A Clue On The Bucs Re-signing Chris Godwin
January 11th, 2021
One benefit of being a network game announcer is having a rather private “production meeting” with each team’s starting quarterback, and other key players and coaches, prior to a game.
It’s an organized way for the announcers to serve up fresh insight to their listening audience.
And players often are a little more candid during those chats than they are at a news conference.
So it really stuck out to Joe when on Saturday night, NBC game analyst Tony “Father” Dungy said the following regarding Tom Brady’s pregame chat with him and play-by-play man Mike Tirico.
“Tom Brady told us. Chris Godwin is an exceptional receiver, he told us the best hands he’s ever been around,” Dungy said. “Big man who can run, he’s delighted to be able to throw the ball to him.”
Father Dungy’s words came late in the first half just after Godwin hauled in a touchdown to put the Bucs ahead 15-7 against Washington — and before Godwin found a very rare case of the dropsies.
Joe has heard Bucco Bruce Arians openly gush about how Godwin is selfless, a legendary blocker and an elite route runner with extraordinary toughness, and Arians has compared him to Hall of Famers. But for Brady to say Godwin has the best hands he’s ever been around, that might be even higher praise.
Hearing of Brady putting Godwin in that class of receiver makes Joe believe Brady will use whatever muscle he has to make sure Godwin returns next season.
Godwin, of course, can become a free agent in a matter of weeks and is sure to want what receivers like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen are earning, $20 million per season.
January 11th, 2021 at 7:27 am
We may have to franchise Godwin….$16 mil……..
And….I don’t put any value on Brady’s comments about Godwin…..he lauds over all our receivers…
Franchise Godwin, if necessary……..deal with Shaq on a long term contract….less per year.
Ask Tom……Godwin or Gronk….you choose!!!
January 11th, 2021 at 7:28 am
Reading too much into it. What QB would not want two (or more) #1 WRs on the roster? Of course Brady is going to say he wants Godwin. But that doesn’t mean they can pay him. I di hope Godwin gives the home town discount, and I think a lot of how much Godwin decides he wants to be here will be decided by him with the outcome of the playoffs now. Are the Bucs just shy of winning a SB? Did they actually go to/win one? Would he take big money to go the Jets or Jags and be irrelevant for a few more years? Would he want to go to GB where the QB will likely be changed out soon? Will he want a team that is heavy on run like BAL? I think those questions are important…
January 11th, 2021 at 7:38 am
godwin will be franchised and locked in right there for next season
January 11th, 2021 at 7:39 am
Joe just wants all the FA money spent on offense so the first 5 draft picks will be DE’s – lol
January 11th, 2021 at 7:39 am
it’s almost like he’s never dropped a pass until this past weekend…lol
January 11th, 2021 at 7:47 am
Bucs have no choice but to re-sign Godwin; whatever it takes. Some hard choices coming up to keep him though.
January 11th, 2021 at 7:47 am
It will be a sad day when Godwin is no longer a Buc. There are so many games where the only reason we won is because he caught some garbage throw that had no business being caught.
January 11th, 2021 at 7:48 am
The drops in the game were uncharacteristic. Except for one, that he definitely should have caught, most of the “drops” would have been outstanding catches. But he makes those 99% of the time, so when he doesn’t, we think he’s off his game.
Regardless, he’s a No. 1 receiver. We need him paired with Evans. Pay the man!
January 11th, 2021 at 7:50 am
FA players aren’t showing up except for ones we likely won’t keep…
Godwin & Shaq vs Fournette & AB
I know this doesn’t mean a whole lot….but we sure look likely to get comp picks this year…..
But….Licht loves to spend our extra picks to move up.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:08 am
I think if this team wins this week, the owners will be willing to mortgage the future a bit for a chance at winning with Brady. Should we somehow win the SB this year, it wont shock me to see guys like Gronk or Suh call it a career….which might free up needed cap space.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:11 am
Quite sure Godwin will be franchised.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:11 am
No, the Bucs shouldn’t franchise Godwin. They should pay him long term and for what he is worth.
