“Major Exodus” Coming For Bucs?
January 30th, 2022
Fresh report on Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
This doesn’t seem unlikely at all.
Still, this story seems more speculation with one hole in it.
Joe knows Aaron Wilson, formerly of the Houston Chronicle. He’s one of the hardest working reporters Joe knows and his sources are excellent. So Joe doesn’t think this story is BS unless Wilson is totally getting played. And he’s been around the block enough to know if he is getting played or not.
Typing for the Pro Football Network, Wilson claims a source told him that a “major exodus” is going to happen with the Bucs, both on the roster and the coaching staff. Then, Wilson’s source told him the following, which raises an eyebrow with Joe: Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians has informed his entire coaching staff they have permission to seek jobs around the league regardless of whether it’s a promotion, according to sources.
When did Arians tell his staff this? Before BSPN reported Brady was retiring or after?
Joe assumes Brady would have texted Arians his decision. Then again, in the week leading up to the Rams playoff game, Arians said he “would be shocked” if Brady retired.
Joe does know Arians has said multiple times that having to train a new coaching staff would be a huge reason, along with his health, that he would be chased back into retirement.
In fact, Arians said a major reason he took the job with the Bucs was that he could get “the band back together” again.
Wilson also reports that other teams have been nosing around various Arians’ assistants in recent days.
The Last Touchdown pass of Tom Brady’s career pic.twitter.com/aMMXAotUBp
— Football Is Life (@FootbaIl_Tweets) January 29, 2022
January 30th, 2022 at 5:00 am
We should be playing tomorrow.
January 30th, 2022 at 5:06 am
It’s probably time for Arians to retire also. Promote the best coordinator to head coach, mainly for consistency. I really have no preference to which one. I defer to Joe on that decision. Regroup and rebuild. Go Bucs!
January 30th, 2022 at 5:14 am
It’s shaping up to be an exciting 2022 season. Well, at least until Halloween time anyways…
January 30th, 2022 at 6:13 am
No matter what happens I still like our roster better than any other in the NFCS, and I believe in Licht. Winning the division is still possible. We have young talent to build a competitive team around. Dump Gabbert and roll with Trask. Let’s find out what we’ve got. Godwin is a priority. This is hardly the worst situation this team has been in.
January 30th, 2022 at 6:28 am
I’m not worried about the player talent next year if we can keep Jensen, Godwin and Davis. Suh might be worth coming back if he can be had below market value. Lenny would be nice but not necesary. JPP your Buc’s career will always be remebered well, but you gotta go. The rest of our free agents should be easy to retain, at least the ones we want, but a deep purge of the coaching staff is concerning if Licht isn’t already working magic behind closed doors. I don’t think Bowles has the ability to delegate and run an entire team effectively, as he has previously shown, and I just don’t drink enough of BA’s kool-aid to think Leftwich is even close to being ready to be a head coach.
January 30th, 2022 at 6:32 am
I submit the Glazers enjoyed their new-found NFL relevancy after the last two years and are not going to give it up without a battle royale.
In other words, their nuts have dropped. Jason Licht’s too. He has been an outstanding GM and is not devoid of his OWN fire-in-the-belly intestinal fortitude. They can collectively take whatever comes their way, now, and finesse another Super Bowl run and win…against all odds.
I like the notion of being the underdog again.
The “old Bucs” and their losing ways have been exorcised from the building as Rick Stroud should be). In my perfect world you’d have Bowles or Leftwich ascend to head coach…as Arians assumes the role of Bucs President.
And here’s a curveball. What if Brady comes back as a minor Bucs team owner in the franchise?
Heck, as part of the deal he could become quarterbacks coach or, dare I say, offensive coordinator?
That last part likely won’t occur, but give me a break…my fantasies have pivoted as I’ve gotten older.
Anyway, what is football all about if not entertainment?
We enjoyed a GREAT run and it’s not over, only different.
Thanks for the awesome memories Tom Brady.
I ai ll forever cherish my #12 Bucs jersey.
