NFC Notes: Tom Brady, Buccaneers, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

Buccaneersโ€™ QB Tom Brady is set to face his former franchise in primetime and wants to get a win. He still maintains that his departure from the Patriots was handled perfectly.

โ€œAll those things are super personal,โ€ said Brady, via Jenna Laine of ESPN. โ€œWe had a great relationship. Everything was handled the right way. We handled everything as gracefully as we could. It was an amazing time, it was handled perfectly. I think everyone understood where we were at โ€” the people involved in the situation. Things worked out the best for all of us. Weโ€™re all trying to do the best we can do now โ€” thatโ€™s what happens in life. You donโ€™t know where life is gonna lead. I think the only thing I know how to do is give it all I can in every day, every moment, and the people who really bet on me, I want to do really well for them. [General manager] Jason [Licht] and [head coach] Bruce Arians โ€” with them coming into my life, and saying, โ€˜Hey, we really want you hereโ€™ โ€” itโ€™s been an amazing thing for meโ€ฆIโ€™m super excited about what weโ€™ve got here. Iโ€™ve got a great group of coaches here, an amazing group of guys that still motivate me and inspire me to be the best I can be for this team and this organization. Iโ€™ve just had a great last 18 months. Itโ€™s been very fulfilling in a lot of different ways. I love my football experience here as well. โ€ฆ My 20 years in New England were incredible. I learned a lot. Coming out here for a year and a half, Iโ€™ve learned a lot so โ€ฆ I have nothing but incredible thoughts, memories, emotions towards the football experiences Iโ€™ve had. Thatโ€™s obviously been the longest. I still have a lot of great friends there, but they know I want to kick their butts this week.โ€

Panthers

Although Panthers HC Matt Rhule said โ€œyou canโ€™t replaceโ€ Christian McCaffrey, he added that RBs Chuba Hubbard and Royce Freeman have been waiting on an opportunity. 

โ€œObviously, you canโ€™t replace the production of Christian McCaffrey,โ€ Rhule said, via David Newton of ESPN. โ€œBut those other players, theyโ€™ve been waiting for their opportunity. Who knows what they can do when given an opportunity.โ€

Rhule added that they want to avoid making big changes to their system in order to help QB Sam Darnold and the offensive line.

โ€œI donโ€™t think itโ€™s fair, right, to Sam and to the offensive line to go away from what weโ€™ve been doing. Weโ€™ve been working on it for a long time.โ€

Rhule believes Hubbard was able to get into a rhythm in Week 3 against the Texans and is eager to see him run with more consistency. 

โ€œIโ€™ve wanted to see him really play with his feet underneath him,โ€ Rhule said. โ€œHeโ€™s had a lot of times where heโ€™s slipped and fallen cutting off his inside foot. Once he got into a rhythm this last game you saw that dissipate. You saw him run with power and speed. I want to see him do those things.โ€

Saints

  • Per the Athleticโ€™s Katherine Terrell, Saints HC Sean Payton said the play of reserve OL James Hurst at left tackle was huge: โ€œHeโ€™s one of those guys that have filled in and played guard for us, heโ€™s played jumbo for us. Heโ€™s someone that I think guys have a lot of confidence in and I think heโ€™s earned that.โ€
  • Terrell wouldnโ€™t be surprised if the Saints poked around for a new kicker after Aldrick Rosas missed two field goals in Week 3. 
  • Saints CB Bradley Roby was down to just two snaps in Week 3 after starting the first two games. Payton said it was a combination of getting players back healthy that led to Robyโ€™s reduced role for the time being: โ€œ(Roby) is an awfully good player. I thought Bradley was settling in playing well. Marshon, obviously, heโ€™s back and so each week (it varies who might play). It was a position, at the start of the season, where there was some concern relative to the depth and with both Bradley and then Desmond (Trufant), we feel like itโ€™s a position of strength now.โ€
  • OUT for Week 4: T Terron Armstead (elbow), C Erik McCoy (calf)

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