Scott Pioli: Father Time Is Checking In On Bucs
November 16th, 2021
Former NFL GM speaks on Bucs injuries and older players.
We will find out if the gamble works.
Former NFL general manager and personnel guy Scott Pioli was a member of the Belicheats once when the team repeated as Super Bowl champions. YouKnowWho was their quarterback.
Pioli appeared on “Good Morning Football” today, seen weekday mornings on NFL Network, and was asked for his take on where the defending Super Bowl champions stand after losing two straight (to two stiff quarterbacks). Are the Bucs on life support or can they bounce back?
Pioli seems to believe what lifted the Bucs last year is what is holding the Bucs back this year: Injuries. And he’s not wrong on that.
Further, Pioli pointed out all the guys over 30 the Bucs have on the active roster, which Pioli said is the most in the NFL. The gamble with older guys, Pioli noted, is that they tend to get dinged more often.
Pioli is right again. Consider on offense, the Bucs are without furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing receiver Antonio Brown and foot-rubbing, car-littering film guru Rob Gronkowski. This offense seems lassoed without them.
And on defense, Jason Pierre-Paul is barely able to play, forget practice. You sometimes wonder if that warrior lion should even be on the field? Pioli also mentioned Richard Sherman.
What do Brown, Gronk, JPP and Sherman have in common? Yup, they are all over 30.
So while the Bucs have been fortunate (so far) that the oldest guy on the roster is healthy, and his offensive line is healthy — once again — injuries have really thrown the Bucs a curveball and could sink the pirate ship.
You can see Pioli’s full response about the Bucs in the NFL Network video below.
“When you want to repeat, you can’t be as good as you were the year before.. you have to be much better.”
@scottpioli51 shares how expectations for the #Buccaneers have changed since preseason. pic.twitter.com/bjisyuaYQt— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) November 16, 2021
November 16th, 2021 at 2:15 pm
JPP is done. And there’s a reason it’s almost impossible to repeat. That’s why the Tampa Bay Lightning are the #1 team in this town & sports world right now.
November 16th, 2021 at 2:18 pm
Yeah that’s something I mentioned in another post. I think there’s going to be some turnover among the older vets, most likely JPP and Suh, probably OJ (unless he signs for cheap), and Gronk might finally decide to hang ’em up.
Antonio Brown will likely be back. AB might have been positioning himself for one last decent contract, but then the injury hit. That will make him affordable.
Sherman? Of course he’s gone. But then he was never really here, was he?
We have to hope that these guys can pull it together for that last ride into the postseason sunset.
November 16th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Injuries to older players are not why the didn’t beat the WTFs and the Saints. It was poor effort.
November 16th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
This type of comments will make sense at the end of the season, not now……Last year before the bye week, the so called experts where saying all kinds of comments about age, about TB12 about BA, about defense, …..well ….we got the SB…..
There is a long way to go…..
Let’s have this chat in march and if it’s true, well somebody will have to go…..On the meantime, let’s be cautious and stay positive….Maybe some of this big brains should shut up a little bit
November 16th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
Getting old and with the NFL season being extended makes youth that much more important. I bet a lot of these vets won’t be here next year.
November 16th, 2021 at 2:30 pm
I am excited for dinner and its only 1:30 here.
That is old. Bucs are not yet old.
November 16th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
“I bet a lot of these vets won’t be here next year.”
the team will be gutted next year and back to the gutter.
these guys have one last shot. I think it will sink in soon and they will run the table again.
November 16th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
Brady is hurt too. I just hope not too bad.
November 16th, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Brady recently complaining about the 17th game tells you he has one foot out the door & wants to get this season over with (and hopefully make another playoff run but he’s tired of the regular season).
November 16th, 2021 at 2:44 pm
Father time doesn’t explain the injuries to SMB & Carlton Davis, their absence being the leading cause to the secondary’s under performance this year.
I think Gronk and AB are a close 3rd and 4th in impact, simply because the replacement players behind them are slightly better than the trash we’ve been carting out at CB the last month and change.
November 16th, 2021 at 3:01 pm
What about all the young guys that are or have been injured? 😂 I guess that doesn’t fit Spicoli’s narrative. That wasn’t a typo.
November 16th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
If Gronk had the same injuries as J P P he wouldn’t be playing so why is J P P playing. He is not effective and is not helping us. I know he wants to play but he needs to ride the bench until he is closer to 100%.
