HEAD COACH BRUCE ARIANS

(On the addition of CB Richard Sherman)

"A veteran, experienced guy who's been a Pro Bowl player. One of the smartest players – having gone against 'Sherm' it's really odd to see him on our team. We've battled many, many times over the years. But yeah, we're really glad to have him and obviously he's got a lot to learn and get into football speed right now. It's a really good addition."

(On when Sherman will be ready to play in games)

"We'll just have to see what kind of shape he's in. He's got so much to learn so we'll just wait and see."

(On if it would be realistic to expect Sherman to play this Sunday)

"There'd be a bunch of guys hurt if he's out there this week, but we'll wait and see."

(On injured players)

"The only guys not practicing today were [Rob] Gronkowski, Gio Bernard and JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul)."

(On saying that a bunch of players would have to be hurt for Sherman to be playing this Sunday)

"Yeah, I mean he's got so much to learn, and he hasn't had pads on in so long. But he does know how to play the game."

(On the schematic fit for Sherman in the Buccaneers defense)

"It's a good fit, it's just so much terminology that's so different from where he's been that these guys learn."

(On what support systems the Buccaneers have in their organization for Sherman)

"I don't think Richard needs any support system, but we have all we need if he needs one. I've known him for a long, long time, 10-11 years, so one incident, that doesn't affect me. We all make mistakes."

(On Antonio Brown still being on the Reserve/COVID-19 list)

"He'll be back tomorrow no matter what. His 10 days are up so he'll be back tomorrow."

(On how Richard Sherman can help the Buccaneers young defensive backs)

"For him to do that, it's kind of like [Tom] Brady last year. I've got to learn the plays before I can help out. But studying film and the things that you do on a daily schedule as a pro, he can help with."

(On adding Richard Sherman to a position that currently has some injuries)

"It's very similar to last year's situation with A.B. (Antonio Brown). Mike [Evans] was limping, Chris [Godwin] was hurt. So, we've got a couple of guys that are a little banged-up, let's just get the best insurance policy we possibly can. To get veterans like that, it's way easier than putting rookies out there."

(On CB Jamel Dean's status)

"He practiced today. He's a little bit sore but he's practicing."

(On Carlton Davis and Richard Sherman both being primarily left corners)

"Carlton's very flexible. We've moved him around a bunch in his career so far and he's followed guys across the field so it's nothing big for him if that happens."

(On Bill Belichick saying the Buccaneers offense is similar to theirs and he can call all the plays)

"I think they copied a lot of ours so it's probably the same. Ask them which film they watch every week. They always picked ours up and watched it, so it's the same stuff."

(On Patriots rookie QB Mac Jones)

"I loved him coming out. He's smart, a pocket player who's going to get the ball out, he's very accurate. Obviously, pressure doesn't bother him. He played in some big games (at Alabama). He led his team to the championship so, yeah, he's legit."

(On how Sherman will help the communication in the secondary)

"If and when he gets back there and knows what he's doing, it should help. But the guys that are out there, they've just got to play, play a little bit better."

(On Sherman spending all of his career on the West Coast)

"Yeah, he thought it was hot today."

(On Sherman saying Tom Brady reached out to him about coming to Tampa)

"I think when you want to talk about a veteran player and you want to win a championship and Tom calls you, you're going to listen. He's going to listen to him, especially knowing the roster we have. I think there's probably a bunch of veterans out there wishing he'd call them."

(On how much he could tell about what kind of shape Sherman was in today)

"We'll see. We'll measure everything he does. We have all those ways of measuring every movement in their body. So, we'll measure some of that and see how he goes, see what he does tomorrow and see where he's at."

(On if he's at the playing weight the Buccaneers want)

"His playing weight? Oh yeah."

(On Sherman being the only player in pads Wednesday)

"Just him. He's got to put some on. He hasn't had them on all year, so I said, 'Hey, if you want to wear them when the rest of us aren't, you need to wear yours. If you want to wear them again tomorrow, we'll count it as two days in pads."

(On how hard it will be for Sherman to get acclimated to a new team)

"He'll put the time in and [Cornerbacks Coach] Kevin Ross is spending a ton of time with him. [Defensive Coordinator] Todd [Bowles] will spend personal time with him to get him up to speed as fast as possible. It's not like he has to play this week, so we have time."

WIDE RECEIVER MIKE EVANS

(On CB Richard Sherman joining the team)

"It's exciting. Obviously, having Tom [Brady] that attract guys of that caliber after getting 'Sherm.' Looking forward to see what he can do for us. It's great to have him as a teammate. I'll practice against him none during the season – training camp I would have. But I've had some battles with him. He's an all-time great player. Very, very smart player – one of the smartest players to ever play this game and I think he's going to help us a lot."

(On the motivation to win the game on Sunday against the Patriots for QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski)

"We lost (against the Rams last Sunday), so we definitely want to bounce back – that's a key focus of ours. We obviously want to play our best. It's going to be a great atmosphere, hopefully, Tom and 'Gronk' get the praise that they deserve. Tom won six titles there, Gronk three. It's just going to be a fun game."

(On the Patriots secondary)

"They're smart – veteran corners, veteran safeties. They fly around [and] make plays. They tackle well. We're going to have our hands full, but if we do what we have to do this weekend and prepare how we can, I like our chances."

