And that's saying something, considering how good they were in '07.
As much as the attention in Tampa is focused on the offense, especially after Tampa expressed so much interest in trading for Brett Favre (in spite of what GM Bruce Allen said), it's the defense that will hold a huge key to whether the Bucs can improve on last year's wild card playoff run.
I wrote about it in my Sunday notes column.
After the Jets pulled off the blockbuster trade for Brett Favre, Bucs general manager Bruce Allen is now saying the Bucs never really got serious about dealing for the iconic quarterback.
Right.
And that's why Jon Gruden was all but salivating over Favre in the days leading up to the deal. And why Favre himself said earlier tonight Gruden did a fine job of selling him on the idea of playing in Tampa.
Looks like Allen might have gotten a little too complacent during the Favre sweepstakes, which allowed the more aggressive Jets to make the move.
Sounds like Jon Gruden will spare no attempt to get Brett Favre into a Buccaneers uniform.
"We are a good football team," Gruden told reporters today in Orlando, where the Buccaneers train. "We're trying to become a great one. We'll do anything we can to get better. And if that involves looking at other players, by George that's our job. That's our responsibility."
By George, that means getting Favre!
Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia is obviously aware of the swirl of speculation centering on Brett Favre's potential trade to Tampa. But like the gutsy quarterback he has been throughout his career, he answers the controversy with a combination of in-your-face confidence and bemusement.
Asked about Jon Gruden's flirtation with Favre, Garcia quipped: "He loves quarterbacks. But he likes to just date. He doesn't like to marry."
Brilliant.
As for Garcia's overall take on the situation: "If (Favre) comes in, as much as the accolades are huge on that side, I'm the starting quarterback, and it's going to be a battle. That's just my attitude. I'm the starter here. I'm going to choke it to death until somebody pulls my grip off of it."
Beautiful.
It sure seems that the Bucs are the logical landing spot for Favre, who still wants to play, but might decide not to play, but might change his mind and play after all.
Depends on what day it is, I guess.
Anyway, the Bucs do seem like a good fit for Favre. After all, the Packers have no interest in dealing Favre to division rival Minnesota. And with little interest around the league for the services of a soon-to-be 39-year-old quarterback who can't seem to decide whether he'll play or not, Tampa has plenty to offer Favre.
There is head coach Jon Gruden, a former Packers assistant (receivers coach) whom Favre knew early in his career in Green Bay. Gruden loves veteran quarterbacks, and with Jeff Garcia making noises about a contract extension, Favre could be an instant fix at the position.
The Bucs are coming off a playoff berth and have a defense that is nearly back to the level of a few years ago.
It's anyone's guess when Favre will make the next move, but the next move is his.
With NFL commissioner Roger Goodell pressing both Favre and the Packers to resolve his situation, and with the Packers reporting to training camp on Sunday, things need to be resolved in short order.
It sure seems that the Bucs are the logical landing spot for Favre, who still wants to play, but might decide not to play, but might change his mind and play after all.
Depends on what day it is, I guess.
Anyway, the Bucs do seem like a good fit for Favre. After all, the Packers have no interest in dealing Favre to division rival Minnesota. And with little interest around the league for the services of a soon-to-be 39-year-old quarterback who can't seem to decide whether he'll play or not, Tampa has plenty to offer Favre.
There is head coach Jon Gruden, a former Packers assistant (receivers coach) whom Favre knew early in his career in Green Bay. Gruden loves veteran quarterbacks, and with Jeff Garcia making noises about a contract extension, Favre could be an instant fix at the position.
The Bucs are coming off a playoff berth and have a defense that is nearly back to the level of a few years ago.
It's anyone's guess when Favre will make the next move, but the next move is his.
With NFL commissioner Roger Goodell pressing both Favre and the Packers to resolve his situation, and with the Packers reporting to training camp on Sunday, things need to be resolved in short order.
Sound weird?
It is.
The Bucs are attempting to recoup $7 million from quarterback Jake Plummer, who has never played a down for Tampa Bay, who refused to be traded from Denver to the Bucs, and who has never given any indication other than that he never wants to play football again.
Go figure.
Plummer is headed to New York Wednesday for a sit-down at NFL headquarters that will determine whether the team can collect more than $7 mil from him. Complicated? You bet.
The Bucs are seeking to recover the prorated portion of a signing bonus paid to Plummer when he renegotiated his contract in 2005. That contract was renegotiated when Plummer played for the Broncos. Now the Bucs, who technically own his rights because of the trade, are looking to collect the money.
Stranger than all that? There is the expectation that Plummer might actually have to pay up because of the language in his contract.
And if Tampa wins, they'd not only get the money, but $7 mil in salary cap relief.
... he wants a new contract.
If I'm not mistaken, Garcia has just become the oldest player in NFL history (38) to bitch about wanting a new deal.
Jon Gruden took the Buccaneers from last to first during the 2007 season, and has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension that keeps him in Tampa through the 2011 season.
Bucs general manager Bruce Allen also got an extension.
Gruden had a year left on a deal that was extended after the Bucs won the Super Bowl five seasons ago. He earned $4.3 million in 2007.
The Bucs finished 9-7 in the regular season and lost to the Giants at home in the wild card playoff round. It was Gruden's third divisional title in his six seasons in Tampa.
