Did Todd Bowles Imply The Saints Are Soft?
October 30th, 2025
Baker Mayfield went public saying he hates the Saints.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht went there, too. Again.
Head coach Todd Bowles seems to be too classy of a dude to engage in that type of chatter, but Joe was intrigued hearing Bowles characterize the Saints’ effort in New Orleans on Sunday.
“We did a good job getting turnovers,” Bowles said. “They came in bunches. I really thought those guys did a good job poking the ball out and scrapping for it and played a lot harder than they did,” Bowles said on the Buccaneers Radio Network immediately following the game.
No, Bowles didn’t say the Saints are “soft.” But he did say his team “played a lot harder.”
That speaks to effort and Joe loves Bowles going there when it comes to the Bucs’ hated rival in their own crib.
October 30th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
You like to reach a lot don’t you? Lol saying they played harder than we did by no means imply that he was saying saints are soft.
No, Bowles is a smart guy and careful with his words. Saying his team “played a lot harder” than an opponent is worth noting. –Joe
October 30th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Some great coach speak from our 1st coach:
“A genius in the NFL is a guy who won last week.” John McKay.
McKay on unhappiness from his team.
“Everyone is unhappy at times. Even my wife. Only she doesn’t get interviewed about it.”
McKay on how much fans liked him.
“It was about three-to-one that I was not an SOB. But there were a lot of ones.”
McKay on how to be a good coach.
“I keep a picture of O.J. Simpson at my side at all times to remind me of the days when I knew how to coach.”
McKay on how to coach offensive lineman.
“Hold them when you’re at home. Don’t hold them when you’re away.”
On playing Green Bay in Green Bay.
“If a contest has 97 prizes, the 98th prize would be a trip to Green Bay.”
On the importance of training camp.
“It’s shattering when a player loses interest in camp. When you lose your desire to stand around and eat steaks.”
Lastly when asked What do you think of your offensive line’s execution coach.
“I’m in favor of it.”
October 30th, 2025 at 4:48 pm
It’s brilliant to give a division rival who bullied your offense bulletin board material when you play them again this season.
Genius.
October 30th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
Haha, well, look at the score….that shouldve been 30-3…or even 37-3 if not for the refs.
Btw, i hear LB Logan Wilson is looking to be traded….maybe a 7th? and his salary seems affordable….Lets do this Jason. Then get a great pass catching/blocking TE.
One on each side of the ball before the trade deadline.
October 30th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Any possible swipe at Bowles right Agua…that’s not even half the bulletin board material JL gave them with his Cam Jordan post. In case you haven’t watched the Saints play us in the past…their defense plays us like it’s their SB every time (with last year in NO being the only outlier).
Whether is was his intention or not, I’m all for rubbing it in those guys faces when ever possible.
Before Bowles, the Saints flat out owned us…but you’d never acknowledge that now would ya?
October 30th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
i agree don’t give them any bulletin board material, shut up and play, baker pissed them off and they shut him down mostly, still lost but they the saints defense played angry
October 30th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Stupid is as stupid types .
You don’t do it. Stupid.
But Warren Sapp always said, Bucs had the dumbest fans. Plenty of proof.
October 30th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Right on mj.
October 30th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
“played a lot harder.”
If that were actually true – then it wouldn’t have taken 8 plays for the Bucs offense to gain 1 yard when it mattered most…..
Perhaps he was thinking of the defense when he said it.
October 30th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
I loved hearing Todd with you guys. It was an awesome podcast. Todd does have a way of keeping things close to his chest. He really sounded like he enjoyed the interview, upbeat, and good laughs. We don’t see and hear that side of Todd that often. It was a breath of fresh air.
October 30th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
Aqualung find help. Your anger is not from Todd. It’s personal.
Forgiveness lets you keep your power. Don’t destroy your life with anger.
I wish you the best.
Peace and Go Bucs!!!!
October 30th, 2025 at 6:08 pm
They’re not soft, they are Quarterback-less — you can’t compete at any level without a really good QB
October 30th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
Context folks, sounds like Bowles was talking about the defense in relation to getting turnovers, being scrappy, and playing harder than their opponents offense.
