Charley Casserly and Jason Horowitz of CBSSports.com preview the Bucs-Chiefs game. As good as the Bucs can be, it’s scary that the Bucs have but one road win. Give it a look.

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Bucs running back Warrick Dunn is nursing a sore back and Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune suggests he is questionable to make the trip to Kansas City. Joe's not too concerned.

Some interesting news coming out of One Buc Palace Thursday from Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

Seems as though Warrick Dunn missed practice and Chucky wouldn’t say whether he will make the trip to Kansas City or not.

“I am one of these coaches who believes you got to practice to play,” Gruden said. “I don’t want to discount how important I think practice is, but we think he is going to be OK. We’ll let you know tomorrow. We got a number of guys who have been idle and it reflects the way you play. It’s a tough business, especially when you don’t practice. We think he’s going to be OK, but we’ll let you know tomorrow.”

Dunn got his back dinged in the loss to Dallass and Richardson hints Dunn is questionable for Sunday’s game.

Gruden did say he expected RB Michael Bennett to play if Dunn can not go. Considering Tampa Bay is playing Kansas City, which is 1-6, and the Bucs have a bye next week, there is a strong possibility Gruden might rest Dunn for important games down the stretch.

While Dunn, who will be replaced by Michael Bennett if he can’t go, was big news, what was bigger news is that Chucky was using Cadillac Williams in practice. Chucky, unless he is playing with a poker face, all but announced Cadillac was ready to roll.

“We had a 12 play simulation of the Chiefs,” Gruden said. “We did the best we could and Carnell took about 10 or 11 straight plays. It’s exciting to see him out there, but not only see him out there, but the progress. He really looked good today. Next week during the bye week, we’ll put the pads on and try to make it a little more tough, but step two went well today.”

Joe thinks Chucky was out of his mind last weekend when he said the Bucs are thin at running back and that was one of the reasons the Bucs lost to Dallass. While Joe would love to see Cadillac back, he is more of a mind that Chucky is blowing smoke.

Former Bucs tight end and current Bucs radio network analyst Dave Moore says Arrowhead Stadium is the loudest outdoor stadium in the NFL.

Current Bucs radio network analyst and former Bucs tight end Dave Moore was interviewed on the NFL Network today and it was really interesting.

Moore talked about a lot of things concerning the Bucs. One of the most interesting was Moore suggested the Chiefs, despite being a brutal team, will not be an easy win.

Moore went on to say Arrowhead Stadium is the loudest outdoor stadium for visiting teams to play in and the fans give opposing offenses fits in communicating. Give it a look.

As JoeBucsFan.com readers have come to expect, Joe has the power rankings for Week 9, including two new sources for the weekly mix.

The first new source is Joe’s friend, the guru of TheBigLead.com, Jason McIntyre. Mr. TheBigLead has the Bucs ranked No. 11.

“Best secondary in the league? Ask Steve Smith, Roddy White and Terrell Owens.”

The second new source is Vic Carucci of NFL.com. He still thinks highly of the Bucs as he has them at No. 8.

“The Bucs had a perfect opportunity to enhance their status as an elite team, and they squandered it.”

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com seems to be of the same mind. He also has the Bucs at No. 11.

“At some point, they must throw it more vertically. Jeff Garcia is more than capable. Let him go.”

Pat Yasinskas of BSPN.com lists the Bucs at No. 9.

“Loss to Dallas shows offense still doesn’t have any consistency.”

And as always Joe saves the best for last, Paul Zimmerman, the beloved Dr. Z of SI.com. Dr. Z has the Bucs at No. 7.

“The Cowboys’ only touchdown drive, aided by four penalties, was a discouraging thing. The worst part of it was down near the goal line, when Cowboys tackle Mark Colombo messed with LB Cato June, drew an annoyed retaliation — hardly anything serious — and, naturally, had worked referee Gene Steratore for a major penalty on the defense. And then I heard an interesting piece of information from Fox’s Daryl Johnston, the color commentator. Officials this year have been instructed to cut out the double foul penalty and designate only one recipient. Leave it to the league and its officials to screw things up wherever they can. For sake of expediency or image or whatever the hell motivates these people, they tell their officials to just make a call, whether it’s fair or unfair.”

Scott Reynolds of the Pewter Report suggests that if Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia doesn't start taking shots downfield, specifically at the end zone, Chucky may bench him for Luke McCown.

