Top 10 Reasons Why RG3 Should Request Trade to Bucs

Hopefully, Robert Griffin III (RG3) will fully recover from his recent knee surgery and continue to dominate football as one of the NFL's most exciting players ever. But is he safe in the hands of greedy Redskin's owner Daniel Snyder and "win at all costs" coach Mike Shanahan?

With Josh Freeman's contract up for renewal, I feel now is certainly the time for RG3 to request a trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and my Top 10 reasons are below.

10. The weather in Tampa is considerably better than in Washington, DC, particularly during the harsh months late in the football season. Injuries and bruises heal faster in Florida.

9. Ronde Barber would decide to stick around another year to be a London Fletcher type of mentor.

8. He would no longer be confused with Cedric Griffin. Coach Schiano does not tolerate drug abuse. Just ask Aqib Talib.

7. The Bucs' groundskeepers keep the playing surface in top condition, unlike the field at FedEx Field which receives little maintenance.  Because Snyder had spent too much on gourmet food for the owner's box, the Redskins could not re-stripe and paint fresh logos on the field for a nationally televised NFC Playoff game.

6. Doug Martin reminds me a lot of Alfred Morris.

5. Rather than slur indigenous people, Bucs' fans head to the Hard Rock Seminole Casino after the game to hand them their money.

4. Tampa fans could care less about politics and do not realize the geographical difference between Washington DC and Washington State.

3. Rebecca Liddicoat would enjoy the pristine beaches over the dirty city, and with better schools and churches, Tampa would be an ideal place to raise children.

2. RG3's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, owns a home in Florida and practices in Gulfbreeze one day per week.

And the #1 Reason: Unlike Mike Shanahan, Coach Schiano would always protect his long term investments and would never sacrifice a star player's career, particularly with a 14-0 lead!

And many would ask, since the Redskins virtually sold their soul to acquire RG3, what would this deal cost?  I think it would take a trade for Eric Wright and Vincent Jackson, two second round draft picks, and a boatload of Adderall.

As you can see in the photo below, the last time Robert Griffin III visited Tampa, he asked the Buccaneers to pray with him for this trade to happen!

Buc's Press Conference After Firing Morris

The Glazer family scheduled a press conference today at 3:00 PM to release the facts and plans regarding their release of Raheem Morris earlier in the day after losing 10 games in a row.  Team co-chairman Joel Glazer announced that the team is currently assessing the situation and deciding the direction that the team needs to move in regard to a new coach.  Glazer stated that the family will do whatever it takes financially to win.

The Buccaneers plan to interview many coaching candidates before making any decision.  Glazer praised what Raheem Morris contributed to the team and made note of the class that he portrayed throughout his tenure.  He also indicated that the team planned to re-build primarily through the draft but will not rule out trading for free agent veterans, and that he's confident that they will get the ship (I like that pun) headed in the right direction.  Glazer refused to let any reporters nail him down to a timetable regarding the decision.  Joel stated that the long term objective of the team is winning as opposed to creating hype to sell a few tickets quickly in the beginning of an announcement.  General manager Mark Dominik will lead the search for the new coach and formulate the plan for the same.

At 3:14, Glazer turned the mic over to Dominik for continued questioning from reporters.  He indicated that he has spent considerable time reviewing team film in an attempt to analyze and evaluate the problems from this year.  Dominik said that Raheem Morris acted the true gentleman and accepted responsibility for his own part in the Buc's horrible season.  He stated that the team still believed in Josh Freeman and felt confident about the maturity of the linemen and their ability as leaders.  He also added additional confirmation to Glazer's comments regarding the fact that the team is committed to do whatever it takes to win.

Dominik stated that the team did not participate much in the free agent market this past year because of the limited time available after the strike and the strength of the young players that the team already on the roster.    

Bucs Fire Coach Raheem Morris

The Glazer family and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that they have fired coach Raheem Morris after his third year and a dismal 4-12 record.  There will be a press conference today at 1 Buc Place in Tampa to announce their intentions.  Former Titans coach, Jeff Fisher, stayed at the same hotel as the Buccaneers over the weekend in Atlanta, although he denied rumors that he was job seeking.  Fisher claimed that he visited Atlanta because his son was playing there in a bowl game.

More news after the conference at 3:00 PM.

Update: Here is a recent Tweet from Bucs Co-Chairman Joel Glazer:
“We want to thank Coach Morris for all his hard work and dedication as head coach of the Buccaneers.”

Update 1:34 PM Bucs announce via Twitter that they will receive 5th overall pick in the first round of the draft next year and alternate between 4th and 5th for the remaining rounds. I guess that's the prize for having such a crappy year.  More news to follow after 3:00 PM

Farewell Monte

The architect who so carefully designed the much feared Tampa Bay Buccaneer defense will grace Raymond James Stadium with his presence one last time this Sunday as the Raiders travel to Tampa to face the Bucs. Monte Kiffin will leave the Bucs after this season to join the staff at the University of Tennessee where his son Lane was recently named head coach. During his thirteen year tenure as the Buc's defensive coordinator, no other team in the NFL has allowed fewer points.

