The Lost Generation
June 5th, 2018
“Don’t worry boys. We’re Tennessee-ready.”
This is just sad. Sad that it is the ugly truth.
We all know it has been since January 2003 that the Bucs have won a playoff game. That’s 15 years ago folks. That is abysmal.
Just how awful? Well, Tampa Bay Times humorist Martin Fennelly wasn’t laying the humor on very thick when he rightly pointed out how the Bucs, more often than not, have been so bad, they have lost a generation of fans.
The reality is that only the Cleveland Browns have had a less recent playoff appearance than the Bucs, who last made the postseason in 2007. They have not won a playoff game since that night in San Diego early in 2003.
Think about the other teams in town. Since the Bucs last won a playoff game, the Lightning has won a Stanley Cup and made conference finals. Since the Bucs last made the playoffs, the Rays made a World Series out of nowhere and put together four playoff seasons. We just went through six weeks of Lightning fever. Now the Rays seem to be reinventing themselves in encouraging, entertaining ways. And then there are the Bucs.
Think about it: How many fans since the Bucs won the Super Bowl, graduated high school, spent a few years sowing their proverbial oats before getting married and already have started a family (likely with children of their own wearing Bucs gear) and still the Bucs haven’t won another playoff game?
That is sorry AF.
Well, this is what happens when you have a couple of dime store Bill Walshes who chase away Michael Bennett, Aqib Talib, LeGarrette Blount, Darrelle Revis and Donald Penn, to name a few. Just think, the ignoramuses who hatched those brilliant schemes were raking in millions of dollars a year of Team Glazer loot when Team Glazer could have walked into any one of hundreds of bars in the area, given a drunk $20 and gotten smarter advice.
And some folks wonder why Bucs fans were nearly unhinged by the godawful showing last year? Good grief.
June 5th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Glazer losers and low standard bucfan preferes the basement over talented players who refuse to lose quietly.
June 5th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
And yet we have cheerleaders of our current 22-42 GM. Yay for 0-4 playoff seasons and basement of the NFC South almost every year. Licht is a GENIUS LOL
June 5th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
It’s soooo hard being a Bucs fan. By the way the Bolts have made it to two cup finals and 5 conference finals since the Bucs last won a playoff game.
June 5th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Just shows you how bad a organization and owners Team Glazer really is. And now they have doubled-down and kept #KluelessKoetter for another year. Enjoy being losers again under this current coaching regime. How are the Bucs the worst ran organization not only in this city, but the entire state among ALL the professional teams NBA, NHL or NFL. This team is the worst bar none. Not even a debate that anyone else can dispute. Their record and coaching decisions prove it.
June 5th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
The hole coming on the other side of the SB was clear for all to see…2 picks for Kenyatta Walker…and several other miscalculations…..BUT…the mature roster that won the SB…with Cap Hell looming…and a massive void of draft picks paid forward for
Gruden and other smaller details came due…I must say…I didn’t think it would be this punitive….that said…the 2018 roster is very good…very good…
June 5th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
My memory is fuzzy, 79 to 97 without a playoff victory? We are very close to an all time drought for playoff victories
June 5th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Sadly, NFL owners are always guaranteed a pretty fat profit, thanks to fat TV money, etc.
Glazers have ManU……..that being said, you always have to wonder about the motivation, don’t you??
June 5th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Glad the rest of the world is catching on to Howards 15 year old warning:
“Watch out for Scheme Glazer, they don’t give a rats arse”
Distant, vapid, insipid, insulated. Almost flippantly condescending
June 5th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
it was a complete barn burn under dominick, after they fired gruden look at the losers brought in as head coach, raheem-lovie-schiano, then they fire dominick which was well deserved but the freeman meltdown among other things set this team back 5 years or so, i think jason licht has done a fine job with his drafting except his one pick of augyno, koetter has done fairly well as head coach, it was the defensive side of the ball that killed us last season, smith better step it up, or he maybe all will be gone and thence another gm coach scheme with no alliances to any of the players we have, so pick your poison well
June 5th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
“Well, this is what happens when you have a couple of dime store Bill Walshes who chase away Michael Bennett, Aqib Talib, LeGarrette Blount, Darrelle Revis and Donald Penn,”
Where is the reference that would include the “Rock Star” Mark Dominick……by calling them “dime store” Bill Walshes…..Joe references the coaches….not the GM.
