“Guys Right Now, They Are Up In Arms”

January 18th, 2023

Relays Bucs players’ moods.

Bucs fans aren’t the only ones outraged at how the season ended. It seems so too are Bucs players.

Former Bucs great Gerald McCoy hopped on Colin Cowherd’s show earlier today, seen on FS1. GMC is doing several national talk shows of late and he’s very good. Wouldn’t surprise Joe if he’s working in TV soon.

Cowherd had GMC on mostly to talk Cowboys since GMC had a cup of coffee playing for the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy. Eventually, chatter turned to the Bucs.

GMC was hyping the Cowboys-Bucs game days before kickoff. HE showed up to the game wearing a black Lee Roy Selmon jersey (Joe cannot call it a “throwback” because, thank God, the Bucs have never worn black). GMC referred to Monday night’s loss to end the season as “Sad. … It was a sad day in Tampa Bay.”

Cowherd then asked GMC if he had any insight from the Bucs what Tom Brady will do, return, retire or play elsewhere.

GMC said he didn’t know and neither did the Bucs because Brady is a “mystery.”

“Nobody knows,” GMC said. “Tom is a mystery. All you know is he loves His teammates, that’s for sure. That’s all I hear the most is that he loves his teammates.

“He’s all about his team. He just wants to win. Outside of that he’s really more of a mystery. You don’t know what he’s going to do.”

Joe knows GMC keeps in touch with several Bucs players even though he hasn’t been with the team since the end of the 2018 season. Lavonte David, for example, is a guy close to GMC.

But GMC said Bucs players are freaking out about the loss to the Cowboys. Upset they lost the way they lost and fear there is going to be upheaval on the roster.

“Guys right now, they are all up in arms themselves about what just happened to them,” GMC said of Bucs players. “It was a rough season. You go from being what we were when I was there and the ups and downs — and there were a lot of downs — and then you get the GOAT quarterback to come in and you win immediately — I mean not just win, you win the Super Bowl immediately.

“And then the next year, you still keep winning. So when you come into this season you expect the same thing. That whole losing way is not even in your mind anymore. But then you have this season they just had, everybody is just kind of all over the place right now.

“I don’t think it’s more ‘What’s Tom going to do?’ than ‘Shoot, what am I going to do? I don’t even know who is going to be in the locker room next year.'”

It may come to that. Even Bucs coach Todd Bowles hinted yesterday the roster will look different in a few months.

Joe sure hopes it’s not just the roster that Bowles changes.

93 Responses to ““Guys Right Now, They Are Up In Arms””

  1. Crickett Baker Says:

    I’m with you Joe.

  2. SOEbuc Says:

    Bowles doesn’t have HC ability. A lot of these coaches are good position coaches from the past three years, but it’s a 180 now for players wanting to sign for cheap with Brady. They might sign a bit cheaper somewhere else because Bowles is HC. Glazers and Licht aren’t the best at hiring good coaches, but Licht is one hell of a scout and deal maker. Wipe out the hole coaching staff because we’re going to start pretty much from the beginning with no money and many FA, and BL a guaranteed out.

  3. Doc Says:

    Barber for G.M and beg Derrick Brook to become the Head Coach.

  4. LVMYBUCS Says:

    Something needs to happen you can’t continue to make the same mistakes each season and aspect to be on this team. These blown secondary coverages just blow my mind and it’s not like its a one time deal it happens way to often and it cost us a SB visit against the rams. I rather see a new head coach and staff then see Bowles return he just doesn’t have a good track record.

  5. Goatfarmer Says:

    Losers lose. Geraldine sure knows how to lose, very relatable for Big Softie, who was a missing person in the 4th quarter of every game he played in.

    Up in arms….go look at yourselves in the mirror, boys. Couldn’t find enough motivation to know what you’re supposed to be doing on the field. Dump it on Tom expect him to pull the miracle. What a sad state of Bucs.

  6. Allbuccedup Says:

    Its sad its going to be worse next year. If the Glazers don’t know squat about football they should hire an advisor because I don’t believe they can trust everything Licht says.

  7. BrianBucs Says:

    Bowles will change the roster to make up for his own shortcomings.

