Loaf Watch: Bills-Buccaneers
June 29th, 2026
Yesterday, Joe brought the first installment of the Loaf Watch series.
Todd Bowles talked about Bucs “just taking plays off,” so Joe wants to look deeper into the Bucs’ post-bye games, the ones that sent Tampa Bay from a 6-2 record to a sad 7-9 finish.
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.
Yesterday, Joe studied Bucs-Patriots in Week 10. Today, it’s Bucs-Bills in Week 11.
So who was loafing/taking plays off?
Well, in the fourth-quarter, Joe saw Chris Braswell and Lavonte David jogging while pursuing James Cook after he caught a pass in the flat. This was a one-score game at the time with 5 minutes on the clock.
Later in the fourth quarter, it was clear that Bucs rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison was jogging in the red zone and not eager to shoot his head in the fan, aka Josh Allen, as Allen grinded to the end zone for the Bills’ final score.
Back to Braswell, Joe won’t throw the “loaf” label on him for additional plays, but he is very soft. He might be loafing, but it’s too hard to be sure. Braswell was late to the party with weak side help (didn’t seem motivated) on Allen’s slow-developing TD run to give the Bills a 37-32 lead. With average hustle, Braswell at least could have been in position to drill Allen at the goal line.
Braswell also is soft as a pass rusher and on special teams, just not effective for a young player with a lot of athletic ability.
Cornerback Zyon McCollum wouldn’t get any tough-guy awards in Buffalo. Soft. “Joggin'” Jamel Dean left this game early with a hip issue.
Receiver Tez Johnson often avoids blocking by design, because of his tiny size, Joe assumes. Sometimes that hurts the Bucs.
Unlike against the Patriots, left guard Michael Jordan toughened up against the Bills. And offensive lineman Dan Feeney and Graham Barton flashed some fire. Tristan Wirfs also is a menace, a player to be emulated.
Joe also will throw love at Rachaad White for running exceptionally hard.
White stiff-armed Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson on one run and simultaneously slam-dunked Thompson’s head into the turf. It never made the highlights or social media, per Joe’s observation, but it was a good example of White running with attitude all game. Sean Tucker had a whale of a game, too.
It’s on to Los Angeles!
June 29th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Wait… you called out Chris Braswell for loafing in the first article. I was amazed he even got in the game
…you;re telling me that he got in the game twice last season?
And where’s Jason Licht in all of this? I specifically remember him talking Chris Braswell up.
June 29th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
I’ll tell you one name everyone knows will never show up on these lists: Baker Mayfield. That may not make him a great QB, but it makes me a fan.
June 29th, 2026 at 2:59 pm
This series has a very interesting start point lol
June 29th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
I’m not buying that all the “loafing” was just a Bucs thing. I blame it more on injuries, and a lack of depth. And, believe that you can go through and ‘nitpick’ EVERY NFL Team’s film, and catch players sometimes, maybe, taking a play or two off. It was like, everyone was saying that Winfield Junior QUIT on that big Chubb (I think it was) Run. Well, he had absolutely NO SHOT at catching HIM there, & HE KNEW IT. Where he initially FIRST flubbed up was as soon as when Chubb got the ball… He took a HORRIBLE ANGLE, from the JUMP. And, then there was NO. FREAKING. WAY. That HE was catching CHUBB there, as soon as he kicked the BURNERS ON. So, I think A LOT of this is just being waaayyy overblown right now, and just making excuses for A BAD DEFENSE. That, was poorly COACHED, with a lot of beat up and banged up, old, and inferior TALENT. And, DEPTH.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
RWs usage, or lack of usage last season was one of the reasons our offense looked so pitiful most of the year. Inexcusable coaching.
Braswell is going to get buried on the depth chart if he doesn’t start playing with fire under his ass. We have his replacements in house now.
🤞🏼 With the CBs – my biggest concern on defense. I’m higher on Morrison than a lot of people but he has to stay healthy enough to stay on the field. Hopefully they’re focusing on turning his head around and seeing the ball 😳. I think our corners are pretty physical in run support as a general rule.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
This is why I love JBF right here. Thanks to the loaf watch!
