Loaf Watch: Bucs Vs. New England
June 28th, 2026
Former Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean.
So what Buccaneers took plays off last season?
Joe is seeking clarity beyond Lavonte David admitting to being called out for loafs and YaYa Diaby wagging a finger of shame at Bucs film.
Today, Joe re-watched November’s Bucs-Patriots game with an eye on loafs — and with an open mind. No stress. No bias.
Joe figured that was a good place to start searching for loafs, considering that game began the Bucs’ steep slide from a 6-2 record and, of course, every player should have been fired up after the bye week to play a good team at home.
After watching the game, Joe has a new nickname for departed cornerback Jamel Dean. That would be Joggin’ Jamel Dean; he was a classic two-speed player in this game. And it started early.
On a big 3rd-and-10 in the first quarter, the Patriots handed off and ran right. Dean decided to watch the slow-developing handoff and jog in the direction of the play. Only when Dean realized the running back had daylight did Dean decide to play full speed. He made the tackle after a 15-yard run. If Dean had acted like loafing was unacceptable, he fully could have wrapped up the runner after 8 yards. (Diaby also loafed on this play).
Dean had several jog-first moments in this game. Ironically, those moments came before and after he was subbed out of the game for rookie Benjamin Morrison, who looked steadily overmatched in Dean’s absence.
Joe also would hang loafs on former Bucs backup offensive lineman Michael Jordan, who entered this game at left guard when Ben Bredeson got hurt in the first quarter. Jordan had several low-effort plays.
Joe also will give Chris Braswell a mini-loaf for a senseless defensive holding penalty when he was rushing the passer in the red zone. That’s just lazy.
Painful loss for the Bucs, who ran the ball extremely well (without Bucky Irving) against a top-flight Patriots run defense.
June 28th, 2026 at 7:52 pm
How did Sapp, Brooks, and Lynch handle loafers? Didn’t they step in and dole out punishment?
June 28th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
just watched it too… conclusion our corner backs were horrible -slow and slow to react loafers!!
June 28th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
“Joe figured that was a good place to start searching for loafs, considering that game began the Bucs’ steep slide from a 6-2 record and, of course, every player should have been fired up after the bye week to play a good team at home.“
Lmao, still keeping up with the “post-bye” narrative
Tell me something, how’d we look as a team in our 6th win?
Also, “steadily overmatched” is an understatement, the Patriots game was week 1 of a 2 week stretch of Morrison getting picked on when he checked in, thus the BBQ B-Mo moniker.
“Joe also would hang loafs on former Bucs backup offensive lineman Michael Jordan, who entered this game at left guard when Ben Bredeson got hurt in the first quarter.“
PFF had him ranked 19th best pass block win rate
No film Joe? Or are we supposed to take your word for it? Ranking “pass block win rate” is completely not connected to a guy taking plays off. Joe didn’t write that Jordan took every play off or most. The film is there for all to see.–Joe
June 28th, 2026 at 8:37 pm
Are you sure he wasn’t covering a zone? Make sure they were playing man defense or there was nobody to cover before making judgments on a zone coverage play…
June 28th, 2026 at 8:43 pm
I’m no pro athlete (to put it mildly!), and maybe the pride and passion just wear off after a few years, but I can’t imagine “loafing” in a game. Losing a step sick or hurt or even exhausted, sure, but not just slacking off.
June 28th, 2026 at 8:51 pm
Great breakdown. Should do this for every game. Looks like players were making business decisions. What happened? Did they already know the season was over? Was it Mike Evans bad attitude cuz he hated his 3-28 coach and he missed his streak and Baker throwing balls that he had to sacrifice his body to catch? Hmmmmm .It’s a Bucs life.
June 28th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Players have to hold each other accountable. In real time and on the field if necessary. If you’ve ever played, or been a part of any type of successful”team” you know this 👍🏼
I think we’ve tried to bring in new guys with leadership qualities and given the word to some our other guys (Tykee, Parrish, Yaya, Winfield) to step forward and practice the type of leadership we’ve been lacking on D. 🤞🏼
Of course others will say Todd should be able to make or force 50 grown men to give 100%, 100% of the time thru every practice and every game for a full season. Hogwash – players matter…. Coaches can teach you or tell you what to do but they can’t do it for you on the field.
