Bucs Want To Be Entertaining Losers?

May 6th, 2023

Jason, don’t invite Booger to the alumni brunch.”

Former Bucs defensive tackle Booger McFarland, the ESPN talking head, believes he’s figured out what Tampa Bay is trying to accomplish this season under the seasoned hands of general manager Jason Licht and Todd Bowles.

McFarland is confident the Bucs have artfully figured out how to tank while still making a lot of fans happy.

“If you’re a Buccaneer fan, here’s what you want to happen, you want them to be just good enough to entertain you but just bad enough to lose. Because you want one of those top-two [college] quarterback,” Booger said. “…Then you can have your quarterback of the future. Because ultimately I think that’s what they’re looking for. If they can come out of this draft in 2024 with Caleb Williams or Drake Maye somehow, I think everbody in Tampa would be ecstatic.”

Joe thinks Booger is losing it a bit. There’s no “entertainment” in losing close games. (See 2014). And the Bucs aren’t secretly trying to tank.

If the Bucs end up with the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick, what will excite fans long before the new quarterback arrives would be the hiring of a new head coach.

Joe is confident this Bucs team has too much talent to land in the NFL sewer this season.

70 Responses to “Bucs Want To Be Entertaining Losers?”

  1. StickinUp4Centers Says:

    Entertaining (to me) will be a defense that smacks around a QB like they’re beating the dust out of an old floor rug. Judging from the emphasis in the draft, it seems the Bucs brass does too.

  2. SB~LV Says:

    Bingo!
    GET out ME !

  3. D-Rok Says:

    No. Wrong. Nyet. Nein.

    Awww, Hellz Naw! Foolio.

  4. PA Buc Fan Says:

    It’s what this fan is hoping for. One bad season for a bright future is A ok with me. So long as Toilet Bowles isn’t our head coach. Don’t need a new qb coming in to learn one system then the following learning a whole new system his 2nd season in the league.

  5. Netwalker Says:

    Here we go again. Every year it’s the same thing about collage quarterbacks coming out and being expected to save the teams that tank the best. Yet more often than not these hyped up stars fail to shine. Play your best football. Hire good coaches. Draft the best players you can, and keep an eye out for quality free agents. Build a team and stop looking for a savior.

  6. Marine Buc Says:

    We won’t be in the sewer but probably the bottom third of the league.

    There are a lot of unknown variables right now.

    – How will Baker play?
    – How will the new OC perform?
    – Installing a new offense
    – Offensive line concerns
    – How will the draft picks perform?
    – Devin White’s contract dispute
    – How many injuries to starters?

    I’m looking forward to see how things go this season. It will be a true test to overcome all the issues we had to deal with this off season.

  7. Mike Johnson Says:

    Bucs will be entertaining Losers IF..Our Offense does not deliver. You will only win so many games with good Defense. Just ask Dungy that. I am deeply concerned about Baker Mayfield. Just hope we get an experienced vet in that QB room who can help him somewhat. I do believe Todd Bowles will have his Defense at the ready. He is not a great coach. But he does know DEFENSE. This patched up team does have potential. Licht has made an effort with the salary cap and tools he has available to him I want to see what we got on the field.

  8. SB~LV Says:

    I think these FO clowns are capable of F’n up losing
    I’ll stop there before the kool aid drinkers have a stroke

  9. Tackleblockwin Says:

    Build a tough, talented team outside of QB. Then lure that proven veteran QB to join up later. That seems to be what works best for us.

