Bruce Arians: “I Don’t Want To Go Back To Calling Plays”
February 19th, 2021
For a moment yesterday, Bucco Bruce Arians was talking about quitting.
It scared the hell out of Joe.
Joe is very clear on the reality that Arians is the straw that stirs the drink at One Buc Palace. Handing off the baton to Todd Bowles or Byron Leftwich, in Joe’s mind, is like heading to the racetrack and betting to win on a horse that’s never won a race.
A guest on The Herd on FOX Sports yesterday, Arians was asked about whether Tom Brady makes him feel younger, like he’s sipping from the Fountain of Youth.
Arians agreed with the premise and then, on his own, rolled into what would have him start thinking of going back to golf and whiskey full-time.
“If I lost Byron [Leftwich] or Todd [Bowles], I’d have to think about [quitting] because not losing any coaches this year makes next year so much easier and so much easier to repeat,” Arians said. “But once you start deleting your coaching staff, I don’t want to go back to calling plays. And Byron right now is still the only guy I trust doing it. And I’d have to think long and hard if I was going to lose him.”
Thank you, NFL owners — for not hiring Leftwich or Bowles as a head coach! (Later today, Joe will share an impressive endorsement of Leftwich as a head coach candidate.)
Arians’ comments also should pull the plug on those who still think Leftwich is a figurehead stuck between Arians and Brady.
Leftwich’s future is very intriguing. Suppose he’s a serious head coach candidate next winter, would Team Glazer make a bold move on Leftwich if they knew losing him meant losing Arians and, subsequently, losing Tom Brady?
February 19th, 2021 at 5:06 am
Sooooooooooooooooooooooo………Byron Suckwich is your man now Bucco Brucie?????
CMON BA!!!!!!…………..we all know Tom Brady is really the OC and calling all the plays whether you want to admit that part or not……….stop giving us lip service!
February 19th, 2021 at 5:28 am
Yep.. but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have input and “suggestions “ from time to time
February 19th, 2021 at 5:56 am
All things come to an end, good and bad. Leftwich imo hasn’t been a coordinator long enough. Big difference in running a squad to leading an entire team. The league owners have spoken to who they want running their teams. That’s why the Rooney Rule is such a joke. It’s only meant as an appeasement/ shutting up mouths policy, a facade. The saddest thing about it is lost on most people is the fact that it had to be implemented in the first place, to force millionaires to atleast giving the semblance of giving people a fair chance at a head coaching gig among other things. What do you know though, like it was sung back in the day Ain’t That America!
February 19th, 2021 at 6:39 am
Bucs wouldn’t have ever won the SB if not for Todd Bowles & this defense. Sorry, but losing Todd would be much more detrimental than losing BL.
February 19th, 2021 at 6:44 am
I agree. I think BA is coach one more year and then turn over to his guys
It will Likely be bowles and bucs may work it out so leftwich is assistant head coach / offensive coordinator so he makes more money.
February 19th, 2021 at 6:44 am
Leftwich as HC, Bowles DC and Goodwin OC would be a great staff.
Unless Anthem is available cause he knows it all.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:00 am
I agree with Stanglassman.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:09 am
…………..you’re right Stang……….. I do know it all
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
February 19th, 2021 at 7:12 am
Bucsanthem is great you know everything I have a question for you. Is that why when Brady was mic’ed up you heard him telling Byron he was on fire and killing the play calling and told him whatever you call I’m gonna hit that sh*t????????????? Just asking for a friend
February 19th, 2021 at 7:16 am
Bottom Line- Bruce Arians is the Head Coach World Champions. Byron Leftwich- Is the OC of the World Champions.
Todd Bowels id the Dc of the World Champions.
Tom Brady is the QB of the World Champions for the 7th Time.
The Bucs are the World Champions. GO BUCS!!!!!
