The Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years — No. 20
July 11th, 2014
All the Top-Whatever lists across the Internet got Joe thinking of the Buccaneers’ drought since their Super Bowl glory. And that got Joe motivated to rank the 20 worst Buccaneers of the past 10 years.
Immense thought went into this at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. There was even an all-night screaming session where a top intern was standing on a table yelling, “If Derrick Ward isn’t on this list, then I quit.” Joe had to get the poor kid a beer before Joe fired him for spilling it.
Primary consideration was given to expectations for a player combined with his on-field performance. Off-field behavior was a factor, and players were not punished for injuries.
No. 20 – Wide receiver Michael Clayton
The Great Lumpkin, running back Kregg Lumpkin, was in the running for this spot, as was Jordan Shipley, but blocking icon Michael Clayton lost out won out.
Clayton was a tough pick. His 2004 rookie season was spectacular, with 80 catches for 1,193 yards. But his subsequent seasons were so dreadful and so far below expectations that he couldn’t be ignored.
Yes, Joe has an intrinsic problem with receivers who can’t catch the football. Clayton became that guy.
Clayton owes his place on this list, in part, to former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, who decided to gift Clayton $10 million guaranteed before the 2009 season. That treated Bucs fans to Clayton’s 16-catch season in ’09, which concluded his Buccaneers career.
The Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years will run once or twice daily until No. 1 is revealed on Thursday, July 24.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:11 am
If Clayton is only #20 there must be more stinkers than I care to remember. Just got me speculating who are the top 5 plugs.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Hope Schiano is #1
July 11th, 2014 at 9:19 am
Guessing a couple more receivers makes this list, Alvin Harper has to be up in the rankings quite a bit.
List only goes back 10 years. –Joe
July 11th, 2014 at 9:19 am
@37
Exactly my thoughts…
July 11th, 2014 at 9:22 am
Was just thinking, you could easily make a top 20 worst Buc first round draft picks and possibly match this overall top 20 by 80-90%. That’s sad.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:24 am
err, first, second and third round picks
July 11th, 2014 at 9:28 am
Dominick claims the #1 spot, there is not even a close 2nd. You can go ahead and just do the rest of the count down from #19 to #2.
unless of course you consider ” the Glazer wallet” could be considered top 3. That is what started this 5 years of last places and disasters.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:33 am
Joe, are you going back to 1976 or only recent memory? If back to 1976 Clayton does not make the top 75!!!
July 11th, 2014 at 9:37 am
The Sabby watch starts.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:39 am
Bogiedr:
As stated in both the headline and lede paragraph, 10 years.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:44 am
Very creative Joe! I’m sure this had to take a lot of thought will look forward to reading these.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:49 am
This is a great idea Joe, there are so many deserving names and there will be even more snubs that should be on the list. I think I could have done a list of top 40 easy.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:52 am
Larry Fitzgerald he is not.
July 11th, 2014 at 9:55 am
R thanks Joe this is fun.tampaaaa
July 11th, 2014 at 9:56 am
I’m sure he won’t make the list because he was actually a part of a pretty good defense, but I’ve always thought Juran Bolden was turrible. Ruud makes my list too, because of the expectations. I gotta throw Gaines Adams in there, although he has an excuse. Sabby and Dexter #2 are no brainers. Ward. Pre-Schiano Quincy Black.
Was David Boston within 10 years? What a waste.
July 11th, 2014 at 10:08 am
Dexter Jackson wide receiver will be there. He was afraid to get hit!!????
July 11th, 2014 at 10:10 am
Kenyatta Walker, Eric Wright, Josh Freeman, Sabby Piscatelli would have to make it in my top 10 worst Bucs (in no particular order.)
While he wasn’t atrocious while he was actually playing, I think Kellen Winslow must make this list. Also, I know Charlie Garner got hurt, but I remember the hype about bringing him in, and he did absolutely nothing
Winslow was extremely productive. Bucs would be lucky to have the worst players be Winslow caliber. Again, as Joe stated, injuries will not punish a player.–Joe
July 11th, 2014 at 10:14 am
Albert Haynesworth incoming lol, Sabby #1 IMO
July 11th, 2014 at 10:15 am
Oooh jerramy stevens possibly
July 11th, 2014 at 10:21 am
Worse jersey decision I’ve ever made…
July 11th, 2014 at 10:21 am
Sorry – worst jersey decision I’ve ever made… Coffee hasn’t kicked in yet.
