“Some People, Feelings Must Get Hurt Easily”
September 17th, 2020
“We’re good, Bruce. If I drank, I’d go have a few with you. You can come over to Jeter’s house before I get evicted. Will your doctor let you have an avocado soy milkshake?”
Joe guesses people are so conditioned to spin and to be conned that when they hear candor, the unfamiliarity of it triggers them.
And so it is when after Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians wagged a finger in his postgame presser Sunday evening at park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady for throwing two picks, the collective gasp could be heard throughout the nation.
Why, there must be a rift between the two, many wondered. No one would talk about His Goatness Tom Brady like that in public!
The gall!
Even Brett Favre, who knows something about being an old man at quarterback on a new team, suggested there better be a “truce” between Arians and Brady for Arians to say what he said and how he said it.
Arians addressed this non-story both yesterday afternoon and last night in separate interviews. Wednesday night, Arians made an appearance on “Late Hits” co-hosted by Tom Pelissero and Bill Polian, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
There, Pelissero asked Arians about Favre’s “truce” comments and he read Arians the Favre quote.
Arians chuckled and said, “Some people, feelings must get hurt easily. Tom’s sure don’t.”
Polian, who has been around a few locker rooms in his day, busted out laughing after Arians answered Pelissero’s question.
“Tom and I have all the discussions in the world,” Arians said. “If someone is going to ask me a question about how someone played — [Brady] would be the first to say, ‘Two picks? I deserve it.’
“We have a great relationship.”
The “truce” Favre spoke of is reminiscent of the topic you can hear on the latest edition of the “Ira Kaufman Podcast.”
Joe mentioned he thought Arians might be pulling a Bobby Knight. The old Indiana basketball coach was notorious for treating his star players, such as Isiah Thomas and Steve Alford, harshly in front of their teammates. Knight’s goal was, while chewing out a star, a teammate would see that and think, “Man, if he’s giving (insert name) that much hell, I better be on my toes.”
And Knight was rather open about it, telling his star players privately before the season he was going to ride their @sses hard and that they had to set an example for the team.
Bill Walsh used the very same tactic, only he had assistant coaches as foils. Walsh’s goal was the same as Knight’s. Walsh would tell an assistant before practice he was going to tear his head off in front of the players because they needed a boot in the rear and that the coach should ignore his outburst.
In the NFL Network documentary on Walsh, Steve Young explained how that really got the team’s attention as he would think, (paraphrasing), I better get with it because I don’t want (insert name) to get fired.
So it would not shock Joe one iota if Arians told Brady he was going to do this as a motivating tactic, especially for some on the offensive line and maybe a running back or two.
You can hear an excerpt of Arians’ spot below, courtesy of SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Bruce Arians on his relationship w/ Tom Brady….
“Some people, feelings must get hurt easily…….Tom’s sure don’t”
LISTEN 👇I #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/ly3gTqTZop
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) September 17, 2020
September 17th, 2020 at 12:21 am
The game within the game. Good work here Joe. Some people can’t or won’t understand the way words and actions interact. I can tell you thrive on it.
In BA I Trust!
September 17th, 2020 at 12:42 am
“His Goatness” —
Awesome, Joes. You lads are on a roll in the humor department.
September 17th, 2020 at 12:56 am
@Joe – I love and enjoy your site for amazing and interesting reporting topics. And that you post so many blogs throughout the day about Bucs news >> that is of interest to all Bucs-crazed fans like me. Thank You, @Joes. During my hectic daytime job, I cheat and read what I can on your site for my Bucs updates. TY!
Regarding this post about Arians criticism of Brady – I agree! I love Farve – toughest QB to ever play in NFL. But found myself chuckling at Farve’s comments. First – hey Farve, did you need constant affirmation from coaches? Are you projecting your feelings of neglect to Brady? DING DING! After 6 rings, Brady will not lose sleep on call-outs from BA, Belichick or any coach. Brady is feeling pretty secure in his abilities.
Crazy how this story got legs from the talking heads because of Farve. And to be clear on my position, i wanted JW to be QB for Bucs this year. But I support Brady as our new QB. I have my concerns for his durability in BA’s offense beyond 8 games. “But that is a different post.”
The idea that Brady’s “feelings” are hurt or the criticism will cause a rift is click-bait for national pundits.
Bucs win vs. Panthers is what Brady needs to think about. Loss will set alarms for me.
September 17th, 2020 at 1:01 am
GRAMMAR – Of interest
September 17th, 2020 at 1:48 am
Godwin – Concussion! Can or does he play vs Panthers? Have to consider long-term for 2020 season and beyond. Expect sit-out for Godwin for all the right reasons.
September 17th, 2020 at 2:24 am
Brett Favre should have won more SBs but he thought he was so irresponsible with the rock. Sound familiar? Anyway, Favre was definitely sensitive, he’s one of those guys who reads the sports paper Monday/Tuesday morning to see what’s said about him.
Although, he had one of the finest games after his father passed away at the expense of those doormat Raiders.
September 17th, 2020 at 2:25 am
*sorry I was going to say he thought he was Superman, but decided to change it mid-sentence to irresponsible.
September 17th, 2020 at 6:05 am
Paging the “coach isn’t critical of his QB” crowd!
September 17th, 2020 at 7:03 am
“… that when they hear candor, the unfamiliarity of it triggers them.”
See Millennials, Generation Z
September 17th, 2020 at 8:11 am
If Arians let Brady know beforehand he was going to be tough on him, isn’t that the ‘truce’ Favre is speaking of?
BAs point is Tom has been in the league long enough he doesn’t even need to verbalize that. Its part of the job description as QB of an offensive HC – taking the public criticism.
September 17th, 2020 at 8:18 am
If it’s all calculated as you say, then players will figure it out and ignore it. I do think Arians says what’s on his mind at the moment. Feelings be damned. Pretty sure Brady can take it.