SAFETY JORDAN WHITEHEAD

(On how it feels to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

"It feels good. It feels like it's home. They drafted me, so I'll always have love being here. It's exciting. I've been upstairs for the last hour or two, but it feels like I never left people with how much love I'm getting. It brings back a lot of memories. The coaches – Coach [Nick] Rapone, in general, that's one of my favorite coaches I've ever been around. Talking to him this morning kind of brought back the meaning of football and the relationships you build throughout your journey. That's one that I'll never forget. Seeing him brightens my day and everybody in the building – just being back for the second time – I can't be happier."

(On what's changed for him over the last two years)

"It feels like it was so short that nothing really changed. In the offseason, I have my house here so I was here in the offseasons, still hanging out with the guys on the team just because they're my friends…Nothing really has changed, it feels like, yet. I came in and everything and everybody still seems in the same place. [Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance] Bobby [Slater] came in and got me. It's the same people. The difference is Coach [Todd] Bowles is in a different office now."

(On how much he's looking forward to playing for Head Coach Todd Bowles)

"Playing for Coach [Todd] Bowles…I don't know what player wouldn't want to play for him, especially being a defense player, being a safety, linebacker, cornerback – if you're one of those positions, he's going to put you in the best possible situations. He's going to bring the best out of your game. The person he is – you can talk about anything with him, from ball to life. That's the biggest thing coming around [for] my second time. I got in his office and we sat up there for an hour. The first 10 minutes you talk about football then after that you just talk about life. I can't say [anything] wrong about Coach [Todd] Bowles. He's been there for me ever since I came [into the league]. He's been coaching me. Him bringing me back here, that says enough right there, giving me an opportunity."

(On playing with S Antoine Winfield Jr. again)

"Everybody at the Jets – whatever team you come from – everybody knows about Antoine and they know the player he is and the great year he just had. For any safety in the league, that's motivation. Antoine is one of my best friends, so being able to come back and play with him [after] me stepping away and seeing a different side of things…He came in as a rookie when I was here, so I kind of felt like I brought him up a little bit. We learned from each other. I taught him a lot. Now, it's like, 'Antoine, this is your team. I'm your partner now.' We're going to talk, we're going to do things a lot. There's a lot of similarities [in that] we play alike, and similarities that we [had] before when I was here. I want to sit back and evaluate, see what's going on. Antoine is a leader and you want to follow greatness. Even though I'm older than him, he's like my little brother – we're going to push each other. Everybody in that room, any [defensive back] – corner, safety, nickel – there's going to be a lot of leadership coming from my end [and] trying to bring guys along and bring the best out of everybody's game."

(On if he was surprised that he didn't stay as a Buccaneer a few years ago and if he thinks he's a better player now)

"When I left, I was bummed out by not being back. Anybody that's going to start new is going to feel a certain way, but you get over that hump when you get there. What I did learn was a different scheme, a different defense, so I had to adjust. It brought out another game in me that some people didn't know I had – or even myself. I knew it was there, but I just needed to show it. We sat back in a lot of Cover Four with the Jets. I was in the pass game a lot and didn't really have any blitzes. I sat back in pass [coverage].  I was going against Aaron Rodgers everyday in [training] camp and that brought another level out of me. I'd say my game elevated just from being in a pass defense, learning to read coverages, learning to read the offenses, reading the quarterback out of the middle of the field. There was just certain stuff that I didn't get to do as much here because I was in the box so much. I was always labeled as a box safety, but my label now wouldn't say that because I feel comfortable playing man-to-man, playing in the post. I wouldn't say I prefer it, but it's always good to sit back and get interceptions and not just be a big hitter. I'm just two years older now, I'm smarter, wiser. I go home and watch film with the coaches and it's a part of my game that I love. You don't just have to be physical, there's a lot of mental stuff there. I learned how to take care of my body now more – little things like that, nutrition. It's not always just having fun. You need to do what you've got to do – put the work in, do your job. That's kind of the best thing at the end of the day."

(On him having a more well-rounded game than when he was in Tampa Bay last)

"I've got to thank my coach at the Jets, my safety coach Marquand Manuel. He was just like Coach [Nick] Rapone – one of the greatest coaches I've had. He brought the best out of me everyday. I thank him a lot just because we sat down, we'd have long meetings and long talks [of] him showing me film and [saying], 'This is how you do it.' He wouldn't let me settle and he didn't want me to just settle. He wanted me to get the best I deserve. I appreciate him for that. Now that I'm here, it's football. I'm happy that I got to step away to elevate my game, because who knows what would have happened. I don't want to take anything back. It's going to elevate my game now, being in this defense, being with Antoine [Winfield Jr.]. It's going to elevate my game even more."

