“You Get What You Emphasize”

May 17th, 2025

Jon Gruden

Joe is flabbergasted by how the Buccaneers have done an eye-popping about face on Jon Gruden.

A year ago the Super Bowl-winning coach, Chucky, was banished from all official things Bucs. Now he’s not only been reinstated into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor, the team has full blown pushed him as a face of the franchise.

This was the official franchise statement on Gruden 3 1/2 years ago.

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have advocated for purposeful change in the areas of race relations, gender equality, diversity and inclusion for many years. While we acknowledge Jon Gruden’s contributions on the field, his actions go against our core values as an organization. Therefore, he will no longer continue to be a member of the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.”

On Wednesday, the Buccaneers unveiled to fans a 10 1/2-minute video of Gruden introducing their 2025 schedule. Keep in mind schedule-release night is one of the busiest of the year when it comes to fan interest.

On the official Buccaneers YouTube channel, the Gruden video has drawn 38,000 views. Todd Bowles’ first and only post-draft news conference, held last week, has 13,000 views.

At the Buccaneers’ recent week-long National Coaching Academy, a process that ultimately selects intern coaches at Bucs training camp, guess who led a long session? Yep, Chucky.

“Real emotional being here,” Gruden said, noting he spent seven years coaching the Bucs.

Barstool Sports filmed the session and shared about 20 minutes.

“You get what you emphasize,” Chucky told the aspiring coaches that included former Bucs edge rusher Robert Ayers (2016-2017).

Gruden talked about effort and holding it high regard as a coach, among many other things.

As Joe talked about on a recent Ira Kaufman Podcast, it sure feels like only a matter of time before Gruden spends time with rookie Bucs playcaller Josh Grizzard, if it hasn’t happened already.

The Bucs already have an offensive guru on staff with 25 more years of experience than Gruden. That’s Tom Moore. But Grizzard certainly could benefit from picking Gruden’s brain and discussing logistics of playcalling and more. Perhaps Todd Bowles will ask Gruden to dissect his defense for weaknesses?

Again, it’s just downright stunning how Team Glazer went from shunning Gruden to full-on embracing him like the franchise icon he is.

Kudos to ownership for moving on without holding a grudge.

Ira Kaufman Goes Inside The Simeon Rice Ring Of Honor Selection, Talks Charlie Strong & Antoine Winfield, Todd Bowles’ Description Of David Walker, Trey Hendrickson, The Giant Jon Gruden About Face, And More

40 Responses to ““You Get What You Emphasize””

  1. Fred Says:

    Good to hear! And it’s about time. I’d love to see the Bucs hire him.

  2. Hodad Says:

    The Glazers are good business men. Gruden is good for business. He’s hot, he’s always loved the Bucs, good for us. He made a mistake, he was in time out. Now he’s back better than ever. Plus he’s Buc family. You always should embrace your family.

  3. Doughboy Says:

    It’s funny that a coach is held at higher standards for words said in a private email that should never had been disclosed than owners of NFL teams that say whatever they want and no action against them.

  4. SB~LV Says:

    Do yourself a favor and go to the official Bucs www and watch the video of Gruden doing the 2025 Bucs schedule, CLASSIC!

  5. Purplebeard Says:

    Well, Joe, DEI does seem to have become the latest “four-letter” word across our culture. But I also agree that everyone can have a change of heart. Perhaps Chucky has “seen the light”. Only time will tell. Like they say, show me; dont just tell me.

  6. ReneDejesus Says:

    Kudos to ownership for moving on without holding a grudge.😈

  7. Lt. Dan Says:

    As the late great Foghorn Leghorn once famously said, ” Let’s bury the hatchet…”

    As for this suggestion, ” Perhaps Todd Bowles will ask Gruden to dissect his defense for weaknesses?” The answer seems easy enough. No pass rush, cover the middle of the field and more turnovers. Because until you do – you don’t.

  8. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Hodad Says:
    May 17th, 2025 at 7:04 am
    The Glazers are good business men. Gruden is good for business. He’s hot, he’s always loved the Bucs, good for us. He made a mistake, he was in time out. Now he’s back better than ever. Plus he’s Buc family. You always should embrace your family.
    _________

    I don’t think he made a mistake at all.
    His personal communications are his business.

