Misguided Shots At Bruce Arians For Antonio Brown Return

December 19th, 2021

Enough!

Too many folks are trying to hold the Buccaneers’ head coach to a 2020 one-liner that has no clearly defined meaning.

Stop it!

NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport shared this morning that furniture-hurling, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards, both suspended for producing phony vaccine cards this summer, will return to the team on Monday. It’s got some throwing darts at Bucco Bruce Arians because the head coach told NBC Sports insider supreme Peter King 14 months ago that if Brown “screws up one time, he’s gone.”

Joe finds that ridiculous. Far too much time has expired, as did Brown’s 2020 Buccaneers contract.

Joe fully believes that Arians’ one-and-done rule for Brown voided after the Super Bowl, and certainly for the weeks that Brown was on the free agent market. When the Bucs re-signed Brown, he got a clean slate — as clean as it could be for a guy with many past legal, civil and NFL issues.

Brown handed in a phony vaccine card and got caught. He broke a team rule and no government authority is punishing him for the contents of that card. Egos were bruised and feelings were hurt, but it ends there.

Arians has an obligation to Bucs fans and his roster. He has pledged to do whatever he can to win. That means making sure Brown doesn’t land on the Saints, which still easily could land the No. 7 seed even if they lose to the Bucs tonight. That also means Brown doesn’t sign with the Rams or Packers.

Keep mind Brown knows the Patriots playbook, too.

You can argue all day long about how the Bucs should handle Brown internally and after this season. But Joe is convinced there is no debate when it comes to whose jersey Brown should wear over the next eight weeks.

Saying Arians is going back on his October 2020 word is a stretch. New season. New contract. New reality.

88 Responses to “Misguided Shots At Bruce Arians For Antonio Brown Return”

  1. Swampbuc Says:

    Joe – thank you. Perfectly written, perfectly stated. I am relieved.

  2. Dewey Selmon Says:

    Maybe he meant just for last year. AB has kept his nose clean and was avital part of a SB championship. You gonna release him and watch him sign with Green Bay?

  3. Mort Says:

    Agreed. But you should call out Mike Florio of PFT specifically. Florio is not alone at all with this view. –Joe He’s been driving the bus on this one. I like Florio. Have read PFT for… well, since before their sprint sponsorship many many years ago. But he’s just hollering into the void on this one. Nobody cares. You’ve laid out the reasons why the answer is the answer pretty perfectly. Bruce is right. Florio is being a jackass.

  4. Anonymous Says:

    Wrong Joe . No conditions set on the quote . You are adding your wishes /opinions to the statement . Follow the quote directly and there is no wiggle room as you seek .
    There is tons of wiggle room. Wake up. News flash: Brown was caught on camera and video punching a Titans player in the face this summer. Where were the quoters then? Arians was long on the record that fights would not be tolerated in practice. Brown also brought negative attention to the Bucs by allegedly (and likely) ripping off his chef. Anyone screaming about him withholding funds as a screwup?–Joe
    He was given opportunity and ruined it , end of story . No conditions or extenuating circumstances apply . Fire the cannons .

  5. Joe Says:

    Wrong Joe . No conditions set on the quote .

    Really? Arians never said “forever.” Nor did he say until the end of his contract.

    So what were the statute of limitations here? Was he going to bounce Brown for a parking ticket? A fender bender? Jaywalking? Those are certainly slip-ups.

    Thank God someone is using their heads at One Buc Palace.

  6. Cobraboy Says:

    1000% agree.

    The Vaxxx Covidians need to target their angst elsewhere.

    The Bucs are a vastly better team with Brown stretching defenses on game day.

  7. Biff Barker Says:

    Florio is better understood when you consider his netwoke, err network

  8. Casual Observer Says:

    Hope the report is true. Agree with Joe.

  9. Joe in Michigan Says:

    I’ve never cared what Peter King has written/said/thought, and I’m not going to start now.

  10. cmurda Says:

    @Cobraboy. Yup. Spot on sir. I don’t care who hates the vaccine and who wants to make sweet love to it, this thing with AB is overblown. He shouldn’t have lied but an I’m sorry is more than sufficient. I’m humiliated that we even have Vax cards.

