Peter King Is Worried About Chris Godwin (And Rob Gronkowski, Too) – Joe Bucs Fan

Looking at the Bucs.

It frightens Joe to think that Tom Bradys two more trusted targets may not be with the Bucs to begin the season, and may miss a lot of time.

A guy who has a backchannel for intel from One Buc Palace, former Bucs defensive tackle and current BSPN talking head Booger McFarland, said recently that Bucs receiver Chris Godwin should not be expected to return until after Thanksgiving. Yikes.

And then there is the will he/wont he drama from foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski. If he doesnt return, hes done, that is it. The Bucs playing without Godwin maybe until the final month of the season and without Gronk? That gives Joe the shivers.

Well, per Daylight-Savings-Time-scared, crossword-puzzle-puzzled, Elon-Musk-peeved, Barstool-Sports-triggered, almond-milk-sipping, hot-dog-eating-contest-protesting, mock-draft-scowling,L.L.-Bean-wearing, tennis fans advocate, Second Amendment abolitionist,Mike-Florio-arguing,parrot-insensitive,chewing-with-his-mouth-open,soup-gulping,California-train-romancing, anti-football proliferation,outhouse-admiring,airline-napping,steerage-flying,Yogi Berra-worshiping,urinal-picture-taking,video-game-playing,Taylor-Swift-listening,pickpocket-thwarting,Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating,pedestrian-bumping,olive oil-lapping,popcorn-munching,coffee-slurping,fried-chicken-eating,oatmeal-loving,circle-jerking, craft-beer-chugging, cricket-watching,scone-loathing,college football-nave,baseball-box-score-reading,NPR-honk,filthy-hotel-staying,fight-instigating,barista-training, Budweiser-tolerant,baseball-scorecard-keeping, pasta-feasting, vomit-dodging scrooge, Kay-Adams-following, Coors-Light-souring, pineapple-upside-down-cake-eating social activist and NFL insider Peter King of NBC Sports fame, Joe and all Bucs fans should get the shivers.

King put out his team rankings Nos 1-32 this morning and he has the Bucs at No. 6, behind both the Rams and the Packers. A big reason is Godwins unknown status. King likely would have dropped the Bucs a few more spots if he knew Gronk was retiring.

6. Tampa Bay (14-5, lost in the divisional round to the Rams)

I could have put the Bucs ahead of Green Bay. Maybe I should have. I just dont take for granted that 45-year-old Brady will just pick up where he left off. Even with bottom-feeders Carolina and Atlanta to get fat off, the Bucs will be seriously challenged by the Saints (4-0 versus Brady and Tampa in the regular season in the last two years) for division supremacy, even post-Payton. It worries me, too, that both starting guards, Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa, left in the offseason. Bradys a statue, and anything that affects his protection is an issue. Career backup Aaron Stinnie and ex-Pat Shaq Mason have big jobs to do at left and right guard.

Have you noticed a trend in the NFC? Every top contender is somehow diminished. The Rams without Von Miller and maybe Beckham. The Packers without Davante Adams. Dallas without Amari Cooper and Randy Gregory. The Saints without long-time coach Sean Payton. Arizona without Chandler Jones, Christian Kirk and, for a six-game suspension, DeAndre Hopkins. The Bucs are part of that trend. Theyve got two new guards protecting Brady, Rob Gronkowskis future is uncertain, and they might be without Chris Godwinrecovering from Jan. 3 ACL surgeryat the start of the season.

The Bucs scored 30 points a game last year, thanks in large part to the chemistry between Brady and Chris Godwin. In his last two full games last season, Godwin was targeted 32 times by Brady and caught 25 passes. Were all used to Brady figuring it out with whoever he has to catch the ball, and hell still have Mr. Reliable, Mike Evans. But if Gronk and Godwin are missing in September yikes. The Bucs open at Dallas, at New Orleans, Green Bay home and Kansas City home. Not too friendly.

Its impossible to not like Tampa Bay. The Bucs are 30-9 since Brady walked on campus, and hes still here, coming off leading the NFL in passing yards. I doubt the coaching change to Todd Bowles will be much of a factor. The schedule might be the biggest factor of all. Other than four against the Panthers and Cards and one against Seattle, I dont see any fluff.

Joe does believe there will be a difference between former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles. How could there not be? But that may only be a difference of a game, maybe two.

Godwin missing time is bad and the longer he is out the worse it is for the Bucs. If Gronk throws in the towel, then the Bucs are looking at Cam Brate (solid receiver, not a blocker) and two rookies at tight end, or the free agent market.

Not very comforting.

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Peter King Is Worried About Chris Godwin (And Rob Gronkowski, Too) - Joe Bucs Fan