  8. Redeemer Says:

    GF, I think once these guys realized the situation, they folded. The term frontrunners comes to mind. They never fought to make things better. A bunch of individuals instead of a team. It’s on the players as much as the coaching. I’m sad, confused and dumbstruck.

  9. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    The glaring, obvious stark difference in the Bucs from 20,21 to 22 is the HC….

    Period…..case closed!!!

  10. jerseybuc Says:

    Because BA is still involved it will buy Bowles another year. Glazers don’t have the guts to rip off the band aid, alienate BA and deal with the blowback on firing a HC after one year. So, I think Bowles is teflon now. Which is sad because this team can’t pretend it has the roster from 2020, it requires innovation on both sides of the ball, as well as coaches who can inspire and motivate the team. The number of players who seemed lost on the field this season was alarming. Guys running into each other on routes, d backs getting lost in coverage, our star LB over running plays all year. The players need to look into the mirror and get ready to listen to some new coaches voices and get back to work.

  11. 74 Bucs Fan Says:

    So ready for heads to roll – so to speak!

  12. Winny Testaverde Says:

    Former Bucs pretty good maybe…:)

  13. D-Rok Says:

    GMC said of Bucs players. “It was a rough season. You go from being what we were when I was there and the ups and downs — and there were a lot of downs — and then you get the GOAT quarterback to come in and you win immediately — I mean not just win, you win the Super Bowl immediately.

    “And then the next year, you still keep winning. So when you come into this season you expect the same thing. That whole losing way is not even in your mind anymore. But then you have this season they just had, everybody is just kind of all over the place right now.”

    This sums up EXACTLY what “expectations” I personally had for this season. GMC stated perfectly how I felt (first half) this season, then to have it all crumble at our collective fans’ feet.

    The Bucs SHOULD have been better this year. How much better, who knows, but even with the record of 8-9, HAD we been competitive each game, or throw in a dud game once, every team has a let-down game, I would be much happier with a losing record had we seen FIGHT in this team; had we seen SPIRIT in this team. We saw very little competitive play nor coaching nor GM trades this year, which bespeaks to the point we are all at now: What is next year gonna look like?

  14. LVMYBUCS Says:

    Please o please football gods get rid of Bowles and Leftwich.

  15. sasquatch Says:

    Next year will be a much different team, personnel-wise, because of the cap crunch they’re facing. Some starters may have to go, namely Donovan Smith… Some old faces will be gone. In fact, most of the over-30 guys will be gone except (hopefully) Lavonte David.

    They can try to trade Devin White and his 11 million cap hit. If they could pick up a 3rd rounder for him I’d jump on it. Too inconsistent and not worth the contract he’s certainly going to be looking for next year.

    Say goodbye to Lenny.

  16. D-Rok Says:

    This 2022 team had NO IDENTITY.

    Yep, D-Rok has been preaching that all year, and so I circle back to it, because it describes the season.

  17. Bernie E Says:

    Bring Brady back. Say goodbye to Todd

  18. Tony1775 Says:

    Bring Sean Peyton to Tampa to coach.

  19. Infomeplease Says:

    Bowles and Leftwich became the biggest UNDERACHIEVING coaches in NFL history!!! How can they be brought back????? FIRE THEM TODAY!!! Most any other coaches would have done better!!!

  20. D-Rok Says:

    sasquatch,

    I’ve liked Lenny despite a down year this year (Did somebody order an O-line?) but he just doesn’t fit the scheme of this team, which is no scheme.

    I think at RB we need speed, and sadly that doesn’t include Lenny. Grateful for what he did, but we need a CMC or a James White. In a perfect world, D Henry and CMC would be the PERFECT backfield, IMO. Never gonna happen, obviously, but the concept is what I’m trying to point out.

    I like R. White and would keep him. Gio is done. Vaughn? Who knows, hasn’t played enuff but not sold on him. Lenny? For his speed, he’s not big enough. Alstott he is not.

    SIGH. I think we need a burner at RB next year to make up for the line not blocking, assuming the line will be the same next year.

  21. mark2001 Says:

    So much for the theory of standing pat and repeating from one year to the next.

