A Blast from the Past: Number 56, LB, Hardy Nickerson:

Hardy, Hardy, Hardy, Hardy, Hardy.... The famous chant by Buccaneer fans from 1993-1999.

Hardy Nickerson was drafted in 1987 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 5th round and 122nd pick overall out of California.




As promised here is this weeks "A Blast from the Past". This is my way to pay tribute to the great Buccaneer players of the past. Some of these players are in our hearts as Buccaneer fans, but will never be honored any other way. This week I picked the great Hardy Nickerson, linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hardy was the most popular and hard-working Buc ever, he did more to revitalize the new-Bucs on the arrival of Tony Dungy than any other player.




The Buccaneers acquired Hardy as an unrestricted free agent from Pittsburgh in 1993. This was a time when free agents were not really a big part of the NFL yet. Hardy become one of the all time great free agent acquisitions for the Buccaneers. The BuccaneerÂ’s traditionally have not done well in free agency up until late. During a time that the Buccaneers where deciding who was to be owner, whether the team would stay in Tampa or move out of the State, Hardy was the onconsistencyncy the Fans had. In 1995, the Glazers bought the Buccaneer franchise an ensured that Bucs would remain in Tampa. Hardy had already been to one Pro Bowl in 1993, but it was not until 1996 when Coach Dungy was hired and Monte Kiffin's first season as defensive coordinator saw the Bucs began to turn the corner. Hardy was the focal point of the defensive. Hardy would continue to go to the Pro Bowl from 1996-1999. Hardy played his part in changing the Bucs. Hardy the only Buccaneer Pro Bowler would bring back Pro Bowl T-shirts for the unknown stars and told them this is the level that they needed to play at in order to change the Buccaneers history. The players joined Hardy and in 1997, Alstott, Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, Mayberry and Dunn joined Nickerson in the 1997 Pro Bowl. This marked the change of the Buccaneers along with the new uniforms and logo of the 1997 season. Hardy left the Buccaneers after the Bucs refused to give Hardy the contact he sought. He left as a free agent when the Jaguars offered him a crazy contract. He played through two injury ridden years and was let go by Jacksonville during the 2002 off-season. He spent 2002 as a Packer in Green Bay, proving the Bucs had seen the best seven years of his career. Hardy is now retired and from time to time he shows up at One Bucs Place.



Hardy Nickerson played for the Buccaneers from 1993-1999.



Nickerson at the end of his Buccaneer career: 7 interceptions for a total of 57 yards, 603 solo tackles, 425 assisted tackles, and 9 sacks.

Hardy to this day still holds the Buccaneer record for most tackles during a season with 214 tackles in the 1993 season.



Hardy Nickerson was selected by the Pewter Report as the number 8th greatest Buc of all time and tagged "the hulk”.

Hardy was named as the 3rd Greatest Buccaneer Player of all-time by BUCPOWER.COM in 2003.

Coach Jon Gruden has done his best to keep Buccaneer Tradition alive. He brings old players together with the new players. He has been instrumental in hiring old players to help with his staff: Reggie Cobb and Doug Williams. Lee Roy Selmon has even been offered a job, but has turned it down. However, the Buccaneers have named the War Room for the (draft) as Lee Roy Selmon room.

Seen here is a picture of Coach Gruden with Hardy Nickerson.


Thanks Hardy for all that you have done.

NFC Divisional Playoffs Update:

The NFC Playoff picture to date:
Well for me it all revolves around the Bucs of course, so after their horrible lost this week here is where they stand. Over all this week was a good week for the Bucs and the playoff picture. The two bad things that happened this week was the Bucs lost, but at least it was to an AFC team and not an NFC team. The other bad thing that happen was the Panthers won. They are now alone again at the top of the division.


Here is the break down:


1)NFC WEST:12-2 Clinched Division Title/First Round Bye.



2)NFC NORTH:10-4



3)NFC SOUTH:10-4



4)NFC EAST:10-4



5)NFC South:9-5








Washington at 8-6 would fill the six seed if the Playoffs started today, due to a better Division and Conference record.

The other teams fighting in order of Conference strength is:
Dallas 8-6
Atlanta 8-6
Minnesota 8-6

This week Atlanta lost to Chicago which helped the Bucs. The Bucs face Atlanta Saturday, December 24th, 2005 at Raymond James Stadium. With a Bucs win, it could eliminate the Falcons from Post Season.

