The Future Is Now
November 4th, 2019
Not thinking about draft.
Some teams tend to do the responsible thing; when their clubs are out of the playoff hunt, they turn toward the draft and de-emphasize winning to get a better draft pick.
Today, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians once again said, in so many words, to hell with the future. It’s about now. Even though there is no future in now.
In his weekly day-after presser, Arians was asked if the 2-6 record changes his stance on possibly screwing up the draft for next spring by putting so much emphasis into winning meaningless games.
Arians dug his heels in the dirt.
“No, never — never,” Arians said about playing for the draft. “It’s about winning this week. Everything we do is about winning this week.”
Then Arians sort of quipped that even if he wanted to tank games he couldn’t.
“We can’t play any more younger players, they are playing now,” Arians said.
This is a hazardous mentality bordering on irresponsible. If the Bucs miss out on a true stud of a player because Arians just had to pad his resume, that coud have dangerous, lasting consequences for this losing franchise and could hurt this team for over a decade.
Joe only has to point to two examples.
In the last road game of the 2006 season, Chucky and the Bucs beat the Browns, which tied the teams in the draft standings. To settle the tie, there was a coin flip at the combine. The Browns won.
Instead of the Bucs being in a position to maybe trade up and select Calvin Johnson or sit tight and select Joe Thomas, the Bucs instead settled on a stiff of a defensive end known as Gaines Adams.
So explain to Joe in great detail about what that landmark win in Cleveland meant to the franchise?
Then, fast-forward to 2017. The Bucs had a horrible season yet facing the NFC South champion Saints in the final game of the season, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, connected on a long bomb on the final play from scrimmage with Chris Godwin to upset the Saints.
The win, though, pushed the Bucs out of the top-six where the Bucs missed on a chance to draft right guard Quentin Nelson, who has single-handedly turned around the Colts’ from a porous offensive line into one of the NFL’s best.
You either play for the playoffs or you play for the draft. Joe isn’t sure why otherwise intelligent folks have such a tough time figuring this out.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:16 pm
I’m with Arians on this. This is still a team of professionals and every week they should go out with the goal to win. It’s what you get paid to do. If the team wants to tank that order should come from the Glazers directly and they should look all the men in the locker room in the eye when saying it if they give such an order.
There isn’t some rookie saviour worth tanking for. Not now, not in the last game of 2014, not ever.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:16 pm
As long as you continue starting JW, you’ll never convince me that winning is of any importance to them… stop saying 1 thing and yet doing another..
Let the fans knlw by your action that you want to win!
November 4th, 2019 at 2:21 pm
Joe… Dominick also sucked. As I recall the pick that year was All DAY AP. I believe the Vikings took him at 7. Knowing how Gruden likes to run the ball I still can’t understand how they passed up in AP ( sure thing ) to take a REACH / UPSIDE DE Gaines Adams.. God rest his sole..
November 4th, 2019 at 2:21 pm
Now Joe. You failed to mention all the absolute studs and perennial pro bowlers that went after Adams in that draft we missed out on. Adams is essentially Clelin Ferrel a overrated clemson edge prospect chucky fell in love with. Point is it doesn’t matter cause if we cannot make the right pick in the first place what’s the point in making this argument?
November 4th, 2019 at 2:22 pm
Name a team that has tanked and is better for it in the NFL.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:23 pm
Forgot to mention don’t get me wrong I see your point and 100% agree we better be playing for the draft at this point. it’s just if we are going to whiff anyway then what is the point.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:28 pm
This is an opinion I don’t agree with. We lose all the time. How do you change the culture of losing if you’re constantly tanking the second half of every season? Plus, what about us fans? I’m sick of losing. That thought process is a loser mentality. Unless we want to draft a QB at the top, history has proven that it doesn’t matter where we pick in the first round. We miss more than we hit. Good managed teams don’t worry about draft order because they do better than the Tampa Bay’s or Cleveland’s of the NFL who are always near the top of the draft.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
What coach would ever come out and say I am going to tank for the draft,what coach would say my QB sucks? The dude is full of it.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Disagree with tanking.
Get as many wins as you can. Even if your out of it.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:36 pm
Did the anyone ask what was the all yelling at Leftwich during the game about? He was all in his face looking like a red face balloon ready to pop.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:36 pm
Bucs don’t have to tank losing comes naturally.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Bucs don’t have to tank losing comes naturally
November 4th, 2019 at 2:37 pm
You either play for the playoffs or you play for the draft.
