Conor Orr Doubts Todd Bowles Is On Solid Ground
November 27th, 2024
“Chatter.”
This is interesting to Joe, and Joe will explain. First, the core of the story.
SI NFL columnist Conor Orr was a guest along with James Palmer on the “Heed the Call” podcast hosted by NFL.com expatriates Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler. Palmer, too, is an NFL Media refugee.
There, the quartet decided to take a look at the job security of all 32 NFL coaches. Each had different takes and views on coaches thought to be safe or on a roasting hot seat.
When it came to the perceived status of Bucs coach Todd Bowles, it grew very interesting for Joe.
Bowles’ name was included in the category of “Likely Bullet Proof.” Hanzus rattled off the names in this group only stopping when someone wanted to interject a comment. When Hanzus read off “Bowles,” Orr raised his hand to offer pushback.
“I think I’d kick him down one [level],” Orr said. “I think we have to have a good back-end to the season here.”
Palmer asked Orr, “Can you see a good back-end to the season? Because I can.”
Orr agreed.
“I can,” Orr said. “That’s the thing. The schedule is excellent. Everything is breaking. I do think they will win that division.
“But, I think it is unignorable that this idea of, maybe over the last two seasons, you keep hearing this chatter, ‘OK, maybe they may want to go in a different direction.’ But they keep winning and hanging on.”
Hanzus also sided with Orr.
“I’m with you,” Hanzus said.
So Bowles was bumped to a lower group “We Need To Show Progress.”
Why does this interest Joe? Let’s connect a few dots, shall we?
Joe attends NFL media events like the combine and Super Bowl Opening Night/media week. Orr also is there talking to NFL shot-callers, coaches, general managers, agents and, yes, sometimes owners over drinks in bars or burgers at places like Steak n’ Shake in downtown Indianapolis.
Jerry Jones, for example, is more than happy to have a bourbon and talk turkey with reporters. Off the record, of course. Joe once saw Packers president Mark Murphy at Steak n’ Shake taking care of his late-night munchies grabbing grub near midnight, just like any other schlub. Very approachable.
So, this is to say Joe knows Orr talks to a lot of NFL people. So the reference to “chatter” perked up Joe’s ears.
Now, just this past weekend, Diana Russini, who Joe knows is very well-plugged in with NFL heavy hitters, posted a story for The Athletic claiming her intel from NFL coaches and suits says Bill Belichick’s name comes up “frequently” linking him to the Bucs.
And yes, Joe fully understands Bowles is still employed.
But with this “chatter,” now from two sources in recent days who know their way around the NFL media playground, if Bowles can’t lead the Bucs to the playoffs with what so many perceive as a cotton-candy-soft schedule over the next six weeks, Bowles could be coaching for his gig.
November 27th, 2024 at 7:03 am
Bowles is likely bullet proof if the Glazers want to settle for mediocrity.
November 27th, 2024 at 7:09 am
I’m done worrying about Bowles. We’ll find out if it really was injuries that hurt the defense or whether he’s just a stubborn old dinosaur that needs to go extinct. All of his fan boys apparently love mediocrity when it comes to him and the Bucs.
November 27th, 2024 at 7:14 am
Yawn
November 27th, 2024 at 7:15 am
Barrett please
November 27th, 2024 at 7:16 am
Be careful what you ask for. You just might get it.
November 27th, 2024 at 7:31 am
If Todd doesn’t close the season on a high note hard to see him coming back…
November 27th, 2024 at 7:42 am
Bowles is bullet proof if they win out. If he wins 5 of the last 6 he will probably be ok, whether we win the division or not…but not positively locked in. Anything less and we bid adieu. Belicheat has had his day in the sun. If we dump Bowles I want Cohen.
November 27th, 2024 at 7:45 am
Please no Belichick, I would rather have Bowles.
November 27th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Bowles is not the reason Bucs are 5-6.
Injuries, schedule, lack of execution on Defense and turnovers are.
November 27th, 2024 at 7:50 am
Glazers canned Dungy for Gruden and that produces a Suoer Bowl. Todd will have to win ateast 1 playoff game or he is gone.
November 27th, 2024 at 7:51 am
Here’s the deal. 2 utterly disgusting ATL losses. Can’t win close games. The offense still succeeding despite major injuries. The defense is GARBAGE with the vast majority of starters not experiencing major injuries.
Common denominator?
T O D D B O W L E S.
November 27th, 2024 at 8:03 am
Bowles will be fired & Liam Coen will be the new coach in Tampa Bay next year. Say what want about the Glazers but they have brought 2 Super Bowl trophies to town, which is more than half the teams in the league can say…
Go Bucs!
