Cam Brate Excited With New Offensive Weapons
August 2nd, 2022
Applauds front office.
Joe has mentioned that Bucs players are happy if not more so about how the Bucs’ front office went out and got two former Pro Bowlers, tight end Kyle Rudolph and receiver Julio Jones, just before training camp opened.
Even if that means less snaps for some.
Count Cam Brate in both groups. Without foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski and with rookie Cade Otton playing his first football since last season in college, Brate seemed to be the Bucs’ No. 1 tight end. Then entered Rudolph.
“It’s awesome,” Brate said. “We saw it happen last year [injuries]. Not that we don’t have guys capable of stepping up. But it is a long season.
“We know that we are a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Any chance you can get to improve your team and improve your receiver corps, it’s awesome that [the front office] took that opportunity. We’re loaded at the receiver position now.”
But with Rudolph on the roster, won’t Brate’s snaps go down? Brate said the prize is something much bigger.
“That’s OK,” Brate said of decreased snaps and targets. “[A ring] is the goal. There are a lot of unselfish guys in the receivers’ room. We know the ball is going to go to the right spot with Tom [Brady]at quarterback. So, yeah everyone is willing to give up catches to improve the team.”
As far as Julio coming to the Bucs, Brate said he is pretty sure the Bucs or Brady have a plan on how to use him.
“A talent like that, you find ways to get him the ball,” Brate said. “You don’t really have to try that hard. A guy like him, a guy like Mike [Evans], a guy like Chris [Godwin], they will get open on their own. Just looking who we have at receiver, it is going to be pretty tough to match up against us.”
And with all of this talent on the roster, specifically in the passing game, there still could be more coming. Looming across One Buc Palace is the shadow of foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Outside of possibly Brady, few players are as close to Gronk as Brate is. Their significant others have become very close friends and days before players reported to training camp, Brate and Gronk and friends (and WAGS), as seen on Instagram, were boating out on the Gulf.
So Joe had to ask Brate: What’s he know about Gronk? Will he or won’t he return?
Brate busted out laughing when Joe asked.
“That’s a question for Gronk,” Brate said.
And no, Brate didn’t say anything more about Gronk.
August 2nd, 2022 at 6:42 am
Brate’s such a class act!
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:21 am
Brate must be a cool dude man , he was close to jaboo & Adam ” Rudy ” Humphries along with a few others . Let’s not forget that brate is fully capable of 10 plus tuddies in a season if needed . Man , these team guys that we have had really make all the difference in the world . Go bucs
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:28 am
He basically said I don’t know ….don’t take much class to say that!
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:44 am
Amazing that there doesn’t seem to be one diva among all the Bucs’ receivers–they all seem to be great unselfish guys.
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:50 am
Was traveling last year to an away game and ended up meeting Brates fiance. She was traveling by herself with all of us commoners. Noticed me and my buddies in Bucs gear and chatted us up. Ended up chatting with her for most of the trip. Very nice and extremely down to earth. Just like him. Hope he stays healthy and has a good year.
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:50 am
*then fiance. They are now married.
August 2nd, 2022 at 7:58 am
Bucs depth is great. We see every year guys get banged up and miss 2 or 3 games. Why not have players like Brate and Julio Jones work in limited roles to
keep the stars snap counts down.
Evans runs a lot of deep routes and in the early season heat, its tiring. Let Miller or Grayson run those deep routes and save Mike for the key downs when he needs to be fresh. Julio Jones will be a chain mover for the Bucs. He will be getting lots of one-on-one opportunities to make sideline and come back catches.
Second and third tier dbs can’t cover him, even at his age he will be a good targe and his hands are like glue. I see him as an outlet for Brady when Evans and Godwin are getting extra defenders. He can’t run like Antonio Brown but his route running and catching ability are at the same level.
August 2nd, 2022 at 8:31 am
Just couldn’t help it lmao
August 2nd, 2022 at 8:37 am
Joe keeps asking players, coaches about Gronk……and continues to get no real answers……
August 2nd, 2022 at 9:03 am
If anyone is going to be the first to know if Gronk returns, it’s our man, Joe’s.
Interesting reaction from Brate though. Maybe I’m simple but if a friend told me he was done with something, Id say he was done. But if said friend was playing his cards close for ulterior motives, I’d say ask him Anyway, I’m reading to much into it, I’m sure.
August 2nd, 2022 at 10:20 am
Gronk-a-day won’t die.
“I’m done with football.” –Gronk
Move on.
THE END
August 2nd, 2022 at 11:20 am
I really hope sasquatch is wrong
August 2nd, 2022 at 12:12 pm
I quoted Gronk. I’m not wrong. He’s done unless he says otherwise. Treat it as final and move on. Maybe a few other hobbies would be good for you.
August 2nd, 2022 at 3:08 pm
Agree Todd, he really is.
What a UdFA signing by Licht many years ago.