Lovie’s Empty Rhetoric
November 6th, 2014
Joe’s head was dizzy yesterday listening to and reading the words from Bucs coach and overlord of football operations Lovie Smith. To be polite. none of it made a lick of sense.
Mike Glennon was “great” but he is benched. Lovie wouldn’t answer when asked if he would have been benched if Glennon played like Tom Brady. Glennon is the still the darling of Lovie’s eyes, the quarterback of the future, and quarterback of the past but not quarterback of the present.
Frankly, Joe hopes, for Lovie’s own sake, Lovie either visits a shrink or a parish priest. He was trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes, namely the ticket-buying public. Reading and hearing Lovie’s (ahem) unique (again, Joe is trying to be polite) statements outraged ornery Alan Dell of the Bradenton Herald.
The Bucs don’t need an offensive coordinator. They need an expert on quantum theories, dark matter and the possibility that we live in essentially a temporal universe where time is an abstraction.
Betcha Glennon would understand that, though it would be disheartening. In that theory, he is not quarterback of the past, present or future because in reality they don’t exist. It was easier to hear Raheem Morris tell us stats are for losers.
So what is left for Glennon? He could be placed in a time capsule, shot into space and retrieved when Smith decides what to do at quarterback.
Joe really thinks the Bucs franchise has reached its lowest point since this site launched six years ago. Yes, former Bucs commander Greg Schiano had an awful season last year, but Lovie didn’t have a franchise quarterback go mental and his locker room poisoned by the MRSA, and he doesn’t have have former Bucs players in local and national media screaming at him from all corners on a daily basis.
Like Lovie, Schiano thought Glennon was the quarterback of the future. Schiano didn’t play mind games with the kid jerking him in and out of the lineup while claiming publicly he is the savior of the franchise.
November 6th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
You are what your record says you are and it all starts with coaching.
November 6th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
I could care less who plays qb I just want us to win a damn game at home. I don’t remember what walking out of the stadium with all the “TAMPA” “BAY” chants feel like. Sucks trying to beat all the visiting team fans out of the stadium so I don’t lose my mind, temper, and clean record.
November 6th, 2014 at 1:38 pm
Glennon FUKD up. Period! Get over it Joe. They all knew before the season started that he was not their QB of the future. Mccown will be here teaching a rookie next season. I’ve seen enough of Glennon. He choked. Kind of like JOE does on ASJ’s jock.
November 6th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
Pretty simple want to keep Glennon trade value up for when they trade him after this season.
November 6th, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Joe, I know that you disagreed with me when I said that Lovie looked clueless on the sidelines during the games. Now he is proving it every day. We will continue to suck as long as he remains. It’s as simple as that.
November 6th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
That’s the main thing I hate about Lovie. Empty speech. This is actually making him look like an idiot and I don’t think he is. I used to listen to all press conferences live, now I mainly wait for Joe to sum it up. Defense is improving and offense is a train wreck. We need an OC a QB and some OL. I trust Lovie he’ll make the defense work
November 6th, 2014 at 1:50 pm
Lovie still see’s Glennon as the qb of he future apparently. He just hopes that McCown can get more wins now in the short term to potentially save his job. Although if McCown plays like he did the first 2 1/2 games and we still go 1-15 despite Lovie having his guy in the last two months I have doubts he will be back in 2015.
November 6th, 2014 at 1:51 pm
10 Sept…following the Carolina game…
Lovie is in WAY over his head….I listened to his press conference yesterday and was underwhemled by his monotoned empty words…then by chance I listened to a long interview with #55 on all sorts of subject…a stark contrast in leadership and answering questions. Lovie is an empty suit that has been swept to this point in life by his association with the greatness of others. I don’t mean to be harsh…but that is what I see……
November 6th, 2014 at 1:56 pm
I love how Lovie doesn’t give the media solid answers. Is fun to see them chasing their tails while being annoyed. The best part is Lovie will not give into the media and is probably enjoying it as much as I am. But the media will keep making assumptions and keep the fire going. Lol
In Lovie I TRUST!!!
November 6th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
He tells lies I’m telling ya. Some people are just better at it than others. He really does insult the fan base when he says stuff like that. It’s like slapping us in the face and saying you don’t really have a clue what I’m talking about. So I can just say whatever, you just nod your head and agree like a good little idiot fan.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
….and fans like Touch Down Tampa Bay….gobble up the BS like it’s a hot fudge sundae.
Congrats on being a sap.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Lovie knows what he is doing, if coaching was easy any pf us can do it lol. Glennon FKD up, plain and simple. Lovie gave him the chance to run away with the job and nothing.
Might as well McCown a chance behind a better O line and playmakers starting to blossom.
Can’t wait to see Charles Sims play. All my friends raved about him during the draft and how they wanted the Dolphins to get him, hope he is the real deal.