  10. TOMMY MORDUE Says:

    I THINK “BOOGER” HAS BEEN PICKING HIS NOSE TOO MUCH AGAIN !..WE ARE TRYING TO ASSEMBLE A WINNING TEAM & DEFEND OUR DIVISION TITLE & MAKE THE PLAYOFFS..WEVE HAD ALOT OF SALARY CAP PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH & UNDER THESE CONSTRAINTS, I FEEL WE HAVE DONE ONE HELL OF A JOB IN 🆓 AGENCY, AS WELL AS THE COLLEGE DRAFT !..BOTH OUR QUARTERBACK’S ARE BETTER THAN PEOPLE THINK & IF WE ADD A VETERAN FOR 3RD STRING & MENTORING,SO BE IT ! (NICK FOLES HAPPENS TO HAVE A SUPER BOWL VICTORY ON HIS RESUME’ ) WE ARE METHODICALLY FILLING THE HOLES WHERE OUR WEAKNESSES HAVE BEEN & DON’T THINK FOR A MOMENT THAT WE HAVE ANY INTENTION OF TANKING, WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK OURSELVES IN THE MIRROR THE DAY AFTER A GAME & SAY “DID I REALLY DO MY BEST TO SEE THAT WE CAME OUT WINNERS IN THAT GAME ? !

  11. Jmarkbuc Says:

    The league’s history is rife with QBs taken high, who don’t make it.

    Not sure all the fascination. It’s the ultimate reach.

    Montana 3rd Round
    Brady 6th round

    Etc, etc….

  12. Since76 Says:

    If this team is giving Mayfield the job without competition they have decided to tank for a high graft pick. We won’t know till preseason what they are doing we’ll see. Mayfield has not played well with talent around him. So I don’t think he will raise the offensive play here. We will find out in preseason

  13. Pewter Power Says:

    Hell yea he’s losing it. How can someone with a Super Bowl ring say something that damn dumb! Honestly think Todd Bowles believes he has that kind of time?

    Most times when a high draft pick is a quarterback there’s usually a new coach or a guy that’s on his way out of there

  14. Buc4evr Says:

    I have had enough entertainment for 5 years with Jameis, the Bucs need to be in a win now at any cost mode. Hopefully, Jason will sign a veteran Qb that will be allowed to compete with Trask and Mayfield.

  15. Vlad The Impaler Says:

    If the Bucs are bad I just stop watching and spare my self the time wasted

  16. Vlad The Impaler Says:

    TOMMY! I APPRECIATE THE CAPITAL LETTERS WHICH SHOW YOUR ENTHUSIAM

  17. Vlad The Impaler Says:

    OBVIOUSLY THIS YEAR IS SUPERBOWL OR BUST!
    THERE’S NO WAY BOWELS COULD FAIL, RIGHT?

  18. JonBucFan Says:

    This is total BS. How can any team do both at the same time unless they purposely tanking the 3 and/or 4th quarter??? Which would be obvious to everyone paying attention! For the record I don’t want an entertaining season if we Suck! I want to win every season, and so do the Bucs. I believe they are trying to put the best team they can afford. I truly dislike fans that want any team to suck just so they get the first pick in the following year. Can you imagine the veterans we have going along with bat sh** crazy theory? “ Ok guys, now go out there and give the fans an entertaining game, but just don’t win!” For the love of the game, this is not WWF!

  19. steele Says:

    Why the uproar? It’s a form of tanking, a process that began last season, when Bucs and Bowles quietly refused to do anything to go all-in for a final Tom Brady season. Now you have Baker Traskfield on short leash as QB, totally hit or miss, a roster in flux, a newbie OC and Todd Bowles. That is exactly what Booger is describing.

  20. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Vlad The Impaler, cap are usually used by visually impaired.

    And it isn’t hurting us at all.

  21. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    As always, I hope to go undefeated.

    But expect more like 2-3 wins this time around.

    My bigger concern is that we are just good enough to win 6 games and miss out on a good QB.

    I don’t want to tank, but if we are bad enough to lose out, it will be painful but acceptable.

  22. Winny Testaverde Says:

    Joe’s tagline of “too much talent” is a bit misguided at best. The few good men are aging and/or coming off injuries. The Boy Band top picks from the last two years ( Hall & Tryon ) look like busts. Devin White is regressing and done as a Buc. Vita Vea is too top heavy and has a season or two left. Where is the too much talent? Wirfs I suppose…but is likely changing positions.

  23. Shane Callahan Says:

    Can’t wait for Baker to make all you his biggest fans east of Oklahoma. Everyone talking s*** about him will eat crow, and I can’t wait!!!

