Same time, next year; look for powers again

January 3, 2021 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. So, are you excited yet? In this corner, Alabama, filled with power and speed and NFL prospects. In that corner, Ohio State, filled with power and speed and NFL prospects. Why, it will be the game of the century. Or, if you want, you can just wait until next year. When Alabama […]

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Despite virus, Bucs should edge Falcons

January 2, 2021 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. The Atlanta Falcons won’t be the only opponent that the Tampa Bay Bucs face on Sunday. And whoever it may be there might be an extra one for their first playoff game next week. The Bucs, suddenly, are riddled by the Covid-19 virus, making their challenge of obtaining the fifth seed in […]

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Gronk has been worth the return trip

January 1, 2021 general

Friday, 4 a.m. In life, sometimes what you accomplish after you are finished is the most impressive thing. Take Rob Gronkowski, who walked away. He was finished, battered by the years of playing tight end. He had won three Super Bowls, had made five Pro Bowls and had been All-Pro four times. But his back […]

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Brady has beaten back time with Bucs

December 31, 2020 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. He has not just been the Greatest of All Time. He has been the Greatest for a Long Time. When you get down to it, that is the most remarkable part of Tom Brady’s game. It’s still going on. He’s still good. He’s still vital. Here, near the end of his 43rd […]

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Gators crushed as Trask struggles

December 31, 2020 general

Thursday, 3 a.m. Without his star receivers, it turns out that University of Florida star quarterback Kyle Trask doesn’t shine as brightly. Trask, one of the four finalists for the University of Florida, had an awful night in the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma Wednesday night in a 55-20 loss. Trask threw three interceptions in his […]

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Rays’ off-season should feel better than this

December 30, 2020 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. You sort through the rubble. You take measure of what us left. You consider what is gone. And you wonder: How good will the next edition of the Tampa Bay Rays be? It is a difficult team to follow, this Tampa Bay baseball club. It sells you on unripe fruit, but come […]

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Bucs start to think about the post-season

December 29, 2020 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. For the first time in an eternity, the Tampa Bay Bucs can talk about the playoffs in terms beyond wishful thinking. For the first time since Derrick Brooks, Jon Gruden, Jeff Garcia and Earnest Graham, the Bucs are preparing for the post-season. For the first time in 13 seasons, the Bucs are […]

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Rays want you to believe in the braintrust

December 29, 2020 general

Tuesday, 3 a.m. The point isn’t what they gave away. The point isn’t what they got in return. For the Rays, the issue — once again — is trust. With this team, the major league leaders in trade-today-for-tomorrow deals, that is always the issue. As Blake Snell walks away, the way so many high-priced talents […]

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Looking back on the Bucs’ win over Detroit

December 28, 2020 general

Monday, 4 a.m. 5 Thoughts Upon further review, Tom Brady has been perfect before. Of course he has. Sunday was the third time he has been perfect (against Miami in 2007 and Detroit in 2010). In all, there have been 78 perfect scores in the history of the league, plus four in the post-season. 2. […]

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Bucs show their potential in win over Lions

December 27, 2020 general

Sunday, 4 am. There are far-off lands, filled with magic and wonder. They are the lands of imagination, and we have heard about them since we were children. Narnia. Neverland. Oz. And, around here, the NFL playoffs. For years, we have heard rumors of the post-season, a place of myth and lore. But around here, […]

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