Peter King Talks To Joe
March 28th, 2016
OK, it’s time for Joe to start emptying his voice recorder and notebook. Since the end of last season, Joe has interviewed quite a few NFL voices about the Bucs and Bucs-related subjects.
First up on this final Monday of March is a short interview with Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal picture-taking, video game-playing, Taylor Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie-LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, over a beer at Sun King Brewing in downtown Indianapolis.
JoeBucsFan: Mike Smith, what kind of a steal was that, or if it was a steal by the Bucs?
Peter King: Mike Smith is going to be sssooo motivated and dedicated to basically show everybody that when he came into the NFL as a head coach in 2008, that over the next five or six years had one of the best records in football, and it’s not a fluke. He knows what he is doing. He knows how to motivate players. He knows the right scheme to play. I thought it was a great hire. A fantastic hire.
Joe: Jameis, on-the-field issues were little concern when he was drafted; everyone, it seemed, had questions about off-the-field. Questions so far answered?
King: I had a tremendous amount of questions about sort of how he was going to handle the pressure of being a franchise quarterback. Because, honestly, in college football, if you are the franchise quarterback, everything is taken care of for you. Everything is taken care of for you. But what happens is [as an NFL franchise quarterback] you have to start taking care of yourself. And my feeling is, in this year, Jameis Winston began to take care of himself. I mean, he handled things himself. I thought he had a really good year on and off the field.
Joe: John Elway said pretty much the same thing about Jameis; pretty much.
King: You see, I think one of the things – I think people have to understand – when you go from a situation where everything is taken care of for you and now, you have to tell him, this is your full-time job. You have to show up at 5:30 in the morning. You have to do that. And the problem is, some guys don’t realize that. [Jameis] realizes that. I mean Dirk Koetter, who I have gotten to know a little bit, has said to me that [Jameis] is putting in the time and putting in the work. I think he is going to be good long term.
Joe: This is an open-ended question, more of an observation. Joe gets a lot of this from readers: It seems people in the national NFL media based in Bristol or other places outside of Florida, they were either shocked, mortified or horrified that Lovie Smith was fired. Yet for the local [Tampa Bay] guys covering the team, the biggest surprise wasn’t that he was fired, but when he was fired. Your opened-ended take on that.
King: In my opinion, unless a coach is really incompetent, I’m not a big fan of firing a coach after two years. I just think it is wrong. If you are going to hire a guy, give him a legitimate chance. You know, the first year was, whatever. In his second year he wins six games with a rookie quarterback and it is just not — look, here is the biggest thing about Lovie and about what happened to him this year: If I am working for somebody and [getting fired] is a total, absolute shock at the end of the year, then I don’t think that is a good reflection on the owners.
Joe: Sort of like the Colts? It was a total shock what happened to them this past year?
King: Yeah! Right! I just don’t think that at the end of the day you, I don’t think you fire a guy after two years unless he completely screws it up. I am not there every day so I don’t know, maybe he did screw it up? But, I am just not a big fan of that because so many coaches through the years have had two pretty bad years at the beginning and [ownership] game them a chance.
March 28th, 2016 at 7:07 am
I agree, the hire of Mike Smith will not only bring some good coaching to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but some emotion as well.
March 28th, 2016 at 7:17 am
I for one believe that Lovie did screw it up completely.
March 28th, 2016 at 7:32 am
Well the interview was going great until Mr. Planters (AKA Lovie) came up.😂😂😂😂😂
March 28th, 2016 at 7:33 am
In principal, I think Peter King is right about giving coaches a chance but it was obvious that Lovie was not going to be the guy to make us a great team. Right or wrong, I think the Glazers made the right call and now have tremendously upgraded the coachings staff. I do hope we hold on to this core of coaches for quite a while!
March 28th, 2016 at 7:41 am
I really liked the Mike Smith hire when it was made and am feeling better about it every day. I for one will be shocked if this defense isn’t a top 10 unit in a couple years. As for Lovie…even taking year one out of the equation, 6 wins against one of the softest schedules, folding up like a tent in a stiff wind in December when you’re in the mix for a wildcard berth (before losing to 4 .500 or worse at the time teams), and the embarrassing opening destruction…those are darn good examples of screwing up royally. Why can’t national guys see this?
March 28th, 2016 at 7:44 am
When it’s over…..it’s over….no sense in continuing…
March 28th, 2016 at 7:56 am
Peter is right, they should have given Shiano another year.
March 28th, 2016 at 8:39 am
So cutting Reevis, Penn, Zuttah, and Joseph right outta the gate along with making “we were 4 n 12” the official motto for all his BS moves, and the gr8 “Peter King” DOESN’T THINK Lovie screwed the pooch right outta the F!KN gate from day one on??!! Then Peter King doesn’t know jack sh!t.
March 28th, 2016 at 8:49 am
There is no way that the Buc’s would have been turned around in even 3 more years. If he was given another year, it would have been another year of misery but probably another top 10 pick in April of 2017. Rather be picking #20 or higher!
March 28th, 2016 at 10:18 am
I couldn’t wait one more day for Lovie to be fired. I think it was the right call and I’m super pleased. Are new coaching staff is going to be great. I just hope we can keep them all there for an extended. Of time. It’s crazy how the Talking Heads try to speak intelligently about Tampa football. I’m sure they never watch a game. Anyone who saw the four-game Meltdown at the end of the year new the that was to be pinned directly on Lovie.
March 28th, 2016 at 10:31 am
Peter is right, they should have given Shiano another year.
🙂
March 28th, 2016 at 10:48 am
I’m not going to lie and say that I disagree with King. 2 years is NOT enough. Here, luxuriating in hindsight, we can all see it was the right thing to do. I didn’t like it at the time but that ship has sailed and I’m over it.
