Tampa Bay Times In Attack-Bucs Mode
November 6th, 2018
“Keep smiling, gentlemen. I don’t even read that thing anymore.”
Joe only knows one person not in a media-related profession who reads a local newspaper daily.
She’s 76 years old and lives in St. Pete.
So Joe’s not sure how relevant this post will be here, especially since most local newspapers are declining at a rate rivaling the speed of sound. (Notice how they’ve stopped sharing their circulation data publicly and proudly.)
Anyway, Joe was at a local Wawa this morning and peeked at today’s Tampa Bay Times sports section. It was an all-out assault on the Buccaneers.
Bucs Won’t Kop To How Bad This Is, screamed the big headline atop the front page.
Not far into that Rick Stroud story he explained the Bucs and Dirk Koetter lamenting bad tackling against Carolina was a “whistle-past-the-graveyard message.”
Just below that were two other headlines, Fake Punt Highlights A Hot Mess and Far Too Late, New Rebuild Awaits.
The latter was columnist Martin Fennelly’s written assault on general manager Jason Licht that closed with, “See you at the guillotine.” In the former, Thomas Bassinger told us the Bucs are “a hot, stinking mess.”
It was a striking attack posture by the newspaper.
Where do they go from here? Joe has a few ideas.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:24 am
clean house…the team has quit on dirk…..
Kris Richard 4 HC!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
November 6th, 2018 at 9:24 am
They also need to start attacking the Glazers. You can’t rebuild multiple times with the same results. That tells you where the problem is to begin with.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:28 am
I just thinking it funny how 2 weeks ago it was all Winston’s fault now there’s not one mention of interceptions or turnovers and it’s everyone else’s fault.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:34 am
TEAM GLAZER needs to know what a joke #KLUELESSKOETTER is inside of One Buc place. He had one good non-playoff season to start his head coaching career in Tampa and he got a little power drunk. He fired long time staffers and brought in his buddies. From the suck up snitch equipment manager, to the DB’s coach Hoke, KLUELESSKOETTER has zero clue about his players or the fact he has lost the locker room. He stabbed Lovie in the back and claimed to be only person able to coach Jameis. How’s that working out?? He has been combative at times with the media and his arrogance inside of One Buc is wearing thin on many that he deals with day to day. BLACK MONDAY will be sweet when the move to clean house TOTALLY from left over trainers, to strength staff, HIS video and equipment managers this entire organization needs a total cleaning too many pieces of other staffs still in the building with many different loyalties and non to the BUCS team itself.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:37 am
Joe – Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Not everyone loves JayMiss, or Fitz, or Koetter/Licht.
The D is historically bad, the O is historically good.
Even said….time to move on
November 6th, 2018 at 9:39 am
Tony Dungy for team president
November 6th, 2018 at 9:41 am
The articles in the Tampa Bay Times were fair. I’m not sure why you felt the need to write what you wrote, but there is room in Tampa Bay for all of you and the reporters at the TBT are good. Besides, how is what they are writing any different than what you are writing about new head coaches? First, Joe never wrote that the articles were unfair. Second, Joe never wrote or implied there’s no room for many voices on the Bucs. Third, Joe wrote about this because it’s interesting that the local newspaper put together an attack presentation on the front page. Keep in mind that Joe gives every article here the same weight. They’re written and flow down the page. There’s nothing that’s given a massive billboard effect. That’s a very clear distinction.–Joe
There is very little that is positive about this season and nothing that was positive in the game against Carolina. This season has gone exactly how I expected it to go and it will be a miracle if the Bucs end up 7-9.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:42 am
Hate to aay it but I don’t let it get to me quite as much and am more of a casual fan these days. Having two young kids I sometimes wish I could sit for 3+ hours still guilt free and watchthe bucs every week, but then I see the crap they out out every week and after years of it I’m tired. The new rules also really make me miss the days of hard hitting, opportunistic defenses paired with strong running games. When I follow along on apps and watch highlights later and see how terrible they’ve been I feel relieved I saved all that time doing other things and not letting it ruin my day. Fans deserve better
November 6th, 2018 at 9:42 am
What buddy said.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:43 am
Need a better GM who won’t pass on generation safety talent for a run stuffing DT
November 6th, 2018 at 9:45 am
This is not fake news. Dirk didn’t fire Smith in the off-season because maybe it was an excuse and maybe this is why his defense doesn’t care to play ball. The scheme is a joke. No excuses was the mantra all off-season, they had the glazers buzzing with excitement for this to happen. Top to bottom everyone is stealing at this point so they will clean house
November 6th, 2018 at 9:48 am
Tony Dungy, never even close of this organization. He is going to turn Bucs in Social Justice group. He is done with football, leave this good man alone.
