Easy For The Bucs To Stay Angry
March 14th, 2024
Joe had an off-microphone moment with Todd Bowles at the NFL Scouting Combine and asked him about going from being expected to suck in 2023 to inevitably moving to a favorite status in 2024, assuming the Bucs’ key pieces return in free agency.
Bowles said he’d rather be the underdog.
Yes, coaches and general manager Jason Licht are quick to say publicly that the good teams, their team, reject and block out noise from the outside. Meanwhile, that’s not what happens at One Buc Palace. And it’s ok!!
The Bucs have found ways to be good and still pay attention to media clowns and non-clowns. Heck, Tom Brady regularly used to show his Bucs offensive linemen how they were being doubted by media to motivate them.
Tampa Bay has won three consecutive division titles after winning a Super Bowl. Only six franchises have accomplished that feat in the past 40 years. And the Bucs did it while paying attention to the media noise to a significant degree.
Recently on The Rich Eisen Show, host Rich Eisen had a chat with two-time Super Bowl winner Chris Long, the retired edge rusher. Eisen, the voice of NFL Network, was adamant that the Vikings signing Kirk Cousins for huge money this week will make them the favorite in the NFC South through the eyes of the national media. And Eisen thinks that’s a perfect setup for the Bucs, and Baker Mayfield especially, to stay angry, annoyed and playing with a chip on their shoulder.
Long agreed and noted how he thinks Mayfield thriving last season was more about Mayfield than first-time playcaller and new Panthers head coach Dave Canales.
Long also said Mayfield is far better than Russell Wilson and fans should start realizing Mayfield is as good or better than Trevor Lawrence after doing film work on the quarterbacks (Joe presumes for Long’s Inside The NFL analyst gig.)
Joe senses a theme at One Buc Palace. The team wants to stay angry. Just yesterday, Licht mentioned national media not giving the team its proper due.
Remember, Bowles let his guard down after the Bucs won the Super Bowl and noted how angry his 2020 defense was because of how much football media they consume and what they were hearing.
Joe hopes the Bucs can keep their fiery edge. Joe maintains a raging fire by re-watching the final 34 seconds of the Bucs-Lions playoff game.
March 14th, 2024 at 10:31 am
Go Bucs
March 14th, 2024 at 10:33 am
I see Nick Leverett is signing with the Pats.
Good luck Nick.
March 14th, 2024 at 10:34 am
JTS are you reading this article? You suck… now do something about it!
March 14th, 2024 at 10:39 am
The national disrespect for the Bucs also helps some of us Bucs fans make a little money on the gambling apps so I don’t hate it.
March 14th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Need pass rush. Must have pass rush. Right now, there’s very little. I see there hasn’t been a market for Devin White. Hope he feels his pissy attitude was worth millions of dollars 💸. But like Antonio Brown, you can’t fix stupid.
March 14th, 2024 at 10:48 am
“Long also said Mayfield is far better than Russell Wilson and fans should start realizing Mayfield is as good or better than Trevor Lawrence “
March 14th, 2024 at 10:52 am
Joe says”…was adamant that the Vikings signing Kirk Cousins for huge money this week will” you meant Falcons I’m sure.
Hey Joe – I’m retired so you can hire me to be an editor for this awesome Bucs blog. I have only a few requirements: 1) I can work from home here in VA. 2) I’m allowed to swill beer whilst on the clock and 3) You introduce me to your favorite Swashbuckler at the Ybor Big Storm Brewing draft party this April. Deal?
March 14th, 2024 at 10:54 am
(resident of beautiful downtown Bent Mountain Virginia)
March 14th, 2024 at 10:58 am
Or rewatch the final 42 seconds of the Rams playoff loss. Both games illustrate how Todd gags in crunch time , as he calls defenses that his guys don’t know or can’t execute. At least his game management is horrible.
March 14th, 2024 at 10:58 am
JTS can’t do anything about it. He will be out of football after his contract is up.
Licht’s worst three picks were Hargreaves Aguayo and JTS…..
March 14th, 2024 at 11:01 am
It’s easier for the media to take the path of least resistance. Most people do! The media just ASSumed that when Brady retired the Bucs would be in a rebuild mold and Tank.
If they looked at the Bucs rooster, they would have seen the Bucs retained many of the players from their Super Bowl win.
The Bucs have Hall of Fame players in Mike Evans, Levante David, Tristan Wirt, Antoine Winfield Jr, and Pro Bowlers in Vita Vea, Chris Godwin, Baker Mayfield, and some talented Rookie players
March 14th, 2024 at 11:01 am
4x NFCS Champions
Only once has a team won the NFCS 4 consecutive years. Bucs could tie the record this year. That’s a NFCS Dynasty!
March 14th, 2024 at 11:09 am
What will stop first JoeBucs stop using Brady name to push the narrative nobody believes in the bucs since Brady left . Or Gisele doing sit down interviews discussing her divorce from Tom Brady. Both parties need to stop
March 14th, 2024 at 11:11 am
Manassas, Virginia!
