NFL FanHouse

Bucs Legend Excited to Christen Team's Ring of Honor

Brett McMurphy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

TAMPA, Fla. -- Halftime. A few precious moments for an NFL player to make adjustments and catch his breath.

For Chicago Bears offensive tackle Ted Albrecht, it was just enough time to make a confession.

The date was Dec. 4, 1977. The Bears were battling the Buccaneers in Tampa Stadium. The game was a scoreless tie, but Albrecht was already beat. A Bears assistant walked across the visiting locker room to talk with him.

"Coach, there are four things in this world I do not want to do under any circumstance," Albrecht said. "No. 1, I don't want to milk a cobra. No. 2, I don't want to be buried at sea. No. 3, I don't want to be hit in the head with a hockey puck.

"And No. 4," he said, "I don't want to play the second half against Lee Roy Selmon."

No one did.

Selmon was simply unstoppable. First, at the University of Oklahoma, and then with the expansion Tampa Bay Bucs, who selected him with the first overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft.

The only thing that ever managed to stop Selmon was a herniated disk -- it ended his career prematurely after only nine seasons when he was only 31 years old.

In those nine seasons, Selmon transformed the Bucs, the NFL's laughingstocks -- a franchise started with 26 consecutive losses -- into an NFC force, coming within one win of the 1979 Super Bowl. That year, Selmon was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

"That was quite a rewarding season," Selmon said.

On Sunday when Tampa Bay hosts Green Bay, Selmon will become the inaugural inductee into the club's Ring of Honor. And don't adjust your TV set -- the Bucs will be wearing their throwback Creamsicle orange jerseys and helmets featuring Bucco Bruce, the winking pirate.

"I was excited about the orange and Bucco Bruce," Selmon said. "My brother Dewey [also drafted by the Bucs] and I were ecstatic to play in the National Football League.

"The colors really didn't matter to us. We thought this was great. I like Creamsicles anyway."

Selmon grew up in Eufaula, Okla., and along with his brothers Lucious and Dewey, went on to play at Oklahoma.

The famed Selmon brothers were depicted on a popular bumper sticker, sitting in a baby carriage with the words: God Bless Mrs. Selmon.

"He was the first Oklahoma Sooner in the Pro Football Hall of Fame," former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer said. "He's in all the hall of fames: academic, college and NFL. There's no hall that he won't be in.

"Plus, Lee Roy always played at the '10' level. He never took a play off. That's a tribute to his character, discipline and competitive desire. That's something his mommy and daddy instilled into that family."

Considered the greatest player in OU's storied history, Selmon won two national titles as the Sooners went 32-1-1 the three years he at defensive end for them. In 1975, he finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Selmon was the obvious draft choice for the expansion Buccaneers in 1976. And Selmon didn't disappoint.

He finished with a franchise-record 78 1/2 sacks in his nine-year career. He was an All-Pro selection six times.

After his NFL career ended, Selmon remained in Tampa. He was involved in banking, and then was hired as an assistant athletic director at the University of South Florida to help with the start up of the school's football program.

Selmon eventually became the school's athletic director, but in January 2004 took a six-week sabbatical because of "stress-related" problems, his brother Dewey said. In February 2004, Selmon became president of the USF Foundation as the chief fundraiser for the school's athletic department.

Still to this day, Selmon remains Tampa's most popular athlete. He is among the nicest persons -- if not the nicest person -- you'll ever meet. He has an expressway named after him, and he owns a chain of restaurants, but he still remains the same humble, down-to-Earth person.

Because of his popularity, Selmon's office is a must stop for USF coaches, who take recruits by to visit.

A few years ago, Selmon was discussing the benefits of attending USF to a recruit, when the girl's father noticed some football memorabilia in Selmon's office.

The father proudly told Selmon that he had played football when he was younger and, well, he was quite good.

"Were you any good?" Selmon was asked by the recruit's father, who obviously had no knowledge about Selmon's past.

"I guess I was OK," Selmon responded.

"Are you, like, in any Hall of Fames?" the man asked.

"Uh, yes," Selmon humbly replied.

"Which one: college or pro?"

"Both," Selmon said.

The Bucs retired his No. 63 jersey in 1986. The mild-mannered Selmon said he's honored to be recognized by the Bucs in the Ring of Honor. He's happy that the team is also making it a 30-year reunion of sorts for the 1979 Buccaneers.

"It's very fitting having the 1979 team invited and connecting to the past, current and future," Selmon said. "We had a lot of wonderful players. I'm grateful for the Glazers for establishing the Ring of Honor."

Selmon laughed that he's excited to see all the Creamsicle jerseys and shirts on Sunday.

"They've been out of circulation for a while," Selmon said. "I told folks to go down in their trunks and pull out an old golf shirt with the old colors, so they can go out and wear it one more time.

"It's a throwback to the history of the Bucs. It's a blessing to be alive and see it. It's been 30 years. It's a first. It's a joy and blessing to be a part of those things."

Lucious and Dewey Selmon, along with a lot of Selmon's family members, will be in attendance for Sunday's ceremonies.

"We may have a mini-reunion, but it's not about me," Selmon said. "Any honor that I receive, I've done none of this on my own. I'm truly humble and grateful."

Bucs Legend Excited to Christen Team's Ring of Honor originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Russell Still Struggling

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Stubbornness sometimes pays off. The Carolina Panthers found this out on Sunday.

One week after giving up on the run way too easily in a loss to Buffalo, the Panthers mercilessly pounded Arizona's run defense into the ground, and their reward was an easy win. Of course, it doesn't mean Jake Delhomme has magically turned his season around. It just means the Panthers have found a way to hide him, while keeping him on the field. Delhomme is off our magical list for now, but other shaky starters aren't so lucky.

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Surely, Russell is hampered by a complete lack of playmakers. Darrius Heyward-Bey has been a disaster so far, and outside of tight end Zach Miller, Russell simply doesn't have anyone to throw to.

However, he's earned every bit of that 48.3 quarterback rating, a rating that is barely above the 39.6 that you'd get by throwing every pass into the ground. Russell makes bad decisions, surpassed only by the simply awful throws he's capable of.

Whomever is coaching the Raiders next year is likely to have Russell around, only that coach will be facing the challenge of getting him off all the bad habits he's picked up, along with restoring what has to be a non-existent confidence.

Russell is only 24, so there's no point in giving up. However, there's also no point in leaving him out there to further destroy the mental part of his game.

Status update: Very warm

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Surely, the Browns weren't planning on firing a general manager before his first season was over. That's exactly what happened this week, though, as the team's embarrassing slide towards another high draft pick continued with a 30-6 whomping by the Bears in Chicago.

First-year coach Eric Mangini should be shown the door once this disastrous season ends. So far, the only thing he's done to try to inject life into his team was switch quarterbacks. To the coach's chagrin, Anderson looks to be a worse fit for this offense than Quinn was. That's not saying much, because no quarterback could do much of anything positive with this team.

Now what do you do? The season is a lost cause, and Quinn won't approach his contractual incentives if he takes over now. Anderson obviously isn't the answer, so now it's simply a question of whether Quinn can show enough to justify keeping him around for the next regime.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins
Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Freeman gets his first start this weekend against Green Bay. It's not common for coaches to go back to a veteran once they start the rookie, so one has to assume this is Freeman's gig.

Young actually looked pretty good in helping the Titans get their first win. No way they go back to Collins now, even if the team starts losing again. Young's athleticism is perfect for this offense -- if he can stay healthy and throw with any kind of accuracy.

As for Delhomme, as mentioned above, the Panthers rode the running game, but Delhomme did throw for 90 yards in just seven completions, and Steve Smith got his first touchdown of the year. Odds are he sticks around.

