Rob Gronkowski – From The Middle Blog

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the National Football League in 1976 as the NFL’s 27th franchise. Their early years were famously difficult, but the organization eventually transformed itself into a two-time Super Bowl champion with a distinctive defensive identity and some of the greatest players and coaches in NFL history. From the days of Tampa Stadium to today’s Raymond James Stadium, the Buccaneers have built a history that includes Hall of Fame players, championship defenses, two Super Bowl victories and some of the most memorable moments in modern NFL football. The Birth of the Buccaneers Tampa Bay was awarded an NFL franchise on April 24, 1974, with the team scheduled to begin play in 1976. Hugh Culverhouse became the franchise’s owner, and legendary University of Southern California coach John McKay was hired as the first head coach. The Buccaneers’ first season was an extraordinary struggle. Tampa Bay finished 0-14 in 1976, and the team lost its first 26 games over its first two seasons. The breakthrough finally came on December 11, 1977, when Tampa Bay defeated the New Orleans Saints. Just two seasons later, the Buccaneers had gone from an expansion team without a victory to an NFC Central Division champion and NFC Championship Game participant. Buccaneers Owners Hugh Culverhouse — 1974-1994 Hugh Culverhouse was the original owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He guided the franchise through its formative years and was the owner when Tampa Bay made its remarkable 1979 and 1981 playoff runs. Culverhouse’s ownership established the Buccaneers as an NFL franchise in Tampa Bay and provided the foundation for everything that followed. Malcolm Glazer — 1995-2013 Malcolm Glazer purchased the Buccaneers in January 1995. His arrival began the most dramatic transformation in franchise history. Under Glazer, Tampa Bay returned to the playoffs in 1997 after a 15-year postseason drought. He later made the aggressive decision to acquire head coach Jon Gruden from the Oakland Raiders before the 2002 season. That move was followed by the greatest season in franchise history to that point: Tampa Bay won Super Bowl XXXVII. Glazer remained owner and president through 2013. He died in 2014. The Glazer Family — 2014-Present Following Malcolm Glazer’s death, ownership remained with the Glazer family. The Buccaneers’ current ownership group includes Bryan Glazer, Joel Glazer, Edward Glazer, Avram Glazer and Darcie Glazer Kassewitz. The team’s official front office lists Bryan, Edward and Joel as owners/co-chairmen, Avram as an owner and Darcie Glazer Kassewitz as owner/chairman of the Buccaneers Foundation. Under the Glazer family, Tampa Bay won its second Super Bowl following the 2020 season, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV. Every Stadium the Buccaneers Have Called Home Tampa Stadium — 1976-1995 Tampa Stadium was the original home of the Buccaneers. The team played its first home game there in 1976. The stadium became closely associated with the early Buccaneers, including the dramatic rise from an 0-26 team to a division champion. Houlihan’s Stadium — 1996-1997 Tampa Stadium was renamed Houlihan’s Stadium during the 1990s. The Buccaneers played their final regular-season game in the facility in 1997. Tampa Bay defeated the Detroit Lions 20-10 in that game, which also gave the franchise its first playoff victory since 1979. Raymond James Stadium — 1998-Present Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998 and became the Buccaneers’ permanent home. The first Buccaneers regular-season game there came on September 20, 1998, against the Chicago Bears. Tampa Bay rallied from a 15-0 halftime deficit to win 27-15. The stadium has since hosted some of the most important games in franchise history, including the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl-era seasons. Buccaneers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Tampa Bay team listing identifies the franchise with 11 Hall of Famers overall, including players and coaches. For this article, the focus is on players whose Hall of Fame careers are directly associated with their Buccaneers accomplishments, rather than simply listing every Hall of Famer who spent time in Tampa Bay. Lee Roy Selmon — Defensive End Buccaneers: 1976-1984 Lee Roy Selmon was the first player ever drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and became the first Buccaneer elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 1995. Selmon was the cornerstone of Tampa Bay’s original defense and became one of the greatest defensive ends of his generation. His Buccaneers accomplishments included: Six Pro Bowls 78.5 career sacks NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1979 First-ever Buccaneers draft selection Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1995 His No. 63 is retired by Tampa Bay. Warren Sapp — Defensive Tackle Buccaneers: 1995-2003 Warren Sapp became the centerpiece of Tampa Bay’s dominant defense during the team’s great resurgence of the 1990s and early 2000s. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. Sapp was a major part of the Buccaneers’ championship defense and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. His No. 99 is retired by Tampa Bay. Derrick Brooks — Linebacker Buccaneers: 1995-2008 Derrick Brooks was one of the most important players in Buccaneers history. Drafted in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, Brooks spent his entire 14-year NFL career in Tampa Bay. He accumulated 2,198 tackles, 25 interceptions and 13.5 sacks as a Buccaneer. Brooks was a key leader of the defense that won Super Bowl XXXVII and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. His No. 55 is retired. John Lynch — Safety Buccaneers: 1992-2003 John Lynch was drafted by Tampa Bay in 1993 and eventually became the anchor of the secondary. He made nine Pro Bowls and was an important member of the championship defense. The Pro Football Hall of Fame specifically identifies Lynch’s Tampa Bay years as central to his Hall of Fame career. Lynch was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021. Rondé Barber — Cornerback Buccaneers: 1997-2012 Rondé Barber spent his entire playing career with Tampa Bay. He became… Continue reading Tampa Bay Buccaneers: From Expansion Team to Two-Time Super Bowl

