I don’t know how they can look at what just happened with Cousins, Tua and Kyler and decide to give out a $200M prematurely
we are talking about the same franchise who prematurely extended Todd Bowles in 2025 when they should have waited until this offseason
im not so sure Bowles is head coach if not for that ill investment made
poorly run franchises going to make poor moves but to be fair even well run franchises like Philadelphia prematurely extend QBs. (Ie Carson wentz, Jalen hurts)
we are not at risk of losing baker particularly with franchise tag option so we really need to see what QB we have
2023 and 2025 are more average like play. You can win with this but you need a dominate defense and run game - ie Seattle last year
since our defense isn’t that (and even with JAG moves this offseason) we need baker to be closer to 2024 to warrant such a contract
Will you guys shut the fuck about Bowles already?
it's relevant because you asked...how would a franchise prematurely extend a QB when you see X, Y, and Z examples
well my friend, look in the mirror of the jersey you are wearing because your favorite team is managed incompetently.
Player contracts are independent of coach contracts. When you sign a player to a contract like Baker is being talked about it comes with roster constraints. And that’s best case scenario. Worst case scenario is Miami, Arizona, Atlanta.
Will you guys shut the fuck about Bowles already?
No.
I will praise or criticize his based on his performance.
Currently, he is a middling coach who happens to be a poor defensive coordinator who had a couple of offensive coordinators bail him out in a weak-ass division.
Nothing to praise.
Nothing to get excited about. (Well, except his eventual firing).
This is a thread about Baker’s contract. Bucs fans are now just making everything about Bowles. But you’re also being gaslit by poor coverage of the team from the likes of Pewter Report and JoeBucsFan.
poorly run franchises going to make poor moves but to be fair even well run franchises like Philadelphia
The Eagles have more than $400 million in void year contracts
average like play. You can win with this but you need a dominate defense and run game - ie Seattle last year
the Bowles Bucs 2023 defense was comparable (3 ppg?) to the 2025 Seattle defense
The Bucs 2024 running game was better than the Seattle 2025 run game, by almost 25 yards per game.
2025 Sam Darnold was 4000 yards on 67% completion rate and 25TDs to 14 interceptions. Thats basically 2023 Mayfield
POINT:
The Bucs and Mayfield are right there, in part because the margins we are discussing are tiny and the actual challenge - greatly impacted by health - is putting all those things together in ONE season and playing hot at the end.
For example, Mayfield's stats in the year you said was average (2023) are roughly Darnold's stats in a Super Bowl winning season, so for example the Bucs could arguably play defense inferior to the 2025 Seattle defense and make up the difference in offense (the 2024 Mayfield year)
are you suggesting to me that the Philadelphia Eagles are not one of the best run franchises in the league? In the last 9 years, they have made the playoffs in 8 of those seasons. They have also won 2 Superbowls.
i hate the Eagles but can't argue that they have one of the best GMs in the league
Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I dont know why you picked 9 years, maybe tenure of the GM? I think they are good franchise BUT right now they are selling the future for today at a rate that far eclipses every other NFL team, so they are either trailblazing geniuses or a future den of extreme regret. We will see. For all that selling of the furutre though, they are a bit of a mess, having a QB who ignores the plays called to makes stuff up on the fly etc
This is a thread about Baker’s contract. Bucs fans are now just making everything about Bowles. But you’re also being gaslit by poor coverage of the team from the likes of Pewter Report and JoeBucsFan.
Sadly, the fact that Bowles is a dead man walking impacts the willingness of some fans to agree to pay Baker big bucks. So, while it might be a thread about Baker it is also a thread about how other factors impact Baker's potential for success.
Will you guys shut the fuck about Bowles already?
No.
I will praise or criticize his based on his performance.
Currently, he is a middling coach who happens to be a poor defensive coordinator who had a couple of offensive coordinators bail him out in a weak-ass division.
Nothing to praise.
Nothing to get excited about. (Well, except his eventual firing).
This is a thread about Baker’s contract. Bucs fans are now just making everything about Bowles. But you’re also being gaslit by poor coverage of the team from the likes of Pewter Report and JoeBucsFan.
JC5100. What is it with you and Bowles? Is it something personal? Is he your father-in-law? Your brother-in-law? Your old college roommate? Are you Bruce Arians? Are you an incognito representative of the Glazers? You just seem to have an undying love for the guy. I don't understand your staunch defense of the guy. Are some of us here on Pewter Report Red Board being rough on the guy? Yes we are, and we are constantly bringing up numerous reasons why he's not a good HC/DC. But you continue to defend him as almost a knee-jerk reaction. You and I will never agree on Bowles. You keep defending him, and I'll keep being ultra-critical of him.
