Byron Leftwich Agrees With Tom Brady Claim Of Poor Effort By Teammates
November 10th, 2022
Comes clean on loafing.
A rare newsy thing to come out of Tom Brady’s saccharine, ChapStick podcast with nauseating Jim Gray came Monday when Brady said his teammates’ effort has been “embarrassing.”
In other words, the effort isn’t always there.
For Joe, this is an unforgivable sin. And for a team-first guy like Brady to mention this on a podcast (Brady knows very well what’s coming out of his mouth), is damning.
Today, failing Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was asked about Brady’s “effort” comments. Leftwich confirmed it is an issue — while Todd Bowles yesterday praised the Bucs’ consistent effort.
(Props to Leftwich for admitting this. Usually his press conferences are about 98 percent jibberish and misdirection to the point Joe won’t waste time with them live.)
Leftwich was asked if he’s been “witnessing” embarrassing effort like Brady referenced Monday on his Let’s Go! podcast.
“It hasn’t been every down,” Leftwich replied. “We’ve had downs where we can be better from an effort standpoint. It’s been addressed and I think we can get better. And that’s what I mean about ‘what we can fix.’ I think we can fix all the things that’s been in our way throughout the year. Obviously, it’s been a tough beginning of the year; a lot of things has been going on. So as I think we’re beginning to settle down, we’re getting more into football mode, more aware of what we need to do.
“We can’t be talking effort. We can’t be talking effort from really anybody, especially this time of year.”
How can you loaf on Tom Brady? This is unimaginable to Joe and unconscionable.
You know what this tells Joe? It tells Joe that Shaun King, one of only four quarterbacks to lead the Bucs to an NFC Championship game, was spot on when he said recently the Bucs play like a bunch of guys who got paid. And King isn’t the only one.
If you loaf for Brady, you sure as hell are going to take off plays for Kyle Trask o any other quarterback.
That kind of attitude infects the locker room. The Bucs know who is dragging ass. And Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht needs to rid the locker room of these cancers in the offseason, unless they have a damn intense change of attitude.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
And one of the notorious ones has a C on his jersey.
Makes you think.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
inexcuseable but sadly a staple of the Bucs identity. There are no enforcers on this squad like JPP, Suh and Jensen. Coaches talk about it but dont do anything. I would have benched Devin White just to make a point. No pride on this team
November 10th, 2022 at 2:07 pm
Nobody should be surprised, Sapp exposed one player pretty clearly……
What I don´t like is when players in this case Brady, says it in a podcast or in the media….Those things should be held in the locker room, privately….
And if necessary kick him or them out of the team!!!!!
Effort is not negotiable!!!!!Inexcusable!!!! But privately not publicly, and worst on his own podcast……….
November 10th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
Loafing is the worst thing for any professional athelete.
I remember Joe Maddon firing a free agent infelder for not runnuni it out to first base.
He was warned once but but never told twice.
Bowles is a wuss. No coaching changes in a bloated losing staff. No players punished.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:09 pm
If the players give no effort, then why should us fans?
November 10th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
ZZ Buc. you are correct. Private is best. But the Bucs are clear offenders on Game day for all the world to see. Yet coaches do nothing.
Brady had to go public.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
Burn the Wich, at the stake!
November 10th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
@Biff Barker.
I get your point, maybe you are right….
If I am his teammate I am not sure if I could trust him in the future after saying that……
And this is not the first time he says something like this, some weeks ago he said something about Hainsey, not as strong about effort, if he has something to say the locker room or during a meeting, not on his own podcast…..
November 10th, 2022 at 2:23 pm
I shannot argue with Brady.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
@ZZbucs. F that call them out.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
So…
Brady says it’s effort.
Leftwich says it’s effort.
Bowles says it’s not effort.
I wonder why…..either Bowles doesn’t see it or he has to deny it because a lack of effort is on the head coach.
If I had to name names….it’s on the veterans……D Smith, S. Mason, Lenny…..
November 10th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Wow..kinda like being bored on Defense I guess.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
I like the in public addressing of it. Who knows maybe it’s been addressed in private and it didn’t change so now they’re doing it publicly. BA called Brady out publicly so you’re telling me these other guys shouldn’t be called out publicly. GTFOH
No names have been mentioned other than White who Sapp called out and did you see him loafing during the last game? I didn’t or if he did it wasn’t as blatant. We need a Sapp type in the locker room many have mentioned that JPP and Suh weren’t getting it done on the field last year I don’t agree with the Suh part but their attitude and mindset in the locker room is 100% missed.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:34 pm
Brady rarely calls out people in public. The key is he didn’t say “they.” He used words like “we” and “us.” It’s different from when Rodgers was directly calling out his teammates. I’m sure he’s been saying stuff privately. He’s an intense guy and a leader of the team. Donovan Smith and Lenny seem like the biggest subjects of effort in my opinion. Donnie is reverting back to his Winston. Tom wants to nip it in the bed.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Funny, effort was rarely an issue with Arians… He didn’t have a problem chewing a guys ass out.
Todd Bowles may have a different standard for what constitutes good effort, which would be disastrous if he returns as HC next year (which I expect).
November 10th, 2022 at 2:41 pm
They are speaking directly to the LT. He is one of the laziest players on the team. Rewatch the film. He is standing around doing nothing. Jensen played to the echo of the whistle. The LT plays to the sound of his man beating him. Then it… oh well.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:43 pm
This comment is directed toward the offense, and specifically at Donovan Smith. Brady is simply confronting the brutal facts, and shame on all at One Bucs Place for making Brady admit this in public when there are 52 other players, including Donnie himself, on the team that can make this admission. Great leadership doesn’t guarantee success, but it certainly makes it more likely. Brady can only do so much. Every leader needs followers, after all.
