Lombardi: Blame Strip Clubs
November 22nd, 2019
A former NFL executive thinks he has the answer to why a talented team like the Bucs (if you believe the words of several coaches) can’t win games.
Simply put, there are too many distractions in the Tampa Bay area to keep a full team focused. And the main distraction is too many clothing-optional establishments.
That’s the word from Michael Lombardi in an edition of his podcast “GM Shuffle” this week.
A former gofer for Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belicheat, Lombardi believes the Bucs aren’t that motivated to win games for America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and cited strip clubs as the biggest priority for too many of Jameis’ teammates.
“To me, if you are the Glazer family, and you spent all this money on Bruce Arians to rehab Jameis Winston… when do you realize your team is a mess?” Lombardi began. “I think the problem in Tampa — some people don’t understand it. When you live in certain parts of this country, there is a lot of sh!t for players to do. And Tampa is the strip club capital of the world. There are a lot of things going on down there.
“And if you don’t have players who are completely dedicated to the game and really buy into the team culture — just look at what Lamar [Jackson] has done to Baltimore. Look at what Deshaun [Watson] has done to Houston. And Jameis has had five years and he can’t get that done down there. That tells you a lot. That tells you an awful lot.
“They are not playing for Jameis. They are not playing for him. And I think that has to concern the hell out of you if you are the Glazer family. You hired Bruce. You got him out of retirement.”
When Lombardi’s co-host, Adnan Virk, asked Lombardi if he was suggesting Jameis hangs on Dale Mabry Highway into the wee hours of the morning, Lombardi just laughed and said, “I’m just saying this, you have to have a really good locker room in a place like Tampa.”
Lombardi also stated Sean Payton struggled with similar issues in New Orleans even with Drew Brees in the locker room.
Joe isn’t sure he can pin the Bucs losses on strip joints. Is the Bucs’ secondary on a first-name-basis with women who entertain with poles? You give the Bucs just an average secondary and this team is 5-5, maybe 6-4. Yes, Joe believes that firmly.
Look, does anyone really believe when he played for the Bucs that Warren Sapp never saw the inside of one of these cathouses near the stadium? But you better believe Sapp was focused on winning and getting better, and God help the teammate that slacked off.
Joe is of the mind that is what the Bucs miss: someone who will throw a dude up against a locker for having his head up his rear or for dragging arse. A coach can only do so much. Tossing a former first-round pick corner off the team looks cool, but if it doesn’t motivate players to raise their game, so what?
Additionally in Lombardi’s podcast, he said the way he is reading the tea leaves, he believes Jameis returns to the Bucs in 2020.
November 22nd, 2019 at 5:39 am
Dumbest take ever.
November 22nd, 2019 at 5:47 am
I would think all 32 cities have a strip club.. what a LAME excuse & take by Lombardi. 2/3 out of franchises in Tampa have won Championships didn’t seem to distract those teams. The REAL ISSUE is Jason Licht has a poor judge of talent and character w picks like ASJ known idiot prior to NFL. If you draft MEN w character and heart it usually always TRUMPS dumb combine stats. Who cares if you can run fast if you don’t know where you are going… we need a new GM.
November 22nd, 2019 at 5:50 am
There’s a ‘Pac-Man’ Jones joke in here somewhere!
November 22nd, 2019 at 5:51 am
He is right about one thing, “the team doesn’t give a damn about winning for Jameis” if anything I think several teammates are ready for the Jameis era to be over.
November 22nd, 2019 at 5:56 am
So….
Ali Marpet, Cam Brate and Ryan Griffin walk into a strip bar on Dale Mabry……
Uh huh, right!
November 22nd, 2019 at 6:01 am
With this asinine logic then the Green Bay Packers should have more championships in this modern era than they do now currently. No wonder nobody will hire Lombardi now in their front office.
November 22nd, 2019 at 6:36 am
BOOBS ARE ALWAYS THE ANSWER
November 22nd, 2019 at 6:37 am
From the outside looking in I can’t say that is the real problem but I do recall seeing former first round pick Mark Barron at Mons Venus by himself one night years ago. Thought it was weird that he would be going to a place like that without teammates or friends. Wasn’t too much longer after i seen him out there he was traded.
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:05 am
Lombardi needs a labodemy.
