The Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years — No. 20

July 11th, 2014

michael clayton 0904All the Top-Whatever lists across the Internet got Joe thinking of the Buccaneers’ drought since their Super Bowl glory. And that got Joe motivated to rank the 20 worst Buccaneers of the past 10 years.

Immense thought went into this at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. There was even an all-night screaming session where a top intern was standing on a table yelling, “If Derrick Ward isn’t on this list, then I quit.” Joe had to get the poor kid a beer before Joe fired him for spilling it.

Primary consideration was given to expectations for a player combined with his on-field performance. Off-field behavior was a factor, and players were not punished for injuries.

No. 20 – Wide receiver Michael Clayton

The Great Lumpkin, running back Kregg Lumpkin, was in the running for this spot, as was Jordan Shipley, but blocking icon Michael Clayton lost out won out.

Clayton was a tough pick. His 2004 rookie season was spectacular, with 80 catches for 1,193 yards. But his subsequent seasons were so dreadful and so far below expectations that he couldn’t be ignored.

Yes, Joe has an intrinsic problem with receivers who can’t catch the football. Clayton became that guy.

Clayton owes his place on this list, in part, to former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, who decided to gift Clayton $10 million guaranteed before the 2009 season. That treated Bucs fans to Clayton’s 16-catch season in ’09, which concluded his Buccaneers career.

The Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years will run once or twice daily until No. 1 is revealed on Thursday, July 24. 

70 Responses to “The Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years — No. 20”

  1. Buccfan37 Says:

    If Clayton is only #20 there must be more stinkers than I care to remember. Just got me speculating who are the top 5 plugs.

  2. BucsQcCity Says:

    Hope Schiano is #1

  3. Louis Friend Says:

    Guessing a couple more receivers makes this list, Alvin Harper has to be up in the rankings quite a bit.

    List only goes back 10 years. –Joe

  4. Harry Says:

    @37
    Exactly my thoughts…

  5. Louis Friend Says:

    Was just thinking, you could easily make a top 20 worst Buc first round draft picks and possibly match this overall top 20 by 80-90%. That’s sad.

  6. Louis Friend Says:

    err, first, second and third round picks

  7. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    Dominick claims the #1 spot, there is not even a close 2nd. You can go ahead and just do the rest of the count down from #19 to #2.

    unless of course you consider ” the Glazer wallet” could be considered top 3. That is what started this 5 years of last places and disasters.

  8. Bogiedr Says:

    Joe, are you going back to 1976 or only recent memory? If back to 1976 Clayton does not make the top 75!!!

  9. Tnew Says:

    The Sabby watch starts.

  10. Joe Says:

    Bogiedr:

    As stated in both the headline and lede paragraph, 10 years.

  11. RCH Says:

    Very creative Joe! I’m sure this had to take a lot of thought will look forward to reading these.

  12. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    This is a great idea Joe, there are so many deserving names and there will be even more snubs that should be on the list. I think I could have done a list of top 40 easy.

  13. Joseph Mamma Says:

    Larry Fitzgerald he is not.

  14. b.Bruce Says:

    R thanks Joe this is fun.tampaaaa

  15. Espo Says:

    I’m sure he won’t make the list because he was actually a part of a pretty good defense, but I’ve always thought Juran Bolden was turrible. Ruud makes my list too, because of the expectations. I gotta throw Gaines Adams in there, although he has an excuse. Sabby and Dexter #2 are no brainers. Ward. Pre-Schiano Quincy Black.

    Was David Boston within 10 years? What a waste.

  16. Touch_Down_Tampa_Bay Says:

    Dexter Jackson wide receiver will be there. He was afraid to get hit!!????

  17. Tom Says:

    Kenyatta Walker, Eric Wright, Josh Freeman, Sabby Piscatelli would have to make it in my top 10 worst Bucs (in no particular order.)

    While he wasn’t atrocious while he was actually playing, I think Kellen Winslow must make this list. Also, I know Charlie Garner got hurt, but I remember the hype about bringing him in, and he did absolutely nothing

    Winslow was extremely productive. Bucs would be lucky to have the worst players be Winslow caliber. Again, as Joe stated, injuries will not punish a player.–Joe

  18. Nick H Says:

    Albert Haynesworth incoming lol, Sabby #1 IMO

  19. Nick H Says:

    Oooh jerramy stevens possibly

  20. Picked Off Says:

    Worse jersey decision I’ve ever made…

  21. Picked Off Says:

    Sorry – worst jersey decision I’ve ever made… Coffee hasn’t kicked in yet.

