Gamblers Hate The Bucs
September 6th, 2024
Fans don’t like ugly.
Face it, it’s human nature. We don’t like to look at ugly. How often do you see Roseanne Barr advertise goods on TV? How many dudes would prefer to sit next to Rosie O’Donnell on a plane instead of Kate Beckinsale, even in first class?
This is the case in sports, too. Why do folks like good quarterbacks? Well, yes, of course good quarterbacks are better than bad ones. But it is also the aesthetics. A Tom Brady-led offense was pleasing to the soul. A Trent Dilfer-led offense was a torturous eyerake.
And as Joe always types, it’s always about the quarterbacks. Even when it’s not about the quarterback, it’s about the quarterback.
NFL fans in general consider Baker Mayfield to be an “ugly” quarterback. As Cody Benjamin typed for CBS, Mayfield does not lead a “pretty” offense.
This is why, despite all the success the Bucs have had since 2020, NFL folks are down on the Bucs this season. It’s about the quarterback. And folks just do not trust Mayfield, or for that matter, any “ugly” quarterback.
This is why you see so many of the #NFLMedia fall to their knees over Kirk Cousins. He’s the type of quarterback fans deem “pretty.” He stands tall in the pocket and throws well downfield. Nevermind that when healthy, he couldn’t win in Minnesota with better talent than he has at Atlanta. Oh, and please do forget that ugly Mayfield beat Cousins in his own crib to start the 2023 season.
The pretty/ugly factor seeps into gambling as well. Over at Sharp Football Analysis, head honcho Warren Sharp points out that the Bucs rank as the fifth team gamblers are wagering against most often.
Many people viewed the loss of OC Dave Canales as a big issue for Baker Mayfield, and that without Canales, this offense will not be as effective.
While Canales was viewed as a “QB whisperer” in how he helped both Geno Smith and Mayfield improve, I don’t view his absence as the biggest issue for the Bucs.
This offense ran far too often on early downs under Canales and put themselves in tough spots.
The larger issue is simple regression after their incredible luck last season related to schedule ease, turnovers, fumbles, field goals, health, and third down performance.
There you have it. Folks tend to look at quarterbacks. Team has a good, pretty quarterback, they are more liable to succeed. A team has an ugly quarterback? That team is more likely to struggle and fall short of goals.
Joe gets all of this even though Joe thinks much of it is hogwash.
The only way this narrative might change for Mayfield and the Bucs is if Mayfield has another season this year. If he can get another one in 2025, then at that point he definitely will lose the tag of being an inconsistent, ineffective quarterback.
You may or may not be surprised that despite folks mocking Mayfield, the former Heisman Trophy winner has a better playoff winning percentage than pretty quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Cousins.
Yes, sadly, we live in a style-over-substance world.
September 6th, 2024 at 12:09 am
This Joe is spot on. As I have said, it’s all “prima donnas and politics”. Baker will have to elbow his way to relevance and acceptance.
September 6th, 2024 at 12:24 am
Remembering Warren Sapp when asked if he’d love having Michael Vick as his QB in 2002….
“Naaa, I’ll take our throwback guy.”
Ugly winners beat pretty losers. Fact.
Earth to Todd – stay out of Coen’s way if he wants to throw on first down half the time or more.
September 6th, 2024 at 12:34 am
I still firmly believe Baker will become the Bucs “version” of Drew Brees. I’m not saying Baker will have a head to head comparison of statistics or 15 year stay with the Bucs (although it is possible) but he has so far resurrected his career and become the leader and vital element of this team. He is popular with the fans and community. The biggest obstacle in Baker’s way is the possible coaching carousel.
September 6th, 2024 at 12:43 am
Meh, it’s part of living #ABucsLife
We’ve always been disrespected and underestimated.
Even with our all-world defense in the late 90s / early 00s.
Even after we won the SB in 03
Even when Tom Brady came here, before we actually won another SB with him in February 2021.
In fact the 2021 and 2022 seasons are really the only years we ever got respect. And even that ran out by time we had limped into the playoffs that last year with Brady.
September 6th, 2024 at 1:01 am
It’s evident that Sharp never watched a Bucs game when he says “The larger issue is simple regression…”
Sure, health is luck, and McLaughlin had a good year. But, Sharp should watch Winfield get turnovers- not luck, and when is third down performance lucky?
Sharp needs to consider that Baker had a good year because he had a HOF WR1 in ME13, a darn good WR2 in Godwin, and maybe the best receiving RB in the NFL in White. Bake’s new average was last year (forget Cleveland) when he had some great targets but the worst running game in the NFL. Let’s see what happens this year with a run game and a new play caller….
