Bruce Arians: A-Holes Usually Run In The Wide Receiver Room
January 22nd, 2019
Don’t count on Bucco Bruce Arians wearing a leash while on his new job leading the Tampa Bay franchise.
Outspoken, smooth-talkin’ but raw Arians will not be holding back.
That was the message he delivered recently during an interview with FOX Sports 910 in Phoenix. Arians was in town for an auction benefiting his foundation that assists foster children.
“I’m just going to be me. I can’t stop that. The one thing that I think the Buccaneers like so much is that I am me, and they like that,” Arians said when asked whether he was going to cut his smack talk now that he’s back in the NFL.
Recently, Arians made a diva comment directed at disgruntled Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, and Brown responded on social media. Arians was asked about that and didn’t back down, saying, “I mean, like I said, he’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever had. He just needs to go back to where the beginning was.”
Arians coached Brown when he was a rookie, a Steelers sixth-round pick in 2010.
Later in the interview, during a discussion about wealth changing some people, the host noted Arians and his wife aren’t “a-holes,” despite the adulation of fans and fat paychecks.
“Not all are,” Arians said. “It’s just a few. They usually run in the wide receiver room.”
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:36 am
He is going to give John McKay a run for his money when it comes to quotes and quips.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:38 am
Nothing he said was wrong. Although, we’ve had a few D-linemen here that fit that description.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:38 am
I wonder if he tried to reach out to Djax and this is his way of saying Djax won’t be on the team next year?
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:02 am
A lot of truth to that statement from looking at past history. WR’s can be the biggest diva’s. T.Owens, K.Johnson, R.Moss, P.Burress, S.Smith, C.Carter etc…etc.
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:07 am
A Diva wide receiver? Common as clover. The only question that counts is, is the Bucs offense better with DJax? Our experienced, knowledgable new coach says “yes”.
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:19 am
Dewey Selmon…got to ask since u mentioned McKay..Are you the same man that played on the bucs with your brother and have a street named after u????
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:49 am
Ben… you new to this Internet thing?
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:51 am
McKay was framed.
January 22nd, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Ben, just a regular schmuck who is a lifelong Bucs fan since 76′. Lee Roy got all the attention and I didn’t want Dewey to be forgotten. My brother Lucious haunts these parts also.
January 22nd, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Is there a street named after me?
January 22nd, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Yup some divas in the WR position along with some comic book loving self promoters along the DL. I expect that that change… wouldn’t you Gerald??
January 22nd, 2019 at 12:13 pm
Love it!
January 22nd, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Cris Carter was a diva?
January 22nd, 2019 at 12:25 pm
maybe if the bucs had more divas and fewer choirboys they would be able to fight their way out of the basement…
January 22nd, 2019 at 12:27 pm
Jim
Totally agree that WR’s have a higher % of Divas than any other position…it is very common.
Not sure where you got your info that the team is better with DJAX..or that we need him…or that we plan to keep him.
BA did say he would reach out to him and all the other smart things…smart because perhaps he does intend to keep him…or smart because he doesn’t wish to devalue trade prospects.
I honestly do not know but he certainly hasn’t reached out to him according to DJAX himself. How long does it take to make a ten minute phone call?
I’m not optimistic about a trade. How many teams really want a 32 year old WR with tons of attitude whose only skill set is his speed. VJAX did a lot for us. When his legs began to deteriorate with age he still blocked and was a great team player.
Other than running by people what does DJAX bring to the table. Has anybody seen him throw a block or make a spectacular catch or ANYTHING that might hurt him? Ten million unless the Bucs are willing to eat some salary. Seems to me they will cut him and then we’ll find out his true market value as of 2019…which IMHO is nowhere near ten MILLION!
January 22nd, 2019 at 12:40 pm
@tmax – not sure if you’re out there but I wanted to check in on the OTs that you think are the worst in the league.
I don’t think they’re that good. I just don’t think they’re the worst.
There are 64 starting OTs in the league.
