Mike Tanier Suggests Bucs Fans Need To Turn The Page
June 13th, 2026
“… [E]nd of the empire.”
Joe believes there is a kernel of truth buried in the sarcasm here.
Joe’s good friend, NFL columnist/humorist Mike Tanier, tried to pinpoint the mental frame of mind of each team’s fans.
Before you know it, the stench of spent Fourth of July fireworks will be in your nostrils and training camp will kick off.
Tanier thinks Bucs fans of all shapes and sizes should realize the Super Bowl Bucs era is over. Time for a rebuild, Tanier said. And that requires a change of thought for Bucs fans to embrace a depressing reality: the Bucs are no longer Super Bowl contenders, Tanier typed on his site Too Deep Zone.
In addition to [Mike] Evans’ departure, Lavonte David retired, leaving Bucs fans with few tethers to Super Bowl LV. It’s now the Post-Post Brady Era, a.k.a. the denouement, a.k.a. the time to start thinking about firing coaches and GMs and accepting the reality that Baker Mayfield peaked when he was an MVP candidate for about 20 minutes last October.
Last year’s 2-7 finish was the end of the empire. Many Bucs fans surely accept that. But accepting that the Bucs are no longer even the best team in the NFC South is gonna cause some severe cognitive dissonance.
Tanier has a point. If the influence of the Super Bowl-Bucs was still dominant, no way the Bucs close the season out 2-7 last year. Contenders don’t do that.
And yeah, only four starters remain from the 2020 Super Bowl champs: Chris Godwin, Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield and Tristan Wirfs. Two players on each side of the line do not make a Super Bowl contender.
(Yes, Joe knows “Nacho” was on the Super Bowl team, too. He played a key role playing for the injured Vea. But Nacho wasn’t and isn’t a starter.)
Now, it’s baby steps in Joe’s eyes. First, get back to a winning record, then win the NFC South landfill. The division is so rotten, a winning season should get you the division crown by default.
Super Bowl? Well, if New England and Seattle (who the Bucs stomped on the road last year) can make it to the Super Bowl, you cannot rule out the Bucs.
June 13th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Seattle came out of nowhere so anything is possible but have a really good defensive coach, NE had a 2nd year stud QB and a really good coach, we have a retread HC n QB, a terrible defensive coach and a average QB, we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon
June 13th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Seattle and NE have elite defensive coaches, which the Bucs don’t have. Bowles have shown time and time again that his defense is archaic and doesn’t defend the modern NFL offense very well.
June 13th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
Baker played like trash from week 7 on. If he was in fact injured, and that was the cause of his awful play – and he’s healthy again, then the Bucs will bounce right back. They got plenty of talent on offense, and the defense is middling, which is OK for a team built to win on offense.
Of course if Baker is simply a very inconsistent QB who chokes in the biggest situations (has a 2-9 primetime and playoff record in Tampa), and his struggles weren’t related to injury and instead or just who he is, then the Bucs aren’t winning much.
I’m not Baker Boi, and I don’t want the Bucs signing him to an extension this offseason, but I still hope all the jackballs yelling he’s hurt after every bad throw are correct and last years dramatic collapse was all about being injured.
June 13th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
I don’t need to comment. Everybody KNOWS I KNOW IT….
June 13th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Last year’s collapse was all about injuries to critical high salary and draft pick players. Our offensive line which with the receivers are the two strongest aspects of our team- both groups were in tatters. Our QB was nicked up several different ways. We were missing our best pass rushing defensive lineman for almost the whole season. The lack of guard talent was the final straw. We couldn’t run and we couldn’t pass.
This year should be night and day different if the team stays healthy! We are not in a reconstruction and don’t need to be. We need our starters to stay healthy and play…
June 13th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
The head coach has shown year in and you’re out that you cannot keep the team focused for an entire season. Every year we have these head scratching losses that seem to come in the snap of the fingers. The buccaneers will be playing Great football and look as though there’s not a team in the NFL that can hang with them, then wham!!! Stupid loss after stupid loss after stupid loss and as a fan watching you can see these huge holes in the defense and for myself I’m scratching my head wondering how in the hell the head coach can’t see these big gaping holes that I’m staring at on TV and I’ve never coached anything! My hope is if we start on this mid-season slump again that Jason light has the balls to go ahead and let Bowels go and try like hell to get Mike t in here….
