NFL.com: Earlier Kickoffs, Please
October 6th, 2016
This just in: It is hot in Florida in the summer. Whether it is noon or 5 p.m., it’s hot.
So Don Banks of NFL.com says play the friggin’ games at 1 p.m. in September. Always.
Perhaps in an effort to get more fans in the stands because it may be four or five degrees cooler with a 4 p.m. kickoff in September, the NFL gave the Bucs two late starts. Unfortunately, it often rains during those late-afternoon games. No big deal, but in this neck of the woods, those rains are often accompanied by dangerous lightning.
Banks says in so many words, knock it off!
Here’s an idea for the league office to consider: Let’s get back to scheduling Tampa Bay for those 1 p.m. ET Sunday kickoffs in the hope that the late-afternoon/early evening thunderstorm trend can be successfully navigated at Raymond James Stadium. Is there a new rule that says the Bucs can’t finish a home game without a weather delay, having seen their losses to the Rams and Broncos interrupted in the fourth quarter the past two Sundays? It’s bad enough getting beat, but to have to wait around for defeat must really stink.
Unlike the 37-32 loss at the hands of Los Angeles, this one could have been called when the storm first stopped play with 6:52 left in the fourth. The Broncos were up 27-7 at the time, and nothing changed after play resumed following a hour and twenty-six minute stoppage.
Well, one reason the Bucs didn’t do anything after the weather delay Sunday is Dirk Koetter already threw in the towel and quit on his team.
Banks, a former Bucs beat writer for the then-St. Petersburg Times, would know this as well as anyone.
Yeah, the Bucs may have sold a few hundred extra tickets because of the late-afternoon start. But in the process, they may have screwed themselves out of a win. Also, it played right into the hands of two teams from two- and three-time zones away. Rather than a kickoff beginning with their body clocks in the morning, it was a normal kickoff time for both the Rams and Broncos.
All in all, just not a bright move in the big picture.
October 6th, 2016 at 7:06 am
This is why the Bucs should never listen to the fans it’s Florida it’s hot deal with it. I’d rather be hot and the Bucs win than a late kickoff and suffer through another loss
October 6th, 2016 at 7:11 am
Man Joe you sure are hung up on that punt. I had already turned off the TV because at 27-7 I knew the game was more than over. So what that Koetter threw in the towel. The team didn’t do a damn thing in the second half. The game was over and occasionally coaches will waive the white flag late in a game. Koetter wasn’t the first to do this and he won’t be the last. Didn’t anyone anywhere think the Bucs had any chance of mounting a miraculous comeback with 7 minutes left against the super bowl champs with the leagues best defense. Get over it Joe.
October 6th, 2016 at 7:20 am
I think you should be the coach, then all we would do would win Super Bowl after Super Bowl….
October 6th, 2016 at 8:12 am
“The Punt” was definitely a bad call by Koetter. But would it have really changed anything if he had gone for it on 4th down? Also bad were Jameis’ two INTs, Conte being in an NFL game, Sims is not the “next man up”, the fact that for YEARS we cannot find a DE who can breath on a QB, etc.
But lets keep perspective here. What is the most disappointing is how ugly the Bucs D is AGAIN. We played the second half against a rookie QB and helped make him shine, AGAIN. Just like Keenan last year and this year. Just like we do with any team’s 1st year and back-up QBs on (fill in the blank of team name, like the Panthers last year).
Granted, I can accept we do not have the talent we need on D. But friggin Schiano got more out of nothing than Smith (and Lovie). Be creative. BLITZ a rookie QB. Make him beat you the hard way!
October 6th, 2016 at 8:31 am
How absolutely stupid for the nfl to schedule 4pm games in Tampa in September.
I mean did they not get the memo that it rains very often?
I mean come on how stupid do you have to be.
Did no one say hey nfl maybe these late games aren’t a good idea?
Stupid idiots.
October 6th, 2016 at 8:44 am
The Bucs and other NFL teams can request certain things for the schedule. Tampa requested the late starts in September blame the Glazers not the league
October 6th, 2016 at 10:11 am
I really thought the late starts were for ratings purposes to draw in more west coast viewers at a more favorable time.
October 6th, 2016 at 10:30 am
I agree with D-Rome
October 6th, 2016 at 10:31 am
There are quite a few people here including the Joes who have been quick to throw Koetter under the bus.
Perhaps he did these things intentionally to send a message to the team. If they aren’t going to play, not listen to coaches, not put out the effort, they are the one’s who have thrown in the towel…Koetter was merely acknowledging the freaking OBVIOUS!
October 6th, 2016 at 10:51 am
How about factoring in hurricanes, too, while we’re at it. Good thing Bucs are in Charlotte for Monday’s game. I hope I can listen to it, too.
October 6th, 2016 at 11:57 am
What kills me is that the Rays want an open air stadium. It’s even hotter, mugger, and stormier here in July and August. There will be more rainouts than any other MLB city and absolutely nobody will go to those games. Not even the 8,000 die hard fans.
October 6th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
The NFL also didn’t want Rams and Broncos games broadcast in the mornings in their home markets.