Todd Bowles And A Carl Nassib Reunion
April 9th, 2022
As the clock ticks on the NFL Draft, Joe is wondering how likely it is that Todd Bowles wants to bring back one of his favorite players from his first season in Tampa.
That player is edge rusher Carl Nassib. And indeed he was a favorite of Bowles and was voted team captain by his Bucs teammates during Year 1 of the Bucco Bruce Arians regime.
Nassib turns 29 this week and is a free agent. He was successful with the Bucs but left Tampa for big money with the Raiders in 2020. He largely was a part-time player there and was considered a cap casualty under the new Las Vegas regime.
Pulling from the JoeBucsFan archives, Nassib was a big fan of Bowles, too.
“Coach Bowles is probably my favorite coach,” Nassib said in 2019. “Don’t tell him this, but he’s probably my favorite coach I’ve ever had. He’s really smart and he knows football. A lot of time, you get a coach that just knows football, but he’s got it all. He’s an impressive person.”
Nassib plays special teams and knows the Bucs defense. He had six sacks off the edge and a career high 34 tackles in 14 games here during that 2019 season, after 6 1/2 sacks in 2018. He might just be a cheap, quality depth piece for a Bucs edge rush that has a lot of question marks.
Joe realizes some fans will say Nassib being gay is a distraction and a potential problem, but Joe’s not buying that.
With all the superstars on the Bucs roster, Nassib’s old story isn’t going to be a media obsession. Plus Nassib is known and respected by many guys on the team.
April 9th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Crazy Carl they call him.
April 9th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Would love to see Nassib back.
April 9th, 2022 at 12:47 pm
For a $million and assuming the lovker room already knew about his preferences, fine and dandy.
April 9th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Grab him! A know quality off the edge.
April 9th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
I wish everyone would drop the sex thing. No one cares. Just kill QBs and the fans are behind the player. It has nothing to do with gay, straight, whatever. It’s football. Can’t we just shut up and enjoy the game?
April 9th, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Nah we can do better
April 9th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
Focus should be Suh, Nicks and Clowney at this point. Bucs really only have four draft picks that right now, and the DL class is weak can’t hope that Wyatt falls to us. They need to bolster the DL now then draft BPA
April 9th, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Anthony Nelson>
Bucs need pass rushers badly so if they can get him cheap why not.
Sign Suh!!! He wants to come back!!
Also need some more Jason Draft Magic
April 9th, 2022 at 1:04 pm
This is a decision I think we can get behind…..
April 9th, 2022 at 1:07 pm
I think at this point, unless the player is coming in on a very cheap contract, you wait until after the draft.
April 9th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
If we don’t draft an OLB in round 1 then we will need another one in our rotation.
As long as Carl is a “cheap date” then he will do just fine.
Give him the league minimum salary with incentives tied to sacks, hits, TFLs and games played…
April 9th, 2022 at 1:18 pm
Potentially a good, cheap depth piece so long as the media doesn’t turn him into the belle of the ball (which it will). “So Carl what do you think of Florida’s new ‘don’t say gay law?’ Isn’t the governor a big old meanie?” Ad infinitum.
April 9th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
The fact that you think his sexuality may be an issue with anyone says a lot. It’s 2022 and most of us have evolved at this point. If anything the fact that he came out while still being in the NFL should be a plus not a minus. If he can still sack QBs Bucs fans would be happy to have him.
April 9th, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Anthony Nelson of Cocoa Beach has taken his spot. Nelson was decent last year. Cam Gill is probably a better Special Teams player. So, no IMHO.
April 9th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
A possibility after the draft.
April 9th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Bring him back!
April 9th, 2022 at 1:38 pm
He’s a good player, I can’t believe the conversation about his personal life even exists in 2022.
But I think from a football standpoint, we need someone with more speed and athleticism off the edge. Someone like Sam Williams in the draft. We have to get to the quarterback way faster next year.
