“He’s Not As Bad As Dean”
October 6th, 2025
The camaraderie is fantastic at One Buc Palace. And all the playful behind-the-scenes needling of each other goes public sometimes.
Todd Bowles often takes jabs at cornerback Jamel Dean’s poor hands. Dean has just 2 interceptions in his past 32 starts, which covers the postseason and many drops along the way.
Bowles joked once in training camp after a Dean interception that he might demand a drug test of the 2019 draft pick.
Bucs linebacker legend Lavonte David also has developed stone hands in recent years. He dropped an easy fourth-quarter interception in Week 2 and acknowledged on The Pat McAfee Show that Vita Vea won’t stop reminding him about it.
Yesterday, David had a game-turning interception in Seattle, and Bowles had no problem throwing a jab David’s way during Bucs Bonus on WFLA-TV today.
“We were so happy he caught it. He’s not as bad as [Jamel] Dean, but we were so happy he caught it because he dropped a few in practice,” Bowles said of David’s pick. “But he steps up and makes plays for us all the time.”
Joe loves how the Bucs are having fun with each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It speaks to the team’s bond.
Joe had a college teammate who had a bad habit of losing his footing. The guy rarely played, earned the nickname “Shoes” and took a lot of hounding from coaches and teammates. One night, late in a game on a muddy field, “Shoes” got in and made a play that required significant change of direction and a long run. The bench erupted in ecstasy — in unison.
This kind of feel-good stuff won’t necessary win a ballgame. But it keeps players caring, motivating and supporting each other. That can only lead to good things.
October 6th, 2025 at 7:13 pm
Joe laced em up on the gridiron??!! Who woulda thought! The More you Know!!
Go Bucs!
October 6th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
Having it might not win a game, but lacking it can sure lose one.
October 6th, 2025 at 8:00 pm
(Dean gets the pick 6)
Baker screaming “HE CAUGHT IT! HE CAUGHT IT!”
LOLOL
October 6th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
I’m sure they’re giving Diaby crap for dropping his pick 6 too!
October 6th, 2025 at 8:49 pm
Chiefs so far got a defensive PI call not called on the Jags on a 3rd down play, then the Chiefs got a TD on an obvious offensive PI call that the refs picked up. Remarkable how some teams get all the calls.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:01 pm
I change my mind. Bowles is a better coach than Cohen. You have one of the best RB in football and you let your QB jump over the pile. Suspect play calling so far in this game.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
Trevor Lawrence is so bad thank god we have Baker Mayfield…
I guess Liam Coen’s “genius” was really just having Baker Mayfield
October 6th, 2025 at 10:33 pm
Shocker, the Chiefs got a huge bogus missed call that resulted in a Jacksonville INT, and then they turned it into an INT. Amazing how some teams get all the calls.
October 6th, 2025 at 10:37 pm
“I guess Liam Coen’s “genius” was really just having Baker Mayfield”
I dunno. 6 HCs failed where Coen succeeded. (McVey was his 7th and Bowles his 8th HC)
October 6th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
Baker is verry ggood a gamer the problem with most top pick qb’s is they go to bad clubs they have been good since youth football high school then they get thrown into a pile of poopteam back in my day qbs got drafted and sat a couple years learn the professional game grow up get stronger look at today’s good qbs love for sat a coupleyears behind Rogers Sam Darnold toughed out 1st couple years good Baker toughed it out now look at him Mac Jones took his N.E. lumps now a steady readt #2 behind Purdy Bryce Young Michael Penix will develop Bronco’s qb doingg well less high pick hype….lower expectations on rookie qb’s
October 6th, 2025 at 11:18 pm
Tbbucs3 Says:
October 6th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
Trevor Lawrence is so bad thank god we have Baker Mayfield…
I guess Liam Coen’s “genius” was really just having Baker Mayfield’
————-
Meanwhile he just went 4-1 with a team that was supposed to pick in the top 5 this year. I’d say he’s doing pretty well.
What a petty moron to wish ill on former coaches because they left for a huge raise.
October 7th, 2025 at 2:38 am
LOL Many of us have had a “shoes” on our team. Some of us were “shoes”. LOL
Love that story Joe! Thanks!
Go Bucs!