    Each year in todays NFL has to be a rebuild, to one extent or another. Nobody is that much better than everyone else that they can afford not to improve. I understand the effort to keep good teams and teammates together. I get it. But in todays NFL, you always have to be on the lookout for a better guy at each position to make your team better.

  22. Mike Says:

    Bucs ownership needs to blow it all up and start over right now.

  23. HC Grover Says:

    The Bowlszo Rams Blunder was the beginning of the decline and fall of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cannons no longer thunder and all we get is Bowlszopshychobabblerap. I have had enough. If they retain him it will get worse from here.

  24. D-Rok Says:

    mark,

    You are reminiscing back to the dynasty days of the Steelers, the Niners, and the Cowboys, to name a few. Then came parity called the salary cap. In today’s NFL, it would be a football miracle for 1 team to complete back-to-back Super Bowl victories. It just won’t happen, because the NFL, the refs, and the salary cap will ensure it doesn’t happen.

    That’s my 2 cents for the last 10 years in the NFL. Heck, I just dropped a penny and lost it doing a scratch-ticket, so CRAP! I only have 1 cent to offer.

  25. DoooshLaRue Says:

    STFU Softy.
    I know you’re trying to stay relevant, but just go away.

  26. Redeemer Says:

    D-Rok, think of how bad things would’ve been in a better division. Nobody 8-9 deserves to make the tournament. This group got what they earned, an ass kicking. One constant throughout the season was their utter lack of fight when faced with superior talent.

  27. Buc4evr Says:

    The players that contribute are going to stay on the roster and they know who they are, everybody else needs to be gone, including the coaching staff. Bowles doesn’t deserve one more year. I just don’t know how the Bucs are going to deal with the salary cap situation…..

  28. Jmarkbuc Says:

    You know things are bad when McSoftie appoints himself the de facto spokesman for the Bucs.

  29. Oddball Says:

    Superior talent? Shoot, back up QB’s were smoking this team.

    But, that’s not exactly a new thing for our Bucs.

  30. Aceofaerospace Says:

    There’s been plenty of time since Monday night to review this season and fire this coaching staff.

  31. Ed Says:

    I’m repulsed at the thought of having the Bucs being lead by Todd Bowles. It appears he learned absolutely nothing from Bruce Arians and isn’t doing enough studying of his opponents to understand how to game plan.

    Any decent coach would have tried to find ways to score more points. Bowles only wanted to do the least possible amount of work to get the offense moving from the sluggishly slow pace they played at.

    Absolutely a wasted season because no one was able to change the downward spiral of good players in a bad system.

  32. mark2001 Says:

    I do think if we had really showed up for that game, we would probably be having much different discussions today. In the biggest game of the year, when you don’t look like you don’t even belong in a playoff game, and you basically get blown out, the division champ achievement is tremendously diminished, especially in light of our overall record and season of underachievement in so many aspects. And everything gets looked at.

  33. D-Rok Says:

    Awwww….DANGNABBIT, Bucs fans!!! Everyone screaming about our salary cap “hell” next season is not informed. Joe detailed many weeks ago that due to the Google/YouTube TV deal, each team will be granted, what was it…63mill in extra cap for the 2023 season.

    So if we are currently in 43mill cap debt, now add 60+mill, and we are plus close to 20mill in cap space. Is my maths right, Joes? When are the Joes gonna do a comprehensive story on cap space to ease the mind of Valium-adled cap junkies?

    My point? The cap won’t be a huge problem in 2023. We will have money to spend, even after subtracting all the dead money.

    Is it just me who sees this as a positive?

  34. Cobraboy Says:

    So Bowles is blaming the players, “roster will change.”

    There ya go, throwing your players under the bus. Class move, Todd. I’ll remember that next time I fail: blame everybody else.

    I am sick of these coaches.

    And I will be angry, a total negatron, if Bowles and the current coaches are anywhere near One Buc Palace.

  35. MarvAlbert Says:

    Time to clean house at One Buc Palace. Need new direction that starts at the top and probably flows downhill.

  36. Oddball Says:

    Cobra, that’s how the world works now. Nobody takes responsibility for their own actions anymore. Sad but true.

