Keyshawn Johnson Smells A Team Glazer Ultimatum
January 24th, 2023
Buccaneers co-owner Bryan Glazer.
While the Buccaneers’ firing of offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich may have sat well with 97 percent of Bucs fans, a big national voice is in the corner of the minority.
Retired receiver Keyshawn Johnson, a member of the first Tampa Bay Super Bowl team, is now the morning star of ESPN Radio, in addition to his TV duties as an NFL analyst.
Johnson was on NFL Live last week expressing his skepticism of the Leftwich firing. He thinks the Bucs’ great success with the same offense and playcaller in 2020 and 2021 is evidence that Leftwich getting canned was a form of foul play by ownership and weakness by Todd Bowles.
“I don’t think it was needed and I don’t think it was necessary,” Johnson said of the Leftwich firing.
“… I’ve been close to the situation in Tampa because I played there. This is a repeat offender situation in Tampa, ultimatums being given to coaches all the way back to Coach Dungy, as far as Lovie Smith. And now we’re looking at it and we’re seeing Todd Bowles. That’s what it smells like to me.”
Johnson pointed to the Bucs having lots of injuries and change on offense before coming after Team Glazer.
“I know the ownership group down there. And this is not far from them to give coaches ultimatums,” he said. “And I’m disappointed in Todd Bowles, and I know everybody wants to say, ‘Well, what is he supposed to do?’ Certain times in certain situations you’re supposed to step on the table for your assistant coaches. Now, if there’s something going on in between Todd and Byron in particular, I don’t know. But I know coaches that I’ve been around will step on the table for their [assistant] coaches and take the bullet for them. And I don’t see that’s the case with Todd Bowles. So, yeah, I am disappointed.”
If Team Glazer was dropping ultimatums, Joe thinks that’s just fine. It’s their team. For example, “Hey Todd, Byron was bad this year and you didn’t know how to step in and fix it. So now you have to find a new coordinator who can.”
As for Johnson’s various baggage with Team Glazer, Joe can’t speak to that. Perhaps he’s mad that ownership disrespected the 2002 Super Bowl team and didn’t honor the 20th anniversary of their title.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:04 am
Keybron Johnson big baby pay him no mind at all he talks because he has lips
January 24th, 2023 at 12:11 am
Yeah Key.. you dropped the easy td pass against the Panthers that kick-started our demise. But u good
January 24th, 2023 at 12:14 am
Keyshawn SMELLS
January 24th, 2023 at 12:28 am
He’s always been a know-it-all prick and he always will be. It certainly didnt get better when he got a bigger audience.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:28 am
Keyshawn looks like he is ready to come back as a nose tackle. He’s almost as big as Vita Vea.
But, he’s right about one thing.
Toad Blowes. He is weak weak weak.
Do this experiment.
Pick a roster, and roster. Give it to our current Head Coach and see how it performs over a season.
Now give the same roster to a Head of Cabbage. See how it performs over the same season.
Even money the Head of Cabbage does better.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:32 am
a black head coach is supposed to go down b/c one of his assistants has to? it’s already hard getting that level of job, arians probably forced it anyway, his chances are slim from here. i dont want it as a fan, but if i were him, i’d hold on for as long as possible (if it’s job performance related for the assistant). thats a dumb hit for him to take in this business. come on key, make sense.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:42 am
Key is big enough now, he could compete with Vita Vea. On the scale, at least. He’s got to be pushing 360.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:45 am
Here’s an experiment. Give the current head coach a roster, any roster, and see how it performs over the course of a season. Now give the same roster to a head of broccoli during the same season and see how it performs.
Even money the broccoli does better.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:47 am
F……..k meshawn
January 24th, 2023 at 12:48 am
The glazers don’t get involved In firing a OC this was a Todd Bowles call and after year two the glazers will evaluate Todd Bowles and decide if they keep him and the staff or not . But basically there letting Bowles put his own coaching staff together and then you hold him accountable.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:54 am
Sapp was asked during the show’s “Ask Warren Anything” segment whether he would watch Johnson’s reality show about interior design.
Per NFL.com, Sapp answered, “Me, watch Keyshawn on an interior decorating show? Keyshawn, I knew you were a b**ch. And thanks for making it all clear.
Lol
January 24th, 2023 at 12:55 am
That was Nov. 12, 2008
January 24th, 2023 at 12:56 am
Sapp was asked during the show’s “Ask Warren Anything” segment whether he would watch Johnson’s reality show about interior design.
Per NFL.com, Sapp answered, “Me, watch Keyshawn on an interior decorating show? Keyshawn, I knew you were a B word female dog 🐶. And thanks for making it all clear.”
