Your Buccaneers’ All-Time Pro Bowl Team
January 27th, 2017
BY IRA KAUFMAN
After a three-year brain fart, the NFL has come to its senses and restored the Pro Bowl’s traditional AFC vs. NFC format.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to witness the spectacle of Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice trying to divvy up the rosters, but let’s not get carried away — this game still stinks.
In honor of Sunday night’s matchup at Camping World Stadium, here’s one man’s version of the all-time Buccaneer Pro Bowl squad.
The only position that posed a problem was safety. John Lynch, a compelling finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, was an easy choice, but he’s the only Tampa Bay safety to ever earn a Pro Bowl spot.
Instead, we’re going with three cornerbacks and one safety, so let’s get this party started. Years in parenthesis are the Pro Bowl seasons in a Tampa Bay uniform.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK: Jameis Winston is coming on strong, but I have to go with Brad Johnson (2002), who enjoyed a stellar year during the championship season. Johnson was a stud down the stretch run to a Vince Lombardi Trophy.
RUNNING BACKS: Mike Alstott churned out six consecutive Pro Bowl berths (1997-02) and finished with a franchise-record 71 touchdowns. At the other spot, all-time rushing leader James Wilder (1984) narrowly beats out Warrick Dunn.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Mike Evans (2016) already looks like the best WR in Buc history, and he’s chilling with his fellow stars in Orlando this week. Mark Carrier (1989), first in career receiving yards and No. 2 in career catches, edges Keyshawn Johnson at the other spot.
TIGHT END: No mystery here, as four-time Pro Bowler Jimmie Giles (1980-82, 1985) is a member of the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.
TACKLES: Donald Penn (2010) proved to be a durable left tackle in Tampa before starring for the Raiders. It’s a shame that Ring of Honor recipient Paul Gruber never played in a Pro Bowl, but he was an alternate in 1997.
GUARDS: Davin Joseph (2008, 2011) was a solid interior lineman who proved to be a savvy first-round draft pick. Former New England stalwart Logan Mankins (2015) earned his seventh Pro Bowl spot in his final year before announcing his retirement.
CENTER: As the Bucs were emerging as an NFL power, Tony Mayberry reeled off three consecutive Pro Bowl berths (1997-99).
DEFENSE
ENDS: Starting in 1979, Tampa Bay’s breakthrough season under coach John McKay, Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon made the Pro Bowl six consecutive years before a back injury forced his retirement. Simeon Rice (2002-03) was a dynamic force off the right edge and he deserves more respect as a Hall of Fame candidate.
TACKLES: Warren Sapp (1997-2003) was a two-time All-Decade player who earned a Hall of Fame bust in his first year of eligibility. After two injury-marred years, Gerald McCoy has been a Pro Bowler for each of the past five seasons.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: Derrick Brooks (1997-2006, 2008) needs no explanation. Lavonte David broke through to earn his first Pro Bowl berth in 2015 and he finished this season strong.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER: One of the best free-agent signings in Buc history, Hardy Nickerson (1993, 1996-99) helped forge the culture change that occurred under Tony Dungy’s reign as head coach.
CORNERBACKS: Ronde Barber (2001, 2004-06, 2008) will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2018 and his 47 career interceptions easily top the franchise chart. Donnie Abraham (2000) ranks second with 31, while Wayne Haddix picked off seven passes during his 1990 Pro Bowl season, returning three for touchdowns.
SAFETY: John Lynch (1997, 1999-02) could join teammates Sapp and Brooks in the Hall on Feb. 4. He moved on to Denver in 2004 and made the Pro Bowl in each of his final four seasons.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER: Martin Gramatica (2000) is the franchise’s career scoring leader with 592 points.
PUNTER: Josh Bidwell (2005) placed 124 of 419 punts inside the 20 and averaged 44.0 yards during his six seasons in Tampa.
RETURNER: Clifton Smith enjoyed a Pro Bowl season in 2008, scoring twice while averaging 27.6 yards per kickoff return and 14.1 yards per punt return.
LONG SNAPPER: Dave Moore, now an analyst on Buc radio broadcasts, was one of Tampa Bay’s few bright spots in a dismal 2006 season
January 27th, 2017 at 8:12 am
“QUARTERBACK: Jameis Winston is coming on strong, but I have to go with Brad Johnson…”
Ira, you are so “old school”. Love this choice. Jameis has plenty of time to get his… and he certainly will!
January 27th, 2017 at 8:14 am
@eye-RAH Kaufman
How hard is it to keep focus and present John Lynch for the umpteenth time, when You have the Borderline First Ballot Hall of Famer Rhonde Barber coming up!!!!!