June 29th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
@ JustVisiting Says: “I’ll tell you one name everyone knows will never show up on these lists: Baker Mayfield. That may not make him a great QB, but it makes me a fan.”
No. I saw a Quarterback who was not focused, and was just going through the MOTIONS, just exactly like the rest of the team.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Yeah, Old RWhite was definitely NOT soft. He was one of only just a very small few, who looked FOCUSED and completely LOCKED-IN. He sure did. I still can’t understand WHY we didn’t feed him the ball a lot more.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
You may run out of ink on the LA game. Happy hunting. Expose the frauds.
Thanks Joe.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
“No. I saw a Quarterback who was not focused, and was just going through the MOTIONS, just exactly like the rest of the team.”
I knew this game was cooked after the Parrish pick at the BUF 5 yard line and we kicked a FG three plays later.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
You can speculate on Evans all you want, but, R. White left because of Bowles cowardice. He had the guts to stand up and call him out for not honoring his word. White always played hard. He continued to get better. He will be missed.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
I thought the record after the bye was all Baler’s fault.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
I thought that when Bucky went out, White put together a highlight real for why the Bucs should keep him.
Instead, when Bucky came back and was ineffective, the Bucs put White on the shelf and seemed to try to forget about him.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
I was never a huge fan of White. However, I think his best season was last year. I predict we will miss him.
June 29th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
I’m very glad you’re doing this Joe.
It’s been a thing with me ever since I started keying in on Durable Donnie doing the bare minimum and being hailed as a warrior.
I despise lazy players making millions.
Toughen up Bucs.
June 29th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Joe is naming names! Way to go, Joe! Keep up the fine analysis. This list could get long……
June 29th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Melvin and Warren: People can watch the same game and see different things, obviously, and I suspect you’re both better judges of football than I am. But I know effort when I see it, in any sport, and while I agree Baker lost focus, that’s a whole other thing from just going through the motions.
June 29th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
white was our best all rounder RB last year>
June 29th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
Joe:
You missed the biggest loaf of them all. That would be Todd Bowles.
He quit on his offense when he punted on the 40. Thought he could turn to his defense to get the ball back. Anyone watching that game knew what was going to happen.
Bowles threw in the towel. That’s a loaf.
June 29th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Jamel Dean leaving a game injured like clockwork.
June 29th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Past history, good read but I can’t replay the loafing and stupidity in my mind. I am going to bury this mess , whatever the reason, and try to focus on the upcoming season. Just hope Bowles goes hard on these players and makes them accountable this season. Is that too much to ask?
June 29th, 2026 at 4:42 pm
Chris Braswell is shocking the world. With his Bowles level loafing on the field.
Attitude reflects leadership. The players are simply taking on the ethics of the HC\DC.
We’ve seen the results and they are below what the standard should be.
I HOPE we wake up from this nightmare sooner rather than later.
Fire Bowles Now!!!
June 29th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
Remember Tasker when he ran down the clown DE for Dallas in the SB that had a TD and paraded into the end zone before Tasker caught him and knocked the ball through the end zone for a touchback? The game was for all intents and purposes over and that play should be played before every season as an expectation of what Buccaneer Pride should be and anything less gets your a** out the door. And yes it starts in practice.
June 29th, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Id say I’ll be astonished if Brasswell even makes the team this year. BTW where do you go to watch these games and are they free? Also. I see Terrion Arnold made bail, but the Lions released him anyway. Might he be worth a 1 year flier?
June 29th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
Braswell needs to be gone, but I bet Licht will start talking about how he is going to ball out this year with 10 sacks. Hype machine will go into full overdrive soon.
June 29th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Fred McNeil Says:
“I see Terrion Arnold made bail, but the Lions released him anyway. Might he be worth a 1 year flier?”
Umm. No. We don’t need criminals on this team. The guy belongs in prison.
And I’m sure he’ll be there very soon. Unless he gets a libtard judge.
If so he’ll be back on the street to commit more crimes.
June 29th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
I love this series!! keep it coming! these dudes are getting paid big bucs and sorry but no loafing is allowed! Chris Breezewell, guy should be cut and not on the team if he was loafing.
