Bucky Irving Controversy Arises

November 20th, 2025

So last month, Joe was advised of a non-football issue tied to Bucky Irving, and Joe did a lot of digging to find the truth.

Joe even commissioned Ira Kaufman to tap his sources as well as another one of Joe’s plugged-in confidants.

After a lot of homework, Joe was satisfied with a direct answer that explained Irving’s issue was in the rearview mirror and no longer was affecting his football life. This was nothing sinister or anything that called Irving’s character into question. Case closed.

That was three weeks ago.

Joe didn’t write anything about it in this space or talk about it publicly.

But today, Mike Florio of NBC Sports and ProFootballTalk.com, said there’s a non-injury issue tied to Irving that is part of the reason he is not expected to play Sunday in Los Angeles. Florio is arguably the most well-connected NFL insider.

Joe cannot keep quiet if Florio is piping the following out to the NFL world with the following candor.

“I’m not so sure Bucky Irving is going to be back this weekend based upon something I heard when we were in Philadelphia,” Florio said today.

“I’ll tell you off-air what I heard,” Florio continued to his co-host Chris Simms. “I want to be careful. It just underscores the very real existence of inside information. Because it’s something that probably shouldn’t be out. But I don’t think he’s going to be back anytime soon. It definitely is more information than what’s in the injury report.”

Joe has no idea what is happening currently. It could be a revival of what Joe learned last month or something completely different.

Perhaps most disturbing is Florio saying he doesn’t think Irving will be back “anytime soon.”

Bucs icon Rondé Barber already reported Irving will not play Sunday. Irving, who officially is listed with shoulder and ankle issues, has been practicing this week (and last week) on a limited basis.

83 Responses to “Bucky Irving Controversy Arises”

  1. Daryl Green Says:

    Wow

  2. johnnythemoon Says:

    Sounds like a mental health issue.

  3. BucU Says:

    WTF is happening with this team?????????????????????

  4. Bojim Says:

    I hope they will game plan around Tucker more. He’s a damn good RB.

  5. Stpetematt Says:

    Is it some kind of mental health thing? ‘Cause short of losing relatives or getting divorced I can’t think of much that would distract from an 18 week football season…?

  6. SB~LV Says:

    I love Bucky but…
    He is NOT a #1 running back
    Simply because of his size…
    Bucs pick @19

  7. Stpetematt Says:

    Bucs pick @32

  8. DS Says:

    Everyone laughed at me and scoffed when I advised Bucky’s situation. I also heard he is healthy but the buc org is being cautious and keeping him out of football

  9. 813BUCBOI Says:

    gotta ride Tucker regardless lol…he has the hot hand…

    sad to hear….hope it isnt gambling

    GO BUCS!!!!

  10. Warren Brooks Lynch Says:

    Sounds like that “Hardly Boys” South Park episode and the “raging clue” gag, until there’s more specificity on this currently vague matter.

  11. Kayla Says:

    When will people here realize, he’s not coming back this year, McMillan is not coming back this year, Godwin is not coming back this year. No reason to bring Kancey and Evans back, if they’re ready, for a one-and-done-playoff game. This season was written off as a SB run after week 2 when all the new key injuries piled onto the old key injuries. I’d actually like Carolina to win the South and draw the first place schedule next year instead of us. That also might get Bowles to go ahead and decide to “retire.”

  12. Stpetematt Says:

    So what is it DS? Mental health? Suicide attempt? (Wow!) I hope it’s neither… if it’s none of that it’s hard to imagine what it could be if it doesn’t reflect negatively on him….??

  13. Bucamania Says:

    Something is definitely fishy with Bucky’s shoulder. Don’t think Godwin or JMac are coming back this season. Brutal year with injuries.

  14. DS Says:

    I’m not going to say anything critical I’d rather Joe or the media to say something

  15. First Last Says:

    This season is a wash. All smoke and mirrors to keep other teams guessing when we have wasted two roster spots… wow

  16. Defense Rules Says:

    Mike Florio (to Chris Simms ON-THE-AIR) … “I’ll tell you off-air what I heard. I want to be careful. It just underscores the very real existence of inside information. Because it’s something that probably shouldn’t be out.’

