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There used to be a belief that teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers focused mostly on big-time college programs like Florida State, Washington and others to find their NFL-worthy talents.
Gradually, and with the help of open-minded decision-makers like Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, smaller programs are starting to get looks they wouldn’t have in those days.
Still, there are players from those smaller programs who will need to go to a training camp with organizations like Tampa Bay and prove it the hard way, like cornerback Tyrek Funderburk did when he came to the Bucs as an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State. Not only did he enter the league the hard way, he fought and earned himself a spot on the team’s initial 53-man roster.
“He’s very smart. He has decent size. He’s got speed. He’s a physical player. He likes to tackle, and he just has natural instincts and patience when he’s out there in coverage on an island,"Bucs GM Jason Licht on Funderburk
“He’s very smart. He has decent size. He’s got speed. He’s a physical player. He likes to tackle, and he just has natural instincts and patience when he’s out there in coverage on an island,” Licht said of Funderburk when asked what stood out that led to his making the active roster. “It’s something that you either have or you don’t, and he’s got it. We saw a lot – [he’s] got great ball skills, as well, so we see a lot of upside with him.”
Of course, for Funderburk, the moment he found out he made the active roster wasn’t about looking ahead at his own potential or possibilities, but rather a moment he got to look back at what he’s done already in football, and where it’s led him to.
“I was excited,” Funderburk said about the moment he learned he’d made the roster. “I mean, it’s like [my] dreams came true. It’s kind of crazy to watch your dreams come to reality. Years of hard work, years of preparation [and] dedication to what you love to do. It was extremely exciting for me.”
Funderburk wasn’t the only undrafted player to make the roster, and both of them came from relatively smaller programs. Joining him on the roster, but on the other side of the ball, is receiver Kameron Johnson, who entered the league as a UDFA out of Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina.
“It says a lot about them. The quality of men and women in this building,” said Funderburk on the topic of Tampa Bay finding and keeping two undrafted small-school players on the active roster. “They care about players and obviously, they’re willing to take a bet on a guy like me and Kam – undrafted guys from small schools. It lets me know that they see something in us, regardless of what may have happened during camp. We were both hurt at one point, so that says a lot about them [and] about the quality of people that they are.”
It says what Licht and the Bucs have said for years now. The best players will be on the field.
That’s how you get the best team, how you craft an environment of competition, and quite frankly it’s how you build a three-peat division champion out of a team that missed the postseason altogether from the 2007-2020 NFL seasons.
More must-reads:
- Two-time Pro Bowler's record-breaking extension should make Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh happy
- Bears GM speaks out after superstar goes down with injury
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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Observations from Dallas Cowboys' first padded practice: Tyler Booker handles business, late-round rookie impresses, and more
The Dallas Cowboys got one step closer to regular season form by wearing pads for the first time in training camp. Below are some of the main takeaways from Sunday's practice in Oxnard, California, starting off with a couple of notes on rookies. Jaydon Blue's skills translate with pads on Blue was turning heads early in camp but it's always hard to tell the difference between a tackle or a big play when defenders are essentially playing tag instead of hitting players. Well, Blue looked promising even in pads, with the play below being the highlight of the day as he jukes Markquese Bell to break free for the extra yardage. The fifth-round rookie also showed off his speed as a receiver more than once. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders are seeing the most playing time with the starters but Blue is off to a great start. Tyler Booker stacks highlights vs. Osa Odighizuwa It was a good day for the Cowboys' first-round rookie and projected starting right guard Tyler Booker. The play that stood out the most was a reach block on Osa Odighizuwa that sent the defensive lineman to the ground, opening a hole for Javonte Williams. ln a play-action play, Booker joined forces with center Cooper Beebe to take Odighizuwa out of the play. After a double block sent the defender to the ground, Booker blocked Odighizuwa with fully-extended arms to keep him away from Dak Prescott. Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer said ahead of practice that Booker had hit a bit of a wall leading to him working with the second-team the day before. He sure bounced back. Cowboys showing off a jumbo package Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams have said the Cowboys will run a physical offense. In short yardage situations, that might mean running six offensive lineman onto the field. Asim Richards and Saahdiq Charles have both been used as a sixth OL/TE at practice. Below is a play where Charles even motions from one side to the OL to the other. The personnel grouping below includes fullback Hunter Luepke leading the way for the running back. Terence Steele participates in pads Earlier in training camp, right tackle Terence Steele suffered an ankle sprain that knocked him out of practice, raising concern for his availability moving forward. That concern is turning out to be short-lived. Steele was back Sunday, a major development for the first practice in pads. However, he didn't participate in team drills. Even so, the Cowboys appear to have dodged a major bullet as the injury was a high ankle sprain, which can be a headache for players. Steele wore tape on his ankle Sunday.
