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A16 sports
Thursday 4 February 2021
Super Bowl could be farewell for several pending free agents

By MARK LONG $9 million deal. If he wants
AP Pro Football Writer to play another season,
It’s unlikely Patrick Ma- the Bucs will find a way to
homes and Tom Brady will make it work.
have their same receiving —Bucs running back
corps next season. Kansas LeSean McCoy has a
City and Tampa Bay have chance to become the
several starters, including ninth player in NFL history
some notable pass catch- to collect consecutive Su-
ers, scheduled to become per Bowl rings with different
free agents next month. teams, joining an exclusive
With the NFL salary cap go- club that includes Deion
ing down for the first time Sanders and LeGarrette
since 2011 — it’s project- Blount. He’s already weigh-
ed to decrease by more ing his future: whether to
than $20 million because stick around a little longer
of COVID-19 repercussions as a backup or retire at
— teams will have diffi- age 32. “If I get a second
cult decisions to make in championship, with every-
the coming weeks. So the thing I’ve accomplished,
Super Bowl between the it might be over,” he said.
Chiefs and Buccaneers will “You never know. I’ll revisit
serve as a farewell for sev- Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Shaquil Barrett (58) celebrates with teammate Jason Pierre-Paul after that later.”
eral players with their cur- sacking Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the second half of the NFC —Chiefs receiver Demar-
rent team. Here’s a look at championship NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. cus Robinson is third on the
some of the game’s most Associated Press team with a career-high
prominent names slated to million in 2020, with most of ping up a five-year, $50.25 2017 third-round draft pick 45 catches after signing a
hit the open market (in al- that being paid by the New million deal, but no one from Penn State has proven one-year deal to remain in
phabetical order): York Jets. He considered would be surprised to see his worth with five touch- Kansas City.
—Bucs pass rusher Shaq signing with Buffalo and Mi- the 31-year-old defensive down catches in the last six He hasn’t missed a game in
Barrett, who led the NFL ami before landing in Kan- leader remain in his home games. General manager five seasons, but the Chiefs
with 19½ sacks in 2019, sas City, which is unlikely to state (maybe even at a dis- Jason Licht insists Godwin wouldn’t miss him much if
played under a one-year, bring him back. The Chiefs counted rate) for the rest of is in the team’s long-term he walked.
$15.9 million franchise tag are an estimated $20 mil- his pro career. plans. —Chiefs safety Daniel So-
in 2020. He has 11 sacks lion over the projected —Tampa Bay running back “I’m very much aware off rensen is having a career
this season, including three cap. Leonard Fournette was all those different possibili- year. He led the team with
in the NFC championship —Bucs receiver Antonio cut by Jacksonville days ties, but what I’ve done this 91 tackles in the regular
game against Green Bay. Brown might be out of the before the regular season whole season is to not fo- season to go along with
Tampa is close to $30 million league if not for Brady. and landed in Tampa on a cus on it,” Godwin said. “At three interceptions. He’s on
under the estimated sal- Brown signed a one-year, one-year, $2.5 million deal. this point, all of those things the wrong side of 30, but
ary cap and might spend $1.6 million contract with He has provided a nice 1-2 are out of my control.” he would be a bargain at
a good chunk of it on the Tampa in late October and punch with Ronald Jones, —Veteran tight end Rob $4 million a year.
28-year-old linebacker. has been a model citizen but likely will head else- Gronkowski came out of —Bucs defensive lineman
“I’m not expecting that I since. Although he might where in hopes of becom- retirement to join Brady in Ndamukong Suh made six
would be going anywhere want to test free agency, ing a featured back again. Tampa and be close to sacks while starting every
else,” said Barrett, who it’s unclear if anyone would “When I’m healthy, the his mom in Fort Myers. He game for the ninth con-
rented a home the last two take a chance on him. sky’s the limit,” Fournette started every game for the secutive season. He turned
years and wants to “start —Bucs linebacker Lavonte said. first time since 2011. He has 34 last month and might
laying roots” in Tampa. David has been a main- —Bucs receiver Chris God- 45 receptions for 623 yards be willing to sign another
—Chiefs running back Le- stay in Tampa’s lineup win missed several games and seven touchdowns one-year deal to stay in
Veon Bell made nearly $14 for nine years. He’s wrap- early this season, but the after signing a one-year, Tampa.q

Fauci warns against Super Bowl parties

to avoid virus spread

WASHINGTON (AP) — The ties because of the possi- haven’t had much con-
nation’s top infectious dis- bility that they’re infected tact with,” he told NBC’s
ease expert doesn’t want with the coronavirus and “Today” show. “You just
the Super Bowl to turn into could sicken others. don’t know if they’re in-
a super spreader. Big events like Sunday’s fected, so, as difficult as
Dr. Anthony Fauci, says game in Tampa, Florida, that is, at least this time
when it comes to Super between the Kansas City around, just lay low and
Bowl parties during the Chiefs and the Tampa cool it.”

In this image from video, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the pandemic, people should Bay Buccaneers are al- The NFL has capped game
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief “just lay low and cool it.” ways a cause for concern attendance at 22,000
medical adviser to the president, speaks during a White House He said during TV inter- over the potential for virus people because of the
briefing on the Biden administration’s response to the COVID-19 views Wednesday that spread, Fauci said. pandemic and citywide
pandemic Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Washington. now isn’t the time to invite “You don’t want par- coronavirus mandates.q
Associated Press people over for watch par- ties with people that you