NFC Collectively Breathing Sigh Of Relief
January 3rd, 2011
It was a satisfying win. Well, that’s an understatement from Joe.
The Bucs took every punch from the Super Bowl champs and came out on top, despite a beat up lineup that included Dezmon Briscoe and Larry Asante.
Don Banks believes the rest of the NFC should be breathing easy tonight. Despite the Bucs making the race to 10, the Bucs have been shut out of the playoffs.
This, Banks writes on SI.com, is a good thing for the rest of the NFC.
The six teams in the NFC’s playoff field should be very, very happy that Tampa Bay lost at home to Detroit two weeks ago and won’t be going to the postseason. Because if there’s a better, more dangerous non-playoff team in the NFL, I haven’t seen it. Second-year quarterback Josh Freeman gives his club a chance to win almost every game, and the Bucs simply don’t back down to anyone.
This just sickens Joe. Winning 10 games is a monumental feat, especially after the team won but three games last season. Yet the Bucs are on the outside looking in.
And Seattle is hosting a playoff game, really? Galling!
January 3rd, 2011 at 9:13 am
We can hold our heads up very high. You couldn’t ask for a better finish to teh regular season than to beat the defending champions. Too bad we had to rely on Jay Cutler for our playoff hopes. But that shows the power of the NFC. Maybe the league will visit the playoff ranking system and drop the mandatory conference representation.
I hope Peter King gives us much love today in his column.
January 3rd, 2011 at 9:19 am
joe do you think now that the season is over we could start geting some draft coverage since were out of the play offs and thats what we have to look forward to now
January 3rd, 2011 at 9:27 am
Peter King: Top 15:
9. Tampa Bay (10-6). There are a few coaches who are glad they don’t have to face the Bucs in the playoffs. What a handful. And let’s put it out there right now: I love Josh Freeman. What a treat it’ll be to watch him play over the next 10 years.
January 3rd, 2011 at 9:38 am
I am so proud of this team and the coaching staff, the strides that they have made in just two seasons is amazing.Next season, a playoff spot.
January 3rd, 2011 at 9:45 am
I think not making the playoffs will actually help this team…
They’re going to come back next season with a HUGE chip on their shoulder. Especially Freeman.
January 3rd, 2011 at 9:54 am
The future is very bright indeed. So the Bucs should pick about #19 in the Draft. They really only need a couple good defensive players, and if they use free agency this time, they could trade away most of their picks to move up in the first 2 rounds and get what they need to sew up a Super Bowl run in 2011′. I would love to see the Bucs attempt a trade for Patrick Willis, maybe even give up their first round pick for him. Barrett Rudd does good things at times and he is smart, but honestly, he is one step too slow and a few pounds too weak to make a huge impact all of the time. Willis would be the perfect replacement to own this defense. Julius Peppers sparked the Bears to new heights this year. Rob Marinelli should get a new HC gig.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:13 am
What a fantastic year, we should still be playing.
Get healthy, stay thirsty.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:00 am
Imagine life with a few of our starters back. GMC, Jackson (or heck..even Grimm) and Aqib for instance. Not to mention our O-line.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:04 am
I love Patrick Willis and Jon Beason from Carolina
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:09 am
If our D can make even minor improvements next year coupled with the better chemistry on O with Free and the rest — we will be a much better team.
I think 10-6 next year with a much tougher sched. and a playoff spot would be continued progress for our young team.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:09 am
Are we just fantasing about Willis and Beason or is there a legit chance they could be on the market?
Who are the premier FA’s this offseason?
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:17 am
cjjackson:
Joe will dabble in the draft here or there but after the Super Bowl Joe really throws draft coverage into overdrive.
Not sure if you have seen Joe’s draft stuff the past two years but with our proud partners at Clear Channel and elsewhere, you’ll be hard-pressed to find locally as comprehensive of draft content as you will from Joe.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:19 am
We also get Brian Price back.
Wish list:
2 DE
1 MLB
1 Safety
1 TE
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:29 am
I’ve heard Vernon Davis will be a free agent. I vote we sign him and dminate the league with K2. They can both block or line up as receivers, in addition to usual TE roles. Does anyone know which DEs will be available in free agency? We need DE and ML. Aside from that I think we’re pretty solid if everone stays healthy.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:52 am
Defensive Ends:
Jacques Cesaire – SD
Richard Seymour – OAK
Marcus Spears – DAL
Shaun Ellis – NYJ
Trevor Pryce – NYJ
Matt Roth – CLE
Ryon Bingham
Reggie Hayward
Jamaal Anderson – ATL (4)
Charles Johnson – CAR (4)
Victor Adeyanju – CIN
Derrick Robinson – CLE (4)
Stephen Bowen – DAL (5)
Jason Hatcher – DAL (5)
Marcus Thomas – DEN (4)
Kevin Vickerson – DEN (5)
Turk McBride – DET (4)
Cliff Avril – DET
Mark Anderson – HOU (5)
Keyunta Dawson – IND (4)
Tamba Hali – KC (5)
Brian Robison – MIN (4)
Ray Edwards – MIN (5)
Eric Moore – NE (5)
Jeff Charleston – NO (4)
Dave Tollefson – NYG (4)
Mathias Kiwanuka – NYG (5)
Victor Abiamiri – PHI (4)
Jay Richardson – SEA (4)
Stylez White – TB (4)
Tim Crowder – TB (4)
Dave Ball – TEN
Jacob Ford – TEN (4)
Kedric Golston – WAS (5)
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Agree joe, it sickens (and truth be told, angers) me that our Bucs will sit home while some team with a losing record from the NFC West takes our spot.
It actually makes me all the more angry that this team didn’t know the improtance of beating the winnable Detroit game. That’s not on the players, that’s on the coach that decided to take his offense off the field and tried to win it with his 3rd strong defense…
It’s frustrating, it isn’t fair, and there is not justice!
The playoff seeding MUST be addressed!