Report: The Bucs Almost Cut Leonard Fournette Before The Playoffs

Kevin Patra with NFL.com reported this week that former LSU running back Leonard Fournette was almost cut by Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the postseason started due to Fournette not being happy with his playing time.

Bucs coach Bruce Arians spoke with Fournette after the Week 14 win over Minnesota and gave him two options regarding his role on the team.

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"I said, 'This is your situation. It can change at the drop of a hat,'" Arians told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "But this is your situation. Either embrace it, or you say, 'Cut me.' I said, 'What do you want? Because this is a very special team that you're part of. I think you've got a feeling of that. Just see if you can hang in there to see what happens.' And he did, and I'm really proud of him."

The rest is playoff history.

Fournette got his shot when Jones went on the reserve/COVID-19 list the next two weeks. Then Jones suffered a quad injury before the postseason, opening the door further for Playoff Lenny. Fournette capitalized on the opportunity. In four playoff games, he rushed 64 times for 300 yards and three TDs, including 89 yards and a TD in the Super Bowl, and added another 148 yards and another score on 18 catches.

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...And now he's Lombardi Lenny.