November 27th, 2024 at 8:15 am
If Bowles had gone for two points, to win the game, to beat Kansas City, I would say keep him. It wouldn’t matter to me if we succeeded, just the fact that we tried. Instead he gambled on a coin flip. We lost the game on a coin flip. We’ve had too many losses because of bad decisions by the HC or the DC in crucial games. I know he is universally loved by the players, but running White up the middle on offense repeatedly on offense, and the pathetic deep zone defense, fumbled clock manipulation, it’s just too much. I understand injuries are a factor, but the offense has adjusted. The defense has not, and that’s on Bowles. The Bucs need a coaching change at HC and DC imo.
November 27th, 2024 at 8:43 am
I remember when Josh Freeman was our QB, and he’d keep leading these comeback wins and everyone would rave and I’d be like, “Yeah, but it sure would be nice to have a QB that didn’t need to mount comeback wins all the time.”
Yeah, it sure would be nice to have a head coach who didn’t need to win 5 of their last 6 every season to make the playoffs.
November 27th, 2024 at 8:50 am
Almost identical record as lost year with a fully healthy roster. People making excuses for Bowles are basically making excuses for losing and mediocrity. Hoping Bowles can win 5 games for the first time in his coaching career while also praying that Atlanta collapses and can’t beat the Giants, Raiders and Panthers is not progress it’s also ridiculous.
November 27th, 2024 at 8:56 am
Unless you are replacing him with Cohen I would not like to see anyone else here.
November 27th, 2024 at 8:56 am
Belicheat is being pressured by his young girlfriend to move to Florida…lol.
November 27th, 2024 at 8:59 am
Bowles is under 500 for his tenure with the Bucs. Nothing is set in stone.
November 27th, 2024 at 9:02 am
I feel like bowels is setting himself up for a Tomlin like streak of they let him.
Including his first season where he was given the keys half way through the offseason; his team has gotten 1 step closer to the super bowl every year:
So far this year has not been different; even with the injuries this team has fought and been in about every game to the wire.
November 27th, 2024 at 9:09 am
1SparkyBuc… well said. Those are close to my feelings as well. I like Bowles but the consistent issues we have been seeing from him with his game management, conservative style and poor zone D don’t seem to be going anywhere. It’s been 3 years of it, and we can debate what games and when but these issues have almost certainly cost the team important Ws.
November 27th, 2024 at 9:12 am
The Bucs need to do whatever they can to keep Coen and Mike Greenberg in Tampa Bay.
November 27th, 2024 at 9:16 am
Bucs need an offensive head coach. Belichick is obviously light years better than Coach Bowles, but I think the Bucs should give Liam Coen a shot to run this team.
November 27th, 2024 at 9:34 am
Alanbucsfan Says:
November 27th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Bowles is not the reason Bucs are 5-6.
Injuries, schedule, lack of execution on Defense and turnovers are.
^^^^^^^^^
You’ve watched all of the Bucs games this year and you honestly don’t see any fault in Todd Bowles coaching?
November 27th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Bowles has to advance in the playoffs, without that you’re settling for 9-8 seasons. His defense is trash, his game management isn’t much better, he’s in a weak division that he barely stays competitive in….meanwhile the offense is humming without its top two WRs. There’s no way I see the Bucs losing Coen to keep Bowles. The Bucs have a $100 million invested in Mayfield alone, I just don’t see them getting another OC, the 4th in 4 yrs. That’s what bad organizations do to ruin QBs.
November 27th, 2024 at 9:56 am
Lack of adjustments and managing the game is alarming to fans, players, owners, media or basically anyone with a pulse and enough intelligence to put on their pants.
If Todd cannot finish with 9 wins (minimum) with the remaining schedule he should be let go once the season is finished.
His decision making has cost this team at minimum 2 wins, so far, could be more.
November 27th, 2024 at 9:56 am
“Alanbucsfan Says:
November 27th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Bowles is not the reason Bucs are 5-6.
Injuries, schedule, lack of execution on Defense and turnovers are.”
Bullspit.
He absolutely is a major reason. His defense is atrocious and blaming injuries is just an excuse. The offense arguably had far more significant injuries and soldiered on.
His clock management is brutal.
His tendency to turtle at the wrong times is maddening. That alone cost them two potential wins (Atlanta and KC).
He did the same exact things as HC of the Jets. And yes, that does matter. It’s his nature and he obviously won’t change.
If he misses the playoffs he should be history.
November 27th, 2024 at 9:58 am
Also, I have yet to hear one solid argument for keeping him, regardless of the seasons outcome.
