“A Bunch Of BS From The Media And Fans”
January 19th, 2024
Here comes a former big-name player throwing darts at the media and Bucs fans.
It’s ok, nothing sinister, but it’s certainly worth exploring.
Six-time Pro Bowl Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is retired from the gridiron but he remains a full-time Bucs fan and cheerleader, and a strong analyst for NFL Network.
(Joe will add that McCoy did a hell of a job in the past as a draft analyst for SiriusXM NFL Radio. He was loaded with knowledge and entertaining.)
McCoy is a fan and a friend of Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles. In fact, that’s Bowles hugging McCoy on Monday night. Has Bowles ever looked happier?
A guest on WDAE radio in Tampa yesterday, McCoy was asked about Bowles, specifically what the head coach “has faced this season.”
McCoy pounced.
“A bunch of BS from the media and fans. A bunch of unnecessary criticism that he don’t deserve,” McCoy replied regarding Bowles’ treatment.
Bowles “never blinked,” per McCoy, and kept the team focused on itself and reinforced the message that the Bucs are so hard to beat if they just play the Bucs’ brand of football.
When hard times hit the Bucs, McCoy said Bowles fueled the keep-grinding mentality within the team.
Joe liked how McCoy summed up the Bowles’ approach when adversity strikes: “So what. Now what?”
As for Sunday, McCoy firmly believes the Bucs can beat the Lions — and vault Bowles to new heights.
McCoy has two clear keys, among others he’ll share Sunday on NFL Network. First, score early. Second, “We need to go in there and apply the pressure,” he said.
Does Joe think Bowles endured a bunch of BS from media and fans? Well, Joe doesn’t hear everyone’s take, but Joe thinks criticism of Bowles largely was deserved.
Why? Because the team was 4-7 and underachieving. (Keep in mind Joe had picked the Bucs to win 8 or 9 games). And then Tampa Bay found itself a fourth-down conversion in Atlanta away from being a 5-8 football team.
But Bowles deserves all the credit for not only leading a team that won down the stretch but one that showed significant improvement.
January 19th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
Hard to argue your last paragraph JOE
January 19th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
“As for Sunday, McCoy firmly believes the Bucs can beat the Lions — and vault Bowles to new heights.”
Agreed. The Bucs “can” beat the Lions on Sunday. We clearly have the weapons on offense. Also, we’ve proven two weeks in a row that the defense is communicating better with each other and is up to the challenge.
Now “will” they beat the Lions? Tough call. Consistency has not been on our side this year. Will we use our offensive weapons, or will we sleep walk through another game like in Carolina? Will we know our assignments on defense and use some intuition to fill in the blanks, or will we retreat into zone defense crapola?
Should be fun to watch. Especially at 3 (I hate night games). Go Bucs!
January 19th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
If GMC and Bowles were so tight, how come the team didnt sign him to come back at the end of his career to work with the young guys? I appreciate what GMC did for this franchise, but its clear Gerald is salty and has an axe to grind. Its an entertainment industry, and these millionaires bellyache about the feedback they get for not being entertaining. Without fans there would be no Todd Bowles or Gerald McCoy. The team Vs The World argument these simpletons always quote is just a poor excuse to deny accountability. The fans and media run players and coaches out of the league all the time. Fortunately for Todd Bowles, he avoided the Find Out stage.
January 19th, 2024 at 2:00 pm
Ol Softie is bellyaching again?
January 19th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
OOPS, wrong thread
January 19th, 2024 at 2:04 pm
Mc Coy is NOT my favorite cat, but I agree what he says…..
I can understand the media, because they need to get clicks or attention or whatever.
Ver hard for me that fans can’t acknowledge that what Bowles made with this team is extraordinary 4mm QB, no special addition on free agency because a horrible cap situation, and we are where we are, and fans keep on with the critique…. Annoying at the very least.
January 19th, 2024 at 2:07 pm
GRRRR!!!!!!!! THIS MAKES ME SO ANGRY!!!!!! SOFT ICE CREAM!!!!! BATMAN!!!! COMIC BOOKS!!!! GRRRRR!!!! I HATE MCCOY!!!!! HE SOFT!!!! GRRRRR!!!!
January 19th, 2024 at 2:13 pm
There’s two sides to this as Joe stated in his last two paragraphs. The criticism is warranted in the same way that he should be given credit.
