“People Just Won’t Talk About The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Potentially Being Awesome”
September 1st, 2024
Not overlooking Bucs
Even Pat McAfee can see how the Bucs are getting the back of the hand from #NFLMedia.
Just about everyone and their brother outside the Tampa Bay area seems to have fallen in love with the Dixie Chicks — because of Kirk Cousins. This just bewilders Joe to no end.
Forget Cousins blew out is Achilles 10 months ago and is now 36 and will be playing on turf at home. Cousins was roundly ridiculed by the NFL intelligentsia for years because he was not a big-game quarterback. Yet he goes to Atlanta and all of a sudden he becomes Aaron Rodgers in the eyes of these same folks. What? Why?
Even BSPN personality and former Pro Bowl punter Pat McAfee can sense this peculiar thinking.
McAfee senses the reason people are falling on their knees for Cousins and turning up their noses at the Bucs is because of another quarterback.
“Because it’s Baker Mayfield,” McAfee said, noting how folks still seem to sneer when Mayfield’s name is mentioned. It’s unfair, McAfee believes.
“I remember last year the Bucs had two runs of being awesome,” McAfee said. “People just won’t talk about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers potentially being awesome.”
McAfee said when the Bucs hit their midseason rut last season, folks want to hold that over their heads and ignore the fact the Bucs found a way to get out of that rut and played good football in the playoffs.
McAfee added during both of those runs — to start the season winning six of their final eight games — that the Bucs may have looked like a “top-five” team in the NFL.
While McAfee pointed out Atlanta is going to be a tough out, McAfee believes people, for whatever reason, are completely dismissing the Bucs.
And they ought not to do that.
September 1st, 2024 at 7:10 am
Pass rush will be the Bucs Achilles Heel.
September 1st, 2024 at 7:11 am
No team is without a weakness, but reality isn’t really a concern of yours is it Jeff.
September 1st, 2024 at 7:14 am
Agreed Jeff, worried about the pass rush. Bucs give the QB too much time and have been unable stop teams on third down. Not sure if it is Bowles defense with soft coverage or poor pass rush?
September 1st, 2024 at 7:18 am
I can see us being dominant. We have the pieces to go undefeated.
September 1st, 2024 at 7:25 am
I agree with you Jeff,
Jason must have a lot of faith in the young guys because he had every opportunity to go out and get a proven pass rusher
“In Light We Trust”
September 1st, 2024 at 7:26 am
@Jeff I think that the Buc’s pass rush will be a pleasant surprise this season. I think we are gonna see double digit sack numbers from Calijah Kancey, along with a huge jump from JTS.
September 1st, 2024 at 7:31 am
I think the pass rush will be ok. YaYa is going to do his thing, Braswell will probably get his legs under him sometime early in the season. Kancey and Vita Vea will provide push up the middle. Coach Bowles will scheme up some blitzes etc.
September 1st, 2024 at 7:47 am
I don’t blame Licht for not getting Reddick look what he’s done in NY. And Licht ain’t in the market for another AB. I would rather not have someone that creates a problem. And Parsons is acting about like it in Dallas. He really just wants Daddy Jones to give him some more attention. Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
September 1st, 2024 at 8:07 am
Go mow the grass boy and put your moms phone back
September 1st, 2024 at 8:16 am
Lol
September 1st, 2024 at 8:44 am
Don’t get Mayfield hate on here or in national media. Baker was a #1 first round draft pick, so he brings some skills and physical ability to the game. He’s had a career so there’s “tape” and history backing up “potential.” He’s been modestly successful on teams with below average talent and coaching. He’s brought it in the bright stage of the playoffs.
He has his limitations. Baker hasn’t won the whole enchilada (not many have). He doesn’t have eye-popping statistics. He hasn’t put the team on his shoulders for a streak of games, and he hasn’t proved himself a regular comeback quarterback. So there’s that.
He came to Tampa off the scrap heap — whether right or wrong, that’s true. Here he won the trust of his teammates. Our GM praises his “movie” which is mental toughness. Throughout his career he has been “gritty” in showing a physical toughness. He’s been called “chippy” and worse and he mixes it up running smack on other teams. All that adds up to “leader.”
What I hear is that he has mad arm strength. What I see is that he lacks some inches in height. What we all know is that Tampa Bay is not the headquarters of the media or business universe — we love the area but not everybody clamors to come here — not until after they retire. And we can tell that the press, the 4-letter, and the general media despise the team and the whole area. Respect here doesn’t come when it’s earned but when it’s scoreboard.
And Bucs fans can tell that we’re a building team — the blocks are not all in place quite yet. Doesn’t mean we can’t win it all — we’ve seen this picture before and won it all twice. But it takes someone to will this team on to the next level. We need a little more talent but mainly a lot more leadership at the coaching, quarterback, and player levels. Baker Mayfield IS the QB for the Bucs.
