“We Were Embarrassed”
November 24th, 2025
Choice words for his defense.
Apparently, Lavonte David had a talking-to with his teammates after the game. And the message was specifically directed at his defensive teammates.
Joe spoke with David after Sunday’s dreadful game in Lipstick City. David wore a cap that was emblazoned with “Legacy” on the front. Joe asked him what he needs to do to keep up the legacy he has built with the Bucs — and for the team to live up to the legacy of Bucs’ teams past.
Apparently, David’s chat with his teammates was not pleasant.
“I’m going to tell you the good version,” David told Joe. “I told them that we were embarrassed tonight. It was an embarrassing performance all around. We have to look ourselves in the mirror. It’s not about what type of team we want to be, but individually.
“Personally, what type of player do you want to be? We have a lot to play for. The name on the front of the jersey and the name on the back of the jersey. You’ve got to have purpose.
“[Sunday], we didn’t play with no purpose.”
And remember, that was what David referred to as the “good version” of what he told his teammates.
Joe is wondering if there is a locker room issue or at least, a defensive issue. Have players thrown in the towel? Are they just playing for themselves?
Think about it: Baker Mayfield hollered at his team a couple of weeks ago for not having a killer instinct. The offense got better, the defense got torn up by Josh Allen and couldn’t make a play to stop a drive.
Then last night, the Bucs looked like they were sleepwalking on defense and played with little heart (other than Baker Mayfield and Tez Johnson and Chris Godwin) on offense.
Did the Bucs look like a remotely good team to you last night? At all?
For both David and Mayfield to tear into this team, that tells Joe that something is not getting through. Or perhaps guys on defense just don’t give a s(p)it.
Something doesn’t seem right in that locker room. At least the offense has excuses. They’ve been ravaged by injuries. What’s the defense’s excuse?
November 24th, 2025 at 3:55 am
Lavonte and Baker are accountable, now I am not too sure about their teammates and I really do not think Bowles is able to make any changes, that will have to come from somewhere else as his coaching has been abysmal since the bye and at least in public Bowles has never been accountable either. Hopefully the Glazers are taking notes.
November 24th, 2025 at 3:56 am
Honestly, I don’t care what this team does for the rest of the regular season. For the first time in my life, I actually hope the Bucs lose to the Panthers so Bowles will finally be fired. I’m worried that if we make the playoffs, he’ll be given every excuse in the book. I’m done. He has literally sucked the joy out of football for me. In 30+ years—even during the lost decade—I’ve never felt like I just wanted to stop watching football, but this year is the first.
November 24th, 2025 at 4:12 am
Thank God Bowles had the wisdom to keep ol popgun arm Teddy over Trask. What a joke, he looked a 100 years old there. Glad we lost J Mac for this has been. Another great move by Bowles. This defense has quit. The offense trough in the towel tonight also. Bowles has lost this team. It’s time we start the coaching search.
November 24th, 2025 at 4:12 am
I kind of feel like Josh, it is not fun watching a team that Bowles has fashioned in his own image, the team is dull, lacks imagination and with the exception of a few guys, unaccountable which equals not fun to watch. You know if the negative sentiment toward Bowles could hit the Glazers in the wallet, they would be more inclined to make a change but as long as they earn revenue from a home playoff game, sell tickets (does not even have to be Buc fans in RayJay like the Pats game) and get their share of the TV coin, they are complacent.
November 24th, 2025 at 4:34 am
This team has zero to little grit. They have Want To issues, which is based on the players they have drafted. This is the same team for the past few years. GM hands out big contracts too early.
Like many have said they have takenon Todd’s attitude.
I’ve been neutral on him but he’s gotta go. The last 4 four losses is an incitement on him.
No way do they play for this guy. Lack of effort, same mistakes, etc.
November 24th, 2025 at 4:51 am
someone really blew up the spot on what’s really going on with the team, last night on tkras’ late night post game show on wdae…
i heard it, and i’m sure many others heard it as well…
now it’s out there for the dots to be connected by the ballsiest of reporters
November 24th, 2025 at 4:56 am
“Little heart” is it. Feels like the “Grinch that stole Christmas.” I still think not having Evans is crushing for the soul of the Bucs. He is so missed.
