The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are aiming to replicate last NFL season’s results, and to do so, they’re working to significantly strengthen their roster. One of the most important offensive boosts came with the renewal of Chris Godwin, who made a surprising revelation regarding the negotiations.
In a recent conversation with Sara Walsh and Mike Garafolo on NFL Network’s The Insiders, the wide receiver revealed that he was close to not securing his continuation with the franchise: “I mean, to be honest, I feel like we were really close (to leaving).”
The former Penn State Nittany Lions player secured his stay in Tampa after reaching a three-year deal worth 66 million dollars. Without a doubt, one of the best acquisitions for Todd Bowles in this free agency.
“When it comes to a situation like that, you have to really, really consider it. Me and (his wife) Mariah, we had some really tough conversations. Had some really tough conversations with my agent. Because at the end of the day, you’re trying to figure out what’s going to be best for our family. Not everybody would make that decision, and I’m not faulting anybody that would.
“But at the end of the day, like I was mentioning in the presser, I have to go based off my gut, I have to go based off my intuition and what I think is going to be best for us in the long run. Being here, where we call home, where we feel the most comfortable, where we can raise our newborn son, I think all those things are big factors for us in making this decision,” he concluded.
Chris Godwin’s injury update
Last season didn’t end the way Chris Godwin would have hoped. A serious injury suffered in a game, where his team ultimately lost to the Ravens, forced him to undergo surgery and caused him to miss the remainder of that season.
At that time, head coach Todd Bowles had told the media: “He’s got an ankle, early indication is that it’s dislocated,” Bowles told reporters. “It doesn’t look good.”
Looking ahead, the Buccaneers are hopeful to have the services of the wide receiver for the upcoming season, as he could become a key weapon in Baker Mayfield’s passing game.
The GM’s confidence in Godwin
Betting on Godwin’s continuity for the upcoming NFL season was a bold move, not because of his talent, but because of his recent injury history. Despite that, general manager Jason Licht knows they made the right call.
“People always give us credit for betting on Chris during his injuries,” Licht said, via the Tampa Bay Times. “But he and Mariah bet on us and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we make it right for you and chase another ring.
“You’re supposed to stand here before fans and say I don’t get stressed and I have ice in my veins. But I don’t. It’s an emotional time. So it took everything out of me not to be texting Chris and be like you’re texting your girlfriend. My wife had to say, ‘Don’t push him.’ So when it got over with, it was an awesome moment.”