(On him getting three interceptions in the Monday Night Football opener where QB Aaron Rodgers got hurt)

"I was just talking about that. That was Aaron's first game. Him coming out of the tunnel, I've never seen a stadium like that – it was night, the lights were on. The atmosphere was crazy. Coming off of Hard Knocks, there were a lot of things that were going on. Josh [Allen] gave me three chances and I came down with three picks. That was my best game probably ever in the league and ever playing football. That was a staple-piece for me, to be able to say, 'If I can't play the pass, then what is this?' Aaron going down was definitely hard on the rest of the season and definitely played a role in how things went. But, I was playing like it was here, playing on a top-five defense. You get to meet a lot of people, you get to learn a lot of new things. You learn a lot of ball. I'm just happy to share my experiences from being at the Jets with the guys here, just to make everybody better."

(On how this defense has changed since the last time he was here)

"There were a lot of [veterans] – the D-Line, a lot of vets on the D-Line. When I was with the Jets, it was kind of a younger team, so I was the vet in the room. I was the vet in the room. It's the same thing here. At this point in my career – this is my seventh year now – I feel like the vet. It's just part of me bringing guys along, bring everybody that's younger, older, doesn't matter who you are. If you need to learn something or you're a safety coming in, I'm the guy to go to to teach you. I'm going to push you in the weight room. I'm a team player – that's the main thing."

(On if he still does the same type of offseason workouts as before)

"Yeah, same. I always say when I'm done playing football, my mom asks me what I'm going to do and I just say I'm going to be a bodybuilder or just working out [laughs]."

(On if he thought about a reunion with the Buccaneers right when the offseason started)

"Oh yeah. I knew I was a free agent. I still watched ball and watched the Bucs games and watched my boys playing. As soon as the season ended, I definitely was still watching their games. They played the Eagles first in the playoffs and I was watching that game. I was just texting my buddies like, 'They couldn't read the defense. Coach [Todd] Bowles was pressuring them.' I was just joking with them, but in reality, I always knew that I wanted to play back in that defense. [Head Coach Todd] Bowles has one of the best schemes if not the best scheme in the league just [with] how much stuff he does, how he uses his players. He's not just a, 'You're going to do this, you're going to do that,' – he's going to put you where you need to be and he's going to tell you certain things. Seeing it from a different side, you know [Head Coach Todd] Bowles and how smart he is. My coaches at the Jets, they were smart too and they were great people, it's just that [Head Coach Todd] Bowles is a genius when it comes to football X's and O's."

(On if he's focused on winning as he is joining a team that has made the playoffs for four straight seasons)

"Definitely. That's the main goal, to win. You just never know in the NFL what's going to happen. You could be the last pick in the draft, [Brock] Purdy, and take your team to the Super Bowl; you could have Aaron Rodgers and somebody gets hurt. You just never know. Everybody wants to win and you think you're going to win, but you never know what's going to happen. It's definitely about just being comfortable being around people, good people. We talked about just coming to work and you're happy at work – that plays a big part in it, too. We're definitely going to win, definitely going to work hard, I'm definitely going to try my best and bring everybody along. There are just certain circumstances that happen throughout the year that you can't control. For me, it was about the [Buccaneers] were in the playoffs – they're a team that's always in the playoffs the last couple of years. They're going to have success here. That was a key factor in it. Again, I'm a defensive player and I can only control the defense. I want to be in a scheme on a defensive team that's going to bring out the best of you and showcase your abilities. Like you said, you see Antoine [Winfield Jr.], you see Lavonte [David] still going at it hard. It's like, who doesn't want to play with guys like that?"

(On his thoughts on QB Baker Mayfield and his style of play)

"He's always been a hard-nosed type of player. He's going to get the job done, regardless. He's going to make a crazy throw or scramble for 20 yards and lower his shoulder. Me and Baker had an incident my rookie year here, I think. He slid late and I hit him and they threw a penalty on me for a helmet-to-helmet hit. I got fined and everything. I haven't really talked to him since then. We're going to squash that beef [laugh]. I'm happy to be his teammate."

(On if he's talked to LB Devin White at all)

"This free agency was crazy enough for me. I'm a person who'll block out everybody else until I handle my business first. I've got a lot of buddies who are free agents and I just text them [saying], 'I hope free agency goes [well].' That was my message to him and his message was the same back. We haven't talked since I signed."

(On RB Rachaad White being complimentary of his game on Twitter)

"Me and Rachaad, we met a couple times and we hung out a couple times. We clicked instantly. When I saw him tweet that, it was comforting knowing that guys on the other side of the ball want me in, too."

(On if White was recruiting him to come back)

"You could say he was. I had seen his tweet. I had seen the tweet [laughs]."

