The Tampa Bay Buccaneers bolstered the veteran presence at wide receiver, signing Sterling Shepard to round out an electrifying group that was already headlined by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
![Sterling Shepard Explains Massive Reason he Signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1296597309.0.jpg.webp)
Shepard arrives in Tampa Bay, on the heels of previously being the New York Giants’ longest-tenured player, on a one-year contract.
Injuries and battling through multiple concussions in recent seasons have wreaked havoc on Shepard’s career. The 31-year-old caught just 10 passes for 57 yards with a touchdown last season. However, the Buccaneers are hopeful that Shepard can make a legitimate push for the starting slot receiver role in Baker Mayfield’s arsenal.
Why Sterling Shepard Signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
![Sterling Shepard Explains Massive Reason he Signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 tampa bay buccaneers baker mayfield](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/baker-mayfield-1-1024x571.jpg)
Shortly after agreeing to terms with the Buccaneers, Shepard explained to NFL reporter Josina Anderson that his longstanding relationship since his collegiate career at the University of Oklahoma with quarterback Baker Mayfield was a driving force behind his decision.
“It’s hard not to smile right now,” Shepard told Anderson. “I wasn’t expecting this. Three days ago Baker (Mayfield) texted me asking ‘how does your body feel?’ I said, ‘I feel great. How’s the baby?’ Baker said, ‘The baby is good.’ Then Baker asked me, ‘man, you think you got one more in you?’ I said, ‘it just has to be right with everything I’ve got going on with my family because I’ve already turned done other opportunities. But I’ve been kind of thinking about it when I run outside everyday and lift.
“Plus, when I golf with Saquon (Barkley) he’s been telling me I need to quit playing around because I still got it.’ Then Baker said, ‘well have your agent reach out because I know they threw your name out around here the other day.’”
Shepard reuniting with Mayfield, and playing in a receiving corps with two dynamic field stretchers could reignite his career.
After spending his first eight seasons in a Giants uniform, Shepard arrives in Tampa Bay having caught 372 passes for 4,095 yards with 23 touchdowns while averaging 11 yards per reception for his career.
Shepard is brimming with confidence about his new situation.
“My agent hit them up,” Shepard explained to Anderson. The Bucs wanted me to fly out the next day. Jo, I strapped my cleats on and hit that workout like I’ve been running routes all my life. The rest is history.” Shepard added, “I’m so happy right now. I get to be with my brother again.
“Before this, I was in full daddy mode, but we got the contract done and now I’ll get back in Tampa Sunday for mandatory camp on Monday; but me and OBJ are going to get together and train for a couple days too.” Shepard went on to say to me, “this is so crazy man, my whole mode just changed 180.”
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