Todd Bowles: Insults Will Help
December 18th, 2024
Tough talk.
It seems Todd Bowles has an interesting line item on his job description for assistant coaches.
Joe’s not calling Bowles a sadist, but the head coach said he feels good about having coaches that can “insult” players when appropriate to help keep them grounded.
Bowles was asked today by Tampa Free Press beat man Rock Riley about keeping his roster’s head right as they lead the NFC South and get love from across the NFL landscape.
No worries. Bowles said, “We didn’t listen when we were losing and we’re not listening now that we’re winning. So that’s not going to be a big deal.”
A method to the keeping players in check, just in case? Smack players with one-liners and wiseass comments.
“We have enough sarcastic coaches and sarcastic players to insult people to keep everybody grounded so that we’re all ready to work,” Bowles said. So that’s not a problem at all. We get shots in all the time.”
Hey, Joe hopes it works. It’s easy for some players to get caught up in the hype, which will hit record levels if the Bucs beat the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in four short days.
If Bowles runs out of insults, Joe would love to see Bucco Bruce Arians to be called in to practice to earn some of that Team Glazer loot he hauls in while golfing and drinking under the title of Senior Advisor to the General Manager.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
Whatever you are doing, keep it up!!
The run game is En Fuego!!!
December 18th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Cowgirls are in trouble and I think they know it. I can’t believe they are talking about bringing Mike McCarthy back haha. They have done alright since Dak went down so they haven’t quit on Mike but he is not the guy at HC. I rag on Bowles around here a bit and I would take Bowles everyday of the week over McCarthy.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Hand it to Bucky, pass it to Mike.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Logan Hall with 4.5 sacks, 4th on the team, nice to see.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
So we are supposed to believe insults will work with regard to player motivation ? With old fashioned hard a** coaching being replaced by kinder and gentler coaching, insults are just that. Nobody wants to be insulted. I say coach them hard but show respect. When motivation is needed make them pay, as in dollars and lots of them. The payroll deduction plan, in my opinion, would be a better motivator than insults.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Please put up over 50 on the cowgirls lions style just to rub it in
December 18th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
BA has specifically stayed away because he knows he’s twice the coach Bowles is & doesn’t want to overshadow or accidentally undermine him in any way. Wise move imo.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
Citrus County Bowles means that his staff and team have zero communication issues. No pansies that are offended easily. He doesn’t mean that insults are handed out as a form of punishment.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Citrus County Says:
December 18th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
So we are supposed to believe insults will work with regard to player motivation ? With old fashioned hard a** coaching being replaced by kinder and gentler coaching, insults are just that. Nobody wants to be insulted. I say coach them hard but show respect. When motivation is needed make them pay, as in dollars and lots of them. The payroll deduction plan, in my opinion, would be a better motivator than insults.
I’m sure you have a lengthy football coaching resume, and I’m just as sure Bowles will be calling you with more handy tips.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
He said some coaches, not all of them.
December 18th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
I know it’s highly unlikely BUT…. I think if Todd were to run the table he’d be in coach of the year discussions. Wouldn’t that be ironic? And totally send the Turd Hunters over the edge – lol.
December 18th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
GoneGator, the first five words of your comment are correct.
December 18th, 2024 at 2:58 pm
Joseph C Simmons Says:
December 18th, 2024 at 1:48 pm. I’m sure you have a lengthy football coaching resume, and I’m just as sure Bowles will be calling you with more handy tips.
^^^^
I’ve been coached by good and bad. Insults coming from an authority figure would only pi** me off and result in me losing respect for that person. When a coach I respected demanded more, he got it. I played my best for one really hard a** coach that I respected. His hard a** attitude never bothered me. It seems to me Bowles is confusing hard a** coaching with insults. Boot camp was full of “insults”. See Lee Irmy for example. At the end of the day you knew it wasn’t personal. Things have gotten so soft these days. By saying he has coaches that know how to insult, I get the feeling the coaches have been soft and coddling and now realize the need for a tougher approach and don’t know to do it. Ref. the Denver game. Todd Bowles is trying the “good cop/bad cop” approach. That, to me, means a true lack of identity from the head coach. Who runs this pirate ship ?
December 18th, 2024 at 3:21 pm
Run The Effin Table Todd!
December 18th, 2024 at 3:36 pm
Apparently it only works at the end of the year. I think developing the edge rushers so they are trying to reach goals like Evans every year works better than sarcasm
December 18th, 2024 at 3:56 pm
I love it! Good on ya, Coach!