The cover-up continues…
And, on a positive note….there are twelve “GREAT” NFL teams that have never won a SB…..our terrible Bucs have…..not to minimize the losses….but…
Bucs haven’t lost my generation because we are the loyal ones…..there from the beginning.
June 5th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Patience is the best virtue when rooting for the Bucs, if you last that long.
June 5th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
look on the bright side…….licht and dirk said, “WE’RE CLOSE”!!!!!!!
not sure what we’re close to but we’re close to something…..lol…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 5th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
When you traded Dungy for Gruden is when the ship began taking on water
June 5th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Remember the “knife wielding, mattress carrying, blah, blah, blah” when Joe mentioned Aqib Talib? We wonder why the Bucs let Aqib go? Maybe the media had a hand in it? <–you think? The same for Legarrette Blount. As for Revis, a million bucks a game for the crap he gave us. Yes, some talent was released but because they had legal baggage that interfered with team chemistry, or they (Penn) had a couple of average mediocre seasons and were asking for too much money. In Bennett's 4th season he had 9 sacks. Prior to that he had 1,2,and 4 sacks.
After Bennett's 9 sack season he was demanding a boatload of top money. So, he went to Seattle and in 5 seasons he had only one double digit sack season with 10 sacks. But, something to consider is that he did play along side of some of the leagues best defensive lineman in Seattle as well. Had he remained a Buc, we can't say with any certainty that he would've had the same numbers he put up in Seattle. I'm not condoning the release of some of these players but at the time it was understandable at the time.
June 5th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Couple more years it won’t matter anyway. I am sure the fans will be following a new team and new league that is not playing flag football.
June 5th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
some folks wonder why Bucs fans were nearly unhinged by the godawful showing last year?
No, the fans in the know wonder why Bucs fan were not unhinged when talk show dominik was destroying this franchise!!!!!! Why were joe and sheep not unhinged when loser lovie took this team to the lowest point and ran the Bucs into the ground!!!!!!!
Why did local media and the sheep praise talk show dominik and swear that this team was stacked?????? why did they want loser lovie for a third year and declared he was safe???????????
I have said repeatedly that NFL GM Licht has done a full rebuild after those losers!!!!!!! The ceiling for the Bucs is just starting to go up!!!!! We are finally are just seeing depth in positions!!!!!!!!
Its been so bad for so long, but now that it is turning the right direction the sheep don’t have the patients???????
Go America!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 5th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
You’re right, Realist. This season will be the turning point for sure. I like our chances.
June 5th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
no one cares about a GM and HC from 3,4,5 years ago……
you say the staff overachieved in 2016……so why didn’t they “overachieve” in 2017?……oh injuries….IRMA….SOS….HK…..all BS…..
2016 was a fluke and 2017 was proof…..now 2018 will be the truth….the truth about some of these players and the truth about all of the staff……
if dirk doesn’t make the playoffs with this roster he’ll be canned…..then he’ll be considered the worse HC in buc history….doing less with more talent than any other bucs HC gets him that title…..
#NOWHITEHOUSEVISIT!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!
#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
June 5th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
The only reason media can’t let go of the past is they need something to write about which is why there aren’t many of these types of stores around in a season. Basically the Panthers and falcon have always been In the playoff hunt but how long….Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are getting up there in age cam is cam but doesn’t have a team that can win a super bowl. New Orleans has a ring along with bounty gate
For those who were around for the dungy know exactly what it’s like to be the Panthers and the falcons coming up short of a Superbowl before gruden so how many would trade the ring for consistently making the playoffs but losing our underachieving for a franchisee quarterbacks entire career?
With this roster with this quarterback going into the 4th year I see it was bad hires, bad drafting and bad free agents. With where theteam is now I think at thevery least we are set up again to achieve what dingy, the Panthers and falcon have so far….competitive football and always in the playoff hunt.
