Doug Williams No. 5
April 16th, 2014
No. 5 Bucs player of all time?
A fun countdown that Pat Yasinskas has on ESPN.com is the “top five” Bucs of all-time. Not that long ago, one would have been hard-pressed to come up with five off the top of one’s head.
Now, one has to think long and hard who would be in the top five of all-time Bucs. To start the fun, Yasinskas has former quarterback Doug Williams as No. 5.
After a lot of thought, I chose Williams. My reasoning was simple. Williams and Lee Roy Selmon, who will be a little higher up in the top five, were the two players who first brought respectability to a franchise that began its existence with an 0-26 record.
Williams led the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game in just their fourth year of existence. Williams never put up spectacular numbers, but he had a knack for producing in the clutch. I have no doubt that Williams would have ranked higher on this list if he had stayed with the Bucs longer.
But Williams spent only five years in Tampa Bay. He left for the United States Football League after an ugly salary dispute. The Bucs went into a tailspin after Williams’ departure and some suggested it was karma for the way the team treated Williams.
What Yasinskas doesn’t mention, which actually reinforces his selection of Williams, is after he left the Bucs for the Oklahoma Outlaws of the USFL (which was 20 years ahead of its time), Williams’ departure sparked a 15-year downward spiral for the franchise.
In fact, only twice since Williams left did the Bucs make it back to the NFC title game, once led by Shaun King (the hometown hero who for some reason way too many Bucs fans shamefully want to strangle, even though he had better numbers than Williams). The other time was Brad Johnson in the magical run to the Super Bowl title.
For a team to go into a 15-year tailspin because it lost a quarterback, that tells you a lot as to how valuable Williams was. It didn’t help that John McKay panicked when Williams left and traded a first-round pick for Bengals backup quarterback, “The Throwin’ Samoan,” Jack Thompson.
April 16th, 2014 at 6:43 pm
1.) Warren Sapp
2.) Derrick Brooks
3.) Lee RoySelmon
4.) Rhonde Barber
5.) Doug Williams
In that order!!!
April 16th, 2014 at 6:51 pm
1-Lee Roy Selmon
2-Derrick Brooks
3-Ronde Barber
4-Warren Sapp
5-Doug Williams
April 16th, 2014 at 6:56 pm
Honorable Mention: Mike Alstott
April 16th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Man. The Culverhouse years.
April 16th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
1. Derrick Brooks
2. Warren Sapp
3. Lee Roy Selmon
4. Ronde Barber
5. Paul Gruber
Williams did not play for bucs long enough in my opinion.
Gruber was the only NFL caliber player on the team some years that he was in Tampa. Yes I am exaggerating so relax. Gruber would have gotten so much more credit if he did not play on the Yuccaneers.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:13 pm
1. Derrick Brooks (no brainer)
2. Lee Roy Selmon
3. Warren Sapp (could easily swap Selmon and Sapp)
4. Ronde Barber (please people, there is no freaking “H” in Ronde!!!!!!!!!!!)
5. Doug Williams (but there’s a HUGE gap between #4 and whoever is #5)
April 16th, 2014 at 7:13 pm
55
63
99
20
97
April 16th, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Doug Williams sucked.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:16 pm
DI
Love Mike Alstott, if it was a popularity contest he sure would make the list. Not sure he is in the top 10 of greatest players in team history though. love the guy on and off the field so no need for anyone to lecture me. it’s an opinion. not set in stone facts.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:19 pm
“Doug Williams, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”
And yes….the other one was our beloved Shaun King!!!
I was there at the Sombrero in 1979 for the NFC Championship game against the LA Rams….we lost in the rain 9-0…..
Tampa has done better with our team than LA!!!
April 16th, 2014 at 7:21 pm
Next five
88
47
40
28
14 (yeah I know but the man never gets any credit)
Much as I love Doug Williams I think we had at least 15 – 20 better players.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:27 pm
You guys’ omissions of Lynch and/or Wilder really makes me question if you’ve ever watched Buc football.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:32 pm
Not even a mention of James Wilder guys? Tough for me to keep him of this list.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:37 pm
I really thought about Simeon, but I think I was thinking more along the line of players drafted by the Bucs. But can’t argue with him being at #5. I did actually forget about Wilder too. I’d probably put him above Doug. I’d probably still put Doug over Lynch. But Doug Williams did not suck. That’s an ignorant statement.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:42 pm
Williams would have been a Buc for life if Culverhouse had treated him fairly. Instead he had to win a Superbowl for the Redskins in great fashion. I would have put him on the ring of honor instead of our only average first coach. I would say 1. Sapp, 2. Selmon, 3. Brooks,
4. Barber, and 5. Williams. Culverhouse was so chincy he ran off Bo after picking him up first in the draft. And I also loved the play of Alstott as well.
