Wide receiver Sterling Shepard is the newest addition to the team, having signed with the Bucs last week. Shepard is thrilled to be reunited with quarterback Baker Mayfield, but in terms of getting used to the team – and the Florida weather in the summertime – there will still be an adjustment period for him.

That is why, after speaking to the local media for the first time on Tuesday, Shepard is grateful to have another chance and believes that a lot of things came together at the right time for him.

How Did Sterling Shepard’s First Practice Go? “It Was Hot”

Bucs WR Sterling Shepard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

One of the biggest parts of acclimating to the Bucs is learning how to take in the Florida heat. There was some respite from it on Tuesday, but besides just the hot temperatures, Sterling Shepard also spoke about how he is still getting his feet wet learning a brand-new offense.

“It was hot,” Shepard said on how his first Bucs practice went. “It was really hot but it was good. I’m just trying to get a grasp of the offense, trying to get out there and help the team in any way I can. It was a good first day, my head was spinning a little bit with all the new plays. It’s a lot different than a lot of the offenses that I’ve been in.”

Shepard comes into town as a seasoned veteran after spending the past eight seasons with the Giants. After being a second-round back in 2016, the first half of his NFL career was largely productive.

While never a 1,000-yard receiver, he settled in nicely for a couple of seasons as the second option behind Odell Beckham Jr. After Beckham got traded to the Browns, he then took on the responsibility of being a featured option, but it was not long after that the injury bug began to bite. He played a full season in 2018 and had 66 receptions for 872 receiving yards and four touchdowns and then led the Giants in receptions in 2019. Since then though, Shepard has not had an injury-free year, with injuries limiting him to just 25 games with a more reduced role on offense.

As the 31-year-old receiver looks to write a new chapter in Tampa Bay, he is also looking to turn back the clock to the production he had with Baker Mayfield during their days at Oklahoma.

Sterling Shepard Shares How Baker Mayfield Recruited Him To The Bucs

Sterling Shepard and Baker Mayfield only played one season together with the Sooners back in 2015, but it’s safe to say that they made the most of it. The Mayfield-Shepard pairing that year led to the receiver hauling in 86 passes for 1,288 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

While that was nearly a decade ago, the chemistry they built then has led to him getting an opportunity now.

Bucs WR Sterling Shepard – Photo by: USA Today

Shepard detailed on Tuesday the text exchange that he recently had with Mayfield, which led to his agent reaching out to the Bucs to land a workout.

“I was at home on the couch doing what I was doing for the past month and a half, two months,” Shepard said of what he was doing before signing. “Took the kids to school and everything. Actually did a heavy lift that morning and saw Baker texted me. I put my phone down, continued my workout, and then I hit him up later that day and he was asking me how I was feeling. I was like, ‘Man, I feel really good, my body feels good.’

“He was like, ‘Man, see if your agent gives them a call and see what they see.’ Sure enough, my agent called them, and about five minutes later they were like, ‘Can you fly in tomorrow for a workout?’ I was like, ‘Agh, I haven’t been running any routes but yeah, I’ll go out there.’ Got out there and when I strapped on the cleats it all turned on for me. I’m just blessed to be here, blessed for the opportunity.”

Shepard has built a long-lasting friendship with Mayfield, so it’s fair to say that he knows him as well as any other player. That is why when he spoke about what it was like playing with the Heisman-winning quarterback back in the day he echoed a lot of things Bucs players say about him now.

“Super fun,” Shepard said about being reunited with Mayfield. “I loved playing with him in college. He’s a guy that has a lot of energy and energy that you could feed off of. He wants to win games, he’s the ultimate competitor, and he always plays with that chip on his shoulder. That’s one thing I’ve always noticed about Baker. No matter what you say about him, he’s going to keep on pushing and doing him. I’m just blessed to be here and blessed to be back with my boy.”