Dallas lost to Washington which helps the Bucs out, due to the fact that they beat the Skins, plus it knocked the Cowboys down a game.

Minnesota fell to the Steelers. This also helped the Bucs since the Bucs lost this week. Minnesota was a hot team going into this weeks game, a lost sets them back a game behind the Bucs.

Important Post Season games for the Week 16:

1) Atlanta @ Bucs. A Bucs win would put them at 10-5 and secure a playoff spot.

2) Dallas @ Panthers. Go Cowboys- A Panther lost would give the Bucs 1st place again in the NFC SOUTH. It would also make the Cowboys 9-6 and put them in a tight race for the last wild card spot.

3)Giants @ Washington. Big game for Washington. A win would make them 9-6 and should help them get into the playoffs. The NFC is going to go to the 17 week before anything is for certain.

The New England Patriots skunked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This just somes up the Bucs day.


What can you say after a game like this? I say the Super Bowl Champs are back, so AFC beware. I spent this Saturday watching this game with my good friend, who is from Boston and is a huge Patriots fan. (Not a band wagon fan either. I will say at least my friend had class after his team killed my Bucs.)

Who is to blame? I am not sure anyone person is to blame. Chris Simms was sacked seven (7) times. The Offensive Line is to blame. If I was Jon Gruden, the Offensive Line would be paying for this game. Give Simms credit, he is tough after being sacked 7 times. This makes me wounder has Steve Young ever been sacked 7 times mmmmmmmmmmm. Who is tough now. The Patriots are a great football team, and their stars are slowly returning from injury, which will make them a huge factor in the Post Season. The two-time defending NFL champions clinching the AFC East title with a 28-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs 2005 success away from home hits a road block today in Foxborough, where the defending champs controlled the line of scrimmage and gave the Bucs their first shutout loss in six years.

The Bucs still finished the season 5-3 away from home this season and will still be in the playoff race at the end of the weekend. However, they will spend the rest of the weekend watching the Carolina Panthers, who can now regain first place in the NFC South with a win over New Orleans. Come on New Orleans with the upset.

I don’t have much to say after this loss. I think I’ll go on a drinking binge.

Former Buccaneer Defensive End Killed

Darrell Russell, a former standout NFL and Southern California defensive lineman whose promising career was derailed by drugs, was killed in a high-speed car crash early Thursday.
Darrell Russell, was given a second chance by Buccaneer Management. However his career ended during the 2004 training camp with an indefinite drug suspension from the NFL.

Darrell Russell never played a game with the Bucs.

Russell was suspended three times for violating the league's substance abuse policy and his career never really recovered. Russell started his career with the Raiders; After being released by the Raiders at the end of his second suspension, he played briefly for the Washington Redskins in 2003 and was released before training camp by Tampa Bay the following year.

NFC Divisional Playoffs Update:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have moved one game closer to the post season. The Bucs are now the NFC South Division leader with the 20-10 win over the Panthers this past week. We need to keep the road game winning streak going as we face the New England Patriots this week. Reports out of Patriot's camp is that Tom Brady is questionable for this weeks game. Could we be that lucky?


NFC PLAYOFF SEEDS: (After week 14)


1)NFC WEST:11-2 clinched division title



2)NFC NORTH:9-4



3)NFC SOUTH:9-4



4)NFC EAST:9-4



5)NFC South:9-4



6)NFC East:8-5



7)NFC South:8-5



8)NFC North:8-5

Ronde Barber has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Ronde Barber a ninth year veteran and a 3rd round pick in the 1997 draft for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has accomplished something that no other corner back in the NFL has ever done. Barber recorded 20 sacks and 20 interceptions over the course of a career, and he is not finished yet. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his game against the Carolina Panther were he recorded eight tackles, one sack and an interception.
Barber should have won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week last week for his 3 interceptions, but it was stolen away from him. Barber a two time Pro Bowler, has sparked an interesting topic on the Tampa Bay Buccaneer Radio Network. Should Ronde make it into the Hall of Fame? Any true fan would say yes, but it seems that he may not have done enough yet in his career even to be considered. If you ask me, I think he should be in the Hall of Fame, along with Derrick Brooks and I say even Mike Alstott, who has no chance of ever getting his name brought up by the sports writers.

