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 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.