“Pride” Will Play A Major Role?
July 19th, 2015
An ex-Buccaneer weighs in
Joe and Bucs fans can argue all day long about whether Lovie Smith is on a hot seat, whether he must hit a certain number of wins in 2015 to keep his job.
But what is Lovie feeling?
Former Tampa Bay quarterback turned excellent NFL analyst Chris Simms says pride will be a major factor for the Bucs’ upcoming season — in the locker room and in the coaches’ meetings.
“The coaches are the ones that are feeling it worst,” Simms explains in this Bleacher Report video. “The coaches, they feel the fire under their butts. Lovie Smith, he did not exactly make a great first impression by going 2-14 in his first season.”
Simms says players will take the pain of last season, and the memories of coaches riding their asses, into 2015. Pride will be a force in August and September.
“And trust me, that goes on in the NFL. You talk about it, ‘Man, we were embarrassed last year. Let’s get better this year. Let’s show everybody what we got,'” Simms said.
Joe doesn’t think Simms’ take on players is too meaningful here, but the chatter about Lovie and his staff is intriguing. Lovie’s perspective affects on-field decisions.
That’s one reason Joe considers opening day in Tampa, against the woeful Titans and Marcus Mariota, to be a must-win. What a pressure reliever and a confidence boost for everyone connected to the Bucs that would be, including fans.
The alternative would be the Bucs being favored to start 0-3, with road games in New Orleans and Houston following the home-opener. Joe want no part of that.
July 19th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
They should be feeling like crrrrrrrap after the season of “we don’t expect our fans to be patient”and rolling out that garbage of a team, from opening day on.
July 19th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Well, we are going into year 7 and “pride” has not kicked in yet!!!
July 19th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
I DO NOT want to lose to Mariota!
July 19th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Not sure I’d define our first game of the season as a ‘must-win’ game Joe. If the Bucs lose, are they going 0-16?
Obviously there’s a lot at stake in that first game, but if the Bucs put a much-improved product on the field yet lose, the world won’t come to an end. They’ll have something to build on, and hopefully they’ll continue to improve all season long.
You’ve said many times before that you think they’ll get 6 wins on the season. I agree … I think they’ll be in the 6-8 wins range.
July 19th, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Realist!!! I’m perplexed you and this 7 year thing. Lovie needed atleast one to get his roster in order and Jamies will be a rookie. This is not a rebuild,this my friend is a takeover.
July 19th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
One thing that is hard for we mere mortals to comprehend is the MONEY!!!!
Cyndi Lauper had a hit back in the 80’s…”Money Changes Everything”.
Pride is ALL most of these people have on the line.
Lovie and Frazier are multi millionaires. This is true for virtually all the starters as well with a few guys like LVD still waiting to cash in.
Now look in the mirror and imagine. Would you approach your job tomorrow the same way if you knew you already had ten million in the bank and a million dollars annually unless you pull a Warren Sapp.
Pride is ALL that Lovie has on the line. He is absurdly wealthy, he’s getting older and has made his bones having reached the Super Bowl one of only 50 or so coaches to do so.
PRIDE is what was lacking in too many players last year. They simply cashed their paychecks and laughed all the way to the bank.
July 19th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
I hope Lovie can’t match Greg Schiano’s total of wins in two years. 9 more to go!
July 19th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Honestly, I don’t think Lovie feels the pressure of being embarrassed all of last year. The Man has built a huge wall of excuses!!! And we will get to hear them all training camp!!!
July 19th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Another thing,I just finish watching our final game against the saints on NFL network”rewind”. I think many of you are sleeping on Charles Sims. His feet are fantastic and hands are like glue. I expect big play out my guy in season two.
July 19th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Pride… That’s one thing none of us have worry about when it comes to that Jamies kid. He exudes it,inn a few years when he is the undisputed top dog in that locker room everyone that enters it will forced to go about their respective job with the same level of enthusiasm. You won’t loaf being a team mate of Jamies. It just won’t be allowed. And continue moaning about Lovie everyday Realist!!! Jamies will ensure you’ll be moaning over him for many years.
