Bucs shower needy families with gifts as Christmas surprise

Two days after delivering a victory - only their second of the season - to their fans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers forked over a sleigh load of presents to 30 needy families.

Fifty bicycles, along with DVD players, helmets and other gift packages were doled out to the struggling families at One Buc Place this afternoon during the third annual "Day of Giving." Each family, chosen by local charities, also got a $225 spending spree at a nearby Target, courtesy of the team.

Not only were they able to schmooze with cheerleaders, the mascot, Captain Fear, and some players and pose for pictures and get autographs, each family got free tickets to the season-ending home game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The families showed up at the Buccaneer training complex thinking they were going to be given a tour of the facility. They could do this, they were told, because the players had the day off.

They crowded into the auditorium and then found out that the tour was a pretense and the real reason for them being there was for a pre-Christmas Christmas.

Players and cheerleaders came out and doled out the stuff. Curtis Smith, 5, had an old Buccaneer souvenir Super Bowl ball and managed to collect a couple of autographs. Tears filled 2-year-old Skyler Houser's eyes when he plunked down into a toy cart, his sister, Jazmin, 4, gushing over her new bike.

"It was a shock," said Skyler's and Jazmin's mom, Chelsea McRay, 21, of St. Petersburg. "This is going to help a lot." She said the family has struggled this year, with her husband Daniel Houser, a tree trimmer, getting only sporadic jobs.

"Money is tight," she said.

Players dressed in their red jerseys milled easily among parents and towered over the children.

Linebacker Adam Hayward said this was the second time he has participated in the "Day of Giving."

"The ability to take families out for Christmas and get them stuff they can't get, it's awesome; just seeing the smiles on these kids' faces."

Defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson gave a short, off key, version of "Silent Night."

"Merry Christmas," said cornerback Elbert Mack.