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Quick thoughts on the first quarter from Joe:
* Not looking very promising if the Bucs are struggling this bad getting any sort of offense against the putrid Raiders defense.
* As Rich Gannon of CBS pointed out, with injuries to the Raiders secondary, why not test it with Antonio Bryant. Well Chucky?
* On a good note, it seems the Bucs defense showed up today.
Raiders (4-11) at Bucs (9-6)
Week 17
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTSP Channel 10, DirecTV 708.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 130.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, the game will be played in perfect Florida weather. Temperature at kickoff is forecast for 81 under partly sunny skies with minimal or no wind. At the end of the game temperature is expected to drop to only 78.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bucs -13.
Outlook: Simply put, this really is a must-win game. If the Bucs don’t win, the season is all over.
With the Bucs’ defense playing less than Bucs-like, it will be imperitive to somehow slow down Raiders running back Justin Fargas who, like last year, is finishing the season strong.
While the Raiders are coming off a strong win over Houston last week, Joe just can’t believe with everything on the line the Bucs won’t find a way to win. Then, Bucs fans have to turn into Eagles fans for a 4 p.m. game against Dallass. No matter if the Bucs win, if Dallass wins the Bucs are done.
How distasteful must it be that the Bucs fans find themselves in a situation where they actually have to root for the Eagles? Joe will need plenty of alcohol. Come to think of it, Joe has a freshly cracked bottle of Jameson available.
One way or another, Joe may need it.
Joe again requests WSTP management to somehow mix in the talents of Heather Van Nest and Tammie Fields on its pregame or postgame show.
A Philly newspaper poll reveals plenty of Eagles fans would rather get a glimpse of their team's future than go all out to beat the Cowboys on Sunday. The Bucs need an Eagles win - and a their own victory against Oakland - to get into the playoffs.
As you’ve heard over and over this week, the Bucs need a win and an Eagles victory against the Cowboys on Sunday to make the playoffs.
The good news for the Bucs is Philadelphia has prepared all week for a must-win game against the Cowboys at 4:15 p.m. The bad news is the Eagles collectively will be punched in the gut if the Bucs beat the Raiders at 1 p.m., thereby eliminating Philly from the playoffs.
Anybody who thinks a Bucs win will not negatively impact the Eagles is not thinking clearly.
Whether Dallas is a bitter Philly rival or not, nobody can convince Joe the entire Eagles roster will have maximum fight in them if the Eagles are trailing late in the game after already being eliminated from the playoffs.
This is why the NFL is a big fat fraud for moving the Cowboys-Eagles game to 4:15 p.m., from 1 p.m., rather than play it simultaneously with the Bucs game. The Glazers should hide their heads in shame for not issuing a major public protest.
Even more troubling for Bucs fans is the growing possiblity that the Eagles might sit Donovan McNabb if the Bucs beat the Raiders.
Tampa Bay sports radio legend Steve Duemig and other experts have said all week that the Eagles would never let up against their hated rivals, the Cowboys. “Their fans wouldn’t allow it,” Duemig said.
That’s why Joe was shocked to see the results of a Philadelphia Inquirer poll that asked fans whether the Eagles should start backup QB Kevin Kolb rather than McNabb, if the Eagles are eliminated with a Bucs victory.
More than 42 percent of Eagles fans voted to go with Kolb.
Uhh, where’s the hate for the Cowboys and the burning desire to beat them?
Kolb was a second-round pick in 2007, and is considered the heir to McNabb’s throne at quarterback. But Joe and every Bucs fan and Eagles fan should want McNabb to start the Eagles-Cowboys game. Kolb has proven nothing other than he’s a good talent with potential. His lone NFL start was this season against the Ravens; He threw for just 73 yards.
Joe wonders if so many fans want to see Kolb versus McNabb, then would Eagles managment also want to sit McNabb for Sunday’s game following a Bucs victory. And is that even more likely considering the rampant speculation that the Eagles will trade or cut McNabb in the offseason to get rid of his fat contract and take the team in a new direction?
