The Reconstruction Effort Begins Did anyone else hear the interview with Bruce Allen on Bucs Radio before the Seattle game? It was interesting to note that apparently the Bucs staff have been compiling video tape on the complete upcoming free agent class all season long, in an effort to ensure we can hit the ground running come March when the doors swing open. Though it was reassuring to know extensive work has already taken place in this particular area, initial analysis of the free agent crop tends to indicate that it is indeed rather weak this year and thus no matter how much tape you have at your disposal, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear. A seemingly weak free agent pool brings two results – it places extra emphasis on our choices of which specific players to pursue, and attaches even more importance on our selections in the draft itself. Hearing that the Bucs staff will be coaching at the Senior Bowl again was good news, Jesus they might actually enjoy coaching in a game they could possibly win for once, but this should certainly help no end if the men at the sharp end of the organisation can get up close and personal with potential recruits for 2007. You would have to have been on another planet not to realise our top draft pick could yield an elite player in April, and already the names of Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas and Gaines Adams are being touted as those we may or should be looking at. My early preference at this stage would be to take the bookend left tackle but far better draft evaluators than me (that’s you Wayne by the way!) will be able to note if this is a deep or shallow draft in terms of quality. A few things I think 1) What a great idea the top 100 Buc players of all-time is. After the top 100 can we list the worst 20, with the qualifying rider that they must have played at least 10 games for us – surely legends like Alvin Harper, Booker Reese and Chris Chandler would be right up there and deserve such notoriety. 2) Although it was unfortunate that Tony Romo will carry the Goat tag for his fumbled hold last weekend, it did please me that FUAT didn’t get a chance to win the game. Did anyone catch his non-attempt to block Seattle’s Jordan Babineaux who made the tackle to save the first down, the touchdown and the game. FUAT showed his usual heart the size of a sesame seed on that one - the little to$$er never changes does he? 3) Bizarely the noise emanating from Bucs HQ seems to indicate the possibility of a return for Simeon Rice hasn’t been ruled out. Though Simeon has been a player for us over the years, he’s on the downslide now, has a huge cap number and is hardly a team unity guy to assist what will likely be a young developmental squad in 2007. In my humble opinion a parting of the ways remains the best option. 4) Am I the only person out there who is of the opinion that if Eli Manning’s surname was Smith he’d have been yanked about 4 games ago? He’s been $hite for large patches of this season and often throws a ball so ugly even Bruce Gradkowski would disown it. What’s with the body language on the guy as well? He has the facial expression of a man who’s just won a lifetime season ticket for NFL Europe. You’re on millions of dollars a year for playing a boys game Eli, for Jesus sake cheer up man. 5) I think I’m wondering how the Editor manages all the work he does with this site, makes it all go and the renewal fee is only £12.50! It’s the biggest bargain of all time people and Paul, you are a magician my good friend. 6) I think I am still surprised, given the Bucs spectacular slide from grace this season, that the national US media barely refer to the Chuckster as being a coach exceedingly lucky to still be in-situ. Tom Coughlin’s head is currently on the block but quite how Chucky has escaped similar analysis surprises me somewhat. 7) I think I just sent my Bucs UK awards voting form off in the post today with Terrell Owens once again, for the 5th year running, getting my nod for Dickhead of the year. I couldn’t nominate Nick Halling as you have to at least be significant to garner consideration in this quarter. If it is a class laden with talent, then I would seriously consider shopping our spot for additional picks and players unless we feel we have a “can’t miss” prospect in our lap that will slot in for the next decade. Perhaps the amount of interest and enquiries we receive about trading up should eventually tell us the quality of the top ¾ players versus the rest. I would be extremely disappointed if we looked at taking a quarterback that high as with Chris Simms now on board, and plenty of veteran help available in free agency, we really shouldn’t be getting involved in the Brady Quinn/Jamarcus Russell debate unless we are trading downwards as mentioned before. However nothing surprises me about this game anymore so you never know what the thinking is as it all soon becomes smoke and mirrors from here on out anyway, with all NFL teams doing there best to disguise their preferences for fear of giving their strategy away. Elsewhere in Bucland we await news from Camp Alstott with reference to his impending retirement, along with updated confirmation on senior pros like Brian Kelly and Simeon Rice who the jungle drums indicate could both now be staying, particularly Kelly as his cap hit for a starting cornerback is very friendly indeed. To put it bluntly, what the hell would it cost us to replace him via free agency, or utilising that prized first round selection which is needed desperately for every other position on the field! I also note with interest that we might just be losing Paul Hackett to Green Bay who have apparently offered Mr Hackett their Offensive Coordinators job. As our offense and particularly the Quarterbacks play was less than stellar last season, I dare say we will get by in Hackett’s absence. Indeed if Mr Hackett was undecided on this one I’d drive him up to Green Bay myself if needed, to ensure the move goes through. Perhaps we could now have a QB coach who could possibly improve Chris Simms ability to get his passes beyond the line of scrimmage once in while eh? Play-Off Picks - A decent start last week with a 3-1 record, in my bid to prove I can outdo miserable old Dr Z at Sports Illustrated, with only my upset selection the Giants letting me down in a real squeaker of a game. On to this week’s games and though I’m rooting for the Colts to win the whole thing I don’t see them dragging the Ravens into a track meet. Defense wins in the play-offs so it’s Ravens to win there. The Bears against Seahawks games boils down to the Bears D – using the same mantra as above, I’ll take the Bears win a low scoring affair. The Saints should hang one on the Eagles who will be beat up and minus a starting corner, and there should be plenty of points in this one as neither defense is play-off worthy. Finally in what is the game of the weekend I’ll take the Chargers, despite Marty Schottenheimer’s dog awful play-off record, against the Pats as I don’t think New England will relish the long trip to California or the swarming Chargers D. Nod of Acknowledgement to - Jeremy Shockey I had this loudmouth on my fantasy team this year taking a wing on him, and to be honest he’s never really been my cup of tea. However he played his guts out last Sunday night effectively on one leg, limping chronically after every play with a severely sprained ankle but leaving it on the field. For all his faults the guy’s a gamer, plain and simple. Sports News Story I No Longer Give a Toss About – Belichick/Mangini feud or more rather Belichick's sulky feud with his former pupil. Now that they won’t be playing each other again for at least 9 months can we at last cast this tiresome and rather pathetic episode to the bin please. Just like his pedantic issues with the injury report, it does the supposedly classy Pats coach no credit whatsoever, despite the US media continually putting forward the opinion that even Belichick's farts don’t smell. Get in the Real World Award - Tony Romo who unfortunately for him became the latest high profile former media darling to discover the journey from the penthouse to the $hitehouse remains a relatively short one