The hero worship for a good man who failed at his job in Tampa Bay by the local Dungryphiles is way over the top and, sadly, predictable.

Two things Joe knew would come true:

1) Someday, Father Dungy would retire.

2) The local Tampa Bay MSM would breathlessly fall over themselves in an effort to out do each other, acting as if Abraham Lincoln came back from the grave.

Joe couldn’t believe his eyes when last night, local TV newscasts led their broadcasts with Father Dungy retiring as if a head of state had passed. The gushing and near crying was just too much for Joe to stomach.

Sadly, Joe expected this whenever Father Dungy retired.

Look, Joe is the first person to admit Father Dungy was and is a nice guy, if not a great man. And Joe is confident Father Dungy was beyond nice to the local Bucs beat writers when he was here. But just because someone is kind does that mean the MSM has to stoop to such wild degrees of hero worship? Have we, as a society, sunk that low that just because someone is polite to others they should be raised upon pedestal?

Maybe Joe comes from a different world, but he can find dozens of nice guys just walking out of his office. That doesn’t mean there should be a state holiday for them.

Sadly, the Tampa Bay area is full of Dungyphiles. So unnerved are these people, they clutch to the fallacy that Jon Gruden won the Super Bowl “with Dungy’s players,” which is a patently false premise. Yet these same Dungyphiles cannot explain why Father Dungy couldn’t win a Super Bowl with his own players, much less get to a Super Bowl, much less build an offense that can score a measly touchdown in the NFC title game? Not one!

This Father Dungy fellatio also proves how far being nice to beat reporters can get a coach. Why suddenly, the fourth estate forgets that someone failed in the job!

To paraphrase Robert Plant (of all people), “Does anyone remember objectivity?”

Wait a minute, Father Dungy wasn’t a failure? Really? Joe doesn’t seem to recall the Bucs playing in a Super Bowl with Father Dungy around. Joe also seems to recall Father Dungy was fired by the Glazer Boys for just such a misdeed.

Then there was that little thing that irks Joe to this day: Father Dungy couldn’t figure out how to build a competent offense to save his own job. He ran an early-20th Century offense and claimed all the time “this is how we did it in Pittsburgh.” Yet his own former teammate with the vaunted Steel Curtain Pittsburgh teams, Mel Blount, even disproved that notion during one of the fabulous NFL Network “America’s Game” documentaries, noting how Father Dungy’s former coach, Chuck Noll, changed the Steelers offense to pass often to take advantage of the “Mel Blount Rule.”

Look, Joe commends Father Dungy for his countless good deeds and for being an upstanding guy, if not a great man. This, however, doesn’t mean Father Dungy should be worshiped for his failure with the Bucs.

And yes, Father Dungy failed as a Bucs coach.

The public grieving done about Father Dungy — who hasn’t coached the Bucs in seven years and only was the Bucs coach for six years — is too much. Joe wonders why John Tortorella wasn’t eulogized in such a manner? Tortorella did far more with the Lightning.

For that matter Joe Maddon has done far more with the Rays.

Joe wonders if Maddon will be fawned over in such a manner when his days come to an end with the Rays?

This Father Dungy hero worship proves to Joe that legends aren’t necessarily created as a result of substance.

On what appears to Booger McFarland’s own Web site, the only message there makes his latest comeback intentions known, “Booger 92. Coming soon to a team near you.”

The former Bucs defensive lineman and first round pick confirmed his latest comeback attempt on The Steve Duemig Show, on 620 AM, WDAE, on Monday. Talking to Duemig about Tony Dungy’s retirement and all things NFL, Booger said he was looking to catch on with the right club for 2009.

McFarland, 31, tore a patella tendon in his knee – see Cadillac Williams – just prior to the 2007 season. He reportedly failed a physical with the Steelers in early 2008. The Saints also were interested. 

The Bucs might be interested in the big run-stuffer. Sure, he’s banged up. But, if healthy, he would come cheap, and he knows the system. That’s often the magic combination for Bruce Allen.

Now that it appears Favre won't be with the Jets next year, Joe expects the rumors of Favre playing for the Bucs will resume.

Since it appears Chucky has survived the hangman’s noose, one of the top stories leading into Bucs training camp last July may rear its head again.

Rumors of Brett Favre to the Buccaneers.

