by Samer Ali, Loose Cannons Podcast
in association with the Tampa Bay Times
March 17th, 2025
Love him or hate him, GM Anthony Fernandez WILL bring his customary brand of championship football to GGL.
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Opening Remarks
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The vibrant Tampa Bay sports market has been BOOMING since 2020. Appropriately dubbed "Champa Tampa" by many journalists who follow the local sports teams through various successes, we here at the Loose Cannons Podcast are partnering with the Tampa Bay Times to cover the GGL Tampa Bay Buccaneers exclusively. More specifically, Buccaneers GM Anthony Fernandez, has agreed to let myself - Samer Ali - exclusively be his voice for all media for the remainder of his time in GGL. Anthony Fernandez is easily one of THE most successful GMs in Madden league history - boasting SIX Super Bowl Championships, eight Super Bowl trips, an immense amount of Division Championships, five GM of the Year awards, three Coach of the Year awards, and eight Journalist of the Year awards. Frankly, there is very little that GM Fernandez has not accomplished in this hobby. He is fresh off an NFC South Championship after going (6-0) and sweeping the rest of the division to claim the #1 seed in the NFC. The team was a blown 17-0 lead in the playoffs away from potentially adding a 7th Super Bowl to the resume - but ultimately the team got bested by the Dallas Cowboys and their amazing GM Darryl Breckheimer. But we'll look backwards here very shortly, as this first official Loose Cannons Press Conference will aim to be all inclusive and set the tone moving forward.
Before we look back though, we need to address looking forward. Recently, Buccaneers GM Anthony Fernandez was involved in a heated dispute with League Commissioner Roger Goodell. There was speculation following the matter that the proud GM Fernandez would walk away during the 2024 football season when Commissioner Goodell keyed GM Fernandez car with the phrases, "Bucs Suck!", "Beat it, Bozo!" and "AF, the A is for asshole." Yes, it was a lot to fit on a Prius. The embattled GM agreed to answer questions for just our outlet. The transcript of that interview will be posted below. Following that, Mr. Fernandez provided a detailed overview of the 2024 season, as well as the 2025 offseason, for Bucs fans to enjoy. While GM Fernandez and his lawyers huddled following the car vandalism, this explains why GM Fernandez has been making NO other public comments the last season and offseason. But that has changed, and finally after 16+ games, and a full offseason, we FINALLY have a Press Conference from GM Fernandez, who made it his passion in SFL. Moving forward, AF will regularly communicate on league matters exclusively through League News and Team News articles published by Loose Cannons Publications. While we can expect plenty of new content from GM Fernandez to accrue AP to begin scouting players for next year's draft, priority one remains fully satisfying the needs and requirements of successfully managing his football team. Which there is no doubt or dispute that he has done, and will continue to do, to the highest of ability levels.
One thing that is for sure, is that to do that - to successfully run your team to the highest of your ability, you WILL need AP. After AF rolled a healthy bank over from SFL for season one, that total hitting ZERO was a shock. But in a way, revitalizing. We are hopeful that this encourages ALL GMs to actively step up their involvement with the league in the coming season. And if you're worried that you're not good at writing - don't be! Just remember that AP is not earned by number of views or comments, simply by the producing of content. That also means that if you do not find the analysis of GM Fernandez to be worthwhile or engaging, for example, simply do not read. Just count my AP and keep it moving. With that said, let's stack some AP, baby. There are even reports that AF's old show... PTI, a show he did with former GM Apolo Shapiro could potentially be making a return here to GGL, officially sponsored by the Loose Cannons Podcast! And on that note, without further ado, here is the one-on-one interview we conducted with GM Fernandez a week ago.
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One-on-One GM Interview
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SAMER ALI: Mr. Fernandez, thanks for taking the time to speak with us, and grant us this now-exclusive access.
AF: Please, call me
AF. It's an honor to work out the logistics with you. Ideas on how to best accumulate AP in the new league have all been cooking in my mind for some time, so it's good to have a plan moving forward. I've been a big fan of your coverage of the
Tampa Bay Lightning and
Tampa Bay Rays.
SAMER ALI: Thank you! Let's dive right in then. The need for this new arrangement came about from a dispute you had with
League Commissioner Roger Goodell after you accused him of keying your car with some... tasteful expressions. There are also unconfirmed reports circulating that he
may have grabbed your wife's ass! The only thing we know for sure is that you think he's a rich, pompous elite from the Billionaire class who is out of touch with the needs of the average fan. And he thinks your an insufferable asshole. Any comment?
