– Thinking the Bucs will make a big push for Albert Haynesworth

– He makes it seem like TJ Houshmanzadeh is a strong possibility to be opposite Antonio Bryant this year.  (Not sure i can agree with that one, it would take some cash to get him here and i just cant justify giving two WRs big money on the same team. How often has that worked out? And dont say Fitz and Boldin because Anquan isn’t being paid)

– Assures we will have competition for McCown at QB, but it may come in the form of pretty boys JP Losman and Sexy Rexy Grossman

– Touches on the rumor that if Derek Anderson can be had for a 3rd rounder, the Bucs would explore it. (Of course, we would explore it…id take it a step further and be all over that. A lot of people are down on him because of his fall off a cliff last year after a surprisingly great season the year before. Didn’t put up numbers last year with an awesome supporting cast. This awesome cast also was at the top of the league in drops and they played BAL & PIT twice plus the NFC East. Tough, tough schedule. 3rd round pick is about right i would guess.)

– Jermaine “Flip” Phillips  looks like a good fit in New Orleans (I can see us playing against him in 2009, makes a lot of sense for both sides)

– Thinks the Bucs may make a play for Derrick Ward

– Says there may be a shocker cut like Derrick Brooks or Ronde Barber in the coming weeks, most likely Barber (hmmm…interesting indeed. The community would go crazy, i dont think cutting Brooks is a possibility. Barber is more interesting because of the young talent behind him — Talib, Mack, want to resign PBuc, however i cant see Raheem doing that in his first year. Ronde brings a lot of moxie to the table and you cant replace that).

I am currently staying in a Marriot in the heart of downtown, which is about 4 blocks from Time Warner Cable Arena (where I attended the Cavaliers Bobcats game on Saturday) and about 3 blocks from Bank of America Stadium where I will obviously be attending tonights Monday Night Football Game.  The hotel is right in the middle of the nightlife scene in the downtown Charlotte area.  The aforementioned nightlife has been quite fun.  We frequented Stool Pigeons, BlackFinn and Foxx and Hound, all bars with a nice female ratio, as well as solid drink prices and a friendly crowd. 

Now let me get off of my Charlotte ass kissing rant, and move to a more pressing issue, the game. 

Injuries – Kevin Carter and Gaines Adams are both listed as questionable, and Jovan Haye is listed as doubtful.  This could be a little troubling facing a team with such a potent running attack.  Kevin Carter’s questionable due to an illness, so I’m not sure if he’ll be able to go or not.  I would expect Gaines to play, and Jovan Haye to be inactive.  These injuries should lead to more extended play for Jimmy Wilkerson and Ryan Sims who both have been playing well as of late.  The Panthers have no injuries of significance to report and will be playing with a healthy roster. 

Matchup of Note – Steve Smith vs. TB Corners (Phillip Buchanon, Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber) I don’t really need to go into the game breaking ability of Smith because it is pretty well documented.  He leads the league with 22, 100 yard games over the last few years.  Shutting his big plays down will be the key to the game.  We held Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams to 40 yards on 20 carries last game, but I would expect a little more out of them at home.  If Steve Smith can get past the first level of our defense on some play action passes, the Bucs will be in big trouble. 

This is one of the biggest regular season games for the Bucs since our Super Bowl run.  Two 9 and 3 teams, fighting for a division title, home field advantage, and with the Giants loss yesterday, possibly not just a 2 seed, but homefield throughout.  On top of that, its freaking Monday Night Football.  With a win the Bucs have a good grasp of their 2nd straight NFC South title, the first time since realignment that the same team will have won the NFC South in consecutive years.  With a loss, the Panthers (who have a little tougher final 3 than the Bucs) will be in prime position to take that homefield advantage and the division.