Fan bloggers Jason De La Torre and Romando Williams will be regularly offering up their insight into their favorite team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in their blog titled From The Cheap Seats. De La Torre is a Bucs Blogger for NFL.com’s Blog Blitz, both are long-time Pewter Report subscribers, active participants on the PewterReport.com message boards and die-hard fans that are extremely knowledgeable about the game of football. In this edition of From The Cheap Seats, De La Torre talks about coach Morris as a master football psychologist.

You almost got me, Coach Morris. I have to admit, following the Bucs thrilling 14 point comeback against the St. Louis Rams, when you said “We’re the best in the NFC, yeah, I said it,” I was right there with Deion Sanders of the NFL Network.

Deion, after seeing the clip of your postgame press conference said, “Raheem, you must have lost your dang mind.”

I was in agreement with the local fishwrap guys who were falling all over themselves to challenge you with statistical rankings and opponent records.

Then, like the flaming bush to Moses, an epiphany hit and I instantly realized what you were doing.

You are one sly devil, Raheem Morris.

For those still bewildered, let me clue you in on what I think I know. I think Coach Rah knew exactly what he was doing when he proclaimed his Buccaneers the best in the NFC.

He knew for the first time this season, the NFL media would take notice of what’s going on down here in Tampa. He knew it would get those talking heads mentioning Tampa Bay in the same breath as the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, even if it had a negative connotation.

He knew his young team was starting to feel pretty good about itself and needed a big time dose of what the rest of the world truly thinks of them.

Like a master psychologist, he threw the comment out there because he knew it would be challenged. He knew the wags would fight among each other for who would be the first to call Raheem a dreamer.

He knew he’d be able to go to his football team and say, “You see – even after all you’ve already accomplished this season they still don’t believe in you. Let’s shove our success down their throats and make them eat their words.”

He also knew this football team may not quite know what to make of themselves. He knew they needed a belief that this isn’t some kind of fluke. This hasn’t been done with smoke and mirrors and yes, they just might be the best team in the NFC. If you want to get to that level you first have to get the belief that you can achieve it.

At the same time, you’re also letting a skeptical fanbase that masqueraded as 30,000 empty seats at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday know that while they may not have been happy with the move to rebuild, you better jump on board or you might miss something pretty darn special this year.

Whether the Bucs finish as the best team in the NFC, falter and fade, or simply round out a decent season a year or two ahead of the rebuilding schedule – Morris chose this moment to get his message across to the media, the fans, and his young football team.

I like it.

You got the rest of them, coach Rah, but you didn’t get me.

Stay thirsty for Bucs football, my friends.