AF: To begin, I'm not sure where that wife ass grabbing story came from. I asked my wife about that, and she laughed it off. So any issues I have with Roger aren't related to that... although I wouldn't blame him for wanting a squeeze... it's a nice rump. That said, I think it's important to look to the future, not the past. There are obviously a lot of feelings involved with being called an asshole by someone you respected, like
Mr. Goodell, but at the end of the day his feelings are
his feelings. I'll say reading it on the side of my beautiful car didn't help, either. All I can control is my response to those feelings, and I have made the concerted decision with family and friends to go this course of action in addressing this just once. Out of respect to the
former Commish Tom Brady, who I do consider a friend, this article will be the last time I address or respond to any of these issues.
SAMER ALI: Do you think you
are an asshole?
AF: You know Samer, no I do
not think I'm an asshole. Am I
capable of being one? Sure, who isn't. But to be blanketly and boldy told by
Commissioner Goodell, that I
was an asshole, and to see him think he's above punishment for vandalizing my car... gutting. But again, I can't control any of that.
However, I don't live my life in a way where I let many people get the opportunity to call me an asshole in a public setting and
remain in my life. I just don't. I have more self respect than that. Unfortunately,
Commissioner Goodell currently has a monopoly as a gatekeeper to the only NFL football league remaining... so we needed a new reality. And now we have one. Frankly, in a league of 32 GMs, it's highly unlikely that
any individual GM is going to be liked by
all 32 GMs. That's pretty rare air reserved for like... the
Neal Wintermutes of the world. So I'm fine if there are 2-3 GMs here who don't like me. That said - I wish they could all like me, and if Commish Goodell ever decides that he wants to sit down and chat and resolve this like adults, I am more than willing to do that. I don't want drama. Goodell is rich, he's got the money to replace my car, too. But until then, we'll just go on trying to sweep the NFC South, and continuing my run as
the greatest Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM in the
history of Madden Leagues, with 5 Buccaneers Super Bowl wins
(plus one in Dallas, a franchise that at one point nobody wanted).
SAMER ALI: And what would you say to the reader that says these comments in fact make you an asshole?
AF: Again, I don't believe I am an asshole. Everyone is
capable of being an asshole, and maybe some of what is coming across as I have spent weeks stewing without an apology or explanation. Perhaps an analogy that a pet lover might be able to appreciate,
"a hit dog will holler." As the dog in this analogy, if it makes the pet owner feel bigger to be able to hit that dog (or key his dog kennel) and attempt to feel in
control, so be it. I'll instead lean on
facts. And in this case, the facts come from who I
know does
not think I'm an asshole. My 11 year old son, and best friend
Vincent does
not think I'm an asshole. He literally thinks I'm the coolest person alive. Daily we play video games together, play catch, play board games, watch shows, talk about life, etc. My 16 year old son
Quinn does
not think I'm an asshole. He is my literal right hand man. We have renovated every room in our house together. He makes me proud daily beyond measure. He likes me so much that HIS friends are MY friends. My 24 year old daughter
Kaylee does
not think I'm an asshole. She routinely drops off my 2 year old grandson
Sage, who the moment he walks into my house runs up smiling saying "Papi's house!" and gives me a hug and a kiss. Sage does
not think I'm an asshole. My wife
Stacey, who I've been married to now for 15 years and still wakes me up every morning with a kiss, she does
not think I'm an asshole. My
parents, who are both still alive and well and call me to talk every single day for no shorter than 30 minutes, they do
not think I'm an asshole. My
brother (
plus his wife and kids) who live across town but drive over regularly to see movies, play board games, and talk life together do
not think I'm an asshole. My boss
Brian, who recruited me to the school where I'm working now and asks my advice on every issue as he begins to put his mark on the school, he does
not think I'm an asshole. My
former students that I've taught over the last 13 years who regularly post on IG how much of an impact I've had on their lives and still come over to my house to visit and come back to school to volunteer do
not think I'm an asshole. My
current students who just started a new Technology Club and just attended a big competition at a NC College winning multiple 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies as they competed in multiple career and technology based events as middle schoolers do
not think I'm an asshole. The same
Appalachian State University founders of this NCTSA association that sought me out to join their Board of Directors because I was so successful building chapters over the last decade that NO other school in the state of North Carolina could even compete with us do
not think I'm an asshole. There's also a
large majority of GMs in this league that do
not think I'm an asshole, and have offered guidance and leadership in private on the matter because they want me to stick around and not quit, and because they know at my core that I have a good heart and want
peace. I could go on, and on, and on. So - if all of those folks do
NOT think I'm an asshole, and in fact think quite the opposite and think I'm an amazing dad, brother, son, husband, teacher, leader, etc - then how much should it really bother me that
Commissioner Goodell thinks I'm an asshole? He can think what he wants, and I can think what I want. It doesn't matter. After this update is paid out in AP so I can continue the pursuit to make the
Buccaneers the best team in
GGL, we
never have to talk about the issue again. As I've said a few times here already, this will be the conclusive and final time I address these matters publicly, but I am incapable of moving forward without at least addressing the public slander of my character. Beyond that, I'm hopeful that EVENTUALLY
Commissioner Goodell himself will want to repair the relationship and seeks me out. When that day comes, I'll have a chair and a glass of bourbon for Roger to sit down and talk it out. He just can't go near my cars.