What do you think about Ronde’s chances as a Future Hall of Famer?



You can also watch Ronde's interview this week with the NFL Network at www.nfl.com

BUCS NFC SOUTH DIVISION LEADER at 9-4:

Woooooooooooooooooooooooo, By defeating the Carolina Panthers on the road Sunday, 20-10, the Bucs took over first place in the NFC South and served noticed that they are a force to be reckoned with in the crowded conference playoff chase. It also evened the season series and broke a five-game winning streak for Carolina in the all-time matchup. Just as importantly, given the critics’ general approval of the Panthers’ strength, it gave the Bucs their biggest victory of the season and kept them in the running for a critical first-round playoff bye. My Bucs in December may be one of the toughest teams to beat.

Caddy, had another great game topping the 100 mark for his fifth game. Cadillac got both Buccaneer touchdowns, taking it in from 14 yards out in the first quarter to start the scoring. It was his first two-touchdown game and he is now just 76 yards away from a 1,000-yard rushing season. Cadillac Williams’ 112-yard performance was his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season, tying the team record in that category. James Wilder pulled off that feat in both 1984 and 1985 and RB Warrick Dunn equaled it in 1997. Dunn, coincidentally, was a rookie that season, like Williams this year. The best part of Williams’ 2005 performance – the Bucs are 5-0 when their rookie back hits the century mark. I look for Caddy to break the record next week against a weaker rush defense with New England.

Chris Simms played really good again showing that he is a keeper. I am scared, I heard that New York Jets are going to offer Simms crazy money next year and the Bucs won't be able to match it. The Bucs Radio said if this happens look for Griese to be the starter (YUK). PLEASE BUCS RESIGN SIMMS.

A+++++++++ goes to the O-line. They had a great game and really were the stars of the game.

Matt Bryant is back and looked good. The TV crew said he was kicking 52 yard field goals with no problem during pregame warm ups. He once again played a major factor in our win today.

Stay tune next article is going to be about my new favorite star Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. This kid is the best running back I have ever seen in a Buccaneer uniform.

This Weeks Match Up:

This weeks match up is the biggest game with a division rival to date and a must win for the Bucs. If the Bucs are going to return to the postseason for the first time since the Super Bowl year, the next two weeks could be a determining factor. The Bucs started a 3 game road trip were the first stop was in Louisiana. The Bucs game out of this close fight with the win. Today if the Bucs win, they will regain the Division Lead with the better Division and conference records.

"It's not the greatest day of my life, winning eight games. You're only going to be judged on winning Super Bowls, as far as I'm concerned," Gruden said. "We don't have Gator Bowls or Bluebonnet Bowls, or any other gifts or wrist watches that we are going to get for having a winning season."

"Four games left; two on the road, two at home. We want to get into the tournament and win the Super Bowl," Gruden said. "That's the only goal we have here. I could care less about five wins or eight wins or 10 wins. If you get to the playoffs and don't advance, it's not a very happy ending."

"Like all young players, the more they do it the better they get, and Chris Simms has done that," Fox said. "He's got talent, good mobility and a strong arm. He's a smart, young man and he's definitely improved since we saw him the last time."

STANDINGS: Panthers 9-3-- 1st Place, NFC South.
Buccaneers 8-4 -- 2nd Place, NFC South.

LAST MEETING: Nov. 6; Panthers, 34-14. At Tampa, Fla., Carolina forced four turnovers and Davis ran for two scores as the Panthers recorded their fifth consecutive win.

BUCS-PANTHER SERIES: Tampa Bay is 5-5 all-time in the regular season vs. Panthers

WHERE: Bank of America Stadium

WHEN: 12/11/2005 @1pm on Fox

PANTHERS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 94.7 ypg (21st); Passing Offense - 207.6 ypg (17th); Total Offense - 302.3 ypg (23rd). Rushing Defense - 85.5 ypg (2nd); Passing Defense - 197.3 ypg (14th); Total Defense - 282.8 ypg (4th).

BUCCANEERS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 113.3 yards per game (T-13th in NFL); Passing Offense - 186.9 ypg (22nd); Total Offense - 300.2 ypg (24th). Rushing Defense - 93.8 ypg (8th); Passing Defense - 176.7 ypg (5th); Total Defense - 270.4 ypg (2nd).

