Tortured Fanbase?
February 22nd, 2016
Are Bucs fans tortured?
These are tough times to be a Bucs fan.
Many Bucs fans struggle to remain positive when the team has been in the basement of the NFC South five of the past six years. That’s pretty gruesome.
Even Joe referenced how there are teenagers on the cusp of high school that were not alive the last time the Bucs won a playoff game, when Chucky hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft in victory that chilly January Sunday night in 2003.
That’s damn near unconscionable when one thinks about it.
One could say Bucs fans have been tortured since. But Will Leitch doesn’t believe that. The former editor of Deadspin and current freelance columnist typed a piece for SportsonEarth.com ranking the most tortured fanbases in the NFL.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl appearances: 1
Super Bowl wins: 1
Last championship: 2003They are this high on the list because they’ve won a title in the last 13 years — something only six other teams can say — and because Jameis Winston, like him or despise him, went to the Pro Bowl in his first season and, if it weren’t for his off-field issues, is the sort of quarterback every team desperately wants.
As far as the alleged “off-field issues,” can we put this nonsense to rest? A Super Bowl quarterback in the same division as the Bucs, a quarterback with national TV ads for a popular sports drink, whose antics pale in comparison to Jameis’ juvenile stunts in college. You know, the same quarterback who got run from the University of Florida for thieving a laptop and his family (purportedly) took cash under the table to attend Auburn?
Despite this, so many folks have their heads up Cam Newton’s rear end yet Jameis is some sort of monster? Give Joe a friggin’ break!
Yes, one could argue the fanbase of the Bucs is tortured. But compared to, say, the Lions or the Browns, Bucs fans are better off, that is for sure, especially since the light at the end of the tunnel can be seen (Jameis).
February 22nd, 2016 at 5:43 am
Despite the relentless efforts of Bucs fans and Tampa Bay media suggesting the opposite, we’ve had a very reasonable run over the last 20 years. Not the best run by any means, but certainly above average. In the ultra-competitive NFL world that fact is often overlooked.
February 22nd, 2016 at 6:11 am
F the fake fans pictured. I hope they’re nowhere near the stadium trying to watch the 2016 NFC South champions.
February 22nd, 2016 at 6:12 am
Reasonable run? Clearly you don’t go to the games! It is almost unbearable to go to these games. Each year the excitement is through the roof and each year we are destroyed. THE ONLY REASON I AM STILL A SEASON TICKET HOLDER IS JAMEIS. AGAIN THE ONLY REASON!
February 22nd, 2016 at 6:37 am
Have to agree with ndog on this one. Bucs have been putting a mediocre product on the field at least since Chucky left … and it’s been getting worse and worse. The three key ingredients that I think are critical for success in the NFL were missing: strong GM, quality coaching and a franchise QB. Now with Jason Licht, Dirk Koetter and Jameis Winston we appear to have all three onboard. Better times ahead for sure.
February 22nd, 2016 at 7:40 am
@Defense Rules
Agree with everything about your post except for your name.
You nailed it with your three reasons for failure and the same three reasons for optimism this year.
Now you need to change your name to Offense Rules! 🙂
February 22nd, 2016 at 8:08 am
Running backs arent really a dime a dozen. If that were true 32 teams would
have 1200 yard rushers. Long runs set up touchdowns and a good running
game is the difference between 3rd and short and 3rd and long.Now that doesn’t mean you have to run on 1st and 2nd down consecutively all the time.
February 22nd, 2016 at 8:11 am
oops,posted in wrong place
February 22nd, 2016 at 8:26 am
@Bob in Valrico: Don’t matter where you posted, as long as it is well written and on point, for sure if The Bucs let Martian get away, it will set this team back to before THE BACK-STABBER arrived!!! The
February 22nd, 2016 at 8:49 am
If that picture had those two guys holding up signs that said ” Long Live Lovie” and “The Tampa2 is not Dead” then that is what I picture bighogheinous and Mike Johnson at a game this year chanting that “koetter sucks”!!!