  11. tvan101 Says:

    Very well said Joe, with you all the way.

  12. Vinny from Vermont Says:

    Joe…couldn’t agree with you more!

    AND to the naysayers responding to this I can only state…
    1. What a sad world you must live in where everything is so black and white.
    2. And… even if BA did mean his statement for all time, have you ever heard of
    changing your mind?

  13. Marine Buc Says:

    Idiotic racist pro-vax dolts…

    Get a life losers!!!!!

  14. Darin Says:

    Yeah who cares what anyone thinks. Not Bruce. I’m not a fan of signing AB but he’s here so you dont cut him during the season for something that petty.

  15. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    Well said, and if AB Gets in more trouble, what about Aaron Rogers ?
    He lied and only got a slap on the wrist, yet AB lost 3 games.

  16. SB Says:

    cmurda says: ” I’m humiliated that we even have Vax cards.”

    A Freakin’ MEN!!!

    ‘You’re papers please!’

  17. Bucfan Says:

    I welcome back AB with open arms and thankfully we have a coach who sees the Big picture as it is all about winning championships and with both AB and Mike Edwards in the lineup our chances for a repeat go up exponentially.

  18. Ash Says:

    He did something wrong got caught got punished end of story he will be back helping us win two go bucs

  19. Bucfan Says:

    I agree cmurda.

  20. TheBradyBunch Says:

    Oh boy, the anti vax Trumpers are getting restless.

  21. firethecannons Says:

    None of this matters Arians made the right move for the team look forward to getting AB and Mike Edwards back all other teams would play this the same way

  22. Jerry R Jones Says:

    I’d be ANONYMOUS too, if I’d said something that stupid.

  23. jb Says:

    Joe can’t help but find anything he can to get his TRUMPISM across to the more idiotic Buc fans with his right wing rants. Such nonsense on so many levels. How exactly is this a right-wing rant? Aren’t second and third chances for those who commit crimes in the real world or at work considered a left-leaning opinion? Lastly, the beauty of sports is that it’s not about politics. Player got punished. Team wants to win. Player is back. –Joe

  24. Casual Observer Says:

    Ha – Good response, Joe.

  25. Weston Says:

    Love that AB is back!

  26. Kentucky Buc Says:

    AB is well liked by his teammates. End of story. You dont mess with chemistry. Florio has little man syndrome and loves to try to take athletes down. Also known as bany rooster syndrome in these parts

  27. JC Says:

    I don’t understand: Are vaccine passports not banned in Florida?

  28. Jerry Says:

    Arians didn’t mean something stupid this. He meant for things like harassing an Uber driver or stealing crab legs from Publix…. you know…things that are real serious crimes.

    All you people who want to cut him, don’t complain when an opponent signs him and we have to play him in the playoffs. And he spills the beans on our plays.

  29. Robert still Says:

    What about qb Greenway no double standard here hi. Dewey. SELMON MISS. YOU AND. LEROY

  30. cmurda Says:

    @JC. What does that have to do with the NFL? The Communist Not-For-Profit organization can do what they want.

  31. Stanglassman Says:

    The Times is reporting they’re both coming back. It doesn’t really matter what anyone thinks except BA and the Bucs brass.

    The fact that they’re both still alive playing well and important components in this team shouldn’t be a factor. But unfortunately in real life it’s a huge factor.

  32. Duane Says:

    AB is a knucklehead. A ton of sensitive snowflakes on both sides of this issue chirping. Thankfully, none of our important players got sick. Pretty much a non-issue except for drama queens and virtue signalers. It is what it is and we should recognize that its time to move on, like the players and the coaching staff have done. Looking forward to AB taking his shenanigans to another team this offseason. He is under contract for this year and it makes sense to get some value out of his antics. It feels sillly to watch grown men pontificate over this on the network and watch grown men get so sensitive and offended by such lame opinions, and in particular when they are about an old man that coaches a game, that many of us dont know or will even meet in our lifetimes. Its got to stop, indeed Joe.