STREAKS AND NOTES: Buccaneers - DE Rice is one sack away from his fifth straight season with at least 10. ... Tampa Bay has forced 21 turnovers in its eight wins and only four in its four losses. ... Galloway needs two TD receptions to become the first receiver in team history to have 10 in a season. Panthers - QB Delhomme is 5-0 as a starter against Tampa Bay. ... Carolina is looking to record the third 10-win season in team history. It had 12 victories in 1996 and 11 in 2003. ... The Panthers are 10-1 when Foster has 10 or more carries in a game.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Buccaneers - 4-2 on the road; Panthers - 5-1 at home.

INJURY REPORT: BUCCANEERS: PROBABLE: S Will Allen (knee),K Matt Bryant (right hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: LB Marquis Cooper (chest)

CAROLINA: PROBABLE: S Idrees Bashir (hamstring); WR Karl Hankton (forearm); RB Brad Hoover (ankle) QUESTIONABLE: TE Michael Gaines (ankle); LB Dan Morgan (ankle); DE Julius Peppers (ankle); G Tutan Reyes (knee);
OUT:DE Mike Rucker (ankle)

Favorite: Carolina
Spread: 6.0
Underdog: Tampa Bay
Over/Under: 36

A Blast from the Past: Number 42, RB, Ricky Bell.

As promised here is this weeks "A Blast from the Past". This is my way to pay tribute to the great Buccaneer players of the past. Some of these players are in our hearts as Buccaneer fans, but will never be honored any other way. This week I picked the great Ricky Bell, Running Back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was truly an amazing back, it is sad that his life was cut short in 1984 of heart failure.

Ricky Bell was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the first overall pick in 1977 as a running back out of the USC, where he was an All-American running back John McKay chose him over Tony Dorsett who went to the Cowboys with the second selection

Ricky Bell played for the Buccaneers from 1977-1981.

Bell One of the most outstanding performers in Buccaneer franchise history, Bell played in the NFL for six years, five with Tampa Bay, and still ranks as the fifth-leading rusher in team annals. Ricky Bell had 3,057 yards and 16 touchdowns as a Buccaneer. Bell was at his best in the playoff run of 1979 in which he rushed for 1,263 yards (third-highest in Tampa Bay history) and seven touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. The Bucs made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history that season and won their initial playoff game against Philadelphia, 24-17, behind Bell’s career day: 37 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns. His numbers went downhill after that and was traded to San Diego after five seasons in Tampa Bay.

Ricky Bell selected by the Pewter Report as the number 19th greatest Buc of all time and tagged "the work horse”.

In 2003, Ricky Bell, was selected for the College Football Hall of Fame. The late Buccaneer running back, a star at Southern California, will be inducted posthumously into the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the 13-member class of 2003

Ricky Bell was named as the 19th Greatest Buccaneer Player of all-time by BUCPOWER.COM in 2003.

The Bucs’ equipment staff has pretty much always avoided giving out 42, Ricky Bell’s old number, but that’s an unofficial retirement.

Doug Williams on Ricky Bell: “Man, I tell you, when Ricky passed, we lost a soldier. For me, I can only speak from the experience that I had with Ricky, especially my rookie year. Ricky was subject to a whole lot of criticism, at no cause of his, because he was the number one pick and not Tony Dorsett. He took a beating, he really took a beating. I can remember when things weren’t going well for me, and people were booing and everything. He used to always come to my locker after practice and after games and he’d sit down and say, ‘Hey man, keep your head up. I’ve been through it, and it won’t last too long.’ Something like that. He’d invite you to his house. Ricky Bell was…I don’t want to say a great football player; Ricky Bell was a great human being. It’s unfortunate that a thing like that happened, taking Ricky Bell at a young age, but I think he made an impact on me, on his teammates and his family, I’m sure.”

A tribute to Ricky Bell, this was a movie made for TV that aired in 1991:
A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story (1991) (TV)

Here is my tribute to Ricky Bell from Madden EA SPORTS:

NFC Divisional Playoffs Update:

Well it would seem that the Buccaneers Organization are making post season plans. I just received my invoice for my playoff tickets from my season tickets. WOOOOOOO. Now I just pray we will make the post season. Which I think we will.





