No Playoff Hopes For The Bucs

July 26th, 2010
If this is truly the final season for Ronde Barber, Peter King believes he will finish his NFL career without a trip to the playoffs.

If this is truly the final season for Ronde Barber, Peter King believes he will finish his NFL career without a trip to the playoffs.

Bucs fans, if you have cleared your January weekends in hopes the Bucs make the playoffs, start making other plans.

Why? Because Peter King says so.

The vaunted Sports Illustrated reporter returned over the weekend to type his must-read “Monday Morning Quarterback” column and listed the Bucs as three NFL teams that have no shot at a postseason berth.

Today is time for hope. I tweeted the other day the reason this is such a fun time is because 32 teams think they have a chance to make the playoffs right now, and I think about 28 actually do. (Scratch St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Buffalo and probably Cleveland, though I guess it’s possible Jake Delhomme can be reborn and the Browns could eke out nine wins.) Detroit? Kansas City? Seattle? Not dead at all. They can all throw the ball, and all have made some defensive progress.

While Joe believes the Bucs will be better off down the road, there’s going to be a lot of growing pains for so many rookies the Bucs are banking on to succeed this season.

30 Responses to “No Playoff Hopes For The Bucs”

  1. Sly Says:

    Oh well, if Peter King says so, then heck, it must be true.

  2. BucFan South Tampa Says:

    Doesnt matter, King will always pump up Pats (Brady), and Vikings (Favre). He doesnt have a clue as to what the Bucs are doing. He really thinks Carolina and Seattle can make the playoffs? What an idiot.

  3. Matt Says:

    Eh, he’s probably right. At least, I would expect every outsider to think so.

    No biggie.

  4. Eli Says:

    Absolutely zero chance the Lions make the playoffs. They will finish 4th in a very good division. I think after the Saints, the NFC south is pretty wide open. 8 or 9 wins would probably be best case scenario, and won’t be enough for a wild card. Still think the Bucs will be exciting to watch. I like being the underdog.

  5. Patrick Says:

    I know ya’ll will blast me for this, but is there a chance we offer T.O a contract??? It’s something I would consider. His attitude and typical “T.O drama” doesn’t really concern me. It seems like he behaved himself pretty well in Buffalo last year, and with him getting towards the end of his career, I don’t think he’ll be expecting that much. I know that T.O hasn’t been the best teammate in the past, but he would bring a much needed veteran presence to the team and give Freeman a proven, reliable receiver, something that he badly needs entering his second season already. And even at an old age, he’s still pretty solid.

    Also, there’s nothing wrong with bringing in old players. As long as you’re developing a young talented group of players at the same time.

  6. Not A Rocket Surgeon Says:

    It appears Mr. King will be at TC on the second…

    Aug. 2
    Tampa
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    What I’ll be looking for: A half-day here. I spend the evening at NBC.

  7. big007hed Says:

    Peter King has zero knowledge about the Bucs and doesn’t even care about small market teams…. I like his articles but he talks very very little about the Bucs and any other smaller market team…. And like BucFan South said if it isn’t his beloved Pats/ Red Sox or Favre he doesnt cover it too much

  8. Pete Dutcher Says:

    I wonder if all these naysaying media guys will admit their understimating the Bucs if the team does well and DOES make the playoffs?

    Doubtful.

    @Patrick, I understand your points, but I disagree with the thought of bringing T.O. in at all. I mean, if they did, I would root for him, but my opinion is his attitude is exactly the reason NOT to bring him in.

    This is a new, young team we’ve got taking the field. One of our rookie WRs has already shown a pension for drama in college. Do you really think it wise to have a T.O. influence him right now?

    To top it off, the Bucs did an amzing job of keeping a positive attitude last year. T.O. would destroy that. Imagine Freeman startin off slow…before we know it, TO would be yelling at him, destroying his confidence OR destroying the respect the rest of the team has.

    The ramifications of him being here could well ruin the entire rebuilding process for Tampa. THAT’s why he has not been signed yet. Only a desparate team will take him.

  9. Capt.Tim Says:

    Peter King, oh yeah, picked the payouts to win the SuperBowl last four year! Might as well ask Lindsey Lohan her picks- same credibility factor . . .

  10. Capt.Tim Says:

    Damn it! “patriots”, not payouts! Arrgh

  11. Joe Says:

    I know ya’ll will blast me for this, but is there a chance we offer T.O a contract???

    In a word, zero.

    If the Bucs weren’t going to bring back Antonio Bryant, they sure as hell are not going to bring in that over the hill, malcontent, cancer TO.

  12. Joe Says:

    big007hed:

    Peter King has zero knowledge about the Bucs and doesn’t even care about small market teams…. I like his articles but he talks very very little about the Bucs and any other smaller market team…. And like BucFan South said if it isn’t his beloved Pats/ Red Sox or Favre he doesnt cover it too much.

    Dunno about that. King writes a lot about the Steelers, Packers and Saints. Those are all three small market teams.

  13. Matt Says:

    Right. King just writes about the teams that are either: 1) Big Market, 2) Successful, or 3) Newsworthy.

    The Bucs are none of those things at the moment.

  14. Bucnjim Says:

    Every year there are one or two surprise teams that no one predicts. Most years they come from the NFC South! I’m not saying that the Bucs will go to the playoffs, but I would agree with the statement that all 32 teams have a shot. Experts usually only go solely by the previous years results. Some teams have major injuries & scheduling problems that keep them down, but only for one year. We will see soon enough; season’s just about here.

