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.