Don’t play games with this man.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:12 am
Tough decision when you need a secondary
January 11th, 2021 at 8:23 am
Up until the 3-6 drops in a row, Godwin may have dropped 2-3 passes in his career. I did notice he still has two fingers taped together.
Godwin is the best WR we have on the roster (AB is the quickest), but it’d be unrealistic to pay him like the best in the league. Not that we wouldn’t want to…
Btw if you have to choose between locking up Godwin or Shaq, it’s a no brainer for Godwin. Where’s Shaq without Devin White and Vita Vea? Love Shaq but paying top tier dollar for an above average to good defender is not feasible.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:40 am
If AB is cheaper I say keep him over CG
January 11th, 2021 at 8:45 am
With Lattimore on one side, I expect Godwin and AB to take over this game on Saturday.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:50 am
I agree. Unless he is willing to take 15/year we will have to tag for one more year as brady says he is playing 1 more. Bucs all in.
Then brady contract gone and extra money available unless some other free agent qb wants to come here. Otherwise bucs drafting qb soon.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:54 am
WE NEED A SECONDARY!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE ONLY REASON WE ARE NOT A COMPLETE TEAM AND I HATE IT.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:55 am
Feel like they can win this one. I knew they were going to lose to the Saints both times they played. Bucs fans can feel a victory, same as a loss. I’m talking about the fans who never want to see them tank or don’t GAF who the QB is as long as they win! GO BUCS!!! RAISE THOSE FLAGS!!! FIRE THE F***ING CANNONS!!!🤘🏼💀🤘🏼
January 11th, 2021 at 9:18 am
We’ll do what we did with Shaq. Cheaper to franchise then sign next year.
January 11th, 2021 at 9:24 am
Defense Rules Says:
January 11th, 2021 at 7:47 am
Bucs have no choice but to re-sign Godwin; whatever it takes. Some hard choices coming up to keep him though.
BINGO!!!!
other teams make it work…get it done…
GO BUCS!!!!
January 11th, 2021 at 9:46 am
Franchise Godwin next year and sign AB to a one year deal with team option for second. AB is only going to want to stay around if Brady is here so he and Gronk will ring chase as long as TB12 is our QB. Then spend at least two of top three picks on D – preferably secondary.
Despite his strong close to the season, teams aren’t going to be tripping over themselves to throw AB huge guaranteed deals – it’s widely known around the league that one of the only QB’s that can keep him in line is Brady.
January 11th, 2021 at 9:55 am
I love CG, but this isn’t his first case of dropsies….. I believe his 1st season he had it too and then it magically stopped and then reappeared Saturday night.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:01 am
I would extend Brady for one more year, hopefully cap-friendly as a signal to other players he’s all-in, since he said he wanted to play until 45.
That makes signing other players a little easier. I mean, who doesn’t want to play with the GOAT?
Players would prefer to take a little less $$$ on a team with a chance to go to The Big Dance, than one that has no shot.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:03 am
Don’t be shocked…14 is likely looking for a +20M/yr payday.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:03 am
AB still has limited value because he is still facing some significant legal issues. No team wants to commit guaranteed $$$ on a guy with pending baggage.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:04 am
That man deserves, and will earn his contract.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:35 am
Why does every think that Chris Godwin will take a home town discount? This will be his chance to cash in big. If Tampa makes the cap work to sign him Great. However I think he wants to stay but he knows at the end of the day its a business. So I say go get paid like any NFL player should. This is probably the highest his market will be this off season so he should have a strong playoff performance to make the value go up. By the way Brady gushes over any wide receiver so I can’t really take what he said about Godwin serious because Godwin was performing before Brady came to the Bucs. It will be some big offseason decisions to make.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:42 am
Franchise and then pay him
January 11th, 2021 at 10:50 am
CG14 is a lot younger and no head case compared to Brown. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make that choice. He will be a Buc next year. Besides, he and HOF ME13 are very close buds.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:55 am
We NEED to re-sign Godwin, our whole office run through him and his abilitys he is another freakish athlete we have to pair and play perfectly with Evan we drafted him in hopes of him being our next big Wr and it actually panned out , Chris Godwin is here to say no if or buts about it
Re-sign CG -5yr 20m. Re-sign David 4yr 11m
Re-sign SB – 2yr 9m. Let go anyone else who don’t wanna stay on
Franchise gronk 1 yr cap safe deals ( expect valuable special
Re-sign AB 1yr 2m. Teams players)
Let go fournette
January 11th, 2021 at 11:01 am
Never know when AB gonna blow a fuse….
