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Jenna Laine
TAMPA, Fla. — An attempt at spreading holiday cheer by two Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates was stifled due to a mail mix-up — and now they’re short $300 with not a greeting card in sight.
Tight ends Devin Culp and Payne Durham each posted a series of hilariously awkward holiday photos on Instagram on Christmas Eve. In them, the two could be seen wearing matching head-to-toe outfits (including Santa hats) and striking an assortment of cheesy poses in front of a Christmas tree.
Culp set the record straight — that these were «100 percent real» and not AI, that the pair really paid for a professional photoshoot at a JCPenney store in WestShore Plaza and that Durham really lifted the 6-foot-4, 237-pound Culp into the air (for reference, Durham is listed at 6-5, 255). No players were injured attempting the stunt.
Tight end Ko Kieft commented, «That’s a fine.»
Durham said, «@JCPenney, GIVE US A SPONSORSHIP.»
Former Bucs wide receiver Ryan Miller said, «I need this on my fridge ASAP» with a fire emoji. Rookie defensive lineman Elijah Roberts said simply, «Cmon man» with two laughing emojis.
There’s only one problem: The greeting cards they ordered featuring one of the photos never arrived.
«We’re still waiting on [them],» Culp said. «I think they got sent to the wrong address.»
Culp would not say which photo made the cut for the cards.
«It’s a surprise,» he said, before chuckling at the thought of an unsuspecting person receiving roughly 200 of these cards in the mail.
«It was Payne’s idea,» Culp said, «but I followed through because I’m a good friend.»
