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You Made The Call ... By The Thousands

A Tribune staff report

Published: February 23, 2009

Updated: 02/23/2009 11:23 pm

For seven consecutive days, The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com invited Bucs fans to be the team's general manager. Anticipating the start of NFL free agency on Friday, we provided position-by-position analysis and lists of key players. Thousands took the chance to shape the Buccaneers roster.

Calling Signals

We started with quarterbacks and the results were decisive. Each player received more than 2,300 votes, with 86 percent of you voting to keep Luke McCown and 80 percent willing to keep second-year QB Josh Johnson. The news wasn't so good for veterans Jeff Garcia (70 percent would cut him) and Brian Griese (65 percent would cut).

You said ...

"Start McCown. He needs the chance to prove himself. Hopefully he's got the confidence to be number one. Bring in Byron Leftwich to compete for the number two spot against Griese. Keep Johnson. Give him time and he might just prove that he's got what it takes to become the starter."

Posted by ( sla307 )

"Let's not take anyone else's leftovers - we have been there and done that to no avail. It is a whole lot easier for fans to take a down season or two if we all know they are rebuilding."

Posted by ( hd )

On The Lines

More than 12,000 votes were cast on the defensive line, the most for any position. Fans would cut four players - DE Kevin Carter, DE Patrick Chukwurah, DE Greg Peterson and DT Dre Moore - but DE Gaines Adams had the support of 95 percent.

On the offensive line, fans seem satisfied with the current lineup. Only little-used G James Lee would get the axe, while C Jeff Faine (97 percent), G Davin Joseph (97 percent) and G Arron Sears (94 percent) and G/T Jeremy Zuttah (93 percent) all topped 90 percent approval.

You said ...

"The Bucs must find a big, nasty, run-stopping DT. Improving this position with a top-tier guy should make the entire D better."

Posted by ( ksmith )

Veteran Presence

Fans want to keep LB Derrick Brooks (72 percent), CB Ronde Barber (77 percent) and RB Warrick Dunn (71 percent), but not by the majority that some younger players enjoyed. Your comments suggest these veterans should be able to exit on their own terms, rather than be cut.

"I seem to remember everyone leaving Derrick Brooks for dead a few years ago. I think he went on to have stellar season. Let's wait and see. I mean he's only been one of the 3 to 5 best LBs over the past 10 to 12 years."

Posted by ( Macdillo )

Close Calls

Reaction was divided on a few key players, including WR Michael Clayton, who established himself as the top rookie receiver in Bucs history in 2004, and WR Joey Galloway, the only Buccaneer with three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

Keep or cut WR Michael Clayton: 50 percent

Keep LB Adam Hayward: 51 percent

Cut Joey Galloway: 52 percent

You said ...

"Galloway ... needs to go away."

Posted by ( TBPatriot )

Fan Favorites

These players had approval ratings of more than 90 percent.

WR Antonio Bryant: 99 percent

LB Barrett Ruud: 98 percent

C Jeff Faine: 97 percent

G Davin Joseph: 97 percent