Todd Bowles should stop giving Tom Brady golden boy treatment to arrest three-game slide, NFL analyst claims
Tom Brady is facing a whole new reality in his 23rd season in the NFL, a losing record with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season. The quarterback lost his third straight game for the first time since the 2002-03 season with the New England Patriots. In Week 8, the Buccaneers lost to the Baltimore Ravens 27-22.
ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark commented that the Buccaneers' head coach Todd Bowles should treat his quarterback like others on the team. Clark compared Bowles to his predecessor, Bruce Arians, and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, when the quarterback was in New England.
"In his own way, Bruce Arians held an entire locker room accountable, much in the same way that Bill Belichick did it, even though their personalities were different. What we're seeing is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need that.
"So from Tom Brady to the very last player on the practice squad, they [Patriots players] were all treated the same. Tom Brady was a teammate. Tom Brady led by example. Because if you did it, Tom Brady had to do it in Tampa Bay. Right now, that is not the case."
Clark added:
"So from number one to number 48 to number 53. Everybody's not treated the same in Tampa. Here's the thing. We ain't stupid. We know some players are different. This time is different. But that never has to be rubbed in the face of the rest of the players when Todd Bowles speaks to Tom Brady."
The three-time NFL MVP is facing one of the biggest uphill challenges of his career.
Can Brady help turn around the Buccaneers season before it's too late?
As the Buccaneers sit with a record of 3-5 thus far in the 2022-23 season, is it time to panic in Tampa Bay?
For the three-time All-Pro quarterback, the offense looked better versus the Ravens than it did against the Carolina Panthers in Week 7. The quarterback found two of his favorite targets in Week 8: wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
Both Godwin and Evans were targeted 11 times against the Ravens in Week 8. Godwin had six receptions for 75 yards while Evans had six receptions for 123 yards. Since the Buccaneers' run game isn't quite there yet, the 45-year-old quarterback will lean on his arm to pull the team back up.
With nine games left this season, the greatest quarterback in NFL history still has a chance to get back to the Super Bowl this season. Let's see if he and the Buccaneers can turn the ship around in Tampa Bay.
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