Not even Johnny Cochran could have made a good case for the NFC South being better than the NFC East. It doesn't add up, says THE PESSIMIST.

Enough already with so many experts, average Joes and seemingly everybody saying the NFC South is better than the NFC East.

Nothing could be further from than the truth. 

No NFC South team has even won a game against the NFC East this season. You got that.

Stop believing the hype already and look at the numbers and watch the games.

From top to bottom:

Giants (11-1)  vs. Bucs (9-3) – Sorry Bucs fans, Tampa Bay just ain’t there yet. Let’s say these teams’ great defenses are equivalent. The Giants offense is light years ahead of the Bucs’, in all aspects. No shame there. The G-Men are the Super Bowl champs and have lost one game in the past year.

Cowboys (8-4) vs. Panthers (9-3) – Carolina has a better record, but the Panthers have wins over just two winning teams: Arizona and Atlanta. Dallas has three wins against winning clubs: Philadelphia, Washington and, yes, Tampa Bay. That means the Cowboys have more quality wins and they took out the best team in the South with Brad Johnson at QB. (Sorry for the evoking the bad memory).  Statistically, the Cowboys are better in nearly every category, except for points allowed. The Panthers offense is on par with the Bucs’ – and that’s not too good – although they have a true Pro Bowl threat in Steve Smith. Bottom line: With Tony Romo back from injury, the Cowboys are more dangerous and they’d be favored in any head-to-head matchup.

Falcons (8-4) vs. Redskins (7-5) – The Falcons get the edge here despite having a victory over just one winning club, a good beating of Carolina a couple weeks ago. Atlanta is more physical than the Skins, and Michael Turner can hang with Clinton Portis, if you’re comparing running backs. The Falcons are improving and more confident nearly every week. Washington has scored fewer points than its allowed. That more than anything says it all, despite three good wins against Arizona, Dallas and Philly. 

Eagles (6-5-1) vs. Saints (6-6) – This should be another no-brainer; The Eagles are a better club. They’ve taken out the Steelers, Cardinals and Falcons, plus they have a better record. The only winner New Orleans has taken out is the Bucs on opening day. Think about that. Statistically, Philly has a top-10 defense in the major defensive categories. New Orleans’ D is near the bottom of the league. Both clubs score a lot of points. The Saints are fourth in the league in that category, with Philly coming in 6th. All that aside, the Eagles are a more complete team.

So there you have it. The NFC East has three teams better than its NFC South counterparts.

And again, no South club has beaten an East club this year. Scoreboard. There is no legit argument here.

Bruce Almighty does a nice tap dance over the NFL's hose job of Bucs fans. The Bucs will play a "home game" in England against the Pats next season.

Joe dug up a pair of press conferences for readers to enjoy, from Buccaneers.com.

First up is Chucky’s weekly Monday press conference in it’s entirety. The producer of the video must be a fan of “Patton.”

Next is Bruce Almighty talking about the hose job done on Bucs fans by Roger Goodell (as if Goodell withholding embed codes isn’t bad enough). Bruce Almighty does put on a good happy face despite the atrocity.

Like BSPN’s Jaws, CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco is fond of the Bucs in the NFC South Monday night showdown. Lauren Shehadi and Prisco begin talking about the Bucs at about the 1:30 mark.

Once again, Joe apologizes about the forced informercial for one of America’s great cable thieves. Try to ignore it for 30 seconds.

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Steve Wyche of NFL.com contends this season has been Chucky's best coaching job.

Given the impending departure of defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, the myriad of running backs injuries, the White Tiger disappearance and a period of games started by Son of Bob, the Bucs are tied for the NFC South with four games to go.

This, writes Steve Wyche of NFL.com, is Chucky’s finest hour.

This is nothing more than a puff piece written for the NFL’s Internet organ.

No team has repeated as NFC South champion since the division was created in 2002. Tampa Bay, at 9-3, has positioned itself to become the first, after finishing in first with a 9-7 record in 2007. It would also be the Bucs’ third division title in four seasons. Gruden entered the season with a 48-48 record in six seasons with Tampa Bay. He’s plus-six now and will finish the season with a positive mark regardless of how things play out over the final month.

Joe is of two minds with Chucky: Joe thinks Chucky is a pretty good at calling plays and he’s a motivator. Chucky also alienates too many people and isn’t exactly a straight arrow with players. He grates on people.