Favre, who last year played for the Jets, is back in his annual cat-and-mouse game of whether or not he will retire.

Though Favre technically belongs to the Jets, it’s not likely he will remain there. The Jets are hurting with the salary cap. Some reports suggest the Jets will be over $10 million above the cap next year.

Favre’s salary is $13 million a year and it doesn’t seem as if he endeared himself to his teammates in the New Jersey Swamplands.

This brings us to Chucky and the Bucs. Chucky has to know his job is on thin ice so forget about him turning the quarterback reigns over to someone like Luke McCown next year. Chucky is going to want a veteran quarterback to run the offense.

It’s doubtful Jeff Garcia will return. If Chucky places his job in the hands of Son of Bob he’s more mad than Joe ever imagined him to be.

Joe is confident the last thoughts on Chucky’s mind before he falls to sleep at night is to have Jake Plummer at quarterback. But Chucky has failed to get Grizzly Adams out of the mountains and down to Tampa, despite the fact Plummer is married to a former Broncos cheerleader.

So the next best option to satisfy Chucky would likely be Favre.

Don’t be surprised at all if Chucky is tempted (again) to dance the dance with Favre this July.

ESPN NFC South reporter Pat Yasinskas speculates that Julius Peppers wants out of Carolina. A Peppers relocation to Tampa could change the balance of power in the division.

First, it’s good to see that Pat “Vacation Man” Yasinskas is working during the playoffs.

On Friday, in his NFC South blog chat with readers, “Vacation Man” wrote that Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers would return to Carolina because the team wouldn’t let him get away. Now Yasinskas has changed his tune, after observing Peppers in the Panthers’ locker room following Saturday’s stunning loss to Arizona.

Immediately after a 33-13 home loss to Arizona, Peppers said he wants what’s best for him and the Panthers when asked about his contract situation. Peppers said pretty much the same thing Sunday morning after the team held its final meeting. Peppers said he didn’t want to “cripple” himself or the Panthers.

Keep a close eye on this one. There’s an assumption out there that Peppers, who has spent his career with the Panthers and went to college at North Carolina, automatically will return to the Panthers, one way or another.

Maybe — and I’m just think out loud here — that’s not the case. The Panthers have been trying to re-sign Peppers for about two years now and it still hasn’t happened. At this point, you have to at least wonder if he wants to be somewhere else. Peppers has been given numerous chances by the media (for several months now) to say he wants to stay in Carolina. He never has definitively done that.

To keep Peppers, it’s widely believed the Panthers will have to make him the league’s highest-paid defensive player (probably around $13 million a season). The Panthers also could place the franchise tag on Peppers (probably about $17 million for 2009).

As Joe wrote months ago, bringing Peppers to Tampa is not only a major upgrade from now free agent DE Kevin Carter, it changes the balance of power slightly in the NFC South.

The Bucs have the cash to pursue him. Do they have the desire?

Joe wants Brandon Jacobs to keep walking, about 1200 miles south to Tampa Bay

Joe stays up late agonizing about the Bucs future. Call it tradition.

Bucs fans know the pain of so many offseasons, especially watching the playoffs and seeing in living color how far the once-mighty Bucs have fallen. 

That said, there are reasons to be optimistic. Joe doesn’t buy the doomsday-is-near theories floated by some talk radio hosts and callers.

Bucs fans looking for excitement can start at the offensive line. They’re all young – senior starter Jeff Faine turns 28 in April – reasonably experienced, and have shown great promise. Even super reserve Jeremy Zuttah had a terrific rookie season in 2008, showing he can play multiple positions at a high level.

Every expert, including Bucs GM Bruce Allen, says the O-Line is a major strength and a true success of the Gruden-Allen era.

So here’s where Joe is going to make a not-so-flying leap. If we accept the Bucs’ strength is on the offensive line, then the team needs to make investing in a running back its top priority this offseason.

Sure, there are many other holes to fill. But without a stud running back to team with Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn next season, the Bucs will be wasting their talent at offensive line.

Joe likes Earnest Graham. He’s a near-perfect back for Chucky’s offense, a nice combination of speed and power, and he can catch the ball. After breaking long runs in 2008, Joe believes Graham has enough speed to complement a bruising runner like the Giants RB Brandon Jacobs, who could hit the free agent market in February.