    I’m sorry Joe, but Mike Florio had no business broadcasting that ON-THE-AIR. All he did was invite TONS OF UNNECESSARY SPECULATION about Bucky & the Bucs. And all without providing a shred of evidence that there’s any validity to it.
    IF he’s got evidence, lay it on the table. IF he doesn’t, shut the he11 up.
    Florio could have had the comments edited out of his post-show YouTube cut-up, but that didn’t happen. So he clearly chose to put it out there. –Joe

  17. CleanHouse Says:

    Mike Florio is a s-bag

  18. mj Says:

    i love bucky i hope he’s ok and we need him but we have good rbs …rachaad is awesome at what he does and tucker is fast but we need receivers …we need cg back, we can’t convert third downs …cg was the best at third downs, all of a sudden our wrs cannot get open and dang it throw deep to tez in the first qt!!!

  19. 813BUCBOI Says:

    maybe its another extortion case similar to RW1….

    BUCS were pretty tight lipped about that too….

    starting to sound like a circus at One Buc Place lol…the off field entertainment reminds me of the JW3, Swaggy, Djax years lol

    GO BUCS!!!!

  20. Stpetematt Says:

    There’s no reason this team cannot win a Super Bowl *this year* if all or most of those players come back. So why wouldn’t they want to? Godwin and Bucky are already practicing. Evans will back week 14. We win out down the stretch and win a home playoff game. Then 2 away ones. 🙂

  21. Defense Rules Says:

    Kayla … ‘When will people here realize, he (Bucky) is not coming back this year, McMillan is not coming back this year, Godwin is not coming back this year. No reason to bring Kancey and Evans back, if they’re ready, for a one-and-done-playoff game.’

    Actually I agree with you Kayla, but you went off the ends of the earth after that. Do you REALLY want to see Carolina win the NFC South? Hard for me to imagine a true Bucs’ fan thinking that way, even one who apparently dislikes Todd Bowles as much as you seem to.

    This team is giving it all it has despite some horrendous injury losses. Yes there are a LOT of ‘coaching adjustments’ that’ve been needed because of that, and a LOT of mistakes made in the process. But no one on this team has quit, and a winning season is still within reach. This team still has a LOT of heart, and regarding Carolina, I want to see the Bucs bury them … TWICE.

  22. bucnjim Says:

    Instead of playing games with the injury report (like it’s really fooling anyone) they should be concentrating on winning with the players that are healthy. It’s more annoying than it is advantageous.

  23. D-Rok Says:

    This makes no sense. What is Florio, in the second grade? “I’ve got a secret but I can’t tell you what it is.”

    C’mon, why get us fans potentially all riled up without, as DR said, ANY evidence?

    Hmmmm.

  24. HeartyDickerson Says:

    Might be time to curb all the slobbering on Licht’s draft prowess. So many fans and media have pre-ordained these last few draft classes, and things are crumbling. Maybe these weren’t all “gems” that other GMs failed to identify, but more so players with large faults only Licht was willing to gamble on.

    Kancey – small and injury prone
    Braswell – massive bust
    Barton – not a difference maker. Not getting better. Possibly regressing
    Bucky – small, personal issues
    Dennis – small, bad instincts, terrible in coverage
    McMillian – small, injury prone
    Klein – not good enough to get snaps
    Culp – not good enough to get snaps
    Morrison – halfway through season, getting torched let and right
    McCollum – paid and disappeared, soft
    Winfield – small, injury prone, paid and disappeared

  25. TheVerv7 Says:

    So it’s pure hearsay at this point. Booger was adamant Luke wasn’t coming back this year and look how that panned out.

  26. Mord Says:

    ‘Joe cannot keep quiet if Florio is piping this out…’
    ?
    Except Joe *is* keeping quiet. This whole article is basically: ‘We know secret stuff we can’t tell you about.. but we’re definitely not keeping quiet about the fact that we’re keeping quiet.’

    That’s not journalism. That’s coy innuendo dressed up as insider credibility.
    No, it’s Joe acknowledging learning things off the record and Joe honors those commitments. That is journalism. That’s why so many journalists write books decades after covering an event or issue or team, sharing things that become ok to share many, many years later. Sometimes with permission. Should Joe pretend Florio’s comment is coming out of left field. No. That’s not going to happen, either. That would be misleading. –Joe

  27. Stpetematt Says:

    Maybe it’s time for all non-Bucs fans on this board to go away. Find someone else to bother.