Monte will pass the torch to defensive backs coach Raheem Morris who, at 32 years of age, is younger than players Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber. Although young and with big shoes to fill, Morris' high energy attitude will fit nicely into the Tampa defensive scheme, especially if he continues with Kiffin's legendary Tampa 2 defense.

The Bucs will honor Kiffin during half time of Sunday's game in a bittersweet ceremony. Good luck Monte, you will be sorely missed, and SEC quarterbacks and running backs, beware!

Bucs Retain Lead in NFC South

The Tampa Buccaneers managed to maintain first place in the NFC South division by defeating the New Orleans Saints today 23-20 at Raymond James Stadium thanks to interceptions by Jermaine Phillips, Cato June, and Phillip Buchanon. Jeff Garcia and Warrick Dunn turned in relatively mediocre performances but with the help of the mighty Bucs' defense, it proved enough to propel them past the Saints.


Although both the Bucs and the Carolina Panthers enter week 14 at 9-3, the Bucs currently prevail in any tie-breaking scenario. Next week's match up with the Panthers may prove to be the most important game of the year as the two teams fight for undisputed first place in the hotly contested division.

Buccaneers Tame Lions

Earlier today, the 0-10 Detroit Lions jumped to a comfortable first quarter 17-0 lead over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Jeff Garcia and the never out Bucs decimated the Lions defense to comeback with 35 unanswered points. Garcia threw for only 165 yards but for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Ronde Barbe played another one of many career high games with two interceptions, one of which he returned 65 yards for a touchdown. The fumble prone but blazingly fast Clifton Smith ran back a punt 70 yards for six points.


With today's win and the Panthers loss to the Falcons, the Bucs move into first place in the fiercely competitive NFC South. Tampa Bay returns home for a Turkey weekend game against the Saints.

John Lynch Retires

Former Bucs safety John Lynch will announce his retirement later today from a news conference at the Buccaneers headquarters located at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa. The nine time pro-bowler, known for his hard hitting style, helped lead the Bucs to victory in the 2002 Super Bowl. Lynch played his first eleven seasons in Tampa until traded to the Denver Broncos in 2004, where he played the last four. He signed with the Patriots during this year's pre-season but they released him prior to the first game. Good Luck John and God bless!

Bucs Take Vikings by the Horns

In a brief respite from the rigors of managing a small business during a downward economic spiral and political blogging, the wife and I headed north to Raymond James Stadium to watch the Bucs stomp the Vikings.

Adrian Peterson slithered his way through the Tampa defense at every opportunity but to no avail as the Bucs defeated the Vikings 19-13.

Matt Bryant kicked 3 field goals and a rectivated B.J. Askew ran for a touchdown as the Bucs defeated their pre-realignment black and blue division rivals.

Bucs Rout Panthers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers assumed first place in the NFC South earlier today by soundly defeating the Carolina Panthers 27 to 3. Geno Hayes blocked a punt early in the first quarter and ran it back for a touchdown creating momentum that never wavered. The tenacious Bucs defense intercepted Jake Delhomme three times and prevented the Panther's offense from ever taking flight. Jeff Garcia performed flawlessly completing 15 of 20 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown to Alex Smith, and allowed no turnovers. Warrick Dunn rushed for 115 yards leaving only 11 for Earnest Graham, one of which scored six points. Matt Bryant added two field goals and three extra points but missed a 51 yarder ending his perfect season. Today marked the first time the Buccaneers have defeated the Panthers at home in Raymond James Stadium since the NFC South was created during the NFL's 2002 re-alignment.

Next week the Seahawks fly cross country to visit the 4-2 Bucs for John Madden's Sunday night game.

Bucs Fly to Mile High

The 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers flew to Denver this week to face the 3-1 Broncos with a need for a win to tie the 4-1 Carolina Panthers for first place in the NFC South. But Denver's Michael Pittman, who Tampa Bay released earlier this year, provided just enough offense to push the Broncos past the Bucs for a 16-13 win.

Some people carry an inner strength of immense calibre and beyond the capabilities of most others and Matt Bryant is one of those people. After burying his infant son Tryson only one week ago, he found solace on the football field and support from fellow team members to stay perfect for the year with two field goals and an extra point.

Brian Griese went down with a shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter allowing a recovered Jeff Garcia an opportunity to step up. Garcia looked a little rusty during the first possession but led the Bucs to a brilliant touchdown drive late in the quarter in an attempt to mount a Tampa comeback.

Next week the 3-2 Buccaneers will fight for a first place tie in the NFC South when they face the 4-1 Carolina Panthers at home. I'll see you there!