NFC PLAYOFF SEEDS: (After week 13)



1)NFC WEST:10-2 clinched division title



2)NFC NORTH:9-3



3)NFC SOUTH:9-3






4)NFC EAST:8-4



5)NFC SOUTH:8-4



6)NFC EAST:7-5








NFC GAME OF THE WEEK:
This is the NFC GAME OF THE WEEK: This game has real NFC Playoff Implications. The NFC SOUTH DIVISION is still up for grabs and the Panthers are one game ahead of the Buccaneers. If the Buccaneers win this Sunday, they take over the 1st place spot in the NFC SOUTH: due to NFC Conference record.


The playoff race in the NFC is starting to become much more clear after 13 weeks. The Seattle Seahawks are in the playoffs and clinched division title.

Chicago's eight-game winning streak has given them a two-game division lead. The Bears play three of their last four games on the road in tough environments (at Pittsburgh, vs. Atlanta, at Green Bay, at Minnesota). If the Bears can win three of their last four games to get to 12-4, they most likely will gain a first-round bye as they have a win in hand over Carolina and would have a strong conference record.

Carolina needs to win at home this week against the Bucs. This would keep Carolina alive in the race for a first-round playoff bye, and give Carolina the clear lead in the division.

Giants obviously took a big step toward a division title last weekend with their victory over Dallas. If the Giants can beat the Eagles this week, they will guarantee that Dallas can't beat them in division record.

The Tampa Bay at Carolina game this week most likely will determine if this division race will go down to the end of the season. Carolina has head-to-head wins against Tampa Bay and Atlanta in hand and has a decent conference record advantage. If Carolina wins this week at home, that should lock up the division for the Panthers as they would have a two-game lead and a season sweep on Tampa Bay and at least a two-game lead on Atlanta. However, if Tampa Bay can win at Carolina, that would change EVERYTHING. The Buccaneers would be tied overall with Carolina at 9-4, they would have a season split with the Panthers and would have an advantage in division record (3-1 vs. 2-2) and conference record (7-3 vs. 6-3). Bottom line: a Tampa Bay win would change the division race from one clearly in Carolina's court to one where the Bucs control their own destiny and Atlanta likely would be only one game behind.

The Cowboys need to win games, especially the Week 15 division game at Washington. Problem is, Dallas' remaining schedule is a little rougher than New York's (vs. Kansas City, at Washington, at Carolina, vs. St. Louis).

I think my Bucs can pull of two more wins this season which would make them 10-6 and should guarantee them a playoff spot. This weeks game will be the toughest game of the four remaining games. The good news is that it looks like Carolina's defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker might miss this game. If this happens, this changes everything and the Bucs might walk away with this game. I know one thing is for sure, if Peppers is out Kenyta Walker will sleep a little better Saturday night.


GO BUCS: Always have faith in your team, WIN, LOSE OR DRAW.

Bucs are 8-4 After Beating a Misplaced Saints Team:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in Baton Rouge, 10-3. WOW, my Buccaneers are 8-4 after week 13. That is 3 games better then last year. So this season is a success no matter what happens here on out. Oh don’t worry, I WANT IT ALL, 12-4 season post season bye and the Super Bowl, but one game at a time. Besides we have two tough games coming up. Carolina is first on our list after beating the Saints today.

Now for today’s game: The Buccaneers pulled out a win today, thanks to Ronde Barber’s four interceptions. Yes, four if you watched the game, but team mate Dexter Jackson stole one away from Barber. Even Gruden said Barber was generous and allowed Jackson one. Barber received the Game Ball from Coach Gruden today. Ronde Barber’s interception in the first quarter was the 25th of his career, and his pick in the second quarter was his 26th. His last one was his 27th. He remains in fourth place on the Bucs’ all-time list in that category but pulled within one of Mike Washington (28) in third.

The first half of the game, the Bucs looked sluggish and had a hard time getting anything going. The Todd France missed his first field goal attempt. France has a tendency to kick the ball low, which is the only reason the Bucs decided to go with Bryant after preseason. France kicked the ball low and it was blocked by the Saints Special teams. I was so afraid this game might come down to field goals and this miss would come back and haunt us.

Chris Simms played well again today and managed the ball really good. I do not know why the Bucs kept getting 3rd and long and would have to punt, but at least our defense played their game today. The turnovers is what helped us to win today.

