The unis intentionally brought back key elements from the Bucs' Super Bowl XXXVII championship lookBUCCANEERS
The Buccaneers are "trying to summon a bygone era" with their new uniforms, aside from the "all-pewter, color-rush version," according to Rick Stroud of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The unis, unveiled yesterday, "intentionally brought back the key elements" from the Bucs' Super Bowl XXXVII championship look, with a deeper red jersey and a "cleaner white one." Block letters "replaced the digital alarm-clock numbers." Bucs co-Chair Ed Glazer: "This new but familiar look is a direct result of the valuable feedback we received from our fans. We are excited to return to our classic Super Bowl-era uniforms while also introducing a sleek color-rush uniform that showcases our signature pewter in a new and dramatic way." Stroud notes the flag-and-crossed swords logo "was retained," but the flag on the helmet is "smaller." The new uniforms also "feature the modern ship design on the sleeves." Many fans had been "hopeful that the Bucs would return to the creamsicle uniforms" last worn in '96. But an NFL rule "allowing players to wear only one helmet throughout the year has prevented" that. Instead, the alternate is the pewter color-rush, "which the team said it will wear three times" in '20 (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/8). SI.com's Conor Orr wrote under the header, "The Buccaneers Should Have Brought Back The Creamsicle Jerseys" (SI.com, 4/7).
PLAYING IT SAFE: USA TODAY's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz notes the Bucs' redesign is the franchise's "fourth major rebranding since its inception" in '76. The Bucs last came up with a new look in '14, but the use of a number font "resembling a digital clock sparked some derision from fans." The new design returns the Bucs to "fairly straightforward" color combinations (USA TODAY, 4/8). YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab wrote teams have "never gone wrong leaning on nostalgia," and for the Bucs, it is "not a bad idea to lean on the greatest era in their history." The helmets mostly "stay the same, with the oversized logo, but the uniforms are better." The alternate pewter jersey is "especially sharp" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/7). PFT’s Mike Florio: "We all are clamoring for a return to the creamsicles. ... The last uniforms were dreadful and fortunately, they realized it was time to get rid of them” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 4/8).
BRADY'S BUCS: In Tampa, Eduardo Encina notes with the acquisition of Tom Brady, the Bucs "hope these uniforms will be connected with better days" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/8). ESPN.com's Jenna Laine noted the Bucs "made the decision to change uniforms" before Brady signed with the club last month, but he "doesn't hurt their brand, considering that Brady's jersey was the top seller in NFL jerseys" in '19. The Bucs "did not have a player represented in the top 50 in jersey sales" last year (ESPN.com, 4/7). Sales of Brady merchandise were up big yesterday, by more than 3,000% over the previous day on e-commerce sites administered by Fanatics, which include NFLShop.com and shop.buccaneers.com. More Bucs merch was sold yesterday on those sites than during the previous 17 days combined. The items range from $79.99-324.99. Pre-draft April is not normally a heavy sales period for NFL-licensed apparel (Terry Lefton, THE DAILY). In N.Y., Brendan Bianowicz goes with, "Tom Brady’s Buccaneers Get A Super Bowl-Worthy Uniform" (N.Y. POST, 4/8).
