If you haven't gotten a call yet from Bruce Allen, just be patient and keep your cell phone handy. He is probably about halfway through his Rolodex by now, with most of the conversations going something like, 'Hey there ... say, you wouldn't have a spare running back you'd like to trade, would you?' ...more

October 8, 2007

The Bucs faced their first real offensive challenge of the game just three plays into it when they lined up for a third-and-6 play at their 28-yard line. Quarterback Jeff Garcia dropped back to pass, but he never got the time to set up and throw as Dwight Freeney and Raheem Brock came rushing through the right side off a stunt to sack him 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Eight plays later, the Colts were ahead 7-0, the result of a seven-play drive engineered by Peyton Manning. The Bucs would go on to run just six offensive plays for a total of 2 yards in the first quarter. Talk about tough sledding. ...more

October 8, 2007

Lacking the offensive balance Tampa Bay fans have grown accustomed to in recent weeks, the Bucs quickly found themselves tumbling out of a carefully crafted game plan Sunday. ...more

October 8, 2007

The Buccaneers spent a long afternoon under a surgeon's care Sunday and went home numb. ...more

October 8, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - Losing to the Super Bowl champs is no disgrace, of course. But this game was the Bucs' first stab at a truly elite team this season and it's obvious that the gap from where they are to where they want to be remains large. ...more

October 7, 2007

Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the game today. Given time to set up in the pocket and throw, he is arguably the best ever. It is imperative the Bucs make life in the pocket miserable for Manning. That's a tall order for a team that has struggled to generate an effective pass rush, but the Bucs must find a way to do that. By mixing up their coverages, looks and blitz packages, the Bucs can force Manning into some mistakes. A key player likely will be CB Ronde Barber. When he lines up in the slot, Barber is a very effective blitzer who often surprises teams with his burst off the ball. Another player to watch is S Jermaine Phillips. He is playing at the top of his game and has been a punishing hitter. If he can get into the backfield, he could force Manning to make mistakes. ...more

October 6, 2007

Bucs RB Kenneth Darby has experienced more ups and downs in his career than he could have predicted. ...more

October 5, 2007

This week's Smackdown features rookie left guard Arron Sears against newcomer free safety Tanard Jackson to determine which first-year players are having the biggest impact. Regardless, the winner still has the carry the equipment of Tampa Bay's veterans. ...more

October 4, 2007

One of the first things Peyton Manning did Monday was to place a congratulatory phone call to the new king of quarterbacks, Brett Favre. That's one time you'd love to have a bug in that phone, just to listen in as two of the best to ever play the position chatted it up. ...more

October 4, 2007

Randy Mariman, a Tampa money-management consultant and longtime Bucs season-ticket holder, had never left a game early. ...more

October 2, 2007