Bucs Formally Sniffing James White
March 16th, 2021
Possible new roommate
Bucs fans know Tom Brady loves the Friends & Family plan he has at One Buc Palace.
Bucco Bruce Arians understands how that goes. Just look at his coaching staff.
With Leonard “Playoff Lenny” Fournette exploring his options, the Bucs have their sights on old Brady friend James White, the versatile receiving/running back, per ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
Of course, once upon a time, Arians wouldn’t pay for a running back, but that’s old news with the Bucs’ fresh all-in approach.
White, 29, just wrapped up his seventh season in New England, which means he’s Brady-approved. Ironically, White has been a bit of a mentor to Dare Ogunbowale, the Bucs’ 2019 third-down back who was cast aside last summer and landed in Jacksonville. Joe knows Ogunbowale had been seeking White’s counsel about playing with Brady and was getting it.
It’s no surprise that White has suitors in the market. Superior hands. Super Bowl hero (2016 season). Belicheat survivor.
With the way things are going for the Bucs, it feels like it’ll be just a matter of time before White will be living at Brady’s house temporarily and working out at Berkeley Prep.
There are several teams inquiring about Patriots' free-agent RB James White, including…the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2021
Enjoy TODAY’s Ira Kaufman Podcast.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:01 pm
White isn’t a replacement for Fournette, he brings a different and very important skill set to the table. I hope he signs.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:03 pm
They won’t resign Fournette. For the most part he was a turd.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:07 pm
No brainer. And cheap. 2 year 5 – 6 mil.
He caught around 80 balls in one season.
And he is great pass blocker
And he is not damaged goods like mccoy
He can run too
March 16th, 2021 at 12:08 pm
Everyone has seen over the years that Brady loves to drop the ball off to a RB. Whether a called play, or a saftey valve if Brady has nowhere to go with the ball. James White was that guy for years for him. As I posted before, someone is going to fill that role. We see that ROJO can run the ball, but he has not shown he can be trusted to catch the ball. And Fournette also was not consistent either at catching the ball. So someone that can be trusted to catch the ball consistently is going to be signed and playing RB for the Bucs in 2021. GO BUCS!!!!
March 16th, 2021 at 12:09 pm
If White and Fournette are both signed, who gets cut? I would rather have Rojo than Fournette. More upside and he runs angry. Now if the Bucs would only buy him his own Jugs Machine.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Getting White would be amazing he has Excellent hands. Fournette & RoJo dropped a lot of catches last season. White will make the offense unstoppable in my opinion.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
I thought Lenny was a pretty good runner but as with all of the Bucs RBs their receiving hands are poor. James brings consistent pass catching capability.
I am torn on the subject however because we have Vaughn who needs to develop and with practice could become a feature back for the Bucs.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:19 pm
If fournette was consistent at catching the ball, maybe he would stay. 2 things- he will get more money somewhere else I believe, and Brady wants someone he can trust cathing. So to me, fournette is gone and ROJO stays, RoJo has been overall a better runner. So he stays. I believe we might just have a new” JW” J White on the Bucs. GO BUCS!!!
March 16th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Belicheat survivor!
March 16th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Fournette made some incredible plays in the post season. But RoJo was injured and the O-line deserves a lot of credit, too. I think RoJo and James White would be the perfect combo.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:31 pm
I don’t see Lenny’s production dropping next season. Won’t be able to match other offers anyway.
March 16th, 2021 at 1:13 pm
I would rather have White than Fournette.
Rojo showed a lot as a runner last year – more than Fournette.
Rojo as your main runner and James White as your “3rd down” back sounds like an excellent plan for 2021.
Vaughn has shown promise and deserves touches on any down coming into his 2nd year.
Rojo
White
Vaughn
draft pick or bring in AP for vet min
March 16th, 2021 at 1:30 pm
I think The BUCS are playing poker against Fournette. This is another way to say, if you dont like our offer, there are other fishes in the ocean. JMHO….
March 16th, 2021 at 1:33 pm
For a cheap price, I’m all for it. I just hope they continue to develop Rojo at blocking and receiving in the off-season because he is light years ahead of any of these other backs as far as running. The change from yo ear 1 to 3 for him has been phenomenal
March 16th, 2021 at 1:39 pm
James White would be perfect. He is so good running routes out of the backfield. He would complete our arsenal of offensive weapons. We will win more games with him on the roster.
