The Bucs will play the Bears in London, possibly.

The Buccaneers are in somewhat of a precarious position with regard to their London date with the Bears. Earlier in the day the team announced that the date was official and that they would be representing the NFL as the home team in the now annual London Bowl. They also announced that they would be refunding the Chicago game to all season ticket holders.

Well, that’s part of the story at least. With the lock-out and the uncertainty of next year, there is one clause in the official NFL release about a scenario that would arise if NFL business had not resumed by August 1st.

“Should the current labor situation be unresolved by August 1, the game will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Buccaneers season-ticket holders will receive detailed ticket information from the club in the near future regarding team ticketing policy for this game.’’

So the game is official, kind of. Hopefully there will be resolution reached in the next week or so while the two parties are undergoing mediation in Minneapolis (they meet again tomorrow). But chances are this thing does happen in London and Tampa gets one less home game.

For the people out there who think that the Bears overpaid, I’m sorry, you’re just incorrect on this one.  It happens, let’s see, never, that a franchise QB is available via trade going into his 4th season in the league, coming off of a 4500 yard Pro Bowl season.  The last Pro Bowl caliber QB available was Drew Brees, and he was a FA and many teams missed the boat on that one as well.  If you are so willing to invest a 1st round pick in a QB anyway, one who you aren’t sure whether or not will turn out like Ryan Leaf or Heath Shuler, you wouldn’t give up another 1st round pick to get a player who has the skill set of a Jay Cutler?  

I’m rarely so adamant about a particular point, but the fact that 53% of the nation (ESPN poll) this morning thought that the Broncos got the better deal is just ludicrous to me.  

Kudos to Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith, and a big AHA to Josh McDaniels for screwing the pooch even moreso than the Bucs for not capitalizing on McDaniels arrogance.