  33. crazyBucs_CL Says:

    Had no doubt on J opinions, still sometimes is better to express them!!
    100% agree with J.
    100% disagree with Rick S, J Lane, and IK at local level, and all Vaxx-Comm-reporters nation-wide. (!!Comm stand for communists !!).

  34. Kalind Says:

    Amen, Joe and Here, here. If you can’t hear all the way from VA, I’m pounding the table in agreement as well.

  35. Dew Says:

    Agree with Joe. But Joe left off the most likely team to sign if released. The Patriots.

  36. JimmyJack Says:

    Arians and the Bucs have done a fantastic job in handling this. This has basically become a nonstory from the Bucs end. This easily could have become a major distraction in the lockeroom had the Bucs handled it differently. Kudos to the orginizarion for keeping a Super Bowl as the main objective and squashing this story before it never had a chance.

  37. JGhotier Says:

    Completely agree w/ everything said here Joe

  38. MJSarasota Says:

    I have to wonder if all the “fans” who want to see AB and ME dumped because of this minor issue (my opinion) are the same folks who want to defund the police and grant all no cash bail?

    GO BUC’s

  39. Buczilla Says:

    Joes, you are 100% right. Besides we already sullied ourselves by signing this guy in the first place, so we might as well take advantage of his gifts while we can. Letting him go to another team is beyond dumb. Whack jobs inferring that the Joes opinions on this are politically motivated is even dumber. Wake up folks, behind closed doors, both sides of the isle are enjoying their own party and we ain’t invited.

  40. Listnfrmafar Says:

    How does what he did effect any of you haters that want him cut? He lost hundreds of thousands of dollars that’s not enough, should the team waterboard him? Judge those in your own lives.

  41. SB Says:

    Hi Listn.

  42. Rayjay1122 Says:

    I completely agree with Joe on this. If you disagree then just get over it because it is not really even debatable amongst sane individuals.

  43. Delusional Intelligence Says:

    While correct that Jason La Canfora, John Breech & others all called for Antonio Clown to be cut. Your boy, the great curator & caretaker of PFT has been BY FAR the loudest and most obnoxious of the talking heads in regards to Antonio Clown. That week alone he had over a dozen stories in regard to this. This has done nothing more than confirm that Florio is a crybaby of EPIC proportions. If anyone is interested I’m thinking of creating “Mike Florio is a crybaby” T-shirts.

  44. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    ‘… if Brown “screws up one time, he’s gone.” ‘
    .
    .

    Resisting unconstitutional mandates is not a screw up. In my mind, it is a duty. This is why he is being attacked.

    Sports reporters, largely, are from the same family as most reporters in our media, and have taken it upon themselves not to report, but to shape opinions and society. Those of this ilk are the enemy.

  45. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Cobraboy Says:
    “Vaxxx Covidians”
    .
    .
    Love this reference!

  46. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Robert still Says:
    “… hi. Dewey. SELMON MISS. YOU AND. LEROY.”
    .
    .

    Don’t forget Lucious Selmon!

  47. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Buczilla Says:
    “… both sides of the isle are enjoying their own party and we ain’t invited.”
    .
    .

    George Carlin reference!

  48. cmurda Says:

    Keep me posted on the T Shirts, DI

  49. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Delusional Intelligence Says:
    “If anyone is interested I’m thinking of creating “Mike Florio is a crybaby” T-shirts.”
    .
    .

    I hereby pledge to buy one if you go through with it. If you could do one of those graphics that melds Florio’s and AOC’s faces into one, I will buy 2!

  50. Anonymous Says:

    It’s crazy you have people in here and around the media acting like one sentence out of all the things Arians said has to be held to until AB retires. It really shouldn’t have to be said that a person’s leash gets longer over time and that there are nuances/severity of screw ups that will still be judged individually.

  51. Listnfrmafar Says:

    Hello SB, it appears you have a man crush on me like you do Evan’s. You have fan on the previous thread, maybe you, him and ME13 can set up a 3 way.

  52. Anonymous Says:

    Didn’t In-house Ira pile on this a bit? No?

    Florio won’t let up on the story whatsoever but mentions JBF on occasion…so he gets a pass.

