NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Blog

2008-11-26T13:15:00.001-05:00

Tuesday was turkey time with the Buccaneers O-Line when they spread some holiday cheer to needy families. There are some great pics and the entire story here.

2008-10-30T13:43:00.001-04:00

Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, Buc fans!

2008-10-16T16:05:00.000-04:00

A Tribute to Mike Alstott--this Sunday

Training Camp Schedule

2008-07-24T12:44:00.001-04:00

Here’s the training camp schedule: http://www.buccaneers.com/trainingcamp/campschedule.aspx

I like their slogan: 80 Men Enter. 1 Team Leaves.

Top 10 quarterbacks for this year?

2008-02-21T13:44:00.002-05:00

My favorite Tampa Bay Buccaneers fansite (other than this one, of course!), TheCaptainsDeck.net, has a great writeup of the top 10 quarterbacks for the 2008 NFL draft.

Definitely worth a read!

Tampa Bay is back!

2007-07-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

Arrrr, matey! Okay, so the pirate font and unrolling parchment everywhere is a little cheesy, but I like their site anyway. Check out buccaneers.com for everything you need to get informed as we get ready for training camp. At last, summer can begin!

Gatlin tries out with Bucs

2007-05-11T12:48:00.000-04:00

Justin Gatlin, the Olympic 100-meter champion who's facing a suspension of up to 8 years from track and field for a failed drug test last year, has decided to turn out for football. He shares the world record in the 100-meters at 9.77 seconds. The big question is not really whether he could be an asset to a football team (assuming he can catch and isn't limited to running in a straight line); it's whether his recruitment sends the right message for the NFL, who should be trying to distance itself from issues like drug use.

NFL Europa to begin Saturday

2007-04-10T18:23:00.000-04:00

The Bucs have sent five candidates to see some live game action this spring in the European league. The first game of the spring season will pit Bucs receivers Bouknight and Kyle Smith against each other - the former representing the Cologne Centurions and the latter representing the Hamburg Sea Devils. If you get this stuff on TV, it may well be worth checking out.

2007-01-17T10:45:00.000-05:00

We got Chad Owens and 6 others--the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just signed 14 free agent players.

RATTAY IS THE BUCS NEW QB

2006-12-19T16:29:00.000-05:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a new quarterback this next Sunday in their game against the Cleveland Browns. Because of Tim Rattay, the Bucs are not the lowest scoring NFL team this season. Rattay played a great game this last week against the Chicago Bears. The Bucs came close to winning the game, when in the fourth quarter Rattay threw three touchdowns and took the Bucs into overtime. Gradkowski has been a disappointment to say the least. I look forward to seeing good things from Rattay.

DO THE BUCS NEED A NEW COACH?

2006-12-12T14:03:00.000-05:00

So...will Jon Gruden lose his job after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers humiliating season this year? Jon doesn't seem to be concerned. The Bucs were officially eliminated from playoffs after their 17-6 loss against the Atlanta Falcons this last Sunday. They also have lost six of their last seven games and haven't scored a touchdown in the past 11 quarters. Well, Jon may not be concerned, but I definitely think getting the Bucs a new coach should be considered as an option. I mean, he may have taken the Bucs to the Superbowl, but he inherited a team that already had what it takes to win. Just my opinion...

CLARIFICATION ON UNWRITTEN RULE

2006-12-05T15:42:00.000-05:00

Okay, so the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost another game this last weekend. At least Matt Bryant kicked a field goal on the final play so the Bucs would have to endure another shutout this year. Speaking of shutouts, why is there an unwritten rule to not score at least some points in the final plays of a game? I personally would want to score some sort of points? Isn't that natural?

C'MON TAMPA BAY. YOU CAN DO IT!

2006-11-30T14:36:00.000-05:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had another embarrassing loss on Thanksgiving. The 38-10 whooping they received from the Dallas Cowboys has left them with a 3-10 record. If they lose their games against Chicago, Atlanta, and Seattle, they could end up with their worst season since 1991. I really hope they pull off a miracle in the coming weeks. Otherwise, you're gonna have a lot of season ticket holders considering selling their tickets for good.

Tampa Bay Bucs Skin Washington!

2006-11-20T09:24:00.000-05:00

How about that second half! And that final quarter. Way to go, Gradkowski! You, too, Cadillac! The losing streak ends and Tampa Bay will have some mo going into Thursday’s game in Dallas. (Which they’ll need, considering that the Cowboys are riding pretty high after busting the Indianapolis Colts’ winning streak.) Wouldn’t an upset there give us something great to be thankful for on Thanksgiving?

Bucs Get to Put Redskins' QB to the Test

2006-11-16T17:14:00.000-05:00

The Washington Redskins have decided to put their team in the hands of a new quarterback, and Jason Campbell will make his first NFL start here. Campbell is no stranger to this corner of the world, having set the record for wins (31) and appearing in four college bowl games while at Auburn. I hope we make him feel welcome and also give him a serious lesson about the difference between the NCAA and the NFL. (Alas, that's a lesson our rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski has been absorbing all too well.)

If Miami Can Hunt Down the Bears...

2006-11-06T20:06:00.000-05:00

There's another NFL team in Florida that has caught up with Tampa Bay to arrive at this point in the 2006 season at 2 wins, 6 losses. That would be the AFC's Miami Dolphins, who had to upset -- on the road -- the formerly undefeated Chicago Bears.

We didn't manage a win against the buoyant New Orleans Saints yesterday, but I think we could copy Miami and slay the Carolina Panthers in their Bank of America Stadium den. That would make for exciting Monday Night Football, don't you think?

Bryant Boots Buccaneers to Victory

2006-10-25T19:37:00.000-04:00

Thank you, Matt Bryant, for taking the wind out from under the Philadelphia Eagles’ wings! That last second field goal save the day, when the Eagles had gained the lead for the first time in the game with only 33 seconds on the clock. Sweet!

