Steady Ship Signals Full Steam Ahead So after a week of total stability in the Bay area, these things we now know to be true – Monte is back to keep doing his wonderful thing with our defense; Gruden is back to snipe, snarl, holler and coach the hell out of each day, often for nearly 21 hours of it; Bruce Allen is back dovetailing with Chucky and often seeing things the same way. That’s usually what happens with play-off teams, you keep the core together as much as you can and generally good things will happen, discuss. Now all those things have been put to bed – and I swear you can almost hear the gnashing of teeth in the St Pete Times Sports office – its time to concentrate on the way ahead with free agency and the draft strategy. The fact we have few pivotal players going on the open market adds to the strength of our position, though which if any marquee players we are likely to pursue depends not only on their availability but also how they will fit into our system, particularly on defense. March will be an interesting time, given our cap position and the obvious needs we have for some home run hitters on offense, and beef up the middle of the defensive line. The other main news item this past week is the imminent announcement on the horizon of another regular season NFL game to hit these shores in 2008. This can only be a good thing and a chance for more fans to experience an NFL game, and personally whoever comes over it will be another great event, though as sure as Bill Parcells is a control freak, it won't be the Bucs so please don’t get your hopes up. A few things I think 1) Farewell A-Train, and thanks so much for all the memories, the runs, the catches the blocks, the TDs – everything. I’ve just read a quote that Mike made it cool to be a Bucs fan and couldn’t have put it better myself. Maybe not a true fullback, but certainly a true football player in every sense of the word. 2) I think I genuinely do not give one ounce of a shit about Tom Brady’s phantom injured foot. 3) I see the first mock drafts are appearing already from the likes of Mel Kiper et al. Why? The draft is three freakin months of combines, injuries, smokescreens, pro days, Wonderlick tests and other misguided emphasis on how high a guy can jump rather than how he plays football, away. Print off a mock draft now, and then compare it to the real thing in April – if any more than four selections are right then I’m third in line to the Spanish throne. 4) Welcome back to the FFL Mr Stewart, good to have you with us again. 5) I think I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me for Writer of the Year and its very humbling to hear people do read the stuff you put down on paper. There are far greater columnists than me, Tribune staff and Messrs Crawford and Maw among them so it truly is an honour, thank you all. Bonus 10 things we will remember about the 2007 Bucs season i. The play of Tanard Jackson, who gets in on more “hits” than Lawrence Taylor on vacation and shows all the instincts of a great one ii. Caddy’s horrific injury, potentially a career ender iii. Aaron Sears starting what will be a stellar career in this league iv. Two words, Micheal Spurlock v. Being pissed off at a play-off defeat, then realising things aren’t so bad after all soon after, unless of course you happen to work for the St Pete Times vi. Earnest Graham proving once again that Running Back is the easiest position to replace in the NFL vii. Joey Galloway continuing to defy the ravages of time. He must be drinking Just for Men viii. That memorable win in the Superdome piloted by Luke McCown, which will probably be a trivia question five years down the road ix. Gaines Adams second half of the year, mirage or portent ofthings to come? x. Seeing the whole Bucs team crowded round a fallen teammate far too often Our Editor has clearly and concisely explained the reasons elsewhere these past few days, and sad though it is that is literally the end of any opportunity of the Bucs appearing. From a selfish point of view I wouldn’t want to give up a home date anyway though the perceived disadvantages of travelling overseas for a regular season game have been totally put to bed by the Giants reaching the Super Bowl in 2007. Maybe the UK game will become a talisman, a bit like Joe Montana in the play-offs or Jose Canseco in a drug investigation. Television coverage of the NFL in the UK reached even greater peaks in 2007, and some weekends at least half of the complete slate of games were on live and available to us. Could we have ever imagined such an opportunity back in the days when John Smith and Mick Luckhurst were our resident experts, and the Superbowl was our only live offing? Sky Sports deserve credit for the range of teams they have shown and commitment to the Sport and for that I am thankful to them, though my wife probably isn’t given my domination of the talking picture box for six hours plus every Sunday night. Sadly come February I have to give it back to her, so please feel for me as I sit through yet another episode of Cold Case or CSI. That unfortunately is now my lot until August, unless I am also cast into that dreaded world of household chores that every husband or partner is afforded by their nearest and dearest once a sports season comes to an end. Time for me to start petitioning the NFL (again) for a 30 game regular season! Nod of Acknowledgement to - The New York Giants Minus 23 wind chill, on the road facing a red hot Brett Favre and rabid crowd they pulled off the ultimate upset. Why do I think they’ve already won their Superbowl and are now playing with house money? Get in the Real World Award - Ladanian Tomlinson …… Lauded for years as the prototype in durability, he now finds his toughness questioned as he couldn’t go on a sprained knee ligament, whilst his QB played with a torn ACL last week. Only Ladanian will truly know if he had a case of losers limp or not, but it will be interesting to see how he reacts. Sports News Story I No Longer Give a Toss About – Falcons coaching search ……. . Does anybody really care, even in Atlanta? Head on the Block Time Last week 1-1 (season 168-97 ) Lock of the week is now 11-2 No games this week so no recipients of the Golden Tickets from Willy Wonka. I’ll probably need at least the extra seven days in order to determine which team wins the Super Bowl, errr not.