Bruce Arians Wasted No Time Programming Bucs For 2021
June 12th, 2021
Spiking 2020
Just a fascinating bit of behind-the-scenes intrigue from Bucs tight end Cam Brate.
We all know Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians is more than a little concerned that some players may have found complacency after winning the Super Bowl last year.
Without that edge and fire to compete, it could set up the Bucs this season like sitting ducks. In nearly every public appearance Arians has had this offseason, he’s made a comment along the lines of, “We haven’t won s(p)it yet.”
And apparently, the Vince Lombardi Trophy wasn’t even dry from the champagne, beer spray and slobber from grown men tonguing it in the hours after winning the Super Bowl when Arians began laying the law down about turning the page.
Brate told “The Blitz” co-hosts Bruce Murray and Brad Gradkowski this week, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, that in the Bucs’ team meeting the morning after the Super Bowl — the morning after the Super Bowl! — Arians began telling his Super Bowl-winning squad the 2020 season was history.
“We walked into a meeting after the Super Bowl,” Brate began. “And it was Monday morning. And BA [Arians} said, ‘We’re going to celebrate this today. And we will celebrate [at] the parade Wednesday. But that’s it.’ That’s all the celebrating he has allowed us. So we have already moved on to this year.”
This is unbelievable. A team meeting within about 12-14 hours after winning the Super Bowl? How were these guys even coherent? How were they remotely awake? How were they even sober? How did they even get to One Buc Palace — unless it was a Zoom meeting?
These guys likely were partying likely all night — deservedly so. And then to have a team meeting the next morning? (Or, to be more exact, later that morning). That’s not just rigid discipline, that’s harsh!
Man, Joe knows Arians has some old-school ways, but this is incredible.
Brate believes since Arians was hounding the team to forget 2020 immediately, that most if not all his teammates realize 2021 is a different time.
“Obviously last year was a huge challenge during COVID,” Brate said. “Winning a Super Bowl last year was huge. But it is a totally new team this year. We will have a target on our backs. It is definitely going to be a new challenge.”
Joe believes the Bucs have the right players to keep guys focused on the next mountaintop the team must again climb this season — guys like park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady and Jason Pierre-Paul.
June 12th, 2021 at 8:21 am
We should start one for JPP. How about “wet street hydroplaning, fireworks holding JPP!”
June 12th, 2021 at 8:32 am
History shows just how hard it is to repeat a SB win. Arians is smart to cancel the after glow and start this season as if it never happened. An early loss or very tough win might be a good wake up.
June 12th, 2021 at 8:38 am
Bucs will easily sleepwalk into the NFC Championship game vs 49ers or Rams. And i wanna play the Bills in the Superbowl
June 12th, 2021 at 8:49 am
Brady will keep preaching Legacy and the team is buying in. They want to be part of something momentous and special.
June 12th, 2021 at 8:51 am
8 wins in a row is a franchise record. Screw a loss for a wake up call. Build on that, and build team confidence. Aim for perfection. Not many league first records left to take a shot at. A franchise record week after week should be the goal. Go Bucs.
June 12th, 2021 at 9:06 am
Brady preached the importance of how to play the game to win it all from the moment he arrived. That’s before he even knew these guys. Now that players know and respect him and know he is correct there is no way that they will not follow him this year. I suspect anyone who isn’t on board from that will be moved from this team.
June 12th, 2021 at 9:12 am
Like climbing to the mountain top a second time, except on the other, slightly steeper side. You have the confidence of knowing you can do it, but its all new and with a totally different terrain. Better be checking your rope frequently and keeping one eye on the compass.
A mature Brady, JPP, David can see this; not as easy for a twenty-something Davis, SMB, Fournette, etc. This is where leadership comes in. It is going to be a fascinating season!
June 12th, 2021 at 9:14 am
Complacency is a natural human characteristic that can be minimized but not completely eliminated….it’s mental & it’s subconscious
This may be a bad analogy but it’s sort of like post-orga$m…..or post big meal…..trying to build up hunger.
We have a leg up on it because of BA & Brady…..an early loss in the season would probably do the trick…..but let’s hope that’s not necessary.
June 12th, 2021 at 9:58 am
It’s ok to express concerns about complacency and recognize how hard it is to win back-to-back SBs. But, this team is different. It’s talent is off the chart. The drama level is in the basement The camaraderie and selflessness is through the roof. It’s coached by someone who won’t let the intensity slip, and its QB is driven for excellence. I doubt any other team vying for a SB repeat has had this combination of qualities. We got this. One game at a time, but we got this!
June 12th, 2021 at 11:31 am
Psl Bob I completely agree and add in Brady and it’s game over about this complacency stuff
June 12th, 2021 at 1:14 pm
Bush’s Coke Spoon, how about “wet street hydroplaning, firecracker holding, VW eating” JPP. Since he can only eat “W’s” on one hand and “V’s” on the other.
June 12th, 2021 at 1:39 pm
I wonder how it would go if we went full Pro Wrestling and treated each game as a title defense. We’re returning 22+1. We are the reigning, defending, undisputed world champions!
First challengers are the Dallas “America’s Team” Cowboys. We are the Champions, and they actually believe they can step to us? Each game is King of the hill baby.
YOU WANT THIS LOMBARDI TROPHY EMEFFER? COME AND TAKE IT!!!
June 12th, 2021 at 2:18 pm
1sparkybuc,
That’s perfect.
June 12th, 2021 at 5:05 pm
Exactly why we can go back to back. We have the best, most hard ass coaching in the league. Teams better watch out for Brate in the red zone this year.
June 13th, 2021 at 7:03 am
You don’t win because who you are or what talent you have each game has to be played and won in order to accomplish just getting to the playoffs let alone the Super Bowl 🏟
June 13th, 2021 at 8:06 am
That’s why all the starters came back. To win another one. This team can only get better. GO BUCS!👍
June 13th, 2021 at 6:03 pm
priceless @aceofaerospace!!
re JPP