Florida Football Insiders
Bucs QB Fitzpatrick repeats as NFC Player of the Week
Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
The role continues for "Fitzmagic" in Tampa Bay. As for the second straight week, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, off of yet another 400 yard, four touchdown performance Sunday against the Eagles.
The NFL made it official earlier on Wednesday:
Congrats to the NFC Players of the Week (Week 2): Ryan Fitzpatrick, @Grindin_59 + @RobbieGould09!
FULL: https://t.co/1HpP7AOg5M pic.twitter.com/nlcBFXiIl2
— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2018
As we have been writing, Fitzpatrick has had two record-breaking weeks at the Helm of the Buccaneers. He has become the only quarterback in the 99 year history of the NFL to throw for at least 400 yards and four or more touchdowns in the first two games of any season.
And, those outstanding numbers have led Tampa Bay to a surprising 2- 0 start against a schedule that most believed would be very difficult at New Orleans and against the champion Eagles.
Fitzpatrick was great on the very first play of the game Sunday, hitting DeSean Jackson with a 75-yard bomb for a touchdown. That is the longest play in Buccaneers history on the opening play of any game. He went on to spread the ball around throwing another 75 yard TD to tight end O.J. Howard in the first half, and then TD passes to receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans in the red zone.
Fitzpatrick is also the first Buccaneer player in history to garner player of the week honors in back-to-back weeks. He also is now tied with Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger for third place for most player of the week honors since the start of the 2014 season with six.
Aaron Rodgers has eight and Cam Newton has seven in that same time frame.
The voting is significant again this week, as Fitzpatrick could have easily lost out to Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins, who also threw for over 400 yards at Lambeau Field against the Packers in a wild 29-29 tie.
However, the "Fitzmagic" is just too much, apparently, at the moment.
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Jivan
What QB controversy? Two straight offensive player of the week and you even entertain the idea of taking him out? If you were Coach Koetter and need to win right now to keep your job? What would you do?
Several Bucs and Jaguars make PFWA All Rookie Team
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
The Pro Football Writers Association unveiled their 2019 All-Rookie team Tuesday, and there were four state NFL players on the list.
The PFWA selected 22 total players for offense and defense, plus skill position players for special teams.
The 2019 PFWA All-Rookie Team and rookie honors: pic.twitter.com/mmHVHWWQFx
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two of their defenders made the 11-person defensive list. First round pick outside linebacker, Devin White, who was named the Rookie of the month by the NFL for both November and December is there. White came on strong in the second half of the season, including scoring two defensive touchdowns on fumble returns down the stretch.
Also on the list was Buccaneers rookie defensive back Sean Murphy-Bunting, who's play improved as the season went on. Murphy-Bunting also recorded a game-clinching interception return for a touchdown against Detroit in December.
For the Jaguars, their first-round pick Josh Allen is also part of the all-defensive unit. Allen recorded 10.5 sacks and had another 11 tackles for loss in his inaugural season in Jacksonville. The PFWAA also placed Jaguars right tackle Jawaan Taylor on their all rookie offensive team. Taylor was solid as a starter on the right side of the Jags line.
Although it's not surprising is that the writers selected former number one overall pick Kyler Murray of Arizona, as their top rookie quarterback, there was an argument to be made for Jaguars rookie Gardner Minshew at that position.
Minshew won six games as a starter, including leading the Jaguars to three different last-minute victories, which was one more than what Murray had this season despite him having better stats and more starts.
PFWA did not place a Dolphin on any of their all-rookie teams. Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, whom they took in the first round, could have received some consideration as he played solidly this season.
The writers selected defensive end Nick Bosa of the 49ers, not only at their Defensive player of the year, but their overall Rookie of the Year for 2019. They did choose Oakland running back Josh Jacobs, as their offensive Rookie of the Year.
The NFL will announce its own all-rookie teams and Rookies of the year prior to the playing of Super Bowl 54 in Miami next month.
Booger McFarland out of Monday Night Football booth?
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Big changes are apparently coming to ESPN Monday Night Football coverage, and it looks as though after two seasons former Buccaneers and Colts player turned broadcaster, Anthony "Booger" McFarland, will be out of the Monday night booth.
First there was a report on Tuesday from New York Post sports media writer, Andrew Marchand, that ESPN was intending to make serious changes, first with the lead producer of Monday Night Football, Jay Rothman.
