National Media Hammers Licht & Koetter
January 21st, 2016
Newy Scruggs, a national host on NBC Sports Radio, railed on Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter this morning, claiming a great source told him the reigning Bucs honchos “stabbed up” Lovie Smith.
Scruggs isn’t the only guy floating this narrative.
The proposed proposition is simple: Koetter and Licht teamed up on Team Glazer to get Lovie run — to preserve their own jobs for the long term.
Mike Florio, of ProFootballTalk.com, asked Koetter about this alleged coup on NBC Sports Radio yesterday. “Total, 100 percent B.S.,” Koetter explained.
Here are the key questions for the important people at One Buc Palace:
How does this garbage get started? Is it a reason why not one prominent ex-Buccaneer attended Koetter’s introductory news conference at One Buc Palace (outside of Shelton Quarles, who works for the team)? And where does it go from here? How can the evil forces spreading a disease like this get shut down quickly and effectively?
Make no mistake. Things likely will get progressively ugly in the media for Licht and Koetter, if this situation isn’t turned around — a situation that should never have blossomed in the first place.
Bucs officials probably have a plan. If not, they’re welcome to buy Joe beers and steak and learn how to stabilize and fill this sinkhole.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:07 am
So, obviously this was BS however I have one and only one point to make.
I would have most ABSOLUTELY DEFINITELY INCOMPREHENSIBKLY “Stabbed Up” Lovie.
He was an absolute joke of a head coach and one of the WORST BUCS COACHES IN HISTORY. THAT IS 100% a Fact. look at W/L
If I am licht or Koetter, or even the effing waterboy, you can take money to the effing bank that I would have ensured lovie was fired because he was dragging this team further down than almost ever before
January 21st, 2016 at 11:07 am
The plan should be answering on the field, Joe. Let the team’s play be the answer. Win games, get in the playoff and nobody will ever care about such vicious and slanderous theories.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:09 am
Thank You Jolly… I was about to go on a rant but You said it prefect…
January 21st, 2016 at 11:10 am
@Atrain
Ranting is my favorite pastime =D
January 21st, 2016 at 11:11 am
If Lovie Smith were white, would he had been fired? Yes.
If Lovie Smith were white, would Scruggs or Florio be bitching on Light and Koetter? No
Was Greg Schiano, who was white, fired after only two seasons? Yes
Did Scruggs or Florio complain after Schiano was fired? No
Have the Bucs hired more African-American Head coaches than any other team in the history of the league? Yes
I am so sick of the double standards. Lovie was fired because the defense (his specialty) did no produce. And he did not seem to have the answers to fix it.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:11 am
If you want Lovie Smith, you take him. The Bucs did not want him, neither did the majority of fans. No grand conspiracy was out to get Lovie, yet it feels better that he is gone.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:13 am
Even if it’s true: who cares? Lovie didn’t have a leg to stand on, he made his own bed and he got what he had coming. When you don’t produce you make yourself vulnerable. Really tired of Lovies apologists dominating the national conversation about this team.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:13 am
Also, not surprised this is coming from Newy Scruggs. I don’t want to open Pandora’s box, but someone else here was talking about “reverse racism” and I thought that was spot on. I can only dream that people in America would stop using sports as a mean to promote their personal agenda on this particular subject.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:14 am
You are Joe, i’m Joel, I think we have a lot in common like being pissed off by dumbed people !
Jason Licht came for NE and Arizona two veru successful team and organisation.
He has learned to things there, no feeling in business. Look how many SuperBowl winners NE cut at the end of the season, it’s like that and it’s how they are succesful.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:15 am
I listened to that interview with Koetter and thought it was boarder line disrespectful. That was really what they wanted to talk about…not football. Lovie Smith and his camp must be soo well connected around the league. Totally unfair treatment by the national media and if I was Koetter I would shut down national media on interviews going forward.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:17 am
im just happy we didn’t get that weak coach chip kelly
January 21st, 2016 at 11:17 am
I meant to send you (Joe) this article last night but figured you’d be all over it. I think this is total 1000% BS. and if it IS true then GOOD! At least some one had the guts and vision to do what was necessary. These outsiders are so clueless it really burns my britches.
“Money for nothing …. And no cussing!”
Truth is Lovie is nothing more than a Rooney hire, yea I said it!!! #icecream
January 21st, 2016 at 11:18 am
The Tampa2 mafia will continue with propaganda!! They will try and undermine the new regime at every corner!! When the first offsides penalty happens in 2016 we will hear how this team is out of control and if lovie had been left he would have fixed it!!!
Be prepared buc fans, There are ex-bucs and Tampa2-ites that believe lovie was sabotaged as well as the lovie’s defensive scheme!! In fact they will say that is the only way the scheme does not work!!
January 21st, 2016 at 11:18 am
You end it by performance on the field….so we have to wait..
It would also be really good if Lovie would do the right thing by admitting he was fired because he failed….nothing more, nothing less…..but I’m sure that won’t happen.
It would be good to know where these opinions were when Lovie was fired going 10-6…..
January 21st, 2016 at 11:19 am
Any teams banging on Lovie’s door this offseason? He is available. Supposed to be a great defensive guru. Lots of Head Coaching availability and with that for DC.
Last I read….no calls to Lovie – not even on the radar. I bet it will be the same next year.
Lovie is a nice guy – but the defense stunk on ice and even got worse when he “Took Over”. Others have said it best, the NFL Offenses have pasted him by.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:29 am
Elle
Agree completely with both of your posts and TBBF…this will go away just like JW’s issues once training camp opens. Right now we’re starting to enter the silly season when folks get desperate for stories.
I’m not sure that even IF the story were true as they told it, that it would be a bad thing. Licht and Koetter saw the same things we did…especially Licht whose future depended on success. Koetter OTOH could have easily found another OC position, I don’t think Lovie’s total failure reflected on Koetter only Licht. And so we blame Licht for doing his job because it means he gets to keep his job. What’s he supposed to do…tank his career for Lovie?
The team made progress in the middle of the season only to play HORRIBLY down the stretch when it counted…two games at home against losing teams!!
Anyone who can’t see that the way this team finished is what got Lovie run simply does NOT WANT TO SEE!!!
It’s not how you start it’s how you finish!! Ask Chucky…he could still be here but for his own four game collapse. Lovie himself talked about the importance of December football. This team SUCCKKED in December!!! He had to go!!!
