The TB Buccaneer Defense from 1997 - 2007
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2021 2:09 pm
With the modern finalists announced for possible induction into the HOF Class of 2021, its time to focus on two teammates who could be voted in ...
Ronde Barber and John Lynch.
Lynch has waited patienty, being a former finalist with bites at the apple, while Barber becomes a first-time finalist.
Both are deserving and Lynch might be finally voted in, which would be appropriate considering SB weekend is in TB but it would put focus on another subject ...
Just how good was that Buccaneer defense with Lynch and Barber ?
This defense helped the Bucs win one championship, yet four members could be elected to the HOF, with Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, already elected.
Left out of the discussion of course, is MLB Hardy Nickerson, who left for free agency before the team won its championship but was outstanding. Did a slow start with the Steelers or free agency with Jacksonville, torpedo his chances ? Or did Brooks and Sapp overshadow his play ?
The Bucs had another good, tough player in CB Donnie Abraham, who had an above average career and left for free agency as well, helping Barber become a great player.
Then there is Simeon Rice, an excellent pass rusher who was a semifinalist last year. He wasnt nearly the player in Arizona before joining the Bucs. Will he get elected in the future ?
Had this team won two or three championships, I would say yes, even perhaps to Rice and Nickerson but they didnt, despite this accoladed defense.
Meanwhile, the Bill Arnsparger defense from the no-name years of Miami, that went to three consecutive SBs, has just ONE member elected ... Buoniconti. The skill positions on their offense, including Griese, Warfield and Czonka overcrowd perhaps teammates like Scott, Anderson and Kuechenberg from possibly getting voted in.
The Bucs had RBs, Dunn and Alstott on offense and that was pretty much it.
With Zack Thomas also on the ballot, he could join teammate, Jason Taylor in the HOF ... one more Dolphin than the team from the 70s.
Without the championships of course ...
Ronde Barber and John Lynch.
Lynch has waited patienty, being a former finalist with bites at the apple, while Barber becomes a first-time finalist.
Both are deserving and Lynch might be finally voted in, which would be appropriate considering SB weekend is in TB but it would put focus on another subject ...
Just how good was that Buccaneer defense with Lynch and Barber ?
This defense helped the Bucs win one championship, yet four members could be elected to the HOF, with Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, already elected.
Left out of the discussion of course, is MLB Hardy Nickerson, who left for free agency before the team won its championship but was outstanding. Did a slow start with the Steelers or free agency with Jacksonville, torpedo his chances ? Or did Brooks and Sapp overshadow his play ?
The Bucs had another good, tough player in CB Donnie Abraham, who had an above average career and left for free agency as well, helping Barber become a great player.
Then there is Simeon Rice, an excellent pass rusher who was a semifinalist last year. He wasnt nearly the player in Arizona before joining the Bucs. Will he get elected in the future ?
Had this team won two or three championships, I would say yes, even perhaps to Rice and Nickerson but they didnt, despite this accoladed defense.
Meanwhile, the Bill Arnsparger defense from the no-name years of Miami, that went to three consecutive SBs, has just ONE member elected ... Buoniconti. The skill positions on their offense, including Griese, Warfield and Czonka overcrowd perhaps teammates like Scott, Anderson and Kuechenberg from possibly getting voted in.
The Bucs had RBs, Dunn and Alstott on offense and that was pretty much it.
With Zack Thomas also on the ballot, he could join teammate, Jason Taylor in the HOF ... one more Dolphin than the team from the 70s.
Without the championships of course ...