June 13th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Instill wish the Bucs would have hired a Defensive Cordinator last off season to help modernize our Defense. I think
that if we say healthy the offense will be fine even better next season. Our STs can’t go anywhere other than up from last season & I do believe C. SMITH & the additions he brought will improve our ST. The Defense should be better & more aggressive, hopefully play with a urgency & savage attitude it has lacked sinse the 20 season. The only thing that worries me is our HC & DC combo is really over the hill & still plays our DBs at such big cushions . I know there are certain Defensive sets that call for dropping the pass rushers into coverage, I hope we have the players to do this now. We will see i guess. If Bowles is a out of date out of touch Coach.& he loses his TEAM again the BUCCANEERS will make a change i would hope (but with them who knows) Go BUCCANEERS!!!!!
June 13th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Mike Tanier is correct. Last year the Bucs ended the season sub .500, they will again this year. Hardly the signs of a serious run at another ring.
June 13th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
I will not accept that the Bucs are in rebuild mode. All this team needs is a middle of the pack defense, an O line that is healthy, a real OC and decent coaching, and ok special teams.
I a pretty sure the Bucs have 3 of the 4 areas covered. lol.
June 13th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
A total ‘rebuild’ complete with a brand new HC and GM is SO much more EXCITING than what we have right now!!!! Which, is a ‘BOTTOM-5’ Team in The NFC. And, NO. This team is NOT “Seattle” – who “I” picked to WIN the WEST and was my 2nd Super Bowl choice, before the season had even started… Nor is it “New England” – my ‘sleeper’ team before the season, who just got lucky through an ‘all-time’ WEAK schedule, and playing Denver without a competent Quarterback. There is NO “Super Bowl.” Now, that is just straight up NONSENSICAL, ‘DELUSIONAL’ talk. Absolutely, ABSURD. This current Bucs Team is going NOWHERE. I’m just waiting for the ‘trade deadline’ to see how ‘aggressively’ we are going to set ourselves up for THIS upcoming 2027-DRAFT. And, also NO. I do NOT want to “reach” or take a “flyer” on just ANY QB. This Draft is LOADED all around, to be “REACHING” an ANYONE.
June 13th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Rainer is correct. This is not a Super Bowl contender. We all know what has to change th are this team competitive again.
June 13th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Could have told you they were no longer contenders three years ago.
Maybe I should become a sports writer.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Seattle actually was ‘my pick’ to go to the Super Bowl last season, UNTIL Green Bay made the Micah Parsons move and I friggin’ switched-it! So, I had Green Bay and Buffalo. I thought THAT would be ‘classic’ one there, with Josh Allen finally getting HIS. New England was THE ‘luckiest’ team EVER. That schedule, and NO Nix, Burrow, Lamar, OR Mahomes. I’m currently seeing THEM as ‘missing-out’ on “The Playoffs” ENTIRELY, this upcoming season.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
We are now….no risk it- stale biscuit (Bowles)
He started losing the team with that Rams debacle when we had TB12 doing a classic and legendary magic comeback which he utterly destroyed.
That’s when he lost me anyway…
Death by 1,000 cuts since.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Let’s play the games and see what happens.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
start with a new coach and do not resign Mayfield (use the tag if necessary)
June 13th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
6-11 season coming, I hate to say that but Bowles isn’t changing his coach ways. And these players that Licht put together need discipline and accountability that’s why Arians was so successful with licht’s type of players. Bowles is a player’s coach, to lenient.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
CleanHouse. We were contenders each of the last 3 years. Needed to win week 17 to remain in contention each of those 3 years. Won all three. We’re contenders all right.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
I should have said “week 18”.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
So basically what I’ve been saying for months. A new day is coming and we just have to get thru these next 17 games. The Bucs are overdue for a fresh start with young players, a young dynamic QB and a young offensive HC. No more mediocrity.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:42 pm
Nobody thought new england vs Seattle for the SB last year.
