Thursday, 4 a.m.
Oh, so that's why the Bucs signed Antonio Brown.
If the Bucs needed further explanations of why they were willing to gamble on Brown, the former Pro Bowler turned bad boy of the NFL, then this week will do it.
There wasn't a lot of time between the Bucs' signing Brown to a one-year contract -- amid a lot of negative comments -- and news that wide receiver Chris Godwin will miss at least one week with a finger injury that required surgery.
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The Bucs, 5-2 and in the thick of a playoff race, have been hurting for receivers. Mike Evans has had an ankle injury, and Scotty Miller has been slowed by his groin, and tight end O.J. Howard has been lost for the year. Enter Brown, who left fans grumbling as he departed Pittsburgh, the Raiders and the Patriots. He has retired and unretired, and he has been sued for sexual harassment and accused of rape.
Now he is a Buc, largely because injuries have slowed many of Tom Brady's best targets.
"He looks fantastic," Bucs' coach Bruce Arians said. "We had really good conversations today, he and I. He was in the meetings. He looks to be in great shape. Ready to go next week."
Who knows if Godwin will be back by then. And if so, Brown could help ease the loss.
"I was totally surprised by it when we got back," Arians said of Godwin's injury. "He looked fine leaving the stadium. and we find out he has to have surgery. It’s very optimistic (to say) that he’ll be back in a week. I’ could be possible. We don’t really know how long. That’s why we have the insurance policy.
Bucs' coach Tom Brady dodged questions about the loss of Godwin and the addition of Brown, his former teammate.
Brady did say, however, that "football is about maximizing our potential."
Said Brady: “I think our skill guys do an incredible job. Their attitude, work ethic, toughness. Mike (Evans) is one of the great players to play in the NFL. I wish I could get him the ball more. You want to find ways to get him the ball. He’s just has an incredible. We have to continue to trust one another, We have to continue to improve. We have a lot of room to grow."
One thing Brady doesn't have to do is prove that he has enough arm strength to play at age 43.
"When we watched him last year, he could still make every kind of throw. We haven't been disappointed in that regard. We have no concern about calling any kind of play from five yards to 60 yards. It's just a matter of getting more comfortable each and every week and seeing his guys.”
Over his last five games, Brady is 4-1,and he has thrown 15 touchdowns to one interception.
His next opportunity comes in the Monday night game against the New York Giants on the road at 8:15 p.m.