  28. MelvinJunior Says:

    Whoa, “JoeBucsFan” is all the rage on WDAE today!!!!

  29. Derek Says:

    Well tell us Joe

  30. Gbobucsfan Says:

    This is why I stopped reading PFT. Florio has turned into TMZ. Like a little school girl. But yet here we all are, typing comments about this article.

  31. Jmarkbuc Says:

    HeartyDickerson

    Exactly! And Thanks!

  32. Jmarkbuc Says:

    I always thought it was odd that he caught a 60 yard bomb after being “injured”

  33. Crash Says:

    Glad I’ve got Sean Tucker handcuffed to Bucky in my fantasy league.

  34. Whatevs Says:

    Not fair to speculate. Hope he is getting better and/or is safe. Friends have seen him hanging out by the riverwalk in Tampa and talked with him.

    Definitely got the vibe early on with these “injuries” coming out of One Buc were beyond the normal gamesmanship allowed in the NFL.

    There is something very wrong with the leadership within the Bucs organization, and they need to be investigated. Godwin, Wirfs, the hamstrings, and the rest of these injuries seem to be suspect on timing and info. Now the team is “sick”.

    A lot of people rely on accurate information when gambling on the NFL and since the NFL sponsors, promotes, and profits from it, this may get Congress involved if it keeps up along with the reffing issues, who knows what may come out next

  35. Upstate NY BUC Says:

    Mental Illness is real man!!! let’s pray it’s not the case!!

  36. MelvinJunior Says:

    They think everyone else across Tampa Bay loves Todd Bowles, and thinks he’s been doing a GREAT JOB over the past four seasons. They ‘think’ we’re all crazy or something!? While, not even taking account barely ‘limping’ into the playoffs EVERY freaking year now, for about the past 4-5 YEARS running, & coming out of THE ‘historically’ WEAKEST Divisions in the entire NFL. And, with it taking Cohen to literally, save HIS JOB last season (needed EVERY single point and yard), and with Winfield Junior saving-it the season before. It’s amazing HOW MUCH T-Krass (though, off today) defends him, too!!!!

  37. SB~LV Says:

    StPetefatt is a Goober !

  38. HomerSimpsonRocks Says:

    Mayyyybe. Florio is a bit of a self-aggrandizing blowhard. Not sure he’s all that credible. If it was Rick Stroud, I would believe it. But Florio: maybe/maybe not.

  39. Josh Says:

    Soft ass team built with a bunch of pansies thats just the facts unfortunately…

  40. Lightningvinny1 Says:

    All this doom and gloom,, all this the sky is falling,,, Bucs are still the second best odds to win any division at -850 (Phily is way way less) ,, the rest of the field is -300 or better ,,,, and in my humble , expert gambling opinion , come Tues morning the Bucs will be -900 to -1000,,, (not because we beat LA , Cause Carolina gets drilled by SF) ,, so sit back,, close your eyes Sun night or read a book ,,, and then we start the easier part of our schedule and hopefully start getting a guy back here and there , beat AZ next week and we will be 7-5 (sound familiar )

  41. FootBall1 Says:

    Well this is distrubing on a couple fronts. Ronde alluded to it last week. Now we hear this. Joe, you did the eight thing. Some things are private and not for public consumption. I think we need to protect and be mindful that Bucky is a person first and formost and deserves privicy on things like we all do. Let’s hope all is getting better for Bucky, whatever is going on.
    So hats off to Bucky and yes we will cheer your return when you are ready to go!!!.
    Thanks

  42. MelvinJunior Says:

    I bet there is some ‘push and pull’ going on within the organization and Bucky’s camp… A good ole-fashioned tug-of-war. And, someone very close to the Bucs has intentionally ‘leaked-it’ to Florio. They are probably about fed-up with him, by now! Guaranteed. I’m sure they want AND expect for HIM to be on the Fricking FIELD. 💯

  43. D-Rok Says:

    Well, Joe, and I’m being serious here: Is this situation something for the fans to actually worry about? Will this affect the team? (more than it already has with Bucky missing so many games).

    Or is it more of the “behind-the-scenes” tidbit you are known for dropping occasionally?

