“He Came Back In Great Mental Shape”
August 23rd, 2020
All good with Bucs now?
The way it looked after last season, this contract year for tight end O.J. Howard was likely going to be his last in Tampa Bay.
With a team that just traded for a future Hall of Fame tight end, foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski, and with Cam Brate signed through the 2023 season (though not cheap), Howard seemed like he may be the odd man out barring a big bounce-back year.
Howard has dominated today and at other times this summer. The Bucs defense simply could not stop him this morning. He looked like the best tight end on the roster, even with Gronk.
After practice, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians said something very interesting about Howard returning to work.
“He has had a great camp,” Arians said. “He came back in great mental shape and physical shape. He’s making plays every single day. So yeah, I can’t say enough about him right now.”
Mental shape? Why would Arians say that?
There is no question that Howard used improperly last year. And Howard knew Arians wasn’t likely going anywhere before Howard’s contract ran out. The Bucs did exercise Howard’s fifth-year option for 2021, but that doesn’t guarantee Howard will return; it only gives the Bucs the option of bringing him back in 2021 at a fixed price.
So when the Bucs traded for Gronk, that likely didn’t sit well with Howard.
Joe heard from several sources that Howard was not a happy camper. And JC Cornell of The Draft Network also reported Howard was unhappy and wanted out.
Joe knows one of Cornell’s sources is and the guy has a perch at One Buc Palace very high up the food chain.
Joe had also heard, but cannot prove, that Howard two years ago was fed up with YouKnowWho.
Arians’ line about Howard coming into camp in “great mental shape” seems to suggest there was fire to all of the smoke of rumors Howard that wasn’t happy in Tampa Bay.
With Brady now running the Bucs’ offense, maybe that was the magic elixir Howard needed to get his head right?
August 23rd, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Of course he was tired of you know who! He ate his fingers and uses google. The cancer is gone and this team can finally take the next step with a real leader behind center.
I’m sure the moods of most players are better and that will translate to better performance on the field. It’s a great time to be a Bucs fan!!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Joe I think you should make the you know who link go to a current image of JW in a Saints practice jersey. Watched some saints practice clips and he’s looking great, making some amazing throws, having a lot of fun. I’m happy for him.
August 23rd, 2020 at 3:26 pm
Based on JPPs comments, everyone was fed up with you know who
August 23rd, 2020 at 3:37 pm
JW was not a cancer he was the NFL leader in Total Offense, passing, passing yards per game, #2 in TD’s behind only Lamar Jackson the MVP.
JW2 did this at 26 in spite of having a lousy run game, I think 47 sacks from his oline, terrible kicking, bad defense for half a year, dumb in acceptable coaching mistakes, injured receivers for the last few games, and his own somewhat serious injuries, he even did it without perfect vision, all in year one of an offense known to raise interceptions especially in year one.
So check yo sheet!
Tom Brady is amazing and much better after 20 years at spreading the ball around and reading what’s in front of him, he’s one of the best. By the way the phony lazy BS whisperer never bothered to coach JW on actual qbing- he just said keep launching it downfield which Winston did and was then publicly ostracized for, scapegoated. Also it’s come out that pre snap audibles were not a big part of what Jameis was taught or asked to do. This new wrinkle is a Tom Brady wrinkle, which way make this offense credible and actually truly dangerous in spite of the 1-2 playoff record head buffoon who’s good for nothing more than a cocktail and a sound byte.
So I hope it all works out but if it doesn’t I hope everyone loves watching his Jacques Rogers AKA Blaine Gabbert.
August 23rd, 2020 at 3:40 pm
And I hope OJ does great, I’ve always believed in his talent and potential as a pass catcher not so much a blocker he seems lost half the time and has his head up his you know what. He caught a really cool foul ball though!
August 23rd, 2020 at 3:44 pm
OJ has no excuse for his poor and pitiful performance. After three years I’ve never seen what the hype is about.
I’m not expecting much from OJ but it sure does sound like he is on the path to proving me wrong. All TC reports suggest he is destroying the defense. Let’s just see what happens after he takes his first real hit.