  37. Tony Says:

    @Doc

    I’ve been saying that for awhile. They need to have somebody in there on the coaching staff & in the front office that’s familiar with the team that has some kind of smarts.

  38. Frank Pillow Says:

    Who is going to want to coach and/or play for a dead man walking?!?! Cut Todd loose already!

  39. Jack Clark Says:

    Let Brady hand select our next OC!!!! Todd Bowels is a fraidy cat!

  40. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    It was really simple, the Cowboys totally stopped our pass rush, even when we blitzed.
    This gave Prescott time to pick us apart.
    We were out played.

  41. gp Says:

    The only ‘change’ I’d like to see Bowles make is his address (business at least)

  42. Goatfarmer Says:

    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels
    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels

    All work and no play makes jack a dull boy

  43. Craig Says:

    I’ve been stopping by to see if anything has broken in our (Bucs fans) favor yet.

    Hopefully it happen soon and we can celebrate a new OC, if not a whole new coaching staff. Instead I keep seeing all this crud about how much the players cared.

    I say that they are all full of it because I saw so little effort from the Bucs and I know what they are getting paid.

  44. Wild Bill Says:

    No mystery to the Bucs terrible season. Starts with coaching. Add in free agency departure and retirement and injury to every starting lineman except the worst remainder at left tackle. Hard to run or pass with a mediocre blocking line. Then add the Brady will he or won’t he retire plus his obvious lousy passing performance in all but a few games. The defense was good enough but the offense sure as he’ll sucked .

  45. BucU Says:

    As long as Bowles is running the show we will continue to lose. He can’t motivate. His teams show no enthusiasm whatsoever. His defenses break down constantly with blown coverages.
    The Glazers see what we see. They just don’t have the chops to show him the door. So we sacrifice another season with him in charge. He’s an A+ human being but he’s an F as an NFL HC. That’s the reality.

  46. McBucky Says:

    Hire Sean Payton.

  47. D-Rok Says:

    Redeemer bro,

    Agree. An 8-9 team deserves no privileges and certainly no accolades. A losing record being a division winner? That’s pathetic bro, it really is.

    It’s fitting our beloved 8-9 Bucs team got demolished in first round of playoffs….hate to say it, but it really is. No Cinderella story for THIS team, this year. They were NOT competitive, and they didn’t earn it, and certainly didn’t deserve to advance.

    Word.

  48. McBucky Says:

    Todd has no idea how to guide, direct and inspire… you know lead. Hire Sean Payton.

  49. NEfan Says:

    Beasley left before 2 weeks, that should tell you something, he begged Brady to get him on the team. Devin White was allowed to beat to his own drum, the cohesiveness of this team vanished once Bowles took over. Maybe there was resentment lingering from Rams 2021

  50. D-Rok Says:

    NEfan, you speak of mutiny, sir! Could it be….?

  51. D-Rok Says:

    Although I deviously brought up the very notion of mutiny in the ranks, with my now-famous “Players meetings are akin to sanctioned mutiny.” Good phrase, sanctioned mutiny, and it bears especially relevant meaning on this day, good sirs.

    Sanctioned mutiny.

  52. D-Rok Says:

    Sorry, the writer in me forgot to succinctly type, “I deviously, and previously, brought up…”

  53. stone crab sam Says:

    I dunno, after 18 weeks or regular season games a fifty million dollar corner back completely blows a coverage that results in a touchdown pass in the playoffs on national TV has got to say something about coaching. Does it not?
    Then again the head coach is a conservative coach. So what do posters here want? A liberal head coach? Say it aint so!

  54. D-Rok Says:

    stone crab,

    No true fan of the Bucs wants any kinda coach except a winning one. No football fan cares about liberal or conservative when it comes to bone-crushing 17-yard runs into the end zone, or 60-yard bombs to a wide-open Mike Evans. We could care less about politics or identity, only about our team being competitive. And, dominant.

    What do I want, you ask? A killer instinct from our team.

  55. Pewter Power Says:

    Yea yea BA said the same thing last year. If Brady comes back they will keep whoever he says to keep. Otherwise some big names will fall on the sword this offseason and some should anyway the d line is weak outside of Vea but they don’t know how to use him properly.

