These kind of player contract challenges are one factor that could have factored into keeping Bowles for 2026 because most good HC candidates probably would NOT want to be the new coach who ran all those legends out.
Pat Kirwan (who is close with Bowles)
"So from the [NFL front office] world I came from, you know, the first suspicion I have and it’s pretty easy to have it is let’s not extend anybody in case we’re dumping our coach at the end of the season and we wanna give the new guy, not the hang up of all these fat contracts,” Kirwan said
so much focus on Bowles as the scapegoat for everything, people might be missing the Glazers and more importantly Arians role in the current deviation from their typical path
and Tampa, because we have a starting QB and a great WR room, are as well positioned as they have ever been to make a run
2002, 2020, and 2021 squads think you’re spot on.
we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Makes no sense. Too much young talent already on the roster to be talking about “rebuild”.
I thought you would want to rebuild with young talent. Would you rather rebuild with old talent?
The point I’m making is that rebuild talk makes no sense when there’s already a lot of young talent on hand. It’s not as if they have to overturn the entire roster to get where they wanna go. They still are only a few pieces away (and, unfortunately, probably a head coach away).
we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Makes no sense. Too much young talent already on the roster to be talking about “rebuild”.
I thought you would want to rebuild with young talent. Would you rather rebuild with old talent?
The point I’m making is that rebuild talk makes no sense when there’s already a lot of young talent on hand. It’s not as if they have to overturn the entire roster to get where they wanna go. They still are only a few pieces away (and, unfortunately, probably a head coach away).
A rebuild could mean a number of things. Maybe finishing .500 or below is not satisfactory so another losing season in 2026 despite homer fans thinking "we are right there" could spell the end of some aging veterans who are free agents in 2027 - Mayfield, Godwin (club option), Vea, Robinson, etc.
Does YaYa break double digit sacks with a formidable guy across from him? Does he get resigned or do we move in a different direction?
Does AWJ bounce back? He has 1 year left on deal after this season. Maybe a trade candidate for a mid round pick.
i personally think it's clear the Bucs brass is content with .500 ball otherwise they would have moved on from Bowles after last year's collaspe.
Therefore, i think it's likely we do re-up those free agents - mainly Mayfield and Godwin returning. Vea all depends on his expectations. Think Bucs would like him back but depends on asking price and amount of years.
we're closer to a true rebuild than we are being a contender.
Makes no sense. Too much young talent already on the roster to be talking about “rebuild”.
I thought you would want to rebuild with young talent. Would you rather rebuild with old talent?
The point I’m making is that rebuild talk makes no sense when there’s already a lot of young talent on hand. It’s not as if they have to overturn the entire roster to get where they wanna go. They still are only a few pieces away (and, unfortunately, probably a head coach away).
Yeah, I don't think anyone is advocating getting rid of the young talent and overturning the entire roster. That young talent is what you want to rebuild around, with a new HC and DC - with probably different defensive scheme.
That is one of the reasons a lot of us were upset with the drafting of Jeremiah Trotter (presumably because Bowles wanted him) by Licht in lieu of the other LB's available with the pick. Drafting scheme-specific players for a HC/DC that should have been relieved of his duties wasn't a smart play.
A rebuild could mean a number of things. Maybe finishing .500 or below is not satisfactory so another losing season in 2026 despite homer fans thinking "we are right there" could spell the end of some aging veterans who are free agents in 2027 - Mayfield, Godwin (club option), Vea, Robinson, etc.
TO me “rebuild” is a major roster churn over the course of 2+ years. Replacing a few aging or overpriced veterans or finding a new QB doesn’t fit the term “rebuild”… If they go into 2027 with a new coach and they decide not to bring back Mayfield, the main objective will be finding a franchise QB, but the new coach would still have a ton of young talent to work with, so not a rebuild.
If a new coach came in and decided to dump all the talent they’ve built over several successful drafts, that would be moronic.
There are no true rebuilds in the NFL if you have a competent front office. I feel like we do here in Tampa.
i personally think it's clear the Bucs brass is content with .500 ball otherwise they would have moved on from Bowles after last year's collaspe.
not true
A rebuild could mean a number of things. Maybe finishing .500 or below is not satisfactory so another losing season in 2026 despite homer fans thinking "we are right there" could spell the end of some aging veterans who are free agents in 2027 - Mayfield, Godwin (club option), Vea, Robinson, etc.
TO me “rebuild” is a major roster churn over the course of 2+ years. Replacing a few aging or overpriced veterans or finding a new QB doesn’t fit the term “rebuild”… If they go into 2027 with a new coach and they decide not to bring back Mayfield, the main objective will be finding a franchise QB, but the new coach would still have a ton of young talent to work with, so not a rebuild.
If a new coach came in and decided to dump all the talent they’ve built over several successful drafts, that would be moronic.
correct
There are no true rebuilds in the NFL if you have a competent front office. I feel like we do here in Tampa.
Correct, if you are mostly drafting talented players (as compared to immediate need or scheme-specific players then yes there should be a core to build around and ideally a core that would be attractive to a NEW coach
i personally think it's clear the Bucs brass is content with .500 ball otherwise they would have moved on from Bowles after last year's collaspe.
When you keep a Head Coach that has a 35-33 record after four seasons with your organization, there really isn't any other conclusion a reasonable, non-leghumper would come to.
i personally think it's clear the Bucs brass is content with .500 ball otherwise they would have moved on from Bowles after last year's collaspe.
When you keep a Head Coach that has a 35-33 record after four seasons with your organization, there really isn't any other conclusion. I mean if they really wanted to win Trask would be the QB, White would be the RB1 and they'd bring Canales back to run that wide open Seattle offense he learned from Waldron. . . .in other words they would listen to me because I CLEARLY KNOW FOOTBALL
well played B! You know football!
Bowles man. Im just soooo irked about losing Coen to keep Bowles. Thats going to be one of our biggest regrets for years to come. Since then, we lose ME, R White left due to unhappiness, Vea wanting a trade, playing Russian Roullete with Baker among others. Something is happening behind the scenes, some "disgruntledness" that I fear can be disastrous.
Bowles man. Im just soooo irked about losing Coen to keep Bowles. Thats going to be one of our biggest regrets for years to come. Since then, we lose ME, R White left due to unhappiness, Vea wanting a trade, playing Russian Roullete with Baker among others. Something is happening behind the scenes, some "disgruntledness" that I fear can be disastrous.
it would have been a tough move by ownership. They did everything they can to making Coen highest paid coordinator in league
Brian Flores sues NFL for racial discrimination in 2022
Bowles is hired, as of that point, has won 3 straight division titles, albeit with .500 records essentially
Bucs coming off a successful 10-7 season, a tad different from the time they fired Lovie Smith who had a losing record for Dirk Koetter. Not only the locker room but media would have critized and negative press for Bucs.
The flow of the nation with a democrat president, a tad different so more focus on race relations. While Republican president won in November 2024, the shift of the nation had not yet materialized. (i.e. see Gruden being removed from ROH in October 2021 versus reinstated in February 2025.)
