OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BYRON LEFTWICH

(On what he's learned about this year's new additions to the roster)

"Well, the core and our base are really still there. It's unusual to get everybody back like we did in past years – that's very unusual. So, it's normally like this where you've got new guys where you're inserting them in certain spots, but we love the core that we have. And we love the guys that are in those new spots. So, it's just getting everyone acclimated to our way of ball. They've come in and done an excellent job of that – of having the awareness of what we're trying to get accomplished day in and day out, so they do an excellent job of it. We just like where they're at right now."

(On the addition of WR Julio Jones)

"I mean, you want to have as many players as possible, right? Anytime you go out onto the grass, you want to have as many players as possible. Obviously, Julio [Jones] gives up match-up issues, but we're just working right now. We're just working right now. We love what we got here, we love the group, I love the mentality of this group. I tell you guys all the time; I love working with this group. This group comes to work every day. So, we're excited to get this season started. We're not going to assume anything, we're just going to get to work. That's what we've been doing – getting to work trying to get ourselves ready to roll for Sunday night."

(On the team's hunger to win a championship)

"I think this has always been a hungry team. We were hungry too last year. It's just when you don't win, it [doesn't] mean you weren't hungry. This group has been that way. Like I said, this group comes to work – everyday they come to work. Whatever we ask of them as coaches, whatever we think that the game plan [has] to be for us to get the job done that week, they come ready to prepare that week for that and try to get it done on Sunday. So that's what you appreciate about this group, this group comes to work. We don't have to get on these guys about showing up, coming to practice with the understanding of how important practice is. They understand that."

(On how the tight end room has evolved and if all four tight ends could play a role)

"We'll see. It is somewhat different not having 'Gronk,' (Rob Gronkowski) but we'll see. These guys have come in, a lot of young guys have come in and done an excellent job from a preparation standpoint of understanding what to do. Obviously, they'll get their first taste of the NFL Sunday night, but we like what they've done this offseason. We'll see how it works out, what roles everyone takes, but I like what they've put on tape so far. I like the work they've put in – really awesome."

(On the specific areas that this offense can improve)

"I don't want to get into specifics because there's things that we talk about behind closed doors, but obviously we can be better. Obviously, we can be better. We feel as though we can be better. There have been a lot of games that we played that we knew we left plays out there, so we just want to be more consistent, really. More consistent at whatever we're doing – running, passing, whatever element of the game, situational football – we just want to be more consistent at it. And I know we can do that. The tape from last year tells us that we can actually get that – we need to do that. So, we're just trying to get that accomplished."

(On if QB Tom Brady and WR Julio Jones still need to develop any chemistry)

"These are veteran guys that have played a lot of football. Both of those guys are going to have gold jackets. It took these guys two, three days to get acclimated when they were here. And then it's verbal, some of it's physical – some of it you need to be on the grass for, some of it you don't. It's really just communication back and forth about how things are really going to be operating. So, I think they're in a good spot, I think they're fine. I don't think we missed anything in those 11 days."

(On Jones' workload)

"We're going to play. We're going to play – won't know what that will really consists of, but we're going out ready to play."

(On rookie RB Rachaad White's role on gamedays)

We'll see. Obviously, he will have a role – it's Week 1. Obviously, he came in and had a heck of a camp – a hell of a camp. He's a real adult kid. He's a rookie, but he acts like he's been in this league before. So, we'll see what his role is. As the year goes on, his role will show itself, but right now, we're just ready to play. We're just ready to go out and play – try to execute and try to find a win to the football game [on] Sunday night."

(On whether he'll miss TE Rob Gronkowski as a red zone target or run blocker)

"I miss the human being more than anything. I tell you guys about that all the time. This is a unique guy – to have the opportunity to coach a guy like 'Gronk' was special. The way he viewed life, the way he viewed football – I always tell you guys 'I wish I could view life the way he does.' I don't think 'Gronk' had a bad day. Obviously, we'll miss his presence on the field, but I think what made 'Gronk' so special is his presence in the locker room and the way his teammates feel about him and the way he deals with his teammates. Personally, that's what I miss the most."

(On what gives him confidence in the interior offensive line)

"I'm around these guys every day and I don't just say that. You guys have seen me in this situation. I really live that. I think that there's a lot of good football players in this league. Sometimes you guys have no idea about that because you don't see it on a day-to-day basis like we do. I trust anybody in that huddle, so whoever's in that huddle, I'll have the ultimate trust in them that they can get the job done. Obviously, it's had to replace a Ryan Jensen – you're talking about an All-Pro, Pro-Bowl center. But we've got confidence in the guys that will be in there and we live by that. I really live by that. I really believe in that. It's an opportunity for some young guys to get the opportunity to play significant snaps and we'll see."

