as much success as he's had.
But even this summer, just listening to guys like, you know,
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin talk about him from being
in the meeting rooms and how press they were with him,
you can tell that we had something special.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
We're talking to assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. Rashad and Bucky
both had great games last night. What was it like
to watch the two of them really get going. I mean,
you have Bucky just incredible runs and then Rashod and
not only the fumble recovery, the game winning touchdown, and
just what it's like to have two backs like that
back there, what that does.
Speaker 6 (25:40):
For your offense, the fumble recovery. You know, I almost
forgot about that really until we watched this hip end
this morning. I was like, that's such a key play
and such a heads up play by Rashod. And they
both had excellent games. That last drive really was tremendous,
and just they compliment each other very well. And then
to see you know, Sha I get the touchdown. He
(26:03):
played a great game, and it's just been fun watching
them too, And I think we have great pair there.
And even you know, Sean Talker, you know obviously didn't
I don't think he had any carries last night, but
he's he's a really good player as well, So that's
a special room.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Yeah, And I was thinking about just the chaos that
has been the offensive line situation with all the injuries
these first couple of games, and I think about how
complicated enhearted Arty is for you guys to build a
roster and to look at a room like that. And
if I had then told you, like, Okay, so we're
gonna be without Tristan, and we think we're gonna have Luke,
but then we're not gonna have Luke, and then we're
gonna have Graham at this position, and then we're gonna
move into this Like just if we were.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
To have that hypothetical, you'd be like, that's not a thing.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
How do you guys try to build and prepare for
a situation like this where you can end up kind
of snake bit at one position room? And last year
it was kind of the corners and dv's and now
the line. What has it been like to watch the
way you guys have You know, Jason and his staff
have tried to build that room and their ability to
handle such a weird situation getting thrown at.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
Them working with Graham. As we were leaving locker room
last night, and I said, Okay, guard next week and
we'll just you know, change it up. We'll see, we'll
see maybe tight end the week after. And he's just
such a special player. It's so unique to see from
playing center to left tackle in the NFL is really remarkable.
But he's a special guy. He's a great player, smart,
(27:20):
willing to do whatever he can for the team to
help us win. But then really obviously he was a
great pick by Jason the scouting staff, but then you
look at a guy like even Michael Jordan that we
picked up the summer, that's been such a key addition,
started two games, done a really really nice job. So
you know, credit to the scouting staff and Jason just
(27:41):
always looking for who else we can bring in, who
else is out there that may be able to help us,
and hitting on Michael Jordan just signing the summer. It
has been really really beneficial. And you know, I don't
know if we win these first two games without the
play that we've had from him.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
So that's that's huge.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
And I say about Luke and always injured at the moment,
but you had Luke and Zion both get signed extensions
fairly recently, and so congrats on that. I know that's
always a lot of work for you and Jackie and
your department. So tell us a little bit about some
of the things that went into those and just the
excitement of having those two guys be able to know
that they're they're here long term.
Speaker 6 (28:19):
That's really the goal is to the scouting staff to
pick the right players, coaches developed them, and then you know,
for me and Jackie and Jason to pay the players,
extend them to keep our own That's when that's when
you really really kind of have have success when you
kind of can hit on all three of those and
(28:39):
keep your own players. So it was important for us
to get those two done and keep continuing to keep
our own guys that we've you know, drafted and developed.
And that's really the long term strategy to success in
this league is really you know, reward your own players
that you've that you've drafted and developed.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
Yeah, and I mean, you guys have just done an
incredible job. It's been amazing to see the number of
players that are homegrown on this roster and especially compared
to a lot of the others. Where do you think
that that success has come from over the years. I mean,
you've now been here a long time. Jason has been
here a long time. What specifically for the idea of
building through the draft? Have you guys grown in that area.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
I think Jason has talked a lot about this publicly
that if at the beginning, when he was GM those
first few drafts, there's mistakes along the way that he
made that I know he picked here there that he
really like to take back. And what makes Jason such
a great general manager is he is always looking at
himself and looking at the at the staff and how
can we improve, how can we get better? And I
(29:40):
know a lot of it was he thought he was
taking too many risks on character guys. So you know,
we sat down the off season he said, Okay, we're
not going to do that anymore. We're going to take
some of these guys that may be really talented players
that maybe count more talented than even some of the
players that we're taking, but we feel so confident in
the character on the guys that we're more comfortable taking
(30:01):
these these are more of our type of guys. And
I think since we made that, you know, adjustment, and
Jason made that change, you've gotten that that's a lot
of the success we've had that we've been able to
find these guys that love football, that are good people,
great in the community, smart, wanting to get better. And
I think that's really a big, big key, like just
(30:22):
picking the right people for this organization. And a lot
of that goes to Jason just examining what you know,
he thought he was doing wrong with the organization, is
doing wrong and not being scared to change and admit
that that wasn't the right path. And I give him
a lot of credit, And that's honestly why he's been
such a great GM.
