In and Around the NFL of an Idle Bucs Week Yeah yeah, I understand the reasoning behind the bye week but it’s still a load of crap if your team is one of the inactives; you can of course make a case for The Bucs being inactive since the end of November 2008 but I digress. With no Buccaneer match-up to cringe at, last week made me focus entirely on other games around the league which in itself was an enjoyable experience – heck, at least there was no defeat to depress oneself with when all the dust had settled. So what did Week 8 bring us? Well now the Bucs are currently the official worst team in the league as both The Rams and Titans dragged themselves off the schneid and got up and running, so only our very own Pewter Pirates remain winless, how depressing; especially when you consider how bad The Browns actually are. Their offense makes our own look like a juggernaut, and in fact its cause for celebration if the QB throws for over 100 yards in a game. I watched Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers put up over 350 yards between them in a quarter alone last Sunday, so lord knows the fans in Cleveland must wonder what a decent forward pass looks like. Not so much the Wildcat their offense is more like a bloody stray cat that’s wandered into the wrong backyard. Also of note is the recent turnaround in Dallas, noticeably Romo playing better sans the celebrity squeeze, and the collapse in New York by the Jets special teams and the Giants whole team. I bet Rex Ryan and Tom Coughlin have been real fun to be around these past few days, not. A few things I think 1) I think I wonder if Aqib Talib will ever “get it” and grow up. Probably not. 2) I think it would be nice if our Offensive Line could protect the rook back there this Sunday, and actually give him a chance to be good. Get down and dirty fellas, and let the kid cut it loose. 3) I’m not sure whether it matters who’s kicking for the Bucs this year, as it’s largely a redundant position with the state of our offense. Douglas bloody Bader could have filled that roster spot this season without anyone noticing any discernable difference. 4) Much as I try I still can’t give a shit about Brett Favre. His antics over the past 2 off-seasons have left me with an automatic default to a feeling of indifference whenever the whole damn saga gets rehashed again in the press. 5) That Tom Cable sounds like a nice fella doesn’t he. Seems to be a perfect fit for his team really, namely the Raydurs. How much longer can Mad Al tune out reality and keep the guy in a job is anyone’s guess. 6) Thought Roy Cummings article on the state of the Bucs and who’s coming back next year should have been printed on 1st April. To quote JP McEnroe, “you cannot be serious?” 7) As he’s in my fantasy team I’ve started following Reggie Bush on Twitter – no I’m not a bloody stalker, I’m just after injury updates OK? Anyways, can anyone tell me what the hell Kim Kardashian is actually famous for, besides being his squeeze and having an inability to wear anything that doesn’t have her knockers hanging out of it? 8) FAO Chris Grant. Drop me a line Chris as I’ve lost your email – I’ve got a photo to send you that you might like. (Coming next week within Lee’s column, wanted and sale ads for household and other items!) 9) Bloody Yankees. They can parade all they wan’t, that organisation still makes my stomach turn. 10) I see Eli Manning’s returned to mediocrity once again. The guys just flat-out not as good as some media outlets would have you believe. 11) I see Jamal Lewis apparently announced this season will be his last. I actually thought he’d quit in 2007 such was his impact with the Browns in the intervening years. Elsewhere the Colts and Saints still look the pick of their respective conferences, not just because they are unbeaten but because they are winning even when they aren’t at their best. If you are looking for a dark horse, aside from Black Beauty (sorry, Ill send that gag back to Jimmy Tarbuck) Philadelphia again looks like something you wouldn’t want to see in your toilet bowl, ie a dangerous floater. Throwback week this week, so our Bucs return to the field and back to 1979 in the classic orange with Bucco Bruce on the side of their bonces. Personally I loved the old uni’s which are part of our history, no matter how eventful t and winless it may have been at the onset. Who knows, maybe a reverse charm will work and the switch will somehow inspire us to a miracle win. I’d doubt it as we can’t cover the Packers receivers one on one – look for James Jones to make hay against our nickel coverage – and as we can’t get any pressure Aaron Rodgers will be playing pitch and catch in the florida sunshine. What we do get is the long awaited start of a new era with our anointed “franchise QB” Josh Freeman starting his first game, in what will hopefully be a role he will fill for the next 15 years if all our wildest dreams come true. Good luck Josh, it’s time to show us what sort of an arm and more importantly how tough you are, because one thing you can guarantee with the Bucs this year is that the game won’t be easy for him playing behind that line, and he will also be trying to mount a double digit comeback midway through the second quarter. I trust The Editor and Phil will have a great time being on hand for this one, and that the Bucs can raise themselves. A win is obviously not expected – as likely as three minutes injury time At Old Trafford when United aren’t winning in fact – but we can look for some pointers in this one, both from the rookie QB and also to see what the coaching staff have done in making adjustments, and changes as the strategy so far has been as far away from success as a Duncan Norvelle tribute tour. Some of the calls and decisions made in the Patriot game had all the oomph of a vicars handshake – why don’t we let the Punter rest his leg and try a make a play in the opponents half on 4th down once in a while eh Raheem? Hardly going to cost us a play-off spot is it? Rant over. Keep rootin for the good guys and hope Josh escapes with a positive experience. Nod of Acknowledgement to - Ted Ginn Jr Having been dropped lower than snake piss in the popularity stakes by his coaches, current and former teammates and even local wildlife animals, Mr Ginn responded by running back two kick-offs over 100 yards for TDs in the same quarter to effectively win a game himself for the Dolphins last week. Now that my friends, is a way to respond rather than either bleating to the press or sitting on your butt feeling sorry for yourself. Shit Sandwich of the Week - Texans RB Steve Slaton Heading into a great match-up in Buffalo, Slaton fumbled early in the game and was forced to park his arse on the bench and watch his back-up waltz off with his happily ever after day to the tune of 120 plus yards and 3 scores. Bet that was a long plane ride home. US Sports Story that bores me senseless - The Brett Favre returning to Lambeau snoozefest They even apparently had a camera fixed solely on Favre for the entire game, jesus can we give it a rest now? Twunt of the Week - Dan Snyder Apparently his Redskins 2-5 start is an embarrassment. Why is that Dan eh? What or who is the common denominator in this malaise these past 10 years? Predictions (Last week 8-5, season 79-37, lock of the week is 7-1) OK, so my true colours is now showing on the selection front, ie that I'm distinctly ordinary at it. This weeks receivers of a garland as they arrive at Fantasy Island are Ravens, Peyton and his Pals, Cheese, Muppets, Jagwahs, Cheats, Ryans, Aints, Starbucks (lock), Faulty Whiners, G-Men, Iggles and Stillers.