Buccaneers: What to expect in Antonio Brown’s debut
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set for a new WR debut
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have another wide receiver on the field Sunday evening when they take on the New Orleans Saints.
The Buccaneers announced the signing of WR Antonio Brown to a one-year deal last month and Brown was activated to the 53-man roster this week following the end of his suspension. With Brown now on the active roster, he’ll be available to play for Tampa Bay, although not much has been said about his role.
Bruce Arians has made it clear when it comes to Brown that he’ll be a short leash. Brown was suspended eight games for multiple violations of the league’s personal conduct policy. There’s no doubt that he has been a headache and even a major downfall for locker rooms in the past, but there’s also no doubting that Brown was one of the league’s best wide receivers in his prime.
Though the 32-year-old wide receiver is past his prime and likely won’t be competing in anymore Pro Bowls, there’s certainly a wide array of excitement for what he could bring to this team.
The Buccaneers are going ‘All In’ with the Antonio Brown move
The Bucs are placing trust in Brown that he’ll carry himself as a professional and they’re also placing trust in their young locker room- led by veterans like Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Lavonte David– that they won’t be brought down if Brown does prove to be a problem.
If Tampa Bay can get him on the field, though, this could prove to be the final lethal weapon needed to make the Bucs legitimate contenders for the Super Bowl.
If Brown is able to give anything close to his potential, you’re talking about a wide receiver core- when healthy, of course- that would have three wide receivers better than most team’s top guy.
As far as what to expect in this debut, I’d expect Brown to get a few touches and to be worked into the game methodically.
No way Tom Brady lets Drew Brees get the best of him twice. dark. Next
He’s going to go through the process of earning both Brady and the coaching staff’s trust over the next few weeks and what I think we’ll see is his playing time and production gradually increase as both sides become more comfortable with one another.