The players not showing up is not a big deal. If they had shown up it would look like they were celebrating Lovie’s demise. I haven’t heard many of them speaking up FOR Lovie or against Koetter.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:34 am
OMG! with the reaction to Lovie being fired you’d think we just fired Bill Belichick…For the record, I am African-American; I was happier than anyone when we hired Lovie but even happier when we canned him…
It’s easy for people on the outside looking in to say Lovie got screwed…Lovie Smith screwed himself, He’s the one who decided to trade away guys like Goldson, Revis, and Barron because they didn’t “fit his system”…Mind you, the salary cap was never an issue in Tampa while he was here…
The botom line is, when you’re supposed to be a “defensive guru” guys like Ryan Mallett, Case Keenum, Matt Hasselback, Kirk Cousins, Jay Cutler, and Marcus Mariota have no business carving your defense up like Thanksgiving Turkey…And the worst part of it all was he hand picked every guy that sucked last season; not to mention he was the one calling the defense…
Oh yeah and Lovies career record against teams with a winning record is 22-69…Meaning he’ll never out coach anyone…he’s overrated and I’m glad he’s gone…
January 21st, 2016 at 11:35 am
I am one of those who feels like Lovie was fired too soon (for the record 2 years is not enough for any HC). I do not subscribe to a conspiracy theory however.
Bottom line; WIN! Win and it all goes away.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:38 am
This is a non-issue, the national media has proven how out of touch and clueless they were on all things Bucs… We are on our own as a fanbase… I’m sure most posters here know the truth
But a funny statement was made by Chris Simms on his podcast today(yes that Chris Simms lol). He goes I remember when everyone was thinking of how to beat the Tampa 2, now quarterbacks love facing the Tampa 2… In a nutshell that’s it. Though I paraphrased that’s the point… Lovie allowed the worst group of QB’s ever the highest pass completion pcts… Plus our defense was soft… He did it to himself. I believe he thought he had 5 years here, which is why he was always talking about patience… Honestly if he so good how come no one asked him in for an interview?
January 21st, 2016 at 11:41 am
I really hate to see race brought into these discussions….there is absolutely no evidence of that at all….and, all it does is diminish real racism which does exist. It’s sort of like “cry wolf”….posters keep raising it constantly and it probably means that they are racially challenged.
Lovie Smith has many friends because he is a very likable and friendly guy who has mentored many for a long time……they come to his rescue because they like him…nothing more, nothing less.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:43 am
Been going on since the civil war. Now from cops to coaches. They must keep the race card alive and well. The more you react the more they will play it.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:47 am
Bucfan20, there are many times when race is a MAJOR factor… And bro did you just bring up the civil war and the rash of police officers killing unarmed black people? Really?😓😓😓
January 21st, 2016 at 11:48 am
Let’s just keep it football plz
January 21st, 2016 at 11:51 am
So basically nothing that happened here was Lovie’s fault and if it was he wasn’t accountable?
January 21st, 2016 at 11:53 am
No it is USED. And it is being USED right now.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:55 am
Buc Lives Matter
January 21st, 2016 at 11:57 am
The national media (what do they know about the Bucs, anyway?) shouldn’t be saying the Lovie Smith was “stabbed” by the Glazers, Licht, and Koetter – they should be praising them for making the correct decision without undue delay.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:58 am
@tampabaybucfan
says
“they come to his rescue because they like him…nothing more, nothing less.”
But that is not what they are doing is it!!! does it sound like defense of Lovie? or does it sound like they are trying to slander The Bucs, The Glazers, Jason Licht and Head Coach Dirk Koetter???
Some say it does not matter, But they applied these same tactics With Coach Schaino!! Saying he is running college schemes, and he is mean to players, And that if he just let the talented roster play they would be a top 10 defense!!!
January 21st, 2016 at 12:02 pm
Cody Says : “I was happier than anyone when we hired Lovie but even happier when we canned him…”
Cody, I agree. Lovie seemed like a great fit when hired. No reason not to be optimistic at the time. But after 2 seasons with a horrible defense from a supposed defensive guru and an 8-24 record, time to move on. It’s not just the 8-24 record but also the way they looked doing it….embarrassing!!!!
I was a big Lovie supporter in the beginning…..no more. The right guy was hired to take over. There’s no guarantee he’ll succeed, but he is definitely the right leader to trust going forward at this point
January 21st, 2016 at 12:06 pm
@ Realist
I think it’s more pro Lovie than anti Bucs……Bleecher report has Koetter as the #1 HC hire….so it’s not all media.
And….if their comments were racially motivated, which I don’t think they were, they would have called it a “lynching” instead of a stabbing.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:11 pm
@tampabaybucfan
Just keep an open mind, because there will be unnamed sources that are going to pop up with bad news for the new regime!!!
How do you think the mysterious “lovie fired by phone call” got out so quickly!!! The tampa2 mafia is very devious indeed!!!!!
January 21st, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Palace Coup?
I can see the headlines now.
King Koetter’s royal reshuffle brings in young faces and bolsters his line.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Lovie stabbed himself on multiple occasions. Plus it’s not like the Glazers didn’t have a history of quickly firing coaches
January 21st, 2016 at 12:15 pm
The nfl wants the bucd and glaziers to fail. They know licgt and koetter are a deadly vombination and they didnt want to see it happen. Thats why they started talking about koetter before t he season was over. They dont want this team to be successful. If the glaziers were not so irrelevant in nfl citcles maybe this kind of crap wouldnt happen..
January 21st, 2016 at 12:17 pm
The national media always writes negative stories about every NFL team with a string of losing records….just like they suck up to the Patriots or any team on a winning roll. This will always be the case until we start winning again. The national media guys (writers and on air talking heads) are much more about style than substance. They’re typically uninformed and don’t let facts or reality get in the way. Everybody loves a winner and loves to bash losers.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:19 pm
I know Scruggs from his local sports work in Dallas. Straight up fool
January 21st, 2016 at 12:20 pm
I got stabbed and lynched once…..ONCE!
January 21st, 2016 at 12:22 pm
@BUC55- The only ‘knowns’ are that there are unknowns! We won’t know until the whistle blows if it was the right decision.
