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Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Jon Gruden has been fired. The Bucs released a statement today saying coach Gruden and GM Bruce Allen had been “dismissed” (it sounds better than fired) and co-chairman Joel Glazer said:

“We will be forever grateful to Jon for bringing us the Super Bowl title, and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise. However after careful consideration, we feel that this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward.”

“Forever grateful” sometimes means “don’t let the door hit you in the butt on your way out.” There were rumblings that something like this might happen, but with the regular season having ended three weeks ago, it took me by surprise. Actually, after what the Bucs did to coach Tony Dungy seven years ago, I really shouldn’t be shocked. I think coach Gruden is one of the more outstanding head coaches in the NFL. Therefore, I believe the Bucs must already have a high-profile successor lined up in order to dump a head coach of this caliber. But who? Speculation has started with Mike Shanahan, but I am doubtful. As for coach Gruden, what about the N.Y. Jets?

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Bucs ‘Dismiss’ Jon Gruden, Bruce Allen

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Tampa Bay Bucs kicker Matt Bryant tragically lost his infant son Matthew Tryson this past week. In fact, the funeral was only yesterday. Thus, I can’t even imagine what he must have been going through to not only show up for work today but to score 12 points (three field goals and three extra points) to emotionally and literally lead the Bucs to a 30-21 win over the Packers. After the game, Matt was obviously emotional but willing to talk about his feelings:

“I wanted to go out and honor Tryson’s name. I didn’t think that it was very fair that his life was so short. This is the best way I believed I could get out and honor him. I miss him and I wish he was here. He was here and he helped out.

My heart and thoughts and prayers go out to Matt, his wife Melissa and the entire Bryant family. If you are able to make a donation, please do so in Tryson’s name to the March of Dimes, 405 North Reo Street, Suite 105, Tampa, FL 33609. For more information, please call (813) 287-2600.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Matt Bryant Leads Bucs to Victory

Tampa Bay Bucs RB Cadillac Williams was on the practice field with a trainer during the first day of the team’s minicamp this week. He’s not allowed to practice until he is medically cleared, but head coach Jon Gruden called Cadillac’s speedy comeback from last year’s knee injury nothing short of a miracle:

“It’s one of the most amazing comebacks that I’ve seen. He hasn’t come back yet, but he is banging on the door. Our fans would be proud of him. He’s ready to go now, if you ask him. He’s really putting some good tape together in his individual workouts … the explosive movement appears to be coming back. Change of direction, confidence, stamina, all those things day after day a running back has to do are coming to him. That’s what’s really exciting. He doesn’t appear to have any setbacks at this point. I just keep my fingers crossed and hope it continues, because it’s exciting.”

It wasn’t just any knee injury. Cadillac suffered a career-threatening knee injury last September 30 against Carolina, tearing a patellar tendon. To be back on the practice field already is incredible. In fact, he’s already doing 100-yard sprints, some at full speed. I’m not suggesting you grab him in your fantasy draft, but this is certainly promising news since his surgery last October and obviously successful rehab since.

Source: Tampa Bay Online

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Cadillac Williams Continues ‘Amazing’ Comeback From Devastating Knee Injury

It had to happen sooner or later. Tampa Bay Bucs KR Michael Spurlock returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Big deal? Indeed it was. It was the first time in Tampa Bay Bucs history that it happened. When you think about it, that’s one of the most amazing non-plays in the history of professional sports. You would think that sometime over the past 32 seasons and 1,865 tries that the Bucs would have found a way, even accidentally, to score a TD on a kickoff. Nope. Not until today. Unbelievable. The icing on the cake was a win, 37-3, over the obviously unfocused Atlanta Falcons.

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Michael Spurlock Scores, Tampa Bay Bucs Get First Kickoff Return for TD in Team History