The Tom Brady Effect Has Left One Buc Palace
September 20th, 2026
When Tom Brady retired, Joe heard over and over and over how the “Tom Brady Effect” would stay alive within the Bucs organizaton for many, many years to come through core players who learned around Brady during their young days.
Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield, Vita Vea and more.
The Brady way, the elite standard, discipline, work ethic and toughness, was supposed to flow through those guys into new generations of Buccaneers and keep the bar raised for a decade or more.
After today’s loss at home to the bumbling Browns, Joe thinks it’s fair to put a time of death on that concept.
This Bucs team looks and acts nothing like a Brady-inspired club. Not even the leadership core reflects Brady this season outside of Chris Godwin.
It was fun to think of Brady planting seeds that would bloom for ages, same for Bucco Bruce Arians. Those sprouts appeared to dry up and die last December. They clearly weren’t perennials.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
It was very lost decade out there today
September 20th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
I am done. My dad passed away last December. We have watched the Bucs together since the beginning. It’s hard watching without him, so I’m not going to put myself through it for a sh!t team.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Accountability. That’s what Brady knew about. Great players hold their peers accountable, we have none of those. Great coaches hold their players accountable, our HC is the opposite of this.
Without accountability people fall back to who they are naturally, and looks like who our guys are naturally is weak minded, uncompetitive, and soft.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Alex Anzalone is getting a paid Glazer vacation. He should be benched.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Let’s not forget the only bad season in Brady’s career was the one that Bowles was head coach
September 20th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Check out Mason Posa ILB on Wisconson Badgers. Started last year as a freshman. On preseason watchlists for best defensive player and best linebacker. He’ll probably come out in 2027.
Time to think about the draft!
September 20th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
THE HEAD COACH IS A BUM
September 20th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Look at the schedule and tell me who they can win against playing like they have the last 11 games
September 20th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Remember when Baker said that the players are having more fun with him. Then Brady said if I wanna have fun, I’ll take my kids to Disneyworld. I’m worried about winning SBs. Good times. But the media kept hyping up Baker and Bowles all off-season. This is what you get! Movie and close losses. Its a Bucs life!
🤮
September 20th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Yep back to the Yucs and another lost decade. I kept saying it over and over at the end of last season that they should clean house and rebuild. Yet here we are wasting another season on Bowles and his inept staff along with over paid players that don’t perform.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Look what Brady did for Kyle Trask.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
This is Bakers team!! He’s brought back the fun and he’s one of the guys! He’s relatable. It’s not about winning a Super Bowl, it’s about making relationships that’ll last a lifetime while getting paid.
Too many delusional Bucs fans on this here website that think/thought the Bucs can win a SB with Baker. Bakers plays best when he’s restrained and has a strong run game such as with Coen. There’s a reason why he rarely threw deep
September 20th, 2026 at 7:52 pm
It wasn’t just Brady, Arians was a good head coach. Bowles looked like a good DC, and Leftwich looked like a good OC when he was here. Both should’ve been out of football when he left. Bowles being our HC for so long has been demoralizing. Time to move on. Need a total house cleaning.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:52 pm
How can we ignore our great WR corps in the first half and throw 7 screen passes for 6 yards.
It seems that Baker is getting zero protection and is immediately looking to dump the ball.
Brady is gone…..LVD is gone……Evans is gone……..Bowles is here!!1
September 20th, 2026 at 7:53 pm
I did not watch this game. 2L start is the start I pretty much expected.
The constant re-signing of Bowles every year after everyone hopes he goes at the end of the season makes it Super Difficult (not bowl) to be a truly hardcore Bucs fan.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
What sucks is we just gave VV and Baker a bunch of cash. We are not going to move from that. We should of make baker play out his contract and traded VV for a 3rd round pick.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:55 pm
The Joes are as pi$$ed as the rest of us!! Couldn’t agree more with this story! All of these “leaders” left over from Brady have got their money and packed it in. Greatest of all time always took less money so his team could be better and win championships! Evans could see this was just like the era before Brady and wanted no more of it
September 20th, 2026 at 7:55 pm
Bruce Arians put to pasture the Tom Brady effect when he quit on the team and forced Todd Bowles as his replacement. Part of the Tom Brady way was not getting greedy and getting paid what you’re worth or less. That was Baker Mayfield at 33 million a year. BM at 55 mil per year is an antiBrady travesty.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:56 pm
To stop caring about a terrible sports team, you need to break your emotional and digital habits step-by-step.Do a Digital CleanseUnfollow accounts: Delete the team from your social media feeds, news apps, and notifications.Leave fan spaces: Mute group chats, Reddit boards, or forums where people complain or obsess over the team.Stop watching: Force yourself to skip games instead of tuning in out of habit
September 20th, 2026 at 7:56 pm
Spare the Brady talk. That was over the moment he left the building. He’s one man who made everyone around him better. But what he has is special and non-transferable. Otherwise the Patriots would’ve been lights out after he left the building. They weren’t – and neither were the Bucs.
