“That’s Not Acceptable”
October 2nd, 2026
Says Todd Bowles should be under pressure.
It isn’t just local sports radio demanding scrutiny for the Bucs.
All the national hollering shows are talking about KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles and his hot seat now that the Bucs are 0-3 and will have the next two games at least with a rookie undrafted free agent quarterback in the wake of Baker Mayfield dislocating his thumb.
The hot seat chatter has heated up to a degree that no less an authority than screamin’ Stephen A. Smith of BSPN has weighed in.
Like Gerald McCoy was depressed when he spoke about the state of the Bucs, so too was SAS when speaking about Bowles.
SAS said he admires Bowles. But at the end of the day, SAS said the 0-3 start and how terrible the offense has looked should be a clear sign to shot-callers at One Buc Palace that change may be necessary.
“I take no pleasure in saying it because I’m very, very fond of the man,” SAS began. “I think he’s an elite defensive mind in this game. He will always have a job in the NFL. I respect the hell out of him, and I’m genuinely fond of him.
“But this is about football as it pertains to his abilities as a head coach. And the reality is, is that they ended the season on a sour note last year, missing the playoffs, going finishing like 2-7. Now they’ve lost three straight.
“That has him at 10 losses over the last 12 games, and this is his fifth season in Tampa. And if you look at his record, I mean, it’s usually what is it? 8-9, 9-8. There’s a 10-7 season [and] 8-9 record. That’s a 35-36 regular season record, entering Week 4 of this season.
“That’s not acceptable. That’s not acceptable. That’s barely average. And at some point in time, something has got to give.”
The Bucs should own the NFC South landfill instead of being 2-10 in their last 12 games, SAS said, and throw in the way the Bucs are playing, it’s a #fail.
“You find yourself looking at Tampa with the talent that they have, the division that they’re in, and you expect them to be more formidable than they have been,” SAS said. “I certainly don’t wish it on him because, again, I’m very fond of him.
“But I do know that when your record is that record, that doesn’t speak to anything close to good or greatness. It’s just average.”
Well, teams have dug themselves out of a hole at 1-3 to make the playoffs. And in the NFC South landfill, even if the Bucs play .500 ball the rest of the way, they’re still probably in the race.
But as the Sage of Tampa Bay sports, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, pointed out on this here website, on his podcast, on Mad Dog Radio and on WDAE-AM 620, 0-4 and the Bucs are toast.
And the Bucs will try to avoid that with a quarterback who has yet to complete a pass in the NFL making his first start.
"At some point in time, something has got to give."@stephenasmith shares his concerns about Bucs' HC Todd Bowles ahead of Week 4 š pic.twitter.com/0bdvxjOhX5
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 1, 2026
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:03 am
An elite defensive mind??? Has he watched this defense the past five years?
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:05 am
I rarely agree with the hotness of an SAS take but in this case, I 100% agree. I think Todd is a much better coach than most of those who bother to comment on this site. That said, heās proven to be an average head coach and THIS was the season where I thought he would finally have all the tools to prove that wrong. So far, Iām the one who is wrong.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:08 am
Bowels’ defense schemes are putrid. Every good defense in the NFL plays tight man coverage. The soft zone coverage makes no sense when the D line is not pressuring the QB. Blitzing on every passing down will get you beat but that’s Bowles.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:14 am
Elite what lol
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:20 am
Color me shocked that Smith is fond of Bowles. That dude is about [Joe doesn’t want to start a s(p)itstorm and have to lock this post, sorry. — Joe] as they come. Yeah I said it!
Eilte defensive mind??
Name the defense Bowles has out on the field as HC that was anywhere close to “elite”
GTFO.
If he wants to sound sincere and honest with his ridiculous takes, say “This guy shouldn’t have been brought back after last year’s melt down and his overall record as HC”.
When was the last time you watched a Bucs game and the players looked like they were having fun and playing with emotion?? I’ll wait.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:22 am
āI think heās an elite defensive mind in this game.ā
If by elite you mean god awful then sure, I would agree.
When counted on to try and win the game, Bowles defense routinely sinks like a boat riddled with holes.
Add to that heās a putrid HC and the 2-10 stretch looks like par for the course.
