“I Can’t Be Mad At That”
February 2nd, 2025
No grudge with Liam Coen.
Bucs fans are still furious. And Joe doesn’t blame them one bit.
Having typed that, Joe doesn’t know what former Bucs offensive coordinator and new Jags head coach Liam Coen was supposed to do. Shad Con Khan allegedly waved $60 million (and some power to pick his general manager) in his face to keep his yap shut for 24 hours.
Despite the ethical minefield that order from Con Khan put Coen in, $60 million is $60 million. That can buy a lot of Plant City strawberries.
That’s generations-changing money. If Coen can cobble together a couple of winning seasons in Jacksonville, he may double that $60 million contract in the next decade with Con Khan.
The guy who very easily could be damaged most by Coen leaving, Baker Mayfield, seems to see it the same way.
Mayfield really wanted Coen back with the Bucs. But he told Joe’s good friend and local sports media icon Rock Riley yesterday at Pro Bowl practices that can’t blame Coen for taking the money and running to northeast Floria.
“I know people are going to be upset by it,” Mayfield admitted in Orlando. “For him, Ashley and their kids, you can’t argue with that decision.
“I can’t be mad at that. As much as I would want to have him still here … life goes on and I’m happy for him.”
Mayfield might be the guy with the most to lose without Coen around. It was Coen who helped save Mayfield in Los Angeles from the NFL scrap heap when the rest of the league gave up on him.
Coen helped rescue Mayfield’s career. Then Mayfield came to the Bucs on a prove-it deal and 2023 Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales helped guide him to a career year — before Coen turned the Oklahoma product into one of the top quarterbacks in the league this season.
If recent history holds, Joe wonders where new Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard will be head coach this time next year.
Bucs Baker Mayfield says he can’t be upset with Liam Coen for taking the Head Coach job in Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/9XUq9kdpvX
— rock riley (@realrockriley) February 1, 2025
February 2nd, 2025 at 8:46 am
Correct me if I am wrong. I thought the WHOLE premise was on the WAY he left, not that he left.
February 2nd, 2025 at 8:47 am
Grudges are for low IQ people.
February 2nd, 2025 at 8:52 am
Mr. “duvaaal” Was overrated the entire time….
Fans will soon start to see that it was the talent on the offense thats the main reason why it was so good, not the coaching.
Can’t wait till that train wreck fails in Jacksonville. I for one am certainly not “furious” about it…. The guy couldn’t call plays down the stretch of the season. He was flat out bad.
February 2nd, 2025 at 8:57 am
After that lame decision to put White in The dog house after the Cowboys game, The run game and Offense took a significant hit.
He started to use Bucky Irving like the Titans would use Derrick Henry, which is just not how you should use an undersized rookie sensation. It made the run game easier for teams to figure out.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:03 am
If Coen had signed an extension with the glazes there would be a lawsuit filed.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:13 am
There is not one person in here that would turn down the chance of quadrupling your salary (and way more) for yourself and your family. $60MM is generational money. Are you kidding? I don’t care how it went down. I wish him the best success because he was a Buc.
As far as pilfering coaches, 1st and for most, Coen brought those coaches with him when he joined the Bucs. Second, since when does a coach who gets such an opportunity not want to take coaches with him in his new gig?! Are you all watching the pillaging that is going on in Detroit? At last count, they have lost 7 coaches. The Lions exOC and exDC both took coaches with them in their new jobs. We’ve got it easy.
I know it hurts you all bc the hot girl always ditched you for the guy with the Lamborghini, but its better for you now. Just remember, If you want to be happy for the rest of your life. Never make a pretty woman your wife. So for my personal point of view. Get an ugly girl to marry you.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:17 am
So Todd makes $3 million a year? Is he the lowest paid HC in the league?
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:20 am
Why is it that the same people that were saying that Bowles should get credit for hiring Coen. Now seem to be saying that Coen was overrated and should never have been trusted.
