Florida Man Interferes With NFL Team’s Game Plan

In case you didn’t know it — although you probably did — he’s a local kid.

Brandon Walton was born in Clearwater on March 18, 1998. He attended Seminole High School and left a three-star recruit, committing to and attending Florida Atlantic University over 19 other schools. Walton started at left tackle beginning his sophomore year and got better every season in Boca Raton. In his senior season, he garnered 1st Team All-Conference USA honors but went undrafted in the NFL. Walton was then signed by the Buffalo Bills as a free agent and then released. He caught on with the Steelers but was released by the Steel Town Football Team. He was then claimed off waivers by Tampa and spent some time on the Bucs practice squad last season. This year he made the Buccaneers’ 53-man roster, and as can happen, he was pressed into early service when Donovan Smith and Josh Wells went down with injuries.

He held his own against a division rival.

Sporting a patchwork offensive line highlighted by 3rd string left tackle Brandon Walton, the Bucs’ offensive line only surrendered one sack all game, giving Brady the time he needed to zip a touchdown to Breshard Perriman in the second half. It really is remarkable that reserve offensive linemen have been stepping in and stepping up to the task over the last three seasons — Aaron Stinnie comes to mind in 2020 during the Super Bowl run. Good offensive linemen are a commodity in the NFL, highly sought after and coveted by all; they don’t grow on trees, yet the Buccaneers have been fortunate by luck or by design or both, in drafting and signing players that have kept Tom Brady healthy and safe.

It must continue; the season depends on it.

Any way that you look at the solid play from the Great Wall of Dale Mabry, it must continue for the Bucs to have any kind of shot at their season’s goals. It doesn’t involve any Zen rituals or Tibetan monk chants or wearing a certain pair of underwear inside out on game day. You are either good enough to rise to the occasion, or you are not. So far, the Bucs are good enough. Let’s all rub a rabbit’s foot on that statement and just don’t stop believing — I think Steve Perry once said that. It’s a journey, folks. Sit back and enjoy it. Go Bucs!!