Ninkovich: Brady A Lock To Return
December 4th, 2020
“Tom, why is your posse wanting to put me out to pasture for good?”
The problem with having players play journalists is that players often come with deeply flawed if not outright biased opinions.
Take former Belicheats linebacker and teammate of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, jet-ski-losing, handshake-stiffing Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, Rob Ninkovich.
Now working for BSPN on one of that outfit’s TV hollering shows, Ninkovich seemed to have started this nonsense that Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians may not be with the team next year when Ninkovich declared Arians is the wrong coach for Brady.
Then former Belicheats staffer Michael Lombardi chimed in with basically the same thing and off to the races we go.
At least Lombardi is upfront about his mancrush on Brady. So notice, it is people with connections to Brady who seem to be stoking the fires that the Bucs need to move on from Arians.
You can connect the dots, can’t you? “Big bad Arians is being mean to po’ whittle Tommy.”
It works the other way, too. People with connections to Arians are defending him. See how this works?
This notion that Arians should be run when he has turned the Bucs into a playoff contender because he calls a spade a spade in press conferences (when he discusses Brady) is just about asinine to Joe.
The Bucs finally get a decent coach in here and you want throw him overboard because he doesn’t publicly slurp Mr. Six Rings? Please! How many times does Arians have to say Brady chooses what plays to call before people believe him?
Arians is not blameless when it comes to the sputtering offense. If Brady is the one who doesn’t want more running plays and shies away from play-action passes, then Arians needs to do his job as the head coach and take those duties away from Brady.
And let’s not forget, Arians is the one who begged for the chance to land Brady. So Arians got what he wanted. If that’s not working, well, then Arians takes the hit (credit?) there.
Are the Bucs better off with Brady? Look at the record. As Bill Parcells famously said, you are what your record says you are. And that record says the Bucs are a playoff contender for one of the rare times since Chucky got run out of town.
Don’t be so damn quick to chase off a good coach unless you have a better one waiting to take over. As Raheem Morris once said, “I will tolerate you until I can replace you.” Didn’t the Bucs learn their lesson from 2009 when they booted Chucky?
Joe just thinks this is nuts to run off Arians when he finally has this franchise turned around.
In the BSPN video below, Ninkovich says there is no question that Brady will be back in 2021, just based on economics. He cannot say the same for Arians.
By the time next season starts, @Espngreeny thinks Tom Brady and Bruce Arians should not BOTH be back in Tampa. pic.twitter.com/nX8fvbDbZg
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 4, 2020
December 4th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
This decent coach iced his own kicker last year.
December 4th, 2020 at 1:14 pm
LOL!
December 4th, 2020 at 1:20 pm
“The Bucs finally get a decent coach in here”
Please tell me you’re just trolling us Joe
December 4th, 2020 at 1:26 pm
But of course he will return……a no brainer!!!
December 4th, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Joe – really wish there was a way to converse with you guys more than just these message boards (email me back!) haha but here are my thoughts overall:
since we are on a bye week, it is a good time to breath and catch up. First of all, I feel OK about the Bucs. Bad start to the game but they did battle with KC. I believe the chiefs could have score more if it was closer but the team did turn it around but had some stupid turnovers in the third quarter and not being able to score with 1st and goal on the first drive was brutal. I was even ok with the 20-7 halftime lead since stopped them twice in the redzone. I keep saying, red zone efficiency and turnovers are the most critical stats in any football game to determine who wins. Over anything else.
Also – NFL is a wacky league and I am not scared to play anyone. It is a week to week league and to just look at past games as to how a team will perform is stupid (otherwise we would all be millionaires with spreads and picking winners). The only thing that concerns me is playing IN Lambeau but that is it. We can travel anywhere else and win. No NFC team scares me and frankly, I want the Saints. We need another chance to beat them and those idiots will get what is coming to them. They will take us lightly and we will pound their ass. Damn I hate those pricks so much.
Also getting to the divisional round our best shot is getting the #5 seed. The way we do that is win out, and we then need the rams to lose two games and cardinals one game. If they both split and seahawks win at home vs. rams, we will get it. So that could very well happen. Obviously we need to take care of business ourselves.