As for the 2026 Bucs:
The Bucs defense is what most of us thinking people thought they were. The system is antiquated and doesn’t work anymore. It’s been figured out, diagnosed and understood. Offenses just have to be patient to take it apart.
The Bucs offense so far under Zac Robinson is EXACTLY what intelligent NFL should’ve expected them to be. Robinson’s system requires a level of perfection to work that frankly isn’t possible. He makes like hard on his own QB, blockers and RB’s. The Bucs are averaging 19.5 points a game on offense – that’s as good as it’s going to get.
Being 0-2 isn’t a surprise to anyone.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:56 pm
How sad but true. And thus, I have already elected to not renew my season tickets for 2027. Pay a QB who cannot hit that 4th down throw today (and please, don’t give me the excuse that his arm was hurt … have heard enough of that baloney). That 4th down throw is the throw that experienced top 20 NFL QB’s make. The receiver was wide open. I like Mayfield, but like so many others, I thought we should wait to pay him. Evans knew something and saw something and it chased him out of town. We are a second class team, run by a second class coach, fielded by a second class GM, overseen by a second class ownership group. The results speak for themselves.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Why would they keep Bowles as if he wasn’t part of the problem, Glazers deserve everything they get. Waste of talent again this season, Evans new White new.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
^ Never type angrily at high speed on your phone on an old creaky website without a simple edit function.
September 20th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
When TB12 walked out of OBP for the last Time
We were officially the YUCS once again
Like we were before Brady came here
September 20th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
Watch the Bucs go on a 5 game win streak now.
Go Bucs !!
September 20th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
Fat Dumb and Happy =losing season
September 20th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
AFTER TODAY PANTHERS TAKE THE DIVISION ! ,SAINTS LOOKED GOOD TO. WE ARE SCREWED ! WE ALL KNEW IT WHEN THEY KEPT BOWLES ! NOW WE CAN SAY TOLD YOU SO ! 😠. ALSO AS FAR AS CANNELS AND COHEN THERE IS A REASON THEY LEFT BOWLES ! NOW THE GLAZER BOYS KNOW FOR THEMSELVES !, WE ARE OFFICIALLY A JOKE ! CANNELS AND COHEN CAME FROM WINNING DIVISIONS WHY IN THE WORLD DID BOWLES AND JASEN LIGHT GO WITH ZAC ROBERTS WHO DID NOTHING IN ATLANTA AND CAME FROM OUR DIVISION WITCH IS THE WEAKEST ! THIS TEAM IS A MESS !
September 20th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
godwin is washed. im disappointed glazers have all these overpaid players leeching off them. licht needs to go bucs should have kept spytek
September 20th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Finally. This is it. We are in The Bowles Effect slump. Time to clean the nest out. Top to bottom. This is unacceptable. It will become crystal clear in the next 3 weeks.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Wasn’t too long ago Baker boasted about changing the culture once he arrived in Tampa… Guy is a joke
September 20th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Hodad I 100% agree. The common denominator back then was B Arians. As for Bowles, it’s looks more and more that he is not a good HC As I said earlier, new players, new coaches. Same BS
September 20th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Don’t let Ring of Honorable Mention GM off the hook. He’s one of the chefs of this mess of a team
September 20th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Bowels is not a Head Coach
September 20th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
Radio making sure that don’t live on Mr wooden Indian no dam fire.
Terrible HC!!
September 20th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
And for all these misguided Bucs fans who continues to prop up Licht
What has Licht done in his 13 year tenure without Brady
Absolutely Nothing
September 20th, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Anzalone is stealing money directly from the glazers pocket
September 20th, 2026 at 8:03 pm
If they go 0-4 this is a lost season. And I strongly believe that they will not beat the Vikings or Packers. Todd does not have it in him to turn this team around. What is most painful though is the fact that this team probably won’t be good for another few years, as it will need to rebuild. If the Bucs record is bad enough, they might consider drafting a QB if a solid one is available, and using Mayfield as a costly bridge. You can’t win with a QB that has Mayfield’s turnover rate. It did not matter that Winston put up great yardage, the guy was a turnover machine. Similar thing with Baker. And his running is a liability because he apparently does not believe in sliding.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:05 pm
Again, everyone did their job except 2 players.
Mayfield.
Analzone.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
It’s too late to fire Bowles and hire a good HC
They blew that opportunity when they extended Baker
I doubt if anyone of sane mind would want to coach a turnover machine
September 20th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
They should really do something about those “Sweaty Balls.” That’s all we need.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
Jason Light thanks for this u ruined this franchise
Thanks
It’s a Bucs life
September 20th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Baker is set for life with his extension
And the Bucs are doomed for the next 3 years
September 20th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Is Baker hurt? He does not look like the Baker in the first 6 games of last year. He still looks like the Baker of the last 6 games. He wears a sleeve on his arm. No one really knows the extent of that injury?
