Peter King: Todd Bowles Cried For Help, Baker Mayfield Is Turning Into A Pumpkin
December 22nd, 2025
The man Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht allowed behind the scenes of his 2020 NFL Draft decisions, a guy who for decades was catered to at One Buc Palace, is no fan of the current team.
Joe’s referring to former NFL super insider Peter King, who retired from NBC before the 2024 season but quickly decided he couldn’t stop lecturing the masses on football.
King is a regular on the Let’s Go! podcast/SiriusXM radio show with Jim Gray, Matthew Stafford and Maxx Crosby.
One week ago, before yesterday’s debacle against Carolina, King was hammering away at the Buccaneers. Joe didn’t transcribe and share it last week because, well, listening to King pontificate sends Joe to the toilet and Joe was trying to feel festive. But King’s national finger-wagging seems appropriate this morning.
King slapped around Baker Mayfield. “He had a great run through the first half of this season, and he is turning into a pumpkin now.”
Again, that was slow-talking King one week ago.
And then he came after Todd Bowles in multiple ways.
“I’ve got a problem with the defense as well, against a team that had been struggling mightily in the Atlanta Falcons,” King said. “You know, you give up 14 points or 15 points, whatever it was in the last 10 minutes of the game, they’re a mess. And I think when I hear a head coach talk like that after a game — head coaches, you’ve gotta take a deep breath when you go into that press conference room and Todd Bowles has been through it all. You gotta take a deep breath when you go in there and you have to swallow what you really wanna say.
“I believe he said that because I believe he wanted to talk directly to his team through the public. And he basically said to his team, ‘Listen, I’m not saying, hey, it starts with me — because I’ve done all I can. The coaches have done all we could. You know, at some point there’s enough talent here. You have to make the plays. You have to make stops on defense. Baker, you’ve gotta overcome this defense.
“To me, I just think that was almost a cry for help, you know, to his team by Todd Bowles.”
Solid assessment by King. Bowles was issuing a cry for help of sorts during his profane rant following the Bucs’ loss to Atlanta 11 days ago.
Sadly, Joe can’t find evidence that his players were listening.
December 22nd, 2025 at 4:48 am
Look at Bowles and Baker before they got to the Bucs, they’re the exact same now. Same decision making, same lack of clutchness. Bowles can’t make adjustments and Baker turns the ball over, it’s been the same season 3 years in a row but progressively getting worse.
The next time the Bics win the chip, Baker and Bowles won’t be on the team.
December 22nd, 2025 at 4:53 am
Frustration, frustration, frustration. Just get to the end of the season PLEASE
December 22nd, 2025 at 4:54 am
Todd should have lit a fire under the team after they choked in the Pats game. His tirade was several weeks too late. He does not hold anyone accountable, at least he has not benched anyone…… Todd also has to answer for why he allowed rookie Ben Morrison to get reps in that game and benched his top CB Dean just so Morrison could get reps, he was boatraced in that game. That game started the tailspin. Todd’s offensive coordinator called a game yesterday which reminded me of Byron Leftwich, Bowles did not jump in at halftime and made him adjust, heck, Bowles might have told him to run on every first down. Pathetic. Todd’s patented zero blitz imploded yet again. Todd will be remembered as the defensive coordinator who stubbornly never adjusted his schemes to fit his team’s talent (or lack of) as well as the guy who called the play which cost the Bucs a second Super Bowl opportunity via an explosive play by Cooper Cupp. Todd has run out of excuses and only the most loyal apologists still think he could return next season.
December 22nd, 2025 at 4:58 am
Bee, I bet Baker is hurt and that Bowles and that green OC Grizzard have been forced to go with him because they do not have a quality back up. When Baker was healthy he was a good qb, now he is damaged goods. I blame Licht and Bowles for not getting a decent qb instead of settling for Trask and then Teddy. If the Bucs had a decent back up, even a guy like Flacco, Mariota or Jameis; they probably could have won any of these past 3 games. Baker has been playing like a cripple and the team is okay with that. Whomever decided that was okay (Griz, Bowles, Licht, etc) should be fired for gross ineptitude.