Some people say Bowles has no personality/emotion, here’s its authored he may have saw his guys playing a tougher brand of bowl compared to their opponent and now it’s “don’t give’em any bulletin board material” Saints got MUCH bigger problems than we say about them.
Their fans don’t like where the team is going, their players are congratulating our guys for making plays against them, and they’re about to see how bad the choice to draft Shough was. Oh, and Bowles is 6-1 against them so there’s that too
October 30th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
So often, the outcome of a game comes down to who wants it more. The Bucs wanted to win more than the Saints did. Just like Memphis scoring 17 unanswered in the 4th quarter against USF the day before. Memphis wanted it more (and I am ashamed of my Alma Matar for their choke job). And just like we have seen from Mayfield in game winning drives this season.
October 30th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
F cam jordan
October 30th, 2025 at 6:30 pm
“..Bowles is a smart guy and careful with his words…”
——
You know, I used to believe that. In that last couple of years I have heard him say some stupid things. So if he is careful with his words then he needs to make better choices. But as many people have already said many of his choices are just plain bad.
—
What’s up Aqualung? So many people offering so much rent free accommodation.
You’re living like a king, brother. 😄
October 30th, 2025 at 6:39 pm
If Sapp actually said that then you have proven him 100% correct…
But that’s also coming from a guy who blew his entire fortune, so there’s that to consider
October 30th, 2025 at 6:41 pm
Also though, right on MJ. I’m all for shut up and play, but these guys are damned if they do and damed if they don’t. Either they are saying too much or not giving us enough.
Makes for one heck of a blog site though!
October 30th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
With all do respect to the two, but how do you think Nelson and Tucker look like first ballot HOF’ers vs the Saints, yet backups vs everyone else? They are a soft team.
Listening to Saints podcasts post game to hear them cry, and while they didn’t cry enough to my liking, they are basically starting with the ‘this team is soft’ stuff, and the coach is too much of a ‘nice guy’ and he needs to change things up before he loses the team. So Saints fans would agree with that assessment.
October 30th, 2025 at 7:14 pm
They played soft but somehow our offense couldnt score. It took them 8 times to get a TD from 1yard line. Just saying that the soft one is Bowles not the saints
October 30th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
Aqualung go touch some grass man
October 30th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Wasn’t nothing soft in the first quarter. Then Anthony Nelson reminded them that Arch Manning was in the upcoming draft. What a great play.
October 30th, 2025 at 7:56 pm
Bowles did what he has to do. He can not hint at the NFL corruption. These teams and players are sports video games only in real life. Cos big $$Bucs talk and it isn’t just sports.
October 30th, 2025 at 8:03 pm
Lions played a lot harder than the Bucs the week before. So call the Bucs soft too. Gota bring it every week
October 30th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
ROTFLMAO we have a born again cupcake psychologist! Cute, Grizztard. Cute.
October 30th, 2025 at 9:04 pm
The Saints made the Bucs defense look hopeful… That’s seriously SOFT!
October 30th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
People talking about the Bucs offensive effort, claiming it was soft as well…
Back up RB, receivers 4-6 with the star, rookie being doubled, back up RT, 4th string RG… You don’t think the injuries on offense weren’t going to catch up eventually? Not to mention Baker has been hurt and needed this week off as much as anyone. That has been glaringly obvious.
The play calling – had to get the ball out of his hands fast and they had to try to run it a bunch.
They won, they are 6–2, get healthy come back, go 7–2 down the stretch
1 seed
October 31st, 2025 at 7:21 am
By aqualungs logic I suppose we should tell the players not to celebrate touchdowns, sacks or turnovers because the other team might get angry and play harder….pu$$ mentality from a guy who likes to talk tough.
October 31st, 2025 at 7:51 am
bulletin board material!!!!!!!
WTF are yall talking about!!!!!
the Aints are 1-7!!!!
thats all the “bulletin board material” they need!!!!
6-2!!!!
GO BUCS!!!
October 31st, 2025 at 8:03 am
Imply? They are soft. Its not a secret
October 31st, 2025 at 9:23 am
Well, by agua’s logic we should tell the players to stop celebrating first downs, sacks, touchdowns and turnovers cuz it might make the other team mad and play harder.
Now that’s a soft mentality.