Bottom line: The NFL could have done the right thing for fans of all teams involved by simply keeping the Cowboys-Eagles game at 1 p.m.
Of course, Joe brings you NFL Network Bucs videos. Of course, Roger Goodell still won’t cough up the embed codes.
First, NFL Films has a preview of the Raiders-Bucs game.
Next up is a video weather forecast for the game from AccuWeather.com. Looks like a spectacular day.
From Buccaneers.com, Scott Smith has a video on the playoff watch. Buccaneers.com also has its own preview of the Raiders-Bucs.
The last three weeks have been unsettling for Bucs fans. Rarely can a Bucs fan think of a time when the defense has looked so, well, mortal, in three consecutive weeks.
Vic Carucci of NFL.com suggests the reason is Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Specifically, Carucci thinks Kiffin is distracted with his new job as the defensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee.
Monte Kiffin. The name is synonymous with great defense. You can worry about the inconsistency at quarterback and the absence of play-making receivers and the injuries at running back. You’re not supposed to worry about Kiffin’s guys.
Until now.
Identifying the collapse is easy. Explaining it isn’t. Some league observers point to the fact that it was three weeks ago that speculation began about Kiffin leaving the team to work with his son, Lane, the new head coach at the University of Tennessee. Speculation has since become fact, and they wonder if he is giving his current employer its full attention while preparing for his new gig.
Joe thinks this is an absolute load of crap. The news about Kiffin bolting the Bucs to work with his son Lane bubbled to the surface much longer than three weeks ago. Joe was the first to report Kiffin may leave the Bucs with Lane back in October. Math is not Joe’s gig but Joe believes this to be nine weeks ago, not three.
Second, the Bucs have suffered many key injuries to key positions, specifically the two starting defensive tackles. Then tack Derrick Brooks’ list of injuries and the loss of Jermaine Phillips for the year.
Joe doesn’t believe for a second that Kiffin is the reason for the Bucs struggles on defense.
By BOB FOX
JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox takes a weekly look at the NFC playoff picture. Fox writes for numerous sports publications. He brings an insightful take on the conference.
JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox says the Vikings will ride Adrian Peterson to a win against the Giants and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Fox says the Bucs will grab the No. 6 seed and head to Minnesota next week.
This is Santa’s week to visit, and the Bucs are the biggest beneficiaries of his arrival.
First, Santa told the Bucs to give themselves a present by elevating Raheem Morris to defensive coordinator starting next year, as longtime defensive coordinator/guru Monte Kiffin is heading to the University of Tennessee after the season. Morris is an excellent choice, and Santa knows that. Plus, Santa is sending the Oakland Raiders to Raymond James stadium this Sunday to face the Bucs in a must win game for the Buccos. Yes, the Raiders can surprise at times, but the Bucs should be able to handle Chucky’s former team again and win going away. Finally, Santa is sending the imploding Dallas Cowboys and their prima donna owner to Philadelphia to face the dangerous Eagles, and their equally dangerous fans. Security needs to be tight around Jerry Jones, as Santa is going to give him and the Cowboys a bag of coal in the form of an Eagles will win.
NFC East
z-New York Giants 12-3
Dallas Cowboys 9-6
Philadelphia Eagles 8-6-1
Washington Redskins 8-7
The Giants have won the division and are the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. They will still play hard in Minnesota this weekend, but I still expect that Tom Coughlin will rest some regulars at times to keep them healthy for the playoffs. The BIG game, of course, is the the Cowboys-Eagles game in the city of brotherly love. The game will be played after the Raiders-Bucs game, so the participants will know what is at stake. No matter what, the Eagles will play hard and I expect Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook to lead the way again as the Cowboys seem better suited for a network soap opera, as opposed to being a NFL team with playoff aspirations.