  24. WillieG Says:

    How can anyone pin their hopes on those quarterbacks? Has everyone forgotten Winston and Mariotta? Everyone wanted one of those two “sure bet” QBs and how did that turn out?

  25. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Maybe I’m spoiled but I think winning the Super Bowl is entertaining.

  26. David Says:

    I get it, it’s a horrible thing to say, but I get it.
    Trask & Baker are not the answer.
    Trask has not even been able to get active, let alone be the back up in two years. Heck, they’re trying to bring in a vet to be back up to keep Trask at third string.
    Baker had a few good games with the Los Angeles and flashes in Cleveland surrounded by poor decision making. He had a Super Bowl ready team that couldn’t get it done and the only reason was him.

    So what we’re looking at is an infusion of youth and hopefully we see them grow and get better and better and better, but they need to draft their quarterback next year. If that means making a big trade with draft picks, and a player, then they have to do it.

  27. Obvious Says:

    McFarland got me figured out!
    That is EXACTLY what I want.
    I want to be entertained. CHECK
    I KNOW that Baked Maybe isn’t going to be able to get us into the Super Bowl with his level of talent this year, next year, or any year. CHECK
    I DEEPLY DESIRE a Franchise QB that will Lead us Year after Year to the Promised Land. CHECK
    I REALIZE THAT ONLY a Built from the Ground Up, Newly Minted, Born and Raised QB drafted by MY TEAM (the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS) is the ONLY REALISTIC WAY to build a “DYNASTY” and WILL NEED A TOP FLIGHT draft pick to do it. CHECK!
    I realize that it IS POSSIBLE that we Already have that QB on the roster and Desperately need to At The Least give him a shot to see if he’s the one or not. CHECK!
    I Realize that my team is TO STRONG to just finish with 3 or 4 wins to accomplish that goal of a 1st or Second place draft pick,, and BTW “EEEWW” (that WOULD SUCK if we actually couldn’t do better), we will need to TRADE THE FARM for possibly 2 years to move up in the draft to Get Our Guy if Trask is not it. CHECK!

  28. Michael Says:

    The Tanking doesnt start till a young qb named Arch is ready to enter the draft .
    I hope they do tank the year before Arch enters the draft . Arch would look great in pewter and red !!

  29. TOMMY MORDUE Says:

    BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE JASON LIGHT, PLEASE TRY TO MAKE A TRADE FOR AUSTIN ECKLER OF THE CHARGERS ..FOR GOD’S SAKE DON’T LET THE PANTHERS OR ANY OTHER TEAM GET HIM..WE NEED THIS PLAYER TO HELP OUR OFFENSE..HE CAN RUN,HE CAN CATCH, & HE’S NEARLY UNSTOPPABLE INSIDE THE 5 YARD LINE..WORK A DEAL SOMEHOW, I HAVE ALL THE FAITH IN THE WORLD YOU CAN GET IT DONE AT FAIR PRICE FOR THE PLAYER & BOTH TEAMS..WE NEED HIM JASON..FOR THAT BACKFIELD SPARK !

  30. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    I stop listen to Booger McFarland when he said we shouldn’t draft Aaron Donald

    2014:

    @lsubooger: If the bucs drafted Aaron Donald i would be as upset as i’ve ever been.

  31. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    *Listening

  32. Dewey Selmon Says:

    If we have a top 3 pick no QB will be able to overcome the glaring other wekaness this team had to suck so bad. Bowles would surely be gone and a offensive HC would most likely be hired.

  33. EEK Says:

    No way

    Too many factors out of their control

    Lots can happen

  34. Craig Says:

    I am not sure the Bowles cleaner and I are on the same page about being exciting.

    They had Tom Fing Brady last season and I think I would rather have watched paint dry.

    With an unknown offense, and the Bowles cleaner’s plodding defense there will be more drinking than clean excitement.

