One of the issues with Gruden was that the league insisted on this being handled as a “trade” - we sent two first rounder and two 2nd rounders to Oakland for Gruden.
Those 4 premium draft picks cost Gruden a lot of starting caliber talent. His cap space was also fairly limited, he somehow put together some decent offensive FA signings, but had limitations in draft picks and FA’s. Bruce almighty wasn’t a great GM.
Likewise, Bowles inherited the credit card bill for the Brady salary cap expenditures/limitations. That cost Bowles some free-agent flexibility to replace aging defensive starters - not to mention the flubs on premium draft picks.
Bowles hasn't had a good defense in 5 years.
Pathetic
Likewise, Bowles inherited the credit card bill for the Brady salary cap expenditures/limitations. That cost Bowles some free-agent flexibility to replace aging defensive starters - not to mention the flubs on premium draft picks.
Allow me to push back on the salary cap limitations. Here the contracts handed out since Todd Bowles arrived and was promoted to HC:
Todd Bowles is hired as DC
2019 - $41.44M (Suh, Perriman, Barrett, Pinion, etc.)
2020 - $75.29M (Brady, Suh, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
2021 - $60.55M (Suh, Succop, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
Todd Bowles is promoted to HC
2022 - $100.52M (Brady, Gage, Fournette, etc.)
2023 - $91.34M (Dean, Nelson, David, Mayfield, etc.)
2024 - $417.10M (Wirfs, Mayfield, Winfield, Evans, McLaughlin, David, Whitehead, etc.)
2025 - $46.13M (Reddick, Nelson, Gaines, etc.)
They have spent more money and handed out larger contracts while Todd Bowles was the HC than ever before. The salary cap is an excuse the Bowles cannot use.
That counters the narrative a bit!Likewise, Bowles inherited the credit card bill for the Brady salary cap expenditures/limitations. That cost Bowles some free-agent flexibility to replace aging defensive starters - not to mention the flubs on premium draft picks.
Allow me to push back on the salary cap limitations. Here the contracts handed out since Todd Bowles arrived and was promoted to HC:
Todd Bowles is hired as DC
2019 - $41.44M (Suh, Perriman, Barrett, Pinion, etc.)
2020 - $75.29M (Brady, Suh, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
2021 - $60.55M (Suh, Succop, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
Todd Bowles is promoted to HC
2022 - $100.52M (Brady, Gage, Fournette, etc.)
2023 - $91.34M (Dean, Nelson, David, Mayfield, etc.)
2024 - $417.10M (Wirfs, Mayfield, Winfield, Evans, McLaughlin, David, Whitehead, etc.)
2025 - $46.13M (Reddick, Nelson, Gaines, etc.)
They have spent more money and handed out larger contracts while Todd Bowles was the HC than ever before. The salary cap is an excuse the Bowles cannot use.
I think only way he shouldn't be gone is if we go far. Even then I probably wouldn't recommend we keep him. He maybe should retire. That would be best for all. Then we go fresh for both sides of the ball. Keep what works and discard what doesn't. We would still have something worth something after all that. Certainly enough to compete in the still lowly NFC South.
2019 - $41.44M (Suh, Perriman, Barrett, Pinion, etc.)
2020 - $75.29M (Brady, Suh, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
2021 - $60.55M (Suh, Succop, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
Todd Bowles is promoted to HC
2022 - $100.52M (Brady, Gage, Fournette, etc.)
2023 - $91.34M (Dean, Nelson, David, Mayfield, etc.)
2024 - $417.10M (Wirfs, Mayfield, Winfield, Evans, McLaughlin, David, Whitehead, etc.)
2025 - $46.13M (Reddick, Nelson, Gaines, etc.)
talk about crazy mixture of apples and oranges lmao
FOLLOW THE BOUNCING BALL
IN 2020 the Bucs are maybe the lowest dead cap team in the league? about $7 million so IN 2020 . . to win it all . . .the Bucs brought in FROM THE OUTSIDE . . .Brady. Gronkowski, Mclendon, antonio Brown, Leaornard Fournette. Shady MvcCoy, Haag, Bea Allen, Perriman . . they resigned Suh and JPP and tagged Barrett
in 2021 they run them all back with some big contracts so . ..
In 2022 they have $26 million in dead cap
In 2023 they have $82 million in dead cap
In 2024 they have $62 million in dead cap
In 2025 they have $42 million in dead cap. (6 times what they had in 2020)
In 2025 . . to win it all . . . the Bucs brought in FROM THE OUTSIDE . . . Reddick, Vildor Dixon, Walker
come
on
man
IN 2024 WE TRADED CARLTON DAVIS FOR PICKS AND TO . . FREE UP CAP.
That counters the narrative a bit!Likewise, Bowles inherited the credit card bill for the Brady salary cap expenditures/limitations. That cost Bowles some free-agent flexibility to replace aging defensive starters - not to mention the flubs on premium draft picks.
Allow me to push back on the salary cap limitations. Here the contracts handed out since Todd Bowles arrived and was promoted to HC:
Todd Bowles is hired as DC
2019 - $41.44M (Suh, Perriman, Barrett, Pinion, etc.)
2020 - $75.29M (Brady, Suh, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
2021 - $60.55M (Suh, Succop, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
Todd Bowles is promoted to HC
2022 - $100.52M (Brady, Gage, Fournette, etc.)
2023 - $91.34M (Dean, Nelson, David, Mayfield, etc.)
