“The Finger Is Being Pointed At Todd Bowles”
July 30th, 2026
Todd Bowles gets the finger.
CBS Sports insider Pete Prisco spent the past two days at One Buc Palace and hung out last night with Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
He also had private time today with Baker Mayfield, Todd Bowles and Emeka Egbuka.
That should qualify Prisco as someone worth listening to.
Today, Prisco told the CBS Sports HQ audience that he senses heat under Bowles’ seat. “I don’t think there’s any doubt,” he added.
The proverbial “finger” has landed, per Prisco.
“You make a change of coordinator on the offensive side of the ball and usually when you do that, if things don’t go well the next year, they point the finger at you [as head coach],” Prisco said. “The finger was pointed at the offensive side of the ball last year and now the finger is being pointed at Todd Bowles.”
Prisco added the Bucs must win because they’re so talented.
And yes, Prisco said he thinks the Bucs’ ceiling for 2026 is the Super Bowl.
Lots of pressure on the head coach this season. Rightfully so.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Bowles should be on the heat seat…win or get shown the door….
the defense from a talent standpoint has improved and he wont survive the injury excuse this year from either side of the ball….
lets see if we can make a deep run…we have the talent!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 30th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Let’s just say the Bucs do make it to the Super Bowl this season. Knowing Baker he could just refuse to resign with the Bucs. In that case certainly our GM Jason would be on the street. That’s a real possibility. Win the Super & lose your job.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Damn, its getting hot in here. It must be thanksgiving in the 1 Buc kitchen.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
It is absolutely just soooo ABSURD to expect (or think any otherwise) for THIS FO to go and SPEND A BUNCHA $$$$, like “Drunken Sailors,” AFTER being fresh off a 3-8 ‘finish’ during the previous season. Just as I’ve said all along… It’s DELUSIONAL. It’s not living in REALITY.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
I think that’s the ceiling this year as well.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Doesn’t really seem like the owners agree that this is a Super Bowl team. The Glaziers invested a lot of money in those teams this one not so much. Maybe this team simply does not have the cap space.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:00 pm
@ Dew – LoL. NO. There is ZERO possibility. And, they could STILL “franchise him” and then agree to a longterm extension, OR just move him. Either way, it is a TOTAL ‘WIN/WIN” for the Franchise, as a whole. And, yeah… THAT really sounds ‘rational’ what YOU JUST SAID… Yeah, they’re going to FIRE JL after ‘winning’ ANOTHER SUPER BOWL!? Yah, okayyyy… BE FRICKEN REAL, Dude. Stop allowing YOUR ‘EMOTIONS’ to dominate YOUR BRAIN. GTFO
July 30th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
We’ve got a BUNCH of freakin’ Drama Queens on this here site.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
captain goes goes down with the ship! but how much responsibility does baker take? he should be happy he has a job instead of asking for more money. he threw the interceptions, fumbled the ball and missed the wide open egbukas, he went 2-7. if he went 7-2 it’sa different story, the finger points at baker
July 30th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
That seat is ashes, getting warm? Lmao
July 30th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Bottom 10 pass defense year after year
Mis use of time outs
Consistently trusting the weakest part of the team to close out games
Inability to modify his defense to limit the pass
This is Todd’s 8th year here, time to win with ZERO excuses. But let’s be real he is who he is and is not changing
July 30th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Agreed. I was surprised he wasn’t roasted, toasted and tossed after last season. The seat has been boiling hot for a while.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
DEW – worst case scenario is that Mayfield plays ’27 on the franchise tag.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Superbowl, really. If the Glazers thought this was a SB team then Baker and Vea would have been signed to fat contracts. Is Bowles on a warm seat? Well again considering Baker and Vea have not been signed I believe therein lies the answer to that one
July 30th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Why didn’t the Bucs drop him after Coen led this team to a top 5 offense.
Biggest mistake over the last 5 years that will bury this franchise for the next decade
July 30th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
Super Bowl? Is that a joke?