  15. Joe Says:

    Right. King just writes about the teams that are either: 1) Big Market, 2) Successful, or 3) Newsworthy.

    Matt:

    Why exactly would King — or any national writer — focus on bad teams that are not newsworthy???

  16. eric Says:

    Playoffs?

  17. Capt.Tim Says:

    Yes Joe, but only based on LAST year. I believe things could be greatly improved this year for the Bucs. The talking heads don’t take any chances or research. That’s why they are seldom right! What were Kings predictions for division winners last year? SuperBowl? Exactly!

  18. Joe Says:

    Capt.Tim:

    What research is there to do?

    You don’t think King doesn’t know:

    1) The (likely) top three receivers are two rookies and a second-year seventh round draft pick?

    2) The starting quarterback is, if injury free, in his first full year as a starter?

    3) That one of the worst rushing offenses in the league was not upgraded whatsoever?

    4) That the starting defensive tackles will be a rotation of two rookies and a second-year guy — Joe’s written several times about how rookie tackles struggle?

    5) That the Bucs lost 13 games last year?

    What “research” could King possibly have missed short of Marlena Aref possesses a quality pair of flotation devices?

  19. ZeroExpectations Says:

    King is like me, we both have zero expecations for the Buccaneers this year. He is one SMART MAN I tell ya.

    Funny how the usual suspects always bash the media outlets who don’t see what they see. Does Capt Tim and JimBuc have more credibility than King? Ha ha, according to them they do.

    Well at least I am amused! 🙂

  20. JimBuc Says:

    Zero: not sure what kind of man you are, but I am getting a little creeped out about by all the attention. First, you comment on my nuts (other thread) and then I come over here and find you talking about me again? Freaking me out. Why don’t you just move on and find someone else (preferrably opposite sex) to be the focus of your attention.

    BTW, I agree with King for many of the reasons that Joe pointed out. So, Zero not only are you apparently a weirdo stalker, you are also just plain dumb and wrong.

  21. Jim Mora Says:

    Playoffs? Dont talk about the playoffs! You kidding me?

  22. Gary Says:

    awww man! Joe, your last post made me spill my kool-aid!

  23. Joe Says:

    awww man! Joe, your last post made me spill my kool-aid!

    Hope you were able to stain something owned by a Carolina fan.

  24. ZeroExpectations Says:

    Ha ha ha! JimBuc are you sure that you want to be known as the mother hen of JBF? Because that is surely how you come off.

    You should just lower you expectations and you will find that you won’t get caught up in all the trolling tactics you are so prone to. Just take a step back and breath. The season is around the corner and there is no reason to defend every single thread on JBF as if you are the mother hen. 🙂

  25. JimBuc Says:

    A mother hen . . . with nuts, I guess. 🙂

  26. Capt.Tim Says:

    Jesus Joe, you know, research! What sports writers used to do, instead of just collating data from the internet! 1) is Josh Freeman immersing himself in film and playbills, or in local honeys? 2) is the defense- the one that beat the Packers and the Saints- still being improved upon by Morris? because it was a lot different at the end of the year 3) has the Offense become more comfortable with Olsen’s west coast hybrid, now that they’ve disguarded Jags system? 4) is the O-line gonna be better, now that they are back to primarily a power blocking system?- you know, the one they were DRAFTED to fit in! There are alot of things that should be much better than the team that started last year, just by virtue of having a consistency in the systems! I would do a Lil checking before I just write them of as hopeless. Of course, nobody ever throws the preseason forecast back at anyone, so there is no accountability! I watched the games last year, struggles or not, the two rookies won’t be worse than what we had last year. Sims was a non entity! Playoffs? Probably not, but we have a good O-line, good LBs, a very good secondary. I think with consistant line play, our backs can get it done. DL has White, Crowder, Miller., and energy. But more than anything , it’s about Freeman- if Neo plays just a little better than last year, and cuts down the turnovers, we got a chance. Last year the team was sabotaged before we started. This year, we could be dangerous. Ithink the biggest problem will be injuries-cause depth is non existent! But good health, a few breaks, and Freeman putting all that offseason study to work, and we could put egg on Mr. Kings face. And we wouldn’t be the first ones to do so!

  27. BucFan South Tampa Says:

    But thats what makes football so great. Any Given Sunday. Predictions mean squat. I predict that the Saints will implode coming out of the gate, going 4-12 this year. Carolina will do a little better at 6-10, after Steve Smith and Jimmy Clausen get into a fight in the locker room (Fight Night of the Little People), and Atlanta is the Division Winner followed by the wild card Bucs at 9-7. See, predictions mean nothing. But all we have to do is go to the games and watch the fun. I like the Rays, but I love the Bucs.
    Like the man said before, I like being the underdog.

  28. Capt.Tim Says:

    Zero expectations- that’s it? That’s your whole bit? You post anything, just to say” I’ve got zero expections- look, that’s the same as name I post under- you get ” Zero expectations” I said, and it’s my Name!! Get it !!! It’s funny!!”REALLY!?! That’s all your dumbass sets out to do, is say “zero expectations”?!? I’ve got a great idea! Why don’t you go jump off the Skyway bridge!! Then all of us will say ” I’ve got zero expectations of that frikkin idiot surviving!! NOW That would be funny!!! Otherwise I have zero expectations of anyone here thinking you are anything other than a complete Moron! I also have zero expectations of you having a witty retort, so spare us the trouble!!

  29. Not A Rocket Surgeon Says:

    😛

  30. topdoggie Says:

    What sucks is a couple of free agents and we can be competitive. Not great but at least with a little hope.