“Our Mentality’s Got To Be Different”
March 30th, 2026

So Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said last week that he feels like the Bucs are the same 6-2 team that walked into the 2025 bye week before crumbling later in the season.

Do you feel the same, Todd Bowles? Joe asked the head coach this morning at the swanky Biltmore resort in Phoenix.

“I feel like we’re a top-flight NFL team. I don’t think we’re 6-2, but I don’t think we’re 2-6, either,” Bowles said.

“I think you start over and I think you have to lay the groundwork again and build differently because you lost two of your best leaders on and off the field. So, we have to build differently and our mentality’s got to be different and there’s got to be different people to step up. But I do feel like we have a very good football team. I thought we let some games go at the end, but I do feel like we have a very good team. So that part I agree with Jason, but I wouldn’t put a record on it.”

Joe was a little stunned Licht “put a record on it” as Bowles said. That’s a high bar. That means, essentially, Licht sees the Bucs as a team that should be looking at a 6-2 start again or darn close to it.

Joe is not trying to lower expectations and feels great that Licht is embracing a high bar. The Bucs are the betting favorites to win the NFC South and should be the favorites in the world of reality, as well.

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