The Glazers should consider breaking the bank for Jacobs, if the Giants don’t make him their franchise player. Aside from the obvious, Jacobs’ arrival in Tampa would immediately improve the performance of the 2009 quarterback – whoever that may be – and legitimate play-action would return to the Bucs offense. It all but disappeared during the Bucs’ December collapse.

Just 26, maybe Jacobs would like the young faces of the Bucs’ young O-line. Of course, that would be Chucky’s sales pitch, “Hey, Brandon, man, you’re walking into what’s going to be the best offensive line in the NFC over the next four years.”

Jacobs has had knee problems and might welcome the chance to play on grass.

The versatile Graham also is a strong enough short-yardage runner who could be a great fit with potential free agent speedsters Darren Sproles or Derrick Ward, the Giants’ other 1,000-yard rusher. There are RB options in the NFL draft, of course, but Joe would rather see the Bucs address the backfield in free agency and use their first-round pick (No. 19) to attack another need.

Again, if the offensive line is ready to reach its great potential, then inject a league-tested super stud into the backfield alongside Graham and let them go to work.

 At the very least, the move is sure to generate the excitement the organization and fans desperately need.

Joe always likes to tip his cap to the “old-timer” Bucs fans, those who have been loving the team since Day 1, or at least since the early ’90s, before the Glazers ushered in the new era.

With that in mind, former Bucs starting LB Winston Moss, who played in Tampa alongside Eugene Marve (Robert Marve’s dad) in 1988, 1989 and 1990, is set to interview for the Raiders head coaching vacancy soon, according to various reports.

Moss, 43, has been a Packers coach since 2006, serving as assistant head coach this season.

He interviewed for the Rams’ vacancy recently, but was not considered a serious candidate as he was unprepared during the interview, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel citing an unnamed source.

Bucs defensive coordinator Raheem Morris appears to be sticking around One Buc Palace at least another year.

Though the Bucs weren’t in the playoffs this past weekend — or the weekend prior for that matter — it appears the Bucs came out a winner nonetheless.

Adam Schefter of NFL.com is reporting the Broncos hired Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as their new head coach. Why should Bucs fans care? Bucs defensive coordinator and Monte Kiffin’s heir apparent Raheem Morris was a finalist for the job.

Now that the issue of possibly losing Morris this offseason has been put to rest, Morris now has his first hire upon him as Bucs linebackers coach Gus Bradley has taken the defensive coordinator position at Seattle. Thankfully, the new hire won’t be Joe Barry.

Bruce Allen can tap dance with the best

“Shape up your bag. Don’t worry about mine. My thing together. And a doing fine.”

If you missed Bucs general manager Bruce Allen’s media session yesterday, The James Brown lyrics above, from the former No. 1 song “Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing,” sum up Allen’s press conference quite well. 

Joe is still giving a standing ovation to Allen for the spectacular tap dancing exhibition yesterday at One Buc Place. Bravo.

One stunning comment Allen made – and you won’t find anywhere else – was that prior to the 2008 season he was counting on Cadillac Williams to perform in the second half of 2008. Yes, that Cadillac Williams, the guy who had the horrific knee injury in September 2007.

When questioned about not pursuing running back Michael Turner in 2008 free agency, Allen said Turner was off his radar because the Bucs were excited about the return of Earnest Graham in a starting role, the signing of Warrick Dunn and “Cadillac for the second half of the season.”

This admisssion stunned Joe. (And it’s no surprise Allen didn’t include ex-Bucs running back Michael Bennett, who was cut in November and should see significant action for the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.)

So are we to believe that Allen and Jon Gruden were banking on Cadillac’s return from a horrific knee injury AND that he would be effective late in December, when the Bucs have struggled mightily under Chucky? How foolish was that?

Joe recommends PewterReport.com and TBO.com for lengthy excerpts of Allen’s news conference. Perhaps Allen will appear next on Dancing With the Stars.

By BOB FOX

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox takes a weekly look at the playoff picture. Fox writes for numerous sports publications. He brings an insightful take on the road to the Super Bowl. Fox picked three of four winners last week.

JoeBucsFan.com playoffs analyst Bob Fox stays on the Eagles bandwagon, where he's been for months. Fox was 3-1 in last weekend's games.