SAMER ALI: That was a lot. Do you feel better?
AF: Yes, actually. That was cathartic. It feels good to be able to address it in a way that I feel I'm good at, and also in a way that
pays. With that in mind, any questions before I present you with the pre-prepared outline recapping 2024 and our 2025 offseason?
SAMER ALI: Yes, I guess my last question would be about your final point...
winning. Yes, this team went (6-0) against the NFC South last year and was the #1 seed in the NFC... but the division was
historically weak. There is no denying the
Falcons,
Saints, and
Panthers all got
better this offseason via free agency, trade, and the draft. We'll obviously look at some of the moves you made in Tampa this offseason - but do you truthfully believe that your team is good enough to compete at the very high level you have laid out for yourself? Believe it or not, there are some GMs - particularly those in your division - who are going to read this article
(if GMs read team news anymore) and interpret this as a huge declaration of war. This will be on bulletin boards. You have unnecessarily set the bar very high for yourself in 2025, and I wonder if that is a smart decision for a GM not fond of criticism.
AF: I do fully expect to go (6-0) in the
NFC South. I also will be disappointed with less than 12 wins for the year, and a playoff win. Does that mean that's guaranteed to happen?
Of course not. But I'm a builder. I build teams. The big misnomer about me in
SFL was that I traded for all my players. The reality is that the
Cowboys team I won the
Super Bowl with in SFL was largely built with players I drafted in rounds 1-3. If you go back and check, there was a remarkable amount of 2nd round talent that I developed. And we'll do that here, too. We liked our draft, and while yes we trade a lot - it's mostly for assets that we can use to position ourselves to draft the future
Tampa Bay Buccaneers we plan to develop. So yes, there will be a target on our back. Maybe we struggle at times over the next year or two while
QB Josh Allen battles regression. But we like what we have in
QB Baker Mayfield, and we fully expect to compete. Don't forget... the year I won my last Super Bowl (SFL Cowboys), I published an article before the season that said we were going to win the Super Bowl. That brought a lot of pressure - but ultimately I thrive under pressure. Don't forget it was
Washington Redskins GM Jason Walstead that asked, "When will we see
your excellence? When will we see
your dominance?" The very
next year we were the
only team in SFL history to go
(18-1) and win the Super Bowl. That didn't take long. That was a league almost two decades old, and nobody else came close to accomplishing what we did. So is there pressure? Yes. But find me one GM that can honestly say the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster will not get
incrementally better each year I'm in charge of it. You can't. The real challenge over the next few years is going to be how to develop a QB... while the teams in my division are already taking their lumps to do that now. We've got two young guys on the roster - but the division still might be too tough to risk them seeing the field. It's a tough spot. But I'm up to the challenge. I thank you for the time. Please enjoy the exclusive content I have provided for you and your media team.
LOOKING BACK...
