Bucs’ Cappa has Brady’s recognition
Dublin HS, Humboldt St. product fits right in as guardian of the iconic QB
It happened so quickly, Alex Cappa barely had a chance to process the magnitude of the moment.
Yet that’s not unusual for Cappa. The starting right guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by way of Dublin High and Humboldt State tends to look at things through something other than the narrow lens of celebrity and hero worship.
With no offseason due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cappa joined the rest of the starting unit when training camp was underway ready to listen to his new quarterback and leader.
Guy by the name of Tom Brady — the most accomplished quarterback in the history of the NFL. Shock and awe?
“The first time I met him was in the huddle,” Cappa said this week in a phone interview. “But the moment is fleeting, I would say. It’s always cool when you meet somebody like that. But very quickly, things become normal and he’s
just one of your teammates.”
That’s entirely in character for one of the NFL’S unlikely success stories, given the way Cappa carried himself through high school, college and the Buccaneers as a third-round draft pick.
Cappa will be helping to protect Brady today when the Buccaneers visit the Raiders, the team of his youth, at Allegiant Stadium.
Cappa’s days of being a high school catcher are long gone; he’s now carrying 305 pounds on his 6-foot- 6 frame. But the flowing blond hair remains, as well as the even-keeled and philosophical nature that appealed to the student bodies at two schools whether they were athletes or not.
When asked about his humble Division III upbringing at Humboldt during a training camp video teleconference, Cappa chided the questioner, reminding him, “Hey, I was Division II. Don’t shortchange me.”
Cappa was as comfortable with his friends in drama class as he was with athletes. Being willing to accept people for who they are, and not who he wants them to be, made Cappa a natural to deal with the star power of Brady in a logical and understated way.
“I’m not sure what my perceived notions were,” Cappa said. “Whatever you think before you meet somebody goes away quickly when you meet them. With any professional athlete, people think they know so much about them
because you watch them on TV.
“You see them during the game, but you didn’t see how he was during the week. You didn’t see the conversations we had before that. Once you get to know someone, it’s different.”
Cappa may not have the stereotypical jock mentality, but he can still be old school — much to his surprise.
A little more than a year ago, Cappa fractured his left forearm in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints. He finished the game. It’s the kind of thing coaches revere. Cappa seems almost apologetic in explaining how he could keep playing.
“It was probably ill advised,” Cappa said. “I knew during the game I wasn’t feeling too good but I wasn’t sure if it was broken. I’ve never been a guy that recommends stuff like that. I’m not like this big, tough-it- out kind of guy. If you’re hurt, I think you should get out. But when you’re playing, there’s this feeling of whatever you’re going through, you’ve got to fight through it. You’ve got to get the job done. You just find a
way to keep going.”
Cappa missed just three games and returned to the starting lineup.
Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians, when assessing Cappa’s progress, brought up his toughness.
“He’s made great progress. He’s bigger, stronger,” Arians said during a conference call. “Got baptized pretty good last year. Tough as nails. He played two quarters with a broken arm. I’ve got great respect for him and he’s getting better every week. I think he’s got a bright, bright future.”
Through six games, the Bucs offensive line of left tackle Donovan Smith, left guard Ali Marpet, center Ryan Jensen, Cappa and right tackle Tristin Wirfs has given up just eight sacks of Brady, a quarterback who has never been shy about letting his blockers hear about it if he’s getting hit too often.
Cappa said it’s all part of the job.
“He’s got high standards,” Cappa said. “We all do.”
Brady was complimentary of Cappa’s blocking during a video teleconference.
“I think they’re doing a great job,” Brady said. “I’ve got so much trust in Donny and Capp and Ali and Ryan and Tristan in what they’ve done as a unit. They’re a lot of tough guys who take pride in what they do.”
Cappa grew up a Raiders fan, and film of him dominating Division II competition as a fourtime Great Northwest Athletic Conference lineman intrigued Mike Mayock, the Raiders’ GM who was an NFL Network analyst at the Senior Bowl. The Raiders were interested as well. Line coach Tom Cable liked him as a potential center.
Tampa Bay, however, took Cappa at No. 94 overall, and now comes a chance to face the Raiders as an opponent. Married in the offseason to his high school sweetheart, Cappa was hoping for family in the stands.
“I just wish there were fans,” Cappa said. “My dad was going to come to the Vegas game, but there are no fans. We’ll get him out. My wife came out for a game and she’s the only one who’s seen me. It will all work out.”