Cadillac Williams had 96 yards on the ground today. Williams gained 33 of his 96 rushing yards on a clock-killing drive in the fourth quarter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 10-3 win over the Saints. I was hoping the Bucs would give him the ball again for his 4 yards to tie the all time Buccaneer record for Most 100 yard rushing games during a season, which is only 5.

• 5, Warrick Dunn, 1997
• 5, James Wilder, 1985
• 5, James Wilder, 1984
• 5, Ricky Bell, 1979

I know it is about the W for wins and not personal stats, I also know we will see Cadillac’s name on this list, possibly even break the records.

Galloway had another big game for us, even though he dropped on in the end zone, which he admitted on TV during the post game show: that he should had caught it.

Head Coach Jon Gruden (on the win) “I’m very happy with the win. I’m proud of our team. New Orleans, it’s a credit to them. They are a very talented team. To win on the road in a conference game with this magnitude is something that we are excited about.”

(on the play of Ronde Barber) “He came up big. He’s a generous player. I thought he could have snatched the fourth one away from his teammate. He came up huge. As we said coming in here today, the great players are going to play great in December and down the stretch and he did that today. He stepped up and played tremendous.”

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Jim Haslett (on the game) “I thought that Tampa played a great game. They have three players that aren’t just good player but great players. That’s Ronde Barber, Derrick(Brooks), and Simeon Rice. They did a great job getting turnovers. One thing we wanted to do going into the game was not turn the ball over. We turned it over way too many times. Obviously it lead to a touchdown. A poor punt lead to a field goal. I thought the guys played hard and it’s a shame we didn’t score more points. I thought we played good enough to win but that’s a good team we played.”

QB Aaron Brooks (on the offense's play in the game) “Ronde (Barber) made two exceptional plays. He's a good player, a very good player. Other than that we had our chances to get down there and we kind of got stalled by their defense.They did a very good job of containing what we wanted to do. Other than those two plays I feel like we played very well.”

Can the Bucs go into Carolina next week and pull off an upset? I think they can and will. The Defense and Offensive line needs to show up next week in order for us to win.

This Weeks Match up:

This weeks match up is a big division rival and a must win for the Bucs. If the Bucs are going to return to the postseason for the first time since the Super Bowl year, the next three weeks could be a determining factor. The Bucs start a 3 game road trip with the first stop in Louisiana. The Saint stopped a six game losing streak last week against the New York Jets, who remember beat the Buccaneers in week 5. However, the Buccaneers are not the N.Y. Jets and should stop the Saints. The Buccaneers Defense returns to the 2nd best Defense in the league after last weeks game.

The Saints started off the year with a horrible situation due to the Hurricane Katrina. The Saints lost their stadium due to hurricane damage. The poor Saints have not really had a home game yet this year. They also loss their star running back Deuce McAllister who is on I-R (he was also my fantasy running back for the past 3 years). This is a team that America has stood behind, but on Sunday I will be behind my Bucs. Sorry Saints, but the Bucs need this win.

The Bucs are coming off a excruciating home loss that they should have won against the Bears. In order for the Bucs to win Sunday against the Saints, the Defense must capitalize on Aaron Brooks turnovers, which will be there. Cadillac and the Offensive Line are the key to Sunday's wins. The running game should be there Sunday for a lot of yards, and offensive line needs to protect Simms better this week and open up the lanes for the Caddy. If the run game is successful, the passing game will follow. Our defense can also win the game Sunday by scoring Defensive touchdowns on an offense that dose give up the ball. I do not think this game will come down to field goals, but Matt Bryant (if healthy) or Todd France must be accurate Sunday and the rest of the season if we are to regain playoff form.


STANDINGS: Saints 3-8 -- Last Place, NFC South.
Buccaneers 7-4 -- 2nd Place, NFC South.

LAST MEETING: Dec 19, 2004; Buccaneers, 17-21. At Tampa Bay, New Orleans came back from a 10 point deficit with less than 4 minutes remaining in the game. Brooks threw a 7 yard TD to Stallworth for the game wining score.

BUCS-SAINTS SERIES: Tampa Bay is 9-17 all-time in the regular season vs. New Orleans.

WHERE: Baton Rouge, Louisiana @ Louisiana State University (Tiger Stadium).

WHEN: 12/04/2005 @1pm on Fox.