Will you guys shut the fuck about Bowles already?
lolz
Biggs, just noticed you were showing off your football acumen back when Mayfield was up for his first extension. Didnt you says Super Bowl champ Darnold was "eewwww?"
we are not at risk of losing baker particularly with franchise tag option so we really need to see what QB we have
I think the talk of extending him is based on them sort of knowing what they have. I say that because last go around everyone was freaking out at a report that said they would pay Mayfield $40 million per year and I think it came up at more like $35 and the market also moved north.
at some point fans just have to let Jesus take the wheel, so to speak. Licht and Greenberg have done a pretty good job. It usually works out
Sam Darnold winning a Super Bowl, and the way Seattle built a team that could be legit contender, using a “a sum of its parts” strategy, allows the Bucs to determine they got some bad injuries and bad luck last season. That’s the only sense I can make if it.
The organization probably felt they’re pursuing the correct path. I, like many fans, have lost to confidence in Bowles, but the organization has not.
Having said that, I actually believe the team thinks the picks they’ve made, and the ones they will make this season, will payoff this season and allow the Bucs to pursue a similar path that the Seahawks won with last season (with some help from fewer injuries). It’s fraught with hopium, who knows, they may get lucky.
I actually think the Bucs want a good run, allow Bowles to retire after next season, and expect Zac Robinson will be the next head coach. If it fails, it puts them in a position they don’t want; retire/fire Bowles. I think they really want him to go out on a positive note, but I can’t see Bowles beyond this season.
Hope isn’t a strategy, but regardless, I don’t think Bowles is a lame-duck in their eyes - at least at this point.
The moves they made in free agency indicate, to me, Licht believes he’s assembled a good roster and the picks he’s augmenting will be depth. I personally think we shopped in the bargain basement of FA. We have a lot of rotational JAG’s, AQM benefitted from having a line mate that was a beast, I don’t think he’ll get double-digit sacks from our line, ILB was slightly improved with rotational JAG’s, and we’ll draft a couple of ILB’s, who may give us some rotational improvement.
I don’t have high-expectations for next season. Bowles is mid.
Baker is going to be paid. He’s carried us a few games Last season and plays well in a McVay system, and we have a good o-line, receivers, and RB’s that can play in a screen game and pick up yards on their own.
if the offense is there, and you have an NFL average defense, why would anyone trash Baker heading into this season? It doesn’t matter if new fans think you can just draft Baker’s replacement with zero fall-off. That’s even worse hopium. It could be that Baker gets $50 mil, it’s the going rate. It could be that he gives the team another discount (I doubt it), but you can’t win without a QB. Hes going to get paid, because we can’t get another QB in the near future that can win games in this league. He ain’t perfect, but he ain’t bad in an offense he’s already proven more than capable in.
Baker is going to be paid. He’s carried us a few games Last season and plays well in a McVay system, and we have a good o-line, receivers, and RB’s that can play in a screen game and pick up yards on their own.
if the offense is there, and you have an NFL average defense, why would anyone trash Baker heading into this season? It doesn’t matter if new fans think you can just draft Baker’s replacement with zero fall-off. That’s even worse hopium. It could be that Baker gets $50 mil, it’s the going rate. It could be that he gives the team another discount (I doubt it), but you can’t win without a QB. Hes going to get paid, because we can’t get another QB in the near future that can win games in this league. He ain’t perfect, but he ain’t bad in an offense he’s already proven more than capable in.
This
we are not at risk of losing baker particularly with franchise tag option so we really need to see what QB we have
I think the talk of extending him is based on them sort of knowing what they have. I say that because last go around everyone was freaking out at a report that said they would pay Mayfield $40 million per year and I think it came up at more like $35 and the market also moved north.
at some point fans just have to let Jesus take the wheel, so to speak. Licht and Greenberg have done a pretty good job. It usually works out
listen, if baker hit 2025 like he did 2024, we'd all be clamoring to extend him
but he didnt and was actually his worst of 3 years, albeit still top 20 QB play
the question becomes is a top 20 QB worth $50M+ per year. That type of investment, in my opinion, is for a top 10 guy.
which is why i am suggesting, let's see how 2026 plays out.
makes no business sense to sign him now, especially when you can easily just franchise tag him
Sam Darnold winning a Super Bowl, and the way Seattle built a team that could be legit contender, using a “a sum of its parts” strategy, allows the Bucs to determine they got some bad injuries and bad luck last season. That’s the only sense I can make if it.
The organization probably felt they’re pursuing the correct path. I, like many fans, have lost to confidence in Bowles, but the organization has not.
Having said that, I actually believe the team thinks the picks they’ve made, and the ones they will make this season, will payoff this season and allow the Bucs to pursue a similar path that the Seahawks won with last season (with some help from fewer injuries). It’s fraught with hopium, who knows, they may get lucky.