Pocket Presence: Russell Still Struggling originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tatum Bell Thinks His UFL Team Would Handily Beat Tampa Bay

Matt Snyder — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, UFL

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.

Tatum Bell Thinks His UFL Team Would Handily Beat Tampa Bay originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Josh Freeman to Take Over as Bucs' QB

Matt Snyder — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:10:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, NFL Quarterbacks

It was only a matter of time, really. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going nowhere this season. They are 0-7 and have been outscored 203-96 in the process. They drafted Josh Freeman in the first round (17th overall pick) of the draft this past April to be their quarterback of the future. You aren't going anywhere in 2009, so it's time to start playing for the future. Thus, it makes sense to hand him the keys at this point.

The Bucs are going to do exactly that when they head to Green Bay for Week 9's game (after a bye this week). Head coach Raheem Morris announced Wednesday that Freeman will be the team's starting quarterback moving forward.

"That's no discredit for what Josh Johnson has done for this football team. He's given his best efforts, but due to the preparation and the timing, we want to implement a young man into our system, our town and our community. We think it's the best coming off the bye. It's the most time to prepare. It's the most time for him up until this point, and it's time to see a little Josh Freeman."

There is history between coach and player, too. Morris was on staff at Kansas State during Freeman's freshman year, so he has liked this kid for a long time.

One thing that makes Freeman unique -- to those not named JaMarcus, at least -- is that he's huge. Many quarterbacks are tall, but Freeman is 6-foot-6 and weighs upwards of 260-265 pounds, according to offensive coordinator Greg Olson (via Pewter Report).

While it might not be the best move for the team in terms of winning games in 2009, this is a move the Bucs had to make. Freeman can now learn the job on the field instead of while holding a clipboard. He won't have any pressure on him from fans or teammates, because the Bucs were awful before he started playing.

Freeman received his first game action last week against the Patriots during trash time. He completed two of his four passes for 16 yards.

Josh Freeman to Take Over as Bucs' QB originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Some teams are entirely too stubborn. Not only will they leave bad quarterbacks in to take mental and physical beatings, but they'll insist on running offensive plays that don't seem to take the team's strengths into account, oftentimes leaning way too much on a struggling quarterback to make plays. As the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns (among others) have now learned, this is a recipe for disaster.

More: Carolina Sticking With Delhomme | Freeman in for Tampa

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Delhomme has done a lot for the Carolina franchise, and loyalty is rarely a bad thing, even in a cutthroat industry like the NFL.

However, can anyone explain why Moore hasn't gotten a shot at saving the Panthers' season yet?

If Moore is so terrible that he can't be trusted to start, why is he serving as the primary backup to an aging veteran who melted down severely in the playoffs last year and has shown little life so far this season? It just doesn't make sense.

In Delhomme's defense, neither did Sunday's play-calling.

The Panthers ran for over 200 yards in a win over Tampa Bay. The response Sunday? Delhomme put the ball in the air 44 times, while star running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 23 carries. That makes sense, right?

Didn't think so.

Status update: White hot

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson was simply awful again Sunday, this time in a 31-3 home loss to Green Bay. While he failed to hit half his passes, throw for 100 yards, or lead his team into the end zone, it wasn't all his fault. For some reason, the Browns decided to use the wildcat with Josh Cribbs exactly once against Green Bay.

Maybe the Packers showed a wonderful ability to stop the wildcat on that one play. Perhaps there is something about the Dom Capers' 3-4 defense that lends itself to stopping that gimmick, because the Vikings didn't use it in their matchup with the Packers on Oct. 5. However, Cribbs is the Browns' best offensive player right now. It's not even close.

Why isn't the ball in his hands more often?

As long as the team continues this failing strategy, it probably doesn't matter who the quarterback is, though it would likely behoove Cleveland to go back to Quinn. Anderson threw 11 passes at either Mohamed Massaquoi or Brian Robiskie on Sunday. They combined for one catch.

Status update: Very warm

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith and Shaun Hill

While head coach Mike Singletary might have made up his mind quickly, the smart money is on this not being the last change he has to make.

Yes, Smith played well in a second-half stint Sunday at Houston. However, it's typically harder on guys like him when they have to actually start the game. Smith was the backup to Hill for a reason, and now he has to prove that he can do things he failed to do in training camp or preseason games, or in any of his other starts for the 49ers.

Smith is getting thrown right into the fire, as San Francisco has a Sunday date with unbeaten Indianapolis.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Russell has flat-out stunk all season. He's been terrible. Finally, head coach Tom Cable had enough. While replacing Russell with Gradkowski didn't do the Raiders any good on the scoreboard, it may be a message to Russell that he has to put in the time and make the commitment to get better now, or he will run out of chances.

No, Oakland isn't a playoff contender. But they have to do something to put a jolt into Russell. Otherwise, they'll never know for sure what they have in him.

Status update: Very warm

Tennessee Titans: Kerry Collins and Vince Young

Titans owner Bud Adams has come out and said he wants Young to be the starter. Meanwhile, it appears that Collins is going to keep the job for at least another week (though head coach Jeff Fisher hasn't really said).

While it's hard to blame everything that has gone wrong on Collins, he hasn't played well. Not only that, but the Titans owe it to themselves to give Young a shot at some point. It's not much different than Russell, really. They have to find out what they have.

Plus, the owner wants it to happen, and he's the owner. It's likely that Young starts sooner rather than later.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson

It was made official Wednesday that Freeman will get the nod out of Tampa's bye week. The Johnson experiment was an unmitigated disaster, as Tampa Bay did virtually nothing with him leading the way.

Now, it's up to Freeman, the rookie first-rounder out of Kansas State. While it's hard to predict what the result of this experiment will be, it probably doesn't matter in the end. Once you put the rookie out there, you typically don't switch back unless he gets hurt.

Status update: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patriots Put on a Show in England

David Whitley — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Dolphins, FanHouse Exclusive

LONDON -- A bunch of Patriots went to dinner Friday night and were mistaken for a boy band. Had they been anywhere else, that embarrassing mix up might have caused an international incident. But since England gave us the ultimate boy band, the Beatles, the Patriots graciously ate their meal.

Then they routinely devoured Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Now they head back to the States after proving what we already knew: as Tom Brady rolls, so rolls the rest of New England's band. And, ready or not, America, Brady is back in rhythm.

"I'm feeling great," he said after New England's win. "I keep rolling."

More: Check Box Score | Bills Pull Another Upset | Jets Win Big

The Belichicks had a rough start this year, but what can you say about their last two gigs?

You can say that Tennessee and Tampa Bay are the football equivalent of Herman's Hermits, only why insult Herman? The Bucs went down 35-7 at wacky Wembley Stadium, which was at least an improvement over Tennessee's 59-0 pratfall in the Foxborough snow last week.

Next week's bye shapes up as the toughest opponent New England has seen this entire lunar cycle. As pathetic as the competition has been, 94-7 is still an impressive pile of rubble.

So has New England buried all its early-season ghosts in old England?

Not quite. This isn't a great team by Patriots standards, but it has become plenty good by AFC standards. All that was required was Brady being Brady again.

"The greatest player in the history of team sport," the Daily Mail called him Sunday.

Babe Ruth never was big in England. Perhaps he should have married Giselle Bundchen's grandmother.

As for Brady recovering from knee surgery, enjoy this properly British synopsis in the Daily Mail: "Although the 6-foot-4 Californian refused to countenance any reduction in his powers, the Patriots made a faltering start to this season."

Rex Ryan blitzed the Patriots silly in Week 2, then they got caught in Denver 's early-season whirlwind three weeks later. Fingers pointed at a raw secondary and a linebacker corps so gutted that New England re-signed Junior Seau, who was working as a rodeo clown.

But the big bugaboo was Brady. Was he mentally back from his blown ACL? Or at 32, was the Paul McCartney of modern QBs entering his Wings phase?

