Welcome to the Elite Eight of #BucsBracket, the unofficial competition held here at the Pewter Plank to decide the most popular and most beloved Buccaneers of all time. We’ve reached the final eight Buccaneers in our competition, which means we’re discussing the elite players in team history who have the biggest fanbases in Buc Nation.
Be sure to cast your vote in each matchup, because every vote counts! Sound off in the comments and let us know why you made the picks you made, because we will use comments on the blog as tiebreakers, in case of a tie.
There are four matchups today, so we’ll keep the descriptions short and to the point so you can make your choices and get all the information you need. The bracket can be found below. You can click on the image to load a bigger version of the bracket.
1 seed: Derrick Brooks, Linebacker, 1995-2008
At this point, the players need little introduction, but we need some context. Brooks wasn’t just a fantastic player, he was a smiling face and bright personality in the Tampa Bay area. He was a leader on defense and a key figure in the rise of the “Tampa 2” era Buccaneers, and deserves to be named among the elite Buccaneers in team history.
3 seed: Warrick Dunn, Running Back, 1997-2001, 2008
A great man off the field, and a lovable player on the field, Warrick Dunn is an incredibly deserving selection in the Elite Eight. His work for charity and his personality off the field are a perfect compliment to his work ethic and hard-nosed running style.
Which of these legendary Bucs is your pick to move on to the Final Four?
1 seed: Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety, 1997-2012
Ronde Barber is a sentimental pick with his recent retirement, but he’s also a worthy pick with his fantastic career as one of the best zone coverage corners of all time. Barber could literally do it all as a cornerback, and even as a safety, attacking the backfield, covering receivers, and patrolling for turnovers. He’s a worthy addition to the final eight.
2 seed: John Lynch, Safety, 1993-2003
This may be the toughest matchup in this round, as the two best defensive backs in team history go head to head. Lynch was a hard-hitter who did everything well, and was a fan favorite for his big plays and impact hits. It’s going to be hard going up against Ronde, but Lynch had a fantastic career on his own.
Which Super Bowl era Bucs’ DB is your choice to be a Final Four player in Bucs Bracket?
1 Seed: Warren Sapp, Defensive Tackle, 1995-2003
Number 99 in your program, number 1 in your heart, Warren Sapp was a nasty, dirty player with a ton of talent. He revolutionized the defensive tackle position, having almost unprecedented production from an inside position on the Bucs’ defensive line. He’s been known to run his mouth, and that might raise or lower his profile in your mind, but it’s impossible to deny that he’s one of the best defensive players in NFL history.
2 Seed: Hardy Nickerson, Linebacker, 1993-1999
Before Derrick Brooks took over as the leader of the Buccaneer defense, it was Hardy Nickerson who defined what it meant to be a Buccaneer and to win with defense. Nickerson was a fantastic linebacker who controlled the game from his spot in the front seven, and helped usher in an era of dominant defense in the Bay.
Another tough choice to make here, but you must decide. Which legendary Bucs’ defender move on?
1 seed: Lee Roy Selmon, Defensive End, 1976-1984
The original Buc. The first Hall of Famer. The reason the franchise had any success in the early years. Selmon was a legendary player and an amazing man in the community, and he is missed immensely by those he worked with. It’s going to be tough for anyone to beat Lee Roy in this competition.
2 seed: Mike Alstott, Fullback, 1996-2007
But if anyone can come out ahead of Selmon, it’s the A-Train. Alstott was the fan favorite on offense for a decade, inspiring fans to yell on any play where the coaches were dumb enough to keep the ball out of his hands. He was a workhorse, a powerful runner, and a great guy off the field as well. Very few NFL players have had the support of a fanbase like Alstott did in Tampa Bay.
I am sorry that you have to decide, but pick one of these amazing former Bucs to move on!