Speaker 5 (30:40):
And I know one of the big reasons people are
always trying to build through the draft is also the
fact that you get players for several years on a
little bit less expensive deal, right that it's a lot
easier for you to do your job when you have
more people that are on rookie deals on a team
at any given time as compared to maybe a lot
more expensive veterans and you're trying to make everything work.
So how does it factor in for you guys in
(31:00):
that sense of trying to build through the draft and
the ways that can potentially make your job easier.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
So you know a few years ago when we were
after you know, one Super Bowl we were kind of
all in with with Tom Brady and kept pushing some
of the cap charges down the road. Really the only
way to get out of that is to draft well,
and that's it, because you got it, you touched upon it.
You have to hit on some of these draft picks
that the salaries are, you know, are lower for you
(31:26):
have them for four first round picks, five years undrafted players.
You got to you got to hit on some of
those and that's really the only way to one get
out of cap trouble, but then sustain it for the
long term. So you can't really just go into free
agency and pay all these guys top dollar and bring
them in. It's not a model that works. So you
have to hit on those draft picks and that's the
way to really have a healthy cap and long long
(31:50):
term success. So that's why the draft is so important
to hit on those players.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
All right, we're going to take a quick break here.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
We're going to be back with more Buccaneers Total Access
with Assistant general manager Greenberg, brought to you by Avan Health.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
This is Buccaneers Radio.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
You were listening to Buccaneers Total Access with head coach
Todd Bowles and Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips brought to
you by ad Van Health Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
We are back here on Buccaneers Total Access.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
I'm joined by Assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. So we
were talking before the break about just the importance of
building through the draft and tell me this year's draft.
We talked a bit about a mecca, but several other
guys I know that the coaches are very high on.
So what kind of stands out to you guys so
far about what you were able to accomplish in this
year's draft.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
You know, I think we got We definitely brought in
some really good defensive backs. You saw that last night
that became apparent. David Walker was doing a great job
this summer and we're real we're excited that he's going
to be a part of this team going forward. And
I know, you know, has the injury and he'll rehab,
he'll get better. But he was really really impressive this
summer and turning heads and we're excited about him in
(33:00):
the long term, long term, but obviously a mecca. But
really the defense backs were impressive last night. Yeah, they
were making making plays. All of the defense played great
last night as a whole, but you can really see, uh,
those those two that we're excited to have them.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Yeah, I think they're gonna be big impact players for sure,
and great guys, which that's what I always as the
person who has to talk to all the players. I
appreciate y'all's philosophy and how you draft their They're good dudes.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
You know, we're we are fortunate and it comes from
Jason and Mike and Rob and we really, we really
do have great guys in.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
The locker room.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
And then I know, as we've talked about the importance
of building through the draft, you guys do like to
occasionally add some pieces in free agency when it makes sense,
and Hassan Redick was our one sort of more splash signing.
I would say this offseason, what was the idea about
bringing him in and just what you guys were able
to do with his contract and bringing him in here
and just what he could mean, especially for this defense.
We already saw sack week one, so already looks like
(33:59):
a pretty decent signing there.
Speaker 6 (34:01):
I'd say the hardest thing about free agency is it's
not like the draft where you bring the player in
for a visit, or you're meeting with them at the combine,
or your scouts have talked to them. Your free agency
moved so fast a lot of times you're taking a
chance on a player that you may not know. So
our coaches, like Larry Foote had been with them and
so we knew we knew the person from our coaches.