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:13 am
We’d all be better off if we went to a strip club between 1 p.m., and 430 pm., this coming Sunday. Cold beer, and naked ladies, or watching Jameis lose to Atl. Hmmm, tough choice.
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:14 am
All of those strip clubs were there when Dungy was coach and when Gruden led us to the Superbowl.
I don’t think it’s a strip club issue. I think it is a lack of talent, discipline and brains issue. Stemming from the failure of a GM and scouts to find NFL talent. Screwing up drafts and bad free agent signings have led to this. There are obviously a few players that panned out but far more have been failures.
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:20 am
Pretty sure this would be pretty easy to find out joe. Maybe one of the joes and ira do a fact finding trip next week to some of these establishments and see who shows up….another factor could be that jason licht is a garbage GM who picks crappy players that allow you to not be a good NFL footbal team
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:25 am
That sounds like something BA would spit out to excuse Winston’s ints.
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:47 am
“They are not playing for Jameis”. This.
The locker room doesn’t buy his bullsh!t anymore. They haven’t since the gropping fiasco. Last year that locker room was ready to ride or die for Fitzpatrick and the organization turned a deaf ear. Many of thos same players from that locker room are still in there and the understand now that Winston is bullet proof in the front office’s eyes.
They don’t believe in the guy under center. That has a really bad mental effect on the offensive line and recieving position’s. No matter what they do, Winston is going to Winston and they’re likely going to have to fall on the sword for him after the game.
Somehow you don’t hear garbage about bad route running and all the other excuses when there’s a bonafide QB under center. You only hear that kind of nonsense when a coach is trying to protect the fragile psyche of a head case.
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:48 am
If Winston was in the strip clubs on Dale Maybry, it would be on the sports page of every newspaper in town. This would not be a well-kept secret.
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:50 am
Joe, “Tossing a former first-round pick corner off the team looks cool, but if it doesn’t motivate players to raise their game, so what?”
Want to get the players attention! Tossing a former #1 first round QB would not only look kool it just might get everyone’s attention!
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:50 am
You hired Bruce. You got him out of retirement.
—————————————————————-
No I’m not sure we even did. Bruce is retired.
This team needs to be blown up and rebuilt from scratch with a younger innovative coach or outside the box general manager like san fran did with john lynch or oakland did with mike mayock.
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:55 am
Yeah I hear ya. He is 24-40 in his fifth season. Oh heaven forbid we cut him. What will we have to do to get to five wins again? Wont have to watch another season of 18+ Interceptions and hear “I just got to get better, and learn from this and move on”
Tired of hearing the same things with no immediate improvement. Sounds like SSDD
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:59 am
First off…the “Capital of Strip Clubs” meme is simply not accurate. Our do gooders fought the clubs a couple of decades ago and that got a lot of national attention. Two of the most prominent Clubs including the Mons are right down the street from RayJay. Perhaps that has all combined to create this misnomer.
But Politifact checked this out by going to a guy who works in the AS…Adult Stripper industry. His view is based on REALITY.
“Not even close. Tampa might not even make the Top 20. For anyone in the industry who knows, it’s really not a top market for strip clubs.” Cities like New York, Las Vegas or Miami would have much more of a claim on the title, he said.”
https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2012/jan/13/ellyn-bogdanoff/tampa-strip-club-capital-world/
As for JW…I do NOT blame this on JW it’s not his fault but it IS something that he was unable to change. We live in a fantasy of a single guy who will turn us around…whet Is that fair probably not but it is what it is. Having said that in fairness to JW I’m not sure any QB could have done any better.
I get that people are ready to move on from JW and IMHO we can’t begin to afford him with so many other needs. I could stand giving him another year but he’s just too expensive for the value he brings.
Having said that…as far as players giving it their all for JW if they don’t it’s NOT on JW….it’s on THEM!
NOBODY has said JW is lazy or has issues like Freeman.
NOBODY can question his absolute courage…he’s never backed down and always gives it his all. As frustrating as that pick six was who could not be moved by JW chasing after a faster DB on a gimpy ankle…and then demanding to come back in.
I do not necessarily respect JW’s skill set…ALL things considered…but if I played with him I would ABSOLUTELY play for him. The size of his heart is only rivaled by the size of is cojones.
I hope the next guy in throws a better ball…makes better decisions…but I do not fool myself into believing the next guy will be tougher or more determined.
