Hours Before Suspension Announced, Todd Bowles Raved About Mike Edwards
December 3rd, 2021
Bucs DC Todd Bowles
This gets Joe downright depressed.
Yesterday, Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has his weekly press conference about 1:45 p.m.. There, Bowles was asked about defensive back Mike Edwards, who has really become a valuable ballhawk.
Bowles, a little uncharacteristically, was effusive in his praise of Edwards.
“Mike has done an outstanding job,” Bowles said. “He is one of our better underneath players as far as being versatile. His zone awareness is outstanding. His timing is very good. His patience is outstanding.
“And, he has good hands. He did a lot of that at Kentucky where he played underneath a lot and made a lot of plays, and he’s doing a lot of that for us right now.”
And what happened about three hours later? It was learned that Edwards, along with furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing receiver Antonio Brown and out-of-the-NFL receiver John Franklin, by way of “Last Chance U,” was popped for using a fake V-card and was suspended for the next three games without pay.
Joe has to believe Bowles knew this and couldn’t speak to it.
Look, Joe doesn’t think Bowles was blowing smoke. Edwards is having his best season. But Bowles being so over-the-top and the timing of it all, Joe wonders if part of the reason Bowles was so dramatic about Edwards’ play was intentional? You know, to try to cheer up Edwards and help keep his mind right in what so far was Edwards’ worst day in the NFL.
Reading Bowles’ quote depresses Joe that Edwards won’t be around until after Christmas.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:04 am
Another week and another DB missing for multiple game days, not cool. The Secondary is not able to catch a break, but this time it was not injury, just stupidity. Not cool. Whatever, forward march.
GO BUCS!!
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:05 am
At least their risk of dropping dead on the field of play was lower because of using a fake v-card instead of actually getting vaccinated.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:08 am
I would have guessed that the brain trust at One Buc Place must have known that this was in the works and were just waiting for the hammer to drop, kind of like MLB franchises that know one of their players is about to get an 80 game PED suspension but keep it close to the vest until the suspension is announce. This is especially true for Tampa Bay since the AB story had already made a splash and one would think the Bucs would have had all the facts at hand so Bowles had to have known…..
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:14 am
The silver lining is both Edwards and AB will be fresh for the playoffs .
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:15 am
I’m beginning to think that worrying about keeping some of these guys that either can’t stay healthy or continue to make boneheaded decisions for themselves, effecting their team, is not going to be as hard next year as we think.
So, where were the leaders on this team when this CRAP was going on? Surely they knew what was going on or had an idea something was afoul. These guys can’t keep anything quiet either with flapping their gums or on social media?
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:18 am
Just plain pisses me off! Would love to know who was the instigator, AB, Edwards, or someone else. The same as using PED. Good chance of getting caught and you’ll hurt your fellow team mates as a result. Just stupid!
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:22 am
Erik–they did get vaccinated…in the pre-season (so I read).
Joe, let’s get a timeline posted? Stand up for the guys maybe vs. feeding the misinformation fire?
Yes they were dumb & had dumb intentions, but as I read/hear smarter brains intervened during the pre-season & that’s why they got vaccinated shortly into pre-season. So we are talking about protocol breaking, given non-vaxxed players can play in the nfl.
How are we, as Bucs fans specifically, buying into this?
The outrage should be at the nfl for applying a double-standard to the Bucs vs the packers.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:25 am
So….how did Aaron Rogers get away with his situation?
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:29 am
This stuff could bring the team together. I hope so.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:33 am
Erik, are self promoting your business? Most ARTISTS share your beliefs. My guess is BA never had a meeting so Bowles had no idea. Can we end the vax banter? Many believe it is bs and many don’t, why do you feel your opinion will change that? AB makes $7 mil a year plus maybe some incentives, he just lost an estimated $900k to $1MM. That’s not enough punishment? Not sure what Edward’s lost but if he is married his home life is probably worse than what the media can bring on.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:40 am
My only thought.. As good as Brown and Edwards are, and they both are really good players, sometimes they have SHI* for a brain! If and when they can come back, I hope they become better teammates!
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:46 am
Aaron Roger’s situation was completely different you can’t compare the two he violated a mask protocol and the bucs players bought fake vaccination cards. Even if they didn’t actually use them which by the story doesn’t seem like they did just the fact that they purchased them might be a criminal offense and we will see if it just stays with NFL discipline or goes to the courts.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:00 am
Ash what the heck you talking about? He mislead everyone. The nfl knew about it what does that say about them? Other teams did not know also that Rodgers wasn’t vaccinated. He should have been suspended but he wasn’t cause the nfl was hiding everything.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:02 am
Joe, I agree with #8’s comment; I’d also like to see a timeline. When exactly did this fake vax card issue really happen? Did AB & Edwards really put our other players at risk? IF it all occurred during the off-season when players weren’t practicing together, that’d be a different animal than if it occurred when everyone was together in my mind.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:08 am
$150,441…………that’s what this will cost Mike Edwards……doesn’t sound like much for most NFL players…..but it is for Mike with a salary of $852,498.
