NFL

VIDEO: Buccaneers’ Bruce Arians Passes Coaching Torch to Todd Bowles

Published

1 year ago

March 31, 2022

(l-r) Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation and Glazer Vision Foundation owner/ president Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, newly named Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner and co-chair Joel Glazer, and senior football consultant Bruce Arians pose for a group photo after Thursday's press conference introducing Bowles as the new head coach at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. Photo: Todd Grasley/Florida National News.

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The never ending news didn’t stop at One Buc Place. First, it was Tom Brady’s return from retirement, the re-signing of star wide receiver Chris Godwin, and multiple acquisitions to an already star-studded line up, one that fell one game short of reaching the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year. While players dominated the headlines, it was coaching news that rocked the NFL landscape this week.

On Wednesday night, Bruce Arians announced he was retiring after nearly 50 years coaching, three years in Tampa Bay, and slipping into a new front office role of Senior Football Consultant.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Senior Football Consultant Bruce Arians speaks during Thursday’s press conference introducing Todd Bowles as the new Buccaneers head coach at One Buccaneer Placein Tampa, Florida. Photo: Todd Grasley/Florida National News.

“When you know it’s time, it’s time,” Arians said. “I’m extremely excited about the future and what this means for me and my successor to take over, and to have a place where I can come back where I am welcome.”

Tom Brady (center, smiling) waits in the audience before Thursday’s press conference introducing Todd Bowles as the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach at One Buccaneer Place. Photo: Todd Grasley/Florida National News.

With multiple coaches, players including Tom Brady, and dozens of media in attendance, both Buccaneers Co-Chairman Joel Glazer and Jason Licht had nothing but praise for Arians for his on the field performance and off the field character as well and surprised him with the honor of being named to the Buccaneers Ring of Honor during the 2022-2023 season.

Arians, who has a track record of hiring minority coaches and creating an inclusive staff, along with General Manager Jason Licht and the Glazer Family, dubbed the current Defensive Coordinator as the 13th Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht speaks during Thursday’s press conference introducing Todd Bowles as the new Buccaneers head coach at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. Photo: Todd Grasley/Florida National News.

“I understood why he suggested Todd,” Licht said. “He could have picked a number of them, he could have said Byron [Leftwich] and I would have understood why. I knew that it would be an easy transition. It wasn’t an easy moment at the time he told me, we’ve been having some conversations and I can get a little emotional about all the great times we had together.”

Coach Arians won’t be leaving the building, just acting in a different role, and passing the torch to Bowles, who worked with Licht in Arizona in 2013. It was there they formed both a personal and professional bond.

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles speaks during Thursday’s press conference at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. Photo: Todd Grasley/Florida National News.

“To have this opportunity is very humbling, but also very bittersweet because of Bruce,” Bowles said. “At the same time it is very exciting because we are turning the page and it’s a chance to move forward, and be a different team and a better team.”

For Bowles it’s a second chance at being a head coach in the NFL.

“It hardly ever happens, but I don’t really look at it like a second chance, because I’m in the same place and you’re around the same people,” he explained. “I was driving into work this morning and I was like, ‘Wow, I’m the Head Coach,’ but at the same time I have my same routine. “

April 4th marks the first day teams with new coaches can begin their offseason workouts. In addition, Bowles, his staff, and the front office will prepare for the NFL Draft with the first round on Thursday April 28th.

The Buccaneers 2022-2023 season is loaded with playoff teams like Green Bay, Kansas City, Dallas, San Francisco, Cincinnati, and the reigning Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams.

Tampa Bay will also play the NFL’s first ever game in Germany when they travel to Munich for the league’s International Series.

_______________________________________

Todd Grasley is a sports reporter for Florida National News Tampa. | sports@floridanationalnews.com

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Jaguars Wide Receiver Calvin Ridley, Previously Suspended for Violating the NFL’s Gambling Policy, Reinstated

Published

3 months ago

March 6, 2023

FNN SPORTS

Calvin Ridley. Photo: USA TODAY Sports.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Wide receiver Calvin Ridley was reinstated to the Jaguars’ active roster, the National Football League announced today.

Acquired via trade by the Jaguars on Nov. 1, Ridley, 28, has 248 career receptions for 3,342 yards and 28 TDs in 49 games spanning four seasons with the Falcons.