Interesting little tidbit Joe heard while coming home from work.

Joe was listing to the Buccaneer Blitz heard on WDAE-AM 620 with Scott Reynolds of the Pewter Report and WDAE’s Steve Duemig. Reynolds hinted that there may be (another) quarterback change in the near future if the Bucs offense repeats this week in Kansas City that dreadful performance they turned in at Dallas last week.

Apparently talking to various players and Chucky, Reynolds claims Chucky was calling for passes to the end zone against Dallas but Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia was reluctant to throw there, instead checking down. Reynolds isn’t sure why Garcia wouldn’t try a shot at the end zone but suspected that Garcia was paranoid of throwing a pick.

This week in practice coaches have told Garcia (and also, God forbid, Son of Bob) that they really should be throwing to allow the receivers to make a play deep, not just throw to them when they are wide open short. In fact Reynolds claims allowing receivers to make a play when they have one-on-one coverage was emphasized this week to Garcia and (God forbid) Son of Bob.

Antonio Bryant’s touchdown pass in the first quarter against Seattle was an example of letting the receivers make a play.

Reynolds went on to say that if Garcia is benched again he’s done. If (God forbid) Son of Bob starts again and throws three picks like he is wont to do, he’s done.

Chucky will then turn to Luke McCown.

Reynolds seemed serious.

No cheers for the run defense in K.C.

Now cut that out. This isn’t an X-rated post. Joe is talking about the Chiefs’ run defense.

Joe isn’t ever going to analyze endless stats for you. But he appreciates when others do the work for him.

The good men over at Arrowhead Pride have all the ugly stats of the Chiefs’ worst-in-the-NFL run defense, and a look back at how consistently poor it’s been in recent years.

Take a look. In 2008, Chiefs are last in the NFL stopping opponents who run over right tackle.

This is great news for Jon Gruden and his mysterious running back shortage.

The man known as “The Backwards Hat,” Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger, has his weekly video report on the Bucs. In this segment, Backwards Hat talks about, among other things, kickoff return specialist Clifton Smith’s “zoom.”

The Chiefs have one win their last 16 games. Herm Edwards' recent quotes reveal a lifeless coach

SInce Joe recommended you wager on the Bucs in Kansas City on Sunday, he’s been keeping an extra close eye on what’s happening in Chiefsland.  

(Bucs are giving up 9 points and the game is only the 2nd bet Joe has advised this season. Yes, Joe is 1-0.)

The lack of energy coming from Chiefs coach Herm Edwards is surprising, and it doesn’t bode well for Kansas City. Edwards always has been an upbeat, preacher-motivator kind of guy.

But apparently he has no confidence in the Chiefs new spread offense led by quarterback Tyler Thigpen, according to the Kansas City Star,

… That’s what makes Edwards nervous. The Chiefs’ offensive line is young, and the coach expects the Bucs to target Thigpen and try to make the quarterback as nervous as the coach.

Edwards squirmed when asked Tuesday whether he thought Thigpen could read and beat blitzes, something he’d have to do if Tampa Bay is as aggressive as Edwards predicted.

“The guy has only played two games,” Edwards said.

It seems the toll of only win in its last 16 games has the Chiefs’ leader crying the blues. 

Joe is confident Kansas City is the worst and least dangerous team in football.

It’s nearly 1 a.m. Wednesday and Joe is tired. As a result, Joe is too exhausted to go on a long rant.

Not sure if you have heard or seen this (it’s been all over the internet) but a wannabe sports journalist by the name of Danyelle Sargent asked newly ordained San Francisco coach Mike Singletary if he had placed a call to his “mentor” Bill Walsh upon getting the Niners head coaching gig.

Joe was so blown away by this he was speechless. As was Singletary.

First off, Walsh was not Singletary’s “mentor.” It was Mike Ditka and/or Buddy Ryan. The Bears and the Niners were bitter rivals when Singletary played.

Second, there’s this troublesome little detail that Walsh is dead.

This question is so moronic Joe really doesn’t know how to appropriately put into words his disgust. Why is someone with such an abject ignorance of the NFL given a media credential much less employed by FOX?

The video does not have embed codes but Joe has the link.

This isn’t the first time Ms. Sargent has had a monumental screw up on the air. Seems as if she likes to blurt out the F-word on live TV while her co-anchor is narrating a sports highlight package. And for this there are embed codes. Fast forward to the :40 mark (be VERY careful if you are at work).