February 19th, 2021 at 7:17 am
This is Arian’s last year. Byron will be the H.C. in 2022. Hopefully Tom will still play that season.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:17 am
Joe
The defense won the play off games. Ask Brees, Rogers and Mahommes. Keep Todd Bowles over Leftwich.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:25 am
IMO you could lose Chris Godwin and find and coach up his replacement (?Tyson Johnson), but you can’t replace Shaq Barrett or Lavonte David.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:33 am
Yes, the defense was critical in the playoff games, but why are we acting like putting up 30+ points didn’t result in wins as well? And truth is that we wouldn’t have made it into the post season at all if it wasn’t for one side of the ball stepping up when the other side didn’t.
I’m sorry if that doesn’t fit into your bumper sticker sized logic
February 19th, 2021 at 7:34 am
The defense played extremely well, but the Bucs offense also put up 30 points or more in every post season game. That has never been done before in the NFL.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:43 am
Mitch – you’re right, but the turnovers created by the defense set them a lot of scores up. I love the Buc’s offense and Tequila Tommy all much better than 2002.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:53 am
Anthem is on a roll today. Receivers don’t get CTE, trade away future HOFer who’s willing to restructure his contract, Brady’s a coach not a player, what’s next? Cowturd, is that you?
February 19th, 2021 at 8:10 am
Mitch this was the best offense in buc history they shattered all the records mostly. Including least amount of turnovers go figure. And I believe also least penalties but I could be wrong about that 1.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:16 am
If anyone is next in line to take BA spot it should be Bowles. I mean come on the dude first head coaching gig was with the damn JETS. I don’t think the greatest coach in the world could coach that mess that is the JETS..
February 19th, 2021 at 8:54 am
Bowles as HC?
Hell yes!
Leftwich as HC?
Hell no!
February 19th, 2021 at 9:08 am
Todd Bowles and the defensive staff were magnificent – especially when you consider the adjustments that needed to be made with the injuries during the year.
The offense IMO was mostly Brady and the talent around him – would the offense seen the same production the last 6 1/2 games if Brian Flores was head coach? Or Kevin Stefanski? Or Sean McDermott? I think so.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:46 am
Byron don’t do sh1t either. They said at the beginning if we’re down in the fourth, we’ll give it to Tom. First week of the fourth quarter and we go on a 8 game win streak to win the SB. Brady is HC, OC, and some points, GM. How amazing would it be to have Brady HC or OC for Bucs when his time is up. Take him at any position in the franchise except GM. Licht is too on fire at the moment.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:53 am
Stanglassman Says:
February 19th, 2021 at 6:44 am
Leftwich as HC, Bowles DC and Goodwin OC would be a great staff.
BINGO!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2021 at 9:56 am
fan99
mcvay, the packers coach, zac taylor they werent OCs are a long time…
didnt stop them from becoming HCs…..
GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2021 at 9:56 am
Why are some of u so slow? Why are we dabating who is more responsible for the win? For the 1st time in franchis history both the defense and offense was in the top 5. As I have said forever it takes a TEAM!!!!! Not just one man or coach or one side of the ball but a ENTIRE TEAM!!!! That includes coaching so for all of you trying to belittle Byron as doing nothing, go f@ck yourself. Arians and Brady all year has stated byron is calling plays and if you heard BA’S interview with cowherd he even went into a deeper analysis of how that process worked. Stop being idiots.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:00 am
DR
you full of sh!t!!!!…lol…
what happened to “good complimentary football”?….now its all defense…lol…BS..
BL and the offense averaged 30pts per game…
sure we could go back to having a great defense and a offense that produces 17pts a game…but that wouldnt take us far….
losing BL would cripple this team…
GO BUCS!!!!!
February 19th, 2021 at 10:12 am
BucsAnthem, last year your “smarts” told us TB had a noodle arm. That sure turned out to be a pearl of wisdom.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:39 am
Leftwich has best job in America, sending false hand signals to TB. TB is the REAL OC.If I got paid for doing this,I’d never leave Bucs.This is brilliant.My hand signals are just as good as BL.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:41 am
This Anthem character must have been dropped on the soft spot of his head when he was an infant. Bucs are on an 8 game win streak including wins in 4 consecutive playoff games culminating in SBLV and yet it drips this spiteful, hate-filled jibberish. It must have been happier during the Lovie Smith regime.
