Talkin’ Throwbacks
May 19th, 2015
This is one of the most popular questions Joe gets, and powers that be at One Buc Palace — at least Joe’s contacts — are stumped: “Why can’t the Bucs wear throwbacks?”
Yesterday, Joe asked a few front office folks in the know to explain the NFL rule that forces teams to wear the same helmets all year, which was a reason given why the Bucs haven’t had a throwback uniform day (usually co-existing with a Ring of Honor ceremony) in recent years.
The best answer Joe got is that throwbacks have not been totally ruled out, just that if the Bucs had throwbacks, then current helmet — not Bucco Bruce — would be used, not unlike when the Steelers wear their prison yard/bumblebee uniforms.
Joe could not get an explanation about the one-helmet rule other than it exists. The Cowboys were affected by the rule, as well.
A BSPN piece written two years ago by Paul Lukas, who specializes in uniform subjects, offered this on the Bucs.
The change in plans is due to a new, previously undisclosed NFL rule that forbids the use of alternate helmets. The Bucs’ throwback helmets, emblazoned with the old Bucco Bruce logo, have a white shell, while their regular helmets have a pewter shell. There was no way for the throwback look to work with the pewter helmets, so the team has scrapped the throwbacks.
Lukas, in talking to individual teams, found clubs to be tight lipped about the rule, perhaps because it is so unpopular with fans, perhaps because the rule is so vague. Lukas did dig up a memo sent out by NFL headquarters to individual teams explaining the same-helmet rule.
Joe hopes this answers or eases your concerns about the Bucs potentially wearing throwbacks again.
May 19th, 2015 at 5:38 am
Buc the rule……pirates don’t need no stink’n rules…what are they gonna do …not play the game ?
May 19th, 2015 at 6:10 am
I loved the orange pants, i really miss the Orange uniforms wish they would switch completely back
May 19th, 2015 at 6:26 am
10 Bucs says it’s because they don’t want to foot the extra expense.
May 19th, 2015 at 6:48 am
The only thing I can think of is they want the players to wear the same helmet all year long. I would assume that the NFL believes wearing the same helmet all year will reduce the possibility of concussions, as if the “alternate” helmets won’t fit as perfectly as their regular helmets. In other words, it’s just another stupid decision by a commissioner who makes stupid decisions daily. I truly look forward to the day he joins Greg Schiano in the unemployment line.
May 19th, 2015 at 6:55 am
They CERTAINLY would not wear old style constructed helmets…they’d wear current helemts with ALL built in safety features….with external logo/paint schemes……geesho you people…SMH
May 19th, 2015 at 7:04 am
they’d wear current helemts with ALL built in safety features….with external Bucco Bruce logo/paint schemes……geesho you people…SMH
May 19th, 2015 at 7:08 am
Just win..worried about the wrong things!
May 19th, 2015 at 7:19 am
Those creamsicle outfits were the most losing uniforms in football. Why are Bucs fans so keen on bringing them back?
I think I’d rather wait another year or two and start using the pewter and red uniforms from the late 90’s and 2000’s as the throwbacks.
May 19th, 2015 at 7:26 am
Agree Garett……these young pups have NO clue the pain and misery Creamsicle represents
May 19th, 2015 at 7:27 am
“The change in plans is due to a new, previously undisclosed NFL rule that forbids the use of alternate helmets.” I guess if they forego the rule they will get put on double-secret-probation…..Whatever, they can wear whatever the hell they want if the really want to. What will the NFL do, cancel the game? Give me a break. Btw, who follows rules anymore?
May 19th, 2015 at 7:30 am
Go back to the Pirate logo on the helmet and update the colors a bit. Be gone with the horrid scheme that they currently wear. Btw, the Yankees, Cubs (and all teams), etc…Have had long stretches of futility, but they didn’t change their uniforms schemes (completely) like the Buc’s have.
