Perception Hard To Change
March 29th, 2024
Bucs playing “The Grinch?”
Aside from Bucs coach Todd Bowles who sincerely doesn’t seem to give a flip what anyone says, writes or hollers about his team — he’s much more concerned with wins and losses — privately and publicly the Bucs are aggravated about the team’s perception.
Most folks outside the NASCAR division of the NFL (the NFC South) truly believe the NFC South is the outhouse of the NFL. A big reason is quarterbacks.
Despite Joe preaching this gospel, many refuse to believe: It’s all about the quarterback. Case in point, creepy Bob Kraft. What is he whining about recently? The chieftain of the team previously known as the Belicheats isn’t crying about losing the greatest coach in NFL history, he’s bellyaching how his team needs a quarterback.
Without a quarterback, your team is perceived as second (third?) class. That’s just the way it is.
So when Tom Brady — an international superstar and (gasp!) a quarterback — retired, the Bucs were pretty much written off. Again, the perception is no quarterback, no team.
While that might be way oversimplified, no quarterback certainly means no shot at winning a Super Bowl. Joe can understand why this drives football people nuts but this is reality.
Generally speaking, teams with no quarterback don’t bring any entertainment value to the TV screen.
And it is not just the Bucs.
In the last handful of years, the NFC South went from a quarterback-loaded division (Drew Brees, Matty Ice, Cam Newton and yes, Brady) to the likes of Desmond Ridder.
Yes, Baker Mayfield was the MVP of the Pro Bowl and his renaissance is a big reason why the Bucs were a couple of deep breaths from the NFC title game.
Sadly, it takes a while to change perception. Many people outside the Tampa Bay area think of Mayfield as the signal-caller who struggled in Cleveland or perhaps the guy who nearly had his career ruined in Charlotte.
Joe estimates it will take at least two more good years from Mayfield to change this branded narrative.
Why is Joe bringing all of this up? Well, no less an authority than the Wall Street Journal this morning noted if the NFL really wanted to punish fans for the audacity of wanting NFL games on Christmas, the ultimate scrooge move would possibly be to drop a big ol’ lump of coal on TV and perhaps broadcast a Bucs game on this high holiday, typed Jason Gay.
To be honest, I’ve watched a lot of NFL games nowhere near as entertaining as the Yule Log. You better pray the NFL doesn’t schedule a dreary game from the moribund NFC South. You’ll be crying to Santa for Yule Log.
And there you have it.
America is better off football-less on an interminably boring Christmas afternoon or night than to be sentenced to watching Mayfield and the Bucs. Never mind the Bucs finished as one of the top-eight teams in the NFL last season.
And the Bucs wonder why folks are not impressed with their offseason? This is why. Good, bad or indifferent, your team and your team’s chances are defined by the quarterback. And the perception of Mayfield is not the reality.
Just like last year, the Bucs have scant national buzz in the final weekend of March.
How do the Bucs change this perception?
Just win, baby.
March 29th, 2024 at 11:42 am
Usually when you say a coach only cares about wins and losses, it is an acknowledgement that he wins a lot.
March 29th, 2024 at 11:44 am
I’ll take the WSJ’s opinion on late December football games with a massive grain of salt.
March 29th, 2024 at 11:51 am
We have a mediocre record thus we are a mediocre team.
We need to invest more in our offense………did you know that 5 of our last 7 top picks were defensive players.
Yes, Todd…..time to bring in a C/G…..RB, TE & 3rd WR…….those pieces should improve our offense to the point that iw will mitigate an average defense.
March 29th, 2024 at 11:53 am
Unless it falls on Sunday, I don’t want the Bucs playing on Christmas. I prefer Sunday afternoon games, simple as that. Plus, the odd week preparation can mess things up leading to injuries. No thanks.
March 29th, 2024 at 11:56 am
Go figure WSJ would say that crap. WSJ is the grinch.
Double header Christmas Day. No matter what, cannot wait.
March 29th, 2024 at 11:56 am
Let’s see what Jason Gay’s NFL pre season predictions were for 2023 before getting upset over his comments…
March 29th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
I hate the “just win baby” thing
March 29th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Remember: The Bucs won a Super Bowl in a season in which they had plenty of odd week games and the only real injury was Alex Cappa.
March 29th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
The Falcons perception changed by signing Cousins. Not sure why the “experts” are picking Atlanta over 3 time reigning NFCS champs.
March 29th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Having Ira Podcast withdrawals been 2 1/2 weeks lol
March 29th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
You answered your own question. 🙂
March 29th, 2024 at 12:47 pm
You’re part of the dilution, Joe. For instance, the MVP of the pro bowl is not as much as you make it out to be. Baker was an alternate because many were uninterested in going.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:16 pm
The quarterback is a big part of it,BUT that’s not all that makes this team BORING as all get out to watch!! Pretty much everything on the Bucs team is just mehhh!! THE ONLY THING ELITE THE BUCS HAVE IS THE KICKER!!!! The Niners don’t have a ELITE QB but the team is built everywhere else( they draft physical top notch defensive guys and Lynch doesn’t stop until he has an ELITE running game) not settling for players that are just OK and cheap like Jason Licht!! STRIVE TO BE SPECIAL NOT JUST CAP COMPLIANT!! The average football fan has watched ALOT of football and can tell when just SO SO is being shoved down their throats!! TOO MANY UNDERSIZED ,NOTHING SPECIAL PLAYERS ON THE FIELD PERIOD
March 29th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
Joe … ‘Good, bad or indifferent, your team and your team’s chances are defined by the quarterback. And the perception of Mayfield is not the reality.’
Aw come on Joe, you know that you don’t change folks’ minds by complaining that they’re wrong. You gotta show ’em, and that requires WINNING. In the national mind, Baker Mayfield is a QB with a losing career record … until he isn’t.
As of today, he sports a 40-46 career record. TWO of his 6 years have been winning seasons, 2020 with Cleveland & 2023 with Tampa Bay. Defend him all you want, but them’s the facts.
I’ve come to believe that the Bucs can win with Baker Mayfield, and that’s all I really care about. At the same time though, the Bucs’ TEAM is not defined by Baker Mayfield. The opposite MIGHT be true however … Baker MIGHT be defined by the TEAM that surrounds him. Good team, good Baker. Bad team, bad Baker.
March 29th, 2024 at 2:53 pm
“ Most folks outside the NASCAR division of the NFL (the NFC South) truly believe the NFC South is the outhouse of the NFL.”
I’m old enough to remember all the “experts” saying this after realignment. The NFC South represented the NFC in the next several Super Bowls.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:16 pm
NFL Nation also knows the Bucs have a perennial loser for a head coach.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Sorry you’re so bored on Christmas. Sad!
March 29th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
I think the entire NFCS will take a step up this year… CAR has to get better… ATL should be better as well… NO, I don’t see at least staying about the same. Naturally, I expect big improvement for the Bucs.
March 29th, 2024 at 9:19 pm
Probowl MVP wow. You want to talk about meaningless games. That’s the definition.
March 30th, 2024 at 6:02 am
The Pro Bowl means a lot to players being nominated into. Not saying that they should change it up from what it is beginning to look like. And on the other hand, I can understand many players not wanting to be part of it, in case they are hurt in some way. Some of the relays are soft but that dodge ball isn’t. It is supposed to fun, and overall it is.
Baker was great during the pro bowl. And it wasn’t just his efforts, it was everything else. Personality, genuineness, easygoing, humbleness, and so much more. The Pro Bowl games show much more then just strengths and we saw that with Baker and the others participating.