First Play; Best Play
July 28th, 2022
Enforcer.
Antoine Winfield wasted no time Thursday morning announcing to his Bucs teammates, coaches and fans in the bleachers he’s ready for the season.
On the very first play of 11-on-11s at training camp practice this morning, Tom Brady went back to pass and tried to connect with Mike Evans on a deep pass down the left sideline. Even the greatest (Brady) and one of the best (Evans) can be the victims of a smart ballplayer.
And that was the case with Winfield. Brady’s pass was too long for Evans and Winfield, playing centerfield. He read the play perfectly and as the ball sailed over Evans’ head, Winfield raced in, fully sold out, and made a highlight-reel pick of Brady.
No one matched Winfield’s play the rest of the practice.
“I just read everything properly,” Winfield said of the sick play. “I just played my technique, I just made a play on the ball.”
When Joe saw the play, the first thought was that a Bucs assistant probably yapping at Winfield that a Pro Bowler shouldn’t be diving like that in practice. You know, save it for the game?
That’s not how Winfield’s wired. If he is going to be between the stripes, he’s going all out. No recesses or half-@ssing it for him.
“I just come out here and work hard, Winfield said. I’m trying to get better each and every day. Plays like that, I’m supposed to make. I hold myself up to a high standard. I should make those plays.”
And no, Winfield said no Bucs coach told him to ease up after going Superman on Brady and Evans.
July 28th, 2022 at 11:23 am
Hey Joe are they letting you guys do any videos of camp or did they make sure to take that from us as well. Lol
July 28th, 2022 at 11:52 am
Great players don’t think about getting injured. They have one mindset.
July 28th, 2022 at 11:54 am
We so some videos. But Bucs are tight with what is allowable. Those videos are either on Joe’s Twitter or his Instagram.
July 28th, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Absolutely love Winfield just a baller!
Jason hit on this pick 2
July 28th, 2022 at 1:55 pm
I don’t get too wrapped up with picks in training camp. Aaron Rodgers had like three in one practice one year, and he has the absolute best ball placement in the history of the NFL. That’s why his TD:INT ratio will never be touched. I love Winfield hustle, but just let it hit the ground. We don’t need another Jensen
July 28th, 2022 at 3:03 pm
@Bucsfan
You practice like you play
July 28th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
Love it!
July 28th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
Nice that he did that in practice. If only Winfield did that with Kupp during the Bucs last procession of the Rams game.
July 28th, 2022 at 11:38 pm
Nice but Jeebus Crust, let’s not have more injuries in these stupid flappy football sessions.
July 28th, 2022 at 11:41 pm
Winfield reminds me so much Ronde Barber, a comparison that was made early in his rookie year and seems more and more solid every game.