No Joe…..you play to win.
I’m with BA and any other decent coach who plays to win…..period.
Talk about a losing culture……play for the draft?…..What a crock of BS.
It’s who you pick….not where.
So, you want a coach who wants his team to lose?……..Wow!!!
November 4th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
If Arians is paddng his resume as Joe so indelicately put it, that means we’re winning games. Why would we not up for that strategy again?
November 4th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
*opt for that strategy?
November 4th, 2019 at 2:40 pm
“This is what’s great about sports. This is what the greatest thing about sports is: you play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don’t play it to just play it. That’s the great thing about sports: you play to win, and I don’t care if you don’t have any wins. You go play to win. When you start tellin’ me it doesn’t matter, then retire. Get out! ‘Cause it matters.”
– Herm Edwards
November 4th, 2019 at 2:43 pm
This is seriously beating a dead horse. There has never been a coach to come out ever and say they are playing for the draft even when lovie made it obvious he didnt say it. How could he actually say that without losing the team, this is the media being stupid and asking him to admit to something you know he cant. They are gonna continue to tell you winston is the guy even if they have the 3rd pick in the draft and use it on a quarterback.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:44 pm
The draft doesn’t matter as long as Licht is doing the drafting. Five years of top ten drafting, and the whole 2016 draft is out of football. Don’t worry Joe, Bruce has been playing to win, how’s that working out? He’s not trying to pad his resume he’s just trying to do one better then Koetter, and will be lucky to do that!
November 4th, 2019 at 2:44 pm
I have to disagree with tanking as well. How does a team bring in a absolutely stud of a coach with track record of proven success to see him start loosing games after the first half of the season. I don’t think so, we need to grind this winning atmosphere into this franchise once again. It’s been two decades but the time has come, everyone in this league knows the talent maybe except the secondary is all here, we just need to start figuring out how to make these players learn how to fight for 4 full quarters guys.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:46 pm
joe those examples are so short sighted. we wouldnt have vita vea then if we had nelson and you wouldnt be able to complain about davis or mj stewart with the extra picks we got in that trade. i understand your point but if you think the bucs should just completely tank then why even write a blog anymore? Why complain about the performances we have seen and the losses? Dont even talk about x’s and o’s then since we should just lose all these games. bucs are not making the playoffs but then why do fans want results and wins? if you want that then you might as well write an open letter to team glazer to forfeit each game since there is no point in playing and finding how to win or teaching these players. im sorry but this argument that we should start losing on purpose is ridiculous. i understand the last games of the season but my goodness if you really think that then why even have this website? open back up in march when the draft begins.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:47 pm
The players on this team don’t give a crap about draft picks…we need to reverse this losing culture. I’m sure people though the second half success in Dungy’s first season was all for naught but guess what, they came out ready from Day 1 the following season. This team needs to learn how to win.
Losing out on Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas sucks…but we could’ve drafted any of the following that went in the Top 15 who ended up having great careers:
Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Marshawn Lynch, Darrelle Revis, or Lawrence Timmons. Joe Staley got drafted later and he’s still an excellent starter at LT.
Getting Quenton Nelson would’ve been nice…but Vea is already an impact player on a defense that is lacking sorely in that department.
Where you pick is irrelevant. In 2012 we had the 7th overall pick and took a box safety over Luke Kuechly, Stephon Gilmore, Fletcher Cox, and Chandler Jones.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Here goes clueless joe again, you play to win the damn game
November 4th, 2019 at 2:48 pm
I think you’re looking at this all wrong Joe. From the wrong angle. We’re trying to change the culture here, not give it a nice cozy environment to snuggle into.
He needs to teach this team HOW to win. Losing on purpose does the opposite.
I know you dont think the culture is that big of a deal but maybe since you have a very successful business, you already have good culture at JBF headquarters and forgot what it’s like in a place with a terrible culture.
If we don’t change the culture first, everything else will go to waste!
November 4th, 2019 at 2:48 pm
This is a very top heavy draft. Has one of the best defensive end prospects in recent memory as well as a stud corner and a few QBs. Would love to have a chance at one of them.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:49 pm
The Bucs are trying to eat soup with a fork. They need the right tools we’rein house. Mostly defensive backs (how do they miss so often?) Improve the Oline. I wouldn’t be upset if they signed every FA DB, (cause we know they can’t draft them) and then drafted just Oline and Pass rushers.