NFC North
Minnesota Vikings 9-6
Chicago Bears 9-6
Green Bay Packers 5-10
Detroit Lions 0-15
The Vikings should be able to hold off the Giants at the Humpty dome, as the Giants really are playing for nothing. The Bears, who stole a win from the jaws of defeat against the Packers on Monday night, face a tough test in Houston. I see the Vikings winning the division. The question will be who will lead the Vikes at QB in the playoffs. My money says Tavaris Jackson. In another game that has absolutely no meaning to the playoff picture, but will have the eyes of the Tampa area on it, the 0-15 Lions will face the 5-10 Packers at Lambeau Field. The Lions have not won in Green Bay since 1991, and if they lose, they will be the first team ever to go 0-16, surpassing even the 1976 Bucs team that went 0-14.
NFC South
y-Carolina Panthers 11-4
y-Atlanta Falcons 10-5
Tampa Bay Bucs 9-6
New Orleans Saints 8-7
After Carolina lost a hard fought battle against the Giants last Sunday night for conference supremacy, the Panthers will most likely be the number No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Panthers face a tough test this Sunday against the Saints in New Orleans, a game Carolina needs to wrap up the division and the No. 2 seed without help. The Falcons are a Wild Card team (for now) after their win in Minnesota last weekend. The Falcons will be the No. 5 seed at worst, and maybe the No. 2 seed at best, as they will host the Rams in Atlanta this weekend. Whatever team grabs the No. 5 seed will face the suddenly hapless Arizona Cardinals on the road in the first round of the playoffs. I see the Bucs becoming the No. 6 seed after their win vs. the Raiders and the Cowboys loss to the Eagles. The Bucs would then need to travel to Minnesota to play the Vikes in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Bucs did beat the Vikings earlier this year, but that game was at the Ray Jay.
NFC West
z-Arizona Cardinals 8-7
San Francisco 49ers 6-9
Seattle Seahawks 4-11
St. Louis Rams 2-13
Has any team ever stumbled as badly as the Cardinals have fallen lately on their road to the playoffs? The Cards are playing as ineptly as their owner has operated the team for decades. The Cardinals also play in the absolute WORST division in the NFL right now. The Cards will face the Seahawks at home, and based on the way the Hawks played at home vs. the Jets last weekend, and the way the Cardinals were embarrassed at New England last weekend, don’t be surprised to see a Seahawks win, especially in Mike Holmgren’s last game as Seahawks coach. The Cardinals will try and build some momentum for the playoffs, but don’t hold your breath.
z– Clinched Division Title
y– Clinched Playoff Spot
Joe has a quick look at what various members of the fourth estate have to say about the Bucs.
First up is Jason McIntyre of TheBigLead.com. He really dropped the Bucs after the awful loss to the Chargers, listing the Bucs at No. 17.
Who knew Earnest Graham meant so much to these guys?
Adrian Hasenmayer of FoxSports.com wasn’t as sour on the Bucs picking them at No. 10.
Did the Tampa Bay defense suddenly age? No, but it certainly is a legitimate question if Monte Kiffin’s eventual departure to the college ranks has taken away from this team. OK, maybe it’s shouldn’t be, but the question will hang around the Bucs’ defense all week after giving up 92 points in three straight losses. COOL STAT: The 41 points given up last week marks the most allowed by Tampa’s defense since Week 15 in 1999 against the Raiders, who were coached at the time by current Bucs coach Jon Gruden.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com is slightly less thrilled with the Bucs picking them at No. 11.
They need help now to get into the playoffs. They’re big Eagles fans. If they don’t make it, it will be a heck of a choke job. They’ve lost three consecutive games.
The Bucs drop a bit with Vinnie Iyer of SportingNews.com who ranks the Bucs No. 12.
Jon Gruden needs a post-Christmas present from his old friend Andy Reid’s team in Philadelphia to ensure the Bucs get into the playoffs. Because chances are better that Gruden will exchange gifts with Al Davis before this Sunday’s game than allow his team to lose to the Raiders at home.
Vacation Man of BSPN also thinks the Bucs are at No. 12.
After three straight losses, the Bucs need help if they’re to earn a playoff berth. Start the offseason overhaul now.
And Joe finishes with former Bucs beat writer Don Banks of SI.com who also beleives the Bucs are the No. 12 team in the NFL.