  56. Jack Clark Says:

    Tom Brady is NOT a mystery because EVERYONE knows all he wants to do is win ANOTHER super bowl. After much thought I have finally accepted that our stubborn coaches, Todd “Scaredy Cat” Bowels and Byron “Can’t Get Right” Leftwich, are just too lazy to learn and adapt from observation to tell our professional–best in the world–athletes what to do to win when it counts

    RIP no risk it no biscuit 🙏

  57. Jack Clark Says:

    too lazy to learn and adapt from observation of successes/failures*** to be more precise

  58. Tom Says:

    Fire Bowles!!! His team is as lifeless as hiss press conference!!! Completely outmatched in a playoff game!

  59. westernbuc Says:

    The best franchises let guys walk and collect compensatory picks. Definitely seems to be some problem guys in the locker room riding the Super Bowl. Be curious to see who leaves…

  60. August 1976 Buc Says:

    Hope the Glazers are turning over every stone to find a head coach, this team wandered listlessly for to much of the time this season.

    This was the playoffs and they played listless and unprepared looking again. For whatever reasons stuff just goes wrong with Bowles as the Head Coach of the Bucs.

    They played like I thought they would, thats why I was not even excited about the game.
    This Todd B Coached team turned the Licht House into a giant tomb, with the LIFE sucked out.

    Time to bring some LIFE back to the team.

    Glazers, it is time to bring some LIFE back to the team.

    Many here remember Lovie’s sudden release by the Glazers. It felt so lifeless then too. Then there was at least hope. Yeah it yield 1 winning season under Dirk, but at least it gave hope, compared to the lifeless team Lovie was coaching.

    The “Tomb of Depression” formerly known as the Licht house for the last 3 years, needs some LIFE, please right the wrongs and move forward.

  61. Redeemer Says:

    On the cap, yes it will go up, but how much will ownership invest is the question. Plenty of teams are happy to spend to the cap, but it’s about cash spent, not necessarily any make believe cap. Plenty of owners are more than happy to use the illusion to make fans believe they’re all in. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Look at Bob Kraft. The man actually believes his business model is the reason they won 6 rings. The truth is, if he actually invested real money, they would’ve probably won 10. He had the greatest QB to ever live and cheated the team. I seriously doubt ownership here will extend themselves without a real chance at the Lombardi. Brady’s cap hit is coming next season, unless he signs a one year deal, then retires. A lot will depend on what he does, regardless if he’s here or not. If he bolts, they may as well start the rebuild. Get the books right and find the next guy. The way most teams do it is with rookie QB deals. They then spend because they have a good, cheap young QB.

  62. GenocideD Says:

    Joe we need an article on Jensen pushing parsons out of the bucs huddle and hoping goedeke learned a smidge of that nastiness as he was standing right next to them when it happened. Was unfortunately most likely jensens last game as a buc 🙁

  63. Yucs2Bucs Says:

    Smith, Lenny,Succop, both Shaqs, Gholston, and trading Evans to Chicago and maybe a team will take C Davis will help the cap tremendously and I think they will end up around 20 million above it. Maybe sign White to a one year prove it deal and bring back David on the cheap will get us out of cap hell. Bring in a veteran QB and allow Bolwes to bring in his own staff and after next years debacle then he can go. Tom isn’t coming back and I feel horrible Bruce and Licht put him in that situation during his last year as a Buc, but maybe it was payback for the Miami debacle ? Anyways they don’t have my money anymore after 18 years of being a season ticket holder and hopefully the rebuild won’t be another decade. I feel horrible for Godwin and Gage because they will be the new Mike Evans, but like I’ve said before they need to send someone over to Amalie to watch how to run a franchise !!! Go Bolts and thanks for the first two seasons Tommy, Suh, JPP, and Ali.. Capppa, Suh, and Justin Watson are the only Bucs still in the playoffs

  64. Jack Clark Says:

    Our team is led by a scaredy cat, Todd Bowels. God that makes me angry!

  65. CalBucsFan Says:

    Bowles saying the roster is going to look different concerns the hell out of me. This team is not a blow up team, it just needs some better coaching and B&L are not the tandem to do it.