The players like him doesn’t matter. They liked Dungy. They liked Lovie. They liked Raheem. Results matter.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:00 am
If we are going to hire Belacheat? Then I would rather keep Todd Bowles. But Bowles need to run the table. And I don’t see him doing that. I see 2 more losses this season. And we’d better be ready come Sunday. Canales has the Panthers playing much better than they were at the beginning of the season. Bucs could get a surprise.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:09 am
Orr and a couple others likely read this site and we are the chatters.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:13 am
I don’t think Bowles will ever win a Super Bowl. He coached scared. That said, I would only want Bellichick if Licht stayed on and Coen stays as OC.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:21 am
Top three teams in NFC: Lion’s, Eagles, and Vikings. Buccaneers beat Lions and Eagles. So don’t talk trash about easy schedule. They also beat Washington, a probable playoff team.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:24 am
After that dismantling of the vaunted New York Giants, I fully expect a contract extension for the great Todd Bowles.
He’s got this defense playing better than any Bucs defensive unit in their history.
His in game decisions are brilliant and well executed.
A proven winner year after year.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:25 am
You idiots wanting to run Bowels out of town are delusional. You want Beel Beelecheck? No you F-ing don’t. He’s not bringing Brady with him, and his record without Brady is… not good. Keep what we got. It can be SOOO much worse.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:29 am
Does Todd Bowles give the impression that he is truly in command of this team ?
I view him as a manager not a commander.
So far he has managed to be just good enough to keep his job.
Just good enough is mediocrity.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:30 am
If it’s not gonna be bowels I’d take cohen over anyone. If bowels isn’t fired we’re probably gonna lose cohen to some other team to be their head coach
November 27th, 2024 at 10:37 am
My opinion is that no matter how many articles or fans post comments how much they hate Bowles or how bad of a HC he is, it’s all mid season rhetoric – and it’s the same year after year. The reality is Bowles has the respect of the organization and players, and has not had a losing season while at HC (losing is defined as either under 500 OR not winning the division – how bad the division is as a whole is moot point; he still winning it). Even a 2nd place finish in the division (cough cough possibly this year) is not considered by most a losing season.
Buckle up guys – you’ll be seeing Bowles until his contract is up.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:51 am
Mort Says:
November 27th, 2024 at 10:25 am
You idiots wanting to run Bowels out of town are delusional. You want Beel Beelecheck? No you F-ing don’t. He’s not bringing Brady with him, and his record without Brady is… not good. Keep what we got. It can be SOOO much worse.
^^^^^^^^
Hopefully Coen is ready for the HC job.
November 27th, 2024 at 10:52 am
You must be joking. The craziest argument I ever heard is keep what you got because it could be worse. I don’t care who it is I don’t care if Coen takes a job somewhere else lol it’s no excuse to keep Mr mediocre zero blitz Bowles.
Don’t think about Bowles mediocre.500 record but what it means for Bucs since that’s all I care about. It means we aren’t good enough to stomp with the big dogs and too good to lose to the trash teams. Middle of the pack is no man’s land in the draft and especially when you win the division and make the playoffs and continue to play teams above his coaching ability. I think our talent is better than the chargers who dumped a bunch of players but the difference is they hired a competent coach. Even Raheem Morris won 10 games in a tougher division with less talent. Once again Bucs fans are praying for help to make the playoffs in one of the weakest divisions in football
November 27th, 2024 at 10:54 am
“Mort Says:
November 27th, 2024 at 10:25 am
You idiots wanting to run Bowels out of town are delusional. You want Beel Beelecheck? No you F-ing don’t. He’s not bringing Brady with him, and his record without Brady is… not good. Keep what we got. It can be SOOO much worse.”
I don’t want Belicheck. Straight up.
Keeping what we got (mediocre is Bowles ceiling) because you’re afraid of improving is dumb. Still waiting for a good reason to keep this guy if he ends up missing the playoffs. That isn’t one.
But if this team misses the playoffs and it comes down to losing Coen, bye Todd.
November 27th, 2024 at 11:01 am
Anything less then a division title, and a home playoff win, would not be progress would it? Glazers won’t settle for less. Four home losses so far, three prime time losses, two losses to new HC Raheem Morris of all people. Glazers can’t be happy with that. The Glazers fired Dungy for far less, and he was a young coach, not like Bowles who’s on his last gig. Todd is way far from safe.
November 27th, 2024 at 11:15 am
The only way you run Liam out of town is by firing Todd Bowles. I’m sure Baker would leave ASAP if Bowles is released. So would all of our best players. Jason Licht would leave too if the Glazers tried to force him to fire Bowles. This is a team from Jason Licht thru the practice squad that is in lockstep. Hope if Belidunce is lucky enough to get another job that his new rookie QB steals his girlfriend.