  35. BigMacAttack Says:

    This team will be much better than last year’s team, especially without Brady. The best part will be watching Devin White lose his job to a rookie lol. Tampa beats Phili in the NFC Championship and then plays the J-E-T-S in the Super Bowl and Aaron Rodgers gets to relive his 2020’ loss to the Bucs. Tom Brady will actually call both games as an announcer and then acts like a little kid when the Bucs win 🏆. And everything is right with the World for 24 hrs, and then I wake up from my dream and schlep my a$$ to work.

  36. Netwalker Says:

    Looking at it from Trask’s point of view, for his time in the league Trask has been sitting behind Tom Brady, the GOAT. He has had no chance to get on the field in any meaningful way. But now things have changed. The GOAT is gone. Now management has brought in Mayfield who many think is a shoe in for starter.

    But Mayfield is a journeyman, and while he’s had some very good games, he’s also had problems convincing his previous teams that he’s ‘the guy’. Trask has to know this. So I believe Trask is seeing this as his opportunity to put his best stuff on the field in practice and in preseason games. If Mayfield faulters Trask my just have a shot… and he knows it. This should be fun to watch.

  37. Bojim Says:

    Ain’t gonna happen.

  38. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    “This team will be much better than last year’s team, especially without Brady.”

    Nope. Barring Trask becoming a Superstar this year, it won’t happen…and it probably would happen then either.

    Brady is still a capable quarterback…He was not our issue. Injuries were.

    I’m 2023 that may or may not be the case…but we have new OL, New DL, New secondary.

    The Bucs always start slow defensively, even with returning players. New players will amplify that.

    I don’t see how we can turn things around until around week 9 or 10…If at all. By that time, the decision to tank might be made (unofficially).

  39. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Sorry for the typos…I’m tired of fixing autocorrect.

  40. Tucker Says:

    I think the bucs are going to be competitive this year can’t wait for the season to start go bucs.

  41. Jim Says:

    Well, the bucs are 92K OVER the salary cap. Sounds like JL just can’t learn form his mistakes. Their salary cap is in perpetual hell.

  42. Letsbucinggo Says:

    Too much talent Bwahwahwahwah!

  43. Rambo Says:

    News Flash …

    If we stay healthy, Bucs are going to win the division and go to the play-offs.

  44. adam from ny Says:

    i think we kind of learned our lesson with young quarterbacks and grooming…

    brad johnson and tommy b came in and did what had to be done – and we were successful…

    there are always a few good backs that shake loose after a season, so we can go that route without tanking, crapping the bed, and bottoming out the culture of the team…

    and if things get disastrous around here, and we get caleb…okay cool…

    but just remember, that means this year we suck, and probably a lot of growing pains for another few years…look at joe burrow – it took a minute…

    and what if he does a “soft bust” like jameis and mariotta…then what…

    i say play to win, and get a seasoned and proven vet, if baker doesn’t work out…no more kids in nfl diapers thrown into the fire at the qb position

  45. adam from ny Says:

    there are always a few good quarterbacks that shake loose after a season***

  46. Oneilbuc Says:

    Lol 😂😂 yep let’s lose on purpose because that has always brought us championships . And plus you know our franchise is know to develop quarterbacks . This is the weakest fan base I’ve ever seen before in my life how about just move up in the draft to get a quarterback.

  47. mark2001 Says:

    It is pretty hard to lose that many games and be entertaining. But could we lose that many games and end up last in the division? Most certainly, and in fact, a good probability.

  48. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    Booger is dead wrong! WE are trying our very best to put a winning team on the field.
    We are not trying to tank.

  49. Aceofaerospace Says:

    “If only we were bad enough to draft Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf.” There’s no guarantee a top pick will pan out. Play to win, until you are mathematically eliminated.

  50. Hodad Says:

    No such thing as tanking in the NFL. To many players needing to put out good tape to stay employed. The same goes for the coaches. Why the media puts this B.S. out there is beyond me, and why the masses believe this is a thing is beyond me.

  51. stpetebucfan Says:

    We ‘TANKED” a game for Fameis Jameis. How did that work out for the Bucs?

    Again…if it’s one game at the end of the year it sucks..but I get it.

    To start a season with even talk of tanking is the perfect definition of a LOSER!!!

