Drama Sells But Does It Cause Losing?
August 27th, 2022
No drama means wins?
Talk to any sports radio programming director or suit working in the NFL, even the NFL suits on Park Avenue in Manhattan, and they will tell you drama sells.
This is well-documented, even Joe has the numbers to back that up. People, fans, despite what they may say, enjoy drama.
Of course, some react to the word “drama” like Yosemite Sam stepped in a bear trap set by Bugs Bunny.
Football without drama is, well, stats. Dry, cold and ungodly boring as a year-round passion.
So Kevin Skiver of Sporting News decided to type about the best and worst cases for each team this season. For the Bucs, Skiver believes no drama means wins.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best case: 2022 is devoid of Tom Brady dramaWhether NFL fans want to hear it or not, Tom Brady’s situation is a thing everywhere. The legend retired after last season, came back, and then vanished in the middle of training camp. New head coach Todd Bowles, who took over after Bruce Arians abruptly retired, has tried to assure everyone that everything is fine.
Any way you slice it, the Buccaneers’ offseason has been bizarre. Good teams generally are able to set egos aside, and the Buccaneers probably fall in that bucket. But the possibility of Brady retiring for good will hover over this team like a cloud. The season will feel like a farewell tour, and that can take a toll on a team that’s looking to win a Super Bowl.will feel like a farewell tour, and that can take a toll on a team that’s looking to win a Super Bowl.
Well, Joe will ask this: Did the Antonio Brown drama kill the Bucs chances of a Super Bowl or did Tristan Wirfs’ injury and/or lack of tackling by the defense against the Rams?
Probably it was Wirfs’ injury, but you can easily convince Joe lousy tackling was to blame. Whackjob Antonio Brown? His drama and topless jumping jacks didn’t hurt the Bucs. His quitting hurt the Bucs.
Once the season starts, the only drama surrounding Brady will be if he can lead the Bucs to the Super Bowl again. Pretty much everyone knows this is likely Brady’s last year in Tampa. Hell, his teammates already have an idea it is.
Joe isn’t sure what is dramatic about that.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:11 am
According to Booger, Bucs aren’t even the best team in the division… so let’s just take care of that first and worry about the rest later.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:19 am
Booger WHO?
August 27th, 2022 at 10:21 am
Lack of depth improvement in our secondary was our major downfall last year, do believe they’ve fixed that
August 27th, 2022 at 10:23 am
We getting an Ira podcast this week?
August 27th, 2022 at 10:24 am
Drama has nothing to do with wins. Drama has everything to do with Ratings.
Turnovers, Penalties, Execution, Injuries, Coaching affect wins.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:25 am
Drama does sell…..and, when it comes to the Media….controversy sells…….even manufactured controversy…..readers, viewers, listeners fall for it every time.
As far as Brady is concerned…..the less focus there is on 2023 the better…..I’m quite sure the players, coaches & Brady are laser focused on each individual game…..or we hope so.
We, on the other hand have the luxury to dwell on the great unknown….will he or won’t he play in 23……I’ll assume not until I hear differently.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:35 am
IMO it’s all relative. Drama absolutely jumps to the top of the page in the off season. What else is there? And certainly what is there that is exciting? OTA’s? LOL
But as the season wears on attention will slowly shift from drama to performance and great “team” stories. There will always be drama but I think the on field activity can hold it’s on once the season starts.
The deeper into the season the more performance on record, the more to debate and jump up and down about. Right now Tom Brady’s home life is high on the list. By mid October it will be soooo “yesterday’s news”.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:49 am
Everyone that hates on Brady is jealous of his life all around. Drama means media money for all these people that’s why only talk Brady and nothing else Bucs.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:53 am
Good summary, Joe. Exciting Bucs season in store.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:55 am
Starting 0-4 or even 1-3 could be more mentally damaging than statistically damaging and lead to a bleak remainder of the season.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:57 am
As far as I’m concerned, the only drama this year will how well the revamped o-line performs. Everything else seems pretty solid.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:57 am
If it does we are toast. Looking forward to tonights game to answer some issues.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:00 am
Joe… really liked how you differentiate between AB’s drama, which didn’t hurt us, and his quitting on the team, which obviously left us shorthanded. I think that clarifies the issue regarding drama vs. injury or absence in mind, body, or both, which hurts the player and the team.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:02 am
Tom just doesn’t understand that since fans pay his salary, fans are entitled to know why he can’t be at work–eventually, the entitlement is all the stars’.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:07 am
Ira is on an excused absence for ”personal reasons.”
This was scheduled before training camp, and the Joes already knew about it.
They are still in contact with Ira, and when he returns I’m sure his podcast will be as awesome as ever.