November 16th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
So much doom and gloom. Go find another team to root for. Nobody is gonna wanna play this team in January. Still have faith they will turn this around.
November 16th, 2021 at 3:12 pm
Scott Pioli nailed it. Bucs not only have the most guys over 30, but I’d bet we also have the most STARTERS over 30. And almost all those guys over 30 were the cream of the crop … at one time in their careers. Guys like JPP, Gronk, AB, Suh, LVD, Gholston, Sherman, Jensen, and of course Tom Brady. Plus several of our key backups like Minter & Cockrell among others who are now filling in (or have). We’ve got some great talent in our youngsters, but we’ll have a LOT of holes to fill when this season ends.
If we do win the Super Bowl, I think that TB12 will hang it up. If we don’t win the Super Bowl, I also think TB12 will hang it up. Too much rebuilding to do at the end of the season, and not enough money to do it with. Brady’s a very astute businessman, and that becomes a no-win situation … for him. It’ll also become a no-win situation I bet for Gronk, probably for AB, for Suh, for Sherman, and probably for JPP. That’ll be a LOT of talent to replace … with comparable talent IF we expect to be competitive. And few good draft picks … and little salary CAP $$$ … to fill them with.
November 16th, 2021 at 3:16 pm
joe – do you physically go to all the bucs games? have any recommendation on any tailgate parties like what the buc? should i buy tickets before hand or go day of?
November 16th, 2021 at 3:22 pm
People were congratulating the GM for re-sign everyone and drafting a QB and a backup center. Now the bill is due
November 16th, 2021 at 3:27 pm
Would like to see Tryon get more snaps…
November 16th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
THE biggest injury is the one to JPP……teams don’t have to worry with him and can shift their focus elsewhere. That injury has neutralized our entire defense regardless of if the secondary is healthy or not. The burden is now entirely on the offense to rack up points in hopes of allowing Bowles to be super aggressive to try to create turnovers or short possessions.
I’ve said this many times, there are no “gimmes” in the NFL. If you give opponents time of possession, field position, turnovers, penalties, etc…..you will lose regularly. I think Jimmy Johnson once said, winning in the NFL is more about the fewest mistakes then the biggest plays.
November 16th, 2021 at 3:58 pm
Jpp and gronk are done for sure.
Prob suh too and mcclendon.
Prob Bernard too and ab is 50 50.
Brady is 50 50 too.
Davis3 is gonna want at least 18m
Godwin too…. maybe 20m.
Whitehead prob get 10m, at least.
Jl better sharpen those pencils.
November 16th, 2021 at 4:05 pm
Sounds like we are getting Gronk and AB back soon so that problem will resolve itself.
The biggest injury problem might be Carlton Davis because nobody is talking about him which probably means hes not clise to ready. The more weeks that go by without a update the more worried i get about that situation.
We have a first round pick backing up JPP so at least there is a silver lining.
There still a chance we can get healthy at the right time. Was really bummed to see Bunting still out, and lose V on top of it. Hopefully Monday Night we take take a step towards getting healthy. Does AB like Primetime?
November 16th, 2021 at 4:42 pm
Hmmm, something he said stuck out, coaches have to manage these players differently, are they? Ya this is a bit concerning but what he said about the Rams was worst and enlightening. Tommy Boy could be getting pressure at home and I think we can all agree Gronk is done after this season and who knows about AB, Brady may ride off into the sunset. So let’s all hope if that’s their plan GO BIG then go home.
November 16th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
looky here…
you can relax your way into the bye week…
you can rest and bang hoes during the week off…
then you can relax your way thru the week back after the bye…
it can happen, and is actually quite acceptable if you’ve just won the superbowl last year….
but the only way to shut all these mofos up is to wake up now and get rolling toward the playoffs…
and no better way to start that then thumping those ny giants in tampa in front of a rawkus crowd on monday night football for the world to see…
perfect time to regain dominance in the league…
with something like a 38-13 drubbing of a team that always gives us trouble
November 16th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
2021 was always a one year run.
Let’s make the playoffs and see what happens.
November 16th, 2021 at 5:15 pm
This week B.A. said the Bucs practiced well all week, but didn’t play like they practiced Sunday. I called bull spit on that. We already know about vet days off, and we all know JPP doesn’t practice at all. Use to be you couldn’t practice, you didn’t play, so B.A. is full of B.S.. To answer your question Joe, no JPP shouldn’t be playing. All these high priced vets need to be replaced. When football players reach their 30’s, let alone 40’s, the end isn’t always a gradual decline. It’s more like falling off a cliff. There’s a lot of old Bucs right now at the bottom of that cliff.