July 11th, 2014 at 10:22 am
I can’t stand the PC police, but I’ve gotta ask….why ya’ gotta hate?
No hate. Just a love of history and a little fun. –Joe
July 11th, 2014 at 10:31 am
Just about every player drafted between 2009-2011 should get at least an (dis)honorable mention on the list, with a few obvious exceptions. Benn seems like a lock to see his name on here.
July 11th, 2014 at 10:32 am
Might need more then 20 slots!
July 11th, 2014 at 10:33 am
Dexter jackson needs to be top 5. Second rd pick who was afraid of contact usually losing yards in the return game
July 11th, 2014 at 10:37 am
Maybe Trueblood too? Dude could always be counted on to give up a few 10 yard penalties every game. Certainly not worthy of his 2nd round selection
July 11th, 2014 at 10:38 am
Alright then Joe, if you say so….I’ll then jump in the mix…..even though Bo Jackson never suited up in a Bucs uniform, that pick messed us up for years!
July 11th, 2014 at 10:39 am
No love for Myron “the birdman” Lewis? Maybe Tim Wansley? Tanard?
July 11th, 2014 at 10:44 am
Kenyatta Walker was a starting tackle for a super bowl team for one of only good offenses we’ve ever had. I’ll forgive a few (dozen) false starts.
July 11th, 2014 at 10:47 am
I’m going to throw out an honorable mention for all the illiterate Bucs fans who keep choosing players from over 10 years ago.
July 11th, 2014 at 10:52 am
The ten-year limit is a drag. No Booker Reese, no Randy Hedberg. Remember Borrila’s Gorrillas? (Mike suffered a knee injury before playing in a single game; as an injured player he is not even a candidate for this stroll down heartbreak lane). Not even the tight end who ran to the head during a MacKay training camp and never returned.
Ah, the days we cheered for well formed huddles and for particularly smooth transitions running on to the playing field.
July 11th, 2014 at 10:53 am
Bawlmer
Bo Jackson? Yeah, you can thank Culverhouse for lying to Jackson for that one.
BTW he would not be on the “worst” list, if he ever suited and played for us.
July 11th, 2014 at 10:54 am
Joe
Make it easy on yourself and make it the top 20 worst players by position!
July 11th, 2014 at 10:58 am
Totally agree OAR….I have a bit of LeBron-like jiltedness still marinating from the 80’s thanks to Bo (and Culverhouse). Maybe I should let it go! 🙂
July 11th, 2014 at 11:01 am
luke stocker has to be on this list too.
July 11th, 2014 at 11:07 am
Shaun King missed this list by a year. He should consider himself lucky, know matter what he “led”.
July 11th, 2014 at 11:14 am
BTW, Jordan Shipley, if memory serves me correctly, played in one game and fumbled a punt return. Not very good, but hardly deserving of even being in the conversation of 20 worst considering the drivel we’ve been subjected to the last 10 years.
July 11th, 2014 at 11:15 am
That was much longer than 10 years ago.
July 11th, 2014 at 11:18 am
Derrick Ward has to be entrenched in this list.
Gaines Adams was a huge wasted pick.
As much as I hate the tandem of Hovan and Sims, the worst DLineman has to be the sackless Kyle Moore.
Tim Wansley has to beat out even Myron Lewis for title of “Worst CB” Wansley goes back too far for consideration.–Joe
Sabby is probably in there somewhere… I would think Sean Jones makes this list as well.
Who can forget kick returning dynamo and tough guy Dexter Jackson?
How can the Great Lumpkin not make it? I can’t think of many worse RBs.
Does Martin Grammatica and his magical 2003 season count?
Luke Petigout was terrible and proved as much when Donald Penn stepped in and our LT play went way up.
Trueblood has to be the worst OLine of the ten years though. Between being turnstyled and the stupid penalties, one had to wonder who he had naked pics of.
It’s hard to figure in who really was the worst though, so many of the duds Gruden drafted, didn’t even make the roster (Marquis Walker, Lance Nimmo, Austin King, Travis Stephens, Kevin Lockett “The Rocket”),
July 11th, 2014 at 11:33 am
Congratulations “Joe says” for having such impressive reading comprehension skills. Your mom must be proud.
July 11th, 2014 at 11:36 am
Lol forgot we had David Boston lol sabby was bad ran into a INT one game I remember lol Stevens was crap ward crap who was the sackless DE again?