Joe thinks it’s a pretty good bet that this woman may not be working in sports journalism for long. Nor should she. First of all she doesn’t know enough not to scream profanities into a live mic. Even if the mic is dead, she’s sitting at an anchor desk. She’s not professional enough to understand that anywhere in a studio there can be a live mic?

Second, you would think that someone covering a sport would know just a little bit about the sport or at least be professional enough to do some homework. You know, like the game you are covering with a new coach maybe it might be a wise decision to try to read the man’s bio?

Joe cannot stand the NBA and hates all that is stands for. Joe cannot remember the last time he watched five minutes of an NBA game. It’s been at least 15 years since he watched an entire NBA game and Joe would be hard-pressed to name six NBA players. The NBA is totally off Joe’s radar. But even Joe knows that Red Auerbach is dead. And this Sargent is supposed to be a professional?

Joe is appalled beyond words. This woman has no business working another NFL game much less a high school game. Maybe Extra (“extra… ex-TRA!“) has an opening?

Sideline reporters are pretty much useless if they are not pretty. Even if they are hot, only a few really know what they are talking about. Erin Andrews, Bonnie Bernstein, Stacy Dales, Holly Rowe and Tracy Wolfson actually do a decent job and have a clue. They should be more than a little irate at this Sargent woman.

Somewhere, Lisa Guerrero is laughing.

Former Bucs quarterback Doug Williams is one of five former Bucs who have been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Looks like some old Bucs are getting some love.

Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune reports that five former Bucs are have been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The fab five are: quarterback Doug Williams, linebacker Hardy Nickerson, punter, the late Reggie Roby, offensive lineman Lomas Brown and offensive lineman Randall McDaniel. The latter three only had a cup of coffee with the Bucs.

The final list of nominees that will be considered for election will consist of the 15 modern-era finalists and the two previously announced senior nominees, Bob Hayes and Claude Humphrey. Hayes and Humphrey were selected this past August by the Hall of Fame’s Senior Selection Committee.

The nominees will be whittled down to a list of 25 sometime in November. Then, the list will be paired down some more to about 15 for a final ballot to be voted upon the Saturday before the Super Bowl in Tampa, Jan. 31.

Joe came across a couple of BSPN talking heads discussing the Bucs loss to the Cowboys.

The NFL Network has video lowlights of the game with Jim Mora and Tom Waddle as well analysis from Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders and Steve Mariucci. Also, there is video of Chucky’s postgame comments.

The Bucs, despite having an average to subpar passing attack, are tied for the NFL lead in pass attempts which disturbs Joe.

The Bucs have a very good quarterback (NO! Not Son of Bob).

The Bucs best wide receiver is ranked No. 23 in the NFL in passing yards (Antonio Bryant).

The Bucs offensive line is more adept at running the ball.

The Bucs are No. 9 in the league in rushing yards, despite Chucky’s whining about a shortage of running backs (sort of like Bill Gates whining the computers in his house aren’t working properly).

Despite the obvious facts the Bucs have the weapons to run the ball and not as many weapons to pass the ball, this hasn’t convinced our very own Sunshine State version of Bill Walsh (who, to the surprise of some TV reporters is dead) that he shouldn’t tone down the throwing.

eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune points out the Bucs are tied for the league lead in pass attempts.

Only the Cardinals, who have played one fewer game than the Bucs, are averaging more passes than Tampa Bay, which heads into Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday to face the defenseless Chiefs (1-6) before a bye week.

Joe has noticed a troubling pattern here. It seems the Bucs play down to their opponents for some reason. Denver stunk against the run, yet Chucky tries to have Son of Bob beat Denver. The Bucs lose.

The Seahawks stinks out loud yet the Bucs at home couldn’t put them away and actually kept the Seattle in the game until the final minutes despite dominating time of possession.

Dallass virtually had it’s entire defensive backfield wiped out, yet Chucky doesn’t test them with deep balls even though Antonio Bryant and the White Tiger were both on the field.

Kansas City stinks worse than the cattle manure from one of its stockyards. Yet Joe has the feeling Chucky’s going to try to be cute (as he usually does) and try to dink-and-dunk the Chiefs to death. Meanwhile, and Kansas City will be in a position to win the game in the final minutes.

