FAB 2. HARGREAVES IS A ROOKIE THE RISE
Christmas and the holiday gift-giving season are almost here and it is always better to give rather than receive.

That’s the school of thought that Tampa Bay rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III must be operating under because he’s had a hand – literally – in giving a few of his teammates some very big gifts this season.

In a critical Week 5 win at Carolina on Monday Night Football, Hargreaves tipped a pass that was intercepted by linebacker Daryl Smith. In Sunday’s 28-21 win in San Diego, Hargreaves deflected a third quarter Philip Rivers pass that went into the arms of linebacker Lavonte David, who raced 15 yards to the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.

Bucs DBs Vernon Hargreaves III, Brent Grimes and Keith Tandy – Photo by: Getty Images

In the fourth quarter, Hargreaves’ giving spirit was also present when he gave a heads up to safety Keith Tandy on the play in which Tandy made the game-clinching interception in the end zone.

“There was a formation I recognized, a concept that I thought may come so I just told him to watch out for the out-and-up, wheel type of route they like to run and they happen to run it and he made a great play on it. It worked out for us.”
 
Twelve games into his rookie season it’s clear that Hargreaves is working out fine for the Bucs, too. The Wharton High School grad and University of Florida product is living up to his first-round billing, but it’s time that he’s on the receiving end of some gifts – namely some interceptions.

With 12 games under his belt it’s hard to believe that Hargreaves has yet to pick off his first pass in the NFL regular season.

“Absolutely,” Hargreaves said. “I can’t believe it, but I’ve got to be patient. I’ve just got to be patient. The interceptions will come. They’re not easy to get in the NFL. I definitely thought I would have two or three by now, but they will come. I just have to stay patient and when they do come, I just have to make my opportunities count.”

After leading Tampa Bay in interceptions during the OTAs and mini-camps, as well as training camp and the preseason, the fact that Hargreaves has yet to record an interception shocks his teammates.

“I am surprised, but it’s only a matter of time,” said fellow rookie cornerback Javien Elliott.

Bucs rookie safety Ryan Smith agreed.

“I’m definitely surprised,” Smith said. “This is the NFL and things don’t come easy. You have to go get it. But that boy is a baller and it’s going to come. It could come this week. That would be big time if it did.”

Bucs CB Vernon Hargreaves III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When I posed the scenario of picking off Drew Brees this Sunday for his first career interception Hargreaves his eyes lit up.

“Oh man! That would be awesome to get one this week against Brees,” Hargreaves said.

Bucs nose tackle Akeem Spence, who recorded his first NFL sack against future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, said Hargreaves recording his first career interception against a future Hall of Famer in Brees would be a great accomplishment.

“That’s legendary man, if he could pick off Drew Brees,” Spence said. “He’s one of the hardest guys to pick off in this league. If Vernon can do that, man, it’s just as good as me sacking Tom.”

While Hargreaves has yet to receive any gifts of his own from quarterbacks this year, he has received plenty of praise from his teammates.

“I’m a big Vernon Hargreaves fan, no matter if he went to Florida!” said Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston, who hails from rival Florida State. “But I’m proud of all of our young guys and how they’re making that transition into the league and they’re doing very well. And I’m real excited for his future here. I know he’s a lockdown corner and when he gets really comfortable, he’s going to be amazing out there on that field.”

Hargreaves has become more comfortable over the last couple of weeks on the field after a few rocky games as Tampa Bay’s record dipped to 3-5 following a 43-28 home loss to Atlanta on Thursday Night Football.

“To start, obviously, I was a little shaky, a little nervous, didn’t really know what to expect starting off the first few games in the NFL,” Hargreaves said. “But as the games progressed, as we played more games, I got more comfortable. That’s all it is, just me getting comfortable and getting back to myself.

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

“That Oakland game and that Atlanta game – that was the ‘Welcome to the NFL’ game. Both of those games, I had some rough ones. But my confidence doesn’t falter. I got comfortable, I learned from it. The guys had my back, they told me not to worry about it. Brent [Grimes], long-time vet, told me, ‘Let it go. Let it go or it’s going to kill you.’ After that, I just started to have fun with it. That’s what I do, that’s when I play my best and it’s working out for me.”

Hargreaves has been having a lot of fun lately, and that was evident for all to see when he participated in the Mic’d Up segment for Buccaneers.com against Seattle.

If you haven’t seen it yet, click here and prepare to be entertained. Hargreaves’ laugh is hilarious.

“Man I’m always talking, they love it,” Hargreaves said of wearing a microphone against the Seahawks. “Everyone who watched it loved it. Mike Evans, he loved it he said it was his favorite one and I was like, ‘Well, alright I guess.’ You know that’s me – love to talk, love to have fun, got to keep the guys going. There are some older guys on the team and you got to keep them young. I feel like that’s my job, but we’re having fun. I haven’t gotten any negative comments. They say I laugh like a hyena, which I thought was pretty funny. A few people on Instagram, they want to call me ‘The Hyena’ now. That’s cool, but everybody liked it.”

Everybody likes Hargreaves, including New Orleans head coach and offensive play-caller Sean Payton.

“He’s smart, he’s got very good feet.” Payton said. “We had really good grades on him coming out and he’s a son of a coach. So, you see him playing at right corner, [cornerback Brent] Grimes over at the other corner and obviously, [cornerback Alterraun] Verner is playing.

“There are a handful of guys that you see on film. I think the first thing that strikes you when you watch the way their defense is playing. I think they run extremely well. They’ve done a great job of disrupting the ball. If you look at the last four weeks, six weeks, seven weeks, their takeaway numbers, their caused fumbles are at the top of the league. I mean, crazy numbers. They’re playing exceptionally well on third down. They’re getting off the field. They’re playing real good team defense.”

Bucs CB Vernon Hargreaves III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Hargreaves has faced plenty of good quarterbacks this year, including Rivers, Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, Arizona’s Carson Palmer, Oakland’s Derek Carr and Seattle’s Russell Wilson. But facing a legend like Brees, who is a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer, will be the ultimate test for the rookie cornerback.

“Am I looking forward to playing him? Not really!” Hargreaves joked. “Of course. I always wanted to be on the same field as him to see what he’s like and to see what he can do with the football.

“There are no windows when he’s at quarterback, he can get the ball anywhere and it’s normal, it’s not even a surprise. So we have to go out there and pressure him and get him out of his spot and create some turnovers.”

Creating turnovers has been the Bucs’ recent recipe for success during their four-game winning streak, and that’s what will lead Tampa Bay to a win over New Orleans.

Picking off Brees, which I believe will happen for Hargreaves on Sunday, would be the ultimate early Christmas gift for the rookie.