For that, we turn to Bucs coach Raheem Morris, who is the only coach in NFL history to go winless on two continents.

"He's a great human," Morris said of Brady.

Forgive his gushing, but that's what happens when you stand helplessly by and watch a guy complete 23-of-32 passes for 308 yards and three scores.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Wes Welker (#83) of the New England Patriots is tackled by Maurice Stovall (#85) of Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL International Series match between New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium on October 25, 2009 in London, England. This is the third occasion where a regular season NFL match has been played in London. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wes Welker;Maurice Stovall

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: Terrence McGee #24 and George Wilson #37 of the Buffalo Bills celebrate after Wilson's fourth-quarter interception against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Buffalo won 20-9. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Terrence McGee;George Wilson

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CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 25: Garrett Wolfe #25 of the Chicago Bears is tackled by Robert Geathers #91 and Brandon Johnson #59 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won 45-10. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Garrett Wolfe;Robert Geathers;Brandon Johnson

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CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 25: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears is sacked during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won 45-10. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jay Cutler

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A penalty flags comes flying in as Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin (19) grabs a reception in front of Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes (20) and runs it in for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

New York Jets running back Thomas Jones runs past Oakland Raiders cornerback Chris Johnson in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin (19) hauls in a reception as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Chris Houston, right, defends in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron argues a call in the second half of Buffalo's 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)

Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell sits on the bench in the closing minutes of Oakland's 38-0 loss to the New York Jets in an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Buffalo Bills' Chris Kelsay (90) and Marcus Stroud (99) react after sacking Carolina Panthers' Jake Delhomme (17) in the second half of Buffalo's 20-9 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)

Buffalo Bills tight end coach Charlie Coiner looks from the sidelines in the first half in an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)

It wasn't vintage Brady, not with a goal-line interception that kept the score from getting Tennessee-like. But it certainly wasn't the Brady of six weeks ago, either.

"In the first quarter of the season we weren't really getting any big plays," Patriots receiver Wes Welker said. "I think that's really changing."

So do the Bucs, who think they saw Sam Aiken take a short pass 54 yards for a touchdown, and might have seen Ben Watson catch a 35-yard score. By that point, the crowd of 84,254 at Wembley Stadium figured it just wasn't the home team's day.

Yes, it was officially a Bucs home game. At least they scored, which is more than Manchester United did in Sunday's big match against Liverpool. The Glazers own both franchises the Bucs and Man U., and family members probably did not take part in the third-quarter wave from their skybox.

That bit of mass fan expression became passé years ago in . It went on for about five minutes Sunday.

"They seemed excited," Brady said.

If you think the Brits are confused over proper NFL cheering, you should have been at the restaurant Friday night when Welker and his crew walked in.

"They thought we were a boy band," he said. "That was pretty funny. We had two offensive linemen with us. I don't know where they got that from."

Being confused for 'N Sync on 'roids could have led to a crazy scene, but the Patriots just considered it part of their evolution.

"We have a lot of new players. It's nice to come together and experience something like this," Brady said. "It's a unique bonding experience for all of us."

So are they ready to conquer America?

As long as Brady is out front, the Patriots will countenance nothing less.

Patriots Put on a Show in England originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patriots May Own Sunday, but Saturday Belongs to Bucs' UK Fans

David Whitley — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Patriots, FanHouse Exclusive

LONDON -- Mike Alstott's 1-yard touchdown run sparked Tampa Bay to an 84-0 win over New England Saturday.

No joke. Alstott really did score one of the red team's 14 touchdowns. The guys wearing blue jerseys had zero.

"Nil!" Paul Stewart said.

He broke out a bottle of champagne and passed it around. If ever a team deserved to savor a little success, it's the Bucs' UK fan club -- it beat the Patriots' fan club on Saturday in a flag football game. The other Bucs team was presumably watching film or sacrificing goats or whatever you do when you face that other New England team.

That'll happen Sunday at Wembley. Saturday at Richmond Park in Southwest London was the preamble. The oldest NFL fan club in Britain (the Bucs) met the fan club of England's most popular team (the Patriots).

When these two teams meet, you can't throw the record book out the window. There isn't one to toss. And if there were, the receivers would probably drop it.

"We're not really that good," Stewart said. "We relied on [Jon] Gruden's playbook. Expect we made it work."

Spoken with snark, like a true American football fan. And there may be no truer fans anywhere than in the group Stewart formed 25 years ago.

Bucs fans in America just have to turn on their TV to get their weekly dose of disappointment. These poor blokes have to go out of their way to cheer the Bucs to another loss. A lot of them have been doing it since Doug Williams' arm was wild enough to overthrow the Queen.

"I was 12," said Lee Bromfield, who's now 39, of when he became a Tampa Bay fan.

His family was vacationing in St. Petersburg and the Bucs were on TV. They actually won that Sunday, and a young man from Manchester fell under some mysterious Creamsicle spell.

Same thing happened to Stewart, who caught a Monday Night game the Bucs won on a last-second interception.

"Hey, that team in orange must be pretty good," he thought.

It was, only it took another 15 years to get there. The Bucs UK club has survived Leeman Bennett and Ray Perkins. It has withstood the boycott by Bo Jackson, the signing of Alvin Harper and the disappearance of Gaines Adams.

There were the good Tony Dungy years leading to that Gruden Super Bowl. But being a Bucs fans in the UK was like being a Chernobyl fan in the U.S. -- you can't explain it, you just admire the perseverance of 300 football souls.

Especially on Saturday when you looked across the field at all those snazzy blue jerseys.

"Bandwagon fans," Bromfield said.

It's not that everyone has jumped on since Tom Brady arrived. But New England claims to be the most popular team in Old England, and nobody's arguing. What the Bucs fan club lacks in recent converts, it makes up for in guile.

Members were told Williams might show up Saturday. He couldn't make it, but the Bucs did send a car over. Out popped Alstott, ex-linebacker Shelton Quarles and Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon.

Stewart started pleading for them to join the seven-on-seven contest. Selmon's been retired 25 years and didn't feel up to a comeback. The other two couldn't resist a little international bonding.

But was it fair to have two ex-Pro Bowlers in the lineup?

"We're 0-6 and they're coming off a 59-0 win," Stewart said. "Who cares if it's fair?"

So Alstott ran one up the gut. A couple of guys had on Tedy Bruschi jerseys, but they definitely were not Tedy Bruschi. The A-Train scored and the rout was on.

Quarles and Alstott went to the sideline early, but it didn't matter. It was as if the 2003 Bucs inhabited the bodies of the 2009 fan club. The Pats hadn't looked so outmanned since the '85 Super Bowl.

Not that anyone seemed too upset at the score.

"They were keeping score?" John Smith said. He was the lone Patriots player with NFL experience, and that experience was as a kicker from 1974-84. There were no goal posts, though Smith tried a fake field goal for the crew from NFL Films.

That's right, the company that made the slow-motion spiral famous is making a documentary on the Bucs' UK connection. It recorded every slow-motion play on Saturday. Unfortunately, NFL Films will probably include some footage of Sunday's game.

Any predictions?

"I think the Pats will win 31-14," said Chris Chinoy, a member of their fan club.

"What?" said Smith. "I don't know if they're going to score two touchdowns."

That would be two more than the Patriots scored Saturday.

"Nil!" Stewart repeated.

When you're a Bucs fan, you take a win any you can get it. Even if you have to get it yourself.

Patriots May Own Sunday, but Saturday Belongs to Bucs' UK Fans originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zebra Report: A Good Ejection, Bad Reviews and Seeing the Whole Play

Matt Snyder — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Jaguars, Panthers, Rams, NFL Referees

Zebra Report is FanHouse's analysis of actual NFL rules and how they are to be applied ... because most fans think they could do a better job than the NFL officials, yet definitely could not. Click here for an introduction as to how we do things.

