“It’s Like Playing With LeBron And KD”
July 28th, 2022
Mike Evans’ new teammate opens up.
Joe found a Buccaneers player who firmly agrees with Joe’s assertion that the Bucs likely have the best receiving corps in the history of football.
And this guy is a member.
Joe had a 1-on-1 chat with newcomer receiver Russell Gage yesterday, the Bucs’ $10 million man. Joe believes Gage to be the highest paid No. 3 receiver in NFL history, and Tampa Bay just added legendary Julio Jones.
“I mean, honestly, it feels a little unreal. It’s like playing with LeBron and KD,” Gage said of the weapons around him.
Now Joe doesn’t know if Tom Brady is LeBron and Mike Evans is KD, but you get the idea. The Bucs have a dream team and Gage knows it.
Is Gage cool with possibility losing playing time and targets? He’s says he’s ecstatic about his friend and mentor Julio landing with the Bucs. For Gage, more studs means more big-play opportunities coming his way.
“That’s more opportunity. You gotta understand. The better guys are around you, the better the opportunity it is for you,” Gage told Joe with a lightly lecturing tone. “You know, I always think back to my years when it was me, Julio and Calvin [Johnson], and you had those two guys, I got so many 1 on 1s, it was easy. It was like cake.”
What about Gage’s injury that cost him precious spring work with his new team and new playbook? Gage wouldn’t say what his injury was but he assured Joe that sitting out was just “preventing something minor from turning into something major. … Nothing serious, just making sure I’m healthy for this time, training camp and beyond.”
So what’s different in Tampa after four years with Matt Ryan, Russell?
“I can just feel the winning atmosphere. It’s hot (laughs) but I can feel the winning atmosphere. Man, we get after it. The tempo’s really up. Definitely up tempo from what I’m used to. You know, and I love it.”
July 28th, 2022 at 9:26 am
Calvin Johnson?
July 28th, 2022 at 9:29 am
lol. I’m sure he meant Calvin Ridley Joe.
July 28th, 2022 at 9:33 am
Le who? dont know him
July 28th, 2022 at 9:33 am
Maybe he meant Calvin Coolidge.
July 28th, 2022 at 9:34 am
Calvin Coolidge. Persistence is my favorite quote, as I am not smrt.
July 28th, 2022 at 9:35 am
For the heck of it, Joe should put “and Hobbes” in the brackets.
July 28th, 2022 at 9:38 am
Maybe he meant Calvin Klein.
July 28th, 2022 at 9:40 am
Sticking with WRs…I’ll take Calvin Hill for $400 Alex!
July 28th, 2022 at 9:40 am
Calvin and Hobbes
July 28th, 2022 at 9:46 am
So Joe… Ira may not spill the beans on the question of who the D guy that might be in the wings for an additional signing (yes, I faithfully listen to the broadcast). But did he at least tell you when he thought we might hear something? If we can’t know the answer to the first question, the second question answer would be something inquiring minds would love to know.
July 28th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Too early for Bromosas JOE.
July 28th, 2022 at 9:48 am
He was obviously talking about Evans and Godwin
July 28th, 2022 at 9:49 am
Maybe the guy who used to play for the Bucs, Calvin Magee.
July 28th, 2022 at 9:53 am
SB Says:
July 28th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Too early for Bromosas JOE.
I had lung surgery last week at Tampa General, and am running low on Pain Medicine. So, I took my last pain pill yesterday with Bromosa at Breakfast!
The Bromosa really kicked the pain medicine in!
July 28th, 2022 at 9:54 am
Maybe Julio wears Calvin Klein’s ………. on a come back thing !
July 28th, 2022 at 10:15 am
For the early season Gage will be a number 2 as only if Godwin is 100% should he be taking hits in his slot role. If I’m Leftwich I would protect Godwin and put him
on the outside and let Gage and Jones do the dirty work. Chris is the best at making catches in the middle of the field but I believe his injuries have been due to contact.
Godwin can also be a deep threat, save his over the middle targets until later in the season when he is very confident his knee is 100%.
You can’t at this point say Gage is just a #3. Perhaps when they signed him they knew he’d be a larger part of passing game through games 1-4 when the Bucs are playing teams with tenacious defenses. Especially the Saints, no way do you let them get a shot at his legs.
July 28th, 2022 at 10:16 am
Yeah, that time when Calvin Johnson came out of retirement to play for the Falcons.
July 28th, 2022 at 10:22 am
I’m thinking Nassib, Flowers or Hightower.
July 28th, 2022 at 10:31 am
One former Buc and two ex-Pats.
July 28th, 2022 at 10:33 am
I see Brady and Licht working….
July 28th, 2022 at 10:35 am
You guys escaped the Belichick Gulag. Come down to warm Tampa, join us, win a ring, and have a blast.
July 28th, 2022 at 10:47 am
Carlos Dunlap please!!
July 28th, 2022 at 10:55 am
Calvin Johnson lol
July 28th, 2022 at 11:05 am
Yo Apple Roof…take it easy man.
July 28th, 2022 at 11:11 am
Chris… I hear KC is chasing Dunlap. He would look great in a Bucs uniform.
July 28th, 2022 at 11:19 am
Gage was referring to Calvin Ridley
July 28th, 2022 at 11:21 am
Joseph C Simmons Says:
July 28th, 2022 at 9:33 am
Maybe he meant Calvin Coolidge.
ROTFLMAO!!!
And I just sprayed my monitor. That’s funny, I don’t care who you are.
July 29th, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Let’s see. Evans 12 TDs. Goodwin 8, easing back from injury. Julio 10, could be more, big, reliable target with great hands (sounds like gronk), Gage 6 running slot, Fournette 6 out of the backfield, a Brady favorite. Other miscellaneous targets for fun 6. That’s 48. Let’s say 50 with a Super bowl and call it a career.