The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are fuming over perceived 'disrespect' from national media in the wake of Tom Brady's 2023 departure.
Despite their playoff run last season, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht believes the franchise haven't received the recognition they deserve. In the 2023 NFL season, the Bucs clinched the NFC South title and secured an unlikely playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was the franchise's first season without Brady, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion's boots were adequately filled by Baker Mayfield. Mayfield inspired the franchise to just their third divisional round appearance in 21 years before suffering a narrow defeat to the Detroit Lions - and the Bucs moved swiftly to complete a new deal with the quarterback, who joined Mike Evans and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. with blockbuster new deals.
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The moves made by the Bucs allow the franchise to be flexible moving forward amid a more competitive division following the Atlanta Falcons ' signing of Kirk Cousins. During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Tampa Bay general manager Licht was asked for his thoughts on the Falcons being tipped to win the division in 2024 - despite the Bucs being defending division champions with a similar roster for the upcoming season.
"We're kind of used to it," Licht said on Thursday. "I sometimes feel like, down here in Tampa, we're in witness protection. I don't want to say we get ---- on, but there's kind of a lack of respect.
"You can go on, like Lavonte David, I think, is a Hall of Fame-type player. He doesn't get enough credit as he should. Mike Evans just recently started getting talked about as a future Hall of Famer. So, we're used to it, but you kind of use it as ammo."
Mike Evans was one of several franchise cornerstones to re-sign with the Buccaneers ahead of the 2024 NFL season (Getty Images)The Falcons are raising eyebrows after Cousins wrapped up a six-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings to embark on free agency, making his way to Atlanta. The quarterback sealed a four-year contract worth up to $180 million (£144m), and spectators are keen to see how he fits into a young, potentially explosive offence with players like Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson.
However, Licht isn't flustered. He's "keeping receipts" for those deselecting the Bucs, hinting that the whole franchise - from its front office to the players - is entering the new season ready to prove doubters wrong. The Buccaneers had a prosperous off-season while bolstering their team through the NFL Draft, involving bringing in offensive line assistance in the shape of ex-Duke center Graham Barton.
Mayfield, Evans, Winfield Jr. and veteran linebacker Lavonte David all stepped into the offseason facing uncertain futures, but it was Licht and the Bucs' administration who completed the contracts. With much of the 2023 team who earned the franchise a 9-8 record and won a playoff game returning, ruling them out come September will be a challenge.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
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