Bucs' changes reflected in stadium banners, merchandise

Motorists passing by Raymond James Stadium this morning might have glimpsed the installation of a new giant banner featuring No. 51, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud.

The changing of the banners has been under way the past few weeks with the old ones coming and down and at least eight new ones expected to be up by next week.

Huge banners featuring photographs of players have been hanging on each side of the stadium's four gates for several years. Last year's banners included longtime favorites Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn, who were released in February.

Robert Young of Sign Core in Tampa started erecting the 83-by-40-foot Ruud banner Sunday but had to wrestle the wind.

"Everything revolves around the wind and the rain," said Young, who hoped to have another banner up today, but an afternoon shower is threatening.

The company had anticipated installing one banner a day, he said.

Young wouldn't divulge the names of players on this year's banners - he really doesn't know until he unfurls the long sheets.

Although some familiar faces likely will return, Tampa Tribune reporter Roy Cummings, who covers the Bucs, predicts some new talent.

Cornerback Ronde Barber probably warrants a banner, Cummings said, along with running back Ernest Graham, wide receiver Antonio Bryant, safety Tanard Jackson, quarterback Luke McCown, cornerback Aqib Talib, defensive end Gaines Adams and defensive tackle Chris Hovan.

Among the new guys, look for tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., quarterback Byron Leftwich, running back Derrick Ward and quarterback Josh Freeman, this year's first-round pick.

Fans of players recently cut from the team can pick up jerseys and other merchandise at deep discounts. No. 7 jerseys, worn by former quarterback Jeff Garcia, are half-price at Bucs, Stuff & More in Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg.

"Brooks, Dunn, [Ike] Hilliard, Garcia, {Joey] Galloway - we've got pretty much everyone," said store clerk Laurie, who didn't want to give her last name.

Some former players, such as retired fullback Mike Alstott, haven't seen merchandise emblazoned with their names hit the sales racks, yet. Others, such as former quarterback Chris Simms, have been in the blue-light special aisle for a while, Laurie joked.

"He's just not popular," she said of Simms, who is now with the Denver Broncos.

Even coaches aren't immune from markdowns, but former head coach Jon Gruden still has a full-price following thanks to the "Chuckie" doll from the horror film of the same name.

"We're hoping he goes to a college" as a coach, said Laurie, who thinks students would snap up the dolls bearing Gruden's likeness.

Half-price jerseys are part of the game for sports stores, said Jeffrey Neil Fox, owner and chief executive officer of Bucs & Bulls Heaven in Tampa.

"Every professional athlete becomes a former player," he said, which means price cuts at some point.

But there's always new players, and fans who want those shirts. And this year, the Bucs plan on dressing in their original team color of orange for one game.

Fox is stocking up now on Creamsicle jerseys.