Tuesday Afternoon Linebacker

You know you had a bad day when you puke in front of 5 million people and some former pawn broker kicks a 62 yard field goal to beat you. You also know you’re having a bad day when you play for the Philadelphia Eagles. Or you might be having a bad day if your name ends with Bowden and you coach in Tallahassee.

Deckerhoff’s Hero
186 feet. And it probably would have gone even if it had to travel a few more.
I know a good many of you only found out the Bucs prevailed during the Sunday evening news or maybe even the Monday paper. Once again the Bucs snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. But a long kick-off return, a couple of quick plays, and they lined up for a preposterous 62-yard field goal attempt. And up it went. It was straight enough. And with a couple of yards to spare, it split the uprights and the remainder of 65,000 erupted. And much like the last two times he faced us, McNabb looked on dejectedly. A much like the last time he set foot in Florida to play a game he tossed his cookies.

Psychology is, in my view, an important part of sports. For a couple of years, the Eagles had the psychological edge over the Bucs. But that one fateful evening at the old Vet turned it all around. Joey J for a big gain, Ronde the other way, and the Halas trophy in Pewter gloves. Followed two Sundays later with those same hands grasping Vince. And to open the next season, on Monday night, in a new stadium, with Rocky even in attendance the Birds fell again. Then nothing for two seasons. Could the Bucs jinx have worn off? In the intervening years the Eagles reached the Super Bowl while the Bucs fell below .500. And to start the year the Eagles were 4-2 to the Bucs 1-4. How could the Bucs possibly win this game? Had the Eagles been able to hold on to that one point win they would have not thought twice about anything beyond the field of play. But now… What is going through their minds? Probably the same things that were going through the minds of the soon to be Super Bowl champions almost four years ago.

What else was this game about? Something that I’m of two minds about. The Bucs are becoming a pretty good team when they have to come from behind. On the one hand it’s great that a team can come from behind and win games. On the other, why are they behind so much that they need to establish this image?

Unvictorious
Every autumn a group of players gather. They await the day when an NFL team, pure of spirit and true of heart, will match their feat. These men are the players from the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The only team in NFL history to finish a season with zero victories. This past Sunday the Oakland Raiders notched their first win of the season over the equally hapless University of Phoenix Cardinals. Box wine was poured and thrift store Twinkies were passed about as these gridiron greats celebrated that, for one more year at least, they would remain Unvictorious.

World’s Largest Outdoor Croquet Match
If you’ve been paying attention to the sports news this previous off-season you heard that both UGA and UF officials would like to retire the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” moniker as it relates to the Florida-Georgia game. Good luck with that fellas. You might be better off getting the fans from either side to like each other.

And on the topic of psychology; it would be safe to assume that the Gators hold that edge over the Bulldogs. No matter how good they are or how bad we are, we have won more often than not (by a wide margin) lately. And this year we are very good and they are “okay”. That can’t be good news for them to start with. Then to know that Gator players and fans everywhere expect us to beat you; that doesn’t help matters. But as all football fans know, anything can happen once the game starts.

BMOC
Florida State lost again. Hooray for that.

USF lost again. Boo for that.

Miami (FL) won, barely, against Duke. Both a boo and a hooray for that.

Pittbulled
Lost again. How in the hell can one guy outscore five guys? Even if it was Darrell Jackson against my scrubs. The playoffs are just about to fall out of reach for the old Finger Bangers. If we can’t win the next two then it’s probably all over. I have identified my fatal error. Drafting Reggie Bush number one. It was a reach I know. And by doing that I deprived myself of a real featured back. Instead I’m stuck with a backup and a guy who splits time (Rhodes). From there my draft kind of went down the tubes as I had to try and get quality at other positions. I already have a new draft strategery for next year. But I’m not telling. Not that you’d want to know anyway; if you use it you’d probably lose.

Running Items
There’s More To Life Than Football
Did Kenny Rogers cheat? Do you care? Probably not. But if he did why has he not been thrown out of the World Series. Come on, blatant cheating on your sport’s biggest stage and you don’t do anything about it? What’s up Bud Selig? More evidence that baseball is too into itself to care about anything beyond the league.

Plus One Bowl
Ohio State vs. West Virginia/Louisville

Super Bowl XLI
Chicago vs. New England

Team TALB
TALB is always looking for fresh insight and additional input. If you want to submit something to be included in TALB, please feel free to contact me and I’ll get it put in the next edition.

King Of Football
As always, feel free to submit your entry for TALB’s King Of Football 2007. It will appear during the off week between the NFL conference championships and the Super Bowl (January 30, I think).

Next Time: Freaks on a leash.