The Jaguars and Ridley offered the following statements regarding the reinstatement:

STATEMENT FROM THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

“The Jaguars organization is aware of the NFL’s ruling to reinstate Calvin Ridley. We look forward to building a relationship with Calvin as both an individual and as a player. Calvin is a proven playmaker and we are excited to see him compete among and with his new teammates, first during our Offseason Program in April and ultimately into the 2023 season, as we collectively pursue a championship for Jacksonville.”

STATEMENT FROM CALVIN RIDLEY

“Today’s reinstatement by the NFL brings an end to a challenging chapter of my professional career, one that was self-inflicted and began with an isolated lapse in judgement. I have always owned my mistakes and this is no different. I have great respect for the game and am excited for the opportunity to restart my career in Jacksonville. I look forward to showing my new coaches, teammates, and the entire Jaguars organization exactly who I am and what I represent as a player and person.”

NFL

Tom Brady: ‘I’m Retiring for Good’

Published

4 months ago

February 1, 2023

Todd Grasley

Tom Brady announces his retirement again, this time with a recorded video posted on Twitter instead of a written statement or tweet. Image: Tom Brady (Twitter, screen capture).

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Is it finally the end of an era for Tom Brady? The greatest quarterback of all-time announced on Twitter, Wednesday morning that he is retiring from football and didn’t mince words.

Truly grateful on this day. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023

“Good morning guys, I’ll get straight to the point, I am retiring for good,” Brady said. “I know the process was a pretty big deal last time so when I woke up this morning I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. I won’t be long winded, you only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.”

“I really want to thank you guys, to every single one of you for supporting me, my family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors, I could go on forever, ” he added as the emotions clearly kicked in. “There are too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my dream. I wouldn’t change a thing, I love you all.”

Brady’s 23rd season didn’t exactly go as planned with a career-ending 31-14 loss to Dallas in the NFL Wild Card round. His sentiments to the media following the game, seemed like Brady would be gone in Tampa, but many were unsure if it would be the last time we’d see him on a field.

His storied career is the best ever.* 7 Super Bowl Wins

* 5 Super Bowl MVP Awards
* 3 NFL MVP Awards
* 15 Pro Bowls
* Most Career Wins

* Most Career Passing Yards
* Most Career Touchdown PassesAs a starter, he made the playoffs in 20 of 21 seasons. Now that Brady is hanging up his cleats, he will make a new start in the NFL world. As the lead analyst for Fox Sports NFL broadcasts. A 10-year deal reportedly worth $375 million.

So we may see Brady at Super Bowl LVII in Arizona after all, but it will be in the Press Box, not under center this time.

NFL

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Jamal Agnew Named to the 2023 Pro Bowl Games

Published

4 months ago

January 30, 2023

FNN SPORTS

Sep 30, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jamal Agnew (39)runs during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Source: Jacksonville Jaguars // WR Jamal Agnew was named to the 2023 Pro Bowl Games as a return specialist to replace Ravens WR Devin Duvernay, who is unable to participate due to injury, the NFL announced today. Agnew is the first Jaguars Pro Bowler since 2019 and the 31st Pro Bowler in franchise history. Agnew is the first return specialist to make the Pro Bowl in team history and the fourth specialist, joining punters Bryan Parker and Chris Hanson and kicker Mike Hollis.

Agnew returned 21 kickoffs for 547 yards (26.0 average) and 25 punt returns for 205 yards (8.2 average). Agnew’s 26.0 kick return average was the second-highest in the AFC (min. 20 kick returns) and he had two kick returns of at least 50 yards in the regular season, including a 54-yard return in Jacksonville’s Week 18 victory against Tennessee.

In the postseason, Agnew returned seven kickoffs for 265 yards (37.9 average) and three punt returns for 23 yards (7.7 average). Agnew’s 37.9 return average is the second-highest in a single NFL postseason by any player with a minimum of five kick returns. Agnew had four kick returns for 134 yards with a long of 52 yards against the Chargers and three kick returns for 131 yards with a long of 63 yards against the Chiefs.

The 2023 Pro Bowl games will take place in Las Vegas beginning on Thursday, February 2 with the Pro Bowl players competing in skills challenges. The Pro Bowl Games competition culminates with a seven versus seven NFC action-packed Flag football game at Allegiant Stadium.