Bucs Week Rolling Notebook: Rob Gronkowski reportedly does not make the trip

Going to try something new here, if it indeed works. Always looking to do things better and try something new. Not all of them work.

Down below this post, you should see newsy updates as the week goes along. I don't believe in doing short stories or updates on things that really don't amount to much. But we do need to find a place for injury report updates, interesting quotes, etc.

If there is a need for me to weigh in on my opinion, you'll see it under BSJ Analysis. 

I'm hoping this will do that, but we'll see.

Latest new items will appear at the bottom of this file. You don't need to read the updates in the comment section. 

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In one final comment and sendoff before Sunday night's game, Bill Belichick was asked if he would have enjoyed the same success without Tom Brady.

“Of course not,” the coach said.

Silence.

Why not?

“I mean, we’ve talked about that for two decades,” Belichick said. “I think I’ve been on the record dozens of times saying there’s no quarterback I’d rather have than Tom Brady, and I still feel that way. I was very lucky to have Tom as the quarterback and to coach him. He was as good as any coach could ever ask for.”

Pretty good to Belichick to finish the week.

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TOM BRADY TRANSCRIPT FROM THURSDAY

(Brady looked and sounded terrible. Obviously not feeling well.)

How difficult is it to prepare for them, guys like McCourty, Hightower Jones, who know your tendencies and know what you like to do with the ball in certain situations.

I think it's probably, you know most difficult to play against them. I think preparing is one thing I think playing is a whole nother thing so there are a lot of great players. Obviously well-coached, they all play hard, tough, smart, you know, I know those guys really well so they're great friends, it'll be fun to compete against them. Did it on the practice field quite a bit, but obviously a games gonna be quite a bit different.

How does this compare to other emotional games?

I'm not sure I haven't done it yet so I, you know, you're right, I played in a lot of the games. It's a big game for our team, a big game for our guys you know we had a tough loss last week. You know we want to get back on track back to winning, we've got to do things the right way. Obviously this team challenges you to do it the right way. They do a lot of difficult things for the offense so it's gonna be a big challenge for us.

What you do have you visualize some of those little things like just running through the opposing tunnel being in the opposing locker room, and hearing the reception and thought about some of those things.

Not much. Not much, just, Again, I try to just be like I said the other day I always feel like I put 100% into it. I use the time as wisely as I can and try to just do what I always do. Communicate with our guys try to put us in the best position to be successful. 

How do you manage those emotions without even getting into the fact that you could be this NFL passing leader after this game.

I haven't thought too much about it, I just got to try to do what I always do, go be a great quarterback, obviously understand the opponent and I know all those guys they're some of my great friends they will be for the rest of my life. I know a lot of coaches, players the owners, the staff. It'll be great to see everyone after the game, but I'll be focused on trying to go win a football game,

Mac Jones, but just your initial impressions of him.

I haven't seen him much at all. Yeah.

The hoarseness in your voice, was that screaming over the piped-in noise?

Yeah, that was loud today so I've had a few of these days I don't know what the deal is so I got to try to figure this out. I said my throats more tired than my arm, imagine that.

We went through this, this summer

Same thing I know, came back, I know. Very strange. I can't explain it. 

Advantage to knowing them?