Sing me,
Grateful, Enthused Bucs Fan
January 30th, 2022 at 6:33 am
The roster is in better shape now than it ever was in the decade of Rah, Schiano, Lovie and Koetter. The only way there is a major exodus of players is if the Glazers tell Licht not to re-sign any free agent and why would they do that, save coin, it does not make sense? The national media is writing like the Bucs without Brady have a roster like the Jets or Lions…..
January 30th, 2022 at 6:34 am
Sorry for the typos at the end. Time for coffee.
January 30th, 2022 at 6:34 am
Only way to hold this together is hiring Josh McDaniel as head coach and moving BA to consultant role.
January 30th, 2022 at 6:35 am
FortMeyersDave,
+1
January 30th, 2022 at 6:36 am
Great post Todd, well said, maybe just maybe Brady has exorcised the losing mentality from One Buc permanently and the basement of the NFC South will now be anchored in Carolina or the ATL or even New Orleans as Payton has decided to step back and do a Rural Meyer “short term retirement” while he waits for the Dallas job to open….
January 30th, 2022 at 6:40 am
TDTB…idea!
To answer the question, “Was it Brady or Belichick?” … the Glazers talk the coaching staffs to a 2-year swap! Arians gets free snow shoveling thrown in.
What’s not to like about that experiment?!
Haha
January 30th, 2022 at 6:56 am
I’ve come to expect that terrible news, if true, like this will be delivered on Monday mornings Joe, not Sundays.
IF BA told his staff that (OK to start seeking other jobs), that’d mean (1) he’s not staying in any capacity; (2) neither Todd Bowles nor Byron Leftwich is being promoted to head coach. No way BA would undercut those two like that.
And it’s also terrible news because 9 other teams were seeking new HC’s this year. We just became the 10th. And worst of all, we’re very late to the party. Numerous reports for instance have said that Josh McDaniels for instance has already accepted the Raiders job (and is bringing his own GM with him … like Gruden did). Bucs will end up getting sloppy tenths IF we’re not promoting TB or BL, and that’s not a good thing. Not good at all.
And to top that, we NEED quite a bit of new talent. We’ve got a LOT of very good young players, but we’ve also got a LOT of holes in our starting lineups. But don’t despair, we don’t have nearly enough salary CAP to fix those, so there’s that.
Yup, shoulda held this for Monday morning Joe.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:21 am
When I studied journalism in college and I wrote for a living, anonymous sources were forbidden and something the ENQUIRER did. Now they’re in every story. I’m tired of “sources” and “sources” bring wrong.
January 30th, 2022 at 7:23 am
gronk is at a local hootenanny today, and he’s invited his homie tommy b…
so any announcements are gonna have to wait…
as the media force feeds jam sammiches to all with gullible ears before today’s games
January 30th, 2022 at 7:29 am
Defense Rules,
I usually always track with your insights but this assertion has me questioning how you arrive at this conclusion:
(2) neither Todd Bowles nor Byron Leftwich is being promoted to head coach. No way BA would undercut those two like that.
That’ll illogical considering the facts. There’s no “quit” in BA, nor his staff. What you outline is an Eeyore view of the landscape. If BA retires are assumes a different role, TB or BL will become our new head coach. Likely TB at this point. But, Jacksonville is going to Jacksonville…so I think it’s likely they screw up acquiring BL. So one of the two becomes HC.
“If” BA gave that blessing, it’s to do whatever he can to operationalize BL’s success at J’ville if he gets the nod. That’s it. Optics.
So I submit that Eeyore continues to hang with Pigpen in their mom’s basement watching re-runs of the Lions’ 2021 season. Tampa Bay is going to be just fine. Jason Licht is five steps ahead of everyone. He likely already has Jameis signed to lead our future.
That last sentence was in jest. Wink-emoji goes here.
Anyway, I don’t comment much but read all your posts. Really love your football mind and analysis. On point number two, though…I’m with Winnie…forever the optimist.
“There’s some honey in there somewhere Eeyore!”
Cheers.