Or do you already have your important presentation ready for next year where all you have to say is “Rhonde Barber” and then you open the dictionary to the page where it says “CLUTCH” underlined and you just throw the book on the floor and walk off as they all vote him in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
January 27th, 2017 at 9:26 am
Haddix…LOL
January 27th, 2017 at 9:54 am
Lavonte David, is that a joke. What has he done, he’s not even part of an excellent defense?! What about Shelton Quarles, James “Batman” Woods, Scott Brantley?
January 27th, 2017 at 9:55 am
Alstott and Dunn….Great memories eh?
Figure a way to draft both Dalvin and Foreman and it’s deja vu all over again.
January 27th, 2017 at 10:05 am
Doug Williams 1st team, wilder & ricky bell and 100% lose lavonte, he is not in top 5….booger would give 93 a run too
January 27th, 2017 at 10:05 am
I would have put Hugh Green in instead of David for the No. 2 OLB based on what we have seen from David so far.
No Free safety mention? What about Dexter Jackson! Super Bowl MVP?
James Wilder holds an NFL Record that will probably never be broken (touches in a season (492 touches – 407 carries and 85 catches!). He better be on this list and ahead of Alstott!
Gruber is one Buc OL who will never get in the HOF, but probably would have if he didn’t spend most of his career with the Yucs instead of the Bucs.
January 27th, 2017 at 10:09 am
Ah, I see why Jackson did not get mentioned, but his Super Bowl MVP should have got him in here anyway.
January 27th, 2017 at 10:10 am
Ya’ll keep sleeping on LVD his play the last few games was extraordinary. Look for a major breakout next year.
January 27th, 2017 at 10:15 am
Hugh Green was a two-time, first team All Pro for the .Bucs (vs. only one for David). Plus he played in more Pro Bowls for the Bucs (before he left the team for Miami)”
Why no love for Green, Ira?
January 27th, 2017 at 10:16 am
Love it, Ira
January 27th, 2017 at 10:32 am
Hugh Green spot on, broderick thomas was better than LVD so far too
January 27th, 2017 at 10:34 am
Haddix over Brian Kelly????
Other than that, these were pretty easy choices.
Except I’d take today’s Jameis over Brad Johnson at any point in his career all day long. Yea Brad had a nice little run there to end the 2002 season and take us to the promised land – but Brad was hardly a “playmaker”.
January 27th, 2017 at 11:07 am
One player IRA praised…Brad Johnson is IMHO a very underrated QB.
His arm strength was not all that…he was a statue in the pocket…he was not the flavor of the moment at any time in his career.
But Brad was just an incredibly smart and dedicated athlete. He protected the ball…was the consummate game manager. For some reason “game manager” seems to be an insult these days. Not for me. Brad won a SB…just as Trent did with the Ravens. Brad never excited me except when it comes to W’s and L’s.
Now imagine #3…much more talent than Brad…but he also has Brads desire and football smarts…I think this is the year #3 explodes AFTER he learns the value of being a good “game manager”. The QB does not have to WIN every game…but he can’t afford to lose any of them. When #3 learns to improve choices and protect the ball…he improved this year and will be better next…he’ll be GREAT!
January 27th, 2017 at 11:08 am
LMAO…Pickgrin…we usually agree but when my post gets out of moderation you’ll see why I support IRA’s pick even though I totally agree with you that Brad was not the playmaker #3 already is. When #3 learns to manage a game and protect the ball the sky will be the limit.
January 27th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Who would want Brad “Checkdown” Johnson leading such an awesome team. I’ll take Jameis with these kind of weapons.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Stopped reading after Brad Johnson smh
January 27th, 2017 at 8:15 pm
SPBF – Brad Johnson was smart and tough and he got the job done. But he had more in common with Glennon than he does with Jameis Winston.
Put Brad Johnson on the 2016 Buccaneers team and we probably win 6-7 games including a 1 or 2 that Jameis lost due to interceptions.
Now reverse that and put Jameis Winston with the ’99-’02 Buccaneer defense and we would have likely played in 3 Super Bowls instead of just 1.
(yes, of course I’m aware that Shaun King was the QB in ’99 – but if JW had been our QB in ’99 we would have likely beaten the so called “greatest show on turf” by a couple TDs in the Championship game ).
January 27th, 2017 at 9:01 pm
Pickgin
Very good arguments! I hadn’t looked at it that way.
January 28th, 2017 at 7:03 am
What Dante Wesley did to Clifton Smith was criminal. Smith was never the same after that concussion. Bucs have never had another return threat like him, how great would it be to have his talents now?
Never forget… #stinkinpanthers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3DjQ3CYycI