June 29th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
@ JustVisiting – No. He really was. I started to notice it down the stretch. You could see it in his eyes. He wasn’t playing with that same FIRE. You can blame it on injuries or whatever you want to, but HE looked disinterested. Taking off for a 4-yard run every now and again, doesn’t mean that HE is giving it HIS ALL. I saw-it! Walking back to the huddle after an incompletion or throwing it away, & etc. There was NO URGENCY there. He can really fool you at times. Now, I am not saying that YOU are specifically, but A LOT are completely BLINDED by their everlasting, undying LOVE. Where HE can do no wrong… And, the HE ALWAYS gives 💯, at ALL TIMES. It’s just not even close. Call-it, that he was just frustrated or whatever you like. I saw a guy just going through the MOTIONS, at times.
June 29th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
@ Fred McNeil Says: “Terrion Arnold made bail, but the Lions released him anyway. Might he be worth a 1 year flier?”
YES. 💯 ABSOLUTELY. We have nothing else to lose here. I’m surprised they released him THAT QUICK, but I they had always seemed a little frustrated with him to begin with, for whatever reasons (injuries, I really don’t know)!? But, sounded like, he was REAL STUPID to be out running around with OVER $250-GRAND worth of BS with him, in the first place. ESPECIALLY, in that situation. THEN, to basically send in a friggin HIT-SQUAD after ‘em. LoL
June 29th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
YaYa
June 29th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Whats this got to do with this year? UGH!
June 29th, 2026 at 5:53 pm
“And I’m sure he’ll be there very soon. Unless he gets a libtard judge.”
Lol…. Or he can just donate to a REtard criminal (probably convicted by libtard judges 👍🏼) and his ballroom fund and get a pardon. You guys 🤣🤣🤣
June 29th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
Are these loafing articles only focusing on the defense? No. The loafing articles are focused on loafing. –Joe
There was loafing on offense, loafing with coaches and loafing with scouting (Reddick). The entire organization is loafing. What moves have they made to move this team closer to a championship? Keeping Bowles? The guy who doesn’t punish loafing is back to make the team tougher. What a joke.
June 29th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Arnold is facing life in prison. This is Hillsborough county and he is likely going away for a long time.
June 29th, 2026 at 7:13 pm
There were a couple of players on the Bucs, one in 2019, one in the early 2020’s that looked like they had money bet on the opposing teams…Could this be an explanation?
June 29th, 2026 at 7:25 pm
The other day, Joe did an article about loafing, and I respond with a request. I’m not sure if that request inspired this series of articles, but I love them.
I think doing this sends a message of perception to the players. Calling them out is a good thing.
June 29th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Maybe the loafing was what Jason meant when he said Brasswell would shock the world ?? I’m shocked alright. Maybe he wants to be somewhere else? Like Walmart or Uber driver
June 29th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
Joe, really let it go Man. The defense was awful last year and ME left because he lost faith in the Organization. Apparantly he saw more than loafing. I mean , a CB who is bored tells you enough. It appears many were bored and just did not care. In addition many were untalented.
Anyway, the good thing that season is over. The defense still has problems at CB. It appears right now we have one Parrish. then anyone and everyone after that is a huge gamble. We also have a rookie and a 31 year old starting at LB, with no depth behind them. Please let last year go it was truly sad and is done. Hopefully this year the D is average
June 29th, 2026 at 9:00 pm
ME left to have faith in a coach that lost to Bowles last year and blew a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl. Good luck to him
June 29th, 2026 at 9:03 pm
“The guy who doesn’t punish loafing is back to make the team tougher. What a joke.”
How exactly does a coach ‘punish” a young millionaire backed by a collective bargaining agreement that’s ridiculously slanted towards protecting players ? Maybe 40 lashes ? Dock their pay ? Scream and holler ? Geeez. It ain’t so simple my guy, a coach can make a difference but not as much as some of you continually like to pretend they can.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:42 pm
The Simpleton knows only how to argue in favor of a complete fraud of a HC\DC.
He thinks Bowles is a SB caliber HC. That’s how dumb he is.
The losing culture is great in his world. And he wants more of it.
8-9 is 12-4 in any other division. That’s just as good as winning the SB.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
June 29th, 2026 at 9:43 pm
Joe spitting fire. Oh it burns!