SAINTS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense -- 116.9 yards per game (14th in NFL); Passing Offense -- 207.1 ypg (17th); Total Offense -- 324.0 ypg (17th). Rushing Defense -- 136.7 ypg (29th); Passing Defense -- 176.9 ypg (6th); Total Defense -- 313.6 ypg (13th).


BUCCANEERS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense -- 111.5 yards per game (16th); Passing Offense -- 193.5 ypg (23rd); Total Offense -- 304.9 ypg (22nd). Rushing Defense -- 96.4 ypg (8th); Passing Defense -- 173.3 ypg (3rd); Total Defense -- 269.6 ypg (2nd).

STREAKS AND NOTES: Buccaneers -- DE Rice has six forced fumbles and is one shy of tying the franchise record. ... The Bucs have allowed only three of 11 opponents this season to score 20 points or more. ... Rookie RB Williams has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of four road games this season. Saints -- WR Stallworth has six TD receptions in his past six games. ... Brooks has thrown at least one TD pass in each of his seven career starts against the Bucs. ... Brooks has a 98.5 passer rating in his past three starts against Tampa Bay, including five TDs and one interception.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Buccaneers-- 3-2 on the road;Saints--1-4 at home.

INJURY REPORT: Bucs: PROBABLE: TE Anthony Becht (knee)QUESTIONABLE: S Will Allen (knee); K Matt Bryant (right hamstring); LB Marquis Cooper (chest); DE Dewayne White (hamstring).
Saints: QUESTIONABLE: S Steve Gleason (neck); WR Az-Zahir Hakim (back/ribs); WR Lance Moore (hamstring)OUT: TE Ernie Conwell (knee)

Favorite: Tampa Bay
Spread: 4.0
Underdog: New Orleans
Over/Under: 39

NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

Congratulation to Josh Bidwell. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. He is the first Buccaneer punter ever to receive that honor.
Josh Bidwell earned one NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in September and another in October.
Josh Bidwell leads the conference with a punting average of 46.6 yards per kick and is second in net average at 38.6. Both figures are expected to be new Buccaneer records if maintained through the end of the season.

• Bidwell for the month of November punted 20 times during all four of the Buccaneers games (Panthers, Skins, Falcons, and the Bears).
• He averaged 45.6 yards per kick.
• Five of his 20 punts were downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
• He had at least one punt of 50 yards or more in every game.

This is the first NFC player of the month award a Buccaneer has received since the team’s 2002 Super Bowl season.

• Linebacker Derrick Brooks took defensive honors in October of that year.
• Defensive end Simeon Rice assumed the same award in November.
• Kicker Martin Gramatica was the special teams choice in December.

Josh Bidwell is in his second season with the Bucs and I think he just might now be the NFC Pro Bowl Punter. At least we can help by going to http://www.nfl.com/probowl and vote now. Vote for Josh and many other of your favorite Buccaneer players.

A Blast from the Past: Number 74, OT, Paul Gruber.

I think I will start a new weekly topic called "A Blast from the Past". This is my way to pay tribute to the great Buccaneer players of the past. Some of these players are in our hearts as Buccaneer fans, but will never be honored any other way. This week I will start with the great Paul Gruber, tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Paul Gruber was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the fourth overall 1st round pick in 1988 as an offensive tackle out of Wisconsin. Gruber player for the Buccaneers from 1988-1999. He signed three contracts during his 12 years with the Bucs and made roughly $22.3-million on the field.

Gruber is best know for his durability. He started in 183 consecutive games, which he appeared in for the Bucs and leads the all-time appearance record today. Gruber unfortunately was never rewarded for his efforts as being one of the best and most durable lineman of his era. Gruber was never selected to the Pro Bowl due to the Bucs' lack of success in those early years. When finally he looked set for a chance for real post-season glory, he broke his leg in Green Bay and was a spectator on the sideline when the Bucs lost to the Rams in the 1999 NFC Championship Game. He retired after the 1999 season and was recognized by the franchise for his efforts in a 2000 home game ceremony.

Gruber was selected by the Pewter Report as the number 6 greatest Buc of all time and tagged "the franchise player".

Gruber was elected to the Bucs UK Hall of Fame in 2002.

Gruber was named as the 6th Greatest Buccaneer Player of all-time by BUCPOWER.COM in 2003.