NEW COLUMN: Tony Romo is just one wild card in ESPN's 'Monday Night Football' shakeup https://t.co/AbhzkY98jV via @nypostsports
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) January 7, 2020
Rothman, who still has a deal with the network, will apparently be re-assigned and perhaps, to college football.
Marchand theorized that Rohman's departure on Monday Nights signals significant change, including putting new broadcasters in the booth, as well.
Marchand also wrote that ESPN, which has tried for the last couple of years to hire Super Bowl winning quarterback Peyton Manning to be in the booth may have success this time. That's because, Manning's younger brother Eli, who is a free agent, may very well retire at 38 years of age after this past season from the NFL. Peyton Manning hosted a series of lighthearted half hour feature shows this past season on the ESPN+ app.
Next, Marchand wrote about CBS lead analyst and former Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo, who is also slated to be a broadcasting free agent. Marchand said that Romo could be a possibility to enter the Monday Night booth, however, he's wanting a significant raise from his reported $3 million salary.
And, it seems that CBS, which will have Romo with Jim Nantz on it's Sunday coverage of the Kansas City- Houston Texans playoff game, will try to keep that tandem together, even if it means paying big for Romo.
A source has told F.F.I. that McFarland has mentioned that he may be moved off of the Monday Night Football broadcast, but that he could be kept with partner Joe Tessitore on a college football package. Marchand also wrote this in his New York Post Tuesday item.
Tessitore previously broadcasted college football for ESPN before landing the Monday Night play-by-play gig two years ago. That's when the network put Sean McDonough, who had done the play-by-play the previous two years on Mondays himself, back on college football.
So, this would obviously be following a similar pattern.
McFarland, who still lives in Tampa, was previously a studio analyst for the launch of the SEC Network in 2014 and later on Saturday ABC football coverage in 2015 and 16, as well.
2019 was McFarland's first year full time in the Monday night booth. The previous season he was the "field analyst" riding on a specialized elevated golf cart (shown above) behind one of the team benches.
That was while, Tessitore was joined by Cowboys tight end Jason Witten in the booth for game analysis. It definitely provided for some awkward moments with Tessitore and Witten not having McFarland with them and the three couldn't see each other to find out whom should be talking next.
Eventually, at the end of last year, ESPN put McFarland in the booth with Tessitore and Witten, as a try out. Witten then decided to return to play in the NFL this past season with the Cowboys, and ESPN left Tessitore and McFarland together, as its broadcasters for the 50th season of Monday Night Football.
McFarland spent eight seasons in the NFL, and was part of two Superbowl winning teams with the Buccaneers in 2002 and the Colts in 2006. He's a former #1 draft pick of the Bucs in 1999 out of LSU, and was also, one of several analysts on the ESPN set for their coverage of the 2019 NFL Draft.
McFarland has drawn recent criticism for on air blunders, where he got confused doing a Vikings game late in the year that they had lost the "Minneapolis Miracle" game. However, Minnesota won that playoff game two years ago dramatically in the final seconds vs. the Saints on a Stefon Diggs TD catch and run.
Then, on the larger stage Saturday, and as Marchand referenced in the Post Tuesday, McFarland got confused at the end of the Bills vs. Texans playoff game frantic finish with the Bills driving.
McFarland suggested that the Bills run the ball on the next play to set up a tying field goal (which was 3rd down) and then, hurry to spike the ball-stop the clock. And, that would have obviously been on fourth down ending their possession and chance to tie. The Bills eventually got the clock stopped and kicked the tying field goal for OT.
It's unclear whether the network would seek another significant name for the Monday booth, if neither Peyton Manning nor Romo are available?
But, if they're moving both Tessitore and McFarland to college football together for this fall, they may end up swapping spots with longtime ESPN SportsCenter anchor and play-by-play man Steve Levy, and his partner and former NFL quarterback, Brian Griese.
Levy and Griese worked the second half of the Monday Night Football opening week doubleheader this past year, as the Raiders played the Broncos. Levy and Griese have also been the preseason broadcasters for Bronco games the last couple of years with Griese's natural tie of having quarterbacked in Denver.
It is also believed that ESPN wants to promote former front office executive Louis Riddick, whom they have used as a studio analyst over the last few seasons. Riddick currently serves in that role pregame and post game at the stadiums for Monday Night Football.
ESPN used Riddick in the booth with Levy and Griese for the regular-season game that they did back in September.
ESPN generally announces their broadcast teams for the fall in late April or early May.
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