CBS: Two Words Why Bucs Won’t Make Playoffs
June 5th, 2023
Impact remains.
The shadow of the farm animal casts a long image.
For better or worse, until the Bucs find a solid signal-caller and can win a game or two (or more?) in the playoffs, Tom Brady will haunt the franchise.
That’s the belief of Will Brinson of CBS. The long-time NFL columnist says until the Bucs can make folks forget Brady, the team will be haunted by Brady.
Brinson believes winning postseason games helps. But will that come this year? Brinson doesn’t think so. He believes the two words to describe the Bucs are “Tom Brady,” even if Brady is gone for good.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Two words: Tom Brady. The GOAT is gone in Tampa and even if you thought his 2022 season wasn’t a success and he looked like he needed to walk away (both reasonable arguments), it’s a clear downgrade for the Bucs to move to Baker Mayfield. Tampa has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball but profile as a team who could struggle for the short term as they figure out life after Brady. There are major questions about the offensive line and how the offense as a whole will look with Todd Bowles coaching; the loss of Bruce Arians was dramatically understated before last season. All three of the other teams in the division have dramatically improved this offseason. Tampa gets a fairly easy schedule (22nd overall) but it’s a much harder schedule than the rest of the division.
The schedule point is interesting. It’s a little tougher than those of other NFC South teams if you count last year’s win-loss record, which some believe is a flawed method.
The Bucs should embrace two additional words to make folks forget about Brady, Brinson added, at least for a while: “Caleb Williams.”
June 5th, 2023 at 8:05 am
Todd Bowles
June 5th, 2023 at 8:13 am
We’ll win 5 or 6….all good, but still trade up for Caleb
June 5th, 2023 at 8:21 am
Show me how to tank without looking like you’re tanking,,,,all good
June 5th, 2023 at 8:24 am
Brinson … ‘it’s a clear downgrade for the Bucs to move to Baker Mayfield’.
Wow. I almost missed that gem (assumption?) from yet another talking head. Good to see they’re all keeping open minds. And assuming in the process that the entire Bucs coaching staff has joined in the conspiracy to anoint Baker Mayfield as their 2023 savior. Good to see that relatively few JBFers are buying into that.
June 5th, 2023 at 8:37 am
It’s a clear downgrade to move on from Tom Brady to literally any other QB. This guy gets paid for this insightful analysis? Sheesh.
June 5th, 2023 at 8:43 am
Thanks to the toys we got on defense, I believe Bucs will field the best defense in the division and as a result the best team. Even with Baker instead of Brady, I believe the change in OC will result in us fielding a competent offense. No more failed 3rd and 1 conversions, no WR screens for 3 yards 20 times a game etc. Bucs will be an average team in a below average division and eek out a playoff appearance, getting ousted in the first round.
June 5th, 2023 at 8:43 am
I may be in the minority and even though I will always love TB12, but he sucked last season. The national pie holes are just ignorant.
June 5th, 2023 at 8:45 am
Will he quit his job as a commentator if he’s wrong? Nope. There is no accountability for these talking heads, and none of them can see past Brady. It’s about as nuanced in thought as a third grader’s.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:00 am
Madmax… Show me how to tank without looking like you’re tanking,,,,all good.
Keep Todd Bowels.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:00 am
Will Brinson is not a “commentator.”
June 5th, 2023 at 9:01 am
“Caleb Williams”
Another overhyped undersized quarterblack.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:24 am
2023 The Lost Season.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:29 am
Everyone knows that Mayfield isnt the answer and he shouldn’t keep Trask on the bench all year. Trask needs to play a good portion of the season in order to see of he’s a viable backup to next year’s starter.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:35 am
We will soon see The Brady Difference. it will be stark. HC/DC is a loser. He will lose, lose and lose some more. The more he lose he will double down on stupid. Teams will just hang around and wait for The Blunder.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:35 am
Bucs will be lucky to win 6 games. O line is not going to be polished, TEs are not good, WR is a problem if either Evans or Godwin go down. Running game is still questionable. New offense with a coach that has never called a game. Mayfield is a huge question. I don’t see how this team can score 30 points a game and don’t see how our defense is going to put enough pressure on opposing QBs to keep them from scoring. On top of everything, our HC is not a leader and doesn’t make good gametime decisions. Basically this season will insure a high draft pick and a new HC next year.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:38 am
Aaron Rodgers sat on the bench for 3 seasons behind Brett Favre before becoming the starter, and then did not make the playoffs until his second season as a starter, and losing that game. So, Rodgers didn’t make a playoff game until his 5th season, and lost that game. Why are the Bucs so impatient? Did Brady instill an entitlement to instant gratification? Would the Bucs have kept Jalen Hurts for his third season after his first two bad seasons? I doubt it.
