Bucs have a choice to make at running back

December 8, 2017 general

Thursday, 2 a.m. Suddenly, the Tampa Bay Bucs have a lot of running backs. Who knew? The Bucs, who have struggled on the ground for most of the year, find themselves with options in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, who come in with the NFL’s 19th-ranked rushing defense. They could go with normal starter […]

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Imagining Taggart as a college recruiter

December 7, 2017 general

Thursday, 3 a.m. You imagine a living room decorated in early-American football trophies. There are photographs and banners scattered about, all memories of the favorite son. There are notations of records, On the desk is a large stack of invitations to scholarships. Some are not even opened. And on the couch is Willie Taggart. He […]

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Bucs’ McCoy swears his team won’t let up

December 7, 2017 general

Not many wins. Not many weeks to go. What the Tampa Bay Bucs do have, however, are a lot of playoff teams left to play. Still, said defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the Bucs will not roll over. McCoy, in the running for his sixth pro bowl, said that the Bucs will still give effort in […]

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Yes, Taggart is good enough for the FSU job

December 6, 2017 College Sports in Florida

Wednesday, 3 a.m. At the time, it seemed like a good question. Heck, at the time, it seemed like the only question. “Willie, are you good enough for this job?” I asked. For once, I wasn’t trying to be a wise guy. Given what we had just seen, it was the question on everyone’s mind. […]

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Gourde finally arrives in the spotlight for Bolts

December 6, 2017 general

Wednesday, 2 a.m. He is a man of many colors, most of them on his jerseys. He has been on so many teams in so many cities and so many leagues. And now, Yanni Gourde has been in the spotlight. Gourde, the 25-year-old forward of the Tampa Bay Lightning, scored two quick goals in the […]

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Looking back on the Bucs’ loss to the Packers

December 5, 2017 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. 5 Observations There aren’t many places in the NFL where football matters more than it does  at Lambeau Field, which was always among my favorite sites. Maybe Soldier Field. Maybe Arrowhead. But Lambeau comes with its own feel, with its own smell (Bratwurst on the grill) and with its own weather. But, […]

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Bucs let one slip away against Packers

December 4, 2017 general

Monday, 4 a.m. As the Tampa Bay Bucs wonder how this one got away, how a game in which they dominated slipped through their fingers, as what should have been a lock that was gift-wrapped and presented on a silver tray, in a loss that erupted from within, there is this: My goodness, the Bucs […]

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Random thoughts: Surviving Fisher, who got away

December 3, 2017 Alabama

Sunday, 3 a.m. Jameis Winston threw it. Kelvin Benjamin caught it. It was two-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds to go in January of 2014. And without it, Jimbo Fisher has no national title against Auburn, and Texas A&M is paying him a lot less. Think about it. – Just asking: Which college coach would […]

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Bolts look to familiar faces for victory

December 3, 2017 general

Sunday, 3 a.m. Hey, didn’t you guys used to be the Triplets? That guy with the burst of speed and the magical stick? The one who scored twice? He looks familiar. Nikita Kucherov used to play like that? And the other guy? The little guy with the speed? Didn’t Tyler Johnson used to skate like […]

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Miami squashed by Clemson in ACC title game

December 3, 2017 Clemson

Sunday, 2 a.m. Yay. They got a field goal. For the Miami Hurricanes, that was at least something. After all, the Hurricanes kicked their field goal with 3:29 to play, and it brought them back to within five touchdowns in a 38-3 loss to Clemson. Miami felt it had a puncher’s chance coming into the […]

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