May 19th, 2015 at 7:40 am
Joe said:
“The best answer Joe got is that throwbacks have not been totally ruled out,…”
And then said:
“Joe hopes this answers or eases your concerns about the Bucs potentially wearing throwbacks again.”
So after reading that whole article, we still do not know anything more than when you sat down to type it?
May 19th, 2015 at 7:45 am
Why not ‘wrap’ the helmets? Ever see a car, truck or bus with advertising? The white wrap could be removed after the throw-back game
May 19th, 2015 at 7:49 am
Lol! Seems that nobody can answer it then correct Joe. I am still confused. Are they trying to say it’s impossible to make two identical helmets for each player. Is it a money thing? I mean does an NFL team not make enough money to have a white and a pewter helmet. With the technology we have now they cannot duplicate helmets so that they essentially the same as far as safety? SMH!
May 19th, 2015 at 8:05 am
@Garett …
For me, the old unis represent a good time in Bucs football the rise from the ashes to a near Super Bowl appearance and 3 playoff spots from 79-82…it was after 82 where people identify it with losing…don’t blame the unis because of the sh*tty team owner
May 19th, 2015 at 8:07 am
Jim is spot on… Use a wrap.
Jim Says:
May 19th, 2015 at 7:45 am
Why not ‘wrap’ the helmets? Ever see a car, truck or bus with advertising? The white wrap could be removed after the throw-back game
May 19th, 2015 at 8:18 am
This league has so many stupid rules that make no sense! Who cares what uniforms they put on! We need a new commish!
May 19th, 2015 at 8:23 am
The warden runs the league like a supreme overseer and won’t take much feedback, or for that matter any suggestions. Every little detail has to be micro managed. Rules and regulations, who needs them.
May 19th, 2015 at 8:27 am
Agree with Garett – Those old uniforms make me cringe. The Bucs of those days lost so bad, they were highlight film fodder for the whole country. I have no idea why people want to bring them back. Those uniforms represent a legacy of bad football, Hugh Culverhouse, incompetance, and the Bucs being a laughing stock of the NFL. No thanks! I prefer our existing crappy uniforms!
May 19th, 2015 at 8:28 am
Couldn’t we “throw back” to the pewter and red that we just changed from? We’d still have the pewter helmets
May 19th, 2015 at 8:31 am
@bucco brice
Fair enough. I’m a younger guy and have only been a Bucs fan since the late 90’s, so I’m willing to admit that maybe I just don’t understand the weight of the history behind the creamsicle.
May 19th, 2015 at 8:32 am
The Burger King uniforms are just terrible. I will never get used to them. The creamsicles aren’t the best ever, but, they are still better than the BKs. The pewter and red were great. Still are.
May 19th, 2015 at 8:47 am
I hated those creamsicles…HATED!! But with our new ones, I look at that pic above and think to myself, “Those creamsicles look pretty cool!!”
May 19th, 2015 at 8:50 am
I grew up with the orange and ill allways like it best times of my life
May 19th, 2015 at 8:51 am
I don’t get the vitriol for the new uniforms. Don’t get me wrong, I wish that we would have stayed with what we had rather than changing to these, but I’m not as nauseated by them as some of you seem to be. I think they’ll look just fine once we start seeing them in a few playoff games and we’re not associating them with such a horrific season
May 19th, 2015 at 8:51 am
They need to do a throwback game week 1 and wear the original pewter and red uniforms. Then they need to repeat the rest of the season.
May 19th, 2015 at 8:54 am
These new Buc uniforms look like a crackhead designed them, or somebody high on something not natural, The numbers are even worse, topping it off like a cruel joke.
May 19th, 2015 at 8:58 am
@ My old friend Hawaiian i agree
May 19th, 2015 at 8:58 am
Play with the throwback helmets and pay the damn fine!
May 19th, 2015 at 8:59 am
People talked about what an eyesore the Seattle uniforms were until they started dominating. I’m looking forward to that being the case for our guys. Once this team comes together and we’re seeing Winston on the “Best of” shows on Monday mornings showing him carving up helpless defenses and Evans toying with defensive backs, those uniforms are going to have an awfully special place in our hearts.