(On if he's expecting teams to attack the interior offensive line early)

"We're just preparing. We're just preparing for everything, so we're preparing for everything, and we'll see what happens."

(On replacing TE Rob Gronkowski's energy)

"The thing is, with football, players on football teams and coaches – it's never really the same. So, like I told you guys, for us to have the same team, I think two years in a row, that's very unusual. So, we expect that. People that are involved every day, they kind of expect that and that's kind of part of football. That's just part of football. We love who we have here, though. We love who we have here, it's just 'Gronk's' a unique guy, especially personally – who he is as a person. But that happens every year – it's part of the game, of playing the game of football. Locker rooms are different every year, you just have to adjust and move on."

(On the matchup problems that the Cowboys have presented on film)

"The film is the film. Obviously, we'll see. We'll have to see. We're preparing for everything, we're not really into – we're just getting ready. We're just getting ready to try to play our best football that we can play, understand that we're playing a great opponent, understand they have great players on all three levels of their defense, so we're just trying to get prepared. We're not really focused on one guy; we're trying to focus on a good group that they have. We understand the type of group they have so we're just trying to make sure we're ready to roll."

QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY

(On what excites him about WR Julio Jones)

"Obviously, he's a great player but I think he's a great teammate, too. You just sense that he's here for all the right reasons. He's been really fun to get to know. Obviously, I've watched him for a long time, obviously admired his ability to play and play at a high level. I've been on the other sideline, watching him be a dynamic player. It's always enjoyable to get to know different guys, and he's one of the great players in the league. To add him to that receiver room of Chris [Godwin], Mike [Evans] and Russ [Gage Jr.] and B.P. (Breshad Perriman) and Scotty [Miller] – there's a lot of good experience in there, a lot of good football players, a lot of great teammates."

(On what he's seen from WR Russell Gage Jr.)

"Russ has worked hard. He's had a few little bumps and bruises that have kind of kept him from being out there as much as we'd like. The more we can get him involved and understand what he's really capable of as a player, the more we'll use him in those situations. He's done a good job. He's a very physically gifted player, and it's just [about] us being on the same page. It's one thing where you feel like everything kind of goes to plan, it's another when things get off schedule – that's where you've got to really put the work in. It's easy when things go exactly the way you want – when they don't, you've got to figure out how to read each other a certain way. We're working through all that."

(On what sticks out about the Cowboys on film)

"They're a good football team. They have a lot of dynamic players in the pass rush, at linebacker. In the secondary, Trevon [Diggs] is a great player – led the league in interceptions last year. Micah [Parsons] is a hell of a player all over the field – they line him up at linebacker, defensive end, he rushes a lot, covers well. DeMarcus Lawrence is a great player. They rush the passer, I think they have a good scheme, they mix things up quite a bit. We're playing them at home and they've got a very good offense, so they're a tough team to beat. It's going to be a big challenge for the opener."

(On how Cowboys LB Micah Parsons described him as a competitor)

"That's interesting. I just try to go win, so at the end of the day that's what I'm trying to do. I'm not trying to hurt anyone, just trying to go out there and do my job as best [as] I can. I'm going out there with a lot of good players – that's the best part for me as a competitor. Going to compete is going with a group of teammates you really believe in, so it's not one player they're dealing with – they're dealing with all of us. The more we can communicate, the more we can be on the same page, the more we can play together as a team, the tougher we are to beat."

(On how the offensive line has responded to the criticisms about them)

"Good, really good, really good. It's a tough, hard-nosed group. Those guys really take every bit of challenge and use it as motivation. They take things to heart."

(On players receiving veteran days off)

"The more you do something, the better you're going to be at it. I think you do the best you can do and try to practice and be there for the team. We have veterans and I think the coaches have done a good job, Coach [Todd] Bowles has done a great job of managing practice and rest and making sure our bodies are fresh and our minds are fresh so we can go out there and play great football."

(On how he feels the tight ends will be able to replace TE Rob Gronkowski)

"'Gronk' is one of the all-time great players in the league. I don't think you just put together a team and think that there's another 'Gronk' out there – there's only one. The guys that are in there – we drafted a few, brought in Kyle [Rudolph] as a free agent, Cam [Brate] has done a great job with his leadership. It's really a unit – it's not one player, it's a bunch of different players. You'd much rather play with a guy like 'Gronk' than not, but he's not here. We've got to do other things and play to the strengths of the players that we have and not think that they were the [same] strengths last year, but re-establish those things. This is what football is all about. The season isn't going to go like it went last year for anybody, that's not the reality. You have to deal with where you are in the moment and deal with the challenges you face – certain guys aren't here, certain guys are going to get hurt, things are going to happen to teams. It's a long marathon and we're not even at the starting gate yet. We have to obviously put our week of practice in and be prepared, go on the road against a good team – it's a big challenge. We'll go with the guys that are active for the game, put together a good plan that can hopefully play to our strengths and attack their weaknesses."

