Who should be the next Ring of Honor inductee for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Last week we asked when the throwback game should be held, and overwhelmingly you seem to think the Week 4 Monday Night Football game against the Indianapolis Colts would be the perfect time to whip out the creamsicles. But with the return of the orange uniforms also comes the return of the Ring of Honor, and the next addition to that ring. The first two inductees were Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon and the first head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, John McKay. These are the options I can see, let me know in the comments if you want to see someone else included in the poll. Who should be the next inductee?
Derrick Brooks: Officially retired last offseason. Spent his entire career - 14 years - in a Bucs uniform, starting 208 consecutive regular season games, a franchise record. He made 11 Pro Bowls, was named a First-Team All-Pro 6 times and Second-Team All-Pro 3 times, also named to the 2000s All-Decade Team. He was the NFL Defensive MVP in 2002, the Bucs' Super Bowl Season. He was perhaps the most important player in the Bucs' Tampa 2 defense. He was incredibly fast, a hard-hitting tackler and a great coverage linebacker. Off the field he was as highly regarded as any other player. A true franchise icon.
Doug Williams: If the Buccaneers are trying to do this chronologically, Doug Williams is the next logical addition. He was the Bucs' first franchise QB, who put up impressive numbers despite having a poor supporting cast. He spent five years with the Bucs, when owner Hugh Culverhouse refused to offer him a fair contract. Williams left for the USFL, and won Super Bowl MVP with the Redskins when he returned. He's not the most storied player in franchise history, but the Bucs collapsed quickly when he left. In the 2000s he returned to the Bucs in a front office role, but his contract was allowed to expire after the 2009 season. Williams and the Bucs may not be on the best of terms, which would get in the way of his induction.
Paul Gruber: The Bucs' best offensive linemen, starting all 12 of his seasons from 1988 to 1999 for a total of 183 games. Never made the Pro Bowl and he was never named an All-Pro (despite wikipedia's insistence that he was), but was certainly deserving of those honors. He was a terrific left tackle who could shut down the best defensive ends in pass protection, and he was a powerful drive blocker as well. One of the very best Buccaneers.
Hardy Nickerson: Nicknamed The Dragon, Nickerson was the heart of the Bucs defense from 1993 to 1999. He made 5 Pro Bowls, was named All-Pro four times and was named to the 1990s All-Decade Team. One of the very few star players who dared come to Tampa in free agency in the Culverhouse era, he was the first building block of what would later become a great defense. The best Middle Linebacker in Bucs' history.
Mike Alstott: A fan favorite, the A-Train was a punishing runner, a good lead blocker and a capable receiver out of the backfield. He spent 12 seasons in Tampa, making 6 Pro Bowls and being named All-Pro four times.
Warren Sapp: One of the most important players in the Bucs' Tampa 2 defense, and one of the greatest defensive tackles in league history. Sapp was the prototypical 3-technique tackle: big, strong and incredibly quick. At his peak he was routinely triple-teamed and still found a way to make an impact on the field. He made 7 Pro Bowls, was named First-Team All-Pro four times and Second-Team All-Pro twice. He was named to both the 1990s and the 2000s All-Decade team. Sapp won NFL Defensive MVP in 1999. He has 77 sacks as a Buccaneer, and sacked the quarterback 16.5 times in 2000. Sapp left in free agency to the Oakland Raiders after the 2003 season, when the Bucs failed to re-sign him.
James Wilder: Wilder may be the Bucs' best running back. He has the most rushing yards in Bucs' history, as well as the most receptions. He had one year in which he was incredible: In 1984 he carried the ball a ridiculous 407 times for 1,544 yards and added 85 receptions 685 yards. He made the Pro Bowl and was named a First-Team All-Pro for his performance that season. While he never again came close to that workload in a single season, he remained an important part of the Bucs offense over his entire career, as a lead blocker, a third-down back and situational running back. James Wilder never played for a good team, but he was always a good player.