Former NBA MVP could be nearing the end of his career
For the past two seasons, Joel Embiid has been dealing with a knee issue. The former MVP underwent surgery in April to try to repair his meniscus, the second time he's received such surgery in the past 12 months. Embiid recently sat down for a tell-all interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, where he detailed the struggles his body is currently going through. "We're not going to push anything," Embiid said. "For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach ... We don't have a timeline. Hopefully, sooner rather than later ... It's all about the results ... If I come back early enough and I'm still not myself, guess what? You're not winning any games." Embiid's struggles have left the Sixers in a precarious situation. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey has built the entire roster around the star center's unique skill set. Philadelphia has constructed a team to go as far as Embiid can take it. It makes sense, then, that Embiid is just as frustrated with his injury-induced absences as the rest of the Sixers fanbase. In a July 27 appearance on Sirius XM Radio, Sixers beat writer Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer shared a unique take on the big man's recent interview and the messaging he's been putting out recently. "I think Joel may know that the end is near, and this is just me saying, and it's kind of like explaining to people what he's been going through," Pompey said. "Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain (they're in) and how much they're going through. The thing I took from it was no matter who is there, the culture is the same. And I feel like Joel Embiid knows that it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he feels as though he can't play to the level he used to. I could be wrong. He could come out and have another MVP season. But that was my takeaway." Embiid is probably one more lost season away from making such a difficult decision. He's only suited up for 58 games over the past two seasons, 39 in 2023-24 and 19 in 2024-25. Embiid doesn't project as the sort of player who would accept a decline while still cashing enormous checks that limit his team's ability to compete. The problem for Embiid is that injuries are only half the battle. Even when healthy, conditioning has been his Achilles heel. So, not only would he need to stay injury-free, both with his knee and his back, but he would also need to get into the best shape of his life. Anything less, and the Sixers could be doomed to repeat their failures of the past. Embiid is still working his way through a long road of recovery. However, he may also be coming to terms that the NBA chapter of his life is on the final few pages, and that must be a daunting reality to face.
Important trade stalls as Maple Leafs dangle bottom-six forward
The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking for a solution to their bottom-six surplus, and veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok remains at the center of trade discussions. However, according to The Fourth Period, trade talks surrounding the 33-year-old winger have failed to gain momentum. They write: “He has a $2.1M cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The market hasn’t been vibrant, to this point, but the Leafs will continue to dangle him.” Why can’t the Maple Leafs find a taker for Jarnkrok? Jarnkrok has quietly been on the trade block for much of the offseason, but general manager Brad Treliving has yet to find a taker. After adding several depth forwards this summer, the Leafs now face a crowded bottom six — and Jarnkrok’s age, injury history and $2.1M cap hit through 2025–26 aren’t helping his value. Since joining Toronto, Jarnkrok has appeared in only 71 games over two seasons, scoring a modest 28 points. While his defensive versatility and penalty-killing ability are assets, his declining offensive production and durability concerns have made teams wary. With training camp approaching, the Maple Leafs may be forced to keep Jarnkrok on the roster — or retain salary in a deal — if they want to create space and flexibility. Dropping his cap hit down to just over $1M would open up the market a little. Until then, the Swedish forward remains a trade candidate in limbo. This isn’t great news as moving Jarnkrok from the roster is an important item on the team’s to-do list. Treliving would like more cap space, and with Jarnkrok and David Kampf both still on the roster, it hampers the GM’s ability to do other things.
Watch: Colston Loveland making plays at Bears 2025 training camp
After missing all of the offseason workout program while he recoverd from shoulder surgery, Chicago Bears first-round pick Colston Loveland is beginning to make his presence felt at training camp. The Bears' social media team share a few clips of Loveland making in action, which has Bears Nation very excited. Check it out: Adam Jahns, a longtime Bears beat writer, mentioned Loveland's recent assimilation into the offense as well. "Today’s big news from Bears camp: rookie tight end Colston Loveland making three catches in 7v7 (two) and team periods (one) — including one from Caleb Williams for a first down (7v7)," Jahns wrote Saturday. Loveland is in a training camp battle with veteran Cole Kmet for starter's reps in 2025, although it may take him a bit of time before he completely unseats Kmet for the TE1 role. Regardless, Ben Johnson's offense will rely heavily on two tight end sets, which means Loveland will get every opportunity to prove he was worthy of being selected 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Loveland ended the 2024 season with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He trailed Penn State's Tyler Warren for the majority of the 2025 NFL Draft season, but a late push up the pre-draft rankings resulted with him leapfrogging Warren in Round 1. Warren was selected 14th by the Indianapolis Colts. Loveland's ascent up the Chicago Bears depth chart will continue as the weeks march on, as will his place in passing game's pecking order.
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