Tatum Bell Thinks His UFL Team Would Handily Beat Tampa Bay

As we near the halfway point of the NFL season, there is a slew of really bad NFL teams stinking up the joint. The 0-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers obviously qualify. That means it's time for a bunch of delusional people to start making claims about how so-and-so could beat the Bucs. You know, college teams, "my rec league team," high school teams and, of course, UFL teams. Usually these claims are tongue-in-cheek, but Tatum Bell of the UFL's Florida Tuskers seems pretty serious.

Michael Pittman, a running back for the Tuskers who used to play for the Bucs, said something about how some of his teammates probably thought they could beat the Bucs. Bell immediately said he was one of them. When given a hypothetical score of 24-14 (Tuskers over Bucs), Bell went a bit too far.

"That's how much credit you give our defense?" Bell said, smiling. "I see more than that. I see our offense putting up more than that and I see our defense shutting them down for less than that."

Of course you guys could, Tatum. That's why you are playing in the UFL, not the NFL, right? By choice?

It's good to be confident, but sometimes a little reality check would work.

The Buccaneers scored 21 points on the Cowboys, 20 on the Bills, 14 on the Eagles and 21 on the Panthers. But, you know, I'm sure the mighty Tuskers are better defensively than those four teams. I'm sure they could easily handle the talented Kellen Winslow and Antonio Bryant. I'm sure they have to deal with tackling players as talented as Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams in the UFL. You know, the league where J.P. Losman is their biggest star.

Not that there's anything wrong with the UFL. There isn't. But it's not even remotely in the ballpark of the NFL in terms of talent. Any NFL team would beat a UFL All-Star team. It wouldn't be close. The people running the league likely wouldn't even argue that at this point.

I think they should set up an exhibition game. The only problem is that poor Tatum would probably start stealing Bucs' luggage after his Tuskers lost.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-29-2009 @ 2:27PM

marc said...

"Any NFL team would beat a UFL All-Star team. It wouldn't be close."...umm, I don't know if the Cleveland Browns could (and yeah, I'm a Browns fan).

10-29-2009 @ 2:55PM

TLCLB8 said...

If you gathered the best of the UFL and put them against a struggling NFL team, it is possible for the UFL to beat an NFL team.

You have to realize that some of the players in the UFL were stars in the NFL at some point and were subjegated out of the NFL for whatever reasons.

The NFL itself has, on occasion, found superstars in unconventional fashion, not from powerhouse Division I or Division II programs.

There are superstar in the NFL today that never played college and were meger earner in grocery stores up to law professions.

Talent overides always and the UFL has talented players that could compete and beat and NFL team; no doubt.

10-29-2009 @ 3:07PM

ozfraud said...

Actually, I believe the "Tuskers" when they say that they can beat the bucs. Tatum Bell and Pittmen were both serviceable players when they played in the right system. Bell was good on the broncos and pittman was good on the bucs. The UFL still has some serviceable, NFL type players.

Because of front office politics, bad GMs making bad decisions and inflated contracts, some of the these players find themselves in NFL Siberia.

So, before you spew of at the mouth Mr. Snyder, I think you should at least give them the benefit of the doubt. Who knows, the UFL could become the Minor Leagues for the NFL.

11-02-2009 @ 11:33AM

Josh Lipinski said...

I'm agree - Matt, you should not start chopping these UFL players down on no grounds. So the NFL didn't draft these guys, or cut them, or whatever - and the NFL is an ABSOLUTE measure of talent?? No! It's subjective, just like so many other teams in sports. Overall, take the average NFL player, and hands down I agree w/you that NFL players are cream of the crop, but a very good UFL team is NOT a college team - they ARE professionals, remember. They were still stud players in college. I'm a Browns fan, and sadly enough, I wouldn't bet the ranch that the Browns - or the Bucs - would walk away with a victory.

10-29-2009 @ 3:08PM

Dave said...

Just FYI, Florida Tuskers QB Brooks Bollinger has a passer rating of 126.4.

Yes, THAT Brooks Bollinger.

10-29-2009 @ 3:27PM

drewtn2ca said...

