Todd Bowles Sure Happy With Antoine Winfield’s Day 1 Flag Plant
July 23rd, 2025
Reactions to Antoine Winfield’s strong practice.
This is the way things possibly shook out in Joe’s eyes during 11-on-11 work this morning in practice to kick off Bucs Training Camp 2025.
Bucs future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans was absolutely lighting up Bucs corners, incumbent starters and prospective new starters alike. Didn’t matter if the guy already had street cred in the NFL or was in his first training camp. Evans did not practice with prejudice today.
Joe watched Evans roast Benjamin Morrison on an inside slant with such speed, agility and a scared cat-like move. Joe couldn’t believe he was watching a 32-year old veteran.
It wasn’t awful coverage by Morrison. He just quickly learned he wasn’t covering some Stanford slappie he’ll hire next year to do his taxes.
This went on for a while. Evans absolutely looked as if he was #AtlantaReady.
Then, in the snap of a finger, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield took over. If Joe didn’t know better — and Joe doesn’t — it was as if Todd Bowles or safeties coach Nick Rapone or someone on defense got in Winfield’s grill and said, “Mike Evans is making all of us look like a bunch of AAC hacks. What are you going to do about it?”
It was time for Winfield to take over. So he threw back his cape and took matters into his own hands.
In back-to-back plays he made plays, make picks. One was an incredible play along the right sideline where Zyon McCollum fought hard with Evans and got the ball to spring into the air. Then Winfield raced in, scooping up the ball before it touched the dirt, all while keeping both feet in bounds.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs release video of that play.
The next play Winfield took advantage of a big overthrow from Baker Mayfield intended for Evans.
Bowles was one proud, if not relieved, man seeing his All-Pro safety practice like an All-Pro safety.
“It’s just good to see him healthy,” Bowles said, almost breathing a sigh of relief. “I’m not going to put too much into the first day – we’re in shorts and t-shirts getting acclimated.
“He made some plays in shorts and T-shirt that I know he can make in pads. I was just happy to see him moving around.”
Joe is sort of like Bowles. Joe was geeked to see Evans and Winfield ball out like it was a playoff game. But it’s no time to get ahead of ourselves. It’s Day 1 of training camp. Underwear football. The pads don’t come on until Monday.
But damn, it was good to see Evans and Godwin practicing at a high level.
As the great Moe Howard once said, “It’s football, chump!”
July 23rd, 2025 at 2:50 pm
This excites my peter
July 23rd, 2025 at 2:54 pm
Hey Joe….
Think you meant Winfield
But damn, it was good to see Evans and Godwin practicing at a high level.
July 23rd, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Bakerfan, does Baker make your peter hard?
July 23rd, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Yah, he didn’t mean Godwin. It was wishful-thinking. 🙂
July 23rd, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Yeah, would have been nice to hear how hard Godwin and Wirfs were practicing today.
Soon enough.
Let’s just keep Kancey & Dennis healthy now.
July 23rd, 2025 at 3:59 pm
If Winfield can get back to his 2023 level and I think he could. This defense will be elite. I have faith in Reddick
July 23rd, 2025 at 4:38 pm
All I Care about is #8 Dennis. If he works out, this season works out. Nothing in between. Go Bucs!
July 23rd, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Sounds spirited.
July 23rd, 2025 at 4:50 pm
If the Bucs do anything this year it’s going to due to the defense finally waking up.
July 23rd, 2025 at 4:57 pm
You’ve been on fire Joe for the past couple of days now that Training Camp is opening. Awesome coverage of our Bucs! Some of it was apparently hard for RiddleMyPeter to take, but sounds like you’ve got him all straightened out now.
July 23rd, 2025 at 5:13 pm
Great leaders set the tone early.
These vets know the same thing most of us do. This is a championship caliber roster. A legit chance at another ring, at greatness, cementing a legacy. It’s not fool around time. You achieve these goals by working to be great every single day. Watching these vets refuse to rest on their laurels will help our young team immensely.
I wish I understood this more, the stakes, the limited window in your life to make an impact and take advantage of a young body with superior athletic ability, when I was in my early twenties.
July 23rd, 2025 at 5:17 pm
To add to that post… I thought the F1 movie with Brad Pitt was terrific in portraying team building, culture changing through a man with experience who knew what it takes to be great and not live with regret.
Tom Brady was our Sonny Hayes. No disrespect to Arians, Lavonte or Evans who have likely been a pros pro their whole career but lacked a proper supporting cast or “vehicle”.
July 23rd, 2025 at 5:35 pm
Joe!
“ He just quickly learned he wasn’t covering some Stanford slappie he’ll hire next year to do his taxes.”
You’re really laying out the gems. That one was a beer spray.
July 23rd, 2025 at 6:21 pm
How many picks did Baker throw?
July 23rd, 2025 at 7:03 pm
When healthy, AWJ is the best player on the team. It would be incredible to have him all the way back.
July 23rd, 2025 at 11:21 pm
We really missed a healthy Winfield and it’s great you telling us he and Mike are sharp as ever.
July 23rd, 2025 at 11:47 pm
Did…we ever find out exactly what was wrong with Winfield last year?
July 24th, 2025 at 8:23 am
RIP AAC. Will hate calling you the “American”
July 24th, 2025 at 8:24 am
still laughing riddleme