Please NO FIRED individuals are going to fix Bucs, go with fresh, willing to fight, new blood.
Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2018 at 9:49 am
Johnny Says:
November 6th, 2018 at 9:39 am
Tony Dungy for team president
He failed ince. Never won a damn thing as a buc coach and is pathetic 2 playoff win in 6 years was embarrassing. Why rehire a complete faikure AGAIN. Last good decision a glazer made was to fire the 1 dimensional dungy the cliwn now you want to bring a pathetic failure to replace another failure…. only buc fan.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:50 am
Is any of the stuff you just shared untrue. I suspect perhaps you were taken by the impression that the Times was “enjoying” these facts. I wouldn’t argue that latter and it was off putting.
It’s like our posters who come here to gloat over Fitz’s or JW’s failures because they think it makes their guy look better or perhaps most importantly of all…they get to feel RIGHT.
I thought there was certainly attitude in their coverage this morning but no “fake news”.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:53 am
I predict within 40 years the Bucs will make a playoff appearance again. Bank on it. 😜
November 6th, 2018 at 9:55 am
DB55: Where do you see people saying this is all JW’s fault? There are some morons on this site but i haven’t seen one saying this is all on JW. However, he is part of the problem and when you have a better, more deserving alternative, then you should obviously go with that option.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:55 am
bilboards? billboards.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:58 am
Have no love for the TBT but they aren’t wrong. Winston Sucks, Fitz Sucks, the Defense really Sucks, the Coaches Suck, the GM Sucks, and the Owners Suck. Even the ball boys suck. I know the Jameis Apologists Suck too. Some even swallow. Should have spit!
November 6th, 2018 at 9:58 am
Seems pretty accurate reporting to me. On our way to another 5-11 season.
Yet so many Bucs fans can’t acknowledge that.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:59 am
This website has been selling us on how good Koetter is for years. What happened?
November 6th, 2018 at 10:03 am
You don’t know me personally but pretend you do. I am #2 person who reads a local newspaper daily. Sometimes it even has news and that’s fun.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:03 am
The Tampa bay times is full of agenda driven gass bags. If its written by either Thomas Bassinger or Tom Jones its not credible.
What happened to the Tampa Tribune?
November 6th, 2018 at 10:06 am
Michael Clayton had the best feedback I’ve heard in a while….He says the issue ultimately lies with the Glazers being “hands off” owners….That approach has led to a decade of a losing culture. His advice was the Glazers need to be in the locker room today….and make it known if they ever witness another crap a$$ effort like that again this year, jobs will be lost.
He also said for all the great things Koetter/Monken have done with the offense…when a coach states to the media he has no answers for fixing the issue on defense…the coach has lost the team. The players are looking for the coach to fix the problem….regardless of if its effort or scheme….and its simply not happening. Clayton believes step 1 in changing the culture is to can Koetter the next time the Bucs crap the bed like that….don’t wait until the season is over.
Pretty good feedback from a player.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:08 am
TBT is the worst place you can get opinions on sports or on any thing for that matter. They predictions on Bucs have been terrible, their thoughts move like fluid thoughts, and always they have used Bucs terrible performances not as fair and analytic sport critics, but as comic, personal gain, fulfilling their agenda.
I really miss Tampa Tribune.
Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2018 at 10:08 am
On a different topic, I can’t wait for all of this ridiculous election crap to finally be finished. The campaign adds make me want to throw stuff almost as much as the Bucs games do. 😂😂
November 6th, 2018 at 10:09 am
Looking forward to yet another cycle of the Glazers remaining owners of the franchise then replacing GM, coaches, and players. Then it will fail yet once again. After so many times there is a common denominator in the losing. The owners remain the same therefore the losing results are the same. There needs to be true potential new owner out there to rescue this hapless team from the bottom of the sewer.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:09 am
I’d move now with Licht. I talked a lot about during the off-season about upgrading the infra-structure. Let’s bring in someone who can do some basic math, run some regressions, use the massive amount of data available to modern scouts and GMs. Let’s bring in a hard worker, an inveterate tape watcher who has the intelligence to separate truth from myth, proven from unproven.