KICKER CHASE MCLAUGHLIN

(On what led him to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

"Honestly, that was me and my agent's plan from the start was just to stay in Tampa. As everyone knows, we've been to a few teams in our careers, so when we come to one that's ran the right way just top to bottom, it's an organization we want to stay a part of. It was really a no-brainer when we started our negotiation talk that we wanted to stay in Tampa because it's a great place to live, great fans, and like I said, great people throughout the whole organization."

(On if he has talked to General Manager Jason Licht about keeping the special teams group from last season together)

"Yeah, I leave the negotiating to Jason. Zach [Triner] is a great guy, Jake [Camarda] as well, and we had a great crew last year, so we're hoping everyone can be back together."

(On what it is like for HC Todd Bowles to have so much confidence in him on long-distance kicks)

"Yeah, I mean, it's something that we train throughout all OTAs, camp, and through practice throughout the whole season, so it's something that we really feel comfortable about. We had such a great operation through it all, that no matter where the distance [was] on the field, we get on the line that day and he feels confident, and I feel confident going out to whatever line he says. The distance is… I mean, you notice it when you're out there, but it's nothing you really think about because you've done it so many times."

(On what setting a franchise record single-season field goal percentage meant to him)

"Yeah, it's something I didn't even know that I was close to or thought about at all during the season, to be honest with you. But yeah, it's definitely something special to cherish and to have accomplished. It's really a testament to just staying true and staying through all the ups and downs, just staying levelheaded, and staying true to it all."

(On what it means to him getting a three-year deal and being able to call Tampa home for the next few seasons)

"I think, like you said, bouncing around so much really makes you appreciate it when you do get that multi-year deal, [and] then having it come from Tampa Bay – just such a great organization and city – makes it even that much more special. I think the journey that we've been on…a lot of people may question it or see it as a hard time, but to me it just makes me appreciate it this time even more."

(On how it felt having General Manager Jason Licht prioritize having him return)

"It was definitely humbling to hear my name in the same sentence of some of my big name, potential Hall of Fame teammates when Jason said it. But yeah, I think obviously a lot of things worked out for us last season to get where we ended up. Obviously, it wasn't where we wanted to finish, but we did well as an entire team, unit, and organization. I think Jason prioritizing, seeing that we had something that worked, and wanting to keep [inspired confidence] for not only myself, but I know all my teammates as well."

(On what he learned about himself and the team that he can carry into next season)

"I think the biggest thing I noticed was just the leadership that stepped up. Obviously, we had a few games in a row that didn't go the way we liked in the middle of the season, and the guys just kind of stepped up and said, you know, forget all the noise. Everyone says it, forget all the noise outside, but it was really true within this team that I haven't seen hardly anywhere else, is that we truly came together and said, 'Look, it's us against everybody else.' Tampa Bay against the world, so seeing that resiliency and just stand up and say, 'Hey, look. These games haven't gone how we wanted. Let's turn this thing around,' and then to go and do it showed how strong the core of this team is."

(On what he learned about himself during the adversities last season)

"Yeah, I would probably echo the same thing. Just resiliency. Just leaning a lot on my faith definitely helped a lot and knowing that we are not meant to have all the answers. We're not supposed to know what's going to happen in the future, but trusting that if we work hard and if we stay true to who we are, and [what] got [us] where we are today, then that's going to be what carries us forward."

RUNNING BACK CHASE EDMONDS

(On what is feels like being back for a second season)

"Man, it's just a blessing. [I am] extremely grateful to the [Buccaneers] to be back and try build on something that we started last year. Last year for me, obviously was kind of like a reset year for myself – just to try to get back on track, playing how I know I'm capable of playing, how I played earlier in my career. It was a blessing. The journey we took as a team – how we started off 3-1, and then we went through the adversity being 4-7. That run that we had, that playoff run we had, [as a team] I felt like we had [become] so close in a short span of time. Those remaining 10 weeks, 10 to 12 weeks into the playoffs, it was just unbelievable, the camaraderie we had on the team. I knew that after the season ended, that we just all wanted to try and get back together and build on something special that we started [that] really nobody gave us a chance to do at the start of the season."

