Title Secured and Bogeyman Crushed I was lucky enough to be in Tampa stadium back in 1994 when Vernon Turner broke our return duck but the Kick-off return hoodoo, all 31 years and counting of it was the real millstone around our necks. It was a bizarre stat that needing putting to bed and finally quite by chance, Micheal Spurlock became a Buccaneer legend for eternity for covering that 90 yard space of grass untouched. In typical Buc fashion the blocking wedge was set up for him to go left, but thankfully a guy who had never returned a kick-off for a TD in his life followed his instincts and made us all feel like we can now die happy. Micheal, our hats are off to you and thank you so much for the moment and the memory. As ever Gene’s call of the play was magic and alongside the famous “You go Joe” shout it will go down in the Buccaneer broadcasting annals giving us all goose bumps every time we hear it. Amidst all the hoopla of the kick-off return we also managed to clinch our third NFC South title in the past six years, and with two games to spare, and can now look forward to a home play-off game in the first week in January – an unreal position given all our fears and trepidations back in training camp. Jon Gruden and his staff have done a heck of a job navigating this group to a likely 10/11 win season, with nary a pro-bowler in sight thanks to the snub of the past 48 hours. This only serves to highlight what a true “team” this has been with different heroes ever week, and a feature running back who appeared to be a borderline roster cut in the initial analysis. Earnest Graham’s rise to starting prominence has matched the ascent if our team and long may we continue on this wonderful ride of a season. A few things I think 1. Another day, another Ronde Barber runback for a touchdown. It’s getting so ho hum it’s ridiculously good. As many TD’s as Willie Parker this season and two more than Tiki too. 2. Well thank god the Baltimore Ravens turned up to save the day and preserve our immortality in letting the Dolphins win a game at last (sorry Chris). Now I can go back to old traditional standpoint of wishing the Dolphins to lose every week again. Amen to that. 3. Is it me or have we gone far too long without a Joey Galloway long ball TD? I feel another one coming on this Sunday. 4. 10 TDs now and nearly 900 yards at 4.1 clip from our third string RB. Looks like we may have a running back controversy if Cadillac makes it back in decent health in 2008. 5. I think congratulations are in order to the combatants of the FFL Muppett Bowl this Sunday, Phil and Steve. Good luck fellas, drinking yourself into oblivion whilst drafting is clearly the future – lets face it, its time The Miami Dolphins tried that! Commiserations also to JD for his defeat in the worst possible way thanks to Westbrook’s Italian infantry impression at the one-yard line – I’d punish him by trading him to The Clap if I were you! 6. I think the only two players we have who could have laid claim to a Pro Bowl spot were Ronde Barber and Barrett Ruud. That said I think they and the rest of Buccaneer nation would readily trade a pro bowl snub for a play-off season. 7. I think I hope the Twits win last week somehow saves John Fox’s job; with him in charge there going nowhere and long may that continue to be the case. It shows how low the Falcons have sunk given they are actually below the Hicks in the standings. 8. I think given it took us 31 years to return a kick-off for a TD, it will probably be about another five games before it happens again as these things often fall like that. It seems bizarre at this point but our last two games of the season are a simple exercise in seeing if we are the number three or more likely four seed, given the Seahawks tie-breaker over us and their remaining schedule which is as easy as ours (H to Baltimore, A at Atlanta if you are scoring at home). That means we are likely playing the five seed and top wild card, which is currently the Giants and that would do nicely. The surging Vikings are not exactly what the doctor ordered for us though Id still fancy us to stick one on them in our own backyard if/when the crunch came, It will be interesting to see how the final two weeks shake out. Next Sunday takes us to a real bogey ground in Candlestick (That’s how I call it) Park where it seems we haven’t won since time began. The 49ers are playing out the string though in Shaun Hill they have a QB playing with freedom and abandon and Frank Gore still represents a premier player. That said we should still be beating teams like this, and keeping our momentum going for the big dance in January; we exorcised one demon last week, so lets put the silly Candlestick streak away in this. The keys to victory remain the same when you are playing a lowly team on the road – jump on them early and get the lead to destroy what little self-belief they have left. A physical approach is needed and if Gaines Adams and Greg White can introduce Mr Hill to the turf once or twice then all the better. It might not be pretty but a Buc win is needed and that’s what we will get, 23-20 as we hopefully hit the double digit win mark again, damn would that feel good and probably piss Nick Halling off too as his Steelers go in the tank – they certainly “Ain’t all that” the last time I checked. Can I also take this opportunity to wish all Buc fans and visitors to this site, as well as our friends from over the pond, my good wishes for the upcoming festive season. May your drinks be plenty, your gifts be all you want and your families be well. Nod of Acknowledgement to - Micheal Spurlock Who else – number 17 created a permanent place in Buccaneer history last Sunday afternoon and that’s there for life, no ifs and’s or butts. Get in the Real World Award - Any Falcon sporting a Free Michael Vick T-Shirt or some other such claptrap. Vick is no unjustly incarcerated – he’s a convicted felon of a devious crime by his own admission and the W*****s on the Falcons team deserve one-game bans for that garbage last week Sports News Story I No Longer Give a Toss About – Baseballs steroid abusers I’m sorry but when you looked at Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa back in 1998, with forearms the size of basketballs after a sudden 50lbs weight gain each, knocking nine kinds of **** out of the ball did it not cross anybody’s mind that chemical enhancements were afoot in Baseball? You can’t pretend to be shocked by The Mitchell report unless you are a child or from another planet – its been going on for years and the guys who’s names are on the report are not the only ones condemned, they are simply the ones to get caught. They represent about 10% of the total by my estimation. Head on the Block Time Last week 11-5 (season 141-82) - Lock of the Week is 6-2. Still working up a head of steam here but waiting for the inevitable fall from grace! This week's winners of the Blankety Blank Cheque Book and Pens are:- Stillers, Romo’s, Peyton and his Friends, Cheese, The Fudge, Fred Taylor carrying 52 others with him, Boy I Love Losing Superbowls, Lionesses, Aints, Buckos, Cards, Oilers, Starbucks (lock of the week), Cheats, Vikes and San Diego Super Chargers.