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I’ve heard other people say this too, but his jersey really isn’t retired. That ceremony was just sort of a tribute to him after he retired. I still have my Alstott bobblehead A-train from that night. Selmon’s 63 is still the only # that the Bucs have retired, though.
Anyway, I voted for Brooks. Not only is he the most deserving, but the franchise owes it to him after pushing him out the way they did.
by Smoke a Blount on Jul 10, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I would have liked to see James Wilder on that list...
because between 1982-1985 he WAS the Bucs – practically all by himself
Good point
Great running back for a couple of seasons, and a good fullback/situational runner for the rest of his long career
Without a doubt
Derrick Brooks…Started a school for special kids..Does so much for the community. No doubt who I would vote for…
Coach Steve Tucker
www.football-tutorials.com
by CoachSteveTucker on Jul 10, 2011 2:31 PM EDT reply actions
What is this?
A school for ants?
"No man ever achieved worthwhile success who did not, at one
time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging
well over the brink of failure."
-Napoleon Hill
I voted Wilder
Too soon for Derrick. You do Derrick this year then you’re looking at Sapp, Lynch and Barber in the following years. Before too long we’ll be retiring jerseys of players still on our roster. Not a question of whether Derrick deserves it or not, he clearly does, but he’s only been off the team for two years.
Am I going MAD, or did the word "think" escape your lips?
Add....
I think adding Ricky Bell to the conversation would be nice. he was one of the biggest factors in the 1979 season. Plus he unfortunately died of heart failure due to dermatomyositis. He was the reason we won our very first playoff game. I think he should be before Doug Williams. After him, Doug then Wilder, Nickerson, and so on.
I don't think Ricky Bell did nearly enough to warrant being in the conversation
He tragically died at a young age, but he played just 5 years for the Bucs and didn’t really do much. He had one good year, and was a non-factor in every other year.
Agreed...
he will forever be know as the the guy that was taken instead of Tony Dorsett.
Oops.
by Cracker Ball on Jul 11, 2011 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Technically he had two good years
He was on pace to reach 1,000 yards in 1978 when he got injured in the middle of the year. But your point I concede. His body of work was not big enough and I do not think he was solely responsible for the miracle 1979 season. Jerry Eckwood was a bigger factor during the teams’ 5-0 start, and a #1 defense did wonders that season. Doug Williams proved to be a strong leader as well and Jimmie Giles was impressive that year. Bell did not carry the 1979 team in my opinion.
I voted for Alstott. For years the A-Train provided a punishing running style that just grinded the opponents down. Derrick Brooks probably deserves it a little more as he’s one of the greatest LBs, not just one of the great Bucs, but I don’t think Brooks has really been retired long enough that he should be truly eligible for something like the Ring of Honor.
Alstott has been out….what, 4 years now? 5? I’d want someone to be retired 5 years, similar to the Hall of Fame’s requirements, but even if he’s only been out 4 years I’d still like to see him make it and his number retired. The big guy deserves it, he was one of the best power runners in the NFL for years.
Agree but
I would still like to see Wilder recognized before he is forgotten altogether. Here was a Buccaneer RB that gave Eric Dickerson a run for an NFL record. He literally carried the offense for a couple of years, which shortened his career. That sacrifice should be honored.
Gruber
While I like all the players on the list, Gruber gets my vote. He is by far the most overlooked of the great Buc players of all time. He was a ROCK!! Played during the Buc’s “lean” years, ergo no pro-bowls. But was also a cornerstone of the "new’ Bucs with the hiring of Dungy. When I think of “GREAT” Buc players only 3 come to the top of my list. Brooks, Selmon, and Gruber.
yep
The Bucs ring of honor is more for players like Gruber than others. Brooks will be a first ballot hall of famer, and I think Lynch, Sapp, and Barber will all make their way to Canton. Gruber is a guy who gave everything to the Bucs and outside of Tampa will hardly be known. I voted Gruber because chronologically he would come before Alstott.
I stick with my vote on Wilder
But I agree with your post. It is important we give a great unknown (outside of Tampa) his due. Put Gruber and Wilder in together next year!

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