August 23rd, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Clean House give it a rest. We got a season gonna start in 2 weeks.
Get best to us next year if and when your QB can get on the field and not screw up. Backup QBs are irreverent in this league
August 23rd, 2020 at 3:54 pm
Jimmy Jack, I’ll give it a rest as soon as posters, admins and coaches stop running their mouths, with little smug comments. Until then I will remind them of the truth.
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:03 pm
Surprised BA mentioned mental shape?……Of course, he is a monster specimen of a Human Being…..his problems have always been between the ears…
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:26 pm
On a side note, I think the Bucs should find a way to sign Earl Thomas. Whatever his mental/social issues are, I believe they can be redirected
with a new opportunity, and I think it would be a perfect fit with Suh and JPP.
I think we’d finally have that aggressive veteran edge a defense truly needs
Would definitely add to the entertainment
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:30 pm
For @Clean House from NOLA on August 21st.
WINSTON UPDATE
Quarterback Jameis Winston had an increase in reps Friday with Taysom Hill absent, but not everything went according to plan.
In the first team session, one of Winston’s first passing attempts was batted down by defensive tackle Jalen Dalton. Winston was later sacked. He rebounded by connecting with wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, but then overthrew rookie receiver Marquez Callaway on the next play. Winston bounced back with completions to running back Ty Montgomery and Callaway.
On the last two plays of the first team session, Winston took a bad snap and completed a pass to wide receiver Deonte Harris. He then connected with wide receiver Emmanuel Butler.
Winston started off the second team session with a handoff to running back Dwayne Washington, then had four straight incompletions. Cornerback Patrick Robinson was in on the coverage for two of those missed passes and cornerback Justin Hardee was involved with another. The fourth incompletion was overthrown. Winston wrapped up his six-play series with a completion to wide receiver Juwan Johnson.
The second team period of practice ended with Winston having three more plays. He completed two passes to wide receiver Bennie Fowler III, but between those catches, cornerback P.J. Williams had an interception on a pass intended for rookie tight end Tommy Stevens.
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:31 pm
FEEDBACK:: END IT PLEASE
All lives matter Says:
August 23rd, 2020 at 10:20 am
Yes I’m stoked but I’m sick of this —>park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:44 pm
Man, we have some people on this site that are on a crusade.
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:47 pm
Who goes onto saints sites to watch their 3rd string qb? Geez some of y’all really have a hard on for JW. It’s actually quite pathetic.
I just checked yo sheet and he is still the 3rd string qb!
JW JUST CHECKED HIS COMPUTER AND ITS STILL ON GOOGLE!
The league checked their sheets and didn’t want him as their starter!
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Clean house: prove to us exactly how JW was not a cancer. Explain how he lead a culture of winning as a “franchise qb.” Show me why he was the answer rather than a victim of all these other excuses you site… for 5 freaking years! How is his pattern of behavior off the field not a liability? Why did no other team trust him to be their starter?
I’ve heard the stories; this team had this draft pick, or that FA lined up or some guy waiting in the wings. If JW3 is everything you make him to be, why didn’t anyone else say “screw that ‘plan,’ we can sign JW3 boys!?”
Your stats are for losers. TO margin, wins and loses and 42 points gifted to opposing teams speak greater than yards, yards and more yards. You’re idol had 138 picks and fumbles lost in 72 games – explain to me why he deserves your pedestal?
These ain’t smug comments, they’re facts and logic. If your argument can’t beat those, then you sir must go check your own sheet!
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:56 pm
Oh man, I just checked the sheet again.
He got suspended for a 2016 Uber incident.
Wait, he got fined for the saints fiasco that ultimately got Evans suspended.
Oh and he got fined again for head butting a player.
Some boys lead by their draft position while other men lead by example.
Thank god the cancer is gone!!! And to think, I was open to letting him stay another year. Boy was I an idiot!!!!!!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 4:57 pm
The league checked their sheets and didn’t want him as their starter!