This season is already over. They will not make the playoffs. They will not win the division. Management and ownership has crapped on two of its best players and the rest of the team sees it.
As soon as things get tough, and they will get tough in week one, this team will fall apart. And it’s all because ownership management sent a message to the entire team that doesn’t matter how important you are to the team, they are not going to pay you.
These guys live every single day knowing up there are one play away from being out of football forever, and many of them do not have a solid backup plan. They have to score a decent contract to take care of their future.
If the team has no interest in paying fair money, why are they going to risk getting their head knocked off?
Great job, GM, owners, and head coach! You’ve just wasted at least a year of our lives, in terms of football.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
If you don’t believe that you are a ‘championship’ caliber roster as currently constructed (and they’re NOT)… Then, please tell me HOW you plan on getting BETTER and thus BECOMING ONE, by dedicating $80-MILLION+ in your future salary cap LONGTERM, (on not one but) ‘TWO’ aging (and expensive) 32-YEAR OLDS!? Oh, I know, I know… YOU CAN’T. It is IMPOSSIBLE. So, this Bucs FO is only playing-it SMART and being cautious. They know the current landscape (and ‘pecking order’) of the NFL… As well as, the current ‘talent-level’ across the board, with this NEXT “College Football” incoming Draft-Class. And, with a HC & GM currently on the Hot Seat. They’re doing the RIGHT THING, by taking a pause. 💯
July 30th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
don’t know if “the finger” is being pointed at Bowles, more like “the finger” is being flipped at him………………
July 30th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Maybe some heat on the coaches rear end is what he needs. He has watched his last 2 special teams coaches be as inept as inept can be and suddenly goes out and hires a guy that has a track record of being a solid special teams coach, he openly admitted McCollum got “bored” while playing and appeared to just let him keep playing anyway, even his own guys criticized their practices as being too soft and some admitted to loafing…….all the while the coach was over seeing it, I hope he feels heat, he should have been launched already…..
July 30th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
I didn’t know Prisco was writing a humor column. The Bucs and Super Bowl shouldn’t be used in the same sentence.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
🫵
July 30th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
So I can see validity to the report of the Glazers influencing/holding up new long term contracts for Vea and Baker
Everyone & their mom knows now that Todd Bowles is on the hot seat, and if he gets fired, you’re looking at now only a new Head Coach, but also a Defensive Coordinator. Well when a HC comes aboard, the most important position to him is the QB position. He’s gonna want his guy or type of QB. Having the option to let the HC decide if they want to keep Baker or choose their own route is also highly enticing. If hypothetical new HC doesn’t wanna keep Bake, well his contract is expired next season, but if HC wants to keep him and thinks he’s a Franchise QB and can stay healthy (enough to contribute to winning football), then they can Franchise him OR hand him a nice far contract (since Baker loves Tampa so much regardless of being a Buc, he ain’t gonna turn down a fat payday to go along with living in Tampa full time).
As far as the new DC, they may wanna switch to a 4-3 or different scheme and also see an aging 350lb NT (not pass-rushing DT like a Jeffrey Simmons). They can have the option of keeping what could be a cog at the center, but are not stuck to a player that might not fit in new defensive system or just they see the writing on the wall anyways.
Both players are at the heart of their respective sides of the ball. Having the freedom to entice or just give a new HC AND DC the option is valuable and smart in many respects. And you have cards to play and the franchise tag as well.
However, if the Glazers are thinking this way and aware of the ultimate Todd hit seat before the season has even started, it does beg the question, why not make the switch and change after last season and then you could easily be making these contract decisions now with a new HC and DC aboard.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
And yes, Prisco said he thinks the Bucs’ ceiling for 2026 is the Super Bowl.
