Mexico City.- He is a few days away from his 45th birthday, and even so Tom Brady is already preparing his weapons for a new NFL campaign.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to give the quarterback ammunition, as veteran receiver Julio Jones joined the boat.
The 33-year-old Jones got a one-year, $6 million deal, which could add $2 million more in incentives.
Jones played 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, his rival in the NFC South, before being sidelined by various injuries. He played just seven games over two seasons, which led to the worst stats of his career last year with the Tennessee Titans (31 receptions for 434 yards and a touchdown in 10 games).
The Titans released the receiver, who has 879 catches for 13,330 yards and 61 touchdowns in 11 seasons.
“I look to the future and not backwards,” Jones said. “This is a great opportunity to be a part of something very special.”
The ‘Bucs’ were the first team on Jones’ list. The chance to play alongside Brady and fight for a Super Bowl ring was too good to pass up.
Brady will no longer have his friend Rob Gronkowski, who has retired, or running back Ronald Jones II, now in Kansas City, or Antonio Brown, a very troublesome player.
Now, the quarterback boasting 10 Super Bowl appearances will have Jones and tight end Kyle Rudolph as new additions, as well as rookie running back Rachaad White.
To start, the triplet of receivers looks solid. There’s Chris Godwin, who last season had 103 yards passing and 5 touchdown passes. He caught 98 passes, while Mike Evans caught 74 passes for 1,035 yards and 14 touchdown passes.
Evans is the Buccaneers’ number one target and will now enter the Jones game plan. Julio, with more than 13,000 career receiving yards and 61 touchdown passes, had a season to forget last year with the Titans.
Brady will need back the Jones who shone with the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaking of tight ends, Rob is gone and now Kyle and Cameron Brate will be fighting for the spot, although the latter seems to be in the lead.
And in the case of running backs, Leonard Fournette is sure of the hands and is coming off nearly 500 receiving yards last season.
To know
The quarterback who boasts 10 visits to the Super Bowl will have as new acquisitions Julio Jones and tight end Kyle Rudolph, in addition to rookie running back Rachaad White