By the way, the length of that field goal? 62 yards, one yard shy of the NFL record shard by Jason Elam and Tom Dempsey!

Guess what I’m kicking. Myself, for not getting tickets!

SIMMS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

2006-10-04T16:52:00.000-04:00

Chris Simms should make a full recovery in 6 weeks after a surgery to have his spleen removed. I'm hopeful that Bruce Gradkowski will be able to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory in the coming weeks. I just bought a ticket two weeks ago to the Saints game thinking I'd get to see the Super Bowl Champ throw some perfect passes. I guess Bruce will just have to do.

Tampa Bay Bucs Resting and Recuperating

2006-10-01T18:07:00.000-04:00

This summer has involved some unscheduled hospital time for me, so I feel very empathetic with our QB Chris Simms--you'll feel so much better just being home, Chris! Easy does it, and eventually things do get back to normal.

Meanwhile, all the Tampa Bay Bucaneers are probably grateful for a bye this week. Three and Oh! is not the way anybody wants to start the season, and that 26-24 heartbreaker with the Carolina Panthers was bad new all around. At least our old pal Keyshawn Johnson claims his two touchdowns were for the Panthers and not against Jon Gruden and the Bucs.

I say let's pull up our socks and get ready to go beat the New Orleans Saints!

Bucs will be back with momentum

2006-06-30T14:13:00.000-04:00

All but one of Coach Jon Gruden's starters are coming back, including the NFL's Rookie of the Year, Cadillac Williams. Chris Simms should be ready to shine as starting quarterback; I think he'll still have momentum from the performance that got us into the Playoffs last year, as will Joey Galloway. I'm looking to seeing Michael Clayton healthy and past his sophomore slump. Not to mention Alex Smith and Notre Dame's Maurice Stovall.

I want tickets to see the ball in the air and Tampa Bay back in the Playoffs!

Not quite time for crystal balling.

2006-05-15T20:33:00.000-04:00

I am really excited for the Miami Heat. They have been playing really well in the NBA Playoffs and it appears that they have the competitive edge to win this series against the New Jersey Nets. Is it possible that we could go all the way to the NBA Finals? I’ll check back when we are in the Eastern Conference Finals. Then it will be time for predictions.

Simms has a smile on his face now.

2006-04-18T21:27:00.000-04:00

I am really excited that we have decided to give Chris Simms the head quarter back job. He is going to be a great player and we really need the youth and vitality he can bring to the game. Simms has spent a long time in the shadow of great men and now gets his chance to shine. The months can not go fast enough until we see him take the field for the first time as the number one playmaker.

You are cordially invited – because I can’t leave home!

2006-03-27T23:25:00.000-05:00

It has been announced recently that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going o play on Thanksgiving this year. It will be the first time in franchise history and spells fun for Bucs fans. I think I will go ahead and invite the relatives here for turkey day because I’ve got a nice flat screen monitor in the kitchen and the big screen in the living room. I will surround my holiday guests with the sights and sounds of gridiron football.

Draft Approaching. Buccaneers Preparing.

2006-03-10T13:40:00.000-05:00

With the NFL draft coming up, I hope that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are focusing on getting some help up front on our offensive line. Some have said that this year’s crop of hopefuls is disappointing at best, but they say that every year. I don’t see their point when I look at NFL 2006 draft prospects like Matt Leinart and Vince Young. What they are forgetting is that you don’t have to be a superstar to get into the NFL and these young players will have plenty of time to become professional athletes.

When the Cheering Stops

2006-02-10T18:47:00.000-05:00

Even some Tamp Bay Buccaneers fans are guilty of having cheered on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. Many of us have seen the mysterious towels and the black and gold motifs creeping into the landscape. I am glad all the hype is over so we can go back to talking about the Buccaneers upcoming season.

Ben Won the Day

2006-01-23T17:56:00.000-05:00

This Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan was cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win their game against the Denver Broncos after seeing how aggressive they were from out of the gate. I want Ben Roethlisberger to be the one representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. He will be leading the Steelers against the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in about two weeks.

Denver against the Pittsburgh Steelers

2006-01-22T00:36:00.000-05:00

I can’t believe the Steelers beat the Colts. I was cheering for them and felt certain they were going all the way to the Super Bowl. Now I am hoping that the Broncos will advance. They have a good chance since they have home field advantage for the AFC Championship game.

Bucs End Season with Pride Intact

2006-01-09T19:44:00.000-05:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their wild card playoff game against the Washington Redskins. Chris Simms was brilliant despite losing and he almost led us to a complete comeback before Marcus Washington intercepted the last Bucs pass of the season. The Bucs defense was amazing and held the Redskins to 120 yards of total offense. They fought back and were a big part of our comeback from a 17-3 deficit. Jon Gruden looked disappointed after the game but had his chin up. Chris Simms seemed proud of his team’s effort. This team achieved greatness this season next season will be even better.

Bucs go from Worst to first

2006-01-02T17:48:00.000-05:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their game against the New Orleans Saints and will be advancing into the playoffs. The NFC South crown is theirs and they owe it in part to Joey Galloway. He caught two touchdown passes and led the Buccaneers to the division title and home field advantage for a playoff game. The Bucs are 6-2 at home in Raymond James Stadium and will be hosting the Redskins on Saturday. Not many people thought we would be in this position at the start of the season. I can honestly say that this Buccaneers team deserves our accolades and congratulations for a job well done.

Buccaneers and Colts Mourn Dungy’s Loss

2005-12-27T19:49:00.000-05:00

Tony Dungy’s son James died a few days before Christmas. The Indianapolis Colts and Buccaneers teams are mourning the beloved Dungy family’s loss and many attended the funeral proceedings. Both in Tampa and Indianapolis, Dungy is considered a great man, who treated his players as equals and encouraged them to be good role models through their actions. James was often seen attending practices his father coached and was sometimes even mistaken for a player because of his size. James was often called a gentle giant and many have expressed he will be sorely missed.

