The professionals they listened to aren't expert and the experts are washed
agreed, but so are the Glazers and more importantly they suffer from the same human flaw we all do.
it flies in the face of basic human experience and logic to think that the "Red Board View" is the one the Glazer would follow over those "washed" experts. Just not the way it works. and here is why the current path is not really that surprising IN HINDSIGHT.
First, I put "Red Board View" in quotes because I mean that as a symbol of the typical fan take.
Second, the typical fan take ("Bowles killed Brady") is completely disconnected from the Glazer take (2023 and 2024 big success) . . that should be obvious
Third, the thing that might not be as obvious is that the Glazers are mostly following THE SAME HUMAN PROCCESS (rationalization because the thinker must be right) as the fans
So, because the fan take begins with "Bowles killed Brady" that "has to be right" in 2023 so 2023 becomes "Bucs only won because of Canales and Mayfield" and even "playoffs dont really matter," both ways to square reality with the initial WRONG take.
The Glazers are on the other side, 2023 was unexpected success, not Trask to be found.
Canales leaves and Mayfield and the Bucs are better with Coen, so now even more so the fan take becomes "2024 was "just Coen." The fans may finally be right BUT . . .the Glazers are about to do the same thing as the fans just from the other direction
They just watched Bowles unexpectedly win with Canales and Coen and everyone inside OBP loves Mayfield, so on to 2025 with Grizz. Failure. The Glazers must be right though (the almost inescapable human flaw) so 2025 was an "anomaly" and really on injuries and Grizz. Same kind of rationalization as the fans BUT this time backed up by the (washed) experts.
FWIW, if you study UNCOMMONLY successful leaders one thing most have conquered is their own egos. They are able to avoid the "I must be right" trap and objectively analyze the actual situation and act accordingly. Still get shit wrong all the time, but they dont have the false step or steps (plural) that often follow the first wrong choice. In this example, the false step is bringing Bowles back in 2026 because they must be right and even the experts back that up (echo chamber)
The Eagles are portrayed as today "gold standard" organization. They may be.
This did not get much play yesterday, but its starting to now. Posting it here because it is the opposite of the Licht approach
"“We weren’t looking to move Cam,” Roseman said, via Zach Berman of The Athletic. “Obviously, the Ravens have been looking for a center. . . . Kind of told them wasn’t anything we were looking to do. Over the last 24 hours, it got to the point where we felt like it could be a win-win for them. Obviously, getting a player who’s been a two-time Pro Bowl center and obviously for us, being able to get the picks we’re able to get, and use that money also to sign players. Had a chance to watch Drew [Kendall] here play center is doing a nice job. Have a young player there.”
No perfect parallel but this would be like the Bucs having Brady coming back in 2022 and trading Jensen? The Eagles are only one game out of first place in their division. and this is a trade of VETERAN (pro Bowl?) talent to save money, get picks for the future and run with a 2nd year player. and just AFTER Johnson retired. So they respond to the Johnson retirement by FURTHER dismantling their line?
Wonder how all the other VETS feel about that? How about the HC who is trying to win now to save his nob?
Eagles fans are way harder to please than the red board.
I'm not a fan of Siriani but they still went to two super bowls, won another, and have won the division oretty consistently.
They also have one of the best GMs.
Either way, the reason the red board is correct is because it's very common sensical to see how last season ended and realizing Coen was the key to success.
Bowles, to his credit, is putting an improved defense out there... Largely imo due to increased talent, slightly better scheme/execution, and strength of offensive opponents.
But all the things that made Bowles a great DC he doesn't do anymore...ie - manufacture pressure.
If Bowles wanted to demote himself to DC, then I'd be fine with keeping him.
But a head coach is sooooo much more than getting 4 tries to put out a competent defense and finally doing it to the tune of a 0-4 record.
I GUARANTEE you that many Bucs players thought Bowles was gone last offseason.
no kidding. Didn't we all
well if you were one of those players you would not be excited about this season. And even less so after 4 losses to open.
wonder what management was thinking...
exactly what I keep posting
The Glazers are Bowles believers to begin with because they watched him SUCCESSFULY navigate away from the Trask plan to 2023 and 2024. People here may not agree with that BUT it should be obvious from their comments. Their "favorite son" GM tells them that Bowles is doing great "with what he has to work with."
That is how they are entering the 2025 season and the 2025 season starts great!
Along the already injured path of 2025, Mayfield is hurt and the team loses a bunch of close games and still almost makes the playoffs (albeit in collapse)
They all meet postseason.
1. The key players (especially retiring LVD) and legends (Barber and Quarles, who work for the Glazers) all give their vote of confidence in Bowles especially because they were so close to the playoffs (people here see that as a mirage - "playoffs mean nothing" lol - it is the PRIMARY goal for the Glazers for multiple reasons).
2. ALL PLAYERS - if even asked Mayfield, Evans etc all say "they love Bowles" because that is what players do. Wirfs just said that. (Bowles decision is January, Evans leaves in March so the idea that Evans says something is absurd he wants to get PAID the $26 million his agent talked about and the Bucs are the best chance)
3. The Glazers get a call from their HERO (twice offered to run the Bucs) Parcells and he is 100% in Bowles corner
4. Their "favorite son" Licht is 100% Bowles and say he just needs defensive talent and a better OC than Grizz (the fall guy)
5. The "godfather" Arians flies to Tampa specifically for the meeting and is 100% in Bowles corner, injuries and "quickest way back to the playoffs"
With that mind of backing of course they are giving him one last try. The plan is to "clean house" and fire Grizz to try to appease fans, but Bowles stays.
