Ian Beckles: Bucs Pulled Off The Unexpected
January 13th, 2024
Proud of the Bucs.
Look at the big picture, folks.
That’s what Ian Beckles is telling Bucs fans. The former Bucs guard and current popular local radio personality was advising fans who are doom and gloom to smile. Nobody thought the Bucs would be division champs last summer. Yet, here they are, Beckles said on his podcast “In the Trenches.” And the Bucs are about to host a playoff game.
“I didn’t hear a lot of people saying the Bucs were going to make the playoffs, including myself,” Beckles said.
Beckles said one big reason the Bucs won the division is the very same reason most good teams have good records: the quarterback.
“Baker Mayfield was substantially better than I thought he was going to be this year,” Beckles said. “He didn’t play great the last couple of games. [Sunday] was rough.”
Then Beckles pretty much summed up the Bucs for a lot of fans.
“They are a playoff team,” Beckles said. “But it’s hard to say they are a good team. They are a 9-8 team that backed in to another NFC South title — three in a row, which is a beautiful thing. But it is hard to say they are a good team.”
Yes, the Bucs very much have a puncher’s chance Monday night, he continued.
“I’m telling you it is a coin flip,” Beckles said. “The Eagles ain’t that damn good. I’m not telling you the Bucs are good but the Eagles aren’t that damn good.
“The Bucs have won five of their last six. The Eagles have lost five of their last six. You’ve got to say there is at least a coin flip on this dang thing.”
Beckles is hoping NFL history is on the Bucs’ side. Rarely do teams play the same way in back-to-back weeks, he said, and the Bucs last Sunday in Carolina played the worst game of the year, at least on offense. Better to get that out of the system before the playoffs.
“That was not a pretty game,” Beckles said. “It means absolutely nothing. It never happens the same way again. Because people make adjustments.”
Mayfield has more things wrong with him than just ribs and a bum ankle, Beckles seems to think, suggesting all the hits Mayfield absorbed this season have caught up with him.
“You people who are applauding him for being heroic in the second quarter, I’m not,” Beckles said. “I don’t want my quarterback getting hit. Get down. … I like my quarterback upright at the end of the season.
“He’s a competitor, I get it. But you have to be smarter.”
Beckles had other Bucs thoughts:
* On the offensive line: “I’m not so sure the offensive line isn’t the best unit on the team. Pass protection is amazing.”
* On Joe Tryon-Shoyinka: Beckles gave him props for his victory-sealing strip of Bryce Young but added one play doesn’t make a guy a good player.
* On Antoine Winfield: “The Buccaneers are going to have to figure out a way to make that happen this offseason. They are not going to lose Antoine Winfield, Jr. I don’t see that happening.”
* On Mayfield getting paid this spring: “He made (over $2 million in incentives last Sunday) in one game. That will make you feel good about yourself. He made a lot of future money because there are going to be two, three, four teams after him. And that’s all you need. If one team is after you, you don’t make money. If two teams are after you, if four teams are after you, that’s when you make $30 [million] or $40 million. I would like to see him finish off [this season] with a bang.”
* On Bucs’ defense vs. Eagles’ offense: “If you watch the Eagles, I really think this Bucs defense can mess with them. I really do. I really do. But I just don’t know if the Bucs can score on the Eagles’ defense.”
Beckles finished his podcast episode saying had the Bucs gagged away last week’s game to the Stinking Panthers, Todd Bowles would be in deep doo-doo.
January 13th, 2024 at 8:18 am
Bucs fold in big games…and prime time…and home field.
Igles 28 yucks 17
January 13th, 2024 at 8:20 am
F off Boss
January 13th, 2024 at 8:21 am
Bucs will win. I played two parlays last week and would’ve won a little over 2000 except for that one stinking chicago game (5 for 6). This week im going bucs, packers, kc and texans (with the points) i made out on the michigan game so im still playing with their $$
January 13th, 2024 at 8:46 am
Two decent defenses, two beat up QBs. Bucs have trouble running the ball. They have a decent run game. If the Bucs can stop the run, it will come down to special teams. We have a great kicker. We’ll see how things go.
