Some of the comments where right to the point (Simeon Rice) and some of them were pussy-footed (surprisingly Jeff Garcia, who would have though), but regardless, the point was made.  Some of Gruden’s former players do not like his coaching style.  He is an in  your face, hold you accountable type of coach, and some of today’s prima donna’s can’t handle criticism.  

At last, my man Gruden finally had a few things to say.  

On coaching again:

“Chucky will be back and hopefully my teeth will be as sharp as ever…(whether) it’s the NFL, college, high school or, maybe, I’ll just be the best damn flag football coach in the history of Florida. I’m now head of the FFCA — Fired Florida Coaches Association.”

On taking some shots from his former players:

“I’m not the first coach to take potshots. Hey, some people were taking potshots at Tony Dungy when I got here,” said Gruden. “Jeff Garcia, Michael Clayton, I wish those guys the best. I hope Raheem gets this thing going again.”

Reaction to his firing:

“It was rough the way it ended, losing three or four games,” Gruden said. “This was the first time in my life being on the front line of the firing squad after 11 years. I’ve just taken a couple days to unwind with my family. A lot of people have called, being very supportive. Some people have taken shots and I understand that not everyone likes or agrees with what I do as a coach.”

On his accomplishments in Tampa:

“We won a Super Bowl,” he said. “I got a game ball for winning more games than any Bucs coach in history. I got a game ball for my 100th win [including playoff wins]. There are only six teams [actually seven] in the NFL that had back-to-back winning seasons the past two years and the Bucs were one of them. Again, it was tough the way it ended but we did some good things and I know some people who think we overachieved.”

What he left the Bucs with:

 ”The reality is we came in with a bad salary cap situation and we left with some $50 million under the cap, so it’s not like we went out and spent a lot of money on players.”

On the possibility of coaching college football with his reputation of being unable to work with young QB’s:

“I really only had one young guy to work with in Chris Simms,” said Gruden. “I’d love a shot to coach some young college guys. Look, you know me. I’m an addict. I love to coach.”

On potential job opportunities:

Whatever I do, I’m going to show respect for the game. I’m going to use proper etiquette. Whatever I choose to do, I expect people to be demanding. Anything less would be unacceptable.”

Currently on the Roster - Gaines Adams, Chris Bradwell, Kevin Carter, Marques Douglas, Jovan Haye, Chris Hovan, Dre Moore, Greg Peterson, Ryan Sims, Greg White, Jimmy Wilkerson

Gauranteed Roster Spots – Gaines Adams

I know that it seems insane to only put 1 player out of 11 guys on the list for gauranteed spots, but I truly think the other 9 (Bradwell, no chance) are battling for the other 7 spots on the roster.  Adams had a tough first few games last year, but who wouldn’t facing the lines of Jamaal Brown, Walter Jones, and some other top tier LT’s in the NFL.  He finished the season with 6 sacks and 38 tackles, and to me, looked like a rising star down the stretch for us.  He brings a lot of Simeon Rice to the table, but in my opinion, has the chance to be a much better player in run support.  He apparently stopped eating junk food this past offseason and came to OTA’s looking and feeling in the best shape of his life.  A 10+ sack season seems like an easy goal. 

No Chance – Chris Bradwell

Battling for Spots – Kevin Carter, Marques Douglas, Jovan Haye, Chris Hovan, Dre Moore, Greg Peterson, Ryan Sims, Greg White, Jimmy Wilkerson