March 28th, 2016 at 11:34 am
He did screw it up, Pete. He did. Whatever people think of the job Lovie did, you would be hard pressed to find ANYONE who would rate his tenure above Raheem’s or Schiano’s, especially when you factor in what each coach was working with (control, budget, inherited talent). that should say it all
March 28th, 2016 at 11:39 am
Lovie apologists are staler than moldy bread. Mike Smith is a coach to be excited about.
March 28th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
@37- “Lovie apologists are staler than moldy bread”, just like the haters, I agree!
It’s too bad they’re saying Mike will be in the booth though. I like the fire!
March 28th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Well the rookie QB the LOVIE won with….from what he says….Lovie didn’t win with him, Koetter won with him. While screwing up royally on defense.
Tell Peter Kind to go back and watch the tape of our defense and they’re 70% completion percentage they allowed all year. Yes Peter, Lovie screwed it up pretty bad. Yes he is incompetent. No he did not deserve another season. PERIOD!!!
March 28th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Haha, you guys are sooooo entertaining with the unbelievable stupidity that most of you undoubtedly explain your points about why Lovie was and rightfully fired.
First, the guys he cut when he got here, we’re all smart moves. Especially Revis, a man who reminds me of the Dwight Howard of the NFL. Always a problem to the team he goes to, mostly because of money reasons. I could seriously go on and on about this trick artist, wait let me give you an example… I’m Revis, I get signed to a team for like 15 mil a year, ridiculous… But anyway then I’m going to bitch because one, I’m not playing up to the degree of talent that they’re paying me to play at, two in going to blame the coaches for not using me right, and lastly when they ask me to play in a certain defense I’m going to cry about it and basically force my way out. If I were the coach I would say stfu, we’re paying you to be here so be a man and do what we tell you, if you’re soooo good then you should be able to dominate in any defense we put you in. So, let me say, no doubt this was a good call by Lovie.
As for the rest of the guys, penn, zuttah, and Joseph. All these guys we’re underperforming for us, there was a reason our QB was getting sacked like every play and our running game was non existent. Then Lovie spends his first draft on offense to sure that up and drafts our franchise QB two bad a$$ Oline guys bring in a good OC which he didn’t even have a real one in his first season of you don’t remember because Tedford had heart problems. This was going to be the year he would finally focus on defense to get guys that fit what he wants.
I totally agree with Peter King, Lovie inherited a joke of a team with so many problems and finally had turned us in the right direction, but now he’s fired and Dirk get the reap all the benefits and will get all the credit for how well we do, but it was Lovie that pointed this team in the right direction and he’s should have at least gotten one of not two more years to prove that! But instead everyone focused on what negative things happened because we have not a clue what the hell its like to turn a trash team into a better team, “change the culture” is what he always said. It was finally happening and then oh, well, Lovie you didn’t turn this garbage team into a Super Bowl team with a rookie QB and your defense that you really haven’t had a chance to fix yet the way you want because a few FAs didn’t work out, so, you’re fired. Are you serious, did they expect every decision to be perfect, ignorance at its greatest degree.
Whatever, Dirk and company will probably do great, but just remember these two guys coached in ATL and always had great success during by the regular season and would choke in the playoffs… So we’ll see how long they last.
Last thing, look at all the good team consistency at the coaching position is what all the great teams have in common not hire and fire people after a couple years. Stupid owners and teams only have one thing consistent, that’s them making dumb choices with the hire and firing consistently.
March 28th, 2016 at 3:14 pm
@Caleb- No, no, no! It’s ALL the coaches fault. I don’t care how rational your argument is!
I always think about the sayings,”the grass is greener” and “be careful what you wish for”. Lets ALL hope as Buc fans that this is the end of the stupidity!
March 28th, 2016 at 6:12 pm
Caleb I cannot defend lovie the way that defense was ran last year. And when the guys he benched last year prove to be valuable starters this year it will put all of this to bed real quick. His defense was out dated, his dcs sucked including himself when he took over and he believed that if he cobtinued to rotate players eventually someone would step ip despite them being less talented than the ones he benched. Did you watch every game??? It was horrible and.painful to watch and Im talking about the fact that a high school offense could have went toe to toe with our defense. Hes a nice guy but he was.too stubborn and set in his ways. Gor gods sake his two.sons that had zero coaching experience were on the staff and he refuses to make a change????Go ask Mark.Barron what he thinks about Lovies ability to voach defensive players in the league. Sorry but Im not buying the guy had to go if this team.starts winning it will be licht and koetter not lovie
March 28th, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Fair enough boys. Oh, and yes Kevin, I watched and watch every painful minute.
I’m not trying to act like Lovie was perfect by any means. I just think he did a better job than most believe. Agree or disagree with me that’s fine, but my points above are very “rational”. That’s for you bucsfanman, lol. I think if he were to have gotten another year we would have seen more improvement, but we’ll never know, and I’m totally happy with dirk and his group taking over.
March 28th, 2016 at 7:16 pm
I agree with you 100% on that, I think Koetter was a great hire. I’m just as excited with the Hayes signing too.
March 28th, 2016 at 7:56 pm
Listen, i love it! Coach Smith needs to be in the booth…at least in the first part of the season. Capt Dirk must patrol his sidelines alone, again., at first. The Entire team must truly know who the Alpha Male is! For us to be successful as a team, we must follow him.
Tough schedule this year, on paper. Last year i was on here….with the screen name BUCUTALKINBOUT. 10-6 is what i predicted. This year… this year. This draft is so important. I don’t watch college sports, I only watch the Pros #moderndaygladiators…so i don’t know who we should pick. Don’t care really, from what you guys say, the draft is deep. We shall see. I have faith in Licht