Todd Bowles: “It’s Not About Effort”
December 23rd, 2025
Joe is confused.
Twelve days ago Todd Bowles went on a real and very raw rant to media about his team.
In case you forgot, here’s what Bowles said about his message to players after blowing a lead to Atlanta on Thursday Night Football.
“Inexcusable. You don’t make excuses. You gotta fuc*’n care enough where the sh*t hurts,” Bowles said. “You gotta fuc*’n care enough where the sh*t hurts. Gotta fuc*’n mean something to you. It’s more than a job; it’s your fuc*’n livelihood. How well do you know your job? How well can you do your job? You can’t sugarcoat that sh*t. It was in-a-fuc*’n-excusable. And there’s no fuc*’n answer for it. No excuse for it. That’s what you tell them in the locker room. Look in the fuc*’n mirror.”
Did that sound like Bowles was referring to a Bucs team giving maximum effort? Mental and physical? It didn’t sound that way at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters.
Today on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Bowles emphasized his message to the team after losing Sunday at Carolina. He noted he’s good with their effort.
“Just always be pissed off but always be determined,” Bowles said. “You know, we gotta come back and we gotta correct the little things. It’s not about effort. It’s not about our emotions, it’s about our execution at critical times — before the half and at the end the ball game. If we can fix the critical things, we can take care of ourselves.”
In Joe’s world, mental effort drives the physical. Are you locked in or not? Are you willing to play with your hair on fire to the whistle on every snap?
It’s been a long time since a Bucs game ended and Joe walked away feeling, ‘Damn, we’re the hungriest and most physical team on the field.’
December 23rd, 2025 at 7:54 pm
Fire Todd
December 23rd, 2025 at 7:57 pm
Fire fire fire fire Todd!!!!!!!!!!
December 23rd, 2025 at 7:58 pm
Sad, it stil doesn’t sound like Todd has figured out what is is about.
December 23rd, 2025 at 7:59 pm
Sad, it still doesn’t sound like Todd has figured out what it is about.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:03 pm
Never thought I would be longing for the days of Raheem Morris, or as I have always called him, “Radio.”
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:03 pm
They were winning close games earlier in the season
They don’t have the talent to actually blow teams out
The close games they were winning earlier
They are losing those games now
Failing to maintain a 4th quarter lead
Failing to mount game winning drives
They are playing out of control, no discipline
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:03 pm
Even Todd has given up nothing but word vomit from here until he gets fired doesn’t matter anymore cya Todd.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:04 pm
Yet the Bucs still haven’t figured out how to kick the ball in the field of play and cover it. Maybe it’s not effort, maybe it’s coaching….
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:06 pm
Wow, “end of the game”… a mild rebuke of Baker after he single handedly loses 3 games in a row. I hope Baker’s ego can handle it.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:08 pm
That speech is what daused him to lose his team…and eventually his job.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:11 pm
I’m curious if the media is going to ask the tough questions and place a TON of
Pressure on the Glazers to making a change?!?! Instead of tip toeing and beating around the bush. This teams results are INEXCUSABLE and the entire staff MUST be held accountable!!!
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:14 pm
Not even his message to the team is consistent.
Yikes – this guy is circling the drain.
BUCSLIFE
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:17 pm
I said before the season that this team has too many question marks. They can beat Houston, San Francisco, Seattle early on. Then lose to New Orleans, Atlanta, Carolina, when they can clinch the Division with those three wins.
No consistency, no urgency,
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:24 pm
Was Bowels handing out lollipops and patting their shoulders when he said that?
One dumpster fire performance after another.
There is a serious lack of accountability on this team. Fundamental football -things as simple as positioning, tackling and knowing when NOT to let a kickoff ball roll into the end zone- is nonexistent. It happens every single week
This crap would NOT be happening under Arians.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:25 pm
Watched the 29 key plays from the Bucs-Panthers game on YouTube TV (up in Atlanta now, and couldn’t watch the game on TV so listened to it on Bucs radio). Two things stood out …
1 – ONLY 29 key plays. Least I’ve seen for any game.
