“It’s Not Really Like Defending The Crown”

April 17th, 2021

Daily hunger

Joe’s picked up on a theme.

Earlier this week, Joe shared fresh words from safety Antoine Winfield Jr. rejecting the notion that the Bucs are under pressure to repeat as champions this year. No, no, no, Winfield said, the only pressure is to bust your butt every single day.

Fast forward a couple of days and returning Bucs defensive tackle Steve McLendon was asked on WDAE radio about defending the crown. He, too, rejected the whole concept.

“It’s not really like defending the crown,” McClendon lectured host Tom Krasniqi.

“When people say, ‘you’re defending,’ No, we’re not playing in Tampa again so we’re not defending that,” McLendon continued. “We’re really trying to get a new one. My biggest mindset is you have to outwork the person you were yesterday.”

McLendon went on to talk about how day-to-day challenge is the real one, “just doing the necessary things that will get you back there.” He went on to talk about focus and seriousness, etc.

Joe has heard similar rejection about Going For Two from other players. And Joe suspects someone so firmly planted this mindset into players that they’re brains are completely hard-wired — and it’s only April.

Joe sees this as a great sign, guys unwilling to acknowledge the Bucs are the top dogs and favorites to play in February. They’re all about the next workout.

The Tom Brady Effect? Bucco Bruce Arians? An amazingly mature roster? Whatever it is, Joe likes the vibe.



During the JoeBucsFan.com draft party at Big Storm Brewery in Clearwater, Thursday night, April 29, two lucky fans attending will each win a $250 American Express gift card thanks to Joe’s friends at Florida’s Elite Restoration. (More cool Bucs giveaways, too.)

At the 23:50 mark of today’s Ira Kaufman Podcast, hear the announcement courtesy of the great Bucs fans at Florida’s Elite Restoration.


DRAFT PARTY!

Your video invitation to Big Storm Clearwater, Thursday night, April 29! Giveaways, special guests, and more. Ira Kaufman and Joe will be in the house starting at 7 p.m.

22 Responses to ““It’s Not Really Like Defending The Crown””

  1. Cainishere Says:

    It is a HOF team in action. One of the highest talent per position teams in NFL history. The men are in Beast Mode 100% Goin for the Trifecta in a row. Gotta stay grounded. They will become the benchmark for all teams in the end.

  2. August 1976 Buc Says:

    Keep it simple, dominate and finish the play, next play dominate your guy and finish, next play dominate and finish……..GO BUCS!!!!

  3. #1bucsfan Says:

    Hell yea. Like the mentality. Still gotta earn it l

  4. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Curious as to why we have a Steve McLendon quote but a Devin White pic.

    Now if you are saying that Devin White is the epitome of “daily hunger” as the caption says….I get that!!!

  5. bojim Says:

    Your not defending unless you get there again.

  6. windbaggery Says:

    This is smart. They’re gonna hear all this “defending” stuff heading into the season and during the next season, they need to stay focused. The reality is, last season, a trophy and a ring do nothing to help them win a game this season. Teams that hold onto their glory are going to fail. I really believe that was the downfall of the 2003 Bucs — to a certain extent they bought the hype.

  7. SlyPirate Says:

    The Bucs invented there “identity” towards the end of the season. It will be fun to see it evolve this year. I expect consistent dominance.

  8. Buczilla Says:

    Love the mindset and it’s so much better than obsessing over who might fall to us in the top ten. It’s a new Buc’s life folks. 😛

  9. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    You’re not defending it until you’re in it again so don’t be like the Chiefs and assume you’re going to win it before you even play in it!

  10. '79 Defense Says:

    We’ll see what happens. Either they repeat, which requires good fortune along with great talent, or they won’t.

  11. 1sparkybuc Says:

    Our Bucs caught teams by surprise last year. There is film to study and always a focus to beat the champs. The Bucs will be much improved since they are not starting from square one this season, and there really are no glaring holes to fill. They will be a better team, and they will need to be. It’s a long season.

  12. Youngbucs Says:

    How did the Bucs catch teams by surprise? And what teams are you referring to? The Bucs were the talk of the nfl all offseason they caught nobody by surprise. Hype train was rolling and Brady at QB everyone wanted to beat the Bucs!

  13. Defense Rules Says:

    Glad that the team isn’t buying all the hype being thrown their way by the media. Maybe it’s the ‘Tom Brady Effect’; maybe it’s not. But even the young guys seem to be well-grounded right now, and that’s a great starting point for this season IMO.

  14. Kentucky Buc Says:

    We know who says that nobody cares what u did yesterday.

  15. Beeej Says:

    There’s no reason they shouldn’t at least win the NFC, outside of an abnormal number of injuries, esp to You Know Who.

  16. Chesapeake Bay Bucco Says:

    In BA we trust!

  17. Your Mom Says:

    yeah like none of them ever thinks about repeating as SB champs. jockspeak at its finest

  18. rrsrq Says:

    Ups have the benefit of Brady, Arians, JPP, Shaq and Gronk about trying to repeat – so you have to have the right mindset. Also with the team being so far away for so many years and Tom only having a year or two left, there has to be a fresh mindset of goals to accomplish

  19. rrsrq Says:

    *Bucs have the benefit

  20. Kobe Faker Says:

    “DW has not even reached 50% of what he is capable

    Kobe believes he is not being used to his strengths

    DW can break the single season sack total

    He is unblockable

    His power/ 5′ 10 small stature makes him unabled to be reached nor even held illegally

    His strength in his arms makes it easy for him to disengage the initial grasp and his NFL best short distance closing speed is unfair to the much slower behemoth 6′ 6 giants

    Amazingly he can get sacks not even starting on the LOS

    Even better he moves down the line to find the open gap to shoot

    Which means you cant have your best olineman on him

    DW will be in the Hall of Fame”

    Kobe Faker

  21. Jmarkbuc Says:

    No Days Off!!

  22. David Says:

    Love it.
    It’s a whole new year and anyone’s ball game. Teams are going to come at them harder, that’s the main difference.

    I’ve heard plenty of fans say they lost some last year they should not have but, let’s not forget, they had a lot of tight games. Even some of the blowouts were not blowouts for the majority of the game.
    They have plenty that they can improve on.

    Get to work and LFG!