A Hard Practice
December 13th, 2022
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Joe remembers throttling an opponent 52-0 in high school football. Biggest win Joe has been part of.
The next day, Joe’s good friend and the RB1 of that team said the game was so lopsided, “It was like a hard practice.”
Joe was reminded of this yesterday when Todd Bowles explained during his day-after presser why he never pulled Tom Brady, despite Brady being dinged up and the game out of reach.
What was a beautiful albeit cold and breezy day in Santa Clara had turned into a downpour. The 49ers saw fit to bench their franchise quarterback, Brock Purdy, and replace him with 2008 Bucs draft pick and journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson.
So why was Brady out there?
“Just to hand the ball off and concede the game, that wasn’t it,” Bowles said. “We were trying to work on some things, so we let him stay in the game.”
Joe can see both sides of the coin. One on hand, with the game over and your tail getting kicked, why not try to get something positive out of a negative and use it as a hard practice.
Of course, the flip side is why put on tape what you are practicing for all of the NFL to see and study.
And then, of course, there is this: Why in the world are you risking Brady getting maimed? He goes down, forget about playoffs.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:57 am
They may have chosen to leave him on the field in hopes of a Brady comeback win or at least make it a close and finish on a high note. Also, pretty sure Brady wouldn’t come off the field in front of friends and family.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:05 am
Todd’s reasoning has not coincided with mine
and most anyone else’s it seems.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:49 am
Seemed his hand was injured. Perhaps smarter to pull him? I don’t think much of this coach, although he certainly helped win us a Super Bowl with that defensive game plan against the Chiefs. The guy has earned a whole season to sink or swim, although this has been hard to watch.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:40 am
This guy’s an idiot. The time for hard practices was training camp, not December in the cold rain against a top team. Don’t the backups need some practice too? Gabbert hasn’t taken a live snap in over a year. Hard practice? More like a hard headed coaching decision.
December 13th, 2022 at 6:02 am
Just another example of the HC lack of leadership ability
Just like the company I work for – they over promoted a bunch of people that don’t deserve their titles or have the skill sets required for their jobs.
Yet, our owners believe the “company look aid” will transform them into winners
It doesn’t work in corporate America just like it is not working in the NFL in Tampa
Some people are great at their jobs, it doesn’t mean they are leaders or executives that can transform a global organization
Just like Todd, a very good HC – way over his head a s a HC
And Leftwich is an affirmative action reaction – dude should have been fired by week 4
December 13th, 2022 at 6:03 am
A very good DC not HC
December 13th, 2022 at 6:10 am
???!!! Um, what?!
Enough with the “coach speak.” Brady was not going to come off the field, PERIOD, end of story.
AND, because we have no true “heir apparent” there’s nobody to even get reps.
Difference in coaching?! Hmmmm.
December 13th, 2022 at 6:14 am
Joe….you must have forgot, we have Blaine Gabbert to step in. Arians hyped him about as much as Leftwich so rest assured the offense will consistently sputter in the event Brady goes down.
December 13th, 2022 at 6:41 am
I really hope we lose the division. Why? Because this disaster of a season needs to be over asap.
I couldn’t care less if Brady comes back.
I’d prefer to start dumping dead wood off this team. The only player I can think of who is untouchable is Nr All Pro Tristan Wirfs. Everybody else is expendable.
Bowles and Leftwich must go. No debate there.
Bowles will be remembered as the guy who took a SB team and destroyed it in less than 1 season.
That’s gonna look great on your resume.
Worst coach I’ve ever seen.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:10 am
BA said that because he has a huge ego and he wanted to make it seem that it was his program that made it successful. Just like the guy in New England. Everyone knows that no system works without having someone at thenhelm
that is special . BA never wanna a thing before Brady got here and if he went down, they were not gonna be in the playoffs and certainly no Super Bowl victory. . He had a far better quarter back in JW the few years before that it and had a losing record. That’s all you need to know. All about EGO
December 13th, 2022 at 7:12 am
Let’s work on getting you f#%k outta here!!! Byron too
December 13th, 2022 at 7:17 am
Bowles … “We were trying to work on some things, so we LET him stay in the game.”
Bowles is covering for Brady IMO. No way TB12 would voluntarily agree to come out of a game. That’s conceding defeat, and his pride wouldn’t allow that.
Went back & relooked at the Bucs’ 4th quarter plays. Two drives, that’s it. First drive: 16 plays eating up 4:51 on the clock. TWO runs that each got a 1st down and 14 passes (2 deep & 12 short). Second drive: 4 straight running plays eating up 1:19 on the clock. ALL runs by White, with the 4th run resulting in a fumble.
So what were they working on? Of the 19 plays, 18 were out of the shotgun (all but the last play that White fumbled on). And 13 of the 19 plays were out of the no-huddle hurry-up. Don’t think we have to worry much Joe about the rest of the NFL gaining any insight into our future plans. We don’t have any.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:28 am
The game was out to hand but I was surprised with 5 minutes left in the game, we quit and started helping run out the clock. I don’t thing quitting in sports is ever a good thing. Sends the wrong message.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:29 am
There is no way Brady comes out of the game when we are losing……no way. He is far too much a competitor & loves to play even when getting stomped.
