Starstruck Every Day
April 16th, 2021
It made no difference to Antoine Winfield, Jr. that he grew up with a dad in the NFL and playin with Adrian Peterson on the Vikings sidelines.
Winfield entered the league just about as NFL-ready as any player could be, and still he was starstruck by what he found at One Buc Palace.
The Bucs’ stud young safety — Ice up, Cheetah! — was asked on the Behind The Mask podcast about whether he was in awe looking around the Tampa Bay locker room when he arrived. Winfield said he most definitely was and it did not end.
”I did that every day,” he said. “Every day I walk in, I’m like, ‘Look at all these players in this locker room. This is crazy. I grew up watching all these guys; now I’m out playing with them.’ It’s surreal.”
Of course, Winfield was asked about Tom Brady’s impact and/or for a Brady story. Winfield simply explained that Brady’s approach to every minute of practice is something he’s trying to emulate. And he shared that before the Super Bowl he overheard a Brady-Rob Gronkowski discussion about a specific pass route that was delivered in such detail by Brady that Winfield felt he had never heard anything like that before.
Fun stuff.
As for 2021, Winfield said more takeaways is a major personal goal for him, and he was adamant that the Bucs are under no pressure to repeat as Super Bowl champs. The only pressure, per Winfield, is to come out and work hard every single day.
April 16th, 2021 at 12:10 am
This kid already walks and talks like a Vet
Bucs struck gold getting him in second round
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Off topic, have you seen the devin white on his horse bobblehead. Pimp
Im a grown arse man but may have to get one
April 16th, 2021 at 12:20 am
A rookie. Give it a few years. He’s going to become an elite name.
April 16th, 2021 at 12:42 am
Will always love the kid for for flashing that “two finger” sign to Cheetah at perfect moment. MOXY!
April 16th, 2021 at 1:09 am
This dude is 22 or so and he says the only thing is to work hard every day — just love it. 22 going on 35!
April 16th, 2021 at 3:04 am
See, one of my major personal goals for this year is LESS takeaways! Glad to know that Me and the stud differ in that as well!
April 16th, 2021 at 4:05 am
I just re-watched him being drafted. He & his family were so excited to come to Tampa
April 16th, 2021 at 5:40 am
How Winfield lasted to the second round is beyond me…
Hats off to Licht; he got off to a rough start but over the last 3 or 4 years he’s really become one of the best GMs/drafters in the league…Jason Licht was 1 of the few things Lovie Smith got right here in Tampa…
April 16th, 2021 at 7:24 am
I made this comment before and so this is regurgitated comments
They redid last years draft matching team need but more importantly overall talent /level of play
Wirfs was #4 pick to giants
Winfield was #8 pick to ( whoever picked 8-i forget)
Pretty cool stuff. Our first 2 picks in top 10 of first round
We got some absolute studs last year
Hope we can continue with another great draft
April 16th, 2021 at 7:38 am
Still in awe of this kid and Wirfs too. The maturity level and play level for these 2 is crazy. Pro Bowl this next season for one or both.
April 16th, 2021 at 9:11 am
Hope Licht and Arians are able to keep this draft train going. Excellent picks the last coupe of drafts, with 2020 being the cream of the crop. I’m really anxious to see what small school gem Licht will come up with to plug into the O-line.
April 16th, 2021 at 11:19 am
Licht absolutely nailed this pick in every way. I wanted AWJr simply because I watched his Dad ball and the pedigree had to be there. It sure is and then some. It’ so fun watching this kid and he’s going to get even better. Watch out now.
April 16th, 2021 at 11:53 am
Winfield’s height is probably why some teams “hesitated” to pick him.
April 16th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
You can tell his dad trained him and raised him right. Can’t wait to watch him and the rest of that defense when he comes to Philly