Buccaneers remain Super Bowl favorites with Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers,(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers,(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Buccaneers remain the kings of the NFL with Antonio Brown’s return.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a team in football that is close to the same level as the Buccaneers in the race for the 2022 Super Bowl. After bringing back every key starter from their previous campaign that ended in a Lombardi Trophy, the Bucs put the cherry on top by bringing back their third wide receiver, Antonio Brown.

Brown was touch and go for a few months there. It was clear that Brown and the Bucs wanted the partnership to continue, but the biggest issue was obviously money.

The All-Pro receiver was likely right in wanting to still make top-tier money after his production during the latter half of the 2020 season and in the playoffs, not to mention his great relationship with his teammates, but the Buccaneers couldn’t afford to invest too much money.

Antonio Brown rounds out a dominant Buccaneers team

With an already top-heavy receiver room of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, paying the third guy a large contract as well wouldn’t be prudent.

This disagreement led to a stalemate that was ended by the coming 2021 NFL Draft. Brown had until tomorrow night to sign his new deal with the Bucs; otherwise, he would lose all bargaining power if his former team signed a rookie receiver.

In a smart move for both parties, Brown realized that his options outside of Tampa were limited and decided to run it back in hopes for a second ring. The group stays together, and now, they will be even harder to beat.

Brown joined the Bucs last season with no preseason to learn the offense, limited time with his new quarterback, and the entire team lacked the chemistry that they showed through the playoffs.

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Now, Brown already has experience with this group, there will be a full offseason to get everyone on the same page before week one, and the Buccaneers retain the best wide receiver room in NFL history.

The rest of the league is officially on notice.

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