Hey Junior, Got Carolina on your mind?

You should. Carolina has owned the Bucs and have won 4 of the last 6 games the Bucs and Panthers have played. And before my Panther friends who read this blog want to talk smack, let me see your Super Bowl ring first, then we'll go into deep conversation. What? No ring? That's right you guys made it to the big dance and lost. Sorry about your luck. I still hate Carolina.

That being said, it's time to evaluate this weeks upcoming Bucs game. I didn't have time last week. I went back and watched Junior's pressers on Monday and Wednesday and I have a few comments. If anyone reading this blog is an expert in body language, I'd like you to review the last four pressers and tell me what his body is telling you, because it's telling me he is afraid, scared, uncomfortable and over his head. He constantly brings drinks with him to the press conferences, sometimes taking many sips during the presser. Usually water or Gatorade. I figure when the Bucs are 0-10, he'll show up with a Coors light so they can work him right into the stupid faux coaches press conferences Coors uses for ads on Sundays. He'll need to find work after this season.

He is constantly touching his face, scratching his nose, running his thumb over his lips, during this weeks presser on Wednesday, he showed up wearing a hat, and was constantly pulling at the hat. He was really pulling at the hat after he was asked about the reports which surfaced linking Tony Dungy returning to the Bucs. He responded by saying he felt bad for Tony who was just living in Tampa and trying to raise his family. You felt bad for Tony??????? Junior, you can't coach you're way out of a wet paperbag and you feel bad for Tony Dungy because he was linked to a story about his possible return to the Bucs? I feel bad for you, because you don't see the hammer about to hit you on January 4th 2010.

And what is up with the Monday presser, in Tampa, at 11:30, and you show up wearing a full sleeve length hoodie sweatshirt while it is 93 degrees outside of One Buc Place? Are you trying to channel Big Bad Bill in New England? It ain't working. On Wednesday, Junior informed reporters that he was no longer piping in his music from his IPOD during practice. Man. That's the way to lay down the law. And once again, in no presser I've watched this season does Junior ever say thank you or is there another question, he simply grabs his drink and rudely walks away. Why don't you rudely walk out of One Buc Place, make a left, then make another left on Dale Mabry and walk away. You are not worthy of being a head coach in this league.

Well, here come the Carolina Panthers. Sure, they have had issues this season. QB Jake Delhomme has turned the ball over more frequently than an ACORN volunteer can register a voter this season, but he has his number one Buc killer, Steve Smith alive and well at the wideout position. In the last 6 games against the Bucs, Smith is, 40-571-1, for a 15 yard average and has to be drooling at the prospect of matching up against Aquib "treadmarks" Talib this weekend. Last week, Philly's tightend, Brent Celeck posted respectable numbers against the Bucs across the middle. Carolina's TE Dante Rosario will have 7 catches for 100 yards and a score come Sunday. Julius Peppers has only 3 sacks so far this year, but he should get a few this week, especially going against Falsestart Trueblood. Finally, the last Buc killer on this squad is kicker, John Kasay. On September 24th, 2006, I was sitting in section 128, row g in blistering heat and watched him kick 4 field goals and the shortest one was 48 yards to defeat the Bucs 26-24, the last one as time ran out. Bastard. This guy has kicked forever, retire already!

Carolina is a 3.5 point favorite in Tampa this week as the road team. I wouldn't lay any money on either of these teams, but Carolina will win. I predict 23-20. And, Tampa fans won't see it because they will most likely experience the first blackout since Ray Jay was built in 1996. Great job Glazers. Way to build for the future.