I said it with Schiano and I’ll say it with Lovie; 2 years is not enough.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:27 pm
They’re going to say what they’re going to say. Lovie is a nice guy that a lot of people like. Nobody wants to see nice people fired. It’s a pretty short walk, for those looking for such things, to assume that it was an inside job when the replacement was promoted from within. They’ll continue to carry Lovie’s flag until the winning happens and then they’ll forget all about this whole thing. It’s filler content that they’re hoping will take them through the doldrums of the offseason.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:27 pm
@StPete,
Again I agree with you, and I know it’s supposed to be silly season, but it still upsetting. This should be all about football, nothing else. I’ve never judged Lovie the man, I only talked here and elsewhere about Lovie the coach. I understand the man has worked many years in the NFL and he has friends. He has enjoyed a wonderful career, and it only normal that there are people out there who feel for the man. But his record in Tampa speaks for itself in the end, and it’s the only thing that matters.
@Kevin,
Talk about conspiracy theories, huh? C’mon, no need to take it THAT far.
—
As for the implied racial card, if it isn’t evident to some of you guys that certain personalities of the national media are using the firing of Lovie Smith to divulge their creed on that particular matter, then I don’t know what to say. Out of the blue, there’s interest surrounding the Bucs. A team that usually everybody forgets suddenly becomes a topic that has to be discussed. I find that rather curious. The Bucs should make headlines because we have a young, very promising QB, because we’ve hired a coach who just gave us the best offense in team’s history, because we’re making the right moves to advance to the postseason again. Instead, all we see from the national media is talk of back stabbing and how the poor Lovie got screwed. I don’t know about you guys, but to me all of this is sickening.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:30 pm
The “Tamp 2 Mafia”….is simply upset because they lost their inside track to all things Bucs…..with Lovie & to some degree Nickerson gone…there are no insiders for them to make contact. Things will die down.
Although, the cure for all of this is the Bucs winning and right out of the gate.
That may not happen right away.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:32 pm
Who is their great source? Big Mouth, I mean Big Dog? And…who cares if that’s what happened? Had Lovie done his job better, he would still be here.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:33 pm
I thought Lovie Smith was done with pissing my off everyday. I was wrong.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Glazers are racist!!!! How dare they fire a black man, ??!
They should be sued, they are racist for firing Lovie, Lovie was an amazing coach, praise needs to be thrown at whoever hired Lovie, Atleast they weren’t racist like the Glazers
Oh wait!
January 21st, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Who gives a rats ass what the national media think. Build this defense up, keep getting better on offense, bring in some competent free agents, draft well, and win some frikin’ ball games. I could care less what the talking heads think or say!
January 21st, 2016 at 12:46 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
says
I really hate to see race brought into these discussions
Stephen A. Smith and others made a fool out of themselves by bringing race into it. … and you are right there is absolutely no evidence of that at all. If the Glazers were racists, they wouldn’t have hired Lovie, Dungy and Raheem in the first place.
This was business not racial.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:50 pm
You fired a well-liked, well-respected black HC in politcally correct America. I’m pretty sure that’s a 3rd degree felony nowadays. The standard-bearers for political correctness are the national media. They will demand retribution.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:57 pm
If all this is true and I don’t think it is, but if it is. Someone had to do it.
My cousin as some of you know played for the SB Champion Bucs. Although he was only the LS. He told me from what he gathered that the Glazers were pretty much hands off when it came to the team. Of course that was Malcolm. He said Malcolm just signed the checks and stay away from the operations of the team.
So if his kids are like my cuz told me, then they probably weren’t paying enough attention as to how or why Lovie only won 8 games in 2 years. Perhaps they thought winning 6 games was an improvement and they just needed to be told about the lack of progress.
I don’t really know and I don’t really care at this point. Lovie’s been gone for weeks now. So I don’t see the media’s need to keep beating a dead horse. Besides that’s our job as fans. They should just move on. Notice how they never talk about all the loot they gave him when he left. It’s just poor Lovie he got shafted, yet they made fun of us on a daily basis during the season.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Its not “stabbing” when your hc made as many questionable decisions as Lovie made. That with the 8-24 record, there was no conspiracy, Lovie did not do enough to earn a third year, no matter what I or anyone thinks.
The team has so much invested in first overall pick Jameis Winston. The team obviously felt that Koetter was more vital in the progress of Jameis than Lovie was. The past five seasons have just sucked. Im ready for a new era of Buccaneer football and I just feel like Licht, Koetter and Smith got this.
And of course, screw the national narrative. As qe root for the Bucs, who play in our city, we must stand strong against the bs. Make them think twice before lacking objectivity in regards to the coverage of Tampa Bay. I dont know how, but we got this.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Come on Joe you knew perfectly well this narrative was going to rear it’s head at some point heck I even made a slight reference to it in one of my previous comments. The Lovie push back has just begone my friends…loooooooooool in my Vincent Price voice it’s going to be a long off season!
January 21st, 2016 at 1:04 pm
@ Howard Cosell have you been to Jamaica recently??? the reason I asked is because you just wrote on nfl.com that Jared Goff is better than JW coming out of college???. I hear the herbs are more potent over there.
January 21st, 2016 at 1:09 pm
from cosell’s previous statement you can tell he is a fool…
January 21st, 2016 at 1:19 pm
…Anyone that uses ‘stabbed up’ is probably not the best source of information
January 21st, 2016 at 1:26 pm
^^^ Amen sister!
January 21st, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Lovie was fired because our defense was horrific and the reason we lost the last four games. Our putrid defense is also why we lost the Redskin game (unexcusable). The fact that our offense went from 30th to 5th in one year under Koetter with three starting rookies and 30 something drops by our number one receiver, that is why Koetter was promoted and Lovie was shown the door. If Lovie is so great, why hasn’t he signed on with another team in need of a head coach. Why? Because his ship has left and the league has moved on. Go Bucs!
January 21st, 2016 at 1:58 pm
I feel so bad for Lovie……. NOT he is sitting around today counting his money still getting paid, while the rest of us work our asses off and worry about our mortgage payments.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Ok, “Newy Scruggs” sounds like a character on Lil’ Abner. Just sayin’
January 21st, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Let’s say it’s 100% true….
…. I don’t blame them for doing it ONE BIT.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:12 pm
Lol, you brainiacs think that I’m Greg Cosell?
