A good Buc's article written by Sal Paolantonio of ESPN.

[Buc Nashville]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...sal&id=1776011


By Sal Paolantonio
Special to ESPN.com

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Jon Gruden was looking to get away from it all, looking to get away from the sportswriters who had descended upon the NFL annual meetings at The Breakers, where, of course, there would be questions about Keyshawn, Sapp, Lynch and the tumultuous re-make of a championship franchise.


But the waves in the Atlantic Ocean, just like the football fans in Tampa, were unforgiving -- eight feet high, to be exact. So, Gruden cancelled a chartered fishing boat and instead took his wife and two young boys to a local wild animal safari -- a fitting metaphor for what Gruden has endured in the 12 months since he brought the Lombardi Trophy to his hometown of Tampa:


An ugly 7-9 season, five home losses and no Bucs playoff appearance for the first time since 1998.



Gruden hopes to get the Bucs pointed back in the right direction.
A messy public annulment of the marriage of convenience with Keyshawn Johnson, the vitriolic wide receiver who was, in effect, fired for insubordination with six games left in the 2003 season, then traded to the Dallas Cowboys last month.


A quiet divorce with the uproarious Warren Sapp, who formed the core of a defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL since 1997 (1,802), and shaped the personality of a team that went from perennial league wallflower to winner. Sapp will play in Oakland now. And safety John Lynch, the gentleman ying to Sapp's loud mouth yang, will play for the AFC West rival Denver Broncos. It was Lynch's abrupt and unceremonious departure that left perhaps the ugliest blemish on this offseason of disfigurement. Without the proper farewell befitting a solid citizen such as Lynch, Tampa watched as this former Pro Bowler, former NFL Man of the Year, and longtime conscience of the franchise was kicked out the door, as if the folks writing the checks at One Buc Place had no institutional memory of his contributions and counsel. "The world forgetting," wrote the great 18th Century English poet Alexander Pope, "by the world forgot."


Or, as Jerry Glanville once put it: "N.F.L. stands for Not For Long." And so, too, in Tampa, all talk of that championship season has been forgotten. Local columnists and talk radio show hosts have skewered Gruden -- and it's clear the criticism has stung.


At a breakfast with reporters at the opulent The Breakers, Gruden was asked about the wholesale changes he has wrought, and his answer seemed to indicate that he has been listening to the critics.


"We've got to overcome the loss of some dynamic players in our franchise," said Gruden, entering his third season as the Bucs head coach. "We have to prove we have the firepower to overcome that."


When asked where that personality will come from, new general manager Bruce Allen, who worked with Gruden in Raider Nation, said quite tersely: "The coaching staff."


Translation: It's Gruden's team now.


There's a large measure of truth to the assertion that Gruden won the Super Bowl with Tony Dungy's players, especially on that maddening, suffocating defense. Now, Gruden will have to do it with a team re-made in his image.


The team is older -- Gruden and Allen have stockpiled veterans, especially offensive linemen. Brought on board to help protect the battered Brad Johnson were Matt Stinchcomb, Derrick Deese, Todd Steussie, and Matt O'Dwyer.


Two other guys will also help Johnson, fullback Greg Comella and wide receiver Joey Galloway, acquired in the Keyshawn Johnson trade from the Cowboys. Running back Charlie Garner, at 32, will take off the silver and black and put on the pewter and red.


With Stinchcomb and Garner, Gruden has been accused of re-making the Bucs into the team he left behind in Oakland, land of the recidivist bad actors such as defensive tackle Darrell Russell -- Gruden's latest free agent acquisition.


Russell, who hasn't had a decent season in four years, was suspended by the league twice for violating the substance abuse policy. He's admitted to filming two friends, who happened to be convicted felons, having sex with a woman. He's been pulled over for drunk driving. Last year, he was suspended by the Redskins for one game after being late for practice.


The announcement of Russell's signing came on the second day of the league meetings. Gruden was on safari. So, Allen took the questions about how it looks -- that, in the good-guy ledger, Lynch for Russell does not compute. Allen, whose brother is a Republican U.S. Senator, tried to spin his way around one P.R. disaster and then delivered another:


"Bill Clinton did worse things than Darrell Russell, and he won Florida twice," Allen said. “ It's not like we had our heart removed. We lost great players, but we've still got some very dynamic leaders there. And I think we'll see the emergence of others now. ”
—Jon Gruden

The next morning, Gruden was a lot less glib, contending that Russell has been made painfully aware of the score. Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli went to Oakland, Gruden said, and had a long talk with Russell, letting him know what's to be expected.


