NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

Buccaneers’ HC Bruce Arians noted that as far as the playbook was concerned, newly signed WR Antonio Brown will be making a fresh start.

“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, via Peter King of NBC Sports “It’ll be a big adjustment for him, but we’ll get him up to speed. I know everybody wants to say Tom Brady lobbied us to get this done. Tom Brady lobbied me back in, gosh, June, July, August. I said no. It didn’t fit then. Now, we’re in the hunt. I owe it to the rest of my players — if there’s a guy that fits our salary cap cheap, who’s a Pro Bowl-type player, let’s bring him on our squad. Who says he has to start? I mean, we just got another Pro Bowl player to put in if one of those guys go down. A.B. brings another dynamic to our team that we don’t have. I owe it to the rest of our players to put the best team out there possible. I don’t foresee any problems. I don’t anticipate any situation where he and I are gonna have a problem. He knows that if there is, it’s a very short-lived contract. This move wasn’t made without me talking to every single one of our veteran players,” Arians told King. “Do you want this guy? Do you want this guy in our locker room? Every man said yes.”

• Albert Breer of SI breaks down Brown’s contract, which includes up to $2.5 million, $1.75 million of which is incentives.
• This includes per-game roster bonuses of $31,250, $750,000 for a Super Bowl win and 35% playing time, $250,000 for 45 catches and a playoff appearance, $250,000 for 650 yards and playoffs, and $250,000 for six touchdowns and playoffs.
• According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin fractured his left index finger Sunday and needed surgery. He’s out for this Monday night’s game against the Giants but could be back in time for Week 9 against the Saints. 

Panthers

• Per the Athletic’s Joe Person, Panthers HC Matt Rhule said that although RB Christian McCaffrey returned to practice, looked good and has some hope to play Thursday, he won’t bring McCaffrey back “a minute too early.”
• Rhule had noted Monday McCaffrey could be available but it wasn’t a sure thing: “I think it’s a possibility. That’s sort of out of my hands. I’m hopeful that we’ll have him.” (Myles Simmons)
• After the release of WR Seth Roberts and DB Josh Hawkins, who was seen on social media not wearing a mask, Rhule said he “thought it was the best interest of the team” to make the roster moves.  (Joe Person)

Saints

Another week, another coverage breakdown in the Saints secondary as they let Panthers WR D.J. Moore get loose for a long bomb. The issue has Saints HC Sean Payton flummoxed, as safeties Marcus Williams, Malcolm Jenkins and the rest of the secondary were outstanding in camp

“That’s the $6 million question right now,” Payton said via the Athletic’s Katherine Terrell. “And we have to get it figured out. It wasn’t as big of a challenge a year ago. And yet, it’s something that, that’s creeped up right now. And coming off of training camp, I wouldn’t have thought that would be such an issue, but it is right now and we’re addressing it.”

• Saints WR Marquez Callaway avoided a major injury Sunday and is day-to-day with a minor ankle sprain. (Terrell)