Despite my hatred for the Saints, we need a Roaf, not a loaf!
November 10th, 2022 at 2:44 pm
You’re like the uncle I never had, Urk! Excellent analysis.
November 10th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
Playoff Lenny, Lombardi Lenny, who gives a sh!t. More like Lamenting Lenny!
November 10th, 2022 at 3:03 pm
I agree with David54 and the others that were pointed out but let’s not forget the pity party Mr. Lenny.. Mr. Twinkle Toes
November 10th, 2022 at 3:05 pm
On paper, the Bucs have a great roster…But then you watch the tape.
November 10th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
All this EFFORT talk comes down to 1 thing: This Bucs team desperately misses Ryan Jensen. He wouldn’t put up with this bullspit.
November 10th, 2022 at 3:20 pm
Lots of ways to motivate…won’t matter much (to most fans and players) if it works. Go Bucs!
November 10th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
There could be several different reasons why guys aren’t giving their all. Lack of faith in the coaches. Not respecting the coaches authority. Not believing in your teammates. Not believing you can win. IMO it’s the second one. Most coaches with clout, would simply bench your ass, and you may never see the field again. The guys that are loafing apparently don’t fear for their jobs.
November 10th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
Loafing or lack of effort is the WORST thing you can do in any profession.
November 10th, 2022 at 3:41 pm
We need someone on the sidelines to jump in their arses as they come off the field. As a group, or individually, their arses need to be jumped. You know, more BA, less Stoic Cadaver…..
November 10th, 2022 at 3:42 pm
Grady only watches the offense play up close, so there aren’t that many players he could be talking about
November 10th, 2022 at 3:43 pm
mutter mutter Brady
November 10th, 2022 at 3:59 pm
This is why we need Bruce back in the locker room n on the field. To whip some azz
November 10th, 2022 at 4:09 pm
The players only meeting had no affect. That was the attempt to keep it private. They deserve to be called out publicly. They have don’t mind embarrassing themselves on national tv, so why should they care?
November 10th, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Translation: Leftwich had no clue, until Brady mentioned it.
November 10th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Suggestion: have Brady attend coach’s meetings with suggestions, and coaches take notes.
November 10th, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Like Joe said, how can you loaf on Brady?!
November 10th, 2022 at 5:16 pm
I think that there would be a lot less loafing if zero loot were guaranteed to the players. I don’t blame the players one bit for wanting guarantees, but the owners were idiots to allow it in the first place.
Unless we have a comeback season for the ages, there has got to be wholesale changes made in the offseason. If we end up with a losing record and Bowles is retained I will just about lose what’s left of my mind.
November 10th, 2022 at 5:34 pm
Devin White isn’t the lone culprit but the most noticeable one.
November 10th, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Not trusting the greatest QB of all time? That’s F’ing hilarious. There’s a reason he’s the greatest, its because he holds himself and others accountable, and if you don’t like being called out then you should maybe do your F’ing job.
November 10th, 2022 at 6:26 pm
I think that’s the most intelligent, rational, coherent, and cogent response I’ve heard from Coach Leftwich.
Now, how to fix it?
November 10th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
Call me a homer, but this group is still dangerous if they get their act together. The Rams are a mess. I don’t believe in Dallas, the Giants, Vikings or 9ers. The eagles look like the clear cut favorite. But, hurts hasn’t proven anything yet. I’ve said it before. Brady will have the ball in his hands (down or tied) with a chance to go to the NFC title game. Go Bucs!!!!
November 10th, 2022 at 8:57 pm
test
November 10th, 2022 at 8:58 pm
they checked out on the leadership…its not hard to figure it out.
That win last week was just saving grace and pride amongst brothers….
But believe me, they have checked out on this coaching staff….and until things change, and I dont expect they will, dont expect any miracles.
The losers in charge are to blame!!!
November 10th, 2022 at 9:05 pm
If the losers in charge want to bend, then we might have a chance….otherwise, its rebuild season and it started early…
Will Anderson
Bo Nix
November 10th, 2022 at 9:26 pm
Leftwaste or Eggplant?
Bucs should choose Eggplant.
November 10th, 2022 at 11:38 pm
Our staff is complete garbage.
Bring BA and his golf cart back at least during the week.
These guys are amatuers.
Embarrassing.
November 11th, 2022 at 12:09 am
Donovan smith… devin white…. Carlton Davis….Mike Edwards…Lenny… your Loafers ladies and gentlemen. Multiple times in multiple games
November 11th, 2022 at 1:36 am
anything that steers the blame away from OC, the OC will expound upon…
#Simple
November 11th, 2022 at 2:35 am
Fixing a loafing problem is the responsibility of the head coach and the coordinators. It should not be happening at all.
November 11th, 2022 at 9:22 am
Yeah but why is the effort low?
My guess is it’s because deep down a lot of these guys are depressed playing for a coaching group they have no confidence in. It’s creamsicle mentality all over again.
November 11th, 2022 at 4:45 pm
I agree, Homer.
November 12th, 2022 at 12:27 am
I thought the second half of the Chiefs game would wake the Bucs up. So, EFFORT (players/coaches alike), and also INJURIES have been thorns in the Bucs’ side all season so far, right? Well, those last :44 seconds showed how the offense should be run (3 wide up tempo, with Rashad n Otton), and on defense (a healthy Hicks,more playing time for #59)….. hopefully 🤔 this recipe will save the Bucs’ season and beyond