Hashtag “WeShouldBePlayingTodayDamnIt”
January 30th, 2022 at 7:44 am
heres what i think tom should do…
nice and ballzy too…
he should do a live “tommy and gronky” feed regarding his retirement…because gronky goes as tommy goes…remember he said tom is his only quarterback…
they should get an oversized coin like many of us had as kids…
go in front of ray jay – and on the live show, flip the coin for the answer…
gronk does the coin flip…tommy makes the call…
heads they play, tails they retire…
simple as that…
live and for the world to see…
do it live on national tv….like lebron and his interview…
do it lightheartedly too…
whatever happens happens
January 30th, 2022 at 7:48 am
Thanks Todd Bowels
January 30th, 2022 at 7:58 am
Coaching was the reason why we lost
January 30th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Adam, I dig that suggestion!
Pre-promote the coin flip and make it an hour-long event with 50% being commercials for Tommy & Gronk to exploit for their own benefit!
Just one ask.
Make it a two-headed coin and it becomes “heads we stay with the Bucs!”
Even that can be part of the schtick…giving Brady back the control he demands on determining his future. “Up yours media leakers. Check mate!”
Love it!
January 30th, 2022 at 8:08 am
This feels like having a really really great dream and then being abruptly shaken awake to sucky real life.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:15 am
If Brady and the coaching staff all leaves. This team is screwed for another decade. Does anyone remember all the crap coaches since John Gruden left until we got BA. Who the hell wants to go through that again. For all you people on here that think all these FA are going to want to play here when Tom leaves and BA leaves yea good luck with that. A lot of these guys are not going to waste the end of their careers on a complete re build. This roster will be gutted and anyone worth anything will probably be traded.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:17 am
joe, any idea who we should draft with the first overall pick in 2023? Can you do a deep dive on qb prospects?
January 30th, 2022 at 8:18 am
I know it hurts to have it all blown up after enjoying a SB win and a home trip to the divisional playoff game….
But at least we won a SB & had a trip to a home divisional playoff game.
In past years got blown up with nothing to show for it.
It’s a Buc’s Life
January 30th, 2022 at 8:25 am
Not buying this story Joe. First off the coaches like the players are under contract with the club, not Arains. So Arains doesn’t have the power to give that permission, only Licht, and the Glazers do. Why would Licht, or the Glazers let coaching assets leave for anything other than a step up? Calling this report BS.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:27 am
Adam: for the coin flip: heads TB and Gronk stay, tails they do not go!
January 30th, 2022 at 8:43 am
what about tom in creamsicle this year…???
#WeNeedTommyInOrange
January 30th, 2022 at 8:49 am
And just like that. Bowles snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. All up in smoke. In only 40 seconds. The choke that will live in Buc History.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:14 am
So sick and tired of the internet and “journalists” throwing are BS speculative stories all the time.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:19 am
If arians plans to come back why would he torpedo his chances like this and make it harder. That’s just stupid and shame on them if they didn’t plan for life after Brady. These reports from people who never have the scoop on the Bucs ever just aren’t credible
January 30th, 2022 at 9:22 am
Like others, I’m not sure if I trust this report, either. However, if a partial rebuild (ie: No big QB signing & we run with Trask) is coming then, why have Arians stay just one more year? Promote one of the coordinators and/or hunt for a head coach now, Unless Bowles (probably not BL) was always the HC in waiting.
From what I understand, Bienemy is not being interviewed for a HCing position, likely because he did something stupid 20 years ago?! Him leading the offense & Bowles leading the defense (save for an occasional ego-enduced idiotic call), seems a good start to a formidable coaching staff.
January 30th, 2022 at 9:27 am
For you slogan lovers out there: “Save the Licht House”
January 30th, 2022 at 9:27 am
Yep!
Going to have to make up for keeping the band together last season.
Still need explosive players on offense.
The UM keeeker , Scot Brantley, will earn the roster spot.