UPDATE: NFL has found 11 of the 12 balls used Sunday against the Colts, were indeed under inflated. I guess the Patriots were afraid of the Colts beating them. Not that they had to as it turned out. What punishment would be appropriate? We know the answer. FORFEIT TO THE COLTS. But they won’t go that far. Any thing less will be merely a slap on the wrist. After all the MARKETING MONIES, and PUBLICITY for advancing to the Super Bowl will way out weigh any other punishment. Suspension of William Stephen “Bill” Belichick. No problem. Given the teams history, they will most likely find a way for him to watch and get plays to the other coaches. Speaking of the other coaches, who have been with Belichick long enough to know how he would call the game any way. Maybe suspending QB Tom Brady, TE Rob Gronkowski, Place Kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Punter Ryan Allen, and of course RB LaGarrette Blount. But suspending players would not really be fair to those players or the rest of the team. What ever punishment handed should have a HUGE impact on the Patriots bottom line. HOW ABOUT Forfeiture of all income springing from their advancement to and including Their SUPER BOWL appearance. (excluding the players pay. Of Course). Plus any sanctions NFL chooses to place on Future Draft Picks, etc.etc. We all know MONEY is what PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IS ALL ABOUT! We have now reached the BIGGEST game of the season….. “SUPER BOWL” !!!!!. Two great teams, Two great Quarter Backs, with a great supporting cast. Yes the QB’s usually take the praise when his team wins. But he is also called upon to bear the burden when his team gets beat. Just like the Pitcher on a Baseball team. BUT, in FOOTBALL. There are many teams. Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Back up Player, Practice Teams, Coaching Team, and lets not forget that all important team……the 12 th man team. Everyone of these teams are just as important as the other. The OFFENSE, plays its game to MOVE the ball down field, and SCORE points. The DEFENSE, plays its game to STOP the movement down the field, and if the opportunity arises, STEAL the ball away. (Just like in Basketball). Then in semi-rare occasions SCORE points. Kind of makes it seem like the DEFENSE does most of the work and gets a passing note of praise, for a win. The SPECIAL TEAMS. Are a combination of OFFENSE and DEFENSE. They are the SPECIALISTS, as the name implies. They can return kickoffs, or receive punts, or play for the onside kick. They include the KICKERS, SETTERS, RETURNERS, and anything else they may be asked to do. The PRACTICE TEAM, is that unknown group, which plays one of the most important roles on the team. They don’t make the big money, the game time players make. (Perhaps $100,000.00 a a year). What many people don’t realize is the Practice Team must mimic every opponent their team may face in a season. After all, how would the Patriots practice against the Seahawks, and vice-versa. If you think that is easy, try being a different team every week. The BACK UP Team. The Subs, the Bench warmers. The men who sit on the sidelines hoping to someday get into a real game. They must be ready at any moment to enter the game and play up to the same standards as the starters. While on the sidelines they must be cheerleaders, spirit lifters, if you will. It can’t be easy waiting to get in a game, (most likely; even if un-concioiusly hoping for something to happen to the starter to afford them their chance), to be that support group. The Coaching Team. Held together by the HEAD COACH. Each coach has his speciality. They are the ones who decides the plays, trains the players, and inspires them to succeed. Of course if you ask any one of them HIS job is the most important coaching position on the team. But the Head coach is the one who acts as referee, and maintains the peace among this group. I’m sure the Offensive Co-ordinator, makes most of the offensive play calls, just as the Defensive Co-Ordinator, makes the decisions on defensive plays. Etc.Etc. on down the line. But the Head Coach is the ultimate decision maker. NOW. We come to that all important 12 th MAN TEAM. They are sometimes called the “Boosters”, because that is what they do. They give the team that extra BOOST. Cheering them on to work harder, Applauding them when they make good plays. Supporting the team by buying the game tickets, concessions, and the various souvenirs, and Team apparel. They make noise to drown out the opposing teams signals, and hush up so their team can be heard and on the same wavelength. On one hand you have the seasoned veteran, TOM BRADY. On the other hand you have that “undersized” QB, RUSSEL WILSON, who is in his THRD year. BUT…. by the way already has one Super Bowl Championship under his belt. HUH? Can that be right. The QB most teams thought was to short to play that position effectively? YEP. That be him. (Not to brag or anything. But if you check my post of Jan. 13, 2012. Colts 1st Round Draft Pick Is…. I had Wilson as a TOP 3 Pick: in my eyes the most capable of the three). Can he be the QB with 2 Super Bowl Championships in a career of 3 years. This should be the BEST Super Bowl in MANY years. But there is always that unknown phantom that can come in and just make the game a blow out. As my Dad, always said. “HOPE FOR THE BEST, AND EXPECT THE WORSE”. As of this writing the odds makers in Las Vegas, have made no move as to odds and who they think will win. Right now it is just… Continue reading SUPER BOWL XLIX FEB. 01, 2015