What it all boils down to. True Bucs fans, read this, I think you'll agree.

[ward7910]

While the fans of teams like Denver, Houston, and Detroit anxiously, and excitedly watch their heroes finally get into the playoffs after years of disappointment, us fans in Tampa Bay are becoming more disgusted and more disinterested in what we've seen this season from the pewter pirates. After last year, we were all so enamored with guys like Freeman, Blount, and Williams, that we set ourselves up to be disappointed. The problem in this, is that it seems the Bucs did the same thing. This team went into the season legitimately expecting to be the best team in the league and win a championship. While this is good from a confidence standpoint, it was detrimental to the young players, who are still in a position of learning the game at the NFL level, and it caused them to get discouraged, frustrated, and ultimately disinterested in continuing the season. The 'youth' excuse has been beaten like a dead horse this year, but it can not be over looked. The fact that the team thought so highly of their potential for 2011, is what got the team down after being rattled by Detroit. A couple of ugly wins against the vikings and colts, the top two worst teams in the league, slightly kept the confidence-plane in the air, but after losing to Chicago, the team lost confidence going into the meanest stretch any team has faced all season, and the season was over before it ever began. The entire season, while an utter disappointment to everyone who expected so much, so soon, shouldn't have people calling for heads, such as is the case for head coach Raheem Morris. The smart thing for this organization to do, is go into the offseason WITH Morris. Let him and Dom have one more draft, with a top five pick, let the team spend the entire offseason working on GROWING UP, throw in a few key veteran FA's, and this team could VERY WELL see a turnaround just like they saw last year when the team went 10-6.

[NewEnglandTebows]

Plain and simple franchise QB's get the job done regardless of how bad their team's defense is... Look at Tom Brady he plays with a worst defense than us, yet he has his team the number 1 seed. Peyton Manning also shows how he carried a really bad Colts team year in and year out... Aaron Rodgers is playing with a bad defense as well... True franchise QB's get the job done no matter what their defense does...

[BucsnBolts]

Lack of paragraphs is what I would agree on.

[Ft Myers Buc Fan]

I think if the players didn't quit on Morris, this could be feasible.  However, when you lose 8 straight AND your team doesn't fight for their Head Coach, I don't think you can bring him back.  The effort has been so putrid on both sides of the ball that the Glazers really don't have to make a choice, it was made for them

[alldaway]

No, Raheem has been given ample time to keep this team competitive.   Dom has probably one more off season for a last shot.

Plain and simple franchise QB's get the job done regardless of how bad their team's defense is... Look at Tom Brady he plays with a worst defense than us, yet he has his team the number 1 seed. Peyton Manning also shows how he carried a really bad Colts team year in and year out... Aaron Rodgers is playing with a bad defense as well... True franchise QB's get the job done no matter what their defense does...

Those QB's don't have bad players on offense.

[NewEnglandTebows]

No, Raheem has been given ample time to keep this team competitive.   Dom has probably one more off season for a last shot.

Plain and simple franchise QB's get the job done regardless of how bad their team's defense is... Look at Tom Brady he plays with a worst defense than us, yet he has his team the number 1 seed. Peyton Manning also shows how he carried a really bad Colts team year in and year out... Aaron Rodgers is playing with a bad defense as well... True franchise QB's get the job done no matter what their defense does...

Those QB's don't have bad players on offense.

For years Brady and Manning made their players look better than they actually were

[alldaway]

No, Raheem has been given ample time to keep this team competitive.   Dom has probably one more off season for a last shot.

Plain and simple franchise QB's get the job done regardless of how bad their team's defense is... Look at Tom Brady he plays with a worst defense than us, yet he has his team the number 1 seed. Peyton Manning also shows how he carried a really bad Colts team year in and year out... Aaron Rodgers is playing with a bad defense as well... True franchise QB's get the job done no matter what their defense does...

Those QB's don't have bad players on offense.

For years Brady and Manning made their players look better than they actually were

That isn't true based on what we know.

[jerseybucsfan]

In regards to the OP, I disagree. I think the ownership and GM set the tone when they didn't spend money in FA. While the Eagles were saying ''we can win it,'' the Bucs were saying we won 10, but don't get used to it. Now the Eagles have had a bad year, but are battling back. The Bucs? Humiliating themselves and their fanbase. You can't say ''we're not good enough'' and then hope later they WILL be good enough. You didn't make the mental commitment. And all season, the Bucs have resembled a TEAM that didn't make a mental commitment either.

[NewEnglandTebows]

No, Raheem has been given ample time to keep this team competitive.   Dom has probably one more off season for a last shot.

Plain and simple franchise QB's get the job done regardless of how bad their team's defense is... Look at Tom Brady he plays with a worst defense than us, yet he has his team the number 1 seed. Peyton Manning also shows how he carried a really bad Colts team year in and year out... Aaron Rodgers is playing with a bad defense as well... True franchise QB's get the job done no matter what their defense does...

