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National Media Slow To Warm To Bucs

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 20, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa Bay may have one of the best NFL teams, but few people outside of this area seemingly care.

National highlights of Bucs games are usually buried in the final segment of most shows. Bucs players are rarely mentioned on ESPN, unless it involves an injury, and winning the NFC South last year led to only one Monday Night Football game this season.

Despite the outstanding play of linebacker Barrett Ruud, impressive statistics by receiver Antonio Bryant, and center Jeff Faine leading an offensive line that has surrendered just 11 sacks this season – none of those players are in the top five in fan voting. Only cornerback Ronde Barber is currently in contention.

Tampa Bay (7-3) travels to Detroit (0-10) on Sunday, and it would take a Lions victory for the Bucs to receive national attention, although it would be negative.

"They are not going to be on many highlight films because they aren't going to have many big offensive plays," FoxSports analyst Tony Boselli said. "A team that plays well offensively between the 20s, but are second-to-worst once they get into the red zone and struggles to score points … what is exciting in this league is scoring points, and Tampa Bay just doesn't do it."

Tampa Bay is tied for 19th in the NFL with 21.9 points scored, while kicker Matt Bryant is tied for second with 91 points. Bryant also has kicked 24 field goals, which is tied for first.

The Bucs' bland offense, combined with their lack of strong personalities or recent playoff success – Tampa Bay has not won a postseason game since Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003 – also contribute to low national interest.

"In the offseason, nobody was really putting us at the forefront to be one of the top teams," quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "And as much as we believe that and we're capable of that, it's just not happening for some reason."

Tampa Bay is more concerned about obtaining wins than attention.

"We don't have a [Tony] Romo, T.O. [Terrell Owens], or guys who love attention like that," Bucs tight end Jerramy Stevens said. "But the Cowboys are struggling trying to make the playoffs right now. We're going to go to the playoffs. It's about winning.

"You can get all that glitz and glamour, but winning a playoff game, that's all anybody cares about."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425

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