January 24th, 2023 at 1:01 am
Leftwich’s playcalling has been criticized for his entire tenure. They were able to survive it with Daddy Bruce over his shoulder. His lack of creativity has been evident. His inability to create a decent running attack has been a ongoing theme, but was worse this year. Keyshawn is giving Leftwich a pass, ignoring all the valid critiques. They are running an old-fashioned style of offense that can’t win unless you have superior talent at virtually every position. This year, they did not. And they won’t next year. They need creativity. Just watching a team like SF and seeing the variety in their running game, it doesn’t even look like they’re playing the same sport. Bowles asked him to update the offense and he did not. Firing 100% justified.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:05 am
Ultimatums aren’t a bad thing. Byron wasn’t creative enough to overcome the injuries
January 24th, 2023 at 1:06 am
Key hates the BUCS so he will be a contrarian to everything they do. Just another tool in the shed. BL sucked and had to go. Bowles sucks and needs to go.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:11 am
Hey Keyshawn, you’re not very plugged in if you think Leftwich was the one game planning and calling the plays. He had Arians in his ear telling him what to do, and to STOP calling the same plays over and over again in the same order. Also, if nothing changed, why did they suddenly stop throwing the ball downfield and add in 20 WR screens each game, all that go for 0.3 yards?
But Keyshawn has to fill up air time, and that’s his opinion, it’s just not a very educated one.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:15 am
Key fills up the air with his corpulence. He is one fat dude. Never fast, his 40 time now could be measured with a sundial. Unless there was a buffet table at the end of the dash. Then he might approach his playing days, when even Brad Johnson could easily overthrow him.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:46 am
MeShawn is probably the most out of the loop player from that 2002 SB team. He very seldom knows whats going on with the BUcs. He’s a Saints fan because Michael Thomas is his nephew. Plus, he seems to have a grudge against the Bucs.
January 24th, 2023 at 1:51 am
Broccoli would definitely get more wins HAHAHAHAHAHA
January 24th, 2023 at 2:32 am
Meshawn Johnson is the Antonio Brown from the first Super Bowl team. Nobody on the team liked him and his mouth was bigger than his game. And why play the race card Meshawn ?? Dungy ran his course…Lovie Smith still can’t win and Raheem has been with more teams than…well you Meshawn…so stfu and stir the crap pot about something you know about…yp egp
January 24th, 2023 at 3:28 am
Please stop giving these POS a platform!
January 24th, 2023 at 5:23 am
I don’t like Keyshawn but he’s likely right that the glazers or maybe even Licht said he has to go. I think most people would say Lefty should have gone mid season but Bowles had some stupid answers about you can’t make changes during the season. So I don’t think Bowles had the stones to fire someone let alone stand up to the owners to keep him. Let’s face it he is lucky to still have a job. He doesn’t really have credentials to put his neck on the line.
January 24th, 2023 at 5:28 am
Keep on beating the race drum, go ahead that’s what the national media does. It has to do with the interpretation of competence. Leftwich was propped up by Bruce Arians. Without coach Arians he was lost even though on TV I saw what I thought was coach Arians giving Leftwich signals. The TV would scan towards Bruce and from time to time it looked like he was communicating with the field. What are we to believe that now teams void of head coaches have to interview Lovie Smith? America is getting tired of constantly being accused of being racist. Be accountable for your actions and stop the finger pointing. Some of us are getting nauseous, the NFL and other outlets are beating this drum.
January 24th, 2023 at 6:21 am
sasquatch X100. Spot on
January 24th, 2023 at 6:32 am
Keyshawn Johnson sucks bad. He’s been jealous of the success Bucs achieved in last couple of years and want things to keep going bad so he can be somewhat remembered from the success years. This guy is a clown.
January 24th, 2023 at 6:41 am
Yet aNOTHER blow hard who didn’t watch the games
January 24th, 2023 at 7:02 am
Yeah Keyshawn only one reason it happened………clown everything ain’t about it f boy
January 24th, 2023 at 7:18 am
Carolina fired their Offensive Coordinator at the end of last year then fired Rhule after five games this past season.
January 24th, 2023 at 7:25 am
These were not Bowles’ coaches and as a new HC he would have done this as soon as he joined if he could.
Also, 2020 and 2021 were BA years, hence the success. This year BL showed he cannot do it without BA.
The context is important.
January 24th, 2023 at 7:29 am
KJ obviously didn’t have to watch EVERY game as it was happening
Take your opinion and shove it
Fire Bowles !
January 24th, 2023 at 8:11 am
Amazing how clueless the national media is regarding the incompetence of Leftwich
January 24th, 2023 at 8:24 am
Um, yeah, like Keyshawn is so beloved in Tampa and has deep roots/connections in franchise or community. 20 years ago is a long time, my friend.
January 24th, 2023 at 8:25 am
No one care what MEshawn Johnsay says about anything.
