Leonard Fournette played in only two games last season and hasn’t had any offers since the Bills cut him in January. But he’d like NFL teams to know he’s available, if they want an aging running back.
Fournette’s agents had Adam Schefter post on social media today that Fournette is in shape and wants to be in training camp.
Whether any team wants the 29-year-old Fournette is another question. After he was released by the Buccaneers in March of 2023 it took him seven months to sign with another team, and when the Bills finally signed him in October he managed just 12 carries for 40 yards in two games.
The fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Fournette had two 1,000-yard seasons in three years with the Jaguars and then won a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers. But at this point he’s a long shot to make a regular-season roster.
Well, here’s something you don’t see every day.
Former Falcons pass rusher John Abraham, while reflecting on his career during an appearance last week on The Water Boyz Show, made an explosive allegation about the 2012 Buccaneers.
Abraham claimed that, in the final game of the regular season, Bucs tackle Donald Penn gave him a warning.
“[Penn] was like, ‘Hey man, be careful out here. The coaches told us to hurt you all,’” Abraham said, via JoeBucsFan.com. “I was like, ‘Stop playing.’ He’s like, ‘Nah, they told us to hurt y’all. So we’re going to be going extra. After the whistle, we’re going to be doing everything to try to mess with y’all.’”
Penn, according to JoeBucsFan.com, has denied it.
Still, Abraham made the claim. On the record.
Coincidentally, Abraham suffered an injury in that game (as evidenced by the photo accompanying this story). It happened when he collided with an opponent.
On one hand, it’s hard to imagine any team verbalizing instructions to attempt to injure opponents during the 2012 season, not with the bounty scandal hitting the fan earlier that year. On the other hand, Bucs coach Greg Schiano is the guy who brought to the NFL the tactic of attacking victory formation, sending defensive linemen into the knees of offensive linemen, hopeful to force a fumble at a time when teams typically concede the outcome of a game.
For now, it’s one man’s word against another’s. The claim from Abraham is too specific and detailed to scream out fabrication. Still, Penn denied it.
We’ll see whether others from the 2012 Bucs roster or coaching staff chime in. Or whether the NFL will look into the situation.
When the Buccaneers signed quarterback Baker Mayfield as a free agent in 2023, few predicted that he would help lead the club to a division championship and a playoff win.
But that’s exactly what happened, as Mayfield turned in one of the best seasons of his career. He was then rewarded with a three-year deal worth up to $100 million with $50 million guaranteed just before the start of free agency.
In an interview with Jim Rome on Tuesday, Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey touted the leadership Mayfield has displayed since joining the franchise last year.
“Baker is a guy who you want to run through a wall for,” Kancey said. “He’s a guy that’s going to leave it out on the line. He’s very competitive. He’s a great guy overall, helps out in the community. He’s willing to give his lives to anyone on the team or anyone in general.
“He’s just a baller. He’s a dawg.”
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 draft, Mayfield set career highs in yards (4,044), touchdowns (28), and completion rate (64.3 percent) for the Buccaneers last year. He was a Pro Bowler for the first time and finished third in AP comeback player of the year voting.
Training camp is coming. When the 32 teams gather for preseason practices, several high-profile players might not be present, if they force the issue on getting new contracts.
So which names are the ones to watch? Funny you should ask, even if you didn’t.
The goal of this item is to list all of the potential veteran holdouts, with some explanation and analysis of each situation.
That said, there’s a chance some of the players listed below will “hold in.” That’s a fairly new trend where the player shows up for training camp but doesn’t practice while negotiations continue. The only problem with this approach is that, if/when there’s no deal, at some point it’s time to practice and play. For the player who never shows up, it’s easier to keep holding firm. And the pressure remains even more pronounced on the team if the player isn’t there.
The following list has no particular order to it, other than the fact that I went through the eight divisions from AFC East to AFC North to AFC South to AFC West before doing the same in the NFC when compiling the list.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
He wants a market deal. The Dolphins have yet to offer one, or they’d already have an agreement. At some point before training camp opens, the Dolphins will make an offer far better than the $23.1 million he’s due to make in his option year. To get what he wants, Tua’s best and only play might be to hold out.
Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill
He’s doing everything he can to put a happy face on a contract situation that has him nearly as unhappy as he was two years ago in Kansas City. Still, the market has passed him by. Even though he says he’s making $30 million per year, he’s at $25 million — behind teammate Jaylen Waddle.
