2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On February 25, the Bucs cut five veteran players. Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Ike Hillard, Joey Galloway and Cato June were released. On the surprising release of Brooks, team co-chairman Bryan Glazer said, "The entire Tampa Bay community owes Derrick an indescribable measure of gratitude for all that he has meant over the last 14 years. His play on the field and leadership in the locker room helped resurrect our franchise, and we look forward to celebrating his certain enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

The team did add some players through free agency. Tight end Kellen Winslow, who played five seasons in Cleveland, running back Derrick Ward, who spent five years with the Giants, linebacker Angelo Crowell, was in Buffalo for five seasons, and quarterback Byron Leftwich, who played for Jacksonville, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. With the seventeenth overall selection in the draft, the Bucs selected quarterback Josh Freeman from Kansas State.

The Buccaneers returned to Tampa for training camp after seven summers in Orlando. The camp was held at the team's new complex across the street from Raymond James Stadium. Brian Griese would be cut before training camp began. Punter Josh Bidwell would miss the season due to hip surgery, so six-year journeyman Dirk Johnson was signed. A hamstring injury prevented Matt Bryant from kicking in the preseason, so he was cut and replaced by former New York Jets kicker Mike Nugent.

It was the big plays that ruined the debut of Raheem Morris at Raymond James Stadium. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo (16 of 27 for 353 yards) tossed three long touchdown passes, the longest going 80 yards to Patrick Crayton (4 catches for 135 yards). Byron Leftwich (25 of 41 for 276 yards) hooked up with Kellen Winslow for the first Buccaneers TD for both the QB and tight end. Cadillac Williams (97 yards rushing) ran for a score and Derrick Ward had his first Bucs TD. One Mike Nugent field goal was blocked and another attempt was wide. Morris said after the 34-21 loss, "I feel more positive than anything. We'll get better. We have no choice but get better."

This was the first time the Buccaneers had played a regular season game at Buffalo and the Bills jumped to a 17-0 lead after the first quarter. Trent Edwards (21 of 31 for 230 yards with an INT) threw a pair of long TD passes, Fred Jackson rushed for 163 yards and Donte Whitner returned a Byron Leftwich interception 76 yards for a score. Leftwich (26 of 50 for 296 yards with 2 INTs) did throw three TD passes, but thirteen Buccaneers penalties for 113 yards did not help. After a 33-20 defeat, Raheem Morris commented, "Tough game, tough loss. For the most part, we've got to play better."

The Buccaneers offense could do very little in a home game against the Giants. The Bucs did not have a first down in the first half and finsihed with just five, which equaled the fewest first downs in team history. The team finished with just 86 yards of total offense. In the fourth quarter, Byron Leftwich (7 of 16 for 22 yards with an INT) was replaced at quaterback with Josh Johnson (4 of 10 for 36 yards). Eli Manning (14 of 24 for 161 yards) threw a pair of touchdown passes and Amhad Bradshaw rushed for 104 yards in the Giants 24-0 victory. Raheem Morris commented, "They were the better team, clearly. It wasn't even close." On the QB situation, Morris said, "I can't sit here and tell you that this game can be blamed on any one man."

Josh Johnson would get the start at Washington and his first NFL pass went eight yards to Antonio Bryant for a touchdown. Aqib Talib tied the team record with three interceptions of Jason Campbell (12 of 21 for 170 yards with 2 TDs). Mike Nugent made two field goals, but missed on two other attempts. The Bucs went up 10-0 at half, before the Redskins rallied for a 16-13 victory. Johnson (13 of 22 for 106 yards with an INT) said of his first pro start, "Obviously, before the game there was a lot of excitement, a lot of jitters, a lot of things going through my mind. Once the game got going, I felt pretty comfortable. I've just got to do better."

The week of the game at Philadelphia, the Buccaneers released Mike Nugent and signed Shane Andrus. Josh Johnson (26 of 50 for 240 yards with 3 INTs) did toss a pair of 9-yard touchdowns passes to Kellen Winslow (9 catches for 102 yards), and Jimmy Wilkerson recorded three sacks, but there were more low- lights than highlights against the Eagles. Donovan McNabb (16 of 21 for 264 yards) threw for 3 TDs, with Jeremy Maclin catching (6 for 147 yards) two long scoring passes, and Michael Vick (1 of 3 for 1 yard) came in at QB in the fourth quarter. Raheem Morris said of the 33-14 defeat, "Obviously, we got out-played by a better football team."