At least we can say we went all in with the stars we had back then and got them a Superbowl….I see us and Panthers set up to dominate this division over the next 5 years, the team’s with theyoung quarterbacks
June 5th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
Realist-a-Damus strikes again!
It’s an organizational failure that starts at the top. We can blame Dom or Lovie or Raheem or Schiano, but the truth is that the mistake was made by the people who hired those guys. When you’re on the coach-every-other-year plan, it’s not the coaches. If your GM can’t figure THAT out then, who hired the GM?!
Sound football organizations don’t make half the mistakes we make.
June 5th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
” We can blame Dom or Lovie or Raheem or Schiano, but the truth is that the mistake was made by the people who hired those guys”….so superficial….who the F would come to coach a barren roster with no draft picks in the future….
June 5th, 2018 at 1:47 pm
Every single day on this site is littered with extremely negative takes on the Bucs. It’s a great mirror of society as a whole. We take things that should be pure entertainment escapes and twist them into depressive negative black holes.
Super fun stuff.
I’ve taken my kids to MANY games over the past seasons. The joy they get from all the people and noise and snacks is all I care about.
Why be miserable about something you have zero control over?
That is a recipe for sadness.
June 5th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
5 Years
• 2004-2008 | Bruce Allen – | 38-42 | W-L % = .475
• 2009-2013 | Mark Dominik – | 28-52 | W-L % = .350
4 Years
• 2014-2017 | Jason Licht – | 22-42 | W-L% = .344
Note 2018: A (9-7) season would give Jason Licht a five year –
–W-L % total of .387
June 5th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
Talk show dominik sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 5th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Well said Tony LA. I’m guilty of it as well. I guess that’s why fan is short for fanaticism!
Perspective!
June 5th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Bingo Tony. I’m with Bucsfanman that was well said!
June 5th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
fan shaming ..it’s a new phenomenon “NOT”
June 5th, 2018 at 2:14 pm
Howard just feels bad for all the good guys who’ve been tarnished by this formaldehyde factory fire.
June 5th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Joe this is the best take you have had on here in a long time. Honest truth is this isn’t going to change any time soon. Facts are facts. Same coach same qb same gm same bad outcome. True story.
June 5th, 2018 at 2:55 pm
Firing Gruden was the downfall.
I remember sitting in my office and the news came across on ESPN and I got that sick feeling in my gut that we were going down to the basement where we had resided pre-Dungy.
I said it then and Ill say it now. Idiotic mistake, and we’ve had horrific, not just bad, coaching ever since.
As dumb as it gets.
June 5th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
@LUVMYBUCS
Take any gm Any hall of fame gm. Any current or former gm of your choice and tell me how many wins they would have with raheem morris or schiano? Gruden and Allen destroyed the roster and no one was able to build it up until now. Even gruden as good a coach as he was could not overcome bad drafting.
June 5th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Pretty insane. We last won a meaningful game when I was in middle school.
Since then I’ve gone to HS/College and been working in finance for 8+ years in addition to getting married and watching my younger brother father a child that is already 3. My brother was a 3rd grader last time we won a playoff game lol.
June 5th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Well said Joe. Bravo! 👏👏👏
June 5th, 2018 at 4:05 pm
Bucs defines losing….. And I’m ok with it
June 5th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
The Rays are 12 games back and draw like 6,000 people a game as they tank the stadium deal in Tampa so they can move out of this area, not sure where the excitement is with them is. The Lightning outdrew the Rays in their best years in the Trop… as did the Tampa Bay Storm. When the Rays leave I think maybe 5 people will care, maybe 5, could be less.
June 5th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Right about the time they bought….. drum roll please…
Man U
June 5th, 2018 at 6:26 pm
There is one thing missing from both the Glazers and Mark Dominik that I do see in Licht. Common sense!!! Not in a mean way but sometimes formal education takes away from some of the simplest decisions in life. Basically meaning you overthink every situation. Glazers were completely overthinking the coaching change getting rid of Gruden and Dominic was overthinking ever draft pick instead of reaching and going for the player most likely to succeed. Glazer Sr. had little or no formal education but he had more common sense than most.