The Rams knew Baker was hurt and kept getting to him. No protection. Horrible to see Baker banged up so badly. And because he stayed in the game after the initial injury, he may have damaged more.
It pains me to say, it may be time for a clean-up on aisle 9. All – Bowles, Grizz, Licht, … New coaching and GM. We are not prepared for night games either. It’s been for a long time and is well known. The Glazers have the money. They donate large amounts to various people for different things. Bucs need a rebuild too.
November 24th, 2025 at 5:02 am
Guess this happens when you over pay for people that are average at best-Winfield Zion I thought I was watching White again.
November 24th, 2025 at 5:13 am
@adam from ny,
Not everyone listens to radio at night. Why don’t you just write what was said instead of beating around the bush.
November 24th, 2025 at 5:15 am
When I saw Jordan miss his block and then slam into baker’s shoulder, I quit watching.
November 24th, 2025 at 5:18 am
I guess Baker won’t be able to carry the team on his shoulders now that his shoulder is shot
November 24th, 2025 at 5:38 am
Usually when you say I’m not making any excuses like I am starting this statement it’s making excuses. With that said, the bucs had one hella of running game last week. Bowles starts white over Tucker thats bad coaching. White is not a bad guy or running back most coaches know you should go with the hot hand? Lets talk Josh Gazzard, he’s hand cuffed because of Bowles, go back 3 or 4 weeks ago Bowles said something to the effect of changing the offense to be more conservative/vanilla why because he doesn’t trust the players in there the backups. Name the backs that replaced Mike Evans, Buckey Ervin and Chris Godwin? So Josh G. Had to revamp the entire offense Liam Coen left. Last but not LEAST Bowles is a horrible head coach, he is not able to delegate to his coaching staff. He is a very good defensive coach when that is his only responsibility. In this league or any league of Football you can’t give up 28 to 40 plus points in most games and expect to win. Even me as simple minded and only played pee wee football 1 year knows this. Love the bucs scents 1976 I never want to see someone loose their job. It’s time to let Mr. Bowles go. Thats my 2 cents worth.
November 24th, 2025 at 5:47 am
The theme of the Bowles era is an embarrassing prime time blow out every year!
November 24th, 2025 at 6:11 am
Spill the beans @adam from ny. If I remember I’ll look it up, but if you heard it, go for it.
Several things tho from what I can gather. Bucky getting hurt for the first time being depressed that he can’t play. Jmac getting hurt in pre-season. Wirfs injury. Evans not getting 1K. Upset with defenses scheme (Reddick specifically) complacency from lack of competition. I mean where was the last one? CB?
Idk what it is but after losing to the Bills and everyone saying we got it and then pulling this crap? That’s ridiculously delusional
November 24th, 2025 at 6:28 am
Leopold Stoltch,I concur with several of your points. I bet the D players are unhappy playing in a scheme which requires a certain set of tools (a pass rush) which this team does not possess. Bowles’ successful seasons on defense required someone like JPP or Shaq Barrett. I bet Reddick did not sign with the Bucs thinking that he would be in coverage instead of trying to bust up the back field. If I were Jamel Dean, I would be angry at Todd for taking reps from me to an untested rookie who has been exposed every time he has been on the field. Those things can turn the D against Bowles. If I were JMac I would not be happy that my career has been threatened because as a penciled in starter, I was put in with the third string in a meaningless pre-season game and end up with a broken neck. All of these things were just toxic for the locker room. Plus, we do not know how things are behind closed doors, Bowles is allegedly more animated behind closed doors so anything is possible. One thing I do know, this team is in a downward spiral and it seems like Bowles and crew cannot fix it. Last week the team seemed too clam after a cojone blasting loss, have they checked out????????
November 24th, 2025 at 6:28 am
This HC and team in general are PATHETIC. How do you feel about extending Bowles now Glazers?? So I guess it’s true. Billionaires can be utter morons too.
November 24th, 2025 at 6:48 am
Truth is there are too many players on the Bucs defense who would never start on most NFL teams. They just aren’t very talented. Doubt it? Where is Joe Tyron-Shinka excelling these days?