The natural tendency is to think big name guy who’ll placate the fan base, a Dungy, Brooks, Coughlin, Cowher who gets a fancy title to work as a glorified “overseer.” Instead let’s go with really, really smart, someone who understands the data and (pretend italics for emphasis) who works really hard. And let’s give the decision making power to theperson doing the hard work. Let him bring in other really smart, hardworking people in as scouts, medical evaluators nutritionists. Let him put together a roster that give our coaches a chance to win.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Who are some coaches to keep an eye on for the Bucs?? If they fire Dirk..
November 6th, 2018 at 10:11 am
My writing really suffers when I’m pissed off.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:18 am
Here is a better idea. Let’s hope for a miracle that some rich potential owner with a vision and plan like a Jeff Vinik type makes the Glazerz an offer they can’t refuse.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:20 am
Dirk still has a job? I will continue to check back. Didn’t Mike Smith get fired on Tuesday?
November 6th, 2018 at 10:24 am
JJV
While that would be the best thing to happen, the Glazers are gonna want 2.5B +
I don’t think this crapshow is worth that.
Vinik buying it might be our best option. If he has the stomach for it.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:26 am
Gambelero
“I’d move now with Licht”
Abso-freakin-lutely. He isn’t doing anything anyway. I’d say it would “send a message”, but the message is for next years team..this one doesn’t give a damn anyway…
November 6th, 2018 at 10:27 am
Jmarkbuc- I agree. Vinik may be the best option to end the misery. I wonder if he ever considered it?
November 6th, 2018 at 10:27 am
I miss the days when the local papers meant something, and it didn’t fall apart in your hand like tissue paper.
Tom McEwen and such.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:30 am
Jeff Vinik, a brilliant business man, that has make billions for himself and create a lot of possibilities/jobs for other thousand of people. That’s why we said, god bless rich, entrepreneur people because like Glazers, they provide opportunities for others as well.
That said still there is no Stanley Cup here since 2004.He has been thorough bad choices as well.
Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2018 at 10:31 am
As of 2017 Jeff Vinik net worth is 1.7 billion dollars. May not be enough to buy the team without acquiring other partners.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:32 am
Eric
Yep I learned TB sports from McEwen….
Always loved his breakfast menu’s…
JJV-
You gotta figure with the TV revenue, it’s viable fiscally. It’s the Glazers wanting to much initially that would hamstring the deal.
Heaven forbid they take just 10X their initial investment (193M +/-)
At slightly less than 2B it might be worth it for Vinik to kick the tires..anything over that, not so much.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:36 am
Well the TBT has to sell papers. Apparently they have sunken to the level of shock headlines. Not sure how they are still afloat.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:37 am
Cs-it is true that they have not won a Stanley Cup and made some bad choices but no one can deny that he turned the franchise into a successful winning team. That would be a huge improvement over the dysfunction for many years of the Bucs losing ways.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:39 am
cw crazy
No cup since ’04?
But they are relevant and in the playoffs regularly. If you don’t start there you don’t even have a shot at winning it all…
I’d rather be good every year, have a shot and win it all occasionally, than to suck perenially.
I moved from Tampa 10 yrs ago, but looks to me like Vinik has revitalized channelside and kept the Lightning well supported and fun to watch.
I’d take that for the Bucs in a minute.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:44 am
Jmarkbuc- Thanks for the response. The big question is would the Glazers even consider selling? Everyone and everything has a price but they may want to make the Bucs a legacy for future generations in the family. Again, here’s hoping for some sort of miracle ☺
November 6th, 2018 at 10:50 am
I agree I think the team needs some new leadership, but….
This is the first time we have had a competitive offense that I can recall, so maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to blow out the coach (Koetter) and quarterback (Winston?) who got us here.
Change is needed at the GM position (our drafts are flat out terrible!) and obviously we need to find a d coordinator who has not let the game pass them by.
I don’t buy into the schlock about this is the best group of offensive talent we’ve ever had blah blah blah. That recieving corp that we took to San Diego was pretty damn impressive (Keyshawn, McCardell, Jurevicius) and ain’t no one on this offense getting confused for Pittman or the A-Train. Brad Johnson was able to play at a pro bowl level at time (hmmmm kind of sounds like another Veteran quarterback on the current roster).