I actually think the Bucs want a good run, allow Bowles to retire after next season, and expect Zac Robinson will be the next head coach. If it fails, it puts them in a position they don’t want; retire/fire Bowles. I think they really want him to go out on a positive note, but I can’t see Bowles beyond this season.
Hope isn’t a strategy, but regardless, I don’t think Bowles is a lame-duck in their eyes - at least at this point.
The moves they made in free agency indicate, to me, Licht believes he’s assembled a good roster and the picks he’s augmenting will be depth. I personally think we shopped in the bargain basement of FA. We have a lot of rotational JAG’s, AQM benefitted from having a line mate that was a beast, I don’t think he’ll get double-digit sacks from our line, ILB was slightly improved with rotational JAG’s, and we’ll draft a couple of ILB’s, who may give us some rotational improvement.
I don’t have high-expectations for next season. Bowles is mid.
Baker is going to be paid. He’s carried us a few games Last season and plays well in a McVay system, and we have a good o-line, receivers, and RB’s that can play in a screen game and pick up yards on their own.
if the offense is there, and you have an NFL average defense, why would anyone trash Baker heading into this season? It doesn’t matter if new fans think you can just draft Baker’s replacement with zero fall-off. That’s even worse hopium. It could be that Baker gets $50 mil, it’s the going rate. It could be that he gives the team another discount (I doubt it), but you can’t win without a QB. Hes going to get paid, because we can’t get another QB in the near future that can win games in this league. He ain’t perfect, but he ain’t bad in an offense he’s already proven more than capable in.
a few things
1. Todd Bowles is just 62 years old. This hope of him retiring is just that...hope. Bruce Arians was around 70 and had health issues. Apples and Bowling balls. What if Todd takes the ole Tom Moore route and coaches forever. Let's not bank on this fantasy. I think it's more likely they let Zac Robinson walk then Bowles retires, call it Coen 2.0 if Bucs perform well in 2026.
2. Licht may believe he has assembled a good roster, but the consensus of Non Bucs Fans is that we got worse. Losing the leadership of Evans and David following a year where the locker room quit, not necessarily a comforting thought. The Bucs have made some solid moves on defense, but were they game changing moves to make this a top 10 defense, with no defensive coordinator, and a quasi head coach/DC in Bowles? I think best case is we are middle of the pack, slightly improved from last year......not really good enough to carry the team like a New England, Denver, or Seattle.
3. as it pertains to Baker, it really depends how he plays this year. If he repeats 2025 performance putting up like top 20 QB numbers, we have another in season long losing streak, the offense struggles to put up league average 23 points per game, and we win 6-8 games and miss playoffs; i have to ask....is it worth it keeping Baker as the starter or do we try again with a rookie? Listen, Baker, may go down as our best QB in franchise history but that isn't saying much for this shit franchise. Hell, Brady was another season away from being top dog TD wise. I am not saying we hastily discard of Baker but extending him prior to the 2026 season is a very avoidable mistake.
Best case scenario: Baker tops 40+ TDs, Bucs win 11 games, win a playoff game and future looks bright. In this scenario, you resign him to market value, call it 55+ mil a season or if hes being difficult, franchise tag his ass. Really little downside except for a few sheckles.
Worse case scenario: Resign Baker now to 50+ mil a year, he performs similar to 2025, we then realize in 2027 then this is his limit, we then pull a Miami Dolphin Tuo situation cutting him in 2028 offseason.
call me crazy, but i'll take the best case scenario with waiting a year.
Will you guys shut the fuck about Bowles already?
No.
I will praise or criticize his based on his performance.
Currently, he is a middling coach who happens to be a poor defensive coordinator who had a couple of offensive coordinators bail him out in a weak-ass division.
Nothing to praise.
Nothing to get excited about. (Well, except his eventual firing).
This is a thread about Baker’s contract. Bucs fans are now just making everything about Bowles. But you’re also being gaslit by poor coverage of the team from the likes of Pewter Report and JoeBucsFan.
JC5100. What is it with you and Bowles? Is it something personal? Is he your father-in-law? Your brother-in-law? Your old college roommate? Are you Bruce Arians? Are you an incognito representative of the Glazers? You just seem to have an undying love for the guy. I don't understand your staunch defense of the guy. Are some of us here on Pewter Report Red Board being rough on the guy? Yes we are, and we are constantly bringing up numerous reasons why he's not a good HC/DC. But you continue to defend him as almost a knee-jerk reaction. You and I will never agree on Bowles. You keep defending him, and I'll keep being ultra-critical of him.
I’m neutral on Bowles but everyone in the Bucsphere is so against him that it makes me appear pro-Bowles. Some of the things he gets blamed for are ridiculous and the blame should have been placed on Licht and the play callers. His resume as DC/HC in Tampa commands a hell of a lot more respect than the fans and media give him.