Who is this fricken clown? They’ll will be lucky to win this hapless division! Maybe they will win Game 4. Evans knew. Get beat the hell up for a …participation trophy. He knew. Sorry Pollys.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
Bowles has been a bum the last 3 seasons.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
The seat is hot and will be red hot after every loss, every mismanaged game, after every “we got to play it better” interview. A playoff win or Bowles should be quickly launched – as he should have been in January.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
These bucs wont even the playoff’s panties
July 30th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Ceiling is the Super Bowl? What a hoot!
July 30th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
I heard Baker talk today. 100% he’s gone after this season. He feels disrespected and for guys like Baker, there’s no coming back from that.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
ModHairKen … ‘If the team has no interest in paying fair money, why are they going to risk getting their head knocked off?’
I don’t hear Wirfs complaining about his contract. Don’t hear Winfield complaining about his either. Or Goedeke. And certainly not McCollum. Hmmm, wonder if Otton’s dissatisfied with his $10 mil per year. Or Gainwell with his $7 mil.
I can only wonder if those guys are thinking ‘Baker’s up in arms because he’s not making $50 mil plus? Which of us gets launched if he does?’
Take a good look at how Kansas City stacks up now that they’re paying the leader of their offense, Patrick Mahomes, an average salary of $63.1 mil per year (for 8 years) AND Chris Jones, the leader of their defense, an average salary of $31.8 mil per year. They went 6-11 last season and this season they rank #32 in available Salary CAP Space, and yet have only $10 mil in Dead CAP. Think they’re gonna win the Super Bowl this year, even with Mahomes as their QB?
July 30th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
The only way to send the message to the owners is to boycott games and apparel sales. That won’t happen, but it’s the only way. Money talks and when the stadium is half empty, money shouts.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
It is what it is!! Some early W’s will make everyone forget somethings are f’d up and may bring about movement towards resolving them.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
@ Whatevs Says: “Why didn’t the Bucs drop him after Coen led this team to a top 5 offense. Biggest mistake over the last 5 years that will bury this franchise for the next decade.”
I wonder “WHO” said exactly that, over 2-YEARS AGO (with still a few games left to play during that season)!? Hmmmm… And, Once AGAIN, that would be “ME.” I said at the the time, that the Bucs better be getting all of their ducks in a row for the upcoming offseason with COEN… That, they better be willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES. They canNOT allow HIM to walk-out that door. Otherwise, it is the type of move that can set a franchise back even DECADES (a potential “Babe Ruth” situation). They’ll be just fine though, but they HAVE TO get this next HC (and GM) hire RIGHT. Right now, MY top candidates are Dan Lanning & Shane Steichen.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
The finger needs to be jabbing Bowles in the eye right now. The reason these players are acting up is because these incentive deals are only good when you play for a club that has a great HC and consistently wins games. Bowles is not getting it done and its costing everyone a lot of money in bonuses. As Big Worm said, “Playin with my money is like playin with my emotions!”. Imagine working for a boss that was an idiot, constantly made bad business decisions and it cost you and your coworkers a raise and/or bonus. You would be pissed off! Its no different for these guys.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Bowles + Bowles = Top ceiling AKA SUPER BOWL
DROP THE 🎤
July 30th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
@ Not a good look Says: “Having the option to let the HC decide.”
Exactly 💯 on the mark. I mean, the very LAST thing you would EVER want to do is to fricken HANDCUFF HIM with over $80-MILLION+ PER YEAR worth of HIS future Salary Caps, dedicated over the NEXT 5-YEARS. Because, then that would be STUPID. If this is another BAD season, then goal #1 is to clear-out as MUCH cap space as humanly POSSIBLE, and to ‘stockpile’ DRAFT-Capital. Period. End of Story. And, you don’t have to immediately REACH on a QB either, JUST to be drafting a QB. You can sign a CHEAP Vet, and BUILD THE ROSTER FIRST. Then, make your move on drafting one, and taking advantage of having 5-FULL YEARS of his ‘rookie-level’ DEAL (with an already LOADED and STACKED Roster). This is pretty easy stuff here. It’s NOT hard. You don’t just throw GOOD $$$$ at BAD.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:45 pm
@ ‘74 Bucs Fan Says: “The seat is hot and will be red hot after every loss, every mismanaged game, after every “we got to play it better” interview. A playoff win or Bowles should be quickly launched – as he should have been in January.”
