“Shut Down The Vet,” Cajun Style

January 17th, 2021

Oh-vah?

Regular readers of Joe likely noticed Joe had the following line in two separate stories last week.

The game against the Saints sort of had a “‘Shut Down the Vet’ vibe to it,” Joe wrote.

Older fans (Joe knows of fans in college that do not recall the Super Bowl season) remember the Eagles had the Bucs’ number. Seemingly every year the Bucs would travel to Philadelphia for the playoffs and get their arses handed to them. Just physically beat up.

It got so bad it cost Father Dungy his job.

So in the 2002 season, the Bucs had to play the Eagles in the NFC title game and Bucs fans were all gloom and doom. Oh no, not again. Freezing cold. The Eagles? Another embarrassment is coming.

It just so happened that the Eagles were closing out their long-time home, Veterans Stadiums. A true dump.

So when the Bucs upset the Eagles, Keyshawn Johnson sat on top of the Bucs bench, doing the finger-across-the-throat sign and holleringg over and over, “Shut down the Vet! Shut down the Vet!”

The saying rings in Bucs fans ears to this day like a Christmas song.

So with everybody all but expecting Saints quarterback Drew Brees to retire after the season, Joe sensed tonight’s game had a “Shut Down the Vet” vibe. Few expected the Bucs to win and many Bucs fans dreaded this game. Had it not been for a fluke play to end the 2017 season — and a fluke quarterback the following season — the Saints would have won nine games in a row against the Bucs entering today.

But the Bucs hung in with the Saints, traded blow-by-blow until Devin White pulled a Rondé Barber-like play and picked off Brees to set up a touchdown to go up 30-20.

And Brees left the field of the Superdome, quite likely for the last time.

The Bucs may not have shut down the Superdome, but they closed to the book on Brees’ playing career.

Feels damn good!

50 Responses to ““Shut Down The Vet,” Cajun Style”

  1. Robert James Says:

    I was thinking the same joe… We just blew up the saints. Its over for them and the odds were stacked against us but we did it.

  2. MadMax Says:

    TAMPA…

  3. Kev@Inverness Says:

    Bay!!!!

  4. Wesley Says:

    Welcome these guys at the airport Bucs fans!

  5. Robert James Says:

    Feels damn good is right joe. Happy for you joe.. you the man,you brought us through the dark ages! Give JOE a game ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. AMI_Chris Says:

    Brees was great but I’ll be happy to never see him again.

  7. Zzbuc Says:

    Amd the clise Americas QB mouth!!!!
    EAT AN L SUPERLOOSER!!!
    Maybe next year you are a 3 QB somwhere else….
    You and Cameron Jordan Big mouths!!!
    Charlatans!!

  8. Joe Says:

    Robert James:

    Bucs fans and their passion and devotion got us through the dark years. Joe wouldn’t be here if not for all Bucs fans.

  9. Tackleblockwin Says:

    Who dat says they gonna beat dem Saints! Daaaaaa Bucs!

  10. August 1976 Buc Says:

    SWEET!!!!!!!! GO BUCS!!!!!

  11. Doctor Stroud Says:

    Bucs win! Congratulations! Victory Monday feels great! So proud of these guys! All is right in the world…until the Bucs lose. See you guys in Green Bay!

  12. IrishMist Says:

    Someone should warn the OB unit at Tampa General to get ready. There will probably be a few extra deliveries about 9 months from now.

  13. Leighroy Says:

    Bucs fans have truly never been this stressed. Ronde closed it out early in the NFC championship, then we knew all the plays in ‘02. Now it’s real and the stress is too! Feels more real 18 years later somehow….

  14. Bradybucs Says:

    AN OPEN LETTER TO BYRON LEFTWICH:

    Dear Mr. Leftwich,

    You’re terrible and mathematics & odds and almost cost this team the win and chance to advance.

    You’re an absolute idiot for calling long passes on 3rd and short like the deep, poor-odds pass play to Gronk on 3rd and 3 that ended our possession at that the. But you’re an even bigger moron for throwing a deep sideline pass to AB on a measily 3rd and 1.

    Today was nothing new as you did this last game and in others as well.

    You, sir, do not understand the basics of math.

    On behalf of all Bucs fans around the world, for the Love Of God, DO NOT do it in the NFC Championship. Be smart, play the probabilities, and give us the best chance to move the chains and keep possession. If not, we probably won’t beat the Packers with you gifting Rodgers more possessions without us scoring.

    Thank you for your cooperation.

  15. Colonel Angus Says:

    And the Eagles 1st play? A big kick return to the 25, and they run one in, untouched 2 plays later. The Vet crowd explodes with delirium…..and then Joe Joe takes a crossing route 70 yds inside the 10yd line. Then Alstott plunges in with Sapp lead blocking as fullback for 10-7 lead. And then the Defense takes over and dominates that nasty ass Eagles! Could hear a pin drop in the Vet, and all the long sad and angry faces on the worse fans in football brought me great joy.

  16. MadMax Says:

    Tom Brady looks great at his age and his hot buns have me all wet.

  17. adam from ny Says:

    saints reign is officially over…

    worst cap situation in the league next season…

    a lot of players will have to be cut to make their cap work…

    it’s the bucs division moving forward…

    tom gravy and the boys will be firmly in control of the nfc south

  18. SOEbuc Says:

    “NO MORE VET!!!”-Keyshawn Johnson. My favorite Bucs quote of all time. Amazing game. Brady and White got me giggling like an 8 year old school girl tonight.