Anyways, here is where my rant begins. Arians is a bad coach. He has proven it time and time again. This is going back to last year too. His challenges never stand a chance, he makes poor decisions on clock management, he also makes things up to the media which are lies and him and Byron sounds like we are all dumb and they keep doing what they are doing. The other day watching the Rams game my wife asked me why they couldn’t do anything on offense. My response: “Because they’re trying to be like the f*cking Harlem Globetrotters”! I stand by that. All we do is throw it all over the yard. Earlier in the year Brady would methodically move down the field and then we would hit shots (see the Chargers and Raiders games as examples). I don’t understand it. Other teams can move down the field but we are always just tossing it up. Say what you will about passing but Brady throwing 45-50 games is not a recipe for winning. It flat out isn’t. Yes game script affects that sometimes but what a joke. I think Arians is an old stubborn guy who will never change. Also his rationale on going for it or not on fourth down (going back to last year) boggles my mind. It is as if he throws darts to decide when or when not to do it. This also falls on the Glazers. I feel they always want flashy coaches but we never have a plan. Either coaches get fired too fast or what have you but there is never a plan. My hope once Brady is gone and Arians (2 years?) we finally get an up and coming coach who I would more prefer to be a special teams coach like Judge or Harbaugh and hire good co-ordinators. Say what you will about the Giants and Ravens, they play sound football with minimal mistakes, they are tough and I think the giants are literally sleeping giants. They are a good team and I said I want the #5 seed but I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t scared to play the Buc killer, Daniel Jones, in the first round of the playoffs with all the pressure on us. Then if we get a good FOOTBALL coach (emphasis on football and not just offense or defense) we can draft a QB and let him grow.
And honestly playoffs isn’t good enough for me and it shouldn’t be for you. We need to do some damage and win a Lombardi. Brady’s days are fleeting and then we will be rebuilding (which I am fine with as long as we get a good football coach and draft a QB). We’ve waited too long for this and a one and done in the playoffs will have me pissed off and you should be too. We need to get on a roll now and kick some ass in the playoffs. No team in the NFC scares me and Brady in a Super Bowl? I will take my chances.
December 4th, 2020 at 1:41 pm
Arians is doing a good job. The player development since his staff has taken over has been amazing! Really shows how weak our coaching staff was in the past in this department. He’s not an “elite” coach in my opinion, like Bellicheck, Payton, and McVay, but he’s good, better than average. That’s enough to win a championship when you have elite talent like we do. I’m enjoying Tampa games like I haven’t in years because this team is always in it. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the playoffs, and we know playoff coaches almost always come back. So expect consistency with our staff, for a change, next year.
December 4th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Great points Joe’s. Arians is not perfect, but no coach is. A winning record in December is a blessing given our teams track record. You gotta lay the foundation before you build the house. As long as we get an eventual heir to Brady with loads of potential next year as our backup, I’m cool with Arians.
December 4th, 2020 at 1:50 pm
Thanks Zilla.
December 4th, 2020 at 2:24 pm
“You cant win without accountability
You cant fix your problems and weaknesses without accountability
Brady came from winning for 20 years under Bellichick where everyone player and coach is accountable
Byron Leftwich is not a competent and proficient OC. Left should never call plays in a NFL game. Arians the Narc cannot admit he was wrong to allow Left to call plays
There is no accountability in Tampa since BA/BL came to Tampa
Brady cant stand BA because he knows Arians is a fraud like all the other places Arians was fired at
Every team was better when Bruce Arians Left
Every Quarterback was better when Arians left”
Kobe Faker
December 4th, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Before I read any further.
“The Bucs finally get a decent coach in here and you throw him overboard because he doesn’t publicly slurp Mr. Six Rings? Please! How many times does Arians have to say Brady chooses what plays to call before people believe him?”
A FRICKING MEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 4th, 2020 at 2:26 pm
Doesn’t matter what we all think, what will the Glazers think at the end of the season? A lot of that will depend on how the season ends, and if that meets their expectations. What their realistic expectations were for this season, only they know. Dungy was fired not taking us far enough into the playoffs. Gruden won a super bowl, and was shown the door. Anything is possible.
