Vanderbilt and Iowa face off for the first time ever for this year’s ReliaQuest Bowl on the day of New Year’s Eve.

Vanderbilt brings a historic 10-win season with an offense led by Heisman finalist Diego Pavia. Iowa’s famous defense is ready for the team’s seventh bowl in Tampa after a slightly disappointing 8-4 season.

But the Hawkeyes’ secret ingredient this year is in their offense: Mark Gronowski. The South Dakota State transfer set a program record of 15 rushing TDs by a quarterback this season, and became the team’s first member ever to rush for, throw, and catch a touchdown in the same game (vs. USC).

Either way, Tampa Bay wins. The bowl’s economic impact has reached an estimated $1.2 billion since it started as the Hall of Fame Bowl 40 years ago, Tampa Bay Business and Wealth recently reported. It was the Outback Bowl from 1995 to 2022 before the Tampa-based cybersecurity firm cut the check.

Teams will be in town five days early for events, including a beach day and parade.

Tickets start at $95 for ReliaQuest Bowl 2025, happening Wednesday, Dec. 31 in Tampa.

2025 ReliaQuest Bowl

Time Wed., Dec. 31, 12 p.m.

Location Raymond James Stadium, 4201 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa

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Once again last Sunday, Buccaneers quarterback had a potential Baker Mayfield game-winning drive waiting for him at the end of another close matchup. The opportunity was more of an indictment of the team they were playing against than a reflection of how well Tampa Bay played.

Mayfield & co. were down 24-20 against the bottom feeder New Orleans Saints—who came to Raymond James Stadium with just two wins—with under two minutes left and no timeouts. 

Instead of continuing the heroics that have saved this team from embarrassment all season, the Bucs offense went away with a thud as it turned it over on downs for the fifth time last Sunday afternoon to end their miserable effort against one of the worst teams in football. 

It was an ugly game with the weather matching the mood, as both teams committed silly turnovers, with both quarterbacks throwing an interception, and both defenses looked out of their depth at times. 

Bucs linebacker SirVocea Dennis had several plays where he looked absolutely lost including a key third down conversion where Saints receiver Chris Olave managed to pick up a first down in the fourth quarter to continue a key Saints drive that led to a field goal. 

Tampa Bay’s pass rush managed to get after Saints rookie QB, Tyler Shough, with three sacks, yet they failed to prevent disaster at the end of the game with New Orleans managing to score an ultimately game-winning touchdown on a play where Bucs defenders missed at least two chances at bringing down the first-year player. 

There is still a road to Tampa Bay winning this horrendous division, as there always is when the opposing teams are as bad as they are in the NFC south. 

Yet Sunday’s game was as deflated as it gets, and it calls into question why it even matters if the Buccaneers make the playoffs or not, as the chances of them winning a game against a playoff caliber team are slim-to-none. 

Head coach Todd Bowles has preached the need for the defense to improve their tackling yet no changes have come to fruition. The offense looked as lifeless as it’s ever been even without starting left tackle Tristan Wirfs (a two-touchdown performance is not going to cut it against one of the league’s worst defenses). 

Now, it’s just a battle of who can suck the least between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers, as Carolina was on a bye week and now the teams are tied for the top of the division. 

If the Buccaneers want to take home yet another NFC South crown they will have to be Carolina at least once which at this point seems like an unlikely proposition. 

Tampa Bay’s next game takes place Thursday night at Raymond James versus the Atlanta Falcons. 

It is indeed a Bucs Life, and things look bleak for the Buccaneers.

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Will it be in the delightfully chilly 50s or depressingly lukewarm 80s for this year’s Hot Chocolate Run? It’s still too early to say, but the chocolate at the finish line will still be sweet either way.

Tampa is one of 17 cities nationwide to host this race sponsored by Sketchers, with 5k, 10k and 15k options all starting and ending at the Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park.

If running (or paying to) doesn’t sound like fun, it’s free to cheer on athletes along the route, which goes over the Platt Street bridge and along the always scenic Bayshore Boulevard. The Hot Chocolate Expo is also free and open to the public the day before at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Registration starts at $59 for the Sketchers Hot Chocolate Run, happening Sunday, Dec. 14 in Tampa.

