Buccaneers Reeling
(November 19, 2003)

It has been at times hard to watch, tough to read about and difficult to write about the soon to be ex-world champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs defense, which was no so long ago contending for the "best of all-time" label, can't hold leads at the end of games. The offense is inconsistent and only seems to get rolling when its too late. And don't forget the pitiful performance of the special teams. This team has way too many penalties and they are not all on Kenyata Walker. Keyshwan Johnson has been declared inactive and his playing days in Tampa Bay are over. Is this the way a defending league champion is suppose to look? A 4-6 record and on a three game losing streak?

How soon we got back to ragging on the Bucs. Jon Gruden's honeymoon is over. Where did it all go wrong? Remember way back to the first game? It was a wonderful Monday Night shutout win at Philadelphia. The home opener against Carolina maybe? The Bucs appeared to have won, but could not convert an extra point and lost in overtime. The team bounced back from that game with a big win at Atlanta, so maybe its Tony Dungy's fault. It was Monday Night Football and the Bucs were cruising against Indianapolis 35-14 with 5:09 left in the game. Miraculously, Dungy's Colts tied the game and the Bucs lost in OT. The Bucs won the next week convincingly at Washington, so maybe it was the San Francisco game that began the downfall. No last minute horror stories at San Francisco, just a 24-7 drubbing. Then the Bucs bounced back and shutout Dallas. The Bucs tied New Orleans with 2:08 remaining, then the Saints marched down the field for the winning field goal. The Bucs scored seventeen unanswered points to take a 24-20 lead at Carolina with 2:08 left, then watched them go down the field and score the winning touchdown. The Bucs came back to tie Green Bay only to allowed a 98 yard fourth quarter drive for the winning Green Bay touchdown.

Now, Keyshawn Johnson has been declared inactive for the remainder of the season. Johnson has made no secret of his desire to leave Tampa Bay and the Bucs are going to grant his wish. Numerous injuries, including, season ending injuries to running back Mike Alstott and defensive back Brian Kelly, have hurt the 2003 Bucs.

There are six games left and the Bucs would have to win them all to make the playoffs. Obviously, that is not very likely, so the Bucs will be handing over the world champs title before too long. We will always have last year, no one can ever take that Super Bowl win away, but what about next year?

The Buccaneers have just about all their key players, except for Warren Sapp, under contract for next season. If the thinking is about the future, having a all those aging veterans under contract may force a delay in any thought of totally rebuilding the team.

Mmost of us will be watching the Bucs play the Giants on this week's Monday Night Football. Then there is a Sunday night game at Jacksonville. I guess real fans never give up.