11. Buccaneers TE Jimmie Giles – 1978-1986

By Mark Cook

“As good as Giles was for the Buccaneers, he could have been even better. While he was a solid blocker, Giles strength was stretching the field, working the seam and as a red zone threat. The offensively challenged coaching staff early in Giles career wasn’t completely sure how to utilize the former Houston Oiler. Even former teammates of Giles felt that way. Receiver Gerald Carter once said, Giles could have been “one of the best all-time tight ends, if they’d used him more.”

Despite possibly not maxing out his potential, Giles is still one of the best players in franchise history and put up some tremendous career numbers, despite not playing in an era of 45 pass attempts a game like we see today. And certainly not in a era where tight ends were major receiving threats. Despite that, Giles is still the all-time leader in touchdown catches for the Bucs with 34, and collected 279 receptions for 4,300 yards as a Buc. Giles was a four-time Pro Bowler, and his name adorns the walls of Raymond James Stadium as a Ring of Honor inductee.

Cook’s Take: “Giles was one of Doug Williams favorite targets in the old orange and white days, and one of my fondest memories as a kid was watching No. 88 burning linebackers down the seam and seeing a well placed Williams pass hit Giles right in the mitts. For those that saw Giles play, you would have to say he may have had the softest hands on the team. Maybe in team history. That 1985 game down in the Orange Bowl that saw Giles catch a still team record four touchdown passes against Miami was one of the best single performances by a Bucs player I ever witnessed. Getting to know Jimmie post-career he is one of the nicest most humble former Bucs out there. The community is better with Jimmie Giles in it.”

The Greatest All-Time Buccaneers 6-10 will be released tomorrow on PewterReport.com.