Brooks did not deserve to be mentioned with ZERO.

Zero wins, Brooks has been through his trials and far share of poor teams. Yet nothing as dejected at what I have witnessed thus far into a season. If the Glazers (owners of the franchise) were smart…wanted to do something for their fans (a band aide to the season that is) they would go out and beg on their hands…knees…butts…whatever it takes to get Herman Edwards on a flight from Bristol, Connecticut where he  works at ESPN (have no idea where the man lives) and get his ass firmly in front of the team to talk to them about how “you play to win the game”. That is the aspect the Buc’s seem to be lacking…an intensity….a fire…a passion to go out and play hard, leave it all out on the field.

You saw the media point out Seattle Seahawks’ fullback Owen Schmitt this past Sunday when the Seahawks’ blanked the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-0. Schmitt was so pumped up for the game that when he came out of the tunnel he banged his helmet on his head so hard that he created a huge cut on his head and required stitches (side note - the NFL doesn’t appear to have the Magic Johnson rule because he played in that blood stained Jersey). Though he may have injured himself - at least he was excited about the game, I’ll take that every time over a bunch of guys just going through the motions…and collecting a game check.

I am huge Buc’s fan from the days of Tony Dungy (and more specifically Monte Kiffin) where our defense would score more than our offense. When Mike Alstott was a force to be reckoned with along side Warrick Dunn. When Shaun King came out of nowhere to lead the team to the NFC Championship game. With a defense containing ATLEAST 4 hall of famers (previously mentioned Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Ronde Barber). Barber is the only member still on the team and still has his game going - I love that he is stayed with the team…and respect guys so much for sticking with one team their whole career - Cal Ripken, Reggie Miller, Bernie Williams, John Stockton, David Robinson, Walter Payton, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, etc…the list goes on and on. BUT I want to make an exception - please trade Barber to a contender who could use him…the Giants, where his brother Tiki used to tear up the field as an all-purpose running back. The Giants are always short with depth in their secondary. The Giants should give up a second or third round pick for him. I do not want Barber to suffer - he deserves better. This is no way to treat someone who was a cornerstone to your franchise for over a decade. That is why I want Brooks to stay away from the Buc’s if he wants to go play elsewhere, I will be sad to see #55 line up for another team but will be happy he is playing on a team with structure, discipline, and is giving it their all!

SO what about the future of our beloved Buc’s??? All is not lost…lets look at the positives.

Kellen Winslow is proving to be worth the money and the picks the team traded to the Browns in exchanged for the productive tight end.

They could have an above average trio of running backs with Cadillac Williams, Ernest Graham, and Derrick Ward. Each with a unique style that would give him a nice change of pace depending on what the defense is throwing at them.

J. Johnson and J. Freeman are both young quarterbacks with a lot of potential. The Buc’s took Freeman in the first round of last years draft and would like to make him the quarterback of the future - the franchise quarterback they have never really had during the reign of Dungy and Gruden.

The offensive line is already relatively good - all are young or at the start of their prime - that is why the likes of Byron “stone feet” Leftwich has been able to through for nearly 600 yards in the 2 or 3 games he has played and only been sacked twice!

Their kicker was one of the few kickers to ever be draft in the first round. Mike Nugent came from Ohio State and was drafted by the Jets - for whatever reason they did not want him…but the Buc’s should be happy to have this guy, he has only been in the league 7 years and the longevity of kickers he still has 10-15 years left in him to be a productive member of the Buc’s organization.

On defense…they need to look at the player personal they had when they one in Super Bowl - they had at least one pro bowl player at each level on defense: defensive linemen and tackles, linebackers, and secondary.

Gaines Adams was a top-10 draft pick a few years back and could - with the proper coaching and self discipline - turn into the Simeon Rice player the Buc’s once had at defensive end.

Aqib Talib - ton of potenital at cornerback for the Buc’s…just needs a firm structure so he doesn’t mess up his wonderful opportunity to play and get paid to play in the NFL with partying, drugs, etc…

Jermaine Phillips and Tanard Jackson are both solid Safeties that the team should hope to keep because they would be great pieces to a championship caliber team.

Barret Rudd has led the team in the tackles the past two seasons - playing the line backing position at a high level. Rudd and management have not gotten along on the business ($$$) side. Personally - I say trade the guy. Most the time a team over pays because a player has good statistics when the team is doing poorly, that doesn’t always translate into the player being very talented. Get a draft pick or two out of him and start looking at this years crop of talent.

The Draft is a positive - the Buc’s are going to have a great first round pick.  And in my mind they do not need to research their first round selection because it is obvious to be that the Buc’s should draft MLB Brandon Spikes from Florida. Only perks from this guy…he goes to Florida, love that Florida fan base,  he has a winning mindset due to his elite playing at one of the most dominant schools over the past 5 years, he could easily be the next Derrick Brooks for the Buc’s and talent level has him around the likes of Carolina Panther’s Jon Beason and San Francisco’s Patrick Willis.

If the Buc’s are smart and are able to trade Rudd and potentially Barber - they should focus on moving up in the draft to obtain a late first round pick or hope the player I want them to take next makes it into the early part of the second round. Buccaneer fans meet Kyle Wilson, cornerback, Boise State University. He provided a winning attitude…from the winningest program in recent history. A great compliment in the secondary to Aqib Talib (as well as Jackson and Phillips also in the secondary) and gives the Buc’s a great Kick/Punt-Returner as well….an aspect of football they have never excelled at….EVER.

What is the point then…well it is easy to get frustrated - but here are some facts that may calm anyone who feels enraged at how the Buc’s have been playing.

***The NFL has the most parody out of the four major team sports in the USA, it is hard to stay on top, but with the way the draft is set up and mix that with solid front office management…it is doable to create a winning program for years to come.

***The Buc’s are the crapper as bad as their record would have you believe, please re-read the literature above again if still in ka-whotz over the Buc’s…because there is talent on this team

***And lastly - whoever finishes last in the NFC South always seems to win it the next year.

Keep your heads up and know that better days are coming…