Todd Bowles Talks NIL Money Impact
April 30th, 2025
Todd Bowles speaks.
So electric returner/receiver Tez Johnson, the Bucs’ seventh-round draft pick, isn’t getting much of a pay raise this season to play for Tampa Bay.
He’ll pull in about $865,000. That’s in the ballpark of earnings for a stud receiver at the University of Oregon, which Johnson was.
Yes, times have changed. That’s why fans aren’t treated to as many wildly emotional draft-night scenes. So many players already hit the lottery in college and have more of a professional mindset.
Asked about how life-changing earnings for college athletes, NIL money, has affected evaluation of college prospects this week on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Todd Bowles had a thoughtful answer.
“I don’t think it hurts when you’re evaluating a player. I think it hurts when you’re evaluating the person,” Bowles said.
“When you’re evaluating why they’re taking the money or how they’re taking the money or if they keep transferring from schools, you try to find out the ‘why’ in that category. The player is gonna be the player.
“I think we’re all still trying to figure how the NIL is working and how that affects everybody in the league. And everybody’s still scrambling in college as well as in the NFL. But the player itself, the tape and the practice habits will tell you a lot about the person.
“The character tells you a lot about the person. We try to pick high character guys and understand that some people need the money and may use it as a motivation. Some people play for the love of the game; some people play to take care of their families. It’s up to us, it’s up to the scouts. It’s up for everybody to decipher what kind of person we’re bringing in the building and we try to make sure we bring in the right person. Obviously, money talks in a lot of cases and these guys aren’t desperate to get the league money now that they can get the college money. I mean, they’re handing out like hotcakes over there.
“But there’s still a lot of guys where the NFL is the pinnacle and they work at it and they find their craft, and they want to be the best in the league. And those are the guys you try to take.”
The Bucs certainly seem to have found the right formula.
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April 30th, 2025 at 9:03 am
I’m obviously old-school because I still can get behind paying all that money to college football players. In too many cases players seem to become just ‘hired guns’ and transfer from school to school to make a ‘better’ name for themselves (or to make more $$$).
As I looked at the draft prospects this year, saw far too many who really just had ONE year of quality production. And it wasn’t always in the current year. In some cases they had injuries for a significant part of last season but had excellent production the year before. Oh well, it is what it is, and even us old-timers need to accept it.
April 30th, 2025 at 9:04 am
One UDFA to keep an eye on- Ben Chukwuma, OT, got a hefty $300,000 deal to sign with the Bucs – supposedly a high character, hard worker guy with tremendous upside who has only played football a couple of years.
April 30th, 2025 at 9:53 am
D.R.
As a fellow “old timer” I get ya. Curious as to how the cardiac rehab is going. You’re probably through with the structured part. I went to St Anthony’s for a couple months? It was a GREAT experience for me because I LOVE exercise.
Hope you’re feeling terrific.
As for NIL. I tend to agree. It’s been rough working out the many kinks and it’s exposed a part of college ball that has ALWAYS existed just not formally. Players have been getting paid or receiving perks, (sometimes even women) for a LONG time. At least it’s out in the open.
When I did ETSU games I became good friends with the BB coach, a great human being who was successful enough at ETSU to get hired by his alma mater NC State. When it came time for high school recruiting he used to share the “truth” with me off the record. Some players that the Bucs,(yeah they had the same nickname} coveted they lost because he told me other schools provided more money. It wasn’t upfront from the school, it was filtered through the boosters like our local Budweiser distributor.
The old system was a crooked maze that basically made money off of the players with no VISIBLE reward and myriad rules.
The great movie “One on One” with Robby Bensen shows this perfectly. Might have been fiction but it was a perfect representation of reality.
I remember a tournament in Hawaii when a couple assistant coaches and two players decided to head out to check out the night life. Nothing wild, just a couple of beers to see what Honolulu looked like after hours. I remember the players gripping over whether they needed to pay for “their share” of everything since with assistant coaches along it might be perceived as the “school” paying for it. We’re talking chump change here but the rules were so complex that the kids were worried. Sad actually.
I do think the players should be able to earn money. But I wish it WAS accountable as in a contract with the school. The school is paying the kids with scholarships valued in some cases…can you say Duke, Ivy League schools etc worth HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars. Is that enough? Perhaps not but it should give the schools the right for “some” protection as in “contracts”.
I don’t like the transfer portal setup at all, it’s like a wild unpredictable wild west crap shoot.
I believe the players should get to earn from their performances I just wish it was managed better.
Perhaps if the NCAA just admitted they are a HUGE multimillion (billion?) business. Just admit, pay the players outright, and then take that leverage to insist on contracts and some STABILITY in the system.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:00 am
“When you’re evaluating why they’re taking the money or how they’re taking the money or if they keep transferring from schools, you try to find out the ‘why’ in that category. The player is gonna be the player.”
He’s spot on.
These kids are 17 or 18 when they start facing these issues, and some — probably most — come from financial strain. Those students may not have good guidance because money does strange things to people, including parents.
Then, there are some who believe they are more than they are, and cop an attitude and think they have a “brand.” They are the ones who get passed over in the draft.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:20 am
St Pete … Thanks for asking. They tell me the heart’s working fine now, but other ‘stuff’ has popped up (old age ain’t for sissies?). Starting to feel like one giant guinea pig.
