From the Desk of Cutthroat.....

Bucs News:
Man so much has been going on, I last left off at the Bucs Fan Fest, which has now passed. Another success.

This past Monday was also another first for the Bucs as "Making the Squad" aired on the NFL Network, channel 212 as us Direct TV customers well know. This was a good show, my wife and I watched not just because we are Bucs fans, but our good friend’s girlfriend just made the squad and she was on the show. The next episode airs this Monday, and Yes, I will be watching.

Talking about the NFL Network, they have the Bucs like never before, this Monday at 8PM is Making the Squad - Tampa Bay Bucs - Episode 2 - The three-part series chronicles all aspects of the cheerleader audition process as veterans compete to maintain their positions while eager rookies struggle to make the team.

followed by The Birth of the Bucs - follows the terrible 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers through its first season from training camp to the end. Much of the footage is outtakes and mistakes because this was not only a bad season for the team, but also a test to NFL Films crews since they had never done anything like this before. Also includes footage of other people in the NFL.

Then Thursday, June 15, 2006, the NFL Network will air at 8pm 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Under head coach Jon Gruden, the Buccaneers finished the regular season 12-4. Led to the playoffs by defensive player of the year Derrick Brooks, the Buccaneers defeated the 49ers and the Eagles on their way to a victory agains the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.

8:30pm Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders - Under head coach Jon Gruden, the Buccaneers' defense that featured Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks intercepted five passes, three of which were returned for touchdowns en route to the franchise's first Super Bowl victory 48-21 over the Raiders. After two interceptions, Bucs safety Dexter Jackson was named MVP.

9 p.m. -- Game of the Week (Normal show where the NFL Network picks a game and we get to watch it again)
2005 Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - (12/24) - 24-27, OT - Matt Bryant's 41-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining in overtime Saturday gave the Bucs a 27-24 victory over the Falcons and a share of first place in the NFC South heading into the final week of the season. Chris Simms threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns.

Also yesterday the NFL Network interviewed Michael Clayton. He talked about the typed “contract” between him and Coach Gruden. He said that he was brought into be the “GO TO GUY” and Gruden still plans on using Clayton that way. He stated he is healthy and ready for this season. He was asked about his and Chris Simms relationship, which he said was good and even hinted about the rumor (Simms has talked publicly about Galloway, and David Boston, but has left Clayton out of the headlines). Some say that Simms is doing this just to keep Clayton on his toes. You can watch the video at www.buccaneers.com .

I will be adding to my Video collection this next week. I have a huge Bucs Video collection of old games, new games, interviews, HBO Inside the NFL, The Superbowl, to include that entire year, anything and everything you name it, I record it.

Around the NFL and Fantasy Talk:

Steve McNair passed the Ravens team physical Thursday morning, according to the Baltimore Sun, completing the final step in the deal which sends the quarterback from Tennessee to Baltimore in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2007. The Ravens have called a press conference for later Thursday afternoon to formally announce the deal. Huge Fantasy impact here, since the Ravens number one receiver played with McNair.

Carson Palmer won't participate fully in the Bengals' minicamp which opens June 15, but head coach Marvin Lewis still thinks his quarterback will be ready for the start of the season. When asked if he thought Palmer would play during the preseason, Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "Yes." Lewis also said he believed Palmer would start the regular-season opener September 10 against the Chiefs.

In a move that appears to be salary related, Patriots wide reciever Deion Branch is not attending the passing camp being held this week in Foxboro. While the camp is technically deemed "voluntary," sources close to Branch have told the Boston Herald that he may not attend the mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 13-14 as well. Jayson Chayut, Branch's agent, would not comment on the situation, but Branch has told those around him that he is considering taking any necessary steps to get what he deems a fair market contract

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will join Donovan McNabb and Matt Hasselbeck as pitchman for Campbell's Chunky Soup. A commercial starring Roethlisberger, his mother Brenda, and six Steeler teammates will begin shooting at Heinz Field next week. This is bad news for Steeler fans. There is a curse with this commercial, every NFL Player that has done Chunky Soap has been hit with the Injury Bug. Donvan, and our beloved John Lynch.

Niners wide receiver Arnaz Battle is expected to return to practice on Tuesday after sitting out on Monday due to swelling in his knee. "I had another MRI done and there are no problems structurally or anything," Battle told 49ers.com. "My knee is still stable but I had some swelling in there because of the workload. It's frustrating not to be out there taking reps but I don't expect it to be a lingering problem."
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb addressed the media following practice on Tuesday and provided an update on his return from hernia and groin surgeries. "I would like to say at 100 percent, but you never know until you put the pads on and get back into a scrimmage situation or a possible game situation," he told the team's official web site. "I feel like I've been getting stronger and with the flexibility trainer I've been working with...I'm getting looser...I am pretty much already convinced to say I am healthy, but until (I'm) tested, we won't know for sure." McNabb underwent surgery on November 28, 2005 to repair a sports hernia and a groin tear.

After attending mandatory minicamp workouts over the weekend, Bears running back Thomas Jones skipped a voluntary team meeting on Monday morning, according to the Chicago Tribune. As such, the disgruntled rusher is not expected to attend the team's upcoming voluntary workout sessions. Bears running back Cedric Benson once again got most of the first-team reps. Rumor has it that Coach Smith is pissed at Thomas and Thomas as asked to be traded.