Chucky’s Players
May 23rd, 2016
“It’s about time someone other than Joe gives me f’ing credit around here. Jiminy Christmas!“
You know the types. So does Joe. They’re the folks who worship at the altar of Father Dungy, thinking he won a Super Bowl with the Bucs and Chucky was nothing more than a figurehead with a foul vocabulary, if not a mirage.
(Sorry eye-RAH! Joe loves ‘ya, but Joe still cannot believe you pushed Father Dungy into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though that had to have been a sales job of all sales jobs. Vince Lombardi, Paul Brown, Bill Walsh, Don Shula, Tom Landry, George Halas, Chuck Noll, Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells, Father Dungy. Guess which name doesn’t fit?)
So if you are reading this and like to spout the nonsense that Chucky “won with Dungy’s players,” Brad Johnson would like to have a word with you.
In the meantime, Johnson, the lone Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Bucs history, had a word with J.P. Peterson of WDAE-AM 620. Johnson went on the offensive in his defense of Chucky.
In short, Johnson has serious doubts the Bucs would have ever won a Super Bowl without Chucky. Johnson discussed his decision to come to Tampa Bay, which turned out to be Father Dungy’s final season with the Bucs. Johnson was a free agent and turned down an offer from Baltimore.
“What they sold me on was Tampa had never won a Super Bowl before,” Johnson said. “‘[You] could be the first quarterback to have done it.’ I could go back to the state of Florida where I had been at Florida State [in college] and kind of put my mark on it. For me, that would be kind of neat.
“At the time when I went to Tampa, I didn’t think all the pieces were there. I did not. The defense was there, but as a whole, I thought we were close, but I didn’t think it was all there. That year we were 9-7, went to Philly and got beat in the first round. Gruden came in the next year.
“I don’t think [Chucky] ever got enough credit for all the players he brought in to pull off that piece. I think he brought in 14 or 15 players that people never give him credit for. It brought in a different juice.”
Johnson added that winning the Super Bowl with Chucky reinforced to him that joining Tampa Bay was “probably the best decision I ever made.”
Johnson is absolutely right. Here are just some of the offensive free agents Chucky signed that had major impact on the Super Bowl season: Keenan McCardell, Michael Pittman, Joe Jurevicius, Ken Dilger, Roman Oben, Kerry Jenkins, Tom Tupa and Rickey Dudley.
Won with Father Dungy’s players, eh?
In a cool moment during the interview, Johnson said he has two sons that look to be fairly decent football players. His oldest, Jake, is a high school junior and has been invited to various college football programs’ recruiting festivals like junior days. Johnson hoped his son and Derrick Brooks’ son, DeCalon, a coveted linebacker recruit, could both play together.
Jake Johnson has an offer from Miami, though the fact Mark Richt is his uncle might have something to do with that (Brad Johnson married Richt’s sister).
Johnson admitted he and Chucky remain tight. Often, Johnson sends videos of his sons’ football games to Chucky to get feedback on what his sons need to work on.
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:01 am
Gruene won with his team. That offense was all his. The defense being called dungy’s is also in question to me. That was Kiffin defense!
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:03 am
“(Sorry eye-RAH! Joe loves ‘ya, but Joe still cannot believe you pushed Father Dungy into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though that had to have been a sales job of all sales jobs. Vince Lombardi, Paul Brown, Bill Walsh, Don Shula, Tom Landry, George Halas, Chuck Noll, Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells, Father Dungy. Guess which name doesn’t fit?)”
U Sleeping on Tom Flores Joe.
Tom Flores
Games over .500: 10
Super Bowl Wins: 2
Overall Championships: 2
Conference Championships: 2
Division Championships: 3
Besides Mike Ditka, he is the only person in National Football League history to win a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach (Super Bowl IV as a player for the Chiefs, Super Bowl XI as an assistant coach of the Raiders, and Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII as head coach of the Raiders). Flores was also the first Hispanic starting quarterback and the first minority head coach in professional football history to win a Super Bowl.
*Note: Those last couple years in Seattle (1992-1995) tainted a stellar career.
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:20 am
Jon Gruden is the best coach the Bucs have ever had and should of never been fired. I’m so happy I got to see the Bucs win a Super Bowl. Now with Jameis I have hope I will get to see them win another one.