This offense, as ugly as it is, would be ok with a solid defense. Cleaner play from everyone wouldn’t hurt either. We leave so many plays on the field.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:50 pm
The next public depantsing on the BA farewell tour? Losing to his former team at home this week. The Bucs are still only 9th on the 2020 Draft Order. It won’t matter…either Licht Weight will botch the pick or they will fall outside the range of a top QB ( assuming the Bucs will want one ).
November 4th, 2019 at 2:51 pm
Even the “tanking” Miami Dolphins won a game yesterday…..and yes, they actually tried to win…..and they were joyful!!!
Bring on the “play for the draft” crowd…..which means “lose for a better draft pick”
I ask you this……how is that working out for you?
How’s it working out for NE picking 32nd most every year?
November 4th, 2019 at 2:54 pm
In a passing league….all you need is a turnover prone QB and the league’s worst secondary. You dont have to “tank” with that combo, losing occurs organically.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:55 pm
Teaching them HOW to win > four earlier draft spots
November 4th, 2019 at 2:57 pm
The 1996 team feels differently
November 4th, 2019 at 2:57 pm
Hey Joe’s look firejasonlicht.com is available
November 4th, 2019 at 2:58 pm
It was the 2007 draft and Bucs selected Adams over Adrian Peterson, Darelle Revis and Patrick Willis- so , seems like that was a GM screw up.
And , Joe, if I remember correctly, in 2018 draft, you mocked the idea of taking a Guard as a top 10 pick- you wanted the pick to be a RB or Pass Rusher.
Point is, draft has a gamble element to it- you never know who’s going to be a bust- you play every game to win now, otherwise you are defrauding fans.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:59 pm
Totally unfair to call it irresponsible just because you have a different opinion.
Bruce didn’t come here to lose on purpose nor should he be expected to.
Building a winning team is done on the field not in Radio City Music Hall.
No point in tanking if we still gonna play Bucs Ball. Learning to win is much more important then a few draft slots.
November 4th, 2019 at 2:59 pm
Just coach speak. What is supposed to say? I don’t believe any player would tank realizing his tape is going to be scrutinized during the off season.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
What else do you expect him to say? All coaches and players prepare to try and win football games. Heck, look at the Dolphins yesterday! It’s why Jameis will never be benched. He gives the Bucs the best chance to win.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
This team needs to learn how to win consistently. Way more important then whiffing on a draft pick.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:13 pm
The is NO future this year !…maybe something different in 2020…maybe…Jamyth had a decent game for his historical body of work but is still lacking in many areas of NFL QB traits…accuracy, types of throws ( did you notice Wilson high arch soft lobes into a rain barrel several times yesterday )…placement of ball,..on and on and on…
In 2020 …gotta keep Suh and JPP
1st pick a new QB
sign a starting FA DB
after the 1st round OL & DL trenches 2-7th round
November 4th, 2019 at 3:14 pm
Tanking also has pitfalls that is not acknowledged Joe. Maybe our future plan includes keeping a guy like JPP or Shaq Barrett around.
You gotta knows that will be a lot harder if the team decides to tank and start dumping all the quality pieces around them……….It’s going to be less enjoyable for them to work with a team that isn’t even trying. Or am I totally wrong and these players don’t take pride in their work? I don’t know the players maybe they don’t care if they get blown out.
But it’s common sense they are humans with emotions. They wanna win. And if they on a one year deal or are up for contract they aren’t wanting to stay here……..Just think if Dungy decided it was irreponsible to win. Sapp would have wanted outta here so fast and he is the type of guy who would demand a trade………Great so now we got the greatest college prospect of all time Ricky Williams and it only cost us the formation of the Tampa 2 defense.
Very complex matters with lots of repercussions. Making blanket statements over this is kinda , well, irresponsible
November 4th, 2019 at 3:15 pm
It pains me to think about Jason Licht being a part of the Bucs future……..
Please No
November 4th, 2019 at 3:19 pm
This is total revisionist history and is a subject J.P. Peterson has been trying to push for years.
The Bucs already had a first-round pick of a running back on the roster who was playing well. His name was Cadillac Williams. If you drafted Peterson. No GM in his right mind would burn two first-round draft picks on the exact same position unless the team traded/cut one of them. And the only owner that would allow such a stunt would have to have eight gin and tonics in him and not know any better until he sobered up the next day.
The only folks who really believe the Bucs were going to draft Adrian Peterson that year are the same who traffic in fantasy football and don’t know the difference between make-believe and real life.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:21 pm
We finish 10-6.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:21 pm
Where is Michael J Fox when you need him?