We have the talent to compete (win against) anybody…. It will take some time for the offense and defense to “gel” but player talent wise we’re in a better place than we’ve been since Brady left.
+ New OC – New position coaches.
It may be time to “turn the page” on the Brady years but I sure as hell ain’t giving up on our current Krewe.
Expect to see the best Bucs team in years in 2026
June 13th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Having been a local since the team started, Bowles’ 50-50 seasons have been a lot better than the teams overall winning percentage of about 42% which has actually been increased a bit by the 50-50 Bowles’ years.
And, except for injuries that have seemed to be extraordinary the past two years, I believe that Bowles would have a better record. Last year’s Grizzard misadventure goes back to Licht and Bowles, but two out of three of their OC choices were good, and hopefully it will prove to be three out of four.
With good health, if the OC is solid, this could and should be a breakout year for the Bucs.
June 13th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
And Joe, “If the influence of the Super Bowl-Bucs was still dominant”. I’d say if Wirfs and Godwin, and Vea and Winfield can stay healthy and play like they’re capable of, we’ll say that the influence of those Super Bowl-Bucs was key. I’d say you could do alot worse than starting a team with those 4 players.
June 13th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
With all 5 starters in, our offensive line is extremely powerful. We are going to run the football- and very well. That will make everything else easier. Cody Mauch is key. We averaged over 5.5 yards per carry behind him in 2024. I expect more of the same in 2026 now that he’s back and 100% healthy!
I also expect our defense to be better with a significantly upgraded pass rushing defensive lineman. Bain+Kancey+Diaby+Muhammed/Walker= a LOT more pressure! Pressure causes opposing offenses to make mistakes.
We are going to be a far better football team than people think when you combine all the great players coming back from injury and the great pickups in free agency and the excellent draft.
June 13th, 2026 at 4:45 pm
*upgraded pass rush. I don’t know where the rest of that sentence even came from, lol.
June 13th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Been a smoldering dumpster fire since Bruce retired and gave his buddy the job. Hopefully this is the last off season we have to read about AC/DC and Kit Kats.
June 13th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
exactly. nobody thought seattle was a contender last year. nobody believed in darnold… the concept of rebuild phase is very black and white and teams have shown time and time again that a team can get competitive again in various ways. otherwise you’d be able to watch teams get competitive and then bad on a 5 year cycle like clockwork. that’s not the case.
I think trench talent and play on both sides, and team health, are bigger indicators of how competitive a team will be than overall talent, scheme, qb or coach. if you’ve got a solid offensive line you will score points. if you’ve got a dominant offense line (and yes, joe. edge rushers!) then your secondary looks good.
I think the bucs have a chance of having significantly better play and depth on both sides of the line. we’ll see.
June 13th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
This is bull.
The Bucs have a coaching problem. The roster is fine and with good health and proper schemes they can win a lot of games.
Bowles is not the guy to be wearing 2 hats, Coen would have won 11 games last year and he would have won 11-12 this year.
High end coordinators make teams go!
Watch the Chargers this year with McDaniels, watch Tennessee with Saleh and Daboll, the Raiders with Kubiak. All these teams are gonna leap forward and sure they made roster improvements but the biggest improvements are on the sidelines. Not rocket science.
June 13th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
The owners had every chance to be proactive and continue adding talent. They had every chance to avoid the situation the team now finds itself. They could have said thank you Todd but we feel the need to move on. They could have kept the OC/QB pairing that worked so very well. They could have hired Coen for HC. The fact that it was such an obvious choice and yet did not happen tells me many things about the owners. They could have ruled the NFC South for a few more years. They could have possibly avoided the defense lethargy of last year. They might still have ME13 as a Buc for life. They might have a franchise QB on the roster for a decade.