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:36 am
Just to name a few
Running Back
2002 – (RB) Michael Pittman
Receivers
2002 – (WR) Keenan McCardell
2002 – (WR) Joe Jurevicius
2002 – (TE) Ken Dilger
2002 – (TE) Rickey Dudley
Offensive Lineman
2002 – (OT) Roman Oben
2002 – (OG) Jason Whittle
2002 – (C) John Wade
2002 – (OG) Kerry Jenkins
2002 – (OG) Cornell Green
2002 – (OT) Lomas Brown
Defensive Lineman
2002 – (LDE) Greg Spires
Punter
Tom Tupa
Opinions & Facts two different things
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:38 am
Linebacker (UDFA)
Ryan Nece
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:39 am
Coach Gruden is the best Football coach the Bucs have ever had!!!
The same people that think that Coach Gruden won with dungy’s players are the same that want John Lynch and Rhonde Barber Barber (will be in HoF) in the Hall of Fame. That means 1 Hof Coach and 4 Hof on the team… and nothing to show for it!!!! They were all on the field for 5 years!!! That is the biggest underachieving team in NFL History!!!!
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:42 am
How do you get Dungy being elected to the hof with being a slight towards Gruden Joe? Dungy made it on his on merits. He turned our franchise around being a first time head coach, and was the first black H.C. to win a superbowl. Be happy, and proud Dungy made the hall, he’s one of us!
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:57 am
“…he brought in 14 or 15 players that people never give him credit for. It brought in a different juice.”
Prideful, competitive, have to win players. This made me think. These are the “tudes” Licht is bringing to our Bucs, like Jameis, Kwon, Hargraves…? Lets hope so. It takes “tude” to win, IMO, not just talent (example – GMC, and I love him).
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:59 am
I don’t understand why Buc fans would be mad at the fact that the HC who turned this franchise around from being the “YUCS” and the laughing stock of the league to a playoff contender and having one of the greatest draft classes of all time. With out Dungy there would be no fantastic 4 in Sapp, Lynch, Brooks, & Barber. And most importantly no super bowl. Like HODAD said be happy for him, he’s one of us.
Yes Dungy started the whole thing but Gruden was brought in to put them over the top. It was evident that Dungy’s lack of offense he was not gonna get out of the 1st rnd of the playoffs and couldn’t beat Philly chicken hawks. He just didn’t have enough fire power to do so. Chuck came in and put the finishing touches on a team that had one of the greatest defenses of all time but a very poor offense. Chucky deserves way more credit than what he gets around here. Arguably the greatest Bucs coach of all time. It’s a toss up between him and Dungy imo.
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:02 am
Agree with the realist, we should have had 2 or 3 SB’s. Don’t get me started on the OC’s we had during Dungy’s reign…..sheeesh!!
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:04 am
@Hodad,
You can’t win that with the Buc stable of fans who have to pick a side versus being happy for a guy who helped shape this team, we all wish and think we should’ve won 5 Super Bowls with Dungy, I’m of the opinion, it was time for him to go if he didn’t do something with offense, but I am also of the opinion, the guy who turned the franchise around, who was the first African American to win a Super Bowl and opened the door for many, many more to become head coaches,in other words the HOF should have a place for those who did something in unchartered waters, I’m glad for Dungy, cause he was/is a Buc.
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:04 am
Harry
That’s why I’m hoping we sign
WR – Anquan Boldin
S – Donte Whitner
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:28 am
How Many Coaches start their tenure w/ 6 –1st round draft picks????
1996
• Regan Upshaw -1st round (12th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft.
• Marcus Jones – 1st round (22nd overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft.
1997
• Warrick Dunn – 1st round (12th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft.
• Reidel Anthony – 1st round (16th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft.
1998
• 1st round (13th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft.
• 1st round (27th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft.
We also signed him to an eight-year, $56 million contract ($13MM signing bonus)
Johnson gave the Buccaneers two 1,000-yard seasons in what was roughly a 3.5-year stint.
Note: That contract for Johnson – plus the lose of premium draft picks.
Would seriously hurt the organization for years to come.
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:30 am
*Correction
1998
• 1st round (13th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft.
• 1st round (27th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft.
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:36 am
@LuvmyBucs
How do you feel about Brad Johnson being the one that frooze out Key Johnson of the offense in 2003 that lead to Gruden stepping in between the them and ending up suspending Key Johnson!!!
#truth_shall_be_told!!!!!!!
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:40 am
The Buc Realist
If U had walked around SC’s campus at that time – and watched how this dude acted – U would shun him too#pamperedrprincess
Still one of the worst moves in Franchise history IMO.