If the divisional round of the NFL playoffs is anything at all like the Wild Card round, then hold on folks, it’s going to be a wild ride. Last weekend, two road teams won, and I expect at least two to win this weekend.  This is the round that will take a team one step away from getting to the Big Dance — Super Bowl — right here in Tampa. Also, remember one thing this weekend as you watch the games, the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants were a No. 5 seed last year.

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
The Cardinals surprised me last week against the Falcons at home, not because they threw the ball well, but because they ran the ball well and effectively stopped the vaunted Atlanta run game behind Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. The Cards will face a very stiff test this weekend as they will face another two headed monster in the ground game, as the Panthers bring DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart out to try and churn up big yardage. Bucs fans remember the damage that both Williams and Stewart did on a Monday night not long ago as they both had over 100 yards rushing against Tampa Bay. The Panthers also have the crafty Jake Delhomme at QB and WR Steve Smith just always seems to make huge plays at the end of games. The Cards will try and counter with a resurgent Edgerrin James at RB and also Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin at WR.  Both Fitzgerald and Boldin both had touchdowns on long pass plays last weekend, but Boldin is listed as questionable because of a hamstring injury. Bottom line, I see the Panthers holding serve at home behind their strong run game, and also the big play ability of Smith.  The Cards offense will put up points from the passing game, but it won’t be enough to take a bite out of the Panthers.

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
This game will be the rubber match between these two NFC East rivals, as both have beaten each other this season. The Giants do seem to be affected by the Plaxico Burress suspension, as their offense doesn’t seem to have the same balance.  Yes, the G-men still have bruising Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward to run the rock (both ran for over 1,000 yards in 2008), but the absence of Burress has hurt the passing game somewhat. The Eagles will try and put as many men in the box as possible, similar to what they did in Minnesota vs. Adrian Peterson and the Vikings, plus still use their exotic blitz packages in the passing game. The Philly offense will be once again led by QB Donovan McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook. I expect both to once again have big games. The Eagles won their game against the Giants in 2008 in New Jersey, and I think that they will once again find a way to beat their nemesis on the road. Like all games, turnovers will be a big key in this game, as will special teams play. 

AFC

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
Nobody has impressed me more than the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL playoffs thus far.  The Ravens defense is SCARY good, paced by S Ed Reed and LB Ray Lewis. I also want to send a shout out to S Jim Leonhard of the Ravens, who also has been making some key plays for the Ravens defense and also is a fine punt returner. Baltimore’s offense has been very steady lately behind rookie QB Joe Flacco and tough WR Derrick Mason, plus a nice ground game led by Le’Ron McClain and Willie McGahee. But the Titans are the No. 1 seed in the AFC for two big reasons: an excellent defense and a nice ground game led by Chris Johnson and Lendale White. Veteran QB Kerry Collins has been unspectacular, but effective. Both teams have excellent special teams. I expect this one to perhaps come down to a field goal, and I think the veteran Baltimore defense has the edge in making a big play that will be the difference-maker.

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Chargers are a perfect 2-0 in Pittsburgh in playoff games  The last time Ben Roethlisberger played a game after suffering a concussion, he was terrible.  Still, albeit with apprehension, I like the Steelers to win in a close game. The Chargers almost won again in the 2008 regular season in Pittsburgh.  I think they will have a chance again behind QB Phillip Rivers, RB/KR Darren Sproles and TE Antonio Gates. It looks like RB LaDainian Tomlinson will miss the game with a severe groin injury. But the Steelers have an excellent defense behind folks like LB James Harrison (The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year) and S Troy Palamalu. Big Ben has some weapons as well on offense with WR’s Himes Ward and Santonio Holmes, plus RB Willie Parker seems to be playing better as of late, with Mewelde Moore as another option for toting the rock. I think either team could win this game, but I will give the edge to the Steelers because of more playmakers on their defense.

Let's cheer for Skins loyalty! Doug Williams, ex-Bucs and Redskins QB, has thrown his support to Todd Bowles for the Broncos head coaching job, not Raheem Morris. Bowles and Williams were teammates in Washington.

Joe wants to issue a big “Thank You” to Doug Williams for publicly endorsing Dophins assistant head coach Todd Bowles for the Broncos head coaching job.

Any effort that could help keep Bucs defensive coordinator Raheem Morris from getting the position is a good thing.

