OR
As a kid growing up a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan since the inaugural year of 1976 I have loved the creamsicle orange and the swashbuckler logo. In 1997 when they changed to the pewter and orange with the skull and cross bones I was devastated! Now Nike Inc. is steeping in and changing all of the NFL with its new contract and I guess we are staying with the pewter with skulls and cross bones! They even have elevated the look to the gloves (a cool touch) and the socks!
The team has given me many years of great pride in having a team to root for that not always won but, they had heart trying.
 |
| James Wilder |
I have been witness to James Wilder the running back that never really received his dues against the greats of the game but as a Buc I loved him. The punishing running back in pewter that was just a grunt away from getting in the end zone was fan favorite Mike Alstott. A back with some acrobats to watch was quick footed Warrick Dunn small in size but electric with the ball. Today we see a back that loves to jump players in LaGarrett Blount a highlight reel that could emerge if he can put it all together and stay healthy!
 |
| LeGarrett Blount |
The quarterback play has had it's ups and downs. The drafting in 1985 and releasing of a left handed kid Steve Young who won Super Bowl and ended his career a Hall of Famer but not in a creamsicle uniform. We did have some talent throughout the years.
 |
| Steve Young |
 |
| Doug Williams |
Doug Williams another Super Bowl winning quarterback with another team did get us our first playoff win, if it wasn't for the Los Angeles Rams we would have been in the Super Bowl. The quarterback that did win a Super Bowl in pewter was Brad Johnson a team that had great defense needed a quarterback to stabilize the offense and he did all the way to the Lombardi Trophy.
 |
| Brad Johnson |
The wide receiver in creamsicle that is always talked about with all the pirates and swords is Mark Carrier, a receiver that caught for 5,018 in his 5 years with the team in an era when rushing was the way to win ball games and before the ticky tacky pass interference of today's game is applied.
 |
| Mark Carrier |
Taking on the enigmatic personalities was the way to go into the Y2K era adding first Keyshawn Johnson then Joey Galloway both put up almost 4,000 yards as Buccaneer. But, today we have big Mike Williams a player that went through the sophomore slump in 2011, after 11 td's in 2011 he came back with 3 in 2011 and the hopes of being a #1 in jeopardy so they went out in free agency and picked up unrestricted Vincent Jackson to spread the offense and create space for the rest of the receivers.
 |
| Vincent Jackson (Far Left) |
The tight end, the new get rich position that is getting all the stir in the new look NFL, where the dink and dunk mentality, west coast offense and running quarterbacks that can't get it down field just love would have salivated over 239lbs and 6'3" Jimmie Giles.
 |
| Jimmie Giles |
The eight and half year Buccaneer creamsicle wearer with 4 time pro bowls blocked like no other for the swashbucklers, but disputes with contract and a holdout with coaches led to a benching and later release to the USFL. A buccaneers loss that could have produced the one of the best tight end in history.
The 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have Kellen Winslow as their prime tight end but in the 2012 Draft they may be looking to do what all of the NFL is doing adding depth and maybe a two tight end set offense?
 |
| Kellen Winslow |
Wait! Wait! The true reason I became a Buccaneer fan in 1976 was the Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon and Dewey Selmon both from the University of Oklahoma where I am from even though I am an Oklahoma State University Cowboys fan staying with the orange theme?
 |
| Lee Roy Selmon |
 |
| Dewey Selmon |
The brothers who went from crimson and cream looked great in the light orange and were everything to the defense in my eyes in the beginning of the knife welding swashbuckler and the intensity needed to play defense. The all-time Bucs leader in sacks and 9 year vet paved the way for the team to build on a defensive mind set that has been its mantra through the years.
The Selmon brothers were predecessors to the great defensive players second in all time sacks Warren Sapp who showed his presence in the Super Bowl XXXVII win. Ronde Barber the agless one is still at it after deciding to come back in 2012 for his 16th season and team reacord 225 games played and looking to add to that and his 1337 tackles second all time.
 |
| Warren Sapp |
 |
| Ronde Barber |
The change from creamsicle to pewter didn't only play out on the field the cheerleaders were also affected! I wonder if the change in player uniforms will change the look of the cheerleaders like it has in the past.
Nike the ball is in your court or on your field!
So choose your flag and comment on you you like the best!
Click on player and team links for great tidbits!
