The Buccaneers enjoyed a winning regular season, with a divisional title and a playoff win over the Eagles.
But head coach Todd Bowles still believes the year underachieved.
They are also not favorites to win their conference anymore with the Atlanta Falcons tipped as the number one team.
"It’s no different. You’re talking about respect," Bowles told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
"Aretha Franklin is probably the only one who gets that. Everybody else you just kind of go with the flow.
The Buccaneers have plenty ammunition with key players like quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans re-signing with the franchise.
"We’re not trying to win the offseason; we’re trying to win the season. So, our focus will be the same. It fuels a lot of us. It fuels a lot of the players, and we get ready to come back and try to defend our title like we did and just go further in the playoffs. That’s all we worry about this time of the year."
Tampa Bay may have lost their offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who is the new Panthers head coach, but they have brought in Liam Cohen.
The New OC has the advantage of having worked with Mayfield at the Rams in 2022.
"It’s just the offensive coaching staff gelling so quickly with the guys we kept and the guys that [G.M. Jason Licht] has brought in," Bowles said. "It’s been a real joy to see. Those guys, when they go in and lock the door, I’ve got to get on Liam to give them a bathroom break because he doesn’t let them out of the meeting room. But they have a real good feel for each other, and the chemistry is coming together how you want."
The Falcons and Buccaneers should finish 1 and 2 in the NFC South but the Saints and even the underdog Panthers could have something to say about that.