January 13th, 2024 at 8:49 am
Faker 1-5 on Monday nights. It’s actually not a good thing Eagles are on a losing streak because the odds are they will most likely snap out of it. TonyMarks@ I answered your question in a previous post but in the event you haven’t seen the post, Mac Jones is 2 & 1 on Monday night and he sucks, so I still don’t get your point. Please enlighten me.
January 13th, 2024 at 8:53 am
Always liked Ian and his takes.
January 13th, 2024 at 8:58 am
I don’t always agree with Ian but in this case I think he is spot on!
No hyperbole or name calling just the facts.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:00 am
Boss, what the F? That’s not the way of a fan. I with Red Pen on this one…
January 13th, 2024 at 9:04 am
Probably in a past life Beckles was a parrot…
January 13th, 2024 at 9:06 am
Boss isn’t wrong though. It would be the most Bucs thing ever to lose to an Eagles team that may not be without its receivers and a QB with a f’d up thumb. It would be the most Bucs thing ever to come out flat, uninspired. It would be the most Bucs thing ever to not put on a good show for a national audience. Then at some point next yr fans will openly wonder why we don’t get the respect we (don’t) deserve. If the Bucs come out and lose 30-7 (half the Bucs stadium will be green, very nice Bucs fans.) then you have your answer of the REAL character of this team from top to bottom
January 13th, 2024 at 9:18 am
Negative Nancy’s out early this morning.. some of you guys are the worst.
You must have a black cloud follow you everywhere.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:19 am
I agree with Beckles on most of his takes –
But I’m not sure there will be 4 NFL teams looking to sign Baker Mayfield. There are 5-6 QBs who will be drafted in the 1st round and free agents Cousins and Wilson (possibly) will provide an ample supply of QBs in 2024.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:28 am
Says the Canadian who never was on a winning team or sniffed the playoffs
January 13th, 2024 at 9:33 am
“You people who are applauding him for being heroic in the second quarter, I’m not,” Beckles said. “I don’t want my quarterback getting hit. Get down. … I like my quarterback upright at the end of the season.
“He’s a competitor, I get it. But you have to be smarter.”
Totally agree with above… ok for him to rally the team with toughness early in the season, but should have dialed it back later.
The movement is to have kids play flag football, rather than tackle football. Is the NFL worried about the future of tackle football?… then what message did Bowles send to parents/kids letting Baker stay in the second half last week? Camera shots of Baker doubled up with pain on the bench, then limping back in – do we think football parents want their kids to see that?.. imitate that?
January 13th, 2024 at 9:36 am
Marine Buc Says:
But I’m not sure there will be 4 NFL teams looking to sign Baker Mayfield. There are 5-6 QBs who will be drafted in the 1st round and free agents Cousins and Wilson (possibly) will provide an ample supply of QBs in 2024.
——–
Theres at least ten teams that could do with a QB so that still leaves enough opportunity.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:46 am
This is disgusting. He played like complete garbage, but sure “feel good about yourself” because you earned a $2 mil incentive. Me over team mentality.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:50 am
I agree that our OL is pretty good at pass blocking. It’s not “amazing,” but good enough. Still have interior OL issues in the run game though. But honestly, what other unit on this team is better? WR?
January 13th, 2024 at 9:52 am
realistic-optimistic Says:
This is disgusting. He played like complete garbage, but sure “feel good about yourself” because you earned a $2 mil incentive. Me over team mentality.
—
Since he got it for making the playoffs how is that “me over the team mentality”?
Its amazing how games won was a QB stat during the losing streak but when we win 5 out o 6 it does a 180 and is not.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:56 am
@ Tony
– Tampa
– Vegas
– New England
– Pittsburgh
– Denver
– NYG
– Washington
– Minnesota
– Atlanta
I believe Tenn will stick with Levis. Chicago will stick with Fields and the LA Rams owe too much guaranteed money to Stafford in 2024… The Jets will probably attempt to go with Rodgers in 2024.
Who am I missing?
January 13th, 2024 at 9:59 am
@ Tony
Not to mention – Baker Mayfield will not fit in every type of offense.