  53. Boltsfan17 Says:

    Don’t fault any player who uses a fake vax card. Good for them. F the NFL and it’s useless vax policy.

  54. Winny Testaverde Says:

    Didn’t In-house Ira make a run at this story only to back off a bit? No?

    Florio has been bellyaching non stop about this story…relentless…but no doubt given a pass as he mentions JBF on occasion on PFT.

  55. Mr Bean Says:

    “Keep mind Brown knows the Patriots playbook, too.” – Joe

    Joe, I don’t think they will be going to Brown if the had questions on the Patriots playbook. TB12 will ace that test. 😀

  56. Swampbuc Says:

    Joe — you have a critical mass of village idiots who post here. There should be a contest to see which of them would be the village idiot if they were all put in the same village.

  57. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Delusional Intelligence Says:
    “Mike Florio is a crybaby” T-shirts.
    .
    .
    Here’s my pledge to buy one!

  58. westernbuc Says:

    Same guys who want AB punished further spent all offseason wondering where Deshaun Watson was going to get traded.

    Peter King doesn’t even like the sport he covers. I have no idea why anyone talks to him.

    I’m glad Arians and Licht are serious about winning another Super Bowl. I just wish the organization showed this fortitude when the media put out a hit on Jon Gruden.

  59. Buczilla Says:

    Listnfrmafar Says:
    December 19th, 2021 at 2:44 pm
    Hello SB, it appears you have a man crush on me like you do Evan’s. You have fan on the previous thread, maybe you, him and ME13 can set up a 3 way.

    Thanks for thinking of me sweetie, but I don’t roll (mind you nothing against rolling that way) that way and you can keep your fantasies to yourself. If you beg, I’ll send you a personal photo though since I’m not a complete bastard and feel for my fellow man. 😛

  60. Buczilla Says:

    Bush’s Coke Spoon Says:
    December 19th, 2021 at 2:31 pm
    Buczilla Says:
    “… both sides of the isle are enjoying their own party and we ain’t invited.”
    .
    .

    George Carlin reference!

    Lol, I love that dude and it’s probably where I stole it from.

  61. BoiseBucsFan Says:

    Keep mind Brown knows the Patriots playbook, too.

    Too bad we don’t have anyone else on the team that would know the Patriots playbook.

  62. Wild Bill Says:

    In a perfect world nobody in sports would cheat or lie and anti vaxer butt heads would all get covid and die on a respirator. Sadly the world is not perfect and some football players will cheat and lie and too many anti vaxers will survive covid. It is what it is. There is no cure for stupidity. The only really important thing is for the Bucs to win tonight! Thus spake Wild Bill. 🙂

  63. David Says:

    Bottom line is he’s the head coach and if he wants to backtrack on something he can. Who cares. This wasn’t like he got arrested for beating someone.

  64. Michael Scheel Says:

    He broke a federal law!, he didn’t get a parking ticket.

  65. Kentucky Buc Says:

    Well spaken @WildBill

  66. Listnfrmafar Says:

    Bugzilla, don’t flatter yourself it’s Bush coke I was referring to. SB is pretty quiet, must be thinking it over.

  67. Joe Says:

    He broke a federal law!, he didn’t get a parking ticket.

    How many hundreds of people break a federal law daily at the southern border? Unvaxed. Untested. And the feds should go after Antonio Brown — who is vaxed? Child, please!

  68. Lamarcus Says:

    My only problem with keeping AB in this situation is this: Before AB and Brady,Gronk, Fournette…. All that was advertised that how good our team and weapons were. So why do you need him if they were that good? Obviously this team needs the help. Imo, we really dont need the help. Godwin is averaging 10-15 balls a game. Keep that going

  69. Christos Says:

    Bush’s Coke Spoon Says:
    December 19th, 2021 at 2:24 pm

    Sports reporters, largely, are from the same family as most reporters in our media, and have taken it upon themselves not to report, but to shape opinions and society.

    I wont argue about AB staying or going. Was my opinion that the team should have not sign him from last year. But could not agree more with that statment. It is happening for a long time now but especially the last 2 years no one is reporting or investigating. Journalists are just lobbyists now. Its sad, disappointing and troublesome for the future.