June 5th, 2018 at 7:33 pm
Common sense is not trading up in the 2nd round for a kicker. Being bad at your job is managing to use that 2nd on a kicker that lasts exactly one year and is the worst kicker in the NFL.
To the dumb dumbs that blame Dominik for Licht’s inability to draft a pass rush, coverage, RB or offensive line: Licht was 5-11 in his FOURTH year with the benefit of a top overall pick at QB in his 3rd year. There is no earthly way you can blame Dominik on that.
June 5th, 2018 at 7:50 pm
Tom,
Who is left from Dominiks time as GM?
That is the answer to your question! Licht has made mistakes but look at the offense…….That is ALL him! I will tell you this IS the best offense this team has EVER seen in the history of the franchise.
June 5th, 2018 at 8:03 pm
Tommy Boy,
Here is a list to compare to Dominicks:
Winston
Evans
Marpet
Kwon Alexander
Vea
Jones
Humphries
Brate
D. Smith
Cappa
Godwin
R. Smith
Spence
Oh crap don’t forget Howard
Jensen
Curry
Also JPP
Who am I forgetting? Yep Brian Auger best Punter maybe in NFL
New kicker as well
Yeah he compares to Dominick only in your fantasy!
June 5th, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Fennelly must be mad. Those are the longest sentences that I’ve ever seen him write. 9th grade English teachers everywhere are ecstatic!
June 5th, 2018 at 9:03 pm
It’s gonna be the same as it has been the last 15 years. Glazers made their money when they went all in on the super bowl run. They have been quiet for the most part over the years about the results of their team cause it starts with them. Second and sometimes third rate coaches won’t get you anywhere except drafting in the top 10 every year. None of us really know but It seems like when Mr. Malcom Glazers health declined and turned everything over to his boys so went this team…. Go all in boys or please sell our team
June 6th, 2018 at 5:42 am
Not sure why you say that Knoxville…. They spend close to the cap, licht’s been adamant he can spend what he wants. Not the Glazer’s fault now that he’s gun shy because he blew his first year of free agency. They’ve made many people the highest paid players at their positions in recent years. They’ve paid as many as 3 head coaches at a time because they want a winner. Spending isn’t the problem it’s their coaching hires that make you scratch your head. Stadium upgrades this past year too. Buying out tickets for a couple years so the fans could avoid blackouts. What more do you want? A personal check from them for being a fan??
June 6th, 2018 at 10:08 am
I’m not sure why you chose to put a picture of Lovie Smith and the Glazers up there. It should be Mark Dominick or Jason Licht.
June 6th, 2018 at 6:13 pm
Because Joe had it in for Lovie from day 1, that’s why there is a pic of Lovie with Team Glazer
June 6th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Well Bucnjim, the average career of an NFL player is 3.3 years. One of the reason why most of this team has been exorcised of Dominik’s players, is the very SIMPLE, but for you hard to understand fact that NFL players don’t have long careers as a 5 year career (the time from when Dominik was last running things to today)exceeds the average players career.
If you are going to crow about Brian Anger being the best punter in the NFL…I would ask you how much you actually follow the rest of the NFL. I would guess you don’t, so you aren’t aware that A. There are other Punters out there, 31 to be exact. B. None of the ones named to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro Teams were named “Brian Anger” C. The 4 Punters named to those teams were Johnny Hekker, Brett Kern, Dustin Colquitt and Pat McAfee. C. Anger had the 6th worst punting average in the NFL last year and the 8th worst net average. So other than your fandom of him and complete ignorance of the rest of the NFL I have no idea why you’d say that he’s the best in the NFL at punting.
So facts may escape you bucnjim, but they do exist. There are other teams, and 11 times those teams beat Lichts teams in 2017. 5 times Licht’s teams beat other teams. This was done with players as you appropriately point out were largely signed or drafted by LICHT, so stop blaming the other guy. The other guy didn’t build this roster, Licht did.