NFC South Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers

Buccaneers

Buccaneers QBs coach Clyde Christensen mentioned that Jameis Winston has “improved a ton” this offseason. 

“There’s a great verse in Ecclesiastes I always quote that says, ‘We’re going to not swing the axe harder but we’re going to sharpen the blade.’ So I think probably with him it’s just almost reeling him in a little bit more than it is trying to get more work out of him,” Christensen said, via JoeBucsFan.com. “So, he’s improved a ton. He’s picked up the system pretty good. We’ve stressed just learning the system and fundamentals and stuff. And now we’ll have to put it together and get better in all the situations and all those things, apply the fundamentals to game situations.”

Falcons

• According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, negotiations between the Falcons and franchise DT Grady Jarrett described as “cool.” However, Ledbetter’s adds that things could “heat up” as the deadline approaches.
• The Falcons have said that signing Jarrett long-term is among their priorities, but Ledbetter writes that it appears as though they don’t value him in the same financial neighborhood as Aaron Donald or Fletcher Cox. 
• The two parties have until 4pm EST on Monday to reach an agreement on a long-term deal. 

Panthers

Panthers first-round LB Brian Burns played last season at Florida State at around 230 pounds. When he weighed in at the NFL Combine, Burns was up to 253 pounds. Now he’s down to somewhere in the middle and trying to figure out where his weight needs to land. 

“I honestly do not know the answer to that question,” Burns said via Pro Football Talk. “I felt great at 250, 253. That was my max weight. I felt great at that weight. Now I just have to work on putting that back on. They haven’t given me a specific number they want me at. I’m pretty much putting that weight on for myself because I think it will benefit me at this level.”