December 22nd, 2025 at 4:59 am
^^^decent qb = decent back up for Baker who could have started a few games and probably won them…….
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:06 am
The final straw broke yesterday. Carolina is a solid team with some good young talent. But… the Bucs should have won it with the man up siren call after the loss to Atlanta. They didn’t have it in them. Whatever the trigger after the bye week, it wasn’t recoverable.
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:08 am
Question for Joe:
What did Richard Sherman know almost two months ago.
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:14 am
FMDave – you could be right. Baker has been hurt since just before the bye. Between an oblique and knee, then non-throwing shoulder, all three injuries impact throwing mechanics. It’s all been pretty quiet, but those thing just don’t heal during the season.
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:17 am
Hey Joe, I am a big fan and I hate seeing the Bucs lose, especially the way thet did to ATL, still have not gotton over 3rd and 28. With that said, while not wanting them to lose, I and imagine others are like me, don’t want to see this team in the playoffs. I don’t think they can win any game right now. It is hard to imagine what has happened to this team. Anothe page in Bucs history.
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:20 am
Great question by FrontFour. There obviously is a locker room issue but who and why???? I also think many in the local media (not the Joes) have been protecting Bowles, they like the guy and have been pointing out lack of talent on D and other excuses to cover for their guy, Look, Bowles is a well liked, God fearing guy, who the Glazers are said to like a lot but when push comes to shove, can the Glazers tolerate a collapse that is worse than the Gruden collapse in 2008 and up there with Rah’s team quitting on him in 2011. Something happened and he lost enough of the team. Did they get fed up with his play calling, did Todd play favorites, did a cancer turn players against one another, etc….. The Rams fired a special team coordinator, yet Bowles allowed his friend to do a crap job all year, I am sure the team took notice of that. A lot questions and no answers. Maybe the Joe’s can fill in the blanks and maybe Bowles’ yes men in the media and at OBP will realize he needs a promotion to a ceremonial desk/advisory job…….
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:23 am
He needs Life Alert he cant get up
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:30 am
Sad and disappointing.
I am wondering what JPP brought us?. Why Teddy? It seems as though we may have gotten some different players in the mix in November. We have needed a strong backup QB for awhile. I love Baker, but something is definitely not right. Yes, weeks ago he was MVP. Maybe in the draft we can get another QB out of college that Baker can mentor. If he really is still hurt and why there are some hiccups; that is on Grizz, Bowles, and Jason.
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:37 am
Taylen Green Arkansas Qb make it happen Licht 🙏🏽
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:42 am
Yeah FrontFour and heyjude: Baker has been unhealthy for a long time. It has been apparent since the bye and heck, he has been banged up since the Houston game, the same game when Mauch was knocked out for the season. Injuries on the OL were no help either; back ups galore and the deoth pieces even got injured. Is it the fault of Licht or the training staff? That is a question which deserves soe thought as well. But back to Baker; he is going to want to play every snap and has except for the second half of the Rams game which was a lost cause anyhow and he is not going to tell the coaches or staff he is hurting, they have to take initiative. I think it is a coaching fail and yes, the combo of Teddy/Trask is not a good back up. Jason should have done more instead of cutting fat checks to Zyon and Goedeke (who played like crap yesterday). Change is needed and the head coach in the end is accountable for failure. Nice guy, but it is time for Todd to get a nice office at OBP and hand off the HC o someone new.
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:42 am
deoth=depth
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:48 am
FortMyersDave – Agreed, fat checks for the wrong ones and a big change is definitely needed.