That will bite him in the a$$…..not to mention the cost of this behavior when he comes up for a new contract…..or endorsements……very stupid Mike, hope you learned a lesson to follow the rules. Not to mention that your behavior costs the team.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:13 am
@”…When exactly did this fake vax card issue really happen?…”
————————
Reports are saying: “before training camp started”.
That put the event @ time-line with BA “campaign” to have the team 100% vaccinated.
Still three games is a very high price $$$$ for the players.
Sad, and shame on NFL dictatorships.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:13 am
We really needed Edwards to help take that deep ball threat away from Josh Allen next week. This blows.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:13 am
Ash, since you reposted, so too will I. Stand up for your team guys. & Tampabucs fan–yep…AB comin back cheap in 2022 if TB12 stays now!
Ash not entirely…very minimally.
Bucs-Twits & DB12 both broke protocols. Period. DB12 broke them far longer/more times than Bucs-Twits (I am basing this on reading Bucs-Twits did indeed get vaccinated in the pre-season).
Non-vaxed players can play in the NFL.
So tell me how Bucs-Twits are worse than what DB12 & packers got away with a fine?
The outrage should be at the nfl for sweeping DB12 & packers under the rug, while applying a double standard to Bucs-Twits. Where is the outrage for that? (aside from a few of us).
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:15 am
There go AB’s incentives.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:25 am
I’m pro vaccine and pro mask because I have vulnerable friends. I think AB and Edwards did a very selfish thing; but the fact that they subsequently got vaccinated to me clears up the issue. I don’t think it’s a fireable offense… losing three game checks is fitting punishment in my mind.
That combined with the shame of letting your teammates down I think is enough punishment. If a team is like a family, every family has the knuckleheads who do something stupid but are still part of the family.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:32 am
#8 says; Erik–they did get vaccinated…in the pre-season (so I read).
Joe, let’s get a timeline posted? Stand up for the guys maybe vs. feeding the misinformation fire?
Yes they were dumb & had dumb intentions, but as I read/hear smarter brains intervened during the pre-season & that’s why they got vaccinated shortly into pre-season. So we are talking about protocol breaking, given non-vaxxed players can play in the nfl.
How are we, as Bucs fans specifically, buying into this?
The outrage should be at the nfl for applying a double-standard to the Bucs vs the packers.
—————————————————————————
This is where my confusion comes in. It was reported that the players that were not vaccinated, were seen wearing some type of bracelet. They did not state at the time what this was supposed to indicate, but at this point it seems it was meant to show not fully/unvaccinated players on the roster.
What was reported a week or so ago, was that BA and the rest of the staff had players vaccinated at team facilities. Witnessed/confirmed (supposedly) to have taken place at One Buc. So if thats the case, why are any of these guys getting suspended if they did for fact get the shot, by team medical personnel at One Buc?
As far as Rogers and the Packers, he told reporters he was vaccinated, but the team/NFL knew he wasn’t. I’m assuming his fine was for lying to reporters?
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:51 am
Dude we are gonna be hurting without Edwards. The guy has made game changing plays condos for us.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:01 am
I love when people try to condescend and act like people who don’t trust these experimental vaccines technologies are dumb/dumber than someone who got vaccinated etc. Lol. That’s why ‘the fastest growing segment of the population who is resisting/refusing vaccines and vaccine mandates are PHD’s.’ Lol. I will never get one of these ineffective, toxic jabs
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:04 am
Rodgers fine was basically for going to a Halloween party unvaccinated, no? He never represented to the team or the Shield that he was vaxxed. That’s the difference. He broke unvaccinated player protocols.
AB essentially lied. And passing off a fake vax card is literally a Federal offense, so more weight there.
Like everyone else, I’d love to see an accurate timeline of events, but I won’t hold my breath.
Bottom line is, the real crime here is unnecessary stupidity.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:19 am
I’m still waiting to see the list of pro athletes (without either pre-existing conditions, or are overweight) who have died (or at least hospitalized with serious conditions) from C-19. Wake up, sheeple.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:28 am
I’m waiting for the list of athletes who have either died or been seriously ill from taking the jab.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:38 am
@Jmarkbuc
Aaron Rodgers lied. He intentionally misled everyone as to his vaccination status, and that was a material misstatement. The only people who knew were Green Bay management and a select few at NFL HQ. It’s not even certain if any of his teammates knew.
The entire purpose of the jab (ideally) was to protect teammates, coaches, and the press from potential exposure. The fact that GB and NFL management knew he wasn’t vaccinated exposes this as just a PR campaign. Neither GB nor the NFL gave a damn about Covid exposure to others. In fact, they only cited him for one instance of a violation when in fact the violation ongoing for half the season.
But Rodgers is a money-maker, he draws a large television audience. AB and Edwards do not. That’s why the NFL is making an example of them, not Rodgers. Those two idiots tried passing off fake vax cards, which is a written lie. Rodgers verbally lied. It isn’t even certain that the fake vax cards are really a federal offense. All three parties misled others, and what’s funny is that Rodgers probably exposed many more people to Covid than either AB or Edwards.