2025 Hot Chocolate Run Tampa

Time Sun., Dec. 14, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. 2025

Location Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, 601 Water Street, Tampa

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It’s about as likely to snow in Tampa Bay as it is to see The Grinch on roller skates. But somehow, both are happening at United Skates of Tampa this Black Friday.

He’ll come down from Mount Crumpit to take part in a snowball fight on the rink. In lieu of Who-Pudding and Roast Beast, there will be a special combo: $22 for a cheese pizza and a pitcher of soda. Sounds like a wonderful, awful idea.

Okay, so maybe he’ll be more like a Great Value Grinch, a Gronch so to speak. Still, he knows how to get down.

Tickets are $10 (including rentals) for The Grinch’s Indoor Snowball Fight, happening Friday, Nov. 28. 2-6 p.m. and 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Tampa.

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Phew. It’s been a while since Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have dealt with one of these types of games and stretches. 

Baker Mayfield & co. now have three straight losses, each more discouraging than the last. 

Sunday night brought possibly one of the worst performances put out by the pewter pirates in quite some time, and they picked a heck of a time to do it, as they showed off their ineptitude in front of a national audience on NBC. 

While the Bucs may have wanted to escape from L.A. with a victory, the Rams had other plans, as they jumped out to a 31-7 lead by halftime, with the game mercifully ending with a 34-7 loss for Tampa Bay. 

Mayfield looked out of sync and out of rhythm, as the offense put up a whopping 41 yards passing in the first half. 

He eventually had to exit the game with a shoulder injury, giving an already painful day an even bigger problem moving forward as the Bucs cling to a shrinking NFC South lead. 

In sharp contrast to the sloppy sequence of events the Bucs called an offensive gameplan, Los Angeles veteran QB Matthew Stafford racked up over 200 yards of passing on his way to what could be an MVP-caliber season. 

Making things worse, Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum looked like he was in La La Land trying to cover future Hall of Famer Davante Adams. The former Fresno State man had a pair of touchdown receptions, both with the recently extended corner getting burnt on the veteran’s savvy and suave routes. 

The Bucs found out what it means To Live and Die in L.A., as they struggled mightily across the board, with problems even extending to special teams. 

Tampa Bay punter Riley Dixon had a funny (but also not funny, kind of sad really) 23-yard punt in the first quarter that set the tone for what the Bucs would be putting out on the field for the remainder of the night. 

Kicker Chase McLaughlin also managed to throw in an illegal kickoff penalty to begin the second half. 

The loss brought to an end what is inarguably the hardest part of Tampa Bay’s schedule. The hope is that the Bucs advantage of getting to play the Saints and Falcons once more each, as well as the Panthers twice. 

Unfortunately, those matchups with the Panthers are not nearly as favorable as they once looked earlier in the season. 

Carolina has managed to put together a string of successful games is are now tied with the Bucs at top of the division heading into a Monday night matchup with the 49ers. 

The Bucs will at least get to face the Cardinals and the Dolphins as well, a pair of teams that are likely to end up as two of the worst in the NFL. 

But hey. It’s a Buc’s life. And it could be worse. 

They could be the Dolphins. 

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The U.S. Men’s National Team put on a show Tuesday night during its 5-1 rout of Uruguay in front of 26,110 fans at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

Scoring started early in the friendly against the world No. 15 team, as midfielder Sebastian Berhalter earned his first international goal in the 17th minute off a devastating short feed from defender Sergiño Dest.

USMNT got three more goals— including two from Orlando City’s Alex Freeman—before halftime during a match that saw head coach Mauricio Pochettino reinvent his starting lineup by making nine changes to the lineup that started in last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Paraguay.

The match also featured resurgent USMNT star Gio Reyna, who supped on in the 61st minute and assisted on a goal by midfielder Tanner Tessmann just seven minutes later.

In the days ahead of the game, former USMNT star Oguchi Onyewu (now Vice President of Sporting for the United States Soccer Federation), talked about the national team gaffer, the World Cup, and more. 

See more photos from Tuesday’s game and our Q&A with Onyewu below.

Do you travel with the team, or do you just kind of link up with them? Are you pretty close to the team on a regular basis?

I’m close with all the teams.

I ask because I wonder if you got to see Gio return to camp.

I’ll see Gio when I get to camp next week. I have other obligations, with the 27 other teams.

