2009 Season Review The collapse at the end of the 2008 season led to the seven-year reign of Jon Gruden as Buccaneer head coach reaching an end in early January 2009. GM Bruce Allen went at the same time whilst defensive co-ordinator Monte Kiffin had already announced his intention to join his son in coaching at the University of Tennessee. So it was all change at One Buc Place. Raheem Morris had already been announced as being promoted from defensive backs coach to replace Monte, but after he returned from an unsuccessful interview for the Denver Broncos' head coaching job, the Glazers realised they had a future head coach right there in front of them and hence gave Morris his big shot. Mark Dominik was promoted to replace Bruce Allen as GM and immediately walked into a firestorm as the Bucs announced the release of five aging veterans, Warrick Dunn, Ike Hilliard, Joey Galloway, Cato June and Derrick Brooks. None would play any kind of serious role elsewhere in the NFL after leaving Tampa Bay but the furore over the action lingered for many months. The draft brought a surprise in Josh Freeman being selected in the first round, the first quarterback taken so high since Trent Dilfer in 1994. A second round pick was traded to Cleveland for All-Pro tight end Kellen Winslow, but it was still a very young team that assembled at One Buc Place for training camp, the location having returned home after several years in Disney World. Byron Leftwich won the starting role but after going 0-3 including a loss to the Giants in which it took the Bucs three quarters to even record a first down, he was replaced by second-year passer Josh Johnson, whilst the process to get Freeman ready to play was accelerated. By the time the Buccaneers arrived in London for their International Series game against the Patriots, they were still winless and the record was 0-7 after the team man-handled by the three-time Super Bowl champions. After the bye week, Freeman took over as starter and in their throwback orange jerseys as the Bucs celebrated Lee Roy Selmon's induction into the Ring of Honor and the 1979 NFC Championship team, the first win came in an emotional 38-28 win over Green Bay. The second half of the season brought only two more wins (one of which was against eventual Super Bowl champions New Orleans in the Super Dome), but the performances were a lot better after Raheem took over from Jim Bates as defensive co-ordinator. His offensive counterpart Jeff Jagodzinski had been fired before the season even began. 2009 saw the Bucs end with a 3-13 mark and the beginnings of fan apathy in the stands at Raymond James Stadium for the first time since it opened in 1998. But there were promising performances by some of the young players on the roster, and both Morris and Freeman gained the vital experience they would need in future years in their roles.

TRADES Feb 27 - Acquired TE Kellen Winslow Jr for a 2009 2nd round pick and a 2010 5th round pick. Apr 25 - Traded 2009 1st round and 6th round picks to Cleveland for a 2009 1st round pick. Apr 25 - Traded 2009 4th and 7th round picks to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2009 4th round pick. May 1 - Traded TE Alex Smith to the New England Patriots for a 2010 5th round draft pick. Sep 5 - Traded QB Luke McCown to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2010 7th round pick. Oct 16 - Traded DE Gaines Adams to the Chicago Bears for a 2nd round pick.

PLAYERS OUT P Josh Bidwell (IR - released) LB Derrick Brooks K Matt Bryant CB Philip Buchanon (UFA Detroit) DE Kevin Carter LB Patrick Chukwurah FB Jameel Cook RB Warrick Dunn WR Joey Galloway QB Jeff Garcia QB Brian Griese DT Jovan Haye WR Ike Hilliard WR Dexter Jackson LB Cato June QB Josh McCown (Trade - Jax) S Donte Nicholson DT Greg Peterson G Arron Sears TE Alex Smith (Trade - NE) FB Byron Storer PLAYERS IN CB Kyle Arrington C Jonathan Compas OL Marc Dile T Demar Dotson DE Maurice Evans RB Kareem Huggins P Dirk Johnson G Marcus Johnson LB Niko Koutouvides (UFA - Den) QB Byron Leftwich (UFA - Pit) K Mike Nugent (UFA -NY Jets) CB Derrick Roberson WR Mario Urrutia RB Derrick Ward (UFA - NY Giants) TE Kellen Winslow (Trade - Cle)