April 9th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
Shore up the DL now and draft best possible player. Although I’m not sure that means Nassib. I think we may have a shot at getting the linebacker Devin Loyd or a good cornerback, wide receiver or safety. Would hate to be pigeon holed into a DL with a second round grade in the first. That’s how you torpedo a team and will need to draft another DL next year.
April 9th, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Ghey
April 9th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Get him!!!
April 9th, 2022 at 2:07 pm
What does a player sexuality have to do with their proformance on the field
April 9th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
You’s a cold man DoooshiaRue.
April 9th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
I’m dying over here. @Doosh. Well done sir. Tip of the cap to you. Just the tip.
April 9th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Yo, @Buchs King, how about you playing the position straight-guy?
April 9th, 2022 at 2:30 pm
He is supposed to tackle players not bed them.
April 9th, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Assuming that our defense carries 25 players, distribution among groups would probably be something close to 5 DT, 5 DE/OLB, 5 ILB, 5 CB & 5 Safety. If I had to guess right now? …
o DT … Vea, Suh, Gholston, RNR … Plus 1
o DE/OLB … Shaq, JTS, Nelson … Plus 2
o ILB … LVD, White, Stuard, Britt … Plus 1
o CB … Davis, SMB, Dean, Cockrell … Plus 1
o S … Winfield, Edwards, Ryan, Neal … Plus 1
Odds are pretty good that we’ll re-sign Suh (eventually), AND that we’ll draft a DT (in the Top-3 Rnds). Odds are excellent that we’ll draft 1 DE/OLB (in the Top-3 Rnds) so we’ll need 1 more (MIGHT be JPP IF he’s rehabbed or could be someone like Nassib, IF the price is right).
ILB is kinda set (although I still don’t see either Stuard or Britt as LVD’s successor), but my guess is that we’ll go with 5. MIGHT bring Minter back, but it’s even more likely that we’ll either sign a FA or draft an ILB in like Rnd 4.
Our Secondary looks to be fairly well set also, in that we have Delaney as a 5th CB option & could go with just 4 Safeties. Gut feel though is that we’ll either draft another CB and go with 6 CB & 4 Safeties OR (more likely) swing Logan Ryan to CB and draft a Safety to give us 5 CB & 5 Safeties. Depends how much of an eye towards the future Todd Bowles keeps (SMB, Dean & Cockrell are all UFAs in 2023, as will be Edwards, Ryan & Neal).
April 9th, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Agree about waiting till after the draft, and I also agree about Anthony Nelson. He’s earned his spot and his chance for more playing time. Still, if we still need more depth after the draft, he’d be a good pickup seeing how he already knows the defense.
April 9th, 2022 at 2:43 pm
He won’t come cheap…..we’ll have to compete with Disney for his services.
April 9th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
@ DR
I agree with your numbers at each position. Some players versatility make it a little cloudy – K. Neal (S/LB) and L. Ryan (S,CB) are good examples.
April 9th, 2022 at 2:57 pm
Unless he’s sleeping with the locker room, nobody cares what his sexual orientation is. If the guy can pass rush and get to the QB he can prance in a tutu the rest of the week.
April 9th, 2022 at 3:05 pm
RUMOR has it…..he wants to be a TIGHT END!!!!!!!
April 9th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
If he’s so good, why is he even available? Did he bottom out with the Raiders?
April 9th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
Pass
April 9th, 2022 at 3:24 pm
He has value if the price is right. He knows the system and hustles. Rotate him and Nelson in for decent depth. Still not an answer for the guy that comes off the edge opposite of Shaq.
April 9th, 2022 at 3:29 pm
Most of that locker room was born in the 90’s, so it isn’t like a gay guy is completely taboo.
April 9th, 2022 at 3:35 pm
What position does Carl play?
Top or bottom?
April 9th, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Being gay shouldn’t even be an issue. There has always been gay guys in the locker room. Now you’d just know who one of them is.
April 9th, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Y’all are brutal, waiting for the Dwayne Haskins hood ornament jokes to begin…
April 9th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Dewey. That’s way too low there. That’s incredibly sad. So little for details.