March 16th, 2021 at 1:46 pm
Cool with me and I think that he would compliment Rojo perfectly.
March 16th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
How many dump off passes did Brady throw in SB? Lenny did step receiving in that game but the offense had to abandon that option in the playoffs due to drop passes. I think if Rojo had more carries in SB he would have done just as well. The break way TD Lenny had in SB was nothing special the line created a hole you could drive a bus through. White is the last piece of the offense puzzle. He’s a pretty good runner as well. Sign him NOW.
March 16th, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Rojo and Lenny are very similar. Only need to keep 1. Get James White and draft a running back with our first pick and we’re good to go.
March 16th, 2021 at 2:07 pm
Rojo and Lenny are very similar. Only need to keep 1. Get James White and draft a running back with our first pick and we’re good to go.
March 16th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
@Mrrr: First pick running back????? Insane.
March 16th, 2021 at 2:31 pm
Fournette was nearly cut before Rojo got hurt/covid…..his numbers were pedestrian. He had a great run in the playoffs but I just dont think you overpay for a RB unless they are really dynamic like McCaffrey or Barkley. With a little polish in the passing game, Rojo could be a poor man’s Terrell Davis….the guy runs hard and gets tough yds while having the explosiveness to break one off.
March 16th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
I’d go with ROJO as our lead back and A. Peterson as our #2…James White as our change of pace / 3rd down back. I still haven’t given up on our rookie out of Vandy from last year.
Go Bucs!
March 16th, 2021 at 3:31 pm
For some weird reason I think we will see an astounding improvement from Rojo in the hands department this year.
March 16th, 2021 at 3:35 pm
There is a long list of FA RB’s. There is pretty good list of K’s too, although it would be nice to get Succop back. I’d focus on Suh as the next to get.
March 16th, 2021 at 3:37 pm
James White is almost exclusively a receiver. Definitely a better receiver than any Bucs RB but nowhere near the runnear that Rojo or Lenny are. Or even KVaughn. Of course we’d rather keep Lenny but may not afford to after his deserved interest from others.
March 16th, 2021 at 3:42 pm
Aaron E May
I haven’t given up on Vaughn either and I don’t think Licht and the Bucs are going to say “oh we made a huge mistake” with our third round pick that is in his second year with good all around skills. Vaughn was PFF most efficient RB pass blocker in 2020. We don’t even use RoJo and his deadly abilities. RoJo and Lenny have stone hands and Brady still won a Super Bowl for those who say he couldn’t. Succop then we can close the book. Trade 32 and maybe a potential name to clear up cap and rack up picks cus this small cap hit now is going to hurt when we need to resign the young superstars in the next four years. Build through the draft Jason.
March 16th, 2021 at 3:49 pm
[Joe Biden approves of this]
March 16th, 2021 at 5:23 pm
White replaces Shady and adds a new dimension of play action, variable blocking schemes, and some really nice draw/delayed draw plays to the playbook.
All of which gets our ELITE receivers even more open.
March 16th, 2021 at 5:30 pm
heyitsadam… EPIC comment of the day. !!! … 🙂
March 16th, 2021 at 6:01 pm
For Bucs fans that have not seen much of White, he’s an outstanding receiver and a great runner. So, try and guess what they can do on the field. Versatility. It’s like Gronk…every pass doesn’t have to come his way, and the running game improves. Not a Patriots fringe player…
March 16th, 2021 at 6:48 pm
Not sure why several people are talking about keeping fournette or Rojo…
Rojo is the main back. He is not going anywhere and he signed
They’re looking for a 3rd down back to catch and block.
Lenny was a good blocker but he dropped his fair share as well. Vaughn was actually a good receiver in college. Just a matter of him and Rojo developing as blockers
Rojo is a much better runner than any of them.
All that said, White would fit in well.
March 16th, 2021 at 7:41 pm
Smoke and mirrors
March 16th, 2021 at 8:35 pm
Go get Damien williams
March 16th, 2021 at 9:06 pm
4net had a mostly lack luster season until SB time. Sign White for 3rd downs and draft a speed runner at #32.
March 16th, 2021 at 10:14 pm
The title of this thread and the caption picture is amusing to me.
March 16th, 2021 at 11:28 pm
James White would be signed to replace Shady McCoy.
March 17th, 2021 at 6:12 pm
my friends: james white is a player! if the bucs can pick him up on the cheap,
tommy will get the safety valve he had in NE for ten years. there is no downside.