Reason Fournette Is Starting
December 20th, 2020
Motivation.
It seems Bucco Bruce Arians went old school coaching recently.
Now last week there was a quote floating around Twitter that a lot of people including ex-NFL players retweeted of famed college basketball coach Bobby Knight. It’s his quote on motivation.
Joe heard Knight use the saying in an interview and it was only a slightly different version than the quote pushed out on social media.
“The best motivation in the world is the bench,” Knight begins. “Bench meets @ss. @ss meets bench. Bench tells @ss, ‘You better get off your @ss or you may never play again.’”
It seems from a report by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, this very much could be in play with Bucs running back Leonard Fournette.
The veteran from LSU is starting today in place of COVID/Reserve-stuck Ronald Jones. Last week Fournette was a healthy scratch.
Rapoport’s sources tell him the reason Fournette is starting just days after being a healthy scratch is the way Fournette responded in practice after being in street clothes last week.
Could Arians have pulled the old “@ss-meets-bench” routine?
You can see Rapoport’s full report in the NFL Network video below.
“The greatest motivator in the world is your ass on the bench. Ass meets bench, bench retains ass, ass transmits signals to the brain, brain transmits signals to the body, body gets ass off bench and plays better. It’s a hell of a sequence.” – Bobby Knight pic.twitter.com/GimlDLQvBI
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) December 12, 2020
From @NFLGameDay: #Bucs RB Leonard Fournette went from benched to scout team to starter. The way he handled it all was instructive. pic.twitter.com/GEMoSV6GqE
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 20, 2020
December 20th, 2020 at 10:54 am
Hope we get the old Fournette and not the new version we’ve been watching recently. Run angry today young man!
December 20th, 2020 at 11:20 am
I expect Fournette to have a big game. He is a starting RB he’s not a 3rd down back like Arians/Leftwhich have been forcing him to be.
Cant expect him to produce in a role he’s not comfortable in.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:26 am
So, you’re saying BA benched Fournette last week because he knew Rojo would be out this week with the sickness and wanted a motivated RB?
Now that is a stretch.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:30 am
Not sure how you came to that conclusion.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:31 am
Side note..I saw Bobby Knight at TIA a few years ago…that was one pissed off dude!
December 20th, 2020 at 11:35 am
Great. Hope he has a great day. He is a good RB you know.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:46 am
Fournette needs to run with knees-and-elbows flying anger for a change.
No more tip-toeing around. Be decisive, and hit the hole with force.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:52 am
He benched him because you need motivated players to win games. It was a warning shot to fournette AND everyone else that if you arent willing to give it your all you wont play.
December 20th, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Was he being an ass?
December 20th, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Yesterday I watched about a 9min highlight reel of Fournette from LSU. Dude was a beast was great to see only problem is that’s not the RB ever seen playing for the Bucs. I’m hoping he remembers those days and has a great day for us. He’s playing for a contract so shouldn’t need more motivation.
December 20th, 2020 at 12:07 pm
So, what exactly do we need today to get our playoff spot? We win and?
December 20th, 2020 at 12:19 pm
I’m in the camp that believes Fournette will have a good game today….along with Shady…..
I’m not concerned about last week at all…..Forurnette is playing for his future….
December 20th, 2020 at 12:20 pm
No third stringer? lol
December 20th, 2020 at 12:20 pm
I think a win for us and a tie in chi-min. Or a min win. And we are in i believe.
December 20th, 2020 at 12:24 pm
Answered my own question:
To get the playoffs today, we need TB win + MIN-CHI tie.
Now, if we win and NO loses? That would make us tied with NO right? And they get the tie breaker?
But if we win again next week and they lose? We could end up winning the division.
Brees is back today, but he may not make it through the game. They have no idea if his ribs are healed up, because they couldn’t expose him to more radiation safely to check.
December 20th, 2020 at 12:25 pm
Brees rock…but…
December 20th, 2020 at 12:27 pm
@ Joe – can’t say he was being an ass because he wasn’t talking to anyone. Head down, angry angry scowl expression and stomping full speed ahead not looking left or right. It was funny and kinda intimidating at the same time.
December 20th, 2020 at 12:44 pm
Today is an audition day for Leonard. Run hard today and make 3-5 million next year. Sulk and drop passes and he will be watching football on TV next season.
He needs to be happy to make money playing a game, not be a problem child.
December 20th, 2020 at 12:58 pm
Screw this “playing for a contract” bullspit.
He should play to his highest effort and skill for winning today!
Anyone playing for the “future” is not playing for the TEAM today, and I don’t want them on the roster.
December 20th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
I dont see Fournette or Brown coming back next year…..fingers crossed we squeeze whatever production we can from them.
December 20th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
I’d rather see what Shady and Vaughn can do.
December 22nd, 2020 at 10:02 am
Here’s a thought about RB’s. Rojo is a stud but where is the receiver out of the backfield. If u sign an elite QB shouldn’t u adhere to his strengths? Brady has had only 1 premier downfield receiver in 20 yrs, Randy Moss and NO superbowl. Get him a Kevin Faulk, Shane Vereen, Woodhead, James White guy and a solid TE, Godwin should be ur shot route receiver. That is ur winning formula you have the rest. Fournett’s days are behind him, move on.