Kick The Ball!
November 13th, 2025
Former Bucs star Gerald McCoy.
Six-time Buccaneers Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is annoyed with Todd Bowles.
There’s no personal beef from the Bucs’ most high-profile cheerleader, but McCoy is miffed by a Bowles decision late in Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
Even after a day to think about it, McCoy was lashing out during his with former Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib on The Arena — Gridiron YouTube Show.
The Bucs had a 4th-and-3 late in the game at the Patriots’ 27 yard line trailing 21-16 and 1:55 on the clock. The Bucs had three timeouts in their pocket and screwed up the play and lost three yards. First down, Patriots.
McCoy said that never should have happeed.
“Kick the ball!” McCoy bellowed, wanting the Bucs to cut the Patriots lead to 21-19. “Why are we going for it on fourth down?”
McCoy got pushback from Talib and argued the Bucs had three timeouts remaining and had played a decent defensive game to that point. Again, Joe will note, the Bucs had only allowed 21 points with less than two minutes to play.
Talib slapped down McCoy like only Talib would: “That seven-minute drive [by the Patriots] is on the back of [Todd Bowles’] mind, like, ‘Sh*t, they just done this … I might kick a field goal and not get the ball back and look like a damn pu**y in the media,”
Classic Talib.
McCoy added Mayfield wasn’t playing his best and the Bucs should have taken the points in front of them.
Joe would say to McCoy the Bucs didn’t kick a field goal there because they didn’t kick one 10 minutes earlier.
It’s somewhat intriguing that in a game in which the Bucs offense struggled, Tampa Bay scored 23 points while passing up two field goals and an extra point. The latter was for an ill-advised, two-point conversion pass to Baker Mayfield.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Can people not do simple math? Of course you go for two when you got a kicker who made a 64 yarder. Jesus Christ people, stop being so dense.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
If he would’ve kicked it: “Bowles is playing too conservative”
If we would’ve converted the 3 yards on 3rd/4th down : “Finally Bowles is showing some aggression”
We were clearly playing for the win, and the offense couldn’t cash in an extra opportunity provided by a takeaway.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
The call to go for it wasn’t wrong…the sh!t play call was (as was a good chunk of the game)! Play to win and I am glad to see TB not as conservative as he once was.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
lol what does McCoy know about winning? Last guy I’m listening too regarding anything football.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
Another bad decision. If we kick that field goal, we would have been in position to take the lead with a field goal on our next drive. The Pats outplayed the Bucs all day, but we still could have won if not for Bowles’s bad decisions.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Game is over, f@ck it. Beat the Bills Sunday and all is right in the world.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:45 pm
If he kicked it and scored the defense would have given the points right back. Some people never learn anything.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
They didn’t kick a field goal because Chase McLaughlin was my fantasy kicker
November 13th, 2025 at 4:14 pm
7 points left off the board… we lost by 5…
November 13th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Know why?
Because bowels is not a good HC!!
Below 500 HC record. These tampa teams are good n they float around 500 every year with a midseason collapse
November 13th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
My assessment for 2026:
1) AW Jr – very expensive – performance drop off – possible diva
good trade candidate
2) Zyon – expensive – average corner – trade candidate
3) Vita – love him but he’s long in the tooth – some team would love to get him
4) Kancey – too injury prone – he will remain but D line needs a
retooling and how does he fit ?
5) Lavonte retires – Dennis ?
6) Possible good opportunity to switch to 4-3 defense with less complexity for the players – everyone has Bowles number and I believe he is all but gone
7) YaYa is the only OLB to build a 3-4 around – need lots of talent if 3-4 remains
8) Jason will work his magic and the O line will be just fine
9) Mike Evans – who knows – CG- I regret to say he may be done
10) J Mc – his neck will never be the same limiting his head rotating ability and thus his vision – I hope that is not the case but I speak from experience
11) Rachaad wants to be paid – but he won’t get it here
12) Bucky may never return to form and he’s small
13) Bowles and the defensive staff are lacking
14) Circumstances forced Grizz to OC too soon
We have a franchise QB and a good O line base. We have the #1 receiver for the future. We have very good young talent at corners and strong safety. The team is showing signs of disharmony and Baker sees it. Other than that we’re doing great.
November 13th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Total BS…. Make the kick and you’re still behind…no guarantee of getting the ball back…
We simply failed …and that happens.
November 13th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Crazy talk. Obviously you go for it. 3 points you still lose and then all the opposing offense has to do is convert one third down and the game is over.
November 13th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
111111111Bucs were hurt by two things: rookie OC who panicked, and god knows what on defense with the 3 big lucky NE plays. 5555555555555 I haven’t looked at the ref stats.llllllllllllll It won’t happen Sunday. nnnnnnnnnnnnnGo Bucs!!zzzzz
November 13th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
“J Mc – his neck will never be the same limiting his head rotating ability and thus his vision – I hope that is not the case but I speak from experience”
You’ll need to stop with playing doctor in comments. None of you know what injuries were sustained and the extant to claim you have experience in Jmac’s condition.
