“I Thought The Bucs Would Be Awful”
October 4th, 2023
Admits mistake.
Well, it wasn’t exactly an “Ohio Herb” moment. But it was a mea culpa from a prominent chronicler of the NFL who predicted the Bucs would be horrific this year.
(Anyone remember the infamous call from a guy with the handle”Ohio Herb?” The guy called the late great dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog” Steve Duemig, and tore Duemig a new a-hole claiming he didn’t know how to do sports radio and wasn’t supportive enough about the Bucs? Then when Duemig said, “I give you the floor” and allowed Ohio Herb to say what he wanted about the Bucs and demonstrate to Duemig how to conduct a compelling radio show, his only response was in a monotone voice, “I think the Bucs are great.” It became a sports radio meme before anyone knew what a “meme” was.)
Making his weekly appearance with the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on SiriusXM Radio this week, Concrete Mixer-spilling, Mother Jones-reading, airport-pianist-listening, Twitter-revolting, Purdue-basketball-confused, combine-fatigued, Bavarian-pretzel-chomping, teeth-brushing, haircut-fascinated, Circa-bewildered, elf-rattled, green-lawns-frowning, soggy-socks-wearing, Daylight-Savings-Time-scared, crossword-puzzle-puzzled, Elon-Musk-peeved, Barstool-Sports-triggered, almond-milk-sipping, hot-dog-eating-contest-protesting, mock-draft-scowling, L.L.-Bean-wearing, tennis fans’ advocate, Second Amendment abolitionist, Mike-Florio-arguing, parrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California-train-romancing, anti-football proliferation, outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal-picture-taking, video-game-playing, Taylor-Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, craft-beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training, Budweiser-tolerant, baseball-scorecard-keeping, pasta-feasting, vomit-dodging scrooge, Kay-Adams-following, Coors-Light-souring, pineapple-upside-down-cake-eating social activist and NFL insider Peter King, of NBC Sports fame, admitted he was wrong about the Bucs.
King predicted the Bucs to be an NFL bottom feeder and as recently as last month declared on Peacock in defense of Bucs coach Todd Bowles, “I just don’t know who is winning with that team.”
King told Russo, in so many words, “My bad,” when Russo asked him about the Bucs.
Russo mentioned four teams that he believed were playing better than expectations through the first four weeks of the season: Tampa Bay, the Rams, Houston and Washington.
While King said the biggest surprise of the season has to be Houston, Russo then directly asked him about the Bucs. King confessed he was off base when scoffing about the Bucs’ chances.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo: Buccaneers, you know [Baker] Mayfield has played pretty well. And they have done a nice job. We have to give Tampa a little credit. How surprised are you with the Bucs? Let me get your thoughts on that. Go ahead.
Peter King: I am surprised. I thought the Bucs would be awful. I’m surprised. I was wrong about them. They’ve got a really good defense. They are out to prove they were more than Tom Brady’s supporting cast. So that’s good. And I think, look, Mayfield in his career, the last five years, has been totally in and out, last six years, but totally in and out. An inconsistent guy. But I think he has been probably as consistent the first month of this season than he has ever been in his career. And he’s got decent weapons. He’s got [Mike] Evans and [Chris] Godwin. He’s got a nice running back — not a great one but a nice one. And to me, I think they are taking advantage of a weak division. And every other team in that division has looked extremely flawed. You’ve got to say — even though Tampa has some tough games coming up — I mean, they obviously had that game against Philly at home where they were outclassed and they have Detroit coming in in a week and a half, so I mean, they’ve got games — I’m not saying they are going to win 12 — but I think easily a team that wins 9 or 10 can win that division and get a home playoff game.
Russo: One-hundred percent, they may very well do that. I’m with you there. Atlanta lost too, Carolina is bad and the Saints have had two poor games.
Ooohhh. So King is already looking to a meaningful January game(s) for the Bucs? How quickly things changed.
Now Joe is not going to go overboard here. Yes the Bucs’ playoff probabilities jumped to 68 percent with the win over the slimy Saints. But that is just one game.
Still, King and Russo are right. Carolina stinks out loud. The Dixie Chicks don’t have a quarterback — get outta here with this Desmond Ridder noise! — and the Bucs already have a win against the slimy Saints on the road.
So nine wins ought to get the Bucs an NFC South title? So that means the Bucs are a third of the way there!