"Hopefully, his work ethic will have improved," said Gruden, who knows Russell all too well. Allen, too, has watched Russell unravel. The fact is that Russell is a cheap replacement -- about $500,000 a year. And, at age 28 when the season starts, if he can get his act together -- a big if -- Russell still has a few good years left in him.


"Rod laid it on the line for him," said Gruden. "There will be no surprises in terms of what's expected of him. There are basically two rules: Don't be late. Don't be overweight. He ain't going to be late here. If he's good enough, he'll play. If not?"


Gruden didn't finish the sentence. He didn't have to. Young defensive tackle Anthony McFarland will replace Sapp in the so-called "under" technique of Monte Kiffin's defense. Russell will be expected to be attract a double-team to free up Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks to make the plays he's supposed to make, and allow McFarland to get to the quarterback.


Sapp-Brooks-Lynch -- that trio up the middle of the defense had been the bulwark of the Bucs' success. The three of them shared 19 Pro Bowl appearances, and two defensive player of the year honors. The three of them had started more games (119) together than any other active trio in the NFL.


With or without the complications brought on by the Russell signing -- and we still haven't heard from Brooks on this matter -- re-formulating that kind of special chemistry won't be easy. The roster is bulging with 20 new players -- about five more than the NFL average each year. But when you subtract guys like Sapp and Lynch, the displacement is much more dramatic than the numbers indicate.


So, where will the leadership come from? "It will have to come from guys like Derrick Brooks on defense, and Mike Alstott and Todd Steussie, and Keenan McCardell and Brad Johnson on offense," said Gruden.


"We have to come together," he said. "Leaders have to lead. Unity and camaraderie on this team is going to be vital to our success. We have to be together and be humble. It's not like we had our heart removed. We lost great players, but we've still got some very dynamic leaders there. And I think we'll see the emergence of others now."

Sal Paolantonio, who wrote about the Eagles for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1993-94, covers the NFL for ESPN.

Yep. That about sums it up.

I think I'm more sad than angry now. Is that one of the steps in the healing process?

Originally posted by BucBuc_No1
Yep. That about sums it up.

I think I'm more sad than angry now. Is that one of the steps in the healing process?

yep, i think it goes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

denial- i thought they just forgot to offer sapp a contract, or maybe it was lost in the mail.

anger- i was ****ed when i saw sapp leave and lynch too.

bargaining- i was telling god that i would go to church everyday, give to the poor, and reduce my porno watching by 40% if they would just come back.

depression- sad to know they are gone for good.

acceptance- i am ready for next season so all the speculation can be over. did gruden do the right thing can only be decided next season.

[Got-defense?]

Good read.


We will be back this year for more.

Originally posted by BucBuc_No1
Yep. That about sums it up.

I think I'm more sad than angry now. Is that one of the steps in the healing process?

I think it is.

[bucsfan31]

good read. especially the part about russell. basically he was told that if he screws up he's history. now we just wait and see how this team jells.

atababy sal

[bucsfan9740]

ya, thats a good article

Great read!
You should check out Gruden's after practice video clip.
Too bad about Charlie Garner still recovering from surgery though....we really could use him in the backfield.

He's going along fine and then he has to stick that 'Gruden won with Dungy's players' garbage in the story. Dungy didn't have a clue how to beat the Eagles once McNabb matured. Part of the problem was that he didn't have the wideouts. So the Bucs go get McCardell, Joey J, Dilger, Dudley, Pittman. None of these were Dungy's players. It bears mentioning that Dunn, who Dungy loved and often gave the ball to to a fault, never played well in Philadelphia. But guys like Sal Pal continue to throw these jibes in and enough people eat it up.
Yes, the defense was there. But the Bucs didn't win in 1999 with a great defense and they wouldn't have won without the offensive pieces that they added in 2002. It's a stupid angle, just like the sub-40 degree angle, but that's the ignorance of the anti-Bucs media for you.

[BannedSrqFan]

So, where will the leadership come from? "It will have to come from guys like Derrick Brooks on defense, and Mike Alstott and Todd Steussie, and Keenan McCardell and Brad Johnson on offense," said Gruden.

