Communication Breakdown
September 17th, 2026
Baker Mayfield’s faulty headset didn’t doom the Bucs.
No, this isn’t about KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ oft-used excuse for bad defensive play.
(There have been times in the past that Joe was this-far from starting a GoFundMe.com page to help the Bucs pay for a sign language interpreter, since Bucs defenders apparently don’t know or can’t talk to one another there have been so many “communication” issues.)
The Bucs had headset issues in Cincinnati but apparently they were not bad enough to trigger the “equity rule” where the zebras shut down headsets for both teams.
Bowles was asked yesterday if Mayfield’s headset crashed changed the Bucs’ game plan.
“Trying to get everything in, that takes a little bit more time,” Bowles said of the malfunctioning headsets. “That takes a little bit more time, trying to run on the field and run back off and get in the huddle and get out.”
AFC North teams often have headset issues whether it is an AFC North team on the road or an AFC North team at home. Cincinnati plays in the AFC North. Bowles didn’t think the Bengals were up to any monkey business.
“I mean, it happens,” Bowles said of headsets going haywire. “There’s nothing you can do about it.
“You know, you’ve got to have hand signals, you’ve got to have wristbands, you’ve got to have Plan B and C.
“The game’s not going to stop off of that, and we’re not using that as an excuse.”
No, the Mayfield’s headset didn’t have anything to do with his three lost fumbles. And since the refs didn’t invoke the equity rule, they must have been some minor annoyances.
Even with the headset issues, the Bucs had one of the more productive days moving the ball in the NFL in Week 1.
A very young and hungry Led Zeppelin performing “Communication Breakdown” in Paris, 1969.
This was a promotional visit for the band and, as is evident in this clip, Zeppelin was playing at a very high level, to demonstrate what was to be the next dominant force of the 70s. pic.twitter.com/NTGACsCshM
— 🎸 Rock History 🎸 (@historyrock_) June 15, 2024
September 17th, 2026 at 5:34 am
Led Zeppelin was on another level.
September 17th, 2026 at 6:10 am
May not be an excuse, but I think the headset issues got into Baker’s head. He was constantly getting the ball snapped at the very last second, and that has to be unsettling to a QB like Mayfield. Kind of indicates that you’re ‘behind the 8-ball’?
September 17th, 2026 at 6:25 am
Seems likely
September 17th, 2026 at 6:28 am
Baker always has an excuse for everything. Might as well change his name to Mr. X-Man.
September 17th, 2026 at 6:42 am
The only thing that stopped Baker and the Bucs offense Sunday was Baker and the Bucs.
They still almost overcame a three turnover deficit and the penalties.
Going forward, the turnovers and penalties should be the exception, and the productivity of the offense should be the rule.