Especially if they throw farther than 12 yards downfield. Not exactly his strong suit.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:59 am
Well let’s hope that the Bucs can pull off the unexpected!
There ain’t NO hope in football and the Bucs have been playing uninspiring football all year.
January 13th, 2024 at 10:00 am
So Baker got a 2 million bonus for a terrible performance. Laughing all the way to the bank. Bottom line…..for 30 mill you get Baker. Meh….in doing so you lose Winfield, Evans, wirfs. Just losing Winfield would be 2 -4 losses more this season. How many wins does Evans help with. To get a QB that didn’t even show up the past two weeks. What a fail that would be. 5 years of south div cellar.
January 13th, 2024 at 10:15 am
He and everyone is correct. Baker takes way too many unnecessary hits. He’s tough but we need him at full go all the time.
January 13th, 2024 at 10:23 am
Sorry Ian, but our O-Line is NOT good in pass pro. The fact that Baker hasn’t taken as many sacks as some other teams is because Baker has some near-magical ability to duck under some tacklers (maybe being short has SOME advantage?). Last week Hainsey was being pushed back into Baker’s throwing lane on every play. He (Hainsey) may as well have been wearing roller skates. Luvu and Brown were OWNING him.
That is NOT good pass pro…
January 13th, 2024 at 10:55 am
Football is a violent game and that’s the way fans like it. We aren’t that far removed from the gladiator games where at least one guy died for our entertainment.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:10 am
Lanshark- baker holds the ball too long. Then doesn’t want to throw it away. Recipe for injuries.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:11 am
R-O
“This is disgusting. He played like complete garbage, but sure “feel good about yourself” because you earned a $2 mil incentive. Me over team mentality.”
That’s why you should change your name for the sake of honesty…IF you have any! You are Realiistic-Negative!
What prompts you to take such cheap personal shots? Who pisses in your Cheerios every morning? You must be a really miserable human being…I say this not with hostility or negativity but with compassion. I honestly feel sorry for you.
The Bucs were expected to win from 2 to 6.5 games this season after the GOAT left. They won NINE and reached a 3rd consecutive NFC South Division title.
I just posted FACTS with that sentence. You post flawed negative opinions that virtually all the “experts” in the NFL do not agree with.
So R-N you like to post stats when they suit your purposes. How about the victories per $$$ spent? Mayfied was an absolute STEAL and you’re beginning to clown yourself with your absurdity.
Mayfield was scheduled to earn 4 million base…that’s the same as BACKUP LOSER QB Jameis Winston! It’s also below the FREAKING 40th highest salary in the damn league!!! Add that two million that leaves you feeling like “garbage”. I would posit that it’s your life attitude that has you feeling like “garbage” your word not mine.
So let’s all get disgusted. With ALL those outrageous bonuses for NOTHING(winning season, division title all MEANINGLES) Mayfield jumps all the way from 40th tied with Fameis to 36th spot…oh the DISGUST!!!
Actually my numbers are off it’s even worse…I did not work in all the contracts which has some total losers like Mac Jones who earned 15.5 million last year!
With his “disgusting” bonus that means Jones will only earn twice as much as Baker!
January 13th, 2024 at 11:14 am
Marine Buc Says:
Chicago will stick with Fields
—
thats a reach and I am far from alone in that assessment. Passing on Caleb Williams for fields? Good luck if you are the Gm that does that. Plus Vikings may well double dip against your list by both drafting and resigning Cousins
Stafford running it back In2024 is irrelevant. They have to prepare for his retirement end of next year or two. Not saying they will but the jets with Rodfers missing the year and 40 should be doing the same.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:19 am
This team is in the playoffs, and we still have negative nancies telling us like it isnt. You guys have been wrong ALL SEASON LONG. Trask never played one snap. A $4 million dollar quarterback has played as efficiently as a washed up Goat did last season, and this team was in cap hell. This franchise rarely even makes the playoffs, and we gotta sit here and deadpan this team while it still has meaningful football to play? Pathetic.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:21 am
I loved Baker’s season but I believe this was his ceiling. I follow the old saying buy low sell high. To sign Baker to a huge contract right now is definitely buying high. Just think if we went with Trask next year once again we would be paying our QB next to nothing on a rookie deal this time. We would be able to bring back everyone, maybe even Devin White. And now you have Trask in a contract year with a huge chip on his shoulder. I’m just thinking out loud here
January 13th, 2024 at 11:27 am
You want to see a 2024 NFL QB arm ?