I'll agree with the defenders of Dante Wesley on one front, but just one: he hasn't made a career out of being a dirty player. Sunday, though, he was. What Wesley did, whether intentional or not, was one of the most egregious things I've ever seen done on a football field. Honestly, I didn't even think I'd have to cover it for Zebra Report, but I've seen so many absolutely appalling arguments in defense of Wesley on comment boards across the internet, that I feel I have to. It's simply mind-boggling (and, as a football fan, a bit embarrassing) that some people seriously think his hit was, or should have been, legal.

The kick-catching interference call by the officials was a no-brainer. They'll never have to make an easier call. I want to give them kudos for ejecting him. That's a total judgment call and I believe it to be the right one. I don't care if he "didn't mean to" hit Clifton Smith before the ball arrived or not. That's like saying you didn't mean to punch someone in the face. He still did it.

Anyway, on to the rules. I can't believe I have to do this, but the fact that Smith didn't call a fair catch is irrelevant. I keep seeing Wesley defenders post some derivative of "he should have called fair catch" or "the referees called fair catch infraction" Um ... he has protection anyway and no they didn't. If that's what the official said, he misspoke. The penalty is called "kick-catching interference." Here:

Rule 10-1: Article 1 During a scrimmage kick that crosses the line of scrimmage, or during a free kick, members of the kicking team are prohibited from interfering with any receiver making an attempt to catch the airborne kick, or from obstructing or hindering his path to the airborne kick, and regardless of whether any signal was given.

Item 1: Contact with Receiver. It is interference if a player of the kicking team contacts the receiver, or causes a passive player of either team to contact the receiver, before or simultaneous to his touching the ball.

As far as the ejection, you can use these two items:

Rule 12-2-8 (it is unnecessary roughness for ... ) (e) unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting, or throwing the body against or on a player who (i) is out of the play or (ii) should not have reasonably anticipated such contact by an opponent, before or after the ball is dead; or throwing the runner to the ground after the ball is dead;

Rule 3-6 (players can be disqualified for ... ) (b) flagrant roughing of a kicker, passer, or any other opponent (12-2-6 and 12-2-12);

I know this is technically a judgment call and I've said I won't be making these statements this year, but this play was so flagrant I feel compelled to break my own rule and say it was the correct judgment.

Finally, the worst argument in the history of arguments is the whole "this is football, not soccer" one. Punt returners have always had protection against a hit like this. Go whine about how "real men" played football back in the 1970s if you want, but you need to ask punt returners from the '70s if they were protected against hits like this: because they were. This isn't an opinion, it is a fact. Thus, if you disagree, you are wrong. There are no two ways about it. Period. Are we clear?

There, now that I've got that off my chest, we can move on.

- Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch posted this paragraph on the Rams-Jags game's officiating in his post-game thoughts.

* The officiating was incoherent Sunday. They got it wrong on a couple of pass interference calls against the Rams. Even when referee Jeff Triplette had a chance to review an onfield mistake - the sideline catch by Holt - he still got it wrong and didn't reverse the ruling on the field. NFL officials, for the most part, are frontrunners. (I apologize to the many good officials out there, including my friend Joe Larrew, because I know it isn't true of all officials.) They know who is good, they know who is bad, and they know who the "name" players are. It may not be something that they're even aware of outwardly, but it's always been my belief that the zebras give the benefit of the doubt to good teams and name players. Look, the Rams didn't lose the game because of the officials. But it's hard to imagine a more poorly officiated game than the one I saw Sunday.

First of all, I'm not going to dispute or reinforce his opinion about officials subconsciously favoring the better teams. I know it doesn't happen for me in high school games, but those aren't famous players. Of the two NFL officials I've met, I don't know either one well enough to say if they do this -- especially if it is subconscious -- so we'll just leave that part alone.

I will dispute his argument on the pass interference calls -- at least the one I saw. First, remember the seven principles of pass interference, which were covered in the third incident in a past Zebra Report. The first one (a) says that it is interference when contact by a player "who is not playing the ball restricts the opponent's opportunity to catch the ball." In the fourth quarter, James Laurinaitis was called for interference. He was running toward the receiver. Without turning his head back around toward the ball, he held up his hands. The receiver tried to get back to the pass and ran into Laurinaitis. Like it or not, he restricted the receiver's ability to catch the football while he wasn't playing the ball. It's a simple call. This is the only interference call I saw, so I'll apologize in advance to good ol' Bernie (whose writing I really enjoy) if he wasn't disputing this particular call.

Of course, the replay review Miklasz mentions was egregious. It was very clear for anyone who had a television set that Torry Holt's second foot was out of bounds. It wasn't a toe, either, it was half of his foot. I'm not sure if the referee, Triplette, didn't see the same replay the fans did or what. If not, this was a mistake by the replay system as a whole. This wasn't even a judgment call, in my opinion. It was an absolute fact that half of Holt's foot was out of bounds. I'm usually a defender, of sorts, of the officials, but this is unacceptable. I would hope Triplette himself would agree with me after seeing further replays.

- Speaking of botched replays, I'm not sure how the officials could change the Brandon Stokley touchdown late Monday night and still give him a touchdown (watch it on youtube by clicking here). The initial call was clearly that Stokley didn't get into the end-zone until after he was on the ground and rolled in. That much was evident because the line judge waited to throw his hands in the air until after Stokley rolled in from the ground. If the call on the field was that he caught the ball in the end-zone, we would have seen an immediate signal.

The replay clearly showed Stokley was touched by Antonio Cromartie when on the ground and not in the end-zone. If you need conclusive evidence to overturn a call, they had it there. However, the officials then awarded the touchdown on the grounds that he caught the ball when it was breaking the plane of the end-zone. It seems as though they found conclusive evidence to call it a touchdown in a different manner than the on-field call awarded one. You can't find a single angle where the ball was conclusively breaking the plane of the end-zone on the catch, at least as far as I could tell. It seems to me the only conclusive part of the replay was the touch, thus, they should have placed the ball on the half yard line. That's my judgment, though, so I guess I shouldn't say it (damn these self-imposed rules).

- In that same game, the officials got together and got a tricky enforcement correct. There was a pass interference call in favor of Brandon Marshall, but Marshall -- being the lovable, level-headed guy he is -- went ballistic because he didn't see the flag. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Since one foul was during the play and the other was after, how could the penalties offset and mean the down should be replayed? Here you go:

Rule 14-9: If there has been a foul by either team during a down and there is a dead ball foul by the other team in the action immediately after the end of the down, it is a double foul, and all rules for enforcement of double fouls apply (see 14-3-1). Exception: If the scoring team commits a dead ball foul after a score, the score counts,
and the penalty is enforced on the kickoff.

And 14-3-1: If there is a double foul (3-11-2-c) without a change of possession, the penalties are offset and the down is replayed at the previous spot. If it was a scrimmage down, the number of the next down and the necessary line is the same as for the down for which the new one is substituted.

Say what you will about judgment calls, but it's pretty amazing how the officials rarely mis-enforce tricky stuff like this. With a 136-page rule book, that's good work to go from memory out there and always get it right.

- Finally, we don't usually cover college plays, but this was submitted to me and I thought it was a good time to talk about a general guideline for officials of all levels. In order to make a call, you have to see the entire act. You cannot get into assuming things.

For example, if you are behind a player and see his head turn to the side really fast, you cannot throw a flag for facemask. It might have happened, but it may not have. You can't just assume penalties. People in the crowd, by the way, do this with alarming frequency. It's actually a running joke among officials. If you see someone sprawling out like superman and landing on his stomach, he must have gotten blocked in the back, right? But what if he just tripped? Do you want to flag the offense for a clumsy defender?

