“Who Wants To Watch This Team?”
May 15th, 2023
VSiN’s Femi Abebefe.
Joe has made the point to let loyal readers know there is zero buzz nationally about the Bucs.
The signs are all over the place that one of the darlings of the NFL for a few years with Tom Brady aren’t even making a blip on the national radar as underwear football season is underway.
Simply put, America is not buying what the Bucs are selling with Kyler Traskfield.
This is a big reason why NBC Sports’ Peter King typed last week it was likely the Bucs would not get a primetime game this fall. Instead, they got two.
This shocked former NFL suit Michael Lombardi as he explained on a recent episode of his podcast GM Shuffle. It also angered his co-host, VSiN personality Femi Abebefe.
Of the five NFL teams that oddsmakers gave a season-win total of 6.5 or less, the Bucs are the lone team with a primetime game.
“How did Tampa get two primetime games?” Abebefe asked.
“I don’t know,” Lombardi answered. “I have no idea. That’s a shocker.”
“It’s a small market team with no quarterback,” Abebefe exclaimed.
Abebefe, a former sports anchor in Seattle, should know better. Tampa Bay is the nation’s 12th-largest TV market, right behind his hometown Seattle.
Lombardi made a point that he thought the Colts and not the Bucs should have received a primetime game or two. Unlike the Bucs, Lombardi explained there was intrigue and interest in Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson, a first-round draft pick last month.
Joe thought the Texans would have received a primetime game over the Bucs for the same reasons Lombardi cited for the Colts.
How down is Abebefe on the Bucs? He’s already picking the Vikings in his Week 1 survivor pool. The Vikings host the Bucs in Week 1.
“I thought the Bucs being favored in only one game and yet getting two national television games [was a surprise],” Lombardi said.
When Abebefe responded to Lombardi, you could feel the disgust in Abebefe’s voice.
“Just makes zero sense. Zero sense,” Abebefe said. “I don’t know what the hell the league was thinking by doing that one.
“Who wants to watch this team, unless you are a Bucs fan? Nobody wants to watch them. It’s Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask.
“Maybe Kyle Trask is good? Hopefully he is cause if we have to watch [the Bucs] we at least need some good quarterback play to make it entertaining.”
Safe to assume Abebefe is not a card-carrying member of the Baker Mayfield Fan Club.
And that is pretty much how folks across the nation see the Bucs in the post-Brady era (and why so many are convinced the Bucs will be quarterback shopping in the draft next spring): a team with no quarterback. And even worse, a boring team with no quarterback.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:03 am
Can’t say I disagree – even w the bucs as my team it may take some grinding to get thru games this year.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:07 am
The occult of Trask DOSE NOT approve this message.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:10 am
Was talking football in Jacksonville yesterday with some former Jaguars players. They don’t feel like the cupboard is bare here. They think Mayfield is gonna play his heart out because this is his last chance for a big money deal. They like our receivers and believe our defense is solid. I don’t think we’ll win the Super Bowl, but will be surprisingly competitive ala 2010.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:10 am
It is true. W/O Brady, we barely exist on a National Level.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:17 am
This is what happens when idiots with no background in a field talk about what they “think” who cares how many games you have them favored in. If you haven’t played football your opinion is irrelevant. At the same time he’s basically saying we’ll have the first or second pick in the nfl. Every year they are wrong but doesn’t stop them from giving their stupid thoughts
May 15th, 2023 at 8:18 am
When you look at their opponents, it makes more sense…..Eagles & Bills…….our defense vs their offenses…..and, we have beaten both of them……in the not so far distant past.
And, who knows…..Mayfield could make this an exciting year where the networks will scramble to flex some games.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:22 am
Two early season games on primetime before the record gets too lopsided
Going into week 8 at 2-4 and getting humiliated by the Bills will reinforce what anyone with a reasonable outlook of this team believes
It’s a redshirt season and we all get it – the price we paid for TB12
If it ends up with one of those superstar college QB’s, just icing on the cake
May 15th, 2023 at 8:22 am
Well in both games, the Eagles and Bills got a prime time game. We’re just along for the ride.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:31 am
I definitely won’t waste my time this season watching these Bucs lose every Sunday….
May 15th, 2023 at 8:38 am
I do and will.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:42 am
You don’t deserve the name^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
May 15th, 2023 at 8:42 am
TheBucsAnthem
May 15th, 2023 at 8:43 am
Of course I’ll watch. I’m hopeful too, being hopeful is not a bad thing.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:46 am
Think of it this way
The 2 are not prime time games for the Bucs
They are PT games for the opponents
May 15th, 2023 at 8:53 am
There’s nothing about Bowles that generates an ounce of confidence. Buc fans were more optimistic when Arians had Winston at QB. Arians was charismatic, he played to win by being aggressive even when Winston threw for 30 INTs. Bowles is none of those things….he’s boring in all aspects of being a HC. That’s fine if you produce WINS but when your career as a head coach is always hovering around 7-8 wins a season, nobody is buying into that.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:54 am
I don’t care. That’s why you play the games.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:55 am
I could say what he had to say about wanting to watch the Bucs about every other of the 31 teams. Who cares. He can pack sand with his opinion.