The Friday before the Carolina game, the Buccaneers traded Gaines Adams to Chicago for a 2010 second round draft pick. Cadillac Williams put the Bucs up 7-0, then the Panthers scored the next 21 points. Sammie Stroughter returned a kickoff 97 yards, Tanard Jackson returned an interception 26 yards and the game was tied. Carolina marched down the field and DeAngelo Williams scored the winning touchdown with 29 seconds left. Jake Delhomme (9 of 17 for 65 yards with 2 INTs) did toss a TD pass, but it was the running game that killed Tampa Bay. DeAngelo Williams ran for 152 yards with two scores, while Jonathan Smith rushed for 110 yards with a TD. Josh Johnson (11 of 17 for 147 yards) was picked off in the 28-21 defeat. Barrett Rudd stated, "It's hard to take. This is as tough a loss as I've ever had." Raheem Morris added, "We've got to find a way to get better talent. We got to find a way to be better coaches. We've got to be a better team."

The Buccaneers played in London as part the league's effort to promote American football internationally. There was a sold out crowd and, since the Bucs had given up a home game, Wembley Stadium was adorned with predominantly Tampa Bay colors. New England safety Brandon Meriweather intercepted two first quarter passes, one returned for the game's opening score, and things quickly got out of reach for the Bucs. Tom Brady (23 of 32 for 308 yards with 2 INTs) tossed three touchdown passes and Wes Welker caught ten passes for 107 yards with a score. Josh Johnson (9 of 26 for 156 yards with 3 INTs) did throw a TD pass to Antonio Bryant and rookie first round draft pick Josh Freeman saw his first NFL action in the fourth quarter. Freeman completed 2 of 4 passes for 16 yards in his debut. After the 35-7 loss, Raheem Morris did not comment on the future of the quarterback position. He did say, "We need to play better and we need to get better across the board."

There was plenty going on over the bye week. First the Bucs announced that Josh Freeman would become the youngest starting quarterback in team history. Freeman commented, "This is definitely something I've been working towards and I finally get the opportunity to step out there and do something." Next, the team brought in its third place kicker of the season. Connor Barth played in ten games with Kansas City in 2008. The Bucs would also wear throwback uniforms against Green Bay styled after the 1976 season. That game would also honor the 1979 team and induct Lee Roy Selmon as the first member of the "Ring of Honor" at Raymond James Stadium. Raheem Morris said of wearing the orange uniforms, "I love the color. It looks pretty sweet. They weren't particularly liked, I guess, when they had to wear it but we like the orange, we like the creamsicles. We're fired up about Bucco Bruce, to be honest with you."

The Buccaneers hung tough with Green Bay. Geno Hayes blocked a punt and Ronde Barber picked up the ball and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. A TD run by QB Aaron Rogers (17 of 35 for 266 yards with 2 TDs) gave the Packers a 28-17 fourth quarter advantage. Josh Freeman (14 of 31 for 205 yards with 1 INT) would lead the Bucs back and finish with three TD passes in his first NFL start. The defense came through with big plays, including six sacks and three interceptions, the last of which Tanard Jackson returned 35 yards to ice the game. The 38-28 victory was the first for Raheem Morris, who commented, "We have to get into some negotiations to see if we can put on our orange some more." On Freeman, the head coach added, "We brought him in to lead this franchise. It's one game. That's a good start."

The Buccaneers looked like they had overcome adversity at Miami. Josh Freeman (16 of 28 for 196 yards with an INT) tossed a touchdown pass to Maurice Stovall, Kellen Winslow caught seven passes for 102 yards and new kicker Conner Barth became just the fourth player in NFL history to boot three field goals of 50 yards or more in the same game. The Bucs had overcome a Chad Henne (17 of 31 for 175 yards with an INT) TD pass, 102 yards rushing by Ricky Williams and a controversial call that lead to Dolphins points just before halftime. Cadillac Williams ran for a score with 1:14 left on the clock to put the Bucs up 23-22. The Tampa Bay defense could not hold and, five plays later, Miami kicked a winning field goal with ten seconds left. Ronde Barber said of the 25-23 loss, "We've got issues. It's just little things that kill us."

The Buccaneers first possession went 12 plays for 95 yards, capped by an 18 yard TD pass from Josh Freeman to Michael Clayton. The Bucs lead New Orleans 7-0, but to say things went downhill from there would be an understatement. Freeman (17 of 33 for 126 yards) would be intercepted three times and lose a fumble, as the Saints cruised. Drew Brees (19 of 29 for 187 yard) threw for three scores, Robert Meachen had a pair of TD catches and Mike Bell ran for two TDs in the Saints 38-7 victory. Raheem Morris called it, "A disappointing performance, obviously disappointed in everything we did."