    The moment I sense the Bucs are tank I stop watching them…and it may carry over for more than just this season. I can always go back to my hometown team the Bengals who are not shabby and are already entertaining.

    Tanking is for LOSERS!!!!

  52. Irishmist Says:

    Let Baker Mayfield play the first five games. If he wins at least three of them, let him continue as starter.

  53. Irishmist Says:

    To continue my post above, if Mayfield loses three or more of the first five games then you put Trask in, and if he does well you keep him and you have your quarterback for the future. If not then we should be in position for a good draft pick.

  54. JaxBuc Says:

    McFarland: “Because you want one of those top-two college quarterbacks. Then you can have your quarterback of the future.”

    Riiiiight. Because 62% of first-round quarterbacks are busts. SMH

  55. Infomeplease Says:

    I think you have nailed it Joe!

  56. Winky Says:

    Winning is better than risking a losing culture.

    Win, and trade the whole draft for a player if you like him that much.

    Don’t ever decide to lose. Ever!

    Go Bucs!!

  57. Kalind Says:

    I’m with Booger. Be good enough to consistently lose close games. Dump Bowles and Canales and start over w a new offensive minded coach and a stud rookie QB and here we go.

  58. Hodad Says:

    You’re ready to fire Canales before he’s called a play? Wow.

  59. Nate Says:

    It’s funny how most think we have so much talent when Brady himself had to squeak out 4 wins to win and our team is a lot younger ..with rookies lol smh

  60. Buc Unto Death Says:

    Booger is correct. Full Stop.

  61. Nate Says:

    We aren’t making the playoffs n we don’t have to have 1-2 wins either..you people just watched your division rival trade trade up for their franchise..in the words of TKraz “ helllooo Mcfly anybody home” lol we need May or Williams they show the most talent AND tenure since the Lawrence and Herbert draft year💯

  62. Mr. Editor Says:

    You play your best players. If Trask is not ready, then it’s the fault of both the coaches and Trask himself. The coaches had a chance to elevate him behind Brady last year, but they chose Blaine Gabbert. Trask must have not shown them enough. Let’s hope that he’s ready for the competition this year. Still, I’m glad that the Bucs cut ties with Gabbert. The Bucs paid him $2 million last year, but the Chiefs got him this year for a little over than $1 million.

  63. garro Says:

    Ahh the esteemed Bugger chimes in with Tank crap.
    Geez

  64. SOEbuc Says:

    Even the dumbass people that know the Bucs still don’t realize Jason Licht plan is to ever tank. Sure if he gets the number one pick by team being worst, they will get Caleb. Boogers is such a Bucs hater with no confidence in his Super Bowl team.

  65. Rod Munch Says:

    Joe thinks Booger is losing it a bit. There’s no “entertainment” in losing close games. (See 2014). And the Bucs aren’t secretly trying to tank.

    ———-

    I would have to disagree with that a bit. That last game of 2014, where the Bucs needed to lose – and yet got out to a big lead, now that was entertainment. How in the world was Lovie going to credibly throw that game away? That was 100% entertainment.

    Now, over the course of an entire year, yeah, that’s bad – but that’s the price that was paid for Brady. I said it at the time, I’m perfectly fine with a rebuild, and part of that is tanking. I’d rather just pull off the bandaid in one swipe than just peel at it for years. I’d rather take all the lumps in 2023 rather than drag it out for a decade of going 5-12 or 6-11.

  66. stpetebucfan Says:

    “Entertaining losers” is an oxymoron! And losing on purpose for whatever purpose is disgusting!

  67. Power of Pewter Says:

    Because tanking in order to draft Winston worked out so well? SMDH. I would hope the front office isn’t going to repeat their previous mistakes.

  68. Capt.Tim Says:

    At least Ill be able to get cheap tickets!

  69. OMFS88 Says:

    I’d take it. Last year was the most boring football I’ve watched since I stopped watching the Bears

  70. Goatfarmer Says:

    Booger. Idjit.

    Toad. Headcoich.

    As non entertaining as any coich has ever been. But at least he’s good at losing.