NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers

Buccaneers

Buccaneers QBs coach Clyde Christensen said that Tom Brady‘s knee injury was a “nagging nuisance” for him throughout last season. 

“I don’t think he was 100 percent last year,” Christensen said, via Jenna Laine of ESPN. “His quote, or close to a quote was, ‘Hey, I’m gonna get my knee fixed up and I’m gonna be better next year and you’re gonna be excited about that.’ Performance-wise, you wanna feel good. I think that thing was a nagging nuisance to him, having to tape it every day, just make sure he had that thing loose. So I think he’s excited about just feeling good again.”

As for how the Buccaneers will manage Brady this offseason, HC Bruce Arians said the quarterback will likely be limited in minicamp and might take on a “coaching” role. 

“I don’t know how much I’ll let him do … with guys chasing him around,” Arians said. “We’ll see. We’ll see what the doctors say. He may be doing a lot of coaching.”

Falcons

• Josina Anderson reports that one source tells her of the situation involving Falcons’ WR Julio Jones: “Everyone is giving (the Falcons) time to think about it…..”

Panthers

Panthers HC Matt Rhule said Jeremy Chinn converting from linebacker to safety will enable him to cover tight ends, defend the run, and play “a lot of different roles.” 

“Obviously he would be a big safety and he would be able to cover tight ends,” Rhule said, via Steve Reed of the Associated Press. “He can go fit the run too. It’s rare to have a guy that big, with that size and that intelligence level. He’s one of those guys that can fill a lot of different roles for us.”

Chinn called his smaller size “definitely a factor” in moving to safety but feels he’s capable of “making plays” at either position. 

“That’s definitely a factor, me being a smaller linebacker,” Chinn said. “It’s not typical you see 218- or 220-pound linebackers in the NFL so that definitely played a part. And as far as making plays, I feel like they can be made at either position. When you’re a linebacker you’re a little closer to the ball and a little closer to the line of scrimmage. When you’re a safety you can also make plays on the ball in the air.”

Chinn reiterated that he’s comfortable lining up at any position asked of him. 

“I’m comfortable playing safety and I’m comfortable playing any position, so wherever I’m needed I will play,” Chinn said.