The Tampa Bay Buccaneers front office made a risky gambit to surround Tom Brady with the best supporting cast possible to win the 2020 Super Bowl. Now it’s time for the Buccaneers fans to see what a ring really cost them. The Buccaneers have waved goodbye to two of their most prominent players, playoff hero Leonard Fournette and fan favorite Cameron Brate.

Fournette was signed by the Buccaneers in the middle of the 2020 season, and he had a stellar campaign. He rushed for over 800 yards, including an incredible 450 yard performance in the Buccaneers Super bowl run. Despite his success, Fournette was released due to salary cap concerns and the team’s desire to make sure they can keep a few key players.

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Fournette played a total of three years for the Buccaneers and amassed over 3,000 combined yards and 22 total touchdowns. He was an integral part of the Buccaneers offense and a fan favorite due to his hard-nosed running style.

Brate was a fan favorite in Tampa for several years, and it’s understandable why. He consistently produced on the field and was a reliable target for Buccaneers quarterbacks throughout his career in Tampa.

Brate has spent the last nine years as a Buccaneer, catching passes from Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Brady. Brate has recorded a career 273 catches, 2857 receiving yards, and 33 touchdowns, and he has quickly become a fan favorite for his hard work on and off the field.

The Buccaneers had to make an unfortunate, but necessary decision to release Leonard Fournette and Cameron Brate in order to improve their salary cap situation for the coming years. While it hurts to lose such a beloved duo, the Buccaneers have put themselves in a better position to succeed and maybe position themselves for a superbowl down the road.