Everyone is doing a top 5 this, top 10 that. So why not celebrate the BAD days gone by, the 5 most embarrassing moments in Buccaneers history! As with all lists, everyone has a different opinion. Im sure some will say the 1999 humiliating (and record breaking) defeat to the Oakland Raiders belongs here, but the Bucs were in the middle of a record 6 game winning streak, you can’t say they are embarrassing you no matter how bad the loss after 6 wins.
#5 The 2013 Season
The Setup: After the Bucs mutinied against Raheem Morris, a strict college coach was
brought in to restore discipline. A 7-9 season ensued in which the Bucs were competing for a playoff spot at midseason. Offensive records were set in 2012 by Josh Freeman. Even critics were expecting a winning season in 2013.
What happened? Some say the fact kicker Connor Barth was lost for the season in the offseason playing basketball was an omen, but perhaps more attention should have been shined on Josh Freeman missing his own camp, and not showing for a Radio show with the Bucs Radio Network for hours, then finally sounding totally inebriated. Then Camp opened, and Freeman was not voted Captain, unheard of in the NFL. Unknown to Bucs fans, Freeman was late for opening day bus, and it all came to a head when on the first offensive series the Bucs looked like a high school football team.
Rumours of Coach Schiano rigging the vote caused a players only meeting before game one even happened, and then after three ineffective games, Josh Freeman was benched for a 3rd round draft pick. He was gone the next week, all the while each week the Bucs were in the news for the worst reasons.
#4 November 17th, 1985 Tampa Bay 28, NY Jets 62
The Setup – Tampa Bay was playing the Jets on the Road the year after the 1984 Season
Finale which was John McKay’s last game coaching. The Bucs were trying to get James Wilder the NFL single season combined yardage record, he needed 15 more yards either receiving or rushing. To get the ball back, McKay ordered Bucs defense to back up on the goal line and allow the Jets to score. Linebackers were literally backing up after the snap of the ball. Jets were furious.
What Happened? – The Bucs actually stormed to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on the back of two Steve Deburg TD passes. The Jets matched those two TDs in the first, and added three more in the 2nd for a 41-21 half time lead, the exact score of the 1984 game, only with the scores switched up. Bucs won 41-21. Jets would continue to pile on Points and yardage in 3rd quarter. With the score 55-28, the Jets scored a TD with 1:24 left in the game, just to rub it in.
#3 October 2nd, 1983 Green Bay 55, Tampa Bay 14
The setup: The Bucs were playing their first season without Doug Williams at QB, and they
were struggling with injuries and inconsistent QB play. After a perfect 4-0 preseason mark, Jerry Goldstein was given the starting job. By the 3rd game the Bucs handed the reins over to Jack Thompson, otherwise known as the Throwin Samoan! Tampa Bay had lost their first 4 games by a total of 11, 7, 3, and 6 points in that order.
What Happened? The Bucs went nowhere on their first possession, and the Packers returned the punt 90 yards for a TD. A 75 yard TD pass completed the scoring in the first QTR. Then the Packers went on a rampage, scoring 5 TDs in the 2nd period; still the Buccaneers record for most points given up in a single quarter! Two of those were interception returns for TDs. Jack Thompson threw more TDs for the Packers (2) than for the Bucs (0) on that day! Tampa Bay flew home to be 0-5 on its way to a 2-14 season.
#2 December 3rd, 2006 Pittsburgh 20 Tampa Bay 3
The Setup: Starter Chris Simms was lost for the year after the 3rd game with a ruptured
spleen. Rookie Bruce Gradkowski, a Pittsburgh, PA native, was chosen over veteran Tim Rattay to take over the season. Gradkowski was overwhelmed and statistically got worse as each game went by. Although Michael Clayton did not help with a dropped TD bomb, Gradkowski did not muster enough offense until the final drive.
What Happened? Tampa Bay drove the field in the final few minutes but the Pittsburgh defense stiffened and held the Bucs out of the end zone on 3rd down. Suddenly a chorus of Boos came from the crowd as they realized what was happening. Head Coach Jon Gruden ordered the Bucs to kick a Field Goal with seconds left, down 20-0, just to avoid the shut out.
Embarrassing.
Head Coach Bill Cower said in his press conference, he would not have done such a thing.
#1 January 1st, 2012 Atlanta 45 Tampa Bay 24
The Set up: The Bucs had a front office that decided to go with extreme youth and energy and
void of veteran leadership and free agency. With a young coach full of same energy, the Bucs went 10-6 just missing the playoffs by tie-breaker the year before. In 2011, Tampa Bay started the season 4-2 with a 2-0 record in the NFC South, and looked like the team was poised to return to its winning ways. With a trip to London, something happened overseas that ruined head coach Raheem Morris’ connection and respect with the team. He quickly lost most of the locker room, and the team went into a 9 game losing streak going into the season finale.
What Happened? Knowing full well that another lost would probably cost Morris his job, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quit on their coach, their fans, and themselves. It was the most distasteful, disgusting, and revolting moment in Bucs history. Never in the history of football has any one football team just quit like this. Atlanta scored 6 touchdowns in the first half, taking a 42-0 lead. Raheem Morris was fired the next morning before he could even give his day after press conference.
Here’s hoping there won’t be any additions to this top 5 list for some time to come!!
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