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:46 am
DemBoyzFromDaBay727 – What draft class are you referring to?
Sapp and Brooks? Wyche drafted them.
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:48 am
You people wanna know something crazy the last quarterback to win us a Super Bowl played for Florida state and now we have a QB from Florida state ironic is it could Jameis do what Brad did we shall see?
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:49 am
@LucmyBucs
I agree with you!!! What locker room did Key get along in???? Problems with Jets, Bucs, and Dallas!!!!! Just want the truth out that Brad Johnson and Key were fighting and did not like each other and Gruden was the one that stepped in to end it!!!!!!!!!!!
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:51 am
Living in NC at the time. Gruden was was adding those players left and right. The writing was on the all for me. It only took me about 3 days to talk my wife into purchasing NFL Ticket. At the time it was like 400 bucks or so, we just had our first child and money was very tight.
My main selling point?
“The Bucs are going to the SB this season honey, just look at all the players Gruden is adding.”
We got the Ticket and I was right.
May 23rd, 2016 at 8:54 am
Oh and the Bucs are going to the SB in 2 years.
2017 kids. 2 years.
May 23rd, 2016 at 9:02 am
Luv…I think lots of factors contributed to this tail spin we’ve been in for the last 10 years.
They Key deal. Yeah that was a big factor. Couple that with what they gave up to get Gruden. Along with all those high priced defensive stars they were paying that some fans think we should have kept until the end of time. Sprinkle a few bad drafts on top and you’ve got a Crap Sunday (Sundae).
Yep all that did us in imo.
May 23rd, 2016 at 9:21 am
Buc1987
1998
When you factor in the fact we shelled out $130 million in contracts to lock up nine key players, (including defensive tackle Warren Sapp and fullback Mike Alstott)
Then you give Meeshawn the largest contract in NFL history (for his position).
1999
We only had $1MM in Cap Space (After signing draft picks). But we signed Rice.
2000.
We Blessed Rice with a large contract. Then over next 3 years we start cutting everybody. Donnie, Lynch…etc.
But its all Gru’s fault – yeah right
May 23rd, 2016 at 9:42 am
The legend of Dungy is far greater than his actual accomplishments.
Dungy is the only coach in the NFL hall of fame with a playoff record under .500
Jimmy Johnson, Tom Flores and Dan Reeves should have all been elected before the so called mr nice guy…
dungy was what the bucs needed to become relevant again but he failed and did not finish the job simple as that. he does not deserve the legendary status he gets for not getting the job done. nice guy but I personally have lost all respect for him over the Michael vick crap and the comments he made comparing mariota and winston. i get coach killer was his sons qb but he was uninformed when he made comments about winston. Dungy’s coaching tree is horrendous too… Herf failed twice, Lovie failed, Marinelli 0-16, jury is still out on caldwell and NO mike tomilin is NOT a Dungy guy he was only with tony 1 year no matter how you want to spin it Tomlin is not a dungy guy.
May 23rd, 2016 at 9:44 am
I also despise it when people cite Dungy’s skin color as a reason why he should be in the HOF.
I think it discredits any minority to praise someone’s accomplishments because of the color of their skin.
Just as I never judge anyone by the color of their skin.
Tiger Woods for instance. When he hit the scene everyone kept talking about how good he was…..and they always added his skin color into the conversation. If I was him I would have hated that the mentioned my race in the whole thing. Same with the William’s sisters.
First black man or woman to accomplish this or that. That to me is repugnant.
Who cares what the color of their skin is? Wow look what this guy or girl just accomplished. That should be the story, but sadly since they have a certain skin color that gets thrown into the mix.
I’m a true blue conservative. Somewhere along the way conservatism has been melded together with racism and I have no idea why. We’re some of the least racist people on the planet. We want all AMERICANS to thrive. Why? Because if all americans thrive it makes a stronger America.
Before someone takes this in the wrong direction and tries to pull something from what I just said in order to call me a closet racist I’m going to end this with this. I’m anti-gay marriage, but VERY pro-interracial marriage. The more interracial relationships, the better our country will be. Oh and have about 10 kids too. Keep doing it decade after decade and racism might slowly start to erode. Perhaps people will even stop saying first this or that to accomplish this feat or that as well.
@Joe…sorry for taking this direction, but fans are at the top mentioning Dungy’s skin color and that bothers me. I never even noticed his skin color. I just thought he was a pretty damned good coach.