The tough Bucs defense will great Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen on Sunday in Kansas City. The Bucs have dominated inexperienced quarterbacks all season

Joe knows Sunday’s game in Kansas City is truly a must-win for the Bucs. Forget about losing ground in the tight NFC South standings. If the Bucs lose this game, it would be one of the biggest upsets of the year in the NFL and reveal the Bucs as a playoff pretender.

The Chiefs stink.

Columnist Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star wrote an excellent analysis of the Chiefs’ collapse today. Joe recommends it highly. 

Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ most expensive player, Larry Johnson, is lost. He has been charged with assault, again, fourth incident in five years, and he’s been inactive the last two weeks, he’s staring smack into an NFL suspension (probably a pretty significant one). … it’s very clear that the Chiefs made a huge blunder giving him a big contract. A year ago, Larry Johnson was the centerpiece of the Chiefs’ future. Now, he might not even be a part of it.

Starting at QB for Kansas City is Tyler Thigpen. Think Bruce Gradkowski. (Sorry. Joe knows that’s a painful image).

Thigpen is a 2007 seventh round pick out of Coastal Carolina. He followed two truly horrendous outings with a strong performance against the Jets on Sunday,  25 of 36 for 280 yards with two TDs and a 110.9 rating.

If you’re a betting man, Joe recommends saving your money for this game.

The Bucs have beaten and covered the spread against three other – and better – inexperienced quarterbacks this season, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers and Seneca Wallace.

Joey Johnston of the Tampa Tribune stops just short of calling out Chucky for setting up the Bucs to fail Sunday.

Joey Johnston of the Tampa Tribune comes one step away from blasting the Bucs, specifically Chucky, over the Bucs loss at Dallas Sunday.

Let’s put the blame where it belongs.

On the mentality of losing football.

That’s what the Bucs brought to Texas Stadium.

Losing football – in every way.

Simply put, the way Chucky called plays, it was like he was scared. He has a strong running game, but instead — which is becoming painfully redundant — Chucky would rather dink-and-dunk and toy with an opponent rather than putting a team away.

It doesn’t matter what level of football is played, if you don’t put the proverbial foot on the thorat of your opponent, you set yourself for a loss.

Memo to Chucky: The NFL is not soccer. The objective is not to see how many balls you can kick through a set of goalposts. The objective is to score touchdowns!

Joey Galloway was uncomfortable answering a question about his health Monday. The White Tiger saw his first action Sunday since Week 2

Joe is annoyed by most Bucs player radio shows because fans kiss the players’ butts and don’t ask good questions, plus the hosts usually act the same way.

On The Joey Galloway Show on Monday night (WDAE 620 AM), Galloway was cornered by a caller with a rare direct question. Props to that nice lady who seemed frustrated that it was halfway through the show and she didn’t have straight answers to the questions on everyone’s mind.

She wanted to know whether Galloway was was feeling 100 percent and “Are you playing in pain?”

“That’s such a tough question to answer,” Galloway said. Uncomfortable dead air followed.

“I feel great,” Galloway continued. “Game speed is a huge adjustment sometimes. Getting used to cutting and avoiding people. Facing live action. …Fortunately for me, there were no steps back. That is the key, and that’s something to build on.”

Galloway’s answer was not what Joe wanted to hear.  Joe enjoyed watching Joey Galloway on the field against the Cowboys on Sunday. It was limited action for the “White Tiger,” almost exclusively at flanker. He caught three balls for 38 yards and showed flashes of his tremendous speed.

But the Bucs need him to be a healthy full-time player. He’s clearly not there yet.

Joe asked former Bucs QB Jeff Carlson to explain what’s wrong with the Bucs offense.

Catch Carlson every week on ESPN 1040 AM. He hosts the Monday Morning Quarterback Show from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., and a Bucs tailgate show Sundays at 11 a.m. He also is the analyst on Bright House Sports Network’s high school game of the week. His expertise is showcased periodically on JoeBucsFan.com

Former Bucs QB Jeff Carlson says Gruden's offense needs to incorporate basics of winning football

Carlson also trains aspiring quarterbacks with America’s Best Quarterback. His firm manages football- and golf-themed charity events.

Please forgive me for being old-fashioned. I was drafted into the NFL a year before Jon Gruden became a quality control assistant for Mike Holmgren. 

Way back then the game was more simple. The defense lined up 11 guys and you tried to beat them, either by out-muscling them or out-thinking them by attacking their weaknesses. Weaknesses were either in their personnel and/or coverage.

