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Upon Further Review Week 6

Posted Oct 20, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Oct 19, 2010 at 11:10 PM

Upon Further Review…

...the NFL got rich today. A handful of heavy hits this weekend (Harrison, Merriweather, Robinson) landed big fines. $175K from three players. Why don’t we hand out flags?

...our Bucs have played two games against top tier teams, and have been humbled in both games. We’re 3-2 and within a bye week of the top of our division.  I’m guessing we’re happy to be playing St. Louis this weekend.  Can we get a few games against Buffalo?

...Brett Favre spent today with NFL security investigators concerning his text messaging habits.  Uh oh.

...Tony Romo post game interviews really are must-see TV.  I bet they offer him a reality show next off-season.

...trade deadline came and went.  Surprise!  Albert Haynesworth is still a R’Skin.  Seems a certain preacher foretold that one.

...Michael Vick is ready to play, but not so fast—Kevin Kolb appears to have earned another week. 

...Big Ben is back.  Keep an eye on your daughters.

Back Thursday to tell you who will win this weekend!



Let’s See Who’s For Real

Posted Oct 16, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Oct 16, 2010 at 10:09 PM

In Pewter We Trust ~

We start the second quarter of our season, the first one in the books at 3-1.  How about we start this four game stretch against the reigning Super Bowl Champs?  Will the world take us seriously if we hold our own? 

I am so very thankful the Bucs read my last article and went out and found a new punter.  It has to be an upgrade—I mean, all the kid has to do is punt more than 20 yards and it’ll be an improvement.

Hey, just wondering—what ever happened to Maurice Stovall?  Any sightings in and around Tampa? 

Cody ‘Son-of-a-HOFer’ Grimm will face a stout test againt the Saints.  How do you think he’ll do?  Better bring his A game. 

Around The League ~

Must win for Dallas.  Must win for Minnesota.  I’m not intellectual, but something tells me these two teams are on a collision course.  I say the loser misses out on he post-season.

And in Buffalo, it’s the bye week.  Is Chan Gailey’s house for sale yet?

The Commish summoned Brett Favre to meet with him on Tuesday.  You know what that means?  Mrs. Commish received a text message.

Let’s get to the picks.  I don’t want to talk about last week.  So here we go again.  Like the Bucs punting game, I can only improve, right?  Bears over S’Hawks; Pats over Ravens; Giants over Lions; Eagles over Falcons (Welcome back, Mr. Vick!); Steelers over Browns; Packers over Dolphins; Chargers over Rams; Bucs over Saints (definitely a heart pick); Niners over Raiders; Jets over Broncos; Vikings over Cowboys; Colts over R’Skins; Titans over Jags. 



Upon Further Review Week 5

Posted Oct 13, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Oct 13, 2010 at 10:41 AM

Upon Further Review…

...someone at One Buc is reading my blog! THANK YOU for dismissing the awful Aussie! Now go get us someone who is consistent. I mean, there are only 32 punters in the league—surely there is someone out there who can do this. Find him. Dress him in pewter, and let’s get out of the hole.

...hold on a minute. Got a text message from Brett Favre coming in. Oh my!  Seriously, did you catch the Monday Night post-game presser? Every other question was answered with the standard, “If you have any questions about the game…” No one cared about the game. You lost. Now about your cell phone…

...Wade Phillips’ job isn’t in danger. Don’t bet on it. How about the game this weekend between the Vikings and Cowboys? I’d say that spells ‘Must Win’ for both teams. And Phillips? Another couple of shocking losses, and there will be no 2011 for the man in Dallas.

...is Chan Gailey’s house on the market yet? No kidding—I just went to the Bills’ website. The lead story headline reads: “Players Only Meeting”. It’s like a comedic routine—You’re season might be over if…

...the Chiefs are no longer undefeated. The ‘72 ‘Fins can sip champagne early this year. And the world can return to normal. The Chiefs? Come on.

...Big Ben is back in Pittsburgh. Not a moment too soon, either. They’d just about run out of replacements for him. Now, keep your hands to yourself and your eyes on the ball, Ben.

...Speaking of running out of signal callers—how about the Browns? They’ve got two QBs with significant limps, and a rookie. It’s rookie time. He’s the future anyhow. It’s not like Delhomme or Wallace are long term answers. They’ve been tackling dummies thus far. Put the rook in coach. Oh, and polish up the resume.

