Bucs’ general manager Licht off to good start in draft

April 30, 2016 general

Saturday, 5:30 a.m. He traded down to get “the best pure cornerback in the draft.” He stayed put to get “the best pass-rusher in the draft.” He traded up to get “the best kicker in the draft.” Many more moves like this, and the NFL might say that Jason Licht just might be the best […]

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Bucs improve their secondary with Hargreaves

April 29, 2016 general

Friday, 6 a.m. Last year, they drafted so they could pass the football. This year, they drafted so they could stop it. The Tampa Bay Bucs selected University of Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III in the first round of Thursday night’s draft, after initially trading back two picks to pick up an extra fourth-round draft […]

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Ask the expert: Jerry Angelo

April 28, 2016 general

Jerry Angelo is a former personnel director for the Bucs and former general manager of the Bears. Each week, Angelo answers your questions regarding the NFL. Send your questions to GarySheltonsports@gmail.com with “ask the expert” in the subject line. The most interesting question will be selected. Thursday, 6 a.m. The draft starts Thursday night. After […]

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Lightning loses playoff opener to the Islanders

April 28, 2016 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. “It’s just one game.” “It’s a seven game series for a reason.” “We were in the same shape last year.” And so it went. All around the locker room of the Tampa Bay Lightning were the soft, disappointed sounds of the familiar cliches of a team that had finished second in a […]

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Bucs have busted their way through most drafts

April 27, 2016 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. Most busts are defined by expectations. In the end, that is all that remains. It isn’t what a bust does. It isn’t even what he fails to do. It’s what the franchise needed for him to do, and in the waste, all that remains is disappointment. There are no busts in the […]

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Rays defense, bullpen lead to victory over Orioles

April 26, 2016 general

Tuesday, 11:12 p.m. Are the Tampa Bay Rays still supposed to be able to play defense like this? The Rays bailed themselves out of trouble repeatedly Tuesday night, moving to .500 with a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The Rays have surrendered only one run in two games against Baltimore. It helps when a […]

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Hello again; Archer looks sharp in beating Baltimore

April 25, 2016 general

Tuesday, 6 a.m. Confident guy, Chris Archer. Even in the middle of a losing streak, he held onto his swagger. Even when people gasping that his fastball was a whole mile an hour slower than last year, even when the search parties were out for his missing slider, even when the critics started taking swipes […]

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This week, it’s in the hands of Bucs’ g.m. Licht

April 25, 2016 general

Monday, 6 a.m. This is his time. This is his team. Other times of the year, the Tampa Bay Bucs will belong to Dirk Koetter. Other times of the year, the wheel will belong to Jameis Winston. On certain weeks of the year, you can argue that the team’s fortunes will belong to Mike Smith. […]

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Familiar face helps to defeat the Rowdies, 3-1

April 24, 2016 general

 Sunday, 6 a.m. The game got away from the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Then again, so did the player. Brian Shriver, the ex-Rowdie who grew up in Clearwater, stood in the penalty box. He looked at his old friend Matt Pickens in goal. He looked at the crowd in its green and yellow. And then he […]

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Random thoughts: Should Redskins feel uneasy?

April 24, 2016 NFL

Sunday, 6 a.m. Hi, I’m O.J. Simpson, and when I get out, I want a date with Kris Jenner. Because the only thing more messed up than I am are those pesky Kardashians. – If I were the Washington Redskins, I’d celebrate signing Josh Norman. And then I’d try to force those Albert Haynesworth memories […]

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