Time to say goodbye...........

Over the past few months, my short haired domestic cat, named Orphie, developed a lump on her chest. I've had Orph since she was barely the size of a keeper sea trout. Orph got her name because my nextdoor neighbor's mother went out to her car one day and heard a noise under the hood. Upon popping the hood, a measly 10 inch long, tiger striped domestic short hair was revealed. There was no sign from where she had originated. My girlfriend at the time, decided, she would find a home. The home was with us. Coming from a family background of always having dogs, large dogs, German Shepards, I was not so crazy about having a cat.

Orphie grew on me, she'd play fetch. She'd meet you at the front door at night when you came home. Once, I came home and found the woman who introduced me to cats, in my bed, in my home, having sex with someone else. Needless to say, the woman was sent packing, and I got custody of Orphie. Orph and I grew into the best of friends. She would sit and watch football on Sunday's, the mere sound of the X-Files theme song would bring her to my side. She was my best friend through a very difficult period of my life when my best friend died suddenly. My best friend was also the neighbor who delivered Orph into my life. I still live nextdoor to my friends' house who passed away, and each and every day which goes by, I think about Peter.

Orphie developed a lump on her chest these past few months. 2 weeks ago, she opened the lump while rummaging through my garage. I had already conducted some online vet research, and last week, I was confirmed about my beliefs, Orph has cancer. There is no cure. X-rays show she has some fluid starting to build up in her lungs, surgery will require chemo treatment. I don't want chemo treatment, and would never do that to my child. She's got a week or so left, and I'm being selfish because I've been gone so much over the past few years. 14 years we've been together. It's very difficult, and I don't think I'll be able to deliver her to the vets office when the time comes. It sucks. It simply sucks to have to put a pet down. I will miss her paw having to touch my head while we are sleeping at night. Most of all, I'll miss her greeting me at the front door, regardless of how my day went, and over the past 6 months, my days have sucked.

I hope that I was able to provide Orph a good experience here during her time. Lord knows for years, she was getting tuna, fresh grouper, fresh snapper, tilefish etc.

It's simply very difficult to say goodbye.

Mock Draft ver. 1.0

Ever since the conclusion of the Super Bowl, draft geeks across the country have been offering up new mock drafts, almost on a daily basis. Some folks go as far as predicting all seven rounds of the draft. In this day and age where every occupation and C-list celebrities have reality shows detailing every mundane issue surrounding their existence, I'm surprised that ESPN, Spike TV or Versus hasn't come up with a reality show based on the lives of NFL draft geeks. I mean after all, ESPN is the network which brought us such scintillating programming such as Madden Nation, championship dominoes and competitive cup stacking.

I will state outright that I don't know the 40 time for the starting 3rd wide receiver from middle western Tennessee State community college, but I am a fan of the game and will offer up my predictions of how I feel the first ten picks of the draft will shake out.

1. Miami Mullets- This team needs so much help and the Big Tuna loves to build through the draft. Jerry Jones really wants to go back to his Arkansas roots and highly covets Darren McFadden. I see the Miami/Dallas connection continuing on draft day with a blockbuster trade for the #1 overall pick. Dallas sends both first round selections and their second round selection this year plus next years first and third round picks for the right to chose Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas

2. St Louis Ewes- Orlando Pace is starting to wear down and the Ewes can't pass up an offensive line talent such as Jake Long, OT, Michigan.

3. Atlanta Songbirds- A Falcon is a bird of prey, something which strikes fear in the heart of whatever it's chasing. This team is in need of so much help, and it starts with the field general position, quarterback. Really, does the roster of Chris Redman, Joey Harrington and DJ Shockley really instill fear in a defense? Sure they signed Michael Turner in free agency, but if you can't throw, defenses will simply put 8 in the box and stuff the run. Atlanta selects Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College. They consider drafting Chris Long, Howie Long's son, but opt for the QB instead.

4. Oakland- Once one of the proudest franchises in the NFL, the holder of the best winning percentage on Monday Night Football, and now the team with the least amount of wins since their drubbing (by the Bucs) in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Raiders have spent an obscene amount of money this free agency period both on questionable players and questionable contracts. In my opinion Al Davis is realizing his window of seeing this once proud team return to it's glory days are closing so the money flows. I project the Raiders will take Vernon Gholsten DE/LB from THE Ohio State University with this pick. Gholsten has been moving up the draft charts of late, and I think he has a great NFL career ahead of him. Howie Long's son, Chris could go here, but Gholsten's stock is sky rocketing.

