Being A Sparkplug Has Its Limits

October 17th, 2024

Valuable addition.

Todd Bowles pretty much the art of gameface down. When he stands at a podium, you’d think he was a pallbearer at a funeral because he’s so stoic.

But the thought of a veteran Bucs player got Bowles chuckling today. That is wideout Sterling Shepard.

No, Bowles wasn’t laughing because Sterling is a joke or something. On the contrary. Bowles likes Shepard and apparently thought it was humorous that a veteran who should know better would draw so many flags.

Bowles seemed to indicate Shepard is a presence both on the field and in the locker room the Bucs need. Except…

“He’s been very energetic,” Bowles said of Shepard. “Once he got healthy and came up [to the active roster] he’s been a sparkplug.

“Don’t expect my wideout to get three penalties,” Bowles said chuckling.

Bowles was able to look past the three flags Shepard pulled. For now. But Bowles sure likes the player Shepard is.

“Other than [penalties], he’s been a great addition for us,” Bowles said. “He’s a very positive sparkplug.”

Sometimes a locker room needs a guy to bring juice. That source used to be Rob Gronkowski. Is Shepard the new Gronk as far as keeping the locker room light yet still focused?

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24 Responses to “Being A Sparkplug Has Its Limits”

  1. Jacob Says:

    2 of those penalties were nonsense. Loved watching him blow up their DB’s on that screen.

  2. JimBobBuc Says:

    Loved it when he blew up a DB blocking a run play. No way that was roughness! The refs in this game were flag happy. Weird calls.

  3. Gofortheface30 Says:

    Meh, penalties are not ideal but when it comes to those gutter scu*bags of New Orleans, I’m fine with fighting fire with fire

  4. Pewter Power Says:

    Dude is happy his nfl career isn’t over, he’s jacked up a little too much and it gets no one else fired up

  5. unbelievable Says:

    Two of those penalties were absolute BS. He got a personal foul for standing up and pointing at a Sainst defender after the guy hit him while on the ground long after the play was over. One of the others ones I believe was a late hit, but on replay he was throwing the block at the same time our guy was being tackled. How is that considered “late”?

    It was horrendous officiating last Sunday. Seems to get worse and worse each week.

  6. Don'tBmad Says:

    People would take some time and look into Sterlings story….he has had an inspirational journey

  7. orlbucfan Says:

    That’s one drawback to being a Bucs Radio fan. I can’t see the ref crap when the zebs pull it. No matter. Were some of these calls going down during the infamous 2nd quarter? No matter. Bucs recovered their poise and went on to beat Aints and refs. Now Monday night? Horse of a very different color. Aints aren’t NFL darlings like the Ravens. Bucs have got to be ready to beat both teams.

  8. J Says:

    Refs are on pace to shatter the amount of penalties called in a season. 235 penalties have been called this year, and since 2009 there have been 4 seasons where that count was in the 700’s, never to eclipse more than 735 (that 735 occurred in 2018). This season the refs are flirting with 1000 possible penalties called.

  9. Koala Says:

    Both the Unsportsmanlike flags were complete BS. Shep didn’t “pull” them.

  10. GoneGator Says:

    We need him.

  11. Just a guy Says:

    Shep is a dude! Love that guy!

  12. Sacker58 Says:

    @ pewter power,
    Very apparent younger played football.Its not a game for pacifists.Just saying!

  13. Dave Pear Says:

    Love this dude.

  14. Biff Barker Says:

    Gofortheface.

    I’ve always hated NOLA. I still want payback for the cheap ass Godwin hit. I’m glad this team has some fight. GO BUCS!

  15. David Says:

    He definitely ignited them and then went overboard. I was yelling to get him out of the game for a couple plays before he gets a personal foul.
    Love him so far but he needs to be smarter than that

  16. dumboldguy Says:

    Unless he said something really really egregious on the second one both of the PF penalties were not even weak, just plain bad calls.

    Only in refworld does a player take a shot to the back while on his knees long after the whistle then gets a flag for standing up in the perpetrators face.

  17. Dave Pear Says:

    Wonder if Todd chuckles when he watches tape of Cousins surgically removing his spleen for 500, or horrible Bo Nix dicing him like an onion. And watching Rattler suck so hard tonight, Todd probably finds it hilarious that he gave up 200 yards passing to Rattler in his first ever half of NFL football.

    Best to laugh now. Nothing funny about what the Ravens are preparing to do to the Bucs defense.

  18. tucker Says:

    Love the Shepard pick up and the energy he brings to the team a positive spark plug.

  19. Player 1 Says:

    Dave Pear… you must be alot of fun at parties

  20. Dave Pear Says:

    LOL Player.

  21. Sheen Says:

    I may be wrong, but I believe the one unsportsmanlike was due to him pointing with a “finger gun”…which is why they said it would count towards getting tossed.

  22. Brandon Says:

    Dave Pear isn’t fun at parties. He never gets invited.

  23. BakerBucs says Says:

    Dave pear says OMG u r the worst excuse for a human why r u posting on this site this is not the team for u plz move on LOSER!

  24. BakerBucs says Says:

    Oh yes this was Bakers pick he called him up from his couch watching on the TV,obviously Baker new the results wud fit rite in glad to c Bowles with a funny side the pressure he is under must b epic