Antoine Winfield Is No-Hesitation Choice
August 11th, 2025
Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Joe tries to shove away all thoughts of Mike Evans and Lavonte David no longer suiting up for the Bucs.
It’s a sobering thought.
Evans is in Year 12 and David is in Year 14. Thankfully, the Bucs have let those players know they will be embraced on the roster as long as they can contribute. Hall of Fame Buccaneers Derrick Brooks (13 years) and Rondé Barber (16 years) did not get the same courtesy.
During a recent trip to Green Light with Chris Long, David was asked to whom he will hand over the heart and soul of the Tampa Bay defense to one day.
David didn’t hesitate. Safety Antoine Winfield is that guy, he said.
Joe was impressed. David didn’t even throw in a 1b name. The way David described Winfield was as if David fell for Winfield within weeks of him showing up at One Buc Palace in 2020.
It’s a huge year for Winfield, who struggled with injuries last season after a no-brainer All-Pro selection in 2023. Winfield knows exactly what he’s being paid to do — be the player he used to be.
August 11th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Look, man, Winfield last year? Dude was a shadow of himself with all those injuries.
But don’t get it twisted — this guy’s a straight-up stud. Remember, he finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year just the year before.
When he’s healthy? Man, football’s everything to him, and he plays like it. You want heart, you want skill? Winfield’s got both.
August 11th, 2025 at 4:56 pm
AWJ’s peace sign to T Hill in the Super Bowl was LEGIONDARY.
RONDE FORCED OUT? No.
Rondé Barber didn’t get the same courtiousy? 16 years. All with the Bucs. Played until he was 37. In his final year, he had 71 tackes, 4 INT, 8 TFL, and 1 sack. They didn’t force Ronde’s retirement. I recall Barber gracefully retiring in 2013.
Then you clearly missed Barber interviews on the subject after that graceful retirement. –Joe
August 11th, 2025 at 4:57 pm
We’ve got us a heck of a football team. And for the foreseeable future!
August 11th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
How did Ronde not get the courtesy? He changed positions, extended his career, and played until he knew he couldn’t. Brooks got cut, sure, but never played another down for another team. So I think he was well aware his time was up as well. Don’t make it like these 2 legends were done dirty.
Tell that to Barber. Barber was unhappy with Greg Schiano because the head coach had the audacity to tell him he wasn’t a cornerback any longer. Barber talked about this long after the fact. https://www.joebucsfan.com/2021/12/he-made-that-decision/ And Joe will add that Schiano rolled with guys like E.J. Biggers, Danny Gorrer, Lequan Lewis and Leonard Johnson at corner in the same season he told Barber he couldn’t play corner.–Joe
August 11th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Hey Joe, didn’t DB (my favorite player of all time, btw) have a career low in solo tackles in his last year? I don’t remember anything being considered disrespectful at the time. I’m sure you’re privy to whether Derrick wanted to continue playing but coaches and managers and there to make the tough decisions. Sometimes when a player can’t. The operative word for both Mike and Lavonte is contributing.
Derrick Brooks was cut at the end of February. He already was working with the new defensive coordinator, Jim Bates, and Raheem Morris, for weeks. Yes, Brooks wanted to continue playing for the Bucs. The super young head coach wanted him for the locker room, and Brooks battled injuries in 2008. There’s no way to know how well he might have bounced back. –Joe
August 11th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
When he’s not moving into nickel, swapping positions with Vita, or being told to sell hot dogs in the end zone stands, he might play better. Regression with this coaching staff has been a thing.
August 11th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
Remember, there are 2 “Joes.”
This was written by the beta one.
August 11th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Hopefully, Winfield stays healthy and shows everyone last year was a fluke.
August 11th, 2025 at 10:05 pm
Doosh 😅🤣😂
August 11th, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Right about Ronde — the team opened the safety position for him and did everything they could to accommodate and to honor him.
This isn’t just for Lou. Barber was unhappy with Schiano because the head coach had the audacity to tell him he wasn’t a cornerback any longer. And Joe will add that Schiano rolled with guys like E.J. Biggers, Danny Gorrer, Lequan Lewis and Leonard Johnson at corner. Barber talked about this long after the fact. –Joe https://www.joebucsfan.com/2021/12/he-made-that-decision/
Wrong about Brooks — his performance sure declined in his last year, especially in his last four games. He was seriously injured. It was the recovery time, not the ability, that age stole away from him. Then came the massacre, with three top Buccaneers cut at the same time. Brooks could surely have contributed to the 2009 team, but what was the point? What was the point? Brooks already was working with Raheem and the new defensive coordinator, and then he was cut. The super young new head coach wanted Brooks in the locker room, and Brooks could still play, albeit at a lower level. And nobody knows if he might have had a physical revival as some guys can.–Joe Raheem replaced Gruden. Father Time tapped on the shoulders of several core players at the same time. Everyone could see that the team would be dreadful. So kicking DBrooks out was a disgrace. Even so, while he could have played he could no longer dominate. Brooks has said he had some offers, that he considered them, but that he realized that there was no point. He was done dirty so he made sure to keep his head high.
Legends both.
August 12th, 2025 at 12:13 am
Completely wrong about Barber. He would not be as heavily involved with the Bucs if there was a bad taste in his mouth. Derrick was cooked. He even tried to sign with the patriots and they came to the same conclusion.
Again, these are Barber’s own words. It’s a new administration since Barber’s final days. Derrick had other opportunities, including in New Orleans.–Joe
August 12th, 2025 at 4:20 am
Rooting for Antoine!
August 12th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
That 2023 season was the closest thing I’ve seen to Ed Reed since ED REED. Gosh, I was just thinking last night, HOW HUGE that would be if he could get back to THAT. And, that it wasn’t just some fluke season. Hopefully, he can stay healthy, and get back on that future HOF trajectory again!!!!