January 11th, 2021 at 11:06 am
Don’t sign shaq.
Sign Godwin.
January 11th, 2021 at 11:08 am
20M a yr hell no !
Maybe 11-14m a yr. and release cam brate. And keep gronk one year more along oj Howard
January 11th, 2021 at 11:10 am
Lest we forget, Bucs are in the playoffs for the 1st time in, oh ya, a looong time. We’ve put together a pretty good TEAM to get to this point, and IF we work it right, there’s an outstanding chance we can field an even better TEAM next year, make the playoffs, and make a run at the Super Bowl … AGAIN.
We’ve essentially ‘mortgaged the future’ to get to this point. Bucs have a TON of money already tied up in our offense (now AND next year), and that doesn’t even count that some quality offensive players are currently getting paid quite a bit below what many other teams will PROBABLY offer them when they become FAs at the end of this season (Godwin, Brown, Fournette, etc). We don’t have a franchise QB-in-waiting, our DLine/pass rush is actually over-performing based on its lack of depth, and our Secondary is (fill-in-the-blank).
2021 promises to be a ball-buster in terms of salary CAP & roster decisions, but 2022 and beyond will more than likely be a LOT tougher. Right now … 2020 & 2021 … is OUR window it looks like to make a run at the crown. Time to make it count.
January 11th, 2021 at 11:14 am
With cap in the toilet for next year and many players likely banking on 2022, Godwin will likely be franchised and look for a big money deal for 2022 and beyond.
January 11th, 2021 at 11:26 am
@Adrnagy … “Don’t sign shaq. Sign Godwin.”
Makes perfect sense to me. Well, after we cross-train Chris Godwin to rush the passer of course because JPP all by himself PROBABLY won’t be much of a pass rush.
Oh wait, I forgot that we do have Anthony Nelson & Cam Gill under contract for next year to take Shaq’s spot. I mean heck, they’ve got 1 sack between them PLUS 7 QB Hits & 2 TFLs. With just a little more effort I’m sure that they could get up to Shaq’s 8 sacks, 16 QB Hits & 11 TFLs. Just think how much money we could save.
I would hope that all those bitching about how bad the Bucs’ defense has been playing realize that the amount we spend on the offense versus defense in terms of salary CAP is totally out of whack. This defense has no depth whatsoever. When a player like Vita Vea goes down, our quality of play really suffers (in this case, our pass rush). Sometimes you really do get what you pay for.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:12 pm
I agree with DR: the money has been spent on offense, and that decision is reflected in the D performance.
A also agree that this team has another year of high-performance left in it. I, for one, am OK with mortgaging some of the future to capitalize on the now, that is, with the GOAT. I’ll bet some of the more senior players are also OK with it. Yeah, Godwin wants to get paid, but I also suspect he is digging his time with Brady.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Am I missing something here? Some on here are saying Franchise tag Godwin. The Bucs need to sign him to a long term contract. He is younger than AB and Mike Evans and is one of the best wide receivers in football. Don’t shortchange this team in the long term. I am sure they can get a team friendly contract with a big bonus they can spread it out over a few years. Not everyone wants to squeeze the last dime out of a team that they can. The majority of these guys want to win. They will be or are millionaires anyway, and one thing we forget is there is no state income tax here which is huge when you are bringing in Millions.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
Trade Brats & find a way to do something with Donovan to free up some $$$$ there, too! Then try & resign Godwin, Antonio, Gronkowski, Barrett, Lavonte, Fournette & Suh & depending on who they’d decide to franchise tag.
