Did The Bucs Not “Want It” Enough?
February 4th, 2026
Like most Bucs fans, Joe remains flabbergasted by the Bucs losing to the Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins in consecutive weeks to march themselves out of this season’s playoff hunt.
That was every December football game, the time of year when teams are supposed to be playing their best football and totally locked in to the task at hand and the game’s ramifications.
That Dolphins game was perhaps the most horrendous. Tanking with a seventh-round rookie at quarterback making his second career start, the Dolphins led the Bucs 20-10 late in the fourth quarter. Keep in mind Miami was blown out by a bad team the week before.
The Bucs had hit rock bottom with plenty of blame to spread around the roster.
Today, retired Bucs great Rob Gronkowski was talking on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio about players that want to win desperately and are willing to take on that game’s toughest challenges, and how teams need a lot of those guys to win games.
“There’s a lot of people in the NFL, you know, that just go out there; they want to be stars but they want it to be easy,” Gronk said. “You know, they just want that catch. They just want to be wide open, not contested or anything and make the catch, you know, score a touchdown. Any player can do that being wide open.”
Joe’s not knocking the Bucs’ receiving corps, and neither was Gronk, but the future Hall of Fame tight end’s words made Joe wonder how many players the Bucs have that “want it to be easy.” Was there a little to much of that come December?
“When you want it, that’s how you win Super Bowls,” Gronk said.
Well, the Bucs didn’t look like a team that wanted it late last season. Even Todd Bowles called it out via a historic profanity-laced rant.
Joe hopes the message delivered in that rant helps shape the Bucs’ offseason approach. The roster needs a few shots of want-to.
February 4th, 2026 at 11:35 am
a blind man could see this team had zero sense of urgency or killer instinct all year…
not sure anything will change with bowles & baker leading the charge
GO BUCS!!!!
February 4th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Maybe just maybe this roster has a lot of “want to” but they dont have the “ability to”. I can have all the desire and “want to” but if my body and mind cant handle the pressure or compete at the highest level then what’s it worth?
February 4th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Not wanting it enough relates directly to the head coach. Whoever likes to defend him and say there wasn’t enough talent on defense (ahem Ira) needs to have his head examined. Just one win down the stretch would’ve put us in the playoffs just one. 3rd and 28 That’s all I have to say
February 4th, 2026 at 11:46 am
When I played sports I loved winning more than anything.
Money ruins these kids and that catch for a TD in the SB is what every kid dreams of. Why?
Used to be for glory.
Now it’s for a dime.
February 4th, 2026 at 11:46 am
Team had clearly tuned out Todd. Pathetic effort after the bye.
February 4th, 2026 at 11:47 am
The Bucs just do not have any talent on defense and the DC is not changing anything with his scheme to help. Doesn’t matter if they want to win or not. As far as the offense two third string type guards and a center that is pretty bad don’t help the passing game. Plus Baker was playing hurt. Grizzard truly showed his inexperience when he needed to change the play calling. Overall a disaster that is going to be repeated with Bowles in charge.
February 4th, 2026 at 11:59 am
Arent they all “I am that man type” players? Hmm weird. Well at least there is a good culture that’s better than a Superbowl right?
February 4th, 2026 at 11:59 am
This is why we fans can’t understand how Bowles kept his job. The team has clearly lost interest in playing for Bowles. The defense is totally pathetic. You can’t be a defensive head coach and lose because your defense stinks. No heart, no effort and no brains. I have no hope for next season already.
February 4th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Had high hopes that this would be a comment thread without someone complaining about Bowles
February 4th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
And the best part, all the people that complain about him say “it’s always the same stupid stuff coming out of his mouth” congratulations you are the Todd Bowles of commenters
February 4th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
How many of these Bucs players played a full 17 game season ?
That was my biggest concern going into the season
Like l said….the team has more question marks than a episode of Jeopardy
February 4th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
You’re not going to win in the NFL from the sidelines
You’re definitely not gonna win on INJURED RESERVE
February 4th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Having the same complaint about fans complaining about bowles is different? That’s some awesome self-reflection. Be the fan that you want to be others will so the same.
February 4th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
No Coach in the world can coach a player in the Hot Tub
They have to ACTUALLY be on the field to be coached
And to be coached effectively, they have to be healthy
February 4th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
@ 813bucboi Says: “a blind man could see this team had zero sense of urgency or killer instinct all year.”
Yep. I could see-it coming from a mile away! So much so, that I didn’t even expect them to win any of those games going into them. And, these were all the worst teams in the league. You could just see-it! I knew that Arizona game was going to be a tough one for them AT HOME. And, would not have been shocked at all, to have seen us lose that one, too. It was a DEAD team.
February 4th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
“And the best part, all the people that complain about him say “it’s always the same stupid stuff coming out of his mouth” congratulations you are the Todd Bowles of commenters”
This is perfect
February 4th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Ash if I’m still saying the same thing in 3-4 weeks then you have a point. But not yet buddy
February 4th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Is the comment of did the players want it enough legitimate or said 🤔 to keep fans
engaged. Commentators can get desperate for stories in the off season. If there is any fact to the story than it’s quite damaging for the Bucs and their storic HC.
Let’s hope 🙏 it’s intended to keep fans entertained.
February 4th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
The Bucs are the total opposite of the Lightning. Bucs players folded like a cheap suit in the most crucial month of the season against the weakest teams. That’s an indictment on the coaching staff, players and mostly the overrated GM for getting and overpaying for these sorry ass, bored, loafing players. Time for a radical overhaul on the defense if they’re serious about competing in their division.
February 4th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
And yet we still call Licht ROH for his ability to draft character, “those men.” Ironic that he mirrors his philosophy, “I am that man,” after a player he did NOT draft, David. Licht is a puppet, he’s only as good as who’s pulling the strings
February 4th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
“813bucboi”…..I tend to agree with his statement. There was no urgency.
Our coach did nothing to change that over that 2-7 run down the stretch and Baker Mayfield did nothing either. Shut up and play Baker. Let your play do the talking, not your mouth. I don’t hear Sam Darnold talking. As for Bowles, his lousy defense continues to speak for itself and he should have been replaced at seasons end. I don’t care if his players love him, they aren’t playing for him. What a horrendous way to play down the stretch, embarrassing to put it mildly. Those two guys leading the way. Look in the mirror.
February 4th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
@Pops Malone
well said!!!!!
nothing else to add!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 4th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
I’ve researched old Bowles and Jets articles out of curiosity and the same issues then apply now. Bowles was known then to be too much of a player’s coach. I always thought Arians and Bowles were polar opposites of each other which brought balance to the team from a leadership perspective. Think “good cop, bad cop”. Now its all “good cop” and it showed when the team was just not prepared and focused. Bowles finally had his outburst, which just affirmed he lost control. This frankly is why I am shocked he is still here. Oh, well, he’s the HC still and we’ll see where it goes from here.
February 4th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
that epic collapse needs to be studied
guys are professionals paid a ton to play a game, why they stopped making the plays they made in the first half? you can’t blame it all on the coach, his scheme on defense stinks he tried to confuse qbs but only confuses his own players
baker couldn’t do anything to stop it and he’s the team leader inexcusable with mike evans’s and cg tez, worst bucs collapse ever and that’s saying a lot
what makes you think 2026 will be different? last year i was so optimistic and hopeful this year no way 5-11 is coming