March 14th, 2024 at 11:15 am
Central VA near the mighty James River.
March 14th, 2024 at 11:15 am
I read the title as Bucs stay “hungry” and laughed when Vita was the photo. Ahhh, I need sleep.
March 14th, 2024 at 11:28 am
Ahh, flat-lander!
March 14th, 2024 at 11:29 am
It seems we are stuck on trying to maintain the mediocre , barely .500 team we were last year while resting on our questionable laurels, all the while watching passively as the rest of the NFC-South works hard to move forward ,remember , when you are swimming in a river, against a never ending current, there is no such thing as staying where you are, you are either swimming hard to move forward or you are moving backwards.
March 14th, 2024 at 11:41 am
There you go with a negative waves
March 14th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
“JD Still Says:
March 14th, 2024 at 11:29 am
It seems we are stuck on trying to maintain the mediocre , barely .500 team we were last year while resting on our questionable laurels, all the while watching passively as the rest of the NFC-South works hard to move forward ,remember , when you are swimming in a river, against a never ending current, there is no such thing as staying where you are, you are either swimming hard to move forward or you are moving backwards.”
Sometimes signing your own is progress vs overpaying for someone else’s guys. If you think this team isn’t making progress because they aren’t going on a free agent spending spree, you’re wrong.
I expect Mike Evans and Lavonte to produce at a high level. Neither showed signs of aging.
I expect improvement from Mayfield. Second year with this team and teammates as well as a very similar offense.
I expect growth out of last year’s rookie class, especially Kancy and Diaby. Dennis is a dark horse, too.
Returning Winfield was a no brainer and bringing back Whitehead was, too.
Mclaughlin is money and he’s back.
The only weaknesses I see are OLB, TE and IOL (center/lg – Mauch will get better). I don’t see RB as a weakness because I truly believe that was more a product of the IOL that desperately needs a makeover.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Probably CENTCOMers
^^mtn^^
March 14th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
I agree with JD…….this team will be bottom of the NFC this year.
The implosion began when they inked mike and bake…..
you all asked for it.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:07 pm
You can’t give Mayfield a Pass on Piss Poor Play because he had multiple HC’s and OC’s and devalue another that has been through the same ordeal.
Eventually Jacksonville will find some stability and not pull another Philly Special at season’s end.
Folks bending over for Baker will Ohh Ahh a guy because he can go to a team and have a good game on two days prep but at Carolina with Months to get adjusted and plays like Crap deflect to coaching. He just plain sucked.
Sports Books may have got it wrong last year but they have seen what the Bucs have and are now ‘a’ favorite to win the Division. Not ‘the’ favorite. It does serve to push the idea that they are going from 9-8 to 12-5 in 2024. I didn’t see the 6 wins that they were projected last season and surely didn’t expect the 9-0 drumming they put on the worse team in the league to seal the Division title.
Open up them betting Apps and get in on that early +300 to Win the NFCS.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Lol it never stops. Had we ONLY signed Gardner Minshew!
March 14th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Was Springfield, VA. Now Eastern shore, DE. Lewes.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
This will be a really interesting season with the Vikings moving to the NFC South. 😉
March 14th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
“Tampa Bay has won three consecutive division titles after winning a Super Bowl. Only six franchises have accomplished that feat in the past 40 years.” – Joe
That’s an interesting fact! Thanks for that info!!
I suspect the schedule will be tougher this year (how can it not be? Last year was extremely light).
Mayfield is familiar with his players. The oline should be upgraded (eventually). The defense is good…hopefully will get better.
I think we have the players to win a tougher schedule…so we might repeat a Division win again.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Chris Long is drunk.
There is zero chance that the Vikings win the NFC SOUTH this year, with or without Kirk Cousins.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
D Cone, why care what sports books think?
Clearly you are a Mayfield Hater. I get it…I was at the same place last year. I still wouldn’t say I am a Mayfield fan…yet. But he did earn some respect from me last year. Some.
Enough to not assume he sucks…for now. He showed potential during his roller-coaster performances. I’ll be rooting for him this year. At least to start the season. Let’s see how he does.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:44 pm
All the bucs did this year was put a clear memo to every player that they MUST play hardball in negotiations. AW single handedly got this team to the playoffs and did not get a deal……while mike and bake did their best to keep us from the playoffs.. AND get us out of the playoffs and they got big contracts.
they signed their yes men.
prove me wrong.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
You’re an idiot
March 14th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Hey Joe’s!!!
Just saw weird articles on FANRECAP.COM that came out a couple of hours ago…
Says LD54’s new contract is a 2-YEAR contract with total value of $23.5 million, and not a 1 year contract ???????
Any confirmation on this????
I wonder if they went back to Lavonte and tweaked things???
Maybe want to push some cash to next year??
