Graham Barton Was Not Close To 100 Percent
November 3rd, 2026
Graham Barton was under the weather in more ways than one.
Joe guesses one could say a guy who is playing in a football game in a driving rainstorm could be under the weather.
But for Bucs center Graham Barton, he was anything but 100 percent during the Bucs’ beatdown of the Dixie Chicks.
A flu bug has been racing through the Bucs’ locker room the past couple of weeks. Several have been victimized, players and support staff.
And it seems that same bug hit Barton on Saturday night.
“When you get that thing, it usually puts you down for about 24 hours,” KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles said.
Barton wouldn’t let it do that to him. Barton demanded to play against Atlanta. And he went the distance in a record-breaking rushing afternoon for the Bucs.
The way Barton played, you’d never know he was not at 100 percent.
“He was determined to play,” Bowles said.
But that doesn’t mean the Bucs just forgot about Barton being sick. Bowles said whenever Barton came off the field, trainers made sure he was doing OK.
“He took some IV’s and meds,” Bowles said. “He did a heck of a job.”
Bowles joked that maybe Barton needs to be ill more often the way he played with a flu.
So hats off to Barton. Talk about gutting your way through a very physical game.
November 3rd, 2026 at 9:23 am
This game is either going to be a fart in the wind or a serious turning point for these guys. I don’t think there’s much in between
November 3rd, 2026 at 9:30 am
Barton’s flu game! I love it!
November 3rd, 2026 at 9:44 am
it quite peculiar and funny how the Bucs have been winning – after the flop “special teams draft” in 2021 the special teams were anything but special – now they have actually put points on the board from a blocked PAT and are clicking – defense is solid certainly not a weakness with the Bucs accounting for 4 of Penix’s 12 caught balls on Sunday – Fabio was tied for Atlanta’s top receiver – running game is putting up crazy numbers – and all for a team that was forecasted to have to be carried on Baker’s oft-injured shoulders – Egbuka should be back on the field so the receivers room is now restocked and the O-line does not have the usual litany of injuries to its collection of first and second-rounders – Jalon Daniels was adequate as a starter putting up 501 yards passing – since replacing Daniels, Baker has put up 56 yards passing total over two games – the team seems to functioning in all phases as intended without Mayfield’s input – so let’s see what he adds to the team over the next couple of games – Bucs can still have a winning season even with the expected losses to CHI DET but if Baker can somehow shine and win those games with QB play the fanbase will go nuts – in every way imaginable – Jerry Jones will look like Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller by comparison
November 3rd, 2026 at 9:58 am
He’s a great dude and all. Jeffrey Simmons is going to give him all kinds of sicknesses. Better put Chuk in the backfield as a fullback. Simmons finally on a talented DL is unblockable.
November 3rd, 2026 at 10:01 am
I watched Barton Sunday and dang! That is one tough dude. He looked to be having a great (not just good) game. Wow! Game Ball!
Go Bucs!
November 3rd, 2026 at 10:04 am
Nothing personal towards Barton but..
We ABSOLUTELY need to upgrade the center position in the offseason!
Either early in the draft or free agency.
Winfield was DOGGING it on Sunday and not in a good way.
Don’t want him on the team next year!
November 3rd, 2026 at 10:06 am
Simmons is going to be a real problem Sunday night. Concur.
Not an impossible problem – but a serious challenge. Chicago run defense and pass rush just got massive upgrade.
Bet Chicago finds different ways to use him too now they have a little more time to factor JS into game plan. Zac better get ready!
November 3rd, 2026 at 10:23 am
Barton didn’t have a flu bug, he had an “illness”.
Hopefully he gets well before taking on Jeffrey Simmons of Chicago. Barton could be an unsung key to a good passing game by keeping rushers out of Baker’s face.
November 3rd, 2026 at 10:57 am
He’s a better player than many here acknowledge.
November 3rd, 2026 at 11:22 am
Ah, “a fart in the wind.” Just one of the great lines from one of the best movies ever.
November 3rd, 2026 at 11:28 am
SB LV..
I couldn’t disagree more with everything you just wrote
First on Barton, the guy is just starting to learn to play center in the NFL after playing OT in college. Not an easy transition and he’s in his 3rd offense in 3 years. Don’t mess with him.
On AW jr, I’ve been vocal about him playing bad since signing his huge contract, but on Sunday he was not dogging it at all! He was playing physical against the run and was playing with passion. He had the one long pass play where he should have made a play on the ball, but he hustled to help not allow Dotson to score.
November 3rd, 2026 at 11:40 am
Wait until he runs up against Simmons…
November 3rd, 2026 at 11:41 am
Fan of, thanks for correcting that awful take from SB. I don’t know what game he was watching. But it wasn’t the same game I watched. Or you it seems.
November 3rd, 2026 at 12:07 pm
It used to be guys fought through things to get on the field. Terry Bradshaw mentioned this on Fox. Barton is old,school. Modern fanz are ok with guys sitting down until fully healed. More concerned with maximum production perhaps due to fantasy football and app betting.
November 3rd, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Fanofdabucs
Barton will NOT be the Bucs starting center in 2027 !