© Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
New Buccaneers OLB Randy Gregory Ready to Make Super Bowl Run in Tampa Bay
Randy Gregory has been to the big game as recently as two months ago, and he's looking to do it again with the Bucs — and get the win this time.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed some veteran presence at pass rusher after the departure of Shaquil Barrett, and they found that presence in Randy Gregory.
Gregory played for both the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers last year, and now, he comes to Tampa Bay on a one-year deal. He'll be expected to rotate in and out with players like Anthony Nelson, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Yaya Diaby, and he adds an element of experience to an otherwise young defensive line. All of this is new to him.
Gregory isn't a complete stranger when it comes to Tampa Bay's defense, though. He worked with Tampa Bay's outside linebackers coach, George Edwards, in Dallas with the Cowboys, so that was an air of familiarity that was able to get him to Tampa Bay. Additionally, Gregory has a lot of respect for coach Todd Bowles — he said he liked talking to him during his pre-draft process and that he thinks he'll fit well in his scheme with a lot of different things to do.
"I love his personality, I love his down-to-earth demeanor. A no-nonsense type of guy — I think I always thrive well when I work with coaches like that," Gregory said of Bowles. "I think the abilities towards the schemes, what we do, I fit well there."
A big concern about Gregory among fans may be his longevity. Gregory has never played a full season, due to injuries, suspensions or something else, and it's hard to get production out of someone who doesn't play. He did play 16 games last year, though, and being on the field and playing that many snaps was a big goal of his that he hopes he can continue going forward.
"That was my biggest goal, I felt like. If I could finish the year healthy and go into the next year healthy, obviously that would be good for my future," Gregory said. "I hope I can finish my career in a healthy way and a winning way."
Finally, Gregory also brings a Super Bowl pedigree to the team. He made it to the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, where the team lost 25-22 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas earlier this year.
Gregory says it was an honor to get to play in that game, but he has bigger goals with the Buccaneers. With a great team and a history of success, he sees no reason why he can't go back and seal the deal.
"To be able to say I experienced that is big," Gregory said. "Obviously, I wanted to get the win, but hopefully I can do that this year with Tampa Bay."
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