There is no word on when Dungy will return to coaching but he has gone public thanking everyone for their support and expressing his belief that his son is in a better place now.

Too Much Talent, Too Few Spots

2005-12-20T19:48:00.000-05:00

Let’s not waste our time talking about possible playoff scenarios. Even Jon Gruden is asking for his players to focus on the most important challenge facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the battle against the Falcons and QB Michael Vick. If we can’t get this win we could be sunk so its time to prepare for Atlanta. Everyone has been complaining about our decreased intensity and the youth of the players. I don’t think its inexperience that is keeping the Bucs from being a better team. I believe that there are just too many talented ball clubs out there this year.

McFarland Injured – May Miss Patriots

2005-12-12T18:29:00.000-05:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are facing the New England Patriots next week without defensive tackle Anthony McFarland who was injured in their 20-10 win over Carolina on Sunday. John Gruden has said he’s doubtful for the game but the official injury report hasn’t been posted. According to the coach, his status will depend greatly on his response to treatment. Players like Chris Hovan and Jon Gradley will be performing in McFarland’s place as Ellis Wyms played for McFarland after his injury in Sunday’s game. Wyms racked up a sack, a forced fumble and two tackles in his time on the field. Should we be worried or will McFarland’s absence go unnoticed with Wyms on the field?

Cadillac and Barber Go Buc Wild

2005-12-05T18:42:00.000-05:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Bucs defense managed to allow only one field goal and no touchdowns. On offense, it was running back Cadillac Williams who made this game interesting. He had almost one hundred yards rushing, 33 of which were on one drive in the fourth quarter that ate up lots of clock time and left New Orleans little time tie the game. Of course we must mention Ronde Barber and his three interceptions. Williams wouldn’t have had all those opportunities without Barbers shrewd defense.

Bears Beat Bucs, Simms a Target

2005-11-30T18:21:00.000-05:00

Well if a game or two didn’t get by us, we would be the Indianapolis Colts. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t play their best game against the Chicago Bears and Chris Simms took a beating for it. Simms was sacked four times and the Bears forced a turnover that kicked off their lead. Basically our offensive line crumbled and left Simms to scramble and make snap decisions with no time. Chris Simms made very few mistakes and some good plays against the top rated defense in the league. All in all it was a great effort on his part and everyone is saying how he has grown this season. He’s ready for this three game road trip and will lead this season to great things this season, and hopefully next.

Last Minute Chores: Bucs Clean Up.

2005-11-22T12:11:00.000-05:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played the Atlanta Falcons Sunday for a close 30-27 win. The game was decided in the last minutes as the Falcons came into scoring range and Derrick Brooks forced Michael Vick to fumble the ball with a minute left in the game. The Buccaneers scored the game winning field goal in the ensuing drive. Players on both sides made amazing plays as these two equally matched opponents battled for the win. Running back Carnell Williams was the brightest star of the game with 116 yards rushing and one touchdown against the Falcons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now tied with the Carolina Panthers for first place in the NFC South.

Headed for home to battle the Chicago Bears who beat our rival Panthers, can we beat this team with our passing game suffering as it did against the Falcons?

Alstott Runs Up the Score

2005-11-16T14:31:00.000-05:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Washington Redskins 36-35 with a dramatic final quarter that just went our way. Edell Shephard made the final touchdown with a 30 yard catch. This brought the game to 35-34. Initially the Bucs lined up for the field goal but the Redskins jumped the gun and fouled twice. Doing it over just isn’t John Gruden’s style and he proved it by calling for the team to go for two in the final seconds. He chose the play that had scored twice already: Alstott up the middle!

Game Over

2005-06-14T11:12:00.000-04:00

How many chances can you give a player?

Akili Smith was a top five pick several years ago by the Bengals when they were the ‘Bunguls’. After back to back disappointing season Akili Smith kind of disappeared and became the third or fourth stringer at certain times. The Buccaneers where Smith’s last team to give him chance as they allocated him to NFL Europe this past season. Yet he did not impress anybody when over there and was just recently released. I don’t see a career in the NFL for Akili Smith anymore.

Cutting Ties

2005-06-01T17:25:00.000-04:00

We already know about the salary cap issues surrounding the Buccaneers. And in a move to make more space, I would expect the Bucs to release running back Charlie Garner, guard Matt Stinchcomb, and tackle Todd Stuessie. It is a shame to see Garner go; he is a hard, up hill runner. It is quite possible that his career will come to and end. If money is still an issue there could be a surprise cut among McFarland, Rice, or even Brooks.

Money Issues

2005-05-29T16:00:00.000-04:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to be in a tight money spot this year. So the front office is trying to reconstruct the contracts of several high profile players. Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks, and Anthony McFarland are the players the Bucs are trying to target to get out of salary cap trouble, but these players were said to mock at the notation of reorganizing their contracts.

In Response

2005-05-24T16:10:00.000-04:00

This is for John F…

John I am not joking about Pittman. You said it yourself, Gruden has a fetish for a multipurpose back and Pittman fits that very well. With Garner, Pittman, and Alstott on the roster; at least one of those guys will remain to at least block for Williams. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gruden kept two of the veterans though. You know as well as I that Gruden loves vets. I see Garner leaving, that is just my opinion, but when next year comes around I would expect the Bucs to feature Williams.

It's Happening...

2005-05-18T15:45:00.000-04:00

from foxsports.com

Cadillac Williams is already on Michael Pittman's tail and he'll keep gaining on him if Pittman doesn't do a better job of holding on to the ball. Pittman lost six fumbles last year, but because he lost seven the previous four years combined the team doesn't believe the problem is chronic. Most of Pittman's fumbles last year were lost in the open field, well beyond the line of scrimmage.

As a result, Pittman is working harder on securing the ball after he's broken free of the pile and when he's going down. Some balls were simply stripped from Pittman's arms last year so you're likely to see him cover up more as he runs in the open field and possibly even go down more quickly when his run is clearly nearing an end. The team is practicing stripping the ball from Pittman to help him secure the ball more instinctively.

