Bear Goggles On » Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Reader’s Mock Draft – Tampa Bay Buccaneers are On the Clock

Boomer — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:09:02 +0000

Dec 9, 2012; Tampa FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Eagles won 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are next up in our Reader’s Mock draft as we push forward creating our very own Mock Draft with only weeks left before the real deal. The Bucs were one of the big player’s in last season’s free agency when they added a few big name players like Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks. They haven’t been nearly that active this offseason and it looks like they’ll try to improve on last season’s 7-9 team through the draft. (more…)

Bears Make a Trade-Price is Right!

Keith Schultz — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:47:33 +0000

Oct 23, 2011; London, ENGLAND; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Brian Price (92) in the NFL International Series game against the Chicago Bears at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The Chicago Bears on the first day of training camp practice wheeled and dealed to aquire DT Brian Price formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccanneers. The price to aquire Brian is rumored to be a 7th round draft pick. Price was a 2nd round pick in 2010 out of UCLA.

Price is a calculated risk by Phil Emery because his health is a possible question. He has had a hamstring injury since summer conditioning programs for the Bucs. He played in 15 games last season collecting 24 tackles and 3 sacks. Price has started 14 games in his career.

The move increases the Bears roster to 90, and adds some NFL experience to the Defensive Tackle position that is pretty young behind starters Henry Melton and Matt Toeaina. If all the Bears gave up is a 7th round pick this will not be a huge loss if he flops, and could be a nice lift if he succeeds.

Bart’s Best – Week 12 Top Plays

Boomer — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:58:17 +0000

Next week, I’m heading to Las Vegas, so I’ll be posting Bart’s Best from the City of Sin. Going into this week, I’m 22-22. If that streak continues, I’ll be handing Vegas 10% of whatever I bet, so I need to make sure that I tip the scales in the win column. Chances are that I will because most games I lose are the Bears and I think I’m done making that mistake. However, the Bears are playing the Rams next week -so I may be a little tempted.

Speaking of the Bears, I was at the game last week and I was so highly disturbed by their offense. I wish I tallied how many times they ran their offense with the exact same formation (2 receivers on 1 side, 1 on the other with the TE in tight). It was seriously about 90% of the time. How about some trips? 5 Wide Receiver sets? Something, Turner, give the Offense a chance. Pick routes, flood some zones…something? Please? Sorry about the Seattle pick last week, that was just a bad call. 2-2 on the week last week. On to Week 12:

Bengals -13 vs Browns – Seems like Vegas was a little too excited about the Browns scoring explosion last week in Detroit and a little down on Cinci with their poor showing in Oakland. It is weeks like those that help keep spreads nice like these.

Texans +3 vs Colts – You know, I always pick good upsets and never add them to Bart’s Best. I think that this is the week that the Colts undefeated season goes down and I’m willing to make it a Bart’s Best pick. (I think the Saints are going to lose too by the way).

Falcons -12 vs Tampa Bay – I don’t quite understand the 12 point spread and usually I’ll stay away from it (other spreads I don’t like such as-4.5 or -5). However, Tampa is a bad team and the Falcons really need this one. The Falcons will have 17-21 points by the first half.

Vikings -10.5 vs Bears – until something changes, I don’t even believe they can cover 10.5. Sad. Very sad day. Division rival game and I still don’t think it is going to be close. Prove me wrong Bears! Prove me wrong!

Bart’s Best – Week 11 Top Plays

Boomer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:22:14 +0000

Well, another sub-500 week for me (1-2). However, I’m sure a lot of you struggled in your confidence pools, survival pools etc with all of the recent odd games. I don’t have alot of time because I’m writing this post in a public library – my home internet is down. I believe my current record is exactly 0.500 – I’ll have to check next week. That said, it is time to start picking it up down the stretch.

New Orleans -11 @ Tampa Bay – The Saints haven’t exactly been marching me to the real or fantasy bank lately, but sometimes you have to keep riding the wave. There are some teams that you just have to play all year because in the long run, you’ll end up on the positive side. I’ve chosen the Saints to be that team.

Seattle +10.5 @ Minnesota – This is just more of a hunch than anything. Minnesota is on cruise control. Every once in awhile when that is happening, something out of the blue comes up to rattle your confidence. The Seahawks will keep this one close – around a touchdown – so I’ll take the points.

Tennessee +4.5 @ Texans – These teams are both steadily improving. I am actually looking forward to watching this game because I think it is going to be a close one. Tennessee has picked up with my old favorite at the helm (Vince Young) and my fantasy WR stud Andre Johnson will be on the other side. In a coin toss game – I’ll take 4.5 points.