Williams, the ex-Bucs quarterback and current team personnel executive, made his case for Bowles to the Denver Post today. Williams and Bowles were teammates on the Super Bowl champion Redskins in 1988.

“He’s got this presence,” said Williams. “Todd is a tall guy. If you watch him explain stuff, you’ll find he uses his hands a lot, and he knows how to get their attention. He knows how to work a room. Guys who play in this league, they’re pretty smart too. That’s where the respect comes from.”

Bowles has spent the last nine seasons as an NFL defensive assistant coach with the Jets, Browns, Cowboys and Dolphins. He’s spent three years working for Bill Parcells — two years while Parcells was head coach in Dallas and this season in Miami, where Parcells is in charge of football operations.

“He’s probably learned what it takes to build a winner. No one can argue with the track record of what Bill has done,” Williams said. “That’s not a bad horse to hitch your wagon to.”

Frankly, the Bucs are completely screwed if Raheem Morris takes off for Denver. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed.

Joe informed you yesterday that word out of Denver is that Morris has made the Broncos final four candidates. Today, TampaBay.com is reporting he may have made Denver’s list of top-3 choices.

You know him. You love him (unless you are employed by the Bucs). He is Justin Pawlowski, one of the finest radio hosts in the area and Tampa Bay’s very own Mike Mayock.

Justin’s back today, broadcasting his highly-acclaimed show from the immortal Chris Thomas studio on WDAE-AM 620 from noon to 3 p.m.

Justin’s must-listen show will either keep Bucs fans glued to the radio or so upset they want to throw their empty bottles of Caybrew in disgust. Either way, it’s solid radio for football fans (which means any red-blooded male living in the Sunshine State).

Justin should have plenty to talk about. Not like there was a dearth of fodder in the local sports scene in recent days.

Tune in!

"Hey, we can do this one more time, man. We need each other. Your work's not done here, and neither is mine."

Those of you dreaming of a new Bucs starting quarterback next season need to step into reality. The odds of it happening are slim.

Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden want Jeff Garcia back because, in their minds, Garcia’s return assures them of a winning 2009 season. Not a successful season, but a winning season with a prayer of getting lucky in the playoffs.

Of course, that assumes Garcia stays healthy, and Bruce Almighty and Chucky can fulfill their their fantasies, including adding a top flight running back, resigning key free agents, like Jermaine Phillips, and improving defensively under Raheem Morris.  

Expect Bruce Almighty to gush over Garcia at today’s news conference at One Buc Place. He’ll be courting the free-agent-to-be with kind, loving praise. Allen plays head spinmaster with the media this morning during a state-of-the team address. 

As for the Bucs sticking with Garcia, it’s Chucky’s way. He prefers veteran quarterbacks. The Bucs have no salary cap issues, which means Gruden will be starting a veteran in 2009.

The odds of Chucky riding his job on the back of a young QB are about the same as him sharing a smoothie with Joey Galloway next week. It ain’t happening.

The odds of Chucky riding his job on the back of a young QB are about the same as him sharing a smoothie with Joey Galloway next week. It ain't happening.

As for Chucky going with a different veteran quarterback, the pickings are very slim.

Brett Favre likely could be had but may have no interest in playing here. And he isn’t coming off a strong season like in 2007. Kurt Warner’s a free agent, but Arizona will surely resign him. Daunte Culpepper, who Gruden brought in for a look before, might be available from the Lions, but he’s surely not better than Garcia. Donovan McNabb? He’s not a free agent, and Philly wouldn’t let him walk. Jake Plummer might be the only one out there – way out there.

As for Garcia, he’s a realist of very strong character, and a man who isn’t interested in embracing major change in his life. He turns 39 in a few weeks, and he’s got an infant daughter at home alongside a pregnant Playboy Playmate of the Year wife expecting their second child in the Spring.

After multiple conversations with Garcia this season, Joe believes Garcia has no interest in starting over with a new team. And he has no interest in being a backup quarterback.

So what options are left for him other than a return to Tampa Bay? Even if Garcia wanted to try and be the No. 1 quarterback for a new club, who would want him at 39 years old? A contender won’t need him, and a rebuilding team won’t let a guy that age be its top QB. And surely he’s unlikely to go to one of the many teams with a new coach in 2009.