2 – Saw a lot of Bucs getting blocked out of plays much too easily. Saw a lot of Bucs not exactly running full speed to ‘make a play’. Saw some questionable play-calling. Saw a REALLY bad interception throw by Baker (his reason that he expected Mike to go the other way doesn’t hold water to me; Mike was moving away from that throw quite a bit BEFORE Baker made the throw). Saw some horrific OLine blocking.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:31 pm
What makes this even harder to watch is that the solution is right in front of us. There is absolutely no shame in a leader admitting they need a spark, and Todd Bowles needs to swallow his pride and pick up the phone. This franchise was built on the backs of legends who would bleed for the Pewter and Red. Why aren’t we seeing Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden, or Derrick Brooks in the building?
Reach out to Warren Sapp. Bring in Gerald McCoy. These men don’t just know football; they know what it means to have Bucs Pride. They know what it feels like to refuse to lose. Our current locker room looks like it’s lost its soul since Brady left, and it’s too quiet. We need that Hall of Fame fire back in the facility to remind these players that they aren’t just playing for a paycheck—they’re playing for a city that has suffered through the dark ages and shouldn’t be sent back there.
All these greats would drop everything to help this team turn it around for the home stretch, but it starts with the Head Coach having the humility to ask. If Bowles truly cares about this team more than his own ego, he’ll open those doors and let the legends back in. We don’t want excuses; we want the fire back.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:32 pm
How can Bowles be allowed to stand before the media and fans and spew such drivel? Do “they” think the media and fans are so stupid as to not notice the inconsistencies and nonsensical statements.
Statement directly to Bowles; Shut up ! Nobody believes you !
You are damaging your remaining credibility. If you can’t or won’t speak the truth then SHUT UP !
Statement to Jason and the owners; You can’t hide behind Bowles. Much of what is said by the coaches and players is obviously on message and scripted, so who scripted this?
I have felt for a long time that shenanigans (wink wink) are taking place at every level of the NFL. Roger must truly believe the fans are so stupid that they will believe anything the NFL says.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Defense Rules – The biggest issue on the INT is that Baker has two guys wide open on the right side of the field for big gains. On the ALL22 you see a hole in the Panthers zone defense the size of something that Bowles would have coached. Baker forcing the ball was my issue, not the throw itself. Mike really wasn’t open on the play and throwing that when you’re already in FG range to tie the game, with plenty of time left and a TO – while not seeing two guys open for much bigger plays – it was a terrible decision.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:35 pm
It’s about coaching one week, it’s about both one week, it’s about effort the next week. This dude is so beyond unfit to be a head coach & has been his whole career. This dude couldn’t maximize a wet dream
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:36 pm
DR, sounds about right. Been like that for awhile now.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:40 pm
We executed a 2 and 8 record over tge past 10 games. That usually will constitute someone’s employment getting executed.
Just an absolute embarrassing record. The sad fact is based upon his comments, still no clue why we aren’t competing at a higher level. Two weeks ago there was general blame on a couple of bad apples….nobody was benched???? Doesn’t add up.
Truth of the matter is that the Defense front 4 can’t pressure the QB fast enough. So Bowles draws up many elaborate blitzes, so many the D players find themselves victims of their own d play call.
Fix the front 4 on the D line….this week we went and got JPP off the couch to play. Four weeks ago we could have made a play for Quentin Williams or the LB off the Miami roster. What did Bowles do ??? Nothing at all.
Very embarrassing and likely out of the job with a loss this week combined with a Carolina win. It might get deferred a week if both teams win this week. Last week of the year, we don’t stand a chance to win and your in victory. We’re 2-8 that’s built into the team’s mindset, we are a poor football team
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:48 pm
@D Rules. Are you sure that INT wasn’t on Mike? I saw it as Mike breaking off his route when he should have kept on the out route. I could be wrong.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:48 pm
@EloiT
Right now he’s clogging the drain & clogging the toilet.