September 6th, 2024 at 1:11 am
Pretty much. LOL
September 6th, 2024 at 1:24 am
Mahones isn’t exactly a “looker” and pleasing to the eye. BUT HE CAN SURE SLING IT! And TD’s are ALWAYS pleasing to the eye!
September 6th, 2024 at 2:08 am
I wish people would stop calling bettors gamblers. There’s a huge difference, and the only way to give greater legitimacy to the skills needed for sports betting is to stop referring to it as gambling. Gambling implies more luck than skill; betting implies more skill than luck. Only those that understand the difference should be writing about it.
Well, all bettors are gamblers, whether they like it or not. Those who win consistency are skilled. Nobody is diminishing that, whether it be horse racing, dog racing, football, etc.–Joe
September 6th, 2024 at 5:17 am
I don’t give a flip what gamblers or insurance salesmen think.
Not a sucker who gives money away.
Go Bucs!
September 6th, 2024 at 6:42 am
If you’re really old, you remember when the very mention of gambling was forbidden, let alone the placing of bets. Now the leagues must need money so badly they’ve abandoned all pretense. They want their cut. Hypocrites, all of us. And for gosh sakes it’s time to put Pete Rose in the HOF.
September 6th, 2024 at 6:47 am
Bucs are 3 point faves.
September 6th, 2024 at 8:06 am
I Watched the Chiefs-Ravens game. At times it was painful to watch Lamar throw long a miss.
Better receivers could improve his game. He’s definitely gifted but he doesn’t loft his throws for receivers to have a better chance vs the corners.
Lamar is the bridesmaid and not the bride when playing the Chiefs.
September 6th, 2024 at 8:39 am
Remember our Super Bowl run? We played away games and were favored only against Washington. Saints and Packers favored over us. KC was a heavy favorite. Our first Super Bowl we were the underdog to the Raiders. I saw that game in Japan in a Joint Command Center and I was the lowest ranking officer and the only Buc fan surrounded by Majors, Colonels and Generals who were Raider fans. I got death stares but loved it. We are either dogs that lose or underdogs that win. It’s a Bucs life.
September 6th, 2024 at 8:46 am
@Allen Loften: Crows have massive cap in Hackson, so dumpster dive for a surrounding cast.
September 6th, 2024 at 8:49 am
Listening to NFL on XM this morning – I have never heard a player get so many excuses thrown his way, more that Lamar Jackson. Dak would be a close second.
September 6th, 2024 at 9:05 am
I’d say the massive amount of ascending year 2/year 3 players compared to the average NFL rosters from 2023, is enough to offset any ‘luck’ regression lol
September 6th, 2024 at 9:54 am
Lamar is Michael Vick II. Amazing athlete and competitor. Below average passer.
September 6th, 2024 at 9:59 am
Didn’t BM win a most-improved player award last year? If so, that was with a lousy OC. I don’t bet-no interest in it.
September 6th, 2024 at 10:18 am
Baker was inconsistent because he had few weapons in CLEVELAND.
He was forced to try to do it all.
Different story,different franchise ,the owners and management here know what it takes to win and share a commitment along with the players ..Go Baker,Go Bucs Go team Glazer,forever a Bucs fan!
September 6th, 2024 at 10:25 am
Regression as part of good luck last year?
Did anyone feel lucky last year? I don’t recall a single game where I thought the Bucs got a lucky win.
September 6th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Right on Sly.
September 6th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
You keep saying Cousins couldn’t win in Minnesota. His record there was 50-37. Bakers career record is 42-47.
Yes, Baker has a better playoff record than Kirk and Lamar…he’s won 1 more game than them.
The out act as if the entire world has an agenda against the Bucs. They don’t. The reality is more objective NFL observers simply see us as a mediocre team that’s had a mediocre record the last couple years, with a mediocre QB and mediocre HC. Just based on wins and losses, all those things are true.
September 6th, 2024 at 12:41 pm
I didn’t feel Dave Canales was good at all…and he certainly won’t do well as a first time head coach
September 7th, 2024 at 2:38 am
When it comes to betting, the Bucs seem to be a source of frustration for many. ‘Gamblers Hate The Bucs’ reflects the challenging nature of predicting sports outcomes and the impact of a team’s performance on betting strategies.
September 8th, 2024 at 2:16 pm
Having a neat bedroom is therapeutic.