Julio Jones signs 1-year deal with Bucs
doubledragon
Posts: 23,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
doubledragon
Posts: 23,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
doubledragon
Posts: 23,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
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It's called Brady rejuvination therapy.
As it turns out, Tom Brady played a role in getting Julio Jones to Tampa Bay.
ESPN
Julio Jones describes 'surreal' excitement to join Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Julio Jones focused on putting in the work with Brady, Bucs Julio Jones emphasizes that there is plenty of work for him to do after joining the Buccaneers.
TAMPA, Fla. -- Julio Jones said he never imagined joining forces with a longtime NFC South division rival in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and playing with Tom Brady.
But that's where life has taken Jones on his quest to win a championship -- one of the few prizes that has eluded the the future Hall of Fame wide receiver who spent last season with the Tennessee Titans after a decade with the Atlanta Falcons.
"I didn't, I didn't think that," Jones said Wednesday. "But that's the past. I'm here now. I'm looking forward, I'm not looking backwards. It's a great opportunity for me to be a part of something special in the Buccaneer family. Just looking forward to getting to work."
Jones acknowledged the irony of joining forces with Brady. The quarterback led the Patriots' historic comeback from a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, which was Jones' only Super Bowl appearance.
But Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowler who has twice led the league in receiving yards, said he wanted the best opportunity to win a ring.
"Why we got to bring up old stuff? He did it. He did it. He did it," Jones joked before conveying his excitement. "It's just a surreal moment. It's amazing. I'm ready to go, though. At the end of the day, it's all about accountability. I have to be accountable for him, the team, everybody, right? With all that said and done, I've still got to come to work. I still have to put the work in.
"You can say, 'Oh yeah, Julio's with the Bucs, we got Mike [Evans], we got Tom,' but we've all got to put the work in. Nobody's going to give us anything. So we've just got to come out here and work each and every day. That's all it's about."
As Brady has done with several free agent pickups, including Jones' former Falcons teammate Russell Gage and most recently tight end Kyle Rudolph, he phoned Jones and expressed his desire for them to play together after Jones was released by the Titans in March.
Jones joked with Brady, "Y'all got space down there?'" But they stayed in touch.
"I talked to him, I talked to Tom several times. It wasn't really about coming to Tampa. We were just communicating, feeling each other out, I guess. It was probably a tactic," he joked, alluding to the Patriots' and Brady's penchant for operating in secrecy. "But I'm here now."
He added: "Tom's a great guy, man -- who you want to be leading your ballclub, who you want to play for."
Jones said he is "100% healthy" and "feels amazing" with no lingering issues or pain. He emphasized he doesn't have anything to prove to anyone and isn't here to step on any toes -- a nod to an already crowded receiver room that includes Evans and fellow Pro Bowler Chris Godwin, who is coming back from an ACL injury, and Gage.
In fact, the camaraderie of the Bucs receivers and the way Evans and Godwin have carried themselves off the field played a big role in bringing Jones to Tampa.
Jones saw action in 10 regular-season games and one postseason game with the Titans last year. His 434 receiving yards in the regular season were the lowest of his career, as was his lone touchdown catch, but he struggled with a hamstring injury nearly the entire season. Jones also contributed six catches for 62 receiving yards in the Titans' 19-16 loss in the divisional round of the playoffs.
"For me, I'm never frustrated. It's all about learning curves, right? So I always learn through everything I go through in life, because I control me," Jones said. "I control my emotions. I control everything. I don't let someone else control who I am or how I view things.
"People might say, 'OK, you wasn't successful in this.' But for me, I know what success is for me. I can't let someone else judge who Julio is. But I did have some nicks and knacks here and there. I never look backwards. It's all about the present. And for me right now, I feel great, I feel amazing. I've just got to stay that way. ... Just come out here and be who I am -- I don't need to be anybody else but that."
In an interview with WDAE Radio, Jones said that the Bucs were in the picture all along, adding that he also thought about playing with the Packers and Aaron Rodgers. The Colts and Saints also were interested, but Jones wanted the best opportunity to win a championship.
"He's still a good football player," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. "We've got to replace Gronk's catches. We've got an extra weapon, especially in the red zone, out in the open field, we'll put him to use. It gives us a chance to be more creative in some of the things we do. We're happy to have him."
They need to get Gronk back also, I think Gronk said he would only come back if Edelman joined the Bucs too. Wouldn't that be something, Brady, Jones, Godwin, Gronk, and Edelman.
No, Edelman should stay retired.
The band isn't getting back together? I was hoping we could get the band back together again for one last concert. This causes me great stress.
Oh sure, go ahead and smash my dreams, I'm used to it. Just add it to the list of things I'll never accomplish, like my dream of painting 16th century weird dudes!
Edelman is one guy that I doubt will return. And if he did I see it being in NE. I believe that his "brand" is more than somewhat tied into having played for the Pats only.
Ironically,Gronk's girlfriend doesn't believe that he'll stay retired long. This was from last week:
“I am an honest lady, and honestly, in my heart, I didn’t feel like this one is a forever one. So, I think maybe he’ll come back again,” Kostek said during Miami Swim Week. “I feel like him and Tom are just having fun like, ‘Retired, not retired, retired, not retired.’”
https://www.si.com/nfl/buccaneers/news/camille-kostek-rob-gronkowskis-girlfriend-does-not-think-his-2nd-retirement-is-permanent#:~:text=“I feel like him and,'”
Eric
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It would indeed. Gronk is loopy enough to do it just for grins, Jones is signed, they have Godwin, Tom is back in, and Edelman has recently dropped hints about a return to the "NFL", aka Tompa land. Edelman is the cherry on the cake, although he swears he's a Patriot for life, that was probably said during the Brady/Gronk/Edelman days. Playing football in the winter in New England is and can be a brutal experience, vs playing among the palm trees and nice weather.
One does wonder why "The Tom", with all the money in the world, and the following pic, really feels the need to play. Gotta be love of the game and another chance to get a ring.
I've thought about this many times, and I've come to the conclusion that Tom Brady does indeed love the game of football so much that he just doesn't want to let it go. I would love to see Gronk and Edelman join the Bucs, they would have some serious firepower!