Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Gimme Five

TALK OF THE TOWN

Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio:

GEE, THANKS TONY: Just what you've come to expect with Tony Dungy on the sideline. Another offensive shootout. Really now, when did Dungy turn into Don Coryell? Do you know how many times the Bucs scored 35 or more points with Dungy at the helm? Four times in six seasons.

WHO ARE THESE GUYS: The Bucs were being beaten by attrition. By game's end, Brian Kelly, Keyshawn Johnson, Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman were gone. That doesn't include Joe Jurevicius and Shelton Quarles, who began on the sideline.

PEAK SEASON: A few weeks ago, Tampa Bay's offensive line was ridiculed for too many penalties and too few running lanes. Today, this line looks as strong as we've seen in years. Brad Johnson is getting ample time to throw and the running game is finally clicking. The line peaked late last season. Nice to have them show up a little earlier this time.

DUMB AND DUMBER: We thought we knew stupid penalties. We were wrong. Clinging to a lead in the final two minutes, Kenyatta Walker and Warren Sapp were both called for personal fouls. In between, Aaron Stecker was nailed for a holding penalty. Stecker's infraction cost the Bucs a potential game-clinching first down because it negated an Indianapolis holding penalty.

HE'S OVER THERE: On the one hand, it was an incredible Colts comeback. On the other hand, you have to wonder what took them so long. Tim Wansley replaced Brian Kelly at cornerback early in the game but the Colts did not appear to notice until the fourth quarter. Once they did, Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison continually victimized the overmatched Wansley on deep routes.

Five items left over from Tony Dungy's regime:

5: Phone numbers for Tyji Armstrong's bail bondsmen.

4: Both pages of Mike Shula's playbook.

3: Jerry Wunsch's career.

2: Bryan and Joel's honor roll certificates.

1: List of handy excuses. (Oops, that was Sam Wyche's.)

1: 90: Yards run by Colts returner Brad Pyatt to set up the first of three fourth-quarter touchdowns.

2: 106: Rushing yards for Michael Pittman. It was Pittman's first 100-yard rushing day for the Bucs in the regular season. Thomas Jones, Mike Alstott and Aaron Stecker can take a knee.

3: 1: The number of sacks by Tampa Bay defensive linemen not named Simeon Rice this season.

4: 3: Touchdowns allowed by the Bucs in the final five minutes of regulation. Tampa Bay had given up three touchdowns in the previous 250 or so minutes this season.

5: 1: Defensive touchdowns for the Bucs. At this point last season, they had three.

Checking out the best bets for Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston:

1. CHIEFS: What would it cost the Bucs to rent Dante Hall for a week?

2. BUCS: Would not have happened in Ray Perkins' homecoming. If, of course, he ever got another job.

3. VIKINGS: Any team that wins with Gus Frerotte has got to be good.

4. PANTHERS: Ron Zook would not have let Stephen Davis leave the 'Skins.

5. BRONCOS: Time for those Mike Shanahan-to-UF rumors again.

Nice to see Tony ... .leave.