And, please explain to me again, how this is any ‘different thinking’ than what it was from a few MONTHS AGO!? Seriously. WHAT has changed!?
July 30th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
I now call him. Hot Seat Todd. And you know what happens once that seat gets to hot, we have to announce evacuation orders and dump him into the Bay..For good.
July 30th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
Defense Rules. I wouldn’t write the Chiefs off this year. Especially if Mahomes is the QB. Get it?
July 30th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
Tampa needs a Sean McDermott watch….
Oh wait!… They don’t seem to like proven quality guys as their HC!
July 30th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
If Jason uses the Tag on Baker in 2027 the hit to our Cap would be about $80M. Forget that. Baker would hold all the cards & the teams wanting him would be huge. GM job will be toast.
July 30th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
DR. I don’t mean to be rude, I meant to say “Especially because Mahomes is their Quarterback”.
Mayfield whipped Mahomes soundly, blow for blow, in college. We watched them hook up in the rain in KC a year and a half ago. We watched Baker’s potty mouth exposed on the rainy overtime coin flip. Where Sterling Shepherd was his healthy receiver.
Mahomes second year in the league-broke in by Andy Reid and and an excellent veteran QB.
Mayfield’s second year in the league. A new coach, Freddie Kitchens, who had no business being near the top of an NFL organization.
Mayfield and Mahomes have similar skills- only Mayfield has spent his career with the 2 worst teams, by won loss record, of the last 50 seasons.
These are 2 guys that can win Super Bowls. Kind of like Baker whipped Darnold until Darnold cracked- was that like over half a year ago?
You pay guys like that DR. I know what kind of player Mayfield is. And I know he’s perfectly satisfied with the money he’s making this year and can’t wait to play some football.
I also know the best QBs in would take playing out the last year of your contract like a slap in the face. Sure, he might even play for tag money next year and cost this club a mint but Baker still has 5 or 6 good years of football in him. He’s still 31 years old when next March and free agency rolls around.
Or we can draft someone DR. But I come from Oklahoma. We like to win football games up here.
July 30th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
I like this narrative, and it reeks of Team Glazer. Let’s get this Super Bowl and make Mike Greenberg squirm trying to keep Baker & Vea and extend Diaby & Mauch and other free agents.
July 30th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Dew Says:
July 30th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
If Jason uses the Tag on Baker in 2027 the hit to our Cap would be about $80M. Forget that. Baker would hold all the cards & the teams wanting him would be huge. GM job will be toast.
————
If Baker plays well enough to justify tagging him, then they’ll extend him.
If Baker still wants out, then you tag and trade him and get back an asset.
But how often does a player want a new deal, not get one right away, but eventually get one if they play well? Pretty much every time.
Meanwhile Baker was terrible last year past week 6, cost the team the playoffs, got his entire offensive staff fired – there is literally no reason to reward that when he’s still under contract and you can wait and see if it was injury, or if he’s just what he’s always been, which is a very inconsistent QB who is always “hurt.”
July 30th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Hmmmm, I know this will go over like a lead balloon, but I think it needs mentioning. All of the articles hyping the upcoming season are falling upon skeptical ears and downright angry ears. This organization has put itself in reverse big time. They saw two stars walk away for lesser money. They are matching those two with Vea and Mayfield. Initially, I said months ago that this was JL & TB’s prove it year. Now, it seems to something deeper and far worse. Time will tell the full story, but this hype should be replaced by a more New York/Philadephia hard hitting investigative journalism. Adversarial journalists are not the most loved by an organization but they seem to uncover the real crap going on.