Joe will forever be indebted to Chucky for pushing the Bucs over the top for a Super Bowl win. But if Chucky doesn’t win a playoff game this January, well, Joe hopes Chucky has his mortgage paid off.

Backwards Hat, otherwise known as Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger, returns with his weekly Bucs video report. But Joe has spotted a trend: This is the second week in a row Backwards Hat has not worn a backwards hat… or a backwards cap, or any sort of headgear.

Does it make a difference in his video report? You, loyal JoeBucsFan.com reader, can decide:

Nobody's more qualified than Tony Dungy to replace Monte Kiffin

Already we’re hearing a long list of names metioned to replace Monte Kiffin as Bucs defensive coordinator in 2009, when he is expected to say goodbye to the Bucs and join son Lane Kiffin at the University of Tennessee.

But there’s one man off the radar, and he’s the most qualified of all. That would be Tony Dungy.

Joe is serious. Dungy should be considered (assuming he leaves the Colts head coaching job), and it’s not that far-fetched that he would consider the Bucs coordinator gig. 

First, Dungy is a religious, forgiving, pillar of a man. Joe is sure that long ago he let go of any upset he had toward the Glazer family when they fired him in 2002.

While it’s widely assumed Dungy will leave the Colts, live in Tampa and begin full-time work here in a ministry and charitable endeavors, there’s a chance Dungy would want to stay in the NFL in a less-demanding position. Plus making some more millions would surely help fund his off-the-field pursuits.

Dungy moved his family back to Tampa full-time in 2008, and his son played football at Plant High School. Home is a short drive from Raymond James Stadium.

As for Dungy as a coordinator, he’s done the job before in Minnesota and had a No. 1 ranked defense there. And, of course, he and Monte Kiffin were the architects of the Tampa 2 defense in the ’90s.

Nobody would command more respect in the locker room than Dungy, and he’d be the ultimate mentor if the Bucs want to groom Raheem Morris to take over the defensive coordinator job in a few years. Morris may be ready now, but at 32, he has limited experience and would benefit from Dungy’s leadership.

Could Dungy work with Jon Gruden? Dungy could work with anyone. Plus, Gruden would probably let out one massive exhale knowing he doesn’t have to worry about the defense at all.

Lastly, as Joe has mentioned many times previously, the Bucs have been struggling to sell tickets. And by the looks of the stands at Sunday’s Saints game, they’re now having trouble getting fans to show up for games. Dungy’s return would certainly be a massive shot in the arm for the franchise.

Regardless, Dungy, if available, is the most qualified man for the job.

Brent Hubbs, publisher of Volsquest.com reports that new Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin told members of the Volunteers football squad Sunday night that his dad, Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, is coming to Knoxville.

Brent Hubbs, the publisher of Volsquest.com, in a pay-per-read subscription article on the Rivals.com network, reports that newly ordained University of Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin told returning members of his football team that his dad, Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, will be coming to Knoxville.

Because Joe doesn’t want to disrupt copyright laws or get in hot water with some crazy first amendment lawyer, Joe will not post the exact quote. But if readers are subscribers to Rivals.com, they can read the story.

If not, readers can sign up for a free seven-day trial and potentially be able to read the story. If you are any type of college football fan, the subscription gives access to  subscription-based articles on many of the Rivals.com network sites including Volsquest.com.

No, Joe is not a fan of the Vols. He doesn’t hate them, either.

Lions coach and former Bucs assistant Rod Marinelli is one of six names Justin Pawlowski tabs as possible replacements for Monte Kiffin.

So you’re wondering what are the Bucs options at defensive coordinator after Monte Kiffin leaves town for the University of Tennessee?

Here’s an early take on the Bucs’ next move. Justin Pawlowski, host of The Blitz on WDAE-AM 620, looks at six candidates to replace Monte as Bucs defensive coordinator, when the legend likely leaves Tampa after the season.  

It’s no surprise that Rod Marinelli makes Pawlowski’s list of possible replacements.

Joe would not look to Marinelli. Regardless of the respect he has in Tampa, Marinelli’s Lions are not playing hard for him. And that’s a very troubling sign.