(34:22):
We knew that they felt comfortable with the guy. And
you know, obviously a talented player had the situation last
year with the Jets where he didn't play the majority
of the year, so we didn't, you know, really get
to see a lot of that last year, but just
that our coaches, some of our coaches knew them, and
it made it a little bit of a safer bet.
And that's the situation because they had been around them
(34:43):
and they were comfortable bringing them in and he'd fit
in with with the locker room.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
And I know also this off season was when you
got your promotion, which I don't think I've had you
on my shows or talk to you since then. So congratulations,
very well deserved. Four people who are like, what does
an assistant general manager do?
Speaker 1 (35:00):
And wait, there's multiple of them.
Speaker 5 (35:02):
How does this work kind of give people the high
level of view of at the top of the front
office staff, how you guys each divvy up your responsibilities
and how your role has changed and evolved here.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Over the years.
Speaker 6 (35:13):
Yeah. So I actually got brought in sixteen years ago,
now as.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
When you were ten.
Speaker 6 (35:19):
Obviously obviously to do half personnel and scouting and half
salary cap. Now, I probably was one of the worst
scouts that we've ever had in the history of than
Havny a blackan years. But what it did do was, I,
you know, I really they taught me how to scout,
how to watch tape, how to speak the language, how
to you know when I read the reports, how to
understand what they're saying, I know the terminology. So I
(35:42):
did a half scouting and half contract for about six
months and then just really half a season, and then
at the time the cat person here left and I
moved into that role and from there on really did
more of the salary cap and contracts. My main job
is salary cap, contracts rules, the player personnel rules, you know,
and the way he is on with the league office
and the football operation rules.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Budget fun killer obviously, real.
Speaker 6 (36:07):
Person everybody always wants to be around. Everyone loves the
rules always. Yeah, it's always great to tell people what
they Cannon.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
Can love that you're sort of the one that pays them.
We can kind of like maybe that.
Speaker 6 (36:15):
Counter accit a bit, a little bit, you know, the
glader signed the checks. But at least I could kind
of take some of that.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Yes, there we go. I like it.
Speaker 6 (36:21):
But yeah, everybody always loves loves a real person to
tell them what they can and can't do. But and
then I, I, you know, I deal a lot with
with the business side, and and then from a budgeting standpoint,
oversee and help with you know, groundskeeping and the video
budget and the scouting budget and equipment and uh, I
can tell you from a groundskeeping standpoint, I learned more
(36:42):
about the different types of grass than I ever thought
I would know my entire life. But you know, it's
a good education to have.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
And what what is your background getting to this? For
someone out there that's like that was a lot of
very different things. How does one get to that role
in spot?
Speaker 1 (36:57):
What was your background?
Speaker 6 (36:58):
Good question? So I I had always wanted to go
to law school. I had interested in the law. For me,
the perfect combination was going to be combining sports and
the law. But I get this question a lot. Do
I need to go to law school to do what
you do? No, you don't. It definitely helps, But I
was interested in going to law school. So when I
was in law school, fortunate enough to intern for the
(37:20):
Jets my first summer actually as Jackie Davison's intern, And
then second year I went to the League office and
worked really in the management council legal department there and
then kind of got exposed to all thirty two different
teams and that was a great experience, and then went
back to the Jets and then came here after that.
So my background is in the I am a lawyer,
(37:43):
but really I was able to kind of mix the
two and kind of combine my love for sports and
football and I'm really I am a math person. So
the salary cap and with with you know, aspects of
the law, So that to me has been a purpose
balance for me.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
That's great.
Speaker 5 (38:01):
We're talking to assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. Now what
I love is that when you came in, you said
sixteen years ago, very early in your career, you were
tasked with something that doesn't fall under any of those
things you mentioned outside. Maybe it's kind of a rules
based thing, but I heard it's perfect timing as we're
celebrating the fiftieth you had an unfortunate duty with one
(38:22):
of the top players in Bucks history.
Speaker 6 (38:24):
Very early on, I believe I know the story you're
talking about it. And by early on it was my
first day here, my actual first day here. So I
started in August twenty ten, and Raheem Morris as the
head coach, and the only fine that Rendez Barber ever
got of his entire career, I had the fortunate pleasure
(38:46):
of delivering into him on my very first day here.