July 30th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Bowles probably feels he is not on the hot seat. Bowles is likely going to retire after this year and he probably doesn’t give a damn what anyone thinks. He has made his millions so no one can really touch him. Stubborn to the end. lol.
As far as Baker, the guy is a multimillionaire and as a fan I really don’t care to hear about his first world problems with his billionaire masters. Calling out the Bucs the way he did in a public forum today is a low class move.
July 30th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
@ Kenton Smith – Yep. Alright, that’s it. Just as I thought… YOU definitely, have pictures of BAKER all over the walls of YOUR BEDROOM (probably entire home). It’s some real SICK stuff, Man. It’s honestly, SO EMBARRASSING. It reminds me of that one episode of “Frasier” (the greatest sitcom of ALL-TIME, hands down 💯), when he Daphne lost one of his precious tapes from his entire ‘collection’ of his past show’s recordings. And, then when he and Niles showed up at that super-fan’s (Adam Arkin) home to get a copy LoL. Shew… Now, that’s some really freaky and weird stuff… Like, when he opened those curtains and his windows were all covered with photos and newspaper articles of Frasier (and Frasier up at that point, was STILL clueless, and acted as if it was all normal LoL). “Would you like some guacamole!?” Lmao.
July 30th, 2026 at 6:23 pm
@ buc4evr – Now, seriously… In WHAT WORLD do you people live in!? Honestly!? I mean, it’s UNBELIEVABLE. So, YOU THINK that “BOWLES” is RETIRING and just walking-away from 2 more YEARS WORTH, of GUARANTEED “MILLIONS” of DOLLARS!? Really!? Or, much more than likely, YOU’RE just spewing BS right off the top of your head, from inside of this Bucs/Baker FANTASYLAND. You people are living on another PLANET. It’s just so absurd. Yeah, THAT’S what he’s gonna do. Be REAL, people. Come-on.
July 30th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
Anybody know where Licht is? Did anyone ever find Licht at the end of last season for some explanation? Mr. Invisible…personal issues are clouding his judgement. Prove me wrong.
July 30th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
Totally agree with this. We know the offense can produce. Even with out Evans. Love that guy but we’ve produced with out Evans before and now we have more talent at his position plus CG coming back fully healthy. If the defense can even play mediocre then the Bucs will win the south landfill and can do some damage in the playoffs. Bucs are talented at just about every level
July 30th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Kirwan and Pete are living in fantasy world. There is no world where Bowles beats McVay Shanahan or Johnson in January.
July 30th, 2026 at 7:23 pm
@ Crazyhorse54 – Nothing has changed at all. There is just a certain segment of “fans” here, who just flat-out REFUSED to see and recognize-it. A lot of them by CHOICE. Because, I KNOW that “I” have been VERY vocal about ALL OF THIS. From the JUMP. It was always going to be a “prove-it” year, for ALL THREE of Baker, Bowles, & (I also believe) LICKT (or he should be). Nothing has ever changed from that. Exact SAME Roster, and everything. It just is what it is. I just find it all HILARIOUS at the amount of ‘bed-wetting’ NOW, suddenly. LoL. It only tells ME that NONE of these people, ever ‘believed-in’ anything THEY’VE SAID over the past several MONTHS. And, just as “I” had expected THEN… It was ALL just (empty) BS TALK, with absolutely NOTHING behind any of it. But, they just SPEWED… Ohhhh, did THEY EVER. Just over and over & again and again, the same-old, same-old TIRED and WORN-OUT BS (with nothing behind-it).
July 30th, 2026 at 7:24 pm
Baker’s current salary is averaging $33.3M per year.
12% of the 2026 cap of $301.2M is 36.1M.
$50M is 16.7% of cap.
.
Is Baker worth a third more than GOAT Brady? Even with the QB salary cap bubble, I don’t think so!
The Bucs should put up billboards on the highways outside the stadium saying:
Tom Brady (GOAT) x 12% of cap = Super Bowl!