If so, that means there’s something else in the works perhaps for a defensive end FA ??
If you see anything on this, please put out something..
Thanks guys!
March 14th, 2024 at 12:58 pm
Cousins certainly has some interesting weapons up there, possibly moreso that he has last coupla seasons. Better ground game for sure with Bijan & Tyler
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
March 14th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Beeej Says:
March 14th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
You’re an idiot
they said the same about socrates and eintsein…
March 14th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
StormyInFl … Nice analysis Stormy. I agree that we’re making progress in all the ways that you mentioned. Last year’s rookies were awesome far as I’m concerned; I’d be willing to bet that our rookies played more snaps than any team in the NFL.
That was the start of a major rebuilding IMO, and it’ll continue this year. Folks can cry about going 9-8, but I think that’s a major accomplishment for a team with so many new moving parts, including at QB & a lot of changes in the trenches. It provided those guys with a ton of experience that I’m sure will prove beneficial this year.
Agree with you also about our weaknesses at this point (OLB, TE and IOL), but I’d also add RB. We came in dead last in rushing last year because we were a 1-trick pony; Bucs need a beastly RB to complement Rachaad (and to carry the load should he get injured for any period of time). I’m still a strong advocate for signing AJ Dillon, but getting Braelon Allen or Audric Estime in the draft would be OK too.
March 14th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Joe hopes the Bucs can keep their fiery edge.
You mean the fiery edge that let cj stroud march down the field with less than a minute left like he was Tom Brady? That fiery edge? You can be as mad as you want but you still have to line up and ball.
They weren’t angry enough to close out the lions even though they were more of the veteran team. Gotta beat playoffs teams during the regular season then people won’t think of up as underdogs. Just go beat someone that matters on a constant basis you know kind of like Detroit did last year
March 14th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
I’m with DR. I’ve seen every single snap that Braelon Allen had at Wisconsin as well as every snap AJ Dillon had at Packers since my wife is a huge Badger & Packer fan. Either with a new center and LG will fix the running game. R. White is a better 3rd down back then bell cow. If you insist in running the ball so much, in a passing league, we need a real running game.
Go Bucs!!!
March 14th, 2024 at 1:51 pm
Would that be the Socrates in Lutz?
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
March 14th, 2024 at 2:00 pm
Edge, Center, LG, RB, CB. One player in FA and the our first 4 picks in rounds 1-3. Best player available at positions of need. We can get a better TE next year or get a project on day 3.
Get it done Licht!
March 14th, 2024 at 2:27 pm
“Boss Says:
March 14th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Beeej Says:
March 14th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
You’re an idiot
they said the same about socrates and eintsein…”
What’s hilarious is when someone says that but they use “your” instead of “you’re”, and then you can make fun of them
March 14th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
How did re-signing all our starters the year after We won the Super Bowl work out for us ?
March 14th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Well, we lost nearly the entire secondary
March 14th, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Also what should keep your fiery edge JOE is still not having a dam elite pass rusher.
March 14th, 2024 at 3:33 pm
Hey lieutenant Dan love the post and if you need an intern you let me know
March 14th, 2024 at 3:50 pm
Donte?
Seriously tho, #2, swill beer sounds about right
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
March 14th, 2024 at 6:51 pm
Ohhh Ohhh dey angry
March 14th, 2024 at 6:53 pm
Here comes the Angry Bucs….ROFL
March 14th, 2024 at 7:53 pm
Should’ve signed Devin White to a 8.5m/1 yr deal to keep him away from the Eagles. Odd move by the Eagles imo unless they’ve decided they’re going to start blitzing LB’s next season.
March 14th, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Cousins’ weapons have been as good as any in the league since he’s been in Minnesota. Thielen, Diggs, Jefferson, Hochenson, Cook, etc. Better than the Falcons receivers, for sure.
March 15th, 2024 at 7:21 am
Anger management was a funny movie. I doubt anger has much to do with winning football. You have to have your head screwed on straight and angry people dont. If ot causes them to WORK harder then ok.
I agree with Grover.
Maybe that should be the name of the defense. The Angry Bunch lmao.
March 15th, 2024 at 7:26 am
The Bucs are at an inflection point — pretty good team, coaches and front office. One strategy is to get rid of everyone and rebuild. The other strategy is to try keep the key personnel and address the gaps as best as you can to with the goal of a few more regular season wins and a deeper run towards the championship.
I, for one, am glad they are going for it. I have seen enough lost seasons (new head coaches, new QBs, new systems, misfit coordinators). Its a gutsy move for a gutsy team.
I suppose another strategy would be to go get another TB12, but PM15 won’t be 42 for another 14 years.
March 15th, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Refining the roster. Not so much a rebuild.
There’s talent on the team to compete. TB has top tier players up and down the roster. Would be amazing having a coach who gets the most out of their skills or gives plays away with 1st down runs or 15 yrs off a WR on 4&7 leap to mind.