Not everyone is cut out to be a head coach, and that’s OK. But maybe Marinelli isn’t cut out to be a leader. The guy has never been a coordinator in the NFL, and Joe’s research is not showing Marinelli was ever a head coach or a coordinator in the college ranks.

Joe would prefer the Bucs land a proven boss to replace Monte, expecially considering Jon Gruden is almost completely disconnected from the defensive side of the ball.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com reports that Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will take a 66 percent cut in salary to join his son Lane at the University of Tennessee.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com writes that Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin joining his son Lane Kiffin as the defensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee is a “done deal.”

If what Prisco reports is accurate, Kiffin is taking a significant cut in pay to join his son. Significant as in a 66 percent cut in salary.

It looks like a done deal that Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is leaving to join his son’s staff at the University of Tennessee.

He must really love his son.

Here’s why: Kiffin will probably make $500,000 or so at Tennessee and he makes $1.5 million with the Bucs.

That’s $1 million a year in love. Wow.

This is the first time Joe saw any figures floated as to how much the elder Kiffin would make as the Volunteers defensive coordinator. What Prisco doesn’t report, and Joe isn’t aware of, is what Kiffin could pull in on side deals such as endorsement money, cash from running football camps, a possible TV show and all sorts of other little things that could significantly add to his earnings.

NBCSports.com’s Peter King and Bob Costas discuss the upcoming Bucs-Panthers Monday night clash. King calls the game “The perfect match… a good chess match.” The Bucs discussion begins at about the 1:20 mark.

King also speaks of the probable departure of Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. King describes Kiffin’s relationship to many Bucs defenders as a “father to those guys.”

If the Glazer Boys really wanted to be hardasses, they could sue both Monte Kiffin and the University of Tennessee, so reports Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.

Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, and a lawyer by day (though to Joe’s knowledge he doesn’t sleep at a Holiday Inn), writes that if the Bucs wanted to play hardball with the (alleged) soon-to-depart defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, they could sue both Kiffin and the University of Tennessee.

Kiffin has one more year remaining on his contract, and it appears that the team won’t stand in his way if he chooses to leave early to work with his son. If the Bucs were to opt for hardball, they could sue Kiffin for breach of contract and/or the University of Tennessee for tortious interference with contractual relationships.

Given coach Jon Gruden’s ties to Knoxville and Kiffin’s contributions to the franchise, litigation isn’t a serious possibility.

One reason the Bucs won’t even think of doing that is the flack the team took when former defensive coach Joe Barry wanted to join former Bucs defensive line coach and (sadly) current Lions head coach Rod Marinelli in Detroit. Barry is Marinelli’s son-in-law.

The Bucs caught a lot of bad press for not allowing a family member to work with another. Given Kiffin’s affection within the Tampa Bay community, so reports Florio, that the Bucs wouldn’t think of keeping Kiffin from joining his son Lane at the University of Tennessee.

Joe thinks that it's a runaway competition that the NFC South is the best division in the NFL. Mike Celizic of NBCSports.com agrees.

Mike Celizic of NBCSports.com writes about the top division in the NFL. To no Bucs fan’s surprise, he selects the NFC South (not the NFC East, which media outlets like BSPN prefer to cram down NFL fans’ throats).

This is not news in the NFC South, which this week finally left us no choice but to quit yammering on about how wonderful the NFC East is and forced us to admit that there’s another premier division in the NFL. If the playoffs began today, the NFC West and North would each get a team in because the rules say they have to, no matter how bad those teams are. The mighty NFC East would get the same number — one.

Finally someone in the MSM outside of NFC South markets can see the light. Granted, the Giants are quite good; the class of the NFL. Dallass is OK, nothing more. Take away Jessica Simpson’s boyfriend and Dallass is very average. The Redskins have really slipped and the Beagles are… eh.

Yet if one is an invalid or has dead batteries in their remote and cannot change the channel from BSPN, one would be of the mind that no one outside of the NFC East can play football. Indeed!

As Joe suggested earlier, here comes the hype machine. BSPN spelled backwards is H-Y-P-E. That four-letter outfit always goes overboard with hype. And the hype machine for Monday night’s game at Carolina has already begun.

Jaws, otherwise known as Ron Jaworski of BSPN, says, until he is able to study more film, the smart pick Monday is the Bucs.

If Monte Kiffin has indeed decided to stay with the Bucs, then why are both Bruce Almighty and Kiffin playing games with the fourth estate?