————–
Or a back up….
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Clean house says “ Jimmy Jack, I’ll give it a rest as soon as posters, admins and coaches stop running their mouths, with little smug comments. Until then I will remind them of the truth.”
You forgot to mention the players. You know, the players that are still on the Bucs team that have come out and said some pretty revealing things about your man crush.
THANK GOD THE CANCER IS GONE!
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:01 pm
Thanks for the correction, couch! 🙂
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:07 pm
No problem BF951
I find it comical that the Winston Ball jugglers love to pretend they are smarter than…. well everyone else including the pros who study this stuff for a living.
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Couch no doubt. Listen, JW can make some amazing throws. There’s no arguing that. But when your td to int ratio is where they are at with him, nobody wants to touch him as their starter. Then toss in he’s one more Uber incident away from a major suspension… 🤷🏻♂️ Saints paid a million to him to pick his brain about the Bucs offense. That’s the only reason why I can see them giving him a 1 year contract.
Again, THANK GOD THE CANCER IS GONE!!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:19 pm
Clever!!! Love the hot link…. and the new nickname
Gonna be a great run if TB can stay in one piece!
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:27 pm
Clean House there is only one truth that matters. The Winston haters were proven right.
The Winston fans proven wrong,at least for now. And I was a Winston fan. I supported him and wanted him back in 2020. I stayed on the Winston ship and I sank with it. And I admitt I was wrong.
Look Winston might get a chance to redeem himself. Until then the truth is he was demoted cause he wasnt good enough. No team in the league even wanted him in the locker room competing for a job.
The truth is your wrong till otherwise proven. And you gonna have to wait longer then a year to prove it…….or you may never see Winston play again. Anything can happen.
You gotta learn how to live with the truth. The argument about Winson is over. You was wrong. We got 2020 coming up and this QB your talking about is a nonfactor for the entire NFL. Just a former starter. Time to move on to relevant issues. We heading to New Orleans in 2 weeks!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:29 pm
I thought the rumor was Howard was a slow learner even as far back as his Alabama days. Why would it be a surprise that it’s taken him a long time to adjust to the NFL and the Arians offense?
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:37 pm
I hope New Orleans dooesn’t flood from the two hurricanes headed that way. I have family and friends there. I hope everything is in good shape and that there is an actual game there.
As far as the jury still being out on Winston, I can handle that argument. However, I disagree with the notion that he’s crap.
You just can’t lead the entire league in offense and be crap.
It’s impossible, and an argument for hateful fools who love to pile on somebody when they’re down.
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:40 pm
That’s just it, JJ.
I’m pretty sure we all wanted JW to succeed. Man, I have every single color JW Jersey in my closet. I was/still am tired of the Bucs not having a franchise qb (TB is but for how long?). Nothing wanted nothing more than JW to succeed with the Bucs. Again, before free agency starting, I was ok with JW coming back for another year. One more year in this system.
But after hearing what players and coaches are saying (of which I was already suspecting) I’m glad the cancer is gone.
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:50 pm
“ You just can’t lead the entire league in offense and be crap.”
You can when you turn the ball over to the other team more than 30 times of which lead to 121 points being scored off of your turnovers.
You do realize that’s a little over 7 points per game?
Yes, the kicking sucked. Yes, the defense sucked. Yes, there was barely a running game.
But to spot a team 7.5 points per game plus missing more opportunities to score, that makes a huge difference.
But continue to prop the saints 3rd string qb up with last years stats. Without last years yardage, Winston was just another average qb!
I guess you must think Matt schaub and Dante culpepper are ballers since they lead the league in passing within the past 20 years.
CHECK YO SHEET, SON!!!
AGAIN, THANK GOD THE CANCER IS GONE!!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:52 pm
@Clean House Says:
This is where you started to lose me dude:
By the way the phony lazy BS whisperer never bothered to coach JW on actual qbing- he just said keep launching it downfield which Winston did and was then publicly ostracized for, scapegoated.
Then later:
I find it comical that the Winston Ball jugglers love to pretend they are smarter than…. well everyone else including the pros who study this stuff for a living.
