The Pewter Plank
FanSided

5 players the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should have never let walk

By Cory Kinnan

1988: Doug Williams #17 of the Washington Redskins calls an adible at the line of scrimmage during the 1988 NFL season game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. The Redskins defeated the Bears 34-14. (Photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
1988: Doug Williams #17 of the Washington Redskins calls an adible at the line of scrimmage during the 1988 NFL season game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. The Redskins defeated the Bears 34-14. (Photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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02 Dec 2001 : Warrick Dunn of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Buccaneers beat the Bengals 16 – 13. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/Allsport
02 Dec 2001 : Warrick Dunn of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Buccaneers beat the Bengals 16 – 13. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/Allsport /

3. RB Warrick Dunn

Poor Warrick Dunn. In the summer of 2002, Dunn decided to sign with the division rival Atlanta Falcons after five seasons in Tampa Bay. The next season, the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl with Michael Pittman leading the rushing attack. Regardless, Dunn was an extremely effective back that should have never been allowed to leave, especially to a division rival.

Dunn was a two time Pro Bowler for the Buccaneers in both 1997 and 2000, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards in every season he played with the Buccaneers. He then returned to Tampa Bay for the last year of his career in 2008 and still managed about 800 yards and two scores on the ground.

He went on to put up just as consistent of numbers with the Falcons, running for 5,981 yards over six seasons; again averaging just about 1,000 yards in every year he was there. While Pittman led the Bucs’ rushing attack afterwards, his efficiency does not even come close to that of Dunn’s.

Dunn could potentially go down as the best running back in Buccaneers’ history with Mike Alstott, and the Buccaneers should have done everything in their power to make sure he was a lifelong Buccaneer. Instead the Atlanta Falcons were able to rob six years of his prime from the city of Tampa Bay.

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