GRRR!
January 19th, 2024 at 2:16 pm
How did you prediction turn out Rod?
January 19th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
I watched Dan Campbells PC today. He is definitely worried about our Bucs. Looks super stressed.
January 19th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
It’s hard not to criticize when the team, although winning 9-0, really lays down, both offense and defense. All of us are praying that the team that beat those slimy Eagles shows up on Sunday.
January 19th, 2024 at 2:37 pm
The only thing I don’t like about Bowles is when he says his players are “playing hard” when (at times) they obviously are not. Great game on Monday, everything about it really, and ALL of the guys WERE playing hard.
January 19th, 2024 at 2:40 pm
If Bowles rightly deserves credit for December and January, he rightly deserves the criticism for October and November – they don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
You can be a fan, and still be upset with your team/coaches. That’s part of being a fan!!
January 19th, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Bowles survived the mid-season chopping block by the sheer fact that the Glazer Mind-trust does’t can coaches during the season….SEVERAL OWNERS would have cut bait at 4-7…Considering the the 1-6 slide (after a 3-1 start) portrayed a team on the brink of total collapse…& the man was already tagged with the debacle of the 2022 Brady led Bucs struggling mightily to a losing record.
The fact that the team rallied down the stretch & found a way to win a division no one pegged them to do before the season started is good sign…Regardless of Sunday’s outcome in DET…Bowles, Canales & Mayfield have all earned the right to be Bucs in 2024.
& I 100% can not believe I’ve typed that…I’m not a Bolwes supporter at all.
I fully expected Bolwes/Canales/Mayfield marriage to flop, a losing season, top 5-10 pick & Kliff Kingsbury as the new HC w/ shiny new 1st Rd QB to work with in 2024.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Good article Joe, More people do need to give Bowles credit for picking this team back up. Hiring Canales has been a blessing for this team, he’s taken his rookie lumps but has really done an excellent job.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Barring a complete collapse Sunday Bowles and Canales deserve to be back. Mayfield is likely going to who pays him the most unless of course the Bucs tags him. For what its worth I believe Sundays game is going to be a nailbiter!
January 19th, 2024 at 3:15 pm
“Never blink” was a Raheem Morris mantra. It still plays and is truth in life and football.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:24 pm
It sure seems the view of Bowles is in large part dictated by what you expected of the team going into the season. Those who saw a 4 win team because of the loss of Brady think Bowles overachieved. Those who saw an 8+ win team because of the remaining Super Bowl talent think there were too many bad calls in the middle of this season that held them back. All of that being said, it sure seems Bowles might be learning because he has been more aggressive on both sides of the ball in the latter part of the year, and especially in the wild card game. So while I think the criticism was warranted, I give him credit for growing along the way and getting the team where they are now.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
The team believes in him, something you can’t ignore. You can see what happened to the far more talented Eagles
January 19th, 2024 at 3:36 pm
Gerald is kinda right. Just a few weeks ago, Bucs fans, including me were ready to dump Bowles in the Bay. Weeks later, we are rooting for him. Funny what that winning does for running heads. Give’em hell up there in Detroit Bucs..Give’em Hell baby!!
January 19th, 2024 at 3:39 pm
No matter how you slice it or dice it the man looked into the abyss at 4-7 and he never blinked. Todd has a pair to keep it all together for the finish this team has enjoyed.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
Yeah, maybe well deserved for the criticism (& credit), but I think there is validity to what he said.
The 9-0 victory (last game vs panthers) was against a team that albeit a has a bad record was fielding the #4 ranked defense in the nfl. Along with our issues and injuries was a win.
Yet, according to many fans, we were trash and if were a legit team, fill in the blank…..
I will take an ugly win over a pretty loss every time. As they say, there are no moral victories in football….
January 19th, 2024 at 3:44 pm
McSoftie knows nothing about winning but he sure can whine
January 19th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
‘Joe doesn’t hear everyone’s take, but Joe thinks criticism of Bowles largely was deserved.’
Criticism based on PERFORMANCE is usually understandable & pretty much ‘deserved’. But criticizing a coach’s demeanor & personality is unwarranted. Quite a few Bucs fans disliked Todd Bowles for his ‘stoicism’ on the sidelines & translated that into ‘he can’t motivate his players’ and he’s ’emotionally detached’ from the game. That wasn’t warranted IMO; that’s just who he is and how he prefers to lead.
