Todd Bowles Not Enthused About Fights
August 11th, 2026
Not a big fan of fights.
If the Bucs are facing someone wearing a different colored jersey and there is a fight with the Bucs offense, there’s a pretty good bet who is involved.
That would be Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke. Joe doesn’t know if it’s his trash-talking or constant chirping at defensive players, or Goedeke’s violent magnetism that helps incite fights, but Goedeke is almost assuredly involved when tempers flare.
Todd Bowles loves how Goedeke is an enforcer but Bowles also wants Goedeke, and others, to use their heads.
“We don’t want it to happen in practice,” Bowles said of multiple fights that took place today. Bowles was not on the same field as the ones where Goedeke was involved so he wasn’t sure what sparked the mayhem.
“We definitely don’t want that happening,” Bowles said. “We don’t want the fights, period. And you know, enforcer or no enforcer. We just came up here to play ball.”
The Bucs practiced today in New Jersey against the Jets. One fight highlight was, naturally, with Goedeke. After an ugly scrum with players started peeling off, Goedeke emerged with a Jets helmet in his hands and he proceeded to launch it some 35 yards downfield like a Kyle Trask bomb.
The interesting element to Goedeke’s helmet-toss, per Rich Cimini of BSPN, the helmet belonged to Jets corner Qwan’tez Stiggers.
So why is this interesting to Joe? Later in practice, Stiggers collapsed and had to be removed from the practice field in an ambulance. Word from Jets coach Aaron Glenn that preliminary reports on Stiggers is encouraging.
Joe wonders if there was any connection between the helmet toss and Stiggers collapsing.
Was Stiggers already light-headed and not thinking right when he got mixed up with Goedeke? Generally, dudes don’t get their helmets ripped off because they were behaving.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Hi can be as unenthused all he wants. I just hope and pray he doesn’t suck all the enthusiasm and passion out of the players.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
He will Hd is Bowlezo.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
I don’t care either way about the fights after the whistle. I want to see these guys fight of first downs and TDs!!!!!!!!
August 11th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
I’ll take fights all day every day instead of that quitter crap we as fans had to endure last year! These guys seem to have heart which was DRASTICALLY missing last season. Losing is never acceptable, but easier to handle when they go down fighting.
August 11th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Fights in training camp. In other news the sky is blue and Bowles can’t coach the defense.
August 11th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
Shocking, he for sure wants everyone to just get pushed around and say thank you
August 11th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
Also — no enthusiasm on gameday either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 11th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Seems like two poorly coached and undisciplined teams
August 11th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
In other news, The Villages called and want to know when Bowles’ move in date is.
August 11th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
I’m sure he likes the attitude but not the lack of discipline…. In a game some of it could cost us big time in penalties, fines and suspensions.
Personally I love it as long as it’s during a scrimmage/practice
August 11th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
Part of me wonders if it’s coaching 101 to tell the public how much they don’t want the fighting, but behind closed doors secretly love it just a little bit.
August 11th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Joe … ‘Joe wonders if there was any connection between the helmet toss and Stiggers collapsing.’
Not unless his head was still in the helmet Joe.
August 11th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
The Helmet Toss should be a new sport for 1 point.
August 11th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
I love the way Baker stirs it up as well. Many times the result is an uptick in offensive cohesion and performance. Can’t wait !!
Go Bucs !!
August 11th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
As long as he doesn’t become the next Jeremy Trueblood we’ll be fine.
August 11th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Bowles you clown , your whole team takes on your personality unless you have a Brady and a Suh !! The whole offseason was conducted to combat YOU , you clueless lovie smith act alike !! You are beyond lucky to have a job because without B A Suh and Brady you wouldn’t be hired by a competent div 2 school ……… These guys like Todd are so protected by the league fraternity it could be Biden series 2 ………. it should really read something like this, it’s great to see the attitude change ,the aggression, the fight fight fight as these guys are saving my ass, my job, my career !!
August 11th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
If we are being fair, Todd isn’t an enthusiastic person in general so this is par for the course.
August 11th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
It was not noted that Stiggers head was still in the helmet when Goedeke tossed the helmet.
August 11th, 2026 at 7:57 pm
You can be like that but your team can’t play like that and without Brady, Suh and B A his teams do ……. that’s fair !! He’s Lucky to have a Job , that’s fair !! He needs to change , what he’s doing doesn’t work ( Todd himself said it ) !! That’s Fair !! Accurate !! Fair !!
August 11th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
Bowles is soft!
August 11th, 2026 at 8:26 pm
Im not a fan of fights in practice either. Especially if a guy thats been on and off the concussion protocol is a regular.
August 11th, 2026 at 8:34 pm
I would certainly hope he’s not enthused.
What kind of a coach wants his players getting into fights?
Unless the other guy started it and a player is defending himself.
Even then, I would hope the coach still wouldn’t be too thrilled.
Don’t get me wrong. Aggressive, physical football is fine. It’s how you win games and our D was sorely lacking in that last year.
Fighting? Not so much.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
From Joe’s description of the practice, all the sound and fury didn’t seem to help the effectiveness of the defense. If you want to watch a fight, go to a hockey game.
August 12th, 2026 at 9:05 am
“launched it some 35 yards downfield like a Kyle Trask bomb.” HA!