Day After Super Bowl....

While the Bucs Nation was enjoying parade post 5th Ring...... all the Front Office Executive left the party early as they were in office along with our owner & GM big H to start planning for 2024.

Most people walked in the room with jubilant mood hoping it will be quick and simple meeting to talk about few adjustment to the Super Bowl winning roster and how to manage salary cap.... but most also knew they are dealing with Owner/GM who is most trigger happy and one who constantly will tweak the roster to put Bucs as one of the best team in league.

We had few Agenda in the meeting....

1) - Sign the pending Free Agents..... we have simple rule in Bucs we always wait till end of 8th week - Trade deadline to sign any player in the last year of their contract giving us full flexibility but this time we decide to wait till season is over which put us in corner to the last day.... We had some big names and contributor who was in the last year of the contract

A.Hamrick, DE - Young anchor of the line so this was no brainer to resign him.

A.Dellosantos, DT - Young pair of anchor of the Def Line ... so it was no brainer to sign them

G.Berkley, RB/QB - he was reserve RB but mainly our KH and he was stable but luxury.... so we decide to let him hit the market and decide next season.

J.Hornyak, RB - He has been nothing but class act who has adapted well to RB by committee approach of Bucs and he as been the leader of pack... so this was tough decision... special after our RB coach informed along with our TE coach that James want to switch to FB to have longer career..... we decided to let him explore the market and try to bring him back if it makes mutual sense.

Peter Nance, DB - This was the toughest call we had to take.... He has been Bucs and leader from day one .... he always set the tone but coming from winning Super Bowl.... he expressed the desire for the longterm contract and wanted to gauge his market value...... We knew this will not be good but keeping his wish and long term interest of building team in right way we took the call to let him hit the Free Agent market granting him his wish as Thank you for his service.


We also had to look at all the Free Agent to see if we would sign anyone to the future contract but we decide to stay put as we were not sure which direction we would had by allowing Peter and James two veteran cornerstone of our team to hit the Free Agency.

We also talk to James Chunningham, QB, T. Wilson, C and B.Holmes, DB/LB about their desire to retire post winning the Super Bowl ... giving us indication that what seemed like easy offseason will be anything but that .......

We also are bracing for some of our beloved coaches to get opportunity somewhere and leave us on winning note.....

Here is the last statement for 2023 from our Head Coach plus owner & GM

Coach Statement - "We were coming of underachieved 2022 and was not sure what to expect in 2023 but goal was to win the Division and than take it one game at time....glad to see that we started to show the dominance as we reached the playoff.....so thank to everyone who contribute but its great feeling to be called Super Bowl Champs....so this one is for your Bucs Nation & note to all players and coaches.... remember we have Big H who will celebrate this W for 2 min and than its back to 2024 with 0-0 record so while you enjoy, start thinking of next season...Lets Do it again"

Owner and GM's statement -
"Thanks coach...and this time as its 5th ring I will give you more than 2 min.. you have 5 min to enjoy before you start focusing on 2024........ but now to most important part of our team....We are just proud for every Bucs fan who inspire us to put the best team on the field with the chance to win the coveted trophy.....we love our fans and we respect our players and coaches...our style has always been we have very few lifetime Bucs but every player no matter of their duration is part of our winning strategy and we Thank them all..... This is our 5th championship and we are not tied with Browns for the most trophies so goal will be to double them soon.... but most importantly field the team which is fun and one that make whole Bucs Nation proud... Let's Fire them Canons...Here we come 2024....!!!

Offseason

This is the most busy and stressful time for Bucs management.

All thing were set as discussed on the last day of the season... Hamrick and Dellosantos signed their extensions..... only surprise was Brian Kang our old man crazy RB coach decided to retire to enjoy life - Thanks coach.

Coaches - We had discussion with each of our coaches and offered all of them extension with choice to leave for better jobs if they choose too.... Sp team coach came to us and expressed desire to move to vacated RB coach position one of the most important position as we are run first team. All of them accepted extension except G. Murphy who was promoted to Defensive Co-ordinator role with Chargers ... we also infused new blood as we added two new young coaches... as LB - J.McCollum and Sp Team coach - Julian Bunch..... welcome to Bucs Nation.

Players - There is prize to guess that this is where we had lots of movement.... just the surprise was our owner/GM decided to rebuild/reload in parallel... so we decide to move many prime players and add new blood. It was sad to see many veteran leaving us vis Free Agency and Trades.....but we welcome new blood to Bucs as we Reload to Fire them Canons in 2024.

Key Loss - Peter Nance - DB (Vikings) , J.Hornyak - FB (Broncos), G.Andrews - RT ( Bills), S.Torres - C (Bills), R.Armstrong - WR (Jax), J.Libby - DE (Bills), D.Evans - CB ( Bills), J.Cruz - QB ( Seahawks), J.Callahan - LB (Seahawks), J.Collins - K (Browns).

Key Addition - A.Nunn - DL (Dolphins), B.Fitzgerald - RB (Jax), H.Garner - RB/FB (Jax), J.Lee - QB (Seahawks), R.Kimmell - OT (Seahawks).

Draft -

D. Durden, QB - Bucs tried to pick the Next Gen QB with our early 1st round pick.. but it did not quite panned out as planned ... he will be wildcat option for Bucs but most likely will be backup given our depth at the position.

C.Davis , DL - This was another solid find to already talented DL.... he is solid but will be backup for couple of season till his turn arrives....

S.Bradely, SS/LB - He is tweener with average speed but good acceleration.... he will take time but will be good addition to revamped secondary.

M.Hebert - DL/LB - He is speed demon who will need couple of season to be groomed but will be great role player for Bucs

A.Hirsch, LB - He is average speed but great cover guy who will be Future SLB for Bucs.

W.Gaskins, G - He did not panned as expected so will be backup and sp team till he is moved or released eventually.

S.Lansberry, LB - Master storke in 3rd round from Bucs .... finding future MLB to replace R.Bye when he retires.

J.Peele, DL - Good Find and will provide needed depth as well as will be groomed to start in future.

E.Chan, SS/LB - One more good found late in draft who will provide depth but eventually will be starting LB/SS for Bucs or some other team.

R.Delgado, DL - One more good LDE who will need 1-2 season as the backup before developing as the starting LDE.

J.Santos, WR - He is enigma.... lots of talent and flashed here and there but need to develop consistency to remain with Bucs but overall great speedy WR/RB talent.

T.Hamilton, CB - He was signed to provide depth in preseason but he just came with agenda to prove Bucs wrong... he will actually make the team as the depth DB with potential


We are still not done with preseason so journey continues..... as we shape the team for 2024....