In a Thursday column on PewterReport.com, two Pewter Reporters will debate a Bucs subject with totally different viewpoints. Which Pewter Reporter wins the controversy? You get to determine within the feedback part beneath.
This Week’s Subject: Which Bucs Participant Would Greatest Lead The U.S. Throughout The Delaware River?
With the USA of America celebrating it’s 250th birthday on the 4th of July this weekend, Pewter Report thought it might be an attention-grabbing concept to go outdoors the field and speak about Bucs gamers in a historic context from our nation’s founding previous to Independence Day.
Level: God(win) Bless America
By: Matt Matera
Tampa Bay vast receiver Chris Godwin Jr. is an ideal participant to select relating to the perfect Buccaneer to steer his group throughout the Delaware River and shock the opponent. When America’s first president, George Washington, took his troops by boat at night time throughout the Delaware River, it was a shock to the British Military – or in different phrases – underneath the radar. Performing in massive moments whereas flying underneath the radar? That sounds just like the Chris Godwin Jr. we all know and love.
Godwin has been underneath the radar for a majority of his profession. A 3rd-round select of Penn State, Godwin wasn’t precisely the true deal immediately. He didn’t rating a landing till the final sport of his rookie season. It actually took two extra seasons to essentially pop off and change into the feeling that he’s been. He snuck up on opponents, main the Bucs group in receiving throughout the 2019 and 2021 season.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Picture by: USA At present
Even at his greatest, Godwin has by no means been the man on this group, constantly being the second man behind Mike Evans. It was Evans at all times being the participant with the fan fare and a focus. Godwin wasn’t within the highlight as a lot, and he was high quality with it. Godwin wasn’t essentially within the shadows as he was essential to Tampa Bay’s success, however the much less consideration was used to his benefit the identical method the British weren’t specializing in the united statesA. on the Delaware.
After all we will’t do that train with out some comparability to George Washington. Any Washington biography will painting our nation’s first president as extra of a stoic individual centered on doing what’s proper. He was a fantastic chief, however not essentially a rah-rah kind of man. He simply went about his enterprise and did what was proper. There’s definitely similarities to Godwin in that regard. Godwin has at all times been team-first, even taking much less cash on his newest contract to stay in Tampa Bay when he might’ve gotten extra elsewhere in free company.
He will not be precisely stoic, however Godwin is a little more gentle spoken than others on the group. And, he’s at all times inspiring different youthful receivers round him. Let’s not overlook that he gave up his very valued quantity 12 jersey to ensure that Tom Brady to return to Tampa, transferring to his present quantity 14 uniform. Godwin simply desires to win. That’s it.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The fun of Washington and his military profitable the Revolutionary Battle to assist this nation change into the USA of America was that the American colonists have been outnumbered, however they stared within the face of adversity, by no means wavered and confirmed bravery in lastly prevailing. After I consider America, I consider resilience. After I take a look at Godwin’s profession with the Bucs I additionally see a narrative of resilience and bravado.
Godwin has been concerned in two grotesque, season-ending accidents in his profession. He tore his ACL throughout the 2021 season when he was having his greatest season but. Then in 2024, Godwin suffered a horrific ankle harm that stored him out after the primary seven video games of the 12 months when was additionally producing at a excessive price. Every time he labored more durable than ever to get again wholesome and return the next season and assist the group win. That’s resilience. That’s an perspective of at all times persevering with to struggle for the group.
Talking of struggle, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles talked about on a Pewter Report Podcast that if he have been in a two-on-two road struggle and needed to decide a participant on the roster to struggle with him, that Godwin was his first selection. Listening to Bowles and others, reminiscent of Baker Mayfield, speak about Godwin, everybody views him with him the utmost respect.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Picture by: Cliff Welch/ PR
If we’re going to interrupt down the specifics of why Godwin is your best option to steer his group throughout the Delaware River – it’s as a result of he’s from Delaware! Who higher to be on the entrance of the boat giving instructions than the one that is aware of the territory the perfect. One couldn’t ask for a greater chief and commander based mostly on the situation alone.
Chris Godwin Jr. will go down as one of many biggest offensive gamers of all time in Bucs historical past. Hopefully he can proceed on with that legacy and assist the Bucs win this upcoming season.
Counterpoint: Area Basic Baker Mayfield Has Some Actual George Washington Qualities
By: Scott Reynolds
Matt Matera isn’t incorrect about Chris Godwin Jr. being a improbable candidate to steer the U.S. Military throughout the Delaware River on Christmas in 1776. I might completely see that state of affairs taking place for all the causes Matera so eloquently acknowledged. As a substitute of arguing his level, I’m simply going to supply up one other different on this enjoyable Level-Counterpoint subject.
Who higher to steer the American troops than the Bucs’ undisputed chief? I’m speaking about quarterback Baker Mayfield, who will change into a four-time group captain this 12 months in Tampa Bay. Mayfield is the face of the Bucs franchise the way in which that Basic George Washington was the face of the American Revolution again within the late 1700s.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Like Washington was within the Continental U.S. Military, working his method as much as the rating of normal, Mayfield is equally completed within the sport of soccer. He received the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma and was the primary general decide within the 2018 NFL Draft. And like Washington was in his distinguished navy profession, Mayfield has needed to cope with his share of setbacks on the gridiron. Washington misplaced a number of battles earlier than in the end prevailing and profitable the American Revolutionary Battle, and Mayfield has misplaced beginning jobs in Cleveland, Carolina and Los Angeles earlier than discovering an unbelievable quantity of success in Tampa Bay in the long run.
Mayfield is the proper commander on the battlefield together with his win-at-all-costs taking part in fashion. He has the excessive soccer I.Q. and talent to audible that will rival Washington’s capability to strategize in battles and throughout the battle. And Mayfield is a daring quarterback, not afraid to depart the pocket and take dangers by scrambling and taking the sport in his personal arms to select up key first downs together with his legs.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA At present
Washington was lots daring in fight, too. And there have been a number of historic ideas that the Indians he fought within the French and Indian Battle in 1755 on the Battle of the Monongahela thought that he really had divine windfall. There have been tales that Washington was shot at 17 occasions in battle and was by no means hit. Mayfield, for all the bumps and bruises that he’s been subjected to, has reliably by no means missed a begin in his three years in Tampa Bay.
Mayfield is probably a bit extra cocky than the stoic Washington was, however each males might result in the purpose the place everybody else adopted. And that’s the signal of nice management – getting your group to observe you to victory.
So if I needed to decide a present Buccaneer to steer the American troops throughout the Delaware River after which efficiently assault the Hessian forces within the Battle of Trenton on the morning of December 26, 1776, I might select Tampa Bay’s final chief with a preventing spirit – Baker Mayfield.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA At present