April 16th, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Well from the old days
Doug Williams – did not suck
Richard Batman Wood
Leeroy Selmon
Jimmie Giles
James Wilder
Marc Cotney
Dewey Selmon
The later years:
Sapp
Brooks
Alstott
Barber
Hardy Nickerson
Lynch
April 16th, 2014 at 8:09 pm
Well since I’ve only been a fan since 87 I don’t have to go back past that year, because I have nothing to go on.
1. Sapp (finally a trash talking Buc that could back it up on the field)
2. Brooks ( FSU baby!)
3. Ronde (Picking off McNabb for the dagger in the NFC Champ game is a play that makes me cry like a lil girl every time I watch it.)
4.The A-Train ( a guy that unselfishly stands outside RJS and signs for fans for hours even when they lose is King Buc in my mind)
5. Lynch (ferocious hitter and a very strong leader of one of the best defenses in NFL history.)
I really did want to include Shaun King in there for TBBF, I tried and it I was close for about a mili-second.
April 16th, 2014 at 8:12 pm
LeeRoy
Wilder
Nickerson
Sapp& Brooks
Brooks & Sapp
April 16th, 2014 at 8:17 pm
Nickerson and Dunn…are my honorable mentions.
April 16th, 2014 at 8:23 pm
Nickerson was THE man standing on the corner…controling the corner…and every other corner….that ANCHORED the transition from 1979……to the Super Bowl…..without his singular effort……nothing of what followed would have happened
April 16th, 2014 at 8:26 pm
yeah…and he’ll never make any list..but Lawrence Dawsey…was an old school BALLER…cut down and early with a knee
April 16th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
rastamon
good point. both Sapp and Nickerson have consistently credited Nickerson for aiding in their development. I’d put him 6 on my list. he could easily be argued to be 4 or 5 also. Nickerson might be the only player with balls and credentials enough to put sapp in his place. bucs were lucky to have such a monster help mold the 2 greatest players in bucs history in my opinion. 55 and 99
April 16th, 2014 at 8:35 pm
^^^^ sapp and brooks… my bad
April 16th, 2014 at 8:39 pm
perhaps Joe could next off season….post real stories about Buccaneer player history….there where so many GREAT individual BUC players trapped in NFL pre free agency…..so many great players !
Dave Pear
the 79 roster
tell about Hugh Green
so many interesting real stories about real history…..rather than teaser titles about nothing and the same thing which can be found on all the other bookmarked sites we all go to…….
April 16th, 2014 at 8:40 pm
I am changing my list,
1.) Warren Sapp
2.) Derrick Brooks
3.) Lee RoySelmon
4.) Rhonde Barber
5.) Jon Gruden ( without him no trophy!!!)
April 16th, 2014 at 8:47 pm
@Hawaiian Buc …. In case you missed it Realist put the “h” in there for you.
Am I being a tattle tale? Yep.
April 16th, 2014 at 8:52 pm
realist…
nice… stirring the pot with chucky. you are consistent. maybe I am mistaken but I thought it was a players list. you are correct though no chucky no bowl
April 16th, 2014 at 9:00 pm
I loved Doug Williams until he became a bitter person that continued to Grambling, coming back to the Bucs in an executive role. While I can’t stress the importance of him to the Bucs, he was only here for 5 years. Better players played longer for us. Funny that the Redskins hired him after he complained of Bruce Allen giving him no role in the Bucs decisions.
April 16th, 2014 at 9:06 pm
Mike Washington…nearly 100 punts without fair catch….consider…Bucs punted more than the reieved punts
April 16th, 2014 at 9:30 pm
Anders Lindback is a soft goaltender. Put in kid from Latvia. That is all.
April 16th, 2014 at 9:46 pm
Eric – 88 as in Mark Carrier? I’m hoping you didn’t mean Hi-C – LOL. Funny no one is mentioning Keyshawn. No way a top-5 guy, but some mention for what he brought to make a SB-winning team. Perennial All-Pros on another team/bigger market: Gruber & Wilder.