May 23rd, 2016 at 9:52 am
tmax…oh and you’re right Dungy doesn’t belong in HOF. I believe sadly skin color did have something to do with it.
Love em like family, but no he doesn’t belong in the Hall, imo.
It’s just crazy that I had to stray away from my point and explain my beliefs in my last paragraph in order to not be labeled something. I hated having to go there, but I’ve ran a crossed many racist people in my life. Not all of them were GOP either.
I truly hope I didn’t steer this thread into some racial discussion, but it really DOES bother when someone measures someone’s accomplishments by the color of their skin.
May 23rd, 2016 at 10:26 am
Mike Tomlin was the first Black coach to win a SB.
May 23rd, 2016 at 10:53 am
Dungy was. Won his title two years before Tomlin.
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:00 am
Joe my comments consistently go over your head.
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:16 am
Dungy would never have won a SB with the Bucs or without Peyton Manning. Gruden would never have won one on his own. We needed both to get it done. Both men deserved to be fired. Dungy because he couldn’t get there, and Gruden because he couldn’t maintain or build on what he had. I believe Koetter is an upgrade over both of them. Time will tell, but he’s off to a great start.
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:20 am
I told this board last week on a thread similar that gruden had 23 new players. Not sure why people do not understand this. Even rob johnson won a game or two that year.
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:36 am
Keenan McCardell, Michael Pittman, Joe Jurevicius
——————–
Could not have won the SB without these 3 right here. Jurevicius was clutch in the POs.
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:45 am
To be honest it was Sam Wyche that drafted Lynch, Brooks and Sapp, and it was Wyche who was turning the Bucs around before he got fired after a 7-9 season. The Glazers fired Wyche and hired Dungy and when Dungy couldn’t win a Super Bowl, they fired him and hired Gruden and Gruden won a Super Bowl his first season. Then they fired Gruden after the 2008 season after starting the season 9-3 then losing their final 4 games and missing the playoffs. It’s not Glazers team they do the hiring and firing, they are about to fire Louis van Gaal after 2 seasons and a few days after winning the F/A Cup. Dirk Koetter know these facts, that’s why he brought in experienced players and coaches who have won in this league. The bottom line is, this is the Glazers team and they run it they way they want.
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:48 am
Gruden’s record with the Bucs from 2003 on was 45-51, with zero playoff victories. Who was the best player Gruden ever drafted for the Bucs? I don’t think he drafted and/or developed many good players, if any. I have great respect for those who feel differently, but when the Bucs fired Jon Gruden, i had no objections. //
Shortly after Gruden was fired, he sat directly behind me at a USF men’s basketball game. The opponent was Providence. USF lost that game. He complained the whole game: “You can’t beat Providence?” He seemed to be saying USF was a uniquely bad team, because they couldn’t beat an opponent he felt was inferior. I thought this was supreme irony. I kept my mouth shut, but thought of countless bottom feeder teams who humiliated Coach Gruden during the 45-51 part of his tenure.
I’ll give Gruden credit for doing a great job in 2002, and a pretty good job again in 2005. He was horrible in 2004 and 2006. he was mediocre in his other years.
Had Coach Dungy ever had a decent offensive co-ordinator, perhaps his results might have been different. Given Dungy’s contract status after Mike Shula was fired, it might have been difficult to attract one. Still, after Super Bowl XXXVII, it was difficult to complain about the decisions to fire Dungy and hire Gruden. But in the following years, Gruden may have become too complacent, or cocky, or perhaps he just lost his magic.
As I say, when Gruden was fired, I had no objections. But I have great respect for those who feel differently.
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:49 am
@correction- It’s the Glazers team instead of It’s not Glazers team.
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:53 am
but all this is Dungy/Gruden crap is a moot point. i agree with LUVMYBUCS: we need to sign Anquan Boldin!
May 23rd, 2016 at 12:45 pm
I have never noticed dungy’s skin color as well!!!! But that weird pencil mustache was VERY noticeable!!!! There might be a sombrero somewhere in that family tree!!!
The truth is If there is no Coach Gruden, then there is no Superbowl trophy in Tampa!!!! its as simple as that!!!!!!!!!
May 23rd, 2016 at 3:10 pm
It’s too bad that most of the people who spout that nonsense probably clicked right on by this story. It’s probably because they know what the FACTS are.
@tmax- I too feel as though Dungy’s “legend” outweighs his accomplishments. I’ll take flak for saying that, but the numbers don’t lie. You’d have to be an idiot to argue that he didn’t turn around a laughing-stock franchise. There is no arguing his importance in Buc lore.