Not true. Joe can vouch that my IP always comes from Tampa.
I’m just a ham-and-eggs Buc fan. Sorry to disappoint.
@lurker
Just out of curiosity, why is my previous sarcastic comment foolish?
Is it untrue?
January 21st, 2016 at 2:15 pm
“a great source” is one with a name attached.
Otherwise, it is nothing more than hearsay.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:16 pm
@Howard Cosell it’s my attempt at sarcastic humour
January 21st, 2016 at 2:17 pm
OK. Cool.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:19 pm
The sad part is that it was the dungy tree that said “Put your name on it” by the great Herm Edwards!!!
I guess it does not apply for the Tampa2 mafia!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 21st, 2016 at 2:30 pm
Soap Opera time in the NFL.
Lovie hired a GM that had more balls than him, and then he hired an OC that produced a 4000 yard rookie QB season and a #2 NFL rusher,……and Lovie let both of those things go to waste by not putting up a fight on defense.
How is anybody suprised that he got run out of the building. His scheme was unbelievably antiquated and his inflexibility was going to make improvements difficult without the absolute cream of the NFL crop playing at Safety and Slot Corner.
The horse has been dead for weeks, time to quit beating it.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:33 pm
The national media are idiots for the most part. This is why i dont pay any attention to what they say. 8-24 means you stabbed your self, repeatedly.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Not a thing to worry about my fellow Buc Fans! Nothing, Nobody, not a sole in organized football is going to turn in as bad of a performance as Lovie and the Bucs did over the past two years, primarily on Defense.
I would like to ask the talking heads in the national media how many Buccaneer Football games did they watch this past year? And, I would follow that up with, how does Lovie Smith’s defense defend a slant pass? Lovie, signing and whiffing on defensive free agent after free agent had an ineffective scheme. I bet our players are better next year.
The worst part about our team under Lovie was their loser mentality. Between turtling away at the end of halves proudly sharing your desire to put points on the board, and Lavonte David admitting that after the first defensive play from scrimmage that the team was defeated/deflated.
Adversity, Discipline, and Competitive Nature are the 3 things I am looking for from the new regime. That, and I really appreciate Dirk Koetter’s honesty. I hope he lets his nuts hang and tries to score 40+ every Sunday! We’ll drink to that!
January 21st, 2016 at 2:38 pm
*sharing your desire to NOT put points on the board**
January 21st, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Who cares how all this transpired. Love was going to get fired whether it was this year or next year. I was happy when we hired him, and I am happy when we fired him. The guy sucked. Just look at W’s and L’s. I hated his pressers and I hated to watch our D get cut up by back-up QB’s. The coach had no way to resolve getting beat by the slant. He tried every CB tandem and nothing worked. LVD had a decent year, but would have expected better. Maybe next year we will blitz him more and he will make it to the Probowl based on stats. He stripped Leslie Frazier of DC duties and did worse. That will get you fired. Im already liking what is going on with the team. Maybe I will watch every game next year, unlike the last 2 years. Shine and Raheem did better than this crap, ands thats not saying a lot. Bye bye Lovie,…go back to the basement. Atleast you got a free 10 million $$$.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Blah, blah, blah….did not see Joe shedding any tears with Licht stabbed up yours truly!! Where was the national media when Tom Coughlin gets tossed for the idiot OC they are paying 3 million less to a year!
Lovie Smith needed to be fired for multiple reasons:
1) Stupid name for a football coach!
2) Three (3) wins at home in 2 years!
3) His defense sucked!! I was a better coach!!
4) Lovie made absolutely zero progress in game planning and clock management!
Come on Jose’…..shed a tear for the best Buc’s coach in the past 6 years…..me
Greg Schiano
January 21st, 2016 at 2:57 pm
I’m no Florio fan but I am going to to take back what I said earlier in this thread lumping him with Scruggs and Stephen A. Smith. I just listened to his interview with Koetter yesterday I thought he was fair.
January 21st, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Koetter strikes me as a very loyal soldier, and wouldn’t backstab his head coach. And any plans Licht and the Glazers had to replace Lovie are all part of running a team, so there’s no conspiracy or coup. How do people come up with this stuff? They just say sh*t with no actual evidence, without knowing anything about Koetter?
January 21st, 2016 at 3:03 pm
Who cares if he stabbed Lovie….Lovie did NOT WIN! You must WIN in the No Fun League (NFL) or you are fired!
OMG no one is saying this about Tom Coughlin….what about that babbling idiot Tomsula??? He did not win…he was out of his depth…so unlike the players who get cut and do not get paid…they all receive the entirety of their contract.
I was calling for Lovie to be fired after his first season..2-14 (worst coach in a decade) and he thru the last game of the season against the Saints after leading in the first half just to secure Jose’s QB!
Lovie lost and therefore he was fired. End of story…anyone who cannot come to grips with the reality of business should try something that does not ever succeed or make money like the Government!
This is football baby…you win or you get fired!!!!
Greg Schiano
January 21st, 2016 at 3:04 pm
We have the same attitude getting propagated right out of the local flagship sports station in the afternoon drive hours. The “In Loving Memory of Lovie Smith show” has enjoyed calling all of us racists for even wanting him gone before it happened. Think he will held to account tho?..think not. Sacred cows like him stick up for sacred cows like incompetent Lovie Smith.
Bravo team Glazer for admitting your mistake and making a change in the face of petty and slanderous accusations.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Why is this even a story?? Who cares if Dirk Koetter did or did NOT run Lovie out of Tampa?? It’s Lovie’s fault either way… Dirk Koetter is OUR Head Coach now! That’s all that matters!!
Let’s go Bucs!! WOOOOOO!
January 21st, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Lovie stabbed lovie by being a horrible head coach and a miserable failure at evaluating talent.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:23 pm
It’s insanely stupid to believe Licht & Koetter schemed to get Lovie fired. Why? Because the Glazers were the ones who did the firing. As an owner with all the power, I would laugh Licht & Koetter out the door and keep the coach I want instead.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:25 pm
afternnoon sports drive just bumbles over his words and then the joes bring facts and he tries to switch the subject and its comical….he railed against gruden who was a winning coach, the tampa 2 mafia as realist creatively coined is awesome by the way, is a bunch of players and others who are a joke and long for the good ole days, people progress and learn and become better as the game evolves…there is a reason that not one of the dungy tree is an HC in the NFL currently, they can’t get over the cover 2 approach and evolve, and tomlin is a gruden guy…..the bucs were terrible is why lovie is back in the basement counting the money
January 21st, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Who cares even if they did backstab. Just get us some wins y’all!!! All’s fair in love and war and tackle football.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:36 pm
The first comment on this page is brutal. Lovie dragged this team down further then anybody? Hahahahaha. That’s about ridiculous.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Looks like Lovie should have jumped in the pool when he had an opportunity too!