Hard to believe it now, after a three-game losing streak, but not all that long ago the Bucs looked like a decent shot to become the first team to play in a Super Bowl on their home field. But don’t give up all hope, Tampa Bay, because a home win over Oakland and a road loss by the Cowboys at Philadelphia is definitely a doable playoff-clinching scenario.
Once again, Joe takes a look at whether the Bucs would have been better off with Brett Favre at quarterback.
Last week in a 13-3 loss at Seattle, New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre had a miserable day completing only 18 of 31 passes for 187 yards no touchdowns and with interceptions. Favre also was sacked four times.
Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia, in a 41-24 home loss to San Diego, was 21 of 34 for 232 yards with a touchdown, a sack and two interceptions.
For one of the few times this season, the Bucs were better off without Favre.
Unlike some of his teammates, Donald Penn wants to stay in Tampa Bay and play for the Bucs for a long time.
Tis’ the season for whining jocks crying about how they are disrespected and will leave Tampa Bay the moment the gun is fired to end the last Bucs game of the season. So motiviated some of these players are to bolt, they have the U-Haul loaded up, ready to roll.
Don’t count Donald Penn among those. The Bucs starting left tackle is a free agent after the season and very much wants to stay in Tampa Bay, so reports Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.
“To tell you the truth, I truly, truly, truly hope so,” Penn said. “My wife likes it out here. I love being here. I love the fans. We got a young offensive line. We have a chance to be great and hopefully they do keep us together. I would love to be here.”
Though Penn’s agent probably cringed when reading that comment (it sort of puts an agent at a disadvantage in contract negotiations) Joe loves to see that kind of a quote. This tells Joe that Penn is motivated. Joe would much rather have a player with a fire burning in him then some talented guy who is just going through the motions.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News is not unlike his counterpart, Phil Mushnick of the New York Post. They are not bashful. When they read/see something they don’t like, they don’t mince words. They crucify people.
It’s Joe’s kinda writing and sadly, is rarely, rarely seen in the Tampa Bay fishwraps.
A few years ago, Joe began reading Raissman and Mushnick. Not because Joe has any connection to New York (though Joe’s mother was born there), the closest Joe has been there is either Pittsburgh or Washington, D.C. Joe hasn’t ever been motivated to find out which city is closer to Gotham.
One reason Joe began reading the two aforementioned scribes is that they are so damned entertaining, if not informative. If one can learn — and better yet, laugh — after reading a column, that’s a damn good column.
Often, Joe is in near-tears after reading Mushnick and Raissman.
One common denominator with the two was their vitriol over former New York radio personality Sid Rosenberg, who Raissman constantly referred to as “Sidiot.” Joe has no clue why the two hated Rosenberg so much (Rosenberg later worked in Miami radio as well). But Joe can’t imagine Rosenberg to be any worse than a former self-admitted drug user who works locally in the mornings or those unemployed chicken wing waitresses who work locally in the middays.
Those shows are so beyond putrid it’s beneath Joe to even mention their names. Joe won’t even embarrass the respective stations’ executives by mentioning on what frequency they can be found.
At any rate, Rosenberg now works for something called OpenSports.com. Joe still can’t figure out why Mushnick and Raissman hate Rosenberg. For all Joe knows Rosenberg is a likeable fellow. But the nickname that Raissman used for Rosenberg is so hilarious; Joe will continue to refer to Rosenberg, affectionately, as Sidiot.
What does this have to do with the Bucs? Sidiot advises fans to lay cash on the Bucs this Sunday.
Despite a bad rib and a bum hamstring, don't expect Derrick Brooks to miss Sunday's win-or-stay-home game.
A week after suffering a rib injury against Atlanta, Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks strained a hamstring against San Diego reports Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times. The hamstring was enough to keep Brooks out of practice Wednesday and Thursday.
But Holder states the Bucs expect Brooks to play.
Brooks was back on the practice field, although on a limited basis. He likely will be listed as questionable when the week’s final injury report is released at 4 p.m.