(On his relationship with RB Rachaad White)

"Rachaad is probably the teammate that I have grown the fastest relationship with in my entire career. I think part of it is obviously because we are in the same room together, but like you said, this was the first year of my career that I was the 'OG' in the room and trying to be such a small part of his journey [by helping] him see what I see on the field in terms of the development of the game – I pride myself on my intelligence and IQ. But, really, what I did was I took pride in being there for him off the field, man. I was so fortunate and blessed early on in my career to have Larry Fitzgerald take me under his wing and to just teach me what it meant to be a pro, how you deal with success, how to deal with failures, how you go about your business the right way. You always send the elevator back down to the guys younger than you. Rachaad's attitude is second to none. He prides himself on being the best person on the field, he prides himself on being the hardest worker, and he's full of always wanting to learn or wanting to gain knowledge. Anytime you have that talent with that hunger on trying to just become a better player, you're going to have a great player, man. So, I take pride in that and it's been awesome to watch him grow. We talked about his production, and kind of how, again, I was in the room with him and he told me his goals that he wanted attain at the beginning of the season. I remember [in] Week 5, Week 6, he was coming up and like, 'Big bro, man, these numbers [are not] happening.' You can see he cares, he really cares, and you could see it was getting to him. Just to be able to be there, and continue to tell him, 'Hey man, one game at a time, one week at a time,' and to see his game continually progress, I mean Week 9 through Week 17, arguably, Rachaad was the best back in the NFC outside of [Christian] McCaffery number-wise. So, to see where his production can go next year, you know, the sky is the limit for him. I know he's probably going to say he wants that '2K,' I already know him, so just being able to be a part of that, to be a part of his growth and journey, while also trying to get my spark going [has] been a blessing."

(On what clicked for him towards the end of the season and if it was due to him being fully healthy again and getting more chances to run the ball)

"For me, I think it was a combination of the two. Early on in the season, I [knew] they were going with 'Tuck' [Sean Tucker], and early on in the season I understood what my role was going to be. I figured they were going to give the younger guys the opportunity to play, to maximize their play. I was kind of doing it as a special teams role, and I had no problem with that. It was unfortunate that I [had] the MCL injury because against Chicago I had a solid run and I felt like I was actually going to get some spin that game and then I hurt my knee on a punt return blocking, so that was unfortunate. So, I think it was a little combination of both where [I was] finally getting back, trying to get my feet back under me with the MCL, but also still trying to figure out how you get in that rhythm because at that time, they were looking for that two spot to provide some spark. Like you said, the last five [or] six games, it started to click, and I think we really clicked as a whole offensive unit. You know, those were our best games as an offensive unit, outside of the Carolina [Panthers] game to clinch the playoffs. I felt we [we] were really getting our rhythm going, we were getting our momentum going, we were starting to find our identity, how we wanted to call plays, [and] how we wanted to really orchestrate plays off of plays. So, for me, man, I'm just going to pride myself on getting my explosiveness all the way there, and whatever the team does [with the] draft, or bring someone else in, I don't really care. Focus on yourself, focus on your job. But, that is my plan, to really come back with a spark, come back with a different level of acceleration, different level of juice, and just prove myself right, man. I know I [have] it, I know I can do it, [and] I'm still capable of about 2-3 more good years in this league. I'm a hell of a player, a hell of a teammate, and I'm going to go out prove that."

(On if he optimistic about what Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen is going to do with the run game)

"I'm optimistic. I met Liam [in] the building when he first [was] hired, and we actually have FCS ties. He was at Maine for a little bit. We obviously played each other when I was in the NFC West when I was on the Arizona Cardinals. I've heard nothing but great things about him and just how he operates – highly detail-oriented, giving multiple different looks to a defense to where again, you kind of just playing that 'you're chasing a ghost' game where you're giving out three to four different looks that are very similar for a defense or an opponent. Once you combine the motion factor with it, I think it really is difficult for defenses to defend. It's also awesome that it was a mid-zone, outside-zone scheme so it was relatively similar to what we were running last year. I think that's very important for the young O-Line we have coming in this year, again. I think for the run game from Tampa Bay, I think we'll hit our stride a lot earlier than we did last year as an offensive unit."

(On how excited he is to build off the success of last season)

"I'm definitely excited for the opportunity we have as an offensive unit and kind of having that continuity. And then, whatever pieces we do end up bringing in through free agency and through the draft, I think, again, with the camaraderie that we have now…Last year, there were a lot of new faces on the offense outside of the [wide] receiver room, really. I think we didn't really get to gel as early on as we would have liked. I think that's going to be a big building point for us. Once the offseason program starts going on and once that month break hits in June/July, that we get together earlier on and we can really have things in motion so that by the time training camp comes, we're already on step seven instead of step one in terms of re-orchestrating the offense, installing the offense and getting back to learning what Liam wants to run. I think that the offseason program for us is going to be extremely important in that manner of getting the offense going, getting the mojo going. I'm super excited, man. There's a lot of juice coming in with this group. There's a lot of guys that are familiar with each other that love playing for each other. I feel like that's 70% of the battle. You get a lot more effort out of guys when they really actually love being teammates with one another and that's something that we have going on for ourselves."

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