This might not be a fair question, but there’s so many different sides of U.S. Soccer, and so many people who aspire to put the uniform on. Do you find yourself drawn to any particular segment of the system, or find yourself, like most pleased or happy you know, fulfilled as a sporting person?

No. I think, like in all sports for me—especially in my seat now, and in a number of my previous seats, where I was a former player on the national team, I was a board member for the Federation, and now an employee—it’s really interesting to see and be there firsthand for the evolution. To see the changes throughout the decades, throughout the years, to see the positive growth as it pertains to just soccer in this country, and how it’s catching on, and how now the masses are knowledgeable of the sport. Before we almost had to force feed this sport to the masses. So for me, it’s amazing to see the growth and to be a part of it, to be a contributor in that.

As you mentioned, you played, and now you’re in the front office. Thinking about Pochettino—what are some things that maybe journalists and fans don’t understand about having such a big name with the strong connection to the Premier League as the gaffer?

He’s a coach of such high profile and he’s not the only one. We have [USWNT coach] Emma Hayes, who’s an extremely high profile coach; we now for the first time in our history have two extremely high profile individuals on both the men’s and the women’s side. Obviously [former USWNT coach] Jill Ellis has her history, she’s won two World Cups and was extremely high profile in the women’s game. To now have it on both sides, it’s surreal. It speaks to the volumes of the big swings that were taken at U.S. Soccer, the bold ambitions that we have to really advance the game and eventually to really compete at the top tier of sports, eventually, in our future.

There are dozens of reasons the roster will look the way it does in Tampa. How much do you worry about the club not having enough time together for team building? Or is there enough time? I mean, you’ve lived through it, you’ve gone through all this stuff. Does it concern you at all that they’re not getting to be together?

I think this is the nature of national team. It’s distinctively different than club team. You’re not there every day, you’re not playing every week, you’re not playing every three days. The national team mechanism is unique in itself. You play in the FIFA windows, you play tournaments, play competition. I don’t see that as a problem, because this is how it’s always been. It’s the same issue for us as it is for every other country around the world. I think the main objective—and an opportunity and goal—is to have everybody on the same page, right? When everybody is firing on all cylinders, understanding the responsibilities, understanding the objective, understanding what’s at stake, I think that’s when things start to click, and you start to see magic happening on the field.

How much groaning are you hearing from people in your life about not being able to get tickets to some of the World Cup games?

I think everybody has asked questions about how to access tickets for the World Cup, and, you know, there’s the whole lottery and everything. I do believe FIFA will present opportunities—probably not sooner than people would like—but eventually to be able to have the best event that they can possibly have. So I’m waiting to see, waiting to see that.

Are you telling people not to contact you? Like, ‘It’s not me, man.’

I’m not telling anybody not to contact me, but you know, I’m not organizing the tournament, so I can’t provide, perhaps, the detailed answers that they’re seeking.

You’ve navigated these questions pretty well, so I am curious about your answer today. Can you say anything about some of President Trump’s threats to move World Cup host cities and how that affects the Federation?

I don’t speak on politics. That’s not my wheelhouse. That’s not the lane I’m going to even try to touch. But I do know that’s obviously on people’s minds, but that’s not for me to comment on.

Riffing off that political thing a bit. Guys come to the locker room with their own politics, their own views on the world, but athletes at this level, perhaps more than the general public, are able to put those things aside to work towards a common goal. How are they able to do that?

I think it goes along with what I said originally. It’s, “Are we all on the same page? Do we all have the same objective?” And if so, then we’re working towards the same goal, right? Regardless of what your beliefs are, political beliefs, or whatever—that’s all extra outside of what we’re focusing on right now within these 90 minutes of the game. We’re coming together—whether it be soccer, whether it be American football, whether it be basketball—I think it’s the same concept. It’s the same sentiment that you are an athlete, you know, this is your game. This is actually your opportunity to galvanize people to a singular thing. 

