Bruce Arians signed on to stay with a Buccaneers team that was in contention for another Super Bowl in 2022. This is not that team.
Today has only shown all of his just how tough the situation is for the Buccaneers in 2022. If you still believe this team is a Super Bowl contender, hats off to you. Your loyalty is impressive, but lets see how that blind support stands against the facts of the hurricane that is coming.
The Bucs are already out one Tom Brady; the only player on this team that legitimately mattered for a Super Bowl run, and more players will follow. That one decision took this team from being contenders to out of the race almost immediately, and if you believe that Gabbert has enough gas in the tank to lead a talented offense to another ring you may not find any common ground here.
Unfortunately for the Bucs, the talent on the roster did look good, but it is shrinking by the day. Ali Marpet retiring in his prime is a massive blow to one of the best offensive lines in the league, and Marpet probably won’t be the last.
Some of these free agents can get more money and a better chance at a ring on the free agent market. Some won’t be able to resist.
In the end, at least on the offensive side of the ball, the Buccaneers will have a new quarterback, running back room, interior offensive line, and depth at wide receiver. A brand new unit with any quarterback other than Aaron Rodgers will struggle, and why would he want to come here now?
The wiring is on the wall that this team will struggle in 2022, which leaves Bruce Arians with a new option; retirement.
Arians is extremely devoted to this franchise and is probably too good a guy to do anything like this, but that doesn’t mean we think he shouldn’t.
The Bucs’ current head coach has given every bit of himself to this franchise and is a huge reason why they are relevant now. Arians is an easy lock for the Ring of Honor and has already accomplished far more than Jon Gruden, so why stick around on a team that is clearly in need of a rebuild?
The only way this season is a win for Arians is a deep trip into the playoffs. That seems like a massive impossibility given the current roster issues. Arians would be going into this season with everything to lose from a legacy standpoint and almost no chance of making any gains.
Retirement was already one of Arians’ goals by this year, and the extension seemed to coincide with the possibility that Brady would remain and the team would still be a contender, but changes happen.
No one would judge Arians for seeing what is coming and moving on. We certainly hope he considers it for the sake of his legacy.
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