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:03 am
Bucs need a big broom.win or lose the next 2 games Start with Bowles, Baker and Licht
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:13 am
Winfield should change his number to 45-playing just like White did
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:16 am
this all adds up to a complete rebuild with a new coach and a new qb …new oc please!! i don’t know if i can stomach another lost decade, how did being a bucs fan go from joy to suffering so fast? a season lost, such as promising season. baker sucks and i like him i wish him the best but he is consistently turning the ball over-l detroit in the 23’ division last year against the commanders and now this. THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IF BRADY WAS QB no way he misses mike evans on that throw, no way, dirt ball to cade otton against the saints pic against the falcons… he’s losing games not winning then
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:34 am
The best Bake were the last two years. I like him, but he needs a really good supporting cast. Hes not a guy that can consistently carry a team. Hes just physically limited to do so. Thus, don’t pay him 40 plus. If so, that will kill this team. Let another team take that chance.
JLs problem is hes scared to have the responsibility to draft a franchise qb. Hes tried once and failed. In fact, hes rarely drafted qbs. That was a mistake. He should of spent some late rounders on a possible starter or real back up. I LOL at the Trask pick and hated it. Those were wasted years for a potential starter or backup.
QB its the most important position in sports and hes neglected this position and he has lucked out a bit with TB and a year or two with Bake. Thats it. Seems negligent to me.
But I suspect he will play it safer and ride or die with a Bake extension. Do you have faith in JL identifying a franchise QB? I dont. One thing the front office lacks is guts and know when to move on. I.E.JTS, Trask, Hall, etc. They have been pretty conservative lately and it shows.
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:35 am
Defense wins championships. The bucs rush is weak and secondary is porous. How can baker pass when hes running for his life. Bowles d is horrible. After game the radio talking heads and most web guys ran cover for Bowles. He was coach of jets remember
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:37 am
Guys, I hate to break it to you but Baker isn’t injured, hes just not good. He said before the game hes feeling good and if I’m not mistaken he wasn’t on the injury report.
Baker has always been average at best and now he’s below average. It doesn’t matter who the coaches are or who hes playing with, Baker can’t get it done. Its unfortunate, but it is what it is.
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:40 am
Remember fans, the organization has never been able to develop a franchise quarterback in 50 years. Unless we end up with Joe Burrow next year. Which is not happening. We’re sticking it out with Baker. I’m fine with that. He is a solid qb. If he’s in the right scheme. He’s great. Logically I’ll take the proof. 2 good oc’s with head coaching jobs. Both of which are about to be in the playoffs. Over one oc with no solid track record. Grizzard is 10 times more of a ball boy than a coach. Let the bum coaching staff go.
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:45 am
Fire HC, OC and get a franchise QB.
Even the fans know what needs to be done.
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:46 am
Blow this entire clown show up. An entire organizational failure. I want everyone fired. From Jason Licht to every Bowles staff member. The 2025 Buccaneers are an abomination. F this team.
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:50 am
To be a fly on the wall for offense install last week…Mike and Chris must be so depressed right now watching Tom Petty’s grandson tear up the AFC with Liam while they got stuck with Mr Rogers and the Toad….
We suck out loud and it is past time to clean house of this pathetic coaching staff
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:54 am
Yeah unfortunately the owners and Licht will likely play it very safe like they have been post Brady and keep Bowles. Baker is their best option right now but they have to put a good team around here or a good offensive minded coach. The Bucs have neither and it’s not likely to change soon. Worst case is they keep Grizzard too.
December 22nd, 2025 at 6:55 am
Oh and please hold off on any of the assistant coach pressers etc – this ENTIRE staff needs to walk the plank – EVERYONE from the HC down must go immediately after we lose the last two games
Reminds me of McCoy telling the Schiano story – “our coaches told us to do it!”
You know on the field yesterday the Kittens were lashing out at our ineptitude…and our team knew they were right
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:08 am
Only the BEST coaches scapegoat their players! Coach Derp strikes again!
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:09 am
When a coach loses his team there is no coming back from that. In fact, Bowles lost this team quite some time ago. It was obvious to some more than others. Regardless, there is no coming back from this. There isn’t any “getting better”. It’s just now reached a point of purification where everyone can now see it and it can’t be denied.
