The “P Word” Appears In The Bucs’ Locker Room
December 17th, 2012
Freelance football writer Dory LeBlanc attended the Bucs-Saints game as a credentialed media member for Joe. Her quotes are used in this post.
Joe wonders whether Bucs players realize how much is at stake in these last two games. A good showing in both, with at least one win, should be enough to bring a night home game back to Tampa in 2013, which means a national showcase for the community and at least one locally televised home game.
But if the Bucs keep tanking, Joe’s confident TV executives will pass on the Bucs, like they did after the heinous 10-game losing streak of 2011.
There’s also the hope and pride legions of fans on the line, most who are/were really on board with the New Schiano Order. You can’t feed a fan base back-to-back collapses and not lose a load of people. Joe knows fans would reveal scant Bucs pride during what would be a torturous, long offseason if the Bucs lose out.
So Joe was encouraged to hear D.J. Ware insist his teammates care about the big picture and didn’t just give the it’s-on-to-the-Rams-season speech.
“These last two games are very important for us. We’ve got to go out there and show our next two opponents what we are all about. We’ve got a lot to prove and we are going to have to do that to finish the season strong. We have a lot of pride here in this locker room and now we have to prove it on the field,” Ware said.
Ronde Barber talked more about pride and responsibility.
“You don’t expect this to happen but it did,” Barber said. “But looking ahead we have two games left to play and every game we play is important. You sign up for 16 games every year and you have to play 16. And we are going to go out there and play hard because tomorrow is not promised to anyone.”
Joe really wants to see what the Bucs are made of these next two games. It’s scary, but literally, they can lose a majority of what was accomplished this season with continued poor play. Joe will join the ranks of the devastated if that happens.
December 17th, 2012 at 10:01 am
We know the defense isn’t going to win a game for the Bucs… So it’s up to Freeman and the offense
December 17th, 2012 at 10:07 am
I don’t wanna hear they’re words! They ALWAYS talk a big game but never PRODUCE! I wanna see results and starts with getting rid of the 6-5 pile of sh!t QB! Posh Creeman! And also eradicating this sterilized secondary from the premises of One Buc Place, so that never have to watch these abortions on Sundays ever again!
December 17th, 2012 at 10:12 am
keep losing so we can Draft: DT, Sheldon Richardson in the 1st Rd. (DeMarcus Milliner will be gone by our pick).
December 17th, 2012 at 10:30 am
Agree Joe, let’s see if these guys really have pride. Win on Sunday and show up in Atlanta, otherwise your Raheem II
December 17th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Sorry but the season is lost, and there is no taking it back. Year four of the re-build falls by the wayside.
Beating the Rams, or the Falcons back ups, changes nothing. Had a chance to step up when it meant something, didn’t do it.
December 17th, 2012 at 10:33 am
@Eric So right these next 2 games doesn’t mean a damn thing!
Freeman is trash and we must get rid of him and this cancerous secondary!
December 17th, 2012 at 10:41 am
The “P” Word=Predictable. As a comparison, at the end of the first quarter 3 or 4 different Saints had rushing yards. The Bucs had 1 player that touched the ball rushing. End of the first quarter the Saints had completed passes to 7 different receivers. The Bucs completed passes to 3. When other teams know basically who the targets are “P” Word is predictable. Defenses know Martin will be the rusher, they know the 2 or 3 targeted receivers and they know the decoys.
December 17th, 2012 at 11:01 am
I don’t get it, what’s the P word? Putrid?
December 17th, 2012 at 11:04 am
A quote from DJ Ware? He’s just happy to be on a roster!
Schiano running on 3rd and 8 at the end of the Eagles game was the beginning of the end.
December 17th, 2012 at 11:36 am
They’ll get a Thursday night game just like everybody else, but it’ll be a road game. Aside from that, all 1:00/4:05 games next year.
December 17th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
i live in St. Louis and hate the Rams with every fiber of my being, im always getting razed by Ram fans for being a Bucs fan, (like their team is any better). i would give just about anything for a Buc win this weekend. i cant wait til this crappy Lams team goes back to L.A. cuz it looks like it might be headed that way. i know were struggling right now but i still love this team and hope for an 8-8 season. love the Bucs!! BUC IT IM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 17th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
This team will lose the last two games and finish 6-10. I’ve washed my hands of “soul glow” ( thats Raheem’s nick name for Freeman, so don’t give me any racial crap ). I think he’s mentally weak and for as much size as he has, he doesn’t do much with it. I’m through with this regime ( Dummynik and the front office, it’s still too early to 86 Schiano ) However Sheridan has to go! Please lets go get Bill Pollian from ESPN to run this front office. Also PLEASE see if Monte Kiffin would want to come back to save our defense.
December 17th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
There’s another “P” word I can think of to describe some of the players on this team like our quarter back.
December 17th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Honestly damaging are draft status would hurt more than losing out. Just my opinion.