April 9th, 2022 at 3:50 pm
@ Genocide
Chill dude. Nobody really gives to dukes what Carl is…
I’m just curious to know if he is a top or bottom?
At 6’6″ – 280 I have a hard time visualizing him getting split like a coconut…
April 9th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Ha ha MarineBuc.
Maybe he plays both ways.
I wonder how he’d be as a Wide Receiver?
April 9th, 2022 at 4:12 pm
People shouldn’t be concerned with what type of human beings he likes but how he might help us as a football team. His sexual conduct is irrelevant, the focus should be what he does with a Buc uniform on playing on Sundays. He knows the system and he has a little more experience coming from a different system. If cheap is the topic of conversation sign him, he loves coach Bowles.
April 9th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
I don’t care what a players preferences are.
I also confess to having a 13 year old’s sense of humor and can chuckle at the humorous remarks.
The fact that we can’t laugh anymore is a sign of the apocalypse.
April 9th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
Had no idea he was gay until you told me Joe. Anyway if he came to The Bucs it’s to play football. GOBUCS!
April 9th, 2022 at 4:33 pm
No thanks. He was never that good and he’s not as good as he used to be
April 9th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
If Todd thinks he’s a value add, fine. Suh is higher priority and if I’m grabbing a vet minimum player, give me JPP hungry and ready to prove he’s healed up.
April 9th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
There’s a good chance that Nassib can cover a tight end more closely than other FA options due to his experience.
Sorry to the politically overcorrect crowd I couldn’t help it.
April 9th, 2022 at 4:46 pm
I don’t know if he is any good for the Bucs, but he doesn’t define himself as a football player. I mean, many of us don’t go around saying “I’m heterosexual!” –we identify with other things. Batman Woods told me once that MANY guys in football were of gay persuasion. He told me they liked seeing male bodies around and showering with them etc. I mean–why do we have to know what sex he likes? If he is prouder of that than playing great ball, I just can’t excuse him nor side with his proclamations.
April 9th, 2022 at 4:55 pm
Looking at Nassib’s career, the only time he’s really produced in his 6-year career is when he was a Buc (2018 & 2019). First 2 years with Cleveland played in 30 games, but only had 5.5 sacks & 15 QB Hits total in 1183 def snaps. Next 2 years with us Carl flourished, playing in 29 games & ending with 12.5 sacks & 25 QB Hits total in 1228 def snaps. Last 2 years with Las Vegas he made some big money ($25 mil contract) but didn’t produce much (27 games with 4 sacks & 13 QB Hits in 714 def snaps).
Not hard to see why Carl would like to come back to Tampa. Like several others, this could be the best place for him to revive his career.
April 9th, 2022 at 4:58 pm
Goatfarmer Says:
April 9th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
I don’t care what a players preferences are.
I also confess to having a 13 year old’s sense of humor and can chuckle at the humorous remarks.
The fact that we can’t laugh anymore is a sign of the apocalypse.
_________
Amen or Aman my brother!
April 9th, 2022 at 5:04 pm
Just trying to stay on top of things Doosh!
April 9th, 2022 at 5:09 pm
Giggity
April 9th, 2022 at 5:16 pm
@ Dooosh
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSStop it…
April 9th, 2022 at 5:32 pm
10,000 press points.The Bucs will be media darlings.
April 9th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Seriously, the dudes on here making gay jokes… Are people in like 7th grade or something? Jeezus. It’s not offensive, it’s just childish and stupid and suggest you may be a closeted toolsmoker yourself.
April 9th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
I think we already have our one token white guy on the line. I’m sure we’re allowed to have two.
April 9th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Tampa Bay Dramaneers. Lotta drama. This and the new HC trying to call the D plays too will prolly cost a few games this year. 10 wins season. Squeek in to post season and hope it all gels.
April 9th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
^^^^^
Knew he had to chime in
You go big girl
April 9th, 2022 at 6:05 pm
Hire him for business reasons. The press and the big corporate sponsors will love it. The announcers will have a talking point. NFL HQ will schedule more featured games. I think if he can still play fairly well it would be smart biz move.
