Charles McRae Day In 1993, the Bucs UK pulled off one of its most amazing coups when we managed to convince one of the Buccaneers' star players to meet with club members during a vacation to the UK. Charles McRae was the Bucs' first-round pick in 1991, the seventh overall selection and the first offensive player drafted that year. Two years on and a starter on the offensive line under Sam Wyche, he and his wife Joanna were guests of honour at a Bucs UK party at Phil Jones' Congleton house. Over 40 people were there, including a very envious Richard Arundale from the Redskins fan club. They had been unable to even get a single player to come down to the hotel lobby during the 1992 American Bowl to meet with their members, and now here were the Bucs UK with one of their team's top players taking a day out in the UK to meet British fans. First Down ran a full page feature on the event and photographer Wayne Paulo had a great time looking at Phil's SuperBowl memorabilia. The trip came about after Phil met Charles the previous September in Tampa. Charles and Joanna were both more than happy to take time out of their two-week vacation and were most touched by some of the gifts we gave them including some Waterford crystal and some authentic McRae tartan. Charles had stopped by Rick Odioso's office at One Buc Place before coming over and picked up a whole bunch of souvenirs including an autographed football and team shirts which were given out as prizes. The question and answer session was most illuminating with Charles showing some of Sam Wyche's offensive formations on a video screen and explaining the play calls and blocking assignments. For many of the people there, it was a first chance to talk with an NFL player and gain some sort of understanding for what goes on during a game and in the huddle. These were the days of Vinny Testaverde, Reggie Cobb and Mark Carrier, the orange pants and Broderick Thomas. And 10-game losing seasons too of course. Phil and Charles stayed good friends long after he left the Buccaneers and he now lives back in his home state of Tennessee with Joanna and their two children. He runs a very successful business and has proved to be a lot better at that than he did on the field for the Bucs. For Charles may have been one of the nicest people ever to wear the orange and white, but he will have to go down as one of the worst draft picks the team has ever had.