September 20th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
The whole “Brady thing,” has already been long gone for awhile, now. That was obvious to EVERYONE, during last season. And, they STILL ‘extended’ THIS GUY. It’s still mind-blowing to me. But, I’m over it. Still got the Rays and College Football, which as waaaayyy BETTER anyway, and it’s not even CLOSE.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
Of course it’s gone. Brady and BA were proven winners. Together they brought a 2nd Super Bowl to Tampa. And there may very well been a 3rd had Bowles prepared from a game plan instead of his cannon fodder interview for the Falcons.
The Licht & Bowles combo is crummy. Licht thinks overpaying players early is the key to his own popularity in the locker room. This team is top heavy with under-performers without any real depth. Topping off both VV and Baker after they talked smack about the organization is absurd. The Bros. Glazer are getting exactly what they deserve.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Amen. It’s over Joe. Sad
September 20th, 2026 at 8:15 pm
I wish our defensive guru would leave
September 20th, 2026 at 8:18 pm
I can see it happening
Bucs interviewing for their HC position
The first question the candidate asks….what about Baker Mayfield
Then the candidate says ….l don’t believe l can win with Mayfield as our QB
The Bucs interviewer……well we’re stuck with Baker for a few more seasons
The candidate……can you trade him
The Bucs interviewer…..nope…no GM is willing to take on his contract
The candidate…..thank you for your interest….but I’m not the right for the position
September 20th, 2026 at 8:18 pm
Everyone ate on mikes time here that is the real issue our offense is horrible and I think it’s going to hold us back and keep us out of games.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
PT Barnum said there’s a sucker born every minute. Jason Licht evently never heard that phase after signing Vea and Baker to new multi million dollar contracts. This team is paying them all this money for what?
September 20th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
***I’m not the right person for the position***
September 20th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Oh but Tom was too hard on everyone.. it wasn’t fun.
Now we’re soft as Charmin.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:28 pm
Brady was a winner. Winning and accountability were expected. Hiring Bowles as HC erased that legacy immediately – he tolerates and excuses failure because he is one.
By not firing him, Licht put his job in Bowles hands. Now they both have to go.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
I see an o-5 start a coming
September 20th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Until they get a good coach Bucs are just wasting their roster. Its a shame. This season is a disaster.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:34 pm
The Tom Brady Effect left the building when toilet Bowles was hired you all just won’t admit it but we understand why you can’t. It’s a business and you can’t call it what it is until the Bucs do. You all know It’s too early to call for his job because media won’t panic two games in like fans but the season is done, if you can’t beat the browns you’re not stopping the bears or anyone else on a schedule harder than last year’s schedule
September 20th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
Only 15 more putrid Sundays until Todd double zero is gone.
That in itself is a gift. When he goes so do all his worthless coaches.
All remnants of the Swiss cheese scheme will be discarded like yesterday’s trash.
Just four months from now we’ll have a new direction.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:47 pm
How bad is it? Well, pretty terrible actually. The systems in place
In the players in them arent working and havent for quite sometime.
Jason licht has been terrible the last 5 years in his draft picks
And resigning aged out players. Graham barton braswell morrison
Bain looks like a bust but may need time. JTS logan hall
All early busts. Evans is gone, wirfs play has fallen off a cliff.
Winfield got his bag and is invisible 90% of the game. The new
Additions on defensive have been utterly useless with the exception
Of Trotter. Bowels isnt head coach material we all know that but
Its a much bigger problem. The new oc and Mayfield dont look
Compatible. And you just handed handcuffed him here for 3 seasons.
And way over paid for vita.
So in short its not an easy fix. Hopefully not another lost decade.
September 20th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
Hahahahahahaha hahahahahahaha hahahaha
That’s hilarious. That shipped sailed 3 years ago. Good one Joe! 😂
September 20th, 2026 at 9:09 pm
The last remnant was Mike Evans when he turned out the lights and shut the door behind himself. 3rd and 28
September 20th, 2026 at 9:28 pm
detroit knew anza-lonely was completely washed out…
and it seems the above short paragraph of players you listed in your above write up, are washed up too…huge contracts and getting nothing from them…
baker gets no protection…no pocket…nothing…
where was bain today…hanging in alligator alley by the keys…?
September 20th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
Don’t ruin bradys name by associating it with anything bowles is a part. of.
The bucs had a better team after winning the superpower. But bowles decides to fake blitz not blitz and single cover kupp with a safety, forget kupp was the best receiver in the league that year. Bucs lose rams win sb
Brady long career never had a losing season until his very last where dei bowles was just given the job
Brady retired because of bowles. Evans left because of bowles.
This guy is a fcking albatross around the neck of this franchise.
September 20th, 2026 at 10:12 pm
The Tom Brady era ended with Bowles 8-9 record to give Brady his only losing season in 20+ seasons and he was retained as HC.
September 20th, 2026 at 11:55 pm
This team is not tough, not physically and not mentally. The offensive line got handled last week and the Browns seemed to get the better of our O-line several times today. Usually on big downs when you really need it. I don’t understand how you can have this kind of talent and completely underachieve for two weeks. Pathetic.
September 21st, 2026 at 5:13 am
I know, let”s cover more with our pass rushers!
September 21st, 2026 at 6:03 am
Time to boycott the Bucs