July 19th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
No excuses!!!! Game one season opener !!! MUST WIN!! Jameis Winston I believe in him he is a QB that would reach for the first down not just walk out of bounds. -_- as a die hard Buc fan since I was a kid in the 90’s I will be drownin in a pool of liquor. if we lose for a team “on the verge” against (quick name 5 starters on) Tennessee Ima be pissed.
July 19th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
7 is supposed to be a lucky number, Realist.
July 19th, 2015 at 1:53 pm
@Nolebuc,
I AGREE….charles simms footwork in the final game against new orleans looked fantastic. Some of the quickest feet a running back his size can have. Add the hands to catch I think alot of people are just uoset they spent a 3rd round pick on an off the radar back. But if used properly he can be HUUUUIUUGGGGGGGEEE TAAAMMPPPAAAAA HHHHUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Ive heard that kia motors commercial one too many times the last coue of monthes
July 19th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
I’m looking for improved play and competition across the whole team. Other teams may think beating the Bucs is not too difficult, but this coming year those teams will realize they are in for a tougher battle than they thought.
July 19th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Nole
Keep in mind that it was a highlight reel. 18 carries for 69 yards, he looked okay but I wouldn’t exactly make plans for Hawaii just yet. Him running into T King in the open field had to be the funniest ish I’ve seen in years.
Meanwhile Martin had 19 carries for 108 yards. Just saying….
July 19th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
I don’t know what’s more embarrassing. The 2-14 or the X amount of times Simms had his passes batted at the line of scrimmage. Watt would have had a field day against him. Over/Under -6
July 19th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
I’ve been saying this since April, if the Hawaian Hiesman (Mariota) and the Titans come to Tampa and smack us in the mouth and Winston struggles with the defense laying down again, it should be the beginning of the end for Lovie and Licht. That’s how important that game will be.
July 19th, 2015 at 3:08 pm
That is why drafting your team over the years is the best way to establish a winning culture! Free agents, for the most part, are looking for a pay day. A select few of them have pride in their work ethic (VJax comes to mind).
Figuring out which ones are the good ones requires a crystal ball.
July 19th, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Our Company just cleaned Tony Dungy’s roof last week.
My Son asked Tony about the Bucs, and he told my Son that he was absolutely shocked that the Bucs were as bad as we were last year.
July 19th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
I feel you 99,just think on third downs we may have something there.
July 19th, 2015 at 4:03 pm
The Bucs were as bad as they were last year because Lovie tanked to get the best job security there is in the NFL. A franchise QB. What Lovie learned in Chicago all those years was that to be successful you need three things. Defense with a very good OC and most of all Jameis Winston. Yes, pride has everything to do with wining. This team needs to take all of those 6 points or less losses and convert them to wins. Lovie now has the foundation to make this team great. Yes, the Titan game is huge. Not only for Lovie and the home opener, but for Jameis in revenge for the Rose Bowl.
July 19th, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Man you guys should see the Huckleberries we picked today!!! We stumbled into the best patch since we’ve lived here. Huckleberry Cobbler Here we Come!!! Wife is an Excellent cook. Sauces, spreads, jellies! I’m stoked obviously.
July 19th, 2015 at 6:14 pm
I’m watching the 2000 bucs vs rams Monday Night game o you tube..I was only in the 8th grade then, but damn what I would give to go too a game in that environment now..
July 19th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
@dabucs, I remember like it was yesterday, the 99 NFCG where we lost to the Rams 11 to 6 and the Bert Emanuel rule!. I was in a Hotel room in NYC jumping on the bed and screaming at the top of my lungs at the TV and security being called and I told ’em to FO. I long for those days too because it means that we were relevant.
July 19th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo has pride…..but Pablo knows pride is one of the seven deadly sins. Palo has six of them to be truthful….Pablo also has Lust, Greed, Envy, Gluttony and Wrath….Pablo is not a Sloth….I guess Palo isn’t perfect….but Pablo is a very good man and Pablo loves his Bucs and Buc amigos. Pablo appreciates being able to express himself on JBF. Pablo knows it’s a privlege.”