Bowles obviously trusted his instincts & experience in getting through the hard times … and his players obviously trusted him. TB reminds me a lot of Tony Dungy in that regard (who also went through a pretty rough start but stayed the course & developed some pretty good teams). I’m glad that it’s working out, but those same ‘fans’ will turn on him in a heartbeat if this young team starts to falter again.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:46 pm
When the Bucs were 4-7 I was one of the fans who was ready to go to Bowles house and help him pack.
However, since then the Bucs have turned it around even though it was against weak or reeling teams.
With all of that being said I think Bowles has earned another year.
I still dont think he is a very good head coach and giving him another year is probably just delaying the inevitable.He may get fired at the end of next season but he has earned the right to give it another shot
January 19th, 2024 at 3:48 pm
Some of you people are amazing. You cannot, in all honesty, say Bowles didn’t deserve much of the criticism he received. His defenses were atrocious and his stubbornness was maddening. He finally gets creative and now he’s Coach of the Year again. And you “Super Fans” give it a rest with trying to scold us like we should just soak up mediocrity like you do. It’s not working.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:53 pm
Bowles deserved the criticism.
He deserves credit for righting the ship
He’ll get next year for sure.
If he goes 9-8 again…I doubt he survives.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:56 pm
When the Bucs were 4-7 I was one of the fans who was ready to go to Bowles house and help him pack.
However, since then the Bucs have turned it around even though it was against weak or reeling teams.
With all of that being said I think Bowles has earned another year.
I still dont think he is a very good head coach and giving him another year is probably just delaying the inevitable.He may get fired at the end of next season but he has earned the right to give it another shot
January 19th, 2024 at 4:11 pm
Joes, how about a flash poll? Should Gerald McCoy be in the Bucs Ring of Honor?
HaHa, its Friday.. Im bored with stirring the Trask pot…
January 19th, 2024 at 4:15 pm
Optimistic Buc fan, if the Bucs win another championship I doubt a 9-8 season next year would get him fired…… really bad take.
January 19th, 2024 at 4:27 pm
Let’s go Bucs!!
Beat the Lions, and we’re playing for the NFC Championship!!
No one, and I mean no one, thought that was possible. Good job all the way around. Give the water boy the credit. Just Win!!!
January 19th, 2024 at 4:29 pm
McCoy is 100% correct….
This fan base whined and moaned about Bowles and Mayfield the entire season and now look where they got us…1 win away from a conference championship game
January 19th, 2024 at 4:32 pm
If we somehow win the SB a statue of Moriah Godwin needs to be built, Things didn’t really change until her social media outburst.
January 19th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Until the Bucs beat a top team at the top of their game, Bowels reputation of mediocre remains reality!…
The down side of the Bucs beating teams just because those teams are having off days is creating a false impression that Bowles fixed anything…
‘Stuck with Bowles’ as HC is going to make for a LONG year!
January 19th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Dewey Selmon Says:
January 19th, 2024 at 4:32 pm
If we somehow win the SB a statue of Moriah Godwin needs to be built, Things didn’t really change until her social media outburst.
Gotta agree with Dewey.
January 19th, 2024 at 5:13 pm
After last season and all of the things leading up to this season had me in doubt, I have to say. but now I have to say that I’m really impressed with what the Bucs have done. Finding things along the way that would help them win with the world criticizing them for any and all of the little mistakes they were making, behind the scenes Bowles kept the ship sailing. Hell of a job.
Me on the other hand, some heads would have been turned cause I would have gotten a little pissed off about it all and then no more cameras for this guy. Thank you Todd Bowles for the fight you have put in your team… Let’s Go Baby, Let’s Go Bucs!!!! Love it!!!
January 19th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Gerald McCoy is obviously a very nice guy. It held him back as a player and it certainly held back the teams he was on. There is a very slim margin of error in the NFL. You have to want it. Devin White has the same problem. He’d rather be playing with his horses. There’s nothing wrong with it. You are probably not going to be the among the best in the NFL. That’s ok.
As a fan though, I am delighted at the expectations I see on this site every day. That’s the real Brady effect. Have you ever been to Boston? They demand excellence from their teams. Any hint of mediocrity and they are ready to riot. GOOD. I have no desire whatsoever to return to the lost decade.