Out of the Garage

2005-05-11T19:04:00.000-04:00

Some one has a brand new ‘Cady’ in RB Carnell Williams. That team would be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. More than likely as the season progresses expect Williams to take carries away from work horse Mike Alstott in the short- yard game.

Williams might not be as big as Alstott or as big as Pittman but his work ethic is and besides at Auburn Williams did just that. He handled most of the short yardage situation in college.This is just a plus for the team. Now both Pittman and Alstott can block for Williams down at the goal line. This will be a good way to keep opponents guessing on who is going to have the ball.

Filling in Needs

2005-05-06T16:39:00.000-04:00

The team has decided to make 2004 third-round draft pick Marquis Cooper the heir apparent to WLB Derrick Brooks. Cooper worked mostly at MLB and SLB during his rookie year, but the plan now calls for him to work almost exclusively on the weak side. Cooper lacks the size and strength necessary to play SLB, and with Barrett Ruud slated to succeed Shelton

Quarles as the starting MLB, there's no need to play him there. Cooper has excellent speed, and he's a hard hitter. He moves fluidly into his tackles and takes good angles. He's a bit of a 'tweener who could play SS, but the team believes he'll develop into an excellent LB. . . .

QB Shuffle

2005-04-18T17:20:00.000-04:00

The Bucs have 12 picks in this year’s draft. They have two in the third, two fifth and two sixth round. With all the talk about what quarterback is going where the Bucs jumped in and decided their interest in Alex Smith has defiantly gone up.

With all those extra picks don’t be surprised if the Bucs trade away some for a veteran quarterback. For example; Tim Ratty from the Niners would be a start. It just wouldn’t make any sense to spend this much time around a QB when Greise was signed to a long term contract and Simms is still a young ‘buck’.

The Return

2005-04-09T14:50:00.000-04:00

When DT Anthony McFarland went down last season it was Ellis Wyms, Greg Spires and Dewayne White that filled the void that McFarland left. It is funny because McFarland can man the tackle position very well but might be better at a Nose Tackle position.

The team does expect McFarland to participate in the off-season workout program and is supposed to make a complete recovery in time for the mini-camp camps in July.

More than likely he will to spend the better half of the summer getting back in to tip top football condition and that means a lot of strength building in his upper body. Since his position will require a lot of upper body strength.

Drafting a Plan

2005-03-30T18:37:00.000-05:00

from Foxsports.com

The team has all but ruled out trading up or down in the first round. The plan is to stay at No. 5 and take the best player that falls to that spot. The team is hoping WR Mike Williams is available when its turn comes, but the team will gladly take a RB or WR Braylon Edwards. The team continues to suggest it may even take a QB, should Alex Smith or Aaron Rodgers fall. . . .

The team has 12 picks overall, including two picks in the third, fifth and sixth rounds, and three in the seventh. There's a good chance the team will trade some of those picks to acquire more picks early in the draft. The team desperately wants to add a RB who can eventually replace Michael Pittman as the feature back, and it needs to add depth and future starters along the offensive front. To achieve that objective, the team will probably need to acquire more picks in the first three rounds.

Getting Offensive

2005-02-13T18:44:00.000-05:00

from Foxsports.com

Paul Hackett will do a lot more for the Bucs than coach their quarterbacks. The former Jets offensive coordinator will also assist Coach Jon Gruden with the development of his game plan and he will likely have a hand in calling the offensive plays. Gruden likes to surround himself with experienced offensive-minded coaches, and he considers Hackett one of the best. Gruden is hoping Hackett's knowledge of the West Coast system will allow the Bucs to develop a more potent attack that is well disguised. . . .

The Hard Truth

2005-02-02T18:37:00.000-05:00

Since the break out success of Willis McGahee, Travis Henry was giving permission from the Bills to seek a trade.

This got the attention of several teams such as the Panthers, Dolphins, Raiders, Cardinals, and of course the beloved Bucs. Job Gruden is fond of veteran players and feels he has the best chance to bring Henry to Tampa.

With Alstott fading out of the picture, and Pittman being fumble prone, Henry seems to be best suited for Tampa. O yeah, there is also Charlie Garner but he always gets hurt…

So the only viable option here is Henry to compete for the starting job against Pittman. To be honest, Henry would win the position, simply because he is more off a featured back as to where Pittman could have potential as a great 3rd down back.

Needs and Wants

2005-01-23T16:59:00.000-05:00

Something was a miss in 2004 for the Tampa Buccaneers. This once mighty defense stands nothing but a shadow of what it used to be. The Bucs defensive isn't, I wasn't saying it was, I am saying that it isn't up to par with the this age of quaterbacks that are coming out of the woodworks.

It might be because the defense is always out on the field. I got it. The Bucs really need improvement up front with the O-line to upon lanes for Pittman. I think Pittman is a little better than average. He has the power and intensity to be good, real good.

Draft some O-line Gruden...

What Happened?

2005-01-05T15:07:00.000-05:00

One has to wonder what happened to the Bucs season.

Rookie receiver Michael Clayton was one of the only bright spots this year for the Bucs. In his first season he had 1,000+ yards with 7 TD catches.

Might have found a better quaterback, excuse a more consitent quaterback in Bob Griese. Pittman almost had a 1,000 yard season, but Alstott and Galloway really didn't contribute the way Gurden expected them too.

The Bucs finished 5-11 on the season.

NFC Not Holding Up Its End Of The Parity

2004-12-23T16:35:00.000-05:00

By IRA KAUFMAN ikaufman@tampatrib.com

The NFL suddenly has a vested interest in the final stragglers joining its playoff party.

The doomsday playoff scenario talked about in hushed tones at league meetings is likely to become a reality by Jan. 2, when one of the most bizarre regular seasons in the league's 85-year history concludes.

