Buccaneers Round Table: Is T.J. Ward right about his comments?

James Yarcho

Here’s the thing about T.J. Ward and Chris Baker’s comments – they are the last two that should be saying anything at all. I don’t care that T.J. Ward apologized for airing it out in public. He was told – per Dirk Koetter – that his role would be roatational when he came here. He missed the entire training camp and off-season with the team and wasn’t going to know the defense by week one. Then, he got hurt and missed games. Finally, in the last two weeks, Ward’s ineptitude led to two wide open touchdowns for the opposition.

But you want to cry about playing time? Shut up and make a play when you get your chance and maybe you’ll see the field more.

As for “Swaggy”? The guy who doesn’t like to practice? The guy that even the rookies took a shot at during the rookie show because he hates practicing? What has he done this season? Outside of Gerald McCoy for the most part, the entire defensive line gets rotated. Even with that, they haven’t done anything all season long. McCoy is the only player that shows up week in and week out. The rest of the line is pretty much dominated every snap.

This defense, this team was a cohesive unit last season. A family. Now, when things aren’t going well, we have two newbies running off at the mouth about playing time when their play has warranted exactly what they’ve received. Limited, rotational time for limited, lackluster performances.

Put your money where your mouths are. Make some plays, stop being a laughingstock every week, and then you’ll earn the right to see the field more.