/Executive director DeMaurice Smith: Practices are not in the best interest of playing an entire season.Tom Brady and his Bucs teammates who continue to conduct offseason practices have another loud voice telling them to stop: NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith.“Those practices are not in the best interests of player safety,” Smith told USA Today. “They’re not in the best interest of protecting our players heading into training camp. And I don’t think they are in the best interest of us getting through an entire season.”NFLPA Dr. Thom Mayer told members June 20 that...…/Executive director DeMaurice Smith: Practices are not in the best interest of playing an entire season.Tom Brady and his Bucs teammates who continue to conduct offseason practices have another loud voice telling them to stop: NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith.“Those practices are not in the best interests of player safety,” Smith told USA Today. “They’re not in the best interest of protecting our players heading into training camp. And I don’t think they are in the best interest of us getting through an entire season.”NFLPA Dr. Thom Mayer told members June 20 that...WW…

/The Bucs defensive tackle underwent a procedure a couple weeks ago for an unspecified injury.The Bucs could be without two of their top defensive players to start training camp.Defensive tackle Vita Vea suffered an unspecified hand injury and had a minor surgical procedure a few weeks ago. He is expected to miss some time at the start of training camp, scheduled to begin July 28, but is not expected to have limitations once the regular season begins.On Friday, Vea, 25, anchored a run defense that ranked tops in the NFL last year, allowing an average 73.8 yards per game, playing next to...…/The Bucs defensive tackle underwent a procedure a couple weeks ago for an unspecified injury.The Bucs could be without two of their top defensive players to start training camp.Defensive tackle Vita Vea suffered an unspecified hand injury and had a minor surgical procedure a few weeks ago. He is expected to miss some time at the start of training camp, scheduled to begin July 28, but is not expected to have limitations once the regular season begins.On Friday, Vea, 25, anchored a run defense that ranked tops in the NFL last year, allowing an average 73.8 yards per game, playing next to...WW…

/The Hillsborough County Commission will vote on the upgrades provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.TAMPA — Fans and event staff may feel safer attending USF and Bucs games at Raymond James Stadium this fall. Approximately $10.4 million in federal funding has been approved for upgrades to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.More than 40 modifications — everything from touch-free toilets and sinks, hand-sanitizing stations and removable seat bottoms to assure social distancing — for use by the Tampa Sports Authority are awaiting a vote by the...…/The Hillsborough County Commission will vote on the upgrades provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.TAMPA — Fans and event staff may feel safer attending USF and Bucs games at Raymond James Stadium this fall. Approximately $10.4 million in federal funding has been approved for upgrades to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.More than 40 modifications — everything from touch-free toilets and sinks, hand-sanitizing stations and removable seat bottoms to assure social distancing — for use by the Tampa Sports Authority are awaiting a vote by the...WW…

/The quarterback appears to be the one conducting the two-hour workout Tuesday morning.TAMPA — About 20 minutes after sunrise, just before 7 a.m. Tuesday, the luxury vehicles began rolling past the guarded entrance at Berkeley Preparatory School.The Tesla coupe, followed by a Porsche and a Ford truck or two, parked near the artificial turf football field, tucked away in a well-secluded enclave of the sprawling campus. That’s where Tom Brady and about eight of his Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates began a two-hour throwing session.Brady wasn’t the only quarterback. Backups Blaine Gabbert and...…/The quarterback appears to be the one conducting the two-hour workout Tuesday morning.TAMPA — About 20 minutes after sunrise, just before 7 a.m. Tuesday, the luxury vehicles began rolling past the guarded entrance at Berkeley Preparatory School.The Tesla coupe, followed by a Porsche and a Ford truck or two, parked near the artificial turf football field, tucked away in a well-secluded enclave of the sprawling campus. That’s where Tom Brady and about eight of his Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates began a two-hour throwing session.Brady wasn’t the only quarterback. Backups Blaine Gabbert and...WW…

/The behind-the-scenes story of the Buccaneers landing the greatest NFL free agent of all time. TAMPA — It was last Wednesday evening, the first day of the new league year, when the Bucs called Tom Brady.Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht was a scout with New England in 2000 and was in the draft room that year when the Patriots selected the quarterback out of Michigan in the sixth round, but he had no close personal relationship with Brady.On this night, Licht spoke first, then it was Bucs coach Bruce Arians’ turn.The conversation lasted about 90 minutes. Brady did a lot of the talking....…/The behind-the-scenes story of the Buccaneers landing the greatest NFL free agent of all time. TAMPA — It was last Wednesday evening, the first day of the new league year, when the Bucs called Tom Brady.Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht was a scout with New England in 2000 and was in the draft room that year when the Patriots selected the quarterback out of Michigan in the sixth round, but he had no close personal relationship with Brady.On this night, Licht spoke first, then it was Bucs coach Bruce Arians’ turn.The conversation lasted about 90 minutes. Brady did a lot of the talking....WW…