So the first conversation I ever had with Rende was
I remember Raheem telling me he had a camper or
a trailer that used to keep in the parking lot
during training camp and take naps in there. Accidentally overslept.
So Raheem wanted to give him a fine for, you know,
being later missing a meeting, and I had to deliver
(39:07):
it to him, and I was shaking the entire way
down to the locker room because here I am on
my first day. I get to hand Ronde Barbara a
fine letter. This is awful and he I remember walking
to the locker room and he's having a conversation with
another player, and I did one of those where you
start to go towards him and backstep and just trying
to find that moment, and he sees me out of
(39:27):
the corner of his eye and mid conversation looks me,
he goes, just give me the fine letter. And I
did not know until years later that that was the
only fine that Rondie Barber got from the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers of his entire career. And that was my first
day here. What an honor, What an honor.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
And you and ronde are.
Speaker 6 (39:44):
Now good buds, very good friends.
Speaker 5 (39:46):
Yep. How how did that evolve over time after? Like
he didn't just write you off that day as the
rules guy.
Speaker 6 (39:52):
That somehow he blames me for the fine he missed
the meeting, but somehow it was my fault that he
missed the meeting. And then I owe the money that
we took from him. Yes, I think raheemo's the money,
but somehow he's a ad he remembers that being it's my.
Speaker 5 (40:05):
Fault only yes, of course, and he is correct, of course, Yeah,
of course.
Speaker 6 (40:09):
He's a Hall of Famery. You can't really you.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Can't argue with that arguing. It's very true. R. We're
gonna take another break.
Speaker 5 (40:14):
We have one more segment coming up here on Buccaneers
Total Access with Assistant General Manager Mike Greenberg, brought to
you by Advan Health, as is Buccaneers Radio.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Buccaneers Total Access with Head Coach Todd Bowles now continues,
brought to you by Advan Health, Exclusive Hospital of the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access.
Speaker 5 (40:33):
I'm here with Assistant General Manager Mike Greenberg. So let's
dive a little bit more into your role. I think
that you have the least the least understood job, maybe
in this whole building. As we were just discussing in
the break, I'm like, I still don't understand it after
interviewing you twelve thousand times. So tell everybody a little
bit about what you think are the most misunderstood aspects
(40:54):
of your job and what it takes to manage a
salary cap and be good at managing.
Speaker 6 (40:59):
This cap well. First, you know, when people don't understand
what you do too, you could just walk around and
act busy, yeah and every and just act like annoy
it and everyone's like, he's really busy.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Right, yeah, what is it that you're doing here? And
you're like, don't worry about it.
Speaker 6 (41:11):
Well, the salary cap. Uh, you know a lot of
people the biggest I guess misconception is it's fake. You
can always borrow from the future.
Speaker 5 (41:19):
I mean, I will say you have a few years
ago made that seem fairly feasible.
Speaker 6 (41:25):
Sure, sure, but so picking a step back, you know,
you can manipulate it. But the reality is in twenty
twenty one when we brought everyone back for the you know,
all twenty two starters, and the first step of that
is you really need the financial resources to do that.
So without the glaziers commitment to wanting to bring everyone
back and wanting to go for another Super Bowl winning
(41:47):
like me and Jackie really couldn't do like all these
different types of salary cap gymnastics, if you will, without
the you know, you need the resources to first do that,
and then then then you can kind of get creative.
And but the biggest miss you know, back to the
misconception is that you could just keep borrowing and barring
(42:07):
from the future. So I think I compared it to
basically a credit card you can borrow, but at some
point that's gonna come due. And if you keep pushing
and keep pushing, you know, you cut a player, that
money accelerates back in and you have all these dead
cap charges. And that's really what happened to us after,
you know, after the Tom Brady run that we had.
Now we knew that that was that was a planned
(42:30):
you know, we were going to go all in, and
we knew we'd have a bunch of dead cap charges,
but we really had to reset. And fortunate that hit
on Baker because otherwise they may have taken some time
to reset. And and fortunate again that we did. Jason
and the scout A staff drafted so well because that
helped get us out of some of the salary cap.
