Sunday, Sep. 07, 2008

History is against Bucs this season

Jeff Garcia's right pinkie hurts. Welcome to 2008.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers begin defense of their NFC South title this afternoon in the Louisiana Superdome against the New Orleans Saints, a team thought by some to be the favorite to win the division this season.

The goal, of course, is the Super Bowl, the ultimate game played this season in February at Raymond James Stadium, making for a nice homefield advantage should the Bucs advance that far.

Know this: No team whose home stadium was the site of the Super Bowl ever advanced that far.

Also, no NFC South champion has ever repeated.

Have at it, boys.

And Garcia has a jammed pinky on his throwing hand.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden doesn't think it will be a problem, and if you remember the way Garcia willed himself at times to keep playing, you have to think the pinkie won't be a problem.

Besides, Garcia has three capable running backs and a defense that is pretty good.

He also has another downfield target in Antonio Bryant, which might prove to be the biggest addition to the Bucs this season. Bryant will stop defenses from keying on Joey Galloway. The Bucs passing game might actually be exciting this year.

It was a long preseason for the Bucs, what with the Brett Favre watch, the Joey Galloway watch and the Chris Simms watch.

Favre never made it here, and Simms was finally and mercifully released.

Galloway is back.

No more watches, just time to watch.

Watch Derrick Brooks and the defense.

Watch the young offensive line.

Watch Garcia, bad pinky, sore calf, whatever, will the Bucs downfield.

This will be the third time the Bucs have tried to defend a division title. They are 0-2.

Their chances, though, may depend more on the Saints and the Carolina Panthers. It's no secret the Bucs won a division made soft last season by injuries in New Orleans and Carolina and one big arrest in Atlanta.

The Saints think they are better.

The Panthers think they are better.

The Bucs think they are better, too.

What we know is this: the Bucs are older in some spots, faster in others and more experienced across the board.

The answers will come later.

Today is one game on the road against a division rival.

"You can't ask for anything better," Bucs safety Jermaine Phillips said. "Football season is back, so you have to appreciate that."

Yes, we do. Welcome, 2008.