Watch CJ Stroud… I was VERY impressed with him when he played the Bucs
Then watch Bakers arm …
January 13th, 2024 at 11:28 am
Marine Buc Says:
January 13th, 2024 at 9:59 am
@ Tony
Especially if they throw farther than 12 yards downfield. Not exactly his strong suit.
——–
Thats weird. He ranks number 6 in 20+ passes when I looked. or did I read the wrong line?
and I sure see him slinging some beauts in Cleveland only a few years ago- usually out of roll outs which Bucs have yet to utilize him well with.
at any rate – can’t have it both ways – journeyman who played well in 3 of the 4 teams (exception being the stinking panthers) he has been on but ahem only fits certain teams.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:30 am
@stpete, get over yourself. You’re really starting a fight over somebody’s screen name? It’s realistic, followed by optimistic. Do you really gain anything by arguing over the appropriate weighting of two words? Who cares. We can debate football if you want.
We disagree about the quality of our QB. We don’t disagree that his current contract is good value. I’ve already said that to you. Your bringing it up as some kind of kicker for your argument is disingenuous. If he signed a multi-year contract for $4 mil per, he would be a serious steal. I never argued otherwise. But he’s not signing a deal like that. If he gets 25/30/40 mil from the Bucs, it’s a monumental mistake.
He’s not a steal at that price, and we have much bigger needs. The QB production we’ve gotten this year could be accomplished with other QBs. It’s the most replaceable contribution on our current team. You may disagree, and that’s fine. But don’t put words in my mouth.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:30 am
That is the most positive string of things I think I have hear Beckles say. New year new him?
January 13th, 2024 at 11:37 am
BTW, if the coaches are so invested in their players hitting incentives and milestones, why did they not let RWhite get his final 10 yards for 1k? The final drive in CAR ended with kneeldowns, more than 10 yards from the endzone. A true players coach — the kind who plays a clearly hobbled QB for his incentives — would have had his RB’s back and gotten him 10 more yards (or tried).
January 13th, 2024 at 12:22 pm
@ Tony
If Chicago moves on from Fields that will just create another free agent QB that will be a starter somewhere else in 2024. However I have not heard any rumors of the Bears shopping Fields around for a trade yet. Time will tell on this one…
I doubt the Rams or Jets will be drafting a QB in the first round this season but I do agree they will need to prepare for the future at some point but not in 2024 with Rodgers and Stafford still making huge bucks to play next season.
More will be revealed shortly.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:25 pm
realistic-optimistic Says:
. But don’t put words in my mouth.
—–
NO one put any words in your mouth. You made a fool of youself with your own words when you claimed a player getting incentive money for the TEAM making the playoffs was about “A me first mentality”
January 13th, 2024 at 12:38 pm
Marine Buc Says:
January 13th, 2024 at 12:22 pm
@ Tony
If Chicago moves on from Fields that will just create another free agent QB that will be a starter somewhere else in 2024.
—
Half way thinking. Think it thorugh further. Teams that still believe in Field woudl likely go beyond the list you presented. He’d be cheap and teams you dont have on your lsts would likely be intrerested
SO no it doesn shrink the available spots per QB . It expands the teams inetrested. At that point Rams and Jets plus other teans would be crazy to not inquiire.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:56 pm
@ Tony
“Half way thinking.”
OK. LEt’s do it this way…
How many teams can afford to pay Baker $25-$30M?
Jets? – Nope.
Rams? – Nope.
Giants? – Nope.
Broncos? – Nope.
These teams are already paying huge guaranteed money to other QBs. So you should take these teams off the list for now.