Per PFF, Demar Dotson was ranked # 44 and an “above average” OT relative to his peers.
Donavon Smith was ranked #46 and “above average”.
I don’t agree with “above average”. They’d have to be #32 or better just mathematically by their own scale lol. Average would be #32.
At the same time – they are in the top 2/3 of starting OTs going by these guys. Which is about what I think they are at this point.
That’s not good enough but I’d say there are at least 6-8 teams in a worse OT situation.
Our biggest crater of a hole on the line is at RG. That lines up with PFF’s bad rating of him. I don’t trust the site for much but their ratings line up with my opinion so I’m doing it this time lol.
I think one OT upgrade and RG upgrade would pay huge dividends. Marpet/Jensen are fine.
January 22nd, 2019 at 1:07 pm
Who was Arians when he was calling games? Cause he was the epitome of boring and lame (from what I heard at least).
January 22nd, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Lol I like his trash talk
January 22nd, 2019 at 1:24 pm
Pretty sure I read here that Arians said the Bucs offense is better with DJax. I KNOW you can listen to a recent Beckles podcast, saying the same. In fact, Beckles makes clear that he in NOT a fan of DJax, but supports Arians by emphasizing the need for any coach to work with various difficult personalities who have talent. DJax has talent in an area of need…
January 22nd, 2019 at 1:27 pm
Ok arians. You’re cool and brash. I like that BUTT..Its time to get to work. Back up your demeanor with some vixtories. I’m all in with you. However, game 1 has not been played. Most trash talkers in life..usually meet a bad Karma on down the line…. Most.
January 22nd, 2019 at 1:31 pm
With them guys coming out this weekend reporting on Djax getting ignored on pass plays it is blatently obvisous he does not want to be here in Tampa Bay.
It’s never gonna work if the guy don’t wanna be here. You can’t trust a guy like that. He can do some harm to the team if he decides to start requesting more trades or holding out. Bruce will figure that out and have to dump him.
January 22nd, 2019 at 2:03 pm
Jim
I do not pay attention to Beckles opinions at all. As far as BA what is he going to say. Rip him like he did Antonio Brown and destroy and value he might have in a trade which IMHO is already next to nothing.
Again…he had three games at the start of the season that were good. As soon as the rest of the league realize his limited skill set they simply repositioned safeties and made sure they covered him over the top…this is why BOTH Fitzmagic and JW had trouble finding him.
At 32 with nothing but speed his limited talent is simply not worth ten million…certainly not for the Bucs. He can do ONE thing…stretch the D…until the D adjusts and being a one trick pony he’s dead in the water just like 2018.
His game fell off the shelf after the 4th game…not a single one hundred yard game and his receptions to targets also dropped dramatically. We can make some excuses but he’s just not worth ten million. We can find another fast guy perhaps without the mental issues and arrogance although I concede your first point that WR’ are frequently DIVAS.
This is why I loved VJAX…no Diva there and my current favorite…Julio who is an amazing talent with ZERO attitude.
January 22nd, 2019 at 2:26 pm
StPete…..Good point about Vincent Jackson. I would put Mike Evans into that same cayergory. He has adjusted nicely to becoming a pro.
But I really wanted to piggyback form your points about Djax production after them first few games. Part of the reason was because teams saw we had no running game. The safety’s didn’t have to creep into the box and were able to defend Jackson more
January 22nd, 2019 at 2:39 pm
@Joe
My Wife and I had the distinct opportunity of meeting Ira Kaufman and Tony Dungy this morning at the Village Inn restaurant on N. Dale Mabry. The moment was surreal when I offered my thanks to Coach Dungy for developing the defense that helped win the super bowl. Totally cool moment. Ira is also a class act. There was another gentleman there I regret not also shaking his hand.