While Us Buc fans have not had to endure the tenure of torture other teams have had. Since Gruden left, It has been as bad of a run as any!!! Lovie took this team to the lowest of lows!! NO hope, guaranteed last place in the division! And on top of having to watch this bad team get blown out every 1 of 3 games with lovie!!
But know there is hope!!! The new coaches have to coach the lovie out of these players and see if they have an nfl desire to be on a good team!!! No more leftovers, holdovers and hasbeens from the past!!! finally we can close the book on the successful run of the late 90’s!!!!
February 22nd, 2016 at 8:52 am
@StPeteBucsFan … ‘Now you need to change your name to Offense Rules!’
No way St Pete. Without a strong defense, our Bucs will be in the same position this year (and in future years) as they were in last year. Panthers had a dominant offense in 2015 and look at what Denver’s defense did to them in the Super Bowl.
Could say the same thing about our 2002 Bucs Super Bowl win.
February 22nd, 2016 at 8:58 am
Well here I am again. I’m not in the..oh boy we got the team and coaches to win crowd yet. Why? We, the Bucs have been a major disappointment since our superbowl and way before then. I’m not about the hype we hear every single year. Put the product on the field and win some games 1st..Win..lotsa games first. Then I’ll say, we are on our way. But not yet. Somebody here says we have had a reasonable run? Can I have some of that ..leaf you are smoking? Our Bucs have been Cellerdwellers..period. Again I say, Our offense shows promise. But Jameis can woo with 600 yrds a game. It does not matter if your Defense cannot/will not stop people. Am I optimistic? Sorta. But I won’t hold my breathe. I am cautiously optimistic. Changing coaches mean nothing unless Wins are produced..I am just sick and tired of us being the laughing stock of the NFl While all of you post daily about how good we are..going to be, BE good 1st. Then heap the praises. Until then, we are who our record says we are…last place NFC bottom feeders. And I’ll not give the Glazers one more dime of my money until I see different.
February 22nd, 2016 at 9:08 am
@bigHog haynes
Not sure how long you have been rooting for bucs,but getting fired is nothing new with any team.
take Rich MCkay who got together with Glazers on a weekly basis to talk bucs.
It is a GM’s job to evaluate and move team forward. But he was run out town by Chucky for the likes Bruce Allen ,a capologist who left the team with salary cap issues and little talent.
And then the Hall of famer Derrick Brooks who was fired by Raheem Morris and replaced
with no name,less talented linebackers.
Enough on firings,lets talk football,I know you got in you!Agee 100% with your previous comments on Jameis needing to improve on his accuracy.heres hoping he gets it done and works with Mike Evans to drop it in the bucket and
Evans Cathes it in stride for a td.
February 22nd, 2016 at 9:12 am
If the bucs let Doug walk and draft zeke Elliot would that set the bucs back cause in 2 years Doug will get cut and then we start over anyways that’s shortsighted think of the next 10 years by the time 3 really becomes a franchise player Doug will be put to pasture might as well get the best RB available this years and have him grow with jwin
February 22nd, 2016 at 9:16 am
Correction Joes:
Cam was not run off from UF for being possession of a stolen laptop. He was run off when he was caught Cheating for the Second time. Shame. It woulda been nice seeing him follow Tebow.
February 22nd, 2016 at 9:36 am
Bucs still have it better than the Browns,Bills,Chargers, Vikings,Lions,Falcons, panthers, cards, Titans, jags, Texans, Eagles, Bengals, as they all have zero super bowl titles
February 22nd, 2016 at 9:57 am
Defense will always rule. This team will not be a serious contender until this defense turns around. Our 5 year NFC South basement run coincides with our horrid pass-rush and awful secondary play. I sick and tired of seeing opposing QB’s leaving the field with clean jerseys. With that being said, I am happy as hell that Jameis is our QB.
February 22nd, 2016 at 10:05 am
It’s hard to imagine that there were worse teams to watch over the years since Chucky but, yea, imagine being a Browns fan!