My point is, I think we should keep Koetter and Winston, bring in a new GM now to execute the draft prep and find the right guy to be the next d-coped.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:54 am
I think our wish is going in wrong direction, Bucs are Glazers, Glazers are Bucs.
We understand and cheer the private property. Galers have the “title” of Bucs.
Lets get real, let discuss GM, HC, QB, coordinators, personnel… ect
Hope our reaction is going to effect a small percentage on Glazers decisions,
let hope that our money spend to watch or buy Bucs gears are going to remind them that they should try better, or they are going to lose us.
Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2018 at 10:57 am
stpbf….you’re right…but they’ve always bashed the bucs for as long as I can remember with Tom Jones being the leader.
Hell the Bucs could be in the middle of a 5 game win streak (what’s that?) and Jones would be on those pages picking them apart for every and any little thing he could find.
I’ve been begging my wife for 5 years now to cancel that liberal rag. It’s not about the money either, but the content.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:58 am
JJV
Legacy of terrible…
I really think $$$ is their only motivation…
How else can you explain what has happened here since they canned the best coach this team has ever had…then turn around and fire the GM who put this thing together (Rich hired Tony remember), because of a cry baby coach…
Pete
———————–
Offense that doesn’t put up points, only yards is useless. A soft head coach who is in way over his head and an average at best QB who does crazy things..I’ll pass on both.
November 6th, 2018 at 11:00 am
cw
“let hope that our money spend to watch or buy Bucs gears are going to remind them that they should try better, or they are going to lose us.”
TV revenue pretty much eliminates their need to give a damn…look at the stadiums..all stadiums on gameday. Very few are even half full..
November 6th, 2018 at 11:03 am
Interesting story from last month:
AROUND THE NFL STORIES
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Glazer’s To Sell?
Published by Britbuc on October 21, 2018
…
News and rumours are often the same thing where the stock market is concerned. One such rumour to become public could be very interesting as it pertains to the ownership of English soccer club, Manchester United.
Currently the soccer club is owned by the Glazer family, who have often been accused of putting the soccer club before the Buccaneers by fans. If the rumours are indeed true as reported by John Robinson of UK news oulet The Mirror, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is looking to launch a 5.2 billion dollar takeover of the soccer club.
Those who are either aware of the situation in Manchester, UK or that read my article “A Tale of Two Sports” will know that when the Glazer family took control over Manchester United they did by taking a lot of debt to fund the purchase, making them very unpopular with United fans. The amount being offered by Mohammad bin Salman would not only clear those debts but also present a opportunity for the Glazer’s to make a significant profit.
Forbes has the personal wealth of the Crown Prince estimated at over a thousand billion dollars, meaning an offer of such magnitude wouldn’t cause any financial burden to the Saudi royal. Additionally bin Salman has stated his desire to purchase Manchester United, who he considers “the most prestigious soccer team in the world.” With the share price of Manchester United escalating on the New York Stock Exchange this sale could be a real possibility, meaning the Glazers can return their sole focus to making The Bucs a contender.
November 6th, 2018 at 11:04 am
Jmarkbuc- I agree with the money 100%
November 6th, 2018 at 11:22 am
Most of owners miss or make bad choices, I totally disagree changing owners, if Galzers decide so, is going for sure to fix problems.
Jerry Jones, good owner I assume, last SB 1993…. long time ago, Americas team.
Be careful what you are wishing for, we may as well have not team at all with a new ownership. After all half of members here think we, the Bucs fan, suck.
Why a new owner should stay here!!??
Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2018 at 11:25 am
At least the Cowboys are not the laughingstock of the NFL.
November 6th, 2018 at 11:41 am
No “attack” just the truth…….
November 6th, 2018 at 11:42 am
Licht needs to go. He has had 4 or 5 years already and now another failed draft class. The fact we have no secondary is on Licht and not Koetter
November 6th, 2018 at 11:46 am
Why couldn’t Dungy win playoff games against the Eagles with his players? Whu couldn’t Dungy’s teams score single touchdown in 3 playoff games against the Eagles?