April 9th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
HC Grover,
Solid thinking and a great way to “pack in” those seats.
Maybe Goodell will throw in for glitter and disco balls for all of our night games?
April 9th, 2022 at 6:52 pm
Marine you may have served but that doesn’t mean you can’t also be a d1chead! You are so transparent
April 9th, 2022 at 6:59 pm
We hAve to biggest nancies on this site
So sensitive. So offended.
I got 100 on Marine
Better yet …love for you to say that to his face
😂
April 9th, 2022 at 7:07 pm
Lol I’d rather suck than be a buc lol
April 9th, 2022 at 7:18 pm
Him being a cupcake isn’t a distraction, unless he decides to make it one, like with the Gruden story where he demanded to take time off work to ‘process’ what Gruden joked about in a private email a decade earlier. The guy enjoyed all the attention when he came out and was quite a dramaqueen about it, so when the Gruden stuff hit, he had to make it all about himself. With that said, he wasn’t ever an issue when he was here.
He should be dirt cheap since he was not productive at all with the Raiders, his stats are awful and no one has rushed to sign him, so I doubt he’d get more than a vet min deal at this point – and at that price, why not bring him back? He’d be competing for a roster spot, no one should be penciling him to even make the team, but why not take a flyer on a guy who was once productive.
April 9th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
I don’t give a damn about anyone’s orientation. Carl is a great player and the Bucs could use some depth.
April 9th, 2022 at 7:57 pm
Why hasn’t anyone signed him? Does he have a brokeback?!
April 9th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
Ready for the Tampa Tu Tu defense. But to cover all the bases we need a trans place kick holder. The big corporations will line up with big buck sponsorships. Bucs will be a media sensation. This is the way it is now. The Bucs could be the most diverse team in the NFL and win it all. We may even get a break with the Refs. I see no downside to hiring him.
April 9th, 2022 at 8:46 pm
Nassib. Cheap rotational depth, that’s all. Never was much of a pass rusher.
FA edge rushers are still out there, and Bucs should try more than one. Akiem Hicks, Calais, Jerry Hughes, Justin Houston, Clowney, Dunlap. All better than Carl, and probably better than JPP at this stage.
April 9th, 2022 at 9:43 pm
I’m just here for the double entendres and Disney jokes…
But seriously it could be a good depth signing. Guy has a motor and plays hard. Definition of a glue guy. His coming out showed the only people that care about his personal life are BSPN types, who thrive on division and strife, because they are the enemy of the American people.
If the money is right, leave the Licht on!
April 9th, 2022 at 10:30 pm
HC Grover did you say if we play FAIRY well???
April 9th, 2022 at 10:35 pm
Keith that’s what Carl wants also!
April 9th, 2022 at 10:57 pm
Do the Raiders HAVE a 3/4? He’d only be effective on a 3/4 team
April 10th, 2022 at 1:01 am
Yeah not sure why he needed to come out and tell the world about his sexual status–that fact makes me leary. Too old anyway.
April 10th, 2022 at 4:46 am
I say bring back Nassib,Suh,and JPP,should be able to get them fairly cheap.Plus if Licht is as good as he says he is he could make some magic happen and get this Defense shored up
Plus we NEED TO get “GRONK” under contract and get him ready to go ,if the Rams can find a way to keep signing these big name guys ,why can’t we do this ,is Les smarter than Jason at this ?
April 10th, 2022 at 7:04 am
This dude was solid when he played for us and I’d love to have him back.
April 10th, 2022 at 8:40 am
No need to go over board here. He makes excellent sense to bring in as quality depth on the dline,plus the guy knows the system,knows the coach, and practiced & played with most of
the players on the roster. He also is a veteran on special teams Which holds it’s own value with experience and leadership. He should be cheap as well coming out of a so so season with LV. Which was poorly coordinated last season(raiders ran decent offense, not so much the D)…. No need to to wait for the draft, if he doesn’t make final roster cut he will most likely be on a one year BUCS friendly contract that can be by waived, but honestly don’t think that will be an issue. He’s a good player keeps his nose in the playbook and on the field, no court dates or Instagram nonsense. The only off field media news was about being openly gay, that’s not Antonio brown type distracting locker cancer that’s him being honest to himself and world, I bet most of teammates already knew before……in short I think he was a good fit before and could be great asset this year in keeping the dline fresh legged and constant pressure against the opposition.