You are two faced.
You are acting like you know quarterbacking and coaching better than Bruce Arians and his staff. They are solid coaches. Whether they will be elite – we will see; However, they are no Richard Williamson either.
August 23rd, 2020 at 5:58 pm
Winston has had multiple Coaches and has led the league in turnovers since being drafted. Blaming anyone else other than Winston is just being nieve. I understand not wanting to bash the guy, I for the longest time didnt want to admit it either. But at some point you have to face the facts, he has not been good enough period and the Bucs needed a change.
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:04 pm
@Geno
Then later:
I find it comical that the Winston Ball jugglers love to pretend they are smarter than…. well everyone else including the pros who study this stuff for a living.
——————-
I think you got us confused. I said this part^^^ not Clean House. Or were you meaning to call me 2 faced?
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:17 pm
I’m not surprised that a OJ Howard article has turned into a JW post fest……
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:21 pm
Clean House well I called Herald McCoy crap too. And I know it’s not a fair judgement. But I dont care. He’s just crap.
Point is if your sensitive to sports fans talking out their asses your gonna drive yourself insane. It’s just good fun, calm yourself.
The only name I was ever sensitive about was Carlos Pena for the Rays. Yeah, sure he struggled through his last two seasons here but the man was responsible for putting the franchise on his back and turned us into a perennial winner. The most iconic player that franchise has ever seen.To call the guy a bum on the way out is selfish and disrespectful………….Pena earned that. Unfortunately Winston did never earn that same admiration.
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:26 pm
Geno wrong guy- so have I still lost you?
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:32 pm
Hey i remember we beat the Vikings I think in Richard Williamson’s first game after Ray Perkins got fired- the guys were scoring tds and doing end zone celebrations- actually made ESPN- that’s how bad we were but how long I’ve been watching- so I think I’ve earned the right to have an opinion too.
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:39 pm
“ I’m not surprised that a OJ Howard article has turned into a JW post fest……”
Well, I read that oj came in this year mentally strong with a rumor that he wasn’t happy with JW. I’m not good at connecting the dots but let me try this out.
He didn’t like JW, he did poorly (mentally? and playing wise) while JW was here. JW is gone, Bucs actually have a true qb behind center, Howard comes in mentally and physically ready to go. Been playing pretty darn well with TB behind center so far thus year in camp. Am I missing something?
Can’t blame me 🤷🏻♂️ The joes laid out the dots, were just connecting them
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:40 pm
Couch Fan- I absolutely agree Winston’s got some major holes in his game. I think he’s figured it out off the field- happily married w child.
I think he’s smart enough to figure out how to be an intelligent efficient qb-
I mean that’s what everyone said- he’s off the charts football smart-
So what gives? I don’t know- I think he should be able to take some time and self evaluate and fix it- I’d like to hope so.
I detest everyone bashing him constantly
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:41 pm
It’s absolutely avsurd to blame Winston on OJs poor play
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:41 pm
Hey absurd
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:41 pm
Well clean house, you continue to monitor the saints websites and let us know how it goes.
I’m a true bucs fan and wouldn’t be caught dead their site.
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:55 pm
It’s actually pretty enlightening to see how other teams press sees their own team as well as how they see the Bucs- and I find it interesting to see what they’re doing with JW
August 23rd, 2020 at 7:19 pm
Howard may be in great mental shape…but Brate is a prophet. Two weeks ago, he suggesting donating antibody rich plasma from people like himself that have recovered from Covid. Seems that concept of voluntarily doing so was new to some. Who would of thought? Still… OJ… the only thing lacking from your game was in this aspect. Glad to see you are getting it all together.
August 23rd, 2020 at 7:21 pm
Clean House: I’m the ONLY REAL Bucs fan!!
Also Clean House: I love going to the Saints website to see the Bucs has been!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 7:24 pm
BTW Clean. From what I’ve been reading, sounds like Jameis is the same guy we had here. Some great throws, some throws in the dirt, some overthrows… three or four nice passes in a row… three or four incomplete poor passes in a row. That is basically what I remember he did here.