I believe we are essentially looking at 4 more ends making the roster,  and 3 more DT’s making the roster.  Kevin Carter appeared to fit perfectly into our defense last season.  He finished the season with 54 total tackles, 3 sacks and a fumble recovery.  He would seemingly be battling the other two hybrid players on our roster, Jimmy Wilkerson and Marques Douglas.  I would say that there is a distinct possibility that both Douglas and Carter end up making the final roster due to their versatility.  Douglas finished the season with 74 tackles with the Niners and 3 sacks.  He was playing a hybrid end spot in their 3-4 scheme so I would expect those tackle numbers to come down a bit, but he also has the ability to increase the sack numbers.  Wilkerson brings the same kind of versatility to the table as Carter and Douglas, but just has not been as productive in his career as the two aforementioned players.  Greg White would seem to have a good chance of making the team after his 8 sack season last year.  He has been angling hard for a new deal, so I would not rule out some kind of trade by the Bucs, being as though we are stacked at this position.  Him and Gaines on passing downs though, should be a formidable duo.  That leaves Jovan Haye, Chris Hovan, Ryan Sims, Dre Moore and Greg Peterson battling for 3 or 4 spots on the line.  Ryan Sims showed the ability to be a nice cog in the middle in his brief time on the field last season.  It would appear as an outside observer that we would be more inclined to take 2nd year player Greg Peterson, who I think has a bright future, or rookie Dre Moore (whom the Bucs were apparently ecstatic to get in the draft) over Sims, due to the fact that we spent draft picks on both of them.  To me it seems like our DT tandem of the future would be Peterson and Moore, with Moore playing the run stuffing role, and Peterson being mini-Sapp.  Jovan Haye and Chris Hovan should still be provided the opportunity to maintain their starting positions from a year ago.  Hovan almost always seems to be in the middle of big plays, and is a fearless player with good leadership qualities.  He can’t dance for shit, which he does during every timeout at RayJay, but nonetheless is a scary, productive player.  Haye finished the season with 88 tackles and 6 sacks, and was a true bright spot on our Dline last season.  Another guy wanting a new deal, or he would have been put on the Gauranteed Roster Spot list.

Starters – RE/Adams, DT/Hovan, DT/Haye, LE/Kevin Carter

Backups - RE/Greg White, DT/Peterson, DT/Moore, LE/Douglas

I know it seems as though I have been griping a lot on here lately, and in all actuality, I have!  From Jeff Garcia’s whining babyisness to the laughable comedy that is Chris “I’m a hostage Simms.”  Something occured in the Tampa Bay area the other night, that caused me to laugh and be fed up simultaneously.  The joker that currently occupies the airwaves of Tampa from 3 PM to 6 PM on a suprisingly good (other than this buffoon) Sports Radio Station, 620 WDAE, received a DUI. 

Steve Duemig, this crybaby, amateur, hypocrite, Philly loving, imbecile, moron is someone that has drawn the ire of many a Tampanians. 

Some of his ridiculous arguments over the past few years:

1.  Jon Gruden hated Mike Alstott and tried (succesfully) to ruin his career. 

2.  Ernest Graham should have been the starting RB for years, as opposed to drafting Cadillac Williams. 

3.  Jon Gruden cut Simeon Rice because he did not personally like him. 

4.  Jon Gruden had a personal bias against Shelton Quarles, which led to his eventual release.

These are some of his more famous, assanine arguments over the past few years.  Talking on sports radio, especially in a prime time, 3 hour time slot, is not as easy as most people think it is.  You have a lot of airtime to fill, and tons of radio guys across the country fill that time with toxic garbage.   The “Drunk Dog” fills his show with an endless supply of toxic garbage.  It is not really much of a sports radio show to begin with.  It mostly consists of people calling in, to talk about a subject, and if they do not agree with “Mr.  DUI” than, they get yelled at and subsequently hung up on.  A laughable attempt at portraying the world of sports to the Tampa Bay Area in my opinion. 

People make mistakes, and in today’s society, as sad as it may be, people get DUI’s.  So I would be tempted to give him a pass…but, he has been making a radio spectacle of our re-signing of Jerramy Stevens.  He was not opposed to Stevans while he was catching the game winner vs New Orleans last year.  He was not opposed to him at any time last year while he was the 2nd leading TD receiver on our team.  He needed to fill some air, so a personal gripe against Stevens was the perfect answer.  Then he goes out and reportedly gets his 3rd DUI. 

I can understand the concern from some members of the Tampa community about the signing, and then re-signing of a guy with Stevens checkered past.  What is not acceptable to me however, is a guy who might as well hang out with Leonard Little, would have the gall to continue to bash him for his misdeeds, then go out and do the same damned thing. 

His crap has littered our airwaves for years, and now apparently his crappy judgement is littering our streets, and the safety of the valued members of our community.  It is is time for people in the Bay Area to stand up.  This fool must go.  Once upon a time in the Tampa area, some brilliant people started a site to oust the previous majority owner of the Rays, Vince Naimoli.  It is time people speak up and tell the truth about this waste of airspace, and danger to our public. 

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