Irreplaceable

June 17th, 2022

What if…

It is the nightmare no sober Bucs fan wants to consider.

What if Tristan Wirfs’ ankle that he injured against the Eagles in the playoffs really isn’t 100 percent and he blows another tire? What happens then?

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes this means the season is doomed for the Bucs. Benjamin, typing an article on each team’s most irreplaceable player, believes without Wirfs the Bucs’ season is lost.

Tom Brady can make just about any WR corps productive, and even with Chris Godwin sidelined, they’ve got solid depth out wide. Defensively, they’ve also got good reserves at every level. One thing Tampa Bay can’t afford, however, is to have Brady under steady duress, and Wirfs is already a perennial All-Pro protecting his right side.

 Joe can’t call losing Wirfs a fatal blow.

Joe saw how the Bucs should have beaten the eventual Super Bowl champs in January and that was without Wirfs. It was ugly at first but the Bucs found a way to adjust as Tom Brady led an epic Bucs comeback.

However, Joe believes the one player Brady and the Bucs simply cannot afford to lose is Mike Evans. With Chris Godwin already out maybe until December (per Booger McFarland), and who knows what the hell is going on with Russell Gage, if Evans goes down this team is royally screwed.

Losing Evans, Joe doesn’t believe the Bucs can overcome that.

33 Responses to “Irreplaceable”

  1. BucsfanFred Says:

    You owe me a case of Tums, joe.

  2. Defense Rules Says:

    I think there are a number of players the Bucs couldn’t afford to lose. Certainly ME13 is one of them. But how about Tom Brady? And some will laugh, but how about Donovan Smith? And on defense, how about Devin White? Or even Vita Vea?

  3. Bruce Blahak Says:

    You’ve told Joe to “eff off” one too many times. This conclusion was only a matter of time. — Joe

  4. Riskitbiskit Says:

    Tums yay!

  5. SufferingSince76 Says:

    Why the secrecy with Gage?

  6. DG060 Says:

    What if?? That’s not a fun game to play. I prefer to live in the real world where what is not what if.

  7. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    ‘What if’ Brady was lost for the season? If there is anyone who is irreplaceable, it would be Brady.

  8. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    DR

    How about Shaq Barrett?

    And, yes….losing Wirfs would hurt but we have many important pieces….I agree with Joe….Mike Evans is key.

    How much credence do we give Booger on the Godwin injury?…..seems to me we need a bit more confirmation on that from others.

  9. Beeej Says:

    Evans has had hamstring problems 2 years in a row…who IS/ARE e backup tackles?

  10. Alan Collingwood Says:

    Come on… playing the “what if” speculation game is stupid and serves no purpose. What if an asteroid hits the Buc’s locker room right aftter practice during training camp? The Buc’s season is doomed!

  11. Hail2dabucs Says:

    Gosh darned Joe , you mean to tell me your trying to keep traffic flowing on this site so much so , that your playing “what if” games now ? Calm down ! Your still the #1 bucs site in the world & don’t need these type of posts . Look , you already got people reaching for the tums and training camp hasn’t even started yet . What if Godwin has a set back ? What if gronk don’t come back ? What if the loss of suh and jpp turns our run D to crapola? See where I’m getting at

  12. SB~LV Says:

    Stop it Joe!
    Take a summer vacation!

  13. Joe Says:

    Why the secrecy with Gage?

    (Ahem)

  14. SC Bucs Fan Says:

    Doom and gloom day today.

    What if Wirfs gets hurt by tripping over Jensen, breaking Jensen’s leg and falling into Brady, who dislocates his shoulder?

    SHM.

  15. Wade Landry Says:

    Thank you Joe for keep on keepin on. Irreplaceables are 1 Capt. America/Mr. President….2Tristan Wirfs 3Vita Vea…..4D.White….but seriously Joe,the person is right ….take a vacation….

  16. Demete Says:

    Didn’t Dr. Booger examine Wirf’s ankle? Why hasn’t Dr. Booger examined Gage yet? He must be out-of-network for them.

  17. ModHairKen Says:

    Bruce Blahak

    You’ve told Joe to “eff off” one too many times. This conclusion was only a matter of time. — Joe

    ——————-

    We have all seen a lot of sharp responses to Joe and Joe will often comment back. But come on, Bruce. Respect! Joe is bringing us information on the Bucs that we otherwise would not have. Be grateful. Disagree when you must, but do it with humor or dignity.

