Five ex-Bucs find Super landing spots Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer? ?
Linebacker Jonathan Casillas says he was "a little thrown off" by his trade to the Patriots. Getty ImagesPHOENIX — Darrelle Revis was late. The Super Bowl interview session for the Patriots had begun Wednesday morning, and the All-Pro cornerback may have been watching film or watching his money, but he wasn't watching the clock. "Sorry I'm late, guys," Revis said without explanation as he took his seat at the podium about 10 minutes tardy.It's okay, because Revis has waited for eight seasons to get to this stage. And as any NFL player knows, you haven't arrived until you arrive at the Super Bowl.Revis almost made it to the Super Bowl in 2009 and 2010 with the Jets, but New York lost in the AFC Championship Game to the Colts and Steelers, respectively. Then came a torn left ACL in 2012."I actually thought I may never play again," Revis said.But thanks to the Bucs, who signed him to series of five one-year, $16 million contracts, Revis had the 2013 season to work himself back into shape so he could fulfill his dream.Five former Tampa Bay players participating in Super Bowl XLIX activities this week each had the same thing to say to the Bucs on Wednesday: Thank you.Three of them — running back LeGarrette Blount, tight end Tim Wright and linebacker Jonathan Casillas — were traded to the Patriots. Revis was allowed to leave as a free agent, as was Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who led the Bucs with nine sacks in 2012.To the average Bucs fan, this feels like a bowl of razor blades on the stomach. But before all your knees start jerking, consider that at the times of their departures, there were good reasons for them.When Bucs coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht took over last January, they realized their team was more than a shutdown corner from turning the corner. But they offered Revis a two-year contract, fully guaranteed, worth more than $11 million per season, one that would keep him as the highest-paid cornerback in the league.As if a cartoon light bulb went on over his head, Revis saw it as a chance to get to a Super Bowl contender such as the Patriots."Last (season) was a rough year. I wasn't 100 percent," Revis said. "Some games I felt good, I felt explosive, and then some games, my leg would fatigue. I had to fight through that the whole year, which was fine. And I did."Tampa did a great job of monitoring me and sitting me out of practice when I needed to and making sure I got the proper amount of rest. I thank Tampa Bay for doing that."Blount was traded to the Patriots midway through the 2012 season for a sixth-round draft pick in 2013 and running back Jeff Demps. He had rushed for 1,007 yards for the Bucs in 2010, but his lack of versatility limited his workload. When then-coach Greg Schiano drafted Doug Martin in the first round out of Boise State in 2012, Blount knew he was done."I felt like they knew who they wanted to play," Blount said. "No hard feelings. It's just the business part of the game."After a season with the Patriots, Blount signed with the Steelers as a free agent. But frustrated by his lack of playing time, he walked off the field before a Monday night game ended in November and was released. The Pats welcomed him back with open arms.Wright and Casillas were traded to the Patriots this season. The Bucs wanted a better in-line blocker at tight end and had drafted Washington's Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the third round last year. Wright was dealt for Logan Mankins and the Patriots' sixth-rounder in 2015. He produced for the Patriots with 26 catches for 259 yards and six touchdowns."Great organizations know where you fit well, and (the Patriots have) done a great job of putting me in the offense," Wright said.The Bucs traded Casillas and a sixth-rounder to the Patriots for a fifth-round pick. It made sense because he had lost his job to Danny Lansanah and would have been a free agent. "I was a little thrown off by it for sure," Casillas said. "Anybody would be. I was starting to enjoy living (in Tampa Bay) and charity-wise. The football was tough."Bennett was allowed to walk so the Bucs could give his job to Da'Quan Bowers. Bennett signed a one-year, $5 million deal and won the Super Bowl with Seattle last year. That led to a four-year, $28.5 million extension. He has 15.5 sacks in the past two years."You play through injuries, you give them everything, you do what Greg Schiano asks you to even through you don't want to put your toes on the line, but you do it, and you don't get rewarded for it because they want somebody else to do what you do," Bennett said. "I think that hurts your feelings a little bit, but you just realize this is a business and move on."To the Super Bowl.
