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Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Another franchise that has not enjoyed that much success over its history is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite this, they still did win the Super Bowl in 2003 and continue to improve. This team was no doubt the best non-playoff team in 2010 and I think they were the first ones to call for reconstruction of the playoffs. Probably the worst thing about the Bucs were their uniforms, but we will get to the later. Now its time to start with the best coach in Bucs history.
Tony Dungy was nearly the first best coach of two different teams in this segment, but he missed out. Many players, in Warren Sapp, gave credit to their success during the 2002 season. Jon Gruden gets the credit here and before we start on the Bucs story, we have to look back at his. During the 2001 season as head coach of the Raiders, Gruden led Oakland to the AFC Championship Game and lost because of the infamous "Tuck Rule." The Raiders then "traded" Gruden to the Bucs for a 2002 and 2003 first round pick, 2002 and 2004 second round picks, and $8 million cash. This was the most a team ever had to pay for a head coach and Al Davis was the only one who would ever pull it off. However, it did blow up in his face. When Gruden arrived at Tampa, he retooled the offense and signed free agents like Keshawn Johnson to help do just that. Due to Gruden's fire as a head coach, the Bucs defense ranked #1 in the whole league and Tampa finished the season 12-4. Probably the most satisfying thing about that season was the fact Gruden coached against his old team in Super Bowl XXXVII and it was a 48-21 stomping. The two years after that Super Bowl victory was not good for Gruden and the Bucs, the team went 7-9 and 5-11 respectively. It could of been due in large part to Sapp's departure to the Raiders after the Super Bowl victory. When former Raiders GM Bruce Allen joined the Bucs in 2004, Gruden finally enjoyed a good draft including in the 2005 draft when he picked Rookie of the Year "Cadillac Williams." 2005 was an improving season for the Bucs but they were eliminated by the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card Round after an 11-5 season. While Gruden's best season was in 2002, his worst was in 2006 because he posted the worst record of his coaching career, 4-12. It was also the first time since 1991 the Bucs had not won more then four games in a season. The team signed veteran Jeff Garcia in 2007 and it led to a 9-7 season, but no playoffs. Gruden then won his 100th game as Bucs head coach in 2008, but was let go after the season ended. Gruden has the second best winning percentage in Bucs history behind Dungy and the fact he led a team to a Super Bowl that was known more for their jerseys then their play was amazing.
If this guy wasn't responsible for the Buccaneers success during that fateful 2002 season, I don't know who was. Derrick Brooks was chosen 28th overall in the 1995 Draft. In his 14 year career with the Bucs, Brooks played 221 of his 224 games. In his rookie season, Brooks started 13 out of 16 games and finished with 78 tackles with a sack. He also earned first team all-pro honors. In 1996, Brooks led the team in tackles with 132. Brooks enjoyed 10 consecutive trips to Hawaii and a Super Bowl season in 2002. It was probably his best season ever as a pro. He won Defensive Player of the Year honors and helped the Bucs win their ver first Super Bowl in franchise history. Brooks also had 117 tackles, a sack, and returned an NFL record (for a linebacker) five touchdowns. Brooks broke Lee Roy Selmon's team record of most consecutive Pro Bowls in 2003 with seven. Brooks didn't just stop at team records, in 2008, his last year with the Bucs, Brooks made it to his 11th Pro Bowl which is the second most in NFL history for a linebacker. Brooks also was voted as an All-Pro nine times, but it was the heart he played with that made Brooks the best Buccaneer of all time. Click here to look at Brook's stats.
