BucShotz

Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at Sunday's Bucs-Panthers game.

By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer
Published December 31, 2007

Worst analysis: Fox announcers Ron Pitts and Tony Boselli kept insisting to take things that happened Sunday as a preview to what can happen with the Bucs next week against the Giants. At one point, Boselli mentioned that the Giants had to like what they were seeing with the pressure the Panthers were getting on quarterback Luke McCown. It was all nonsense because the Bucs were without their starting quarterback, their best running back and receiver, plus two-fifths of the offensive line was missing when Aaron Sears went out.

[Brian Cassella | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT Bucs coverage Audio: Instant analysis with Gary Shelton In-game blog: Stephen F. Holder's take An uneasy rest Shelton: Once again, Gruden can feel the heat Garcia chosen as Bucs MVP Sears leaves with ankle injury, status unclear TD caps record march Scouting Giants, Bucs impressed Romano: Gimme 5 After 21 years, Vinny takes final snap Five plays worth another look Quotebook Bucs' 2008 opponents Bucs - Giants tale of the tape Playoffs: Who is going to win? [Brian Cassella | Times] Dumbest penalty: Come on, what was Derrick Brooks doing? Simple little chip-shot field goal for the Panthers and he gets called for holding? The penalty meant the Panthers wiped the three points off the board and picked up seven on a touchdown. By the way, on the next play, did anyone else notice that the was fumbled?

Worst sight

The one thing - the only thing - the Bucs really hoped to accomplish Sunday was to get through the game healthy. They couldn't rest everybody, so they simply crossed their fingers on the starters who had to play. That's why it was so disheartening to see guard Arron Sears limping off the field less than three minutes into the game. Outside of quarterback, the only place you don't want to see an injury is on the offensive line, especially with this team.

Worst commercial (still)

Those Budweiser "dude" commercials are slightly better with Fox announcer Joe Buck in them. Slightly. Instead of being excruciatingly annoying, they are now just regular old annoying.

Biggest lie

Bucs coach Jon Gruden, according to Fox announcer Ron Pitts, says he spent all the preparation time last week thinking about the Panthers and not a minute about the Giants. "I'm not sure I believe that," Pitts said.

I am sure I don't believe it. Neither did Fox studio analyst Jimmy Johnson, who went as far as to guess the Bucs spent all last week preparing only for the Giants.

Best-case scenario

If the Giants had beaten the Patriots on Saturday night, it might have spelled real trouble for the Bucs. The momentum of that win easily could've extended into next weekend's playoff game. But, all things considered, Saturday night worked out okay for the Bucs. The Giants didn't rest anybody. They laid every ounce of energy on the field. A few players were banged up. And they still walked off the field with a disappointing and emotional loss. In New York, however, it's a different story. The feeling there is the Giants gained some much-needed momentum heading into next week.

Best compliment

On Sunday morning's Sports Reporters on ESPN, the panel talked about darkhorses to make it to the Super Bowl, and the Bucs came up a couple of times. NBC's Jimmy Roberts said:

"I like the Bucs if I have to pick somebody because of (Jeff) Garcia, because of their defense. ... Earnest Graham (left) has been more than an adequate replacement this year. They've got a more productive rushing offense than the Cowboys do. They've got all the components. In a one-and-out situation, this is definitely a team that can play well."

Biggest drop

It wasn't by a player but by Fox color analyst Tony Boselli. In talking about how much better Bucs rookie Gaines Adams, right, has been in the second half of the season, Boselli talked about the problems Adams had at the start of the season. Boselli then talked about how Adams got along with teammates early on and that Bucs lineman Kevin Carter had "punked him out."

What exactly did Boselli mean by "punked him out?" It was too strong of a comment to leave it at that without any further explanation, and that's exactly what Boselli did.

Worst timing

This is an example of the Murphy's Law of Broadcasting: say something and the exact opposite will happen. Fox announcers Ron Pitts and Tony Boselli just got finished talking about how bad the Panthers are at returning kicks and they rip off a 60-yard return.

Worst call

No big deal because the game didn't mean a thing, but Carolina coach John Fox was right to complain when punter Jason Baker was run into by the Bucs' Kenneth Darby. You see something like that and you just wonder what the officials are watching. As Fox announcer Ron Pitts said, "How did you miss something like that?"

Classiest move

Good job by Carolina coach John Fox. Sort of. He sent in backup quarterback Vinny Testaverde, below, who is retiring, for one last snap on the game's final play. It allowed Vinny to get a nice ovation from the crowd in Tampa Bay, where he started his NFL career way back in 1987. But Fox was kind of lucky the Panthers even got the ball back for one last play. He had a nine-point lead two minutes earlier and was running out the clock anyway. Why didn't he put Testaverde in then? If the Bucs could've picked up just one first down on their final possession, Carolina never would have gotten the ball back.

Then again, the way Vinny rolls, he might come out of retirement two or three more times.

[Last modified December 30, 2007, 22:49:39]