August 23rd, 2020 at 7:38 pm
@ cleanhouse……….. you are correct………
…if they protect the same for Brady , this team doesn’t win 7 games but the coaching and mind set has already changed and Winston or any QB would benefit . Let’s be clear Winston was in a hold the ball down field offense with no running game and a GM that expected him to be Superman !! Same mentality and coaches that retired Andrew Luck !!
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:04 pm
“ Let’s be clear Winston was in a hold the ball down field offense“
That’s the same offense that turned an average qb to the leader in passing yards… you know, the only thing jw fan boys can hold on to.
Before BA, the cancer was just an average passer
Let’s look at his qb rating and see where he ranks
2019: 84.3% 26th
2018: 90.2% 24th
2017: 92.2% 14th
2016: 86.1% 21st
2015: 84.2% 28th
Let’s check in on where he ranked with ints
2019: 1st
2018: 5th
2017: tied 14th
2016: 3rd
2015: tied 5th
Td’s thrown rank:
2019: 3rd
2018: 21st
2017: 18th
2016: 8th
2015: tied 16th
Yards rank:
2019: 1st
2018: 22nd
2017: 13th
2016: 12th
2015: 11th
You make your own decisions on him…
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:23 pm
JW is not on our team anymore…right? I agree with clean on the innuendos. Turns out there was fire with the Smokey whispers? Paleez (sp intentional). Reminds me of Jr high. Where are the quotes? Not there…move along. Go Bucs (this year’s team)!
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:29 pm
Nice post 951
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:44 pm
I am a “short guy with a short little attention span” but I do realize this article was about OJ Howard.
________ _______
I challenge any sports fans here to go elsewhere and see if you can find any articles or videos that tell you what happened to Howard that caused the “great mental shape” change from last season until now.
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:50 pm
Joe in Michigan, I never claimed to be the Only Real Bucs fan- I’m just making my consitant take
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:54 pm
Cleanhouse: I don’t think JW3 is crap, he just ran out of chances w the Bucs and it’s time to move on. The kid has talent, but he’s gotta clean up his game to ever have a shot anywhere.
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:28 pm
Couch Fan Says:
August 23rd, 2020 at 6:04 pm
@Geno
You are correct. I got confused. Sorry man!
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:32 pm
Clean House: It was a joke. I liked JW when he was a Buc, he’s gone now and I’ve moved on.
August 23rd, 2020 at 10:48 pm
Clean House : NOT a joke! Porky was not a winner! TB12 is a winner! He wins games! He has also taken a home town discount every season! Mahomes has 1 Super Bowl….Tim has 9 with six wins! Tom has more wins than Porky will play his entire career! Last point, I would leave my 2 beautiful daughters & 1 world’s greatest granddaughter with Brady! I would not even take them to Ray J with Porky in the building! We now have season passes to watch the one, the only GOAT! No freakin doubt! Buckle up because the 1 true America’s Quarterback is playing in 2020 for the Buc’s!!!! It is going to be special!! So sad…too bad for Patriots fans having the #1 egomaniac in the NFL (Spam Newton) – it would be toooooooo delicious for Tom to get a game against the Pats!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 10:52 pm
Please do not misunderstand. I do think Patrick Mahomes is a great town. But he has played three seasons so well really two and a partial season. Let him play 20 seasons starting every game except for one season and then tell me he’s worth $400 million for 10 years. That is 16 to 19 games a year every year. That is playing in nine Super Bowls and winning six Super Bowls. Tom Brady is remarkable for his longevity, his ability to play every snap for every game in 18 was 19 seasons. There there are no quarterbacks that are played that much in a league at this level. Ask for a famous Porky Jamison he is right where he belongs, third string behind the great Drew Brees! I actually believe will Tom Brady and drew Brees are worth more than Patrick Mahomes. They’ve done more they’ve accomplished more why isn’t drew Brees getting paid $40 million a year he’s one is many Super Bowls as Patrick Mahomes?