November 24th, 2025 at 6:52 am
Lavonte was the Bucs 2nd greatest LB in team history behind DB55 , however his wheels are gone as he has no burst and no top end. What a horrific mistake Jason Licht made in letting the Jags move up and take Devin Lloyd who has turned into one of the best Mike LB’s in the game. Lavonte should hang up his cleats.
November 24th, 2025 at 7:06 am
Embarrassed…..again…..another L on primetime……back to back weeks of terrible defense
November 24th, 2025 at 7:13 am
Gipper, believe it or not but that bust is actually on the Bears’ roster, probably in some back up function. He recorded 3 tackles vs Pittsburgh yesterday. In a way, that just shows that other teams with mediocre coaching staffs can make the Bucs’ cast-offs serviceable. It is not just the not so talented players, it is the Tampa coaches. Do not get me wrong, JTS was a wasted day one pick but how is it that other teams can get results with these JAGs but Bowles cannot even get them to tackle properly??????
November 24th, 2025 at 7:38 am
So much for this great culture everyone was speaking of at the beginning of the season. Something is definitely broken with this team.
November 24th, 2025 at 7:41 am
The defensive performance comes down to our defensive coordinator. We all have known it and even people who don’t watch the NFL understand it. If the defense is so complex that the players you have can’t execute it then it’s too complex.
Players need to execute but coaches need to coach too. I didn’t get to watch the entire game but at this level ZM should have understood and not bit on that inside step by Adams on that first TD.
November 24th, 2025 at 7:52 am
You cant win a race driving on flat tires. This coaching staff are the flat tires. The players know it.
November 24th, 2025 at 8:12 am
defensive players don’t believe in the scheme or DC is what im seeing…players on defense are just going thru the motions…
looks like the defensive players have quit of bowles
i think its time for a change…need a DC that runs a different scheme or a new HC
GO BUCS!!!!
November 24th, 2025 at 8:12 am
@adam
do tell lol!!!!
GO BUCS!!!
November 24th, 2025 at 8:12 am
This defense is poorly constructed, poorly coached & poorly led. Roughly half of these defensive players, and all of this coaching staff, need to be outta here when the season ends.
But as I watched the game last night Joe, I saw something right on that very first Bucs’ drive that should’ve set off alarms for the rest of the game.
Bucs had gotten the ball to the Tampa Bay 28 to start the drive after the kickoff. Then we drove it 28 yards to the Rams 44 on 6 plays: 5 rushes & 1 short 3-yd pass. Got two 1st-and-10s that way.
BUT THEN … Grizz got greedy. On 1st-and-10 at the Rams 44, Baker threw deep to Egbuka – Incomplete. On 2nd-and-10 Rachaad up the middle for 1 yd. On 3rd-and-9 Baker threw deep again to Godwin – Incomplete. Bucs punted – and the game was over.
The Bucs were steadily moving the ball – on the ground. But instead of being patient, letting the beasts in the trenches pave the way & own the clock, Grizz got greedy. Thinking back, I’ve seen that in him more than once. It’s not injuries holding our offense back, it’s him.
November 24th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Joe I would agree that there is a locker issue if the defense played like this all year. They had come together for the Detroit game and look at the eagles 2nd half. They can play good against good teams. Doubt they have given up because of the scheme. They have shown that the scheme works when they execute.
November 24th, 2025 at 8:22 am
This starts with the HC. What is the HC’s responsibility if not to lead the team, inspire & motivate his players, & get more out of them than they think they can give. Bowles has ZERO ability to do any of that & he appears to even lack the desire, as he continually states that it’s the players themselves that should do the above. Beyond time we had a legit HC leading this organization.
November 24th, 2025 at 8:25 am
The point that I knew it was really over is when Kristan Wirf was knocked flat on his back hitting the ground with a thud.
You also know it’s bad when they start showing baby coaching assistant pics
during the “action”!
November 24th, 2025 at 8:28 am
I love lavonte but he was getting beat all night too. There were no bright spots anywhere last night.
November 24th, 2025 at 8:40 am
David has been a great Buc. With all respect he is finished.
