Jason Pierre-Paul
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians holds the Vince Lombardi trophy following the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Free-agent pickups have made a difference for some champions

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 16, 2021 12:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, file photo, Washington Football Team offensive guard Brandon Scherff stands on the sideline prior to an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Football Team, in Landover, Md. On Monday, March 8, 2021, Washington announced they've placed the franchise tag on guard Brandon Scherff for a second consecutive year. Scherff is coming off his first All-Pro season. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)
Receivers Godwin, Robinson top franchise tag list

By Barry Wilner Mar. 09, 2021 04:46 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football tight end Rob Gronkowski dances as he and others celebrate their Super Bowl 55 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with a boat parade in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Brady-Brate trophy pass wows Bucs' Super Bowl boat parade

By Fred Goodall Feb. 10, 2021 09:48 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) sits on the field after an incomplete pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) looks on in the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Buccaneers defense rises to occasion again in Super Bowl win

By Fred Goodall Feb. 08, 2021 12:13 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, foreground, watches from the bench during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Buccaneers batter Mahomes in 31-9 Super Bowl rout of Chiefs

By Dave Skretta Feb. 07, 2021 10:35 PM EST

Security tries to grab a fan on the field during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tom Brady wins Super Bowl No. 7, Buccaneers beat Chiefs 31-9

By Rob Maaddi Feb. 07, 2021 10:17 PM EST

Raymond James Stadium rises in the distance ahead of Super Bowl 55 Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The venue is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/7/2021

Feb. 06, 2021 03:06 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate during NFL football practice, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)
Chiefs, Bucs relatively healthy heading into Super Bowl

Feb. 05, 2021 02:59 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during NFL football practice, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)
Brady, improved defense keys to Bucs winning Super Bowl

By Fred Goodall Feb. 05, 2021 01:06 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2021, file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians, left, speaks with quarterback Tom Brady before the team's NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans. Both Andy Reid and Arians are considered players’ coaches, though they do it in different ways. It's a quality that’s helped them reach the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
Storylines galore as Brady, Mahomes command Super Bowl stage

By Barry Wilner Feb. 04, 2021 04:40 PM EST

A man passes signage for Super Bowl 55 as he runs along the Hillsborough River on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The city is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chiefs' success big reason why fans will be at Super Bowl

By The Associated Press Feb. 04, 2021 01:50 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2021, file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians, left, speaks with quarterback Tom Brady before the team's NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans. Both Andy Reid and Arians are considered players’ coaches, though they do it in different ways. It's a quality that’s helped them reach the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
CBS' Cowher: Chiefs, Bucs able to get to top due to coaches

By Joe Reedy Feb. 03, 2021 05:03 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, and Rob Gronkowski celebrate after they defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game in Glendale, Ariz. Gronkowski is one of 218 players to appear in a Super Bowl as Brady's teammate, a number that will grow by more than 40 this week when Brady makes his record 10th trip to to the title game. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
10 for Tom: Brady joins exclusive club with 10th title game

By Josh Dubow Feb. 03, 2021 02:46 AM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jason Pierre-Paul reacts after sacking Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the first half of the NFC championship NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Resilient Pierre-Paul excited to be back in Super Bowl

By Fred Goodall Feb. 02, 2021 07:11 PM EST

In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett (58) speaks during Opening Night for the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (NFL via AP)
Out of Miller's shadow, Barrett aims to follow his footsteps

By Arnie Stapleton Feb. 02, 2021 12:45 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates with quarterback Tom Brady (12), left, after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas. Gronkowski is one of 218 players to appear in a Super Bowl as Brady's teammate, a number that will grow by more than 40 this week when Brady makes his record 10th trip to to the title game. (AP Photo/Jeff Bottari, File)
Brady Bunch: QB has taken over 200 teammates to Super Bowl

By Josh Dubow Jan. 31, 2021 03:04 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs with a elastic band around his legs during an NFL football workout Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Brady, productive drafts fuel Tampa Bay's run to Super Bowl

By Fred Goodall Jan. 29, 2021 07:24 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the championship trophy after winning the NFC championship NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. The Buccaneers defeated the Packers 31-26 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Defense could be decisive in Super Bowl of dynamic offenses

By Barry Wilner Jan. 29, 2021 03:33 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs with an elastic band around his legs during an NFL football workout Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Brady's parents survived COVID-19, will attend Super Bowl

By Fred Goodall Jan. 28, 2021 04:34 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jason Pierre-Paul sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the first half of the NFC championship NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
JPP, Barrett pace stingy Buccaneers defense against Rodgers

By Fred Goodall Jan. 24, 2021 09:23 PM EST