January 19th, 2024 at 5:24 pm
It will be a good game but Lions all the way.
January 19th, 2024 at 6:08 pm
@mike C – LOL. Come on man. If he wins a SB all bets are off and then Mayfield is definitely getting $40-$45 mill also.
And pigs fly.
GMAFB
SMDH. Again, hate this town more and more.
Back to reality…
January 19th, 2024 at 6:21 pm
Mcoys a stud, Selmon also a stud, Lucious better than both. Funny all Sooner Magic guys, get ready for it bitc,
BUC TAKING IT TO SB
January 19th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
The Glazers other Football team Manchester United routinely loans out players to other leagues to get playing time. I would like to see the NFL work out a player loan agreement with the Rock and the UFL. MLB, NHL and NBA minor league teams are expenses wheras FIFA loans are usually much cheaper. They should get Trask playing time in the UFL.
January 19th, 2024 at 7:15 pm
Bowles made some boneheaded decisions and was correctly criticized, usually with a caveat such as, “I like Bowles but his game plan and refusal to call timeouts and pass on first down is stupid.” Other NFL coaches have gotten worse treatment, with less reason.
January 19th, 2024 at 7:35 pm
“ Again, hate this town more and more”
Feel free to leave….
January 19th, 2024 at 8:28 pm
marky mark, If trask cant hit a wide open receiver in the corner of the end zone how in the hell could he compete in the new spring UFL??
January 19th, 2024 at 10:56 pm
Shut up Shady. When you lose a game against the Texans the way we did is abhorrent. The losing streak was terrible. Bowles deserved every once of criticism. How about benching disgruntled free Lancer 45 sooner in the season? Wanna know why the defense is so much better? Because the calls from Bowles are actually being executed. White can go get a bag and miss tackles and allow tight ends to snatch his lunch money somewheres else.
January 20th, 2024 at 1:28 am
Cue the ignorant that hate on McCoy.
FACT- if he played with someone like Simeon or Shaq or alongside Vea, he would easily be over 80 career sacks from the DT position.
Regardless if you liked him or not, he’s decent as an analyst. That said, he is wrong here, Bowles and Baker deserved criticism halfway through the season.
January 20th, 2024 at 5:48 am
So McCoy isn’t a player who makes others better
He would need others to make him better
But he is a Great Player???
Suh made others better
January 20th, 2024 at 5:50 am
Bowles a great coach now ????
This team had several games they weren’t prepared for
Bowles has now 2 seasons out of 7 that hi is over 500
Let’s see what happens when the OC is gone next year
January 20th, 2024 at 6:33 am
a pick 6 just might be what the doctor orders up on sunday…
AWJ getting it in on national tv
January 20th, 2024 at 7:19 am
Haha optimisticbuc fan I 75 will get you out
January 20th, 2024 at 7:22 am
Wow lions win one $#%@ ing playoff game in 30 years and want to talk smack on another teams page…… 🙄 OK little buddy.
January 20th, 2024 at 8:45 am
Up until last week, Bowles had proven nothing as an NFL head coach. Respect in this profession comes with pelts on the wall in the shape of playoff wins. Bowles now has one pelt. Let’s see if he can add to it.
McCoy has always loved to talk. “Sorry, Ben” is his legacy.
January 20th, 2024 at 8:45 am
These guys love Bowles and play all out for him.Extend his contract and sign Baker.
January 20th, 2024 at 8:59 am
I will take that with a grain of salt from Gerald. For two reasons. He himself faced a lot of undeserved criticism from fans and media while here, and Bowles is his guy.
So I completely understand why he might lean this way. I do not agree however. He needs to take step back from this one.
Go Bucs!
January 20th, 2024 at 10:15 am
SufferingSince76, I’ve been SufferingSince79. No joke either. TB finally has been an actual HC for a whole year. Let’s see, Bucs had that, new OC, new QB, ton of cheap rookies and UDFAs, and salary cap h3ll. Thank god, our GM is a wizard and not new! So here’s Tampa Bay, the only FL team still in the playoffs. What happened to the Fins????? Jax?? It sure didn’t turn out the way the bloviating sports ‘pundits’ predicted, now did it? I gave TB the benefit of the doubt. It was Canales who drove me nuts. I still don’t fully trust him. I’m a GMC punter, and glad he’s doing well. Go Bucs!!