Report: Bucs Feel They’re Playing Better Without Tom Brady
October 15th, 2023
This insider report should come as no surprise to anyone who watched Tom Brady lead a struggling Bucs offense last season that averaged 18 points per game.
ESPN NFL insider and noted Brady insider Jeff Darlington is at The Licht House today covering the Bucs-Lions game for BSPN. It’s a homecoming of sorts for Darlington, who spent a ton of time in Tampa during the Brady years. Darlington also is a local guy, the pride of Seminole High School.
On air this morning, Darlington told his audience that the Bucs are are team steaming with “confidence and swagger.”
And Darlington added that an important person inside One Buc Palace told him yesterday that the Bucs feel they are a better club post-Tom Brady.
“I was speaking with one Bucs source yesterday who told me that this team, his favorite part about this team, is the fact that a lot of people thought they’d be terrible without Tom Brady. They heard it all along, and they actually now feel that they are playing better football than they were last season,” Darlington said.
Joe won’t play a game of guess Darlington’s source (that’s the Bucs’ job when Ira Kaufman breaks a story), though Joe is not surprised at all.
As Joe has written many times, the on-field demise of Brady last season (decision-making and the overall mental side of the game) is not something that would ever be discussed by the guys running the Bucs. But the proof was on the field with the limping Tampa Bay offense.
October 15th, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Have a feeling this isn’t going to age well. Brady always gets the last laugh
October 15th, 2023 at 1:00 pm
They’re also better without Byron, too.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:01 pm
That depends on which Brady you’re talking about…..the 20-21 Brady or the 22 Brady.
Tom Brady simply wasn’t himself last year…
October 15th, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Nonsense Bradys wife filed for the BIG D right after the season started, This would mess any HUMAN BEING … His OC did not help & the candy ass run blocking along with no run game…
October 15th, 2023 at 1:09 pm
Monday Monday call back.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:09 pm
“I was speaking with one Bucs source yesterday who told me that this team, his favorite part about this team, is the fact that a lot of people thought they’d be terrible without Tom Brady. They heard it all along, and they actually now feel that they are playing better football than they were last season,” Darlington said.”
He never said the team was playing better without Tom Brady, he said the team was playing better than last season, so I assume the title of this article is cIick bait. The Bucs won a super bowl playing with Tom Brady so until they win another one without him they are not playing better without tom brady.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
I am stuck with Browns v 9rs on my one channel.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Clearly
October 15th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Talk too much….worry me to death. Lets see it on the field today then talk.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Watching this team now is a lot more exciting than watching Brady phone it in last year. As whacked out as it might sound, I’m glad he’s gone. More one o’clock games too, which is great .
October 15th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Tom Brady’s season was killed when his “old lady” left. He took those 7 days off during training camp, no one does that especially someone like Tom Brady. He’s now waiting on the NFL owners to vote on if he can own part of the Vegas Raiders. Although he wasn’t himself last year, I sure am glad we had him. He made us look better in the eyes of the NFL. The fact that Tom Brady won a super bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Tampa no less is so amazing. Miss ya Tommy. .
October 15th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
Darlington and Floria are always starting mess.
What does it matter…
October 15th, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Counting chickens that have not hatched as usual.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
NE Fan is going to have a fit when she sees the headline of this article.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Yes Brady was understandably affected by his marital issues last year. Most would be imho by such events. His play, was affected obviously. Every time I saw him play I was always wondering how long he can hang on, how long the Bucs could hang on. Despite some here who never let go of the hero worship of Brady….i believe IMHO that he was declining in his abilities to play at his top previous form.Yes, it was kinda like crossing our fingers and hoping that Brady & Bucs can just hang on. But….today, with Baker Mayfield we begin to look towards the future, uncertain as it may be but still with hope of maybe, just maybe an upward trajectory. Yes, we have much to thank Brady for however I enjoy watching games more with a hope of the future, instead of white knuckling watching Brady desperately hang on and not let go of the past. Thank you Tom Brady you are the GOAT! And thank you Baker Mayfield for trying to be the future.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
3-14
October 15th, 2023 at 1:41 pm
This game will depend on Bowles D holding Lions to less than 17 points. If we get b;own out the Roosters will have to stop the pre game crowing. If we win…Cock a Doodle Doo.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
CLICKBAIT HEADLINE.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
I think a part of it might be because players are working a bit harder because they know Brady won’t be able to bail them out. Yeah, they’re professionals, but it’s human nature to ease up a bit now and then when you know you have someone like Brady on your team……
October 15th, 2023 at 1:57 pm
Durango 95 Says:
October 15th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Watching this team now is a lot more exciting than watching Brady phone it in last year. As whacked out as it might sound, I’m glad he’s gone. More one o’clock games too, which is great .