December 23rd, 2025 at 8:51 pm
@EloiT
The D would probably look better if somebody else came in & took over & got out of that stupid scheme/system. I think that probably has alot to do with why they look terrible, too! Sure the players aren’t perfect & they’ll make some mistakes but there’s no way the team should be struggling this much with the talent it has on it overall.
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Todd has finally reached the 5th stage of grief over the inevitable death of his job. Vs The Falcons we saw stage 3: Anger. Last Sunday, it was stage 4: depression (for all of us). Now he’s moved on to the 5th, acceptance. He’s accepting the lame effort, lack of pride, and quit he has instilled in this team
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:10 pm
Well, since it’s the entertainment business, on par with wrestling, this would be a great comeback script. Now that Taylor Swift isn’t going to be a part of the big show, the committee may still get her on halftime, much like Alabama got into the college playoff bracket.
The next big story can be Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield rising from the ashes, inspiring change, and with seconds to go…Mayfield connects with Otton and wins the Super Bowl.
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:14 pm
Ok, so if we lose the next two games, that takes us to somewhere from 19th ish to 14th ish?
We need that Sonny Styles then Kenyatta Jackson Jr Then Michael Trigg then Sawyer Robertson
1,2,3,4
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:17 pm
SIGN BOBBY BOUCHER & THAT SHOULD MAKE OUR WHOLE D BETTER.
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:25 pm
DR and Rod. Mike apologized to Baker. When a QB steps up in the pocket to escape the rush, many times he’s started to throw before the receiver ever turns out. That was an out route and Mike had the perfect positioning on the DB and inexplicably turned into the field. Dr, it sure looked like Mayfield had time to at least ground it, but once the mechanics of the throw starts it’s over. Mayfield was looking where Mike should have been. Understandable why Mike broke the route off. The pass rush caused timing break and Mike went skat mode. Rod, trying to escape early pressure made it impossible for Mayfield to be surveying the field. I understand you’ve never played the game and have no idea what a QB sees in 2 seconds. I’ve probably commented more watching Tom Brady forcing throws when he had wide open receivers. Every QB. We were losing the game. Mayfield in no way lost the game. If you two knew the game, even a little bit, you’d say Mike was every bit as responsible for that pick as Baker was. And you’d also say that neither Mike nor Baker were responsible for the loss. Not even a little bit. They are our best players. As you fellas are looking for scapegoats I think you might need to dig deeper than Baker.
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Not sure WHY anyone would waste any time being concerned with what a Bum of a HC thinks or says at this point….
Talk is cheap… If you can’t fix it then you are the problem!
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Wake me up when Bowles is fired.
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:55 pm
One or two players don’t win or lose a game
But l can understand why fans blame Baker for the losses
He was getting all of the credit when they were winning
I lay the blame on Jason Licht and Todd Bowles
Licht refuses to bring in quality free agents, afraid to make trades
They continues to stick with underperforming players
Because they drafted them, which makes zero sense
And Bowles defensive schemes are too passive, no aggression
And as far as the offense goes, you’re only as good as your OLine
And this OLine has been banged up all year, no OLine= no offense
Your offensive weapons are useless without the big boys upfront
The same goes for the defense
If you can’t get pressure with a 4 man front
Your defense is worthless on the backend
December 23rd, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Players and coaches are in two different planets. They are all cashing their checks and planning their vacations. They are all checked out. SMH
December 23rd, 2025 at 10:36 pm
Munch. So Mayfield lost the Panther game. And the Atlanta game? You mean the game where we were ahead 28-14 and they had 2 TD drives and the winning field goal drive, all over 70 yards, in the 4th qtr. The interception was as good as any punt. Atlanta still had to go about 70 yards. Yes sir Rod, Baker lost that one too. And the Saints in the rain. We made their QB look like an all pro. Guys couldn’t catch and defense was embarrassing. That’s Baker’s fault. Rod Munch. You’re lousy judging what is wrong with this team. But you’re definitely not the only one. I’m in the same boat.