Both Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune and Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times are reporting that in Bruce Almighty’s news conference concerning the NFL’s hose job of Bucs fans, that Bruce Almighty confessed he knows where Monte Kiffin will be coaching next fall but won’t say where.

Instead, Bruce Almighty is deferring the announcement to Kiffin.

Holder quoted Bruce Almighty:

“This really has been addressed some time ago with Monte,” Allen said. “We feel very comfortable that we know what’s taking place. We’re going to let Monte make any comments he wants to and respect his views.”

This tells Joe that Kiffin is off to Knoxville to join his son Lane at the University of Tennessee. If Monte had decided he was staying in Tampa, why not just come out and admit it? What harm is there in that?

Joe understands why Kiffin would not want to announce his resignation from the Bucs, as not to create a distraction. Joe understands that. Smart move, in fact.

But by announcing he’s staying with the Bucs, it would quash all the rumors that he is leaving. It puts the story to rest and ends all speculation. Joe can’t figure out how such an announcement would in any way harm Lane Kiffin at Tennessee, unless, of course, it would be a lie.

Joe can only conclude that Monte Kiffin and Bruce Almighty playing coy is a sure sign Kiffin is off to Knoxville.

Since the soccer-loving Glazer Boys engineered the Bucs having a home game stolen from their fans next season, Chucky better keep his trap shut about playing in London.

Bucs fans, or NFL fans in general, live for fall Sundays, specifically Sundays (or a rare Thursday night, Saturday or Monday night) when the Bucs are at home so Bucs fans can heartedly tailgate and embrace the full NFL experience.

Well, Bucs fans, you just got hosed without the benefit of a reach-around.

(Yes, “Full Metal Jacket” is one of Joe’s favorite movies).

The NFL (read: the man who hates manly football hits and embed codes, Roger Goodell) has slapped Bucs fans in the face by taking away a home game so the Bucs can entertain the Patriots in London next season, so reports NFL.com.

The Bucs will host the New England Patriots when the NFL continues its International Series at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday, October 25, 2009, the league announced today.

The soccer-loving Glazer Boys apparently have become smitten with London since they bought into the third world’s most beloved sport. Hence, they, along with Patriots owner Robert Kraft (another soccer team owner), lobbied for the game to be played in London.

Joel Glazer, Buccaneers Executive Vice-President, said: “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization is extremely excited and honored to be chosen to participate in the NFL International Series. We look forward to being part of the NFL’s global outreach and playing our great game in front of Buccaneers fans overseas.”

Bucs fans may remember how irate Chucky was when then-general manager Rich McKay was able to coerce the NFL into letting the Bucs play in Tokyo to begin the preseason after the Bucs won the Super Bowl. If the Bucs collapse and/or lose the first playoff game (again) this season, Chucky might want to keep his trap shut about playing in London or he might be begging Lane Kiffin for a job.

The news also means the Bucs will play two games on the road in either Buffalo, New York or Miami next season, when Tampa Bay takes on the AFC East.

Joe just doesn’t understand why the NFL keeps trying to convince Euros that American football is  something they should love. Just give up already. It’s not working.

Joe says Jon Gruden's good-enough offense hasn't offered any hope that it can do its part to get the Bucs to the Super Bowl

The Bucs can run the ball a little, but they can’t grind out first downs to close out a game.

The Bucs can throw the ball efficiently and make an occasional big play, but Tampa Bay might be the worst in the league at throwing in the red zone.

Jeff Garcia protects the ball well and keeps risk-taking to a minimum, but he doesn’t have Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius to throw to.

The Bucs offense is average across the board, and the play-calling isn’t sharp enough to overcome it.

So the disappointing reality is that the Bucs will have to rely on their defense to get through December and succeed in the playoffs. It’s too late – and too unlikely – for an offensive turnaround.

This all feels unsettling to Joe, much like flashing back to those can’t-get-over-the-hump Bucs teams of the Tony Dungy era.

Joe’s desperately looking for glimmers of Super Bowl hope from the Bucs offense. They are nearly impossible to find.

If the Bucs win the NFC South and earn a first round bye, then beat Minnesota or Arizona at home in the playoffs only to get mauled by the Giants in the NFC Championship game, it’s going to feel like a great Bucs defense was wasted on a barely average offense.