But I'd tell you know, the biggest misconception is that
(42:50):
you can just keep pushing it. Eventually it's going to
come back to to you know, to bite you and
be a little bit challenging to navigate. And so that's
that's the biggest thing that you want to you know,
we try and spend the cash to cap every year,
which is you know, spending what the salary cap is
and spending that amount to cash each year. Now, it's
got a little challenging, especially when you have to pay
(43:13):
some some top tier players and quarterbacks. But that's that's
the goal every year to try and have those two
be equal. And you know, my first half of my
year career here, we were able to do that. And
then what that did allow us to do is when
we were making those runs with Tom Brady and and
after the Super Bowl, it allowed us to really kind
of go all in because we didn't have all these
(43:35):
dead cap charges and we were able to have a
little bit more flexibility. And then but then once you know,
Tom retired, we did have to take those cap charges
on and it took a little bit of time to
get out of that. So, yes, you can manipulate it,
but you got to be careful when you do that.
Speaker 5 (43:52):
What are some of the more unique things that you
can put into contracts or do that either are just
fun or interesting or things people might not realize about
that isn't just sort of standard operating procedure.
Speaker 6 (44:04):
I always think incentives are kind of interesting and what
you know, each player can how they can earn some
additional money. We've tried here to really tie a lot
of it to playoffs and playoff wins and you know,
team components, but it's just personal as compared to personal.
But there are times when you you know, used incentives
(44:25):
to kind of bridge a gap where you think a
player is a three million dollar guy and they're looking
for maybe four and a half, and you can kind
of use incentives to, Okay, well we'll pay you the
four and a half if you play sixty percent or
you have eight hundred receiving yards or so. Some of
those I think are kind of interesting and you can
use them to really bridge gaps. But the incentives I
(44:47):
like the most are really tied to winning because if
we end up, you know, owing more money at the
end of the year because of incentives, it's easier for
me to go to the glazers and go, well, we're
only paying this extual because we won. We won. Yeah,
that it offends the blow up. It's a better conversation
to have because that's the goals to win.
Speaker 1 (45:04):
I like that.
Speaker 5 (45:05):
We're talking to assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. You've mentioned
Jackie Davidson and the way you two have worked together
for a very long time now, So tell everyone a
bit about her role, the way she works alongside you.
But then some of the things that she does uniquely
in her roles, we pain, right, Yeah, she's the worst.
Speaker 1 (45:20):
I hope she listens.
Speaker 6 (45:21):
So Jackie is wildly, wildly intelligent. It's been great working
with her. We challenge each other on the contracts and
we you know, so I shall come up with a
great idea or bounce things off each other, and it's
it's been fun just really going through this. And we had,
you know a ton of fun when we did resign
everyone from the you know, the Super Bowl team, and
(45:43):
then really even after that, trying to navigate our way
out of the salary cap situation we were in. And
so we you know, we work hand in hand when
it comes to the contracts and you know, negotiating the contracts.
And then she is a like an analytics background too,
so she does you know, some of that with with
game management, and that's where she kind of you know,
(46:03):
works with a little bit with the coaching staff and
the scouts on that, and you know, I shift more
towards kind of dealing with you know, working with the
business side and budgets. So that's where we kind of differ.
But both of our real love is the salary cap
and contracts, and we kind of work through that together.
Speaker 5 (46:20):
And then how has nil affected what you guys do
or has it? You know that guys now having made
a decent amount of money in college now prior to
coming here, maybe sometimes even more than they'll make on
a rookie deal, how has that influenced the.
Speaker 1 (46:35):
Scouting side, the contract side, all of that in recent years.
Speaker 6 (46:38):
Great question. I think it's still kind of developing a
little bit now. Really, me and Jackie hasn't really impacted
us other than you kind of touched upon it. Some
of these players are coming in with some money now,
but from our standpoint, their rookie contract, the rookie age
scale is kind of set, so it really hasn't hasn't
done much, hasn't had a big impact on us, but
(46:59):
it definitely from a scouting standpoint, I know our you know,
our scouts would like to see players are in college.
They're changing teams so much, and they're you know, some
of them are chasing money, and uh so it does
it has They've had to really kind of dig a
little bit more and and and try and find that
you know that they touch upon the character and it'll
(47:21):
be interesting though because it is so still pretty new
and how it continues to evolve and change going forward
to but because it's it's interesting.