April 10th, 2022 at 8:44 am
Pick him up for sure
He played pretty good for us the first time
April 10th, 2022 at 8:47 am
So he’s attracted to guys. Get over it. Y’all getting worked up about what he does with his penis less than 1/100th of his time. Some guys like fat chicks, some like skinny. Carl likes guys. BFD. Unless you find yourself attracted to him, this should be no concern of yours.
April 10th, 2022 at 8:56 am
He’s NOT BUYING IT BUT HE BROUGHT IT UP IN THE ARTICLE LMAO 🤡🤡🤡🤡
April 10th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Oh Noes…he’ll be “grooming” the Bucs locker room. snark font off.
I don’t even get grooming? I’m 74…did enough theater around lots of gay dudes…which made hitting on the female cast that much easier for we straights…yeah I’m not proud of all my tail chasing. I’m recovering white trash.
The program director in Greenville at a rock station I worked was gay and we were great buds. We went on ski trips to Beech Mt….free for us…three years in a row. After the first year the women at the station came to me and said…”You know he’s gay right?” Like how could I go skiing with him and spend two nights on the slope?
I didn’t know the first year but when I asked him he sheeplishly said yes. I asked why he didn’t tell me and sadly he said he was afraid I would not be his friend. So the final two years we’d just laugh about. Ride the ski lift together and I’d see a hot snow bunny and say…check out that babe. He’d laugh and a few minutes later point out a guy and say look at that stud. We literally just laughed our arses off at the fear held by far too many straight people.
April 10th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
From his interviews and HARD KNOCKS, I like Carl Nassib as a person – a hard-working former ‘Walk On’, who built himself into a NCAA D1 Starter, made several NFL Teams and has played well enough to earn some real $Money.
BUT – he’s been a pretty mediocre player this last season.
I wonder if that had to do with his ‘coming out’ as Gay.
Now, instead of just focusing on being a good NFL Defensive End (which is hard enough) – he’s being viewed as some kind of ‘Hero’ by the LGBTQ community and now has a totally new source of Media Attention, that has nothing to do with playing Football.
Basically, IT’S A DISTRACTION, in a sport that requires TOTAL FOCUS.
I also think that’s what derailed Michael Sam.
Had he just kept quiet about his Sexual Orientation and dedicated his focus on Making an NFL Roster and getting Playing Time, he might still be in the NFL as backup player or Special Teamer.
Instead, he was lauded as some type of ‘Game Changing Hero’ – and didn’t seem to focus on Football anymore, and ended up not making an NFL Roster.
That’s what I respected about Carl Nassib – he was ‘Football First’: Make the Team, Get Playing Time and Improve your Skills.
‘Come Out’ as Gay AFTER your NFL career is finished.
Now, Carl seems to be making the same mistakes that Michael Sam did.
April 10th, 2022 at 4:37 pm
It’s only a distraction because dumb people and bigots want to make an issue of it. I don’t think he’s trying to be the NFL ambassador for gay. He’s just a player who happens to be, and there are others. His public acknowledgment should lift the stigma so people don’t have to stay in the closet to play in the NFL. @max is basically saying just stay in the closet. Why? So you can be more comfortable?
April 10th, 2022 at 7:10 pm
Who Dat Who Dat I think the suckeraners are all gay lol
April 10th, 2022 at 7:12 pm
Shady brady just found out about him now wants him lol
April 10th, 2022 at 10:26 pm
Aaroon is another troll to add to the cerbrally defective list.
April 11th, 2022 at 8:33 am
It’s (Aaron) lol just like Shady and the bucs are 0-4 against the best in the nfc south dummy
April 14th, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Aaroon I bet you would love to be a sandwich meat between Michael Sam and Carl Nassib you maroon. Get most.