With the Bucs needing a win to make the playoffs, Joe suspects Brooks would have to be near death to keep him out of Sunday’s game.
CBSSports’ Jason Horowitz and Clark Judge, not to be confused with Matt Judge of Beavis and Butthead fame, dissect the Raiders-Bucs game.
Judge is fairly certain the Bucs will win. He thinks the Raiders “will be mailing it in.”
Vacation Man of BSPN talks on BSPNews about the Bucs. He claims the Bucs are trying to “stop the spiral.”
Friends, analysis like that is what makes BSPN must-watch for sports fans.
Yes, Joe can be a very sarcastic soul.
Raheem Morris, just 32 years old, was named defensive coordinator to replace Monte Kiffin. Let's hope Morris has enough clout to make sure the Bucs resign Jermaine Phillips, who becomes a free agent after the season.
Bucs brass wasted little time coming to terms with secondary coach Raheem Morris, who will replace defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. The announcement was made today, reports the Tampa Tribune.
After the season, Kiffin will end his long tenure with the Bucs and head to the University of Tennessee to coach with his son, Lane.
Morris, just 32 years old, has been tabbed as the young jewel of the Bucs coaching staff, a player’s coach, a motivator and, dare we say, a genius.
Joe likes the move. Morris has the respect of the players, and he surely seems like he’s ready to hit the ground running. Regardless of how the Bucs finish against Oakland on Sunday, Morris has massive shoes to fill. Nothing less than a top-10 defense next year will be acceptable.
Joe likes that a majority of defensive big plays this season came from the secondary. Morris had great talent back there, but he kept his unit hungry. Think back to the last Atlanta game with Jermaine Phillips stripping the Falcons’ tight end at the goal line to save a touchdown. Without Tanard Jackson’s strip and fumble recovery in Kansas City, the Bucs would have lost that game. There are several others, as well.
This move makes Joe think the Glazers are bringing Jon Gruden back for next season, no matter what. How could they land Bill Cowher or another big name coach without giving the guy a chance to pick his defensive coordinator?
Contract terms are not yet available for Morris. It’ll be interesting to see how many years the Glazers game him, as well his salary. He’s probably making half as much as Kiffin’s reported $2 million per season.
Of course, regular readers of Joe know that Joe had not only predicted such a move by the Glazer Boys but that rumors of this happening surfaced in the preseason.
“Hey, Joel and Bryan, I’ve got Josh Johnson in the laboratory. You can’t fire me now. He’s almost ready.”
Ok, Gruden haters. Here’s a Christmas gift for you.
Joe isn’t ready to behead Chucky just yet, but Joe understands how happy it makes you feel to think Chucky is on his way out of town. So here’s some holiday cheer.
Genius Jon “Chucky” Gruden hinted today that he might not have much more time as head coach of the Bucs.
Yes, it’s true, as reported by the Oakland Tribune and its other affiliated papers in northern California.
Asked about former Oakland prep star Josh Johnson, the Bucs fourth-string rookie quarterback, Gruden heaped massive praise on the young man. And then Gruden said he’s not sure if he will be with Tampa Bay to groom Johnson.
“He’s our secret weapon. He’s in our laboratory and I don’t know if they’re going to give me enough time to develop him, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in what this guy can be. He is a very good athlete. A great kid. Football-smart, man. Players love him. I just think a year from now, he goes to training camp, he’ll show you and a lot of people that he belongs in the league and he can become an NFL quarterback.”
In case you didn’t catch it above, Gruden said, “I don’t know if they’re going to give me enough time to develop him.”
Wow!
Joe believes this is Gruden’s first admission that he might not be wanted in Tampa.
Now on to the ridiculousness of his quote. This “laboratory” Chucky talks about is laughable, unless it’s a new unit in the laboratory after the Gradkowski wing was burned down. Were Rob Johnson and Chris Simms also incubated in this laboratory?
As for Johnson, Antonio Bryant talked to Joe after Sunday’s game and, unprompted, had tremendous things to say about Johnson. Bryant said Johnson has meticulous preparation and contagious enthusiasm “for a kid who’s not even going to play.”