July 19th, 2015 at 7:14 pm
I need Pablo to help me pick Huckleberries. I will pay Pablo $40 a gallon. AND he can carry a .44 !
July 19th, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo is done picking…..the only things Pablo picks now is the Exacta…..Pablo picks a good seat for OPTD “Other Peoples Table Dances” Pablo picks his kids up from school and Pablo on occaision picks his nose. Pablo appreciates the job offer from Buc-A-New….Pablo is certain that St. Pete Buc Fan, 87, WS99 and Senor Mofo would also turn down the offer….but Pablo isn’t sure of the Realist. Pablo thinks the Realist needs some good hard labor to straighten his negative thoughts out.”
July 19th, 2015 at 7:31 pm
Pride is a kid thing… a college thing. These players don’t have to have it… look at “The Ghost” for one example. He got his money and now he’s gone. IMO This is another shallow, weak, non-contending team. Lack of talent and experience will be their downfall once again.
July 19th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Sooo I can see Rich is excited for the upcoming season.
July 19th, 2015 at 8:06 pm
Now that’s funny
July 19th, 2015 at 8:20 pm
TBBF……..You Rule!
July 19th, 2015 at 8:42 pm
Lol, I just picked another 10 mango’s out of my back yard does that count???
@Buc-A-New
If the shipping cost did not kill it I would trade for some of that Huckleberry jam, as I just made a batch of Mango, pineapple and habanero pepper jam!!
July 19th, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Bucanew
Where are you again? I’ve just reached Michigan’s UP for the next few months.
Retirement is great! I’ve got the NFL ticket on Direct TV so I won’t miss any Bucs games. I’ll be back in time to catch the important games in person.
Huckleberries! Our’s are also ripe for the picking. Wife and I will get to that this week. We call our Bilberries Huckleberries up here for some reason.
Today wife and I got to bust our humps…six miles..3 miles down an 1800 foot drop in elevation and then back up again. Took us a little over two hours but we stopped to chat with a mountain biker along the way.
Life is so good I’m beginning to feel guilty. But the last two years have been such hell I feel we deserve it. Trying to sell the business while hanging on and managing to the end…family health problems…our last two years have felt like the Bucs 2-14 season!!! Hopefully the Bucs will turn things around as well as wife and me after retirement.
July 19th, 2015 at 8:55 pm
I will trade you jar for jar Realist. There is no “cost” between Bucs fans. Though I can only send one jar due to how long it takes to pick em. I will trade you a jar of Huckleberry spread for a jar of Mango jam any day.
SPBF, I am in West Yellowstone Montana. You remember me best by a name I can no longer use. Huckleberries bloom usually in late July and August here but this yr was an early spring so the berries are early. I never had to go over 100 feet from the road today to pick a gallon
July 19th, 2015 at 8:58 pm
Life is so good I’m beginning to feel guilty.
…………………………
No Way man! We are too old to feel guilty about life being good. You should feel blessed!
July 19th, 2015 at 9:22 pm
OMG season get here soooon. They’ve been reduced to talking about jams and jelly….
July 19th, 2015 at 9:26 pm
Pablo picks a good seat for OPTD “Other Peoples Table Dances”
^^^^^THIS^^^^^ count me in, I’ll be sure to bring an extra $300 JUST IN CASE. Lol 😉 if you know what I mean.
July 19th, 2015 at 9:28 pm
Leave it to DB to be ready for Table dances just when TC is about to startNe. Get your head on str8 man! We need you focused!
July 19th, 2015 at 9:30 pm
*started* I think it is time for a new computer or new fingers. One of the two.
July 19th, 2015 at 9:32 pm
Lmao FO REAL DOUGH!!!!!!!
1 week left before camp. I think this is worse than waiting for the draft. Did you guys read that ridiculous article that said Mariota will have an easier transition into the NFL than Winston?
July 19th, 2015 at 9:55 pm
Just like my identity.
July 19th, 2015 at 9:56 pm
What do the first three letters of hyphenated name spell?