I’m not sure that Lovie is ENTIRELY to blame for the last 2 years Realist, but it’s certainly fair to say that we stunk under him too.
We really need to start winning again, I’m tired of re-hashing all this negative BS. (I’m pretty sure that even WHEN we start winning, someone will have something negative to say!)
Go Bucs!
February 22nd, 2016 at 10:09 am
Yeah and undefeated in the Super Bowl, how many teams that have been there can say that? As far as show me first before I believe, what good is the offseason if not for built up optimism? I have that every offseason, but hey it’s peaking right about now.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:07 am
“As far as the alleged “off-field issues,” can we put this nonsense to rest?”
——————–
It’s Samsonite with extra handles. You carry this around for life.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:12 am
On a quiet night, form some distant cabin in Montana, you can hear the muddled, soft sobs of the backstabbers cult.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:15 am
can we put this nonsense to rest?”
End the civil case, have a very quiet offseason (only a couple months left) and then win some football games!! That is the usual formula for the non-informed media to stop mentioning it!!
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:18 am
@Biff Barker
Well they can add “getting fired” to lovie’s list of “things that are not his fault!!!
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:20 am
I blame the Glazers… They are clueless owners… Selecting Mark Dominik as GM was a horrible move, hiring Rah Morris was a horrible move, Schiano was a horrible move, Lovie Smith was the worst move ever… Since Malcolm past this ship has has no rudder…
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:01 pm
Things are looking up though. In Jameis We Trust.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:32 pm
The fanbase has been “tortured” since Malcolm Glazer had to give the reins to his incompetent children who proceeded to fire the SB winning coach and replace him and the GM with cheap, incompetent people. Most notable of which was a “Rockstar” who’s more known for his epic blunders in the draft, curious/poor signings and poor record over a five year rebuilding period that the franchise is still in three years after he was fired.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:36 pm
As a longtime Bucs fan, sure of course we are tortured, we have had some crappy seasons in the past 10 years, and we have had some good seasons that turned sour like last season, where the Bucs still had a chance to make the playoffs and then that went down the drain.
That being said, I would never even for a second consider another team, my heart is with Tampa and I will always be a Buccaneer until the day I die.
February 22nd, 2016 at 2:31 pm
To be fair…the media criticized Cam Newton for a good while. It was only after his auto accident, when he changed his whole pattern of behavior, that they got behind him.
Jameis Winston made mistakes in college. He’ll have to live with people throwing it up in his face for a good long time. That’s the price he pays.
Winning will minimize it…winning and keeping his head clean from now on.
But it will always be there.
Really, last off season kept Winston pretty busy. First he was trying to prove he was worthy of being the first pick, and then because he was, he was in high demand by the media. HE didn’t have time to get into trouble.
This off season is extremely important. It is where he proves himself as a leader and as a good risk off the field.
Personally, I love his heart for children and education. He’s been active in that area since getting drafted. I’m impressed thus far.
February 22nd, 2016 at 2:33 pm
@Marie
I would never switch teams…but if I’m honest, I nearly did switch this team off a few times last year.
The penalties were the worse thing. That is players failing one another. It made it seem like they didn’t care enough.
Thankfully, those players are being removed.
February 22nd, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Well spoken Realist! The sooner we get to winning games the quicker these ‘issues’ will quiet down.
Amen Marie!
CAN I GET AN AMEN FROM THE CONGREGATION?! GO BUCS, amen!
February 22nd, 2016 at 3:29 pm
Alot of teams would sell their souls for a SB win. We got one, and a legendary defense.
February 22nd, 2016 at 3:56 pm
The last two years were torture!!! watching lovie’s failure was beyond painful!!! The torture was so bad many buc fans confessed to crimes they did not do!!
February 22nd, 2016 at 5:21 pm
tattoo bucs logo on yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I did
February 23rd, 2016 at 5:31 am
lol 14 years of torturous garbo
Nothing said can change that