A widening disparity between the conferences has culminated in a madcap scramble for the NFC's final postseason berths - and the likelihood at least one playoff participant will enter with a losing record.

``The NFC playoff picture belongs on Comedy Central instead of ESPN,'' said former Bengals wide receiver Cris Collinsworth, now an NFL analyst. ``The NFC is not dead ... it's just not deep.''

No team with a losing record has reached the NFL playoffs in a non-strike season. Five 8-8 clubs have made it, and in 1982 two 4-5 teams advanced to the postseason while playing a strike-shortened schedule.

The NFC is so beaten down this season, a club below .500 could win the West.

Seattle (7-7) closes with home games against Arizona and Atlanta, and the Seahawks showed little pulse at the Meadowlands on Sunday in a 37-14 loss to the Jets.

The 6-8 Rams host the Eagles and Jets, who are a combined 23-5.

Even the 5-9 Cardinals, who close at home against the Bucs, could conceivably win the wicked West.

``When we went to eight divisions of four, the fear was you could have a down division or two, where you might end up with an 8-8 or 7-9 champion,'' said Falcons general manager Rich McKay, co- chairman of the league's competition committee.

Solid AFC teams Baltimore and Jacksonville could be left out of the playoffs at 9-7, even as a 7-9 Carolina club prepares for the wild-card round.

With six interconference games remaining in the final two weekends, the AFC holds a commanding 39-19 advantage. The NFC hasn't been on the plus side of .500 since 1995, when the Cowboys were capping a run of three Super Bowl titles in a four-year span.

``There's no simple explanation,'' Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said of the AFC's recent dominance. ``The most important thing to remember is our system works. There has never been a debate about who the world champs are in a given season ... and there won't be a debate this year. This could just be a quirk.''

Statistical evidence supports the disparity.

AFC teams crowd the top of the board in three significant categories - rushing attempts, rushing defense and turnover differential.

Except for Atlanta, which benefits from the unique mobility of quarterback Michael Vick, the nine teams with the most rushing attempts hail from the AFC.

``While the AFC's dominance seems to be at its peak right now, history tells us it won't last forever,'' said Giants running back Tiki Barber. ``The whole AFC-NFC debate is cyclical.''

Barber's point can't be dismissed.

From 1985-97, the NFC won 13 consecutive Super Bowls. Now the pendulum has swung back to the AFC, with both a vengeance and a question mark.

``I have come to the conclusion that I have absolutely no explanation for it,'' said McKay, whose Falcons went 3-1 vs. AFC opponents. ``It's a story, and it's real, but I can't explain it. I have seen it go the other way, too.''

McKay acknowledged there has been some sentiment among NFL executives to choose the 12 playoff teams based strictly on record, rather than select the top six from each conference.

``There wasn't much support for the idea,'' he said. ``Conference boundaries are part of our tradition, and this is a league that ties itself to tradition. We're not looking to make a first down 11 yards.''

For this season, at least, the NFC has some explaining to do. Only four of its 16 teams boast a winning record, compared to nine AFC clubs.

Leave it to the NFL's resident philosopher, Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice, to provide some perspective.

``You put us in the AFC,'' Rice said of 5-9 Tampa Bay, ``and we would have been gone a long time ago.''

Clayton, Galloway Benefit As Griese's Targets

2004-12-15T16:43:00.000-05:00

By KATHERINE SMITH, ksmith@tampatrib.com

Bucs quarterback Brian Griese completed passes to nine different receivers Sunday. Actually, 10 if you include the deflected pass he caught himself.

Even Tim Brown got in on the action. Brown snapped a five-game streak without a reception with two catches.

But it was rookie Michael Clayton and veteran Joey Galloway who benefited the most from Griese's most productive day as a Buc (36 of 50 for 392 yards and three touchdowns) in Tampa Bay's 31-24 loss.

Clayton caught a career- high nine passes for 145 yards and one touchdown. Galloway had five receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Former Bucs receiver Keenan McCardell, watching from the Chargers sideline with an injured hamstring, said he admired the job the newest members of the Bucs receiving corps are doing.

``Michael is having the same numbers that I had last year. He stepped in and played big,'' said McCardell, who led the Bucs with 84 receptions for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns last year. ``Joey has come in, it's his first year of the offense and [he] is becoming more familiar with it.

``It's a wide receiver offense. It's a wide receiver's dream.''

It's a quarterback's dream to have receivers making big plays. Of Clayton's game-high nine receptions, seven were for first downs.

Galloway picked up two first downs and added two touchdowns to his Tampa Bay total (three). He scored his first Bucs touchdown last week against Atlanta.

``Joey made some great plays today,'' Griese said. ``On the first touchdown, it was just pure speed, speed over the top. I laid it out there for him and let him go get it. ... He did a great job. He's got quick feet.''

Those feet came out from underneath Galloway late in the fourth quarter. He slipped during a punt return and was helped off the field suffering from cramps.

``That hurt us,'' Coach Jon Gruden said. ``We ran out of gas a little bit. We had some penalties on early down run calls which put us behind in the down and distance, and Galloway's absence hurt us down the stretch.''

Clayton, who leads the Bucs and NFL rookies with 70 receptions, is 12 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season. He credits Griese for his success.

``You have to love the guy,'' Clayton said. ``If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't have made it this far. He really sets the tone in the huddle and for a guy like me, I can feed off that.

``When he looks at you in your eye, it's confidence saying I'm coming to you, get open. It gives you a little bit more spunk running your routes.''

Clayton had to build up trust with Griese and is taking advantage of that dependability.

``He knows I'll catch,'' he said. ``I catch them in practice. I don't think I've dropped one catchable ball this season. He knows. He's pretty comfortable throwing the ball to me.''

Galloway also enjoys the benefits of Griese's confidence in the receivers.

``It's fun to play football when [Brian's] spreading the ball around,'' Galloway said. ``You know whenever a play is called, you better do your job because there's a chance he could find you.''