July 19th, 2015 at 9:58 pm
Ok getting all cryptic on us.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:02 pm
Ballers on HBO. Must see TV.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:02 pm
B-A-N………… mr “Cryptic dude that said I must have a name generator! 🙂 I have been here for over three years and I have already selected the people I want to communicate with. You are one of them bro.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:06 pm
Lmao! Joe made you go thru like 8 names. I just loved your tenacity so a generator would have been a helpful tool to you mr craftsman. Anyway you cool with me Buc but you already know that.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:08 pm
We are all good you Nole loving joker and you know that. The Joes almost have to know who I am but won’t let me have my name back. Oh well. Here is to hoping that we go 10 and 6 and make the playoffs and Joe forgives me and lets me be me.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:11 pm
How about orange marmalade? Can we talk about that next? It’s sort of creamsicle in color…
July 19th, 2015 at 10:14 pm
I would thoroughly enjoy some Mango marmalade now that you say it 87. I hope Realist is listening.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:17 pm
I don’t want to wait 7 years for some marmalade.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:19 pm
Man when I used to come down to Florida from Mass(my dad lived in Fla) in the summers as a kid during the 70’s. His neighbor had this massive, I mean MASSIVE mango tree. We used to climb up it, it was so massive. I used to go back up north after the summer and tell my friends about mango’s and they never even heard of them. Nowadays there’s mango everything. Mango slurpees, mango bbq sauce, mango flavored candy etc.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
Well 87, I grew up in Fla and had Lemon, Orange, Tangerine, Tangelo, Loquat, Kumquat and Sour Orange trees in our yard. I love my citrus! But I now live where you can go pick Huckleberries at will between July and Sept. So I am adapting
July 19th, 2015 at 10:32 pm
All I could pick up north in Mass was teaberries (minty flavor), blueberries and black berries. All of them grew wild. We would eat a lot of them just in walking through the woods. Never gathered them for jams and jellies though. I ate a lot of them though, because the woods was my favorite place to go when skipping school.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:35 pm
@ B A N LOL
“No Way man! We are too old to feel guilty about life being good. You should feel blessed!”
Amen brother. I am very blessed. My best friend up here says life is simply random. A good shrink friend of mine on the political blog says it’s all luck simply embrace it when it’s good.
I think life is cyclical. I survived an absolutely horrible childhood…drunken wife beating father…all the good stuff…but then I had sooo much fun during my broadcasting career that made up for it. Then I worked 17 years in dentistry to help my wife. Man am I glad to be out of that!!! So now it’s time for a positive cycle.
And that’s true for the Bucs as well. Things are cyclical. The Bucs are due for some good luck and some good calls. Over the long haul these things seem to balance out. Just one old dude’s observation anyway.
I like you B A N because you are so positive. Nobody ever extolled the virtues of negative thinking yet most of humanity seems to embrace it. Thankfully not all of us. And sadly I’m not just talking about the Bucs here.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:41 pm
As you said the other night SPBF, “when you receive a compliment you must consider the source”. I totally agree and thank you. I had a very hard childhood with death and my dad leaving when I was 5 etc. I took it wrong and chose not ot grow up until later in life. I didn’t have my son until I was 40. Life is funny how it chooses to challenge us.
July 19th, 2015 at 10:48 pm
If you wanna hear god laugh tell him your plans…
July 19th, 2015 at 10:52 pm
BAN
So glad you’re now in a positive cycle.
87 I’ve never shared my plans with God because I figured He already knew them. 🙂
July 19th, 2015 at 10:55 pm
Meh I stole the line from a country song. Which makes good sense to me every time I heard it. It means to me that life never goes how you plan it. You can plan for something to go a certain way, but more often than not it doesn’t work out the way it was planned.
July 19th, 2015 at 11:08 pm
87 I’ve never shared my plans with God because I figured He already knew them. 🙂
…………
Truer things can not be said.
July 19th, 2015 at 11:10 pm
Oh SPBF………before I go watch a movie with the mrs. I just wanted to say that I love Gatorsnbucs. Peace out and I can’t wait to be proved right about this season. Go Bucs
July 19th, 2015 at 11:28 pm
The Bucs are due for some good luck
Amen
July 19th, 2015 at 11:34 pm
DB just said it All.