Asked and Answered: April 13

BUDDY POWELL FROM FORT MYERS, FL: Devin White wants out of Tampa Bay. Would you make a run at him? And what would you offer?
ANSWER: Ah, another example of the difference between Fantasy League and the National Football League. In Fantasy League, one team owner calls up the other team owner and a transaction is discussed, negotiated, and completed in a direct and prompt fashion. In the National Football League, even the most basic elements might not necessarily be what they seem. While “sources” have reported that Tampa Bay linebacker Devin White has requested a trade, other “sources” reported the Buccaneers have no interest in accommodating that request. The Buccaneers exercised the fifth-year option on White’s rookie contract, and so he is under contract to them through the upcoming season – at a charge of $11.706 million – and then eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in March 2024. Maybe this is part of the machinations of a negotiation for a contract extension, because I would imagine the Buccaneers would not be quick to cut ties with a player they made the fifth overall pick in 2019 and has been a significant component of their defense ever since. And for any team to be remotely serious about approaching the Buccaneers about such a transaction would realize it would have to be able to satisfy the player’s contract expectations moving forward. See the difference?

BILL McNEELEY FROM ABSAROKEE, MT: Can you help me understand how the game has changed, because it seems like quarterbacks threw far more interceptions in the 1970s and 1980s than in today’s game. I love Terry Bradshaw, but his career stats were 212 touchdowns and 210 interceptions. Those numbers would get him benched in today’s NFL, and Mike Wagner had more career interceptions than Troy Polamalu, 36-32.
ANSWER: Actually, everything has changed. Until the West Coast offense became popular in the 1980s, NFL teams threw the ball down the field instead of relying on rhythm passing where…