Matt Bryant Beats Favre-less Packers

After losing his three month old son earlier in the week, I'm not sure how Matt Bryant dragged himself out of bed today. But somehow he mustered enough strength to drive to Raymond James stadium and kick the Buccaneers past the Packers for a decisive 30-21 win. Bryant scored twelve of the Buccaneers thirty points with three field goals and three extra points.



Although a fierce competitor, we miss seeing Brett Favre lead the Packers, who before the NFL's realignment, were tough division rivals. The Packer's new franchise quaterback, Aaron Rodgers looked good today throwing for 2 touchdowns and only one interception but it was not enough to counter the attack from the Buccaneers even though Brian Griese threw 3 interceptions for the second consecutive week.

Next weekend, the Bucs travel to the mile high city to face the Broncos.

Our Prayers for the Bryant Family

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant and his family experienced a terrible loss Wednesday with the unexpected death of their three month old son, Tryson. Please keep this family in your prayers as they deal with this unimaginable tragedy. One day we know you'll be reunited in heaven.

Sunday - Bucs Yes, Politics No

Early this morning, I felt it time to break from political blogging and focus on other interests. On Sunday, we worship, we watch football, we ride Harleys, and we rant less about politics.

Today, the mighty Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolled into the windy city to face the Chicago Bears. The Buccaneers fell behind early with two Bears field goals, but struck back with an Ike Hilliard four yard touchdown reception from Brian Griese. The Buccaneers increased their lead to 14-6 when Gaines Adams picked off Kyle Orton for a 45 yard return for a touchdown. The Bears faked a punt with a direct snap to Garrett Wolfe for a 38 yard run to set up a 28 yard Robbie Gould field goal before time expired at the half.


A punting battle ensued well into the third quarter until broken by an Orton to Forte touchdown pass followed by a two point conversion allowing the Bears to reclaim the lead 17-14 late in the third quarter. The Bears followed with an unanswered TD pass from Orton to Brandon Lloyd midway through the fourth quarter to aparently clinch the game. But no, the never out Bucs struck back with a Matt Bryant field goal and a Brian Griese to Jerramy Stevens pass for a touchdown to tie the game and take it into overtime.

Halfway through the overtime period, the Bears' Charles Tillman gets flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct deep in their own territory to infuse new life into the Bucs drive and an eventual Matt Bryant field goal to cap the game. Brian Griese passed for over 400 yards for the first time in his career to carry the Bucs into their second consecutive win.

Buccaneers First Home Game 2008

Eight long months have passed with no regular season football in Tampa, Florida. An avid fan and club seating season ticket holder, I eagerly awaited the start of a new season. Sunday morning, after a hearty Cracker Barrel breakfast, my wife and I jumped into the 350Z and departed Fort Myers for the 2 hour plus drive to Tampa for the game. We pulled into the parking lot at Raymond James Stadium about an hour before kickoff. Tailgaters crowded the parking lot and excitement filled the air. We opted to skip tailgating and head into the stadium to enjoy the club area before it bacame too crowded.

Adrenaline and testoserone permeated the atmosphere as the first few bars of Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train reverberated through the stadium for the opening kickoff by the Buccaneers. Bucs rookie and first round draft pick Aqib Talib struck early in the first quarter picking off Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan at the 20 yard line and setting up a Brian Griese to John Gilmore pass for an early touchdown.

The Bucs struck two more times in the second quarter with a 17 yard Warrick Dunn touchdown run and a Matt Bryant 33 yard field goal before the Falcons had a chance to score with a 3 point Jason Elam kick from the 32 yard line. The Bucs stalled a little in the third and fourth quarters allowing two Elam field goals before Earnest Graham turned on the juice for a massive 68 yard touchdown run to clinch the win in spite of some seriously bad officiating. The 1-1 Buccaneers steam into Chicago next week to face the Bears and then return home to play the undefeated Packers and Aaron Rodgers on September 28th.

Buccaneers Less Threatening Than Gustav

The weather ravaged town of New Orleans and the Louisiana Superdome recovered from Hurricane Gustav quickly enough to avoid plundering by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saint's Drew Brees looked sharp early as he connected on a monstrous 39 yard pass to David Patten for a quick six points. But minutes later the Bucs' Phillip Buchanon answered with a 26 yard interception return for a touchdown.
A kicking duel ensued for the following 30 minutes as Matt Bryant kicked two field goals for the Bucs and Martin Grammatica added one for the Saints. Then the sky opened for both offenses as Brees threw an 84 yarder to Devery Henderson for a score, followed by Garcia to Ike Hilliard for six then Brees to Reggie Bush for another. The Saints shored up the win with a Fujita interception of Garcia with seconds remaining. The Buccaneers, with a home field advantage for the Superbowl, need to eliminate the turnovers and penalties if they intend to be there.