    Third times a charm. Thank you Bucs.

  19. FirstTimePoster Says:

    Disagree on the “fluke” play to end 2017. That was a nice drive. Two fourth down conversions and Winston to Godwin on the final play for a TD.

  20. craig Says:

    I like Drew Brees tight butt.

  21. JimBuc2 Says:

    I was at the old sombreo to welcome tbe Buc team bus after the very first Bucaneer NFL win against..,wait for it. The Hank Stram coached Saints!!. On a side note, not only did Hank burn the game film, he never coached another game!
    Now let our guys go to Lambeau and humble hip thrusting, punk-ass Aaron Rodgers
    Go Bucs!!

  22. Joe Says:

    The Hank Stram coached Saints!!.

    Didn’t he get fired for losing to the Bucs?

    And if memory serves, the next game the Bucs beat the Cardinals and that got Don Coryell got fired.

    So the Bucs ran two coaches in two weeks. LOL

  23. ModHairKen Says:

    Bradybucs, put down the Skol Vodka and look at the final score. Take your negativity and go cheer for the Saints. No one needs your crap.

  24. DaBux Says:

    It is time to melt Lamboo Field.

  25. the_end Says:

    YES IT DOES! GO BUCS! AND WHILE BREES WAS AND IS GREAT, GOOD RIDDANCE.

  26. Simeon Says:

    I agree, felt like the vet game. And the white play felt like the barber int. I watched that a couple times this morning to get pumped up.

  27. Snook Says:

    It’s actually Shut down the vet. No more vet!”

  28. RioDeJaneiroBucsFan Says:

    Drew Brees deserves a lot of respect. But it was so sweet to see his farewell game ending in such a disastrous way. The Aints went all-in this season and lost (again). Their cap situation will send them to the bottom of the NFC South.
    Thx, Tom Brady, go Bucs!!!

  29. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Smack smarmy Rogers in the mouth next week D!

  30. Jmarkbuc Says:

    I tweeted Cam Jordan.

    He hasn’t answered.

  31. Lokog Says:

    Barbers was great and all but this was better hopefully brees retires and they go with jaymiss well maybe they’re both great legend killer moments

  32. stpetebucsfan Says:

    We could have had more. While somebody is whining about a bomb on 3-1 wasn’t that the play that Godwin caught in the end zone but was unable to hold on?

    A couple of touch passes that were just off to Gronk.

  33. View from 132 Says:

    Shut down the Dat.

  34. chris L Says:

    joe – i said all week a win here would make up for all those losses handed to us by brees since he signed into the south. us getting bullied by every team. not anymore! we shut their stupid asses up! what a team win and a win for buc nation. all is forgiven in the lost decade!!

  35. NotTampaTom Says:

    Drew Brees arguably the #2 G.O.A.T. Congrats on a great career and good riddance!

  36. David Says:

    As a buccaneer fan, glad he is done, but mad respect to
    Brees on an incredible career

  37. Buddy Says:

    Winning one game doesn’t exactly equate to “shutting down the Vet” or any other stadium. Which the Bucs will play in again next year. So doesn’t mean the same thing in the least.

  38. MadMax Says:

    Oh well here we go again, i have a fan posting as me, lol…have to love the admiration though….all good

  39. ©MadMax Says:

    eh, ill try under my other

  40. Jonathan Limpchimpi Says:

    Brees was like a sports car…on it’s very last legs…leaking oil. It was glorious!

  41. Jason From Jamrock Says:

    Joes on 3…
    1,2,3 – JOES

  42. Jason From Jamrock Says:

    @buddy – we MIGHT have shut down – retired – Drew Brees.
    and the Saints monopoly on the NFC South Div. title

  43. FortMyersDave Says:

    This game is right up there with shutting down the Vet or in ’79 when the Bucs beat the Eagles at the Sombrero in that first ever Buc playoff game in which an outspoken Brent Musberger essentially guaranteed an Eagle win during the NFL Today pre-game and even as a teenager back then I kind of just knew that Brent must have lost huge coin betting against our Bucs. This year feels like 2002, the stars appear to be aligned but first they have to go face down an old rival on the hopefully not too frozen tundra. Great to be a Buc fan tonight, I hope all the fans enjoy it and savor it, we have been waiting a long time!

  44. Sorryjackchuckiesback Says:

    F Brees!! Got what he deserved for selling out this morals and kneeling!! …. Karma dude!! You stood your ground before to say I will not kneel because my whole family are vets…. You took that oath and made that stance as a true American who knows the manipulation that goes on in politics and stayed out of it…. Well you should have just retired! You sold your soul for one more season to lose like you always do….. And the great part is Kama isn’t done with you yet… Wonder how many of those vet family members want to kneel with you??

  45. Guinness8 Says:

    That was a dime Brady threw to his son in the corner of the endzone.

  46. MadMax Says:

    Ok, I’ll admit it, while Tom’s buns make me wet, I’m more into father figures and BA really gets my heart racing !

  47. 813bucboi Says:

    BL IS WORKING MAGIC

    GO BUCS

  48. Brandon Says:

    Saints scored 20 courtesy of a trick play and a 65 yard punt return. They are turning it on at the right time.

  49. Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    I felt the same thing…

    #PoundBressIntoRetirement

    Not sure its not as good as closing down the Vet. First Ballot HOF Bress’ last game?

  50. Sheen Says:

    Hey Marshon, “better luck next year”…I’ll say it since ME won’t