When I hear Joe say things like he said yesterday that maybe the Glazers don’t think that Bowles is as bad as some others do. It kind of creeps me out. It’s been obvious that Bowles should have been gone a long time ago. If the Glazers have not reached that point yet I’m not sure I have the patience to wait for them to catch up. No way in hell I’m going through another year of this garbage. I have no problem hanging it up after 50 years. I am thoroughly disgusted with Todd Bowles. I’m perfectly happy getting off at the next stop. I just don’t have the stomach for this anymore.
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:21 am
Coaching. Coaching coaching!!!!!!
Baker was just fine last two years wasn’t he?
Got a terrible OC paired with a terrible HC and DC this is what you get.
Yesterday offense game plan had radios fingerprints all over it!!!
Omg what a terrible showing on O yesterday defense as well for thst matter
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:23 am
Yeccchhh…. thought we were done with King.
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:26 am
We are witnessing Todd Bowles attempt to bring his vision for the team to fruition. it’s like watching an old person get more stuck in their ways with age. He wants 3 runs and a cloud of dust. This guy would love a defensive battle with 20 punts. ball control, time of possession. And as more pressure is put on his job status, expect to see him revert to it even more. If he’s gonna go out, it’s gonna be on his terms, his type of football. Even if we don’t have the horses for it.
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:27 am
Baker hasn’t exactly played worth a darn lately, but the whole team stinks.
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:30 am
Also Anthony Nelson had the game of the year in New Orleans and has basically been riding the pine since.
The personnel decisions on this team are horrendous.
Put in that huge O lineman who picked up the slack recently at left tackle at guard. He’s massive and was promising.
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:32 am
When you look at how Canales and Coen have resurrected the careers of Young and Lawrence, the obvious reason for decline in Mayfield’s play is Grizzard. Bowles’ guy. His game plan sucks, his play-calling sucks, his ability to adjust sucks. Poster above who called him Leftwich2.0 nailed it.
The defense is hampered by poor talent, poor scheme, and poor game plan.
Licht has made some poor draft decisions, and has over-paid many players that aren’t producing.
Bucs had a division title run b/c the rest of the NFC South sucked worse. Now that they are catching and surpassing the Bucs, the Bucs no longer have an easy route to being one and done in the playoffs. The Bucs are stagnating… mired in mediocrity that Bowles is unable to coach them out of and Licht is unable to draft them out of. While there still remains talent on offense, Glazers shouldn’t waste time and let that talent slip out. Clean house… Licht, Bowles and staff, and most of the defensive players.
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:48 am
Defense is slow, can’t tackle, do not swarm to the ball like past years and worst of all, they aren’t great at stopping the run which saved us for several seasons. Losing our sack leader Calijah hurt bad. Unfortunately he is injury prone and don’t think he will ever make it to be the guy. Sorry for lack of comas.
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:50 am
Baker gets credit for his grit and gutsy play. He also gets full credit for the pumpkin label. I see a QB who always looks spooked thanks to his spotty protection. And when he actually has time to throw, the spooky QB play persists. He’s lost his confidence. The last play he had time to slide to his right and hit an open Otten or Godwin. But his mind was made up pre-snap to go to the left. As the play unfolded, the right side was the better play. In the first half of the season the game was in slow motion and he always found the open guy. Now it appears the game is in 2x speed and he’s stuck in frantic mode. The Bucs are like a trainwreck with ST, Def & offensive play calling scattered around like debris. And with an engineer who’s afraid to make a mistake, there’s no chance this train ever reaches its final destination.
December 22nd, 2025 at 7:56 am
Bee, the injury report only lists players who have injuries which early in the week could lead to a designation later in the week such as questionable, doubtful or out. Thus if a player is banged up but the team is truly confident that the player is going to start he does not have be listed on the report if the team is truly confident that the player is going to start, I suspect they are often listed as misdirection though. In he Bucs case, that only happened once, with the AZ game when it was thought Teddy could start and the line moved 6 points. The injury list is just for players who do have a chance of not being active on game day. Baker has been on that list for a knee, the oblique and his shoulder, those injuries did not just vanish. Dude has been playing hurt, it is obvious if you look at the stats. Plus I will bet he has got the happy feet because of the injuries, who wouldn’t with the OL playing so badly with 2 4th string guards and Goedeke and Barton having sub-par years.