Anyway, the reason I bring this up is that it appears in a college game this past weekend, an official violated this premise. Watch this play:

I think it pretty well speaks for itself. No. 96 for Arkansas got blocked and got flagged for unnecessary roughness -- basically for shedding a block. It's obvious the official who made the call didn't see the entire play. Thanks to reader Robin for the submission. A final note: the SEC did admit the call was incorrect -- not that it helps the Razorbacks in coping with the egregious call.

Got a rules-related question? Whether it's elementary, high school or NFL, email TZR and he'll see what he can do.

Zebra Report: A Good Ejection, Bad Reviews and Seeing the Whole Play originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dante Wesley Hit on Clifton Smith Yields 1-Game Suspension

Michael David Smith — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:48:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Panthers

Carolina Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley has been suspended one game for a cheap shot on Buccaneers return man Clifton Smith, the NFL announced on Monday.

The brutal hit came when Smith was attempting to return a punt and Wesley was the gunner on the coverage team. As Smith was getting set up to field the punt, Wesley launched himself into Smith, who was looking up at the ball and never saw the hit coming.

While Smith lay motionless on the ground, a fight broke out between the Buccaneers and Panthers. Eventually order was restored, Smith walked off the field, and Wesley was penalized 15 yards and ejected from the game.

The NFL's full statement:

Defensive back Dante Wesley of the Carolina Panthers has been suspended without pay for one game by NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson for a flagrant violation of player safety rules. Specifically, on a punt coverage play on Sunday, Wesley left his feet, launched himself and made shoulder and forearm contact with the neck and head area of Tampa Bay punt returner Clifton Smith, who had not caught or touched the ball and was in a defenseless posture.

The suspension will sideline Wesley for the Panthers' game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, October 25.

In a letter to Wesley, Anderson wrote: "The playing rules (Rule 10, Section 1, Article 1) specifically provide that a member of the kicking team is prohibited from interfering with a receiver attempting to catch an airborne kick. The prohibited contact in this case went well beyond simply interfering with the receiver. Instead, by striking your defenseless opponent in the head and neck area, you committed an unnecessary and unnecessarily dangerous act that is specifically prohibited by the rules."

Anderson added: "Your actions are of particular concern in light of the emphasis that our office has placed on developing and enforcing rules designed to protect players from injury, including head and neck injuries. The safety of our players is paramount to all of us in the NFL."

There was no word on whether Wesley will be fined in addition to losing his weekly paycheck.

Dante Wesley Hit on Clifton Smith Yields 1-Game Suspension originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dante Wesley Ejected After Hit Causes Brawl in Panthers-Bucs Game

Will Brinson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:53:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Panthers

Dante Wesley isn't typically a big part of the Carolina Panthers' game plan, although he made some noticeable news Sunday. And while the Panthers didn't exactly look like world-beaters against Tampa Bay, they won for the second straight week (albeit against another shoddy opponent), and that's what's important. Also important, if you like brawls in football games, is what Wesley did while covering a punt, which was about as cool as filming a trash-talking YouTube in a bowtie.

Panthers 28, Buccaneers 21: Recap | Box Score | All NFL Scores

Buccaneers punt returner Clifton Smith, who was in position to field the punt but hadn't signaled for a fair catch, was leveled on the second-quarter play. Smith remained on the ground for a few minutes before being helped to his feet; the Bucs said at halftime that he suffered a concussion from the blow. Wesley was ejected for the late hit as players from both teams stormed off the sidelines.

After the game, Wesley made it known he wasn't trying to hurt Smith, saying "I was just trying to make a play." The eight-year veteran also stated he hopes he doesn't draw a fine from the league.

"You can check my record. ... I've never really tried to hurt anybody. I've never tried to take a cheap shot on anybody," Wesley claimed.

The Bucs, however, were still incensed following the close loss:

"First thing I'll say is, I don't feel like I'm cooled down enough to give you an answer," [special teams coach Richard] Bisaccia said. "The other thing I'll say is, I'm glad he's all right and hopefully we'll determine when he'll be ready to go back in and play.

"It's just some bad ball right there."

Tampa Bay players like safety Tanard Jackson pulled no punches when describing Wesley's hit. "It was a dirty play," Jackson told The Tampa Tribune. "It was handled correctly. Whatever the league does from there, it's on them. Personally, I think it was a dirty play."

Dante Wesley Ejected After Hit Causes Brawl in Panthers-Bucs Game originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buccaneers Give Up on Gaines Adams, Trade Him to Chicago

Adam Gretz — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Buccaneers

There's been some speculation that due to the number of awful teams around the NFL, this year's trade deadline could be the most active one we've seen in quite some time -- and perhaps ever. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at 0-5, are one of the teams already eliminated (maybe not mathematically, but realistically) from playoff contention.

With that, the Buccaneers started unloading players to the highest bidder on Friday by sending former first-round pick Gaines Adams to the Chicago Bears for a 2010 second-round draft pick.

More Coverage: Chiefs Dealing Dwayne Bowe Next?

Adams was the No. 4 overall pick in 2007 out of Clemson, and has recorded 13.5 sacks (including one through the first five weeks of the 2009 season) in his first 37 NFL games.

First-year head coach Raheem Morris was critical of the third-year defensive end in late September during a weekly press conference saying: "Gaines is one of those guys that knows that he is judged on whether he touches the quarterback or not. Right now he is not getting production as far as not just touching the quarterback, the tackles, the sacks. He's not getting any of that. He is not playing up to par right now. He's holding himself accountable. We have to hold him accountable, and it is tough right now. He is not getting it done. There are no excuses. There are no explanations. Gaines is not getting it done right now."

Adams will now be heading to a Chicago team that has won three in a row and, on paper, already appears to be quite deep at defensive end with Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown, Mark Anderson and 2009 third-round pick Jarron Gilbert.

Buccaneers Give Up on Gaines Adams, Trade Him to Chicago originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Keeping the Line Together Pays Off

JJ Cooper — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Chicago Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jets, Giants, NFL Analysis

As we have done since the FanHouse began, I'll be taking a look every week at some aspect of line play. You can read more features in the series here. Check back every Thursday for a new Between The Lines.

It probably wouldn't surprise you to know that offensive line continuity is a good thing , but you may not realize just how important it is.

After looking at the first month of the season, it seems pretty clear that if you can keep your offensive line together, there's a pretty good chance you'll be a winner.

Five weeks into the NFL season, only 10 teams have started the same five offensive linemen every week. Of those 10 teams, seven have winning records including the surprising Bears. 49ers and Jets and the undefeated Giants. Combined those 10 teams are 28-18 this year.Of the six teams who have had five or more games missed or played out of position by members of their original starting five, none have a winning record--including the disappointing Packers, Chargers and Seahawks. Together those six teams are 10-18.

Admittedly offensive line shakeups can partly be explained by a team's failure--teams with trouble are much more likely to bench an offensive lineman than a team that keeps on winning. But it's fair to say that the Packers' problems really began the minute that starting left tackle Chad Clifton went down with an ankle injury. What had been an adequate line quickly turned into a disaster when guard Daryn Colledge was moved to tackle, center Jake Spitz was moved to guard and backup Sean Wells came in at center.

Five of the 10 teams who have started the same offensive line all year have allowed less than 10 sacks, including the Falcons (two sacks allowed) and Giants (three sacks allowed). None of the six teams with the most offensive line shakeups have allowed less than 10 sacks, including the league's worst Packers (20 sacks), Lions (17) and Raiders (15).

If you want one more example when a team with its original starting five has faced a team with a shakeup on the offensive line, the team with the original starting five is 16-9 this season.