This franchise needs to get back to the future ASAP.
Peace, out
November 4th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Joe, how many times in the past 6 years have the Bucs had a top 10 pick? Many times and are the Bucs better from that? Absolutely not.
It’s not about having a higher draft position or even having a high number of picks it’s about hitting on players when it’s your turn to draft. Tanking fails more often than not.
You should ONLY Tank if there’s a stud quarterback waiting for you with the #1 pick like we thought in 2014.
Only losers tank to move up from the 7th to the 5th spot which is what the Joe’s think will make us better.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Joe how can we be satisfied with this Bucs front office any longer please enlighten me, you can’t even blame Jameis sometimes because look at what’s around him man, no run game, we could have had Dalvin Cook in the 2017 draft at 19! Hell we could have traded down and got other good players and still got cook to give this offense a running back we could have had Laremy Tunsel over Vernon Hargreaves!!! We could have built a good oline for Jameis but damn Jason Licht is really awful he’s an awful team builder idk what the hell he thinks drafting slow ass MJ Stewart over Donte Jackson!! Come on man I can’t be anymore sick with this state of the Bucs front office and scouting department anymore then I am now, our secondary , oline and run game are terrible bc the of man who is drafting these reach players and not signing big names to help, it’s disheartening and wasting my life watching the Bucs just lose lose and lose some more, the glazers need to step up and actually get a damn good GM like a Chris Ballard bc I know there is someone out there who would definitely fix our beloved Bucs!!
November 4th, 2019 at 3:28 pm
The whole tanking thing is nonsense. Mahomes was the #10 pick. Watson was the #12 pick. Wilson was a 3rd rounder. It freakin ridiculous to intentionally lose. You play to win. Hell, we had the #1 pick in the draft and jacked it up. It’s not about where you pick, but about who’s doing the picking. PERIOD.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Troy I couldn’t agree more brother, CLEAN THE FRONT OFFICE!
November 4th, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Nobody is going to publicly state they are tanking for the season. Even the Dolphins say they are trying to win games. Joe(s), you guys should know better than to take every word at face value.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:43 pm
Tanking..LOL….they are trying as hard as they can, I will give this roster and last years credit for that, I have not seen any quitting and give the players credit for that…the draft slot will take care of itself and so will Jameis’s fate…I will be at Sundays game and may go to the last game of the year so I can say I saw Jameis’s 1st and last game as a Buc….
November 4th, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Obviously, Joe has never played the game. His notion of losing games on purpose runs against everything an athlete is taught from grade school. It’s a form of cheating. How could anyone respect a coach who tells his team to lose on purpose? What if Dungy’s 1-6 team with Sapp, Brooks, etc. had been adked to cave. Do you think his players would have respected him?
November 4th, 2019 at 3:49 pm
We have the #1 overall pick in the draft playing QB for us and we are still perennial losers after 5 years. In fact, we seem worse than ever.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:50 pm
“you play to win the game… hello?… you play to WIN the GAME…”
November 4th, 2019 at 3:54 pm
I get both sides of the coin.
Joe is right in the fact that a TRUE stud can be found in the top 5 and winning only lessens the chance of getting one.
Fans want wins Joe. Most of us anyways.
No matter what the record is.
Tell all the season ticket holders that they’ll be mailing it in the rest of the way…see how well that goes over.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
I see what u did there pettyofficer 🤷♂️😂😂😂 but I’d still rather have Winston than Mariota
November 4th, 2019 at 4:01 pm
Unbelievable…. All we talk about here is getting rid of the losing culture. We need to change the culture… This team doesn’t know how to win.
Tank? For an absolute unknown draft pick? No freaking way. This is football. Play, and play your guts out every game. Joe should be ashamed.
November 4th, 2019 at 4:12 pm
Playing for the draft is the dumbest logic ever. I hate that losing bull**** mentality. So play now to obtain one player later that we’ll use to hopefully practice on getting better with? Na this league is about improvement. Prolonging that so we hopefully get a guy that will help us improve later on is a pathetic mindset. Unless it’s mahomes, it is unlikely we get a franchise changer. There are studs all over the top half of any draft and that looks like we’re already going to be there. Browns have top picks every year and suck. Pats never have them and are always good. No way.
No way Joe. We need improvement from our guys now. Not from hopefully an additional one guy in 5 months. Wow.
