Now that he has signed a new contract, will Todd Bowles finally get his deadline?

Tampa – Tell me, which one do you prefer:

A sideline madman? Which head coach screams at the referee, faces the players’ faces, and acts as if the results of a soccer match change the course of humanity?

Or is it okay to just win the game?

Tell me, which one do you prefer:

A provocateur on the podium? Does it seem like he’s blaming the media, ordering players, and forgetting that his job will become a leader rather than a reality TV star?

Or do you want to win a category title?

You probably know where I’m going with this. The Bucs had given Todd Bowles a three-year contract extension and that was absolutely right as his original deal had ended. Sometimes, nice guys really finish first.

Certainly, this idea is not universally accepted. There is a segment of Tampa Bay fans that Bowles believes to be more disruptive than assets, perhaps a significant segment. They say he’s too stoic. It’s spoken too softly. Too conservative. Anything.

I disagree with the rankings of the NFC South.

The Bucs have won three consecutive division titles under Bowles. That’s about the same as John Gruden won in Tampa Bay in seven years. That’s about the same as Tony Dungey and John McKay combined.

But, however… the South has been the weakest division of the NFL in recent seasons. Winning in the South is not an award that you might otherwise see. And what do you know? That is absolutely true. But it’s also true that half of his players came straight to the huddle from the quad and half of his players came from the huddle from the quad to the huddle, and half of his players came from the quad to the huddle, and Bowles pulled this off.

Without a doubt, general manager Jason Licht and his crew deserve a lot of credit for delivering incredible value with later round draft options and bargain-free agents.

And while Bowles has not suggested he is on the Hall of Fame trajectory with a record of 27-24 since 2022, the Bucs have benefited from his steady attitude. They thrived behind his quiet optimism. Young players grew, and recycled players flourished. The Bucs had some wobble, but they went 13-5 in December and January in the past three regular seasons. That’s a sign that the coach has a locker room together.

The problem is, from the outside, Bowles doesn’t necessarily fit the nonsense head coach mold with his heart painted on his sleeves. He’s not as fiery as Dan Campbell, and even as cheeky as Jim Harbaugh, as ruthless as Bill Belichick.

Bowles, 61, resembles a university professor with a student waiting list. A savvy old head with old expectations, but a soft soul.

He invaded the NFL in 1986 as undrafted safety, making 82 starts over eight years. He is about to begin his 27th season as a league coach, including apprentices under Super Bowl winners such as Bill Pals, Andy Reed and Bruce Arian.

His reputation is built around his prowess as a defensive coordinator, but Bowles is not stuck in the Wing-T version of the NFL. Since taking over as head coach in 2022, the Bucs have tried more passes than any team in the league.

And that’s when two of his handpicked offensive coordinators set out for head coaching jobs after a season in Tampa Bay. If Bucs wins the NFC South in 2025 and is a favorite heading to training camp, the Bowles will win four different offensive coordinators and four consecutive division titles. How many head coaches have pulled it apart?

The point is that this contract expansion is the perfect time to recognize the work Bowles has done. Everyone from the owner to the front office, to players and coaches, can discuss the percentage of credits that will be due, but it’s stupid to suggest that Bowles is somehow a problem.

More than half of the NFL teams have changed coaches since Bowles was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Arian, who retired in 2022. It is a lot of disappointment and many reconstruction in a relatively short time.

Meanwhile, the Bucs won 29-10 (including the postseason) in 2020-21, breaking with Brady while winning the Super Bowl. It’s all here since Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fullnett, Ryan Jensen, Ali Malpett, Cameron Bret, Ndamcon Sue and Jason Pierre Paul retired. Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy Bunting, Devin White, Scott Miller and Alex Kappa all went on.

And of all that change, the Bucs have never been caught up above the Southern NFC.

So go ahead, pine for your sideline tantrums.

Personally, I like to win.

John Romano can visit JRomano@tampabay.com. Follow @romano_tbtimes.

••••

Sign up for Sports Today Newsletter for daily updates on Bucs, Rays, Lightning and College Football across Florida.

Tune each week to the Sports Day Tampa Bay Podcast and listen to reporter Rickstroud breaking down Tampa Bay Sports’ biggest storyline.

Don’t miss out on the latest updates with your favorite Tampa Bay Sports Team. Follow X and Facebook coverage.