Ten-Spot

2004-12-09T19:50:00.000-05:00

from NFL.com

Michael Pittman is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ leading scorer in 2004, with 60 points, and with Jay Taylor replacing Martin Gramatica (54 points) at kicker for the final five games, it appears certain that Pittman will take the lead to the end of the season.

How rare is that? The last non-kicker to lead the Buccaneers in scoring was Reggie Cobb in 1992, another season in which the Bucs switched kickers midstream. The only other such occurrence came in 1976, the first season for the Tampa Bay franchise. That year, WR Morris Owens scored six of the team’s 15 touchdowns and edged out kicker/punter Dave Green, 36 points to 35.

Moreover, Pittman wouldn’t have seemed a likely to join Cobb and Owens, given that he had exactly one rushing touchdown in his first two Buccaneer seasons, and just three scores overall. In addition, Pittman missed the first three games of the season on a suspension and was expected to share time in the backfield with free agent import Charlie Garner. In that role, he might have been used most extensively as a receiver.

But Pittman’s nose for the end zone has been about the most consistent thing in the Bucs’ rollercoaster season. Since returning in Week Four, he has scored 10 touchdowns in nine games, including at least one in six of the last seven contests. Suddenly he is only the fourth player in team history to hit double digits in TDs in a single season, joining James Wilder, Mike Alstott and Errict Rhett.

While Pittman took some heat in an otherwise excellent 2002 season for rarely putting the ball in the end zone, the main difference between that year and this one is the number of his opportunities. Pittman has gotten the call repeatedly in the red zone, and he has delivered.

“[Pittman has been used] especially inside the plus-five, goal-line area, where years past he hasn’t been utilized in that area,” said Head Coach Jon Gruden. “I think 10 touchdowns in nine games is pretty significant and hopefully he can find pay dirt a few more times.”

The team record for single season touchdowns is 13, by Wilder in 1984. Alstott in 2001 and Rhett in 1995 each had 11, and Alstott and Wilder had 10-TD campaigns in 1997 and 1995, respectively. Pittman, who played his high school ball in San Diego, could challenge the top spots as quickly as this weekend, though the Chargers possess the league’s second-best rush defense.

Because Garner got knocked out for the year just before Pittman came back and Alstott also missed a chunk of the season with a knee injury, Pittman has become the workhorse again. He has averaged 19 carries per game over the last six contests; compare that to his 13 carries per game in 2002 and his 12 per game in 2001.

All that has somewhat diminished his touches in the passing game, but he remains a very serious threat in that regard, too, with 292 yards and three scores on 27 catches. The Buccaneers still love to find ways to isolate him with a mismatched player in the secondary. Overall, Pittman has 954 combined yards from scrimmage, which puts him 12th in the NFC. He would obviously be much closer to the top had he not missed the first three games of the year.

“He’s got close to 1,000 all-purpose yardage in 10 weeks, nine games, so that puts him on the upper tier in terms of all halfbacks in football,” said Gruden. “He’s having a great year and we’re going to need him down the stretch, obviously.”

Pittman has averaged 106 combined yards per game this season, which does indeed put him in the conference’s upper echelon. The Giants’ Tiki Barber, having his best season, leads the way with 140 yards per game, but the second-place man, Seattle’s Shaun Alexander, is well behind Barber at 116 . Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook is next at 115.5 and Clinton Portis follows at 107. Pittman is fifth in the NFC with his mark, ahead of such notables as Ahman Green, Marshall Faulk, Thomas Jones, Warrick Dunn and Deuce McAllister.

With 662 rushing yards and four games to play, Pittman would have to average 84.5 yards per game to reach the 1,000-yard mark, a recognizable goal for any back. He might not get there, and the truth is, his team doesn’t really care. As long as he continues to produce in the manner he has been all season – particularly in terms of finding the end zone – the Buccaneers will be extremely happy.

Team Report

2004-11-29T13:15:00.000-05:00

from the official site of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Head Coach Jon Gruden struggled to think of the right word to describe his Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ loss in Carolina on Sunday, but only briefly. He soon hit on the exact description.

“I guess ‘maddening’ is the word I’m looking for,” said Gruden. “Maddening. Not only to the players, not only to the coaches, but to our fans. You’re counting on certain aspects of your football team to come through for you, and clearly it’s been a problem.”

The Buccaneers have several ongoing issues that have plagued them in the two seasons since their Super Bowl XXXVII victory, including injuries, penalties, ill-timed turnovers and late-game big plays. Perhaps the team’s most damaging shortcoming, however, has been an inconsistent placekicking game; that was certainly a deciding factor in the 21-14 loss at Carolina, in which Martin Gramatica missed or was blocked on three field tries of less than 40 yards.

On the season, Gramatica has missed eight of 19 field goal tries, including seven of his last nine.

The time has come to address that problem, says Gruden. The Buccaneers will try out several kickers on Tuesday and could sign a new player at that position this week.

Gruden did not say for certain that the Bucs would sign another kicker, or whether or not Gramatica would retain his spot on the 53-man roster in the event of a signing.

“I don’t know what I’m considering right now,” said Gruden. “All I know is, I’m considering doing everything we’ve got to do to improve that aspect of our football team. Clearly, it’s been a sore thumb for us this season.

“We’re going to bring another kicker in and evaluate who’s available. If we can improve our football team, we’ll do everything we can to do that. I think the number one thing is, let’s address that area of our football team, to see if there is any way possible we can improve there.”

The Bucs have been scanning the list of available players for several weeks, ever since Gramatica appeared on the injury report with a hip strain following the November 7 win over Kansas City. The team actually signed another kicker, the Orlando Predators’ Jay Taylor, to the practice squad that week but released him the following week when Gramatica proved healthy enough to kick. Gruden says the team’s personnel department has ‘zoomed in’ on a few guys. The Bucs, however, rarely announce players they’ve brought in for tryouts unless they choose to sign them.