And if you doubt that is the way it actually played out just look at the difference now: Licht NOT on the sideline and Arians talking about that being normal BUT that the GM has to worry when there are "uncommon mistakes." They are all distancing themselves. The post 2025 save Bowles meeting will NOT happen post 2026
(The Glazer are not reading the Red Board, they are taking advice from the professionals (Licht, Barber, Arians etc) invited to their Star Chamber. And fwiw there is actual reporting to back up everything I posted above its just that many here ignore it or discount it because its hard to reconcile with their own thoughts. Totally normal. Human nature. Thats why we have conspiracy theories)
so Bowles was still liked by the players and ex-coaches around the league? Clearly Glazers and Licht like him...but the question remains...what the heck were they thinking?
Clearly Bowles is a likable (if not coaching your football team) and nice guy. But the facts remain, the Bucs started out 6-2 with injuries, got relatively healthy, and unlike in previous years where they experienced winning streaks to end the year, they ended up falling on their faces with a 2-4 record in 6 games they were favored in to end the year. The most egregious being down 20-10 with under 2 minutes to go against a Dolphins team led by Queen Ewers and a team that clearly quit on their head coach, sandwiched between to 40 burger games of points given up.
You, yourself, said the team quit on him. So what...they were going to "un-quit" this year? Leaders such as Evans and David, said, "ehhh im good". Now i know that was after the decision was made but shit if they said "nah we like bowles" but "nah im good' that's about as helpful as others saying "yeah he's a great coach" but "ill pass on him"
The Eagles are portrayed as today "gold standard" organization. They may be.
This did not get much play yesterday, but its starting to now. Posting it here because it is the opposite of the Licht approach
"“We weren’t looking to move Cam,” Roseman said, via Zach Berman of The Athletic. “Obviously, the Ravens have been looking for a center. . . . Kind of told them wasn’t anything we were looking to do. Over the last 24 hours, it got to the point where we felt like it could be a win-win for them. Obviously, getting a player who’s been a two-time Pro Bowl center and obviously for us, being able to get the picks we’re able to get, and use that money also to sign players. Had a chance to watch Drew [Kendall] here play center is doing a nice job. Have a young player there.”
No perfect parallel but this would be like the Bucs having Brady coming back in 2022 and trading Jensen? The Eagles are only one game out of first place in their division. and this is a trade of VETERAN (pro Bowl?) talent to save money, get picks for the future and run with a 2nd year player. and just AFTER Johnson retired. So they respond to the Johnson retirement by FURTHER dismantling their line?
Wonder how all the other VETS feel about that? How about the HC who is trying to win now to save his nob?
Because for many other teams replacing a center is a not a big deal. In comparisons Licht places center as a key spot on the line so the organizations view the position differently.
Eagles fans are way harder to please than the red board.
I'm not a fan of Siriani but they still went to two super bowls, won another, and have won the division oretty consistently.
They also have one of the best GMs.
Either way, the reason the red board is correct is because it's very common sensical to see how last season ended and realizing Coen was the key to success.
Bowles, to his credit, is putting an improved defense out there... Largely imo due to increased talent, slightly better scheme/execution, and strength of offensive opponents.
But all the things that made Bowles a great DC he doesn't do anymore...ie - manufacture pressure.
If Bowles wanted to demote himself to DC, then I'd be fine with keeping him.
But a head coach is sooooo much more than getting 4 tries to put out a competent defense and finally doing it to the tune of a 0-4 record.
Yes Howie Roseman is the best GM in football. They have made the playoffs 9 out of the last 10 years. He has assembled 2 Super Bowl winning teams in a 7 year span that had different head coaches and different starting quarterback. Hard to argue with those results.
I also agree with Siriani. Love him or hate him, you can't argue with his coaching record, resume.
I think he gets a pass this year partially with the Eagles "punting" on the year following Lane Johnson retirement. They likely finish anywhere from 7 to 9 wins on the year but feel they will miss playoffs with Dallas taking the division.
What does that say about Howie. The guy realizes that a Super Bowl isn't within reach this year and says "let's get draft capital" because one and done playoff appearance isn't the standard. Compare that to Licht and how the Bucs still "competing for division" for this year at 0-4, soon to be 0-5.
Bowles was a good DC (sans that Rams blitz call back in 2021) and kudos for his defense in the 2020 SB run. As i said before, the 2022 defense was his best defense as far as him being a head coach. it's gotten progressively worse and that's on him. I do think the offense is more of an issue than our defense but as you've stated, he's the head coach, and that falls on him too. His stubbornness to not hire somebody to call the defense with his oversight (think Arians overseeing Leftwich) also contributes to why this team sucks. Not sure why Licht/Glazers didn't force his hand there. Like tough luck bud, you just went 2-7 to finish the year. you are lucky you are not fired, do as we say or good bye.
Because for many other teams replacing a center is a not a big deal.
they made him one of the highest paid centers in the league, I thought? In 2025?
he was a 2nd round pick supposedly picked by Kelce aa his eventual replacement