Watch the explosive offensive players today to understand what we are lacking
January 30th, 2022 at 9:36 am
Sean Payton will come to coach the Bucs & bring “America’s Quarterback” with him…..problem solved……well, at least one problem.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:00 am
Bienemy’s former thug life will prevent him from any HC position. But not OC.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:04 am
BA & Bowles turned a newfound winning franchise into a losing one again at the blink of an eye. Brady’s MO is everyone do your job as best as you can and you win. BA, BL & especially Bowles were not prepared for the Rams game, they went on cruise control. The lackadaisical attitude this season ruined everything brought to the table last season.Where the head goes the arse follows and I believe the Brady influence wore off on some of these young players and with no support from BA, Brady said f this.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:15 am
**********BRADY DOESNT WANT TO RETIRE…..He doesn’t like BA..and he knows he can’t coac If Atians leaves…its cause Brady wants him gone……and I would love it. BA is too old school..throws players under the bus IN FRONT OF THE MEDIA…( Brady)..hits players in the head… ( he hit Jensen to)…..and hired a very inept coaching staff…….Bowles is descent as A DC..but couldn’t get the sanctuary right…….
Leftwich is out tgere calling madden plays…super predictable…has no clue what he’s doing.
Brady came from the Pats…Pat’s… most organized team in the league….Brady doesn’t like BA…..PMEASE LET HIM BE GONE!!
January 30th, 2022 at 10:42 am
Arians doesn’t have the authority to release coaches from their contracts.
BS story.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:59 am
The exodus is coming if TB12 retires…
January 30th, 2022 at 11:00 am
Pewter Power Says:
January 30th, 2022 at 9:19 am
If arians plans to come back why would he torpedo his chances like this and make it harder. That’s just stupid and shame on them if they didn’t plan for life after Brady. These reports from people who never have the scoop on the Bucs ever just aren’t credible
—————————–
Bucs may have had long-term plans after Brady (why do think they drafted Trask?) but now they are being forced to speed those plans up. And Trask may not be ready yet.
As recent as September, Brady was talking about playing for “years.” There was even talk of another contract extension. And then suddenly by November that talk cooled off very rapidly. Dont know if something happened internally in the organization or maybe his wife just decided to make an ultimatum.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:02 am
Is this going to turn into another epic debacle of Buccaneer proportions? I’m starting to have a bad feeling about this.
January 30th, 2022 at 11:07 am
If TB12 is retiring there will be a major exodus from One Buc… We already know and understand this scenario. We should go with a youth movement and rebuild.
Gronk, Jenson, Suh, JPP would be gone for sure.
I would attempt to re-sign Godwin, Davis, Whitehead, Cappa, Stinnie, Wells and Fournette (if he is cheap).
Gholston is the only older player I would keep because he is cheap and we can’t replace him very easily. We are already losing two interior D-lineman (Suh and McLendon).
Bring back Gabbart and have him compete with Trask at QB.
Draft WR, RB, TE, IDL, LB, OL (depth)
January 30th, 2022 at 11:45 am
Bracing myself for another 20 years of crappy football. They dont know how to be contenders on a yearly basis. Never have
January 30th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
As I said before… If a team like Detroit would draft a QB and trade Goff to us at a reasonable price, we could let Goff and Trask fight it out. Goff has more natural talent, and Trask has had a year in the system. It could be a good battle. Hopefully we get some comp picks for the guys we lose in FA, and within a year or two, in a weak division, could be in the playoffs again.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:19 pm
Todd … Love the Eeyore analogy. I’m sith Winnie too BTW.
I question the report from unnamed sources that ‘Bruce Arians has informed his entire coaching staff they have permission to seek jobs around the league regardless of whether it’s a promotion’. Since BA is so close to his staff (from all reports) I can only conclude that IF that report is true, he’s decided to move on & that no one from his staff will be moving up to replace him.
BUT … I think that ‘report from unnamed sources’ is bogus. Various reports I’ve read over the last week or so make it sound like BL to Jax is a done deal. BA MAY stay for 1 more year (and call plays too?) OR Todd Bowles MAY move up to HC. Or something else MAY happen. It’s ALL pure speculation at this point. It is a fun game though.
And for all those who continue to blame Todd Bowles for last Sunday’s loss based on that last play, relook at Warren Sapp’s analysis that Joe ran several days ago. The ONLY player who executed that play-call properly was Ndamukong Suh. And he came within a fraction of a second of making it work. Most of the rest looked like they were clueless. It wasn’t the play-call; it was the execution. But then again, Bucs had multiple opportunities PRIOR to that to win that game, but didn’t take advantage. Rams wanted it more.