    Civility is not an option.

  18. Tampabaybucfsn Says:

    I recall Wirfs going back into the game….likely he worsened the injury

  19. Bucsfanman Says:

    We can expect injuries. If we’re lucky, they’ll be minor.
    I hate to say it because it’s the oldest cliché in the book but…NEXT MAN UP!

    Stay healthy fellas!

  20. AtticusFlinch Says:

    This is one of those pieces that are just plain wrong and counterproductive. NEVER place negative vibes out into the Universe. One of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of mankind has already occurred but, strangely, is not being reported or covered in depth anywhere.

    I am talking about the power of thought. More precisely, I am talking about the massive power of a focused, sustained INTENT. I present as Exhibit A, one Tom Brady. Don’t shake your heads but the above has been proven scientifically over a 30-year period at Princeton’s Engineering Anomalies Research (P.E.A.R.) study. You won’t hear about it because the spooks in D.C. have taken over this Project. Look it up. It’s in the Book.

    The basis of this mindblowing phenomenon is Quantum Physics. However, it is treated like the red-headed step-child of science because THEY CAN’T EXPLAIN IT.

    So a word to the wise, NEVER ruminate on anything negative like, “What Player on Each Team Would Be Missed the Most?” type of worries over which we have no control.

    This is a “Thank me later” pro tip. You’re welcome!

  21. Joe Says:

    So a word to the wise, NEVER ruminate on anything negative like, “What Player on Each Team Would Be Missed the Most?” type of worries over which we have no control.

    If you don’t prepare for the worst to happen, you’re f’ed.

  22. Show Me the TDs Says:

    What if a meteor hit the training facilities during practice? C’mon man!

  23. PassingThru Says:

    There are some position players that are almost impossible to replace. Unfortunately, OTs tend to be two of those positions, as KC fans learned in the SB. Remember the Rams playoff game? No Wirfs, and Smith was being dominated, it was a reverse-KC. To make matters worse, the Bucs had lost AB and Godwin, meaning much less time for Brady to make a decision with receiving options that lacked chemistry. It was a freaking nightmare.

    It sucks that Godwin will be out for who knows how long, AB is gone forever, Gronk remains unsigned, and Gage has some mystery injury that inhibits him from developing much-needed chemistry with Tommy Boy.

  24. sasquatch Says:

    SufferingSince76 Says:
    June 17th, 2022 at 6:39 am

    Why the secrecy with Gage?

    The team never comments on injuries in the offseason. So it could be nothing, it could be something. We don’t know. It would be unreasonable to assume the worst. Probably a strained hamstring that just needed extra healing time.

  25. August 1976 Buc Says:

    Lets see, Brady on the ground, it does not matter if you have 4 HOF receivers.

    Wirfs going down was the single biggest reason it was an early exit last post season

    Brady clean Jersey, and the Bucs are one of the Super Bowl favorites.

    Brady dirty Jersey = Turn out the Lights the parties over.

    GO BUCS!!!!

  26. Alanbucsfan Says:

    If G-d forbid anything happened to Evans, would Julio Jones or Odell Beckham Jr be getting a call?

  27. Snoman4 Says:

    Alanbucsfan Says:
    June 17th, 2022 at 10:56 am
    If G-d forbid anything happened to Evans, would Julio Jones or Odell Beckham Jr be getting a call?

    They will be signed by someone by time preseason starts and probably right before training camps start. So the answer is probably no because they will be on other teams. Now if we sustain an injury or three before training camps start you might see them get signed by Licht.

  28. Trey Long Says:

    Bucs have more athletic talent than some Pats teams Brady won Super Bowl with. Defensive coaching especially pass defense MUST BE BETTER. Brady will find a way to score.

  29. SOEbuc Says:

    Are you serious? Move faster time, we really need some legit Bucs talk.

  30. firethecannons Says:

    OMG! I do not want to read this–wtf! what if TB12 breaks an arm? what then!? well no problem Bucs are ready to go with KT2

  31. MadMax Says:

    We’ll cross that road when we get there….hopefully hes good now and back in beast mode

  32. stpetebucsfan Says:

    I still maintain the loss of Wirfs against the Rams fearsome rush was the major reason we didn’t make it all the way.

    Brady is a great QB but without time he’s below average. He is the proverbial statue.

  33. Your Mom Says:

    Wouldn’t Brady be the irreplaceable one?