They might have kept me as a fan.
June 13th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
First, it’s stay healthy
Then, it’s up to Mayfield
June 13th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
Yes, you can rule out the Bucs. They will never make a SB with Bowles as the HC\DC.
That is completely impossible. The defense could never be dominant enough for a deep playoff run.
The entire philosophy of this organization has morphed into a participation trophy mentality.
We’ve dropped off a cliff since Brady retired. No more titles for the foreseeable future.
June 13th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Over half the league would love to have our offensive roster.
Great OL (when healthy) great WR room, top half of league QB and solid RBs. Really no holes on that side of the ball, at least before Evans left, see what happens now but that’s half the roster that is certainly SB contender worthy.
The people overseeing the D have sandbagged the Bucs hard in recent years.
June 13th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
As soon as brady left the bucs thats when the bucs went from contenders to pretenders they couldnt even beat the utep miners right now this team lacks heart from the top down they are puppies not dawgs and no i dont believe curt cobain can do anything
June 13th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Even Dick Kotite could have had the 2025 team 11-6. There is one reason the Super Bowl era is over, and it’s been over since BA stepped away, letting Mr KitKat ruin the team.
June 13th, 2026 at 7:56 pm
As long as Bowles is here thinking about this team in the Super Bowl seems foolish. SMH
June 13th, 2026 at 8:37 pm
I’m not sure the NFC South can still be considered “rotten”. Time will tell of course. Bowles & Bright Licht must be a package deal at this point. Sink or swim together…despite the ring of fire rhetoric.
June 13th, 2026 at 8:39 pm
‘the Super Bowl Bucs era is over.’
The moment Arians said I’m retiring and IBS is taking my place…
Only delusional fans thought IBS was able to take the Bucs anywhere meaningful!
June 13th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
We’re 0-0. Seattle, last year’s SB winner, is 0-0. Everybody take a deep breath. Enjoy the summer. Let things play out. In November, you can tell everyone I told you so! Right now there’s just a lot of noise filling empty space.
June 13th, 2026 at 8:48 pm
Going to be a lot of jbf’ers trying to jump back on the bandwagon this year as we start winning.
June 13th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
If they are 3-5 heading TO Chicago (or even 4-5), this FO better be ‘realistic’ about everything, going into this upcoming season’s trade-deadline. Cause, that 9-GAME stretch to end the season with is definitely NOT favorable. They’ll be LUCKY to win THREE of those games. That’s just the REALITY. And, when that time arrives, ‘winning’ those games will only hurt us. After Chicago & the Bye-Week… We’re looking at going TO Detroit, then the reigning South Division Champ Panthers, and Hairball/Herbert-McDaniel Chargers at Home, AT Lamar and the Ravens, the Saints luckily (or maybe, ‘unluckily’ at the time), TO the ATL, the RAMS at home, before finishing up IN New Orleans. That stretch AT Carolina, ATL, AT Bears, AT Lions, Panthers, Chargers, AT Baltimore will be ROUGH. They’ll prob finish 6-11 given OUR LUCK, & with THIS FO still ‘trying’ to WIN and saving Lickt & Bowles JOBS. But, 4-13 is a lot more where we need to be AFTER approaching the trade-deadline VERY aggressively, & sitting Baker in NOLA.
June 13th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
After reading all these anti-Bowles comments, I just realized a likely reason why the Glazers kept him: he’s managed to single-handedly focus a very high percentage of Bucs’ fans. Seemingly not in a positive way, but hey, focus is focus.
From my perspective, I’ve never seen Todd Bowles miss a single tackle while he’s been Bucs’ coach. He’s always in position (admittedly on the sidelines, but still ‘in position’). He’s never dropped a pass, nor thrown an interception. He’s coached a winning Super Bowl defense, and has ended up with a Top-10 defense roughly half of his years here.