The 2029 salary cap is expected to be $375M. $50M is 13.3% of that.
To soothe Baker’s $50M man ego, the Bucs could offer a 4 year extension that would pay 13.3% of cap each year – that would be $40 million for 2026 and escalate to $50M in 2029.
Add in crazy incentives in increments for up to $10M more if he is the Super Bowl winning league MVP, and he can be a $50M man this season – if he earns it.
July 30th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
@ Buddha – EVERY single ONE of those so-called “conspiracy theories,” have ALL been PROVEN TRUE, too!!!! EVERY. ONE. And, they’ve all EXPOSED YOU as being, just exactly WHAT “YOU” ARE.
July 30th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
Are you guys surprised he feels disrespected??? He’s a short try hard qb who has to manufacture reasons to have a chip on his shoulder. Look how long it took for him to mature and now can’t even understand why after last season they want him to earn the raise or at least show last year isn’t a progenitor of things to come. As much as he has had many great moments he’s also shown the propensity for bad throws and decisions at the worst times and two playoff games ended in turnovers with his hands on the ball. He’s earned $130mil without sniffing the Super Bowl.This year he’s being slightly over paid after last year so let him earn that raise to $55mill -$65mil/ per year the moisty boyyz are screaming for. At least Licht and Glazers don’t think that having the highest qbr or completion rate in the playoffs is a reason to shell out $200mil more
July 30th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
He said they were a Super Bowl caliber team last year. Of course the injuries and a pathetic defense sidetracked that. I will say that the defense has a chance to really take a giant step forward with some luck. Bain, Trotter and Scott would all have to become significant contributors and Vea would have to be on the field. Also, as talented as the offense is, some of that talent is not fully proven yet. So there are still plenty of question marks. Saying they are a Super Bowl team at this point is jumping the gun.
July 30th, 2026 at 7:46 pm
MelvinJunior, since you are so selective in your anti Baker wording, I noticed your concern as to the Bucs allowing Coen to leave for Jacksonville! That leads me to believe you saw what he mentioned to the offense and the quarterback, Baker! So if Coen had been made head coach, where would the Bucs and Baker be today???
July 30th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
I hope The Great Guru of Defense is using Bain in coverage extensively, since the Bucs need another CB, and really don’t care about a pass rush. I hope The Great Guru lets the defense rest on the field again this year, during live action, nothing says great coaching as much as having guys standing around out there when Kyle Pitts is scoring 3 TD’s in one game (I think he had 4 on the year).
July 30th, 2026 at 8:03 pm
MelvinJunior. I don’t have a single picture of Mayfield. I’ve never been on a website following him. I have gone to 2 games he’s played in since he left Oklahoma. His first game at Carolina – against the Browns. Of course he drove that squad the length of the field to take the lead with 45 seconds to go. Cleveland kicked a field goal (57 yarder) with no time left to beat him. Kind of like the Houston game Baker’s first year here where Baker drove the length of the field to hit Otten and give us a 4 point lead. No problem for Stroud and the Texans as they went 80 yards in 4 plays and 30 seconds for the touchdown. That would have been 10 wins.
I also went to the Detroit playoff game his first year here. Detroit was the heavy favorite and by the time Mayfield tied it up in the 4th quarter with his 3rd TD pass Detroit decided to run and pass it down our throats for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
So that’s 2 games since he’s been a pro that I’ve attended.
I’ve followed his career because I’m a fan with sense to know that few QBs anywhere play football like he does. And it’s just a matter of time before he wins championships.
Might just be this year, MelvinJunior. Watch closely, you just might learn something.