Seriously, Coen has left, he did well when he was here, he got his big contract. How he left has nothing at all to do with what is happening here in TB. Let it go. Obsessive ex-girlfriend is exactly what you sound like.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:22 am
Maybe the anger is needed as part of tge show, but jacksonville can’t keep a coach more than a couple of years and Coen will be job hunting and we may need him.
Lets just treat him as if he is someone with a past due loan, try to get what you can, don’t seek revenge.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:25 am
Ok the tantrum is over.
How is Godwin coming along?
Is there another diamond in the rough as Barrett was for us when we got him?
LFG!!!
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:30 am
Credit to Baker for taking that attitude.
Mike said essentially the exact same thing.
Credit to Mike.
It also speaks well of the work the front office at One Buc Place has done over the past few years, in choosing which players to draft and bring in as free agents. “I am that man”.
There’s a lot of big names in this league that would’ve had no problem with publicly trashing Liam Coen. Our guys aren’t doing that.
I don’t have a problem with Liam taking the Jags HC position. He was always transparent about his goal of becoming an HC.
But the way he did it really stunk.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:34 am
Baker knows that being bitter over Coen bolting for the Jags is not going to help him get ready for next season and he does realize that Coen did make sure his family is financially secure. Too bad he did not go about things like Dave Canales did though.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:37 am
60 million? Yea. Understand but he snuck around. That still bothers me. Don’t think that our offense will lose much at all.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:38 am
Time to move on to FA. Who do the Bucs keep and release?
Release:
Britt
JTS
Newman
Gaines
Shepard
February 2nd, 2025 at 10:01 am
@Jeff`
“Grudges are for low IQ people.”
Amen brother! I’m mildly surprised that so many here choose to let Coen live rent free in their minds. My only objection was Coen trying to raid the Bucs staff.
He has enough connections around the league.
But you are so correct Jeff. And admittedly there are cases where I struggle with this. I have a sister in law who has treated me in such a vile manner that she makes me think of the B word. Reality is Jeff is right, as is my life coach.
I’ve set the boundaries, no longer have to see her, and that has helped enormously. But the worst lies you can ever tell are those you tell yourself.
I’m honest enough to know that I still need to work on that grudge. Gotta raise my own IQ.
February 2nd, 2025 at 10:02 am
Are there any Bucs fans upset because he left? Or what’s been said 300 times on the site, it’s more of the way he left. I mean Jacksonville giving a guy who got only 1 interview Jacksonville, unproven as a HC and as Joe said somewhere around $60 million dollars and some power to bring in his own office personnel, you can’t beat that with a stick. The Jags fans are the ones that should be on edge or pissed
February 2nd, 2025 at 10:05 am
I didn’t see the interview so I’m only going by what I see here. But it seems the ‘He left us (Bucs & Mayfield?) on Red a little bit’ part is the most interesting part that’s just getting edited out. Someone who saw the whole interview should set me straight if I got it all wrong.
February 2nd, 2025 at 10:09 am
I’m kind of curious on the Coan McVay relationship. Especially with Coen flippin and floppin between the Rams and Kentucky
February 2nd, 2025 at 10:15 am
I’m over Coen leaving, we have a new O.C.. Joe just loves beating dead horses.
February 2nd, 2025 at 10:21 am
Honest question. Why are we even thinking about a JAX Jag HC?
I’m thinking about a Bucs GM and how he sees the draft.
I’ve seen three interesting prospects…the super DB from Michigan…the edge rusher from Penn State and the LB from ‘Bama!
All three of those fill a desperate need for the Bucs. I saw one mock that had the Bucs taking Carter and JJoe would get his edge but I find it hard to imagine he’ll drop that far. But hey, who knows and any one of those three would be a solid addition IMHO, but my opinion is nothing…it’s JL’s that counts.
February 2nd, 2025 at 10:45 am
Bakefield is correct.