May 15th, 2023 at 8:59 am
There’s actually another game on the Monday night, so this guy like the rest of the nation doesn’t have to suffer the ills of watching the Bucs. We do have a Thursday game, but who cares about those.
May 15th, 2023 at 9:01 am
Femi can suck a🍆
May 15th, 2023 at 9:04 am
Rand Says:
May 15th, 2023 at 8:42 am
You don’t deserve the name^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^
TheBucsAneurysm?
May 15th, 2023 at 9:06 am
This is total BS. No one knows how the Bucs will perform this year. They still have one of the league’s premier tandem of wide receivers and a strong defense. They may suck at QB play or they may surprise people. We just don’t know. So I wish all the talking heads would calm the F down, and let’s see how things unfold. Jeeez!
May 15th, 2023 at 9:11 am
In the words of Al Davis ” Just win baby”
May 15th, 2023 at 9:13 am
It’s simple Bucs v Eagles, didn’t Hurts replace Baker at OU and their is a slight history to this rival and the other is the Buffalo Bills, When you look at the week 8 schedule, find a more compelling game: Jags v. Steelers (Jags will already have those trips from London to deal with), Jets v Giants get the 1:00 Sunday slot, Bengals v Broncos get the 4:00 spot and then the Monday night, Bears v Chargers… they had to leave some good games on for Sunday
May 15th, 2023 at 9:14 am
Afeminine who? Never heard of this character before now. You’re not supposed to watch my team. Duh!! No more than we want to watch your Seahawks. If you want to watch the colts and Texans do like I do. Get NFL Sunday ticket!!!
May 15th, 2023 at 9:22 am
Winning is the cure. Go BUCS
May 15th, 2023 at 9:49 am
Like the Generals v Globetrotters.
May 15th, 2023 at 9:49 am
Honestly I don’t care if the Bucs are on prime time or not, I just want them to win. These stupid talking heads don’t matter.
May 15th, 2023 at 9:59 am
Amen!
May 15th, 2023 at 10:31 am
HC Grover Says:
May 15th, 2023 at 9:49 am
Like the Generals v Globetrotters.
^^^^^^^^
HC, as in Habitual Complainer…Don’t you have something better to do with your life than being in the peanut gallery with Goatfarmer and a few of the other turds?
May 15th, 2023 at 11:01 am
The Rays and Yankees just played 3 of the best and entertaining baseball games you’d see this year, but all the national media talked about was the NBA and NFL draft- the National Media sucks- only the games they present are worth watching.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:09 am
Hey Joe In Michigan, hope your spring is going in full bloom. I agree with you completely. “Of course I’ll watch. I’m hopeful too, being hopeful is not a bad thing”.
I read on these JBF’ers posts that “Any Hope” is a wasted effort. Not worth being hopeful, when you can have a quitter mentality of the #CollapseforCaleb attitude. I wonder what happens if we do draft Caleb and he is not all that he has been claimed to be worth. Next season if we do draft him is he the second coming of the “GOAT” or the “Messiah” One a 6th round QB and the other a # 1 draft choice? I know where I would put my greenbacks, based on our history of a just-drafted top-of-the-first-round QB.
Hope is what makes life’s unpleasant moments not last as long. Maybe that is just me.. 88 here in NE AL hoping for some more highs of 70’s in my future before summer arrives.. Good thoughts and Warm vibes sending your way.
GO!!!!! BUCS!!!!!
May 15th, 2023 at 11:28 am
I will say watching games last year was painful, but I’m hopeful for a more Bucs like team who plays tough defense and runs the ball to win this year, so semi excited to see what it looks like with the new OC and the new draft picks.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:33 am
Last season, we were boring WITH a quarterback.
Honestly, other than the second Panthers game, watching the Bucs last year was brutal. Like watching someone club baby seals.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:41 am
It also might have something to do with the Bucs having a terrible HC and everyone but the Glazers seem to know it.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:46 am
RustyRhinos Says:
May 15th, 2023 at 11:09 am
Hey Joe In Michigan, hope your spring is going in full bloom. I agree with you completely. “Of course I’ll watch. I’m hopeful too, being hopeful is not a bad thing”.
I read on these JBF’ers posts that “Any Hope” is a wasted effort. Not worth being hopeful, when you can have a quitter mentality of the #CollapseforCaleb attitude. I wonder what happens if we do draft Caleb and he is not all that he has been claimed to be worth. Next season if we do draft him is he the second coming of the “GOAT” or the “Messiah” One a 6th round QB and the other a # 1 draft choice? I know where I would put my greenbacks, based on our history of a just-drafted top-of-the-first-round QB.
Hope is what makes life’s unpleasant moments not last as long. Maybe that is just me.. 88 here in NE AL hoping for some more highs of 70’s in my future before summer arrives.. Good thoughts and Warm vibes sending your way.
GO!!!!! BUCS!!!!!
^^^^^^^^
I appreciate your positivity! Go Bucs!
