Bruce Arians’ Message To His Team: “I’m Looking For The Football Players To Show Up, Not The Soccer Players”

July 27th, 2019

Bucco Bruce Arians might get an angry knock on his door from Tony Meola or Tim Ream tonight.

Following today’s practice under sunny skies at One Buc Palace, the Tampa Bay head coach said his message to the team was that they haven’t played real football yet and they should be prepared to be evaluated in a new way when pads — and hitting — debut at practice tomorrow.

And then he threw futbol players under the bus a bit.

“Football’s not played in shorts and it’s not fair to the big guys. So many guys look bad in shorts and you put the pads on them and they’re football players. That’s kind of my message when we broke [today]; I’m looking for the football players to show up, not the soccer players. There’s a lot of guys, they’re great in shorts and the noise level goes up and they kind of disappear. So we’re going to look for football players.”

Arians said there will be no tackling tomorrow but there will be “live move-the-ball drills” later next week.

13 Responses to “Bruce Arians’ Message To His Team: “I’m Looking For The Football Players To Show Up, Not The Soccer Players””

  1. Race to 10 Says:

    Not sure of the angle of throwing futbol players under the bus, this is football so hes not wrong, it’s been a big problem in this town anyway giving guys shine because of what they do in shorts. I’m hoping for some juicy news tomorrow as long as the defense isn’t taking cheap shots on their teammates

  2. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    The only soccer players we want to show up are the kickers……and from what I read earlier……Matt Gay can kick…..

  3. pick6 Says:

    Not an insult, a factual distinction. In soccer collisions are illegal and padding is non existent. Football is built around collisions and pads. Can’t make football evaluations with soccer rules

  4. DB55 Says:

    He means the softies gotta go lucky he already sent one packing now he needs to send Dotson to the panthers too.

  5. Jim Says:

    Well OK, Google “shoulder tackle” and learn (!) that “collisions” are legal and part of the game. And BTW, our U.S. National Team are world champions (of the world’s most popular sport). I know Bruce didn’t really mean it this way, but some respect would be appreciated.

  6. Steven007 Says:

    Robert Nkimdeche was just cut by the cards. Wonder if the Bucs will go after him for depth. Knows the system.

  7. westernbuc Says:

    My coach used to call them grass fairies. I’m sure that’s problematic now.

    As for Nkemdiche, I’m saying from personal knowledge, stay away. No love for football. Would rather be finding his spirit guide than the quarterback

  8. Cobraboy Says:

    “Look like Tarzan, play like Jane.”

    Some of the best linemen I played with were unimpressive in shorts but were animals in pads.

  9. Jim Says:

    We could use one of them soccer players for our kicker…

  10. Pick6 Says:

    Shoulder tackles may be legal but I don’t know how many players in the modern game are coveted primarily due to their physicality. There are 98 ways to make illegal contact in soccer and maybe 2 types of legal intentional collisions. Regardless, our coach was pointing out that contact and evaluate are connected in football in a way that is almost completely opposite to the other sport he mentioned

  11. ModHairKen Says:

    Soccer fans are so sensitive.

  12. Don_RyJo(e) Says:

    Meh…Tampa Bay’s soccer fan base is too small to do anything about it. I ain’t worried…

  13. Barack's Crack Pipe Says:

    pick6 Says:
    “… padding is non existent.”
    .
    .

    Shin pads!! It’s true!

    I hope that all of our Euro fans excuse our coach’s outburst.