Soccer is the biggest sport in the world, and someone that’s played overseas—I lived in Europe and played in Europe for almost 16 years—seeing how much the sport can bring people together and just forget everything else, right? You see kids playing in the streets. You see the old people playing in the streets. You see people talking about the games on the weekend that have no idea who they are, but when they see a jersey, they start up a conversation, because you’re supporting the same team. Everything around that person that doesn’t pertain to the sport is irrelevant in that moment. And I think that that’s the beauty of sport—it’s blind. And sport, it’s a beautiful thing in all of its different shades—basketball, football, tennis, hockey, lacrosse, everything, soccer.  I don’t know who invented the concept of sports, or the different sports, but I think it’s unbelievable, because you look at teams, the makeup of teams, and there’s such diversity within a team. Think about our U.S. team, it’s really indicative of our nation. It’s such a diverse group of boys that had various experiences growing up, from location to geographical background to everything. So independent of that, they’re all playing on a field together for the same common goal, collaborating, and being world athletes, I think it’s an incredible thing.

You may dispute this criticism that I hear sometimes that the Federation is not taking a more active role in building program standards for youth clubs and rewarding clubs that follow them? We all love watching the national team, but sometimes we wonder—are these the best athletes we have in the country? Are we really making sure that the best athletes are getting opportunities? Is that a fair criticism?

I think the Federation wants to do our part in working with everybody. I think we want to be able to collaborate with the professional leagues. We want to be able to collaborate with the semi-pro leagues, the academy leagues or youth leagues.

We want this nation to really be together in a common goal, commonality in let’s make this sport accessible, let’s make this sport widespread, and let’s make this sport the best that it can be. And let’s hopefully get to that point where we can collectively say we’re one of the top countries in the world in regards to our performance.

So U.S. Soccer is 100% on board with collaborating and working with and listening to every level of the pyramid or funnel or pathway—whatever word you want to put around it. That’s what I think it’s fantastic. I’ve been here over two years now, and I’ve seen the reception of this new U.S. Soccer from the landscape. I think it’s fantastic. And I think it speaks volumes to our leadership. It speaks volumes to our president, Cindy Cone. It speaks volumes to our CEO JT Batson, and the way that they’re thinking differently from the past. I always tell people, you can’t grow if you’re not changing. Nobody grew and remained the same. And I think this U.S. Soccer Federation, organization, is growing. We’re changing, and it’s for the better. It’s for the better, and it’s for the global good of the sport.

You talked about other leagues and other soccer entities. Tampa Bay is the home of the Rowdies. The USL is headquartered here now. I think the USL voted to introduce promotion and relegation within its own leagues. You think the MLS will follow suit and start working with other tiers?

You’re not going to get me to comment on anything that I’m not a part of. I don’t work for the MLS. I can’t speak for somebody, just like they can’t speak for me.

I’m not sure how to frame this question. I’m 40, you’re 43. You were a guy who a person could watch play and learn how to be tough on the pitch in a physical way. Maybe I’m a boomer or something, but younger folks, are they soft? This USMNT side doesn’t really have a physicality problem—and this is going to sound judgmental especially because of all the pressure on young people in general—but this next generation is different, right? 

Yes, they’re different, but they should be different. This goes to my point—you’re not growing if you’re not changing. My generation was completely different than the one before me, that generation was completely different than the one before them, and so on and so forth.

We had to deal with variables that this generation did not have to deal with, and vice versa. The variables that they’re dealing with and living with, and the pressures that they have and they’re managing, I can’t fathom, because I didn’t have to live through that, right? I don’t think it’s fair for individuals to really scrutinize an environment that they’ve never experienced. I think it’s more important to try to try to put yourself in their shoes.

How do you help them? You know? How do you give them the tools to actually be successful? As opposed to saying, ‘Hey, you need to be like us.’ That’s never going to work. That’s like screaming at an orange to become an apple, or yelling at your dog that it’s not a cat. There’s some things in this world that you just can’t change, and rather than change it, how do you make it the best that it can be?

I think these players and athletes are fantastic. I think they’re phenomenal. I think they’re much better than our generation, and that’s the evolution of sport. The next generation should always be better than the former generation, right? So I’m really optimistic and excited about not just this generation, but the ones to follow. We have a lot of talent in our youth system as well that a lot of fans that only follow the senior teams haven’t even recognized yet. So for us, it’s about, how do we create, and maintain, and sustain that pipeline of young, talented players and always improve that pipeline and player pool? So that’s what our big focus is.

Last question as we get ready to leave here—how many more years do you think you have left to put in? Do you want to rest? Do you even think about really retiring?