5. Kansas City Chefs- Herm Edwards is on the hot seat. Edwards stated yesterday that he believed the Buccaneers had tampered with C Jeff Faine on the night of the opening of the free agency period. Herm must have a short memory. He should only think back to when he was the head coach under contract with the New York, J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets. The whole arrangement which brought him to KC, screamed tampering. Herm was supposed to be the second coming of Tony Dungy, but after 7 years as head coach, has done nothing more than compile a 52-60 overall record and 2-4 playoff record, never advancing to more than a divisional playoff game.
KC has seemingly had defensive issues for the past decade, and last year was no different. KC selects, Chris Long, DL, Virginia.

6. NY Jets,Jets,Jets- This team has long been known for it's draft day blunders. Perhaps, such as selecting Ken O'Brien over Dan Marino. (How'd that work out for you?) The Jets always draft unconventionally and this year is no different, however, I believe they will select a true playmaker. It's a stretch at the #6 spot but the Jets select, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, DB, Tennessee State.

7. New England Polaroids- Ageing defense, especially at linebacker (don't we seem to say that every year?) and some losses in the secondary. New England selects Mike Jenkins, CB,USF, a physical corner with great speed in the return game as well.

8. Edgar Allan Poe's Ravens- Brian Billick out, John Harbaugh in. QB depth chart looks like Steve McNair, Kyle Boller and Troy Smith. Troy Smith, the OSU QB was an undrafted free agent in training camp and started the final two games. McNair was showing his age and Boller has been the classic underachiever for his career so far. Baltimore will select, QB Brian Brohm, Louisville.

9. The Cincinnati 'work release' Bengals- You've really got to feel sorry for Marvin Lewis. The Bengal organization has been in turmoil for over two years now. If the players aren't getting arrested, they are mouthing off as to how unhappy they are with the direction the team is taking. Ocho Cinco, Chad Johnson, sits out all offseason workouts prior to the draft and continues to make noise about being traded. On draft day, the Bengals trade Johnson to the Buccaneers for a 4th round pick and then draft WR Limas Sweed from Texas.

10. New Orleans Saints- This past week, reports surfaced that RB Deuce McAllister might not be ready to play next season. The free agency period saw the Saints re-sign back-up Aaron Stecker, and Reggie Bush has not shown he can be an every down back in the NFL. The loss of McAllister last season helped to accelerate the demise of the Saints. Saints select Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon.

This years biggest loser in free fall- Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU, on reports of leg and knee issues.
This years biggest winner- Dominique Rogers-Cromartie-DB, Tennessee St.

As we get closer to the draft, I'll submit my picks for the Bucs, and the direction I feel that they will be headed.

This offseason the transition without football has been painful but not as much as past years. The NFL Network is replaying each week of the regular season by highlighting 3 of the best games of each week. These games are condensed and you get to watch them all in 1 1/2 hours. A little salvation in an otherwise arduous offseason.

Dunn returns

Warrick Dunn will return to the pewter and red next season and as I have said over and over, I hate to keep trying to link to the past, but I think this is a sensible, reasonable signing. This isn't the Dunn signed out of Florida State years ago, but he's still a very effective NFL player and can bring some mojo to Bennett and Darby.

I feel this was a good signing, not a blockbuster, but it returns a leader in the locker room, and another player which can rip off a 40 yard play at any time.

I also see today the Bucs inked Antonio Bryant, who was out of football for a year. Coach Gruden likes to reclaim project players, and perhaps Bryant is a prospect worth taking a look at, and according to rotoworld.com the Bucs looked at him last year. The guy is a flier, had off-field issues, drug issues, and sat a year from the NFL. Perhaps the time off allowed him to grow a bit and become focused on the game. Perhaps a cheap contract to a player which posted a 1,000 yard season which could reap great rewards isn't so much of a bad deal. Yes, I was hoping for a Javon Walker deal too fellow Bucs fans, but not at that money the Raiders poured out.

The draft is upcoming, and I'm certain there will be some additional signings, so relax, everything works out for a reason.

Why bother to even play in 2008

As I read over the various Buc website message boards, I'm becoming more and more aware that the internet is comprised of teenagers with nothing better to do than spend their parents money. A team releases a player, and the boards light up, what about so and so. There is malise regarding the so called lack of activity in free agency. Then, there is the Madden factor, avid gamers think just because a player does well on their home computer or X-Box, he would be a perfect fit for the team.