No GM in their right mind is going to pay two starting QBs…
Also I disagree with you regarding Minnesota. If they re-sign Cousins to another 3-4 year deal they are not spending a 1st round pick on a QB. That would be dumb.
So we just reduced the list to:
– Tampa
– Atlanta
– Pitt
– New England
– Vegas
– Washington
5-6 of these teams will draft a QB in round #1. Which will leave one team for Baker.
Tampa.
January 13th, 2024 at 12:59 pm
Not nobody. I said we would be champs. Look it up.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:05 pm
Marine Buc Says:
e they will need to prepare for the future at some point but not in 2024 with Rodgers and Stafford still making huge bucks to play next season.
—–
Waiting until your starting QB is off the books is the text book definition of NOT preparing
January 13th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
@ Tony
Neither the Rams nor the Jets can afford to pay Baker @ $25-$30M.
The Rams are paying Stafford @ $49.5M in 2024 – much of it is guaranteed. Plus they will probably be behind the Bucs in the draft…
The Jets still owe Rodgers a slew of money as well. But they are picking #10 in the draft so they could draft a QB but they have a ton of other needs as well especially if they want to keep Rodgers healthy and upright for at least one season. lol.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:36 pm
Marine Buc Says:
January 13th, 2024 at 12:56 pm
@ Tony
“Half way thinking.”
OK. LEt’s do it this way…
How many teams can afford to pay Baker $25-$30M?
—–
I get it. because you are losing the argument you are trying tp change it to save face
We were discussing teams that will or coud do with a QB. No one discussed price. I have no crytsal ball to say what Baker will sign at.
—-
If they re-sign Cousins to another 3-4 year deal they are not spending a 1st round pick on a QB. That would be dumb.
______-
Sorry but you are cluless. Cousins is welll on his way to 40 (36 by the time the next season begins) and you are telling me The vikings At last I checked number 11 would be dumb to draft a Qb. At number 11 thats not even a high signing bonues in the NFL.
Dude YOUR statemnt is whats dumb.
Whose to say Cousins is even going to want a 4 year contract? Just because Brady played into his 40s doesnt mean every QB wants to and Cousins is on record saying he wants to retire a viking.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
@ Tony
“I get it. because you are losing the argument you are trying tp change it to save face”
“Dude YOUR statemnt is whats dumb.”
“Sorry but you are cluless.”
I don’t understand the need for you to speak this way. Usually the person who starts the insults is really just showing their maturity level.
Get a grip big boy.
All of this is just speculation and I enjoy discussing football with other Buc fans and it is not about “winning or losing” the debate. But if all you have are insults than you must be a pretty miserable person.
Have a nice day.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:55 pm
Hoping Baker has a fantastic game and Bucs win the game, goes on and has another good game and then blows this franchise off because if Tampa fans are like the fans on here they don’t deserve good players. Hope Winfield and Wirfs bolt, Evans can stay because his expiration date is about up.
Yes I am a Baker fan and after a year of watching people on this board comment not so much a Buc fan.
January 13th, 2024 at 1:56 pm
Marine Buc – Tony
I agree. Bucs are the only team that will pay Baker starting money. If he turns the Bucs down, he’ll be looking at $8-$9M from another team. I think the Bucs will sign him in the $25M range … and that’s generous.
Every QB needy team has a good draft pick and there are 7-8 staring QBs in this draft. Some Bucs fans love Baker but he’s a journeyman QB. He’s the new Fitzmagic.
January 13th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
SlyPirate….Every QB needy team has a good draft pick and there are 7-8 staring QBs in this draft.
Tell me in the NFL entire history has there ever been 7-8 starting QB’s…..smh
January 13th, 2024 at 2:09 pm
MarineBuc says….
5-6 of these teams will draft a QB in round #1. Which will leave one team for Baker.
How much you want to bet that 6 teams will take a QB in first round. Guys on here say the most ridiculous things and never get called out on it.
January 13th, 2024 at 2:10 pm
Marine Buc Says:
January 13th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
@ Tony
I don’t understand the need for you to speak this way. Usually the person who starts the insults is really just showing their maturity level.