    Call us curious, if you will…

  44. Stpetematt Says:

    You’re a double goober.

    Injuries have definitely plagued this team something unreal. Last season it was everyone in the secondary. This season it’s every wide receiver.

    Crazy.

  45. BPBucsfan Says:

    Brandin Cooks has been released by the Saints. Go pick him up. Won’t even cost a draft pick!!

  46. OneAndThree Says:

    As Steve Stiffler said in American Wedding:

    WTF Sh@t Break!!!

  47. Jason Anthony Sturgess Says:

    I can’t believe that Mr. Joe Bucs & the rest of you don’t think the Trainer might be responsible for some of these injuries. Secondly, if Godwin came back so what. He was mediocre at best in the few games he played this year & you think he’ll play better?

    Other than drafting Emeka Egbuka what has Jason Licht done in the past year other than not fire Todd Bowles, lol.

  48. Chief Says:

    What I do not understand is why Bucky and Godwin were not put on IR. We could have signed another player to help in their absence. That made no sense to me at all.

  49. Stpetematt Says:

    Godwin was getting open- he just wasn’t catching the ball. That can remedy itself in a hurry.

    Cooks isn’t better than Bucs WR8.

  50. I Remember 21 Says:

    Hearty speaks the truth. I’m SICK of us drafting olinemen and changing their positions. The only time most other teams do that is to move a college tackle to guard. We act like big guys are just interchangeable. And a lot of the guys listed have great potential, they flash. But how many are regular pro bowl caliber players? I don’t see many, if any.

    And I’m even MORE SICK of bowles getting a pass due to injuries.
    1) Every team has injuries. The 2020 season was an aberration.
    2) bowles refuses to address/fire the medical/ strength & conditioning/ training staff, so 🤷🏻‍♂️
    If you can only be successful without injuries, you’re not gonna be very successful in the NFL.

    Every season people give bowles a pass due to injuries, or rookies, or whatever the f. EVERY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE DEALS WITH THESE THINGS! If you can’t win in those conditions, you just SUCK.

    #FIREbowles
    #NOconfidence

  51. Whatevs Says:

    Maybe they don’t meet IR requirements because the Bucs leadership is playing games with the information

  52. Trey Alderson-Cloutier Says:

    Could this be in relation to what Richard Sherman knows?

  53. JTHV Says:

    Can we fire KAYLA as a commentor out of a cannon?

  54. Stpetematt Says:

    It’s pretty rare people lose an *entire* starting position group. That’s horrific luck- especially 2 seasons in a row.

  55. BigZ Says:

    I like Bicky at Oregon. I’ve liked Tuck running the ball a bit more. Both would be a nice combo….

    So much for drafting character guys.. It’s always something with this organization.

  56. AK Says:

    Goedeke came back sooner than most do with a torn plantar fascia. FWIW

  57. Jim Hennessey Says:

    This team is a disaster.

  58. D-Rome Says:

    No, it’s Joe acknowledging learning things off the record and Joe honors those commitments. That is journalism.

    I’m not sure why it’s so hard for some of you knuckle-dragging mouth breathers to understand this. You all acted the same way years ago when it came out that Doug Martin was into things he shouldn’t have been into.

    Here’s my concern. If Joe is hearing things, and Florio is hearing things, then there’s something there. Whatever that something is doesn’t really matter to fans. All that matters is that he’s not playing this weekend and he’s probably not playing for the rest of the season.

    Mike Florio and Joe just don’t throw things out there to see what sticks. C’mon people, smarten up.

  59. Jackson Says:

    Jmarkbuc Says:
    I always thought it was odd that he caught a 60 yard bomb after being “injured”

    Yes, I always thought this was very strange as well. Why wasn’t Godwin and Bucky put on IR? There has been a lot of issues this year with injuries, the coaching staff and the front office.

  60. Marine Buc Says:

    Oh well – at least we got one decent year out of Bucky.

    Not bad bad for a 4th round pick and much better than most of Licht’s 4th round picks.

    LOL!

    It’s a Buc’s life.

    Enjoy the pain and sorrow.