Let's look here for a minute at some key needs for the Bucs. First, defensive tackle. Kris Jenkins, Marcus Stroud and Shawn Rodgers were all pined over by cyber GM's on the boards. Sure, they were signed by other teams, but if they were really difference makers in games, do you think that their respective teams would have let them go? I remember this years Bucs game versus the Lions, Rodgers is about 360 and a Big Mac away from a heart attack. Do you really want to give up a third round pick for that???

Wide receiver- Oft-injured Javon Walker got outrageous money from Oakland this year, along with Bernard Berrian and Donte Stallworth. Do you really want to mortage the future of the franchise on the backs of one of these three wideouts? Not me. I was all for Stallworth if the price was right, but not at the price he got.

Running back- The Bucs have been rumored to be interested in Julius Jones from the Cowboys, but in my opinion , if he doesn't come with a reasonable price tag, address running back in the draft, and this years draft is deep at that position.

Many folks, including those in the media in the Bay area, are about to write off the Bucs chances next season before they even hit the field for training camp, I will state, I support Bruce Allen and the front office for the financial restraint they have shown. There were no giants out there this season in free agency. Moss was going to return to New England and even turned down more money from other clubs to return. Samuel was not a corner which was worth the money in a cover 2 defense and that was a great call.

As free agency moves forward, each day a player isn't signed, means less in his potential contract. I'm looking forward to some acquisitions made by the Bucs for bargain prices down the stretch.

Brian Griese returns to RayJay

Information broke this afternoon that the Bucs executed a trade with the Bears for the return of Griese to the Tampa Bay squad. And, as expected, message boards filled up with hateful posts regarding Brian.

I'll say, I was never a supporter of Brian when he played here in Tampa, but considering he understands the verbage, and is a more than serviceable back-up for Garcia, I think this move is a win/win for the Bucs. At this point and time, Chris Simms and Bruce Gradkowski are odd men out as Luke McCown will be the thrid qb.

I feel this was a smart move to make. As reported on profootballtalk.com, the Bucs gave up a 7th round pick this year and absorbed a 300,000.00 roster bonus to bring Brian in. Once you get to the 7th round, you might as well target the crap shoots of the undrafted free agent pool and hope for the best.

I'm happy with the move, and it solidifies the quarterback position for the Bucs while not breaking the bank. Solid.

Serenity now, serenity now.......

Following an episode of Seinfeld where George's father finds peace through reiterating the words, serenity now, I've got to say the same to Bucs fans after the start of the free agency period.

I realize the team is 44 million dollars under the cap, and it needs to spend 28 million just to get above the cap floor. But, patience grasshopper. I have full confidence that the front office and Bruce Allen are conducting business in a responsible manner. Buccaneer message boards are all on fire because the Bucs failed to sign every high profile free agent this season in the first 24 hours of free agency. Message boards are a virtual shouting match, made up of mostly teenagers and 20-somethings who exchange insults and play video games believing their outcome will somehow result in reality in the real world.

So, right out of the gate for the 08 free agency period, the Bucs sign Jeff Faine. I thought was a great addition. This addition helps to solidify the OL, something which has been a problem in Tampa for a long time. And we all understand, it all starts up front. The Bucs follow that signing up with adding John Gilmore, a large blocking tightend from Chicago, and the the online groans start. The chorus online of "where's the playmakers?" "where's asante samuel? lance briggs? randy moss?"

I assume that reasonable fans will have seen the progress which has been made with this team in regards to the salary cap, and at the same time understand that simply because the team is well under the salary cap, does not mean that the front office needs to be spending money like drunken sailors.

I read a few posts online today regarding the signing of Jimmy Wilkerson, a defensive end. Due to the fact that most everyone has never heard of him, many posting online sounded as if individuals wanted to get in their car, park it atop the Skyway Bridge and jump, next season is lost, Bruce Allen has no idea what he's doing. These comments are from the same folks which thought all would be lost if Monte Kiffin did not resign his contract in January. If everyone thought all was lost if Monte moved on, while he resigned, I'm certain he had input into the signing of Wilkerson. So, stop the car, get off the Bayway or 275, return home. Things will be just fine.

I have alot of faith, albeit blind, in the front office to make the correct decisions. The video game players and message board posters need to go back to their games, and leave reality to those who are in charge, trusting their judgment. Myself, I'm disappointed that we didn't land Henderson or Stallworth, but there is a reason for that. There might be something big right around the corner.