2-14 more Anthem’s style apparently.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:03 am
Hodad is right BA in 2021 and BL for HC in 2022. Why lose him to another team. Solution: Make BL HC.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:05 am
Nobody on this team, player or coach, is indispensable. Except Brady
February 19th, 2021 at 12:05 pm
Hodad Says:
February 19th, 2021 at 7:17 am
This is Arian’s last year. Byron will be the H.C. in 2022.
BINGO!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2021 at 1:11 pm
who knows but can we forget about what michael lombardi said about leftwich but it always gets brought up that he is a figure head. he has zero idea.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Great D and excellent offense wins the trophy. And there you have the BUCCANEERS.. go do it again in 2022.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:44 pm
Bring on Byron as HC! Been there done that with Bowles, we know he’s far better as a DC than a HC.
Staying relavent post-Brady and Arians will be difficult enough, we don’t wanna turn into the Jets 2.0.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:52 pm
I’m only ok with losing Goodwin if we pick up OBJ. I’m only ok with losing Fournette if we pick up Derick Henry. Or if RoJo steps up his pass protecting and screen routes finding that gap in zone. He’s an explosive RB though. I’m only ok with losing BL if we keep TB. Both of them. I would be ok with losing Suh if we get JJ. Those replacements would be willing to take a pay cut to play with Brady. That way we can focus on Barrett and David. AB is gonna stay. Goodwin, Suh, and Fournette I could see leaving for more money. Most of these guys wanna go down in history. So the money ain’t too important with most of our Roster. They played like Rec football. It was a real bond this year. Tampa was a real team. And for the next three years we could dominate. And when Brady leaves, whoever is under him could possibly shine just learning for these 3 years. And the team by then would be in their prime. Most of our defense is young. Our WRs have a good 7 years in them. Our O line is young. Same with our other Tampa teams. We are the new Boston. Soon every one is going to want to play for Tampa.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:58 pm
Firstdown That’s where me and you agree at bro !!! I don’t want to be the jets are back to losing the next 15 years . They don’t care about the future of the team . All they care about is Brady and his last year here but then what happens after this season ?? They don’t care about that part on this site . They can fix our roster for the next young quarterback so that he want have to think that every thing is on him . With the same playbook Brady used he can come in learn this year and be ready to go in 2022 season !!
February 19th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
We won a super bowl they still salty about their messiah 😂. Some of these posters are our comic relief.They have been proven wrong all offseason and during the season and still trying to kick knowledge. And bucsanthem we remember your hot takes 😂.
February 19th, 2021 at 4:21 pm
It would be really bad to let Todd Bowles leave the organization. There should be a plan in place for him to take over as head coach. Especially with defense being the forte of this team for years to come.
February 19th, 2021 at 6:59 pm
Youngbucs you and Skip Bayless are the same the only player you give credit to is Brady . You think Brady is the only reason why the bucs won . And let’s be clear the defense lead the bucs against the Packers . Brady threw 3 interceptions and all most gave the game up . In the superbowl it was all defense them lil 3 yard , 5 yard , and 8 yard touchdowns Brady threw was very easy throws . And it was the defense and the running game that won the superbowl . Brady had right at 201 yards passing . Give credit where credit is dew are go follow Skip Bayless . The one that disrespect your city if you from Tampa !! You don’t know nothing about football !!! Lol lol lol 😁😆😅 you busta !!!!
February 20th, 2021 at 12:43 am
Everyone needs to chill out.
1. It is not like they have a choice to say if they lose BL or Bowles.
If VA is ready to step down next year they very well could offer the job to one of the two but the other could still walk.
2. What is this argument of defense or offense?? It’s a team. The offense scored 30 points or more in every playoff game and the defense held the opponents to under that. Complementary football. The offense going up by a lot early in the Super Bowl greatly helped the defense.
They don’t win without either
February 20th, 2021 at 7:59 am
What is funny is that both Bowles and Leftwich were having quite a mediocre run going into the bye week. Covering Hill 1:1? Running up the gut every 1st down? Chucking the ball 40 yards on 3rd and 1? Not enough play action/high % throws? Soft zones?
They did get it together after game 12 thankfully!