It's 2004 All Over Again There’s been a few changes around the Buccaneers since I last penned my thoughts and most notably with the quarterback position, as we are now minus one starter and more famously a spleen to boot as well. Worst of all we are also still without a win, unthinkably losing to that team of bums from Carolina in a heartbreaker that I may never get over. It was as bad a defeat as that ridiculous loss in Week 2 of 2003 (FUAT is still being hunted down for that one by my firm) and to say I swore a little bit after Kasay made the last field goal would be like suggesting Nate Newton enjoys a burger or two, or Joe Theisman is a bit of plank in the commentary booth. A few things I think 1. Welcome back Mr Editor. I trust you had a great time in Buc land with the family. One question though, did you send my “best wishes” to the Panther players whilst you were on the sideline at RJS? 2. I think I wish Chris Simms the speediest of recoveries and note that he has yet to be ruled out for the year. Make no mistake both he and the Bucs are very much aware the jury’s still out on him, and in order to earn a fat contract he needs to get back on the field as quickly as possible. As unlikely as it is, if Buccaneer Bruce does make a fairytale start the Bucs themselves will have a major dilemma come the end of the season, with Mr Simms only locked up until January 2007. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. 3. I think I still hate bye weeks. What a load of tosh they are, designed only to squeeze an extra week out of the NFL schedule and thus more TV money. 4. Dear Peyton Manning – throw the f*****g ball to Reggie Wayne in the end zone please, you are killing my fantasy team at present by chucking it to every other scrote on the team bar him. If in doubt, number 87 is open on every play, honestly. 5. Thanks to Paul for suggesting Jay-Z’s real name was Lee Bromfield on WDAE last week. Jay-Z was indeed my street name in the 90’s, now I answer to “that irritating grumpy b*****d” to most who know me. 6. I think I wonder if I’m the only one who thought Albert Haynesworth got off lightly with a five game ban for what he did last Sunday. Should have been gone for the year in my book to stamp that sort of stuff out for good which has no place whatsoever on a football field. 7. I think Im living and dying with the New York Mets this month in the “Rounders” tournament as John Davies would say. It wasn’t surprising to hear our Editor is rooting for the Cardinals – that will give us something else to battle about! 8. I think Id like to thank Jake Jahimiak for the Bucs highlight DVD’s he sent me recently, great work fella. See the Bucpower Message Board for how to get hold of them but if you’re a Bucs fan it’s the best $9 you will ever spend. That game just killed me and our season with it; however emotions and anger were tempered when the news about Chris Simms leaked out. To play an NFL game for nearly 3 quarters when you are need of major surgery for a ruptured internal organ is nothing short of remarkable. That QB roll-out play for a TD in the 3rd quarter would have taken on legendary proportions if we’d gone on to win, though thanks to our defense not being able to get a stop when we really need it, it will not be remembered as fondly as it should as we didn’t get the W we just had to have. There will be some stats geek out there who will point out that it is possible to make the play-offs after an 0-3 start. Trust me, we’ve seen enough of this team to know that isn’t going to happen here. We have an extremely raw rookie quarterback, no running game whatsoever, an offensive line that couldn’t block a toilet and an aging defense that’s rivalling George Michael in the decline stakes. Trust me the season is in the can as far as the play-offs are concerned, and you don’t need Einstein to work that out. From here on in we can go one or two ways. We can bleat about things and feel sorry for ourselves, or show some resilience and character and fight back to prove there is still some pride in this team. Sunday in New Orleans would be a good start against a team we have done well against in the past. We’ve been in this position before, as recently as 2004, treading into the Bayou state winless and with a novice at QB though sadly this time the Saints aren’t $hite anymore and we don’t have Brian Griese to bail us out if Gradkowski plays more like Bruce Forsyth than Bruce Wayne. We’d give ourselves half a chance if we could establish some sort of a running game, but with knock-back of Kenyatta Walker’s loss for the year (now there’s a sentence I never thought Id write) and Davin Joseph still in the treatment room there does not appear to be any respite in this area. To help Buccaneer Bruce this Sunday I'd expect a barrage of short passes, screens and quick drop-backs in what should be a limited play-book that Chucky throws at our latest rookie signalcaller. If by some miracle we can at least get Cadillac out of the backfield, the knock-on effect would greatly aid our chances of putting some points on the board and staying competitive. If the current trend continues and our offense plays like it did in September, then I hope Gradkowski has his track shoes on because he’ll be running for his life. I don’t expect us to win this week, but I do hope to see some Buccaneer pride out there and a decent effort. That in itself would register some intent for the rest of the year. Are the 2006 Bucs staying competitive or are we already lining up a high pick in April 2007? Saints to win 27-13 and me to still hate the Twits as badly as ever, whatever the result come 9.30pm Sunday night. Nod of Acknowledgement to - It can only be Chris Simms. A Herculean effort young men, and once again I wish you a speedy recovery. I bet Steve Young feels an even bigger p***k now doesn’t he! Sports News Story I No Longer Give a Toss About – Randy Moss’s views on anything at all. Blah Blah I’m misunderstood, blah blah The Raiders aren’t doing this and that, blah blah I want the ball, I’m the best yawn. Why does anybody actually bother printing the utter crap that seeps out from this guy? Why not throw your tape recorders or notes straight down the toilet and cut the middle man (ie the public) out. Get in the Real World Award - Melissa Etheridge. What a job title that is, TO’s lackey who has to try to “explain” her bosses latest piece of irrational behaviour. Her press conference trying to downplay a likely suicide attempt wasn’t even a decent cover-up job, and out of her story and the Dallas police’s, I know which one I believe. Please don’t insult our intelligence Ms Etheridge and do the only thing you can – send Mr Owens to the best medical expert available.