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2024 Depth Chart
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KEY = <25 Years Old | 25-29 Years Old | >30 Years Old | Pro Bowler
DEFENSE
CB Marshon Lattimore (89) | CB Zyon McCollum (79) | FS Antoine Winfield Jr. (97) | SS Jayron Kearse (85) | CB Jamel Dean (85)
ROLB Joe Tryon-Shoynka (79) | MLB Lavonte David (94) | MLB Chris Braswell (79) | LOLB YaYa Diaby (83)
RE Logan Hall (77) | NT Vita Vea (95) | LE Calijah Kancey (83)
OFFENSE
LT Luke Goedeke (80) | LG Kevin Dotson (80) | C Graham Barton (75) | RG Karsen Barnhart (66) | RT Tristan Wirfs (92)
WR Mike Evans (87) | WR Chris Godwin (83) | TE Cade Oton (79) | WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (73)
HB Rachaad White (86) | QB Baker Mayfield (84) | FB Andrew Beck (72)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Chase McLaughlin (80) | P Jake Camarda (77)
We were one of the teams who actually did a good amount of roster shuffling BEFORE the season started last year, primarily across the OL. It was an aggressive strategy, but we knew we had a weaker division that was trying to break in some young QBs... and we had an older QB who likely has a smaller window. Everything made sense for us to be aggressive with draft picks. We also did some position moves across the defense that allowed us to run my customary 3-4 defense I love (and recently won a Super Bowl in SFL with the Cowboys with). The first step of that was moving big DT Kancey outside to LE, where he thrived and had a Pro Bowl year. Vita is a huge man that is your traiditional NT and will command double teams. That left a very young Logan Hall out alone on the right side, and we felt he held up very well. We also moved DE Braswell to backup MLB, and we were thrilled with the mentorship he got from veteran future Hall of Famer Lavonte David. SS Jayron Kearse was a stand out free agent addition that played well with his huge frame and earned a playoff berth. Across the OL, Graham Barton and Triston Wirfs made the Pro Bowl. That was quite the honor for Barton, who was a rookie. HB White had an outstanding year with a contract year looming. WR Evans was near the top of the league in most categories, and only got better late in the season when we added WR Stefon Diggs for the playoff push late in the season. All in all, we felt our team overachieved all season, benefactors of a light schedule. The reward? A #1 seed in the playoffs (extra contract year) and a ton of progression that will give us a good baseline to build this team out how we want to.
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2024 Signature Games
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W eek Three (3-0)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Chicago Bears 
| WK3 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | FINAL |
|---|
 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
PLAYER OF THE GAME | LE Calijah Kancey (5 TAK | 1 TFL | 3 SACKS | 1 FF)
GM Recap | GM Anthony Fernandez said post-game... "This was an important road win against a rookie QB. If we were going to take ourselves seriously this season, it was important to get this win. What's even better is we really kicked their ass. Our defense shut them down and gave them fits all day.. 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, multiple fumbles. This was a clinic. Just what the team needed on D, while the offense was calm and steady behind Baker and M1K3."
W eek Four (4-0)
Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| WK4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | FINAL |
|---|
 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| 0 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
PLAYER OF THE GAME | HB Rachaad White (136 RUSH YDS | 5.91 YPC | 76 REC YDS | 1 TD)
GM Recap | GM Anthony Fernandez said post-game... "WOW! That got scary at the end! That Packers team is for real. I have a suspicion that might be a preview of a future meetup, but I'm hoping I'm wrong because they're going to be the 4Q Packers for four quarters, not just one. Really big game out of Rachaad White today. He's underrated in this league, but he showed what he can do today. He'd be a legit WR if we moved him, he can do it all. Big game for the rookies Graham Barton, Chris Braswell, and even Jalen McMillan grabbing a TD. That was a big time win against a Championship contender."
W eek Fifteen (11-3)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons 
| WK15 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | FINAL |
|---|
| 10 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 24 |
PLAYER OF THE GAME | CB Jamel Dean (3 TAK | 1 TFL | 2 INT | 1 DFL)
GM Recap | GM Anthony Fernandez said post-game... "Anytime you play a division rival it's important, so the first Falcons game was scary as well. But the stakes were much higher in this one. The Falcons were on a bit of a run... they're very good and clicking at the right time. It's nice to get the sweep. Dean came to play today, and our defense ultimately handled Penix once again. But this is a well built, well coached team that I hope we don't have to face a third time this year. That's a recipe for disaster. But we can't control that, let's just finish strong and go (6-0) in the NFC South this season. That's a strong statement in Year 1 of GGL."
D ivisional Round (12-5)
Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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| WK4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | FINAL |
|---|
 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 33 |
| 10 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 30 |
PLAYER OF THE GAME | QB Baker Mayfield (27/38 | 388 YDS | 71.1% | 3 TD | 1 INT | 119.2 QBR)
GM Recap | GM Anthony Fernandez said post-game... "Just a crushing loss. To be up 17-0, at home, against a team that talented and to lose... it hurts. But that's a talented team. They're likely to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. It hurts to lose to ANY team twice in a year... we had hoped this one was our year. Baker played his heart out, left it all out there. Ultimately the Cowboys just made a couple more plays than us. Hats off to GM Daryl Breckheimer, who is one of the best in the league. We wish them the best of luck in the NFC Championship, and we hope to see them again in the future. We overachieved this year... but any time you make it to the final 8 teams playing, you start to believe there's a chance. Is there symmetry to lose to the Cowboys... the team with so much unfinished business in SFL? Yea, it stings. Mike Glennon is probably still sitting on IR somewhere waiting for me to come back. But I'm proud of Baker, I'm proud of this team. Our story isn't completely written."