I’ve said from the very beginning that I don’t like him being dual-hatted; very few can serve 2 masters, and he’s not one of those ‘very few’ IMO. But the key to winning as a HC from my perspective, in any sport, is to be surrounded by top-notch people … coaches AND players AND management. And I think we’re getting there.
We’ve had a LOT of changes this off-season, and none of us really know at this point how they’ll work out. Gut feel though is that this team will be considerably more competitive than these last 2 years teams have been. Still, only time will tell.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:01 pm
They’re NOT beating Cincy. I think they can BEAT the Browns and then the Vikings, since it is at HOME. If it was in that dome though, it would be a ‘different’ story with THAT Offense. And, I think they’ll BEAT the Steelers at home. Other than that, I’m just not seeing it! I see a definite STRUGGLE.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:02 pm
In reality the era ended when Bowles called the zero blitz against the Rams in the January 2022 playoff game vs the Rams, making Cooper Cupp a hero. If not then it was when Arians mysteriously retired a few months later and the team was forced to promote Bowles without a proper head coaching search.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:02 pm
Bowles is not and never has been a good HC. To allow him to continue in that position AND run the defense is obscene. Glazers are to blame. Nerd kids never make the right decisions, they’ve sucked without Daddy Malcolm in the mix. The Brady thing was lightning in a bottle.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
I think Mulch and Todd have a LOT in common.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:15 pm
They could get lucky at home against the “Parsons-less” Packers. And, they could put up some points like everyone does in “Jerry-World,” and just squeak by in a shootout. Then, split the ‘divisional’ games and going 3-3 there. But, that is an EVEN WORST case scenario… ANOTHER 8-9 or 9-8 season, and even MORE stagnation. A ‘middling’ team with NO PLAN, and picking in the 15-20 range in the draft AGAIN, with NO draft capital gained at the deadline. Then, ANOTHER season of Bowles, AND Lickt, AND the exact same BAKER on a ‘franchise’ tag. You’d HAVE TO at least move OFF of Baker by THEN. You CAN’T pay HIM $50-MIL+ after ANOTHER disaster. There HAS TO BE A PLAN. Being “stuck” is NOT a “plan,” as we watch every other team in our division have one.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:15 pm
They both think they’re right and they aren’t. You’re welcome.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:24 pm
This guy is a moron. What makes great franchises is passing the torch from the greats to the rising stars and ensuring depth and cap stability to make anorher run when the time is right. This shouldnt be a rebuild, its a retool.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Lynchmob you’re wrong. It wasn’t Brady that made the team run like clock work. Not by a mile. The One And Knly reason we got SO GOOD, SO FAST, was on the account of One Man. And it so happens that that man was the head coach for a small three years. And his initials Are B.A.!
To be “correct” with what you said you’d have to change it to… We FELL OFF the cliff just AS SOON AS Bruce Arians was no longer the Head “Master” Coach!
Brady or not… it was OVER just as soon as that man (Bruce Arians) had to leave due to his health conditions. Bowles (with Brady) INSTANTLY NOSE DIVED! And we haven’t even been sorta close since 2021! Bowles WAS NEVER qualified….
As SOON AS we get a strong “accomplished” coach… we’ll have a chance once again. Bowles is a Lame Duck, Bum….