April 16th, 2014 at 9:52 pm
owlycat-
Bo said he knew O-lines and ours was the worst. He made it public not to draft him, but since he was from Alabama(Auburn), we took him. The big snozz(Culverhouse) couldn’t resist after losing Williams because he offered land on Dale Mabry instead of cash and the backlash shortly thereafter.
April 16th, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Wait. Doug Williams gets it because of 15 losing years after he left?
Truth is no QB in the history of the Bucs deserves to be on the list.
Wilder was good, but he didn’t last.
1. Selmon
Have to put him there. Even retired he brought recognition to the Bucs. And he set an example for everyone to live by.
2. Tony Dungy
After 22 losing seasons straight, Tony was responsible for breaking the worse streak in Bucs history. Not only that, he earned the respect of the league and by extension the Bucs became respected.
3. Warren Sapp
Perhaps the most magnetic personality for the Bucs of all time. I’m not just talking about his performance on the field…but also on the sidelines, where he mocked the fans of opposing teams (I once saw him stand on a bench and point at his…privates…to mock them).
4. Barber
As the last playing member of the greatest generation in the history of the Bucs, he also set records for his position in sacks and picks. Seeing him retire was one of the hardest things I’ve experience because he was the last. His performance in the Superbowl was great. Also, he stayed with the team.
5. Jon Gruden
Limiting the list to 5 is hard. But you have to put the coach who won us our first (and only) superbowl. He made the difference that year, and even though he tore the team to pieces over the next few years and became a hated personality by some, he should be on the list.
6-9
Brooks
Lynch
Alstott
Wilder
April 16th, 2014 at 10:20 pm
1. Brooks
2. Selmon
3. Sapp
4. Barber
5. A-Train
April 16th, 2014 at 10:39 pm
To please the whiners lets put…..Michael Bennett on the list..
April 16th, 2014 at 10:45 pm
I meant jimmy Giles 88.
I did forget about Wilder. He should be in top ten for sure.
Sadly, no superstar offensive players are really on this list.
After 40 years!
April 16th, 2014 at 11:07 pm
Actually from what I’ve read on here the top five should be
1. Mike Glennon
2. Mike Williams
3. Penn
4. Zuttah
5. Revis
April 16th, 2014 at 11:16 pm
Eric – they have finally educated you with unbiased opinions and creative mathematics. Your are one of them now. LOL I’d move Zuttah up one spot other than that your dead on. Nice list
Johnny @ 7
April 16th, 2014 at 11:16 pm
Rip Van Freeman had better stats than Williams.
April 17th, 2014 at 12:30 am
Laugh all you want. My honorable mention is gramatica.
April 17th, 2014 at 12:44 am
Rasta- I couldn’t agree with you more about Hardy. I’ve always called called the new stadium ‘The house that hardy built’. Great list guys I still have had my Dave Pear and Hugh green jerseys and my home made badman wood pad, they are pretty small. The only plays that I think should be mentioned that I didn’t hear anyone list is Ricky Bell (I still hear the bell in my head) and Kevin House. They aren’t in the top 5 but should be in the conversation.
April 17th, 2014 at 12:53 am
Am I drunk or remembering correctly that D. Williams said he put some sort of voodoo curse on the Bucs?
Drunk Worst five list.
5. D. Williams voodoo curse.
4. J. Freeman’s alarm clock.
3. Broderick Thomas putting tape over his Bucco Bruce logo that last game. 1989?
2. MRSA
1.That Bert Emmanual replay reversal.
0. The Culverhouse’s flyin Bo Jackson into Tampa for a visit, ruining his collegiate baseball eligibilty, causing him to collapse to the ground in tears, vowing never to play for the Bucs, him informing the Bucs he’d never play for them, yet they draft him anyways.
-1. The first 20 million kickoff returns.
-2. The first five million cold weather games.
Which is why on the top Buc list….
1. Ronde Barber. For shutting up/shutting down the Vet in style and making the Drunk worst five list irrelevant. Go watch that replay on youtube and try not to smile.
2. Gene Deckerhoff because listening to that play just wouldn’t be the same without him.
April 17th, 2014 at 1:12 am
Raheem Morris
April 17th, 2014 at 1:21 am
Guess Joe has axed the latenight segments.
