When Tom Brady reviewed his deck of options as a free agent, he quickly discovered that no one could match what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to offer.
Although they finished with a 7-9 record in 2019, The Bucs’ offense showed incredible potential under coach Bruce Arians – not only did he set franchise records for points (458) and touchdowns (54), but finished with the league’s best passing attack (302.8 yards per game).
With all due respect to Jameis Winston, but Tampa Bay was a good quarterback away from being a contender al Super Bowl.
At 43 and in his 21st NFL season, Brady got the one without discussion, he is the best corps of receivers he has had in his illustrious career.
The list begins with Mike Evans, who finished with 1,006 yards (13 touchdowns) in 2020., making him the first player in league history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in his first seven seasons.
In the Super Bowl LV, Evans looking for his third postseason game with a touchdown and in the Week 12 game against the Chiefs, he caught two balls in the end zone.
Chris Godwin closed the regular season with 840 yards and seven touchdowns. He had five receptions and 100 yards in the NFC Championship Game at Green Bay and eight for 97 in Week 12.
In late October, Bucs general manager Jason Licht gave Brady another target, when signed ─a recommendation of “TB12” ─ to Antonio Brown, the controversial and troubled former Steelers wide receiver who spent a few weeks in New England last season.
Brown in doubt for Super Bowl with knee injuryBut he was able to train normally this Thursday, he was fourth on the team with 483 yards and four touchdowns.
When he learned that Brady would sign with the Bucs, tight end Rob Gronkowski immediately came out of retirement and asked the Patriots to be traded to Tampa Bay. New England traded for a fourth-round pick.
“Gronk” stayed healthy all season and contributed 45 receptions, 623 yards and seven touchdowns.
Gronkowski is the playoff leader among tight ends with receptions (83), yards (1,206) and touchdowns (12). In four Super Bowls he has visited the diagonals three times.
Cameron Brate is the other tight end in the Bucs’ attack. He had 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“I have known him for a long time and I am very proud of all his achievements”, Brady said. “He is an amazing guy. I know that we both trust each other a lot. I’ll be looking for him this Sunday. “
No other tight end has more touchdown catches than the 86 of “Gronk” since 2010, when it came to the NFL.
And don’t forget Scott Miller, who finished the 2020 regular season with 53 targets, 33 receptions, 501 yards and three touchdowns.
Scooter claims to be faster than the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill. Nobody believes it, but it is a fact that his speed could be a problem for the Kansas City defense in Super Bowl LV.