June 5th, 2023 at 9:40 am
We’re not moving on from the Tom Brady that won the S.B., let’s not kid ourselves. Brady was a shell of his 2020 self. The retiring, unretiring, getting divorced, missing training camp, going to a wedding on game weekend. We’re not going to miss that Tom Brady. He’s the guy who just had to remind the Joes he doesn’t want to get hit anymore, he’s not coming back. He didn’t want to take a hit last year either. Remember his chuck, and duck interception against the Cowboys? Instead of tying the score, Brady threw a redzone pick. We’ll be better off with MayTrask than last years Tom Brady.
June 5th, 2023 at 10:01 am
Rayjay1122 Says:
June 5th, 2023 at 8:43 am
I may be in the minority and even though I will always love TB12, but he sucked last season. The national pie holes are just ignorant.
I’m with you on this thinking……There is actually a chance that Mayfield is an improvement on the 2022 Brady.
Our defense should be good..
This team is much, much younger….we have no idea how that will factor.
June 5th, 2023 at 10:44 am
I really don’t know why we even dress for these games, why not simply play reserves, lose every game and save the health of our All Pro players. No one gives us a chance to even win a respectable ampunt of games, so let’s prove them right abd forfeit the season now. SMH
June 5th, 2023 at 10:51 am
Two words Caleb Williams? Mine would be another ‘Kyler Murray’
Williams 2022
14 Gms 333/500 66.5 % 4537 Yds 42 Td’s 5 Int 168.5 Rating
Trask 2020
12 Gms 301/437 68.9% 4283 Yds 43 Td’s * Int 180.0 Rating
Kyle Trask? Excited Now.
June 5th, 2023 at 10:53 am
One word
Lines
June 5th, 2023 at 10:59 am
Mayfield showed some flashes in Cleveland. If he can stay healthy, I think he could lead the Bucs to the playoffs. The rest of the division *may* have improved, but nobody really knows. Still probably the weakest division in the NFL. Mayfield at least is more mobile than Brady, so that will be an asset with the questions in the O-line.
June 5th, 2023 at 11:16 am
Was it a downgrade when the colts and chargers moved on from Johnny Unitas in the early ’70s in the last years of his famed career? Don’t think so. Brady had a lot of yards last year by throwing a ton of passes. Not very effective given even his recent history. Touchdowns way down and throwing so many passes in the dirt I kept waiting for the groundskeepers to start spray painting jersey numbers on various points of the field as a joke. If Baker has an average year by his standards, it will be similar to Brady’s last year. Anything better than that should be regarded as a bonus.
June 5th, 2023 at 11:19 am
Brady was 18th ranked QB last season in NFL… that was despite him artificially padding his rating with a high completion percentage on throws that were well short of the markers when we needed to move the chains. The dude led the league in lowest sacked percentage because he refused to stand in the pocket and look down field and possibly get hit. Give him credit where it was due… only him and maybe 5-10 other QBs in the league could have gotten us the Super Bowl in 2020… but there were about 20 other QBs last year that could have led us to higher than a 25th ranked offense. He was awful and the major reason we were so bad on offense. His constant audibles to smoke screens and checkdowns showed how Gisele took his nuts in the divorce. They were gone. He had no biscuits left.
June 5th, 2023 at 11:20 am
BTW… let’s talk stats. Brady’s TD percentage numbers were the lowest of his career. His yards per attempt, way down as well. He was done.
June 5th, 2023 at 11:46 am
I’m taking screen shots of all you haters for when the Bucs shock the world and win the division again. Defense is improved and younger , Oline is younger and better. Those were the biggest problems last season. Go Bucs
June 5th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Three Words on why the Bucs will go far in the playoffs….”NO SPONGE BOB”.