I can not emphasize this point enough. For those that do not pay attention, there is a developing relationship with Alstott and Gruden. If Mike completes his comeback from the injury, I could see him playing two, maybe three more years then coaching here. Gruden has an eye for the tough minded, in your face hit you and make your momma cry player.

Alstott and Brooks define that.

We're back NFL. And you should all fear the pirate ship on the horizon.

The sails are patched.

The cannons reloaded.

The captain has run his flag to the top.

And the top is where our Bucs shall be again.

[BucsBacker]

Finally a non-Bucs bashing article from ESPN. That's a rarity these days.

[GonzoBuc55]

Originally posted by BannedSrqFan
We're back NFL. And you should all fear the pirate ship on the horizon.

The sails are patched.

The cannons reloaded.

The captain has run his flag to the top.

And the top is where our Bucs shall be again.

Amen brother...can't wait to "Fire Them Cannons!!!".

[BannedSrqFan]

Originally posted by BucsBacker
Finally a non-Bucs bashing article from ESPN. That's a rarity these days.

I think they want to do a special on the Bucs. Since we're going to play New England in the Super Bowl next year, I'm sure they want to cozy up to Gruden and Co.

[BucsBacker]

Originally posted by BannedSrqFan
I think they want to do a special on the Bucs. Since we're going to play New England in the Super Bowl next year, I'm sure they want to cozy up to Gruden and Co.

Imagine the ratings bonanza.

[kmil579]

Originally posted by BucsBacker
Finally a non-Bucs bashing article from ESPN. That's a rarity these days.

Oh get over yourselves. that is all they did at the beginning of last year was be all over your teams jocks. talking about how great your d was how you would repeat and crap like that. just because they wised up and saw that you guys ha dno shot at repeating and quit riding your team doesnt meanthat they have something against your team and wont write anything nice about them. have another cry guys. here is a tissue you whiners.

[BannedSrqFan]

Originally posted by kmil579
Oh get over yourselves. that is all they did at the beginning of last year was be all over your teams jocks. talking about how great your d was how you would repeat and crap like that. just because they wised up and saw that you guys ha dno shot at repeating and quit riding your team doesnt meanthat they have something against your team and wont write anything nice about them. have another cry guys. here is a tissue you whiners.

And the Squeelers finished with how many Lombardis in the last 10 years?

[kmil579]

Originally posted by BannedSrqFan
And the Squeelers finished with how many Lombardis in the last 10 years?

Is that the best comeback you can come up with?

[BannedSrqFan]

Originally posted by kmil579
Is that the best comeback you can come up with?

Since you know the answer and can't combat it, do I need to work on a better one? Only a loser lives in one city and roots for another team.

But then again, anyone in Atlanta is a loser, so enjoy your Tommy Maddox trading card sets.

[BucsBacker]

Originally posted by kmil579
Oh get over yourselves. that is all they did at the beginning of last year was be all over your teams jocks. talking about how great your d was how you would repeat and crap like that. just because they wised up and saw that you guys ha dno shot at repeating and quit riding your team doesnt meanthat they have something against your team and wont write anything nice about them. have another cry guys. here is a tissue you whiners.

kmil, I was being sarcastic.

[kmil579]

Originally posted by BucsBacker
kmil, I was being sarcastic.

I wasnt singleing you out. I just happened to quote you. I am tired of bucs fans saying that they cant get a break and that everyone is out to get them. If someone says something bad about my team I dont like it but you know what opinions are like?

[kmil579]

Originally posted by BannedSrqFan
Since you know the answer and can't combat it, do I need to work on a better one? Only a loser lives in one city and roots for another team.

But then again, anyone in Atlanta is a loser, so enjoy your Tommy Maddox trading card sets.

Your ignorance is showing.

[BucsBacker]

Originally posted by kmil579
I wasnt singleing you out. I just happened to quote you. I am tired of bucs fans saying that they cant get a break and that everyone is out to get them. If someone says something bad about my team I dont like it but you know what opinions are like?

I get it. Me being a Lakers fan I hear this all the time. It's cool

[kmil579]

Originally posted by BucsBacker
I get it. Me being a Lakers fan I hear this all the time. It's cool

Dont get me started on the lakers.......






















Ring #4 for Shaq and Kobe is in the bag. they look unstoppable. I like the Lakers. Payton and MAlone made the right choice.

[BucsBacker]

Originally posted by kmil579
Dont get me started on the lakers.......