Donāt be fooled though. The Glazers could triple down again on mediocrity.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:40 am
The ownership is unacceptable
Two rental Lombardi Trophies snatched from the jaws of dysfunctional coaching and general management
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:40 am
Players respect Bowles
Players like Bowles
Players do not fear Bowles
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:43 am
Understood Joe.
I’ll rephrase my comment.
Stephen A Smith seems to be a bit basis when it comes to certain coaches in sports. It’s my opinion if Todd Bowles was, let’s say, more like some other coaches in the NFL, Smith might not carry that fondness for Bowles.
To call Bowles an “Elite defensive mind” either shows complete ignorance or perhaps something else. And I don’t think Smith is completely ignorant.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:48 am
Smith running for president is unacceptable! Talking bout the gift of gab! UGH!
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:49 am
I have more of a heart than it must seem as I Relentlessly attack THAT defensive record as well as the record of my team “overall” these last 5 Years straight…
As a person… my heart goes out to Todd Bowles. As the leader of my team, watching (at the minimum) the Majority of my teams leaders Revolt Against Him and jump ship, Especially knowing the Desire that a few had to stay a Buccaneer For Life…. well “it’s” SCREAMING at me that Mr. Bowles has Worn Out his welcome team wide. And if my team isn’t buying in or even really listening (as witness to Complete Colapse, 8 months ago), to the total disfunction of all that is “at the minimum”, supposed to be a minimum of “adequate”,…. and it in “NO WAY IS”… after 5 YEARS its just gotten even MORE confused and Sloppy in this final year of his direction, its Far More than CLEAR it’s time for a Positive Change to a new point of view and “WINNING DIRECTION”..
Wish Todd the Very Best in the rest of his endeavors in his new life Outside of Tampa Bay.
“With Respect”, thank you for the good things you brought to my team when you did…
Thank you for holding down the fort as we endeavor to have the #1 pick in the draft and have a great life outside of Tampa Bay, Florida.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:51 am
āThatās not acceptableā is said by pundits and fans. Doesnāt matter. Itās what the Glazers find āacceptableā that matters. We shall see at what point it is ānot acceptableā to them.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:51 am
To all the “Baker Boyz” in da hood – What happens when J. Daniels wins a game?
What happens when Buc fans see a QB that can throw an accurate deep ball?
What happens when Buc fans see a QB who can make sound decisions and protect the football?
What happens when Zac Robinson (all of the sudden) turns into an offensive “genius”?
Oh – this is gonna be fun…
Can’t wait.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:53 am
Iām so sick and tired of people talking about Bowlesā āelite defensive mindā. A defensive genius wouldnāt keep (allegedly) great pass rushers on the bench because they canāt cover receivers. A defensive genius wouldnāt let his DBs play 12 yards off the receiver on 3rd and 5. A defensive genius wouldnāt create a defense that takes years to master.
Great defensive minds create defenses for their players. They donāt try to shoehorn players in their system. Great defensive minds are on top of the details. Their teams swarm to the ball, tackle better than other teams, and create more turnovers. They also get multiple sacks each game.
So please everyone (JoeBucsā readers excluded) stop calling him a defensive genius!!! His defense WAS great in the Super Bowl, but itās been getting worse ever since then. If you donāt realize that, itās because youāre not watching games.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:55 am
@ Fan of da Bucs
Did you realize that Todd Bowles defense is ranked #6 in the NFL currently?
Is the defense also responsible for scoring points?
Our QB sucks and so does this offense…
Hopefully help is on the way.
Go J. Daniels! – You Can’t be any worse!
Go Bucs!
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:59 am
its getting late early!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:01 am
Just think what todd monken could’ve been here. Changed the atmosphere in Cleveland and the bucs have way more talent on the roster than the browns
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:02 am
Anyone with a speck of football I.Q. saw these days coming over the past few year!
Some would make up any excuse to give IBS a pass and the Bucs to keep him as HC…. Any success he has since being HC is on the talent of others and in NO WAY his own… Liam Coen is the best example…. The Bucs could have had Liam Coen as their HC!…. That will haunt the Bucs for decades….
Here’s to the Glazers to wise up and get some advice from someone smarter than them to help them get a HC for 2027 and beyond that is the same caliber or greater than Coen…. CHEERS!