  61. John Says:

    Beginning to remind me of when Raheem Morris started hanging out at the strip clubs more than he was at the buccaneers facility…. For whatever reason this team has gone from a respected contender (I’m talking about the early success in the national respect the team was receiving from all the talking heads) the team has gone from a respected contender to an afterthought on nation talk shows.
    Can any person out there tell me a time that Todd Bowls defenses were respected and or feared anything like a money kissing defense? You can give a half a game here and a game there let the defense did well, but you cannot put together a continual game after game after game period of time that a Todd Bowles was respected and feared…. I hear over and over on this particular website what a defensive genius, what a defensive mastermind Todd Bowels is .. I see a defenses that occasionally play a quarter or 3/4 of a game but they’re going to give up Big plays and points. Holes everywhere. Quarterback is never on his back side.
    Please if someone can give me some sort of evidence, via historical proof, that Todd bowls is a defensive mastermind for defensive changes please do share please…. thanks

  62. John Says:

    **sorry voice text… Monty kiffin not money kissing. Haven’t said that money kissing that’s exactly what the Glaciers are doing with a majority of the defensive money paid out, kissing good money goodbye….

  63. mord Says:

    Joe.. I say this with respect for the work you do, and I understand completely about honoring off-the-record commitments.

    What I’m questioning is the choice to announce that you have off-the-record info you won’t share, then frame that as ‘not keeping quiet.’ To a reader, that lands less like clarity and more like, ‘We know something, we can’t tell you, but we want you to know we know it.’ It feels more like access-peacocking than information.

    If the details can’t be reported, isn’t it better to leave them out until they are? And.. if they can be reported, report them. Sitting in the middle.. pointing at a secret while saying you can’t disclose it.. doesn’t actually help anyone understand the situation.

  64. Erik with Pilot and Driver™ Says:

    This is the Football God’s way of forcing Tucker into the lineup in spite of our r*tarded a$$ HC who doesn’t like to play our best RB.

    I wish Bucky well, but we should roll with Tucker and never look back.

    Bucky can get some 2nd team reps when he gets back…

  65. OneAndThree Says:

    Fabulous “journalism”, really top notch.

    The Bowles of hard hitting sports news.

  66. Josh Says:

    Athletes deserve no privacy when it comes to there playing availability or anything not related to there personal lives outside of football. Its a public domain with billions of dollars mental health is a thing but when your an athlete its not a private thing thats part of you being a highly paid athlete and in the public. Joe is a PUNK!! You will never change my mind at this point if a reporter has information off record it should stay that way. Saying oh there’s information but we cant tell you is complete BS. AND NO LONGER OFF RECORD IT CREATES SPECULATION WHICH IS JUST AS BAD IF NOT WORSE!!

  67. Tony Says:

    I wonder if they’re covering up something with him, too! If maybe it’s more serious than they’re really coming out & saying.

  68. Joko Says:

    Listening to these jagoffs cracks me up

  69. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Relax….He practiced Wed…let’s see if he practiced today,….if he did , perhaps this isn’t a big problem…

  70. MelvinJunior Says:

    @ TheVerv7 – we all assumed he was just mixed-up and said (RT vs RG) and said the wrong position, and was really meaning Mauch. He never came out and said “Goedeke.” He just said, “RT.” He just got ‘em mixed-up. It wasn’t anything malicious or intentional.

  71. MelvinJunior Says:

    Trey Alderson-Cloutier Says: “Could this be in relation to what Richard Sherman knows?”

    That’s an interesting comment… Nice memory! I would say probably so, for the most part. At least partly.

  72. Hodad Says:

    Has any reporter asked Bowles if he’s dealing with issues besides health?

  73. Defense Rules Says:

    UpstateNYBuc … ‘Mental Illness is real man!!! let’s pray it’s not the case!!’

    THAT is exactly what innuendo spawns. No one from what I’m reading has said 1 word about the issue being mental illness. And yet, speculation with zero evidence (like what Mike Florio dropped) always leads to rampant misinformation. Rumor after rumor, and oftentimes people’s reputations get irreparably damaged in the process.

  74. buc4evr Says:

    Hope it’s not a CTE issue or mental health issue. Look what happened to Doug Martin. Kind of scary that no one that knows is talking.

  75. SlyPirate Says:

    LUKE GOEDEKE IS OUT FOR THE SEASON!!!!

    Remember when that was the “real inside scoop”.
    Guess what? He’s back. The rumors were wrong.