Here's some other notes from looking at line play around the league.

o. He has some work to do which you would expect for a second-year quarterback but Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson is already one of the best scramblers in the league. Tampa Bay even ran the option with him on Sunday. With 4.4 speed, Johnson also has the ability to dance around in the pocket dodging pass rushers, just like Fran Tarkenton did in the 1960s and early 1970s. It also means that he sometimes holds onto the ball way longer than any quarterback should. Johnson held the ball for 12 seconds on a sack last week (the average sack happens only 2.7 seconds after the snap) and this week he had a sack where he ran around for nine seconds, although this one was nullified by an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Eagles.

o. There have been a lot of questions about Julius Peppers' effort this season, as we noted in a Between The Lines breakdown two weeks ago. But before this week's Redskins game, Panthers linebacker Jon Beason called out Peppers' lack of effort. Peppers seemed to listen as he picked up two sacks and a safety. In rewatching that game Peppers still isn't playing with the all-out fire of a Jared Allen, but he did show significantly better effort against the Redskins than he did against the Panthers.

o. The Bills have to rank as one of the most disappointing teams in the league this year, and if you're looking for a reason you need to look no further than the offensive line. Buffalo traded away Jason Peters and drafted three rookies who were immediately inserted into the offensive line.

The three rookies have been OK, but the Bills have been a complete disaster at offensive tackle. Left tackle Demetrius Bell has allowed four sacks. Right tackle (and fill-in left tackle) Jonathan Scott has allowed 3.5 sacks while fill-in right tackle Kirk Chambers allowed 2.5. Those 10 sacks allowed are as many as half the league have allowed as teams.

Between the Lines: Keeping the Line Together Pays Off originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Has Derek Anderson Won the Job?

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Redskins, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

For the Cleveland Browns, Sunday was at least a respectable performance. Now it's time for them to build on that. But have the 0-4 Browns settled on a starting quarterback?

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson played pretty well in a 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati. However, the Browns struggled to move the ball in overtime, and the Bengals made them pay in the end.

This was easily the best Cleveland's offense has looked this season, and perhaps they'll get even better without walking distraction Braylon Edwards around anymore. Anderson seems to have developed a chemistry with young receiver Mohamed Massquoi, who caught eight balls and averaged close to 20 yards per catch Sunday. The winless Browns will stick with Anderson again this weekend, and if he can build off his performance against Cincinnati, Quinn will struggle to see the field again this season.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Johnson and Josh Freeman

Johnson appears to have a long way to go as an NFL quarterback. He ran well and appeared somewhat comfortable in his first NFL start, but the Buccaneers offense was hampered by a lack of big plays. Johnson struggled to throw the ball deep, and only connected with star receiver Antonio Bryant four times for a paltry 44 yards.

The Philadelphia defense is no easy opponent for Johnson, but he'll try to advance himself this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Expect to see more short passes as the Bucs try to make Johnson more and more comfortable with playing at this level.

At 0-4, there might be a temptation to pull the trigger and go with the bigger-armed Freeman, but this is not the time. That move can wait at least a few more weeks.

Status update: Warm

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme, Matt Moore, and A.J. Feeley

Now that the 0-3 Panthers are off their bye week, we'll watch carefully how Delhomme performs against the Redskins. If he is still a turnover machine, he could be in trouble. However, significant improvement will be expected, since Carolina had a week to lick their wounds and make some corrections.

Moore might not be highly-regarded, but he's been in the system for a while, and there's no reason to hide him on the bench if Delhomme continues to underperform.

Status update: Lukewarm

Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins
Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski
Buffalo Bills: Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick

These three teams are lumped together because there has been no real indication that they're willing to make a change, but the on-field play by the starters has to improve. If it doesn't, teams really have no choice but to explore other options. The Redskins and Raiders are getting competitive play from their defenses, and the burden of carrying the whole team is too much. Buffalo has quality skill players at running back and wide receiver, yet Edwards can't seem to move the ball consistently.

Status updates: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Has Derek Anderson Won the Job? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Live Chat: Week 4 Preview

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Bengals, Browns, Buccaneers, Chargers, Jets, Lions, Packers, Redskins, Saints, Steelers, Vikings, NFL Fans, NFL Live Blogging

It's a week headlined by some old guy facing his former team, but there are other storylines in Week 4. The Browns and Buccaneers start new quarterbacks, the Lions try for their second straight win, unbeatens clash in New Orleans, and the defending Super Bowl champions arguably face a must-win Sunday night. We'll talk about all these topics and more in our weekly get-together. Read the recap.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=3c3fc41f2f&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;a class="injectedLink" href="http://nfl.fanhouse.com/"&amp;amp;gt;NFL&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt; Week 4 Live Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

FanHouse Live Chat: Week 4 Preview originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Browns, Buccaneers Make Changes

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Rams

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

We're here every week, hoping to make some sense of quarterback issues facing teams in the NFL. Sometimes, it feels like we're picking on Eric Mangini and the Cleveland Browns. However, at 0-3, and with little reason to think the problems in the passing game are just going to disappear, the Browns again find themselves at the top of the heap.

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

When Quinn got the hook Sunday, the hope was that the offense would start to click. Instead, things appeared to get worse. Anderson threw three picks and could only muster a field goal, as the Ravens torched Cleveland 34-3.

Despite Anderson's horrific performance, Cleveland coach Eric Mangini has named him the starter for Sunday's game against suddenly resurgent Cincinnati. The hope is that a week to prepare will allow Anderson to be more successful (wouldn't take much), and it also gives the coaches a chance to put in a gameplan that tailors itself more to Anderson's deep-ball skills than Quinn's checkdown game.

The problem with a checkdown quarterback is that you generally need elite talent elsewhere on the field for him to be successful. Cleveland lacks that kind of talent, leaving Quinn on an island when it's time to throw. In that regard, the Browns could very well be better off with the high-risk, high-reward style Anderson brings to the table.

Or maybe not.

Status update: Hot

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Johnson, Josh Freeman, and Byron Leftwich

The Browns weren't the only team to make a switch at quarterback for their next game. After an 0-3 start with Leftwich under center, one that included a performance against the Giants on Sunday that could best be described as "hopelessly inept," the Bucs have seen enough.

Leftwich is out, and Johnson starts Sunday at Washington, as the Redskins try to avoid a 1-3 disaster. It's not so much anything Leftwich did wrong. Instead, it appears Tampa coach Raheem Morris has recognized this is a lost season, so he might as well see what his youngsters have before it's too late. Might as well start with the guy he just recently labeled a "career backup."

The Buccaneers will go with first-round pick Freeman as the backup, meaning Leftwich is relegated to baseball cap/clipboard/hand signals duty for the foreseeable future.

Status update: Very warm

St. Louis Rams: Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller

The change here was made out of necessity Sunday, as Bulger was injured against the Packers. It doesn't sound like he will miss significant time, but rookie coach Steve Spagnuolo got a good look at Boller in live action.

While the results weren't great, the Rams showed some potential, scoring on three straight possessions around halftime to make things very interesting before Green Bay was able to pull away. They hardly looked explosive, nor did they remind anyone of the Saints, but the offense moved with Boller at the helm, once he figured out his receivers weren't eight feet tall.

Spagnuolo is likely to stick with a healthy Bulger, but if he's ineffective for an extended period, he has to know that Boller can step in and competently run the offense. It might not lead to an immediate change at quarterback, but it could make Bulger's leash a bit shorter.

Status update: Warm

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme, Matt Moore, and A.J. Feeley

Every time Delhomme throws a killer interception, you wonder how much longer he has, especially as Feeley continues to gain knowledge of the team and the offense. It seems that Delhomme is getting close to his last chance, because coach John Fox can ill afford to keep losing games in gut-wrenching fashion.

The 0-3 Panthers appear to be sticking with the veteran Delhomme for now. Nothing will change this week, as the team has their bye week. This situation certainly is worth a close eye when Carolina hosts Washington in Week 5.