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:05 am
This team is a direct reflection of its biggest investment….which is Jameis. Undisciplined and inconsistent. The vets are pros….they come in, do their job, collect their checks, pad their pensions and keep their mouths shut. They are smart enough to know that holding Winston accountable might rock the boat too much and that likely wont work in their favor. So nobody says much….guys like Lavonte David is one that lets his body of work speak for him….its not his style to bark but i think in the near future, a guy like JPP or Suh might go off on Winston or others soon. The season is completely done…..yet….but its on the horizon and when it become obvious some of these one yr contract players might start to speak up.
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:07 am
@Rusty
Yeah that is what kills me the most about him. Nearly every single week, in a press conference he is still saying “I need to get better”, it even happens after games we win but maybe he didn’t play flawlessly in them.
There is not a GOOD QB in this league who should still need to improve 5 years in. If you are not already at your best (and that best is good), you are a lost cause. If we sign him to anything more than a single year, I’m done with this franchise. I’d prefer we don’t sign him at all, but if we do it because we like someone coming in the 2021 draft better, I can live with it.
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:10 am
This take is very similar to Barry McCockiner of Twitter fame take of Brady. How Brady is so good he catches interceptions and is a great tackler. But he’s joking and making fun of people like Lombardi.
Not the strip club part. I don’t know. But the They’re not playing for Jameis part. That’s just dumb
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:24 am
I have been trying to tell you that JW and his homeboys are always at the Penthouse off of Westshore. They get to come into the back entrance and get ushered to either the private tables behind the bar or VIP area. I have seen it with my own eye more than once.
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:26 am
^^^one way to look at it: do you think Jack the Ripper hung our at the local library or social club??? Hell no he didn’t. Along those lines: do you really think the womanizing homophobic JW hangs out with his baby mama??? Hell no
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:28 am
Very silly take… It is shocking that he said something so stupid. I don’t disagree that we clearly have a culture problem/losing mentality BUT to blame it on too much to do or strip clubs is very silly. Sounds like Lambardi has no will power himself to even think like that.
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:32 am
Well, then….here’s the answer…..bring the strippers to Ray Jay…..
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:49 am
Lamar Thomas and Alvin Harper allegedly used to make it rain on Dale Mabry. 2 guys that balled out elsewhere and came to Tampa and were hot garbage!
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:53 am
BS….
especially the part about JW returning….
GO BUCS!!!!
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:59 am
Not that it’s THE problem but IMO it’s part and parcel to problem. Young men with a lot of money are easily distracted from responsibility. I think same can be said about a miami. Lots to do down there when you have the money to live the lifestyle. But the lightning, rays, heat have all done well in same environment.
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:04 am
and there is a corresponding reason why the Rays and the Lightning are not affected??????????
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:04 am
Why go to strip clubs when you can order in with Uber.
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:13 am
@BradentuckeyBuc
Does Uber have a stripper delivery option I am unaware of? While I’m past the point in my life where I have ANY interest in strippers whatsoever, I’d still applaud that level of progress.
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:19 am
There have been alot of really dumb articles on here but this one takes the cake
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:33 am
Does he know how many strip clubs there are in New York, New Jersey, and New Orleans?
Come to think of it, every team from a place with the word ‘new’ in it has at least twice as many.
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:41 am
Quite possibly the dumbest, misinformed take ever from a stooge, Mike Lombardi. There is a reason this guy does not work for a team.
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:42 am
Been saying this for years. There are 4 strip clubs within walking diatance of the stadium…
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:43 am
I’m born and raised in the City of Tampa. Moved to Atlanta in 2006. Can say with complete confidence (yes, through personal experience) that Tampa does not have a monopoly on quality gentlemen’s clubs. It is also full liquor bar + fully nude here. Distractions are easily found in any metropolitan area. It’s up to the individuals themselves to be professionally accountable (or not).
Dancing girls would not materially impact Jamie’s’ influence in locker room. I doubt that he has lost respect amongst the core group of guys. Are you telling me Mike Evans would prefer to play with a new rookie? If there are doubters/haters/instigators in locker room, they are deflecting for purpose of own agenda(s). That energy would be better focused on contributing to success of team.
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:53 am
A HUGE problem is that there is no dominant voice in the locker room, no Sapp or Brooks or Lynch – not saying the quality of player, I’m saying the same dominant personality
November 22nd, 2019 at 9:57 am
Cant wait for Ole Bruce Arian’s next press conference, after our next 4 interception loss!