June 28th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
I was at this game, my first since 2017. The experience was so bad that I’m not sure that I’ll ever go back. Initially, I was sickened by the sheer number of Patriots fans that were there. Shame on you season-ticket holders for selling to the enemy. Then, the play on the field turned shameful, with two long runs for touchdowns against us, along with a general feeling of malaise from the sideline that I have never witnessed before. The only poeple that I saw with even a semblance of passion and excitement were all wearing silver and blue. It was a day that I’ll not soon forget, for all the wrong reasons, not the least of which was the horror of hearing “MVP!!! MVP!!!” chanted by the chowderheads.
June 28th, 2026 at 9:07 pm
AAAAAHHHHH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
The PFF tribe has folks so conned about offensive line grades it isn’t even funny. Joe’s tried to tell people over and over that NFL folks consider the PFF tribe’s offensive line grades to be a bigger joke than you’d hear at a Chris Rock show. But, people still buy ’em. smh Jordan remains unemployed.
June 28th, 2026 at 9:30 pm
The biggest loafer of all Todd Bowles doesn’t even get a mention????
Who’s in charge of keeping the players focused and prepared for the games???
Just wait. All you Polly positive lemmings are going to get a rude awakening in 2026.
My guess is that even a 4-13 record won’t stifle your Pom Pom waiving.
It’s hilarious that Joe just can’t figure out what happened! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
June 28th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
The Bucs defense had stops three stops in a row in the 4th quarter when it was a one score game – and Baker turned that into 0 points.
June 28th, 2026 at 9:43 pm
On a big 3rd-and-10 in the first quarter, the Patriots handed off and ran right. Dean decided to watch the slow-developing handoff and jog in the direction of the play. Only when Dean realized the running back had daylight did Dean decide to play full speed. He made the tackle after a 15-yard run. If he acted like loafing was unacceptable, Dean fully could have wrapped up the runner after 8 yards. (Diaby also loafed on this play).
————
Is it that, or is it their assignment – or someone else blowing their assignment?
I remember all the headlines after the Falcons game where Winfield was blamed for blowing the coverage – yet when I watched the tape, it was clear as day he was in zone and in the place he was supposed to be. Then Bowles came out and literally said Winfield was doing his job, and said Kindle Vildor blew his coverage. Yet there was like 150 posts from people claiming Winfield blew the coverage because they just read a headline and repeated it, never watched any tape, and frankly, even if they did watch tape, they wouldn’t have known what they were watching.
1) You can watch that play and see Winfield break late and not be in the area beyond the sticks where the ball was thrown and he was supposed to be.
2) Stop thinking everything Bowles says is gospel. He’s the same guy who said effort was not an issue many times last season, and then the season ended and 5 months later he’s talking about guys taking plays off being a problem. –Joe
Anywho, I haven’t seen the play, just hard to believe guys are ‘lazy’ – in particular early in the game, and on 3rd down. Much more likely someone screwed up their assignment, leaving other guys out to hang, making it appear as if they were either slow to react or half a–ing it. But maybe it happened.
June 28th, 2026 at 10:10 pm
Players loafed because they knew they could get a way with it,
June 28th, 2026 at 10:25 pm
Understand this at all. These guys are being paid a lot of money and should have some damn pride. They started out the season great before faltering. The best way to turn things around, hustle every play to the whistle.
Where were the coaches? Where were the leaders? We have heard for five years how they draft all these players that are captains and leaders at the college level. Where was it being displayed?
LVD was supposed to be a leader. Winfield is supposed to be the leader in the secondary. Where was he calling out Dean and anyone else not going 100% until the whistle?
Again, something that goes straight back to the head coach and another reason why he should not be here right now. But whatever, he is, and that’s what we have to work with this year.
