“I Think It Was Pretty Bad”: Stephen A. Smith Slams Struggling Tom Brady After “Belief in the Bucs Has Drastically Evaporated”

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back to their losing ways. Their OT 17-23 loss to the Cleveland Browns has shattered any faith the fans had in a late-season comeback for them. Although their divisional rivals’ worse performances have more or less ensured the Bucs’ playoff berth, there is no hope beyond according to ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith.

Speaking on ESPN’s ‘First Take’, Smith’s disappointment in the Bucs’ dismal performance was very clear. In fact, he did not even try to hide it. Speaking on the Bucs’ loss on Sunday, he said, “I think it was pretty bad. I don’t want to use the word devastating, because they’re in the AFC South, and they’ll make the playoffs, anyway. But any belief that you had in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has drastically evaporated”

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Smith goes on to blast the Bucs for their dismal state of affairs, commenting on the drastic change in their performance. “I’m incredibly disappointed at how this defense has let Todd Bowles down.” he says. “Here’s my problem. They’re two years removed from a Super Bowl. They came back from damn near 24 Point deficit, I believe last year in the postseason, and nearly beat the Los Angeles Rams. We’ve seen this team look better.”

Stephen A. Smith blames Tom Brady for the Bucs’ disappointing performances

Although Smith starts by generally blaming the Bucs, he soon points the gun at the key man in the house: Tom Brady. Speaking about Mike Evans’ lack of receptions on Sunday, he says, “Obviously that’s not all on him. Some of it has to do with Tom Brady, who obviously had his distractions for the better part of the first half of the season.” 

Smith’s co-hosts Ryan Clark and Michael Irvin stepped in with their critical analyses of Brady too. Talking about his interaction with Brady in Germany, Irvin says Brady’s revelation that the Bucs haven’t done one-on-ones in 2 years shocked him. “I don’t know why they’re not doing it, but they certainly need that kind of work. And that’s why you see them missing now.”

Ryan Clark had some harsh words for Brady. “The ultimate leader missed 11 days during the off-season. He went to a wedding this year. And the ultimate leader is also missing passes. And that team was in the playoffs, with a drive away from being able to beat the Los Angeles Rams. But they didn’t. And if they ain’t done one-on-ones in two years, then it’s no different last year than it is this year,” he says.

If the words from these analysts are anything to go by, then the Bucs face a much more serious problem. According to them, the entire structure is waiting for the right amount of force to just crumble. Will Brady help the Bucs avoid this calamity?

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