Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach Todd Bowles wants Bucs’ players to step up. He especially is looking for the big-name leaders to do so.

Appearing on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Bowles said the following.

“It’s a players team. Every team that has winners that wins is a players team,” Bowles stated. “The leaders lead and everybody else follows. So it’s time for our leaders to lead and step up. And everybody else has to follow, and make plays. Not just lead but make plays. And show’em by example, show’em by being vocal, show’em by how they practice. And they’ve been doing that for the most part but, you know, we can’t piss away anymore ballgames sort of speak. So it’s time for us to step up and make plays. We got six games left until we gotta get in the tournament.”

Wait, didn’t you take this ability out of the players’ hands by not calling a timeout late against Cleveland? Didn’t you decide to punt on 4th and 2 from Cleveland’s 37 yard line? Didn’t you decide to not have Vita Vea and Akiem Hicks play the last drive? Self awareness is nonexistent, just like accountability.

Bowles, you are the head of the team, you are the leader. The buck stops with you. Your offensive coordinator laughs at legitimate questions, you do nothing. Remember, you were handed this job by Arians. You were given a playoff ready team, yet your record is under .500. It’s time to look inward, it’s time to be self accountable. This is what leaders do, this is what you’re lacking in. Stop passing the buck and take ownership of this. That and that alone is the only way you’ll turn this around.

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