NFL
The Bucs are hoping to have the ability to return house to play the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday evening.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) research a pill on the sideline throughout an NFL soccer sport towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Picture/Alex Menendez)
Having moved their soccer operations to South Florida to keep away from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hoping to have the ability to return house to play the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday evening.
The staff practiced Wednesday on the Miami Dolphins’ coaching facility, describing the expertise as totally different, however the disruption to their routine will not hinder their potential to organize for the staff they beat within the Tremendous Bowl two seasons in the past.
Members of the family and even some pets accompanied the gamers and coaches earlier than the storm hit Florida’s west coast.
“The largest problem, I believe we have already cleared up, is simply protecting their households secure. Everyone’s family members are secure, and that is No. 1. Homes, and financial issues, you do not actually fear about. If the household is secure, You may deal with soccer,” coach Todd Bowles mentioned.
“What we do is known as a little leisure for people who find themselves going by way of very dangerous issues, and hopefully we are able to present that,” Bowles added through Zoom name from the Dolphins Complicated at Miami Gardens. “But it surely’s larger than only a soccer staff.”
NFL govt Jeff Miller mentioned Wednesday that the sport was nonetheless scheduled to be performed Sunday evening in Tampa.
If the groups can’t play at Raymond James Stadium — a choice that may very well be delayed as late as Friday — the much-anticipated matchup between quarterbacks Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes shall be moved to Minneapolis.
This is not the primary time the Bucs have taken gamers and households out with a storm.
Hurricane Irma compelled the postponement of a Week 1 matchup towards the Dolphins in 2017, when the Bucs flew some gamers and their households to Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend out the storm.
Others selected to drive to locations in North Florida, Alabama and Georgia, whereas the NFL rescheduled a sport on a bye date shared by the Bucs and Dolphins.
“Anybody who desires to come back can come, household and in any other case, together with pets,” Bowles mentioned, including that the membership initially explored the potential for transferring follow to West Virginia.
“However I believe individuals would nonetheless be away from their households. Even when households might come there, it will be slightly bit additional away from the place the motels are,” Bowles mentioned. “Miami got here up, and it seemed prefer it wasn’t going to be hit as laborious. … It was a simple journey, and other people with pets and every thing, and the previous grandparents with them might drive all the way down to be nearer to their households.
One participant — linebacker Devin White — could not take his animals with him to South Florida. He has a steady of horses and is an avid rider.
“I believe my barn is dearer than my home,” White mentioned. “I have been watching the cameras, and I’ve somebody working within the warehouse that stayed behind. So hopefully, everyone seems to be secure there and we are able to get by way of it.”
Bowles mentioned the ideas of the gamers and coaches had been additionally with the group they left behind.
“Our ideas are with town of Tampa proper now. The place we’ve got to play – hopefully it is Tampa and every thing is okay. It means we’re not too broken,” Bowles mentioned. “If we’ve got to go play some place else, we simply should focus and lock in. No person’s going to really feel sorry for us. We’ve to be able to play.”
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