December 4th, 2020 at 2:32 pm
Good point Buczilla. To take it one step further None of us have even Sniffed a playoff push since 07 and suddenly being 7 and 5 at the bye is a failure?
SMDH
December 4th, 2020 at 2:34 pm
Well I guess we came close in ’10 too but you get my point.
December 4th, 2020 at 2:34 pm
Great article Joe’s! I’ve giving you guys a hard time as of late but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate all you do! These wind bags on BSPN and others are clueless as to what’s going on with our Bucs way to call it straight fellas. All those guys are ridiculous
December 4th, 2020 at 2:35 pm
Great article Joe’s! I’ve giving you guys a hard time as of late but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate all you do! These wind bags on BSPN and others are clueless as to what’s going on with our Bucs way to call it straight fellas. All those guys are ridiculous.
December 4th, 2020 at 2:35 pm
They will both be back as long they win at least 9 games and get into the playoffs. Nine games will get you in this year all the teams competing for a playoff berth are all playing each other.
December 4th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
As long as the Bucs win 9 games they will both be back. 9 games will get you in the playoffs this year probably a 7th seed. All the playoff contenders are playing each other.
December 4th, 2020 at 2:41 pm
9 wins will get them back.
December 4th, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Thanks for your kind words and of course your support!
December 4th, 2020 at 3:06 pm
We’ll see. Lose to vikings all hell breaks loose.
December 4th, 2020 at 3:09 pm
Run the ball with Rojo and play action pass more. Nice long scoring drives. Problem solved. Defense will be fine if they are not on the field 🙂
December 4th, 2020 at 3:14 pm
@Joe … “How many times does Arians have to say Brady chooses what plays to call before people believe him?”
I keep chuckling to myself Joe every time I read that question. You surely asked it tongue in cheek, right? I’m not sure which Joe wrote that, but there have been other pieces y’all have written that pretty clearly say that BA is spouting BS on this issue or that issue.
In the case of Tom Brady doing ALL the play calling on the field, that’s BS. I’m sure that he’s doing SOME (changing plays at the line, etc), but based on his previous 20 years in the league VERSUS the performance I’m seeing from him on the field this year I’d have to call BS on him doing ALL the play-calling. He’s running tons of plays that are just totally out-of-character for a QB who’s all about winning.
Example: How many times have we seen him throw deep on 3rd down & short … and NOT CONNECT? That’s NOT the Tom Brady who won 6 Super Bowls. There’s a LOT of risk in that type of play-call, as opposed to the less risky play-call that does what it takes to get the 1st down in that situation.
Another example: the Bucs running game. We’ve got a decent run-blocking OLine & TWO quality RBs, something Brady has cherished all his career & made great use of. I find it incredulous that anyone (BA?) would ask us to believe that Tom Brady is by-passing them in the 3rd-and-short scenarios so that he can ‘do his thing’ instead (with very unspectacular results I might add).
Sorry Joe, not buying it.
December 4th, 2020 at 3:15 pm
The day Ira Kaufman takes a few snaps as the Bucs QB is probably when we should start listening to these ex-jocks turned journalists.
December 4th, 2020 at 3:24 pm
We could still end up 7-9 again
Don’t speak so soon about turnarounds and contending
December 4th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
I have to disagree with joe. Bruce Arians turning the Bucs around ? No.
Bowles has turn the defense around. Jason licht has done a good jobwith the cap to bring in suh , jpp. Gronk.
But Arians ?? We can’t win at home. Penalties still hunt us. And offense playcalling a mess.
And finally discipline Bruce criticizes the goat and defends d. Smith ?? A joke.
December 4th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
As Raheem Morris once said, “I will tolerate you until I can replace you.” And isn’t RM doing a turnabout with the Falcons? And while you are at coach looking, add GM to the slots fit for a sharp ax.