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:15 am
If the Bucs go 0-4 or 0-5 they need to resist the urge to fire Bowles now. Keep him the whole season, lose alot of games and get a high pick. Tanking blows, but if its 4 or 5 losses this early, ride it out
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:15 am
Glazers are morons, they deserve empty stadiums and no support. And then the typical hype train all preseason. Week 1 shows up and the same garbage dysfunctional reality hits the field. The atmosphere is a toxic losing culture. But let’s waste this whole season too. All the garbage out of lichts mouth too about bringing back the nasty is really showing. He is a politician, all talk no show. Hes as much of a problem as the rest
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:18 am
Maybe they can trade Vita, Baker and Bowles to Jacksonville to get Coen back here so we can actually have a real NFL coach again.
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:23 am
It feels good to see everyone catching up to what I’ve been screaming since season 1. This guy is a buffoon of a HC. Ive only had to wait 5 seasons. Hopefully this is the last one this buffoon gets to control.
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:26 am
Fanofdabucs ,
I will have to disagree with you on that statement, Steven Smith. heās definitely not racist. that dude gets his opinion about everyone
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:27 am
Daniels has a great opportunity against Green Bay, even playing in front of a largely hostile crowd. The Packers are really struggling, almost as badly as the Bucs. This is a great game for Robinson to get his act together and put a solid gameplan in place that takes advantage of Green Bay’s weak defensive line in the absence of Parsons.
If Daniels succeeds in this game, great, he should start until he proves he is a worse option than Baker. UDFAs have become good quarterbacks before ā Kurt Warner, Tony Romo, Jeff Garcia, and Jake Delhomme for example. All of those guys had better coaching, better weapons, and better organizations than Daniels does, but miracles do happen in football. I wouldn’t put money on Daniels being a long term franchise quarterback, but would be glad if he turned out to be the real deal. It will be determined on the field.
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:36 am
When the QB canāt drop back in the pocket without playing hopscotch, looks right at a receiver who is open (Egbuka) who is looking back right at the QB, yet the QB doesnāt throw the ball but plays Happy Feet instead, itās not hard to understand why the Bucs are 0-3.
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:47 am
I have already written this season off as a loss. Thanks, glazers and Licht, for keeping the average at best HC.
Enjoy your empty stadium on sundays. You earned it! Smfh
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:48 am
We have the NFC South top ranked defense
We have the NFC South lowest ranked offense
These stats are for the ignorant commenters that continue to bash the defense
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:52 am
here we go again with the “yea he’s a guru but” bs. he is coach gazoo, just snark and average at best. the nonsense he blurts out just reinforces every day what those who arent blind can see clearly, he’s pathetic and has no game.
SAS is just another useless blowhard with his “he’s a genius but”…
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:55 am
Marine Buc Says:
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:51 am
“To all the āBaker Boyzā in da hood ā What happens when J. Daniels wins a game?
What happens when Buc fans see a QB that can throw an accurate deep ball?
What happens when Buc fans see a QB who can make sound decisions and protect the football?
What happens when Zac Robinson (all of the sudden) turns into an offensive āgeniusā?
Oh ā this is gonna be funā¦
Canāt wait.”
What happens if we discover it’s not the QB, it’s the O Line, the receivers and the OC?
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:01 am
The #1 Draft Pick
This is the year to have the #1 draft pick. Archie Manning will give us a TON of draft picks. If we’re not contenders, I say go 0-16.
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:06 am
The math through Week 3 makes it pretty clear: you canāt win in todayās NFL giving up 26.3 PPG (23rd in the league) while only scoring 20.7 PPG (19th).
Winning teams in Week 3 held opponents to an average of *18.88* points, and undefeated teams are sitting at *16.67 PPG*. Tampa Bay giving up almost 8 more points per game than the winning standard puts them in a -5.6 differential hole every week. Until the defense gets off the field and the offense stops settling for field goals, this team is going nowhere. Numbers don’t lie!
The Head Coach sucks!! The Offense and Defense are BOTH TERRIBLE!!!
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:12 am
Marine…
If you’ve paid attention to any of my comments made through the first 3 games, I’ve stated as much. I believe with good QB play, this team is 3-0. 2-1 at the absolute worst.
