For openers, Bucs aren't competitive Hubert Mizell, The St.Petersburg Times, published 1988 Perpetuating the disgrace, the Tampa Bay Bucs began a new and typically unpromising season by embarrassing themselves. Philadelphia, not one of pro football's great teams, charcoaled the Bucs 34-0 in Sunday's first half and then took pity. Don't let the statistics fool you. Tampa Bay, losing its ninth straight, was not competitive, in yardage or in first downs or in any other way. Once the Eagles had the game iced, after two quarters, coach Buddy Ryan flooded the field with Philly subs. It was like Little League, where the big kids can get to feeling sorry for a pitiful, pulverized opponent. Ryan benched quarterback Randall Cunningham along with two-thirds of the Eagles' starters. Tampa Bay piled up most of its yardage against the Philadelphia irregulars. Nobody should be misled. When both teams had their varsities on the field, the Eagles hammered the Bucs the way Mike Tyson rat-a-tat-tats a speed bag. Tampa Bay coach Ray Perkins was “damned embarrassed.” He said if Bucs players are not similarly dismayed, “they ought to get out of town.” Now there's an idea. Next weekend, the Bucs do leave, going north to Green Bay to play the Packers, who began their season with a 34-7 Sunday clunker against the Los Angeles Rams. What do you think? If Philadelphia, a middle-class NFL team, was so out of reach for the Bucs, will Tampa Bay even have the goods to compete with Green Bay, one of its fellow NFC Central paupers? Sunday tells you “No!” Vinny Testaverde had maybe the worst 300-yard passing day in the history of the National Football League. Intercepted five times, he continually threw into areas devoid of Bucs receivers and overpopulated by Eagles defenders. Perkins said he expected to “get sick” upon reviewing videotapes of the 41-14 loss. He blamed himself for a “p----poor job” of preparing Testaverde, and promised it'll get better. People booed Vinny. Booed Perkins. Booed them all. The Bucs have no cause to get upset over the raspberries. They were booed on merit. Booed because they were rotten in the first half against the real Eagles. Booed because Tampa Bay customers fear they could be 1/16th into one more nauseating season. I want to believe that all is not futile. I want to believe Perkins when he says the Bucs have athletic promise. But when are they going to give a clue? Or look as though they have a clue? It's difficult to decide where the Tampa Bay troupe is lousiest. Offense? Maybe. Defense? Could well be. Special teams? Always a possibility. Although the foregoing paragraphs may indicate otherwise, I'm still working at having patience with Tampa Bay's battered little team. I realize the Bucs are young. Even their veterans haven't functioned side-by-side for too long. And, presumably, as Perkins says, there is some talent in the house. But when is it going to show? When will Testaverde play a full game with a look of assurance? When will there be a Buccaneer pass rush? When will Tampa Bay defensive backs stop looking as though they are dogs chasing speeding cars? Is Tampa Bay ever going to learn to return kicks effectively? How can the Bucs not be putting Ray Criswell on the next Greyhound for Gainesville, since the former University of Florida punter continues to kick like a man with a wooden leg? Many questions few answers. During Sunday's first half, the Bucs appeared less competitive than even in 1976-77 when, as an infant NFL franchise, they began with 26 losses in a row. Tampa Bay fans are, frankly, quite tolerant. They may boo, but they don't throw Molotov cocktails. Today's Bucs must understand that, in a little more than 12 seasons, the franchise has rewarded its constituency with one great year, two or three moderately successful seasons, and a boatload of grief. Sunday's first half against Philadelphia proved the Bucs still can't block well enough, can't tackle well enough, can't defend passes well enough, throw passes well enough or can't punt well enough. In a few days, I'm to go to Seoul to write about the Olympics. Therefore, I'm leaving the Bucs in your hands, and in Ray Perkins' grasp. When I return in October, I expect to see a competitive, consistent, promising Bucs team. Just kidding. Unfortunately.