May 15th, 2023 at 11:46 am
I have no idea who Femi Abebefe is, let alone heard of him previously. Nope we likely ain’t a winning team this year, but to get enraged because we got 2 National Games instead of 1?! Somebody’s undershorts are like 3 sizes too small.
May 15th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Most of you guys are such fair weather fans. i will watch most games they put on tv regardless of their record wanna know why? I’m 42 born n raised in Tampa and I have seen a lot of bad bucs fotball over the years. Dilfer,Testaverde, Winston, Johnson and many many more. This has always been a defensive minded team. A good defense makes up for a subpar offense. If we have a good rush and a strong secondary we will be ok
May 15th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Excellent podcast and they do come from a gambling perspective in some of their picks with games etc; but Baker could shock the world
May 15th, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Life long fan. Can’t wait for the season to start. I’ve been through this year after year but I think we are going to surprise people this year. Our offensive line could be stronger. That certainly depends on Wirfs switching to the left and goedeke at RT, plus I think we have some decent depth for a change. I think our defense is going to be better and deeper, slightly concerned about the secondary.
Our defense was pretty solid last year. We won the division w a subpar offense. With Canales and the changes on the o-line, I think we’re better than last year. I think Traskfield will play well enough that we are over 500. At least I hope!!!
May 15th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Who TF cares? Certainly I don’t care. Opinions are like arseh**es, everyone’s got one and they all stink.
May 15th, 2023 at 2:56 pm
Joe in Michigan, It would be nice if these crybabies like Goathumper would have a little positivity .. the constant bashing proves they are trolls and not real buc fans.
May 15th, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Seriously, I have exactly zero interest in what national media thinks about our team. They only pay attention to big names and celebrities. Maybe it’s true that they’re only interesting to Bucs fans. Winning solves everything… so just win.
May 15th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
This Bucs team will either be decent or sucky! The days are counting down until we all can see for our selfs! Like last year it is up to the coaches and players to produce wins! Hopefully they do a better job of it this season!
May 15th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
I agree with you Joe from Michigan I don’t comment as much anymore because of all the negative talk because of one guy leaving the team. I will watch every bucs game that comes on this year because I’m a bucs fan. I hope Trask is our future quarterback moving forward and I will be rooting for him to be a good quarterback this year. If Baker is the starter I will be rooting for him as well. I still believe we can get to the playoffs this year!!! Go Bucs!!!
May 15th, 2023 at 4:10 pm
So the Bucs quickly return to being disrespected. Put it all on the bulletin board for motivation. The Bucs will win 9 games this year because they have been written off by everyone. Am I dreaming? Maybe. Maybe not.
May 15th, 2023 at 4:47 pm
Osqueeler, the negative talk is due to one boob who would miss the playoffs if he had the Chiefs roster, and another who can’t count, is unfamiliar with Brian Flores, seems to think of everyone in the 2nd person plural but with a drawl, and hated Tom Brady. You might know her.
May 15th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
Baker Mayfield has swagger, he’ll be entertaining. Two great receivers will open up the field for the immature running game. In turn, this will propel the play action passing to the forefront which is Mayfield’s bread and butter. The Bucs defense is still solid if not better with a health Vita Vea and #1 pick Kancey. Hopefully, White and the team work out their differences, otherwise this could leave the defense with a glaring hole. Bring on the Vikings I’m stoked.
May 15th, 2023 at 6:56 pm
MAYBE MAHOMES?
Baker Mayfield is on more commercials than any other NFL player. Every family in the US knows who he is. The NFL is hoping Mayfield lights it up.
May 15th, 2023 at 7:35 pm
Hey joes, where does this Traskfield come from? Cos that name sure ain’t listed on the Bucs roster as of today. You mean Kyle Trask? Back off, we have no real idea of Trask is for real or not, cos we were smothered with the last year of Brady—good riddance!
May 15th, 2023 at 10:02 pm
These people need to shut up! Jason built in the trenches in the draft a lot of core players are still here. They got younger and faster. Baker will be fine QB this team.
May 16th, 2023 at 11:16 am
So a dude from a town I wouldnt go to on a bet. Thinks we suck. There’s a surprise.
I don’t give a rip what some noname media dude on the left coasts thinks about the Bucs or anything else!
Come on Joe!
May 16th, 2023 at 11:43 am
All phony soulless fans who want the Bucs to tank the 2023 season to get a high draft pick should remember that winning is not all about talent and that it requires the firm establishment of winning habits. If instead a team sets itself up for failure every week it can easilly get caught in that rut long after the target period, even with their prize in hand. If the Bucs tank on purpose they could be ruining the start of Caleb Williams career as well as many of their own. Be careful what you wish for.
May 16th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
My question is who is this guy?
May 16th, 2023 at 3:41 pm
You may be surprised what you learn by reading the story. 🙂
May 16th, 2023 at 10:07 pm
WHO?! Can’t get wound-up about what some know-nothing nobody says about our beloved Bucs!
May 17th, 2023 at 1:58 am
I love it. This team plays better when everyone is betting against us. I am looking forward to this year maybe more than last year with Brady. It’s the unknown and the possibility that Mayfield could have a breakout year. Go Bucs!