May 19th, 2015 at 9:28 am
The Glazers were on the way to a practice and went to Burger King. Looking at the uniforms it was an easy idea. We could have a cool new uniform. Just add alarm clock numbers and it will remind our players to be on time.
That is all I can think of. They are U G L Y!!
May 19th, 2015 at 9:33 am
Pat in VA
I think seatlles just took some getting used to. Our new ones are just ugly. But uniforms are probably my least concern. When the hell is training camp gonna get here so we can actually talk about football!!!!!
May 19th, 2015 at 9:39 am
@SOE – I’m going to disagree. Time will tell if you’re right but I think that, much like with Seatlle, the story will stop being about the bad team in that dumb uniform and be more about how well the team is doing and the uniform will come to represent a group that is playing good football and the TB faithful will be happy to see them on the field and fans of opponent’s teams will come to respect what those uniforms represent.
Of course, there’s a road left to travel before we get there but I really think that the difference between those uniforms being ugly and revered is the number of wins we get in them.
May 19th, 2015 at 9:55 am
Honestly, it would not matter if the uniforms were pea green and brown as long as they win. Winning will make the uniforms look a lot better.
May 19th, 2015 at 9:56 am
i love the old uniforms. But most of all I want W’s in whatever uniform we put on. I am due for multiple super bowls after dedicating my nfl fanhood to the bucs
May 19th, 2015 at 10:00 am
I really like the new unis….except for the design of the numbers. The big flag and chrome facemasks are cool and the color scheme too. It was time for a change. Plus those sweat stained pewter pants for the former unis were awful.
May 19th, 2015 at 10:08 am
Easy solution.
Switch from throwback uniforms to “Tribute Uniforms”.
Redesign the helmets, keep the flag (bucco bruce was stolen from the raiders anyway) and and more orange, white, red and pewter so it blends well with all 3 eras.
Then you can create Tribute Uniforms with bolder colors matching a specific era. Won’t have to be ALL white and orange. Just more of it. Same with red and pewter.
Heck, I could come up with ideas myself.
May 19th, 2015 at 10:22 am
…or, use an orange jersey white pants scheme with the new design that fits the helmet color
May 19th, 2015 at 11:05 am
The old creamiscle uniforms are much better than the hideous ones of today. I can barely watch my favorite team because they look so ugly in these digital alarm clock uniforms.
May 19th, 2015 at 11:12 am
what would the punishment be like if the bucs just yano, ignored the pointless stupid rule, and wore those beautiful helmets again
May 19th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
How about a “throw forward” uniforms as in throw the news BK suits into the bay. They’re terrible. The old pewter uniforms were great but leave it to money hungry NFL and Nike to screw it up. These new uniforms are embarrassing to say the least. I’d gladly welcome the creamsicle over the BK look.
May 19th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
we have 2 throwback options now….the orange ones, which have become nostalgic favorites despite being considered the ugliest unis imaginable at the time…and the ones we won a superbowl in, which we had no good reason for changing. i’m okay with us doing at least a “throwback” to the 1996-2013 look
May 19th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
The “pewter” in the uniforms look like a dog ate a can of Alpo and squeezed out that color. It’s not “pewter,” its an off-shoot of grey and brown mixed together. It looks terrible. The Seattle uniforms suck as well. I liked their old ones with the blue and silver.
May 19th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
I fail to see how a helmet change makes any difference at all. Same manufacturer, same protection. I see players switching helmets all the time.
Concerning concussions… Helmets are to prevent skull fractures, not concussions. Every time someone’s head snaps from a hit there’s a concussion risk.
May 20th, 2015 at 5:36 am
Forget sports: those digital alarm clock numbers would have to be in the running for consideration as the worst design element of anything this widely seen in public.
As for he helmets, it’s nothing less than bulls**t to assert that an alternate helmet is any risk to the health or safety of a player, or that they can’t be fitted identically. C’mon.