NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Giants

Buccaneers

The Buccaneers went 5-11 in 2018 and haven’t made the playoffs since 2008. However, the addition of HC Bruce Arians has players in Tampa Bay optimistic, including TE Cameron Brate.

“I think we’re gonna surprise some people this year,” Brate said to Nate Burleson of NFL Media.

Falcons

At the age of 30, Falcons WR Julio Jones knows he’s closer to the end of his career than he is to the beginning. When the end comes for wide receivers, it comes quickly, so Jones is paying close attention to his body to let him know when it’s time to hang it up. 

“I’m year-to-year, man,” Jones said via TMZ. “For me, I haven’t felt like I’ve lost a step. But, as soon as I feel like I’m losing a step or I’m slowing down or I can’t produce or I can’t help my teammates or things like that, that’s when I will slow down.”

Giants

The other major player the Giants traded away this offseason was DE Olivier Vernon. They’ll be counting on a few different players to replace him, but none more than second-year LB Lorenzo Carter. Carter knows the team is counting on him to step up his game after a solid rookie season. 

“It doesn’t matter what happened in the offseason with players or whatever. Coming into year two for me is big,” Carter said via the NY Daily News’ Pat Leonard. “It’s a big jump. You’re not a rookie anymore. So you know what you have to work on.”