No Muzzle For Koetter
October 11th, 2018
One thing Joe appreciates about Bucs coach Dirk Koetter is his candor.
Ask Koetter a question you are likely to get an answer. You may not like the answer but you will get an answer. Even when Koetter doesn’t answer a question you get an answer.
For example, Joe earlier this season was writing a story on the potential of the NFL expanding the regular season to 18 games, an act Jerry Jones spoke openly about.
Obviously, if the NFL were to make this move, it would affect the Bucs in some way. Joe asked Koetter for his thoughts on this proposal and Koetter instantly dismissed Joe’s question snapping, “Above my pay scale.”
It was Koetter’s way of telling Joe to get lost without actually telling Joe to get lost. Message received.
Now for some quick background. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin this week was slapped with a $25,000 fine for mouthing off about the refs after his team’s Sunday’s beatdown of the Dixie Chicks. Tomlin is actually on the competition committee, the NFL body that develops new rules or rule changes.
Tomlin was upset, in part, because he thinks so many flags will ruin the viewing experience for fans and in turn damage the game both in popularity and revenue.
And he’s not wrong. Who the hell exactly watches football to see how far a referee can toss a flag every other play?
Koetter didn’t exactly side with Tomlin yesterday. Koetter lauded officials for excelling at what he suggested is a near-impossible job and he believes the new rules are in place to help keep players on the field, extend their careers and limit whatever health issues may arise later in life.
“Officials in the NFL have a very, very difficult job and nobody in this room starting with me could even come close to doing that,” Koetter said. “The things that they ask those officials to see in real time – let alone slowing it down on the clicker – is very difficult.
“They’re trying to make the game safer, right? That’s what the game is demanding right now is that they try and make the game safer. With making the game safer, there’s going to be some growing pains with that. Whether it’s use of the helmet rule, whether it’s roughing the passer rule – whatever it is there’s going to be some growing pains. Trust me, by the number of videos they’ve been sending us, they’re trying to get it right.”
Coaches have to tread lightly when discussing officials or NFL strongman Roger Goodell is going to come after a coach’s paycheck as he did with Tomlin. In other words, play nice or pay up.
So Koetter was asked if he felt “muzzled” by the NFL from speaking objectively about officials. Koetter disagreed.
“I don’t feel like I have a muzzle on,” Koetter said.
Oh, he may not be muzzled, but if he opens his mouth too much about officials he may wish he was muzzled. Otherwise, you can bet the NFL version of a pickpocket will grab his paycheck.
Koetter may not be muzzled but there is a price to pay in the NFL when coaches go off on zebras. A hefty price.
Joe has never been a fan of this.
Like everyone else in the NFL, if a zebra can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen. Every person in the NFL from Goodell down to the lowest rung coach and every player from Tom Brady down to a practice squad stiff is open to critique. Why are officials so special to be exempt?
October 11th, 2018 at 8:07 am
You want to throw a game, zebs are the easiest and a cheap way to do so. Plus, they hold way too much power. Teams like the Bucs, not a zeb favorite, have to outplay both them and the opposing team. Stupid but there you go. Go Bucs Sunday!!! Win for our Panhandle brethren who were devastated by Hurricane Monster Mash Michael!
October 11th, 2018 at 8:31 am
Time will tell. Any big change in any company takes time to make it work. And it sounds like they are trying based on Koetter. Sucks in the meantime though if your team is impacted so I get it. But player safety has to be addressed or parents are going to stop letting there kids play at an early age and the NFL will be hurt.
October 11th, 2018 at 8:35 am
I really do love Coach Koetter’s candor and general personality. I believe his players really do love him. — I truly hope he can find total success here in Tampa Bay with the Bucs.
October 11th, 2018 at 8:36 am
I really do love Coach Koetter’s candor and general personality. I believe his players really do love him. — I truly hope he can find total success here in Tampa Bay with the Bucs.
October 11th, 2018 at 8:46 am
Honestly, what does Koetter have to gain from trashing officials as a whole at a press conference? I understand getting in a game day officials ear to get calls, but putting up tape taking shots at officials as a group won’t help get us a call in our favor. There is actually a chance that refs get wind of this comment by Koetter and cut the bucs some slack on a call or two because he seems to defend them to the press.
October 11th, 2018 at 8:49 am
Maybe all 32 coaches should speak out on the same weekend….arbitrarily enforced rules…inconsistent calls…calling what they think may have happened…two heads clanking together is not leading with helmet….
October 11th, 2018 at 8:50 am
Refs aren’t perfect and deserve criticism when mistakes are made.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:56 am
BLa Bla Bla just want to have a winning football team and this guy cant do it and I for on seen this coming just win bottom line .
October 11th, 2018 at 11:38 am
The pressure cooker is tickin for Koetter and Smitty. I’ll say one thing about the 2…they are joined at the hip. They are friends. It would be great to see them both get the same college coaching jobs. Together forever! How..charming!
October 11th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
Koetter instantly dismissed Joe’s question snapping, “Above my pay scale.”
“Officials in the NFL have a very, very difficult job and nobody in this room starting with me could even come close to doing that,” Koetter said.
“I don’t feel like I have a muzzle on,” Koetter said.
—————————————————————————————
Looks to me like koetter has a passive personality, avoids conflict, optimistic, non-confrontational…. Everything you want in a customer service rep but not an NFL head coach.
October 11th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Hear Here… just call it NFL football lite where breathing on the QB is a no no.