Wilder’s publicized non-payment of child support may be a factor in his delayed entry into the ring of honor.

Not choosing Doug Williams is a slap in the face to every longtime, loyal Buc fan. Doug should be honored for his historical contribution to a team that did not want to win. The team was built to maximize profits and when Doug’s salary did not conform to that basic principle, he was unceremoniously let go without any compensation or draft picks.

That’s not going to happen for a while. There are still raw nerves, mostly from Doug Williams’ side, over his second less-than amicable departure from the team.

Perhaps after Raheem and Dominik leave the club — which the way Dominik is going may be quite a while — Williams will get his due honor. It’s quite possible Williams is so hacked off right now that he doesn’t even want the honor.

“I would think the Ring of Honor should be for people that helped shape and or changed the face of the Bucs.”

If that were the criteria for selection, I would nominate Booker Reese or Bo Jackson. Those player’s selection as number one draft picks certainly helped shape the Bucs for years. Saved Culverhouse millions, I might add.

Not choosing Doug Williams is a slap in the face to every longtime, loyal Buc fan. Doug should be honored for his historical contribution to a team that did not want to win. The team was built to maximize profits and when Doug’s salary did not conform to that basic principle, he was unceremoniously let go without any compensation or draft picks.

@Pete Dutcher — Don’t the Bucs are holding anything, per se, against Williams. But there’s an awful lot of planning that has to go into the Ring of Honor day, and if Williams has been cold to the organization and there’s any question about his attitude, then it’s better to wait until there’s obvious healing from both sides.

The Bucs wouldn’t be what they are today without McKay and that historic ’79 team wouldn’t have been as great as they were without Bell.

Not so. The Bucs had 22 losing seasons straight. I fail to see how anything that happened beforehand shaped the team, unless it was in a negative way.

Because they went on to lose.

The real change came with Sapp, Brooks and Lynch…along with Dungy and Monte.

McKay was the first coach…clearly an important part of Buccaneers History.

Selmon was key in the team reaching the playoffs for the first time and obviously was important to the team for a number of years.

Ricky Bell, even though without the disease he would have been fantastic for the Bucs, was not important to the history of the team. That isn’t to say he shouldn’t be respected and mourned after, and remembered. But he should not be in the Ring of Honor.

Giles? I think he is a valid choice.

Ironically, I also think Brad Johnson should be there. He led the team to the Superbowl for the first time, and I cannot see how that would not be important to the team history.

But then, the same could be said for Rick McKay, Jon Gruden and every player on the team during that year.

Another person I think should be there…Monte Kiffin. He defined the Tampa 2 here…and gave this team an identity. So did Dungy.

On Doug Williams
Joe, I listened to your comments this morning. It was a good interview.

But I’m not so sure that the Bucs would have held anything against Williams. Dom is not the type, and Morris would have nothing to do with the decision.

Not to mention it was Williams who let the cat out of the bag, so clearly he is on speaking terms with someone.

No…I think they chose Giles because it was just time to do so. I could even see a scenario where the Bucs might have asked Williams his thoughts on it as well.

Not having Ricky Bell in the Ring of Honor would be like leaving out John McKay. You claim Bell only had one good season. Who cares? Have you seen the W-L record of McKay while in Tampa?

You’ve missed the point of the Ring of Honor. Its to honor past Buccaneers who’ve shaped the history of the franchise. The Bucs wouldn’t be what they are today without McKay and that historic ’79 team wouldn’t have been as great as they were without Bell.

Bell deserves in at some point. No question.