I’m more concerned about attempting a 55 yard FG with Succop……..WTF
December 13th, 2022 at 7:29 am
They’ve replaced the run with the dink pass
December 13th, 2022 at 7:39 am
Get rid of the bloated and overrated coaching staff and start from scratch.
Bruce Arians legacy is Leftwich and Bowles.
Can em’ all today. Jane Tryon, Logan Hall too.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:52 am
Once a nitwit, always a nitwit.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:08 am
BOWLES IS AN IDIOT….change my mind.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:10 am
Let’s be Serious !!!! Does this Really Surprise Anyone !! ?? I know I know even those of you that stated it before the season didn’t really want to believe it but you thought it for a reason !! Really Not a Surprise, Ver Frustrating but not a Surprise!!!
December 13th, 2022 at 8:20 am
All those that said Brady won’t take himself out I agree but even Belichick would overrule him. I’ve seen on game Brady played worse than this against the Cheifs when Alex Smith was QB, 45-10 was the score, everyone called Brady done, old etc. Pat’s went on to win the SB. Not saying SB, my point is he will NOT quit.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:20 am
Why is this guy still the Head Coach? Should have been let go 4 weeks ago!
December 13th, 2022 at 8:32 am
Toilet bowles is not head coaching material and should be fired jan 2nd
December 13th, 2022 at 8:37 am
Too bad we didn’t have Trask active, could have finally seen if he’s got anything.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:52 am
My high-school football team was so bad, the only ones we could beat 52-0 was if the band put on football uniforms.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:52 am
Are Bucs done with the forced affirmative action experiment? Their color makes no difference they are simply NOT qualified. There is a reason Miami and the Jets let him go and BL riding BA’s coat tails and being promoted as a top OC or even HC is criminal. BA did this and should not be honored by the Bucs in anyway shape or form.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:58 am
Playoffs? I’d bet on Carolina winning the division at this point.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:48 am
Stupid is as stupid does, and the Bucs are at their peak of stupidity.
Brady has lost heart, as has most of the rest of the team. This season is darn near over and wholesale changes will happen for next season. Brady will quit, Donovan Smith will do a Marpet and LVD will retire because he has to do two jobs this year.
December 13th, 2022 at 10:28 am
Have they not fired this Bozo yet ?
December 13th, 2022 at 10:45 am
Playoffs?
We’re talking about playoffs?
Playoffs?
This team sucks. Outside of a few late-game heroics by Brady, this team is bottom-5 in the league.
December 13th, 2022 at 11:34 am
49ers pulled Purdy at the end?
(The game was switched out here so I did not get to watch the end)
Bahahahahahahaha HOW EMBARRASSING!!!!
Gotta be the first time an opponent has ever put their backup in to coast on a big league when playing a Tom Brady led team.
Sooooooooo pathetic.
December 13th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Brady gets a check ….then he should play. Look if you pull Brady from a game …the way the team was playing, you should pull them all, no favorites! That is what is in the mind of this Bucs team, Tom got his way in the middle of camp and some players may have not taken kindly to that! I know I wouldn’t have!
December 13th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
It’s been said and proven that this coaching staff is not very smart
December 13th, 2022 at 3:31 pm
Too bad, Goatalmighty didn’t get yanked in the fourth. Wouldn’t have made much difference by then except perked a tired, demoralized bunch of Bucs up a little bit. Wonder if Bowles will pull the arthritic one when he starts missing receivers at home next Sunday? Hmmmmm?
December 13th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
I think I am gonna go play in 🚦 traffic
December 13th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Working on what? Trying to see how many more starting players you could put on carts to end a blowout game? How can the Glazers watch this crap on the field and listen to the stupid comments at the pressers week after week and ignore the biggest two problems their team has? Can’t wait to hear them say something- ANYTHING – about these “coaches”. Crickets from One Buc Place. Glazers, BA and Licht. All sitting on their hands watching this crap. Disgusted with all of them. No courage walks those halls obviously. Damn.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:45 pm
Coaches Bowles and Leftwich are gone next season!!!! Even if the football gods rain down a deep run into the playoffs!!! Anyone with a functional brain can see that!!! Very disappointing season, so bad that they pushed BA back into the hospital!!! You don’t think all those extra rounds of golf did that do you???
December 13th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
Watched 1st half…..Bucs lifeless….playing an ” I don’t give a damn” game……turned it off and we went to.play dominoes with neighbors….far more fun …..my season with Bucs appears over so see y’all next September….unless the coaches have not been replaced…..
December 13th, 2022 at 10:09 pm
Another example of head coaching stupidity, if true.
The game was far out of reach, against one of the (if not the) most physical teams in the NFL, on their home turf, in bad conditions. You leave your already-slightly- injured 45 yr old QB out there for practice? PRACTICE?
You’re lucky he didn’t get badly hurt, Todd.
Oh but you say Brady would never voluntarily leave a game, even if out of reach, because he’s a cuss? You’re the head coach. PULL HIM. Let TRASK do some practice. With scrubs.
Sure, this team needs practice. Go home and practice.
December 15th, 2022 at 7:10 am
Joe,
Exactly why would you say forget the playoffs? If Mr. Irrelevant can in one afternoon become their Franchise Quarterback,
then why can’t we win with someone with at least more
experience than Purdy. Stranger things have happened,
and one was his dismantling of our vaunted defense.