November 4th, 2019 at 4:14 pm
South FL can swim in weak sauce if they want too. That’s on them. #NoTankInTampa
November 4th, 2019 at 4:16 pm
Could not disagree with Joe anymore. Losers play for drafts regardless of record. We have been picking top ten in the draft for years and have no better record for it. So has the top ten in the draft. Good for Arians and play to win.
November 4th, 2019 at 4:32 pm
If the season ended today the bucs would pick 7th if miami wins a couple of more games the redskins a couple more jets couple of more it will only get higher.
November 4th, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Joe
Wow you did it. You found a way to create a thread where I agree with virtually all the posters.
IMHO Joe I get where you are coming from but here is your mistake.
First let me say I agree with all those like TBBF, Clodhopper, and so many others…we have a LOSING culture and yet we’re talking about LOSING on purpose? Nah…let’s build for the future by improving THIS team the final 8 games.
But here is the major flaw in your argument. The NFL draft is a crapshoot…Yeah the talent has to come from the draft but tanking a season for ONE pick and continuing our losing culture hoping for a SINGLE MESSIAH is not hacking it. Can you say America’s QB? How did tanking that season work for us?
Of the 122 QBs drafted in the last 10 years only 25 have been starters for at least half of their career.
The first round gives you a 63% chance of finding a starter.
That’s your BEST hope as a gambler Joe…a 63% chance of finding a starter. JW is a starter..again how has that SINGLE pick changed our franchise?
I totally agree we need the draft and focusing on the total draft to pick the one out of two who will make it is smart. Focusing totally on an individual player like JW…or Tua…or Lawrence is gambling. Let’s build a great team. JW has proven even a talented QB can stop the losing.
November 4th, 2019 at 4:48 pm
If you ask me….Should we develop our younger, less experienced players if we are out of playoff contention…..my answer is yes….but that doesn’t mean we don’t care about winning….
I thought that last year when we benched Cappa and Rojo…..
I’m not for losing for any reason…..
November 4th, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Oops glaring typo…tanking for JW can’t stop the losing.
November 4th, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Licht and his (draft) scouting department is the problem, not our potential position in the draft. There are plenty of quality players in every draft, but only for the GM and staff that can identify them.
Tanking is a loser mentality pushed by losers. It’s a cop-out and hides the real issues that should be faced. Number one on the list of those issues is the fact that the general manager is borderline incompetent.
Many other posts in this comments thread have detailed other reasons why the tanking strategy is not a good way to go. Let me add just one more new idea to it: if you don’t play with all the competitive fire in your belly that you can every time you step out onto a football field, then you’re going to get seriously hurt, sooner or later, because you’re not playing with the edge that you need. To suggest that these young men go out and play such a violent sport and risk themselves just to lose is morally reprehensible, not just stupid.
November 4th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
In 2017 Bears took Trubisky over Mahomes and Watson. How’d that work out?
November 4th, 2019 at 5:07 pm
oh wait. we haven’t been tanking these past 11 years or so? I thought we had already mastered the art.
November 4th, 2019 at 5:35 pm
“CLEAN THE FRONT OFFICE”
Couldn’t say it any better…..cause I smell a stench coming from the windows of OneBucPlace and it reeks of Jason Licht and his mediocre scouting department
Can someone get Mr Clean in there???
November 4th, 2019 at 5:42 pm
I would rather invest energy on creating a winning culture at the end of a losing season, than to put my hopes on a magic wand in the draft. Getting a culture of wanting to win is more important than talent.
November 4th, 2019 at 6:07 pm
Joe, it appears you have fallen into the same losing culture trap as the Glazer boys. We tanked for Jameis, and how has that worked out? High draft position means nothing with this organization. We ruin good players and fail to surround them with competent complimentary teammates. Players and coaches can not overcome bad organizations. How many high draft picks are playing for the Browns, including a first overall pick at QB?
An historically strong ownership group with football savvy executives are the foundation of any winning organization. Look at the Niners now. They hired a young successful coach, Kyle Shanahan, with a winning pedigree then went out and hired John Lynch. No one was knocking down John Lynch’s door, right? He was a Stanford grad, and an All-Pro in both conferences. He had a concept and a plan, and he drafted and signed free agents who fit both. Can you honestly say the Glazers and Licht have either? No.
Frankly, Arians has it exactly right. Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing. Now, blow up the front office, hire a CEO, and get on with rebuilding the organization from the top down.
November 4th, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Joe, do you have any confidence in LichtMyBalls to make the right pick at or near the top of the draft? Rhetorical question.
