The Continuing Saga of Tampa Bay Buccaneer Fan!

As my regular, ummm, reader knows from prior posts, the Buccaneers needed to cut 15 players before 4PM EST on Tuesday. They did so, with one more to boot (more on that later).

The headliner, the Tara Reid name you know in the direct to DVD horror flick filmed in Toronto, was Charlie Garner. Charlie Garner, who has Todd Steussie to thank for not being the Todd Steussie of the Gruden era.

Garner was brought on board in the empty, gluttonous 2004 offseason. He was one of Gruden's fishing buddies from Oaktown, and despite being 33 years old (ancient for a running back), coming off a major knee injury, and having a game predicated on speed and agility because of his substandard size (5'10, 190). Garner was given a 5 year, 19.7 million dollar contract (most of that in "funny money"), with a very unfunny 3.7 million dollar signing bonus. A running back was needed, mainly because of Michael Pittman's 3 game suspension to open the season (for playing bumper cars with his wife), but the league was shocked when Garner was given such a lucrative deal.

Long story short, Garner carried 33 times for 100 yards, before predictably blowing out his knee, again. He made $37,000 a yard in bonuses alone. And the team lost all three games anyway.

The only reason Todd Steussie is the Todd Steussie of the Gruden era is, Todd Steussie didn't have an injury to blame his flaming crapiness on. So I suppose he should send old Todd (who still has a job here) a Christmas card this year. With the $4 mil plus Jon Gruden gave him, he can afford a nice, Hallmarky one too.

The big positive here, besides yet another nail in the coffin of the Gruden era that is admitting another HUGE personnel gaff, is that the team obviously is very high on youngsters Derek "Lawrence Phillips Jr" Watson and Preseason Hall of Famer Earnest Graham.

Okay, enough of that. On to the other 15 cuts.

QB Jared Allen. I had written that he had already been cut by the team, weeks ago. That was actually true. I didn't realize he'd been resigned. Well, it doesn't matter, because he's been cut again.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means that Gruden wants to give plenty of reps to Luke McCown and Chris Simms in final practices of the preseason, to better determine the primary backup.

G Phil Bogle. The recently signed former Charger starter was a loser in a numbers game. Theres's actually a good chance he'll catch on somewhere.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The line is finally getting healthy, and there are enough warm bodies to start the season without him.

G Doug Buckles. Apparently, Buckles had an appendectomy in camp, which limited his ability to show what he can do.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Well, it means that it's tough to compete for a job in the NFL fresh off an appendectomy. Also, all that other stuff that applied to Bogle about the line getting healthy.

WR Chris Davis. He was pretty much a camp body this year, after spending 2004 on the Giants practice squad.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means he won't be the miracle no name who makes the final roster. It also means that our young drafted trio - Russell, Warren, and Brackins likely will.

DT Damian Gregory. He had a decent chance to make the team, but he injured his shoulder against the Dolphins. It's a shame, because there's a chance he could have contributed. Depending on the severity of the injury, he could be resigned at some point during the season.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means he was on the bubble as it was, and the shoulder injury popped it. It also means the team feels pretty good about Chris Hovan and the other project DTs.

LB Byron Hardmon. The former Florida Gator couldn't crack perhaps the deepest unit on the team.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It simply means that there are better options at OLB available to the team at this point.

FB Steve Kriewald. The bruising Husker back couldn't do enough to convince the team they needed another fullback.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means you'll see four running backs make the team, and it means you'll see a lot of Jameel Cook and some of Mike Alstott at FB.

WR Derrick Lewis. Despite making the active roster for a game last season - no mean feat - Lewis loses the numbers game.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? See Chris Davis. The young trio is progressing nicely, and there simply won't be room for one of these camp body types to crack the final roster, barring injury.

DT Lynn McGruder. Former OU standout simply did not have size, athleticism, or tools to play at this level. Though he reminded me a bit of Brad Culpepper, he simply lacked the motor to overcome his shortcomings.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Again, this is an indication that the team is happy with Chris Hovan, Ellis Wyms, and the other DTs on the roster.

DE Bryant McNeal. Former Bronoco bust looked like he had a fighting chance to make the team, but former 49er Andrew Williams (see below) seemed like a better option to the team.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means you can expect Josh Savage, and/or Andrew Williams will make the team. It also means he simply isn't going to recapture whatever made him a pass rushing terror in college.

LS Brian Sawyer. He was brought in when longsnapper Dave Moore broke his finger, to preform the longsnapping duties in practice and preseason games.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Well, obviously it means that Dave Moore's finger is feeling better.

RB Ian Smart. Smart, whose 25 yard scamper was a highlight last season, simply lost out to more physically gifted runners. Here's hoping he catches on somewhere else.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? I'd say it means you can count on Derek Watson AND Earnest Graham making the team. If one of the backs gets injured, though, I wouldn't be surprised if Smart's phone is the first to ring.

CB Ronyell Whitaker. Hardcore fans remember him as one of the "in over his head" rookies to see duty in the defensive backfield in 2003. Last year, the former Hokie spent his time on the practice squad.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It's encouraging, in that Whitaker is a player who could have contributed if there were major shortcomings at cornerback. Expect to see Juran Bolden, Torrie Cox, and another youngster on the final roster.

T Sam Wilder. Brought in by trade (!), the former Cowboy OT was made expendable by the return to health of several key linemen.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means Kenyatta Walker and Derrick Deese will be up to playing soon, and Chris Colmer is coming along. Still, I wish we hadn't traded a pick for this guy!

WR Kevin Youngblood. All the other comments about the wide receivers apply. Youngblood had a fighting chance because of his experience on the practice squad.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means this will probably be year 3 on the practice squad for Youngblood.

SO WHAT'S NEXT?
Well, between roster exemptions and the next wave of cuts, there are 23 guys who will be former Buccaneers come Saturday at 4PM. I'll surely have more info on who those guys might be sometime during the week.