Those QB's don't have bad players on offense.

For years Brady and Manning made their players look better than they actually were

That isn't true based on what we know.

Colts are 1-13 this year, so yes it is very true based on what we know

[SWAGGANEER]

Completely agree with this post. A coach and GM can only do so much with what they are given.

If you want a car to auto tune, park itself, avoid crashes, wake you up when you doze off, etc. etc., you pay good money for it. If not, don't expect much from your cheap ass car.

[NewEnglandTebows]

The point is a true franchise QB can overcome a bad defense

[BucfanNC12]

While the fans of teams like Denver, Houston, and Detroit anxiously, and excitedly watch their heroes finally get into the playoffs after years of disappointment, us fans in Tampa Bay are becoming more disgusted and more disinterested in what we've seen this season from the pewter pirates. After last year, we were all so enamored with guys like Freeman, Blount, and Williams, that we set ourselves up to be disappointed. The problem in this, is that it seems the Bucs did the same thing. This team went into the season legitimately expecting to be the best team in the league and win a championship. While this is good from a confidence standpoint, it was detrimental to the young players, who are still in a position of learning the game at the NFL level, and it caused them to get discouraged, frustrated, and ultimately disinterested in continuing the season. The 'youth' excuse has been beaten like a dead horse this year, but it can not be over looked. The fact that the team thought so highly of their potential for 2011, is what got the team down after being rattled by Detroit. A couple of ugly wins against the vikings and colts, the top two worst teams in the league, slightly kept the confidence-plane in the air, but after losing to Chicago, the team lost confidence going into the meanest stretch any team has faced all season, and the season was over before it ever began. The entire season, while an utter disappointment to everyone who expected so much, so soon, shouldn't have people calling for heads, such as is the case for head coach Raheem Morris. The smart thing for this organization to do, is go into the offseason WITH Morris. Let him and Dom have one more draft, with a top five pick, let the team spend the entire offseason working on GROWING UP, throw in a few key veteran FA's, and this team could VERY WELL see a turnaround just like they saw last year when the team went 10-6.

If you sit back and look at last season, most of the problems back then are the same now. Lucky for use teams didn't know much about Williams or Blount on offense. Also we had a great 3rd down back in Caddy. Other than the lack of effort by some players, these problems were just waiting to be surfaced. Other than drafting this organization done very little to fill out the problem gaps.

On a side note. Around two years ago Ray Lewis said the Colts would be a below average football without Manning. When you look at that organization now, you can see how they also failed at filling in problem areas. Now they are going to draft Luck and put everything on his shoulders. Just me ranting now.

[SWAGGANEER]

In regards to the OP, I disagree. I think the ownership and GM set the tone when they didn't spend money in FA. While the Eagles were saying ''we can win it,'' the Bucs were saying we won 10, but don't get used to it. Now the Eagles have had a bad year, but are battling back. The Bucs? Humiliating themselves and their fanbase. You can't say ''we're not good enough'' and then hope later they WILL be good enough. You didn't make the mental commitment. And all season, the Bucs have resembled a TEAM that didn't make a mental commitment either.

I bet you won't be saying this after the Eagles have a full offseason together. Their D is starting to turn things around and will dominate next year, guarantee it.

[alldaway]

No, Raheem has been given ample time to keep this team competitive.   Dom has probably one more off season for a last shot.

Plain and simple franchise QB's get the job done regardless of how bad their team's defense is... Look at Tom Brady he plays with a worst defense than us, yet he has his team the number 1 seed. Peyton Manning also shows how he carried a really bad Colts team year in and year out... Aaron Rodgers is playing with a bad defense as well... True franchise QB's get the job done no matter what their defense does...

Those QB's don't have bad players on offense.

For years Brady and Manning made their players look better than they actually were

That isn't true based on what we know.

Colts are 1-13 this year, so yes it is very true based on what we know

Marvin Harrison is still a Pro Bowl player on another team.

[scale36]

Plain and simple franchise QB's get the job done regardless of how bad their team's defense is... Look at Tom Brady he plays with a worst defense than us, yet he has his team the number 1 seed. Peyton Manning also shows how he carried a really bad Colts team year in and year out... Aaron Rodgers is playing with a bad defense as well... True franchise QB's get the job done no matter what their defense does...

Would love for you to actually do some research on your comments. Look at the first 3 to 4 years of the best qb's in the leauge and let me know how they managed. Give you a little hint not good. But I should not be surprised by someone that has proclaimed someone hall of famer after 7 games. Lets see how teblow does next year! Freeman is 23 years old way to early to write off.

http://www.nfl.com/player/drewbrees/2504775/careerstats
http://www.nfl.com/player/peytonmanning/2501863/careerstats
http://www.nfl.com/player/elimanning/2505996/careerstats
http://www.nfl.com/player/elimanning/2505996/careerstats