So fans watching on TV today saw a moment when Bucs rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter was in the grille of Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Joe asked Trotter about in the somber Bucs postgame locker room.
Trotter led the Bucs with 12 tackles and a pass defensed in today’s overtime loss to Pittsburgh. That one pass defense, however, was a sure interception and likely pick-six that Trotter had two hands on. He just didn’t squeeze it.
The rookie mentioned that as an example when talking about how the Bucs’ failure to close out games comes down to too much failed execution.
As for him in Rodgers face in the Steelers backfield and the 42-year-old QB smiling, Trotter said it had nothing to do with the trash talk for which Trotter is known.
> “Just talking. That was a dude I grew up loving to watch and play at the QB position. I remember being a kid. I took a picture with \[Rodgers\] when I was 11 years old,” Trotter said.
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> “So that’s just somebody I’ve known a long time, and now I’m playing against him. He remembered me, especially my dad and my brother and stuff like that. So it was just a cool moment talking to him real quick. No trash, but mutual respect.”
As for fixing what ails the Buccaneers, Trotter said the team needs to continue its excellent practice energy and “go back to the drawing board.”