  22. Bawlmerbucfan Says:

    I can’t stand the PC police, but I’ve gotta ask….why ya’ gotta hate?

    No hate. Just a love of history and a little fun. –Joe

  23. ToesOnTheLine Says:

    Just about every player drafted between 2009-2011 should get at least an (dis)honorable mention on the list, with a few obvious exceptions. Benn seems like a lock to see his name on here.

  24. Eric Says:

    Might need more then 20 slots!

  25. big tom Says:

    Dexter jackson needs to be top 5. Second rd pick who was afraid of contact usually losing yards in the return game

  26. ToesOnTheLine Says:

    Maybe Trueblood too? Dude could always be counted on to give up a few 10 yard penalties every game. Certainly not worthy of his 2nd round selection

  27. Bawlmerbucfan Says:

    Alright then Joe, if you say so….I’ll then jump in the mix…..even though Bo Jackson never suited up in a Bucs uniform, that pick messed us up for years!

  28. biff barker Says:

    No love for Myron “the birdman” Lewis? Maybe Tim Wansley? Tanard?

  29. Espo Says:

    Kenyatta Walker was a starting tackle for a super bowl team for one of only good offenses we’ve ever had. I’ll forgive a few (dozen) false starts.

  30. Espo Says:

    I’m going to throw out an honorable mention for all the illiterate Bucs fans who keep choosing players from over 10 years ago.

  31. Lou. Says:

    The ten-year limit is a drag. No Booker Reese, no Randy Hedberg. Remember Borrila’s Gorrillas? (Mike suffered a knee injury before playing in a single game; as an injured player he is not even a candidate for this stroll down heartbreak lane). Not even the tight end who ran to the head during a MacKay training camp and never returned.

    Ah, the days we cheered for well formed huddles and for particularly smooth transitions running on to the playing field.

  32. OAR Says:

    Bawlmer
    Bo Jackson? Yeah, you can thank Culverhouse for lying to Jackson for that one.
    BTW he would not be on the “worst” list, if he ever suited and played for us.

  33. OAR Says:

    Joe
    Make it easy on yourself and make it the top 20 worst players by position!

  34. Bawlmerbucfan Says:

    Totally agree OAR….I have a bit of LeBron-like jiltedness still marinating from the 80’s thanks to Bo (and Culverhouse). Maybe I should let it go! 🙂

  35. ander Says:

    luke stocker has to be on this list too.

  36. lightningbuc Says:

    Shaun King missed this list by a year. He should consider himself lucky, know matter what he “led”.

  37. lightningbuc Says:

    BTW, Jordan Shipley, if memory serves me correctly, played in one game and fumbled a punt return. Not very good, but hardly deserving of even being in the conversation of 20 worst considering the drivel we’ve been subjected to the last 10 years.

  38. Joe Says:

    Alright then Joe, if you say so….I’ll then jump in the mix…..even though Bo Jackson never suited up in a Bucs uniform, that pick messed us up for years!

    That was much longer than 10 years ago.

  39. Brandon Says:

    Derrick Ward has to be entrenched in this list.

    Gaines Adams was a huge wasted pick.

    As much as I hate the tandem of Hovan and Sims, the worst DLineman has to be the sackless Kyle Moore.

    Tim Wansley has to beat out even Myron Lewis for title of “Worst CB” Wansley goes back too far for consideration.–Joe

    Sabby is probably in there somewhere… I would think Sean Jones makes this list as well.

    Who can forget kick returning dynamo and tough guy Dexter Jackson?

    How can the Great Lumpkin not make it? I can’t think of many worse RBs.

    Does Martin Grammatica and his magical 2003 season count?

    Luke Petigout was terrible and proved as much when Donald Penn stepped in and our LT play went way up.

    Trueblood has to be the worst OLine of the ten years though. Between being turnstyled and the stupid penalties, one had to wonder who he had naked pics of.

    It’s hard to figure in who really was the worst though, so many of the duds Gruden drafted, didn’t even make the roster (Marquis Walker, Lance Nimmo, Austin King, Travis Stephens, Kevin Lockett “The Rocket”),

  40. Bawlmerbucfan Says:

    Congratulations “Joe says” for having such impressive reading comprehension skills. Your mom must be proud.

  41. deminion Says:

    Lol forgot we had David Boston lol sabby was bad ran into a INT one game I remember lol Stevens was crap ward crap who was the sackless DE again?

