A Look at a Buccaneers Mount Rushmore

Yahoo Sports is currently running a feature with the teams of the National Hockey League, highlighting the faces of each franchise that would earn them spots on a theoretical Mount Rushmore. I thought it would be fun to create one for the Buccaneers, with the assumption it will spark interesting debate.

Lee Roy Selmon: The first draft choice ever made by the Buccaneers, the former Oklahoma sooner devastated opposing offensive lines for the 9 professional seasons he played in Tampa. He was absolutely crucial for the Buccaneers revival in the late 70’s and early 80’s, culminating in their appearance in the 1979 NFC Championship Game. He was vital to turning a losing culture around, albeit for a short period of time. His Hall of Fame induction in 1995 is a testament to how great of a player he really was.

Malcolm Glazer: The owner of the team since 1995, Mr. Glazer revitalized the entire franchise. He immediately dedicated himself and his resources into modernizing the team off the field and making them competitive on it. Although he has come under fire recently, the bottom line is that he oversaw the revival of a franchise that was completely dead and helped the club become perennial playoff contenders for the better part of the decade. He upgraded and updated every aspect of the franchise, creating a winning culture that had not existed prior to his arrival.

Warren Sapp: In his prime, he was one of the most dominant defensive-lineman in league history. Like Selmon, Sapp made life a living hell for offensive lineman (usually not in the Chad Clifton sense), and loved getting under the opposition’s skin. His 98.5 sacks rank second all time among defensive tackles, and is one of the most adored Buccaneers of all time. 

Derrick Brooks: The definition of an outside Cover-2 linebacker. Fast, explosive, with unparalleled instincts, Brooks was key to the Buccaneers hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Again, he is considered one of the best players of all time at his position. All of the accolades aside (and he has many), he was and continues to be an exceptional citizen off the field, with his ongoing charity efforts. Derrick Brooks is a consummate professional, and I feel honored and proud to be a Buccaneers fan because he wore that uniform.

I know I could have limited this to players, but the role Malcolm Glazer played in the advancement of this franchise cannot be understated. I feel these would be the four faces that make up a Buccaneers Mount Rushmore. Let the debate begin!