The Arizona Cardinals travel this weekend to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road in Week 10. The Bucs seems like they have become the Tampa Bay Former Cardinals.
Why? Between the two teams, there are nine player connections, including five former Cardinals on the Bucs roster. However, more so is the coaching staff.
The Bucs are coached by Bruce Arians, who spent five years in Arizona and became the team’s winningest coach in history. His staff mostly is what he had with the Cardinals from 2013-2017.
Let’s take a look at the connections.
Former Cardinals coaches
The Bucs are led, of course, by Arians. The team’s general manager, Jason Licht, used to work in the Cardinals front office with general manager Steve Keim.
Arians’ coaching staff includes 11 who were with him in Arizona. They include Harold Goodwin, Byron Leftwich, Todd Bowles, Mike Caldwell, Rick Christophel, Larry Foote, Kevin Garver, Amos Jones, Roger Kingdom, Nick Rapone and Kevin Ross.
Now for the player connections.
DL Clinton McDonald
McDonald was just placed on injured reserve this week because of a shoulder injury. He played for the Bucs from 2014-17 and appeared in 45 games, starting 34 of them, with 142 tackles and 13.5 sacks over the four seasons. He was selected as the team’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee in 2017.
OL J.R. Sweezy
Sweezy spent two seasons with the Bucs. His first season in 2016 was spent injured. In 2017, he started 14 games before landing on injured reserve.
OL Justin Murray
Murray, who has bounced around the league, was a teammate of Sweezy’s for part of 2017 when he spent time on the Tampa Bay practice squad.
QB Blaine Gabbert
Gabbert is not on the active roster for the Bucs. He is on injured reserve. He was on the Cardinals roster in 2017 and started five games.
QB Chad Kanoff
Kanoff is on the Bucs practice squad. He was on the Cardinals practice squad all last season and even spent a week on the 53-man roster. He also spent the 2019 offseason and preseason with the team before being cut.
RB T.J. Logan
Logan was drafted by the Cardinals in 2017, Arians’ final season as head coach. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve. He played last season for the Cardinals and spent the offseason and preseason with Arizona. He was cut before the season began and was claimed off waivers by the Bucs. He has returned six punts and 11 kicks for Tampa Bay and has caught one pass for two yards this season.
LB Kevin Minter
Minter was the Cardinals’ second-round draft pick in 2013 and played four years for the Cardinals. He is in his second season with the Bucs. He has played in eight games this season, starting twice, and has 29 tackles.
OL Earl Watford
He was drafted by the Cardinals in 2013 and spent five seasons with the team, starting 22 games. He was a favorite of Arians’ because of his versatility and athleticism. He has played seven games this season, starting twice.
LB Sam Acho
Acho is a recent addition to the roster. He has not yet played for the Bucs. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round in 2011 and played four seasons here. 13 of his 17 career sacks were with the Cardinals.
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