(On if he thinks it will be his final season in football)

"'I think we're all getting one day older at a time. We're all not sure whether we're going to be here next year or not, that's the reality for every player, every coach, every parent. You just never know. We should all take advantage of the opportunity that we have, which is the one we have in front of us now."

(On if he feels that TE Rob Gronkowski might come out of retirement at some point)

"'I don't want to talk about 'Gronk' every week, at the end of the day, for him. He's made his decision and we're going to go out there and play football and we're going to try to do a great job. Regardless of who's out there, whether that's 'Gronk' at that position – which it's not this year – other guys are going to go do a great job."

(On what he's seen from RB Rachaad White)

"'He's been really impressive. Now it really matters, so this is where you've got to go see what you're all about. I think the guys that do well in this league go from being an amateur to being a professional. When you're an amateur in college – well, I guess they're not really amateurs anymore, they're getting paid – but there's a different level of commitment at the professional level, when this is your job and you're required to show up every day and do it. We play 20-plus games a year – that's very different. There's a lot of physical preparation, there's a lot of mental work you need to do to maximize your opportunity, and emotionally you've got to be in a good place. He's a good young player, he's got to establish it every day, he's got to gain the trust of his teammates and the coaches in order for him to be confident and for us to be confident in him, for him to be confident out there on the field. He's worked really hard, put himself in a good position, and we'll see how he does Sunday night."

(On accepting that there is increased attention on his personal life)

"It's been like that for a long time for me. I know how to try to do my best and try to be a professional, show up every day and do my job the best way I can."

(On WR Chris Godwin's recovery from injury)

"He's done a great job. It's a significant injury he's faced, and it was a big hurdle for him to overcome. That rehab is really tough – as someone who's been through a torn ACL, and a contact ACL, that's a very difficult injury. He took it head on and he's done a great job. Chris is a guy – you talk about taking advantage of an opportunity, Chris has done that. He's a great professional, he's a great leader, he's always here to bring a positive energy to what he's doing, he's very talented. Outside of his skillset, I think his attitude is what makes him such a great player and a great teammate."

(On his level of confidence in this team going into the season)

"I've always been very confident in our team, from the day that I got here. That hasn't changed at all. We've still got to go do it. It doesn't matter, you've still got to go out there and execute under pressure, which is when the fans are watching and the TV is turned on, you've got to go out there and do a great job."

(On what he's seen from G Luke Goedeke and C Robert Hainsey to earn his trust)

"I think showing up every day and not making the mental errors and taking things to heart when things don't go well for them, not blaming other people for the mistakes, learning from the mistakes, improving and showing everybody that you really care about what you're doing, you care about what we're trying to accomplish, you care about the role that you're in, you care about the fact that your teammates and your coaches put you in a position where they feel like they can trust you. That's what you like about young players – that it means a lot to them, they want to show up and do a great job for everyone. Football is a dangerous sport, if they don't do a great job, they put other people at risk. If you don't know what you're doing, it could be dangerous for the [running] backs and for the quarterback, and vice versa. No one wants to be hung out to dry. We're all out there together, we're all trying to protect each other. The more that you feel like guys know what to do and care about what they're doing, I think you gain more trust in them."

(On how it's been working on his "The Season Ticket" NFT on Autograph)

"It's been great. I have a lot of off-field pursuits, but now it's football season. I think, for me, [I'm] focused on this week. I let them at Autograph focus on their job and I'm focusing on mine, which is playing quarterback to the best of my ability."

WIDE RECEIVER CHRIS GODWIN

(On where he's at in his return process)

"That's a great question. Honestly, I think it's a very complicated process. Obviously, any time you come off a major injury like this you never really know how you're going to feel. I've been doing really well. You guys have seen me out there practicing; I've been doing a lot of stuff. Each day is very different from the day before. So I think ultimately what it comes down to is just, one, how I'm feeling and then, two, the discussion that I have with Coach [Todd] Bowles and the training staff. I think whenever the time comes for the game, I think everybody will know, but until then even I'm not sure."

(On if he feels like his availability on Sunday night will be a game-time decision)

"I would imagine so, yes."