PLEASE GOD, LET THE BUCS WIN!!!
November 6th, 2014 at 2:03 pm
JBF, As a fan since 76′, this season sure feels like the bottom, but I better be careful, because everytime I think that, the Bucs find a new way to reach lower depths. Unfortunately, Lovie has shown he’s not a good game day coach, not a very good judge of talent and refuses to adapt to the modern game. The great coaches all had that in common, Shula, Nolls, Landry all changed based on their personnel and evolved with the game. Glazers have whiffed on a newbie (Raheem), a college disciplinarian (Schiano) and now a retread (Lovie). Unfortunately, the fans are stuck with this incompetence for several years to come. Regardless of the draft status, what makes you think they will draft the right players and where is the change of losing culture?
November 6th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
Goodolebucfan —- sorry but Glennon has zero trade value. 6 or 7th at the very best… He destroyed his trade value each and every time he stepped foot on the field for the last 2 years leading the worst offense in the nfl for 18 games.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
We should all chip in like $5 each so we can send Lovie to “Bill Belichick’s School On How To Speak for 45 Minutes and Say Literally Nothing”. to learn some Belichickese. But this smug arrogance is annoying to both the media and the fans and only serves to dig a bigger hole for himself.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Complete agree with your comments in the last 2 paragraphs.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:13 pm
The only guy of less importance than Alan Dell is Sean King. The two worse people to quote.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
I’ve said since before the start of the year. They would start rough. What to watch for is improvement from games 9 to 16, and a strong finish to the last 4 games.
I never expected a playoff appearance…and if ANY of you, including Joe, were honestly speaking, neither did you. 7-9 doesn’t normally make the playoffs, does it?
So stop yer whining, people. You are getting exactly what you expected the first year. Crybabies.
At least we’re in the running for a good QB next year.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Watch how many “new” starters there are over the next 2-3 weeks when we’re playing against teams that we might have a prayer of beating. Then we’ll hope to be the dreadful “competitive” over the last 5-6 weeks in the hopes of landing Jameis or Mariota. Lets face it Joe, there is no future without a bad ass true franchise QB. If we win 4-5 more games we’ll end up with a project at QB. How much more we will be made to suffer. We’re no different than Oakland, Cleveland, Jacksonville, or Detroit (prior to Stafford and Megatron). No one wants to admit that we’re at rock bottom with those teams, but at the end of the day we’re sitting right next to them.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
I was all for Lovie’s hiring but I am getting really sick of the BS! I’m a big boy, just tell me straight, I can take it. If the Bucs were THAT bad talent-wise coming in, tell us! Don’t feed us a line of crap then get defensive when your called on it! I still think he is a good coach, although I have doubts about MANY of his assistants, but the BS coach double-speak has to stop. I suppose winning will solve everything but if they can’t beat the dirty birds Sunday does anyone realistically see another win all year? Shut up, coach ’em up and win a couple damned games!
November 6th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Lovie can blow off a bad situation to the media as good as anybody without answering anything.
Getting a lot of practice this year too.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Nicely written piece Joe. Much appreciate the candor.
It truly is a Bucs life with Lovie at the helm.
Rock bottom.
I’d rather listen to Rosie O’Donnell mating than this guy talk. A true phony. Does he think the fans are stupid?
November 6th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
biff barker Says:
November 6th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
I’d rather listen to Rosie O’Donnell mating than this guy talk. A true phony. Does he think the fans are stupid?
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If you haven’t been listening, Lovie generally think’s everyone is stupid except for Lovie, who of course knows all. Same tired act from Chicago.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
EARACHE MY EYE!!
November 6th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
I never expected a playoff appearance…and if ANY of you, including Joe, were honestly speaking, neither did you. 7-9 doesn’t normally make the playoffs, does it?
So stop yer whining, people. You are getting exactly what you expected the first year. Crybabies.
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More condescending drivel from “The Least Interesting Man in the World”
That last line epitomizes the wacky little world you live in Bonsai. Read it again moron.
You must still have your head stuck in Mark Alstatt’s locker.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:41 pm
The only reason I can think of for these guys to double talk is to disguise their future plans to other teams. For instance, saying that Glennon is our future franchise QB might throw other teams off as to who we might draft this May. I mean sure, it looks like we will almost certainly be drafting a QB, but as long as they say differently other teams are always going to have that little bit of doubt. Hey, if it eventually gets us to be a winner, then I say do what you have to do, play the media if you have to. I know a lot of other fans will agree.
November 6th, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Empty rhetoric notes Joe. Well done sir, one of your best yet. Admire a host who tells it straight away and if you don’t like it, move on. Nice job. This should be the Glazer Gang on the outspoken warpath.
