The Younger Buccaneers Set Sail for the Future Well it needed doing, the only problem was why did it take us so long to accept the inevitable and start losing some of the older higher priced dross that coloured our roster in recent history. The jettisoning of Charlie Garner and Derrick Deese these past few days was notable as it represented a shift in focus by the Bucs brain trust, and an acceptance that we should be building from the bottom up to climb back to winning football, rather than make desperate signings of aging veterans in the hope of clinging on for one final shot – such moves proved as short-sighted as Mr McGoo and in our case did not even delay the inevitable in any shape way or form. At least now messrs Gruden and Allen have accepted the error of their ways and plumped for youth and development as the way forward. A few things I think 1. I think Cadillac Williams, if he stays fit, will cross the 1,000 yds barrier this season and will also prove an effective passing option in our offense. If we can get him the ball in the right match-up we can have some serious fun this season, maybe splitting him out side and sending him in motion – I’m sure Jon Gruden will try something along these lines, at least I hope so anyway. 2. I think I still hate The Panthers with a passion. The fact that many experts are tipping them for the Superbowl means I can hate them a little more this year – if they were playing in my back garden I’d shut the curtains. 3. It’s bloody depressing to see the first 5 weeks of games on SKY and not see our name down there. Unless we confound the consensus of opinion and get off to a fast start, it’s unlikely we will see any more than 1 game this season. 4. I think the luckiest man to be still in the NFL anywhere across the league is Todd Steussie, period. 5. I think despite our losses in personnel, and aging status of our defense, our defensive line can raise some hell this year. Urged on by Monte Kiffin messrs Rice, Spires, Wyms, Hovan, Mcfarland and White are a decent group who can really get after the quarterback. Indeed if we can restore Mr Hovan to his former level of play in his early Vikings days, he could prove to be one of the bargains of free agency this year. 6. I think the more I look at our offensive line personnel the more it scares the crap out of me. Brian Griese could be running for his life at times this season – better keep warm Mr Simms and Mr McCown. 7. I think that for what they are going through, and the fact they will not have a definitive home game this season, I wish the New Orleans Saints well for this year and will be pulling for them in all but 2 games. Quite how the Saints and their city are dealing with the last few weeks, god only knows but I wish them the best. May they shite all over the Panthers this Sunday. 8. I think that before mid-season Barrett Ruud will be starting on defense for the Bucs. Lack of experience cannot hold him back too long, the guy looks like a gamer and needs to be on the field as much as possible for us. 9. I think I hope I never see Derrick Brooks in anybody else’s uniform but our own. You’re a legend Mr Brooks, and the best player I’ve ever seen in a Buc uni – long may it continue to be so. What we now have is a roster featuring 11 draftees from this years crop, along with a host of other first and second year players. It may not look so promising now but 2 years down the road when some of these youngsters have cut their NFL teeth, we will start reaping the benefits. It is highly probable that we will have little of no chance of play-off football now, but come 2007 we could realistically be bouncing back up again, and be better equipped for a sustained challenge such as we made from 1997-2002, which was the 7 year golden period in the franchise’s history. The fact that at present we have just embarked on the rebuilding process, leads me to believe this may be hard season ahead which is why I’ve predicted only 4 wins this season (“Pessimistic sod” I hear you cry) . There’s going to be some short term losses in the present, but if we continue on this path of rebuilding many longer term gains in the years ahead will follow, and these will surely outweigh the pain of getting back to the play-offs and maybe more. My one concern is whether Jon Gruden will be around to see the job through; by his own admission he hates losing and mediocrity, but he will need to endure some more of this in order to get back to the wins and success he, like all Buc fans, craves. Does The Chuckster have the stomach for it, and indeed does our now world famous ownership trust have the patience and trust in him if we go through the 4 win season I’ve predicted? I guess we’ll soon find out. Onto this week’s opener and a real kick in the nuts from the NFL schedulers sends us to The Metrodome racetrack, where Culpepper and his army of sprinters await us on the Astroturf that suits their young offense down to the ground, and probably gives the chills to some of our aging Vets on the defensive side of the ball. One school of thought may be that it’s better to catch The Vikings Offense early before they have had time to gel, and let’s hope that proves to be the case. However I think only the most optimistic Buc fans could predict victory in week 1, and readers of this drivel will know I’m not a member of that camp. I don’t think we will get blown out, but I do feel the Vikings are in a place we hope to be sometime soon, ie a contender with some hope of the play-offs and maybe beyond. I think we will put some points on the board this weekend, and the Astro should suit out key skill players in Cadillac, Michael Clayton, Joey Galloway and maybe Alex Smith – Minnesota has some undersized linebackers so having a 6ft 5 inch Tight End with hands like buckets, should dictate we throw a few balls in his direction. It’s opening week and for the first time I will be listening via NFL Field Pass (shameless advertising for which nfl.com should pay me), and am looking forward to hearing the dulcid tones of Deckerhoff and Brantley call the game. I say we put some points on the board this week, sadly I say they put a little more than us. Vikes 27-17 in a game that we may go some way to illustrating how much better we can expect to be on offense this season, though sadly highlighting how the age of our D is catching up to us. Nod of Acknowldgement Too….Mr Jerry Rice.Seems like he’s been playing forever but it’s finally come to an end. He may have stuck around a couple of seasons too many but what a player he was and an example of how to look after yourself through a career. Get in the Real World Award….Maurice Clarett. Hmm, lets see now, after losing your college eligibility after one season and effectively being kicked out of Ohio State you wash all this dirty laundry in public through the press, sue the NFL (unsuccessfully) to enter the draft, spend a year out of football – a large portion of which was in McDonalds, turn up at the scouting combine nearly 2 stone overweight, miraculously get drafted by The Broncos but subsequently turn up at training camp 20 lbs overweight (again), moan to Coach Shanahan that you “want” to be given more reps in practice, and finally get caught drinking alcohol in the weight room…….amazingly Mr Clarett got cut this past fortnight and finds himself out of the NFL. Mr Clarett you truly do take the biscuit. I thought Onterrio Smith was truly a work of art but you’ve got him beat all ends up.