Physical, 2nd-half road wins over Seattle and New Orleans spoke volumes about the team not giving up and gave the team the closest thing to a violent, physical identity that Raheem proclaimed before the year. That’s the positive I will take with me…along with the inception of what I hope becomes a great career for Josh Freeman.

The uncertainty and in-season firings of the coordinators and changing systems led to chaos and made the front office look a little silly in some people’s eyes. They have the chance to change that perception this season, with all coaches/coordinators/systems seemingly set in place.

The fact that they never seemed to give up. The great wins over Green Bay, Seattle and especially New Orleans – ending the Bucs curse. Josh Freeman emerging as a potential franchise QB.

That, and seeing the Bucs at Wembley.

Cadillac making it through the season. Tanard Jackson also had a great season.

And over green bay too… Tasted so sweet!

Spurlock coming back with a punt return for a TD

I think I’ll remember the wave of apathy that washed over me in December last season. It was the first time in a long time that I had to sit by and watch my team play meaningless games. It’s a feeling that I won’t soon forget and I hope I don’t have to live through it again anytime soon. I’ll remember almost throwing my remote through my TV screen when they announced Freeman’s name last year, and then cheering his name in the victory vs. Green Bay. Proving that not even I can be right all the time.

I’ll remember openly questioning whether Raheem Morris is fit to coach youth football, much less an NFL team after poor clock management and idiotic challenges gave me fits. I’ll remember openly calling for Greg Olson to be shown the door and wondering why he seemed to evade any criticism for the poor performance of the offense. Someone will be eating crow after this season, and I’ll be the first to admit that I hope that someone is me.

I’ll remember watching in amazement as we beat the eventual super bowl champions on their home field (albeit with a limited roster) and beating the poop out of Seattle. I’ll remember thinking to myself that Jon Gruden was laughing his ass off all the way to the bank throughout 2009, and I’ll remember thinking that part of me couldn’t blame him. The sad thing is that the things I’ll remember most, are the same things I wish I could forget.

were overshadowed by the bad. The firing of Gruden, the poorly handled release of Buc’s icons, the trading of Gaines Adams (rip) officially signifying his status as a draft bust…there were good things, foundations hopefully laid, but this to me was a year to remember the decade or so before this one, to appreciate the good to great teams we got to enjoy, even when they were defensive 6-3 win variety, or snow capped disappointment in a playoff game. I will remember I suppose that this year was a transition year for me as well as the team, a year for me to put the great past behind me, get over the sweet bitterness of it, and be able to look forward to a new beginning.

The throwback game was really fun. At that point we were all worried we had a Detroit Lions situation on our hands and it was a big relief to get the first one. It was also the best crowd of the year and those orange uni’s looked beautiful. + the ring of honor was cool
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I live in Seattle and I called that the Bucs would beat the Hawks before the season even started. My coworker took the bet and then the season started. And we didn’t do too well, and said coworker began talking smack. And I let him, knowing we had a great chance of beating Seattle out here. Sure enough, we spanked them (Caddy was looking great that Sunday) and I went into to work with a huge smile on my face.