April 17th, 2014 at 1:46 am
Pete I Says:
April 16th, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Well from the old days
Doug Williams – did not suck
Richard Batman Wood
Leeroy Selmon
Jimmie Giles
James Wilder
Marc Cotney
Dewey Selmon
The later years:
Sapp
Brooks
Alstott
Barber
Hardy Nickerson
Lynch
THIS is a TRUE BUCCANEERS FAN
KUDOS man
April 17th, 2014 at 2:03 am
Our video provider is dragging arse. 🙁
April 17th, 2014 at 2:04 am
1.Derrick Brooks
2.Warren Sapp
3.Lee Roy Selmon
4.Ronde Barber
5. John Lynch
April 17th, 2014 at 2:15 am
LOL Eric
Tight work
April 17th, 2014 at 2:34 am
LOL Joe.
Other than your JF love that borders on homoism, I really love your love for the Bucs
April 17th, 2014 at 2:58 am
1. Sapp. He is the best to ever play his position and without him we do not have a ring.
2. Brooks. Along with Sapp turned this franchise into a contender.
3. Selmon. I’m too young to have enjoyed watching him play but I’ve been told it was something special.
4. Barber. I’ve never seen a corner, safety, linebacker, and sometimes our best defensive end, rolled into one person. Also made the best play in franchise history.
5. B Johnson. He is overlooked but I’ve got to get him some love. He was the only qb I’ve seen here capable of sustaining a drive regardless where it began. I don’t believe we have a ring without him.
Honorable mention to Simeon Rice. His addition turned the league’s best defense into a defense for the ages. He’d crack the top 5 if he had spent more time here.
April 17th, 2014 at 5:17 am
63
99
55
20
47
April 17th, 2014 at 5:52 am
1) Brooks
2) Barber
3) Sapp
4) Lynch
5) Simeon
April 17th, 2014 at 7:09 am
Doug shouldn’t be on the list. He didn’t stay long enough. But I will say that the 1979 playoff game against the Eagles was one of the top five games in Buccaneers history.
April 17th, 2014 at 7:20 am
1. Booker Reese
2. Keith McCants
3. Eric Curry
4. Charles McCrae
5. Trent Dilfer
April 17th, 2014 at 7:23 am
tank4Jameis,
Loved your Drunk Worst five list. That was a good chuckle. Shocking that Trent Dilfer couldn’t even make that list!
April 17th, 2014 at 7:35 am
Jack Thompson
Dexter Jackson
Alvin Harper
Anthony Davis
Mike Boryla
April 17th, 2014 at 7:43 am
Honorable shame
Rod Jones
The Goat
Gene Washington
Dexter Manley
Haynesworth on a boat
April 17th, 2014 at 10:09 am
I had to use some google-fu to remember this one….Bert Emanuel Replay Reversal
You are absolutely correct in this. That was just utter hardheadedness by the regime. That pick could have EASILY been traded to really help improve the team.
April 17th, 2014 at 11:01 am
1. Selmon
2. Brooks
3. Sapp
4. Doug Williams
5. Barber
April 17th, 2014 at 12:59 pm
Go ahead and check your numbers Joe, Doug Williams was waaay more productive in his time here than the lone season Shaun King was the starter, and his whole career for that matter.
April 17th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
I think worst 5 would be so much more fun:
Broderick Thomas
Alvin Harper
Kevin McCants
Eric Curry
Ray Perkins
April 18th, 2014 at 2:30 am
Thanks lightningbuc…can’t put Dilfer on my worst five because:
1. He was the first qb in my memorable lifetime to get the Bucs to the playoffs.
2. I remember in that 1999 NFC championship game, after the game was decided, some Rams player came over to the Bucs sideline and started talking smack, and only Dilfer (our demoted backup qb) came onto the field to shove him.
3. A woman my uncle was dating told me that Dilfer donated a million dollars to some sort of battered woman’s charity and insisted it remain anonymous. Sure, she could be lying but she named her nextborn child Trent.
On the flip side, there’s 99. Same uncle was standing five feet away when Sapp told an autograph seeker at Shepards on CLW Bch “I don’t script, bitch” To you or me, no big deal…but to say that to a 7 or 8 yr old child???
Eric…Raheem sure ended badly but one 10-6 season, albeit against a weak schedule?
As Jason says….Ray Perkins. 🙂