That being said, Todd has not shown that he’s an “elite defense mind”. He’s just not. I’ve seen too many medicore QBs, rookies, and backups crave up is soft defenses.
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:12 am
As they say a lot, defense win games or championships however, you do need the offensive side of the ball help.
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:13 am
I have said this ever since Mayfield has been in Tampa. He’s an average quarterback at best.
Yes, you can win with him but he needs everything around him to be perfect. He can’t put a team on his back and win games
Now over the course of 12 games and 2 OC we see an ineffective offense that can’t move the ball and can’t score. We see fumbles, interceptions and poor decisions made from under center. And we see a level of indecisiveness from a 9 year veteran quarterback that looks more like a rookie in his second or third game.
Is this Coach Bowles fault? In a roundabout way I believe it is. Supposedly he makes the final decisions concerning what happens on the field, including, I would think WHO takes the field.
If Mayfield is his guy then he needs to answer for this. Much like he needs to answer why Tucker still isn’t getting the ball, why Walker isn’t on the field more and why problems such as poor special teams play or poor offensive line play aren’t addressed immediately.
That’s the long-winded way of saying Coach Bowles should be escorted out of One Buc Place and his gate card should be confiscated. Rapidly.
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:13 am
The defense is NOT giving up 26.3 ppg
Baker had a fumble returned for a TD, the ST gave up a TD
The defense did NOT give up these 14 points
They were NOT even on the field….they were on the sidelines
SMDH
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:16 am
In my frustration with the Bowles led Bucs over the past 5 years I couldnāt help but wonder what offensive minded coach is available at the end of 026 that the Bucs may make a run at
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:21 am
Bowles stinks, I’m down on this team, but the bucs have now lost to the 3-1 Browns, the 3-0 Vikings and the “superbowl contender” Bengals. Lost by boneheaded plays. All pretty close games. That said, I have low expectations moving forward.
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:24 am
“The defense is NOT giving up 26.3 ppg
Baker had a fumble returned for a TD, the ST gave up a TD
The defense did NOT give up these 14 points
They were NOT even on the fieldā¦.they were on the sidelines
SMDH”
Our average with those scores the defense wasn’t even on the field, squares out to 22 ppg which would rank 15th overall.
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:25 am
“Stephen A Smith seems to be a bit basis when it comes to certain coaches in sports. Itās my opinion if Todd Bowles was, letās say, more like some other coaches in the NFL, Smith might not carry that fondness for Bowles.”
Nasty work, and even cleaned up we know what you mean and unfortunately, know more about how you think then I personally care to know.
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:29 am
This has got to be the Dumbest fanbase on Earth
The defense has giving up 5 TDs, 4 passing, one rushing
The rest of the come from FGs
And when you factor in the 7 offensive turnovers
Some FGs came after the opponent offense was already in FG position
How many defenses has giving up less than 5 TDs this season?
This is truly a pathetic, backwards thinking fanbase
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:47 am
Minnesota and Jacksonville defenses has given up less than 5 TDs
And both teams offenses has committed only 2 turnovers
While our offense has committed 7 turnovers
Our defense has done a remarkable job of keeping us in the game
Keeping the score close
But these ignorant commenters are too dumb to see that
Or they don’t want to see it, for other reasons
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:57 am
No need to pile on. Fact is, the owners allow it. Itās on them. They gave him a lucrative raise/extension. Now, they owe him big time if they fire him. Poor judgement. Poor ideology.
October 2nd, 2026 at 11:57 am
Bowles had one (ONE) good game where he guessed right. The Super Bowl against Mahomes. Everyone admired a great plan because it was different. But everyone watched the tape and found a way to beat that defense. Bowles is still running the same, soft scheme from 5 years ago. That’s not innovation. That’s stubborn and that’s why we lose.
October 2nd, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Again Steven Smith is wrong. There is no way on earth that Bowles is an elite defensive mind. Obviously Smith doesnāt really watch the Bucs games, Just highlights. He isnāt wrong however that Bowles is on the hot seat. In fact Bowles may not be the dumbest defensive coordinator in the NFL but he better hope the dumbest defensive coordinator doesnāt die.