November 24th, 2025 at 8:44 am
This team is lacking Passion…Discipline….. Intensity…..Desire…….and Perseverance……..leadership comes from the top………Todd has sucked the life out of the this team and it’s followers……a disgraceful, yet somewhat fitting output for the 50th anniversary, as a team they have regressed to the 1980’s
November 24th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Even when anyone other than Vita beats a guy , the bucs d line guys can’t get home . They just aren’t strong enough !! They can be half way past their guy , have 70 percent leverage and they still get handled like children . I can’t tell how many times i saw these guys getting nearly or totally knocked down and out of the play . They at times looked like kids playing with adults in the yard .
Now they some how seem to hold the run lanes kinda ok but pass rush , these guys belong in the USFL .
The Bucs strength and conditioning program is snorting la la dust !!
November 24th, 2025 at 9:27 am
You gave us your all for years, David. Thank you very much. But at season’s end, it’s time for you to hit those sunsets. This Defense needs a revamping. I would be surprised if the Bucs won 3 out of the 6 remaining games.
November 24th, 2025 at 9:32 am
Defense Rules, that was precisely my observation on the first drive as well. Grizzard is a problem. No feel whatsoever. Is Grizzard allergic to running outside? Tucker has that extra gear to break explosive runs. Our only chance these past 3 weeks was committing to the run game. 2-back sets? The far and few times we use them, they’re effective. So many other problems but, this is a big one.
November 24th, 2025 at 9:43 am
When i watch the bucs play defense i see the opposing offensive players so WIDE open and after watching a whole day of football waiting for us to come on its the only game that catch after catch its laughably open. Dont tell me that Dean or Morrison make that a closer ballgame this is a scheme issue. This goes back to the draft and ill say it again im ecstatic that Emeka is a buc but when some of us shrugged with that pick is because we knew the defense was in shambles. Licht and Bowles however liked what they had. Well this is what you have.
November 24th, 2025 at 9:51 am
If it sounds like a disconnect, smells like a disconnect, looks like a disconnect, then it appears to me Todd has lost the locker room.
November 24th, 2025 at 10:13 am
When Bridgewater takes the field next week it’s going to get ugly. Dude was washed two years ago.
He can’t run or throw. Bowles is going to learn you need a backup QB that can actually play. Not just a guy in the locker room.
November 24th, 2025 at 10:36 am
A team without a leader. If only we had a coach that took responsibility. So he just goes sits in his office while players try to coach the team. Fire Bowles!
November 24th, 2025 at 11:53 am
been saying Grizz abandons the run way too fast since the lions game…he has no rhythm to calling plays and doesnt trust the run…he’s in over his head…
defensively, the scheme is outdated and it doesnt put players in position to win nor does it play to their strengths….cant give WRs in todays NFL free releases…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 24th, 2025 at 11:58 am
I turned the game off at halftime. That’s how embarrassed I was. Smh David is the leader of this defense no matter who wears the mic n calls the plays. Imo it was stupid n premature 2 give SVD the mic in a potential super bowl season. Bowles dekcuf that up. I’m hella pissed off rn just thinking about that game. Or ANY game we play on primetime. Ndomakong suh was the alpha on defense. Did Gerald McCoy have it in him? KCUF NO! DOES SVD HAVE IT IN HIM? KCUF NO!! Dude is still trying 2 find his who he is n how he matters on this team. 10 weeks in. Bench that MF n put Deion jones in. Give the mic back 2 lavonte. Bench McCollum. Morrison Parrish Izien Kindle. Make him earn his way back. Make them boys play special teams. I’m heavy blitzing David if I’m calling the plays. 7 men every play. Manned up. Make these QBs sweat. Make them fear our blitz rather than gnikcuf ask 4 it.
November 24th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
You all still blaming sirvocea wh I hasn’t given up a big play in about 7 games. I know lVd is an icon but has been way worse than sirvocea
November 24th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
Fire Todd
November 24th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
As good as the Rams defense is, they use tricky things that the Bucs feel are cheating and unfair like stunts and twists through the whole game to unfairly trick and confuse the Bucs O-line. Fortunately, our coach doesn’t employ such underhanded tricks just to win a football game.
November 24th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
This has Todd finger prints all on it..hes the orchestrator of trash