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TAMPA - I don’t want to burst everyone’s bubble, but doesn’t it bother you just a bit that the Bucs best players, at least on offense, are 37-year-old Jeff Garcia, 34-year-old Joey Galloway and 31-year-old Ike Hilliard.
Don’t get me wrong; ‘‘The Dinosaurs’’ are a great story, and you can bet the national media will be picking up on it if they continue to play the way they’ve been playing. But what does that say about the future?
If you’ll remember, this season started off with Coach Jon Gruden on the hot seat. That seat has cooled somewhat thanks to the 4-2 start the Bucs are off to, but how much cooler is it, really?
There’s little to indicate that the Bucs are on the verge of once again becoming a perennial playoff contender. They’re a contender this year, but it’s the likes of Garcia, Galloway and Hilliard that have made them such.
This is almost like 2004 gone right. Surely you remember 2004. That’s when the Bucs brought in Todd Steussie, Charlie Garner and a host of other aging veterans in an attempt to resurrect a dying Super Bowl champion.
The results were nothing short of disastrous. After going 7-9 in 2003, the Bucs went 5-11 in 2004. And truth be known, they still haven’t recovered from some of the mistakes they made that year.
They’re still looking for their quarterback of the future, their best young receiver is third on the depth chart and their star running back is recovering from season-ending, career-threatening knee surgery.
Some of those problems are not of the Bucs own doing, of course. Fate has played a role in a lot of this. But that doesn’t change the fact that the future of this franchise is no more certain now than it was last summer.
In fact, there are several teams that seem to be on a much faster track to long-term sustained success than the Bucs. I’d list Arizona as one of them, San Francisco as another and Tennessee as yet another.
Right now I see the Bucs in the same situation as the Green Bay Packers. They’re looking pretty good right now and giving their fans plenty to cheer about. But what lies ahead doesn’t seem so promising.
Two guys in the Bucs front office that don’t get as much credit for some of the good work they do are pro personnel director Mark Dominik and personnel executive Doug Williams. It’s their job to keep track of all the players that are out on the street and it was through their due diligence that the Bucs wound up getting left tackle Donald Penn last year.
Penn was on the Vikings practice squad when Dominik and Williams talked the Bucs into signing him to their active roster last year. That move went relatively unnoticed at the time, but Penn started drawing raves during training camp this year and his signing now looks like one of the better moves the Bucs have made the last few years.
There are some who believe Penn is already the best pass protector on the Bucs offensive line, and he’s not a finished product yet. He still has to build up some strength, particularly in his upper body, and he needs experience. He’s got good feet, though, and good mobility and he’s got a mean streak. And to think were it not for Dominik and Williams, he probably wouldn’t be here.
BENNETT FILLS NEED FOR SPEED: It’s hard not to like the trade for Michael Bennett. He may not be a starting caliber back, but he does give the Bucs a speed element that was lost when Williams went down. He’ll serve as a good complement to Earnest Graham and B.J. Askew and could prove to be extremely effective on screen passes (assuming the Bucs ever run one) and dump-offs. He’s got great speed and quickness through the hole, but like Williams he needs the line to open that hole for him. He’s not going to do it on his own, but that’s fine. If he gets through the line he’s a threat to break off a long one. That’s something the Bucs need. He’s young, too, just 29 years old, and he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on him. That means he could easily be around for several more years. We won’t know what the Bucs had to give up for him until he’s done producing this season, but if the picks remain second-day picks it seems like a good deal for the Bucs.
A SACK, SO TO SPEAK: If I’m Gaines Adams I’m giving back that sack I was given against the Titans last Sunday. There’s no way in the world I want my first sack to come as a result of me touching down a player who fell down and didn’t try to get up after he ran into his own running back. That’s like having your first NHL goal come as a result of some defenseman knocking the puck into his own net after you coughed it up to him in the slot. If I’m Gaines Adams I’m thinking, ‘‘I’ll have a lot of sacks in my career. I want the first one to be legitimate. I want it to be something I earned, not something I was given because I happened to be in the neighborhood at the time some quarterback fell down.’‘
WHITE DELIVERS THE HITS: While we’re on the pass rushers, let’s give a shout out to Greg White. You’re not hearing his name over the public address system very much but it’s not like this guy has disappeared since recording his first sack during the Week 2 game against New Orleans. Though he has yet to record his second sack, White has recorded four quarterback hits in the last three games, and two of them have been doozies. He laid a really hard hit on Peyton Manning two weeks ago and really laid out Vince Young with a hit this past Sunday. It won’t be long now before teams start double-teaming White. It’s either that or run the risk of losing your quarterback.