What’s not to like?
September 1st, 2024 at 9:01 am
When the games begin, if the Bucs are awesome, people will talk about it.
September 1st, 2024 at 9:12 am
@ Lou.says… thanks for your lucid and well articulated opinion. Good points made.
September 1st, 2024 at 9:16 am
we’re nothing…bunch of losers…just move along please
September 1st, 2024 at 9:18 am
Let people underestimate the Bucs. Baker does better anyway when he’s in the “nobody believes in us” mode. When expectations are high that seems to be when he falls short. I think we’re in the catbird seat just biding our time to make a move and pull away later in this long race.
September 1st, 2024 at 9:18 am
I think pass rush will be fine… By no means great but not bad. But I will say I’m glad we play them early. I see Bucs splitting with Falcons and it will likely come down to injuries and potentially the schedule. Bucs have rougher schedule no doubt and the back half of Atl schedule is far easier, at least how things look now
September 1st, 2024 at 9:19 am
When we win the nfc south for the 4th time in a row, just please keep ignoring us….
Trust me, Jason and I and ALL OF US feed off of that….keep playing
September 1st, 2024 at 10:07 am
You can thank A.Q. Shipley for putting the good word in for the Bucs to Mcafee. No doubt.
September 1st, 2024 at 10:09 am
What will be will be.
The main issue I have with Baker is consistency.
September 1st, 2024 at 10:13 am
Give it up for Lou.
Man that was well stated. Thanks, Lou.
September 1st, 2024 at 10:25 am
Bring the hate. After 48 years, Buc fans are immune.
And the players not only don’t give a crap, the hate makes them thrive.
September 1st, 2024 at 10:36 am
Hey Joes, just how many different names do you use to post here in the comments section anyways? 🙂
LOL!!!
September 1st, 2024 at 10:49 am
Two superbowl wins doesn’t even get us any respect?
That’s 2 more superbowls than quite a few teams that have not even a sniff .
It’s going to take a 15-2 run or beating the dolphins record to garner the respect this franchise has earned.
God bless the Glazers for getting us there.
September 1st, 2024 at 11:15 am
I’m coming around on McAfee. He is very annoying but actually says some smart things.
September 1st, 2024 at 11:31 am
Mediocre HC and mediocre QB doesnt usually get you a lot of respect. Will they ever lose the mediocre label? We shall see…
September 1st, 2024 at 11:41 am
I rarely predict as I am no fortune teller but I believe that the pass rush will be better (it has to be). I can hardly wait to watch this year’s team. GO BUCS!
September 1st, 2024 at 11:58 am
@Lou
Haven’t seen you here before but welcome! That was a very lucid and well thought out BALANCED post. Nice job.
September 1st, 2024 at 12:02 pm
I’m not sure that the “experts” base their opinions TOTALLY on Cousins.
The Falcons flashed a bit last year, they have some talent, and many thought they would have won last year if Ridder had been even a decent Q.B. As a U.C. grad it pains me to type that but it’s true.
So I’m not sure people are basing their predictions on Cousins being “great’ as much as he’s an upgrade over Ridder. I think many feel if Cousins can just play decent the Falcons will be fine. They’re not making predictions as much on Cousins being great as just the replacement of awful in Ridder. Cousins just has to be decent.
September 1st, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Cousins needs to be pretty darn good to hold off Penix. I believe the QB situation will develop into a massive distraction unless Cousins really lights it up.
September 1st, 2024 at 12:29 pm
The Bucs will win the division the Saints second the OVERATED Falcons third with a losing record followed by the pathetic Panthers.
September 1st, 2024 at 12:44 pm
The people dismissing the Bucs have nothing to lose, they trash them now and they get clicks and views, if they win they act like politicians and claim they never said it then climb on the bandwagon.
September 1st, 2024 at 12:54 pm
Did anyone read the recent SI article that had us going to the championship game?
September 1st, 2024 at 1:12 pm
I don’t think it’s pass rush we’ve had consistent sacks for seasons it’s the horrible cbs we’ve had busted coverages bet we are dominate this year
September 1st, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Many media pundits are down on the Bucs, because they believe Baker will regress. That might be true. He hasn’t been the most consistent QB.
September 1st, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Man I don’t understand hate for Baker. The dudes a scrapper. I know a lot of people got spoiled with Tom Brady, but what QB has been better for us in the last 20 years????
Take your time, I’ll wait ….
Because there isn’t one
What has the Watson done for the browns?
Nothing. I don’t even think he has a 300 yard game for them. But flacco comes off the couch and throws multiple 400yard games…
I’ll take Baker and his love for the game over a lot of these over hyped dudes out there. Watch and see. This o-line looks a lot better than last year, so our running game will be better. Which by default, will open up a lot more things, let alone time, for Baker to make shi* happen.
