So Much For “Stay The Course”
February 25th, 2009
The Dream said the Bucs are a big, close family. Yet today he kicked the wise old uncles out of the house.
Day 1 of the Raheem The Dream administration saw the new leader field a simple question at his introductory news conference.
Amid many smiles, and more smiles, and a few more smiles, The Dream was asked his plans for the direction of the Bucs. He confidently replied the Bucs would “Stay The Course.”
That was the only answer. He also threw in how he loved the Bucs family and its players.
“Stay The Course.”
Five weeks later The Dream and GM Mark Dominik have abandoned ship, jumped in a helicopter and gone way off course. Captains Jeff Garcia and Pro Bowler Derrick Brooks have been sent packing. Warrick Dunn, Ike Hilliard, Cato June and Joey Galloway, too.
The team now has more gaping holes than a busy night at Mons Venus.
At today’s farewell news conference for Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn and the other Bucs stars — one in which the Bucs’ family-loving brass dedicated a whopping 30 minutes or so — The Dream spoke of a plan. A grand plan. “To get young, fast and aggressive” was his the only insight offered.
Joe wants to be a Dream believer. He really does.
Joe wants The Dream to bring a real running game back to Tampa and hard-hitting defense that gets to the quarterback and continues the legacy of Monte Kiffin’s secondary.
But Joe has to question why The Dream is all over the map since Day 1. Joe finds it suspect that a 32-year-old first-time head coach ditched his core of accomplished, savvy veterans. Somewhere Kevin Carter is calling moving companies.
And Joe finds it disgraceful that neither Dream nor Dominik were prepared to explain how the Bucs organization is better without Brooks on the team in 2009.
Yes, Joe looks forward to the new crop of “young, fast and aggressive” players who will fill the Bucs roster in ’09. That is unless The Dream changes direction again next month.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
So far, The Dream is all shiny teeth selling a bill of goods. Like a carnival barker back in the 1800’s shilling miracle cures out of a bottle…step right up folks! A sucker is born every minute…the Bucs think they can fill a stadium full of them. The Glazers are in for a Ruud awakening. We will know more after Friday if they will be playahs in free agency, or all talk once again. Hold them to the fire JoeBucsfan.com. We don’t need to relive the Culverhouse years, once was bad enough, thank you very much…
February 25th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Is the last 8 weeks just a bad “dream”.. Can we have Gruden and Allen back? Please? How does Derrick freakin Brooks not fit into a scheme? Really? Words can’t describe my outrage at this. I have alot more anger but I’m doing my best to censor myself at this point.In a couple years when this nightmare ends,maybe we can hire Parcells as Team Pres to turn us around like he did with the dolphins in 1 year. God forbid we get a high draft pick next year and consider Tebow..i think i just made myself sick
February 25th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Kris:
Had Chucky or Bruce Allen pulled this stunt, and tried to deceive the Bucs fans in such a way as The Dream did today, Obama would have had to call out the national guard. There would be riots in the streets.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Bad Dream.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
This looks like Parcells move. Cut deep and quick. But Parcells is not at the wheel. If the Buc’s don’t do some big moves with there cap room. There is going to be some serious questions asked of ownership. Man U Bet.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
i think gruden wouldve had enough respect for D.B to at least keep him. I mean he had 1 freakin year left,and they only saved $ 3mil in cap room cutting him,on a day where they got an extra $4mil in cap room due to the increase from the CBA.Its not like D.B. had a huge cap number like Marvin Harrison did n indy.and its not like D.B. cant play any longer,,also like Marvin Harrison. This move makes no sense,,unless they sign haynesworth,peppers AND Houshmanzadeh OR trade for Boldin
February 26th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I think the Glazers have decided to gut the team to pocket the cap room while the economy is in the dumper. They have probably calculated the number of potential season ticket cancellations and decided that the hit in revenue will be less than the cut in player/coaches salaries.