Maybe – a big maybe – Mike Singletary makes a run at Garcia thinking he can get the 49ers quickly into contention with a veteran quarterback in a crappy division. San Francisco is Garcia’s hometown club, but it’s still a remote chance that SIngletary would want to hang his coaching future on a 39-year-old.

Keeping pregnant Carmella and their daughter happy is important to Jeff Garcia. And that might mean staying in Tampa.

The pickings are as slim for Garcia as they are for stubborn, veteran-loving Chucky.

Garcia and Chucky are a perfect match in 2009. They need each other.

They’re both on razor thin ice clinging to jobs they desperately want to keep.

If he really wanted to impress the poolside hotties, Warren Sapp should have challenged Michael Phelps to an arm wrestle or a coconut patty eating contest

It was the swimming stud versus the sackmaster. The chisled body versus the round mound. And, sadly, it was more exciting than the Bucs red zone offense.

Yes, eight-time gold medal winner Michael Phelps met up with Warren Sapp in a Miami Beach hotel pool recently. And it seems Sapp didn’t like sharing the limelight.

Although Sapp looks lean – for him – next to Phelps he looks like Barney the dinosaur.

The paparazzi freaks at TMZ.com have the video. Check it out. Sapp challenges Phelps to a swimming race, and Phelps give him a sizeable head start.

The rest is history. (Props to BucStats.com for digging this up.)

Cadillac Williams thinks he can return to take the field for the Bucs in 2009. Joe isn't so sure.

Though Joe isn’t holding his breath, Bucs running back Cadillac Williams vows that he will play next season after blowing out his left knee in the season-ending loss to the Raiders, reports Fred Goodell of the Associated Press via NationalFootballPost.com.

“This process should be much easier,” Williams said, adding that former Tampa Bay teammate and current Carolina kick returner Mark Jones suffered a similar injury when he was with the Bucs.

Cadillac claims he was feeling nearly 100 percent when he suffered the injury. He sure ran like the old Cadillac Joe remembered.

Joe is optimistic Cadillac can pull it off. But realistically, no one can truly expect him to contribute next season.

Sportswriters aren’t known for their talent on the small screen, but Jim Armstrong, longtime columnist for the Denver Post, shows in this video that he’s pretty darn good. To be fair, Armstrong was often seen on Around the Horn, on ESPN.

Here he talks about the Broncos’ head coach search, stating the Broncos are sure to hire a defensive coach who will accept limited input on personnel and be a communicator who can eliminate Denver’s “dysfunctional front office,” quoting Denver owner Pat Bowlen.

That sure sounds like Raheem Morris is on the very short list, one of only four defensive candidates being considered. And today the Denver Post is reporting the Broncos’ choice for head coach is among the seven candidates already interviewed. So the math alone gives Morris a reasonable shot.

Joe is nervous that Morris could actually get the Denver job, although it’s unlikely. The Bucs organization would be devasted by losing Morris and being forced to scramble to find a coordinator who can run the Bucs defense, as it is contstructed.

Stylez talked about Raheem Morris on ESPN Radio

The Bucs defensive lineman formerly known as Greg White visited the Killer B’s show on ESPN 1040 AM for about one hour recently.

Joe tuned in hoping the B’s would ask White lots of interesting questions about Bucs football. Sadly, but not surprisingly, that wasn’t the case. Of course, there was lots of blabbering about the University of Miami.

White, however, was asked about Raheem Morris. “It ain’t broke,” White said about the defense. He also said he expects Morris to have the defense be more agressive and “let playmakers make more plays, like Aqib [Talib] and Gaines [Adams].”

Overall, Joe believes White was implying that Monte Kiffin wasn’t necessarily setting up his best players for maximum success. What that’s worth, Joe isn’t quite sure.

But White’s performance was down in 2008, from 2007. Maybe the 29-year-old didn’t like the defensive line rotation used throughout the season. It’s worth noting the Bucs parted ways with D-Line coach Larry Coyer last week.

She worked hard to earn the respect of her teammates. And now Rachel Watson has been chosen by them to represent the Bucs at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

Joe is oozing with pride. Bucs cheerleader Rachel Watson has made the Pro Bowl cheerleading squad. Joe has long been an admirer of Rachel, and he’d be honored to accompany her to Hawaii. Rachel, when you read this, please e-mail Joe right away.

(For that matter, Joe would be honored to accompany Rachel to a bingo parlor in Pinellas Park.)