For one day, the Tampa Bay Bucs turned back the clock to 1976. And for the first time this season, the team tasted victory in doing so. It was a memorable day for the Buccaneers organization as they combined their past with their future. Wearing the infamous (and often ridiculed) creamsicle orange uniforms (complete with Bucko Bruce on the helmet) for the first time since 1996, the Bucs unveiled a Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium and inducted Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon as their first member. Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Josh Freeman made his first National …read more

Carolina Panthers backup defensive back (and special teams gunner) Dante Wesley has been suspended without pay for one game by NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson for a flagrant violation of player safety rules. Specifically, on a punt coverage play yesterday, Dante left his feet, launched himself like a missile and made shoulder and forearm contact with the neck and head area of Tampa Bay Bucs punt returner Clifton Smith, who had not caught or touched the ball and was in a defenseless posture.
The suspension will sideline Dante for the Panthers game vs. Buffalo this Sunday.
In …read more

The Tampa Bay Bucs chose defensive end Gaines Adams as the fourth overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. But after two seasons and five games, his career in Tampa is finished. The Bucs traded Gaines to the Chicago Bears for a second round pick in next year’s Draft.
Gaines was widely considered one of the “faces” of the Tampa Bay franchise—hey, he was even one of four players who modeled the throwback orange creamsicle unis this season—so this comes as a shock in that sense. But when you look at his lack of production (13.5 sacks, two interceptions and two …read more

After starting the 2009 season without a win in three tries (and coming off one of the worst offensive performances in team history against the N.Y. Giants yesterday), the Tampa Bay Bucs are switching quarterbacks. Byron Leftwich is out—demoted to the third string—and second-year QB Josh Johnson is in. Bucs head coach Raheem Morris made it clear his decision was not all about Byron Leftwich, saying: “I don’t want us, as an organization, to say that game (vs. the Giants) was all Leftwich. But Byron is suffering the consequences.”
My money has been on rookie Josh Freeman taking over the starting …read more

The Tampa Bay Bucs agreed to a one-year deal with quarterback Byron Leftwich today. Terms of the deal were not immediately released but I can tell you Byron will have the opportunity to compete with current Bucs QBs Luke McCown, Josh Johnson and Brian Griese for the starting job. One of those four quarterbacks will most likely be released before training camp begins later this summer. And I’m guessing that odd man out will be Brian Griese.

Byron should be the favorite to win the starting role in Tampa. Otherwise, why would be have bolted from Pittsburgh? He knows he …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Tampa Bay Bucs continued to cut into their massive amount of salary cap space today, keeping receiver Michael Clayton on the roster with a five-year, $24 million deal ($10.5 million is guaranteed money). Michael spent some time interviewing with the Lions and Vikings, but cancelled a trip to Seattle when he realized the weather in Tampa was really nice. Actually, the Bucs called him and told him not to get on any plane that wasn’t headed to Tampa. In other words, they gave him what he was looking for financially. Plus, the Bucs appear …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Tampa Bay Bucs traded the always intriguing “undisclosed draft picks” to the Cleveland Browns for tight end Kellen Winslow today. Kellen’s introductory presser ended just about an hour ago and he said:
“I’m happy to be playing football, happy to have a job. You know, it’s tough. This is just a blessing. Cleveland was great to me (liar). I had a good time in Cleveland (liar) … But, this is a new opportunity.”
In signing with the Bucs, Kellen gets to return to the state of Florida where he spent his college career at the University …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Tampa Bay Bucs went nuts today, releasing five veteran players in a move that made a firm commitment to the team’s younger players. Linebacker Derrick Brooks, receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, running back Warrick Dunn and linebacker Cato June were all sent packing. Only Cato is under 30-years-old. And sure, I can accept that the Bucs want to go in a different direction. But when a team loses not only good players but also good people — some of the best in the entire National Football League — it’s hard to imagine it …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Less than 24 hours after “dismissing” head coach Jon Gruden, the Tampa Bay Bucs promoted defensive backs coach (and recently promoted defensive coordinator) Raheem Morris to head coach. This was not the “high-profile” selection I was expecting, but given the Bucs’ history, I’m not surprised it was a coach with a defensive background. Coach Morris’ philosophy?
“I’m going to be Raheem Morris. The atmosphere changes with the person. You deal with people how you deal with people on an everyday basis. That’s what I plan to do. We’re a family. The Glazers are a family. We’re …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
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 …read more