Clayton Joins An Exclusive Club The Tampa Tribune, published 20 December 2004 Michael Clayton had already set franchise rookie records for most receptions (74) and receiving yards (988) entering Sunday's game. His 53 yards against the Saints marked another milestone. Clayton became the 14th rookie pass catcher to record 1,000 receiving yards. Last year, Arizona WR Anquan Boldin had 101 receptions for 1,377 yards. Clayton's teammate, WR Joey Galloway, accomplished the feat his rookie season of 1995 with the Seahawks (67 receptions for 1,039 yards). Needing only 12 yards entering the game, Clayton reached 1,000 with his first reception, which was for exactly 12 yards, on the Bucs' second possession. Three of Clayton's team-leading four receptions Sunday picked up first downs, including his longest of the game, a 23-yard catch in the third quarter. Not so super The loss Sunday did more than virtually knock the Bucs out of the playoff race. The 21-17 setback to the Saints guaranteed Tampa Bay a second consecutive losing season. The Bucs are the first team to follow a Super Bowl win with back-to- back losing seasons. The last time the Bucs posted consecutive sub-.500 seasons was 1995-96. Jon Gruden becomes the first Bucs coach since Sam Wyche (1992-95) to suffer back-to-back losing seasons. ``It doesn't get any worse than that,'' Gruden said of Sunday's loss. ``I have never seen that before. I am speechless. I am looking for an explanation for our players and our fans. All I can say is that it is my responsibility. I failed.'' Special score It had been two years since the Bucs scored a touchdown on a punt return. For Galloway, it had been six years. For the first time since the 1998 season, Galloway made it into the end zone on a punt return. The 10th-year veteran returned his first punt of the second half 59 yards to give the Bucs a 14-7 lead. It was the Bucs' first punt return for a touchdown since Karl Williams returned one 56 yards against Baltimore on Sept. 15, 2002. ``To be honest with you, I didn't do a whole lot,'' Galloway said. ``The guys blocked well. I didn't do much, it was all blocking. Losing takes the excitement out of it, for sure.'' Galloway also scored a receiving touchdown on the Bucs' opening drive. It marked his third consecutive game with at least one touchdown. He has five touchdowns in the past three games. ``That's something that we expected from him,'' Gruden said. ``He has a chance to be great.'' Injury update Saints starting LT Wayne Gandy limped off the field midway through the first quarter with a knee bruise. He returned later in the game but went down again on the first play of the second quarter when Bucs DT Greg Spires sacked Saints QB Aaron Brooks for a 10- yard loss. Gandy left again to have his knee X-rayed, which revealed a sprain. The Bucs reported no injuries. Game inactives S Jermaine Phillips, CB Torrie Cox, FB Greg Comella, TE Billy Baber, T Anthony Davis, G Jeb Terry, WR Charles Lee and designated third quarterback Brad Johnson.