    Wed-Thu insider rumors are hot garbage. It’s the new clickbate.

  76. MelvinJunior Says:

    Yeah, Todd has had more than enough time to get his defense back to being fully rebuilt by now. VERY disappointing. More than enough time. There’s been enough talent there, but WHO is in-charge of drafting and signing talent… BOTH, JL and TB. They’ve totally wasted the talent on this team and now, even the players themselves, appear to be stuck in some type of a malaise. If this continues, it’s going to be time, to start-over fresh. I mean, wholesale changes must be made THIS off-season. I hope the owners/FO is already preparing for it… Better be ready to make a move on a ‘top-tier’ Head Coach. And, give him control over the roster, by allowing HIM to keep who HE wants, to ‘sign’ who HE wants, and then to move OFF guys (a lot of fans will be uncomfortable with). It just is what it IS. It’s a BUSINESS. I just hope they REALLY wanna WINNNNN. And, willing to do whatever it TAKES, by making the TOUGH decisions.

  77. Josh Says:

    Seriously I already couldn’t stand Florio for doing this kind of thing regularly. Unfortunately, now the real information needs to come out so the speculation doesn’t spiral out of control—and if you go looking, it already has. Some people are calling him a “religious nut” because of a cryptic post about being “nailed to a cross.” Others are saying he’s having mental issues, showing up at the practice facility at 3 a.m. and having strange meetings with “old men.” I’m not even kidding—this is exactly why I hate this kind of rumor‑driven chaos.

    It went from “He’s hurt; obviously there’s something not being discussed hes more i jured than there letting on” to everyone insisting it’s just shoulder and ankle issues, so we were all expected to just go with that. Everyone knew that explanation was questionable, but at least there weren’t “official” rumors coming from “journalists.” Now, unfortunately, the actual information needs to be released so things don’t continue to get out of hand—especially since the people with the actual knowledge have admitted there is more to the story than what’s been reported.

    This has completely ruined any journalistic integrity behind not letting the information out…

  78. Coconut Doughnut Says:

    Praying for the Young Buc!

  79. MelvinJunior Says:

    Honestly, I don’t understand why this has so many people, all bent outta shape. I don’t see what the big deal is with ANY of this!? Really, WHO cares!? He’ll play when he plays. If he doesn’t, then he doesn’t. It is what it is. If Joe knows a “SECRET” – again, WHO CARES. Same with Florio… Couldn’t care LESS. He’ll play if and when HE’s ready to play. If he doesn’t, then he’s only hurting himself (and maybe Todd Bowles). It’s just really NOT a ‘big-deal’ for ANY of us. Doesn’t matter either way! It is what it is, and it will always be. I guess, I’ve just never been a ‘jealous’ person then… Cause, it doesn’t bother me at ALL, if/when ‘others’ have some type of inside information that I am not privy to, or knows something that I don’t. And, I don’t sit around worrying about, or really given much thought about Bucky’s (or any one-player’s) injury status. So, yeah… I just can’t see the big issue or problem here.

  80. MelvinJunior Says:

    Then, “Bucky” HIM-frickin-SELF needs to address it. He can do it if he wants to. Nobody’s preventing him from doing so. If, he’s that damn worried about it. He’s a grown-ass MAN.

  81. Ron Potter Says:

    Maybe… and just spitballing here… that hip-drop tackle that caused the initial injury on Bucky and it wasn’t flagged (not even sure the Eagle player who did it was fined) has scared Bucky into just simply NOT wanting to play football. Too many players getting injured while the NFL owners refuse to invest in natural grass on all fields, refuse to give teams an extra bye week while adding on additional regular season games AND refuse to increase the old and outdated 53-man roster size to properly substitute players as “load management” or whatever you want to call it.

  82. BucsNbeer Says:

    Someone on Instagram posted a video of Bucky walking alone on Riverwalk.

  83. MelvinJunior Says:

    Maybe, if he was Jonathan Taylor, I would probably think about it a little more often… Probably. Idk!? Injury status is just not something that gets me all that bent up outta shape over. Cause, it just is what it is. Unless, it’s ‘someone’ being paid A LOT of $$$$ that’s destroying the team’s salary cap because of it! But, that’s an entirely different situation.

 

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