June 13th, 2026 at 9:39 pm
even with brady evans david and everyone else they still didnt think we were contenders when are we going to accept the fact these so analyst dont have a clue whats going to happen
June 13th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
It’ll be a bad circus.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:54 pm
This team just isn’t good enough. There just isn’t any young ELITE talent on this roster right now, either. You have a beat up and aging Quarterback, who is also NOT ELITE, and is not worth all the distractions. You also, have an OLD old-school, ‘Defensive-Minded’ Head Coach, who is ‘middling’ at best. AND, his ‘middling’ and lazy GM. Hasn’t drafted a “Pro-Bowler” for now, going on 5+DRAFTS. Forget “All-Pros.” Not even the first “PRO-BOWLER.” We’re going nowhere, and FAST. There. Is. NO. PLAN. We’re STUCK. I just can’t see HOW it gets any better. I mean, they are sooooo far away from even remotely, being able to compete for a Super Bowl. They don’t have the ‘high-end’ young TALENT, and they lack the overall team depth. Plus, an aging Quarterback who is not aligned with the current timeline. THIS SEASON will prove whether or not Baker is truly “ELITE,” or NOT. A true “Elite-QB” has to be able to get THIS TEAM to at least 10 or 11-WINS, at a bare minimum. It just is what it is. If THIS Team can win 11+GAMES and WIN at least ONE Playoffs Game, then I will say… “PAY BAKER. HE IS ELITE. Give HIM a 3-year deal, at $50+MIL.” No state income taxes… No one else out there, will be any better than THAT.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:56 pm
All due respect DR,
Our secondary is now coached by the assistant to the guy who coached it into
The mess it’s in now. Larry Foote is still not good , and the man now coaching our DLine led a TERRIBLE Buffalo unit last year.
Zac Robinson ain’t no Sean McVay either. So unless you’re counting Kit Kat Jr as the “ really good people “ he’s surrounded by, I think we’re in bad shape still.
Kit Kat and Bud Licht have overstayed their welcome.
June 13th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Everyone not hopped up on hopium knows that the SB windows were 1979-1982 1997-2002 and 2020-2021 – that’s it – 12 out of 50 seasons – and that’s ok – 2 SBs won – some of us can wait it out until 2040 while the usual suspects gaslight the heck out of us
June 13th, 2026 at 10:35 pm
The bucs stomped nobody last year. Bowles ball
June 13th, 2026 at 11:01 pm
You gotta be kidding… Evans on had 30rec for 368yds and 3tds. He only played in 8 games.
June 13th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
The only fans who think we’re Stuporbowl contenders are Bowles and Baker fans. Most of the rest of us know 2024 was the best time and when the wrong coach was allowed to walk(to a 13-4 AND playoffs)there’s no chance we make it with those two on this team. Jon Gruden was fired for less of a bad finish than Bowles but then again the Glazer kids are no Malcom so this is what we’re stuck with. Yet with all this we still hope and wish for better
June 13th, 2026 at 11:28 pm
@ sethery says: “nobody thought seattle was a contender last year. nobody believed in darnold.”
That is just not true. SEATTLE obviously “believed” in HIM. Or, they wouldn’t have SIGNED HIM. It was a pretty nice deal for him too, that was also in the range that most people (including myself), thought it would be. It was the “Baker Deal.” And, most people KNEW that Seattle had a nice young team with a REAL STRONG Defense, that they’d built there. AND, were heading in the ‘right’ direction. Their ONLY ‘issue’ was just THE DIVISION they were in. That was IT. SEVERAL people ‘predicted’ them to go to the Playoffs, and then there were ‘others’ who picked THEM to ‘win’ their division… Again, including myself. The ONLY real shocker with them was I don’t think anyone really believed that JSN would be THAT LEVEL great, and that their offense would be ‘clicking’ and hitting on ALL cylinders LIKE THAT… Which is why they WON the Super Bowl. But, most people KNEW they were a damn tough football team. They just didn’t know they were THAT TOUGH. It’s just NOT even comparable to this current Bucs Team. It’s not the same thing.
June 13th, 2026 at 11:39 pm
REASONS WE KNOW THIS IS A REBUILD YEAR
1. Mike Evans. Evans was Licht’s 1st pick. He loves Evans. Evans loves the Bucs. The reason Mike isn’t a Buc is because Licht told him this is a rebuild year and he didn’t want to see Mike finish on a floundering team.
2. Bowles Contract. They just gave TB a new 3-year deal. The Glazers didn’t want to pay him two years on a dead deal.
3. Free Agents. Licht signed three budget free agent nobodies. He had money to spend.
4. The Perfect Setup. The Bucs won the SB with Gruden and Arians – two stud HC. They are going HC shopping and they want a stud. To attract a top coach you need cap space, your choice of QB, tons of young talent, and all your draft picks.
