The Bruce Arians Influence

February 22nd, 2019

TV talk show guessing.

In a discussion amongst the “Total Access” crowd at NFL Network, one plugged-in NFL scribe believes the street cred of new Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians may be enough to land a big-time free agent target.

And that free agent fish would be Le’Veon Bell.

The quitting former running back of the Steelers, who reportedly has eaten himself to 260 pounds after being out of football for a year tanking on the Steelers, could be picked up by the Bucs who are desperate for a running back (who can read a playbook), suggests NFL Network insider Steve Wyche.

“That’s one division where you have these dual-threat running backs,” Wyche said in making his case for the Bucs to go get Bell.

In this respect, Joe fully agrees with Wyche. While the NFC South may be full of dual-threat running backs, the Bucs have a bunch of no-threat running backs.

Is there an area on this Bucs team weaker than running backs? Hell, the “best” running back the Bucs have, Peyton Barber, barely averaged 50 yards a game.

And please do not confuse effort with production. Joe loves Barber’s work ethic but this isn’t high school where players are lauded for working hard — which should be the rock bottom minimum expected from a professional. Hell, Joe could hire a plumber to bust his tail on a football field, doesn’t mean Joe wants the guy to tote the rock on Sundays.

Does Arians have enough juice to entice quitting Bell to play for him? And could Arians alone prevent Bell from playing Operation Shutdown like he did in Pittsburgh? Haven’t the Bucs learned from bringing in me-first, what-is-my-checking-account-balance guys the past two seasons?

14 Responses to “The Bruce Arians Influence”

  1. BucsFIRE Says:

    We don’t have the money.

    By the way, Rick Stroud is basically reporting that the Bucs will retain Gerald McCoy for a 10th season at his current $13 million per year salary.

  2. BucEmUp 7 Says:

    Holy crap people act like there will never be another great running back. Hell no to leveon

  3. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    God no

  4. westernbuc Says:

    GMC being retained per Rick Stroud

    Hahahahahahaha

    Eat cancer TMax

  5. DooshLaRue Says:

    Re
    Tard
    Ed

  6. EvolvingBucsfan Says:

    FYI, non related topic, Pats owner arrested in Jupiter Fla, apparently in a sex trafficking sting in an Asian Spa

  7. EvolvingBucsfan Says:

    oops sorry he was charged not arrested ..yet

  8. 813bucboi Says:

    joe, as much as i love ya, you’re the one confused…lol….

    bell didnt quit on his team…he made a business decision….the same type of business decisions teams make everyday….vontae davis quit on his team….

    HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

    #REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!

  9. Pancake block Says:

    Can he play right guard?

  10. #1bucfan Says:

    Bell is very talented. Sorry but wen money comes first instead of love for playing the game we don’t need that I get it was a Buisness decision but we need players who are going to go out there an do what it takes to win no matter what the pay is. Plus we should use that money to fix the trenches an watch barber get over 1000 yards better coaching fix the trenches an special teams an see what will happen I know not everyone is high on our secondary we deff need to add several players back there but with better coaching we might have some studs

  11. down in the dirt doug Says:

    If we are retaining GMC at 13 million then our success arrow has just gone backwards.

  12. Mort Says:

    He didn’t quit – he was not under contract and had literally zero obligation to the Steelers to report. Do your homework.

  13. Old School Athlete Says:

    I’ll pass on Bell. I respect his ability, but I want guys like Jameis who love football so much, they’d rather play then eat.
    I still say if we get the right size and strength up front, our backs might be better than we think they are.

  14. Nick Says:

    Bell was doing what was best for Bell. After being tagged and not given a long-term deal, I don’t blame him. With stability, Bell will be a team leader at his next stop. Hopefully BA can convince him of a discount in exchange for guaranteed money.