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!

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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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Upon Further Review Week 4

Posted Oct 6, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Oct 6, 2010 at 09:12 AM

Upon Further Review…

...Randy Moss is a Viking!  It’s like deja-vu.  Except now he’s going to be catching passes from sixty-four year old Brett Favre.  This Pats fan isn’t too happy about the move.  But this is what happens when you’re a Patriots player and you publicly criticize management.  See ya, Moss!

...Brett Favre looks a bit happier this morning.  But will this help?  Those six picks in three games weren’t all on the receivers.

...Marshawn Lynch was of value to the Bills, after all.  Trade value.  Shipped him to Seattle.  That’s nowhere to send someone you love.  You thought Buffalo was bad?  See how he likes Pete Carroll’s Glee Club.  I’m guessing he’s just happy to be back in the NFL after his stint in the CFL with Buffalo.

...Andy Reid had got to be consuming Rolaids and Tums like they’re candy.  Michael Vick was providing some cover before his rib injury—but the reality is, the decision to ship D-Mac to Washington and hand the keys to Kevin Kolb was… (I’ll be gentle) a blunder.  Halloween is still three weeks away, but the horror is in full swing for the Eagles.  Ladies and Gentlemen, Your QB of the future—Kevin Kolb!!!  Does anyone have Jeff Garcia’s number?  Randall Cunningham?  A. J. Feely?  Rex Grossman? 

...Dwayne Jarrett got drunk.  Dwayne Jarrett got behind the wheel.  Dwayne Jarrett got his second DUI.  Dwayne Jarrett got unemployed!  Did you see that Rex Ryan?  Did you see that Jets fans?  Kudos to the Panthers.

Ah, yes, and another week of upsets left me a pedestrian 9-7 on the weekend.  Oh well, at least the Pats abused the Marine Mammals on Monday night.  Delightful wasn’t it?  Somebody call Greenpeace!  I’ll be back on Thursday to try again with the picks.

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Bucs fans are trending towards despair

Posted Oct 1, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Oct 1, 2010 at 11:58 AM

In Pewter We Trust ~

Bucs fans are trending towards despair—and we’re 2-1 and atop our division. Go figure! Sure, the Steelers made us look like a Pop Warner team, but one week does not a season make (or break). Let’s focus our attention on the Bengals after the bye. Let’s focus on getting another hard fought road win. Look at the bright side—more Bucs fans are likely to show up in Cincinnati than at home these days.

Tanard Jackson is headed to rehab. I’m happy the young man is going to work on this. I wish him well. The team still hasn’t signed a safety—so the answer is going to have to be the rookie seventh rounder, son of Hall of Famer. Take a breath. It will be okay.

It’s a week of rest. Let’s enjoy it.

Around the NFL ~

Anyone else thinking Darrelle Revis’ decision to sit out all of the off-season might be part of why he’s now having to sit out games that matter with a strained hammy? When will they learn? How much money is he making to be a couch-potato? Oh, and by the way Darrelle—the touchdown play that put that twinge in your hamstring, that was The Slouch, leaving you in the dust for six. I’m thinking it’s poetic justice—the rest of the Jets got TV time on Hard Knocks, Revis will get his as that beautiful Randy Moss catch is revisited on highlight reels for years to come.  Darrelle Revis’ starring role.

In New York, it’s official: Tom Coughlin is a big meany!  Tiki is being inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor this week, so naturally he’s on the talk circuit—stirring up Coughlin ire. This is New York we’re talking about. I’d say a couple more lopsided losses for the G-Men and Coach Tom might disappear.

D-Mac is headed back to Philly this week. Michael Vick and the Eagles await. Oh the drama. The Redskins lost to the Rams last weekend. Doesn’t that take some of the air out of the balloon?

The Preacher hit the skids last weekend for sure. A sub-five-hundred tally is unacceptable. Sort of like losing to the Rams. Let Week Four be remembered as the week I got back in the saddle.  Here goes: Falcons over Niners; Jets over Bills (Hey, is Chan Gailey’s house on the market yet?); Bengals over Browns; Packers over Lions; Titans over Broncos; Seahawks over Lambs; Saints over Panthers; Steelers over Ravens; Colts over Jaguars; Texans over Raiders; Chargers over Cardinals; Eagles over Redskins; Giants over Bears; Patriots over Dolphins. BYE: Bucs—finding their Rah; Chiefs—wishing they weren’t on an early Bye; Cowboys—pointing fingers; Vikings—wishing they had a Bye week each month.

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Upon Further Review Week 3

Posted Sep 28, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Sep 28, 2010 at 10:48 AM

Upon further review…

...Send Trent packing! Man, just last week they decided he wasn’t good enough to be their starting QB.  Now they’ve decided he’s not good enough to carry a clip board for ‘em.  Don’t look now but the CFL Bills are at it again.  And Trent Edwards is on the open market?  Takers?  I bet he winds up in the UFL.  Another go-round of J. P. Losman (pronounced LOSS-man) anyone?  Hey, is Chan Gailey’s house on the market yet?

...Start over from scratch in San Fran, too. Head Coach Mike Singletary fired his offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye after just three games. I say Jimmy Raye is fortunate Coach Singletary fired him instead of the alternative—wasn’t it just a year ago when the Coach decided to drop his pants in the locker room to make a point about the embarrassing play of his team?  All in all, Raye’s probably much happier with the pink slip.

...The Cowboys are better than their first two games indicated. They beat the cross-state rivals, the Texans on Sunday.  Wade and Jason last at least another couple of weeks.  It was getting close, though.

...Pittsburgh might just be fine without Ben.  Shoot, maybe they could cut his womanizing out of their organization altogether and just go with fifty-seven year old Charlie Batch from here on out.  You think?

