Bucs training camp can’t get here soon enough because it feels like the team is tired of hearing that many expect Tampa Bay to fail this season. The best way of proving everybody wrong is by showing them each day in practice and during games. Maybe that’s why wide receiver Chris Godwin has attended every single offseason session possible.

Godwin appeared on The Rich Eisen Show this Thursday and had a message for all those that think the Bucs are going to be at the bottom of the barrel by the end of the NFL season.

Chris Godwin Isn’t Buying The Skepticism

“What I know is talk is cheap” Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin said. “You guys are paid to talk. There’s a lot of people paid to speculate about the season because that’s what you guys do. But how I look at it is, if you guys look back just a year ago, we were predicted to be one of the best teams in the league just based on the talent that we had on our roster. When we got to the end of the season we saw that its clearly not just the sheer amount of talent that you can accumulate. There’s a reason that we play the games.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

“That kind of thing brings me a sense of calmness because I know that we have to go out there and put the work in. Regardless of who’s playing, regardless of who the quarterback is, what plays have been called, if we don’t have our team chemistry on point, if we’re not all working together and pulling the rope in the same direction, it’s going to be for nothing. You can have as much talent as you want but teams that are playing together, playing as a team, they can come in and beat the most talented team if there not on there Ps and Qs.

“I think it’s on us to go out there and actually put the work in and for us to determine what the season is going to be like based on the kind of work that we put in and how committed we are. I’m excited about this opportunity regardless of whatever the outside talk is, I’m excited to go to work with these guys and see what we can crack up.”

Click this link to watch the whole interview between Chris Godwin and Rich Eisen.

Bucs Still Have Great Players

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Chris Godwin is spot on with his comment about expectations not always translating to reality. The Bucs were Super Bowl contenders again in 2022 when Tom Brady announced he was coming out of a brief retirement to play again while still having a core group intact.

But even after a 2-0 start, the Bucs faltered the rest of the way to an 8-9 record. Although they won the NFC South division and hosted a playoff game, it didn’t feel very earned, and Tampa Bay bowed out in the Wild Card round after losing to the Dallas Cowboys, 31-14, in a game that wasn’t’ really ever close.

So if the Bucs didn’t come close to Super Bowl desires last year, why can’t they exceed everyone’s expectations in the 2023 season?

Yes, there is a big question about who will be the starting quarterback with Baker Mayfield. Yes, there’s a lot of risk for Todd Bowles by hiring a new offensive coordinator in Dave Canales, who has never called a play before in the NFL, especially when Bowles might be on the hot seat going into this season.

But the Bucs still have their premier players. There’s a reason they were able to re-sign Lavonte David and Jamel Dean on defense. They also aren’t revamping the offensive line and moving Tristan Wirfs to left tackle just for an experiment.

You may doubt the Bucs. It just doesn’t impact what they can do if they play up to their ability.