December 18th, 2024 at 4:29 pm
Re: Citrus County
You’re replying to the tongue in cheek interpretation given by jbf rather than what he said. Kenton Smith got it right. They’re communicating well and jabbing each other in good fun, but everyone is staying positive.
December 18th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
If Bowles is looking for insults, this is the right place.
December 18th, 2024 at 5:41 pm
insult
1 of 2
verb
in·sult in-ˈsəlt
insulted; insulting; insults
Synonyms of insult
transitive verb
: to treat with insolence, indignity, or contempt : affront
also : to affect offensively or damagingly
^^^^^
It seems to me that Coach Bowles’ comments are his effort to say “We don’t know how to be a hard a** coaching staff and demand total effort without using insults as motivators.”
That is the lack of identity I say he lacks. He seems to be looking for the missing ingredient. Good parenting doesn’t require being the childs best friend nor does good coaching. The judicious use of compliments when offered after good effort, I believe, would be more effective. Ride them hard but don’t put them away wet.
December 18th, 2024 at 5:50 pm
The insults used by company commanders in boot camp are a tool used to break the spirit of recruits so they can be rebuilt into the order of military discipline.
Pro athletes are not military recruits they are employees hired to do a job to the best of their ability.
December 18th, 2024 at 6:09 pm
I ask this; Does an employer get the best from the employee by “jokingly” using insults ? Is a well deserved but rare compliment not more effective. Is a fair but stiff penalty for lack of effort not effective ?
December 18th, 2024 at 6:15 pm
If players sometimes need to be kept grounded then there is a culture problem. Apparently the TB12 effect has worn off already.
December 18th, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Once, during a morning inspection in boot camp, the company commander noticed my less than perfect shave. For that crime he ordered me to run in a circle 50 times while holding my 11lb. M1 Garand out in front with arms extended around the flag pole saying “I am a birdsh*t followed by 50 laps in the other direction saying ” I am a sh*tbird. From that moment on I shaved very carefully. I was motivated without insult.
These days I would have likely been ordered to attend a cosmetology class.
December 18th, 2024 at 6:58 pm
I forgot to add that following my chastisement the entire company was well shaved for the remainder of boot camp.
December 18th, 2024 at 7:02 pm
AND, not one fellow sailor laughed at me for having to do that.
December 18th, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Citrus County: What exactly is your buzz? You and I (think) have been loyal TBB Fans for over 40 years. We’re also informed/educated. What’s with the negative on Bowles?
December 18th, 2024 at 8:11 pm
orlbucfan
^^^^
I think Todd Bowles is a good man and a good football mind. I just don’t think he has command leadership traits. There is no shame in that. I think he is searching for an identity as the team leader. I think he wants to be the “good guy” and big brother to all. I think that as a leader he lacks some confidence. As the leader on the field and in the locker room there should be no doubt as to his authority. A true leader should be respected and feared. Without the element of fear those who are inclined to slack off will slack off.
December 18th, 2024 at 8:18 pm
Some of the players are men and some are still boys. The job of the head coach is to make boys become men.
December 18th, 2024 at 8:34 pm
Football like other sports is a kids game. For the money these athletes are being paid, and that money comes from the fans, the players need to act and perform like professionals. Remember the recent quote from Aqib Talib ? Many of the players seem to think it is “easy money”. For instance, take the Devin White situation. He had a contract and felt untouchable. Bowles coddled him and maybe management coddled him as well. Had that not happened he may have indeed become the $100mil man he believed he was. Instead, he is (I think) out of football. A firm hand might have led him in a different direction.
December 18th, 2024 at 10:49 pm
If you are reading this it is too late get out know before Citrus County traps you.
December 18th, 2024 at 11:20 pm
“If Bowles runs out of insults, Joe would love to see…”
No need to say more Joe, I’m always willing and able to help!
December 18th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
The fans were led to believe that Bowles was being supportive of Devin White but that situation could not have been good for overall team chemistry. We don’t know what went on behind the scene but I think Bowles should have said publicly ” Knock it off Devin, if you play to the BEST of your ability for all your teammates and coaches and play to win everything will work out just fine. End of story.”
A statement such as that would have established an identity for Todd Bowles.
December 19th, 2024 at 3:25 pm
Citrus Co.: The fact that there is a tremendous respect in both the locker room and team practices speaks volumes. Not everything the MICC shoves down recruits/volunteers’ throats comes up roses.