December 4th, 2020 at 4:29 pm
“This notion that Arians should be run when he has turned the Bucs into a playoff contender because he calls a spade a spade in press conferences (when he discusses Brady) is just about asinine to Joe. The Bucs finally get a decent coach in here and you want throw him overboard because he doesn’t publicly slurp Mr. Six Rings? Please! How many times does Arians have to say Brady chooses what plays to call before people believe him?”
smdh, Joe. At you, brother. Slurp? Really? Slurp on this: The fact Arians says Brady chooses what Brady wants as a way to answer to why their offense is not on par right now is exactly WHY Arians PROBABLY needs to go. Does McVay throw Goff under the bus. Does Carroll do it to Wilson? Does Reid do it to Mahomes? Does Gruden do it to Carr? Okay, don’t answer that last one. GTFOH. Joe, you talked about running Winston too. Here’s my response: The Bucs are doing BETTER (not great) but they are not doing well enough. Arians is a medicore coach. Winston was a medicre QB because of his downside (gee, what was that? I wonder). The Bucs have had some bad coaches, so we’re supposed to say, “Oh well, at least BA isn’t like others.” Not!
December 4th, 2020 at 4:49 pm
I remember when Bucs “fans” wanted Tony Dungy fired. Gruden, too. Then they wanted Rah, Schiano, Lovie, and Dirk fired. We’ll see how the next 4 regular season games wind up, and hopefully playoff games. Now is the time for the Bucs to start playing winning football again, work out the kinks. Play aggressive defense again, and play smarter offensively. We’ll see if Arians is up to the challenge.
December 4th, 2020 at 4:59 pm
Ba just needs to stop with the media drama. He plays right into their hands. Most coaches deflect drama away from their teams not invite it in. Drama kills teams. Your already starting to see New England Tom in the latest press conferences. It was nice hearing him open up while it lasted. His last several years in Mass he didn’t have much to say because the media was always trying to stir up drama. I think they will be fine. 2018 everyone thought Brady was done heading into the final few games of the season after losing to Miami and Pittsburgh. I think they had a late season bye that year also but not positive on that. Very similar to this year with the bucs though. Not saying they will come back and win the Super Bowl but check That season out compared to this year . Not identical but similar.
December 4th, 2020 at 5:46 pm
We must move on from Brady next year . The future must start next year .
December 4th, 2020 at 5:49 pm
These networks can cut their employees by half when Brady retires.
December 4th, 2020 at 7:26 pm
The saddest thing about this season every game we been losing I never get the feeling we can come back. With Jameis yeah he turned the ball over but he’s resilient at not giving up. When we get down by 14 or 17 with brady he acts like a spoiled brat who doesnt get their way. I’m done with Brady I hope he flies into retirement after this season.
December 4th, 2020 at 7:27 pm
I wouldnt mind a Jameis 2.0 tour here in tampa.
December 4th, 2020 at 8:18 pm
I wouldnt mind a Jameis 2.0 tour here in tampa.
Puhleeze. I think some vomit just came up in the back of my throat.
December 5th, 2020 at 3:08 am
@stpetebucsfan he literally played with scraps…desean jackson was a waste. Oj hasnt stayed healthy, we had peyton barber as a feature back. U really not convinced that with this team we have he cant win?
December 5th, 2020 at 7:40 am
Bucsalltheway
I agree he could win with this team. But he is an incredible CHOKER! He’ll never win he big one again. Perhaps Oregon wrecked his head?
He’s 28-42…it is what it is.
December 5th, 2020 at 10:41 am
There is to much focus on Tom Brady. What he does or doesn’t do if he gets alone with the coach or not. Really let’s focus on what the real problem is. And that is the Bucs defense. They just got lit up by one man named Hill for over 290 yrds and 3 touchdowns. But all I here about is Tom and Bruce don’t like each other. If the Bucs are going to get anywhere in the season the defense has to get alot better.
December 5th, 2020 at 10:43 am
There is to much focus on Tom Brady. What he does or doesn’t do if he gets alone with the coach or not. Really let’s focus on what the real problem is. And that is the Bucs defense. They just got lit up by one man named Hill for over 290 yrds and 3 touchdowns. But all I here about is Tom and Bruce don’t like each other. If the Bucs are going to get anywhere in the season the defense has to get alot better.