Oh, man, I love this game. I think this game has given so much to me. And for me, it’s about giving back to it. So everything I do is trying to give back to this game that gave me my platform, gave me my career, and ultimately gave me the life that I’ve had as an adult. So no time soon, I’ll say that, no time soon you won’t see me out of this game anytime soon.

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It’s the baste time of year to give back, and Cranksgiving Tampa—tripling as a bike ride, scavenger hunt, and food drive—is helping families put dinner on the table this Thanksgiving.

The organization has donated approximately 22,000 pounds of food—including 661 frozen turkeys—to Metropolitan Ministries over its 14 years.

There is no entry fee, but participants are expected to purchase food for the hunt, where they’ll ride alone or in groups with a list of Tampa Bay grocery stores and items to buy. Once they reach the finish line, their items will be tallied and donated to the Metropolitan Ministries holiday tent in downtown Tampa.

Cranksgiving Tampa 2025 happens Sunday, Nov. 23 from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at Coppertail Brewing Co. in Tampa.

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There is a new series of interconnected walking trails in south Pinellas County.

The Discover Gulfport Walking Trail combines four shorter routes and is meant to be a safe and accessible way to explore the city.

The connected trails pass through residential neighborhoods alongside parks, historic locations and other vista points. The entire route consists of sidewalks and crosswalks.

Brad Bruner is a member of Gulfport’s senior advisory committee.

“We realized that Gulfport—because it is such a walkable city with more than the average, number of sidewalks, crosswalks, and readily accessible areas—makes an ideal environment for a citywide street and walking system,” Bruner said. “So what we have been able to do is create an interconnecting series of different paths that can make for a lot of variety and that people can use many times in a row and always discover something new.”

Interactive map

“We’ve also created an interactive map that is on the City of Gulfport website which you can easily Google, and if you look for City of Gulfport walking trail, you can find it on there. With a fully interactive map that even has location services so you can see where you are on the map at any given time on your phone or other device.”

Bruner says the routes were selected to make sure that people with a range of abilities are able to participate.

Saturday’s kick-off

There’s a kick-off for the Discover Gulfport Walking Trail on Saturday morning with a one-mile guided walk along the shortest loop of the four trails.

“We’re very excited to have the new mayor of Gulfport, Karen Love, kicking off an inaugural walk that begins at 9:00 a.m. this Saturday morning, November 15, with registration between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., Bruner said. “You can just show up. There’s no pre-registration before that required. There will be vendors and some interesting gifts and other incentives for coming and joining the walk. There will be people along the trail to assist. We’re going to be doing a one-mile loop, consisting of the shortest of the main trails.”

Coincides with the Gulfport yard sale

Bruner adds that “it’s going to be leading up into the all city garage sale that Gulfport has a couple of times a year. I think that anyone who comes over and takes part in our walking trail event and meets all of the different people in the city who are fitness enthusiasts can then go out and enjoy the day in Gulfport at the garage sale too.”

Connection to other trails

Bruner says that the Discover Gulfport Walking Trail connects to Pinellas County’s Greenways Belt at Clam Bayou. It doesn’t connect directly to the Pinellas Trail, which runs along part of Gulfport’s northern border — yet.

Bruner adds, “Our northwest extension path comes within nine blocks of the Pinellas Trail at 58th Street South. Of course, we would love to connect the Discover Gulfport Walking Trail system to the Pinellas Trail as soon as that is feasible. We’d love to make that happen.”

Proximity to parking

According to Bruner, the paths of the Discover Gulfport Walking Trail are also structured to connect with parking options. For example, the loops go by free parking lots at the city’s library, senior center, Wood Ibis Park, Veterans Park and parking areas along the Gulfport waterfront.

 If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication interested in TBJP, please email rroa@ctampa.com. Support WMNF News by visiting the community radio station’s station’s support page.

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Thousands of Tampa Bay residents will be channeling Forrest Gump this weekend, with runners of various levels and species taking over the streets of downtown St. Pete.

St. Pete Run Fest features a half-marathon, 10K, 5K, and special challenges, along with kids’ fun runs and a half-mile dog walk/run.

Grab goodies at the expo at Albert Whitted Park, watch mascots race on Saturday, and save a little energy for Sunday’s L.O.U.D. finish line dance party.

