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Effort has been there for Bucs, even if wins haven't

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2009

TAMPA - It is hard to highlight the positives when talking about this year's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs (0-7) are the only winless team in the NFL and have dropped 11 consecutive games. Tampa Bay's offense has struggled. The defense gives up too many big plays. Some fans want coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik fired. The throwback uniforms for fans are now paper bags.

Although nobody outside of One Buc Place expects Tampa Bay to defeat Green Bay (4-3) on Sunday, the encouraging sign for coaches and players has been the consistent effort of their team.

"I remember watching the Tennessee-New England game and Tennessee just shut it down," Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan said. "I can never imagine being with a bunch of guys that would shut it down. We were losing against New England, but we were still playing. That's our philosophy.

"Things have not gone our way, of course, we're 0-7. At the same time, the fight is there, the want, the will and the desire is there. That's what we keep preaching. All we have to do is go out there and make plays."

Tampa Bay has struggled to make plays, but every player is impressed with their team's resilience.

"I've been on teams when we've had bad records and guys have done things to show they really don't care to be there anymore, or that the season is completely over," Tampa Bay receiver Antonio Bryant said. "For us, it's not like there are six games left. It is nine games. That's a lot of games. That's a lot of games to break this thing even or make people scratch their heads.

"At the end of the day, I respect it because nobody is coming in late for meetings. Nobody is being lackadaisical with where they have to be and doing what they have to do. That shows you everybody is still fighting."

The players seem to fighting for two reasons.

First, some Buccaneers are giving their biggest effort for Morris, who has yet to record his first NFL victory. Some are very eager to give Morris his first Gatorade shower and are playing for their leader.

"No one has given up at all and the main reason is Raheem Morris," Bucs tight end Kellen Winslow said. "We really want to make it work for him. It's not his fault. He's one of the best coaches I've been around. He's one of the best leaders I've been around.

"We're just not getting the job done right now. I love being here. These guys are smiling. It doesn't feel like we're 0-7, but we are and we're just trying to make it work."

Players are also working hard for themselves.

No Bucs player believes they actually are the NFL's worst team, despite their record, and everyone is determined to prove differently.

"I heard a great comment from Drew Brees [New Orleans quarterback] the other day about the reason why they're clicking on all cylinders this year is because the core of their skill set, the wide receivers, have been there for a few years now," Bucs center Jeff Faine said. "They work together. They know each other. They know where they are going to be.

"Those are things we just don't have here. We don't have what other teams have that have been together for a couple of years. It's pretty much a new team with the exception of the offensive line, and without [guard Arron] Sears, it's hard. The encouraging thing is if we grow, what this could possibly be. The potential is there."

And Tampa Bay's effort is also there.

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

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