December 23rd, 2025 at 10:37 pm
It’s exactly about effort. Especially on the Defense. Offense is about near precise execution. Defense is about want to. These guys do not want to to hit anyone and tackling fundamentals are atrocious.
Dean letting a man run right by him on the last play before half? That’s on coaching and the player.
Poor effort on both parties.
December 23rd, 2025 at 10:38 pm
Win the next two, and we’re number four in the playoffs. Not much we could have done in the last ten games that would have produced a better result. Welcome to the NFL in 2025.
December 23rd, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Rod: Quote:
Defense Rules – The biggest issue on the INT is that Baker has two guys wide open on the right side of the field for big gains. On the ALL22 you see a hole in the Panthers zone defense the size of something that Bowles would have coached. Baker forcing the ball was my issue, not the throw itself. Mike really wasn’t open on the play and throwing that when you’re already in FG range to tie the game, with plenty of time left and a TO – while not seeing two guys open for much bigger plays – it was a terrible decision.
EndQuote
IF you had ever played, you would know that plays are usually designed for one side of the field or the other. And in this particular play, Baker was forced out to the left early, so he would not be looking to the right, and in fact, QBs are taught to NOT throw the ball late over the middle or across the field because it usually results in a pick, and often a pick-6. There are too many players between you and the intended receiver, and usually you don’t see the one who make’s the INT.
IF Mike had continued his pattern instead of breaking it off, he would have been WIDE OPEN, but Baker has to throw BEFORE Mike breaks… that’s generally the thing we teach QBs – anticipate the opening and throw before the break. When it works, it looks great. But when it doesn’t… And unfortunately, Latham Ransom was out of position to cover Mike, but in perfect position to make the INT.
On EVERY play, there is usually at least one wide receiver on the backside who is wide open, because defenses generally cannot cover everyone all the time. But they know that the QB does not (hopefully, though TB appears to give other QBs the time every game) have the time to survey the whole field and find that guy. A few years back, Odell Beckham’s father helped run Baker out of town by publishing a bunch of clips of Odell ‘wide open’, but if you looked at those plays, almost every one he was either a decoy or the backside of the play.
December 23rd, 2025 at 10:59 pm
They shouldn’t let Bowles speak anymore. After Sunday if they lose to the sad Dolphins they should leave him in Miami.
December 23rd, 2025 at 11:03 pm
COACHING
Players missing assignments, stupid penalties, not executing properly… It’s been going on for the last nine weeks, it’s called coaching.
December 23rd, 2025 at 11:19 pm
What is funny to see Munch crying Baker throwing the interception so we couldn’t kick the tying FG. But he blames him for losing the Washington game last year. Stunning fact Baker did threwan interception. But then leads the offense down the field and because the center screws up they Do get the tying FG. And who lets the Commanders march right down the field? And the Almighty Kancey on 4th down has the QB caught in the back field but gets left holding a sweat towel. They get a lucky doink and we lose by 3.
So it would have been fine this year if he got the tie. He got us to the tie last year But he lost that game by himself.
Which way is it. Ok to get the tie or not get the tie.
December 23rd, 2025 at 11:23 pm
LANshark. I was a cornerback so you explained it better than I did. My twin brother was our QB but we only threw it about 10 times a game. My oldest son was a real good QB and threw the ball alot. QB can be a pretty tough spot sometimes and the first thing a QB learns is it’s bad idea to say your line can’t block or your receivers can’t catch. It’s the ultimate team game but it’s the coach and the QBs job to win. So bottom line it’s Bowles and Baker’s job to get it right. And time isn’t their friend. We’ll see.
