Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday Pool Report
Saturday NFC Pool Report
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Practice
Feb. 6, 2021
By Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times
Pro Football Writers of America
TAMPA — The Bucs concluded their on-field preparations for Super Bowl LV Saturday morning with a 35-minute practice in their indoor facility at the AventHealth Training Center.
Every workout during the week has followed the schedule of a regular-season game and this was no different.
“Whatever meetings we might have are in here, so it just flows easily” coach Bruce Arians said.
The Bucs conducted what they call a “simulated game,” during a walk-through practice in shorts and t-shirts and no helmets.
Every player participated, including receiver Antonio Brown (knee) and tight end Cameron Brate (back), who are both listed as questionable.
“On a normal Saturday, we would have all the kids and families in here,” Arians said. “That’s one thing I really, really miss this year. I love watching the kids play ball and run around and watching their dads practice. That was one of the hardest things about this year.”
Players had the option of eating lunch but departed the team’s facility and will return later Saturday afternoon to take busses to the team hotel in Tampa.
The Bucs will have dinner at the hotel and mass for those who wish to attend. After that, there will be position meetings until Arians addresses the full squad for his final thoughts prior to Super Bowl LV.
“I’ll talk tonight,” Arians said. “It’s not very long. We watch a video that we have a lot of fun with from our last game when we win, then the offense, defense and special teams will meet in the morning.”
Arians said he hasn’t planned any special message for the team to take into Super Bowl LV.
“No, like I told them, if you need a speech to get fired up to play football, you’re in the wrong game,” Arians said. “I have to laugh when people bring in speakers and stuff. I don’t know the message they’re going to bring. There’s only one voice in this one.”
Arians, who was an assistant coach in three other Super Bowls, said he has no trouble sleeping the night before the game.
“It’s just another game,” Arians said. “It is the biggest one. But the preparation is done so you just need to go play.”
Arians said he felt the Bucs got better during the two weeks of practice following the NFC Championship Game.
“There’s no doubt,” he said. “There’s still a new concept here or there or this is what they did and this is how we’re going to handle it this time. So it’s all still learning and that part never stops.”
More meetings are planned following breakfast Sunday until the team takes buses from the hotel to Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl LV.
Kansas City Chiefs Saturday Pool Report
Saturday AFC Pool Report
Kansas City Chiefs Practice
Feb. 6, 2021
By Herbie Teope, The Kansas City Star
Pro Football Writers of America
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –– The Chiefs took care of the final piece of the preparation puzzle with a Saturday morning walk-through before boarding an afternoon flight to Tampa ahead of Sunday’s showdown against the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.
The trip will include head coach Andy Reid, who will be on the sidelines guiding the Chiefs in the quest to win back-to-back championships.
The Chiefs, however, are without linebackers/assistant outside linebackers coach Britt Reid, the head coach’s son, for the game. The position coach was involved Thursday night in a multi-vehicle accident, which injured two young children, and will not make the trip, the team said.
The Chiefs stand by their Friday evening statement of remaining in the information-gathering process of Thursday night’s incident and have no further comment at this time.
Meanwhile, the players appeared in good spirits during the morning walk-through session.
“Good energy,” Andy Reid said. “It’s important to have that. This was just kind of a review day, so we go back through all the situations and make sure we have all those covered.”
The Chiefs also welcomed back two players Saturday.
Running back Darwin Thompson, who missed Friday’s practice with an illness and does not carry a game designation, participated in the walk-through practice. Backup center Daniel Kilgore returned from the reserve/COVID-19 list after clearing the league’s mandatory safety protocols and got in some work.
Left tackle Eric Fisher, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the AFC Championship Game, made an appearance on the sidelines with his left leg on a scooter and cheered on teammates as they practiced.
“He’s a part of the team,” Reid said. “We got a lot of the guys that are a part of it and we ask them to come out. Fish is a big part of it. I mean, he’s a reliable guy and he’s been here a long time.”
With the final on-field preparations over, the Chiefs officially set their sights on Tampa.
The team’s flight is scheduled to land in the late afternoon and they’ll return to familiar surroundings. Reid ensured the team would stay in the same hotel as when the Chiefs played the Buccaneers in Week 12.
While the Chiefs are loose and appear energized ahead of Super Sunday, applying the same routine is a part of the business-like approach to keep the team focused.
“You know where the meeting rooms are, most of the guys are in the same room,” Reid said. “So, they kind of know where they are there and how to get where they need to go.”
All that’s left to do now is take the field for Super Bowl LV.