And on the topic of resumes, mine is looking horrible this season! Oh my! Another lousy outing (blame it on the upsets!) for me, at 7-7. Five hundred? I’m playing like the Houston Texans, for goodness sake. I’m better than that. Give me another twelve weeks. I’ll turn it around. The hot streak starts this week. Be back on Thursday to get ‘em all right.



First Quarter In The Books

Posted Oct 11, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Oct 11, 2010 at 10:10 AM

3-1? You’ll take it!

Just as quickly as the wind left the sails after the Steelers loss two Sunday’s ago, it’s back.  Don’t look now, but your Bucs are 3-1, and ‘if the playoffs started today’... STOP! There is a long way to go. But in the race to ten, we’re off to a very good start. Set our sights on New Orleans now—the Super Bowl Champs. They will arrive at Ray-Jay with a big chip of embarrassment on their shoulders, as we surprised them at the end of last season, and as an unknown QB and the Arizona Cardinals humbled them yesterday. Talk about a recipe for disaster: an angry championship caliber team. Young Josh, this one will be a contest.

Do know that this win in Cincy wasn’t one to thumb the nose at. Yes, the Bengals made mistakes and let us take the win. But we collected those mistakes and made the most of them. As important, we made plenty of mistakes of our own, and we overcame them. That’s a good win to grow on.

Good, Bad and Ugly?  You bet! GOOD: How about great?  Our young guys!  Let’s start with our receivers: A plus!  I’m telling you, this group will surprise a lot of people.  I haven’t seen a drop since Michael Clayton left One Buc.  These guys are going to be special.  Cody ‘Son-of-a-HOFer’ Grimm: A plus!  Talk about a redemptive performance?  You never want to see a safety lead your team in tackles, but at least Cody made the stops.  Cody made the pick.  Cody made the paint.  BAD: This week he had a punt for 15 yards!  Please, Rah, go find us a punter.  Chris Bryan’s average is a paltry 33 yards with a net of like 28.  There has to be someone else.  UGLY: ‘Fans’ who were jumping off the bandwagon post Steelers game, who are scrambling back on this morning.  Who needs ya?  Either you’re a fan, or you’re not.  Which is it? 

Got to go.  There’s a text message coming in from Brett Favre.  Back tomorrow to wrap the weekend. 



Back From The Bye

Posted Oct 8, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Oct 8, 2010 at 09:42 AM

In Pewter We Trust ~

Who is Derrick Ward and why would anyone care what he has to say about the Bucs? Give me $6 million to contribute next to nil- I promise I won’t complain!

Let’s take it on the road. The road has been friendlier than home of late. Besides, the locals are going to be able to see this on TV.

The D-Line is poised to wreak havoc in our opponent’s backfield. I’m excited for that. A couple of Carson Palmer sacks or forced errors could go a long way to helping us Sunday.

Everyone is up in arms that we didn’t get a new safety over the bye. I’m as concerned we didn’t get a new punter. Another week of 25 yard Chris Bryan punts?

I say give Cadillac the ball 30 times. I’m tired of all the critics about his yard per carry average. Realize, people, that we’ve been playing defenses who are not afraid in the least of our passing game. Wait a couple weeks. All will be well and balanced in the stat-world. I promise. And the ‘B Train’? I’d like more than a few carries from our rookie street-fighter before we anoint him the second comingof Alstott. I’m just saying.

Around the League ~

It’s all Moss, all the time. Rumors of issues in New England; strategies in Minnesota; aging in Favre—well, at least that’s a fact—and poor Randy, sent from one future hall of fame QB to another. Oh and look how it worked out for the NFL: an unexpected rematch between the Island and the Slouch. My money is on the Slouch… again.

Jay Cutler won’t play after all. Still a bit shaken after his head bounced off the turf last weekend. He woke up and realized he was in Chicago, not Denver.

The Kevin Kolb experience really hits the field this week. No McNabb. No Vick. It’s Kolb or bust. Uh… what do you think?

Hotel WIFI where I’m staying is suspect. Let’s get to the picks before this connection goes Buffalo Bills on me: Bills over Jaguars (No, I’m not kidding. I’m humming O Canada as I type this.); Bucs over Bengals (okay this one is my heart more than my head… but we are hot on the road); Falcons over Browns; Lions over Lambs; Colts over Chiefs; Packers over R’skins; Panthers over Bears; Ravens over Broncos; Texans over Giants; Saints over Cards; Chargers over Raiders; Cowboys over Titans; Niners over Eagles; Jets over Vikings. There you have it. 



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