Eagles @ Bears +3 – Man oh man – this one has a weird positive feel to it. All things point to the Bears getting crushed – and the line is 3? This game has the feel of the Bears rising up out of the ashes to extend our hope for one more week. The Bears win this one and then go and lose a stupid one in Minnesota. That’s my guess, so I’ll go with it.

Season Total 20-20

Bart’s Best – Week 9 Top Plays

Boomer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:39:30 +0000

Again, sometimes you just have to be content with a .500 week if you’re a betting grinder. I ended up 2-2 last week bringing my season total to 18-14. However, watching alot of those games come in last week always makes you second-guess yourself for not taking certain games.

Notice the last paragraph was italicized. If it seems familiar, it’s because I just left it from last week because the same damn thing happened this week. The only difference is this – I didn’t realize how bad Seattle has gotten and I never could have imagined that a high school team (Browns) are allowed to play in the NFL (sorry high school football – don’t want to insult you). Honestly, I’ll still find ways to pick against Dallas throughout the season that will play better. Time to start loading up against these bad teams – because they are really bad. Can’t be scared of those big spreads anymore. Oh well, on to Week 9:

Falcons -10 vs Washington – Washington – Bad! I know that they are coming off of a bye and they’ve had 2 weeks to prepare. I know that Atlanta gave everything they had to try to fight the Saints on Monday Night. The Falcons need this one after a tough loss and have the offensive firepower to open this one up early making Washington one-dimensional. Once that happens – open the floodgates – 10 pts easy. (more…)

Bart’s Best – Week 8 Top Plays

Boomer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:25:10 +0000

Again, sometimes you just have to be content with a .500 week if you’re a betting grinder. I ended up 2-2 last week bringing my season total to 16-12. However, watching a lot of those games come in last week always makes you second-guess yourself for not taking certain games. I originally stayed away from New England because you never know how traveling to another country can throw off a team. Then after the game started, I thought, okay – they both had to travel and New England is like….28 points better than Tampa. Dang! I jumped off the Jets bandwagon a week before so I couldn’t bet on them again – even if they were playing Oakland. I was the only one who picked Houston in my confidence pool, yet didn’t have enough confidence to pull the trigger in making them my pick for the week. (Notice: no comment about the Bears) Oh well, on to Week 8: (more…)

Bart’s Best – Week 6 Top Plays

Boomer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:17:18 +0000

When “betting,” I don’t know which which is harder to deal with, winning early and then losing or losing first and then winning. Either way, I ended up 2-2 last week, but I hate starting out positive (KC & DEN) and then losing in the late games (NE & NYJ). I’m still not a Denver believer, I’m sorry. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Kyle Orton hater. I liked him at Purdue and he did what he could do for the Bears. But seriously, New England, bring all of your defenders up within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage and you don’t have to cover past that. Kyle still can’t throw deep or on the run. Let me give you their playbook: slants, 5 and outs, 10 and outs, curls, screens. Denver’s offense will nickel and dime you to death – which has worked for now, but as soon as a Defensive Coordinator figures it out, you won’t see those W’s stacking. Can you tell I’m a little angry about that one? On to WEEK 6: (more…)

Chicago Branch of Dungy Coaching Tree

Boomer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:12:00 +0000

Lovie Smith’s close friend and mentor Tony Dungy announced his retirement as Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. Dungy gave Smith his first NFL coaching experience when he hired him as a Linebackers coach for Tampa Bay. The close friends crossed paths in an historic matchup in Super Bowl XLI, when Dungy became the first African-American Head Coach to win a Super Bowl. Lovie’s comments from the Chicago Bears website:

“I’m happy for Tony and his family, but sad for our league because we are losing one of the all-time great coaches,” Smith said. “He is one of the modern-day pioneers of our game. His résumé includes achievements no other NFL head coach has accomplished, which I’m sure will lead to a spot in the Hall of Fame. And as great of a coach as he is, he’s an even better person.

“I owe Tony a lot. I would not be in my position today if it wasn’t for him providing me with an opportunity and mentorship. I learned a tremendous amount of football in my time with Tony in Tampa and made a friend for life. I’m proud to be a member of his coaching tree.”

I was able to find some cool NFL Films footage with the Dungy Coaching Tree on the www.nfl.com. Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. Part 4 is a tad bittersweet as it highlights Super Bowl XLI as the crowning achievement of the Dungy Coaching Tree. I’d like to think the crowning achievement is yet to come for the Chicago Branch of the Dungy Coaching Tree.

BEAR DOWN!!!