In a big Lightning win, Johnson measures up again

December 23, 2014 general

Tuesday, 11:58 p.m. TAMPA There is a reason his recent tussle with the flu was so hard on the Lightning’s Tyler Johnson. Why, the virus was bigger than he was. Ba-dump-bump. Go ahead. Crack wise if you want about the Lightning’s trophy-sized forward. Once again, Johnson made it smiling time in Tampa Bay Tuesday night. […]

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The Bucs need to add toughness to offensive line

December 23, 2014 general

Tuesday, 12:46 p.m. TAMPA You start with something hard, something firm. Steel, maybe. Granite. You start with something mean, something nasty. A yard dog, perhaps. A snake. And that is how you build an offensive line, with one piece of scrap iron after another. You find yourself something hungry, something determined. You find yourself something […]

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Forget all else; Bucs should worry about a QB

December 22, 2014 general

Monday, 4:45 p.m. There are holes everywhere. The entire roster is as bullet-ridden as Bonnie and Clyde’s car. There are spaces and gaps and guys who ought to be selling cars. There are posers and pretenders and guys who are about to suit up as an NFL player for the final time. The Bucs could […]

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The QB is cleared; shouldn’t it all feel better?

December 22, 2014 general

Monday, 11:47 a.m. This is no time for the Tomahawk Chop. This is no time to cheer. In the wake of horrible accusations, this is only a time for sadness. I know, I know. Barring a last-ditch appeal, it would appear that FSU quarterback Jameis Winston has endured the horrible allegations of rape. And if […]

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Ask the Expert: Jerry Angelo

December 22, 2014 general

Monday, 10:16 a.m. 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. The Eagles aren’t playing well, and […]

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No offense, but do the Bucs really call this offense?

December 21, 2014 general

Sunday, 7:03 p.m. TAMPA Yippee. They got three. In the upset of upset, in the staggering performance of staggering performances, the Tampa Bay Bucs went out and got themselves a field goal Sunday afternoon. That’ll teach the doubters, all right. They zigged, they zagged, and they got three whole points for Christmas. Just like the […]

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Can you imagine Bucs beating Packers? Me, neither

December 20, 2014 general

Saturday, 1:23 p.m. Most weeks, you think of alternate endings. It’s what we do. You look on both sides of the possible. You imagine a fumble, or an interception, or a blocked punt. You imagine a key injury that could change things. You imagine a lucky break. A rotten call. Something to make the unlikely […]

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To all fields: The fortune of missing on Cutler

December 20, 2014 College Sports in Florida

  In Tampa… What if they had pulled it off? What if, back in 2009, the Tampa Bay Bucs had gotten their man? In that case, Jay Cutler would be a Buc. And, if you could believe it, today would be even more embarrassing. I don’t know about you, but that was the first thing […]

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New look Rays expect a familiar result on the field

December 19, 2014 general

Friday, 6:16 p.m. The general manager is new. The manager is new. The base coaches are new. The catcher is new, and one of the outfielders is new, and the closer is new. If all goes according to plan, the blueprint for a stadium will be new. With the Tampa Bay Rays, only the expectations […]

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His eyes on history, Fisher deserves a raise

December 19, 2014 College Sports in Florida

Friday, 10:25 a.m. There is a reason why Florida State is in a hurry to throw money at Jimbo Fisher before the national championship playoffs. If it waited, heck, it might not be able to afford him. It is amazing how quickly that Fisher has climbed the ladder of NCAA coaches to get among the […]

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