RUUD’S NAGGING KNEE: I’ve got a feeling Barrett Ruud is going to be bothered by that sore left knee of his all year. Ruud first hurt his knee during training camp when he strained a muscle behind the joint. He’s still being bothered by it, especially after games that are played on turf. He’ll probably come away from the game in Detroit this week feeling pretty sore, but two weeks of home games against Jacksonville and Arizona should allow him to regain near full strength. The problem is one that probably won’t require surgery to correct, but Ruud will need extensive rest to truly get over this nagging problem.
QUICK MONEY (SPENT): Bucs Executive Vice President Ed Glazer said this week that it took his family all of about five minutes to decide to donate $5 million to help build the Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa. Glazer said it might have been the fastest his family has ever decided to spend $5 million. If it was, it only ties the amount of time it took them to spend $5 million on quarterback Jeff Garcia back in March.
Posted by Kimberly Martin, Odessa, FL on 10/20 at 11:54 PM
Old? Yes, but so is your constant off target reporting. Gloom and doom will surely visit soon. You’ve predicted it so frequently, what is that saying about a blind squirrel and a nut? Hey, how’s that release of Simeon Rice from the Bucs/destruction of the ‘07 team going again, boys? I hear that Simeon STILL isn’t activated as a regular starter because his arm is not healed, and that he’s admitting to having made a mistake in going for a uni “off the rack” in Denver. But then again I actually read sports news elsewhere. Why have you not updated the locals on THIS story? 
Posted by Chris, on 10/20 at 09:16 PM
You were right on with this column. This offense is old and the only 3 productive players were guys who were in high school in the 80’s. Gruden/Allen don’t have what it takes to build an offensive unit through the draft, they cannot draft QB’s, Wide Receivers or running backs. If Gruden gets the extension he doesn’t deserve we are headed back into either the 1980’s type of mess or the Chiefs, no playoff wins for 13 years. Gruden should have been let go this past off-season but hopefully the Glazers will see that Gruden has no business being in control of this franchise.
Posted by ABuccsFan, Everywhere on 10/20 at 01:40 PM
WOW, this guy needs a restraining order.
Posted by John Garvy, Sarasota, FL on 10/19 at 12:40 PM
Dear Roy, I love Jon Gruden. He is the cutest hunk of a coach ever to grace the NFL. The way he scrunches up his nose when he is angry is so delightful. You’re not a very nice man Roy, the way you pick on Jon and Bruce. They are two of the greatest men ever. I put them up there with George Washington and Nelson Mandela. If Jon quits because you keep picking on him, well, well…I’ll never read the newspaper again. I’ll lock my self in my bedroom with a carton of Bon-Bons and cry myself to sleep for days. Jon if you read this, I love you….John Garvey
Posted by Ken Mayo, Philadelphia on 10/20 at 01:35 PM
What is with you fans. I live in Philly but I pay for season tickets every year, so I like my Bucs. But I don’t want a journalist to spoon feed me syrup all the time. I can see and enjoy the wins, but as for the long term I want to see and enloy wins then too. So if it takes some nitpicking friction to help keep them focused, so be it. Write on.
Posted by Edward Kirby, Land O Lakes on 10/20 at 10:08 AM
Guys like Ira and Roy are just disgruntled journalists. Of course they are agitated the Buccaneers are winning because this completely kills their season prognosis and makes them look like clueless squabblers. So as the Buccaneers keep winning and possibly sweep their weak division, they will just continue to write negative articles as they are paid to do.
PODCAST BY ROY AND IRA: 2015 Buccaneers season doomed because Gruden clogs toilet at One Buc place!
If these guys want to bash the home team they write for go back to Jersey or Philly or wherever you shmucks came from.
Posted by otaibi, Saudi Arabia on 10/20 at 06:49 AM
Where would the Bucs be if it wasn’t for Garcia?
The defense has improved from last year thanks the offense moving the ball and giving them time to breath on the sideline.
i appreciate your concerns about the future we all should be
We have a good team we don’t want to see it collapse.
