What Did Todd Monken Mean?
May 23rd, 2017
Dissects Todd Monken’s words.
Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken opened eyes when he shared a recent conversation he had with new Bucs receiver DeSean Jackson.
Essentially, Monken told Jackson his play better match his $35 million contract.
Was there, however, a secondary (primary?) reason Monken offered up his chat with Jackson in such a public forum to reporters last week at One Buc Palace.
The creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, the great Mike Florio, thinks so. He dished on Monken last week on “PFT Live” on NBC Sports Network.
“You’ve got to love it when a coach is blunt,” Florio said of Monken.
“Wonder how [Jackson] feels about the offensive coordinator speaking that bluntly? Look, this stuff doesn’t just happen accidentally. Now, every once in a while you have a coach who just blurts things out to answer the question. A lot of times, smart coaches pick their spots. They know why they say what they say. They say it for a purpose. They say it for a reason. They are sending a message and the message to DeSean Jackson is: Now that you are down here with a lot of money, that doesn’t mean you sit on your hands. You go out there and get it done and play at a high level. That’s what we are paying you for. Not to sell jerseys. Not because we can say, ‘Hey, we have DeSean Jackson and you don’t.’ They want DeSean Jackson for that they can do on a football field. …
“Maybe [Monken] is not trying to send a message to DeSean Jackson. Maybe he is trying to create a sound byte that we will share on shows like this so we are saying ‘Todd Monken… Todd Monken… Todd Monken.’ Mission accomplished.”
If this was a way for Monken to get his name on the radar of owners to market himself for a job interview down the road, then it was a savvy choice.
Last winter, Joe asked Monken if any teams had called him or his agent to interview. Monken said he wasn’t aware of any and professed professional contentment working for winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter and helping mold America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
Monken is a smart guy, however. Three years from now, how do we know he will still be here? Or Koetter? Or Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht?
The NFL stands for “not for long,” and unless Koetter has the Bucs in the playoffs annually — that’s the plan, Joe is sure — then it’s a smart move to get your name mentioned in a high profile avenue like Florio’s TV/radio show/website. Joe’s been told NFL owners frequently watch/listen/read.
Perhaps Florio is on to something?
May 23rd, 2017 at 6:33 am
Slow time of the year. Media will continue to run with this until hard knocks. It’s going to fester.
May 23rd, 2017 at 6:35 am
It’s May. Every rock must be turned to keep us interested. It is what it is.
Go Bucs!!!
May 23rd, 2017 at 7:50 am
Todd who?
Great way to start a relationship by calling out a player before he even puts pads on.
Idiot.
A nobody that thinks he’s somebody.
May 23rd, 2017 at 7:59 am
That’s it. Piss off Jackson before he even hits the practice fields.
May 23rd, 2017 at 8:00 am
Love what the OC in name only stated, now if Djax as any ounce of pride in him he will come out and do everything in his power to break every buc WR record and lead the NFL as a WR this year and the bucs into the playoffs, lots of players come to tampa and get big contracts and get fat…alvin harper got a big number and sucked royally hurt emanueal was another, winslow, revis….so love the fire in monken and i bet it is contagious
May 23rd, 2017 at 8:02 am
Or maybe he meant this:
Now that you are down here with a lot of money, that doesn’t mean you sit on your hands. You go out there and get it done and play at a high level. That’s what we are paying you for. Not to sell jerseys. Not because we can say, ‘Hey, we have DeSean Jackson.
Just maybe he meant what he said and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about publicity.
May 23rd, 2017 at 8:25 am
Exactly, TBBF
May 23rd, 2017 at 8:25 am
LOL, I love the fact that Joe is willing to psycho-analyze Monken. However, when the coaches suggest we have 5 Pro-Bowl offensive linemen were supposed to take them at their word.
The “overall guru” of PFT.com is on to something….he’s willing to admit coaches don’t always tell the truth to the press.
May 23rd, 2017 at 8:28 am
Not sure who can milk a quote more Florio or Joe?
Post draft until the middle of July is just a dead time for the NFL
May 23rd, 2017 at 8:40 am
Come on guys. If Desean is pissed off, that’s not a bad thing. He needs the fire lit. The rest of the team is hungry. You honestly think Jameis is going to let DJax just chill? Do you remember how he used to bark at ASJ in practice?
DJax knows what he has to do. Monken is intelligently reinforcing it. I love this. I know Evans, Jameis, Doug, Brate, and OJ are hard workers. Desean has been known to take breathers. If he is on the rest of the team’s level, it’s hard not to predict a baller season.
Regardless of what change is here is saying, he isn’t doing this for publicity LMAO. Are you joking dude? He’s doing his job, and he’s doing it well.
