gettlemanjack

Four Apache helicopters fly over M&T Bank Stadium during Army vs. Navy football game

I look to my right & find this dude carrying a snake with him in the car. Just taking him on a ride!

Lovie Smith begs fans to come to the game at a luncheon for the fans at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay: "To all of our fans, call up somebody. Get them to come out. We can do this," Smith implored the audience. "We can bring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back. You're going to like your football team. … We can't wait. We will have a good product to put on the football field."

Tampa Bay Times: It's the one thing no team ever wants to hear. No one cares. You're not on the radar. You don't matter. You might not like it, but that's kind of where the Bucs are just a couple of days before the start of their 2014 season. ... Fans have jumped off the Bucs' ship. Season tickets have dipped to, some estimate, below 30,000. Only a change in the NFL blackout rules and the Glazers buying up tickets kept games from being blacked out on local television last season, and will keep the team on local TV this season. That's irrelevant. Just the other day, the Bucs sent out a letter that if you've been a season-ticket holder going back to only 2007 — just seven years ago and the last time the team truly mattered -- you could bring two friends to Sunday's season opener for free. That's really irrelevant. It's one thing to get no attention outside of Tampa Bay, but it's another to fight to get noticed down the street. That, however, is what happens when the losing seasons pile on top of one another. ... Since 2007, every other team in the NFC South — the Saints, Falcons and Panthers — has won the division twice. ... While the (three other NFC South) teams have traded division titles, the Bucs have taken up residence at the bottom. In the past five seasons, the Bucs have finished last in the NFC South four times. That's irrelevant.

per Bovada betting odds, the Bucs are by far the biggest long shot to win the NFC South teams that they gave better odds to win their divisions include both the Browns and the Titans. lol

NFL blog: on the Bucs: "The fact is the NFC is loaded and this (2014 Bucs) team seems to be in transition with a new coaching staff and many questions needing to be answered once the 2014 season starts. Figure the Buccaneers to improve slightly and go 5-11 this season as they look to better days in the future." on the Panthers: "With the changes made on the offensive side of the ball, especially with the wide receivers, the Panthers will be under the microscope early on in the new season, but with a quarterback like Cam Newton, who can hurt opposing defenses with both his arm and his legs, the Panthers should be fine. ... The defense is outstanding and rivals that of Seattle and San Francisco in the NFC, which gives the Panthers a chance every week they suit up. The front seven are outstanding and led by Luke Kuechly, the linebacking is among the best in the game...the front four of this ferocious defense terrorized opposing quarterbacks last season. ... As long as Newton remains healthy and the running game keeps things moving along, the offense should provide enough to not put any unnecessary pressure on the defense. This team could very well win the NFC South again this season."

Grantland: "It’s a long shot for the Bucs to NOT spend the whole year frustrating fans and teammates and slowly crushing their hopes and dreams... Is it insane to trust (QB Josh) McCown and maybe Mike Glennon to be above average for a full 16 games? Of course. Picking McCown and the Bucs to compete in the NFC South could look even dumber than the EJ Manuel optimism."

Tampa Tribune: "The Bucs defense hasn’t finished in the top half of its 32 team league since 2008.... It’s a long way from there to the top.... It will take more than Pro Bowler (Gerald) McCoy and the astonishing (WLB Lavonte) David. It will take a real edge rush, something the Bucs haven’t had in recent years... It will take even more from (MLB Mason) Foster as he drops into coverage (in the new Tampa 2).... It will take bigger, better seasons from (underperforming) safeties (Dashon) Goldson and Mark Barron.... 'We ain’t got it yet,' McCoy said."