Posted by Tyson Wolfe, Chicago on 10/20 at 01:16 AM
Roy,
Sorry bud, but you should find another line of work. It is amazing how inept you are at your job. At least Steve D. is thought provoking in a negative way.
You my friend are just cynical and bitter about the Bucs. I am no huge Allen/Gruden fan either, but I give credit where it is due, and point out junk (like what you write) when I see it.
Posted by David Howard Sr., ellabell, ga. transplant from Tampa on 10/19 at 06:54 PM
You speak of Gaines Adams giving back a sack,what about Michael Strayhan who was given a sack by Bret Favre and the GB front line to break the single season sack record. Which sack is more deserving or undeserving?
The league set the standard by allowing Strayhan to keep his sack so Adams should have no shame.
Sack On!
Posted by Patrick Michael O'Brien, Los Angeles, CA on 10/19 at 03:43 PM
Ridiculous. Go write for another team. Your obvious bias against the Bucs is quite annoying. I wouldn’t pay to read anything you write. Fraud.
Posted by Greg Haren, Houston, TX on 10/19 at 02:06 PM
Roy, your articles have become a joke! You are so obviously upset that the Bucs are winning because that means Gruden and Allen will get contract extensions, which is exactly what they deserve! Your grudge against the Buc front office is just proof of your laziness, get off your butt and find a scoop, Allen is not going to do your job for you like McKay did. I cancelled my subscription to The Sporting News when I saw they had you listed as writing their Bucs segments. I would encourage everyone to boycott your paper, especially if they want to know anything about the Bucs! If you want accurate Buc info that is not biased read PewterReport.com.
Posted by Clyde Smith, Tampa, FL on 10/19 at 12:31 PM
I wish I could say I am surprised. You people in the media are a joke. We should bring Dungy and McKay back so we can build a good team and loose in the playoffs every season. Then after a few years McKay can ruin our cap. I know you guys loved McKay because he hand fed you info but the guy was a bad GM. I know Dungy was your favorite coach but the guy couldn’t win. If it wasn’t for the great O that Manning gives him he would still be a good guy that can’t get the job done. You are washed up and your negative STORIES are a joke. I will never purchase the Tampa Trib or the Times. You guys have to be the worst journalists in the world.
P.S. If the readers of this mess want to get real Bucs coverage you should visit pewterreport.com.
Posted by John Garvy, Sarasota, FL on 10/19 at 11:39 AM
Dear Roy, I love Jon Gruden. He is the cutest hunk of a coach ever to grace the NFL. The way he scrunches up his nose when he is angry is so delightful. You’re not a very nice man Roy, the way you pick on Jon and Bruce. They are two of the greatest men ever. I put them up there with George Washington and Nelson Mandela. If Jon quits because you keep picking on him, well, well…I’ll never read the newspaper again. I’ll lock my self in my bedroom with a carton of Bon-Bons and cry myself to sleep for days. Jon if you read this, I love you….John Garvey
Posted by Diane Fan, Tampa on 10/19 at 11:05 AM
It’s difficult for fans to have local media that neither likes nor really pulls for their home team. Cummings and other Trib writers seem too often select subjects that bring the team down in spite of great wins and great team effort. Their very obvious bias against the Bucs Coach, GM and Ownership is puzzeling given that Media General is the official Bucs news source. I think the Bucs should seriously rethink their affiliation with a group that doesn’t report fairly or understanding about the play and the business of football.
It’s time for the Tribune executives to tell us the readers, fans and community exactly why you denigrate this team? Because you clearly have a hidden negative agenda.
And it’s become tiresome.
Posted by Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, CA on 10/19 at 10:22 AM
Roy…I’m the first one to admit that management and the coaches have made SOME bad decisions over the years. But, then again, every single staff and GM in the league make some bad decisions. This is a good staff, a good GM, and a good team. We have a great mix of young guys and veterans - that are playing very well together right now. There are pieces in place for the future. The positions that are getting up their in age WILL be replaced in time. there is nothing wrong with leaning on veterans…good teams have done that for a long time. You don’t see a lot of winning teams full of young guys, do you? It’s about a mix…we have that.
Posted by David Berube, Parrish, Fl. on 10/19 at 09:11 AM
Roy, I agree with about 90% of what you saying. I am a 15 year season ticket holder and refuse to drink the Allen/Gruden Kool-Aid.
Without Jeff Garcia, who will be 38 very soon, we’d be 1-5 at best.