June 29th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
Joe our favorite holiday is coming up…..are you excited?
June 29th, 2026 at 10:12 pm
@MelvinJunior: OK, you might be right. I’ll take a second look if I can find a couple of the games. Really disappointing, if true. I just don’t get not giving your best on the field, if you’re gonna be there at all.
June 29th, 2026 at 10:39 pm
I have too much time on my hands. I’ve put last season behind me. I watched the Buffalo game last year. I know what I saw. I watched again. Exactly what I remembered. Exactly. A defense, special teams, and coaching performance that resembled a bottom tier NFL team. Baker Mayfield leading an offense that looked prepared to play, and that took the lead in each of 4 qtrs. But that wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough to overcome what was one of the worst defensive performances I’ve ever seen. I may have too much time on my hands- but I’m not getting tricked into watching the Rams game. That was the worst defensive performance I’ve ever seen. Let’s stop this nonsense Joe, and look ahead to better days. I know they’re coming.
June 29th, 2026 at 10:43 pm
Bowles is obviously a great coach. That defense . Wow.
June 29th, 2026 at 11:57 pm
I remember Arians throwing Hargreaves out of a practice saying he needed to get his head right. Unfortunately, under Bowles, Bucs had lots of Hargreaves on defense last year.
June 30th, 2026 at 5:15 am
I’m sorry Joe. And you are the Joe that I like. The non-censoring-negative-comments -about Baker Joe. But one thing you have to understand is that professional football players need to mangae their energy in football games. And why would you think Joe doesn’t understand this? Joe gets how offensive linemen won’t always play through the whistle (heck, Donovan Smith made a career of that) or that Logan Hall isn’t going to sprint 100% after a guy moving past the second level of the defense, etc.–Joe If, in their professional instincts believe that they have no possibility of making the play, the will and rightfully should pull up. Theres no need to run 100% every play whether or not you have a possibility of influencing the play.
Instead of thinking of it as loafing, why not consider it conservation of energy?
June 30th, 2026 at 6:55 am
“” It ain’t so simple my guy, a coach can make a difference but not as much as some of you continually like to pretend they can.””
Tell that to the Chicago Bears, Seahawks or Jacksonville. A new coach came in and completely changed the culture and direction of the entire franchise.
June 30th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
Expect loafing to be taken to a whole new level of the fine art form in 2026. Maybe the Big Quit will even happen by Week 5.
June 30th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
328 don’t you have a date with Evans??
June 30th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
Joe this is ludicrous and pretty shameful brother. Any sign of slacking should cause one to stay on the bench if not good bye. No More see you on Wednesday either, can’t win a superbowl on that ethic. I’m not happy with no kind of emotion when mistakes are costing games. Everyone makes mistakes but accountability for them is a must. Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
Think about this oldie, hey hey hey, we’re the Buccaneers. Ho ho ho. One more, hey hey Tampa Bay, the Bucs know how to shine. It was rough people.
June 30th, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Shameful? But it was cool for guys making six or seven figures in a playoff hunt to take plays off?
Before Joe published this article, he got a text from a friend who played football in the SEC for a college football Hall of Fame coach. He heard Ira’s pod where we discussed quitting. He told Joe to watch the loss to Buffalo for Exhibit-A on Bucs players taking plays off.
What did he (and Joe) see that you didn’t? Well, Joe documented a few items.
Why do you support quitting?
July 1st, 2026 at 12:14 am
Mike Evans should still be a Buccaneer, but he made the right decision because Jason and the Glazernauts made the wrong one. Now fans and players will suffer for another year.
Just atrocious .
July 1st, 2026 at 1:08 am
[Why? Because it was BS. If you want to stick your head in the sand and not try to repair the problem why Evans left, then it will never get fixed. If you choose to be irresponsible, that’s on you, not Joe. Can promise you Joe WILL NOT ignore the Evans debacle. And yeah, Joe still would have drafted Sadiq. If you don’t like what Joe writes, you don’t have to read the articles. There are thousands of stories in Joe’s free archives. — Joe]
July 1st, 2026 at 7:54 pm
I hope reuben bain gets braswell to start playing harder. Or at least becomes hardy Nickerson and finds guys that will do whats needed