Best Buccaneers player during each US presidency

Best Buccaneers player during the Bush Administration – Paul Gruber (OT)

This was rough.

The first Bush Administration was right in the thick of the Bucs era of being known as the “Yucks” or the “Suckaneers”. There were a few, shall we say “interesting” options to go with, and we almost went with Vinny Testaverde, the quarterback during the entire presidency for simply being a good solider that didn’t deserve the punishment, but at the end of the day, it had to be Paul Gruber, the man who almost single-handily kept Testaverde alive, as pictured above.

The Buccaneers would have a record of 19-45 during this era, and would not have a single first-team All-Pro, and only two Pro Bowlers in the four seasons. They were wide receiver Mark Carrier in 1989 and cornerback Wayne Haddix in 1990 of all people. That’s right, Paul Gruber never made a Pro Bowl. How crazy is that?

The thing is though, it was during this time that Gruber did make his two second-team All-Pro teams in 1991 and 1992. We mentioned how Testaverde was s good soldier, but Gruber was the general. For pretty much his entire career, Gruber was one of the few marquee players on an absolutely putrid football team.

This Buccaneers Ring of Honor member was the best player during the Bush Administration, and it honestly isn’t even that close.