November 27th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Coen seems to be a very creative and innovative OC. He actually looks at his talent and crafts around them. He’s a rising star as an OC, but running an entire team is not something he’s done.
Bowles was an excellent DC when that’s the only hat he had to wear. I think the HC duties are a bit much for him, especially in-game decisions.
I think Belichick as HC with Coen at OC and Bowles as DC would be a great combo. Love him or hate him, Belichick knows more about football than almost anybody alive today.
Just my opinion…
November 27th, 2024 at 11:24 am
Bowles will always be coaching for his job. He will never be able to have another losing season and remain HC. The only way I would prefer Belichick is if Coen stayed on as OC. Bill could take current defense personnel and do some things with it.
November 27th, 2024 at 11:35 am
Bowles has the team playing hard and the players seem to love playing for him
Doesn’t mean he hasn’t made some mistakes and if the Bucs lose to Panthers, Raiders or Cowboys, maybe that will be his firing.
I expect Bucs to go on a run and make the playoffs, but it’s difficult to be a SB contender without an effective pass rush and the edge rush guys they’ve drafted aren’t up to snuff.
November 27th, 2024 at 11:41 am
I want Liam running this team for the next 10 years. This team has a great offense, one we havent seen the likes of… maybe ever. Say what you will about injuries, but significant losses have occurred on both sides of the ball, and the offense has continually found ways to produce. The defense completely wilted, and thats Bowles “strength.” So which dude do we want running the show? I hope we dont lose an emerging talent like Cohen just to give Bowles a “fair shake.”
Most importantly, lets talk business. A Bucs offense with a QB not named Brady is exciting and consistent for the first time ever!! Its a great product!!! Fans love it! Keep that together, and Bucs fans will spend $$, NFL fans will tune in and there will be more nationally televised games. The Liam/Bake show will make the Glazers money. Another year of Bowles and a new OC? Stale. Not gonna be pretty to watch, and not going to be a money maker.
November 27th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
What short memories people have. Don’t forget the circumstances by which Bowles became head coach. The Glazers were blindsided by B.A. The untenable situation between TB12 and B.A. forced Bowles upon the Glazers. The Glazers were forced to choose between Bowles and Leftwich. There were no other options. B.A. attempted to shove Leftwich down the Glazers throats. Bowles is a good man and was put in a terrible position. The Glazers have shown much patience and have given him every chance to succeed. I suspect that of all the coaches the Glazers have had to fire this will be the most difficult, if it happens. Obviously they have built a reputation as a professional organization. They managed the TB/BA/BL fiasco in a very deft manner. We now have a true franchise QB for the first time. We also appear to have a true franchise head coach in Coen. This is a very delicate situation and could disintegrate into chaos if not managed well. Let’s hope for the best.
With large corporations, ie. Walmart, turning away from “woke” and “dei” and the backlash Jaguar is getting I’m curious to see what Roger does. He had to back down fast over the “you know what” dance and ballcap episodes.
After 48 years this fellow would be very happy to see my favorite team with a true QB and HC and the American flag and anthem displayed and sung with heartfelt pride by all and no attention seekers taking a knee. Enough with all the pink ribbons and shoes. Breast cancer is not the only cancer. But I must say the Glazers didn’t appear to condone those kneeling protests. I think it only happened once if I recall correctly. Somebody refresh my memory on that.
Let’s see if the Glazers can make the Bucs great for the first time.
I want to return to watching games again.
November 27th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Unfortunately reality is if Bowles wins 7 straight games they may bring him back playoffs or not. No matter how much I dislike him 7 game winning streak can’t be dismissed especially when you’re a garbage head coach.
November 27th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
I want Todd Bowles fired as much as anyone. I never wanted him hired in the first place, honestly, but I had no idea what to do without Bruce Arians, suddenly and I’m only just a fan. I do have one request, though, for the other fans here: please just accept the situation. They didn’t fire him during the bye week, which was the only real opportunity to make a change mid-season without causing a complete collapse.
As fans, let’s do what we’re supposed to do and *root for the Bucs*. Not Todd Bowles the TEAM!! Forget about Todd Bowles failing and getting fired—we should be supporting the team and hoping for wins. PERIOD If those wins don’t come, he will likely be gone after this year anyway. In the meantime, let’s support the team, hope for the best, and maybe they can even win a Super Bowl with him as coach. If that happens, perhaps his team camaraderie will prove more valuable than any of his shortcomings as a head coach. The players seem to absolutely love the guy which honestly is half the battle do you want to win for the man your playing for or could you care less if he’s fired and replaced….