That said, I’m glad that there are many of us here who recognize Gruden’s accomplishments sans the caveats.
Long live Chucky!
May 23rd, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Gruden was terrible for this team, he didn’t sign those players you mention, Rich McKay did. Gruden wanting to sign every 35+ year old washed up has been and McKay saying no is why McKay is now with the Falcons. Meanwhile what did Gruden do once he got full control of the team? He cut Lynch, didn’t resign Sapp and used that money to sign a bunch of 35 year old offensive linemen and 30+ year old Charlie Garner to a big contract when he was coming off an injury.
Sometimes I really wonder if Joe is even aware of the pre-Dungy era and why Dungy is so beloved. Perhaps instead of trolling Bucs fans Joe should spend some time learning the history of the team.
May 23rd, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Personally, I think it was a combination of both coaches. Just like when Dungy turned the team into a winner, Sam W. gets a little credit.
May 23rd, 2016 at 6:29 pm
As to Gruden, sure, he brought in some good players…with all the money he was spending, he had to hit on someone.
But then he proceeded to destroy the team completely after the first year. In fact…since people around here like to give GMs all the credit…one could argue that Rich McKay got us a superbowl, not Jon Gruden.
May 23rd, 2016 at 6:31 pm
If Gruden is so good, does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?
Nope. Not as a coach.
May 23rd, 2016 at 6:34 pm
LakeLandBuc Says
“To be honest it was Sam Wyche that drafted Lynch, Brooks and Sapp, and it was Wyche who was turning the Bucs around before he got fired after a 7-9 season.”
Wyche gets credit for drafting them…but it was Dungy who turned the team around. If Wyche was any good, why did he not get another NFL head coaching job?
Oh, and btw…around here, GMs get all the credit…not the coaches.
May 23rd, 2016 at 10:30 pm
Like him or not..Tony Dungy turned the Bucs franchise around. He got us to a state of NFL toughness we did not have before. Gruden came into a ready made situation and added the Offense. He already had the tough Defense. I personally think its harder to build that great Defense. But that’s just my opinion. Dungy was a good man. He went on to win a superbowl elsewhere. gruden came in at the right place, right time. As did Dungy in Indy. Question is..How long is it going to take us to get back to a superbowl?
May 23rd, 2016 at 11:37 pm
If Gruden didn’t come here he would’ve won a Super Bowl with the team he built in Oakland, the team we beat in the Super Bowl.
Gruden gets more of the credit for the players we brought in Super Bowl year. He recruited them and convinced them to come here. They signed budget contracts.
Tony Dungy changed the culture here, hats off to him. Couldn’t get it done though, he had to the above comments making excuses about his OC, he could’ve signed Norv Turner in 2001 but decided instead to promote Clyde Christianson. Terrible move.
May 24th, 2016 at 6:59 am
DemBoyzFromDaBay727 Says:
May 23rd, 2016 at 7:59 am
I don’t understand why Buc fans would be mad at the fact that the HC who turned this franchise around from being the “YUCS” and the laughing stock of the league to a playoff contender and having one of the greatest draft classes of all time. With out Dungy there would be no fantastic 4 in Sapp, Lynch, Brooks, & Barber. And most importantly no super bowl. Like HODAD said be happy for him, he’s one of us.
Yes Dungy started the whole thing but Gruden was brought in to put them over the top. It was evident that Dungy’s lack of offense he was not gonna get out of the 1st rnd of the playoffs and couldn’t beat Philly chicken hawks. He just didn’t have enough fire power to do so. Chuck came in and put the finishing touches on a team that had one of the greatest defenses of all time but a very poor offense. Chucky deserves way more credit than what he gets around here. Arguably the greatest Bucs coach of all time. It’s a toss up between him and Dungy imo.
*********************************************************************************
Spot On…..
May 24th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Guys, I read your post often but seldom comment, but want to remind you of something here. Tony Dungy wasn’t voted into the HOF because of his Tampa Bay accomplishments alone, or even for his historic SB win.. During his Colts coaching stint, Dungy became the only pro football coach to win 12 or more games ten years in a row. Nobody ever did that before, not even those other HOF coaches. His mostly mediocre post-season record notwithstanding. I think that it was that unprecedented level of regular season excellence over a respectable length of time that got him in the Hall. I also agree that Gruden doesn’t get enough credit for 2002. Dungy and Gruden are my favorite Bucs. HC for obvious reasons.