  9. SB Says:

    Joe………..Why don’t You be the entrepreneur that makes the BEAT ATLANTA shirts?
    You have a platform. I would buy a few

  10. BucsBeBack (Artist formally known as: BringBucsBack) Says:

    It is a pity how reactionary the Glazers were regarding Gruden. They are probably changing their ways because they may possibly see the err of their ways and noticed how competitors New Orleans and Atlanta bellied-up to Gruden and used his knowledge to their advantage. Now, suddenly Gruden is no longer the devil?!
    The Glazers should have courageously come out from the start, and stated that “words are simply that, words, and none of us are perfect” or something to that effect, knowing that many of their colleagues, and maybe even they themselves have said and/or done similar things or even worse. It would have been prudent to wait for “the process” to be completed or for the dust to settle, regarding Gruden, no? It’s was kind of cowardly and weak how quickly the Bucs bailed on him.

    “Perhaps Todd Bowles will ask Gruden to dissect his defense for weaknesses?” This is not going to happen. Todd hasn’t heard anything other than how he is a defensive genius, for five years. He’s not gonna hear it now, especially from a guy who already commands more attention than himself. It would be nice if he listened to some constructive criticism, however. He and his crappy defensive schemes are our biggest obstacle to the Super Bowl. Many in the organization must sees it as well. Bowles is so underwhelming. I wish he were a more malleable, defensive mind. But, old dogs…and egos!

  11. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Love Chucky….right thing to do

  12. Weebs10 Says:

    SB I’d love to see Joe sell t-shirts with just the Joe Bucs fan logo. Those things would sell like crazy!!

  13. Chris Says:

    Gruden is great for football in General, Loved the schedule release video, they need a hype guy ,Bowles won’t get you as fired up as Gruden will. Glazers threw a temper tantrum cause there feelings got hurt,shame on them for even taking him out of Ring of Honor in the first place, he got you one of 2 SB trophies in 49 years.

  14. Baking with Grizz Says:

    Great move by the Glazers. He delivered the first Super Bowl victory for us. It is impossible as a real Bucs fan to not feel gratitude for Jon if you have a heartbeat

    Go Bucs!!!

  15. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Chucky needs to lighten up on the plastic surgery before he become unrecognizable. Hey Chucky lines and creases simply show your EXPERIENCE!

  16. BucEmUp Says:

    Our head coach next year if bowles doesn’t fix the defense. It’ll be his second time taking over a team to win a superbowl, and he won’t have the personnel control like he did previously. I can see it happening.

  17. Cobraboy Says:

    Just more evidence Woke is Dead.

  18. HC Grover Says:

    The unwoken.

  19. Aqualung Says:

    You are what you emphasize. Pass rushers dropping into coverage, DBs playing so far off the ball they can order a beer in the stands, wide open middle, no adjustments unless it’s the “I don’t know why” adjustments.

    Maybe, emphasize pass rushers rushing the passer and DBs covering receivers, LBs covering backs and TEs.

    I know, crazy talk.

  20. UKBuccaneer Says:

    Communications are indeed private, but revealing them showed Gtuden’s views clearly. Anyone who uses language like that is not deserving of respect. Super Bowl winner or not.

    A career .500 coach who got left behind by both the game and society at large.

  21. Bucswin Says:

    Glad to hear. I assume he is back in the ring of honor? Go Bowles!

  22. View from 132 Says:

    All billionaires must blow the direction of the political wind. If woke comes back around, they’ll be for it. Publicly spineless.

  23. garro Says:

    The politically correct thing has changed a bit me thinks. Chucky got screwed by Roger and his minions and everyone knows it.

    Go Bucs

  24. UKBuccaneer Says:

    Anyone is of course free to use slurs about people’s sexuality, race, religion or anything else. And people are free to judge them upon it.

    Chucky is a ****.

  25. Al Says:

    I heard Michelin tires wants john gruden to be there spoken too.