Peter King of SI.com selected Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber as one of his defensive players of the week.

Writing in his weekly column (as opposed to John Romano’s weakly column) Monday Morning Quarterback, SI.com’s Peter King selects Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber as one of three NFL players as “Defensive Player of the Week.”

Of all the brilliant plays on a day when the Bucs quasi-embarrassed one of the smartest quarterbacks in recent NFL history (Drew Brees), Barber made the biggest play. With Tampa Bay up 20-10 midway through the third quarter and the Saints driving to make it much closer, Brees made a beautiful (apparently) throw to Jeremy Shockey at the goal line, and here came Barber out of nowhere — actually, off the receiver 10 yards away — and leaped and swatted the ball out of Shockey’s grasp to teammate Cato June. “It’s just knowledge,” Barber said an hour later. “They had an all-go [four receivers sprinting for the end zone], and I knew what Drew likes to do, where the ball is going to go. I knew with a linebacker on Shockey, that’s probably where he was going.” Marvelous recovery time by Barber, who made a play to save a certain touchdown.

The other two players King chose along with Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison and Dallass linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

Brent Hubbs of Volquest.com reports the first thing Lane Kiffin did as coach of the Tennessee Volunteers was fire the entire defensive coaching staff. Is this a housecleaning for his dad?

Brent Hubbs, publisher of Volsquest.com, added another log to the fire of the rumors that Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will join his son Lane, the newly crowned head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, and become the Volunteers’ defensive coordinator.

Monte Kiffin gave a weak denial yesterday when cornered after the Bucs 23-20 win over the Saints. The dodgeball Kiffin played didn’t sway Hubbs.

Speaking on Sirius satellite radio’s Rivals Radio show with host Bill King Monday morning, Hubbs had an interesting tidbit. Hubbs stated happenings within the Tennessee program suggest the groundwork is being layed for Monte’s arrival.

“The first action done [since Lane Kiffin was hired] was to fire the coaches on the defensive side of the ball,” Hubbs said. “That tells me [Lane Kiffin] has his defensive staff worked out.”

In further reinforcing the notion Kiffin will join his son in Knoxville, SI.com’s Peter King wrote, “It makes too much sense.”

Usually, Jeff Garcia reserves his playful butt slaps for wife Carmella. On Sunday, he went out of his way to give Chucky a big wack on the butt.

Last week, Joe implied that a T-shirt sale on Jeff Garcia’s Foundation Web site could be a sign he’s leaning toward leaving the Bucs after this season, when he becomes a free agent.

So in the spirit of fairness, Joe must tell you about another sign, one that might reveal Garcia is content right here.

After throwing a 39-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant against the Saints, Garcia celebrated on the field with the offense. Then he came off the field, ran up behind Jon Gruden and gave him a real hard slap on the butt. Gruden looked at him surprised, and then the two gave each other a fist bump.

Was the slap an olive branch to Chucky? A way to say, ‘Hey, even after benching me for Son of Bob, deep down I love and respect you, coach?’

Joe isn’t sure. But the way Garcia went so far out of his way to slap one on Chucky, it had to mean something significant. And, yes, Joe is confident Garcia is not gay, despite the old rumors.

Right after the Bucs 23-20 win over the Saints, Ronde Barber spoke with BSPN’s Bob Holtzman.

Jovan Haye greets Philip Buchanan after the Bucs cornerback's late interception sealed the Bucs 23-20 win.

Why stay up late to catch the TV news highlights of the Bucs’ 23-20 win over the Saints when Joe has them now, courtesy of the NFL Network.

Sadly, Roger Goodell is not courteous enough to provide embed codes.

First is a five-minute video of game highlights replete with Gene Deckerhoff and the Saints guys. To quote Deckerhoff, “Let’s hear the cannons!”

Deckerhoff also reminds Bucs fans the last time the Bucs were 9-3, the Bucs went to the Super Bowl.

Next up is the Bucs postgame press conference featuring Chucky.

In a “Can’t Miss Play,” the Brian Baldinger of Fox Sports breaks down Cadillac Williams’ touchdown.

This video is a compilation and break down by Fox’s Brian Billick and Baldinger of the Bucs’ defensive highlights.

Lastly, NFL Network analysts Tom Waddle and Jim Mora break down the game.