    Go Bucs

  70. Draper Says:

    AB is not a model player. A lot of people just don’t like him you got people complaining about the vaccine that he lied about and most of the people that complained about it don’t even believe in it stop it live your own life stop worrying about other people

  71. Buczilla Says:

    Listnforaclue

    Lol, your loss.

  72. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Listnfrmafar Says:
    “Bugzilla, don’t flatter yourself it’s Bush coke I was referring to. SB is pretty quiet, must be thinking it over.”
    .
    .
    Now it’s my turn to be flattered. I’m glad you can’t see me blushing!

    I’m sure SB has a heart big enough for two fans. ❤️❤️❤️

  73. Pickgrin Says:

    Joe Says:
    How many hundreds of people break a federal law daily at the southern border?

    Joe – its how many THOUSAND daily…..

    170,000+ in November – and thats just the # that had contact with Border Patrol (they were then immediately released, given a phone # to call – and flown or bused somewhere into one of the 50 (red) states….)

    Minimum 5000-10,000 individuals illegally crossing the southern border of this country every single day since creepy Joe was declared emperor…..

  74. Anonymous Says:

    Joe, did you just bring up the border?

    PATHETIC. Keep garbage politics off of here.

    Seriously. Gaslighting on your own board.

    SMDH.

  75. Jbeachbuc Says:

    Crickets on JOES Southern border point though…

  76. Purplepirate Says:

    “what about Aaron Rogers ?
    He lied and only got a slap on the wrist, yet AB lost 3 games.”

    Aaron Rogers lied to a reporter. That’s not against the rules. He didn’t lie to the NFL or his team.

  77. Purplepirate Says:

    “Saying Arians is going back on his October 2020 word is a stretch. New season. New contract. New reality.”

    So if a wife tells her husband she’ll leave him if he cheats again, that threat is only good til the end of the year, lol?

    It’s fine if you don’t want Brown gone, but don’t make silly excuses. We now know Arians was full of crap. It is what it is. No reason to play dumb about it.

  78. Dew Says:

    Can’t believe Dungy just threw Arians & Ownership under the bus on AB on national tv. What an ASS.

  79. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Dew Says:
    “Can’t believe Dungy just threw Arians & Ownership under the bus on AB on national tv. What an ASS.”
    .
    .

    Coach Dungy has been in the media for a long time now. It does something bad to people. 😞

  80. Joe Says:

    Can’t believe Dungy just threw Arians & Ownership under the bus on AB on national tv. What an ASS.

    What exactly did he say to throw the Bucs “under the bus?”

  81. orlbucfan Says:

    Ugh, who needs this yahoo? You’d think he’s the second coming of Jesus Christ from the nonsense on this comment thread.

  82. Dew Says:

    Dungy said he would be shocked if we don’t dump AB after what Arians said about him previously. Called on ownership to set an example.

  83. Dew Says:

    GD POS NBC BULLYING

  84. Joe Says:

    Dungy said he would be shocked if we don’t dump AB after what Arians said about him previously. Called on ownership to set an example.

    Welp. We know how much Dungy values wide receivers (Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green).

  85. Eddie Marz Says:

    I agree Joe. That was last year. Too many haters with big mouths. GOBUCS!

  86. Eddie Marz Says:

    Dungy is jealous. Cry baby!

  87. Bush's Coke Spoon Says:

    Joe Says:
    “Welp. We know how much Dungy values wide receivers (Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green).”

    .
    .

    Literally just LOLed.

  88. Oneilbuc Says:

    [That’s just a terribly inaccurate assumption and so logically flawed Joe doesn’t know what to say. Careful going there because that is the work of a troll. — Joe] and you some of yall know it. Dungy was the coach who changed the culture of this team. The bucs was a automatic win on every team scheduled until he came to the bucs. But yall love to take credit from him . He was the only reason I became a Bucs fan back in 95. Dungy don’t have no reason to be mad about the bucs he won a superbowl . And if anyone say it’s was because of Manning and he road Manning coat tell . Than you have to say the same thing about Gruden and the defense back then. It was Dungy who built that historic defense . Facts!!