If Antonio Brown Cannot Go

February 2nd, 2021

The latest.

Joe has a hunch this is bigger news than the way it’s being treated.

Two players the Bucs really need on the field Sunday night for Super Bowl LV are furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing receiver Antonio Brown and safety Antoine Winfield (damn, Joe has to be really carefully typing those two names in one sentence).

The Bucs are being very coy with injury news this week, which puts Joe’s antennae straight up. Most folks don’t try to hide good news.

Yesterday Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians said of the two that they are “getting close.” Getting close to what, ditching Robinhood? Having their taxes finished? Closing on a new crib?

In a report this morning on NFL Network, Sara Walsh (pride of Gulf High School) brings word that the Bucs, related to Brown’s knee injury, remains a “mystery.”  Brown suffered the knee injury against the slimy Saints in the playoffs.

Last night on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Arians was less hopeful about safety Jordan Whitehead (dislocating shoulder) returning, saying he thinks Whitehead will be a game-day decision.

You can watch Walsh’s report below and how the Bucs will cope if Brown cannot play.

31 Responses to “If Antonio Brown Cannot Go”

  1. Buc1987 Says:

    I hope everyone is healthy and ready to go.

    LFG!!!

    Win this damn thing.

    I went to Gulf for 2 years….a long long long time ago!

  2. Capt.Tim Says:

    Those two guys are critical.
    Brown is possibly our best WR, out of 3 of the best WRs in football.
    2 Fantastic WR is difficult task.
    I think 3 will prove impossible- at the level all 3 of them are playing at now.

    Missing Winfield will hurt ourdefense against Hill.
    Losing both of our starting safeties will hurt our Run defense and pass defense.

    We need those guys.

  3. Casual Observer Says:

    I am almost positive that he’ll play. Even if not 100%.

  4. David Says:

    I’d be really surprised if Whitehead does not play.
    Winfield and Brown are different stories. That is an ankle and a knee.
    They don’t need Brown although it would be nice.
    They need Winfield but if he cannot run 100%, that’s a liability with KC’s speed

  5. Easy Says:

    If Whitehead cant go then its time for Mike Edwards to step up and be worthy of that 3rd round draft pick we used on him…

  6. gp Says:

    I truly hope that this is all smoke and mirrors/liars poker kinda stuff.
    Can’t think of anybody wanting to play a game like this at anything less than full strength.

  7. OBF Says:

    MoveOn. Bucs
    Tough news!
    Chiefs have the same problems
    Looks like Jackson or whatever the kids name is going to play in the Super Bowl

  8. Joe in Michigan Says:

    It could be worse, the Bucs could be missing their 2 starting Tackles, like Kansas City. The Bucs have good depth at WR and S.

  9. chris L Says:

    our offense is key to this game but i think we need winfield more but brown is great at moving the chains.

  10. SlyPirate Says:

    Winfield news feels like a smokescreen. Unless he damaged a tendon, weeks is enough time with treatment to recover from an ankle. At least enough to play in the Super Bowl.

  11. Robert Says:

    I highly doubt whitehead plays. The other two should be good to go and this is probably just smoke and mirrors. Even if AB can not go it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes too many weapons isn’t that great as some guys will be not running at 110% and not make the mark where TB throws it. ME plays better when he knows he’s getting the ball, heck same could be said for all of em. Still have Brate, Gronk, Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller, CG and ME to throw to….still scary as hell offense!

  12. BradyFan Says:

    [You are correct. Thanks. — Joe]

  13. BradyFan Says:

    Sorry for being so harsh 🙂

  14. Joe Says:

    BradyFan:

    No harm, no foul. Glad you brought that to Joe’s attention.

  15. The Daily Coroner Says:

    Covering AB is easy- Scotty and Tyson.
    It is Antoine Winfield JR that you can’t replace.

  16. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    I suspect Winfield is OK & will play….he was a gametime decision at Green Bay….so two weeks recoop…..should be OK.
    No idea on AB…..???….But you know he would like to put on a show for FA next year..
    Whitehead>>>>???? Maybe take a few shots….has a year to heal.

    One thing I know for sure…..Seeing Scotty vs Hill in a race at halftime would be better than whatever they have planned.