November 4th, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Joe is like captain hindsight!!! oh we could have had Calvin Johnson were it not for that last win duuuuh!!!.. he was not guaranteed to be a good receiver was he?? at that time Gaines Adams looked like a lock!! that is how rookies go!! but yet you want to trade away experienced players for possibilities!! THAT is irresponsible!! bunting had a great day yesterday and i think we saw carlton turn a corner last game even with the BULLCRAP penalties!!… dude you have OBVIOUSLY never actually played a real sport in your life have you?? you NEVER tank on purpose that does more damage than anything you can possibly do!!! The concept of tanking is about emptying the bench to see what you have, not intentionally losing games. Of course, you don’t tell players to lose. Yes, Joe has played on many teams, including those that gave guys more playing time when postseason was out of the picture — and there was no draft in the mix. Professional teams tank in this manner all the time. Jiminy Christmas, it’s built into the fabric of professional baseball, which allows an expanded roster in September so minor league players can be called up to get experience over the final month. –Joe
you keep complaining about the secondary to protect your lover Winston but then want them to sell any good vet player we have to get .. wait for it…MORE ROOKIEEEES!!!! YAAAAA!!! … you truly have no clue and we are so lucky you are not in any position to make decisions for this team!!!
November 4th, 2019 at 6:34 pm
I have heard the Bucs canceled an order for two 2020 48V Red Club Car Precedent Lifted Electric Golf Carts. This could mean something big…
November 4th, 2019 at 7:50 pm
Don’t have to tank we won’t win more than 1 or 2 more games anyway…..
November 4th, 2019 at 9:43 pm
Can’t tank , no way you can tank. By tanking you promote a losing mentality which this team can’t seem to shake off for over a decade, also how do you evaluate JW for the future by tanking.
Higher draft picks aren’t guaranteed as successful by any means, I want them to be competitive every week.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:49 pm
This is probably because every coach has to prove their worth to ownership in a losing season. Heads will roll unless ownership is aware of the tank job. But, my guess is ownership has not gotten their ROI on this HUGE staff and are not 100% sold on the product on the field and on the sidelines.
BA needs to man up and take the job as his, with or without his coaches or Jameis, or GTFO. You can’t be a backseat coach and expect to turn around a franchise.
November 5th, 2019 at 5:28 am
Hellooooooooooooooooooo, YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! Hello!
November 5th, 2019 at 7:25 am
“If the Bucs miss out on a true stud of a player because Arians just had to pad his resume, that coud have dangerous, lasting consequences for this losing franchise and could hurt this team for over a decade.” This kind of sounds like hanging on to the league leader in turnover since 2015. While expecting him to change his ways. While we will miss out on the top five rookie QB’s cause Coach knows better. Not that I am a NFL coach or talent evaluator, I am not. I can read the results in the Wins & Losses column. With the QB we have now we are nowhere near .500. So let’s beat our heads in the wall and just know that year six, seven, eight will be better results. Less overall talent with less cap space. Brilliant plan.
Team Showed Me heart in Seattle. Still waiting for the most important thing Wins!
November 5th, 2019 at 9:17 am
1) Tanking is immoral and unethical. It might also be illegal, depending on the gambling laws in your state.
2) Fans don’t pay good money to watch teams intentionally lose. Getting young talent reps is not tanking – it’s called experience. You can still play to win while getting the young guys some time on the field to grow. A competitive team that loses will keep fans; a team that is obviously tanking will destroy a fanbase.
3) Top flight free agents don’t come to losing programs. Arians has some credibility within the league, but if the team is perceived as tanking, then the best FAs will stay away. Everyone is chasing a ring and doesn’t want to deal with the losing.
4) First round draft picks are a crapshoot. Pretty much every NFL team has had mixed luck on first round picks, or just draft picks in general. The NFL has made the draft this big event, but the bottom line is that you can’t tell anything about these kids until they’re in the big leagues.
Play to win, every week. Have a team that has a good repute for winning, not one that tries to manipulate the system to land a high draft pick in hopes (no guarantee) that it will make it better.
November 5th, 2019 at 10:32 am
The Bucs are just tanking lite.
November 5th, 2019 at 7:16 pm
Now is the time to play those youngsters and backups….see what we have, give them experience. If we win, so be it, let them determine it….and PLAY QB GRIFFIN FOR CHRIST SAKES!!!!
We are done, we are rebuilding! See what we have in the rooks and backups…pretty simple!