One more time, just for Christmas, “I don’t know if they’re going to give me enough time to develop him.”
As reported previously, Michael Clayton talked to the MSM today about his plans to test the free agent market following the season. Rick Stroud, of the St. Petersburg Times, reports Clayton said he’s almost finished his five-year sentence in Tampa.
“Like I said, I’ve done a lot of time here. I’ve been here to be used. I feel like my talents haven’t been utilized completely. I don’t know the situation, man, we’ll figure that out the next few weeks.”
Joe finds Clayton’s use of the phrase, “done a lot of time here,” an interesting choice of words.
Is playing for Chucky like serving a prison sentence?
Drops like this one are how Bucs fans will always remember former first round pick Michael Clayton
So Michael Clayton is whining that he’s not utilized properly and, as a result, he’s threatening to leave the Bucs and test the free agent market after the season, so reports Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
“I will definitely test the free agent market,’’ Clayton said Wednesday.
Clayton is one of several Bucs regulars who are slated to become free agents after the season. Most say they want to return to the Bucs and Clayton didn’t rule that out either.
“It would be a good situation [here],’’ he said. “My family is set here. But I’ve been a quiet guy and I’ve been through a lot here. Coming off a season where I caught 80 balls and never being able to get that many attempts [again[ basically speaks for itself.’’
Look, Clayton is a fine blocker and runs great routes. But first and foremost, the main responsibility of a receiver oddly enough is to catch the damn ball. A blocking wide receiver with stone hands can be found anywhere. Clayton is a first round pick. His catching ability has been, to be polite, sporadic.
There’s no need for Bruce Almighty to break the bank for a one-trick pony. Maybe if Clayton was more consistent in hauling in passes, he’d be worth a bigger contract.
He’s not, therefore he’s not.
If the Bucs happen to lose to the Raiders Sunday, an article by former NFL player Ross Tucker of SI.com should be remembered.
Tucker claims he had teammates on playoff contending teams that had no desire to play in the postseason.
It is strange, but true, and one of the secrets of the NFL I learned firsthand. It happened my rookie year, in 2001, under Redskins head coach Marty Schottenheimer. We were in the thick of the wild-card race coming down the stretch and I remarked to one of the veteran players about how awesome it would be if we could get in. He just shrugged.
“Don’t you want to make the playoffs?” I asked.
“Nah, not really,” he replied.
I was floored. I was a bright-eyed youngster loving every second of the NFL and his response brought me back to the harsh reality of the business. He went on to say he just wanted the season to be over so that he could head down to Florida for New Year’s Eve. He showed up to the last game with a packed-to-the-gills U-Haul attached to his SUV. He was leaving right from the stadium, right after the game.
Tucker claims such athletes are usually the higher paid players who have nothing (financially) to gain from a Super Bowl run.
While this didn’t shock Joe to read this, it was a bit of a surprise to read that a Marty Chokenheimer player would say this. Joe thought one of the redeeming qualities of Chokenheimer was that he seemed to weed out malcontents. Apparently that’s not the case.
Now Joe isn’t insinuating anything here. But if the Bucs do lose to the Raiders to end the season with a four-game losing streak when they were on the verge of winning the NFC South and obtaining a bye just three short weeks ago, Tucker’s column will be very hard for Joe to get out of his mind.
Once again, Joe brings you Chucky’s weekly press conference in its entirety courtesy of Buccaneers.com. Once again, Roger Goodell doesn’t have the courtesy of providing embed codes.
As you can expect, Chucky wasn’t in much of a giddy mood. Neither are Bucs fans to be frank.
But Chucky’s reference to “Jo Jo White or whoever the hell else we’re talking about here” made Joe laugh out loud.
Former BSPN talking head Sean Salisbury, who took cell phone photography to a new level, is now working for something called OpenSports.com. Here, he gives a video report and he suggests the Bucs will “respond” with a win over the Raiders.
Salisbury also suggests the Eagles will win which will put the Bucs in the playoffs. Bucs talk begins at roughly 1:40 into the video.
