Quote (xnozx. @ Sep 16 2012 10:05pm)

Oh I forgot about that, yea that was bad.


I still think it was very lopsided in your favor though. You guys got away with countless holding calls on Cruz and Nicks.

Officiating is going to SUCK this year.

Quote (bob(Cs2) @ Sep 17 2012 06:20pm)

http://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=73868

That is some bullshit right there, unreal that he thinks you have to tell a team to play "whistle to whistle".

Bullshit

Quote

Giants coach Tom Coughlin has won more Super Bowls than Bucs coach Greg Schiano has won NFL games. That would suggest Coughlin knows more about this NFL business than Schiano. And when it comes to putting together game plans, motivating players and winning trophies, I'll take Coughlin over the Bucs' rookie coach.

But when it comes to the most controversial 1-yard loss in NFL history, I'm siding with Schiano.

In case you missed it, the Giants were in victory formation Sunday, needing a snap and an Eli Manning kneel down to close out a 41-34 victory over the Bucs. The Bucs blasted at the Giants line and knocked over Manning in trying to create a fumble. They created a firestorm instead: a controversy that had the entire NFL buzzing on Monday.

Coughlin chewed out Schiano for what he thought was a dangerous bush-league move that could've injured someone. Schiano fired back that his team plays until the final gun.

So who was right? Who was wrong? The answers likely depend on your allegiances. But here's why Schiano was in the right.

1. You cannot guarantee the Bucs could not have won

What are the odds that the Bucs would've jarred the ball loose? What are the odds that the Bucs would've recovered the ball? What the odds that the Bucs would have scored after the fumble?

What were the odds that all three of those things would happen? One in a thousand? One in a million? One in a billion? The point is, they would have been one in something.

Snaps are bobbled all the time, a fumble was possible, miracles do happen. The Bucs could have had the ball near the Giants 30, certainly an easy throw to the end zone.

Unless you can say with absolute, positive certainty that the Bucs had a zero percent chance of scoring (which no one can), how can you fault them for trying?

2. The Bucs were trying to win

If the Bucs trailed by more than one score than the Giants would have every right to be upset. But the Bucs weren't being poor sports or trying to injure anyone or looking to send a message. They had one purpose: create a fumble to get the ball in an attempt to tie the score, then win the game. Isn't that the point of pro football?

3. The clock, not the Giants, should signal the end of the game

The Giants seemed bothered that the Bucs didn't respect that they were victory formation. Let me get this right: The Giants were ready for the game to be over, so the Bucs had to stop playing, too? Excuse me, but who put the Giants in charge of when the game should end? Isn't that what the clock is for? Just because the Giants were in victory formation doesn't mean the Bucs should automatically have to be in surrender formation.

Final analysis

Schiano points out that there was nothing illegal about what the Bucs did. There was no penalty. The NFL isn't looking into it. No written rule was broken.

And here's the problem with unwritten rules: they aren't written. How can you interpret something that isn't there? But I do know I like Schiano's argument that he's trying to win more than Coughlin's argument that teams just aren't supposed to do what the Bucs did.

Sunday's final play now leaves Schiano's Bucs open to having teams do the same thing to them. It leaves them open to an opponent running up the score by throwing a pass out of victory formation. It risks one of their own linemen or quarterback Josh Freeman getting hurt. As long as Schiano is okay with that, no one should have a problem with his actions.

Quite frankly, I'm surprised more teams don't try what the Bucs did.

In the end, how can you fault Schiano that the other team quit playing before the Bucs did in a seven-point game? How can you fault Schiano that the other team quit playing before the game was officially over? Most of all, how can you fault Schiano for trying to win, no matter how improbable that victory might have been?

Tom Jones can be reached at tjones@tampabay.com and can be heard from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on WDAE-620.

tom jones' two cents

Quote

Sapp attack at One Buc Place: All Pro DT pontificates on McCoy and bad rush plan vs. Giants


Warren Sapp paid a visit to One Buc Place Monday and watched film with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy before heading to a book signing of his autobiography, Sapp Attack, in north Tampa.

It was after 6:30 p.m. before he left the building, but wherever Sapp is, that's rush hour.

Sapp, an analyst for NFL Network, on McCoy's first game against the Carolina Panthers:

“What I said was he played the most dominant game by a defensive tackle I’ve seen in awhile,'' Sapp said. "He was making plays. Penetrating. He did everything he should’ve done except let Cam Newton out of his hand twice. And I told him I’d kill him dead if I see it again. That just doesn’t happen. If you get to a quarterback, you’d better lock them hands tight, grab and yank. Gator roll him.

“The purple unicorn I call (Newton). This kid can fly. It ain’t even funny.''

Sapp on the McCoy's performance against the Giants.

"He didn't have a bad second week. When the defense asks you to do that, you've got to do it.

"I told Gerald, the orders come from the sideline, but the general on the field has to be able to direct that stuff. Sometimes you do like this here: "Nah, I'm not doing it,' Sapp said shaking his head.

Sapp on Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan attacking the Giants offense with stunts and games on the defensive line, which failed to register a sack. The Bucs gave up 510 passing yards to Manning.

“You can’t put me in that double bind and tell me we’re playing run when he’s in the gun,'' Sapp said. "I’m going to pin these ears back and I’m gone. You figure this out after 51 passes and 510 yards, I’m going to figure it out while it’s going on. I’ll be damned, he’s not running the ball. I saw two runs out of the shotgun. I want your quarterback.

"That’s what you get when you worked against that offensive coordinator for so many years. You think you can play a chess game. Damn the chess game, let the pieces do the damn work. Every time I looked up at the screen, it was stunt, hail, I’m like damn.

“I said, “Gerald, walk in the man’s office and tell him we’ve got this. You can mess around on first and second down, but third down has got to be mine. Me and Kiffin used to fight about this. I’d say put it in my hands and if I can’t do it, I’ll give it back to you.’ Because I showed you last week I can get it done. Don’t bail on me now.''

Quote

Preston Parker Cut; Tiquan Underwood Signed
September 20th, 2012

OK, Joe for weeks couldn’t understand why the Bucs cut wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, who performed well if not solidly through training camp and preseason games.

Well, it seems Bucs rock star general manager has agrees. Underwood was re-signed by the Bucs this morning, which helps the Bucs stretch the field. However, to make room for Underwood, the Bucs waved goodbye to to Preston Parker, per the Bucs official Twitter feed.

    @TBBuccaneers: The Bucs have brought back WR Tiquan Underwood. To make room on the roster, the team released WR Preston Parker.

While a decent slot receiver, Parker had secured a spot on the roster the past couple of season because of his special teams talents. But this season, Parker put the ball on the ground on returns, a mortal sin in the New Schiano Order.

In Joe’s eyes, this is good news for the Bucs offense.

Quote (bob(Cs2) @ Sep 21 2012 08:28am)

I'm happy about this - Underwood was a beast in preseason and training camp, I wanna see him burn a safety!