August 23rd, 2020 at 11:40 pm
@Clean House,
Josh Freeman had a better season in 2010 than Jameis Winston. That’s the facts. 25TDs to 6 INTs (2nd lowest INTs to only, you guessed it – Tom Brady).
I’ll take 25-6 over 30-30 any day.
August 23rd, 2020 at 11:54 pm
Everyone who keeps defending JW… GET OVER IT!!
He’s gone! He deserves to be gone.
I don’t care what his numbers were and how many yards and touchdowns he put up, he led the NFL in turnover since he entered the league. He turn the ball over 35 times last year!!
That is insane!
I liked him. The players loved him. But you can only take so much and put up with so much.
Eventually you need to mature. You need to stop panicking in the pocket. You need to go through progressions faster. You need to stop forcing idiotic throws when nothing is there.
These are all things you learn usually by year 3!
Getting Brady for a couple years and drafting quarterback to learn behind him next year is by far the biggest no brainer the Bucs made in the last couple years.
If you can’t see that, and for some reason absolutely must defend JW, then you either take everything way too personally or you’re completely ignorant to football.
August 23rd, 2020 at 11:56 pm
There are a whole lot of players who have said things that make it pretty clear that JW and his constant turnovers and drive killing interceptions were a massive problem that just kept deflating the entire team.
But some of you at home sitting on the couch don’t think so. OK. Sure.
You know better.
There really is a lot of unbelievable ignorance on this website sometimes.
August 24th, 2020 at 6:59 am
@David. Unfirtunately , I think the Joes helped perpetuate this situation we have with the Jameis nuthuggers . Surely , the blind homeristic defense of Winston, as well as giving him the moniker of “America’s QB” , only added an unnecessary Level of derangement into their brains .
Some of these would guys rather have a Dodge hellcat that doesn’t run right and can only go fast half of the time , over a Rolls Royce that runs perfect . It’s crazy to me .
August 24th, 2020 at 8:22 am
Jameis might not even make the 53 .. the Saints have NO emotional ties to Jameis
August 24th, 2020 at 8:30 am
Smooth…I won’t say Joe doesn’t write articles from time to time that are of interest to those thinking Jameis should still be here, which triggers a response. But by my observation, it is getting rarer and rarer. Look at this article…Jameis certainly isn’t the target…isn’t even mentioned.
The fact is that the Lovers have a “bone to pick” with their guy being shown the door. And they have to get that “off their chest”. I don’t think Joe is triggering anything that we wouldn’t see anyway. And BTW.. this is a comment session..it isn’t a contract negotiation with legal weight…it is for information, sharing, and for fun. Enjoy… hopefully.
August 24th, 2020 at 8:57 am
Yea it is a contract year. Of course he’s in great mental shape
August 24th, 2020 at 9:11 am
OJ better be ready. This is his “prove it” year.
And please, enough with the “they didn’t use him properly” garbage. His play was dreadful and the QB threw the ball elsewhere.
August 24th, 2020 at 10:22 am
@Mark I’m not saying Joe is still “triggering” these people . I’m saying that 5 plus years of the Joes hyping Jameis up as America’s QB with one of the Joes being a Jameis apologist has only made the “lovers” more and more delusional .
August 24th, 2020 at 11:05 am
Clean House, you wouldn’t have to spend so much time defending your asinine posts if your posts weren’t so… you know… asinine.
August 24th, 2020 at 7:49 pm
Plenty of issues with Jameis and his game, but calling him a locker room cancer is incredibly dishonest. D-Jax and shaggy were cancers.
If Howard couldn’t get his act together bc he was mad about Jameis, that says a lot more about Howard’s weak mental state. And I say that having been one of the happiest fans when he fell to us and we drafted him.
He’s got all the physical talent in the world, he just needs to get it together between the ears to reach his true potential. Hooefully this year (and moving forward) he does. Go Bucs!
August 24th, 2020 at 7:49 pm
*swaggy
August 24th, 2020 at 7:50 pm
Lol