January 21st, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Been a Buc fan since 1976 and still a Buc fan, but how can you guys say (GM) = The L did not stabb LOVIE in the back, it happens everyday in the NFL, just the way he was released sets your organization back at least a year, why you ask, the players see stuff it disrupts the team!did he deserve more time, yes the team was absolute trash when he got here (NFL’s Worst), and we don’t know what TEAM GLAZER told him when he was hired! And one last thing some of you seem to think LOVIE picked all the FA that didn’t work out but THE L picked all the GRADE A DRAFT PICKS, what a bunch of BS!
January 21st, 2016 at 3:51 pm
All this conspiracy talk…….. We are talking about the Glazers firing him……. They didn’t break any patience trends here.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:52 pm
@Pillage and Plunder that is good one ROTFL
January 21st, 2016 at 4:05 pm
For Koetter and Licht. Win! Just Win! Everything else is noise.
January 21st, 2016 at 4:13 pm
I see all the racist Joe contributors coming out the wood works no one is blaming the Glazers of being racist their blaming Dirk and Jason of being back stabbers. Lovie is the reason both guys are in Tampa.. Lovie put the defense on hold for 2 years in order to build this offense but if he did it the other way round by addressing the defense you Goobers would be singing a different tune
January 21st, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Greg Schiano said:
“1) Stupid name for a football coach!”
———–
YES!!! Rotf!
January 21st, 2016 at 4:25 pm
Lovie SUCKED Get over it…Sorry he is a nice guy..But He sucked.
Couldn’t beat Rookie QB in his first game..
I can go on and on But that is enough..
We were no better in the last games..and only got EXCUSES..
If you Love Lovie Go become a FAN of his new team…
The Basement Couches
January 21st, 2016 at 4:27 pm
Blah blah blah no one cares about lovely smith. Good riddance!!!!
Lovely had the entire off-season to prep for Tenn and allowed a bum of a rookie qb to drop 50 points on his defense AT HOME!!! Worst part is the bum didn’t even play the 4th quarter.
I wonder how the Vikings made the playoffs with only 1 pro bowler? Lovely had 4 pro bowlers and 4 all-rookie players and still took last place.
January 21st, 2016 at 4:29 pm
If you Love Lovie Go become a FAN of his new team…
The Basement Couches
———-
YES!!!! Rotf!
January 21st, 2016 at 4:32 pm
They should look at history…we fired Jon Gruen and Tony Dungy, two winning coaches. Are they really surprised?
January 21st, 2016 at 4:52 pm
Joe can you please send me a life-sized mural of this articles picture? Can’t think of a better way to show off my Bucs pride!!!
January 21st, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Look, we have not been good or interesting in almost a decade so the national media knows little about us. They are just guessing/ connecting dots. Hopefully that all changes next year and we return to a contender and then the national media will know more about us. Until then, there’s no reason for them to cover us and we will get our 15 minutes once or twice a year.
January 21st, 2016 at 5:17 pm
@Dallas
Again we are in agreement about what has been said on the afternoon airwaves here about Lovie….and I’m sure about the person who said them.
If you’d like a scientific explanation his problem is that he’s at the bottom of the Dunning-Kruger chart.
The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which relatively unskilled persons suffer illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability to be much higher than it really is.
January 21st, 2016 at 5:17 pm
The reason the national media and sports world is so critical of our Bucs is Because…we refuse to let a coach build a team. We dump’em after 2 yrs in search of our, Flash in the Pan. Just look at all of the playoff contenders. the vast majority stuck with their coaches thru thick and thin and let them build. Not us. We want that..instant winning high…ain’t happening. Now if you fellow ficle buc fans can’t see what I just said then..I’ll let Stevie Wonder order you’s some sun glasses!
January 21st, 2016 at 5:23 pm
Its True.
And While it was not a racial thing,
It is gonna cause free agents to avoid Tampa like it was the Russian Front.
The Bucs made the move to keep Koetter. The offense looked much improved.
It was, because Lovie dedicated 2 entire drafts to the offense.
The loss of Keon Alexander hurt the Defense badly, over the last 4 games. So did Mccoys many injuries.
Everyone outside of this site believes that-If Lovie had drafted for the defense this year- then this team would have again improved its win Total. Just like the team improved from year 1 to year 2.
The fact that Lovie was not allowed to stay and draft defense, after building the Offense for Koetter- reads only one way accrooss the team, and the league
Betrayal
We will lose our free agents,,and be unable to sign there.
Many Of our players will lay down on Koetter, and demand Trades
Watch Lavonte David and nany defensive players.
Meybe Lovie would have had another losing season. We will never know. But he had earned another year.
Firing him will sit this team back for years to come
January 21st, 2016 at 5:37 pm
What the hell is a Newy Scruggs?
January 21st, 2016 at 5:46 pm
reverse racism LOL people kill me
January 21st, 2016 at 5:47 pm
The media have their longtime favorite teams, they are on national TV repeatedly, even in down years. The NFL wants a team in London within 6 more years. Who knows if that is an expansion team or an existing team. Thank the football gods that the Bucs ditched Lovie. No hanky panky, just straight up smart.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Ya know I spruck up a conversation today with a fellow Bucs fan today. This was before I read this article.
We talked about Lovie Smith and concluded that there had to be something nasty going on behind the scene(granted, im not saying conspiracy).
Think about the actual firing. Lovie declined to come in and just wanted to end it over the phone. Then he proceeded to clean out his office space late at night, by himself. It’s seems obvious that he was thoroughly disgusted and didn’t wish to even look at anybody.
From all accounts Lovie is a stand up dude. This is out of character from those accounts. When you think about it, it sure seems like Lovie was pissed the F off.