October 4th, 2023 at 11:30 am
I think Bucs can realistically win 10
October 4th, 2023 at 11:30 am
Wait…..Peter king is an nfl insider?!?
October 4th, 2023 at 11:33 am
All of the above is true…..we need to get healthy and play clean games…..continue to force turnovers and protect the ball. Our running game needs huge improvement……
Our defense should help us win the games we should win.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:33 am
The Bucs can and will win 10+ even if Detroit beats them. IMHO.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:35 am
The Bucs look good at this point, but for me it’s a little too early to be talking about playoffs. Once we get to mid season and if they have a 6-2 or 5-3 record, I’ll jump on the bandwagon. I’m certainly not down on them like a lot of folks on the open thread last Sunday. Damn, one quarter in and people were ready to can Mayfield, Bowles, and Licht.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:36 am
I think of Steve from time to time…
October 4th, 2023 at 11:41 am
“Expert” shouldn’t be surprised. If they are, then they are not really experts.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:50 am
The Falcons don’t have a QB which historically for the Bucs means the Falcons have an advantage over the Bucs. The Bucs are cursed against bad / back up QBs.
Yes the Eagles are a more dominant team, I don’t think that was ever in question and I’m pretty sure the Lions will be favored but if the Bucs can get a win it will tell us more about our Bucs than the Eagles loss did. A win against the Lions should put us at a 10 or 11 win season, IF we stay healthy.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Taking advantage of a weak division? Oh you mean like Aaron Rodgers did all these years?
And what’s with that “decent” weapons comment? This dude is a useless as they come, that’s the best you got Peter?
October 4th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Lots of Bucs fans shouldn’t exactly dunk on King since half the fan base wanted Trask to start
October 4th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
“And to me, I think they are taking advantage of a weak division.”
The Bucs have only played 1 division game and won it. They haven’t padded their win column by beating weak division opponents yet.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:10 pm
You missed a bigger one.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:10 pm
“I thought the Bucs were going to be awful”
Only against the Eagles… We need to be honest about that game.
I believe the Bucs can win the rest of their games with a few exceptions –
– Detroit – the Lions are beatable but it will be a tough game – best defense will win.
– SF – on the road in Caly against the best team in the NFC – yikes.
– Buffalo – on the road against one of the best teams in the AFC – yikes.
– Green Bay – a winnable game but playing in Green Bay the day before Christmas? – yikes.
– Texans – a winnable game but the Texans are another surprise team with a solid defense.
The rest of the teams we play are lower tier teams… The Bucs can win 10-12 games if things go their way and the injury bug goes away.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
So stupid. Been saying this before year started. Most of the core is still here Defense is intact. Skill positions also. I get baker was a question mark but look at his 2020 year and little stint with the rams. He can play. I hate all these stupid experts on the wagon now flexing games. NO! Don’t worry about the Bucs. Let them keep doing there thing quietly!
October 4th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Vikings were a great team until WE played them.
Saints were a great team until WE played them.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Exactly, Beej!
October 4th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
I hate the way these pundits predict horrible things about teams and then just say they were wrong and think that forgives all their blather. Then people still listen to them as if they know stuff. Peter King is one of the worst. To many, he is usually right when he admits he is wrong.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
To my eyes, we weren’t properly prepared for the Eagles. Looking at it in hindsight, a few tweaks to the play calling MAY have made enough difference to squeak out a win.
Nine wins are quite doable, and will probably be enough to win the division.
We better be aiming for more than that though, or there’s a chance we can get passed.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Yeah Joe, the “He’s got a nice running back — not a great one but a nice one” was the one that jumped out to me.
Rachaad White is averaging 3.3yards per rush – without kneel-downs. That isn’t “nice,” and show’s King is still clueless about the Bucs, just paying us lip service. smh
October 4th, 2023 at 12:59 pm
@ beej
“Vikings were a great team until WE played them.
Saints were a great team until WE played them.”
And the Eagles were a great team until – oooops.
Never mind.
LOL…
October 4th, 2023 at 1:02 pm
Going 9-8 means 6-7 the rest of the way. That would be underachieving at this point.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
King has always been an entertaining and good writer. Or he used to be. I haven’t read him in years. However, analysis is just not what he is good at. He has always made stupid pronouncements about a team’s prospects only to be wrong. If he is right it’s either because it was obvious or he was lucky. I did used to like his training camp diaries but I don’t know where to find his words anymore.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Guy says he was wrong – you gotta respect that since most of he media never admit anything.