——-
Good then scroll up and s see who started with callng viewpoints they don’t like Dumb
and dont even talk about maturity levl kid when you ar r talkign in other threads about “doo dodo” like a four yr old.
January 13th, 2024 at 2:14 pm
@ Bakerfan
– D. Maye
– C. Williams
– J. Daniels
– M. Penix
– B. Nix
– JJ McCarthy
Looks like 5-6 to me.
Again – this is all just speculation at this point. We are several months away from the draft.
You may disagree – and that is fine by me. But you don’t have a clue of what will happen any more than I do at this point.
However – regardless of what happens in the draft I still see a very limited market for little Baker.
January 13th, 2024 at 2:18 pm
@ Tony
If Baker could throw farther than 12 yards downfield there would be a much larger market for his services but unfortunately he is very limited with his skill set.
Just another injury prone dink and dunk game manager at best and he proved that the past 7 seasons.
He will be lucky to get $25M for 2 years here in beautiful Tampa Bay.
January 13th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
MarineBuc….
Again – this is all just speculation at this point. We are several months away from the draft.
Your 1st post did not say speculate, it was pretty emphatic and I quote “5-6 of these teams will draft a QB in round #1. Which will leave one team for Baker.”
I will go with history and tell you that 6 qb’s will not be taken. the reason for this is because why take them in 1st round because they will be there in the 2nd or even 3rd round.
Williams will be and probably Maye, a couple of others MAYBE, just depending on the need of the teams in late 1st round, but I highly doubt 6 will go off the board in 1st round
January 13th, 2024 at 2:45 pm
The hype ot this draft is off the charts . Now theres seven qbs that will all be starter caliber
What a magical draft.
Anyway to put a fork in this one. If Tampa were the only ones that could make an offer of 25 mil and the next down were 8
then Tampa would not offer 25 mill or anywhere near it.
supply and demand kiddies – and with that the whole argument goes flush down the drain.
January 13th, 2024 at 3:10 pm
@ Bakerfan
“I will go with history and tell you that 6 qb’s will not be taken.”
2021 – 5 QBs taken in round 1
2018 – 5 QBs taken in round 1
So there is recent precedent – 5 QBs can certainly go in round 1 in 2024.
6 may be a stretch though but I will wait until after the NFL draft combine to speculate any further on that.
January 13th, 2024 at 4:33 pm
I commend you, @Marine. You can’t argue with them. It’s a dead end. As you’ve seen, it doesn’t matter what you say, they never have a real counter-argument. Just insults. Scroll through literally any of their active threads and it’s the same insult-driven vapid takes. Never any substance.
January 13th, 2024 at 4:56 pm
@ real
Mucho gracious amigo…
I have been commenting here a long time.
I’ve dealt with these types before.
The same idiots who thought Josh Freeman and Crab legs Winston were great QBs.
The same idiots who thought Mark Dominik was a great GM…
LOL!!!
I don’t mind being insulted by morons.
I just wish Baker wasn’t a midget.
January 13th, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Oh, I know man. I’ve been reading this site since 2001, maybe longer. I remember you from way back then (unless there have been multiple “Marine Buc” posters). Your name stood out to me because I was a Marine at that time.
At least with Freeman and Winston, the people arguing were actually Bucs fans. This Baker group is like an invasive species. They just pollute every thread with a sea of noise to distract everybody from their buddy’s poor play. Even Brady didn’t bring a cult following this large with him. CLE fans must be ecstatic that they’ve moved onto Bucs sites.
January 13th, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Maybe it wasn’t 01. Not even sure if this site is that old. Been reading this and PR as long as I can remember though.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:23 am
I agree most so called “experts” had the Bucs winning 2-6 games. Still not totally sold on Bowles but for what the team managed to do I think he deserves another year. Also sign Baker…A bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
According to a lot of comments on here, Bucs never won the Division and made the playoffs in a home game tomorrow night. It’s all the usual negative Bucs trashing, draft nonsense. Get lost fakers!
January 14th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
2 Outlier years with 5, Never 6. I still stand by my point 6 will not be taken.