Hats off to Jake Camarda, but the rookie punter shouldn’t be the Buccaneers’ game MVP.
Camarda was handed the lone game ball in Tampa Bay’s 16-13 win over the Rams on Sunday. He punted six times for 357 yards, a gross punting average of 59.5 yards, tying an NFL record for a game.
Jake Camarda for MVP
— Sports by Tampa Bay Times (@TBTimes_Sports) November 6, 2022
His 74-yard punt ties the franchise record. pic.twitter.com/JW6IoWrA6D
If your punter is your best player, especially in an offense with Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette, that’s a problem.
Tampa Bay’s offense has seen a major dip in production since its Super Bowl season in 2020, and the players aren’t happy.
On his "Let’s Go!" podcast the morning after the win (h/t New York Post), Brady said the Bucs’ lack of effort is “probably the most embarrassing part of our team." He also noted the need to eliminate communication issues.
Fournette is “extremely frustrated” too, so much so that rookie running back Rachaad White had to console the veteran on the sideline, per CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson.
The Bucs, who have reclaimed first in the dreadful NFC South, need their stars to shine when they play the high-scoring Seahawks in Week 10 in Munich on Sunday.
They’ll have plenty to discuss on the 11-hour flight to Germany.
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