Status update: Warm

Pocket Presence: Browns, Buccaneers Make Changes originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That Giant Sucking Sound? The Bucs

David Whitley — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Giants

TAMPA -- You can call it a plague. You can call it a disaster, but there's one description Raheem Morris doesn't want anyone to call out.

"We don't use words like 'embarrassed' around here," he said.

Maybe they'd better start. Three games into the season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making a strong case for being the league's worst team.

That's not easy since the Rams and Browns are still technically considered NFL teams, but consider the stink bomb Tampa Bay exploded Sunday against the Giants.

More Coverage: Giants-Bucs Box Score

The Bucs had zero first downs in the first half. They had 35 yards of total offense until a garbage-time drive. They lost 24-0 that might as well have been 2,400-0.

"It was a complete disaster," Morris said.

Well, that's one way to look at it. Another is that the Bucs are simply following their upside-down Darwinian path.

The franchise put the "em" in "embarrassed" when it started 0-26. On the day when Detroit snapped its 19-game losing streak, it's as if Tampa Bay decided to reclaim its place at the bottom of the NFL's evolutionary chain.

"I don't think I've ever been part of a game where nothing went right," Byron Leftwich said. "Never, never in my life."

The Giants are good, which had something to do with it. But they aren't THAT good. The home team deserves a lot of discredit, only where do you start handing it out?

"It was spread throughout the team like a plague," Morris said.

Bubonic? Locusts? Black?

What do you call it when a team gives up 397 yards of offense? Though to be fair, that did represent a season low for the Bucs defense.

This was supposed to be a transition year. But Monte Kiffin's famed Tampa 2 defense has apparently been replaced by the Tampa Zero. Players are either ill-suited to run Jim Bates' new scheme, or they're simply ill-suited to play NFL-caliber defense.

As for the offense, it was supposed to mirror the Giants' ball-control machine. It was easy to see the difference on Sunday.

"We were beat by a grown-man team," Morris said. "A team we want to be like one day."

Derrick Ward actually gained 1,000 yards for the grown-man team last year. He signed a $17 million free-agent deal with Tampa Bay, figuring it would get him out of Brandon Jacobs' titanic shadow.

How's that working out?

"I'm not talking today," Ward said.

Judging by his stats, he also was barely breathing. Ward had two yards on five carries. That's a tidy 0.4 yard average.

The Bucs have gone from 174 yards rushing in their opener to 57 against Buffalo to 28 on Sunday. At this rate, punter Dirk Johnson will need a leg transplant by Week 8.

The rallying cry has become "Remember 1996!" The Bucs started 0-5 but laid the foundation for a franchise revival.

The difference is that team had a young Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp and John Lynch. It had a proven NFL mind in Tony Dungy, who was finally getting a head coaching job after years of pre-Rooney Rule snubbing.

Morris had to wait approximately 49 seconds to get his first NFL gig. The Glazer family fell in love last year with the 32-year-old secondary coach.

When Jon Gruden was fired, owners saw Morris as the next Mike Tomlin. So far, fans are seeing the return of Ray Perkins or Leeman Bennett or others in the long line of Tampa Bay coaching catastrophes.

Maybe Morris will be like the original. John McKay built a playoff team, though he went 0-26 before doing it. Last year's Lions kicked the 1976 Bucs off the all-time single-season toilet, though nobody could ever truly replace that 0-14 squad in the hearts of local fans.

After years of holding out, the Bucs are planning to wear throwback '76 Creamsicle uniforms in their eighth game. If they maintain their lack of focus and do not get past the Redskins next week, there's a decent chance they could finish the first half of the season 0-8.

Halfway to another Creamsicle dream season.

Could it happen?

It's early, but games like Sunday give you hope.

"It was a little bit embarrassing," Michael Clayton said.

Even if Morris doesn't say so himself.

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Todd Heap #86 of the Baltimore Ravens falls to the ground after a run against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Todd Heap

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Brady Quinn #10 of the Cleveland Browns passes against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brady Quinn

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jerome Harrison #35 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jerome Harrison

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Joshua Cribbs #16 of the Cleveland Browns returns a kickoff against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joshua Cribbs

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Mark Clayton #89 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Clayton

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Matt Birk #77 of the Baltimore Ravens snaps the ball against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Birk

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Tavares Gooden #56 of the Baltimore Ravens makes a tackle against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tavares Gooden

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Denver Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter (28) breaks away from Oakland Raiders cornerback Chris Johnson (37) during an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Willis McGahee #23 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball in for the winning touchdown against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willis McGahee

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That Giant Sucking Sound? The Bucs originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Which NFL Quarterbacks Hold The Ball Too Long?

JJ Cooper — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:10:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Redskins, Steelers, AFC North, NFL Analysis

During many NFL games, and pretty much any Ben Roethlisberger game, you will hear about how many sacks aren't the fault of the offensive line as much as the fault of a quarterback who holds onto the ball for too long.

That's undoubtedly true, but it's also something that is rarely studied. So to get a better idea this year as part of the weekly looks at line play, I'm logging the time the quarterback had for every sack. The time is measured from the snap to the point where the quarterback is first hit (even if the quarterback shrugs off the first hit, it's fair to say that the play has broken down at that point). In general, the average sack occurs around 2.7 to 2.8 seconds after the snap of the ball. Consider that the internal clock a quarterback must have--while the timing can depend somewhat on whether it's a four-man rush or an all-out blitz, in general if a quarterback holds the ball for more than three seconds, he's in trouble. If he gets rid of it in less than 2.5 seconds, he will rarely find himself on his back.

HOLDING ON
The 10 quarterbacks who have held the ball the longest on their sacks
Quarterback	Average Time Of Sack	No. of Sacks
Jason Campbell	3.66	3
Tom Brady	3.6	1
Jay Cutler	3.51	3
Mark Sanchez	3.51	2
Brady Quinn	3.29	9
Kyle Orton	3.27	3
Trent Edwards	3.26	6
JaMarcus Russell	3.22	3
Chad Pennington	3.2	6
Kurt Warner	3.07	3



GETTING RID OF IT
The 10 quarterbacks who have held the ball the shortest on their sacks
Quarterback	Average Time Of Sack	No. of Sacks
Byron Leftwich	2.09	2
Tony Romo	2.1	1
Peyton Manning	2.29	2
Marc Bulger	2.46	4
Carson Palmer	2.47	5
Joe Flacco	2.52	2
Matt Stafford	2.53	3
Matt Schaub	2.6	2
Matt Ryan	2.62	2
Brodie Croyle	2.62	3

For now, the numbers are very much affected by small sample size -- Brady Quinn's decision to hold the ball for an amazing 8.28 seconds before being sacked against the Vikings skewed his stats, although he also has three other sacks where he held the ball for more than three seconds.

But while these stats will become more useful as the season moves along, it's still worth sharing them, partly to note who doesn't show up on the top 10 or the bottom 10. For all the talk about Roethlisberger's tendency to hold the ball forever, he ranks in the middle of the pack with an average time of sack of 2.9 seconds, which ranks 19th out of the 33 quarterbacks who have been sacked this season (wide receiver Antwaan Randle El was sacked, but I'm not counting him since it was a gadget play).

Looking at the stats, Carson Palmer and Marc Bulger come across as the quarterbacks who have been the most under fire. Three of Bulger's four sacks came on plays where he was hit less than 2.5 seconds after he took the snap, while two of Palmer's five sacks came less than two seconds after the snap. Only one of Palmer's five sacks took longer than three seconds.

And for all of the complaints about Byron Leftwitch's extremely long throwing motion he's only been sacked twice, and in both cases he was hit less than 2.5 seconds after the snap.

