Active Haunting
October 31st, 2016
This is not Josh Freeman
Joe has figured out why the Bucs can’t win at home.
The place is haunted. Seriously.
No team plays out a frightening home script like the Bucs have since December 2008. It’s like Michael Myers himself is pulling strings in an alternative Hollywood universe where the Bucs are an R-rated, box-office flop.
It started with JaMarcus Russell ending playoff hopes for the 9-6 Bucs and extinguishing the career of Chucky.
This year, the Bucs have been ravaged by a Mark Barron interception, two Aqib Talib picks and a Donald Penn touchdown through three games.
You can’t make this stuff up.
Up next at home it’s Adrian Clayborn, Matt Bryant and the Falcons, whose electric receiving corps has been given a shot in the arm by new position coach Raheem Morris. After that, it’s Connor Barth and the Bears. When does it end?
There are real ghost stories nearly every damn year.
In 2014, the Bucs even paid tens of millions for an apparition named Michael “Ghost” Johnson. And when Johnson’s old team won in Tampa that season, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis got away with a spooky and unfair official challenge that caught the Bucs with a 12th man on the field. That flag was critical in a one-point home loss.
In 2013, it was the MRSA and hazmat teams, and zombies taking over Josh Freeman and an 0-8 start. Don’t think that team was haunted? How bout signing a bone-rattling safety for giant cash — in a league outlawing big hits!
It just never ends.
Joe swears ghouls forced Doug Martin into two fumbles — both turnovers — in a 26-21 home loss to the Bears last year. That December haunting officially turned Lovie Smith into an NFL skeleton.
And what else would explain drafting a lethal college kicker who already needs an exorcist? Poor Roberto Aguayo spent nearly his entire childhood dreaming of playing in Tampa and he’s been dreadful since Day 1.
Hell, believing in the The Great Lumpkin helped torpedo the 2011 season.
Joe could go on and on and on.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:15 am
The team is not cursed it just has too many loveable LOSERS who are OK with losing…. GMC leading the way to loserville…. If I may quote the smiling ice cream man… “Geez guys we could have had this one! We will get them next time! Anyone up for a bank deposit run!
October 31st, 2016 at 8:15 am
Speaks to the horrible front office we have
October 31st, 2016 at 8:18 am
On this episode of Ghost Hunters, the team goes to Raymond James Stadium, to see what haunts the Bucs.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:19 am
I’m waiting for the outcome of the Thursday night game.
Before I go full on “Jim Harbaugh Watch”.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:21 am
The losing culture is real with this team. No other way to explain it. Bucs always find ways to lose games. It’s unbelievable.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:22 am
They need to burn a semi truck full of sage at OBP and RayJay.
Or just pull the smelly band aid and move this b*tch to London.
I wish I could stop rooting for this sorry a** franchise.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:29 am
The sad thing is all the above comments fit – they are all fair.
I am hoping Adrian Clayborn is not capable of catching a TD pass! That would give the Realist a massive heart attack. MIght give me one too!
October 31st, 2016 at 8:31 am
Who You Gonna Call?
GHOSTBUSTERS!!!!
That nasty buffet-eating ghost that slimes people is in the locker-room before the game, goes to the owners’ box during the game, on the field at halftime then sits next to Joe(s) after the game is over.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:32 am
Harry in Costa Rica
good day sir… still jealous LOL…
Since you mentioned Realist’s pal Clayborne, did you happen to see the big time sack Clayborne got at end of third qtr. huge play… Kind of huge play you would expect every few years from a 100 million dollar defensive lineman…
October 31st, 2016 at 8:35 am
Everyone I watched the game with called out to watch for Donald Penn, but the Buc’s didn’t? Bad coaching & pre-game preparation.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:37 am
Not sure if Carr or any player from the Raiders actually has a speck of dirt on them from being hit or tackled.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:40 am
Since the schiano days I have been driving from North Carolina to Tampa to support this team only to drive back 10 hours disappointed over and over again!