    Joe, I am just not a fan of the HC being the defensive OR the offensive coordinator. Hell, like most HC’s, even BA had two coordinators under him. And that’s got me wondering if the Glazers are being fleeced now by BA promoting one of his own, rather then him suggesting they bring in the TOP available candidates for the HC position that were available a year ago. Neither of his former coordinators are HC material, and after this season, I’m convinced they are not even coordinator material without his guidance!

    And what has happened to Licht, has he lose his voice as a GM?

    What a #$&!_% sad turn of events you’ve weaved retiring BA!

  66. Jerry Says:

    Redeemer Says:

    The way most teams do it is with rookie QB deals. They then spend because they have a good, cheap young QB.

    ——

    Some teams do it that way and are successful. But I would say more than half the time they strike out. And we tried that. In fact the Bucs have tried that many, many times in their history and they never pick the right guy.

    For every Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow, there is a Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and Jameis Winson. If you pick the wrong one, you’re screwed for about 3-5 years. You invest in that guy. Coaches also rarely get a 2nd chance to pick the right one.

    Last time the Bucs started looking old and slow was 2008. Everyone wanted to get younger and faster. Everyone wanted new coaches and draft a young stud QB. It didn’t work out well. It kicked off a decade of losing. I know lots of people want to blow this team up. Might not be the best thing to do.

  67. Jack Clark Says:

    Todd “Scardey Cat” Bowels,

    You are the Head Coach, so you are supposed to fix the offense and not just be the Defensive Coordinator. If you can’t do the job then hire someone that can!

    -Angry Bucs Fan

  68. Yucs2Bucs Says:

    Unload Smiths, both Shaqs, Lenny, trade Mike Evans to Chicago and also C Davis and hopefully get something for him and we will have 28 in cap space. Feel bad for Godwin and Gage who will have to endure this 4 year rebuild, but it has to happen because Tommy isn’t coming back. Sign Devin to a one year prove it and also David on the cheap. SUH, Cappa, and Justin Watson are the only Bucs still in the playoffs.. let Licht spend time at Amalie and find out how to run a successful franchise like the Bolts

  69. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Hey McBucky…….

    Shut the McFu@k up.

    We don’t want McButthole Lips and we can’t afford him.
    Check what the Saints would McWant.

  70. Davenport Says:

    Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels Fire Todd Bowels

  71. bob in valrico Says:

    Just the fact that it is now almost two days, it makes me think the Glazers are looking at all options. If Leftwich was the only one on the firing block that could have been very quickly.

  72. Bucamania Says:

    Would ANY other team hire Tod Bowles as their head coach if he was fired?

    Um NO.

  73. BUC IT Says:

    You only blow it up if Brady leaves. That’s the only way. Brady had a tough year personally. That obviously had an impact on the field. But he still has the arm strength. And his accuracy isn’t going to just disappear. So if by some miracle he’s willing to run it back. Then you make some moves and free up some money to patch up the o-line. That was the root of everything. We couldn’t run the ball. So in return the opposing team had the ball twice as much as us. Our defense got tired and got blasted at times. Fix the oline and pretty much this entire team can be a good team again. If Brady leaves…. then blow this thing up completely

  74. Kentucky Buc Says:

    Jerry. It’s closer to 90% failure. Tim Tebow, Josh Rosen, RG3, Zack Wilson etc etc etc… There’s dozens from the last 8-10 years of QB drafts. It’s a crap shoot.

  75. Joe Says:

    And what has happened to Licht, has he lose his voice as a GM?

    If it wasn’t for Licht, Arians would have never come. Without Arians there’s no Brady.

    Yeah, you could argue Arians messed up everything by setting Bowles up as a head coach. Leftwich’s incompetence killed this team, not Bowles.

  76. sasquatch Says:

    Cobraboy Says:
    January 18th, 2023 at 5:18 pm

    So Bowles is blaming the players, “roster will change.”

    There ya go, throwing your players under the bus. Class move, Todd. I’ll remember that next time I fail: blame everybody else.

    So yeah, he was stating the obvious. There is always turnover, and with a team having so many free agents (many overpriced), not to mention the 50 million dollars they need to trim from the cap, turnover will be even greater.