I think that the biggest difference would be at the line, where most games are won and lost anyways. It is easier to insert an average running back behind a good line than to insert a star running back behind an average line. I think that the lines in the UFL would not be able to handle the defensive lines from any NFL team, and that any offensive lines in the NFL would be pretty successful at blocking any defensive line from the UFL. The UFL may have one player in a line that could translate to a quality starter in the NFL, but would ultimately have too many weak points for an NFL team to attack.

10-29-2009 @ 4:10PM

mr_mjorgey said...

Who cares?? They play in the UFL why is he even getting listened too??

10-29-2009 @ 4:13PM

MR. PROGRESS said...

I would love to see the worst nfl team vs the best ufl team. promote it!!!

10-29-2009 @ 5:12PM

soulcitysigma1914 said...

this is the last time I'll probably defend the Tampon Bay Bucketqueers but Bell is just speaking nonsense due to his sour grapes. I don't care how good he thinks his little UFL squad is, you can't really get the flavor for how good or bad they are when they are playing other UFL teams. Tampa may look rather sorry, but they are playing other NFL teams, so he needs to shut his mouth. Saying that a UFL team can beat Tampa is also saying that they can beat Carolina, and while the Panther doth indeed suck, DeAngelo would run wild over these pricks. Jake might even look halfway competent against them.

10-29-2009 @ 5:13PM

Jon said...

I'm a Bucs fan and I would LOVE to see this game. In fact, I'd be more interested in this game than any other Bucs game this year.

Most of the points the Bucs have scored this year off of the teams you mentioned came in garbage time against a soft zone and after the game was out of reach.

The Bucs are horrible on both sides of the ball.

10-30-2009 @ 9:08PM

Cutty said...

Tatum should just claim that the Tuskers DID beat the Bucs in their last UFL game. I mean, it's not like there were any witnesses....

10-30-2009 @ 12:20PM

Bernie said...

At this point given the talent pool available on the Bucs vs. the UFL's Florida Tuskers what it boils down to is attitude. If the Tuskers even with a less than superior talent pool were to play Tampa today, their positive attitude might very well give them a victory against the the discouraged Buccaneers.

10-29-2009 @ 8:10PM

jesse said...

I really do think that a UFL all star team could at least come damn close to beating the Bucs or Browns, especially the Browns. Have you seen their QB stats?!The UFL actually has some solid players, no superstars, but solid players. The UFL is not a rec league. There are many recognizable names on those rosters to anyone who is more than a casual NFL fan. No your rec team or NCAA squad probably couldn't beat the Browns, but the UFL All-stars probably could.

10-29-2009 @ 11:04PM

agenice said...

Hey Matt Snyder.. How about a little less commentary and just give us the facts, huh? This style of writing is why journalism is dying. You're not supposed to give us your thoughts, your supposed to tell us what happened in an unbiased manner.

Now go back to college and take an actual journalism course!

10-30-2009 @ 9:44AM

this is a blog sir. if you want to read the "unbiased" report, then follow the link he provides; it is hyperlinked "Bell immediately said he was one of them".

This blog is useful because it brings a lot of sources to a central location. but if you want the original reporting, that is not what a blog offers.

10-30-2009 @ 12:39PM

Madd Maxx said...

Tatum should just be happy he has a minor league football team to play on or he would be selling cell phones in a mall like he did in Denver a year or two ago.

11-01-2009 @ 10:32PM

jongetsresults said...

I watched the UFL game the other day and it was a very good, hard fought game. They only charge $20 a ticket, from my understanding, and I'd like to see a team in the Washington DC area. I'd rather spend my money on them than supporting Dan Snyder's ridiculous dismantling of one of the NFL's greatest franchises. That idiot needs some competition in this area to humble him. The UFL game was a hard hitting game and some highly skilled players made some great plays. A lot of these same comments could have been read in 1960 when the Jets started in the NY Giants back yard.

11-20-2009 @ 8:41AM

justme said...

most, not some, most of these guys played in the NFL. some coming off injuries, some suspensions, some just bad luck. NFL isn't cut and dry. the guys playing in the league aren't necessarily the only ones who "deserve" to be there. it's ignorant to assume because these guys are in the UFL this year, u won't see them makin big plays in the NFL next year, or that they haven't already done that in the past. a lot of these guys have superbowl rings. opinions are like a**holes.....