July 11th, 2014 at 11:36 am
Now this is fun! There are going to be some names surfacing here that I think 99% of Bucs fans have drank to the back of their memory! I’m already twitching!!!
July 11th, 2014 at 11:40 am
Byron Leftwich was pretty bad! And I think Joe was a bit giddy for him to be a Buc!
July 11th, 2014 at 11:44 am
Byron Leftwich – who (Raheem Morris) (and Joe if I remember correctly) thought that signing and camp “competition” to start was a good idea???
I was booing him at a pre-season game hoping that my boos would be heard but nope…started 3 games, lost 3 games, then in comes Josh Johnson to lose 4 games. Heck Freeman could have done that!
July 11th, 2014 at 11:48 am
@ pete I
at least he played, remember angelo crowell LB from buffalo? he got the same contract as Bryon Leftsandwich and he never played!!!
July 11th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
10 years people. Geez. Read!!!
July 11th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Entirely too low. Unless there were Buccaneers that were setting fire to orphanages that I am unaware of…. Clayton was #1 in terms of performance and attitude.
July 11th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
This is insane! Clayton must be way higher than #20! HE IS TOP 5 FOR SURE!!!!
He was a 1st round pick, granted had a great first year, he was straight garbage every year after that, and got a big contract.
Due to his high profile as a 1st round pick and being a complete bust, I am eager to see who could possibly be the 19 worse Bucs than him.
July 11th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Dominik for the win (perhaps the least said phrase in Bucs history).
July 11th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Just off the top of my head I’m guessing these guys are in the list:
Freeman
Dre Moore
Kyle Moore
A Benn
Brian Price
Myron Lewis
Bowers
Gaines Adams (RIP)
Dexter Jackson
Sabby
Stocker
Arron Sears (not his fault, but still)
…and lots of free agent signings
July 11th, 2014 at 2:00 pm
Do front office and coaches get included in the list by the way?
July 11th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Bruce Allen ranks higher than Dominick. Bruce has screwed up more teams that Marlk
July 11th, 2014 at 2:14 pm
@sapp,stfu
Bruce Allen has been to the playoffs with every team he has been the GM on.
Dominick finished last in the division every year except for 1 year.
July 11th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
I can’t wait to see outrage when the list is completed an Barrett Ruud is not on the list. If you listened to some people a few years ago you’d be convinced he was the worst MLB in Bucs history.
July 11th, 2014 at 3:12 pm
@ D-Rome
Ruud? Nah, he wasn’t the worst. He just had the misfortune of being hyped more than he deserved, and for not making enough impact plays. He was average.
July 11th, 2014 at 3:15 pm
Before reading the comments….I was wondering if Tim Wansley would qualify…he doesnt as 2003 was his last year in organized football as Joe pointed out. No one epitomized the last decade of disarray and disappointment than that turd in the punchbowl, however. He was sleepy and leaky well before Freeman…
July 11th, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Jake Plummer
July 11th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
I dont see how Kenyatta Walker isn’t number 1 or at least in top 3. Guy was drafted 14th overall and has to be the unofficial record holder for most penalties by an offensive lineman. He still must wake up in middle of night in a cold sweat thinking of Julius Peppers lining up across from him.
July 11th, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Man this post brings back a lot of bad memories.
July 11th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
I’d put Revis at the top of the list. Got paid $16 mil and didn’t do Jack squat all season. Total waste of money and picks given up.
July 11th, 2014 at 7:42 pm
Lets not forget how awful Mike Nuggent was . What a bad free agent sigining that was .
July 11th, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Can we add Lindell? Dude cost the Bucs at least 2 or 3 games last season with his untimely chokes 🙁
July 11th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Jake Plummer takes the cake
July 11th, 2014 at 10:52 pm
Mike Evans=Mike Clayton 2.0
July 11th, 2014 at 10:53 pm
Mike Evans=Mike Clayton 2.0, Im just telling you before it happens
July 12th, 2014 at 12:03 am
I’m thinking leftwitch is somewhere near number 1
July 12th, 2014 at 7:29 am
The Little General #1
July 12th, 2014 at 9:34 am
Tim Wansley misses this list by 1 year.
July 12th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
kenyatta walker, a CB i forgot his name Gruden area, J Trueblood, Raiders Brown
July 12th, 2014 at 7:57 pm
puting evans and clayton in the same class is like puting Plex Burress and Hines Ward in the same class