Back in the Spring of 2022 – – late into the NFL off-season – – Bruce Arians abruptly resigned as the head coach of the Bucs. He pretty much said that he timed his resignation such that the Bucs would have no choice but to name Todd Bowles as his hand-picked successor. I remember thinking at the time that his decision and his tactics were efficient and effective while being horribly manipulative. I had always liked Bowles as a coach even when his Jets’ teams were outmanned; those teams never “mailed it in”; they always played hard.
So, how has that worked out for the Bucs.
- In three seasons, the Bucs have won the NFC South Division three times.
- In the 2023 season, the Bucs won a wildcard playoff game.
Those results may not be the foundation for a Hall of Fame coaching career, but they certainly have given Bucs’ fans more good times than bad over the past three seasons. Bowles’ public persona is very quiet and measured; I wonder if that demeanor leads some to think that he is not the basis for the Bucs wining but tat he is merely riding the wave of the players on the field. I think Todd Bowles is a significantly underrated and under-appreciated head coach. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it …
Moving on … The Miami Heat contretemps with Jimmy Butler has reached new depths. After Butler returned from a 7-game suspension by the team, he hung around for a while and then missed a team flight to an away game; that earned him a shorter suspension. Once that was over, he went to practice where he found out he would no longer be starting for the Heat but would come off the bench; that news led him to walk out of practice earning him an indefinite suspension by the team.
It seems that all this began when the Heat refused to give Butler a long-tern lucrative contract extension that he feels he has earned and that he wants badly. Pat Riley is the Heat’s GM and Riley can be as hard-nosed as anyone once he settles into a position. It seems that Butler has forced Riley into a position where the Heat needs to trade him somewhere in the next 8 days – – before the NBA trade deadline for 2025.
NBA trades are much trickier than in other sports because the NBA has a salary cap, and it has rules governing trades such that there must be “salary matches” on both sides of the trade. I don’t pretend to understand all of that so here are two possible trade scenarios for Jimmy Butler that might “save the day” in Miami – – if they pass muster on the “salary match” dimension:
- Jimmy Butler to the Warriors for Andrew Wiggins. Butler is the better player when he is motivated and on good behavior – – which is certainly not the case for now. However, Butler is 35 years old and Wiggins is only 29 years old meaning that Wiggins is probably the better long-term asset. The question in my mind is that Butler has been “the guy” in Miami but would not be “the guy” on a roster that also has Steph Curry. How would that play out?
- Jimmy Butler to the Wolves for Julius Randle. The Wolves acquired Randle only a few months ago in a trade with the Knicks and things have not worked out the way the Wolves’ braintrust had hoped. Instead of being at or near the top of the Western Conference, the Wolves find themselves in “play-in territory” which is exactly where NBA teams do not want to be. Like Wiggins, Randle at age 30 is probably a better long-term asset than Butler even though Butler is the better player in 2025.
Switching gears … Here is an amazing stat from the nearly completed NFL season:
- In last Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, the Eagles posted seven rushing TDs.
- For the entire 2024/2025 NFL season comprised of seventeen games, the Dallas Cowboys posted six rushing TDs.
- Wow!
One more interesting statistical oddity from that Eagles/Commanders game last weekend:
- Coaches often say they seek “offensive balance”, and they need to run the ball effectively.
- Last Sunday, the Eagles gained 230 yards passing and 229 yards rushing for the game.
- Balance achieved …
Finally, I ‘ll close today with a message received from #2 son reacting to the Raiders hiring 73-year-old Pete Carroll as their new coach:
“Pete Carroll was just hired by the Raiders, and he brings with him a 5-year plan for the team.
“It’s called … “Don’t die!”
But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………