I don’t know if a suspension of 3 games by itself is reasonable or not. But I do know that a 3 game suspension seems unreasonable when compared to Rodgers getting a small fine.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:40 am
PassingThru Says:
There is a list of 30 of just Euro kickball players alone. Clearly your info sources chose to not allow access to that fact.
Athletes, high school to pros, are dropping like flies all over the globe after jabs.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:42 am
Where’s the list?
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:42 am
Rogers did NOT lie. He stated he was “immunized” and followed the NFL unvaxxxed protocols.
The vaxxx does NOT confer immunity in any way, shape, or form.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:43 am
PassingThru Says:
Surrender noted.
Another incurious serf unable to do his own research.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:47 am
In other words, you pull your “information” from Infowars, Facebook or some other crap site. Duly noted, and that’s typical of you Cobraboy.
December 3rd, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Whatever happened to “one strike and he’s gone “. AB is and has always been a screwball. The Bucs need to get rid of him today! The problems will only continue. What happens the next time someone commits a federal offense? I guess we’ll give him a contract extension. The Bucs will lose to the Falcons if he is not released.
December 3rd, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Lloyd, ahh a new troll. I understand the fraudulent issue of the card but the NFL is like the catholic church, they know the priests that are pedophiles but shuffle them around and not punish them. If the NFL was aware Roger’s was NOT vaccinated, WHY did they let him continue to break protocol? Now they pass judgement on AB & Edward’s? It’s the NFL that’s f’ed up. The NFL is a dictatorship run by the owners, they make the calls. Also if the timeline is revealed and it happened pre training camp and AB and Edward’s was vexed prior to camp this is total BS. Remember to AB was the last one signed.
December 3rd, 2021 at 12:40 pm
Listnfrmafar, You can change that acronym from NFL to USA and your comment still applies.
December 3rd, 2021 at 2:44 pm
Passing thru
Your statement seems a little muddled. Rogers did not lie to the team or NFL about being vaxxed.
He broke protocol.
Granted, the Team wasn’t exactly holding him to the protocol and hence the fine. Personally I think Rogers is a prick, and getting cute with the truth to the press is disgusting. That, and his weekly diatribe in the Mcafee show 🤮.
AB is basically the same as JW.. lied to the team, and supposedly got vaxxed anyway? Who knows the truth.
Rogers skirted just enough to have plausible deniability, AB didn’t.
December 3rd, 2021 at 6:07 pm
Next man up, this the NFL!
December 3rd, 2021 at 6:29 pm
@Jmarkbuc
I cannot agree with you my friend, to me lying is making a material misstatement. Here’s a couple of definitions:
“an intentionally false statement”
“…present a false impression; be deceptive”
It was a lie; it was false and the intent was to be deceptive. Rodgers knew that the misstatement would be interpreted as saying he was vaccinated, which is why he preceded his answer with a “Yeah”. He then rambled on about being immunized, which is impossible as there is no known immunity against the Covid virus. The reporting pool seized the “Yeah” answer as an affirmation that he had been vaccinated.
During law school, the profs try to teach you jurisprudence (the reasoning behind the law) rather than some doctrinal approach (“this is the written law, damnit kids, now go memorize it!”). The reason is that judges listen to the reasoning behind the law when making a decision. For example, lawyers will cite passages from the Federalist Papers for Constitutional Law, even though those Papers are not part of the Constitution. The point I’m making is that the purpose of the
The purpose of the mask was to promote public safety (actually it was more of a PR move, but you get the drift). Rodgers violated the intent of the rule by exposing others while maskless. In other words, yes he broke the protocol, and he lied and then acted as if he did get vaccinated. I’d feel differently if Rodgers lied, and then wore a mask. He lied and then continued that lie during press briefings, and perhaps to others among the players and staff who assumed he was vaccinated. That’s stating a lie, then promoting the lie afterward through his behavior.
That’s the problem I have with the punishment. AB and Edwards do deserve a suspension, but what makes it egregious is that Rodgers received almost the same fine as another player who wore his jersey too high on game day.
December 3rd, 2021 at 7:09 pm
Ok all this means is that we’ll have to outscore them. Gronk is back, all we need is Evans to step up and Godwin to do what he always does. GO BUCS!
December 3rd, 2021 at 7:12 pm
It’s a BS suspension. I don’t see any difference between this and Rogers. They all lied. Still can’t believe the union signed off on this. Very weak. Double standard all the way. 👎 NFL
December 3rd, 2021 at 8:26 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“Did AB & Edwards really put our other players at risk?”
.
.
Sick players stay home now instead of toughing it out, so no. Nobody is at risk. This whole “putting teammates at risk” shizzle is just that. Shizzle. False narrative. Fear porn. Sky falling. Asymptomatic spread was debunked way back in like Feb 2020 weeks after the MSM sold it as a real thing. Just stop.
December 4th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
How dare you idiots chastise and criticize the players for not following “the rules”. The mandates have been proven to be unconstitutional and the vaccines are known to be highly ineffective. They did what they thought was best for them. I applaud them for not blindly obeying the unlawful mandates.