Right now we’re just focused on the Joes, and trying to get better as commenters each day.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:07 am
Reminds me of the 1985 Bears and all the “drama”, both on Offense and Defense, Ditka coaching, with contract issues, personalities, shenanigans, ect.. It didn’t seem to hurt them. BTW….I wonder how Arians would have handled Jim McMahon?
August 27th, 2022 at 11:08 am
lambeau… would be nice if all of them, including that Aclown AR in Green Bay felt that way.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:12 am
And I still say a JBF Commenters Podcast should be a thing. I’d listen to a conversation between Defense Rules, TBBF, and Rod Munch. Just saying. Lol.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:21 am
This is kinda where I miss BA pressers. He had a way of calling the media out for trying to make mountains out of mole hills. Bowles is just kinda taking it, although clearly aggravated by the nonsense. There’s no real drama imo. There’s been a lot of change but the franchise still seems very much focused on another SB. I think it’s going to be a great season.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:26 am
If the team is going to be affected by Brady’s absence, then who cares? They deserve to lose. It was a bad look, but the problem isn’t the esprit de corp of the entire team, it’s just getting on the same page as the receivers.
There are bigger problems facing this team, namely a Center who hasn’t always looked consistent or ready, and a LG who looks like practice squad material. The secondary problem is whether the front office is willing to spend money to fix it, as looking for castoffs is something I’d expect out of the Texans.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:43 am
Oh the sweet irony in that headline
August 27th, 2022 at 11:49 am
Yes the defense dropped the ball..play call both played a big factor in the bucs loss to the rams but I would say injuries was the killing blow to the super bowl last year.
Typically a killing blow for most teams. You can only overcome so many injuries.
We lost most the secondary through out the year.
Loss key cog in pressure in jpp.
Loss the whole wr room n had banged up Mike doing it all.
Would a healthy wire or ab playing would of help.
Yeah..
But ab was claiming hurt..wirf was done..gronk was banged up thanks to the dirty saints.
Just wasn’t our year the death wasn’t deep at certain spots.
Honestly the same could be said bout the current oline.
If people go down it’ll get super ugly on offense.
Sky is not falling but it’s pouring.
Not signing tretter n moving hainsey to gaurd is n will be a mistake.
We need to burn some draft picks if we plan to stay competitive in the trenches.
Look if we had a mobile qb i say wte let’s go..mobile qbs can move the pocket fast or go get some 1st downs off the legs but we are dealing with the goat drop back passer.
We gotta pay the price to be beefy..
I can see running it with hainsey at center but we should shop a beast at lg to help smith n hainsey.
Can’t start 2 rookie next to each other.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:53 am
Plenty of Drama will occur if The Bucs management doesn’t get its act together. Need to be signing some experienced better offensive lineman
August 27th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
The Bucs just had too many simultaneous injuries period. Our secondary looks more flexible and deeper this year. Our receiver depth looks improved. Our running back room looks improved.
LFG!!!!
August 27th, 2022 at 12:16 pm
How soon we forget all the drama during the last super bowl season. Going into the bye week things looked bad. Everybody was giving up on the Bucs, except for the Bucs themselves!!!
We all know how that story ended… Gronk tossing the Lambardi across the river!!!
LFG
August 27th, 2022 at 1:07 pm
Brady + tons of drama > no Brady + no drama
This team has the talent to win another Super Bowl.
All about health.
August 27th, 2022 at 1:21 pm
@Jason
That was brilliant my good sir. You one the internet today!
August 27th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Only question I have about the Rams game is, what happened to Tom Brady in the first 3 quarters?
I was impressed the D kept us in the game for as long as they did to be honest with you.
I think Brady retired because he felt responsible for losing us that game. As he should, considering he is the GOAT and all.
BA had to convince Brady it was not his fault to get him to unretire. SO, BA retired instead.
Just depends on your perspective of the ?ELEPHANT? in the room.
See what I did there?
August 27th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
@Infomeplease
It was Brady that tossed the trophy, not Gronk. BUT, great point!!!
August 27th, 2022 at 1:44 pm
You say drama, I say distractions. Every team deals with distraction differently. I have no doubt that the AB saga was a distraction. They handled it as well as could be expected. But, you can’t tell GOB that losing AB wasn’t a bit deflating. They had already lost Godwin. Some players probably felt it put the superbowl out of reach.
August 27th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Crack, I stand corrected!
August 27th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
Like I said ” How soon we forget”
August 27th, 2022 at 5:20 pm
Well, we lost all our last preseason games using our second team. It scares me, but we shall see. Interesting article, Joe.
August 27th, 2022 at 8:12 pm
Gotta disagree with you Joe. Pre-season drama fades real fast once the regular season starts. Nobody going to care that Brady took off a couple of weeks if they start the year 4-0. GOBUCS!