November 6th, 2014 at 3:20 pm
I don’t understand the criticism. Do you really expect Lovie to say in November that he has given up on Glennon? First off, why would he say that? What if McCown gets hurt or plays poorly and he has to go back to Glennon? He has to at least appear to be confident and behind Glennon. I can’t recall any coach ever saying he gives up on a QB while the season is still going on. In addition, this is how Lovie does things. He plays everything close to the vest. He’s not going to give away much to anyone. If he can keep the other team guessing who is going to be the QB, he’s going to do it. If he’s going to keep the other teams guessing who he’s going to draft next year, he’s going to do it. Obviously we all know the other team will be just fine playing against either QB, but you can’t seriously expect Lovie to have the same mentality. If he did, then there’s no question he’s the wrong coach.
November 6th, 2014 at 3:21 pm
I think the Chip Kelley Snubbing of the Bucs set this franchise back years. It cost us valuable time in waiting to hire (Schiano) whatever was left on the scrap pile. I can’t remember for sure but I think 5 or six coaches were hired before Schiano. Lots of valuable assistants were taken by then. Then the Glazer’s hire Lovie thinking this would set them straight with fans and maybe get the fan base back. Well, it misfired much like everything else they’ve done. Lovie is past his prime and his legacy as someone a player wants to play for will go by the waist side after this year. Unfortunately I do think he will get a second year but that will push us back a couple more years. Do you really trust the draft with probably a top 3 pick going to the talent evaluators of L&L? They have single handedly set this franchise back 3 or 4 years with the guaranteed money they spent on free agents that we can all agree HAVE NOT panned out. We need an innovative coach, and yes I would reach down in the college ranks. There seems to be a lot of talented coaches this year in the college. I know, I know….people will say changing coaches so often does not breed success. I disagree, when you know something will not work, the sooner you cut the fat the better off you are.
November 6th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
“Joe really thinks the Bucs franchise has reached its lowest point since this site launched six years ago.”
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Funny you say that, there does appear to be a common denominator.
Nah? …just a coincidence? …maybe I’m guilty of reading to much into it, …but …..the timeline sure does jive. 🙂 j/k
November 6th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
MaHaBoNe.D Buc,
It’s not about cutting bait. The problem is, if you keep firing coaches, you have the reputation of being an unstable organization. Unstable organizations are not attractive to proven and qualified coaches. So in turn you are forced to hire the Greg Schiano’s and Raheem Morris’s of the world. This is what the Raiders, Jags, Browns, etc. do time in and time out, and they are never successful. If we fire Lovie at the end of the year, the rest of the country will shake their head at us for firing a well respected coach after just one year. The firing might be justified to those close to the organization, but the perception to everyone else will be the opposite. Perception is reality. We have to stick with Lovie for at least another year. However, I do think it may be time to strongly consider taking away his GM duties. I don’t think too many people would have a problem with that.
November 6th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
MaHaBoNe.D Buc….I trusted them to draft Evans in the first and they did. I’m happy with that pick so far.
November 6th, 2014 at 4:18 pm
So Joe, I have been a fan of this site for years. But this article just made me realize, since you launched your website we have been in a tailspin as an organization.
First Kiffin decides to leave before the season ends and costs us the playoffs. Then gruden gets fired. Then we had the Morris and Schiano years, and now we are getting close to the bottom. We are now in contention with the Jags, Browns and Raiders for worst organization in football.
The only 2 constants since the start of the 08 season are the Glazers and Joe. Since we know the Glazers aren’t going anywhere, maybe you should make a change. JoeBucsHater.com was available last time I checked, maybe a little reverse fandom will bring us more luck?
November 6th, 2014 at 4:38 pm
I don’t even listen to his press conferences any more. He’s always irritable and never gives a straight answer, and basically avoids answering any questions that would clear up controversies.
I keep wondering how much Jerry Angelo did to make the Bears successful. Besides drafting Urlacher and Briggs before Lovie got there, he may have been instrumental in keep the ship afloat while Lovie was an unmade bed.
With all the power Lovie has now, it could be there’s nobody truly professional in charge. Sure seems that way.
November 6th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
wow, i can’t believe so many 1/2 way positive comments and/or support of lovie.
theres your proof that most just don’t care anymore.
the ones who do believe in lovie are just buffoons. followers. nut huggers. man crushes…what else.
f$%k this wordsmith, empty suit, retirement check cashing, stealing, don’t cuss, but lying is ok, moran named lovie.
November 6th, 2014 at 5:02 pm
@ Hawaiian
A team doesn’t have to keep hiring new head coaches every 2 years if they hire the right one which the Bucs have not done since Gruden left. I wonder if the Glazers realize yet that they have made yet another horrible, expensive head coaching mistake?