Good analysis BTW of the NIL issue. Always pro’s & con’s on both sides of every issue. Such is like huh.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:40 am
I read that QB Ewers turned down one more year of NIL $8 million (might’ve been from a different team), in order to head to the draft.. He went in the 7th, so yeah, not much in comparison.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:47 am
NIL is going to completely change the game. We’ll see more polished seniors who are truly ready for the next level because they could afford to stay in school instead of feeling forced to chase money in the NFL. In the long run, this will be a very positive development. Right now, it feels like we’re experiencing the classic overcorrection—things were so bad in one direction that the initial shift swings too far the other way before we find balance.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Just a couple modest requests from an oldtimer. One, retire the phrase “student athlete.” Two, tell the kids that the portal is a slave market; they deserve to know. One proposal: have colleges simply sponsor minor league teams with their names and logos. Academia is corrupted enough.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:59 am
“The character tells you a lot about the person. We try to pick high character guys and understand that some people need the money and may use it as a motivation. Some people play for the love of the game; some people play to take care of their families.” Amen, Coach Bowles. I am an old-school fan. I’ve always looked at college as academic first, sports second. But, that’s not the real world. Money and corruption exist, too. Good article and comments. Thanks, you all.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:59 am
“Defense Rules Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 10:20 am
……but other ‘stuff’ has popped up (old age ain’t for sissies?). Starting to feel like one giant guinea pig.”
We’re like a ’57 Chevy…..you can still shine us up and makes us look sharp but when we break down it’s getting a lot harder to find parts….
April 30th, 2025 at 11:01 am
D.R.
Good luck with ALL the challenges. I have a poster in my office/gym.
It’s from a “Coffee Table” book of pics of seniors who are still “doing it’.
This one is a 70 something old dude with a pair of dumbbells in his hands and he is RIPPED!
The caption…”Growing old is not for sissies.” I have faith in you.
I’ve had a great life and so I’m ready when my time comes but in the meantime I’m going to go for it with all I have. I see a guy a NorthShore Pool who can barely walk..he straps his legs together and swims with his arms. Another guy is even more inspirational…gets next to the pool to remove huges leg braces like the kind I used see on Polio victims…He eschews using the “lift” on lane one and just quietly removes the braces and then rolls off the edge into the pool.
Whenever I feel tired of battling my neuropathy, hard hearing etc…I think of these two guys and I’m TRULY INSPIRED!
April 30th, 2025 at 11:06 am
Gotti Dog
LMAO. That is as well stated as I’ve ever seen.
“.you can still shine us up and makes us look sharp but when we break down it’s getting a lot harder to find parts….”
Ain’t that the truth!!! I can add my personal observation. My margin of error is gone. I used to be able to roll an ankle and play BB a week later. Now that would have me out for six month. I used to be able to drink 3-4 martinis…gross eh..now I drink one and I’m wasted and hand over the keys!
It’s OK though. Just makes life more challenging and challenges have always FIRED ME UP!!!
April 30th, 2025 at 11:21 am
stpetebucsfan
Total empathy……I used to run 15-20 miles without a blink…..now when I walk the 1/4 mile up my driveway to the mailbox I’ll take the time to read the mail before heading back to the house to allow for ample recovery time between workouts…
I recently spoke to my first ever girlfriend from when I was 16…..she asked how I was….I told her “Great! I’m almost twice the man I used to be!”
Every time I watch a game (baseball, football, basketball, etc) I still find myself thinking “Shoot….I can still do that!!!” It’s my little delusion I allow myself….
April 30th, 2025 at 11:34 am
Gotti Dog
You might be surprised at how much you have left in the tank. It just takes twice as much or even more effort to get that 57 Chevy really polished up!
As for running? I was never any good my son does that. I have the advantage of being a swimmer one of the most effective ways to get back in shape without the danger of bad knees etc. And as for biking, I’m afraid on our highways in my SUV! I road my bike with a neighbor to downtown St. Pete. Scares the Beejesus out of me. I get it though swimming can be a real hassle. I’m blessed to have an Olympic pool here in St. Pete on the waterfront!
I swim early (melanoma survivor) and frequently I get to see the sun come up over Tampa Bay. When I turn my head to breath is see either beautiful palms and St, Pete’s growing downtown sideline, turn the other direction and I see Tampa Bay. LIFE IS GOOD! GRATITUDE IS MY ATTITUDE.
Good luck polishing your ole Chevy!
April 30th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
I guess algo doesn’t like when I compliment Todd for being top class at Human Resources / human relations. He is indeed great at that.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
It’s rained 6 inches in the last day and a half and it ain’t near finished. So I already ( born in 1958 ) have a small trace of the blue’s realizing that I’m getting deeper into that old fourth quarter. And then I’ve gotta read you older than me girls getting old isn’t for sissies stuff! My old granny ( mother’s side ) used to say that! When the sun comes out I’m getting on my old Super Glide and riding it 200 miles. Not so much because I want to but more because I want to know I can. And things will change. Cheers, Boys!
April 30th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
I console myself with the thought that I’m too old to die young.
April 30th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Kenton Smith
“….have a small trace of the blue’s”
It’s times like this that I recommend listening to “Still Got the Blues” by Gary Moore….
Then re-watch the Bucs 2024 highlight reel….
April 30th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
MoBucs
“I console myself with the thought that I’m too old to die young.”
Amen to that! In July I reach the age of an American male’s life expectancy!
No sweat. That means from July forward I’m playing with “House money”.
April 30th, 2025 at 6:49 pm
I am all for NIL money. Colleges were exploiting slave labor and making Billions. I am a player and of fan of the other football. In Europe you go pro when you are 16 primarily in Soccer and Basketball. Luka Doncic did that. There are no college athletics. Universities are for learning. The first 3 division’s in Soccer are paid. We are seeing that now in the usa where soccer players are going Pro at 16. They can play abroad at 18.