July 30th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
@ Okiejim – They would’ve made the Playoffs last season, but we will never know for sure. And. I would feel A LOT better for our future, already having our HC wrapped-up. It would be interesting though, concerning JL. Since, Coen and him would NOT BE a good fit together… He would’ve wanted HIS OWN GUY, and I’ve been told this by someone who is usually on top of these things. But, as far as BAKER GOES… Cohen would probably rather move off of him, too… Definitely, in the LONGTERM (especially for well over $50-$60 MIL+). Now, I don’t know for how long, but it would be BRIEF. He would be chomping at the BIT, to have the opportunity to mold HIS OWN GUY, and HIS Quarterback of the future. These young and ‘aggressive’ modern day Head Coaches, really like the process of churning and developing YOUNG PLAYERS, to fit THEIR SYSTEMS. And, just face-it… Baker is an OLD 31, and THIS ROSTER is in need of an overhaul. BAKER does not fit that timeline. It is what it is.
July 30th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Put bowles in any seat….on the first plane out of town
July 30th, 2026 at 8:58 pm
I can guarantee that COEN would be totally onboard with standing pat for right now. Because, THIS is NOT a ‘championship’ caliber ROSTER (or football team) as currently constructed. And, paying $80+MILLION PER SEASON over the next 3-4 seasons to “Baker & Vea” does absolutely NOTHING to change that. Other than, preventing them from ever GETTING BETTER. And, the FO realizes this. They’re going to monitor THIS SEASON FIRST, & I don’t blame them. They have no other choice but to do so, and COEN would know this, too!!!! Baker is OLD and EXPENSIVE. He’s just not worth-it. And, saying that 3-years/130-$135MIL (as “I” have, and with $85-MIL fully-guaranteed), is NOT being disrespectful or “selective” towards BAKER. It is being REALISTIC. Baker is NOT living in REALITY. I mean, it’s RIDICULOUS. He did exactly the same damn thing in Cleveland. Now, I’m NOT saying that I would voluntarily do it either, with MY (3yr/$130ish MIL) Offer to Baker… I’m only saying, that IF I had a gun to my head, and I was told what I was willing to go UP TO. And, THAT IS IT. Again, IF I had to. That is a DAMN FAIR Offer for him, too!!!! Farrrrr from being this “Baker-HATER,” or whatever. Everyone wants to talk a bunch of BS about the Bucs not paying him, and blah, blah, fricking BLAH. Well, yeah… It’s because, it’s NOT “THEIR” MONEY. When you start telling THEM to put a number on him then, IF it were “THEIR” TEAM… The story begins to change very quickly. And, just as it will NEXT Offseason, when it comes down to the Nut-Cuttin Time. It begins to become REAL suddenly, then!!!! Baker has once again, just waaaaayyy overvalued HIMSELF. 32-YEAR OLDS, do NOT get the type of “deals” that HE is looking for. It’s just the way that it is.
July 30th, 2026 at 10:16 pm
Well, I’m shocked. I thought this article had to do with Todd Bowles being on the hot seat. Instead, the comments are mostly from Baker haters. You idiots don’t seem to remember Baker played for 4 million in his first contract at Tampa Bay. His current salary is 100 million for 3 years. That averages out to a little more than 25 million per year which is very low for a starting NFL quarterback. Now I see comments he should take a lot less and sign. He already did that.
Todd is an idiot. 3rd down and 28.
July 31st, 2026 at 12:55 am
@joe’s – Melvin can LIE and defame the Bucs but my post gets deleted. I think we’re done here. Have fun with your boyfriend Melvin. WTF?
July 31st, 2026 at 4:56 am
@ BucsFan2023 – Absolutely NONE of that is relevant. NOT the $4-MIL, or the $25-MIL “average.” It doesn’t mean a GD THING. Has ZERO to do with the NOW. You don’t even know what the hell YOU’RE even talking about. You’re just making sh!t UP, while living DEEPLY inside of your weird Baker-Fantasyland. I mean, it’s ABSURD. You’re nothing but a TROLL, at this point. 💯
July 31st, 2026 at 8:19 am
Me? I think they should fire the defensive coordinator if the defense isn’t at exceedingly least Incredibly Average.
Who’s the DC again? Oh, right. Incredibly Average Todd Bowles.