Sports Day Tampa Bay

The NFL Playoffs got underway and perhaps the games were underwhelming, but then again the best teams were on byes and we'll see them play next week. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones break down Marcus Mariotta making football plays, the Falcons showing the NFC South is tough, bad QB play from Buffalo-Jacksonville, and the Saints sweep the Panthers. The guys also preview tonight's National Championship game between Alabama and Georgia and they differ on their picks.

The NFL Playoffs get started this weekend and for the 10th straight season the Bucs will not be playing in them. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones break down the Bucs playoff drought that started before Barack Obama became President and how close they might be to breaking the skid next year. Plus the guys look at the 4 playoff games this weekend.

Jon Gruden to the Raiders looks like a done deal so how should Bucs fans react to his return to coaching and it isn't a return to the Bucs. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones break it down as well as looking at the other NFL coaching vacancies, possible firings to come and TJ Ward's arrest for felony marijuana possession.

Rick Stroud and Tom Jones discuss whether UCF got screwed out of a shot at the National Championship after beating Auburn in the Peach Bowl to finish undefeated. They also talk about the All-SEC Championship next week, what is the best way to hold a playoff, the Lightning's incredible statements they are making this year as Andre Vasilevskiy records another shutout on Tuesday night in Toronto, and John Lynch is a Hall of Fame Finalist again, what are his chances and how the entire process works.

The Bucs come from behind to beat the NFC South Division Champion Saints in the final game of the 2017 season showing Bucs fans what could have been this year. Jameis Winston struggled in the game but orchestrated a game winning drive for victory. Rick Stroud and Tom break down why Coach Dirk Koetter will be back in 2018 with games like today with a team that hasn't quit despite their record.

Will this Sunday be Dirk Koetter's last game as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Rick Stroud and Tom Jones break down the matchup with the Saints, what Dirk Koetter's future might be, DeSean Jackson's potential legal troubles after a car owned by him was found wrecked with weed and hollow tip bullets, predictions for Sunday's game, positives from the 2017 season, and some thoughts on the Tampa Bay Storm folding operations.

As 2017 winds down we give our 2018 predictions on who wins the College Football Championship, the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, who will coach the Bucs, who will the Rays trade, how many wins will the college teams get and will Jameis Winston be suspended. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones also pick their 2017 story of the year and sports person of the year.

The Bucs lost to the Panthers on Sunday to drop to 4-11 on the season but there were some fireworks in the Locker Room after the game as Jameis Winston and Kwon Alexander were upset with Chris Baker after he takes an offsides penalty giving Carolina a late first down on 4th-and-3. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones breakdown what this means for the Bucs, Jameis Winston, and Dirk Koetter whose future is up in the air as he admits it's a distraction down the stretch.

The Bucs lose to the Panthers on Christmas Eve in another close game that they could've have, perhaps should've won, and now their record is 4-11 with one game left to play. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones break down the game in which Jameis Winston played well but turned the ball over 3 times as the Bucs seem to find ways to beat themselves each week. Plus the Jon Gruden rumors are getting hotter that he may want to return to coaching and is reaching out to potential assistants for interest.

It's a football Friday as the Bucs prepare to take on the Panthers on Christmas Eve with a depleted roster as the injuries are mounting. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones break down the matchup and discuss whether there is concern over Vernon Hargreaves play this year, what is the ceiling for OJ Howard and the future of Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter with the Bucs. The guys also look at some key NFL matchups including the Saints-Falcons.

A horrible day in Raysville as the Tampa Bay Rays trade the franchise's best player Evan Longoria to the San Francisco Giants. While it was inevitable, it doesn't take the sting away from the day that feels like the Rays are throwing in the white flag and starting over, although they won't say it. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones discuss if December 20, 2017 go down in infamy for this franchise and how will the Rays fans react moving forward through a rebuild while trying to get a new stadium.

Gerald McCoy is a Pro Bowler for the 6th straight year, one behind Warren Sapp in Bucs franchise history. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones discuss just how good Gerald McCoy is as he's done all this on some bad teams with very little help on the defensive line. Plus as good as Gerald is on the field, he's even better off it. The guys also discuss the official slipping on Monday night trying to set the football, Doug Martin's rule violation, Lane Kiffin's coaching job at FAU and College Signing Day.

The Bucs lose a close game on Monday Night to the Falcons in one of Jameis Winston's best performances of his career to date. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones break down what happened including how running back fumbles decided the game, an official slipped costing the Bucs another play to get closer for a field goal, the Bucs lose 10 players to injury and only 1 returned and Jameis was controlled in the pocket. The guys also talk about Jon Gruden's induction into the Ring of Honor and the chances he could become the Bucs next head coach.

Jon Gruden will be inducted into the Bucs Ring of Honor Monday Night but could it be more than just that as the Glazers may be looking for a new head coach come January. Rick Stroud and Tom Jones discuss whether Gruden would coach the Bucs again as Rick visited with him on Saturday. The guys also discuss what is a catch in the NFL as a Steelers touchdown was overturned as the receiver failed to control the ball all the way to the ground helping lead the Patriots to a win and likely home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Rick and Tom discuss whether Dirk Koetter is fighting for his job the last 3 weeks of season, is there a rift between he and Jameis Winston, has Winston shown enough progress this year, and who are the Glazers getting input from on any decisions moving forward. Plus the guys discuss some key matchups in the NFL including New England-Pittsburgh, Green Bay-Carolina, and Baltimore-Cleveland. The guys also celebrate the start of Bowl season on Saturday as Rick's Arkansas State is in action.