May 23rd, 2017 at 8:41 am
this will be a story line for hard knocks
May 23rd, 2017 at 8:52 am
@Bill
I think it was Gary Shelton that said “we have 5 Pro-Bowl offensive linemen”… not any of the coaches.
May 23rd, 2017 at 9:25 am
Three years from now? 3 years from now I hope Moncken…Smitty…and either Duffner or Hayes…whichever one doesn’t get the DC job when Smitty leaves..are gone.
If coaches are leaving us for jobs elsewhere it means we have been very, very successful. As long as we keep Licht and Koetter the formula remains in tact and that includes finding and working with very talented assistant coaches.
In fact if all of those guys are gone we’ll just be that much more inviting to up and coming young coaches and coordinators. We’ll be viewed as a great stepping stone to success…I love it!
May 23rd, 2017 at 9:36 am
Bill…pretty sure it’s Florio that’s psycho-analyzing Monken….and Gary Shelton about the O-line.
Not you’re fault though…as this happens a lot on here. Joe puts up a piece about something someone says about the Bucs and then takes the hit for saying it himself.
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:09 am
Ooooh someone about to get bashed by Joe!
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:11 am
Why is OC Monk not blasting our Oline thief, JR Sweezy?
Kobe is from philly and knows Djax well….. this will not end well
foot in mouth itis
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:11 am
Oops thought you were saying Joe takes credit. My bad!
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:42 am
Joe when you write about this quote the millennials get their panties in a wad. They want the OC to coddle the guy that just signed a contract for 10s of millions. If their boss treated them that way they would have their mommy call him to explain that they should be treated with more respect. After all, they have been told how special they are since day one and why should they have to work for respect and earn their pay.
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:58 am
A coach is suppose to coach..to get the very best out of his players. For a team coach, not head coach to call out a player before he evens hits the field is abissmal. It almost ..well ok..it does have a hint of jealousy pointing at Monken.
The player signed hs contract as you did yours Monken. All of the You’d better earn it is ill advised. Do your job..coach. Don’t hate! It stinks. I don’t like it and hopefully he’s told to tone down his comments. Season has not even started yet. Is this the..Tampa Bay way? Hatin?Monken could have called Jackson in privately and spoke his mind. Thats what..real professionals do. Hint?
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:38 am
Seems pretty straight forward to me what Monken said. I applaud him saying it. There are expectations for DJax to play at a high level and give his all for this team. Monken is basically setting the tone from the get go – reminding DeSean publicly that he doesn’t have free reign to act like a diva, skip voluntary workouts or complain if he’s not getting the # of plays or passes come his way that he thinks he deserves. This is all about team and the entire team is counting on DJax to be a stud receiver and completely mature about his job here. We’ve had too many effort/results problems with big $ free agents the past few years DeSean has a minor history of having some attitude problems in his past – so Monken is making his best attempt to set the tone up front as to what type of professionalism is expected here and that its his (and Koetter’s) way or the highway.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Come on MJ cut Monken some slack just gettin a lil 2 minutes of fame so don’t hate on him. If Jackson is constantly getting behind the defense where do you think Fameis is going to throw to? He has earned the reputation he has now. If he don’t want to be broke anymore he better ball out all 16 games hopefully 19.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:09 pm
I believe that the Glazers are very content with hearing this comment. I think this is just the coach calling out the guy he himself and those other coaches who are doing their best to get the best out of as a player. They also earn a paycheck. If the Big Priced FA WR falters who might get the ax at seasons end? Positional coaches, all the way up to GM could possibly get fired. It happens almost every season.
I do not think that this will upset Mr. Jackson. He also understands his role in the offense and within the team. I haven’t really watched much of him, but he looks to be like a guy who does not hold back on game day.
Go Bucs!
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:41 pm
I remember when Bill O Brien got his Texans head coaching gig. At the time he seemed to be most famous for chewing out Tom Brady on the sideline many years prior. Not a bad thing to have a sound byte or video clip out there that keeps your name in people’s heads and shows that you can talk tough with\about NFL stars you are responsible for, i guess
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:51 pm
DeSean Jackson has proven to be a productive receiver. Todd Monken failed miserably as head coach at Southern Miss. 13 wins and 35 losses. Monken should keep his mouth shut in a public forum.
May 23rd, 2017 at 1:10 pm
“unless Koetter has the Bucs in the playoffs annually — that’s the plan, Joe is sure — then it’s a smart move to get your name mentioned”
There ain’t no ‘unless’ about it.
Even if we win Superbowls over the next three years, these coaches should want their names out there because that is when the big opportunities come along.
May 24th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Check out Monjen’s resume. He’s failed more than Jackson. No need to get pissed at a player who’s making bank. Monken is showing his true signs as a hater!