2024 - $417.10M (Wirfs, Mayfield, Winfield, Evans, McLaughlin, David, Whitehead, etc.)
2025 - $46.13M (Reddick, Nelson, Gaines, etc.)
They have spent more money and handed out larger contracts while Todd Bowles was the HC than ever before. The salary cap is an excuse the Bowles cannot use.
Yeah, all of the contracts given out in 2024 alone should have ended that narrative. But there are unadulterated leghumpers among us.
The Glazers may feel that Bowles navigated the cap crunch and lean years and hand him the keys for bigger money free agents. But if he doesn't finish strong he will not have the chance because that is what happened to Morris and to an extent with Schiano.
That counters the narrative a bit!Likewise, Bowles inherited the credit card bill for the Brady salary cap expenditures/limitations. That cost Bowles some free-agent flexibility to replace aging defensive starters - not to mention the flubs on premium draft picks.
Allow me to push back on the salary cap limitations. Here the contracts handed out since Todd Bowles arrived and was promoted to HC:
Todd Bowles is hired as DC
2019 - $41.44M (Suh, Perriman, Barrett, Pinion, etc.)
2020 - $75.29M (Brady, Suh, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
2021 - $60.55M (Suh, Succop, Fournette, Gronk, Brown, etc.)
Todd Bowles is promoted to HC
2022 - $100.52M (Brady, Gage, Fournette, etc.)
2023 - $91.34M (Dean, Nelson, David, Mayfield, etc.)
2024 - $417.10M (Wirfs, Mayfield, Winfield, Evans, McLaughlin, David, Whitehead, etc.)
2025 - $46.13M (Reddick, Nelson, Gaines, etc.)
They have spent more money and handed out larger contracts while Todd Bowles was the HC than ever before. The salary cap is an excuse the Bowles cannot use.
Yeah, all of the contracts given out in 2024 alone should have ended that narrative. But there are unadulterated leghumpers among us.
not sure how anyone can say the Bucs didn't invest in defense. Now, not saying the players all turned out to be great but some of that has to be on coaching schemes, no? I mean just 2025 alone, the investments made should have seen improvement and we went the wrong direction. There was no excuse for the defense to be as bad as it was this year
Logan Hall, 2022 2nd round pick
Calijah Kancey, 2023 1st round pick
Vita Vea, contract extension in January 2022
Yaya Diaby, 2023 3rd round pick
Lavonte David, continue to bring back
Haason Reddick, signed to 14 million dollar deal in off-season
Chris Braswell, 2024 second round pick
Jamel Dean, signed contract extension in March 2023
AWJ signed contract extension in May 2024
Tykee Smith, 2023 third round pick
Benjamin Morrison, 2025 second round pick
Jacob Parrish, 2025 3rd round pick
Zyon McCollum signed contract extension in September 2025
You could argue the only position they neglected was inside linebacker with having to role with the likes of SirVocea Dennis and a washed up LVD. That being said, to be ranked in the bottom 10 defense is unacceptable with this talent
The Glazers may feel that Bowles navigated the cap crunch and lean years and hand him the keys for bigger money free agents. But if he doesn't finish strong he will not have the chance because that is what happened to Morris and to an extent with Schiano.
this is how i feel if i am the Glazers
2022 - absolutely pissed off. We were legit Superbowl threats in 2020 and 2021 and we had a losing record. Fire the entire staff. in reality, instead, they fired the entire staff but kept Bowles on to try and have his own coaching team
2023 - Ecstatic. This was our most successful non-Brady year since the 2002 season. We won a playoff game for Christ sakes and Baker Mayfield played good
2024 - Content, but wanting more. Year 2 post Brady and Mayfield had a career year, offense was top 5, we improved on wins; absolutely choked in our playoff game. No progress was made this year but not a friable offense. In reality, instead, they for some reason extended Bowles in the summer when it was not necessary to do so. Why not have decided in January? I dont get it
2025 - Disappointed or absolutely pissed off
- We miss playoffs and i'd be absolutely pissed off after a 5-1 start in this shit division. Would also spell that the team likely quit on him given the weak competition we have faced in this last quarter of the year. A change would be needed
- Make the playoffs but at some shit 9,10 win record; and lose the game; again no progress. At the very least, you would need to pull an Eagles and Nick Sirianni Bowles by replacing his coordinators, and ones with experience. That's bare minimum but still not sure they just don't pull the plug
- They win a playoff game and im ok with Bowles remaining head coach. Still would need to see replacement on special teams coach. Will depend how offense plays with healthy squad whether Grizz is retained...but again this all assumes an unlikely playoff win.
The one key item here is that the Glazers extended Bowles when they didn't need to. The decision was premature and just have to understand the thought process and where their heads are at. Could you imagine Bucs missing playoffs and they want to sell us that Bowles should return. holy shit.
2025 - Disappointed or absolutely pissed off
This is probably how they feel.
but, anonymous inside sources say the "optics" might control
Wink, wink nod nod
But there are unadulterated leghumpers among us.
so says the bookkeeper who left $80 million dead off the books
lmao
The one key item here is that the Glazers extended Bowles when they didn't need to. The decision was premature and just have to understand the thought process and where their heads are at. Could you imagine Bucs missing playoffs and they want to sell us that Bowles should return. holy shit.
That's a possibility. Not sure it's probable
the Glazers fired Gruden right after an extension so not sure it means much that they extended Bowles. They bought a little goodwill