Which NFL Quarterbacks Hold The Ball Too Long? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raheem Morris Prepares Josh Johnson For Long Career Riding the Pine

Adam Gretz — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:50:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFL Coaching

There are certainly worse ways to make a living than being a backup quarterback in the NFL. After all, you get paid a handsome six-figure salary (or, perhaps, an eight-figure salary if your name happens to be Jake and you're currently on a short leash with a certain team in Carolina) to get a front-row seat to watch the best of the best do their thing on Sundays. Plus, in most cities, you're automatically the most popular guy in town because everyone assumes you can do a better job than the starter. Honestly, it's not a bad gig.

So, having said all of that, I'm not going to feel too bad for Josh Johnson, the second-year quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even after head coach Raheem Morris gave this pep talk following the team's loss to Dallas on Sunday: "I've talked about him being my Jason Garrett, that career backup."

That career backup? Ouch.

A quick refresher course on the career of Garrett: he played his college ball at Princeton and spent seven years sitting on the bench in Dallas -- behind Hall of Famer Troy Aikman -- and another with the New York Giants. He started nine games, compiled a 6-3 record, and tossed 11 touchdowns to just five interceptions. For his troubles he has a couple of Super Bowl rings and is currently an assistant coach. Again, not a bad career. I'd take it. Nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.

But put yourself in Johnson's shoes as an athlete and a competitor. Would you really want to be pegged as a career backup at the age of 23 in just your second year in the league, before you even have an opportunity to prove yourself?

According to Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune, Johnson had the following reaction:

"I have no reaction to it. I don't know," Johnson said. "I really can't speak for the future. I can only worry about right now, and as of right now, I am the backup to Byron (Leftwich) and helping Josh, who is being groomed to do what he's going to do in the future. I don't even worry about it. "If Coach says that, that's fine. We'll see what happens down the road, but as of right now, I am a backup for this team and that's my job."

Johnson, who was listed as the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday behind starter Byron Leftwich, is a 2008 fifth-round pick out of San Diego and has yet to appear in a regular season game. His long-term future with the team as a potential starter obviously took a hit in April when the Buccaneers used the No. 19 overall pick on Kansas State's Josh Freeman.

Still, as far as awkward pep talks go, Morris' attempt to pigeonhole Johnson as "that career backup" is still better than the Lions and their "embarrassment" speech regarding former second-round pick Drew Stanton a year ago. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

Raheem Morris Prepares Josh Johnson For Long Career Riding the Pine originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Injuries, Turnovers Cause Week 1 Drama

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Buccaneers, Eagles, Panthers, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

You can't predict injuries. Even the most injury-prone players are often able to run seven yards without being broken in half, so it's unfair to say that a major lost-time injury doesn't come as a surprise. This week, we find quarterback situations around the league impacted by injuries, ineffectiveness, checkdowns, and interceptions.

More Coverage: Kolb Temporary Starter for Eagles

Yes, Jake Delhomme threw four interceptions in 17 throws against Philadelphia. Yes, Donovan McNabb was injured, sending Philadelphia into scramble mode after their first game. No, Matthew Stafford didn't light the world on fire Sunday. Oh, and we all saw what Jay Cutler did. With all of that in mind, this week starts in the same place last week did.

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

The argument could be made that Quinn didn't play poorly on Sunday against an elite Minnesota defense. However, this should be looked at a bit differently.

Did Quinn's constant checkdowns and insistence on avoiding any risks downfield help or hurt his team's chances of winning?

It's been shown numerous times in the past, even by a team like the Bears that everyone insists doesn't have any passing talent. The best way to gain any serious footing against the Vikings defense is by spreading the field and attacking in all areas.

You can't make a living taking five-yard checkdowns when you don't have much depth at receiver, especially when you're up against one of the league's best defenses.

Unless the Browns find a consistent running game, Quinn is going to have to take the shackles off himself. He can't afford to play the short passing game, as defenders are just going to collapse on the short game.

That's one advantage Anderson has over Quinn. He's not as accurate with his shorter throws, but he's lethal throwing deep. This isn't a change that can be expected immediately. However, it's going to be very difficult for Quinn to keep this job for 16 starts if he plays like he did Sunday.

Granted, not all defenses are like the Vikings, but the bottom line is that Quinn has to be willing to take more chances down the field.

Status update: Very warm

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme, Matt Moore, and A.J. Feeley

Welcome to the list, Jake. Nine interceptions over your last 51 passes (in games that count, that is) will start a quarterback controversy virtually anywhere, even if the backups are rather pedestrian.

Delhomme was a butcher Sunday against the Eagles. While he'll start this week against Atlanta, hot-seat head coach John Fox can't be too patient.

Give Feeley a couple weeks to get acclimated to the offense, and if Delhomme hasn't turned things around, this situation is bound to heat up.

Status update: Very warm

Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, Jeff Garcia

While injury-driven quarterback controversies are typically not as much fun, there is some real juice to what is going on in Philly.

It has nothing to do with McNabb's play. He helped engineer a 38-10 lead at Carolina Sunday before he was injured, and there is no reason to think his job is in any kind of jeopardy. However, the rib fracture he suffered in the game does complicate things somewhat.

The Eagles signed Garcia this week as insurance. He should have no trouble learning the offense, as he played for the Eagles in 2006. The concepts now are basically the same.

In the meantime, Kolb will start this week against New Orleans if McNabb can't go. Remember, Michael Vick is on suspension for one more week, and is not eligible to play until next week.

Status update: Warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Byron Leftwich, Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson

This has nothing to do with Leftwich. In fact, he was pretty good Sunday. It wasn't his fault the Bucs defense gave up too many big plays and couldn't make key stops.

However, this leads us to a larger issue. A struggling Tampa Bay team gets no benefit from having Leftwich continue to take snaps. The season is too young to give up on, but there will come a point where the Bucs have to decide whether they want to win games or give Freeman or Johnson some game experience.

Of course, if Leftwich has an awful day at some point, this decision could be made quicker than expected.

Status update: Lukewarm

Other Teams Worth Watching

Detroit Lions (Matthew Stafford and Daunte Culpepper); San Francisco 49ers (Shaun Hill and Alex Smith)

Pocket Presence: Injuries, Turnovers Cause Week 1 Drama originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dallas Wins With Aerial Attack ... and Help From the Bucs' Defenders

Tom Herrera — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Cowboys, NFL Analysis

One of the Cowboys' bigger questions coming into the season was whether the passing offense would take a hit minus Terrell Owens. For at least one Sunday, Tony Romo and the 'Boys appeared to silence critics with an impressive display through the air.

Romo totaled 353 yards passing and three TDs, including deep strikes to three different receivers -- Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton and even Miles Austin, who gave Dallas a 13-7 edge right before the half on an impressive 42-yard catch-and-run. But overall, this game said more about Tampa Bay's poor pass coverage than the Cowboys receivers tearing it up.

Cowboys 34, Buccaneers 21: Read Recap | Check Box Score

On Austin's TD, he juked his away out of a couple of tackles after beating Elbert Mack in man coverage. Williams, who caught a 66-yard bomb in the third quarter, had a clear shot after an apparent miscue by Bucs safety Sabby Piscitelli. And there were other examples of serious coverage breakdowns in Tampa Bay.

Crayton -- "look ma! no more dropsies!" -- got into the mix in a big way. Crayton had six catches for 135 yards, highlighted by the longest completion of Romo's career, an 80-yard dagger that sealed the victory for Dallas. On that play, Romo picked up a blitz and found Crayton wide open as Piscitelli and Jermaine Phillips were toasted.

It was a rousing offensive start for the Cowboys, but one that should be taken with a grain of salt considering Tampa's major defensive issues in Raheem Morris' head-coaching debut. There's still plenty of work to be done on Dallas' defensive end as well -- the Bucs were quite successful on the ground, totaling 174 yards and two TD plunges.

Dallas Wins With Aerial Attack ... and Help From the Bucs' Defenders originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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