January 22nd, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Pete, I think you’re a good guy and I’m not out to offend anyone, but your point re Beckles is completely unsupported, while your point re Arians is mere speculation. The facts are both said DeJax was a valuable asset. Why the franchise with the worst record in the history of NFL is so eager to drive off talent…
January 22nd, 2019 at 3:04 pm
Drew
Good stuff. Classy
January 22nd, 2019 at 3:26 pm
Jim…..He was a valuable asset but those are not all the facts. There are other facts that hurt Jackson’s value and hurt the team.
You are right. We should not just automatically run off a talented player but what if Jackson tells the team that he does not want to be here playing in Tampa?……And it sure sounds like that may be the case.
At that point I don’t think the Bucs have a choice. I would call that looking out for the best interest of the team. Not driving away talent.
January 22nd, 2019 at 3:30 pm
IMO you let Jackson do what he wants to do. If he wants to play in Tampa Bay……Great, gear up, do what your told & work your ass off.
If not you give him the walking papers he want and you forget all about him. Let’s not pretend that this offense is helpless without Jackson….far from it.
January 22nd, 2019 at 3:55 pm
Very weird comment considering the best WR he just coached for numerous seasons was Larry Fitzgerald – arguably the nicest and most respected player in the league.
January 22nd, 2019 at 3:59 pm
Stpete-
Pretty sure Vincent Jackson and Julio Jones became divas when they weren’t getting paid what they wanted
January 22nd, 2019 at 4:00 pm
All these wide receivers you guys are talking about that aren’t Divas are getting PAID what they wanted
January 22nd, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Lord Cornelius Says: I think one OT upgrade and RG upgrade would pay huge dividends. Marpet/Jensen are fine.
AGREED. One of those positions could be taken in the draft, the kid from Bama, the other via FA. Like to see what Barber could do with some “above average” blocking.
January 22nd, 2019 at 7:45 pm
We have our new Jackson his name is Godwin. Not quite as fast but tougher and catches better. Nice compliment to Evans and Humphries.
January 22nd, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Let’s not forget we also have OJ Howard AND Brate. That is an awesome lineup with or without Jackson.
January 22nd, 2019 at 7:52 pm
Selling his house and asking for a trade sure sounds like someone that wants to stay.
January 22nd, 2019 at 9:32 pm
The Bucs are clearly a better TEAM without Me-Jax but even a better team with John Brown. DJax lack of effort on the field and big effort to divide the locker room plus his big cap hit makes him not worth it. He’s not the only WR who can take the top off the defense.
January 22nd, 2019 at 9:47 pm
Bucnjim Says:
January 22nd, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Let’s not forget we also have OJ Howard AND Brate. That is an awesome lineup with or without Jackson.
neither can stay healthy and both coming off major injuries. gambling all the time is yet another example why bucs own the nfc south basement
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:27 pm
I know Brate had offseason hip surgery and OJ had a late season foot/ankle injury but I haven’t seen any news regarding any details. Where they serious? Can you let me know where you found out more information?
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:48 pm
John McKay was asked by a reporter after a loss what he thought about his teams execution and he said, “ I’m in favor of it.”
Another time a reporter asked if he was concerned about Ricky Bell carrying the ball so many times and he said,” Why?, It’s not that heavy”
He was funny as hell and needed to be with most of those early Bucs teams
January 23rd, 2019 at 10:37 am
Bucs Fans want Patrick Peterson At corner Free agency is cumming and Peterson is the perfect fit with our new defense an New Coach bucco bruce not to mention his old an favorite coach The Fans Have Spoken
January 23rd, 2019 at 10:39 am
WE WANT PATRICK PETERSON
January 23rd, 2019 at 10:40 am
WE want Patrick Peterson AT DB
January 23rd, 2019 at 6:47 pm
If my memory serves me correctly C. Carter was a bit of a diva. Later on he mentored R. Moss who was even more so at Minnesota. Carter calmed him down some per the Vikings’ plan, I guess.
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Also today I heard Gary Shelton suggest that Arians’ remarks about Antonio Brown were really meant for Djax. Hmmmmmm. (Kinda relates to your guess, Indybucs.)
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Go Bucs!!!!
January 24th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Just sign Hump, before we lose him.