“ Its Titties!! All of Winston’s interceptions are because of Titties. We gotta ban them, to keep Jameis from throwing interceptions!!!”
Its about the only excuse he hasnt used!
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:07 am
Allbuccedup Says:
November 22nd, 2019 at 7:05 am
Lombardi needs a labodemy
_____________
I hate it when people ATTEMPT to insult another’s intelligence. L O B O T O M Y.
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:24 am
There is a house on Dale Mabry
They call the Mons Venus
And it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I’m one
JPP commented on the sideline on his 1st game back that the chatter was not about the game but, “Where the white women at?”
I think it was in New Orleans.
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:30 am
“A HUGE problem is that there is no dominant voice in the locker room, no Sapp or Brooks or Lynch –”
It’s odd that you would choose those three names. I can attest that all three might be the worst skirt chasers in Buc history.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:29 am
Ghost
Really?
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:59 am
Really!! Bill Clinton, Harvey Weinstein or Prince Andrew had nothing over those three.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:23 pm
This is complete and utter BS. Tampa does not have the monopoly on strip clubs, or sleazy areas.
Actually, compared to some other places I have lived, Tampa is sort of lame.
LOL, it does have the most Pawn Shops of anywhere I have lived though.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:56 pm
Wow…..I can’t believe some many of y’all are being so dismissive of this article. It actually makes dam good sense.
It’s not the issue of the amount of clubs it’s totally a culture thing and how the team uses those clubs and their free time. You ever think maybe Lombardi might know a little background knowledge of the matter that we are not privy to?
It’s culture man…….Just like how I’ve worked on some job site and on our lunch hour…..achem…..hours…..we went over the the club. It’s just what we did. Darn straight I’mma go to if that’s what we do. What you think I’m gonna tell everybody to stay and get the job done instead? Yeah, they would push me out of the way. That’s just the way the culture was.
That’s what Lombardi is probably talking about fools. That that their too many stip clubs that it’s irresistable. Just read the comments about New Orleans dummies……had less to do with how many clubs were in New Orleans and more to do with the team culture and how they was all about partying. Partying over winning.
As far as I’m concerned the cats out of the bag. This teams got more important thing to do they dedicate themselfs to winning. Don’t be niave
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Passthebuc……Yes their is a reason why this don’t affect the Rays and Lightning.
Cause they have a winning culture. Not a partying culture. Just like the guy said how the Saints struggled the same way. They didn’t change the city to get them winning. They changed the culture.
November 22nd, 2019 at 2:56 pm
We had strip clubs in 2002 and they were much better back then
November 22nd, 2019 at 3:22 pm
He’s right on the fact that we have the most strip clubs but that doesn’t mean it’s the reason why we suck.
November 22nd, 2019 at 4:06 pm
I’m pretty sure we had just as many if not MORE strip clubs during Dungy’s tenure and with Gruden winning a superbowl. Lombardi’s take is probably more revealing about him than anything else.
November 22nd, 2019 at 4:09 pm
This is the stupidest take on the Bucs losses. How did the Bucs manage to have a kick ass team throughout the years prior to the Super Bowl? The current GM is garbage and Winston is an idiot savant. No one can put a finger on what Winston is good at yet.
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:49 pm
JimmyJack, I think you missed the point PasstheBuc was trying to make. He is just a racist a – hole!
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:52 pm
[Didn’t see anything wrong at all with the question from “passthebuc” — unless you were reading something into it that wasn’t there. It was a fair question. If you think he is trying to insinuate something about the Rays — who do win — you should look at the makeup of their diversified roster. Besides, both the Lightning and Rays go on weeks-long road trips often in a season. The Bucs rarely stay away from home for three days at a time. — Joe]
November 23rd, 2019 at 7:18 am
The comparison of strip club chicks isn’t even close.Tampa girls all day.
Are these players smart enough to know,everyone loves a winner.Especially strip club chicks.
Go Bucs !
November 23rd, 2019 at 11:00 am
#BallingForBoobs
#JustTakeYourPenisToMonsVenus
November 23rd, 2019 at 11:04 am
what if hargraeves was getting the whole squad nice on that purple haze…
what if?
November 23rd, 2019 at 11:05 am
smoked out in the clubbb…
hunting for dirty poonanny