So if you got beef with my boy Bakrrrrr, you can walk the plank and find a ban wang to jump on!
September 1st, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Next Sunday can’t come soon enough. LFG!! 😎
September 1st, 2024 at 2:27 pm
People believe what they believe! Especially with all the mis-information on the Internet. What changes their opinion ( at least for some); is actually proving them wrong !! Hard to ignore facts!!! Even though some people can rationalize any outcome they wish!!! I hope they all bet against the Bucs this season!! Hit them in their wallet!
September 1st, 2024 at 3:09 pm
@Fred
“Cousins needs to be pretty darn good to hold off Penix.”
Aye that is the fly in the ointment. IF the Falcons struggle then they get a QB controversy to boot.
September 1st, 2024 at 3:16 pm
You like me… you really like me. I mean, I can’t believe this. I’m sitting there, and then, out of nowhere, Pat McAfee says the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might… might not suck this year. And for a moment, I just thought… finally.
It’s been so long. So many seasons of just trying to stay optimistic, of hoping people would see what we see… the heart, the fight, the spirit that never quits. And then today, Pat McAfee, he said it. Ten whole seconds, but it felt like forever. He said we have a chance.
I don’t know, maybe it sounds silly to some people, but it’s real to me. It’s like… finally, they see us. They really see us. And it feels so good. It feels like, maybe, this year, they won’t all just write us off. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll like us for who we are.
September 1st, 2024 at 3:29 pm
RodMunch,
Way to optimistic coming from you a “middling fan.” For many of us, the Bucs will break out with a newly built O line and a Pro Bowl QB. It’s going to be fun reminding you every week that Baker is a Top 6 QB. Your new name is MiddlingMunch.
September 1st, 2024 at 4:15 pm
7-10
September 1st, 2024 at 4:18 pm
Gipper – Top 6 in what, dumping off the ball?
He’s literally never been top 6 in anything unless you reverse the rankings, in which he’s been #1 and #2 in worst QBR in 2 of the last 3 seasons.
Anywho, dummy, that post was a parody. I know you’re too stupid to pick up on that, but I was mocking the morons who are obsessed with needing praise. Sort of like the Baker Boi(s), like yourself.
September 1st, 2024 at 4:33 pm
MiddlingMunch,
I got the parody and yes, there is much about you that reminds me of Sally Fields. Keep up the rant on SI’s college QB of the century. Looking forward to the season.
September 1st, 2024 at 4:59 pm
I’m really not sure if I’m believing this Rod Munch. You’re not “butt hurt”because you were kiddingly called MiddlingMunch. Oh! That’s rich! It’s OK to call our QB middling every time you pick up your pen. That’s funnier than hell Gipper – keep up the good work!
September 1st, 2024 at 6:15 pm
Rod he got the lame parody and that’s why he accused you of being an a—hole!
September 1st, 2024 at 6:51 pm
Oh, he’s butt hurt all right!!!
September 1st, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Couch fan says stay on the couch lose the phone so we don’t c u stupid satirical post cause u b mediocre buddy
September 1st, 2024 at 8:32 pm
@Gipper said:
“MiddlingMunch,
I got the parody and yes, there is much about you that reminds me of Sally Fields.”
LMAO 🤣
September 2nd, 2024 at 8:25 am
Hey Lou., I noticed the period at the end of your UN. Typo? Thanks for the very good and thoughtful comment. You new around these parts? The one division team I’m watching (besides my Bucs) is Atlanta. That’s cos of their HC. Raheem Morris got a raw deal in Tampa. Glazer Boyz were spending all their time and $$ in the UK with Manchester United. Morris was first promised the DC job when Kiffin split. Uh-uh, Glazers then said you’re either the HC or pack your bags. Threw Morris for a loop. He wasn’t ready for it. However, he did have a winning season with the usual lousy team. So, these division matchups could turn into dawg fights. Bucs still have the best team in the division, and I like Coen. Go Bucs!!
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:11 am
Finally, someone from sports media that isn’t afraid to say it like it is. Mr. Pat McAfee. Yes, there are the Falcons and Cousins hype. I am more worried about Penix getting in mid-season. Can’t count that out yet either.
September 2nd, 2024 at 1:26 pm
I watch a lot of sports shows. And not one of them talk about the Bucs. Its like if we are mentioned, its incidentally and by the way. I just want us to smear egg in all of these TV sports commentators face. The only thing I am worried about is our pass rush. Our Offense will score.
September 7th, 2024 at 11:35 am
Yes, Heyjude, I agree. If that happens at least we have 2 players that know Penix well. It could help.