My beef is about why the Bucs did not get a bonafide back up on board this summer. The Bucs had Trask and then panicked when Baker got banged up in pre-season and Trask melted down in a preseason game. They brought in Teddy B and he is way past his prime. the Bucs needed a solid backup in camp and be able to do a couple of spot starts to bench Baker and let him rest after the Rams game. Licht did not, instead he gave Zyon and Goedeke a lot of coin and they got soft. The Buc have Baker for one more year at $30 million guaranteed, whomever is HC next season will want a seasoned back up and give the fact Baker gets banged up a lot, it is a big need. How much would a Jacoby Brissett or Mac Jones have cost, not as much as extending Zyon?????
December 22nd, 2025 at 8:07 am
Cleanhouse- if you truly think that’s what TB wants, you haven’t been paying attention the last few years ya dummy. Leftwich was literally fired for doing that.
December 22nd, 2025 at 8:29 am
Nobody really talks about losing Cody Mauch in game 2. But I watch the All-22 of the games each week and you see teams just constantly attacking the right guard position with stunts and delayed blitzes. Cody and Luke had built great communication starting almost every game together for two seasons and could switch off and pick up most anything teams threw at them. But whoever the replacements are they just don’t have the same chemistry. Now Luke is losing discipline maybe trying to cover for the weakness next to him. You can also see Baker’s eyes dropping to look to his right more and more at the rush and it’s really effected him, obviously.
December 22nd, 2025 at 8:34 am
You can’t have all the “internal problems” everyone talked about then expect they’re gonna come out and play like a unit. Bowles lost this team at the bye week because these guys haven’t come back from vacation yet
December 22nd, 2025 at 8:34 am
The top thing people hate is to be wrong. So Rod, onieil, king and most of the national media were dead wrong about Baker and had to live with that pain for 2 years of Baker playing pro bowl ball. But they were waiting in the grass like crouching Panthers for the kill. Time to pounce Cougers. First chance to see Baker stumble they are on it. I don’t hear them crowing about the other QBs stumbling though. Baker has done a great job preventing a complete post Brady collapse. At least we are not the Browns. With guys playing college for 7 years !like the current saints guy QBs are pro ready. I would draft a kid late first round and let him learn under Baker. Also Bowles needs to go. We let Coen go and that is painful to watch.
December 22nd, 2025 at 8:44 am
Team is terrible
OC is unpoachable
Baker has looked like a shell of himself for months.
Coach Todd is exactly who we thought he was.
December 22nd, 2025 at 8:45 am
FMD
The reason why I say Baker isn’t injured is because he’s playing. He also had a long run in the game and he looked fine to me. Mike and Chris were injured and you knew that because they didn’t play. Baker isn’t good. He playing the same way he did in the wildcard last season, was he injured then?
Marky Mark
No one was waiting in the bushes to pounce on Baker when he plays bad. He’s been playing the same way since he’s been here with a few games where he excels then comes right back down to earth when the season is on the line. His 1st season here he almost got benched due to his up and down play.
Why do fans love mediocrity so much? Healthy or injured Baker is Baker. Inaccurate and turnover prone.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:13 am
What the heck is going on? Almost every single day I see someone else copying my posts in some form or another. Even in this thread I see it. They say “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” The least some of you could do is give me a hit tip while you’re copying my words verbatim..! Or better yet think up your own thoughts and phrases.
December 22nd, 2025 at 9:26 am
Bee, what a ridiculous comment that Baker looked the same yesterday as he did in the game against the Commanders in the playoffs last season. By any and all statistical metrics including any next generation metrics as well as the eye test, there was no resemblance. You are simply a biased lobbyist! This offense isn’t 50% of what the offense was last season. This offense doesn’t work. On the few attempts yesterday to throw downfield the receivers were blanketed and are still running into each other at times. That is horrible coaching.