“They’re Not Prima Donnas”
August 17th, 2022
Bucs safeties Antoine Winfield (left) and Logan Ryan, two of Todd Bowles’ roster of workhorses.
General manager Jason Licht has transformed the Buccaneers roster in many ways.
Years ago, Bucs coaches and general managers searched for the prototype “Buccaneer Man,” a favorite Greg Schiano phrase. Too often they got a “Browns Man” instead.
For whatever reason, some franchises are great at identifying and securing players who will work hard relentlessly, others are better at finding dudes with nasty edges, and still others are great with talent but find a lot of neck-up failures that can ball.
Head coach Todd Bowles was talking to NFL.com about himself and his roster in a new feature and noted the Bucs don’t have guys who don’t take coaching and are vain and me-first rather than team first.
It’s part of why Bowles is so pumped to have the Tampa Bay job.
“What’s there not to be happy about?” he asked. “I’m in warm weather. I’ve got good veteran leadership. We’ve got a lot of continuity and they work. They’re not prima donnas. That’s the biggest thing.”
Joe will add that it’s definitely “the biggest thing” when you have an elite quarterback.
NFL reality says about 12 teams are set at QB and are damn happy about it. The rest? Well, they’ve got problems now matter how loaded they are with team-first players.
Joe credits Licht for finding a tremendous percentage of committed players. Licht and his staff have come a long, long way after drafting Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Vernon Hargreaves and signing guys like Chris Baker and DeSean Jackson in free agency, among others.
It’s what give Joe great hope for this season, as well as for when the Tom Brady era concludes.
August 17th, 2022 at 7:19 pm
I, too, have great hope at this time.
August 17th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Very impressive interview with Logan Ryan on the Bucs YouTube channel
August 17th, 2022 at 7:35 pm
True Joe! Ryan and Winfield are vital to our DBs holding it together. Very smart football minds!
August 17th, 2022 at 7:35 pm
We are loaded with high-character talented young players….the list is too long…but just look at this draft class to get a good idea of what we have….
If somehow, someway Trask turns out to be a winner…we are set…if not, all that talent will perhaps be squandered……
Like him or not….you’ve got to root for Kyle to succeed.
August 17th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
Lol Joe!! “Too often they got a Browns Man”. Classic line as usual Joe! You are awesome
August 17th, 2022 at 7:41 pm
With that being said, Gholston is a true “Buccaneer Man”, does all the dirty work for us! The only good thing left from the Schiano Era
August 17th, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Those guys were Lovie guys….
August 17th, 2022 at 8:16 pm
Great point Joe about the excellent job Jason Licht and Co. are doing being the safety net heading into the post-Brady era.
This team is so loaded with talent that a bunch of our final cuts will quickly be claimed/signed by other teams. I bet at least 4 of our receivers that get cut won’t make it to the Bucs practice squad because they will get snatched up…..
Licht has been killing it on all fronts for awhile now. If that continues – Goat or no Goat – the Buccaneers will continue to be an upper echelon team and win a lot of games each year in 2023 and beyond.
This year (WITH the GOAT) is all that matters now though.
LFG!!
August 17th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
D White is the exception but he knows what to Say !!
Is what it is !! Get it or you don’t
Perhaps he is starting to get it but prob not , I’m Sorry L David !! Has to be frustrating !!!
August 17th, 2022 at 8:58 pm
What Licht has done is marvelous. Reason being is he’s not afraid to own up & move on from mistakes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a 1st round CB, 2nd round TE or lazy free agent DT.
To make the best decisions you 1st have own your mistakes & he’s ELITE @ doing just that.
August 17th, 2022 at 9:33 pm
The big beasts of the trenches, it’s all about them. Coach’em up and ride them hard.
August 18th, 2022 at 6:03 am
Damn straight Hargreaves was supposed to be our “top corner” when BA & Co.
Rolled into town and Vernon loafed and took plays off. Bruce Arians told the lockeroom if you don’t play for your team, you don’t play for the Bucs.
August 18th, 2022 at 6:40 am
Prima Donna = ABnormal
August 18th, 2022 at 6:56 am
The only player in recent memory that was a prima donna literally danced off the field like a ballerina should.. It was like something from a bad movie. Worlds of talent but the character of a septic tank. A leaky one.
August 18th, 2022 at 7:30 am
Seems like a lot of these guys are on 1yr deals. I applaud Licht as well. But as soon as Brady retires I am concerned the exodus will begin. And Wirfs? What happens when that dudes contract comes due? Without a top 5 qb its gonna be another difficult decade.
August 18th, 2022 at 8:53 am
Winfield is a superior tackler, Ryan will make him a better cover guy. Nice combo. As far as premadonas, I think quite a few of the players last season came out of the gate thinking they were premadonas, until reality set in.
August 18th, 2022 at 10:20 am
That’s what’s so refreshing when you see two premier WRs (Evans and Godwin) speak to the press in a humble, team-first manner. No preening, boasting about how great they are, etc. They are keenly aware that to win as a team, they are a part of a team effort. It doesn’t end with those two. It can be seen, heard and felt all through th roster. I use them as an example because elite WRs are typically the biggest divas on a team and ME and CG will have none of that. I could listen to them for hours on end.