Fast forward to 2008 and the game has changed, at least to Jon Gruden. The chess matches of D-coordinator versus O-coordinator are no longer. As we heard from Gruden after the Bucs lost to Denver, if you play defense like Denver or Green Bay the Bucs offense really has no chance for success. 

The same mantra (excuse) came yesterday with the loss to the Cowboys. The defense played “4 Across” according to Jeff Garcia and that limited the offense to underneath passes.  According to Gruden, the injuries at running back limited the offense. Problem is (check the record) this team doesn’t score on offense against any style of defense.

I like the good ol’ days; When the defense played off in a “4 Across” look, you peppered them with hitches outside until you set them up for a “hitch-n-go” over the top for a big play. I harken back to the days before the term “8-in-the-box” became a household phrase and 4 deep defenders means you run the ball until they come out of the prevent look. By run I mean inside and outside, not just straight ahead.

Gruden was satisfied with his “Red Zone Offense” against the Broncos when he ran out of bounds and kicked a field goal before halftime instead of trying to score a touchdown with :18 seconds left at the 15. That reminded me of yesterday’s first drive that started in Cowboys territory and ended after kicking yet another field goal.

Jon Gruden has not used play action on a short yardage play in forever, but he tried play action on 4th and 8 at the end of the game yesterday. Lost to the Broncos by 3 and to the Cowboys by 4 without ever throwing into the end zone one time!!

The remedy for the Bucs is simple, although it is a bit of a throwback idea. Call plays that go to your team’s strengths and take advantage of the weaknesses of the defense. You can’t run straight ahead on every called running play. Earnest Graham is good, but a little deception now and then is OK too (ask the Dolphins).

Jeff Garcia has mobility, so use it and design something for him on the move! There has not been a single designed rollout for him between the 20’s or in the red zone.

Every two-point conversion play ever conceived rolls the QB out either on a naked bootleg or straight roll to give the team the most options. Against the Cowboys with the game on the line and 4th and 5, Gruden drops Garcia into the center of the pocket (just like every other passing play all day) expecting a receiver to open on a stop route at the sticks, like every other pass play called. Predictable? Duh.

Remember the last play of the Saints loss that lost Garcia his job? Fourth and five, everyone stop at the sticks, Fujita with that pick.

Jon, next time you get a third and one or fourth and one, fake it to Earnest Graham (he is now the fullback in short yardage and gets the ball every time) and throw it to your tight end running all by himself to the end zone!!

That may be a bit much to ask because that is old school philosophy and not quite sophisticated enough for this Bucs offense.

Bucs strong safety Jermaine Phillips could miss several games with an injury. Will Bruce Allen bring in John Lynch for a look?

No official word yet on strong safety Jermaine Phillips’ injury, but Jon Gruden talked Monday about Sabby Piscitelli needing to step up big time in Phillips’ absence.

Bucs Beat at TampaBay.com is reporting Phillips possibly broke his arm against Dallass.

“We’re going to miss him,” Kiffin said. When pressed, Kiffin wouldn’t get too specific on the diagnosis. “But that’s why we have Sabby Piscitelli. He’ll do good. He’s got to come through for us. And we’ve got Will Allen. He’s got to be ready to rotate now.”

Phillips was injured in the first half and did not re-enter the game. He later appeared on the sidelines with his arm in a sling. He was unavailable for comment after the game.

Joe must raise the possibility of John Lynch being signed by the Bucs.

The former Bucs legend said recently he is in great shape and sitting by the phone waiting to return to the league. Lynch was the Broncos defensive captain last year and reportedly left the club to find a team that would assure him of starter’s minutes on the field.

Joe knows Piscitelli, a Bucs 2007 second-round pick, is a great talent. But he has been fragile throughout his first two seasons.  If Lynch is willing to be a role player in the Bucs safety rotation, then he could be a fantastic option for the short term.

He surely would be more valuable on the roster than, say, Dexter Jackson.

When the Bucs needed a big play in the second half against the Cowboys, it was a bunch of second-stringers seemingly shutting down Tampa Bay receivers downfield.

Four reserves in the Cowboys secondary shut down the Bucs passing game in the second half. Injuries and a suspension left Dallass with four second-stringers in its nickel package.

Dallas cornerback Anthony Henry left the game in the third quarter with a bruised thigh. He joined cornerback Terence Newman, suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones and safety Roy Williams out of the lineup.

Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw took a fair shot at the pathetic Bucs passing attack.

When Jeff Garcia was trying to pass the Buccaneers into the end zone on the final drive, he was going against a nickel defense that featured safety Ken Hamlin and four guys who wouldn’t have been there if not for injuries and a suspension.

With no Terrence Newman, Adam Jones, [Anthony] Henry or Roy Willams, the Cowboys turned to rookies Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick and ’07 seventh-rounders Alan Ball and Courtney Brown.

And at day’s end, Garcia had thrown 44 passes for a meager 5.2 yards per attempt and no touchdowns.

Joe still can’t understand why the Bucs can’t get the ball down the field with Garcia, Galloway, Bryant and a decent tight end unit. Oh, yeah, it must be Chucky’s mysterious “running back shortage.

Chucky's blaming his offensive woes in Dallas on a "shortage of running backs." One problem: There is no shortage.

And the Oscar for Most Ridiculous Quote of the Year goes to … Jon Gruden. Cue the laugh track.

Here it is, spewed only minutes after the game, from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Joe recommends a deep breath before reading this one. 

Chucky on the Bucs: “It’s hard to call plays right now. We have a shortage of running backs. It hurt our team today. We had six straight penalties on the drive. Obviously, it was very deflating. We move the ball pretty good, but we have to score touchdowns to win in this league.”

Joe can’t believe the spin Chucky babbles with a straight face. Shortage of running backs? Who is missing?

Warrick Dunn was limited in the Dallas game with a nerve injury, but Earnest Graham is a workhorse back who is one of the most versatile players in the league.  And Michael Bennett is a healthy, young former 1,000-yard rusher buried on the bench.

Joe’s got a bad feeling Chucky is partially referring to Cadillac Williams. Caddy hasn’t played in over a year and returned to practice last week. If Chucky’s banking on Williams contributing, there isn’t much hope for the Bucs season.

Thanks for the laugh, Coach.

"Jeff, I know we need a touchdown, but don't throw it in the end zone."

Time to bust out the barf bags, after you finish screaming at Chucky for failing to throw the ball in the freakin’ end zone on the final drive.

You needed a touchdown coach. Take a shot!

So the Bucs enter the Dallas debacle with Joey Galloway healthy, Jeff Garcia sharp, the offensive line in tact and Antonio Bryant coming off a breakout game. Throw in workhorse Earnest Graham feeling good and Ike Hilliard back on the field, and that’s as healthy as it gets for Week 8 in the NFL.

And the Bucs put only nine points on the scoreboard.

It was the first time this season the Cowboys’ defense had held its opponent to under 10 points!

Some genius this Chucky is.

The Cowboys defense won the majority of battles with the Bucs offensive line, but they didn’t outplay them enough to have held them to nine points?

It’s time to start wondering whether the Bucs have enough offense to win a playoff game.

Today they played a playoff defense and wet themselves.

Chucky is in love with veteran quarterbacks yet avoids using seasoned punt and kick returners

Joe is stunned the Bucs pulled rookie Clifton Smith off the practice squad yesterday and thrust him into the game against Dallas as the No. 1 kick returner and punt returner.

Where was the logic there? Where was the sense of urgency for this critical conference game?

Obviously, benching rookie scaredy cat Dexter “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” Jackson, was a wise move. But throwing Smith into the top returner role was foolish.  And it cost the Bucs dearly.

Smith, 23, a free agent signing out of Fresno State, got off to a good start in the return game, but later fumbled for the Bucs first turnover. Dallas didn’t turn that into points. But Smith’s late-game screwup helped lose the game.

The Cowboys punted to Smith with four minutes remaning. He panicked and called for a fair catch and caught the punt on the Bucs 26 yard line with nobody within seven yards of him. NOBODY.

It was a classic rookie mistake by a rookie who didn’t belong in the game.

That play cost the Bucs at least 5 to 10 yards.  And likely precious time on the clock as they failed on the game-ending drive.

We’ve seen Michael Clayton return kicks, as well as Mr. Invisible, Michael Bennett. Remember him? Also, the Bucs had Ike Hilliard available and Joey Galloway. Hilliard had already lined up as a punt returner for the punt following Smith’s fumble.

Chucky is in love with veteran quarterbacks. It’s time for him to start dating seasoned returners.