November 6th, 2014 at 7:26 pm
@Mr. Patrick
I absolutely agree. However, it’s next to impossible to judge a coach off of 8 games. Lovie has been a successful coach in the NFL before. He is not some college coach or secondary coach. We have a very experienced staff, but for one reason or another, things aren’t working out. That doesn’t mean it won’t. The NFL is the most exciting league because it is the one league that teams go from worst to first all the time. Everyone who is jumping on Lovie claiming he’s terrible, too laid back, etc. really don’t know squat. They are frustrated, angry, and impatient with the losing we’ve had to endure for too long. I get it, and don’t blame them. Lovie is the head coach, and part of his job is to deal with the criticism. Ultimately, he is responsible, and he hasn’t done the job. That doesn’t mean he won’t. I promise you that he knows how to coach, and he knows more football than all of us combined. If we are in this same boat next year, then it’s time to start having a legitimate discussion about his job security. Not eight games in with a major roster overhaul. Not an excuse, just reality.
November 6th, 2014 at 7:29 pm
Glennon hasn’t developed. Still look like a rookie. Nuff said
November 6th, 2014 at 8:55 pm
I haven’t listened to his press conferences or interviews since week 3 or so. I really can’t stand it.
November 6th, 2014 at 9:31 pm
Pelbuc said:
“JBF, As a fan since 76′, this season sure feels like the bottom, but I better be careful, because everytime I think that, the Bucs find a new way to reach lower depths.”
I too have been a fan since year one. For me it feels like rock bottom as well, just like it did when Rah’s2011 squad was 0-forever and last year when Schiano was 0-8…. This squad could lose to both those teams IMHO as it seems less talented and commits far more mistakes. What I would like to see is who would win if a Leeman Bennett Bucs sqaud of 1985/86 (won 4 games in 2 seasons) or the ’83 2-14 squad would beat this 2014 squad. That could be the ultimate REPUS bowl: I call it REPUS in honor of Tom McEwan who coined that phrase when a 1-11 Buc squad faced 1 -11 Houston back in ’83 then with that @-hole Culverhouse prancing around in that ****ing creamsicle leaisure suit; Bucs actually won…..
http://tampasportshistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/repus-bowl-i-112783.html
November 6th, 2014 at 9:51 pm
@ Hawaiian
I agree with you. I really do wish Lovie well and I hope he turns Bucs around and into a winner. However, at this point I don’t like anything that I’m seeing and he looks like he’s frustrated and clueless
November 6th, 2014 at 10:10 pm
Mr. Patrick,
Agreed, unfortunately.
November 6th, 2014 at 10:47 pm
@ hawaiian
Why dont you go through and take a look at Lovies coaching staff’s his years in Chicago before you start preaching about stability. I dont think a head coach has ever had a more unstable staff under him in the history of the NFL, other than Raheem Morris who had to fire his OC before the season started.
Theres an excellent chance that we’re going to have the highest draft pick that we’ve had in the last twenty years playing with a team that he was adamant was ready to win NOW. He’s either a liar or an inept head coach, there really is no in between given the circumstances.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:36 am
@gotbucs,
I’m not arguing he’s done a good job. I am arguing that he has been a pretty good NFL coach (any coach that can coach the same team for 9 years is doing something right). He’s been pretty successful at every stop. You can point to negative things in Chicago, but people complained tirelessly about Gruden as well. In hindsight, should we have fired him?
And there is always in between. There are always circumstances. Who is to say that the loss of Tedford is the difference between us being 1-7 and us leading our crappy division? You never know. We’ve had every opportunity to win 6 of our 8 games, so it’s not far fetched to say we could have had more success. Like I said, if we look like this halfway through next year, I’ll lead the cries to get rid of Lovie. But regardless of what the experts of JBF believe, it’s too early.
November 7th, 2014 at 8:47 am
Lovie is an empty shell. He may be the nicest guy in the world and a great person and friend – but a capable team shaping fan following results producing head coach he clearly IS NOT. He looks like a complete emotionless moron on the sidelines. It’s good to not get too up or down yes, but there does come a time Mr. Smith, when a coach NEEDS TO BE A COACH AND ACT LIKE ONE!
November 7th, 2014 at 1:42 pm
Joe what would you like Lovie to do?!? To let the other 31 teams know that he will be drafting a QB in the upcoming draft?!? It obviously very simple that he doesn’t believe in Glennon no matter what he says. There is enough game film on Glennon to make that determination & it’s been made that he’s not the guy. The reason you go to Josh is to see if he can be mentor/bridge QB next yr in case the rookie coughWinstoncough isn’t ready to play right away then Josh can. Glennon is gone! He will be traded away. For people to be sooo hung up on what Lovie says b/c he has said time & time & time & time again that he doesn’t like to let the other 31 teams know what he’s going to do is really a waste of time. Actions speak louder than words & Glennon is benched after Josh went winless in 3 starts. Enough said!