Joe is really enjoying this new loosened-up Todd Bowles.
Away from a podium, the Bucs coach is damn near gregarious. That’s right, Joe typed it. Bowles is often seen (away from a podium, microphone and the TV klieglights) joking and laughing.
Oh, he’s serious about work. Very serious. But once he steps off the practice field and cameras and microphones aren’t in sight, it’s not uncommon to hear Bowles before you see him — he has a booming laugh.
This year, Joe has noticed a looser Bowles at the podium. In the past, it was like he was frozen in front of TV cameras. Stiff as a board. Almost like he got fined for every word he spoke.
But this year he’s starting to relax a bit. He’s had some good one-liners this summer, the best coming early in training camp when he said after a Jamel Dean interception that he ought to be drug tested.
Well, today in his post-game presser, Bowles tried to have a little fun with a sad issue. Why the Bucs thought bringing in Randy Gregory to try to lift one of the worst edge-rushing teams in the league was a slick idea is beyond Joe’s comprehension.
Gregory signed with the Bucs this spring — and then fully blew them off. Never showed up at OTAs, underwear football practices, mandatory minicamp nor training camp. Never showed up.
Last night on the WFLA-TV Channel 8 broadcast of the Bucs game at Jacksonville — thanks Chris Myers for the shoutout! — Myers noted the Bucs reached an agreement with Gregory and the team will release him.
Asked about Gregory this morning, Bowles said, “Can’t miss what you never had.”
Rimshot!
Then, Bowles fought himself trying not to break out into a smile.
Bowles also added he never learned why Gregory didn’t show up. Joe has a damn good guess why and it’s not very hard to put two-and-two together. Gregory, just after he signed with the Bucs, sued the Broncos who he played for last year citing discrimination basically because the Broncos wouldn’t let him do one-hitters.
That’s all you need to know about this guy.
As for not missing what you don’t have, Joe sure misses those drive-killing sacks from the edge.