As for bad predictions I want to see someone’s betting receipts before I conclude they are any better at them.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Thursday road game sucks but I still won’t write off the Bucs in Buffalo. That’s another game where, if the Bucs had a stronger run game with a power back, they have a great chance to win. The Lions will be in tough, coming to Tampa, Bucs rested and hopefully healthy. Montgomery doesn’t have the speed to put the D on their heels and we just saw what our LBs can do to a guy like Gibbs. Goff, Brown, LaPorta and Williams are dangerous but our secondary has been solid. On defense the Lions are relying on young players and rookies as much as the Bucs are. I pray that line drops at +4 or better for the Bucs. Hammer it.
SF is too good unless injuries get them. That is the only game I will put an L on right now. Every other game is winnable. 9 wins is the floor at this point. Ceiling probably 13. Unless injuries take too big of a toll. How they start the Lions game after the break will tell us a lot about the coaching and how real these players are about continuing to play with something to prove. Can’t get fat.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
I’ve been saying this all summer lol
“Taking advantage of a weak division” is hilarious given 2 of our 3 wins came against the NFC North and the 3rd came against the team all of these losers picked to win the division.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
King of the di*ks.
Not a dude.
Does not abide.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:37 pm
Peter King:”…He’s got a nice running back — not a great one but a nice one….”
Who is King referring to, surely not White.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
When asked what he thought about Peter king, Baker Mayfield said: “he never played so we don’t care what he thinks”
I think we can all go with that assertion.
October 4th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Shocking he didn’t realize we have 12 players with SB rings on our roster. Some insider.
October 4th, 2023 at 5:12 pm
The Bucs had better keep this up, because the amount of people dunking on the Bucs as being scams is going to be incredible if they can’t. Making people eat their words after 4 games… well, again, I started watching the Bucs in the mid-80s, and I remember how exciting it was to see the 1989 Bucs beat the undefeated Bears to go 3-2 and be the talk of the NFL. I remember the Bucs in 1990 starting out 3-1, and then getting to 4-2, to end the season 6-10. I think that scaring is for life, since I always assume the worse is coming when the team is supposed to be bad, and isn’t.
I really want the Bucs to do well, but they’re about to go through a very tough strech. The Lions are really good and will be favored. The Bills are probably the best team in football and will be huge favorites. The 49ers are the only team that could be on the level of the Bills, and they’re going to be huge favorites.
In between those games you have the stupid Falcons. And I’m really worried the week of the Bucs game they’ll finally bench the God-awful Ridder and put in Bucs killer Taylor Heinicke.
Then you got Houston whose rookie QB has looked great, and plays good defense. Also the Bucs have never won vs the Texans on the road.
Finally in that strech you have the Tennessee Titans, which might be the best matchup for the Bucs if the run defense can get back up to snuff.
Anywho, from now until that 49ers game, it’s going to be very interest to see how it goes, and if the Bucs can at least win the games they’re supposed to win and at least be .500 in that strech. If they can do that, then they’ll be 7-4 which would be great. But it would be huge if they can win one of those three games vs good teams.
October 4th, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Mayfield has played PRETTY WELL. And they have done a NICE JOB. We have to give Tampa a LITTLE CREDIT. And he’s got DECENT WEAPONS.
PRETTY WELL – Tied for 2nd QBR in NFC
NICE JOB – #1 NFCS and 3rd in NFC
LITTLE CREDIT – Las Vegas and the media picked the Bucs to lose ever game (even in one)
DECENT WEAPONS – Mike Evans gets dissed again
October 4th, 2023 at 8:16 pm
“…the late great dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog” Steve Duemig….”
———————–
Hey joes, I live in O-ville. Is Duemig dead? Peter King is a butthole surfer and has always badmouthed the Bucs. I still wish I was 25-30 years younger so I could be at the Detroit game. Oh well…..
October 5th, 2023 at 5:51 am
umm Ok…
Kings admission is great but will he continue to be a halfwit non homework doing so called expert? Yup!
Not sure an endorsement from him or Russo means diddly.
Go Bucs!
October 5th, 2023 at 7:54 am
11 wins is the ceiling