The Bucs would not necessarily have to release Gramatica to sign another kicker, but they would have to release somebody from the 53-man roster. If Gramatica has to cede either his roster spot or his placekicking job at any point, it will be a difficult decision for an organization that has enjoyed so much success as the result of his past kicking heroics.

In fact, the site of Sunday’s struggles was also the venue for perhaps Gramatica’s finest day as a pro, just two years ago. In a game that would eventually prove to be the turning point in the Bucs’ greatest season ever, Gramatica made three long fourth-quarter field goals to kick Tampa Bay to a 12-9 win over Carolina. Memories such as those are still fresh in Gruden’s mind, and Gramatica’s name appears over and over again in the Bucs’ record book.

“You pick up the media guide and you realize what this guy has done as a kicker in this league,” said Gruden. “At the same time, in the last year-plus, we have struggled there. He’s had injuries. Certainly, it’s easy to point fingers when you lose. The kicker is playing an individual game and it’s easy to sometimes point fingers when things don’t go well. A lot of things have to be considered, and [Gramatica’s history] is certainly one of them.”

Bucs Baffle Chiefs

2004-11-08T13:27:00.000-05:00

By Ira Kaufman, from NFL.com

TAMPA - Each time Vonnie Holliday thought about the final score, it hurt a little more.

An hour after the game, the veteran defensive end was still distraught the Chiefs came up on the short end of a 34-31 shootout at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, dropping Kansas City to 3-5 and undermining any momentum from two impressive home victories.

``Just when you feel like you've got this thing going, the Bucs come out with a good attack plan and give us all sorts of problems with misdirection,'' Holliday said after Tampa Bay rolled up 23 first downs and 418 yards. ``We thought they'd come out running, but [quarterback Brian] Griese picked his spots and played great. If you would have told me we'd get 31 points today, I would have said we'd win in a blowout.''

With an extra week to prepare, Bucs coach Jon Gruden submerged himself in game film and ripped a page out of the Denver playbook.

The Broncos confused the Chiefs in winning the season opener 34-24 as Jake Plummer rolled left and right off play action and kept finding targets open downfield.

On Sunday, it was Griese's turn to befuddle a defense that thought it had made some strides under new coordinator Gunther Cunningham.

``When you give up 34 points, you are not going forward,'' Coach Dick Vermeil said of a unit that yielded five touchdown drives of at least 67 yards and failed to force a turnover.

The Bucs threw on eight of their first 10 snaps and Kansas City defenders were repeatedly caught out of position.

Linebackers bit at run fakes, opening up the middle for crossing routes as Griese posted a quarterback rating of 111.9.

``Tampa Bay played extremely well, especially on offense,'' Chiefs president Carl Peterson said. ``When your offense scores 31 points on the road, you should win that game. I think the week off gave the Bucs more of a opportunity to look at plays that have hurt us in the past.''

Griese threw with poise and precision and Michael Pittman opened the second half with a 78-yard burst, scoring untouched on a simple run off right tackle.

``We didn't fit right on the play,'' Holliday said. ``He came though with a lead blocker and once Pittman gets going, you're not going to catch him.''

Despite yielding 9.0 yards a snap against the Colts last week, the Chiefs came away encouraged about their defensive effort.

Tampa Bay averaged 7.6 yards and the Bucs defense made enough second-half plays to provide confidence heading into Sunday's game against NFC South leader Atlanta.

``Unfortunately, they matched us for every score,'' said Chiefs running back Priest Holmes. ``The Bucs seemed like they were definitely ready for us.''

Holmes entered the game as the NFL's No. 1 rusher, but he was limited to 59 yards in 16 carries and suffered a bruise to his right knee late in the third quarter.

``Any time you lose someone of Priest's caliber, it's a huge loss,'' quarterback Trent Green said.

Holmes indicated he wanted to go back in, but Vermeil's postgame remarks suggested the Pro Bowl back said he was too hurt to return in crunch time.

Once again, the Chiefs will find themselves trying to defend a suspect defense that appears to lack play-makers.

``We just couldn't stop their bootleg pass ... couldn't stop it all day,'' defensive tackle John Browning said. ``We should be able to win with 31 points. That's just pitiful.''

Brian Griese!!

2004-10-17T18:28:00.000-04:00

We need you to stay strong, man! Tonight is a big night-a good night to turn it around.

When will it happen?

2004-10-05T18:19:00.000-04:00

I can't wait patiently for too long!!

Some info from nfl.com:

Michael Pittman and John Lynch made their returns to Tampa Bay Sunday. Both nearly had a hand in helping the Buccaneers to their first win of the season. Tampa Bay, however, fell short in the end, losing to the Denver Broncos 16-13. The Buccaneers' lone touchdown came on a play in which Lynch, now a Bronco after spending the last 11 seasons with the Bucs, failed to tackle rookie WR Michael Clayton after he got up off the ground and scored on a 51-yard reception. "I feel for my guys," an emotional Lynch said of his former Bucs teammates. "There are some mixed emotions. I told them to just keep fighting, and I know they will." Pittman, in his first game back after a suspension, gave the running attack a jolt early but the club had to settle for field goals by Martin Gramatica of 28 and 30 yards on two possessions deep in Broncos territory

Bucs Lose Garner, Dudley

2004-09-27T14:04:00.000-04:00

From thier offical site

Sep 27, 2004 - For the second straight year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ best-laid plans are running aground against that great NFL equalizer, injuries.

On Monday at his day-after-the-game press conference, Head Coach Jon Gruden officially announced what he had feared on Sunday night: running back Charlie Garner will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his right knee against the Oakland Raiders.

In addition, tight end Rickey Dudley broke his right thumb during Sunday’s game and will miss a significant if as yet undetermined period of time. This marks the second straight season marred by injury for Dudley, who missed the first nine games last year due to a severe ankle sprain suffered in the preseason finale.

