Antonio Brown and the Buccaneers have reached an settlement on a one-year deal, in response to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. CBS Sports activities NFL insider Jason La Canfora had beforehand confirmed there was “excessive curiosity” on each side to get a deal accomplished, and that Tom Brady had been pushing for it. Brown, pending he passes COVID-19 protocol, will probably make his Buccaneers debut in opposition to the Saints in Week 9. 

The Seahawks had been thought-about to be within the combine to land Brown previous to Friday night time’s improvement. Tampa Bay, maybe in anticipation of signing Brown, lately freed up $4 million in cap area after restructuring guard Ali Marpet’s contract. 

How important is the addition of Brown to Tampa Bay? In response to SportsLine knowledge scientist, Stephen Oh, the Buccaneers’ simulated win complete has elevated from 10 to 10.4 wins. The Buccaneers’ odds at profitable the NFC South rose from 43.5% to 52.5%, whereas their odds at making the playoffs elevated from 76.9% to 84.9%. Tampa Bay’s odds at profitable the NFC has gone from 13.1% to 18%, whereas its odds at profitable this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl — which shall be held in Tampa — has elevated from 5.4% to eight.2%. 

The transfer reunites Brown, a seven-time Professional Bowler and four-time All-Professional receiver, with Brady, who was Brown’s teammate for a quick time throughout his ultimate season with the Patriots, and coach Bruce Arians, who was Brown’s offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh throughout his first two seasons within the NFL.

Arians, who’s in the midst of his second season because the Buccaneers’ coach, was requested about the potential for Tampa Bay signing Brown throughout an look on CBS Sports activities’ Tiki and Tierney again in March. 

“Yeah, it is not gonna occur,” he stated. “There is no room. It is simply not gonna occur. It is simply not a match right here.” 

It seems that Arians, with some coaxing from his quarterback, might have had a change of coronary heart, because the Buccaneers seem like near signing Brown, whose eight-game suspension from the league is about to run out. 

The Buccaneers are 4-2 coming into Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Raiders. They’re at present eighth within the NFL in scoring, averaging 29.5 factors per recreation. Brady, who signed a two-year take care of the Buccaneers this offseason, is finishing 64.1% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. 

With Chris Godwin hampered by accidents, Scott Miller has emerged as Tampa Bay’s second-leading receiver behind Mike Evans. The duo of Evans and Miller has mixed to catch 49 passes for 537 yards to date. Evans leads the Buccaneers with six landing receptions, whereas tight finish Rob Gronkowski, who ended his one-year retirement to affix the Buccaneers, has caught 17 of 28 targets for 218 yards. He caught first landing along with his new staff throughout final Sunday’s 38-10 win over the Packers. 

Brown, who turned 32 years outdated on July 10, was the NFL’s most prolific receiver from 2013-18. Throughout that span, Brown grew to become the primary participant in league historical past to catch a minimum of 100 passes for six consecutive seasons. HIs finest season happened in 2015 when, regardless of not having Ben Roethlisberger for 4 video games, he set profession highs with 136 receptions for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns.

 In 2017, Brown was gaining MVP momentum earlier than a decrease physique damage held him out of Pittsburgh’s ultimate two video games of the common season. Brown, regardless of not being 100% wholesome, returned for the Steelers‘ divisional spherical playoff recreation in opposition to the Jaguars, the place he managed to catch seven passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 45-42 loss.

Brown, who was traded from Pittsburgh to Oakland following an unceremonious ending with the Steelers, was launched by the Raiders earlier than the beginning of the 2019 season. He performed only one recreation with the Patriots (catching 4 passes for 56 yards and a landing) earlier than being launched following a number of allegations of sexual misconduct. Brown has remained unsigned since being launched by the Patriots final September.