__________
Totally agree.
2020 was a blast though.
October 15th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Oh man, quotes like this seem to getting blown way out of context. Hyperbole, sensationalism, click-bait, whatever you want to call it….
The actual quote:
“they actually now feel that they are playing better football than they were last season.”
To me that’s not really an indictment of Brady, but the team as a whole.
It’s only been 4 games, and we have 1 more win than we did at this time yesterday.
Everyone needs to pump the breaks on annointing this team, claiming Mayfeild is a pro bowler, or anything else. Let’s see where we’re at by week 8 or 9 first, k?
October 15th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
*at this time last year
October 15th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Most of these comments are ridiculous. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.
October 15th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Darlington said
is the fact that a lot of people thought they’d be terrible without Tom Brady. They heard it all along, and they actually now feel that they are playing better football than they were last season,”
************************************************************
I’m having a hard time reading “Brady fault” into this statement.
Sounds a lot more like “Post Brady Era” to me. Plus some surprise that they are playing better, as opposed to worse, by the pundits who routinely speak out of their A55’s.
October 15th, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Report….when Mayfield wins Super Bowl please call back.
October 15th, 2023 at 2:39 pm
CleanHouse Says:
October 15th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
3-14
^^^^^^^
This from the 🤡 that thought Jameis would put up 50 on the Bucs. A real Nostradumb@ss. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
October 15th, 2023 at 2:41 pm
Of course they’re playing better. The offense doesn’t run up the middle every first and ten. Just the change at OC has been huge! Let’s be honest about Brady…. He did everything he could to not take hit. Had the fastest release in the NFL the year before and even got faster last year. If this team scored 30+ points a game we’d be talking deep playoff run. If Arians was still coaching last year the Bucs would have been a lot better!
I still don’t get how the beginning of the year everyone was predicting the Bucs with a top 5-8 pick. With all the talent on this team it was just crazy. The better Mayfield plays, the further the Bucs will go!
October 15th, 2023 at 2:50 pm
Of course there’s gonna be blow back from low IQ Brady worhippers that believe the Exalted One must not be criticized.
Sorry, folks, but most of our problems on O last season were BECAUSE of Brady not DESPITE him.
October 15th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Its true, and its not a condemnation of The Goat. The team relied too heavily on a 45 y/o quarterback to carry them, without Jensen and a revamped line. There is enough talent on this team for them to play together and win or lose that way. As good as Baker has been so far, I can assure you that hero ball would look nothing like it did when Brady was rolling.
October 15th, 2023 at 2:56 pm
Bucs can clinch by beating detroit. Rest of NFC South losing.
October 15th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
This offense has more juice for sure. Our current QB is 18 years younger. Yeah, we’re better off.
October 15th, 2023 at 3:08 pm
But they would’ve kept him if they could. Glad they didn’t. His heart wasn’t in it anymore. Thanks for the good memories Tom!!
October 15th, 2023 at 3:10 pm
As much as I hate to admit this Jack Clark is 100% correct. Where does it say anything claiming it’s because Brady is gone. The D is playing much better this season, there was no Shaq and the Oline was abysmal. If it were the case wouldn’t the same be said for the beginning of 2020?
October 15th, 2023 at 3:11 pm
The Bucs are better off with their new young offensive coordinator.
October 15th, 2023 at 3:18 pm
That’s BS Tom helped guid the team to a superbowl and I’m sure he mentored many of the players to make them stronger and more confident to carry their own weight without him period!
October 15th, 2023 at 3:25 pm
You mean without Leftwich.
Anyone who thinks Brady, who brought the Bucs back in a bunch of games, was the issue last year, they’re literally retarded. Literally.
October 15th, 2023 at 3:27 pm
I just brought up ESPN to check some stats, and their lead story is women’s basketball. LOL! What a bunch of woke idiots, no wonder Disney is trying so hard to sell them off.