Baker WILL be back...
LOOKING AHEAD...
COMING SOON!
But first... here are some "Breaking News" spoilers from our offseason team twitter feed!
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Discord Breaking News
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BREAKING NEWS: OLB Joe Tryon-Shoynka and the Buccaneers have agreed to a new 7-year contract. The deal is reportedly worth just north of $22 million dollars with almost $9 million guaranteed at signing. JTS, the former 1st round pick, had an outstanding preseason game and is expected to be a building block of this Bucs defense for years to come.
BREAKING NEWS: Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin has been traded to the AFC. More details to follow soon. The Bucs are also in talks with multiple other teams attempting to reel in a very big fish ahead of the GGL League Meetings in Indianapolis this weekend.
BREAKING NEWS: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have acquired CB Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints. Details are expected to be announced soon, but Lattimore will slide in next to CB Jamel Dean as the starting CBs for the next 2-3 years. The team is also expected to extend young star CB Zion McCollum in the coming days, with plans that he’ll start in the nickel, and eventually replace one of those two players. When team officials reached out to future Hall of Famer Mike Evans about the team acquiring his biggest opp of all time (by far), he said, “whatever helps Tampa, I support. If he sucked, I wouldn’t hate him. Let’s see what he can do for the red and pewter.”
BREAKING NEWS: The Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers agree to blockbuster trade. More details to follow!
BREAKING NEWS: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are adding HB Derrick Henry via trade. He is expected to mentor and split time with Rookie HB Bucky Irving. The time share will replace HB Rachaad White, who had an explosive season but is rumored to be headed to Dallas.
BREAKING NEWS: Tampa and Oakland have agreed to a deal that will make OT Luke Goedeke a Raider! From coast to coast, Luke will swap to the silver and black and be a new kind of pirate!
BREAKING NEWS: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and newly acquired CB DaRon Bland have agreed to a restructured 6-year contract worth just north of $50 million over the life of the contract. The deal includes just over $10 million guaranteed. Special thanks to Bland’s agent, @breck1968 for brokering the deal for the two parties. Bland entered with extra leverage, coming off a 10 INT season that saw him win Defensive Player of the Year. Bland now plants root in the Bay Area and will look to make sure Keon Coleman struggles in his sophomore year.
BREAKING NEWS: CB Marshon Lattimore has been traded to the AFC following a locker room fight with future Hall of Fame WR Mike Evans.
BREAKING NEWS: MLB Lavonte David and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agree to a new contract that assures the future Hall of Famer will retire a Buccaneer.
BREAKING NEWS: Prize OG Trey Smith appears to be headed to Tampa Bay to play LT!
BREAKING NEWS: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to contract terms with the following free agent: MLB Lavonte David, RE Thomas Booker (Philly), RE/MLB Janoros Robinson (Oakland), LOLB Jose Ramirez (TB), and C Robert Hainsey (TB). They remain in the Top 3 with K Cameron Dicker (San Diego), SS Talanoa Hufanga (SF), and SS Markquese Bell (Dallas). They also have apparently won a few Max Bid Free Agents, and are still flirting with OT Tryon Smith.
BREAKING NEWS: After an exciting phase 2 of Free Agency that featured multiple bidding wars with teams like the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and the Houston Texans (I guess), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially agreed to terms with LT Tryon Smith and RG Samuel Cosmi. The best offensive line money can buy? Maybe. Cosmi will stay at RG for a year, mentoring youngster Barnhart, who will get TC, sophomore progression, and a little playtime this year to be a stud next year at age 25 seasons. Tryon Smith will start at LT this year, then retire (or die), at which point Cosmi will move to LT permanently. Very satisfied with young talent at LG Skoronoski (24 years old), C Barton (23 years old), and RT Wirfs (26 years old). While the two new additions will average $28M a year, the remaining three starters only account for less than $9m total ($2.66m average). Those three are also under contract for 2, 4, and 5 years respectively. That puts the average salary per lineman just over $11m a player… a figure that goes down dramatically next year.
GM Anthony Fernandez walks off for intermission while the song "Blue Monday" by New Order plays in the One Buc Place press room.
