Bruce Arians Not Attending The NFL Combine
March 4th, 2023
His Buccaneers title is Senior Advisor to the General Manager, but Bucco Bruce Arians is not at perhaps the biggest NFL group event of the year for NFL general managers.
That’s the NFL Scouting Combine, which wraps up this weekend in Indianapolis.
Joe was told by multiple Bucs sources that Arians did not attend.
Arians had said he would be cutting back on his duties a bit this season, and apparently that’s already started.
Certainly Arians can assist the front office studying film and communicating online (though he has said many times that he doesn’t do virtual meetings). But skipping the Combine feels like a significant move toward a full retirement.
While the true value of the Combine is questionable, Joe thinks it’s noteworthy that the Quarterback Whisperer himself, Arians, was not on site to at least sit in on quarterback interviews and watch guys throw in person. The Bucs are shopping for QB help.
Last night, country music star Blake Shelton played Amalie Arena in Tampa and Arians was spotted in the crowd with a drink in one hand and Rondé Barber a step ahead of him (video below).
Joe isn’t wagging a finger at Arians. He’s more than entitled to relax and collect Team Glazer checks. It’s nice work if you can get it.
Spotted a Hall of Famer and a Future one (no, not the lady in red), at the #BStampa concert! @JoeBucsFan pic.twitter.com/cflVE6hYCR
— Nate Funderburke (@natefunderburke) March 4, 2023
March 4th, 2023 at 5:15 pm
Bruce is milking it harder than Durable Donnie.
March 4th, 2023 at 5:19 pm
I decided also to not attend.
March 4th, 2023 at 6:07 pm
No biscuit –NO more…..
March 4th, 2023 at 6:47 pm
Maybe forcing Bowles on us is making Bruce hide his face in shame
March 4th, 2023 at 6:58 pm
QB DTR had a great day….nice find Dooley
and my man Darnell Washington ran 4.6 40’s…thats moving for such a big guy who can also block very well
March 4th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Darnell with that one handed catch in that last drill, my goodness… and he owned the sled that everyone was struggling with….man, we’ve got our new TE if we want to go there. He’s going high, so if we trade down and can still land him, dont go down too far.
And you know what, I would take him at 19!
March 4th, 2023 at 8:07 pm
Unless he is filling the role of HC, he brings no value to the organization. Go ahead and retire.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:57 pm
Hit the road!
March 4th, 2023 at 9:01 pm
I want BA to have a wonderful retirement. But he did great harm to Bradys last year by protecting his protégé, Leftwich, from being cut. His loyalty to his pets is greater than his loyalty to the team.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:02 pm
‘Joe isn’t wagging a finger at Arians.’
Yup, not wagging a finger at BA, just pointing a video at him.
BTW, love the ‘Bruce Arians opens up’ caption on that photo Joe. Did he do a duet with Blake Shelton at Amalie Joe? How exactly can BA open up if if takes Twitter to find him?
Face facts; BA has moved on, he just hasn’t left the building.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:13 pm
Another sorry American collecting a paycheck for nothing
March 4th, 2023 at 9:20 pm
Come on, Joe…don’t you think that title is simply a way to make him feel connected to the team without having to fully retire?
March 4th, 2023 at 9:35 pm
Bruce is at the Crown combine(d) with Coke.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:42 pm
Bruce is attending the Crown combine(d) with Coke.
March 4th, 2023 at 10:10 pm
Time for Bruce to go away!
March 5th, 2023 at 6:26 am
DR – “Face [are] facts; BA has moved on, he just hasn’t left the building.”
Yes, and the problem is not that BA retired. Good for him, enjoy life, and thanks for the memories. But by not leaving the building, he’s making a continuing promise to the team that he’s failing to keep. He’s meddling just enough to change a few things for the better (scripted plays on opening offensive series, N.O. game sidelines appearance), and a few things for the worse (Leftwich, Bowles). So he leaves people unsure and unable to take a new direction, with his looming override that sporadically comes down, or inexplicably doesn’t. We’re stuck in limbo, and need a clean break.
March 5th, 2023 at 6:50 am
Opened up a cold one!
If he’s not at the combine, he either got a hallpass or is checked out and they’ll make the announcement of his retirement at the organizations convenience.
Until then, and after, I hope he has a great time.
March 5th, 2023 at 8:31 am
Love me BA. Best coach the Bucs ever had in my opinion.
March 5th, 2023 at 8:58 am
IMO, NFL football isn’t something you can be a part of with one foot in and one foot out. Yes, Arians has lots of experience and his voice carries some weight, but the rest of these scouts are crossing the country to watch players in person and interview them in person.
How does everybody like it when the guy that puts in the least amount of time and effort at work wants to speak up in your business meetings and have his voice heard by everybody else that is busting their hump?
They’ll be kind and listen to what Bruce has to say, but his voice is going to continue to carry less and less weight. This team is stepping into a new era with a new offensive coordinator that has no ties to Bruce Arians and his style of calling plays. Bruce is wise enough to know it’s time for him to step back.
March 5th, 2023 at 9:38 am
Glad it is Glazer money, and not mine.
March 5th, 2023 at 9:45 am
Arians and Barber are good friends first of all. Second him not being at the combine came directly from either ownership or the GM. I know he’s been working on draft prospects recently so I’m not sure why he’s not there.
March 5th, 2023 at 12:13 pm
Agreed Bosch.