February 2nd, 2025 at 11:14 am
I’m with Baker on this. Hate is heavy to carry around and it weighs you down. Let it go because this may me another blessing in disguise. Josh was ready to move up and he’s going to shine. Have faith people. Baker is so far beyond better than when he got here. Baker is ready for a Championship and ready to take his place with the NFL Greats! You have to take the Marines’ mentality of invincibility. If you believe you believe you can, as a leader, I absolutely know you can. The brain and heart are your two most powerful assets. Nothing else matters, no one else matters. All that matters is you and what you believe. I wish Cohen well and I truly believe he will do well there if given enough time. Look what sticking with Jason Licht did for Tampa. He’s the best GM in the NFL. Move over Kansas City, again, because the Bucs are coming for you, and you’re 15 minutes is just about up!!! Rah!!!
February 2nd, 2025 at 11:54 am
Agreed Scotty it was the way he left. Now that he is gone, no need to think about him anymore. He should be dead to all of us at this point. Time to move on and fix the defense.
February 2nd, 2025 at 11:55 am
“That can buy a lot of Plant City strawberries.”
$8 / qt for the organic ones at Publix. Wtf!
February 2nd, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Meh. If you beat a dead horse you get really good dog food.
February 2nd, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Snake. Let’s move on. Can we have nothing more said about this guy
February 2nd, 2025 at 12:09 pm
You really can’t blame people for being upset about lying and sneaking around to Duvaaaaalll. It’s not about having a “hot woman” cheat on you. It’s about acting unprofessionally and narcissistic. Please let’s have a moratorium on this guy and.Concentrate on the Grizz!!!!
For me personally, Mike Evans helped the most. He basically said he didn’t care lol
February 2nd, 2025 at 1:27 pm
There you have it family first and besides I’m sure Coen’s bank account has shielded him from Bucs fans petty insults. Only Bucs fans call him names but by the time training camp rolls around the world will have forgotten how he left Tampa then it’s about can he do the job
February 2nd, 2025 at 1:41 pm
You’re giving way too much credit to Coen for Baker’s play. He had the best LT, two of the best WRs, a rookie who could break 20-30 yard runs, and a huge upgrade at C and LG.
This team made Coen. Not the other way.
February 2nd, 2025 at 2:02 pm
My grandson has a 62 iq and he’s a funny little special guy
February 2nd, 2025 at 2:27 pm
First, he hasn’t got the $60M yet. We’re talking Deshaun Watson money. If Coen doesn’t produce –and I believe he needs more seasoning as a coordinator before taking on a whole team–, the Jags will be looking for ways to get out of paying him. And even if he gets most of it, with or without fulfilling the full contract, the damage to his reputation will cost more than you want to think about. I’m not wishing him evil, but I have problems with the ethos of grab the quick money without a thought of whether a person is ready to really earn it. And if you’ve skipped rungs climbing to the top, they won’t be there for you to climb back down. And odds are, you will come down.
February 2nd, 2025 at 3:49 pm
Can’t blame him, grab the money &run. It’s the American way. Cidos to the BUCS ,just keep on keepinhlg.on. GO BUCS, Mayfield atal true CLASS & CHARACTER
February 2nd, 2025 at 4:11 pm
Liam’s not a man of his word. Jacksonville ownership wouldn’t take no for an answer and their bad owner paid an unprecedented amount for a one year NFL OC. This is why the jags are bad. Fish rots from the head. Listened to their Frangie (their play by play guy), and did exactly what Frangie ranted they should do. Yeah their GM sucked. You know how he got a job? The guy hiring him sucks.
February 2nd, 2025 at 4:14 pm
Mobucs, doesn’t work that way. Coaching contracts are guaranteed unless fired with cause.
February 2nd, 2025 at 4:29 pm
Thanks, Mayhem, but I think for the right price people will find a cause. On the other hand, there are far fewer coaching contracts than playing contracts, and it may easier to write off the loss.
February 2nd, 2025 at 7:55 pm
I appreciated hearing from Baker Mayfield on this, as well as what Mike Evans had to say at the pro bowl practices too. Looking forward to what’s up next, no resentments, let’s get on with what’s next.
February 2nd, 2025 at 9:17 pm
Not mad at him for taking the gig and that money, mad at the way he handled it. It was handled extremely poorly.