The Buccaneers suffered a tough loss at Atlanta. The Falcons scored on fourth and goal from the 5 yard line, as backup quarterback Chris Redman (23 of 41 for 243 yards with 2 TDs) tossed the winning score with 23 seconds left. The Bucs had played a decent game with Josh Freeman (20 of 29 for 259 yards) throwing two touchdown passes and the defense recording six sacks. Falcons starting quarterback Matt Ryan (2 of 3 for 15 yards) was knocked out early with a foot injury and Stylez White, Greg White has changed his name over the off-season, recorded two sacks. After a 20-17 loss, Ronde Barber commented, "Good teams win this football game. And at 1-10, we are obviously not a good football team."

Josh Freeman (23 of 44 for 321 yards) had a rough afternoon at Carolina. The rookie QB was intercepted five times, three of those coming inside the Panthers 8-yard line and twice being picked off by linebacker Jon Beason. With Conner Barth missing two field goals, about the only bright spot was Antonio Bryant catching five passes for 116 yards. Matt Moore (14 of 20 for 161 yards) started at quarterback for Carolina and Jonathan Stewart rushed for 120 yards with two TDs. After a 16-6 defeat, teammates stood behind Freeman. Earnest Graham said, "Growing pains are necessary. We're all here to go through those things with him." Cadillac Williams added, "Trust me, he's going to be a good one."

Josh Freeman was intercepted on the opening play from scrimmage against the Jets and the Buccaneers could only manage 15 net yards in the first half with no first downs. Freeman (14 of 33 for 93 yards) finished with three interceptions. Kellen Clemens (12 of 23 for 111 yards) started at quarterback for the visitors and Thomas Jones ran for two scores against his former teammates. Freeman said of the interceptions, "It's completely unacceptable." After the 26-3 loss, Ronde Barber commented, "It can only go up from here."

Josh Freeman had his first pass attempt intercepted at Seattle, but it was Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck who looked more like the rookie. Hasselbeck (27 of 46 for 256 yards with a TD) was picked off four times and lost a fumble. Freeman (16 of 26 205 yards) tossed touchdown passes to running backs Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward, and he also ran in a two-point conversion. The defense stepped up with Elbert Mack intercepting two passes and Geno Hayes recording a sack, a pick and a fumble recovery. Seattle struck first, then the Buccaneers scored 24 unanswered points on five straight possessions. Freeman said of the 24-7 victory, "It was about playing as a team and getting your swagger back because its been rough losing all these games."

Curse Broken

The “Tampa Bay Curse” was broken when the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV. The curse was that no team had ever lost to Tampa Bay during the regular season and gone on to win the Super Bowl that same season. From 1976 to 2008, 49 teams made the playoffs after losing to the Buccaneers. Three teams (1979 Rams, 1982 Dolphins and 2001 Rams) came close to breaking the curse, making it to the Super Bowl, but all three lost.

New Orleans scored on its first three possessions, Drew Bress (32 of 37 for 258 yards) tossed a touchdown pass, and the Saints jumped to 17-0 lead. Cadillac Williams rushed for 129 yards and his TD run capped off a 98 yard drive, which tied the team record for longest scoring drive. Micheal Spurlock, who had been re-signed just five days earlier, returned a punt 77 yards for the tying score. The Saints had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but Garrett Hartley missed a 37 yard field with five seconds left. It was a 47 yard Conner Barth field goal that would give the Buccaneers a victory 8:06 into overtime. Raheem Morris said after the 20-17 victory, "This team has the talent and ability. I am just really proud of them. They went out there and fought. I am completely exhausted right now."

Josh Freeman (16 of 32 for 174 yards with 2 INTs) tossed a touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant in the season finale at Raymond James Stadium. It was not enough, as Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan (23 of 35 for 223 yards with 2 INTs) threw for two scores, Jason Snelling rushed for 147 yards and former Buccaneer Matt Bryant added two field goals. After the 20-10 defeat, Freeman remarked, "Three and 13 is unacceptable. I know all the guys feel that way, and we're going to come in, grind this offseason and make sure this doesn't happen again."

Tampa Bay posted its worst record since the 1991 season. While no member of the team was selected to the Pro Bowl, Kellen Winslow was named the team's MVP by the local media. Winslow set team records for receptions (77) and receiving yards (884) by a tight end.

Related Links

2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Results

2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft

2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Statistics

2009 NFC South Division Standings

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