    Never let reason and facts get in the way of the anger agenda though. No way. Let’s not bother being fair about the words the man uses because we’re too bitter.

    This kind of stupidity is typical of hyper-reactionary football critics all over this site…

    I’m not even a Bowles supporter, but I can see he wasn’t throwing players under the bus with those comments.

  77. Jack Sparrow Says:

    Some coaches are just meant to become just a coordinator and Bowles is one of them. Some coirdinators are just meant to be a waterboy and that is Leftnut. And some coordinatirs are not even suppose to be near the playing field and that is Armstrong. Fire these bozos and lets rebuild the coaching staff.

  78. Vlad The Impaler Says:

    #HasLeftwichBeenFiredYet
    #CoachingMatters

  79. Bellingham Bucs Fan Says:

    Now McCoy comes out of the woodwork. God help us, that is a dark, dark omen of times ahead.

  80. David Says:

    Losing 13 points per game, one of the biggest drops in NFL history, going from a top three O to a bottom 10… The only reason BL is still employed is because BA is in the building and endorsed him over and over and over.
    Obvious now that BA was way more involved in the O and BL is in way over his head. I mean he had 17 games to figure out what most of us knew on day one- It’s a pass first team to set up the run, which then helps to play action. I don’t care about the injuries on the O line, deal with it.

    One wonders if they’re reluctant to fire him because of the push for diversity, I doubt it, and it’s sad that it even has to be mentioned, but it’s a reality in today’s world.

  81. David Says:

    Hopefully someone has been in Brady’s ear telling him he can pick the OC and anything else he may want. Other than that, another lineman on each side of the ball, a young speedy receiver, maybe another young linebacker.
    This team is not as far away as people think.

    Oh, and for the love of God, get a kicker who’s capable of making a 50 yarder. It seems pretty routine in today’s NFL.
    And a new special teams coach while they’re at it.

  82. Aceofaerospace Says:

    Just checking to see if the coaching staff has been fired yet and why not?

  83. steele Says:

    On top of disastrously bad coaching and poor ownership decisions, the attitude of the players was not addressed, acknowledged or fixed before a collective and individual malaise infected everything and it got worse.

    “So when you come into this season you expect the same thing.”

    “Expect”. These guys “expected” continued winning as if magic. Fact is, winning is work, it’s responsibility, from the bottom up.

    The great Bowles culture has made this team into a loser.

  84. catcard202 Says:

    Bucs enter the offseason $43M over the (est) 2023 cap & with ~$53M in UFA void yr contract signing bonus offsets on the 2023 ledger.

    It will take a ton of Mike Greenburg cap magic to restructure every contract possible to pay for the last 2yrs of being all-in on the “run it back” & “replace it back” attempts at getting #2 w/ Brady.

    FO will have to push more $$$ forward where they can on committed core contracts to just reach a workable negative cap space situation…(Meaning, even after restructures, Licht & Co. will have to cut or trade contracted players to get under the Cap enough to sign draft picks & back of roster filler.)

    There’s no shame in that!!! It was both good business & football decisions to go for it in 2021 & 2022… 2022 just wasn’t what anyone wanted or expected…But now those bills are due & change is a coming. It’s coming & that baggage ain’t Louis… (CoachPrime voice)

    I anticipate massive roster turnover & have begun looking at the likelihood that very few of the current 27 Bucs UFA’s will be resigned, unless they are extremely team friendly in 2023 dollars. (No one making serious coin)

    Would expect to see additional 5-6 contract players cut or traded to open cap space to sign draft picks, UDFA, Futures & Filler.

    Expecting this offseason will be a HEAVY UDFA & league min. salary FA signing year…FO will need UDFA & Last Cuts-Min Salary level guys to make the 53, this go round.

    PS / Futures contract guys from 2022 have REAL shots at the Bucs 2023 53 breaking camp. (That will also be a selling point to UDFA’s & last cut FA seeking a real opportunity to make a squad, as well.)

    Bucs will likely need to replace 45-50% the roster…So, if the Bucs have any hope of being respectable…The Scouting Dept will need to earn their pay checks working this off-season…That’s for damn sure!