Last year I moved to Tampa still have my season tickets and will continue to support my team but I can no longer invest money in this team. I would rather watch on Tv than catch hell from opposing fans! The D-line get manhandled by everyone WTH!
Jamies get drafted number one but you hand him garbage receivers, take a chance on a free agent or a trade just like fans take a chance on their wallet to enjoy a game.
Lastly, I’m so tired of being ousted by opposing fans! I means yesterday was terrible listening to Raiders cheer all over the Daam stadium it was embarrassing! I had to put my head down and walk out as fast as possible before I would lose my mind and fight dumb ass disrespectful fans cussing out Bucs fans in their own house, I mean this lady was almost in my face saying take that bitch ass buc fans! If it was a guy I prolly would have thrown him a few rows below into seats! Crazy! Crazy! Crazy!
Will I be there Thursday not sure anymore!
October 31st, 2016 at 8:41 am
Tmaxcon
So are you implying that it’s time to flip an asset – like Gerald McCoy?
Hypothetically would you be ok – if we flipped him for a late 1st round pick??
October 31st, 2016 at 8:43 am
Lmao not Joshy Freeman the liar and quitter. Now that was a franchise nightmare
October 31st, 2016 at 8:49 am
@tmax, not sure which of those is more shocking, Clayborne getting a sack or $100M. Not really, him getting that kind of money is beyond my comprehension.
It was surreal watching Penn get a TD yesterday. And don’t you know, and I am not joking, Clayborne will be nagging Quinn to do the same for him (and they are likely going to be up by enough to risk it)
tmax, if it makes you feel better, I am back in Florida for the next two weeks. But then we go back to Herradura for Thanksgiving – being in CR for Thanksgiving just seems so perfect!
October 31st, 2016 at 8:49 am
They need to go old school and move back to the wood shed as Sapp called it. All this new $$$hit has them spoiled.
October 31st, 2016 at 8:50 am
Lol this team just sucks and the fans left the stadium now pissed than 90% of the players on this team who went out partying after the game like they won. Drafting a kicker in the second round, boycotts someone over estimate the quality of this team in the off-season. And the sad part is that moron gm will do nothing before the trade deadline because he thinks it will correct itself somehow. Trading for a receiver and or defensive help is admitting I screwed the draft so there’s no way he does that. Thank you for this bucs I finally learned my lesson, the problem is at the top year after year this team proves it has no spine, over hyping yourselves after the first week of the season. We have players that just love the life style and are just happy to be in the NFL win or lose doesn’t matter
October 31st, 2016 at 8:53 am
I think we are cursed as well. I brought this gnome 5 years ago to the game thinking it would bring luck well it’s been quite the opposite ever since so yesterday after the loss I stomped him to pieces at our tailgate. Let’s hope that changes our luck! Go Bucs!!
October 31st, 2016 at 8:53 am
why for god’s sake are you against this DL when our secondary has been a disaster all day long being beaten by the Raiders WR Corps ?
In the money time, the secondary has been a real real disaster !
Always late, no chance at interception, missed tackle, it has been a festival of everything you shouldn’t do in a football game while playing in defense !
October 31st, 2016 at 8:54 am
Aunt Geraldine has to apologize to the people washing the uniforms. They are going to have a tough time taking the stains out from the back of his jersey. But hey…. at least he smiled and showed great sportsmanship. What a guy!
October 31st, 2016 at 8:57 am
Harry in Costa Rica
I have spent several holiday seasons in CR and had a blast each time. I will be in Tamarinda in Februra for 2 weeks and I have applied to dive in a restricted area near Coca’s which I am fairly sure is going to get approved so I’ll more or less spend the month of february bouncing around cr.