October 15th, 2023 at 3:32 pm
joe, you should really have a gameday prediction thread a few hours before games – as a mainstay on your site…
to hear everyone’s score and game predictions and thoughts on how the game plays out…
i would not wager a bet on the bucs today…but i do have a good feeling going into this one…
i say bucs over lions 31-22
October 15th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
2 different offenses. No way DC can run the same plays with Brady that he is running with Baker.
October 15th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
tommy b’s ex ate him alive last year…
women can do that if it’s a said goal of theirs…
he looked like a shell of his invincible self at times…
and it permeated throughout the team…
after all he was an undoubted team leader, that players fed off…
i think it was easy to see things were off, where his personal life might have gotten the best of him…
these things happen…life can be bigger than ball at times, and maybe that happened to tom — and then to the bucs last year…
hopefully he’s all good and in a better place now, but just remember, you can never win an argument with a woman – and a divorce is just one huge permanent argument…
wishing our 3 season, superbowl champ qb the best ——but more so let’s whoop some lion’s azz on creamsicle sunday !
October 15th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
My back ribs bake beans and garic bread are ready.
October 15th, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Need Stanks to go ahead and lose.
October 15th, 2023 at 3:50 pm
HC grover Says:
October 15th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
I am stuck with Browns v 9rs on my one channel.
————————–
You can get the games on Bucs Radio on the team’s website. In fact, I’m getting set for it, and I live in Orlando aka O-ville. The radio guys are homers, and better announcers than the boob tube bunch. As far as Brady goes, I don’t miss him.
October 15th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
ORL I will get the Buc Game…TX
October 15th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
People can disagree about Brady’s performance, how much to blame on Leftwich as if BL had more power in the organization than Brady and so poor Tom had to run the plays BL schemed and called.
But…”tommy b’s ex ate him alive last year…
women can do that if it’s a said goal of theirs…”
That’s just a load. Brady is his own man. He can honor his committments to his wife or not. When he didn’t she took a hike. And geez why would she do that,
He freaking promised her to retire when he won another SB. He did that here in Tampa but did not retire. That was her motivation. She gave him one more season and when he insisted on yet another season she said see ya!
“Nonsense Bradys wife filed for the BIG D right after the season started, This would mess any HUMAN BEING”
Another total load of manure. The marriage had been on the rocks for long before the season. !! The actual date of filing is irrelevant. Brady knew his marriage was over. HE elected to take time out of preparation to see if he could save it. He COULD HAVE if he simply retired as he had promised Giselle he would after winning that 7th SB.
It’s the lowest form of cowardice to blame a problem on a woman!!! TB12 himself has far more pride and dignity to do that so why do posters here insist on embarrassing him and dragging his personal life into it.
I do not disagree his marriage ending was a major distraction..my point is he KNEW it was ending during the prior season when he rescinded his promise to retire. He had an ENTIRE OFFSEASON to fish or cut bait but waited until the last minute.
It’s probably a moot point anyway as he played like and old over the hill guy last season, just like Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas and countless other NFL stars who simply couldn’t hang them up when the time came!
You don’t get all the glory when successful and then avoid accountability when you fail!
October 15th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
NE Fan Says:
October 15th, 2023 at 3:10 pm
As much as I hate to admit this Jack Clark is 100% correct. Where does it say anything claiming it’s because Brady is gone. The D is playing much better this season, there was no Shaq and the Oline was abysmal. If it were the case wouldn’t the same be said for the beginning of 2020?
Well look who has risen from the grave, I’m glad you’re okay 😂 So you gonna explain to us how the saints beat the patriots 34-0 in the patriots own home stadium and why the patriots are 1-4 when they have better coaches than we do?
October 15th, 2023 at 4:07 pm
HAHAHA. Stanks Stink and lose to Texans….We gotta win this game to dominate NFC South or fall back to the pack of losers/
October 15th, 2023 at 4:08 pm
Come on need a game thread.
October 15th, 2023 at 4:13 pm
They can be Heros…just for one day.
October 15th, 2023 at 4:15 pm
2020 was dream season
2021 was still amazing despite ending
2022 felt like we were all stuck in divorce court
2023 feels like a team that is aligned to succeed together with huge chips on their shoulders
October 15th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Careful Jackie boy, short memory I believe Saints lost 41-0 in your lost decade. Jack, I posted many times I would rather have Mayfield over Jones. Belichick is the perfect example of how the run first offense does NOT work in today’s game. Who knows, maybe Bucs catch Lions sleeping like Cleveland is SF. Purdy exposed, stop McCaffrey is the key. Cleveland did one better knocked him out of the game.