November 13th, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Bunch of negative Nancy’s all up in here
November 13th, 2025 at 4:45 pm
MikeBuc Says:
November 13th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
^^^^
Per Todd Bowles J Mc has fractured vertebra. That means broken neck. That happens to be a BFD. Just FYI, I have been well schooled in neck anatomy as the result of my own injuries.
November 13th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Another lower case g. Good luck in eternity.
November 13th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
So easy to make the calls after the game is over!
November 13th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
The outcome of cervical spine fractures depends on the neurological deficit at the time of presentation and concomitant head injury.
That comes from the HIH nat’l library of medicine. I hope for the best for J Mc. It is possible he could have a full complete recovery with little or no long term impact. The replay film showed him doing a full body weight vertical spike on his head. He may also have suffered a concussion. That is a serious injury.
November 13th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Because someone Googles neck fracture or goes to the library doesn’t make you a DR. If you had one doesn’t mean you know anything about what another person has. Unless you’re that person’s physician and know the exact degree of the injury you’re guessing. All injuries are not the same.
November 13th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
We got thumped. Its gone. Can’t bring it back. Focus on them Bills. It might be raining and 30 degrees up there come Sunday. Gonna be a tough game.We cannot afford to lose.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:08 pm
DBS Says:
November 13th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
^^^^
There are millions of people that are not Doctors or medical professionals that are equipped with enough knowledge to make the same statements I have made. You are not one of those people and likely never will be.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:24 pm
DBS Says:
November 13th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
^^^^
I challenge you. Go study cervical fractures. Get your info from legitimate sources. It’s not that difficult. Read, study, learn, but don’t attack those that have from your ignorant position. You don’t have to be a doctor to know the basics.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
The highest paid Buc ever/ Hot Rod’s blowup doll getting a little too cute with his commentary. Focused on Carolina where you declared you were “at home”.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
Bowles Blunders add up over the season. Blunder her Blunder there…Just another Bowles Blunder as the Bucs head for .500 ‘The Bowleszone’.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:30 pm
The real pisser was I believe they had 2nd & 3…and Pats on their heels. Next two plays were complete duds. A first down or two and all Pats timeouts are gone and so is most of the clock.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
MikeBuc Says:
November 13th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
^^^^DBS Says:
November 13th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
^^^^^
Two peas in a pod. Their feelings are hurt when they realize they don’t know squat. That could be prevented if you would read a book , show some curiosity and seek knowledge.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
Thank you, Colonel Angus, and preach.
The past is over.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
Going for it was the correct call. Too bad we didn’t convert
November 13th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
I don’t understand the whole chase points take the points u can till u have to go for two. To many time we lose cuz we needed a TD at the end of a game instead of a field goal.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:52 pm
For the life of me, I can’t figure out who gives a damn what Gerald McCoy says. How he got a talking head gig is beyond me.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Our Bucs just have to play better, they have to execute and regain the emotion required to win. If they do, they win this game against the Bills !!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Bills !!
November 13th, 2025 at 7:15 pm
Going for it was the right call. Calling 2 back to back pass plays when you need 3 yards was dumb
November 13th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
I don’t have a problem with going for it on 4th down. It was the wasted 3rd down that pisses me off. We needed Alstott up the gut.
November 13th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
Roscoe.
The last person who will get any feelings hurt by you is me. When you have worked Fire Rescue – EMS for 30 years let me know. I also don’t try to impress people like I know everything about another person’s injury by quotes from a medical book. Then say he may or may not come back. Duh. I have put more C collars on accident patients then I’m sure you have and transported them . Don’t know squat?
November 13th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
It was a compounding effect resulting from leaving those pts off the board earlier as Joe pointed out. Let Chase attempt the 58 yarder b4 half. If he makes, and kicks xp instead of failed 2 pt,..then you kick, but by that pt in the game, and the decision removed by 2 poor decisions earlier, you have to go for it with 1:55 left in the game
November 13th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Too many coaches feel they have to go for it now… curious what analysis would say… I think being conservative and punting or kicking field goals is probably a better strategy for winning.
But it’s true that you’d look like a total p****.
November 13th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
That’s not simple math. It’s anecdotal and insults.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
The solution is we got to call it better and play it better 🤣 bowles special press conference banger
November 13th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
@roscoe
“There are millions of people that are not Doctors or medical professionals that are equipped with enough knowledge”
As others have noted You are not equipped with squat. There are multiple bones in the neck Einstein . You don’ t know squat which ones were involved or the extent. So your anecdotal fake brilliance is all in your head as pertains to Jmac’s injury.