I was a Penn fan and thought that releasing him was a huge mistake on lovie’s part. I was pissed he scored but happy for penn if that makes sense. If Clayborn Scores on Bucs somebody better be very close to The Bucs Realist and prevent him from a Skyway Bridge run…
October 31st, 2016 at 9:00 am
Here’s the thing that really irks me. For all the criticism Jameis is getting (and rightly so) we all know that if we took Mariota, Jameis would be thriving in Tennessee. There is just something about this franchise.
Speaking of which, and Justin pointed this out in his podcast, Jameis was very dejected in his press conference. The body language, the look on his face, ect…he’s not the same guy at all from last year. Look at his eyes. Zombie Michael Jackson has more life in his eyes than Jameis did in that press conference.
Why can’t the Bucs look like the other teams I see on TV? Atlanta looked fantastic yesterday. So did Green Bay. Washington and Cincinnati looked like competent football teams. I don’t care if that game ended up in a tie. I couldn’t tell who was going to win that game. You all knew the Bucs were going to lose that game in OT. If you say you believed otherwise then you’re lying. We knew Jameis wasn’t going to make the completion, we knew that our corners and safeties were going to get burned, we knew the entire defensive line (not just McCoy) wasn’t going to get a sack, and we knew the wrong plays were going to be called on the sidelines.
The Bucs are going to be steamrolled by the Falcons on Thursday.
October 31st, 2016 at 9:03 am
LUVMYBUCS
Good day sir…. I am done and have been done with mccoy for a couple of years now. he quits on coaches and is a me me guy not a team player that cares about winning.
I’d be OK with a 5th round pick. No GM in the league is going to give up a first round pick for a DT with his injury history and the fact he does not make players around him better nor does he impact games more than taking up a blocker or two on occasion. In all seriousness there is NO team giving up a 1st or even a 2nd for GMC… He is overrated and a media darling but not a tough quality football player that you can relay on week in and week out. Nothing personal simply stating the facts. Sure the bucs are better with him on the field he is a good player but he is not a great player and the love for losing is disgusting. Cut bait use that 100million to get a hungry receiver a durable running back… You can replace McCoy easily.
October 31st, 2016 at 9:11 am
Same old story here – Every game I say I’m gonna not get worked up but by the end of every game win or lose, I’m homicidal!!! They just always rip my heart out and show it to me to, just stuff it back in my chest so they can do it again and again, week after week!!! Awful awful f’n awful. This Monday sucks BIG.
October 31st, 2016 at 9:12 am
@FMLBUCSFAN….that is crazy….my brother has season tickets and he called me on his way out and said the same exact thing….raider fans are so rude and disrespectful….he said he couldn’t believe how loud they were cheering….it is sad….
the thing that’s more crazier than that is that the raiders did everything in their power to give us the game and we still couldn’t win….
dirk failed to go for it late in the game on 4th and 3 after jameis failed to hit a.smith over the middle around the 55 second mark….again he quit on his team….he was playing for the ot when he should’ve been playing to win….before that we had about 1:45seconds and he ran the ball on first down followed by 2 pass plays….no attempt to get into fg range….with the score being tied, at least give your team a chance to win the game….he tucked his tail and it cost the team….GO BUCS!!!!
October 31st, 2016 at 9:15 am
Considering all the McCoy criticism can someone, anyone tell me which Buccaneers DE is on pace to come anywhere near 10 sacks this season?
October 31st, 2016 at 9:20 am
@D-ROME….I think your right about jameis….no doubt he has regressed as a qb but it seems that now the losing is starting to take a toll on him….I think dirk taking the ball out of his hands late in the 4th quarter pissed him off as well….judging by the play calling dirk didn’t trust jameis or Roberto….with that being said I rather put jameis in position to make a play…at least get us in fg range or 4 down territory but dirk tucked his tail and was satisfied playing for OT….GO BUCS!!!!
October 31st, 2016 at 9:20 am
813bucboi
your boy vh3 won me over but man he got worked yesterday sir…. let’s see how he rebounds. it’s not getting any easier Thursday night.