June 5th, 2023 at 12:09 pm
Anyone that thinks Brady was the problem with the offense last year must not realize that Tampa had the worst running game in the entire league and a clueless offensive coordinator that hasn’t been hired by any other NFL team yet and probably never will. Baker Mayfield has never thrown for 4 thousand yards in a season. What makes people think suddenly he’s going to be a top quarterback this season? They should start Trask and see if he has anything because the 2023 Bucs aren’t going to be contenders regardless. I hope you all enjoyed that championship in 2020 because unless this organization makes some serious changes the Bucs won’t be playoff contenders for a long time. Who are you going to blame this season? Firing Todd Bowles would be a good place to start.
June 5th, 2023 at 12:11 pm
Playoffs?! lol cmon man. This team will be contending for a top pick.
June 5th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
@shankasorous… agree, well put about instant gratification. Trask could be a Steve Young or a Tim Tebow, but doubt the Bucs or fans will give him enough playing time to know.
June 5th, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Because of this offensive system and a good maybe great defense this team will win more than you think.
Even Brady said experience matters but that could simply be a desire to see Mayfield running around throwing pics a year after he leaves.
Want people to miss a QB kneeling in the pocket for a sack, watch Mayfield running around throwing pics.
I think Trask will play within his abilities, Baker will not.
You want to forget about Brady, play Trask.
You want to miss Brady, play Baker Mayfield.
June 5th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
We’re going to be better than last year
June 5th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Dramatic much? I mean we rented Brady for 3 years. We have never had a franchise QB till date. The Patriots are the ones who will be under Brady’s shadow as long as Darth Hoodie continues to coach and doesn’t get back to the SB.
We were Cinderella for a night. And this franchise is still looking for its prince.
June 5th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
Will Brinson? Never heard of her
June 5th, 2023 at 1:44 pm
If not Baker Mayfield, then who? They couldn’t very well count on a backup in Trask; with near zero experience.
Now, with all the trades having been made with the available veterans, Baker Mayfield was about the best that could be managed for the money: at least it’s possible the he could have a break-out year with the Buccaneers; highly unlikely with any of the other options “out there” at quarterback.
The only exception, maybe, was Taylor Heinicke (who was picked-up by the Falcons in this off season.
June 5th, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Also,
Brady bashers: anyone remember that game where Brady threw three deep balls to Mike Evans to put him (Mike Evans) over the 1000 yard mark?
That was due to unusual play-calling: in other words, when Brady was allowed to call his own plays (which was rarely; couldn’t disturb Byron The Great’s delicate ego afterall), Brady and his elite receivers were spectacular; those awesome 4th qtr come-back wins were when Brady called the plays; because Byron and Bowles were desperate for a win.
What a joke: to presume that the team was better off with Byron And Bowles calling the plays, and knew more than Brady about operating an offense.
…Still can’t believe the sheer stupidity of it all.
Plus, no O-line of course.
June 5th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
so wait a second………………
we are no longer “the new america’s team” ?
#TheOminousCloudOfTheGoat
June 5th, 2023 at 4:13 pm
“All three of the other teams in the division have dramatically improved this offseason.”
How do you know this before the season begins? Are they saying that Carolina is better because of their rookie QB who has no NFL experience? Yet, we’re going to be in the division basement because of our qb who has just a little game experience. Atlanta has “dramatically improved” but still has the underwhelming Desmond Ridder at QB.
The way I see it either Baker or Trask will be at least the second best QB in the division. If Canales can coach them up like he did with Geno they could very well be the best QB in our division.
I just don’t understand why everyone is picking us to be losers. We have an above average defense and 4 pro bowlers on the offense. I can’t WAIT for the season to start.
The worse part of it is that all of these naysayers are going to be on the Bucs bandwagon by midseason!!
June 5th, 2023 at 4:58 pm
“I just don’t understand why everyone is picking us to be losers.”
I do. Because they’re the same guys who picked us to be in the Super Bowl last season: highly paid idiots.
June 5th, 2023 at 6:51 pm
The optimism for rookie QB’s is crazy. There are a whole lot more Sam Darnolds and Mitch Trubiskies running around the league than Patrick Mahomes. Tanking for Caleb is a roll of the dice. Until Bryce Young and Desmond Ridder get tested by fire and show they can shine, the 2 best QB’s in the South are Carr and Mayfield. A strong defense from the Bucs this year (which they featured last year until they wore down by too much field time) and they can/will have a successful season
June 5th, 2023 at 7:12 pm
Brady made the irrelevant Bucks relevant! He got us won Super Bowl and he probably would’ve gotten us two in a row if our coach hadn’t screwed up our defense so badly.