November 6th, 2018 at 11:51 am
Although I was born, raised, and lived in Tampa well into my 20’s. I left for..greener pastures. But this franchise does NOT truly want to be a winner… a name synonomous with the great teams. The best we’ve ever been was under Dungy. Teams actually feared playing us. They knew, they could count on a few injuries after getting their..teeth knocked out by us. Now? They waltz right on in here..talking sh.. having already chocked us up as a win. I no longer sit in front of my TV..holding my prayer beads, hopin, knowin, we are gonna win. My wife and I already have our emergency exit plan at halftime when we see our Bucs goin south. These Glazers boyz either should make up their minds to right this ship or sell the franchise. Hard working people are just not going to shell out cash to see these guys lose. Offer Dungy Head Of Football Operations. Fire these clowns and lets start building a team WE can all be proud of.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
You do know they aren’t fans, right? Also, are they wrong? This BS of attacking the media because you don’t agree with what they’re writing is getting old. If they were winning this wouldn’t be an issue.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
So criticism on the Internet is fine but you take exception when it’s in print?
Attacking the media? Gee, I wonder where you learned that from 🙄🙄
November 6th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
There are too many players on this team that are used to losing and appear to accept it. A major house cleaning is in order. Hopefully, this time next year, we won’t recognize this team. I want to see players pissed off after losing. Not smiling and yucking it up. How about performing as if your job depends on it!?
November 6th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Hockey is unwatchable on tv because the puck cannot be seen much. Ho hum put me to sleep. About as exciting as tiddlywinks.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Screw the tampa bay times, they are the poster child for fake news. their sports reporters suck and so does the paper. could care less about what they say.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Reality-is-a- Biotch. Amen. Couldn’t said it better myself. I am so sick of this Dungy crap.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
First off Glazers please sell the team to someone who cares about winning. Second get rid of Licht. Need a GM who knows how to draft. Third get rid of Winston. Need the cap space. Fourth resign Hump. I could go on & on but I will stop there.
November 6th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Joe goes to WaWa…..confirmed yuppie. Well, if picking up a pack of Pall Mall orange 100s and a soda after giving the homeless guys outside $2.00, then so be it. Very few yuppie types ever seen at that location.-Joe
November 6th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Didn’t notice the paper but that’s interesting it’s on the front page. I try to always read the headline in passing…..If it’s interesting I buy. Guess they lost my $.25 on Monday. It’s still $.25 right?
It’s $1.00.–Joe
November 6th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
I had heard a lot of people trying to create pressure on the Glazers to sell the team. A much bigger voice then in previous years.
Doubt it changes anything. Them guys aren’t selling. NFL is a cashcow.
November 6th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Make that one more newspaper reader. SiJoe, what exactly do you disagree with? Are you saying the Bucs aren’t a steaming pile?
November 6th, 2018 at 2:23 pm
Joe, if the Bucs don’t kill you, smoking will!
November 6th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
TBT has been negging for years.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
I guess I’m the other person who reads the paper (especially sports) daily. Don’t always agree, but varied opinions mean something.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
The Tampa Trib had a truly great sports section.
The St Pete Times is, and always has been, fake news who just took an intern covering USF and gave him the Bucs job after the former Bucs reporter took that that big market job, you know, in Indianapolis. That’s how much the Times cares about it’s sports section. The St Pete Times is too worried about trying to rig elections for socialists to put any type of money into their sports section.
November 6th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
Hire James Bettcher!
November 6th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for paying it forward Joe. But you might wanna give them bums a bit more sice they quadrupled the price just to read the news.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:26 pm
“Glazers nor any owner will be selling their team anytime soon
there is about 4 legal sports betting states presently. there is estimated that in 3-5 years , there will be 30 states…
the TV revenue presently is guaranteed 200 million to each team owner annually…
with 30 more states betting sports, the TV rating and advertising revenue will go completely bonkers …
in 3-5 years, each team owner will be guaranteed 300-400 mill annually just on the TV contract
November 6th, 2018 at 7:00 pm
That rag finally published a decent article. Kudos
November 6th, 2018 at 10:47 pm
813bucboi Says
“…the team has quit on dirk…”white
That is a total lie. But then, most of what you say is.
November 18th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
The Glazers should be forced to sell, they do not care about the team or anything but making concession money. It is not fair to the players or the fans, force these people to sell to someone that actually loves tampa and the bucs and let them build us a winning team.