January 11th, 2021 at 1:30 pm
They may have a shot at Fournette but AB price may be to high. Smith has to go. Way to expensive. Not worth it for a lazy ass who plays hard when he feels like it. I must admit he & the rest of the offensive line played pretty good Sat. night. The problem is making 14mil. he’s to inconsistant.
January 11th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Godwin’s toughness and willingness to block add to his value. The drops the other night were very uncharacteristic of him as he only dropped 4 passes in all of 2019, compared to 4 Saturday. He was targeted by Brady 12 times and came down with only 5 catches.
Chris is a baller, I’m a huge fan but he isn’t a top 10 receiver, YET. He was the 8th rated WR in 2019 but this year he is the 30th best if you look at him compared to other WR’s around the league. Injuries have been a part of it. If you are going to pay Top 10 money to a wideout he better damn be durable, not so sure the way he plays he’ll be able to avoid the hits.
Chris has many strengths you want in your number one receiver: can catch the ball in traffic, exception yards after catch, will block like very few WR’s will.
There is a part of his game that is average. Godwin ran a 4.42 40 at combine but his in game speed to me doesn’t look like he is faster than the average WR. He has also had the advantage of playing with Mike Evans, who is always covered by the top cover corners in the league. Some of Godwin’s success can be attributed to that. This season his YPC went down from 16 ypc to 13 ypc. Thats a big dropoff.
I think WR is one of the deepest positions in the NFL and while Godwin is a huge part of the Bucs success, this was the teams best season ever with Chris not playing in 4 games and being hobbled in other games. Having a great quarterback like Brady requires very disiplined route running. There were a few games that Godwin appeared not to be running the correct route.
He definitely is a high priority signing but if he wants to be paid like a Top 10 WR then he should be putting up over 100 catches next year, 10- TD’s and 1200-1300 yards. The best thing for the Bucs is to franchise him and make him earn the big contract after his 5th season.
January 11th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
That’s because that was probably either Paul Gruber or Randall McDaniel dressed in Donovan Smith’s jersey. It probably wasn’t Donovan because he would’ve given up at least one sack. It had to be somebody else dressed up wear his jersey.😀
January 11th, 2021 at 3:35 pm
Maybe Edelman will be available to help next year !
January 11th, 2021 at 4:13 pm
We don’t see how we can pay Godwin and Evans #1 money. Franchise and trade one of them?
January 11th, 2021 at 5:13 pm
I have had no doubt that Godwin would return next season with his hefty new contract. Godwin deserves to be a top earner at the position no doubt, but I think he will take less than he could get elsewhere to remain a Buc. I also think, however unlikely it may seem, that A.B’s desire to play alongside Brady, and the vast amounts of money he’s made thus far in his career, will provoke him to take pennies on the dollar to stay in Tampa. I know that seems far fetched but I really believe that Tom is THE reason why Antonio has remained a positive influence in this young Bucs locker room and why he has been able to steer clear of another TMZ segment. I think he is consciously making efforts to not disappoint Tom. If we win the Super Bowl i think we will keep a couple guys that we would probably lose to FA otherwise.
January 12th, 2021 at 10:25 am
Godwin plays far beyond his age. To compare him to AB, I don’t think so, AB does not drop passes let alone softballs. Bucs have 2 #1 receivers Evan’s & AB, Godwin a very high 2, Gronk a 2 and the rest 3’s. Why do you think Brady is loading up on the coconut water? He is living his dream out. Gisele, $$$, boat, sun andEvan’s, AB, Godwin, Gronk, Brate, Miller & Rojo. What a way to retire.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:38 pm
he dropped a few more against the saints. great player, but he may have priced himself capwise out of the bucs with what tyler & miller are showing.