Tampa Bay Buccaneers Address Why They're ‘Under the Radar' Contenders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Address Why They're 'Under the Radar' Contenders originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers underrated as a franchise?
That is the argument Mina Kimes has made on her show "The Mina Kimes Show." During this week's stream, the ESPN host interviewed Buccaneers veteran linebacker Lavonte David to answer that very question.
Advertisement
Like Kimes, David was seemingly perplexed as to why the Buccaneers always seem to operate under the radar.
"I don't know why. We're a humble organization" David said. "We got a lot of great players. It's good though, we like having that underdog mentality. We have a bunch of underdogs. A lot of guys with a tremendous amount of talent and a lot of heart that battle week in and week out for each other."
Perhaps one of the reasons why fans and pundits seem to overlook Tampa Bay is due to their start. When Tampa Bay was an expansion franchise in the 1970s, they were easily the worst team in the league.
Things have changed over the last few decades, though.
Advertisement
Tampa is a title contender. And while they continue to perform in the shadows, that is perfectly fine for their upstart roster. In the case of David, he has already won a Super Bowl, and is still one of the best leaders in the league.
As he looks to put the finishing touches on his career, he's hoping the organization has one more title run to go on during the 2025 season.
Related: Buccaneers 2nd-Round Pick Tabbed 'Rookie to Watch'
Related: Buccaneers 'Knucklehead' Baker Mayfield Challenged with New Goal
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs part ways with defensive lineman during the last week of voluntary OTAs
Kansas City Chiefs part ways with defensive lineman during the last week of voluntary OTAs On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs waived defensive lineman Siaki Ika and made a corresponding move, signing tight end Kevin Foelsch. The moves were officially announced on the team's transaction log. Ika was a 2023 third-round pick out of Baylor for the Cleveland Browns. He played in four games for Cleveland before being released ahead of the 2024 season. He spent time on the practice squads of the Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Chiefs' practice squad in December and signing a Reserve/Futures contract following the Super Bowl. Kansas City added Foelsch, a young tight end on the Eagles and Carolina Panthers practice squads, in 2024. He was an undrafted free agent who has yet to find his stride in the league after a standout college career at the University of New Haven. He will be in tough competition for a potential spot on the final 53-man roster in a loaded tight end room. The Chiefs begin mandatory minicamp from June 17-19.
USA Today
30 minutes ago
- USA Today
ESPN analyst has questions about former Oklahoma QBs heading into 2025
ESPN analyst has questions about former Oklahoma QBs heading into 2025 The Oklahoma Sooners could see up to six former quarterbacks who suited up in crimson and cream start games in the NFL in the 2025 season. That's an almost unheard of statistic, one that illustrates how good OU has been at football's most valuable position over the last decade (and well, well before that). Although only three of the six finished their careers in Norman, there's no doubt who the title of "QBU" belongs to. Heading into the 2025 season, every team in the league has some kind of question at the quarterback position. ESPN NFL analyst Dan Graziano attempted to identify the biggest question for each of the 32 QB situations ahead of the fall. We'll just be focusing on the three players who were officially drafted from Oklahoma. That's because Browns QB Dillon Gabriel was drafted from Oregon, Bears QB Caleb Williams was drafted from USC, and Saints QB Spencer Rattler was drafted from South Carolina. Up first is Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. He's coming off of leading Philly to a Super Bowl LIX victory and a Super Bowl MVP award. He bounced back nicely after a down year in 2023 that followed a deep playoff run in 2022. Heading into Year 6, Hurts has yet another new play-caller on the offensive side of the ball. How will the Eagles' annual coordinator change affect Jalen Hurts this time? The 2022 Eagles reached the Super Bowl with Shane Steichen as offensive coordinator, but then Steichen got hired to coach the Colts, and Hurts and the Philly offense regressed badly in 2023 under Brian Johnson. The Eagles brought in Kellen Moore last season, built one of the all-time great run games and won the Super Bowl as a result. But now Moore is coach of the Saints, and Kevin Patullo has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Underestimating Hurts is clearly a foolish endeavor at this point, but he and the team are surely hoping things go better than they did the last time they promoted from within to fill the coordinator spot. - Graziano, ESPN. Hurts has earned his place as one of the league's premier players, and his team still has plenty of pieces in place to make a run at back-to-back titles. Up next is Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray. He was fully healthy last year after tearing his ACL late in the 2022 season and missing the bulk of 2023. The Cardinals are still rebuilding their roster in the post-Kliff Kingsbury era, but one of their most talented offensive players needs more touches in 2025. Murray heads into Year 7 looking make the postseason for the first time since 2021. Can the Kyler Murray-Marvin Harrison Jr. connection deliver on its first-round promise in Year 2? Harrison's rookie season was fine -- 62 catches, 885 yards and eight touchdowns. But as the fourth pick of the 2024 draft and given his college performance, he was supposed to take the NFL by storm right out of the gate. Instead, he was the No. 2 option in the Cardinals' passing game behind tight end Trey McBride. More is expected in Harrison's second season, and the same can be said of Murray in his seventh. Arizona made almost no changes on offense this offseason after finishing ninth in offensive EPA in 2024. The Cardinals beefed up on defense, hoping that will be enough to make them contenders. But Murray and the offense have to take a step forward if that's to happen, and a breakout for Harrison will help. - Graziano, ESPN. Murray was at his best with a No. 1 target in DeAndre Hopkins earlier in his career. If Harrison can become that in Arizona this season, the team could make a big jump toward a playoff spot in the NFC West. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield is looking to make it three straight division crowns and playoff appearances in his new home. Mayfield is already entering his eighth NFL season, but he's coming off of his two best years in the pros. He'll also have a new OC in Josh Grizzard, after Liam Coen left to coach the Jaguars. But Graziano wonders is Mayfield is underpaid in Tampa. Is Baker Mayfield underpaid? The three-year contract that Mayfield signed with the Bucs last offseason pays him $33.3 million per year. He has $30 million coming this season and $40 million in 2026, though none of the 2026 money is guaranteed. The deal is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but consider that the top of the QB market right now is $55 to $60 million per year. Consider also that no quarterback in the NFL has thrown more touchdown passes over the past two regular seasons than Mayfield (69). If Mayfield has another big season -- with a third different offensive coordinator in three years -- he could be in line for an even bigger contract extension next offseason. - Graziano, ESPN Mayfield has found his NFL home with the Bucs, and he has plenty of firepower around him on offense heading into 2025. If he can elevate his team again this year, a new contract may be in order. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
NBC Sports
42 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Khalil Mack: Staying with Chargers was less about finances than about winning games
Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack says looking for the most lucrative contract offer wasn't his top priority as free agency approached in March. Mack, who stayed with the Chargers on a one-year, $18 million deal, said he thinks there's more he can accomplish with the Chargers and wants to be part of what they're building. 'I had to be fair in the approach to things and not making it about just finances and all the different things,' Mack said, via ESPN. 'I tried to make it more so just about winning ball games.' The Chargers went 11-6 last season in Jim Harbaugh's first year as head coach, and that has Mack thinking about a bright future in Los Angeles. 'Just not wanting to give up on that goal and that ambition that I have ever since I stepped into the league,' Mack said. 'I knew I wanted to play in important games and win a Super Bowl.' For all that he has accomplished in his NFL career, Mack has never experienced winning a playoff game. That's something he thinks he can do with the Chargers, and is one of the reasons he's back for another year.