January 30th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
“The roster is in better shape now than it ever was in the decade of Rah, Schiano, Lovie and Koetter. The only way there is a major exodus of players is if the Glazers tell Licht not to re-sign any free agent and why would they do that, save coin, it does not make sense? The national media is writing like the Bucs without Brady have a roster like the Jets or Lions”
Exactly. Brady came here because of the roster and Arians. Plenty of money available if Brady and Gronk leave to sign Godwin and Jensen and maybe even Davis
January 30th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
Who the hell is Pro Football Network? I’ve never heard of them. Why would they have this amazing inside scoop?
This is all speculation.
We all know if Brady retires, then yes, you’re going to have massive changes — unless they’re going to get someone like Watson or Rodgers or Wilson, which will take some salary cap wizardry.
But if Brady retires the thing you most likely do, that makes the most sense, is to just blow up the team, take your cap hell year now, have Trask as your QB and try to get the #1 pick. Then in 2 years, you got a much younger roster and your cap is clean.
In any case we saw the formula of how to do things. Build/keep your massive offensive line, have at least 3 starting NFL WRs, and you can attract veteran/superstar QBs who want to play for you. Stop playing the lottery with QBs, just go get a vet that is proven and have a team around them that is ready to win instead of playing young QBs where it takes 4-5 years to know if you got something.
January 30th, 2022 at 2:01 pm
I’ve read two stories regarding Brady’s contract.. One is that he gets 15Mil if he’s still on the team feb 4th.. Another article stated that Feb 18th is an important contract date giving Brady 7.9mil if he’s still on the team then .
I do not know if either story is accurate–but it will be interesting to see WHEN Brady announces his decision..
January 30th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Posey
TB came here because Lynch was obligated and wouldn’t pull the trigger.
Tampa was a plan B. The greatness of Brady won us a SB, that and you see how KC losing OLinemen can effect a team.
January 30th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
captivajim – Brady isn’t going to take some money he’s not earned then retire just to pocket a few (million) dollars. His entire career he’s been a guy who plays for under market value, and I hardly think his last act would be a money grab and then retirement.
But Brady will make an announcement no later than a day or two after the SB — although maybe that is pushed up to this week, to get it over during the bye week before the SB.
Also I don’t know the timing, but Brady signed a reworked deal last year where he got $40-million up front, and is only on the books this year for $10m, then he’s on the books after that until 2025 because of the use of void years, at I believe around $8m/year. That’s the price we paid to keep the team together last offseason, and it’s a deal I was great with at the time and I still think was a great deal.
January 30th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Rod -u kno more than I about the contract details. I thought they reworked it in order to resign the same 22 guys for this yr -which I thought was a way of pushing some of Brady’s value out to stay under the cap for last yr . so is this really just delayed payment of value he was acknowledged to have earned before??
But ,I agree , Brady has never been all bout the money. Thats why even for yrs in New England–he accpted less than market value in order for the team to be in a position to acquire top players
January 30th, 2022 at 6:18 pm
Jensen, whitehead, Davis, Suh, Gronk, Cappa, Stinnie, Godwin… There are a whole lot of players that might bolt if the coaching staff is getting gutted and Arians is retiring and they have no quarterback.
So much for the culture being changed
January 30th, 2022 at 7:16 pm
“Brady isn’t going to take some money he’s not earned then retire just to pocket a few (million) dollars.”
He did earn it. It’s his signing bonus. He earned it when he signed the contract.
January 30th, 2022 at 8:26 pm
If it’s Bruce then go get Brian Flores. I’ve seen enough.
January 30th, 2022 at 10:08 pm
Loving the fan fic. Especially, the one where Brady becomes a minority owner, lol
January 31st, 2022 at 10:27 am
I don’t believe anything until it comes from the horse’s mouth.
January 31st, 2022 at 1:05 pm
I love the double-negative to start the story…..but not the story.
Is Joe looking for “filler” for his site?
Maybe Joe wants to go all “Skip Bayless” with a ridiculous take?
Heck, I’m not sure…….but……just doesn’t pass my smell test.
Howie