A Crucial Homestand To Determine Our Destiny Well thank god that the Bucs are at home again at last this weekend, if they can remember what The Ray Jay looks like after nearly a month away. I’m normally one of The Bucs fiercest critics after a butt-kicking but am more than prepared to let last week slide which was a direct result of the joke scheduling by the NFL. To schedule a team to three consecutive road trips in December is bad enough, but to make the third of those a short week affair for a Florida team to frigid New England is sheer folly, and the result was always going to be a no-contest. Come the revolution when I take over the NFL I’ll schedule for the Patriots next year – let’s see now, in December they can go on the road to Buffalo, then off to Chicago before a six day short week trip to Tampa to play our Bucs; give them that and I guarantee we would kick their asses as well. A few things I think 1. I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Tony Dungy’s 18 year old son James. I’m sure all NFL Fans thoughts and good wishes go out to Tony and his family, who remains one of the classiest people in this business. When I heard the terrible news my mind went back to our Wild Card play-off win over the Lions in 1997, when Tony was interviewed afterwards with James at his side carrying the chord from his headset. Father and son were beaming with happiness and I’m sure that’s one of the memories that The Dungy family can hang on to, to help them through this terrible time. RIP James Dungy. 2) I think the pounding Chris Simms took last week will help him become a much better quarterback in the long-term. He showed a hell of a lot of guts against a set of jail-break blitzes, and probably learned a whole lot more about himself whilst garnering the increased respect of his team-mates for standing in there and getting the $hit knocked out of him. Nothing laissez fare about that was there Mr Young? 3) I think I hope the Colts stuff The Patriots should the two meet in the play-offs – I’m sure they will. 4) Congratulations to Bucpower.com and more importantly Paul and Phil for reaching the 1,000,000 hit mark. It truly is a remarkable figure but reflects all the hard work and dedication that gets put into The Bucs UK and their support of the Tampa Bay franchise – you could not find more passionate supporters than these 2, and my hat goes off to them. 5) FFL Note, thanks to Peyton Manning’s brain fart of a game last weekend, my Cosmic Clap just missed out on a play-off berth this past week. Fortunately I did win the Reggie Bush sweepstakes by earning the top pick in next years draft, so there was ample consolation. Good luck this week to Geoff, Martin, Paul and John in play-off combat, my first season has been a hoot. 6) I think things have gotten that bad that the odds are now about even on either Michael Clayton or a Buccaneer kick-off returned reaching the end zone first this season. 7) I think I’d like to wish The Cowboys the very best for this weekend. There not usually my cup of tea but this week they’ve become my second favourite team. After the debacle of Foxboro it should be a relief to get back to the basics of playing Bucs football in warm weather and running the damn ball again. The Cadillac will be ready to roll (dreadful pun I know) and The Falcons are to run defense, what I am to literature – therefore 25-30 carries for Cadillac will likely be one of our keys to success. If we can run the ball and not turn it over, it’s a contest we clearly can win and I long for us to do so – not because of Mora or McKay, but because it’s important to The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will likely seal a play-off berth. I didn’t give two hoots for all the subplots, nor do I give a toss about The Falcons who are not worthy of my derision, unlike those b******s in silver and blue. Another thing on my mind this past week is the Pro-Bowl snub given to Joey Galloway for the NFC team. I know these things are largely popularity contests (see Alstott, Mike) but no single receiver in the league has meant as much to his team this year. Joey has been the ONLY threat at his position, and often the single offensive option for The Bucs, and he has seen two different quarterbacks to boot. The 2005 team should be picked on merit and to say messrs Fitzgerald, Holt or Moss deserve selection above Joey Galloway is horseshit, and for once I actually find myself in agreement with Sports Illustrated; this alone shows the weight of the injustice! Of course congratulations must go to Josh Bidwell, Derrick Brooks and the marvellous Ronde Barber for their selections, all fully merited. It’s a pity Galloway isn’t in there with them, but then perhaps the snub might inspire him to find the end zone this weekend. One more win should be enough to see us home to the most unlikely play-off berth since Goldie Hawn’s Wildcats made the post-season, and if we can pull it off Jon Gruden deserves hefty consideration for coach of the year honours. Can we do it? I think we can, just, with Cadillac crossing the 1,000 yard barrier in a 20-16 win. Finally to any readers of this random whinge-a-thon of a column, along with anybody who may have strayed onto it by accident, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and peaceful New Year. I hope Santa brings you all you wish for, particularly a Bucs play-off berth for 2006. Nod of Acknowledgement to Todd Heap. Thanks to Mr Heap’s performance on Monday night I now possess the first and third picks in next years FFL Draft – I plan on hugging Mr Heap if I ever get near him. Get in the Real World Award NFL Schedulers. Three consecutive road trips is a joke – to make three of them in December is bloody scandalous. I love you guys and your computers like The Panthers.