I realize this is all just speculation and I only know fragment of the actual story. But it sure looks like Smith was prompted from something to handle the situation this way.
Another thing to consider is that the Glazers have not always handled these matters in a proper way. Tony Dungys firing comes to mind.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:17 pm
Ostracizing Verner and Banks set this team back too. Ditto Leslie Frazier’s castration. Nepotism and favoritism with the secondary coaches? Check. Bringing in the cadre of Chicago retreads? Sure.
2-14 was a resume spit stain last year, and another defensive meltdown this year set this team back too.
One thing I do know is the prior two drafts largely ignored the defense… that didnt help Lovie at all.
On balance though, the Glazers and surely the GM found Lovie’s plan to remedy very obvious problems much like his press conferences. Lacking substance that is.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:22 pm
You could be right about the free agent Capt. But I think the free agent players will listen to their colleagues rather then a news story. They won’t care about the news if a friends tells then Tampa is a great place to play.
As far as not drafting defense this year……..third hands were tied IMO after they took Winston. They invested a ton into Winston and we had a very porous O-Line. After getting Winston O lineman immediately became the biggest need on the team. Winston gets hurt and it don’t matter if there next two pick were Lawrence Taylor and Charles Haley.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Capt. Tim…good post and I’m going to hold you to it though. If FA’s pour into Tampa. Your post will be re-posted. Just giving you the heads up, nothing personal. It’s just that I think you’re wrong on the free agent part of your post.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:57 pm
@ capt tim
Free agents, other than Lovies ex-bears, weren’t exactly knocking the doors down trying to get in Tampa with Lovie being here. Free agents follow the money, of which the Buccaneers have boat loads of right now.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:58 pm
Capt tim is way off!! Free agents were already avoiding the bucs last year, They did not want there career to die playing for lovie!!! how many bigger named FA were mentioned with the Bucs interested but went elsewhere and most likely for less money!!!
January 21st, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Captains comment is alarming. It makes me nervous as a fan. It does work that way sometimes. If the locker room get a bad rep nobody wants to come.
The solace I have, for now, is that local media(and players) are not saying this. It is coming from national media. Sure some players were upset when Lovie was sh it canned but that’s natural when you respect your boss.
The relationships Koetter and Licht have with the team could be huge if they are healthy.
But I’ll tell ya. If we start hearing local figures talk about betrayal and conspiracy this will get really really ugly and so will the 2016 Bucs.
January 21st, 2016 at 7:10 pm
Buccaneers – Lovie reacted like he was stabbed up. And it would not be unreasonable for him to view the situation that way since he hired Dirk and Licht. And you know, it may very well be that the Glazers asked Jason point blank whether he thought Lovie’s defense was headed in the right direction and Licht gave the only answer he could have given as a GM, which is no. Licht did not get where he is by lying to his bosses, but giving an honest assessment as the GM when asked is not the same thing as stabbing Lovie in the back, although Lovie and his supporters may view it differently.
On the other hand, IMO it would have been unprofessional for the Glazers to have asked Dirk for his assessment of Lovie, and for Dirk to have given it.
At the end of the day, Dirk, Mike, and the rest of the coaches will address it directly with the players if there is a problem in the locker room, and the players will either get with the program or get gone.
January 21st, 2016 at 7:15 pm
@Buccaneers
It actually sounded more like the 2-3 players that made any remarks (on twitter) were more upset about having to learn a new defensive system, more than support for lovie!!!!!!!!
January 21st, 2016 at 7:18 pm
76 I’m not saying that Lovie got stabbed. I like your point how Licht didn’t get to where he was from lying. Very true…..I damn well hope its true.
My point was that, based on what was reported, Lovies actions suggest something nasty happened behind the scenes. What exactly? Anybody’s guess.
January 21st, 2016 at 7:20 pm
YeahRealist. I was actually trying to make that point.
The players who spoke out on twitter were just most likely upset to lose a boss they respected.
January 21st, 2016 at 7:23 pm
Where are all the teams beating down his door to hire him?
January 21st, 2016 at 7:26 pm
Whoa wait a second. True free agents weren’t itching to come here. That is not really about pre or post Lovie.
This was not a desirable destination because we were a 2-14 team with a rookie QB. Winston’s emergence absolutely changes all of that. Considering we have a staff players will want to work for also. When Lovie was still on board this was very much a desirable place with a proven and legit franchise QB.
Now if something shady happened and our current players are unhappy. Then free agents will want nothing to do with Tampa.
January 21st, 2016 at 7:44 pm
Just don’t get too worked up over this. This is reaction to an out of region source. Conspiracy theory are great for ratings.
Local media hears this and I haven’t heard a thing about our players being unhappy, or hating, Koetter\Licht. If there is substance to this it will be talked about locally. And I wager it won’t be one of us commentors who digs up the truth. Until it gets reported in our town its just a news story that kept people tuned in.
January 21st, 2016 at 7:48 pm
The NFL is a very small, close knit family. While fans always picture teams as enemy camps- embroiled in battle, its not like that.
Its a family. Players, andvto a lesser degree coaches . Many of whom are former players.
Quickest way to get that whole family mad at you- is to make them think that the rich owers betrayed a man who was busting his ass for them!
There are free agents, who either play in Tampa, or they are working at the car wash- out of the league.
They will be here
But the Elite? Trust has been broken.
Im justvas worried about our guys laying down.
Ask yourself -what kind of Coordinator will only stay- if you fire the man that hired him?
He aint exactly the picture of loyality. And that is something that is very imporatant to the players
January 21st, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Everyone is so upset about poor Lovie…I think Steven A Smith started the whole racial thing…What’s crazy to me is nobody seemed to care that the 49ers fired their coach after 1 year; this is after they ran off the best coach (Jim Harbaugh) they’ve had in 20+ years. Then to top it off hired Chip Kelly…The Media-heads always what the lightning rod story and right now it’s the Bucs & Lovie Smith…
January 21st, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Capt. You said your last post nicely. But I am quite certain other players around the league don’t expect hard work to be rewarded.
I don’t the Glazers will be seen as backstabber or dirtbags because they fired Lovie despite his hard work.
I’m sure everybody in the league understands that results must be produced.