  26. Scotty Mack Says:

    The language Gruden used are words I have heard dozens if not hundreds of times from players and coaches of virtually every team I ever played for – even gym teachers used language like that in school.

  27. Addb Says:

    Gee, what ever could have possibly changed recently to alter the political climate on race relations?

  28. Nick2 Says:

    Great job by the Glazers, he deserves to be brought back into the fold I’m proud to be a Bucs fan. Thank you Glazers for giving people a second chance.

  29. Saskbucs Says:

    Good to have Chucky in the fold. Wasn’t right. Yeah he maybe shouldn’t have said some things but 99% of people would get in trouble for their private communications leaking. His players defended him… overblown non-sense at the height of cancel culture.

  30. Fred McNeil Says:

    To err is human. To forgive is Devine.

  31. unbelievable Says:

    I agree, and it’s not like they just welcomed him back, they’ve been promoting the sh!t out of him in recent weeks / including him in a lot of team related things.

    Interesting for sure. Glad they reversed course. Chucky is a part of history, and as time has gone on, I think we’ve seen that he was simply a ploy / distraction in the larger story of Dan Snyder trying to worm his way out of trouble. Chucky was the fall guy, for a bunch of communications that took place when he wasn’t even employed as an NFL coach.

  32. mistermarty Says:

    Learned a long time ago don’t write anything down that you don’t want anyone to see. Gruden got thrown under the bus but he is smart enough to have known.
    He was out of the league and let his ego overtake his intelligence.

    Love this website and appreciate all the opinions. Been a hardcore Bucs fan for 40 years and we have the best offense this season in history. Going to be fun.

  33. unbelievable Says:

    That was a great video btw (beginning and end especially). Story of how the “Chucky” nickname came to be was also hilarious.

  34. First Last Says:

    The reality is that being woke really isn’t on the agenda anymore, Gruden is a bit outspoken but if you look at his history you never really see a guy who is truly a racist. People call each other names all the time, I would say it would have been more productive to push for an apology and amendments rather than to shun him. But cancel culture is the like the thing to do these days.

  35. Aqualung Says:

    Cancel culture also pushes for the banning of posts that issue fair criticisms that identify necessary improvements the Bucs need to implement. These snowflakes melt among us.

  36. Mike Johnson Says:

    I think the Glazers reviewed everything from the Gruden/commish fiasco. What got me was not a single player had negative comments about Chucky other than, Throw me the Ball Keyshon Johnson. None od the standout African American players for our Bucs had anything negative to say. And this was something said years prior to it happenning. Not a single soul on this earth has said something they wish they could take back years ago. Gruden is nt a racist. He couldn’t be. Not in this NFL. To many players would have called him out long ago. Esp Loud-mouth Sapp. Welcome back Chucky.

  37. GoneGator Says:

    Put on your red hat and sing the blues Aquatroll. 👍🏼

  38. David Says:

    Anyone bashing Gruden for things he said that he thought were private statements, are ridiculous. If you’re so damn prim and proper that you never utter a thing that the ridiculously idiotic left-wing woke PC culture would cancel you for, then you are boring as hell and way too damn sensitive.

    Just words people, say whatever the hell you want.

    I noticed the guy from the UK has issue with it… Of course he does. His country is putting people in jail for a social media post. Unreal

    The other clue people should’ve taken is when dozens of former players of all races and ethnicities had his back

  39. WeDemBoyzFromDaBay Says:

    “Time heals all”. Simple as that.

    Shame on the glazers for overreacting the way they did. No need to “kick a man while he’s already down.”

  40. Teacherman Says:

    I think it is truly divine that the Glazers have forgiven John Gruden.

    It’s truly an example for modern day America and the “cancel culture” that has emerged the last 2 decades.

    I call it “crucifixion” culture.

    It’s self-righteous and ridiculous.

    I call it the “expectation of perfection.”

    If not? Judged. Stoned. Canceled.

    Like Belicheck now.

    The media is so self-righteous. I hate them.

    I wish Americans would learn from the Glazers and the Bucs organization.

    About forgiveness and redemption!

    Go Bucs!