(On if he's thought about taking that first hit on his leg)

"Honestly, I've pretty much considered most of those things. Like I said, it's a very complicated injury and one that guys are just starting to come back from pretty regularly. I think an interesting thing with me is how my injury happened. It was a contact injury, so I imagine that there will be some kind of something with that. But like you said, you never know until you get hit. I would imagine it would be similar to how a regular game would be for me – once you get hit, now you're in the game."

(On balancing the desire to come back and help the team right away versus wanting to get right for the entire season)

"I mean, that's really the key, to be honest. I think it's just trying to be as smart as possible. Obviously the competitor in me wants to go as soon as I can, but just understanding that I wasn't there for the end of the season last year, that stuff really gets to me. So it's about trying to be as smart as I can and trying to make the best decision, not only for myself but what I feel is going to help the team the most down the line, down the stretch."

(On if he's happy with his recovery process)

"Oh yeah, I'm very pleased. I think if anybody that was going through this arrived at camp the way I did, I think they'd be pleased. I really think that's just a testament to the hard work I've put in, to the people that have been helping me, to my support staff. It's been a long, long process but I'm just glad to really be out there with my guys, really getting to practice, getting to do what I love to do."

(On addressing the fear factor)

"That's interesting. I think I just tried to answer that a little bit earlier, but it's really just that you never really know until you get out there. Like I said, mine was a contact injury, so I don't really have any concerns about running and cutting, like some guys might whenever they have a non-contact injury. I would imagine once I get that first hit, it's just back to ball."

(On if being worried about taking the first hit would cause him to prolong his recovery)

"No, I don't think so. I think whenever I go out there it's because I feel really confident in where I'm at, and in my ability to not only play but to be able to take whatever hits I need to take. Football's a violent game and you can't really protect yourself from everything. Once I have the confidence in myself, once it's the right time for me to go out there, just go out there and play."

(On taking off his knee brace for practices this week)

"It's phenomenal. I think anybody that's ever worn a knee brace understands how bulky those things are and how annoying they can be. I think it really just speaks to where I'm at in my process and the progress that I've made."

(On if the Bucs having great receiver depth helps him hold back if he's not ready)

"A hundred percent. We have a loaded room full of receivers that can go make plays at every level of the field. We've got talented guys in the running back room and the tight end room. So, we're not lacking in any way in the skill-position department. So, I think that really helps me in my process, allows me to feel comfortable in waiting until I feel really comfortable to go out there and play."

WIDE RECEIVER JULIO JONES

(On being with his new teammates in Tampa)

"I love it. I love it. They're behind me and they've got my back. I know I can go to war with them, so it's good. The team camaraderie is amazing here. They welcomed me with open arms here. And, these guys work. I came in – just by being a vet in the league for so long, you have younger guys who come in the room and being a veteran, you kind of teach guys and things like that. Coming here, everyone is a professional. They have the work ethic and everything. We all just jell because we have one common goal."

(On how reinvigorating it is to be a member of this Buccaneers team with high aspirations)

"I feel great. We've got a great group of guys here, the coaching staff and the whole organization – I just appreciate the opportunity first of all just being here and getting the opportunity to be here. It's good – we work every day. You build team camaraderie and you build trust in one another. You know the guy next to you is going to do his job. You're going to go out there and give him the same in return, right? I think that in itself – I'm just grateful having the opportunity to give back to my brothers next to me.

(On how he feels physically this season compared to last)

"Night and day. I feel amazing. I don't have anything that is lingering, anything that is holding me back, anything that I am unsure about. I am ready to go."

(On what he has seen from WR Chris Godwin in his time with the Buccaneers)

"Chris is definitely a hard worker. I think he can do whatever he wants to do. His work ethic, like I said, is amazing. That is the biggest thing that I have picked up with Chris. He's a very talented player – but also, the way he comes in, the way he handles his business. I'm not a doctor so I don't do timeframes or things like that, but what I will say is, he works his butt off."

(On what he has picked up playing with QB Tom Brady)

"Just the way he attacks the game each and every day is special, like practice – each and every day the way he attacks practice. In meetings he is very vocal, and I love that because it's not like, 'OK, I want these guys to do this but I'm not going to really say it. He always overcommunicates about things. I think that's big because at the end of the day, we all have to be on the same page. He welcomes everything as well, so if I have a question, or anybody has a question about a route or whatever, how he wants it run or how you see it – he takes that time out to walk you through it or go though it like, 'Hey, I want it to look like this. Can we do it like this?' I just feel like the communication side of it is very big and it's key to a lot of success."

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