The stories of loafing for a team that started out real hot with aspirations to make a playoff run are absolutely disgusting.
June 28th, 2026 at 10:41 pm
Kgh4life
That’s it in a nutshell. Players love be Bowles because he’s a pushover.
June 28th, 2026 at 10:54 pm
Munch. Once the running back crosses the line of scrimmage, the entire defense has only one “assignment”. That is to fly to the ball. The Patriots had 4 long! touchdown plays that game. I don’t know much, and the older I get the more I know I don’t know. But I do know that. And I know we had a defense that wasn’t flying to the football. At least not 100% of the time. Our offense and special teams and our coaching all deserve a share of the blame for the wreck of a season, but it’s hard not to start with that defense. Jason and Todd know that, and, man alive, they are addressing it.
June 28th, 2026 at 11:02 pm
David. “hustle every play to the whistle”. Some folks will say hustle every play through the whistle. I had a coach who used to say, “through the echo of the whistle”. I hate penalties. But I can put up with a late hit once and again. Lets folks know you mean business. Because in this league you better mean business.
June 28th, 2026 at 11:54 pm
Dean will not be missed. Exceptional talent lacking and desire.
June 29th, 2026 at 1:30 am
Todd can coach up the Loaf during a bye week better than anyone and has proven it. Every. Year. What a shock. No really.
June 29th, 2026 at 1:42 am
PS – this is an excellent theme for a regular column. Each game, pick the Loafs of the game, especially the 3rd and 28 game.
Too bad Mike’s not here to offer his candidates,
June 29th, 2026 at 2:21 am
This season is make or break for TB & JL. Hve thought of a MondayMorning Loafer’s Lounge column to target loafs? I think you would light a fire under this team and bring accountability. The downside is you would feel the ire of JL. It would definitely bring this malignancy to the light of day.
June 29th, 2026 at 5:15 am
Nice work Joe, anyone loafing needs to be called out!
June 29th, 2026 at 5:32 am
Is it “loafing” to post the same article 15 times? Asking for a friend.
June 29th, 2026 at 6:21 am
Where was the OLB who is supposed to set the edge?
June 29th, 2026 at 6:27 am
I loafed all day yesterday in the ac. It felt great and terrible at the same time. I didn’t accomplish anything, the only time I got up was to eat and drink. Somehow I’m still tired and wore out.
June 29th, 2026 at 6:53 am
The wheels came off the bus when Bredeson went down
June 29th, 2026 at 8:02 am
Dean lost his desire. It wasn’t hard to see. He was always coming out, was always “hurt” and just didn’t seem to care. Motivation wasn’t something he had and I’m glad he’s gone because he didn’t conduct himself as a professional. Good luck to him with another team.
June 29th, 2026 at 8:10 am
Loafing, taking plays off, soft injuries. After Dean got paid that was his deal. Still the most talented CB we had after we traded Davis. But that’s why we jammed him on his contract and overpaid McCullough.
June 29th, 2026 at 8:56 am
We had more loafers than Tom McCann.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Wait. Chris Braswell got in the game?
June 29th, 2026 at 9:29 am
@Crazyhorse
BA had a weekly accountability board for bad and stupid plays. Apparently, the players knew they didn’t want their name on it. BA was feared and expected performance. Bowles has no such method or program. You never see anyone benched or cut for stupid or lazy play. Of course the players love Bowles. He’s their buddy and protector.
June 29th, 2026 at 11:31 am
This was the predictable outcome of slashing Jamel Dean’s contract before the season started. Hang this loaf on Jason Licht.
June 29th, 2026 at 11:51 am
Baldwin, that’s ridiculous. Dean is a grown man and a professional football player. Have a little pride in yourself and represent the team name on your jersey, and the family name on the back. Any loafing is not the fault of anyone other than the one doing it.
June 29th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
There are a couple of other folks who did not earn their game checks last year.
Go Bucs!
June 29th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Thank you, Joe, for this article.