Next year the Bucs will have $142M in cap space!!! An option for Baker. A roster filled with young talent. All their draft picks.
June 13th, 2026 at 11:49 pm
5-12 is coming!
June 13th, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Many point to the narrative that injuries are not an excuse for going 2-7 down the stretch last season and point to the 49ers as the way a good team overcomes injuries to still win and have a successful season. People forget the 49ers went 6-11 in 2024 in another season for them marred by injuries. That year they couldn’t overcome. They retooled and in 2025 had a very successful season in spite of the injuries. We have retooled and perhaps we will surprise a lot of people this year. No, we aren’t all in like we were in 2020 with free agency but they’re using the draft to build the team this time with a few solid free agents as well.
June 14th, 2026 at 12:09 am
The Bucs don’t go 2-7 down the stretch if Baker makes some simple throws I can literally make, that any NFL backup can make. Baker was terrible and cost the team 4 games in a row, when all they needed was one win in any of those 4 to make the playoffs.
Again, if the issue was Baker wasn’t healthy, and it affected him that much, and now he is healthy – then everything will be OK. But at some point you need to ask if Baker is just a very inconsistent QB and that’s why he’s bounced around so much.
This year, we’ll get the answer – and that’s also why you don’t resign him before you find out the answer.
The worst possible scenario would be Baker is the guy that ran himself out of Cleveland and Carolina again and the Bucs gave him a huge deal, and now they’re stuck with a lame duck QB and can’t get any top coaches to come here because Baker’s deal is an anchor on the team for the next half decade. Just wait and see what happens, then decide what to do.
June 14th, 2026 at 12:32 am
Coming off of their horrible injury riddled season, the talk in SF among fans and media centered around the fear that the 49ers were headed for trouble because of their aging and injury prone roster, doubts about Brock Purdy and wondering about whether they may have been heading into a rebuild. That proved to be wrong. Only bad organizations undertake total rebuilds. I believe we took a step back primarily because of injuries, lack of depth and the departure of Coen.
June 14th, 2026 at 12:37 am
And, by the way… That Seattle team WON 10-Games just the year before, with GENO Freaking Smith as their Starting-QB. The exact same number of games the Bucs won with COEN, in the NFC SOUTH. They just barely missed-out on the Playoffs. And, that was WHY “I” picked them. Darnold was an immediate UPGRADE at the position. So, this team didn’t come outta nowhere, from the bottom of the conference, or anything like that. Nor anywhere even close. A lot of people had them as being a strong “sleeper” pick, who could take that possible leap forward. Darnold just pushed them over the edge. He won 14-GAMES just the season before, in Minnesota. And, HE instantly built a ‘special’ connection with JSN.
June 14th, 2026 at 12:59 am
Lotsa hopium addicts. That stuff dulls objective thought. Obviously.
June 14th, 2026 at 7:10 am
Turn and burn on the Todd Bowels torturous chapter in.500 football
June 14th, 2026 at 9:42 am
The Buccaneers should have beat both teams that were in the SB last year. ST lost us the Buffalo game and most likely a couple more. I don’t need Baker to be great. I just need him to be good and fix the ST and this team is probably a playoff team. Now if our secondary and improve and we get a pass rush then we can talk about making a playoff push. But I wanna see the last two with my own eyes.
June 14th, 2026 at 9:49 am
Melvin Jr.
I don’t like you taking shots at anyone named Geno
June 14th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
I turned the page after 3rd and 28!!!! Not unlike ME13!! It became very apparent the team needed a new HC!!!! Of course the Glazers were thinking something else…
June 14th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
I expect ST to be better because we upgraded to one of the best ST coaches. I also expect our Offense to be better because we upgraded at OC. I hope our defense is a little better but since we have the same DC and a lot of unproven younger players on defense there is no way to know.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Yeah, let’s turn the page on #6, as well…….
June 16th, 2026 at 12:43 am
Burn the page. Burn the whole book. Get a fresh one.