/The new day dawned with the Bucs quarterback already making plans for a return trip to the NFL title game.TAMPA ― By 8 o’clock the morning after the Bucs’ win in Super Bowl 55, Clyde Christensen had been awake for just a short time and was enjoying a visit from his grandchildren. It had been only four or five hours since the quarterbacks coach had left the team’s postgame party at the Florida Aquarium.That’s when Christensen’s phone lit up with a FaceTime call from Tom Brady.“He said, ‘Hey, I didn’t see you after the game. I just wanted to tell you thanks and what a great journey and how...…/The new day dawned with the Bucs quarterback already making plans for a return trip to the NFL title game.TAMPA ― By 8 o’clock the morning after the Bucs’ win in Super Bowl 55, Clyde Christensen had been awake for just a short time and was enjoying a visit from his grandchildren. It had been only four or five hours since the quarterbacks coach had left the team’s postgame party at the Florida Aquarium.That’s when Christensen’s phone lit up with a FaceTime call from Tom Brady.“He said, ‘Hey, I didn’t see you after the game. I just wanted to tell you thanks and what a great journey and how...WW…

/Tom Brady throws one more fantastic pass, underhand.TAMPA — This is why people move here, isn’t it?A boat, some friends, a few beverages and an 83-degree afternoon in mid-February.It was all that, plus and the gleaming Vince Lombardi Trophy on Wednesday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrated their Super Bowl 55 victory with a boat parade on the Hillsborough River.Sure, Tom Brady has won a few Super Bowls, but sitting at the controls of his custom, 40-foot Vida A Vida — just call it the GOAT boat — in the perfect Florida sunshine with his son on his lap must beat doing this in icy...…/Tom Brady throws one more fantastic pass, underhand.TAMPA — This is why people move here, isn’t it?A boat, some friends, a few beverages and an 83-degree afternoon in mid-February.It was all that, plus and the gleaming Vince Lombardi Trophy on Wednesday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrated their Super Bowl 55 victory with a boat parade on the Hillsborough River.Sure, Tom Brady has won a few Super Bowls, but sitting at the controls of his custom, 40-foot Vida A Vida — just call it the GOAT boat — in the perfect Florida sunshine with his son on his lap must beat doing this in icy...WW…

/From a season-opening loss to seven straight wins, the 43-year old quarterback never lost his grip or focus on the end game. TAMPA — It’s a laboratory befitting a six-time Super Bowl champion. Or a garage on Davis Islands, but football geniuses can work anywhere.Bucs quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen arrived at Tom Brady’s mansion — the one he was — greeted with quite a sight.A dozen or so footballs sat perched on a drying rack Brady had bought on Amazon. Next to them were several different brushes and various mixtures of leather cleaners and conditioners.A Bucs equipment manager was...…/From a season-opening loss to seven straight wins, the 43-year old quarterback never lost his grip or focus on the end game. TAMPA — It’s a laboratory befitting a six-time Super Bowl champion. Or a garage on Davis Islands, but football geniuses can work anywhere.Bucs quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen arrived at Tom Brady’s mansion — the one he was — greeted with quite a sight.A dozen or so footballs sat perched on a drying rack Brady had bought on Amazon. Next to them were several different brushes and various mixtures of leather cleaners and conditioners.A Bucs equipment manager was...WW…

/The NFL still hopes to “fill the stadium with fans” at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7, but contingency plans are in place.TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Bucs have started this season with no fans in the stands at Raymond James Stadium. Is it possible Super Bowl 55, slated for Feb. 7, will be fan-less as well, or at least not played before a full-capacity crowd?The NFL certainly is looking at contingency plans if the current coronavirus pandemic hasn’t subsided by early next year.“Well, we certainly have to prepare for that," said Jonathan Barker, head of live events and production for the NFL....…/The NFL still hopes to “fill the stadium with fans” at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7, but contingency plans are in place.TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Bucs have started this season with no fans in the stands at Raymond James Stadium. Is it possible Super Bowl 55, slated for Feb. 7, will be fan-less as well, or at least not played before a full-capacity crowd?The NFL certainly is looking at contingency plans if the current coronavirus pandemic hasn’t subsided by early next year.“Well, we certainly have to prepare for that," said Jonathan Barker, head of live events and production for the NFL....WW…