January 24th, 2023 at 8:35 am
Well the red pen story is pretty clear, BA did go over BL’s game plans and red pen them. Kind of wish BA would stick up for his players like he does his incompetent coaching staff.
Where is the old Bucs back stapper these days???
January 24th, 2023 at 9:55 am
I’m guessing Bowles would have been fired too, except for money or contract reasons.
January 24th, 2023 at 9:56 am
NEfan, BA was away with health issues most of the year.
January 24th, 2023 at 10:34 am
Keyshawn has an entire career built on shirking responsibility and refusing accountability. This is not surprising.
January 24th, 2023 at 10:53 am
I missed what “The Ultimatum” was from the owners.
If the ultimatum was to fire BL, that was the right decision. You can’t go from Top 3 offense to literally all-time bad and keep your job.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:20 am
Lovie Smith has a losing record at all levels. Never should have been hired. Thought the Texans must have been disoriented when they signed him. Then he won a meaningless last game and cost them the number one pick – and the trades it would have generated. How did that work out for them?
Byron Leftwich is also a loser. He was one of Bruce Arians pets.
Todd Bowles? He has failed before as an NFL head coach. He made the great defensive call on the NFL Conference championship game that left Cooper Kupp so open my late grandmother could have hit him for a TD
Tony Dungy. Just couldn’t figure out how to have an offense to get to the promised land. Had a great one with the Colts when he arrived and fixed their defense. Father Dungy. Love him.
January 24th, 2023 at 11:23 am
Keyshawn is still but hurt he got deactivated
January 24th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Bucaneer @ he was at his honoring and every game since. Ironically he disappeared when the Bucs went on their losing streak. Cunning old bstrd.
January 24th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
keyshawn is a blowhard and a team killer… i was on board with gruden when they basically fired him.. he was a loose cannon in the locker room and helped bring that team down. Now hes collecting checks with eson to give a hot take.. good for him.. he went to usc for a year or two.. keyshawn isnt a college grad or a rhoses scholer for christ sake… just an idiot with a big mouth on tv
January 24th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
But Bowles didn’t hire Leftwich so why would he step on a table for someone he didn’t hire doesn’t make sense he wants his own coaches so lets see how it works out
January 24th, 2023 at 1:33 pm
My grandma could have called plays for the 2020 Super Bowl team and been successful. Leftwich failed because he had no clue how to win with an average team.
January 24th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Bowles may be the bigger problem, but he was a first year HC. Byron was a much better firing target. No probably Bowles will be fired for another year of poor head coaching here. Politics.
January 24th, 2023 at 4:08 pm
The offence was just bad, it was old and predictable, the scheme didn’t help the players at all.
They hardly ran the ball at all.
When they did it was predictably on 1st down leaving them in bad 3rs and long situations.
Having your 45 year old QB throw the ball the most in the NFL while having a bad O line.
They didn’t use play action.
The only time they were remotely
adequate as an offence was in 2 min when Brady was making the play calls.
National media don’t want to say because let’s be honest Byron’s black
If a white OC put on tape what Byron did this year there would be no hesitation on talking about the terrible job Byron did as OC this year.
That’s just the bottom line, review each game and grade the play calling and nothing else, it was painful to watch.
If there’s any hope for a Brady return he needs an OC he understands how to scheme the run and use play action.
There was reporting that Todd Bowls was telling Byron to run more.
It basically got dysfunctional, the only person remotely asking for another year for Byron was Bruce Arians out if loyalty not performance every one else saw clearly the offence play calling and scheme was bad
It shows how far off the mark national media can be, the local reporters now what’s up check out Pewter reports last YouTube stream if you want to get some of the background from Scott Reynolds long time plugged in Bucs reporter.
It explains a lot and details just how bad Byron was. .
The
January 24th, 2023 at 4:11 pm
Key is exactly right, i do believe ultimatums were given to all Lovie and Bowles. I do think early on, Dungy was told to make changes in the OC position, more than once. However, I cannot blame Bowles, he realizes if this goes south for him, could be the last opportunity as a head coach
January 24th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Keyshawn also has some of the most ridiculous takes, unfortunately this one i believe is based on race and nothing more.
What’s Keyshaws view of Nathaniel Hackets firing.
Look at how many 4th Quarter comebacks Brady had this year 5 it was a couple of these 4th Comebacks that saved Byron from being fired mid season.
Who would be a good OC for the 2023 season in and ideal world Sean Payton would take the OC role to work with Brady but it won’t happen.
Paytons to good as a head coach.
Frustrating year, hard to watch, I really hope Brady gets another year with someone competent as OC
Rant over
January 24th, 2023 at 6:21 pm
What do all three coaches have in common with Keyshawn’s comment? Note that he didn’t bring up the likely ultimatums for Gruden, Schiano, or Koetter.