Players and coaches in the NFL surely cannot be that whiney and that much of Crybaby’s that they will refuse\not want to perform for a certain team because they fired a Lovie who was working hard. Players and coaches will understand Lovie was not producing results. I don’t think they’ll be holding a grudge towards Tampa unless Smith was actually backstabber or cheated in some way
And if Lovie was cheated somebody around the team will find out about it and we will start to hear stories locally. Until then I don’t think it’s a worry.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:05 pm
Actually I think the ones who are treating Lovie the worst are the fans(so far).
The lack of respect is pretty bad. I know W-L are basically everything but building a solid franchise does not happen instantly. Under Lovie a lot more was built here then anybody wants to give credit………… I read a post saying how we are playoff ready and laugh when the next sentence is a hated word towards Lovie.
So let me get this straight…… This team sucked for the last decade right? And then Lovie got here and was handed all power of football operations right? Two years later we are playoff caliber right? And Lovie did a horrible job……….right?!?!?!?!?!!?
I never wanted to say it but some fans are just ingornant.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:06 pm
^^^^^^just scroll up to the very first comment……… What an intelligent fan right?
January 21st, 2016 at 8:13 pm
Lovie had an entire offseason to prepare for the Tennessee freakin Titans who ended up being the worst team in the NFL. That shows the kind of coach he is. Marriota had a real wake up call when he made his NFL debut in week 2 against an actual NFL defense and not Lovies PAC 12 defense.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:43 pm
Buccaneers, I got exactly what you meant. My English is bad sometimes. I was agreeing with you that Lovie’s actions after getting the news strongly suggested that something serious happened. Maybe he expected Jason and Koetter to fight like hell for him. Or maybe he (and the other nameless critics) just surmised a back stabbing occurred because the two guys he hired got promotions and he got canned. That’s life in the fast lane for you.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:44 pm
I can see how some people can take it as stabbing Lovie in the back. Licht is tasked with giving the glazers his weekly reports and I’m sure an overall season and future development report.
Do people expect licht to cover for Lovie’s poor performance or to tell the truth? Sure Lovie and licht were considered friends (don’t know if they still do) but when it comes down to it, do you cover for him or do you tell the truth.
16 weeks of reports that, in summary, say, “Koetter’s offense is doing very well. And Lovie’s defense is hot garbage”. I don’t expect licht to play games. He seems like a guy that will tell it like it is, no matter what. I mean if Lovie expected licht to deceive the owners and make false reports. Then I would seriously question both of their integrities. But licht did the right thing and gave honest reports. And I applaud him for that.
I don’t know if Koetter stabbed Lovie in the back…is overachieving with a rookie offense really stabbing someone in the back? Should Koetter have under performed to the level of Lovie’s defense?
The season speaks for it’s self. Anyone that watched the games knows Lovie’s defense struggled mightily in all but maybe 2 games. And that offense was the strongest unit on the field by a land slide. Sure the offense had it’s own struggles. It was far from an elite performance, but for the circumstances, it performed very well.
I don’t expect the national media to know what happened in Tampa on a week to week basis. They only see 2-14 in year one and 6-10 in year two and think Lovie did an amazing job of turning the team around. They look at the success Winston had and want to think Lovie was the reason for it. Like Lovie was the OC and offensive play caller. I’m done worrying about the national media and their takes on Lovie and the Bucs. Their view point is nothing compared to the media in Tampa and the fans that watch Bucs game with great focus.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:46 pm
Buccaners,
“Lovies actions suggest something nasty happened behind the scenes.”
Maybe he looked at his teams 3rd down lowlight tape and read the writing on the wall. He has been down this road before correct? A 10-6 coach getting fired, right?
I agree we need to keep a coaching regime together longer than 2 years I said it when Coach Smith was hired we can’t expect to have a successful team if we dump our coaches every two years. It will not happen.
Happy about the newest coaching staff and the potential they bring to our teams success.
Go BUCS!
Looking forward to the next game against the dirty birds. I will be there.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Yeah Tbucs…..Good assessment.
If their was some serious backstabbing going on I would expect to hear the Glazers name mentioned first. Not Licht or Koetter.
I think what 76 said earlier holds merit, Licht didn’t get to where he was by lying……nor by backstabbing or cheating.
This is a fun conversation but it holds no water coming from a national news source. For real though, if we start hearing local guys talking about things like backstabbing it will most likely tear down everything Lovie built here.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:59 pm
Buccaneers Says:
“I never wanted to say it but some fans are just ignorant.”
Welcome to JoeBucsFan.
January 21st, 2016 at 9:03 pm
Firing Lovie is one thing. But there is a right and wrong way to do business. I just hope this thing was done properly.
Lovie is a well respected football guy around the league. He only got 2 years here and that is going to upset some of his good friends……hopefully that’s all this is.
Bygones will be bygones. They are grown men. Some can cry a little….theyll get over it. But if this actually was some type of a backstabbing that is a whole nother animal.
I just hope, for teams sake, this thing was handled professionally.
January 21st, 2016 at 9:32 pm
The problem is now even local folks like steve white are kind of saying the same thing. The only thing all these folks say is we got better. But how exactly did we get better. We still comited a ton of penalties, blew assignments on defense, (which has nothing to do with talent), were extremely predictable, did not put the players in the best position to succeed. I mean no one can convince me that Verner, Banks, and Moore are all as bad as they produced last year. Clearly there was sobering going on with the secondary as it looked like mass confusion. If it’s one guy then ok he’s the problem, but if it is every single player that is put on the field then it is a coaching problem. Plus our “improvement ” they say was in wins but who did we actually beat? Saints (Brees played hurt), Jacksonville (its Jacksonville), Dallas (without Romo they are horrible), Eagles (fired their coach ), Atlanta twice (new head coach). We lost to the Colts (with 40 year old backup qb), Titans (at home to a first time starting qb) Houston (with a guy they ended up cutting at qb), Giants (who fired their coach ), Redskins (after being up by 24).
January 21st, 2016 at 9:34 pm
The only thing David is that I think Lovie is separate from Raheem and Schiano in one major reguard, you could even say Gruden.
Under Lovie this franchise has seen more talent walk through the door then Raheem or Schiano ever dreamed of. Drafting is the lifeblood of a franchise and under Lovie, this team has done a complete 360 on drafts. Now, a good argument would be that the poor drafts were on Dominick which is true. When Dominick was gone Schiano had to go to so the Glazers could find somebody else to run the team…..they sure as hell can’t do that. And they must not of had trust in Schanio to run the franchise.
