It may be the offseason for both teams, but that did not stop Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan from taking a shot at a Bucs organization looking to turn the page to a new chapter. Tom Brady just wrapped up his storybook career by coming to the Bucs and winning a Super Bowl in 2020, and his presence has put the team back on the map of relevancy.

Before Brady came to town, the team had only put together two winning seasons in the last decade (2010 and 2016), but no playoff berths. In his three years in “Tompa Bay,” he matched that mark in three seasons while also making three straight playoff appearances.

Saints DE Jordan Takes Shot at Bucs

With Brady out of the fold, the NFC South is now up for the taking. In a division that did not produce a team with a winning record, it is completely up for grabs. At the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, Jordan did not shy away from poking fun at the organization’s past at the slightest inkling of weakness in a division foe.

While Jordan started by saluting Brady’s career, he laughed about the Bucs’ overall lack of success outside of two Super Bowl-winning campaigns.

“We’re glad he’s out of the division,” Jordan said. “Tampa Bay will probably go back to … where Tampa Bay has been.” He then laughed about it with NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe before wrapping up.

Jordan has the pedigree to back up his talk, as he is an 8x Pro Bowler with 115.5 career sacks. But this season was one to forget for the Saints, as the Bucs swept them and shifted the balance in their rivalry.

Saints Had Two Tough Losses To Bucs In 2022

The Saints were dealt two tough losses by the Bucs this past season. In Week 2, the Saints lost 20-10 by having five turnovers, including three interceptions from quarterback Jameis Winston.

Before this matchup, cornerback Carlton Davis III was happy to talk about how he hoped to shut them down. It was a collective effort by the secondary to do so, and it was arguably the defense’s best game of the season.

In Week 13, they were dealt another heartbreaking loss, losing 17-16. This time, rookie running back Rachaad White caught the game-winning, last-second touchdown.

But before this season, the Bucs were just 1-7 in their last eight matchups against the team that resides in the bayou. Jordan’s comments reflect how the league viewed the Bucs before their recent run of success.

Bucs In State Of Flux

Raiders QB Derek Carr – Photo by: USA Today

While the Bucs hope their success continues, maintaining it will be much more difficult. With a bevy of free agents and no long-term answer at quarterback on the roster (no offense to Kyle Trask), it will be an offseason that will define the team’s trajectory for the rest of the decade.

Will the team look at bridge quarterbacks to stay afloat? Do they trade up into the top 10 for a quarterback? Is a bigger name in play to keep their title window open?

Derek Carr, another player at the Pro Bowl Games, is having a combine of sorts as he auditions in Las Vegas to be the starting quarterback for a new team next year.

These all loom as possibilities, but for now, a dreary cloud is in the way of the Bucs being forecast as a playoff contender. If they find a suitable option under center and can fill some of the holes on the roster, perhaps Jordan won’t be as excited to talk about the Bucs in future interviews.