Hill seems to believe the Dolphins will adjust his contract. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. Maybe, at most, they’ll move some of the $45 million he’s due to make in 2026 into 2024, where he’s south of $20 million. If that’s not good enough, maybe he’ll stay away in order to get a deal that compares favorably to other high-end receivers.
Patriots linebacker Matt Judon
Judon skipped some of the offseason program as he enters the final year of his contract. He showed up for mandatory minicamp.
Last year, he held in. This year, he said he won’t be “throwing tantrums.”
One way to not throw tantrums is to not show up. Still, he has made it clear that he plans to show up. While plans can change, his mindset as of last month was to show up and get to work.
Jets linebacker Haason Reddick
The Jets traded for a guy who wanted a new contract without signing him to a new contract. It should be no surprise, then, that he skipped the entire offseason program.
Will he show up for camp? No one knows at this point. The possibility that he won’t underscores the magnitude of the mistake the Jets made in trading for him without getting him signed.
Yeah, the Jets supposedly thought they had a verbal understanding with Reddick that he’d show up for the offseason and they’d eventually do something with his contract. As we’ve seen time and again, verbal understandings aren’t worth the paper they aren’t printed on.
Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase
On the day Justin Jefferson got his new deal, the Bengals could have worked out a contract for Chase that same day. And they should have.
It should be easy to get to the new-money number Chase wants. Although Chase showed up for mandatory minicamp, he could decide to take a stand if the Bengals keep dragging their feet.
The good news for the Bengals is that receiver Tee Higgins has signed his franchise tender. Since training camp opens after the deadline for doing a long-term deal, there’s nothing to be gained by staying away. He has opted to accept $21.8 million for 2024, followed by a likely shot at free agency in March, given the team’s longstanding habit of tagging a player for one year before letting him walk away.
Browns receiver Amari Cooper
Cooper skipped mandatory minicamp in an effort to get a deal to replace the final year of his current contract, with a base salary of $20 million. If he doesn’t get a new deal by the start of camp, a holdout can’t be ruled out.
Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton
Sutton showed up for mandatory minicamp despite wanting a new deal. (He’s due to make only $13 million this season.) He hasn’t ruled out a holdout.
Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb
Lamb reportedly won’t attend camp without a deal that replaces the $17.9 million he’s due to make in the final year of his rookie contract. Will the Cowboys give him what he wants? As explained Monday, there’s a way to do it while also creating current-year cap space. Which would be a win-win for a team desperately hoping to engineer some wins in the playoffs.
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons
Parsons has said he’ll be patient when it comes to getting a new contract. He shouldn’t be.
He’s one of the best defensive players in football. He shouldn’t risk his health for less than $3 million in 2024. He should refuse to practice or play until he gets paid.
Yes, he attended mandatory minicamp. So did Ezekiel Elliott in 2019. And then Zeke didn’t show up for training camp.
Without a new contract, Parsons should do the same.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love
There’s currently no reason to think the Packers and Love won’t get a new deal done before training camp opens. If they don’t, however, why should Love show up?
He’s due to make only $11 million this year. He needs to be willing to take a stand, if his contract situation isn’t resolved before the Packers head to training camp.
Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs
With only $18.44 million in salary for 2024, he’s been looking for a new deal all year. He showed up at mandatory minicamp. Again, that’s no guarantee he’ll show up for training camp unless he gets a contract offer that prompts him to sign on the dotted line.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara
Kamara left mandatory minicamp early, due to frustration with contract talks. He wants security beyond 2024, given that the team will tear up next year’s phony-baloney $25 million compensation package.
Will he skip camp without a new deal? We’ll find out when camp opens.
49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk
Much has been said about Aiyuk and the 49ers and whether he will or won’t be traded. He ultimately needs to ask himself whether he’s willing to show up and play for $14.1 million in 2024 — or whether he wants to draw a line in the sand.
Short of a long-term, market-level deal, the 49ers could give him a sweetener and/or agree not to tag him in 2025. For now, there’s been nothing other than a staring contest augmented by the various things Aiyuk has said, on social media and elsewhere.
When it’s time to show up for camp, we’ll see if he does.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford
Stafford has wanted more guarantees for a while. He should also want more money. A deal hasn’t been done yet.