December 23rd, 2025 at 11:53 pm
Play calling on both sides is terrible. Blitzing at the wrong times and not calling the right blitz. Total lack of creativity. Offense is worse. Play action works often on first downs and it gives receivers more time to get open down field. Major coaching problems. The Bucs need some outside experts consultants to come help with game plans. Whatever Bowles calls this, it’s not working and also fooling no one.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:18 am
It’s about practice. You are what you practice. Lax , undisciplined practices that don’t focus on correcting mistakes and improving the necessary attributes for a competitive NFL winner is what the MO is every week. The head coach leads the practices. He couldn’t discern between a filed goal and a soccer goal at this point. The muffin is overcooked, burnt. Toast. The horse is a glue factory candidate but hasn’t the goods even for glue. Just tow him away and see whom Jason hires to take a talented roster back to consistent winning.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:18 am
Sounds to me like Todd has already had his “meeting” with the Glazers and he has the choice of ending his career on a sour note, or a somewhat positive note, but his career is over. Period.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:22 am
IOW
You can’t salvage the career, but you might salvage some of the optics.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:24 am
Kenton Smith Says:
December 23rd, 2025 at 9:25 pm
DR and Rod. Mike apologized to Baker. When a QB steps up in the pocket to escape the rush, many times he’s started to throw before the receiver ever turns out.
———
Well Baker said HE blew the playoff game last year when HE fumbled. Said HE blew the Saints game, said HE blew the Falcons game…
Anywho, what is Mike supposed to say?
Also, for anyone wanting to blame Mike, go watch the video again, Mike has already turned and taken a step up field when Baker still has the ball. Again, it’s a bang-bang play, I blame Baker for the awful decision to throw the ball in that situation when he’s got two other WRs wide open – but the throw itself I didn’t blame Baker for because it was such a bang-bang play. But if we’re going to do the blame game and try to pin it on Evans, again, just review the tape and see where Mike is when Baker still has the ball in his hand.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:26 am
DBS Says:
December 23rd, 2025 at 11:19 pm
What is funny to see Munch crying Baker throwing the interception so we couldn’t kick the tying FG.
———
Dummy, point is making a risky throw when you’re already in FG range, have 47 seconds left and a timeout. I’m not saying play for the FG, I’m saying you’re not in a situation where you need to force the ball yet. Additionally there’s the entire issue about having a couple of guys wide open who get you down inside the 20, or more, and Baker instead makes a risky throw to a guy who isn’t open. A very stupid play.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:34 am
LANshark Says:
IF you had ever played, you would know that plays are usually designed for one side of the field or the other. And in this particular play, Baker was forced out to the left early, so he would not be looking to the right, and in fact, QBs are taught to NOT throw the ball late over the middle or across the field
———–
Yes, QB’s are taught to only look at one half of the field… LOL!
Maybe in your peewee league that was the case, but not in the pros.
Also Baker was in the middle of the field already, he’s not throwing back over the middle of the field, and he’s not throwing it late. The hole in the zone from the Panthers was clearly a busted coverage as no one was anywhere around them.
My God the Baker Boi(s) are just insane. Three weeks ago, Baker throws for 122 yards and an INT, on 4th and 4 he has a wide open Otton who is at the 1st down line, and Baker throws it at his feet, causing him to have to come back to the ball, which cost them the 1st down and the game. But yeah, it’s the defense, that gave up 260 yards, got a turnover and 3 sacks, it’s their fault they didn’t hold the Saints under 20 points, despite the Saints scoring all their TDs when getting the ball literally at midfield, including twice on the Bucs side of the 50.
Vs Atlanta, Baker throws one of the worst INTs you’ll ever see a pro throw, then follows it up on the next drive, knowing the Bucs punt, they’re going to lose, and he misses a wide open e2 for a first down that basically ends the game… but again, not his fault…
Vs the Panthers, Baker throws for 145 yards and an INT, but again it’s the defense’s fault for not holding the Panthers under 20 points… or wait, no its Evans fault, yeah, lets blame him. Anyone but Baker.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:55 am
Playing with your hair on fire and playing smart, disciplined football are mutually exclusive. I would prefer the latter.