  42. Bucsfanman Says:

    Now this is fun! There are going to be some names surfacing here that I think 99% of Bucs fans have drank to the back of their memory! I’m already twitching!!!

  43. lightningbuc Says:

    Byron Leftwich was pretty bad! And I think Joe was a bit giddy for him to be a Buc!

  44. Pete I Says:

    Byron Leftwich – who (Raheem Morris) (and Joe if I remember correctly) thought that signing and camp “competition” to start was a good idea???

    I was booing him at a pre-season game hoping that my boos would be heard but nope…started 3 games, lost 3 games, then in comes Josh Johnson to lose 4 games. Heck Freeman could have done that!

  45. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    @ pete I

    at least he played, remember angelo crowell LB from buffalo? he got the same contract as Bryon Leftsandwich and he never played!!!

  46. flrocker1 Says:

    10 years people. Geez. Read!!!

  47. BUCTROOPER Says:

    Entirely too low. Unless there were Buccaneers that were setting fire to orphanages that I am unaware of…. Clayton was #1 in terms of performance and attitude.

  48. J 2.0 Says:

    This is insane! Clayton must be way higher than #20! HE IS TOP 5 FOR SURE!!!!

    He was a 1st round pick, granted had a great first year, he was straight garbage every year after that, and got a big contract.

    Due to his high profile as a 1st round pick and being a complete bust, I am eager to see who could possibly be the 19 worse Bucs than him.

  49. Oil Derrick Brooks Says:

    Dominik for the win (perhaps the least said phrase in Bucs history).

  50. Louis Friend Says:

    Just off the top of my head I’m guessing these guys are in the list:

    Freeman
    Dre Moore
    Kyle Moore
    A Benn
    Brian Price
    Myron Lewis
    Bowers
    Gaines Adams (RIP)
    Dexter Jackson
    Sabby
    Stocker
    Arron Sears (not his fault, but still)

    …and lots of free agent signings

  51. Louis Friend Says:

    Do front office and coaches get included in the list by the way?

  52. Sapp, STFU Says:

    Bruce Allen ranks higher than Dominick. Bruce has screwed up more teams that Marlk

  53. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    @sapp,stfu

    Bruce Allen has been to the playoffs with every team he has been the GM on.

    Dominick finished last in the division every year except for 1 year.

  54. D-Rome Says:

    I can’t wait to see outrage when the list is completed an Barrett Ruud is not on the list. If you listened to some people a few years ago you’d be convinced he was the worst MLB in Bucs history.

  55. Louis Friend Says:

    @ D-Rome

    Ruud? Nah, he wasn’t the worst. He just had the misfortune of being hyped more than he deserved, and for not making enough impact plays. He was average.

  56. JonBuc Says:

    Before reading the comments….I was wondering if Tim Wansley would qualify…he doesnt as 2003 was his last year in organized football as Joe pointed out. No one epitomized the last decade of disarray and disappointment than that turd in the punchbowl, however. He was sleepy and leaky well before Freeman…

  57. Marlow Says:

    Jake Plummer

  58. Erick Says:

    I dont see how Kenyatta Walker isn’t number 1 or at least in top 3. Guy was drafted 14th overall and has to be the unofficial record holder for most penalties by an offensive lineman. He still must wake up in middle of night in a cold sweat thinking of Julius Peppers lining up across from him.

  59. BoJim Says:

    Man this post brings back a lot of bad memories.

  60. BigMacAttack Says:

    I’d put Revis at the top of the list. Got paid $16 mil and didn’t do Jack squat all season. Total waste of money and picks given up.

  61. Shawnbucfan Says:

    Lets not forget how awful Mike Nuggent was . What a bad free agent sigining that was .

  62. ToesOnTheLine Says:

    Can we add Lindell? Dude cost the Bucs at least 2 or 3 games last season with his untimely chokes 🙁

  63. deminion Says:

    Jake Plummer takes the cake

  64. BOBBY C Says:

    Mike Evans=Mike Clayton 2.0

  65. BOBBY C Says:

    Mike Evans=Mike Clayton 2.0, Im just telling you before it happens

  66. blackmagic00 Says:

    I’m thinking leftwitch is somewhere near number 1

  67. Miguel Grande Says:

    The Little General #1

  68. Jim Walker Says:

    Tim Wansley misses this list by 1 year.

  69. best_worst Says:

    kenyatta walker, a CB i forgot his name Gruden area, J Trueblood, Raiders Brown

  70. best_worst Says:

    puting evans and clayton in the same class is like puting Plex Burress and Hines Ward in the same class