If it doesn’t happen before camp opens, who knows? Given the lack of high-end options on the roster, Stafford had plenty of leverage. If he chooses to use it.
As a rookie, Buccaneers outside linebacker YaYa Diaby was a significant contributor to the club’s defense in 2023.
After Tampa Bay finished No. 7 in points allowed and won the NFC South last year, Diaby is anticipating the unit will be even better in 2024.
“It’s great, man, having guys like Calijah [Kancey] with me, you got Logan Hall, even Vita [Vea] -- he’s a vet, but you know you’ve got to love Vita,” Diaby said in an interview with NFL Media over the weekend. “You’ve got Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka], and all the young guys, and we just got Chris Braswell, and it’s just awesome, man.
“I just feel like a lot of people are asleep on Tampa’s defense, but I feel like this year, we’re going to really wake a lot of people up.”
The Bucs did finish No. 23 in yards allowed last season. But turned in a strong defensive performance in Week 18 to defeat the Panthers and clinch the NFC South, shutting out the division rival. Then Tampa Bay held Philadelphia to just nine points in the wild card round of the playoffs.
Diaby said he’s personally improved by changing his body so he can be on the field more often. Though he recorded 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss as a rookie, he was on the field for just 46 percent of the club’s defensive snaps.
“[F]or me it’s the growth I’m seeing in myself from OTAs these past couple weeks, just being able to pick up on things,” Diaby said. “Last year I was in my head a lot, being a rookie and not knowing a lot and being in coach [Todd] Bowles’ defense. That’s a lot for a rookie to come in and take on. So going into Year 2, I’m super confident, and just talking about it gets me excited, because of how ready I am to go.”
The Buccaneers announced the team will open 10 practices for viewing during training camp, but only two of those open to the general public.
The two practices open to the general public are Thursday, July 25 and Friday, Aug. 2.
The Bucs will host seven practices exclusively for Krewe Members, suite owners, corporate partners and other select groups, and will conclude its open portion of training camp with Military Day.
Nine of the team’s 10 viewable practices will take place in the morning, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The team will hold one night practice in the team’s indoor practice facility on Tuesday, July 30, starting at 7 p.m. and open to Krewe Members.
All other practice sessions are scheduled to be held outside on the primary practice fields at AdventHealth Training Center and will feature covered bleacher seating.
“We look forward to once again welcoming our fans back to the Advent Health Training Center for the start of training camp as we prepare for another memorable season of Buccaneers football,” Bucs COO Brian Ford said in a statement. “Our players and coaches love the added energy that our fans bring during training camp, and this season we have raised the number of open practices to 10 in order to accommodate even more fans.”
The team’s first fully padded, full-contact practice is scheduled for Monday, July 29, which also is the first practice open exclusively to Krewe Members.
In addition to the practices open to Krewe Members and the general public, the team also will have exclusive viewing opportunities for select groups. The first day of training camp, Wednesday, July 24, will mark the annual Community Impact Day, highlighting local Tampa Bay area community groups. On Sunday, July 28, the Bucs will partake in Back Together Weekend, a league-wide initiative that celebrates local communities with club-led fan events. The practice will be open to Jr. Bucs Fan Club members, local youth flag football league participants, and guests from the Special Olympics, who will participate in post-practice drills with the players.
On Thursday, Aug. 1, the Bucs will host a special viewing of practice for the annual Women of Red Day at Training Camp, presented by AdventHealth, to highlight and celebrate female fans. The team’s final open practice date will be Wednesday, Aug. 7, when it hosts military personnel for an exclusive outing and viewing opportunity for Military Day.
For more information, visit www.buccaneers.com.
Last month, former Buccaneers receiver Deven Thompkins was publicly accused of domestic violence. He has denied it. Now, he has sued over it.
PFT has obtained the lawsuit filed on Friday by Thompkins against his estranged wife, Maria Castilhos. In the 14-page civil complaint, Thompkins alleges defamation and tortious interference with his NFL contract.
The lawsuit includes allegations that paint the picture of a very rocky relationship, to say the least. At paragraph 6, for example, Thompkins alleges that, on October 31, 2022, Castilhos “donned a ski mask and attacked Plaintiff’s then-current girlfriend at a party by punching her in the nose and ripping the hair extensions from her head.”