November 16th, 2021 at 5:21 pm
^^^^^^^^^^
everything up here is the REAL Bucs fans talk. Last year was exception/luck.
This is our talk at this time of the season:
Draft
Retirement
Predictions
..all for the NEXT year, and then the NEXT, and then the NEXT after that…
so SAD, Bucs talk.
November 16th, 2021 at 5:22 pm
Squad is built mostly on free agents
November 16th, 2021 at 5:26 pm
Is Brady healthy?
He hid a bad knee all last year.
November 16th, 2021 at 6:57 pm
DestinJohnny … No question that we have a lot of (high-priced) FAs, but we also have quite a bit of home-grown talent too. Unfortunately most of our FA acquisitions are now over-30 and are on their last-year contracts, and most will probably need to be replaced next year. TB12 may very well decide that at age 45 he has no desire to go through a 2-3 year rebuilding (wouldn’t blame him one bit).
Replacing the ‘old-timers’ with comparable talent will be hard enough, but look at our first-term guys who’ll be FAs & looking for a decent second contract:
1 – Godwin
2 – Davis
3 – Whitehead
4 – Cappa
5 – RoJo
6 – OJ
Now look at the FAs (previously signed) who’ll have to be re-signed or replaced:
Defense – JPP, Suh, Gholston as starters plus another 8 backups (like McLendon, Minter, etc). That’s 13 guys total of our 25 defenders who we’ll have to replace or re-sign (5 of those starters).
Offense – Jensen, Gronk, Fournette, AB as starters plus another 7 backups (like Gabbert, Gio, etc). That’s 15 guys total of our 25 offensive players who we’ll have to replace or re-sign (either 6 or 7 starters depending on you count WRs & TEs).
The problem would certainly be compounded if TB12 decides to retire. Replacing that many starters & reserves isn’t a 1-year adventure in any event. I even wonder if BA would stick around as HC as the Bucs go through that (personally doubt it).
November 16th, 2021 at 7:01 pm
Joe its time to get rid of your overused adjectives!
November 16th, 2021 at 7:21 pm
Defense Rules. So long as Brady is returning there will not be any rebuild. Its likely we are going to lose some players but we will keep the key players we need. They will just have to push some money back a year. Not a biggy.
Whenever Brady leaves I do see us letting a lot of the older players go. Use a younger roster to clear the CAP. And then go out make a big move at QB(unless we hit on a rookie or something)……..Sorta like what the Saints are doing this year. Dont be surpized if they have more money next year and make a move for a premier QB.
November 16th, 2021 at 8:15 pm
Whatever happens in next few years with this team will be much easier to deal with as a fan considering we got SB win # 2.
November 16th, 2021 at 9:58 pm
OK, but take all those guys listed, who are over 30… and now give us back our 20-something corners, and now the team is 8-1.
Licht deserves some credit here, the roster is built to absorb injuries of those 30+ year old guys, what it can’t do is absorb all the injuries at corner. If we get anything close to decent corner play on Sunday, the Bucs win. If we get decent corner play @NO, I think the Bucs win that also.
November 16th, 2021 at 10:13 pm
I learned long ago, never count out JPP.
November 17th, 2021 at 2:51 am
you guys are freaking out too quickly…
as long as brady stays things will be ok…free agents will come in on the cheap as older guys depart…
beware when brady leaves…BA will then go too…
and trask will be out stop gap qb for about 2 years while we flounder at like say 7-10 and the excuse during those couple of years will be “because brady is gone” – and that will be ok for those couple years – then the glazers, (having learned their lessons), will sign another big time veteran qb and ruling the league shall begin again…
they will not let there be a 10 year collapse like from approx 2010 to 2020 again…we are now sort of america’s team with brady, so they hopefully only let there be a post brady lull of about 2 years before starting to roll again…
trask is a post brady stop gapper, unless he pans out and does so well that he becomes that franchise qb…
but pretty much bank on him as a 2 year stop gap guy before we bring in another veteran stud qb…
a blow out vs the giants at home will cool all this negative energy by tuesday morning…but a loss to the giants and we’re in deep doo
November 17th, 2021 at 2:51 am
trask will be our***