John Lynch is the defintion of a good heart story in the NFL. The Buccaneers chose Lynch 82nd overall out of Stanford in the 1993 Draft. Lynch also played baseball for Stanford and was actually taken in the second round of MLB's 1992 amateur draft by the Florida Marlins. Lynch's football career proved to be much better then his baseball proffesion. I rememberr Lynch as being one of the sneakiest safties in the NFL. Sometimes as a QB you wouldn't know he was there because he wasn't that tall. Lynch was also noted as being one of the msot feared tacklers in NFL history and once he knocked out tight end John Allred. Ironically, Allred was Lynch's brother in law. So much brotherly love I can't stand it. Lynch had his best year in 2002 when he helped the Buccaneers when their first Super Bowl. Lynch was apart of a defense that included Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp, who I am sure will be in the Hall of Fame someday. Well put Lynch up there with them, because he is the best draft gem in Tampa Bay history. Look at Lynch's stats here.
There is alot to say about Vinny Testaverde. Some of it good, some of it bad. The good: Testaverde was able to stay in the league for 20 years. The bad: He started it with seven different teams and is the biggest draft bust in Buccaneer history. That is saying something considering the Buccaneers have had such an awful history. Testaverde was taken first overall in the 1987 Draft. The guy might of made two Pro Bowls, but neither was with the Buccaneers. Testaverde was made the Bucs starting QB in 1988 and threw 15 touchdowns along side 35 interceptions. Many people taunted Testaverde by saying that he was "color blind." Well Testaverde wasn't colorblind, he was just an awful QB. Testaverde's numbers improved slightly, but he was released by the Buccaneers following 1992 season. Being a draft bust hurts, but being a draft bust that was taken number one overall, now that hurts. The 1987 Draft was an attempt to copy the 1983 QB Draft Class, but just like all others, it failed. Future hall of famer Rod Woodson, would of been a nice sign of relief for Bucs fans, but I don't know if he would of liked to wear those jersey's (pictured). Well I'm not sure anybody liked wearing those jerseys, not even a bust like Testaverde. Click here to look at Testaverde's stats.
Nothing like a good old revenge game. That's what this was like for Bucs coach Jon Gruden, who was coaching against the team that traded him, the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders didn't anticipate that they would be playing against their former head coach and they would pay for their mistake. Amazingly, the Raiders actually intercepted a Brad Johnson and took a 3-0 lead. It would be the last lead they would enjoy all night. On the ensuing kickoff, it appeared that Aaron Stecker had fumbled the ball. Luckily it was reviewed and was over turned. The Bucs were able to capitalize and tied the game at three all. On the next Oakland possession, Rich Gannon threw an interception (wouldn't be his last of the day) to Dexter Jackson. Tampa Bay would take a 6-3 lead on a Martin Gramatica 43 yard field goal. Jackson, on his way to an MVP preformance, intercepted another Gannon pass but the Bucs were unable to capitalize on the next offensive possession. After a nice return off a Shane Lechler punt, the Bucs scored on a two yard Mike Alstott run and took a 13-3 lead. Before halftime, the Bucs drove 77 yards thanks to Alstott's two 28 yard receptions and scored a touchdown to take a 20-3 halftime lead. On the opening drive of the 2nd half, the Bucs marched 89 yards and scored on a eight yard touchdown pass received by Keenan McCardell stretching the Bucs lead to 27-3. Then a third Gannon interception was returned for 44 yards for a touchdown by Dwight Smith. Oakland was able to score on a 39 yard reception by Joey Porter, but they failed the two point conversion and cut the lead to 34-9. On the next possession the Bucs went three and out and were forced to punt, which was returned for a touchdown. The score was 34-15, but I don't think even Al Davis thought the Raiders were going to win this game. It seemed like the Raiders were starting to get some hope, however, when they recovered on a fumble and answered with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Rice to make the lead 34-21. To prevent the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, the Bucs ran the clock down and scored scored to take a 41-21 lead. With just over one minute left, Derrick Brooks returned a Gannon pass 44 yards for a touchdown to seal Tampa's 48-21 victory. It was such great satisfaction for Gruden to beat his former team and for the Bucs fans finally being able to see a Vince Lombardi trophy. Most importantly, it was the Buccaneers defining moment.
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