Behind Enemy Lines is a weekly look at Tampa Bay’s NFC South foes. Let’s spy on the Bucs’ division rivals, shall we?

Atlanta Falcons 

• The Falcons added a veteran cornerback to play with rookie first rounder A.J. Terrell this week, agreeing to terms with former Bengals first rounder Darqueze Dennard. The Georgia native has been with the Bengals since 2014. Dennard becomes the seventh former first round pick that the Falcons have added this offseason, a list that includes running back Todd Gurley and defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.

• Like the rest of the league, the Falcons have been adjusting their roster over the last week and announced the release of CB Rojesterman Farris, defensive end Austin Larkin and defensive end Bryson Young.The Falcons now have 77 rostered players and can add three more to get to 80.

• Atlanta announced this week that safety Jaylinn Hawkins, quarterback Danny Etling, and linebacker Foye Oluokun have been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, joining defensive tackle Tyeler Davison as cleared to return. Safety Jamal Carter and fullback Keith Smith remain in the protocol.

Bucs CB Vernon Hargreaves and Falcons WR Julio Jones – Photo by: Getty Images

• Much has been made of who has the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL and the Falcons feel that Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley are up there. Ridley this week told the Atlanta beat writers he wants to make the next jump.

“I’ve always had confidence,” Ridley said “I just think that football has really slowed down for me a lot in the NFL. I ain’t going to lie, I’m real hungry to show people that I’m easily a 1,000-yard receiver. Easily and even better. I think that’s what it is for me. I’m always confident in myself. I’m just really hungry and want to help the team win as much as I can.”

• Even at the not-so-young in QB years age of 35, Matt Ryan is still the second youngest in the NFC South. Recently Ryan said he wants to play as long as Tom Brady and Drew Brees.

“I’d like to chase those guys,” Ryan said. “I feel good. My body feels good. I’m still as excited about this as ever. I still feel like I’m playing really good football. And I feel like my best is still in front of me. I’ll take it one day at a time for sure. I’m doing everything I can to ensure that I can play as long as I can go. And so I’m excited about that. Hopefully, I can be 43 and sitting here having this same interview with you about being excited for an upcoming season.”

Carolina Panthers

• After a solid career, a league MVP and a trip to the Super Bowl, Cam Newton left some big shoes to fill. The man attempting to fill them is new signal caller Teddy Bridgewater, who signed with Carolina this past spring. The comparisons and expectations are inevitable, but Bridgewater said this week that he isn’t Newton.

“One of the biggest problems I had my first year in New Orleans was I wanted to be like Drew [Brees],” Bridgewater said Monday on a conference call. “I had to do everything Drew did in order to have success like Drew. But eventually, I learned that Drew Brees is Drew Brees. I’m Teddy Bridgewater.

“Cam Newton is Cam Newton. I’m still Teddy Bridgewater. So I can’t go out there and try to be something that I’m not. I play the game the way I play it. I carry myself the way I carry myself, and I’m going to live and die by that.”

Panthers QB Cam Newton – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

• Newton wasn’t the only big name the Panthers chose to part ways with prior to the 2020 season. Kicker Graham Gano was released last week and was scheduled to make $3 million this year. Gano was placed on injured reserve last September with a knee injury that also cost him four games in 2018.

• Second-year linebacker Christian Miller has decided to opt out of the 2020 season.

Miller told the Panthers that he is opting out because he is in a high-risk health category according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Miller joins fellow linebacker Jordan Mack in choosing to sit out this season.

• Carolina is down five players after choosing to waive center Frederick Mauigoa, wide receiver Damion Jeanpiere, guard Tyler Marz, running back Rodney Smith and linebacker Jason Ferris

New Orleans Saints

• Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas set an NFL record in 2019 with 149 catches, one that stood for 17 years. Thomas said this week, he thinks he can break his own record in 2020.

“It’s just kind of like what I do,” Thomas told the team’s website. “At my position, I set real high goals and try to accomplish them along with winning football games, and helping out the people around me. It’s kind of like, you have goals at the beginning of the season and you kind of just chase them all year. I feel like, in my head, I was going to get it eventually. I don’t really drop too many passes, so when it comes to that I just had to stay consistent and more consistent and take advantage of my opportunities and it just added up faster.”

Saints WR Michael Thomas and Bucs CB Sean Murphy-Bunting – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

• New Orleans cut their roster down over the last week, releasing a total of nine players. The list included receivers Krishawn Hogan, Maurice Harris and Tommylee Lewis, cornerback Deatrick Nichols, fullback Ricky Ortiz, defensive end Gus Cumberlander, safety Chris Johnson, offensive guard Adrian Magee and running back Taquan Mizzell.

• FSU fans will recognize a new linebacker in The Big Easy after agent Drew Rosenhaus announced last Thursday that Nigel Bradham has signed a one-year deal with New Orleans. Bradham spent the last four years in Philadelphia. The Eagles declined their option on his contract earlier this year.

• Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported last week that Saints tight end Cole Wick will opt out for the 2020 season joining fellow tight end Jason Vander Laan who also has decided not to play this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.