...Coachers are already feeling the heat.  The aforementioned Gailey in Buffalo—‘nuff said.  How about Jack DelRio in Jacksonville?  You have to think that Mike Holmgren is reviewing his decision to hold onto Eric Mangini.  In Caroline, John Fox’s seat is getting really hot!  Former Steelers’ Coach Bill Cowher is publicly sounding like he’s ready to get back in the game.  The Panthers play in his back yard.  You do the math.

...No, I’m serious. Is Chan Gailey’s house on the market yet?

Back on Thursday to tell you how they’ll fall in week four.

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Rematch In February?

Posted Sep 27, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Sep 27, 2010 at 09:53 AM

Ouch!  Maybe we should thank the Steelers for giving us a swift kick in the pants.  Maybe now we’ll play better the next time we meet—on February 6th in Dallas.  What?  Worst to first?  We’re in the NFC South, remember?

Okay, I’ll be serious.  The beatdown was thorough.  They schooled us with a fifty-seven year old washed-up QB, for heaven’s sake.  How is it that we made that man look like an MVP?  Our offense couldn’t get anything going, to the point that even the coaching staff thought better of attempting a fourth and two late in the game—because that would just mean that they’d sent the old war horse back out and lay another seven on us!  And while I’m talking about punting, what is with this Aussie?  Punts of 20 and 25 yards when we need him to boom the thing?  What ever happened to the old Carolina Panthers punter who was on steroids?  Is he available?  How about one of the Buccaneers Cheerleaders on steroids?  Captain Fear?  Someone?  Dude—this Pigskin Preacher can punt a ball more than 25 yards.  I’m just sayin’.

Good, Bad and Ugly - wasn’t it all pretty ugly?  Oh, I’ll try.  Thinking.  Give me a minute…  Good: LeGarrett Blount.  He went forward.  He didn’t punch anyone (at least not on camera).  That’s good.  I’m excited to see what he offers week in and week out.  Bad: So much to choose from.  I’ll give this award to Tanard Jackson.  At least one of those Charlie Batch TDs was on Tanard and his bong.  Welcome to the NFL Cody Grimm.  Ugly: Buccaneer fans who are writing us off.  Not so fast, my friends.  A good drubbing like this may be just what the doctor ordered!  I’m telling you, there is something redemptive in a gut check like this.  It’ll leave a bad taste, and for two weeks at that.  This may be just what the doctor ordered for our race to ten.  Back tomorrow with my week three wrap-up.

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Are They For Real?

Posted Sep 24, 2010 by Darin Shaw

Updated Sep 24, 2010 at 09:16 AM

In Pewter We Trust ~

It seems that the rest of the NFL world doesn’t buy the 2010 Bucs.  There’s scarcely a mention on the national talk circuit after our 2-0 start.  They’re talking about Chicago’s, Miami’s and Kansas City’s 2-0 start—not ours.  Shoot, they’re talking about Buffalo’s 0-2 start more than the Bucs.  I say, let ‘em all remain unconvinced!  The Steelers are coming to town.  They have a great defense and a beast of an offense.  Of course, when we beat them on Sunday people will point to the fact that they’re down to their fourth string QB. 

News this week that a quarter of our secondary went up in smoke.  In the last year of his deal, on the eve of what people are saying could be an uncapped horizon—Tanard’s future may have just gone up in smoke, too.  Word to Tanard: Stay away from the stadium the rest of the season, even if Aqib Talib offers you a plush seat in his stadium box!

In Buccaneer spin, all the talk has been on the running game’s lack of production.  Am I concerned?  Not really.  We ran the ball pretty effectively against Cleveland.  We didn’t pile up the yardage against Carolina, but they tend to be a tough defense to run on.  Now the Steelers come to town with their top-tier defense.  I don’t look for the yard-per-carry average to jump this week.  That said, I think we’ll be okay.  As the passing game continues to grow in effectiveness, our opponents will give us less eight-in-the-box looks.  It’ll pick up.  The key will be perseverence.

It’s an NFL world ~

The Toronto Argonauts (aka Buffalo Bills) are starting a new QB.  Wait.  Didn’t they take all offseason to decide that Trent Edwards was THE MAN?  Apparently two games was enough to decide Ryan Fitzpatrick is THE MAN.  Is Chan Gailey’s house on the market yet?

Braylon Edwards will play, but won’t start for the Jets on Sunday.  That’s the word from Head Coach Rex Ryan.  Of course, those weren’t the only words from Rex—there was a fair amount of profanity in there.  I have a completely different take.  Sure it’s bad that he was arrested for DUI and he should be disciplined.  But I think they ought to suspend him four games for that horrible looking beard he’s wearing!  With that beard, Homeland Security and TSA might stop him from getting on a plane for the trip to Miami, thinking they’ve caught an Al Qaeda operative.

The real wait-and-see of the week is playing out in Texas.  If the Texans send the Cowboys to 0-3, I’m guessing all hoopla breaks loose. This weekend, a couple of 0-fers will get the egg out of the win column and a couple of perfects will get dinged.  Vikings fans, take heart.  Nothing spells remedy better than a game against the Lions, eh?  The Cowboys are wondering why they can’t play the Lions.

You want to know how it’s going to go down?  I’m here to tell you.  The Preacher is a respectable 22-10 on the season so far.  Try these on for size: 49ers over Chiefs; Vikings over Lions; Patriots over Bills; Saints over Falcons; Giants over Titans; Original Browns over Replacement Browns; Texans over Cowboys; Bucs over Steelers (and that’s not a pick with my heart—that’s a bonifide belief in an upset!); Bengals over Panthers; Eagles over Jaguars; R’skins over Rams; Colts over Broncos; Raiders over Cardinals; Seahawks over Chargers; Dolphins over Jets; Packers over Bears.

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