Registration starts at $17.23 for St. Pete Run Fest, happening Friday-Sunday, Nov. 14-16 in St. Petersburg.

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Detroit Lions defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers spent five years in Tampa Bay working alongside Bucs head coach Todd Bowles. During a press conference Thursday afternoon, when asked about what information Rodgers might give his new team against the Bucs, Bowles made a reference to the Temptations. 

“He’s gonna be singing like David Ruffin with the Temptations,” he said, with his usual wry chuckle sprinkled in. 

Which got me thinking; is Todd Bowles big into old-school R&B?

Where do his tastes lie, do they get as funky as Tower of Power, or is he more of a mellow, Marvin Gaye fellow (not that Marvin Gaye couldn’t get down or isn’t elite, but it’s just a different style)? 

And then that led me to the ultimate, silly point of this article. 

What classic R&B tunes best represent the current Bucs’ players?

It can be about their situation, how they’ve been playing, or just vibes. 

Enough hemming and hawing, let’s get into it, starting with everyone’s favorite QB. 

Baker Mayfield: “You’re Still a Young Man” by Tower of Power 

“I was accused of being too young, but I’m not so young”

Look, I’m closer to being 30 than I am 20, so I have no room to talk, but I hadn’t realized Baker was 30 already. He’s playing a style that betrays his age, scrambling and making plays as if he was still at Oklahoma or Texas Tech.

Only now, he’s cleaning up his game, with only one interception thrown over the first six games. That was really his only issue last year, and now that he’s cleaning it up he’s absolutely in the MVP conversation. 

Mike Evans: “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green 

“Let me say that since, baby, since we’ve been together, ooh, loving you forever”

Ah, Mike Evans. Is he the greatest Buc ever? Offensively, without a doubt. Overall? Well… he’s up there, among some very elite defensive players and Hall of Famers. 

Regardless, he’s longer in the tooth and closer to the end than I’d like to think, and it’d be great for him to be a career Buc. 

But, business is business, and Evans is going to be a free agent after this season. 

He could potentially retire, but he could also go elsewhere, a sad thought that I hope doesn’t come to pass. So let’s stay together, Mike. Or retire. You deserve it.

Emeka Egbuka: “Partyman” by Prince 

“All hail the new king in town”

I mean, every time that dude touches the ball something good happens. 

His immediate rapport with Baker has been impressive, but factoring in his status as a first year player it’s absolutely bonkers that he’s been one of the best wide receivers in football up to this point. 

The Ohio State product is crazy talented and seems to be a good presence in the locker room; all of the coaches and vets have spoken glowingly about his work ethic and preparation. 

But when he’s on the field? It’s like a party breaks out every time he makes a catch. 

Jamel Dean: “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding 

“It makes it, easier, easier to bear, yeah”

Poor Jamel Dean has been the scapegoat for a lot of the Bucs’ defensive struggles over the years against the pass. 

But this past week he was not only good, he was superlative, as he took home NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors (the same week as his birthday, maybe I should’ve had Stevie Wonder for him… ah well).  

And you know, he really hasn’t been the reason the Bucs have been so bad defending the pass over the years, it’s been a multitude of issues. 

A non-existent pass rush, poor linebacker play, and so many injuries have all had a far greater impact than Dean’s play. So let’s “try a little tenderness,” shall we? 

Tez Johnson: “Playing Your Game, Baby” by Barry White 

“You start, you stop, you know what you got”

What a shifty guy, huh? Tez might be the smallest player in football, but he made a massive impact Sunday with a circus touchdown catch that put the Bucs firmly in the driver’s seat in their win over the 49ers. 

And if he keeps playing his game, avoiding big hits and making people miss with his elusive and elite change of direction, he can be a force in this league. 

Antoine Winfield, Jr.: “Get Up Offa That Thing” by James Brown 

“I’m Back”

AWJ had a rough 2024. He knows it, fans know it, everyone with eyes knows it. 

That’s not representative of who he is as a player, and he’s proving that this season, bouncing back to be the great safety and linchpin of this defense that he truly is, contributing greatly to the Bucs’ excellent start. 

One could make the argument that he saved Tampa Bay from a Week 1 loss with his clutch pass breakup late in the fourth quarter that set up a missed field goal, giving the Bucs a key divisional victory over those damn Dirty Birds.

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