Posted by Steve Dobbins, Tampa on 10/19 at 08:58 AM
Relax everybody. I think Roy is upset that he chose to play the newspaper editor instead of football in highschool. It’s obvious the man knows nothing about the sport. The only way he can feel better about his nonaccomplishments others’ acheivments. And Roy, do you even follow football? You wonder how much longer Garcia can keep it up? How about another 7 years until he’s 44 like Testeverde. You are an idiot. In your previous article you didn’t even get your facts straight, saying we went 11-5 en route to the Superbowl when even transplants that weren’t in Tampa that year know we went 12-4. I’ll never read another Roy Cummings article.
Posted by Bob McDonald, Naples, Fl. on 10/19 at 08:10 AM
Negitive articles, they sell papers. It is a marketing ploy. They hire an aging loser like ROY, they tell him what to write and he writes it. Any loser could do it. So Roy what are they telling you to write next week. How about the up side we are winning, we are having fun, tail gating,having game parties, we are winning you moron, good luck, try writng with your heart, not what your boss tells you.
Posted by Thomas D Marks, Tampa on 10/19 at 06:45 AM
Roy, after you wrote this article/blog you should have thought better about subjecting it for print. It is an extremely pathetic attempt to undermine the Buccaneer leadership. It is a shameless effort to run your agenda through the press and it will come back to bite you. I see you are upsetting readers from Ga to NC, so keep it up Roy. I think your job will be called into account before Grudens. All he is trying to do here is win…and he has and is.
Posted by Karlo Felix, FOB Kalsu - IRAQ on 10/19 at 04:02 AM
Hmmm…Let’s see what you had to say about our newly acquired RB: ..“That’s something the Bucs need. He’s young, too, just 29 years old, and ..”
I agree…JUST 29 years old;however, according to you, 31,34 and 37 are TOO old? Friend…I’m a soldier in the army (age 37) and has been one for the past 16 years. Let me tell you, I can still run 2 miles in 11 minutes or play a 90-min soccer game w/o much effort. Do you know what the average age of a Thriatlon athlete is?
You’d be surprised! GO BUCKS and thanks for bringing joy to us while deployed!!
Posted by Dave T, st pete on 10/18 at 11:59 PM
You’re a disgrace to the Tampa Bay area, and especially to the sports fans of the Bay area. I will NEVER read anything you’re associated with again. You’re a sickening, pathetic, dirt bag. If you’re not fired for this continued garbage, your editors are worse than you. PUKE!!!
Posted by rocketspeed, Tampa on 10/18 at 11:25 PM
HAHAHAHA!!!! Gotta love it. Roy’s getting owned. Finally, Roy’s incompetence is coming to light. Hopefully TBO will realize what an ignorant vindictive pessimist Cummings is and fires his #####.
Posted by Frank, tampa on 10/18 at 11:10 PM
I wouldnt really agree with the article as it seems all your talking about is how were going to be doomed.I think we have made great strides on bringing some talent in especially on Defense. Look how are defense has stepped up with great young players tenard, barett, even phillip has stepped up at corner and looks like a great pickup from last year. I love what the bucs are doing now and tired of all these critics ripping into them. Lets focus on this year and for are team and the great job there doing im sure we will continue to bring in great talent just like we did this year but can we get a positive article on what there doing now instead of how grave the future looks to you….
Posted by Don Lightfoot, LA, CA on 10/18 at 11:04 PM
Roy, even if your right, your a bummer.
Posted by Rob Berube, PLANET EARTH on 10/18 at 08:42 PM
NO THANKS…I live in Fl(life time Buc fan) & have land north of Charlotte, Nc In fact, last week, I watched the Bucs beat the Titans & Vinny beat the Cards on North Carolina television…we wouldn’t have Roy in NC.
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Posted by Michael Harris, Oldsmar, FL on 10/21 at 08:10 AM
In defense of Roy Cummings: his job is to write about sports, as a sports journalist. If you guys and girls on the blog, want to read what the fans think, read their comments, which are usually filled with prejudice toward their team; and rightfully so. While I don’t agree with Roy and other sports writers MOST of the time, I recognize their talent and job description. His job isn’t to please fans. His job is to report things the way HE sees it. I consider it a privilege that I can openly state my opinion on this blog, even though it often is in disagreement with Roy and other bloggers. Go Bucs!