just embarrassing yourself further.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
@ItsCorn
I keep saying that all of this analytics stuff is just destroying the sport because yeah everyone feels like they need to go for it all the time now & you don’t.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
This is Todd Bowles M.O. he makes some strange decisions. Going for two in the third quarter instead of kicking the extra point reminded me of the Todd Bowles we know and love. Why chase points when there was well over a quarter to play. Throughout Bowles coaching career he has just done some things that don’t make sense. Like back in Cleveland with Tom Brady at Q.B. And playing for overtime when we were very close to being in scoring range. I realize everyone makes mistakes but constantly doing non-sensical things consistently is what gets coaches fired.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Unless the Bucs were playing with the 2002 version of their defense, going for it was the right call.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
I’m not EMS but I do have 4 years medical education. You surely know that injury causes inflammation and that generally leaves behind calcification and that leads to spurs, arthritic changes and such. I certainly don’t know the extent of J Macs injury but Bowles said fractured vertebra. Was it one vertebra or more ? Were the discs herniated or ruptured? Was the spinal cord injured ? Are the facets narrowed and causing pinched nerves ? Is he having muscle spasms ? How is his range of motion ? Was surgery required ? Given the type of injury (vertical spike), were any other vertebra misaligned or discs herniated or ruptured ? I hope the injury was minimal and he fully recovers. We’ll find out. I didn’t google this stuff. I have both learned it and lived it.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:24 pm
That onside kick needed about 0.3 seconds more hangtime.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
You got it right, Joe. The decision not to kick the 58 yard field goal earlier, assuming the Bucs made it, is what cost them the game. If they had made that kick, then surely (I hope) Bowles would have kicked it for the lead instead of going for the 4th and three and ultimately, the Bucs would have won by one point.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Play better defense and we are not talking about kicking and bad coaching decisions
November 13th, 2025 at 8:47 pm
WE ARE GOING TO END UP LIKE WE DO EVERY YEAR WITH BOWLES ONE AND DONE ! BORING COACH MAKES A BORING TEAM. ! IF WE EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS .😡
November 13th, 2025 at 8:52 pm
I never transported an accident victim but I have stood on a step stool and looked over the shoulder of a neurosurgeon as he performed a cervical laminectomy and lectured about the spine. That took place in a VA hospital where I had access to the medical library. I also stood by a surgeon as a right carotid endarterectomy was performed as well as a Nissen transthoracic fundoplication was performed. I have also seen close up a complete autopsy. I have seen the gruesome nature of Orthopedic surgeries. I do not speak about things I do not know. I’m not trying to impress nor am I ashamed of the many aspects of life I have educated myself on.
November 13th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
I understand everybody’s point. But what yardage range is a acceptable miss by the kicker and a bad call? Most people say bad kick when a 45 yarder doinks the upright. But a hook at 65 range the kicker gets a pass and begins to question the call. Something else to consider Chase just calmed down from being “off” a few weeks back. Todd had to have a talk with him said post game interview.
November 13th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
Chasing points usually will come back to bite a team in the end. Bucs left 7 points on the field Sunday but I get Todd’s logic, he did not trust his defense to get a stop, simple enough. Going for it on the 4th down situations where Chase could have gotten points is a clear indicator that Bowles did not think his D could get the job done.
Beej: been there on the fantsay points, it is almost as if the fantasy Gods are simply against ya in key situations. For me it is when someone like Tyler Allegeier vultures a TB from Bijon Robinson or Laporta gets a TD for my opponent after Ra St Brown drops a ball in the end zone and costs my team a TD…….
November 14th, 2025 at 12:59 am
Jalen McMillan Broke Neck Bones
October 30th, 2025
^^^^^
Mike and DBS
^^^^
10) J Mc – his neck will never be the same limiting his head rotating ability and thus his vision – I hope that is not the case but I speak from experience
You two just had to attack me for making the above statement.
On this website Joe stated that J Mc broke bones plural in his neck.
In the post Bowles said that the injury could be a life injury.
Perhaps I should have said “may never be the same” instead of “will never be the same”. Regardless, I hope J Mc has a miraculous recovery. He may be advised by his Doctors to retire.
You two don’t read very carefully . If either of you two had any idea how much ignorance you showed. And Mr.30 year EMS you really should be ashamed for not recognizing the seriousness of this life altering injury. Just a couple of wisenheimers you are.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:15 am
Should Mike and DBS go back and read Joe’s Oct. 30 article and if they read it carefully (doubt it) they’ll see that Joe mentions JPP’s neck fracture and fairly quick recovery. I know it’s too much to ask but if you study neck fractures you will find that they were two different types. If Mike and DBS want to try and make me look bad they need to be better prepared. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:59 am
“Perhaps I should have said “may never be the same” instead of “will never be the same”. ”
Ding Ding…Thats right. Thats what you should have said and didn’t. You made the foolish choice of make a prognosis without a medical degree and without knowledge of the actual location and extent of the neck injury which can only be ascertained by someone who actually examined Jmac.
only moral midgets make a mistake but can’t own up to it and blame everyone else for it.
November 14th, 2025 at 10:32 am
MikeBuc Says:
November 14th, 2025 at 1:59 am
^^^^
Shoo Fly
November 14th, 2025 at 10:53 am
Maybe someday all these teams & coaches will learn but it doesn’t seem like it.
November 14th, 2025 at 11:59 am
I warned against this 2pt BS since before the season even started.
November 14th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
I had no problem with going for it on 4th and 3 versus a friggin 58-yard FG in bad rainy weather and poor field conditions.
November 14th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
were the same team every year were a 10 win team in a weak division and not a solid coach bucky should of played
November 14th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Godwin is a problem NeXT year roster
November 16th, 2025 at 2:07 am
play to win