The Pewter Plank
FanSided

ESPN Disses The Buccaneers Yet Again

By James Yarcho

Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) reacts after a touchdown catch past Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nolan Carroll (23) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) reacts after a touchdown catch past Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nolan Carroll (23) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

ESPN released their “post-draft power rankings” and knocked the Buccaneers all the way down to 29th, yet again proving why ESPN is basically useless.

More from Bucs News

So let’s get this straight: the Buccaneers are coming off a season where they set offensive records left and right, they retained their offensive coordinator by way of promoting him to head coach, they hired a defensive coordinator who, *gasp*, is going to scheme the defense to the strength of his players, and yet, the Bucs fall in the power rankings? That just doesn’t add up.

Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

First off, power rankings are virtually meaningless. They are, however, a reflection of the respect the “worldwide leader in sports” is showing teams. Per usual, the Bucs get none. Are they honestly trying to sell us the fact that the Bucs are only better than the Titans, Browns, and 49ers? That the Jaguars are the 23rd best team in football? That the Falcons, who Tampa beat twice, and Eagles, who Tampa destroyed,  are both better than the Bucs today? That is asinine.

I’m not here to preach about the Bucs deserving to be in the top ten, top fifteen. I am here to simply state that ESPN has become nothing more than a tabloid. They only talk about the same four topics on a rotation because it “raises the meter”. Yes, because the only things sports fans want to hear about are LeBron James/Steph Curry, Johnny Manziel, whatever the current scandal is (Laremy Tunsil video, recruiting violations somewhere, fight that broke out somewhere, etc.) and the topic dujour they’re going to cram down our throats.

This power ranking list is yet another example of ESPN’s ineptitude. They’ve become TMZ and it’s becoming more and more painfully obvious why they’re laying off good people and costing Disney a fortune. Their suits, in charge of programming, are the biggest group of “don’t get it” frauds we’ve ever seen. I’d take the Bucs against any other team from 16-28 any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Why? Because Jameis Winston always gives them a chance to win. Because Vincent Jackson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins are healthy again. Because they added guys like Brent Grimes, Noah Spence, Robert Ayers, and Vernon Hargreaves III. Because Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith actually know what in the world they’re doing and that will be reflected on game day.

Next: Jon Gruden Talks Bucs, Playoffs

As for ESPN? I’d take FS1 over them any day of the week, too.

Home/Bucs News