  17. lifeline2k19 Says:

    brown took a picture of his jersey he’s going and about to win us a superbowl, it will be brown not hill who will assert dominance as the best wr in the nfl

  18. PensacolaBucFan Says:

    Maybe its Arians toying with the Chiefs. Forcing them to game plan for multiple players. Just a theory.

  19. Snook Says:

    Smokescreen. Only thing that matters are the actual injury reports when they come out.

  20. gp Says:

    @ Tampabaybucfan
    ***One thing I know for sure…..Seeing Scotty vs Hill in a race at halftime would be better than whatever they have planned.***

    If that was planned, I’d actually watch the halftime show for a change!
    Didn’t know about the Jackson slip till the next day, just sayin.

  21. ATLBucsFan Says:

    So Joe you thought ‘getting close’ was none football related? So not likely.

  22. Scooter Says:

    Terrell Owens played in a Eagles SB loss with a fractured tibia not completely healed. Eric Bieniemy’s off the field history of driving with a suspended driver’s license, DUI, arrest in a bar fight, harrassing and assaulting a female security guard, shoving a firefighter, a 1 year ban from the campus of the Univ. of Colorado, is why NFL teams are reluctant to give him the keys to the car, in spite of Roger Goodell’s (social engineer ) decision to award NFL teams draft picks for hiring African American Head Coaches and coordinators.

  23. Listnfrmafar Says:

    Brown is just as important as Winfield, O has to keep up with Mahomes. Arians doesn’t seem like he plays the BS game so my guess is not good news.

  24. Kentucky Buc Says:

    @Lstn. Agreed. Bucs need all hands on deck.

  25. SB : Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Captain Tim you must have severely bumped your head to think that AB is our best WR.

  26. Listnfrmafar Says:

    AB is the best receiver. I totally respect Evan’s & Godwin but neither run routes better, better after the catch, field awareness, most versatile and rarely drops a catchable pass. He is not a 7 time 1st string pro bowler by mistake. Brate is the second best route runner. If you don’t see that moderation, you’re either not watching or played soccer in your youth.

  27. JA Says:

    What is it with all the “smokescreen” stuff? Sure, it rolls off the tongue nicely, but this is the NFL, a league with video showing every play in every game. It’s not the CIA attempting to fool a shaky government and sneak in their favorite dictator into some third world outpost.
    All NFL teams plan for the worst and best their opponent can offer.
    Do you think this is Andy Reed’s first day on the job?
    Then again, maybe this post is a smokescreen to what I’m really thinking …

  28. orlbucfan Says:

    Screw him. We will win with or without him. This whole game comes down to a total team win. All this nonsense about Brady, Gronk, etc. is BS. The Bucs have to be a better team than KC. If they aren’t, KC wins.

  29. SB : Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Did AB get 1,000 yards his first 7 seasons Listnfrmafar?
    I didn’t think so.
    Is AB going to the HOF on what he has done so far?
    I didn’t think so.
    I played the game. I think you should stick to watching Synchronized Swimming

  30. William Perry Says:

    I’ve been following football for over 60 years now. Tampa Bay will win if the receivers stop dropping the ball. I don’t know if you guys have been watching the playoffs. But the wide receivers especially the backs have been dropping a lot of balls Brady’s been putting right on the numbers. Dad needs to stop otherwise Kansas City is going to blow them out of the stadium. they have to stop turning the ball over there can’t be any turnovers on Tampa Bay’s part. If that happens the box will win probably buy a touchdown. Also you cannot blitz Kansas city’s quarterback. He’s too good outside the pocket droves from all angles and his receivers hold on to the ball. You need a full man Rush and the rest cover the receivers. So it’s no turnover s on Tampa Bay’s part put pressure up the middle on Patrick. The pressure has to come from straight up the middle they have good pass rushes their secondary is not that good in my opinion but pressure on straight up the middle and Tampa has a great shot of winning a super bowl and Brady his seventh ring good luck Tampa Bay let’s go Brady

  31. unbelievable Says:

    Brown, Whitehead, possibly missing Winfield and even David?

    Well be okay without Brown, but missing more than 1 of those others might spell disaster for our defense. I think Lavonte will okay no matter what but I’m nervous about the other guys. Whitehead is the enforcer, and Winfield is a stud.