Bucs/NFL

Bucs chat

By TOM JONES
Published September 17, 2006

I did not realize that coach Gruden's practice of resting his offensive stars during the preseason was actually going to be a season long strategy. So far, so good.

Chris Slemkewicz, Tarpon Springs

Gruden did more damage to the team than Simms could ever do. I've never heard of a coach vilifying his own quarterback, especially the coach who won the world championship on the back of Tony Dungy. How shameful.

Mort and Shirley Gross, via e-mail

I would like to wish Brad Johnson a happy 38th birthday. Seeing how our coach loves veteran players, it is a wonder he never acquired Johnson, who just had a successful game on the road against a very good Washington defense. Wait a minute. Johnson was already here when Gruden arrived! And won a Super Bowl! Now I remember. Johnson was run out of town by Gruden in favor of our current quarterbacks.

Patrick McDaniel, via e-mail

In the Ravens game, I counted one Chris Simms pump fake. That pass amounted to approximately 25 percent of his day's total passing yardage. Pump fakes are so basic that they are taught in junior high school. Why isn't Gruden making sure this is getting done?

Glen Davies, Kelseyville, Calif.

What flavor of Kool-Aid is everyone around here drinking?

Granted, Chris Simms didn't play well last Sunday. But let's be honest: Simms isn't the sole reason, or even the main reason, we lost.

We ran ran the ball just 13 times, and one of those was by Simms. So that means Gruden called plays involving the QB turning around and handing off the ball 12 times the entire game. That's an average of three times a quarter. That's not going to win a football game at any level. Gruden is an intelligent coach and has called some smart games and has some great game plans, but Sunday wasn't one of them. I predict a long, fruitless season if we don't run the ball more than three times per quarter.

Geoff Moore, Gulfport

I noticed the issue of fans leaving early in the coverage of the Bucs game, but it's the only way we, the fans, have of voicing our collective displeasure at being skunked. After seeing Simms' throws being batted down on more than one occasion, and after watching a lumbering 60-yard run by the other team's overweight defensive lineman, I'm surprised any fan remained. I think that each and every Bucs' fan in the stadium should be refunded the price of their ticket when the team hands us a big, fat zero.

Fran Johnson, Tampa

Did you ever consider the fact that Chris Simms may not be physically or mentally tough enough to be a top NFL quarterback? It appears that way to me.

Edward Ferguson, Spring Hill

I have been looking at different quarterback's helmets. I have come to the conclusion that Chris Simms' helmet is too big for him and it covers his eyes too much. I don't think he can see well enough. The other quarterbacks all have their helmets up on the foreheads above the eyebrows.

Dolores Jordan, Clearwater

With it being an election year, I am quite certain local politicians will make a campaign issue out of the massacre at Ray Jay last Sunday. Somebody needs to stand up for the right of the fans and seek compensation of some sort. If Republicans have their way, season-ticket holders in the club seating would receive a tax rebate for their ticket. Democrats, on the other hand, would offer a free cheeseburger and Coke to the next game for those seated in the upper level.

Carlos Eisenbart, St. Petersburg

[Last modified September 17, 2006, 01:01:46]