Will you guys shut the fuck about Bowles already?
No.
I will praise or criticize his based on his performance.
Currently, he is a middling coach who happens to be a poor defensive coordinator who had a couple of offensive coordinators bail him out in a weak-ass division.
Nothing to praise.
Nothing to get excited about. (Well, except his eventual firing).
This is a thread about Baker’s contract. Bucs fans are now just making everything about Bowles. But you’re also being gaslit by poor coverage of the team from the likes of Pewter Report and JoeBucsFan.
JC5100. What is it with you and Bowles? Is it something personal? Is he your father-in-law? Your brother-in-law? Your old college roommate? Are you Bruce Arians? Are you an incognito representative of the Glazers? You just seem to have an undying love for the guy. I don't understand your staunch defense of the guy. Are some of us here on Pewter Report Red Board being rough on the guy? Yes we are, and we are constantly bringing up numerous reasons why he's not a good HC/DC. But you continue to defend him as almost a knee-jerk reaction. You and I will never agree on Bowles. You keep defending him, and I'll keep being ultra-critical of him.
I’m neutral on Bowles but everyone in the Bucsphere is so against him that it makes me appear pro-Bowles. Some of the things he gets blamed for are ridiculous and the blame should have been placed on Licht and the play callers. His resume as DC/HC in Tampa commands a hell of a lot more respect than the fans and media give him.
Bowles has been blamed for Mike Evans hamstring and the "death" of Tom Brady's career. LOL.
Blamed for the running game when it struggled, but not when it succeeds (that's Coen) etc.
No credit for Canales, Coen or Mayfield, conveniently, he is really a DC for that stuff, but a HC for stuff that goes wrong.
He's been called a DEI hire and worse . . . by the usual suspects. . . same posters trolling Bowels for years.
When the Bucs win . . . they are supposed to or it was the offense. When the Bucs lose . . . its the defense, even when the offense underperforms.
Division titles are discounted under Bowles, its a bad division or the ever hilarious Biggs with "playoffs dont really matter"
Head coaches are always the focal point, but some of the Bowles stuff clearly transcends Xs and Os.
That is simply undeniable.
The posts dont disappear.
Will you guys shut the fuck about Bowles already?
No.
I will praise or criticize his based on his performance.
Currently, he is a middling coach who happens to be a poor defensive coordinator who had a couple of offensive coordinators bail him out in a weak-ass division.
Nothing to praise.
Nothing to get excited about. (Well, except his eventual firing).
This is a thread about Baker’s contract. Bucs fans are now just making everything about Bowles. But you’re also being gaslit by poor coverage of the team from the likes of Pewter Report and JoeBucsFan.
JC5100. What is it with you and Bowles? Is it something personal? Is he your father-in-law? Your brother-in-law? Your old college roommate? Are you Bruce Arians? Are you an incognito representative of the Glazers? You just seem to have an undying love for the guy. I don't understand your staunch defense of the guy. Are some of us here on Pewter Report Red Board being rough on the guy? Yes we are, and we are constantly bringing up numerous reasons why he's not a good HC/DC. But you continue to defend him as almost a knee-jerk reaction. You and I will never agree on Bowles. You keep defending him, and I'll keep being ultra-critical of him.
I’m neutral on Bowles but everyone in the Bucsphere is so against him that it makes me appear pro-Bowles. Some of the things he gets blamed for are ridiculous and the blame should have been placed on Licht and the play callers. His resume as DC/HC in Tampa commands a hell of a lot more respect than the fans and media give him.
Bowles has been blamed for Mike Evans hamstring and the "death" of Tom Brady's career. LOL.
Blamed for the running game when it struggled, but not when it succeeds (that's Coen) etc.
No credit for Canales, Coen or Mayfield, conveniently, he is really a DC for that stuff, but a HC for stuff that goes wrong.
He's been called a DEI hire and worse . . . by the usual suspects. . . same posters trolling Bowels for years.
When the Bucs win . . . they are supposed to or it was the offense. When the Bucs lose . . . its the defense, even when the offense underperforms.
Division titles are discounted under Bowles, its a bad division or the ever hilarious Biggs with "playoffs dont really matter"
Head coaches are always the focal point, but some of the Bowles stuff clearly transcends Xs and Os.
That is simply undeniable.
The posts dont disappear.
Aww…they’re back together.
makes no business sense to sign him now, especially when you can easily just franchise tag him
If they think he’s “their guy” then yes, it does.
Needs to be within reason though.
I wouldn’t go beyond 4yrs - $160M with $96M to $100M guaranteed.
He’d be set financially and it could be an easily structured “team friendly” deal. They can draft the replacement.
Win/win for both sides.
Otherwise, he can enjoy his time in LA for a few years.