October 2nd, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Thatās the difference Marine ,, Iām actually rooting for the Bucs to win this weekend ,, Iām really hoping the Kid does well,, Heās got wheels and heās gonna need them ,, my guess is he does good or he gets knocked out of the game and we get the Stickman,,, but I want us to win , if JD goes 2-0 then let him try and go 3-0 and ride the hot hand. I also think it will be good for Baker to watch the game from the sideline , get some perspective
October 2nd, 2026 at 12:08 pm
I love to talk FOOTBALL with people, but none of this is about FOOTBALL any longer. It’s now become focused on PERSONALITIES … Glazers, Licht, Bowles, Robinson, Mayfield especially. And quite frankly, it’s getting boring because it’s always the same crap, over & over & over.
Newsflash: Glazers are the owners of the Bucs, not us. Licht is the General Manager of the Bucs, not us. Todd Bowles, for right now at least, is the Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator of the Bucs, not us. Zach Robinson is the Offensive Coordinator of the Bucs, not us. And Baker Mayfield isn’t any more relevant to the Bucs than any of us right now because he can’t even suit up for the next couple of games at least. The fixes for ‘shortcomings’ won’t be implemented tomorrow.
The Bucs didn’t get to 0-3 by accident; they earned it with crappy play. Too many turnovers, too many untimely penalties, circumspect blocking, terrible tackling … the list goes on. The coaching staff obviously isn’t getting the results WE EXPECTED. Sucks, but ‘Life happens, deal with it’.
This TEAM is talented enough to turn that around, even with a rookie undrafted QB & even with these coaches. We’ve got a monstrous OLine that’s playing well BENEATH ITSELF. Totally unacceptable. We’ve got a passing game that’s not producing like we expected, largely because the pass blocking has been atrocious. And at the same time, we’ve got a running game that’s averaging only 22 carries & 95 yds a game. Duh. If you want to help your rookie QB win a game, then run the friggin ball a LOT MORE. And don’t do it with 1 RB, do it with 3 RBs AND with your rookie QB (who supposedly is a pretty good runner). They’re ALL breakout threats, it’s just a matter of which one breaks out.
As a side bennie, emphasizing our running game more will also eat the clock IF it’s done well. And eureka, that helps us defensively (less time for our defense to be on the field is supposedly a good thing?). Green Bay is VERY susceptible to the run (they rank #30 in Rushing Attempts Against, #28 in Rushing Yards Allowed, and #31 in Rushing TDs Allowed). They’ve allowed opponents to score TDs on 10 of their 12 visits to their Red Zone (an astronomical 83.3% success rate).
Use our strengths to relentlessly attack their biggest weaknesses. Green Bay CAN be beaten, even with a rookie QB. And with a much simplified game plan.
October 2nd, 2026 at 12:11 pm
The Glazers have had egg stuck to their faces since Cohen took off. At this point, they deserve all of the vitriol, empty seats, and everything else that isnāt positive directed at them.
I always get a chuckle out of the Glazer Foundation Glasses for Kids sign in the end zones, they may want to get their eyes checked themselves. Malcom wouldāve jettisoned this regime 3 years ago.
October 2nd, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Bucs opponents thus far are 8 – 2
Thats 3 pretty good teams..
All with better QBs and better rosters..
Who put this team together and paid all that money for Baker?
October 2nd, 2026 at 12:30 pm
It’s ok to like Todd the man but not Todd the coach. SAS is a national treasure.
October 2nd, 2026 at 12:48 pm
I donāt care to debate āeliteā so I wonāt. But he will not have another job in the nfl as a DC ever again after heās fired. No one will hire him in that role. All the guys that would have done so are retired or canāt get a HC gig in the nfl anymore.
Maybe someone would take him on as an āassistant to the HC/def backsā coach, but he would never take that job
This is it for Todd in the nfl. Heās Jeff fisher without the 13 win season and the Super Bowl.
October 2nd, 2026 at 12:49 pm
SAS is an idiot, so when even he starts making sense, the writing is definitely on the wall. In flashing neon.
October 2nd, 2026 at 1:06 pm
Take a look on the other sideline this weekend for our next years head coach,, LaFluer needs a change , Bucs need a change