    But the one good thing is, the Bucs are in the NFC South & NO, ATL & CAR are expected to all be rocking new or inexperienced signal callers. (Matt Corral in CAR / Ridder in ATL / ??? in NO)…As long as NO doesn’t end up with Carr, Geno or Jimmy G…Bucs have a shot at backing into another division title, if a few things go right & a few balls bounce the Bucs way.

    (Though, I expect #Tanking4Drake/#Collapse4Caleb/Ewwing4Ewers to be a real option if #2 doesn’t show he can be a QB1 to build around.)

  85. Goatfarmer Says:

    Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich. Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich.
    Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich. Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich.
    Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich. Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich.
    Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich. Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich.
    Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich. Glazers please fire Leftbowelswich.

    All checking and no one fired makes GF a grumpy boy.

  86. sasquatch Says:

    GF, it’s pretty clear, barring a surprise, that Bowles will be back. He’s gonna fire Leftwich probably Friday, along with a few other coaches (hopefully Keith Armstrong is one of them). I’m willing to give Bowles another shot as HC, since I don’t really have a say in the matter. Hopefully he chooses a great OC and upgrades the ST coach. Also, find a full time DC.

  87. steele Says:

    If either or both of Bowles or Leftwich remain, the team will still be a losing proposition.

    If anything, getting Bowles out of there is a bigger priority. Because the problems with this team are top down, attitudinal, and that is on the HC as a tone setter. Or, in the case of Bowles, the absence of tone, character, leadership, motivation , creativity or direction. On good teams, you have it all: a collective fire to believe in, and individually, goals specific to each player (and good coaches know all of their players, and know how to get them to overachieve).

    The Bucs need a total fresh start. Cut out all of the tired malfunctioning mindset and bad attitude, including the veterans who have lost their focus since winning the SB.

  88. Steven L. Benner Says:

    Sadly, it’s an end to a great franchise. Brady will Retire or move on to another team that has speed and better Coaches. Blain Gabbert just all out Sucks!!! In our last season game against Atlanta Brady was taken out to rest him up for the Cowgirls. Gabbert went in and did NOTHING!!! NOT even a Field Goal…no score was made while he played the 2nd half!!! So, of course we Lost to Atlanta. Todd Toilet BOWLES is running this team into the ground- he did nothing as a Coach for the JETS and LEFTNUT is all about hand to hand combat! Need a coach like Bruce Arians that says: “No risk it No Biscuit!” At one point in the Cowgirls game of course we were dow points it was 4th & 3 on the 40 yard line….Toilet BOWLES brings out the punting unit??!!! It’s the Playoffs have some faith in your team! But he didn’t cause he sucks and he knows his team wasn’t up for that game due to his poor leadership! Crazy if the Owner keeps him as Head Coach!!! This will definitely take Tampa Bay off of the charts and fade away back to being the Suck-aneers….a team that no one really thinks about anymore. Sorry, but the Truth Hurts- it was great while it lasted.

  89. sasquatch Says:

    Lighten up psycho.

  90. Defense Rules Says:

    Joe … ‘Yeah, you could argue Arians messed up everything by setting Bowles up as a head coach. Leftwich’s incompetence killed this team, not Bowles.’

    Don’t know which of the 2 Joes this is, but it sounds like at least 1 of the Joes is prioritizing the REASONS why the Bucs flamed out this past season. Hopefully the Bucs solve the 1st problem 1st, and soon. Free agency starts March 15th & the draft starts April 27th. Less than 2 months with LOTS for the Bucs to do between now & then for new OCs with new staffs.

  91. Defense Rules Says:

    sasquatch … ‘Hopefully he chooses a great OC and upgrades the ST coach. Also, find a full time DC.’

    Couldn’t agree more Sasquatch.

  92. Goatfarmer Says:

    We can look forward to an offense that will underperform the Dungy/King Pop Warner offense, but at least the defensive players won’t be taught their assignments, understand and remember their assignments, nor be able to execute their assignments. It’s the Todd Blowes way.

    What a shame. What a sham.

  93. TF Says:

    Todd Bowles did already make history in his VERY first season. The worst team in the HISTORY of football to EVER make the playoffs. Totally screwed up our chance at a better draft pick!