The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made one of the biggest mid-season pick-ups this year as they've signed WR Antonio Brown to a one-year deal. Brown, who's still serving his league suspension, is set to join Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowksi to further beef up the Bucs' new-look offense and make a run for an NFC title this year.
Head coach Bruce Arians knows a thing or two about the seven-time Pro Bowler as they spent a full season together in Pittsburgh. Arians was an offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers when the team drafted Brown in 2010. Arians, though, is stepping on the brakes and is making it known to everyone that Brown will have to start from scratch once he finally gets to Tampa Bay.
“I think some route concepts and things like that, but when I left they changed the terminology in Pittsburgh for all those years he played, so it’ll be pretty much ground zero with him other than the route tree, how we run routes and things like that,” Arians said Monday, per Mike Florio of NBC Sports. “It’ll be a big adjustment for him, but we’ll get him up to speed.”
The 32-year-old will be eligible to join the Buccaneers after Week 8 when his suspension is officially lifted by the league.
Brown's arrival in Tampa Bay couldn't come at a more opportune time. The Bucs are standing on top of the NFC South division with a 5-2 record after Tom Brady seemed to have found his groove. Since Week 3, Brady has led the Buccs to a 4-1 record with 15 touchdowns and 1,454 passing yards.
With a new receiving option like Antonio Brown entering the mix, look for Brady and the rest of the Tampa Bay squad to further cement their spot as a shoo-in for the postseason—if everything falls into place for Brown in Florida.
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