Speaker 5 (47:28):
And how does a short week affect you? Guys in
the scouting staff over all the front office, we hear
about it all the time for coaches and players, but
what about for the scouting side on coming off of
a Monday night game like this?
Speaker 6 (47:40):
So from the scouting standpoint, but one department I really
want to touch upon it, or a few actually, the
athletic trainers and our doctors. And you know they get
home three four in the morning also last night, and
then they're they're here this morning. They got to sort
out players injuries MRIs and they got to meet with
Jason and say okay and Todd and say, you know,
these players may be available, this player may be out.
(48:03):
Because before that information from a scouting standpoint, we may
have to bring in a player and we don't know
that yet until our trainers and doctors have had a
chance to really kind of go through uh the roster
and players come in and and diagnose all the injuries.
So we have a great, great athletic training staff and
medical team here and even equipment and video that they're
(48:27):
they're getting ready for the next game, and videos on
the plane loading in the loading in that game so
the coaches can start watching on their way home. Because
such a short such a short week, so the whole
football department really has to kind of push through it
and work together to get ready for the next game
because the short week is challenging. But from a scouting standpoint,
(48:48):
back that here is your question, you know they are
advancing the games, They're gonna meet with the coaches today.
They got to really be ready to go once the
coaches kind of put yesterday's game behind us and are
ready to start game planning for next week because it's
such a quick turnaround. So I know they were done
really at the end of last week, and then when
the Jet game came in on Sunday, they added to it,
(49:10):
but they were ready to meet with the coaches today
and get going for Sunday.
Speaker 1 (49:13):
It's crazy.
Speaker 5 (49:14):
And then now, as you mentioned, Sunday, we got first
home game of the year, We get to wear the
seventy six jerseys, we get to have a whole bunch
of alumni celebrating the fiftieth. For you who has been
here a long time.
Speaker 1 (49:24):
I mean not quite fifty. You know.
Speaker 5 (49:25):
I'm not going to put that on you yet, not yet.
But how special is it? When you think about that?
Do you get excited for a game like this?
Speaker 6 (49:32):
Very excited one excited to be home? Yeah? Yeah, I
was excited, but just excited the fiftieth year, the fiftieth anniversary,
it's really even special from what we've had, you know,
the event we had a few weeks ago that as
much as it pains me to compliment you so much,
you were outstanding, absolutely outstanding.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
Thank you. I appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (49:54):
But you could feel like the energy and excitement in
the building and everyone's really, you know, really excited in
the fact that we're two and now is pretty great too.
We'll have a lot of alumni here, as you mentioned.
I may give Rende Barbara a fine letter.
Speaker 5 (50:07):
I'll see absolutely what'll be finding them, I don't know,
we'll find we'll make something up.
Speaker 6 (50:11):
But the jerseys are great, they're really really uh, they
came out great. So it'll be exciting and the hopefully
we'll be able to get a win.
Speaker 1 (50:19):
And where do you watch the game from?
Speaker 6 (50:21):
I am actually on the sidelines now, you know, a
lot of them our football ops rep. So I deal
with the leaks if anything comes up. It's easier to
kind of be down there. And plus I I I
really just enjoyed being down there and watching from there,
and so it's it's I'm happy to be down there.
Speaker 1 (50:35):
Yeah, you're like, if I'm going to work.
Speaker 6 (50:36):
At football, I want to be you might as well
be down there.
Speaker 5 (50:37):
I'll be down there, mix up for all the behind
the computer contract work.
Speaker 6 (50:41):
It's the closest that someone my size will get to
being on an NFL.
Speaker 1 (50:44):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (50:45):
Well, Mike, thank you for coming in here on like
zero hours of sleep.
Speaker 1 (50:48):
You we just really appreciate it. You made our day here.
Speaker 6 (50:51):
Thanks for having me. This has been fun, all right.
Speaker 1 (50:53):
That's gonna do it for us.
Speaker 5 (50:54):
On Buccaneers Total Access with Assistant general Manager Mike Greenberg.
This is brought to you by Advent Health. This is
bucking Is Radio. We'll see you next week.
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