FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• ROSEN WAS HUMBLED LAST YEAR IN MIAMI: New Bucs practice squad quarterback Josh Rosen openly discussed his trials and tribulations in his first two failed seasons in the NFL, specifically recalling how he was benched after three starts in Miami last year, and how he’s excited about learning from six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Bucs QB Josh Rosen – Photo by: Getty Images

“It sucked at first but I think for me the turning point was getting benched in Miami after three games and that was like a big look in the mirror sort of situation for me,” Rosen said. “I’m literally playing behind probably one of the smartest quarterbacks to ever do it (Ryan Fitzpatrick) and you’re not absorbing information like you should, so just trying to be a little self critical as I could be to identify the problem. I was like, ‘I’m just going to see what this dude does. I’m going to mirror his schedule. I’m going to try and take every note that I possibly can and I started seeing the game very differently and going up to the line of scrimmage with a much better plan than I ever have before and it started showing in practice. Film started to make a lot more sense to me. That’s why I thought I made strides in practice at the end of last year and I feel like I played really well in Miami’s training camp this year, actually, and was pretty proud of the work that I put out there, which was encouraging to me.

“Coming here to Tampa, obviously there’s only like training camp-type reps to go around, but you can still better in any capacity. I think I’m just looking to sort of continue on that improvement. Fitz has a style of play and Tom has a style of play, they’re very different and I myself plan on having a different style of play, but it’s really interesting getting to understand like I said those Mondays on the explanations for why certain guys go certain places. I’m really looking forward to getting to experience how Tom goes about it.”

Rosen is looking for a career rebirth in Tampa Bay and has a very different outlook on his career since joining the Buccaneers.

“I hit that turning point at the end of last year and my outlook got a lot more positive,” Rosen said. “I think I’d have a little bit more of a difficult time accepting that prior to that point. I’ve been very positive this past year and I’m really psyched for what the future has to behold.”

• NASSIB STRUGGLING IN VEGAS: Sometimes the best deals are the ones that NFL general managers don’t do. Bucs G.M. Jason Licht didn’t have the salary cap room to re-sign both outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul and Carl Nassib this offseason, in addition to finding cap space for Shaquil Barrett, who was the league’s leading sacker last year with 19.5. So Nassib, who had six sacks in 2019 after notching 6.5 the season before, was the odd man out – especially after fetching a three-year, $25.25 million contract with Las Vegas in March.

Former Bucs OLB Carl Nassib – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Nassib, who is making an average of $8.4 million per year, was given $16.75 million in guaranteed money, and the Raiders aren’t getting much return on their investment.

“Carl Nassib isn’t standing out much,” The Athletic’s Tashan Reed wrote on Saturday. “Third-year defensive end Arden Key has made waves at camp, which has apparently come at the expense of Nassib. He hasn’t been out there all that much, even with the second team. Meanwhile, Key has earned some first-team reps with second-year defensive end Clelin Ferrell bumped over to defensive tackle. Perhaps Gruden is displaying some gamesmanship by not showing his plans for Nassib while the media is around, but it’s weird for the end to be so lightly used. The Raiders didn’t give him a three-year, $25.25 million contract for no reason. I didn’t expect Nassib to challenge starters Ferrell or Maxx Crosby, but I figured he’d be more involved in the rotation than Key.”

• 2 NEW PEWTER NATION PODCASTS AS BUCS PREPARE TO BATTLE SAINTS: The 2020 NFL season is here and the Bucs will be facing off against the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday. Jon Ledyard, Matt Matera and I recorded a new Pewter Nation Podcast on Thursday to break down the big match-ups. If you want expert analysis – don’t miss this one.

Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 208: STOP MICHAEL THOMAS!

Earlier in the week, the Pewter Reporters discussed Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster and the practice squad the Bucs had assembled. Where there any surprises? Did the Bucs make the right moves? Listen and find out!

Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 207: Bucs Roster Reaction

The big news at One Buc Place last week was the team’s signing of former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette. Pewter Report’s Mark Cook, Jon Ledyard, Matt Matera and I recorded a new Pewter Nation Podcast to analyze the Fournette signing and provide some insight. Check out this Pewter Nation Podcast if you missed it last week.

Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 206: What Fournette Brings To The Bucs

There is no better time to listen to a new Pewter Nation Podcast than right now or early Saturday morning during your workout or while running errands. The next Pewter Nation Podcast will be recorded twice next week. Stay tuned!

The popularity of the Pewter Nation Podcast continues to grow. In addition to listening to the Pewter Nation Podcasts on PewterReport.com you can also subscribe to the free podcasts at PodBean by clicking here and on SoundCloud by clicking here. And of course the Pewter Nation Podcast is also available on iTunes. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

• FORMER BUCS CB TALIB RETIRES: Former Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib, who was drafted by the Bucs in the first round in 2008, has retired from the NFL after a 12-year NFL career that saw him play for five teams, make five Pro Bowls and win Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos. Talib played for the Bucs from 2008-12 before being traded to New England where he played for two years before joining Denver from 2014-2017. After a two-year stint in Los Angeles with the Rams in 2018-19, Talib was traded to Miami last year.

Former Bucs CB Aqib Talib – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In announcing his retirement, Talib said he turned down an offer to play one more year for Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

“My guy, my big homie Bill Belichick called my phone … told me he had the role of a lifetime for me,” Talib said. “He really wanted me to strap tight ends. I was out the door. I got flights. I started searching apartments … I could’ve gotten up to $5-6 million – a nice vet contract. I could make $6 million and guard tight ends all day. I’m like, ‘I’m cool.’

“Then I start going through their schedule. I see (George) Kittle, (Travis) Kelce, (Darren) Waller. Usually when I get in this position, I’m going to a new team, my thoughts are all positive. Like, ‘OK, this guy is here, if he does this, maybe I can do this. Maybe I can get this many interceptions and go to the Pro Bowl. These guys in the NFC so I have to beat out him and him.’ You know, I kind of run down all positive thoughts. This time, I look at this (expletive) schedule and the thought – I said, ‘Can I even strap these tight ends?’ I said, ‘Ah (expletive). It’s over with.’ Once I said that, once that negative thought crossed my mind, I said my heart, my competitive edge, like, I’m not really in it any more.”

• LEGENDARY QBs BRADY AND BREES ARE THE THE BEST: Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees are the top two QBs in NFL history in terms of career yards. Brees has the NFL record with 77,416 passing yards and Brady is about 3,000 yards behind him with 74,571 passing yards. The Athletic’s Greg Auman illustrates exactly how Brees and Brady are in a league of their own.

Sunday’s Bucs-Saints game has QBs Tom Brady and Drew Brees, who have combined for 151,987 career passing yards. That’s more than this weekend’s next two highest QB pairs, Seahawks-Falcons (Wilson-Ryan) and Packers-Vikings (Rodgers-Cousins), combined — those 4 add up to 151,973.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 10, 2020

• PEWTER REPORT PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: Hertiage Isles Golf & Country Club
Cooler weather will be here soon as fall is right around the corner. That means the perfect weather for golf will hit the Tampa Bay area for months. If you haven’t golfed at Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club yet, what are you waiting for?

Join the Players Advantage Club at Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club for just $34.95 per month and get to play 18 holes of championship golf, unlimited range balls and courtesy player development clinics. Be sure to grab a bite to eat at the Bayscape Bistro and celebrate the 19th hole at Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club, too.

• IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH BUCS QB? I came across an interesting video on new Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady by On Q Sports on YouTube.com. It makes some interesting points, as well as some controversial claims. Watch it and see for yourself.

• FOLLOW PEWTER REPORT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Thanks to a lot of new Buccaneers fans due to the signing of Tom Brady and the trade for Rob Gronkowski, PewterReport.com has reached 37,400 followers on the @PewterReport Twitter account! Thank you to all of our Twitter followers. We’re also at 10,000 followers on Facebook, so if you don’t follow us on Twitter or Facebook please take the time to do so, Bucs fans.

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