Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Open letter to fans about draft weekend

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to select the next wave of their team, I provide a commentary regarding the fandom surrounding the draft.

Dear Fans Of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers,

It’s finally here. It’s officially draft week and in just a few days the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make a call into “Jerry World” in Irving, Texas announcing their first round selection. Follow that up by days two and three in the draft and the Bucs will have their next crop of players to hopefully take them to the next level.

Here’s the thing; fans can become unbearable at this stage.

I admit it, I’m guilty of it too. There are certain guys you want and certain guys you don’t. There’s always a chance that the Buccaneers select one of those guys you don’t. Two years ago I made an appearance on a live draft show for instant reaction when the Bucs made their pick. To that point, I was adamant that I did not want Vernon Hargreaves to be the pick. Low and behold, VHIII was the pick and I went on a bit of a rant on the show about how awful that pick was.

I’ve somewhat changed my tune. VHIII has shown flashes, but hasn’t lived up to the billing of a eleventh overall selection to this point in his career. Jury is still out, but I warmed up to him.

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At the end of the day, we all want the Buccaneers to succeed. There is a reason they have multiple people on the payroll to help them make these decisions and we, as fans, have zero say in the process.

There’s a lot of recent speculation that Derwin James is going to be the guy for the Bucs when round one rolls around. Full disclosure, I won’t be very happy if that is the case. Nothing against James, but I just don’t like the fit given the current state of the defense. A lot of this, of course, hinges on how the draft board falls – I just don’t see the value of a strong safety with great man cover skills playing in a defense that rotates safeties on a regular basis and won’t put him in man coverage against anyone. Seems counterintuitive.

That said, I will be upset about the pick for a little while, then Derwin James is my guy. Why? Because he would be a member of the Buccaneers and I want to see them succeed. If James succeeds, so do the Bucs. That’s how that works.

The other thing to keep in mind is no one cares about your college team. Your college team plays on Saturdays. Wear their gear, cheer until you can’t talk anymore. That’s the joy of sports. However, if the Bucs pick someone from one of your college team’s rivals, get over it. They’re a Tampa Bay Buccaneer now and their college is irrelevant.

Those that know me know my unabridged hatred for Ohio State. I would rather see the Buckeyes lose than my own college team win, but when the Bucs got Joey Galloway I had his Bucs jersey. I wanted Malik Hooker on this team. I wanted Joey Bosa on this team. I didn’t care who they played for on Saturdays because that part of their career was over.

So, if you’re a Florida State fan and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select someone from the Miami Hurricanes, get over it. If you’re an Ohio State fan and the Bucs pick a player from Michigan, oh well. If you’re an Auburn fan and the Bucs top pick is Minkah Fitzpatrick, cheer him on as hard as you do Peyton Barber. He’s a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, not the Alabama Crimson Tide anymore.

If you don’t like who the Buccaneers pick, that’s your prerogative. Just don’t be “that guy” who actively roots against someone on your own team just to be able to say “I told you so.” Those people are the absolute worst. If you aren’t cheering for your team’s success because you don’t like who they drafted then maybe you should just step away from that team – or the sport – for a little while.

Next: Exactly How Important Is The Deep Ball?

We are going to see the hard work, dedication, and lifelong dreams of over 250 football players come true this weekend. Be excited for them and no matter who the pick is, cheer for them to become the next player to come through Tampa Bay on their way to Canton.

Sincerely,

A Lifelong Buccaneers Fan Who Is Ready To Win

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Open letter to fans about draft day

By James Yarcho | Apr 23, 2018

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to select the next wave of their team, I provide a commentary regarding the fandom surrounding the draft.