At paragraph 13, Thompkins details an alleged scheme to blackmail him. “Specifically,” the document explains, “Defendant threatened that, unless Plaintiff complied with her extortive demands, Defendant would release photographs of apparent injuries to her face and arms, along with videos of Plaintiff verbally arguing with Defendant, and would falsely report to the public that the injuries were a result of domestic violence perpetrated by Plaintiff.”
Then, during an effort at reconciliation, she allegedly said she would permanently delete photos that she had claimed showed domestic abuse. “I’m done blackmailing you,” she allegedly texted to Thompkins, as detailed in paragraph 18. “You have my word.”
In paragraphs 22 to 24, Thompkins alleges that, after he signed a one-year, $985,000 deal with the Buccaneers in February 2024, she “renewed her extortive threats that she would falsely accuse Plaintiff of domestic violence unless he agreed to pay her more alimony.” (Emphasis in the original document.)
In May 2024, she allegedly posted videos on TikTok accusing Thompkins of domestic abuse. He denies causing any of the injuries shown in the video. He also accuses her of altering the photos to fabricate injuries.
The Buccaneers released Thompkins roughly a week after the first TikTok video was posted.
The lawsuit seeks a minimum payment of the $985,000 he lost after being released by the Buccaneers, plus other specific forms of compensation.
The reality is that the defendant likely won’t have that kind of money, even if Thompkins wins. As a result, the case seems to be an effort by Thompkins to clear his name, by proving in court that (as he alleges) she lied about him.
For those who are wrongfully accused, it’s really the only way to put the toothpaste back in the tube — even if there likely will always be some toothpaste that never gets cleaned up.
Undrafted in 2022, Thompkins spent two years with the Buccaneers. In 22 regular-season games, he has 22 catches for 115 yards and one touchdown. He also has 10 rushing attempts for 82 yards.
Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David has played his entire 13-year career in Tampa Bay, but he wasn’t interested in sticking around for a rebuilding project.
Which means that after Tom Brady retired, David thought he might retire or leave in free agency after the 2023 season — until the Bucs pulled off a surprise NFC South title and run to the divisional round of the playoffs. David acknowledged that the thought that 2023 would be his last season occurred to him before he and the team played so well.
“Or I would’ve moved on, just to be honest with you. But I’m happy I made the decision I made,” David said, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Although 2023 was the last year of David’s contract, he said he knew this offseason that he would re-sign with the Bucs, and the negotiation was a breeze.
“Honestly, that didn’t take long,” David said. “I definitely still love the game of football. I still want to play and I still feel like I’m playing at a high level. I still feel like I can compete with the best and obviously the organization felt the same way. It was a no-brainer for me to come back. Us being competitive also played a main part in it. I’m definitely looking forward to another great season.”
After winning the Super Bowl following the 2020 season, the Bucs won the NFC South three straight years from 2021 to 2023. They’ve gotten used to winning in Tampa, and David doesn’t want to be anywhere else.
Add the Buccaneers to the list of teams who have signed all of their draft picks.
The team announced that offensive lineman Graham Barton has signed his contract. The first-round pick has a four-year deal with a team option for a fifth season.
Second-round pick Chris Braswell signed earlier this week and the team’s other five picks got their contracts done earlier in the offseason.
Barton played left tackle at Duke, but he is slated to be at center in Tampa during his rookie season. He has not been named the starter at this point, but that would seem to be the likely outcome of this summer’s competition.
When wide receiver Sterling Shepard signed with the Buccaneers earlier this month, he said his college teammate Baker Mayfield got the ball rolling on bringing him to Tampa.
Shepard said Mayfield texted him to see if he was in shape and his positive response was followed by a call from the Bucs about joining the team. Mayfield confirmed that was the case when he spoke to reporters from the team’s mandatory minicamp on Wednesday.
“We’re down on receivers and we needed some guys to come in and step up,” Mayfield said, via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. “He’s a veteran guy that’s going into year nine. He’s had some injuries in the past, but he’s looking for a fresh start and obviously I can relate to that part.”
Mayfield called Shepard an “unbelievable guy” in terms of how hard he works and that he “is gonna push everybody around him” as he works to make the team this summer, so there’s more than just the chance to reunite with an old friend behind the move to add Shepard to the roster.