[ad_1]
TAMPA, Fla. — Following a disappointing 31-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got right to work on making some improvements for 2023.
On Thursday, the Bucs fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich after he spent four seasons with the team. Eight other coaches won’t be joining next season’s staff, either, including three who decided to retire.
With changes already underway, here is a look at what else is in store this offseason, including pending free agents and areas of improvement:
Where things stand with the Bucs and Brady
The Bucs are projected at $43 million over the salary cap, according to Roster Management data. The team’s direction and how much it’ll want to borrow from future years will largely be dictated by whether Tom Brady comes back, chooses a different team or retires.
“We will meet with Tom, we will meet with everybody else and we will meet with the brass to come up with a plan and see where we are,” coach Todd Bowles said. “If that’s the case, hopefully it doesn’t have to come after free agency and everything else like that. You want to have plans going into it, so we will do our due diligence, meet with the parties involved, and we will come up with a plan one way or the other.”
If Brady’s decision (if it is to play) is influenced by proximity to his kids, there are a couple of options. If Brady chooses to remain in Tampa, he is several hours away from his ex-wife, Gisele Bundchen, and their two children, Benjamin and Vivian, in Miami. While his oldest son, Jack, lives in New York with his mother, Bridget Moynahan.
General manager Jason Licht will make every effort to retain Brady despite the Bucs’ struggles this season — finishing 8-9 during the regular season — and what many perceived as a goodbye message in Brady’s postgame news conference. Should he stay, Licht could give Brady a say in the hiring of a new offensive coordinator.
Starters on defense among host of other…
[ad_2]