It was a rough return to Oakland for a pair of former Raiders. Gruden said both men would likely undergo surgery on Monday.

This year, which is shaping up much like last year in terms of training-room capacity, Garner is the third of the Bucs’ major offseason acquisitions to go down with an injury. Guard Matt O’Dwyer, a projected starter on the left side of the line, sustained a torn pectoral muscle during a pre-camp weights workout and is currently on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Wide receiver Joey Galloway, a starter and the offense’s projected deep threat, suffered a groin injury in the season opener and is out for what could be another six weeks.

Dudley is also now out, and wide receiver Joe Jurevicius is still recovering from back surgery. The Bucs’ offense is struggling, and one of the major reasons is a lack of continuity caused by turnover at the skill positions, much of that caused by the two-year run of injuries.

The Bucs will get one offensive performer back for next week’s game, and just in time. Running back Michael Pittman’s three-game suspension is over, and he’ll rejoin the team in time to add some punch to the running attack. Like Garner, Pittman is also a gifted receiver out of the backfield.

Alstott, fullback Mike Alstott, one of the 2003 injury-bug victims, demonstrated on Sunday night that he can still be a valuable producer in the offense.

Despite a move across the country, Garner has run into injury problems for a second straight year. Prior to 2003, Garner averaged over 1,700 combined rushing and receiving yards per season from 1999-2002. Last year, a left knee injury slowed him in his final campaign with the Raiders, though he still ran for 553 yards, picked up 4.6 yards per carry and caught 48 passes for 386 yards. Given his productivity despite that nagging injury, and successful offseason surgery to correct the problem, the Bucs expected to get the Garner of 1999-2002. Obviously, for both the player and the team, this year’s injury is even more disappointing than last year’s.

Nevertheless, Gruden believes the Bucs can still develop into a good football team this season. The injuries and the three consecutive losses to start the season have taken the expected emotional toll on the coaches and players, but they haven’t dampened the team’s drive to succeed.

Go Bucs!

Galloway out 4-6 weeks

2004-09-13T13:55:00.000-04:00

From NFL.com

For Joey Galloway, it’s déjà vu of the worst kind.
On Sunday afternoon, in his first regular season game as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Galloway sustained a ‘significant’ tear in the left side of his groin in the second quarter and will miss four to six weeks.

Four years ago, in his first regular season game as a Dallas Cowboy, Galloway suffered a knee injury and was lost for the year.

In both cases, the injury dimmed the hopes of his new team to develop a significant new weapon in the offense. The Cowboys had sent two first-round draft picks to Seattle in 2000 to acquire Galloway; four years later, the Bucs traded Keyshawn Johnson to Dallas to get the speed receiver.

“It’s very disappointing, obviously, that the injury looks to be a little more serious than we had expected,” said Head Coach Jon Gruden.

In the Bucs’ case, at least, the team can look forward to getting Galloway back before the season is over. He will not undergo surgery but will have to rest for several weeks.

“It was a big loss for our team yesterday,” said Gruden. “Hopefully, he makes a quick recovery, because we need him. There will be no surgery, from what I understand, but he will be basically off his feet for two weeks, then continue his rehab.”

Galloway was to be the deep threat that Tampa Bay’s passing attack had lacked for some time. In fact, he was injured on a play in the end zone in which he had beaten his man but couldn’t quite haul in a long pass from quarterback Brad Johnson. Galloway had missed some time in the preseason due to a sore groin, as well, but he had recovered from the injury and it was not considered a problem going into the season.

Mr. Nece: cheers.

2004-08-30T19:02:00.000-04:00

Man, that was one hell of a play. I guess Chris Simms helped with the win, also: 11 of 13 passing for 145 yards ain't bad. Keep up the good work!

The real season is just around the corner!

2004-08-24T18:10:00.000-04:00

Until then, here's some info from their official website:

On Tuesday afternoon, the Bucs began preparing for the Dolphins and a game that could prove very important in the team’s efforts to determine a regular-season roster

Aug 24 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers practiced for two hours on Tuesday afternoon, beginning the minimal game-planning required for a preseason game. Brief but intense rainstorms...

Bloggin' Away

2004-08-17T17:21:00.000-04:00

First of all: condolences to all those who lost friends, family, etc. due to Hurricane Charley.

Just to keep this blog going, here's some news from nfl.com:

The Buccaneers' preseason opener against the Bengals was delayed two days because of Hurricane Charley, which slammed ashore on Florida's Gulf Coast before heading up the middle of the state over Orlando, where both teams were waiting out the storm. But when it was time to play, the storm and its aftermath didn't seem to dampen the team's spirits as the Bucs defeated the Bengals 20-6. Rookie QB Chris Simms, who is competing for the No. 2 spot with Brian Griese, had a superb preseason debut. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 110 yards. "So far, so good," Simms said. "It was great to get out there and play someone else besides our defense. I had a lot of fun and definitely got some good experience." Bucs RB Ernest Graham scored two TDs and K Martin Gramatica added two field goals.

2004 Bucs Schedule

2004-07-28T18:01:00.000-04:00

Here's the 2004 schedule for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, courtesy of NFL.com:

2004 Preseason
Date Opponent Time/Result
Aug. 14 Cincinnati 7:00 p.m.
Aug. 20 at Jacksonville 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 Miami 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 2 at Houston 8:00 p.m.

2004 Schedule
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 12 at Washington 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 19 Seattle 4:05 p.m.
Sept. 26 at Oakland 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 Denver 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 10 at New Orleans 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 18 at St. Louis 9:00 p.m.
Oct. 24 Chicago 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 31 Open Date
Nov. 7 Kansas City 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Atlanta 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 21 San Francisco 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Carolina 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 5 Atlanta 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 12 at San Diego 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 19 New Orleans 4:05 p.m.
Dec. 26 Carolina 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 2 at Arizona 4:05 p.m.

All times are Eastern

GO BUCS!!!

2004-07-25T17:39:00.000-04:00

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