October 31st, 2016 at 9:25 am
D-Rome & 813bucboi
I disagree that Jameis regressed. Just like last year when Vjax went down and ME13 was the only weapon he struggled coupled with 50/50 martin being out for the year and I blame Licht who I was a fan off until recently. jameis is pressing and trying to do too much. I also think he and Koetter need a come to jesus meeting because they don’t seem to be on the same page play calling or game planning… All offseaons I was criticized for being skeptical about rolling with vjax, hump, bell, murphy and dye. And NOW all of them are useless with the exception of Hump. Winston has not played well not making excuses or defending him but you have to be objective and he has NO weapons even 8 had more weapons than 3 had 2.5 years ago when he last played.
October 31st, 2016 at 9:43 am
The Bucs got beat by a better team who had finish ability. Punked at home again. This is past old.
October 31st, 2016 at 9:45 am
Tmaxcon
Good Day to you Sir
Gerald McCoy to Dallas??
A couple years back – while Dallas was in the playoff hunt.
They made a block buster trade for WR Roy Williams. Dallas sent three picks to the Lions — first-, third- and sixth-round selections — in exchange for Williams and a seventh-rounder.
Remember Jerry has a flare for the dramatics
• Two draft picks to the 49ers for Charles Haley (1993)
• Two first-round picks to the Seahawks for Joey Galloway (2000)
• Three draft picks to the Lions for Roy Williams and a seventh-round pick (2008)
So I can see something like this happening
Key Factors
• Cowboys on a Super Bowl Run
• Rod Marinelli’s the Cowboys DC – so he’s ideal for the scheme
• After this season – his contract is basically Non-Guaranteed (Restructure??)
• He’ll be at home Oklahoma/Northern Texas (So Fans would Luv the trade)
October 31st, 2016 at 9:50 am
You know I’m big fan of Geralds – but this is strickly business (from a loyal fans prospective)
We need to flip an asset or two
October 31st, 2016 at 9:57 am
Flip Gerald for a few picks
Then next year turn this defense into a real – Multiple Front/Hybrid defense.
(Examples) New Defensive Line
• Calais Campbell DT $11,000,000
• Dontari Poe NT 12,672,843
• William Gholston DE $8,913,243
Note: Arizona & Kansas City looks like their ready to move on from Campbell & Poe.
October 31st, 2016 at 9:58 am
I’ve seen this movie before. It’s the Curse of Chucky. The sequel to the Curse of Doug Williams.
October 31st, 2016 at 10:03 am
The Bucs are haunted by the WORST ownership in the NFL ( The Glazer family ). They turned one of the most SUCCESSFUL franchise in all of sports ( Manchester United) into a 2nd rated ball club, in less than 10 years. Only a FOOL owner would have hired Jason Licht as GM, Dirk Koetter as Head Coach, Mike Smith as DC.
October 31st, 2016 at 10:11 am
Not for nothing but that pic does kinda look like Freeman after a week long adderall binge.
October 31st, 2016 at 10:24 am
LUVMYBUCS
Nice scenario your posts are always well thought out and feed the conversation… Dallas would be a good fit for all the reason you mentioned especially the OK and Marinelli connections. Maybe a package of Banks and McCoy. Dallas is on a good run makes sense.
October 31st, 2016 at 10:42 am
I know the fix for our woes at home. Everyone needs to wear the opponents colors and make a lot of noise when we are on offense. Make it feel as much like a road game as possible. Then perhaps they can win in Tampa once in a while.
October 31st, 2016 at 10:48 am
I hope that talk of a “haunted” stadium doesn’t give the Glazers the idea of bilking taxpayers in asking for another one.
October 31st, 2016 at 1:07 pm
@tmaxcon….VHG and grimes both got schooled yesterday but the battled…they competed…made a few good plays on the ball….no shame in losing to arguably the best wr duo in the league….GO BUCS!!!!