Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Why the team needs to start over

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it very clear that they believe that they are only one or two pieces away from competing. This may not be the case.

Cynicism in healthy doses is good for staying grounded in reality, especially in sports; for these Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an extra serving of it is almost a given. The New England Patriots, coming off of one of the most successful two decades in sports and a Super Bowl win, are starting to send out signals that they may move away from star quarterback Tom Brady.

Time after time the Pats have traded away players who were playing in their prime, but found a steep drop-off in their production after leaving New England. The front office of an NFL team like this has to be realistic as do fan expectations, and if these are not focused in reality then that only sets up heartbreak and disappointment.

The Buccaneers are most likely not going to the Super Bowl this year. Most likely is the operative phrase because there is still a chance. If the Bucs go 8-2 in the final 10 games they are still on the bubble as far as wildcard teams goes of making the playoffs at least, but this is not an impossibility.

Winning games against the Seahawks, Saints, Texans, and Colts all seem like daunting tasks though as these team have already shown impressive levels of play in their secondary, pass rush, and passing game; all things that will make this trip down the back side of the schedule extremely difficult for the Bucs to pull off in a Cinderella-style fashion.