Aside from that I feel confident Licht can continue the good drafting.
There isn’t much arguement from XansdOs standpoint to say Lovie had to stay. I just hope there actually was no backstabbing involved because that would be BS.
January 21st, 2016 at 9:44 pm
Ndog go back at look at the last 15 years of drafting. It was awful and gross. That’s the main reason we have been irrevelant for the past decade. The last two years our talent evaluation has been top-notch. It has led to two great drafts……..I’ll even say it has been better then any team in the league. That is a major improvement and we have gotten better because of it.
We have a better franchise now because we now understand how to find talented player in the draft. And no it hasn’t shown up in the win column but it you don’t think the team is better I’ll strongly disagree.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:02 pm
But how was the coaching better? Of course you get better with better players but did any of the returning players improve? Where was the growth from Evans, ASJ, McDougal, Banks, Lanassah, Jenkins, Jennings, Smith, etc…This is the problem of course we got better with Jameis, Kwon, Ali, and Smith but that was the scouting and GM. WHAT DID THE COACHING STAFF DO TO IMPROVE US? Espically on the defensive side.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:06 pm
Plus I don’t have to look back at the last 15 years to know every damn player this team has had as I have all that in my head. I am fairy certain I could run circles around most people when it comes to knowledge of the Bucs. Thats not being cockey I’m just saying not many people care about this team as much as I do and I put a lot into it that’s all im not trying to be a jerk.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:14 pm
Lovie needed to be replaced… would you really want him picking our defensive secondary in the off season knowing that he would be leaving us with “His” kind of player after he is gone after next season? I don’t think Jason wanted that. He wasn’t “protecting himself and Kotter), he was saving our team! 🙂
January 21st, 2016 at 10:22 pm
Side Bar Convo:
Koetter should look at LSU’s OC Cam Cameron; as our new OC
His contract with LSU expires March 31, and he’s received no assurances he’ll be retained.
Cam Cameron OC Chargers
From 2002-2006, he served as the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. In 2004, San Diego scored 446 points, third-highest in the NFL that year and the third-most in team history. Following the 2004 campaign, Sports Illustrated named Cameron its Offensive Assistant of the Year. In 2005, the Chargers averaged 26.1 points per game – good for fifth in the NFL in that category.
In 2006, the Chargers offense amassed a team-record 494 points while paving the way for league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson to break the single-season touchdown record. In addition to Tomlinson, Cameron had the opportunity to work with Pro Bowl quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, as well as All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates in San Diego. He brought in former Hooiser Kris Dielman as left-guard.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:26 pm
Note: Cam Cameron run a similiar modified spread offense (Air Coryell) – to Koetter.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:28 pm
Cam Cameron > Embree | Bajakian
January 21st, 2016 at 10:34 pm
Cam Cameron had Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Alfred Blue, and Jermey Hill. How did this offense not break records? OL problems? La’ell Collins was also on this team.
I’m passing on him and it sounds like LSU might be too.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:40 pm
LSU Before Cameron
LSU was 77th in total offense in 2012, 57th in 2011, 81st in 2010, and 102nd in 2009, and 51st in 2008
<After he was signed 2013
Entering 2013, Cameron had immediate success. Cameron’s LSU offense averaged 46 points in the first six games of the regular season. Cam Cameron’s LSU offense finished the season 34th in the country in Passing Yards at 265.1 per game, 32nd in rushing yards at 200.8, 22nd points for at 37.0, and 32nd in total offense (LSU’s best since 2007) at 5591 yards of total offense and a total average of 465.9 yards per game.
Cameron has also been widely praised for the development of Quarterback Zach Mettenberger who had the best season of his LSU career with a 64.9% completion percentage, and a 22-8 Touchdown to Interception Ratio. The previous year Mettenberger had a 58.8% completion percentage and a 12 to 7 Touchdown to Interception Ratio under Greg Studrawa.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:06 pm
I don’t care care if it’s 100% true. Lovie stunk as a coach. It’s as simple as that.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:04 am
You ask any talking head about penalties and they always blame the coaching. “That’s just bad coaching” is what they say. So when the Bucs were a few penalties away from a league record in penalties, why is it a surprise Lovie got fired? If penalties stem from “bad coaching” why would anyone dispute the reasons Lovie got fired?
I don’t care how nice someone is, or how beloved they are. If they can’t coach then they don’t belong here.
Also since when is starting rookies considered a great thing? Lovie was given tons of experienced starting caliber players for his defense. Guys he hand picked. Traded for them, recruited them. But couldn’t get them in a position to succeed. Not just did they fail, but he made them historically bad.
With a track record as bad of Lovie’s, you didn’t need to stab him in the back. He shot himself in the foot, over and over and over and over again.
I believe continuity is a must have for a good organization. But the continuity of losing and bad coaching isn’t the right kind of continuity.
January 22nd, 2016 at 8:22 am
Got to remember that Tampa 2 is very dependent on skills of the players who execute it. When the Tampa 2 was at its best, how many hall of fame and future hall of farmers were on the field to execute said defense? Give most coaches five or six HOF players on the field at the same time and the coaches will all look great.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:08 pm
What is it with all these supposed sources that feed media talking heads misinformation? This feels no different than “Schiano rigged the team captain vote!” and “Schiano leaked Josh’s medical records!”. With the latest “Loviegate scandal” can’t national media accept that sometimes it really is as simple as “the players lost confidence” (scenario#1), “the QB had a mental meltdown and threw a hissy tantrum (#2), and “the coach is a nice guy who did an atrocious job!” (#3)?
January 22nd, 2016 at 2:36 pm
I’m sure Lovie being let go came as no surprise to Lovie. This gravy train of paying for multiple year head coaches who crap out in two years had to stop, I believe it has.
January 23rd, 2016 at 7:25 am
Joehelldeloxley Says:
January 21st, 2016 at 11:14 am
You are Joe, i’m Joel, I think we have a lot in common like being pissed off by dumbed people !
Jason Licht came for NE and Arizona two veru successful team and organisation.
He has learned to things there, no feeling in business. Look how many SuperBowl winners NE cut at the end of the season, it’s like that and it’s how they are succesful.
——————————————
The irony is rich and deep with this one.