Time For A Quick Word Just prior to the start of civilisation in NFL Circles, namely Training Camp, and my own summer holidays I thought I’d one again offer my two-penneth as I’ve a few things to get off my chest. With 21 returning starters to a division champion, and a few key acquisitions as well we are in prime position to make another play-off run providing Cadillac avoids the dreaded Sophomore jinx. I’m also quite happy for the majority of NFL tipsters to fall in love with The Twits line-up and anoint them favourites, as such media darlings hardly ever make a big splash in January – witness Minnesota and New England’s demise this past season. Once Meshawn gets to work in that locker room team harmony will be a thing of the past and he and Steve Smith will struggle to share a positional meeting, let alone touches of the ball from Jake the Plank; anyway sorry to digress onto the afflicted, Buc-wise things seem to be shaping up nicely. A Few Things I Think 1) I think I'd make Edell Shepherd clean all the kit and fetch all the coffee for the first week of camp for dropping THAT pass. That might just improve his standing with Chucky and improve his chances of sticking around. 2) Besides the Bucs I’ll be rooting for The Colts and especially their offense this season. Not out of any deep seated loyalty to Tony Dungy mind, but rather because my FFL Team effectively is their offense this season, with messrs Manning, Addai and Wayne all on board. I hope they light it up this season – they better had for my sakes anyhow. 3) Our key position on offense for me this year is Wide Receiver. We have the Michael Clayton comeback attempt, the issue of integrating a rookie (Maurice Stovall) and a malcontent (David Boston) along with the uncertainty of whether Joey Galloway has discovered eternal youth or was 2005 just one last hurrah? If the passing game creates a potent threat, it allows Cadillac to do his thing and the O Line to have the element of relief from defenses loading up against a one-dimensional Cadillac orientated offense. 4) Congratulations to Paul on winning his local pitch and putt tournament, OK golf club championship recently. Just wish I’d been on hand to yell either “Get in the hole” or “You da man” when he teed off on the 18th, as 99% of American crowds seem to do whenever I’m watching. 5) I think it didn’t take long for Meshawn to add his own warped perspective on being cut by the Bucs. Oh sorry you weren’t cut, or ejected, or binned were you, at least not according to that laughable interview you gave to a Carolina comic a few weeks back. I definitely need to win the lottery so I can attend our week 3 clash against this bozo. First of all what we don’t want to see are any hold-outs from our rookie class as these can be a real pain in the year, and create a media issue we could all do with avoiding. So here’s hoping Mr Joseph, Mr Trueblood, Mr Stovall and Mr Zemaitis are all suited and booted come the opening of camp. There’s a few other key Buc players this season too all with points to prove and I’ve decided to create my own to observations list for said players below: - Chris Simms – keep developing and build on last season. If you do the job The Bucs will throw more dollars at you in a contract than you can shake a stick at in that laissez-fare style of yours; Kenyatta Walker – Are you still here? OK then we want the steady play of last season, and not the holding penalties of the previous ones; David Boston – no nipple piercings please; Alex Smith – In camp focus on your blocking, blocking, blocking and finally your blocking technique. Do this my boy and the starting job will be yours; Michael Clayton – Whoever kidnapped you last season and replaced you with that imposter, I hope we’ve paid the ransom and have the real article back in place; Chris Hovan – now you’ve got the fat contract prove to us why we gave it to you; Booger McFarland – do you want to be forever seen as an underachiever? The moment is now Booger, time to step up to the plate; Barrett Ruud – Force you way into the line-up fella, make it happen and turn Monte’s head; Jermaine Phillips – get rid of that stupid sunhat, and most of all stay fit; Mark Jones – go on son, make a legend of yourself and run one back; And these are just the ones I can think of in a 2 minute span. One further suggestion to Buc fans is to enjoy Ronde Barber’s play this season. Bearing in mind his age and contract status this might just be his curtain call. Lets appreciate him in 2006, as once he’s gone we will truly realise what a colossus he’s been in our secondary. Thankfully whilst the Bucs convene at camp, I’ll be off sunning myself in Spain with the family but the pre-season will be upon us all before we know it. The main thing to avoid in this period are injuries and hold-outs, so we need a bit of lady luck and a lot of savvy from Bruce Allen to guide us through to September and the Ravens clash which can’t come quick enough. Enjoy the rest of the summer and keep a soft spot for Meshawn and The Twits, quicksand would be choice. Nod of Acknowledgement to – Jerry Jones. Let this be said for Jerry, he’s got some brass neck and certainly doesn’t take the easy option, having replaced arguably the biggest arse in the NFL, with possibly the one and only even bigger biggest arse. You mustn’t want an easy life Jerry, but trust me with Owens, Parcells and yourself within the confines, it will crash and burn. Get in the Real World Award – Ben Roethlisberger. Let me get this straight, you are a multi-million pound athlete in your prime, who’s way of life depends on your physical condition, and yet you will climb on a motorcycle and ride along at high speeds without a helmet! Words fail me. You are one lucky dude just to still have you life intact, Ben. After that crash everything from here on out is gravy for you.