October 15th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Brady probably stayed a year too long ( and was still mostly good…but it was time )…BA left a year too early and Jensen going down & Magic Marpet bouncing didn’t help a bit.
October 15th, 2023 at 5:16 pm
Joe has such an ax to grind with Brady. Brady’s last season was such a personal disaster that friends close to home say it was tough for him to get through it. With that being said. “Joe quit dumping on the man that made Tampa relevant again!” Most of America didn’t know where Tampa was located before Brady showed up. Now get off his ass about “we’re better off with out him” bull crap.
October 15th, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Aaahhhhhh, report: the oline and defense is playing way better this year. But hey keep living in a delusional world of the media fantasy. Again, and a immutable fact in the nfl you dont win jack or Sh*t without a good defense. And your quarterback doesnt last long without a oline!!! But lets all pretend that that those facts aren’t true!!!
October 15th, 2023 at 5:45 pm
NE Fan Says:
October 15th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Careful Jackie boy, short memory I believe Saints lost 41-0 in your lost decade. Jack, I posted many times I would rather have Mayfield over Jones. Belichick is the perfect example of how the run first offense does NOT work in today’s game. Who knows, maybe Bucs catch Lions sleeping like Cleveland is SF. Purdy exposed, stop McCaffrey is the key. Cleveland did one better knocked him out of the game.
Nothing with Bill Belichick works without Tom Brady 😂 wtf are you talking about? Your team is trash
October 15th, 2023 at 6:45 pm
Yeah…the bucs had not played anyone yet…but when they played a good team like the eagles they lost and look how they look agsinst lions…BAKER CANT HANDLE PRESSURE…..so yeah throw the guy tom brady that EVEN made the bucs relevant..won back to back division…got playoffs 3 years in a row and aSB …yeah bucs look great without tom brady joke joke..let’s see what bucs look like at end of season
October 15th, 2023 at 7:12 pm
Did not age well at all.
October 15th, 2023 at 7:26 pm
I think I’d rather have Brady out there. Just like I’ve thought every game since week 1.
October 15th, 2023 at 7:32 pm
Baker Mayfield plays average against bad teams and he sucks against good teams. Just remember we all know Kyle Trask out played Baker Mayfield in Training camp and preseason. Baker Mayfield was gifted the starting job and this will not be the last game he plays like this. So that 1 pick is the reason why we lost or is that just a Jamies lost ??
October 15th, 2023 at 7:33 pm
Hey fools….are they still better without Brady.?
October 15th, 2023 at 7:45 pm
Hope Everyone watched the game today… Our defense can’t Cover a Bed…. Zone defense is even worse….. Clearly we don’t belong on the field with real contenders…and it’s sad because we got good players they say….. Yeah ok imagine missing the field goals we would have been shut out at Home…. We may loose to ATL next week after seeing that OMG…..damn Bucs
October 15th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
And by the way forget Tom Brady it was the same thing last year with Brady. When are y’all going to stop acting like loser Joe and kissing Brady behind as if he’s going to come back?? Talking about Brady is like talking about Sapp and Derrick Brooks at this point it don’t mean nothing!!
October 15th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Lol this didn’t age well 😂. Bucs would still be just another irrelevant team without the grace of the Goat. Yet, you ungrateful bunch are ready to trash the man who fed you. NE thought they could do it without him too didn’t they 😂?
October 15th, 2023 at 7:49 pm
I can’t blame the defense for this lost they made stops after the stops all game evencerley they’re going to get tired. No this lost is on the offense and that means Baker Mayfield to .
October 15th, 2023 at 7:55 pm
“Report: Bucs Feel They’re Playing Better Without Tom Brady”
I’m not so sure this is an accurate statement after today’s loss!!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
October 15th, 2023 at 8:04 pm
The title of this thread is self explanitory. Absurd.
October 15th, 2023 at 8:53 pm
Maybe they are les distracted but brady wouldve hit some tds today. Bakers int had evans open for a td thats a td with brady . 10 point swing
October 16th, 2023 at 8:16 am
They are playing better this years They’d be undefeated if they had Brady!
October 16th, 2023 at 9:35 pm
Does Tamp Bay still play football. The last time I knew they had the worst winning percentage of any professional team. I can see why they play better without Brady, its more fun with a substitute teacher then the real one, right Joe.