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About the Author: Mark Cook

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Mark Cook currently is the director of editorial content and Bucs beat writer and has written for PewterReport.com since 2011. Cook has followed the Buccaneers since 1977 when he first began watching football with his Dad and is fond of the 1979 Bucs team that came within 10 points of going to a Super Bowl. His favorite Bucs game is still the 1979 divisional playoff win 24-17 over the Eagles. In his spare time Cook enjoys playing guitar, fishing, the beach and family time.Cook is a native of Pinecrest in Eastern Hillsborough County and has written for numerous publications including the Tampa Tribune, In the Field and Ya'll Magazine. Cook can be reached at [email protected]

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The Buccaneers formally introduced their new $41.25 million dollar man at a press conference on Wednesday.

Left tackle Donovan Smith was in the studio for the first time since signing a new three-year contract that will keep him as a Buccaneer until at least 2021 and spoke with the media along with general manager Jason Licht, who drafted Smith in the second round in 2015.Smithlicht2

Licht talked about the process of drafting, developing and re-signing Smith.

“It’s always exciting for an organization when you’re able to get an extension with a guy that you drafted, the organization developed,” Licht said. “The coaching staff did a good job with these guys, especially Donovan here. Donovan, in addition to being a massive person, has a great combination of athleticism, strength, but more importantly his intelligence and his desire to be on the field every sunday. I think that gets talked about a lot, but at the same time doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s such a quality that’s hard to find, especially with his leadership and the respect he has from his teammates for loving the game and wanting to be better and wanting to get better every day.

“In addition to extending him for the three-year contract, he also has a tremendous upside still, he’s young and has tremendous upside so I’m looking forward to him reaching that potential in these next few years.”

Smith was asked about what he can do to improve over the next three seasons. He didn’t just talk about giving up less sacks, or committing fewer penalties, but instead something that has been lacking since Logan Mankins retired following the 2015 season.

“Being a bigger voice,” Smith said. “People lead in different ways, I’m kind of a pull you to the side kind of guy, but I can be more outspoken with my leadership. Like I said, just continue to build who I am on the field, consistency, going out there to play week in and week out and just help the team win, because that’s the plan here. We want to turn this thing around and get it going. We can’t have the Lightning only balling out here in Tampa so we’re going to turn it around and have some fun doing it.”

Bucs Lt Donovan Smith - Photo By: Cliff Welch/Pr

Bucs LT Donovan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Since entering the NFL in 2015, Smith has had just one head coach during that time. PewterReport.com asked him thoughts on having a new voice in the room and on the field.

“It’s just like anything else, I can’t control it(who the coach is),” Smith said. “You kind of go with it. If you think about it, back through Penn State, I had three different coaches. Getting a new coach in there, a new voice or anything like that, I’m not opposed to it or anything like that. You learn them and you learn what works and you build on that. You build relationships and you get out there and you can trust each other and that’s how you sit there and you’ll be able to grow as a player and go from there. So I’m not opposed to any of it.”

Not long after it was announced that Smith had agreed to a new deal, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan took to Twitter and took an apparent jab at Smith.

Smith smiled when he was asked about it on Wednesday, and said it’s part of the business.

“As you know it’s divisional opponents,” Smith said. “The thing about the league, everybody knows everybody, so like anybody else you’re guys out there having fun so people like to have fun and trash talk and everything so it is what it is. And obviously it’s coming from a divisional opponent so we’ll see them twice a year.”

Smithwatt 1

Bucs LT Donovan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Smith and the Buccaneers both appear to be happy with the new contract that keeps him in red and pewter for the next three seasons.

“I just want to say thank you to Jason Licht and the Glazer family for having that faith in me,” Smith said. “I love it here in Tampa, the locker room, the guys, the community, the people around. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else and it’s just a blessing to be able get this done and know that I have that security of being here for another three years. I just look forward to great things to come with the team and new coaching staff. I have to shout out the trainers, like you said, fighting week in and week out to make sure I’m on the field, they do a great job down there. I’m excited.”

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