CORNERBACK RICHARD SHERMAN

(On if he knew any of the members of the Buccaneers secondary previously)

"No, not really. I know their work. They had a heck of a run last year throughout the playoffs – they played really fantastic football. So, I've watched them on tape. I've never had a chance to meet them, but they're all real fun guys to be around. I've been here for one day and we've had a good time."

(On his relationship with Tampa Bay's coaching staff)

"Yeah, I've got a relationship with all of them. You've got to think, they were in the NFC West with me my whole career until they left to come to Tampa. So, in Arizona we had a lot of battles over the years. There was a lot of mutual respect there – mutual respect for what they do and what their scheme is. Todd [Bowles], as well. It's fun with our powers combined."

(On what he can bring to the Buccaneers)

"The same thing I usually bring – I think I bring a level of leadership and accountability. I think I bring a high level of play. I think sometimes from the outside looking in people think, he's this old and that changes the way you play, but it really doesn't. My standard of play is just higher. The standards that people hold me to are just higher. I'm not allowed to have bad games. I'm not allowed to give up catches without getting killed. I think the accountability part, I'll bring that, and hopefully I'll earn the respect of my teammates."

(On how influential getting contacted by QB Tom Brady was in his decision-making process regarding joining the Buccaneers)

"Well, there's a ton that goes into it. Obviously, the biggest part is your wife. What does she have to say? She's the one that checks off the box and honestly that was the final go-ahead – when she says, 'You can go across the country, and I'll hold down the ship.' That was a huge part of it. But me and Tom have had a great relationship over the years. I think people get confused [by] on the field stuff, but we've texted over the years and have had a really cool relationship. I always thought it would be really cool to play together if we had the opportunity. It's crazy how things shake out. When they shake out this way and the opportunity presented itself – I talked about the relationship with B.A. (Bruce Arians) and Todd [Bowles] and Byron [Leftwich] and all those guys – it was a perfect situation and a perfect fit, and I'm excited to be here."

(On discussing his return decision with his wife)

"It was like, 'Hey, San Francisco called. How do you feel about that? They're not offering anything yet. What do you feel about this? Seattle is kind of stringing you along, but haven't offered anything. Tampa is the most aggressive. Tom [Brady] has actually called.' Once he calls, it's like you better come or you're going to regret not coming. That's what it seems like. That definitely went into the conversation, and she was right on board. She thought this would give me the best opportunity to go do what I love, to go play at a high level and to have a chance at chasing a trophy. Obviously in San Francisco they have a fantastic team, as well, so the opportunity would have been there as well. But it's a fun environment. I tried to wait as long as I could to avoid the heat – not heat, but whatever this is – but I think I timed it right."

(On his experience returning to Seattle as a member of the San Francisco 49ers and how it is similar to Brady returning to New England this week)

"Like I think he already alluded to – it's familiar. It's familiar in so many ways, but different in so many ways because you've never stood on the other sideline, you've never went to the other locker room, you've never walked through the other tunnel, you've never heard the crowd not with you. I guarantee when we go there, there will still be a lot of No. 12 jerseys in the stands. It will be weird for them, as well, to root against the man whose jersey they're wearing. I think he's such a pro's pro – he's been doing this [22] years. He will compartmentalize it enough to be able to go out there and execute the same way he has done through so many other games and so many other obstacles. But I'm sure after the game when he gets a second to take a deep breath, stand on the field after the game and really reminisce – he'll probably have a moment … During the game and before the game he'll be in his routine I'm sure and he will just want to get the job done. Once he gets the job done, that's when you kind of let your hair down and let your emotions fly."

(On his previous postgame encounters with Brady)

"We exchanged jerseys maybe 4-5 years ago and he said, 'I'm still mad, bro.' He wrote it on the jersey. He's a great sport about everything. He's just a competitor. We are a lot of the same spirit in that regard. Anything that it takes to win – [we are] obsessed about this game. A lot of what Kobe Bryant stood for – the late great. You can appreciate that about each other. That's what kind of attracted me to come because I know that he's the same kind of animal I am. For better or for worse – you'll do whatever it takes to get these wins and to find a way to get your team where they need to be."

SAFETY JORDAN WHITEHEAD

(On having a veteran player like CB Richard Sherman join this young defensive group)

"We haven't had this, so we're all new to it. The first day you never know what to expect. He came in and we told him we're all young, we kind of need that leader. He came in today and he started giving us a lot of tips, talking ball with us. He fits right in like he's been here for a while."

(On what the defense can do to improve)

"I think we just need to watch a little bit more film together just to see how the offense is beating us. Other teams are going to try and attack us like the past teams have so it's just recall, get back on the film. We have a couple of games under our belt, so now we just have to watch more games on the opposing team."

(On how the secondary needs to improve)

"I think we need to play a little tighter. We're thinking that teams are going to go deep and things like that. We are just going to have to tighten it up a little bit. In practice, running to the ball and getting all 11 guys to the ball when they throw the ball out to the sideline like that, you have to run."

(On being excited for QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski's return to Gillette Stadium this Sunday)

"Knowing that Tom and Gronk have a little chip on their shoulder it gives everybody an edge. We're teammates, we're brothers you're going to give everything you have for them."

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